SHERIFF TOM BEILEIN NAMED TO HEAD STATE COMMISSION!!

Gov. Spitzer made it official Thursday:Niagara County Sheriff Thomas Beilein will be the new chairman of the state Commission of Corrections. Word of the Beilein appointment leaded out last week, although Beilein wouldn't confirm it until it was official. He now says he expects to remain in office here for about 6 weeks, by which time he expects to be confirmed by the State Senate. Spitzer's announcement gave no inkling of whom he will appoint to serve as sheriff until voters elect someone in November to fill the year remaining in Beilein's terms. Beilein, a democrat,said he has recommended recently promoted Chief Deputy James Voutour of Lockport to the county Democratic Party as its nominee in November, but he said Spitzer had not requested a recommendation for the interim appointment. Daniel Rivera, chairman of the County Democratic Party, met with Voutour on Thursday, and Rivera said he had already interviewed Sheriff's investigator Scott Elliot, a former City of Lockport alderman. The Republicans have lined up Captain Ernest Palmer, the Falls chief of detectives as their candidate for Sheriff.

MAZIARZ AND HOYT HAVE A PLAN TO GET RID OF THE TOLLS ON GRAND ISLAND!!

State Senator George Maziarz and Assemblyman Sam Hoyt have a plan to get rid of the tolls on Grand Island. The lawmakers held a press conference on Friday to announce that they will propose legislation that would transfer the 190 section of the Niagara Thruway from the Thruway Authority to the state Department of Transportation. Once that happens, the use of the toll booths on Grand Island would no longer be needed, and they could be removed. The measure would have to be passed by the State Senate and the State Assembly.Maziarz says he sees no problem with the senate, and he's sure Hoyt can get it through the assembly. And as for what the Thruway Authority thinks of all of this, Lewiston resident and Authority board member Jeffrey Williamssays he's all for it.

FEMA TO FUND ENTIRE COST OF STORM CLEANUP!!

A federal agency has reversed its previous stance and will reimburse the City of North Tonawanda for all of its cleanup costs incurred following the October 2006 surprise snowstorm. FEMA will pay the city $845,127, which covers more than half of the $1.5 million cleanup bill it faced after the surprise blast. Agency officials intially denied the reinbursement request, and its first appeal, because they believed the city paid too much per tree limb removed. So it previously paid the city only $570,000for cleanup work. Only after the city's second appeal did FEMA officials change their tune. Mayor Larry Soos said "this is a great victory for the City of North Tonawanda and the taxpayers." Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton both praised the agency's reversal.

FALLS AIR BASE GETS 12 CARGO PLANES 2 YEARS EARLY!!

The Niagara Falls Air Base will receive its full complement of 12 cargo planes this July, 2 years earlier than expected. With yesterday's announcement meaning that the 2 units at the base will share the 12 planes starting this summer. Those 2 units are the Air National Guard's 107th Air Refueling Wing, and the Air Force Reserve's 914th Airlift Wing. Under the Air Force's original plan, it appeared the base would be down to a mere 8 planes for the next 2 years. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Senator Hillary Clinton announced the Air Force plan on Tuesday. Slaughter called the plan a giant step forward in protecting the future success of the base, and to its importance to Niagara Falls. Clinton agreed, saying getting the aircraft 2 years early signals that the Air Force recognizes the critical role the air base plays in our homeland security, and its importance in the continued growth of the local economy.

MAYOR TUCKER HAS A CHANGE OF HEART....NOW WANTS TO DEMOLISH PARKING RAMP!!

Mayor Michael Tucker says he now favors demolishing the Main Street parking ramp and building a new one on the site.Tucker, who originally wanted to repair the crumbling ramp, said he changed his mind after reading the details in a consultant's study of the structure's condition. He now says he will start trying to convince the commen council in a work session today and the Lockport Business Association in a meeting tomorrow. Tucker added he really wants to get this project moving, by going to the bond market and borrowing money for it this year. He also acknowledged that his choice is the most expensive option. The study, submitted in December by Greenman-Pederson, a Buffalo engineering firm, estimated that tearing down the 242 space ramp and erecting a new one would cost $5.5 million. The report estimated that demolition alone would cost $1 million.

DOT SAYS LASALLE EXPRESSWAY BRIDGE IS SAFE!!

Pieces of debris falling from an expressway overpass caused an accident. and blocked traffic fo 3 days. But the bridge does not pose a hazard for drivers, according to a state DOT official. Concrete chunks larger than bricks fell from the stretch of the LaSalle expressway passing over Cayuga Drive on Sunday, causing a car to rear end another that had stopped to avoid the falling debris. Though no one was injured, Niagara Falls Police and the Department of Public Works immediately blocked traffic from the underpass, until DOT officials oould assess the damage. Traffic was detoured around Cayuga Drive until DOT workers cleared the road Tuesday Afternoonl. Before that, they removed loose lumps of concrete from the overpass. Afterward, Cayuga Drive was opened fortravel. With Charlie Morgante, the Director of Operations for the DOT, saying no further work is needed on the bridge.

2 SIBLINGS DIE IN CAR TRACTOR-TRAILER COLLISION IN GENESEE COUNTY!!

A brother and sister were killed Mondaymorning when the car they were riding in crashed into a tractor-trailer truck.That happening in the Genesee County town of Byron. Police say the children's mother, Laurie Claus, was trying to make a left hand turn when her car collided with the truck on Route 262, about 25 miles west of Rochester. Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha says the truck driver told him he thought the car was going to let him pass, but instead turned right into his path. 7 year old Victoria Claus and her 11 year old brother Christopher were sitting in the back seat and were wearing their seat belts. Victoria died at the scene, while Christopher died soon after at a hospital. Laurie Claus was treated for minor injuries at a Batavia hospital, and was then released. The father of the children, Eric Claus, said no one should have to go through something like this. Their mother was in a state of shock, and unable to say anything after the accident.

SALE OF LOCKPORT STREET TO BE CONTESTED BY GYM OWNER!!

Some opposition to Mayor Tucker's plan to sell part of Washburn Street to Niagara Produce Lockport is expected to rear its head Wednesday night. The Commen Council will host an informational hearing about the proposed sale at the end of its 7 o'clock business meeting. Ultimate Physique Gym owner Karen Muscarella says she'll attend the hearing and ask that the proposal be abandoned out of concern for her members. She wants the street to stay two-way, so people can get in and out of her gym at 20 Ann Street. Niagara Produce Lockport is in the process of purchasing the former Brewhaus building at Washburn and Chestnut Streets. The company, which runs Niagara County Produce, is aiming to establish a 2nd market in Downtown Lockport. The mayor proposed selling the northernmost block of Washburn Street to Niagara Produce for $1.00, and letting them turn the area into a parking lot. Tucker says without that parking lot, their would be no market.According to Muscarella, the change would cut her customer's access to and from the gym, and might worsen vehicle crowding in an area that sometimes is overly congested right now.

STATE'S HIGHEST COURT OK'S SUPPORT FOR RESTAINO!!

The New York State of Appeals will consider the pleas of more than 2 dozenindividuals and organizations to keep City Court Judge Robert Restaino on the bench. Last Friday, the state's highest court accepted 25 so-called friends of the court in Restaino's appeal of a state Commission on Judicial Conduct ruling that would remove the judge from the bench, for his actions in jailing 46 people after no one would admit to having a ringing cellphone in his courtroom. Restaino has been suspended with pay since December while the appeal's court considers his case. Meantime, the judge's attorney, Terry Connors, says he was pleased by the strong show of support for his client. Among those pleading to keep Restaino in his city court post are the New York State Association of City Court Judges. Restaino is the 1st Vice-President of that group.