A Look Back: Jan. 13

50 Years Ago

■Kevin Cramer, a senior at Northampton High School, has been selected by a faculty vote to represent the high school at the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans in Washington in March. Cramer was elected as student representative based on his scholastic achievement, as well as his service to the school.

■Easthampton town engineer Anthony J. Canon, resigned his job here for a post as superintendent and engineer of the Holyoke Water Department. The possibility of Canon’s leaving his Easthampton position which he has held since 1968, has been rumored for some time, but denied by Canon.

25 Years Ago

■There’s been a trickle – not a flood – of interest by city employees in Northampton’s newly extended health benefits for domestic partners. Of the nearly 1,000 city employees, five signed on for the benefits during the first registration period.

■A Northampton youth’s efforts to fight bicycle theft by registering bikes for the Northampton Police Department have won him the rank of Eagle Scout. N. Reed LaBarge, a ninth grader at Northampton High School, passed an official review last month.

10 Years Ago

■Hard Rock International is joining with the Eastern States Exposition to propose a $700 million resort casino in West Springfield, expanding the competition for the single license to be granted in western Massachusetts.

■School officials and police continue to withhold the contents of a pledge Northampton High School students were asked to sign last month, despite concerns raised by parents and civil liberties advocates. Police have confirmed the pledge was used to collect handwriting samples as part of their investigation into a recent unsigned threat discovered in a bathroom.

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