For the fifth year in a row, a team from the New York Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wing has won the annual "TAG (The Adjutant General) Match," held May 31 to June 1 at Camp Smith Training Site, Cortland Manor.

On Wednesday, May 5, 1982, at approximately 12:30 p.m., 2-1⁄2-year-old Russell Mort disappeared from his fenced-in backyard at 2080 River Road, Lot 140, in the Town of Wheatfield.

After 32 years, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office continues to actively investigate this missing person case.

The annual "Soldiers Through the Ages" at Old Fort Niagara saw large numbers of people come to learn about the evolution of military life, gear and tactics. (photos by Wayne Peters)

The week of May 18-24 was National EMS Week. This year's theme was "EMS: Dedicated for Life." On May 21, Tri-Community Ambulance Service was proud to witness the recognition of a few of its own at the annual EMS Awards Dinner hosted by Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center in Lewiston at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

On Monday, the Town of Niagara Lions and Lioness Clubs observed Memorial Day with a ceremony at the Witmer Road Cemetery in the Town of Niagara.

The American Legion Wheatfield Post 1451 held its Memorial Day observance at the war memorial at the town garage on Ward Road.

Niagara Hospice and the Schoellkopf Health Center held a dedication celebration Wednesday at David's Path, a dedicated hospice unit on the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center campus.

"I feel like 20 pounds lighter!" the tired but happy Niagara-Wheatfield School District Superintendent Dr. Lynn Fusco exclaimed Tuesday night.

Unofficial results had just been announced that voters approved the $64.6 million N-W budget for 2014-15 by a vote of 2,559 to 1,528, despite an expected 4.78 percent increase in the tax levy (right at the district's tax cap).

The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary Wheatfield Post 1451 have selected their candidates to represent Niagara-Wheatfield High School at the Empire Boys State and Girls State Program this summer.

Town of Niagara Town Clerk Sylvia Virtuoso was unanimously chosen Wednesday by the Town Board to be deputy supervisor and oversee town business in the absence of Supervisor Steve Richards.

Niagara Cerebral Palsy is holding its 22nd annual "Matthew J. Murphy Jr. On the Tee fore NCP" golf tournament, June 13 at Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course, 4560 Creek Road, Lewiston. Registration and lunch are at noon, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit NCP's adult vocational program.

The event will celebrate the agency's 60th anniversary, in addition to unveiling a new award, "The Chairman's Award." This year's recipient is James Catanese.

The 31st annual Roger W. Andrews Senior Citizen Breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Niagara-Wheatfield High School cafeteria. The free event includes a free full breakfast, prizes, a geranium to every attendee, and a tribute to all veterans. All Niagara-Wheatfield area senior citizens 50 years and older are welcome.

Firehouse Subs, a member of the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, held a grand opening ribbon-cutting with members of the chamber, elected officials, Fashion Outlets of Niagara staff and Niagara Active House Fire Co.

Bryan Lozinsky of Lewiston and Norm Schneider of Getzville met while working together over the years as meat cutters for area grocery stores.

About five years ago, the two friends started making their own sausage out of their homes for family, friends and for sale.

The Town of Niagara Lions Club held a pancake breakfast last Sunday at the St. Vincent de Paul Parish St. Leo's site in the Town of Niagara. Senior citizens ate for free.

Town of Niagara Supervisor Steve Richards submitted his official resignation and retirement to the town last Friday and on Monday pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of official misconduct before State Supreme Court Justice Christopher Burns in Lockport.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the conviction Monday of Steven C. Richards and his immediate retirement as Town of Niagara supervisor. Richards, 61, of Lawson Drive in Niagara, pleaded guilty to official misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, before the Hon. Christopher J. Burns in Niagara County Court. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14.

"Steven Richards has admitted that he misused his position and used town resources to benefit himself personally, abusing both his office and the trust placed in him by the public," Schneiderman said. "He has vacated his office and submitted his retirement papers last week. With Richards' retirement and guilty plea, we have ensured that hardworking Niagara families will no longer have to pay for their town supervisor's personal use of town property and resources."

Enhancements to the nature trail at Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara's Wheatfield site have been selected as a finalist project in the "Green America Awards" competition.

News outlets learned Friday that Town of Niagara Supervisor Steven Richards resigned his position, effective immediately. It was reported Richards told his fellow board members he was "retiring."

Town of Niagara residents had an opportunity Tuesday to review revised plans for Benderson Development's Military Place plaza on Military Road.

Three new Military Road businesses are celebrating openings this weekend - Petco, Firehouse Subs and Supercuts.

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration of Firehouse Subs, located in the Fashion Outlets of Niagara mall, will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 3.

Supercuts is holding its grand opening at 1520 Military Road with $5.99 haircuts from Friday, May 2, through Friday, May 30.

Coming soon in the LaSalle Center are a Five Below discount store and a Shoe Carnival store.

During American Stroke Month in May, the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, asks all New Yorkers to learn two things that may save a life.

Stroke is the most preventable cause of disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds, yet 80 percent of strokes are preventable.

According to the American Stroke Association, knowing if you are at risk for stroke is critical, because many risk factors can be modified and controlled. The No. 1 stroke risk factor is high blood pressure.

St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1073 Saunders Settlement Road, will host its annual basket auction on Saturday, May 3.

National Infant Immunization Week is April 26 to May 3.

This is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable disease and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the U.S.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of National Infant Immunization Week. When National Infant Immunization Week was established in 1994, immunization programs were facing significant challenges as communities across the U.S. were seeing decreasing immunization rates among children.

Who can resist a life-sized rabbit that hands out Easter treats? Certainly not the residents and family members at the McGuire Group's Northgate Health Care Facility in North Tonawanda. The Easter bunny made his annual rounds at the facility, spreading Easter cheer.

St. Stephen School on Grand Island was the latest setting for the magic and mischief of Rob and Carol Allen of Wheatfield, sponsored in part by the Western New York Dairy Industry.

The Wheatfield Town Board on Monday hired a consultant to give advice on the Quasar matter, approved a veterans memorial and determined to seek out a culprit in a vandalism case.

The board also unanimously approved the Fairmount Park site proposed by its Veterans Memorial Focus Group for the town's new veterans memorial.

With spring slowly starting to break through, the Town of Niagara Town Board on Tuesday did some cleanup by approving a resolution leftover from winter, a contract and some road repair.

Agreement was reached on the new rental fee schedule for use of structures in Veterans Park on Lockport Road.

Town residents will face no charge for reservations at the various pavilions in the park, but must supply a returnable $100 security deposit. Rental for the Calvin K. Richards Community Center would be $25 per hour with a $150 deposit. A baseball diamond would be $50 per game with a $100 deposit.

The Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation's 15th annual golf raffle is taking place Sunday, April 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Sanborn Fire Hall, 5811 Buffalo St. The event offers golf enthusiasts the chance to win more than $20,000 in men's and women's golf-related equipment and trips.

Quasar Energy Group brought a four-man team to Wheatfield's Community Center to answer questions about the safety of equate and the company's plan to build a 5 million gallon storage tank.

Niagara Cerebral Palsy held its fifth annual Snowflake Basket Auction on March 21 and 22 at the Niagara Falls Elk Lodge. Shown are attendees choosing where to put their tickets.

The Easter Bunny was a special guest at the quarterly senior dance at the Wheatfield Community Center last Saturday. The next senior dance will be in July.

Jennifer Cooper, owner of Cooper Sign Co. and Old Glory Flag and Banner of Niagara Falls, was selected by the Buffalo Niagara Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners as recipient of the chapter's Member of the Year Small Business Award. NAWBO Buffalo Niagara chose Cooper for her entrepreneurial drive and leadership within the organization, as well as the greater community.

The award will be presented to Cooper Wednesday, May 7, at the SBA Small Business Week awards luncheon at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

Students at West Street Elementary School recently learned one of life's more important lessons - caring for people in their community.

The Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District is celebrating the delivery of five new buses to its Transportation Department.

Nathan Brundage, pictured, is a 17-year-old Niagara-Wheatfield High School student and firefighter with Lewiston No. 2 Volunteer Fire Co. He recently was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

After some discussion, the majority of Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education members on March 19 proposed a 4.8 percent tax levy increase to its residents for the upcoming budget vote in May.

Members of the Sanborn Area Historical Society's basket committee are getting ready for the 11th annual Antique Show and Sale. In the photo from left are Bonnie Bagwell, Joan Shaw, Fran Haskell, Hilda Snyder, Glenn Wienke, Jane Schultz, chairman, Lynn Hoffman, and Valerie Dumpleton.

Ten members of the New York Army and Air National Guard who represented the United States at a marksmanship competition in South Africa this month took two second-place awards during the competition held March 4-15.

Sixth-graders at Niagara-Wheatfield's Edward Town Middle School are tapping into their creativity to show they are "all ears" when it comes to art education. The students under the tutelage of art teachers Jill Hessinger and Karen Culligan participated in the Triarco Art Supply competition "Are You HEARING About the Importance of Arts in Education?"