Friday, May 16, 2008

ZITO SUIT DISMISSED ::Friday, May 16th::

A State Supreme Court judge has dismissed the bulk of a $37.5-million lawsuit filed by the former director of the Niagara Power Coalition. But yesterday's ruling leaves open the possibility that a portion of the hundreds of millions of dollars the coalition will receive over the next 50 years could be set aside if a jury finds Mark Zito deserves part of that money for his role in Niagara Power Project Relicensing talks. Zito has been credited with helping to broker the 2005 deal involving seven local governments and school districts, as well as the State Power Authority - who at the time was looking for a new federal license for the power project. The settlement is believed to be worth $146-million to $1.2-billion before it expires in 2057. Judge Richard Kloch tossed out defamation and breach of contract claims made by Zito's attorney's as legally deficient. The ruling also dismissed claims against coalition members as individuals, which Zito's lawyers had asked to be withdrawn.

ROYALTON MEN CAUGHT WITH DRUG FARM ::Friday, May 16th::

Two Royalton men are facing federal drug charges for allegedly growing marijuana in a home on Highland Drive. 52 year old Steven Verboci and 27 year old Jesse Baker were indicted yesterday on a slew of charges, including the possession of more than 100 pot plants. Investigators also seized quantities of magic mushrooms, ecstasy, and cocaine. Three firearms were also seized from the residence. The drug charges carry a maximum of 40 years in prison, fines of $2-million - with both charges carrying a maximum of life. The investigation began in February when deputies were called to the Highland Drive home after dispatch received a call from a woman who said she had possibly been drugged. The woman reportedly said she believed one of the men had given her psychedelic mushrooms.

LOCAL KARATE INSTRUCTOR MAY BE GRATEFUL FOR HIS FIGHTING SKILLS ONCE IN PRISON ::Friday, May 16th::

A former Niagara Falls karate instructor will spend the next five years in a state prison, and the judge who sent him there says he only has himself to blame. With the mother of his now seven year old victim looking on and nodding in agreement, Judge Sara Sperrazza sentenced William Pichcuskie to five years behind bars and 10 year probation. He will also be a registered sex offender and barred from unsupervised contact with children. The 50 year old faced a maximum possible sentence of seven years in prison for his guilty plea to a single charge of first degree sexual abuse. Investigators arrested him in October and accused him of having oral sex with the boy at his home in August. The victim was six years old at the time, who had been a student at Pichcuskie's Pine Avenue karate school. The boy's mother alerted police after her son confessed what happened.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

LOCK-CITY'S RAMP PROBLEMS MAY SOON CRUMBLE ::Thursday, May 15th::

The city's parking ramps fate is sealed! The hulking, much maligned structure at Main and Pine will be demolished as decreed by the common council last night. In their weekly work session, Mayor Tucker obtained the alderman's blessing of a two-pronged request: either the ramp is torn down and a mix of a two level underground parking and above-ground retail space is built in its place, or new underground parking is topped with a surface parking lot and a reworked Fountain Park. Tucker says this is our one and only time to do something with the ramp, saying it's the last remaining piece of 'urban renewal,' and that's a dirty word around here. "This is our chance to bury it." Now the process begins as to which option the city will pursue, with developers expected to pitch various ideas to the council who will then in time make the final decision.

SIX FIGURE SUIT FOR TRASH TALKING GETS DENIED ::Thursday, May 15th::

In Lewiston, Ed Lilly's $650-thousand slander and libel suit against colleagues past and present has been dismissed. Judge Ralph Boniello decided that statements made by Lilly's former colleagues David Schaubert and Louie Palmeri last year were made as school board members, and thus not libelous or slanderous. Lilly said yesterday that he was surprised and disappointed by the judge's ruling, saying, "the reason I'm disappointed is that they have used the school board to slander and libel me, and the judge gave them immunity in doing so." Lilly has the option to appeal the judge's decision, but did not confirm plans to do so.

HI-TECH FALLS PARKING METERS MAY SOON MEET THEIR FATE ::Thursday, May 15th::

A motion to end negotiations with Photo Violations Technologies and order the removal of its downtown parking meters has been placed on the city council's Monday meeting agenda. Whether a vote will be taken remains to be seen. The resolution's sponsor - Council Chair Sam Fruscione - says the only way to save the pilot program is if all of the meters are functioning properly, if a system is in place to collect violations, and if the company and the mayor's administration have agreed on an extension. With Fruscione ready to play hardball, saying quote, "if those three issues aren't in place, I'm calling for a vote to end this." In his resolution, Fruscione points out that the city entered into an agreement with the Vancouver based company in December 2006 to install nearly 100 parking meters downtown, with the understanding that they would be operational by Memorial Day 2007. The hi-tech meters - which can operate wirelessly and allow motorists to pay with cash or credit cards - weren't brought online until July 4th, and there have been many problems with power issues and National Grid. On May 5th the council issued a two week deadline for the company to show that all 94 digital parking meters are operational, and that a ticket enforcement system is in place. Mayor Dyster says a resolution is also being drawn up for Monday's meeting to approve the contract extension if the council decides to go that route. Dyster adds that "it's still an open question."

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

ACCUSED BASEBALL TEAM "HAZER" CAUGHT DAYS LATER WITH DRUGS SAYS HE WAS ILLEGALLY SEARCHED ::Wednesday, May 14th::

In Porter, the lawyer for 16 year old Colton Sherman said Tuesday that his client was illegally searched and arrested on May 8th, because of his involvement with the Wilson Hazing case. Sherman is one of the three Wilson High baseball players charged in the alleged sexual assault. Sherman and two other teens were arrested April 25th for 3rd degree sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child. He was arrested again about two weeks later after police said they found him out at 1:30am with hydrocodone pills, and bags of a white powdery substance in his pocket. In that incident, Sheriff's deputies stopped Sherman and two other 16 year old boys as they walked through a car dealership parking lot on Ransomville Road. Deputies patted the boys down for weapons and found the pills on Sherman. He was the only one charged in the incident. Sherman's attorney Kevin Shelby says quote, "he was walking with his friends, and for no reason he was stopped and patted down." He added that he was targeted because of his name, and because of the other court case. Sherman appeared in court last night with his parents and attorney, with the judge setting a curfew for him, and ordering him back in court on June 3rd for a pretrial conference with Niagara County DA Heather Decastro.

WILSON BASEBALL COACHES MAKE PLEA ::Wednesday, May 14th::

Two Wilson baseball coaches pleaded not guilty in Town Court last night to child endangerment charges stemming from an incident of alleged sexual abuse on a team bus last month. 40 year old Thomas Baia and 35 year old William Atlas have each been charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. They were released on their own recognizance and ordered to return to court on June 26th by Town Justice George Berger. Meantime, State Police are continuing their investigation into the April 17th incident. Three varsity players sexually abused at least two JV players on a bus ride back from games in the Falls - according to the allegations - and the coaches failed to act in response. Last night's court appearance was the first for the accused coaches - both of whom are teachers - and both went before the judge with his own attorney. They were suspended from their coaching duties on April 29th. The next day they were arrested and suspended with pay from their teaching duties.

COUNTY EXPECTS TO GO AHEAD WITH LINCOLN AVE CONSTRUCTION PLANS ::Wednesday, May 14th::

Niagara County intends to go ahead with the reconstruction of its portion of Lincoln Avenue, despite the city's refusal to take part in the project within city limits. Richard Eakin - the county's public works commissioner for engineering - says we're going to carry on with the county portion, which is Beattie Avenue to Akron Road. The original plan called for the $5-million reconstruction of the entire Lincoln-Summit corridor - chiefly with federal funds - from Akron down to State. However, Mayor Tucker announced during an ill-tempered public meeting Saturday in City Hall, that the city would not take part. Eakin says the city's cooperation is still required for work on the portion of Lincoln between Beattie and Davison, because the city-town border runs down the middle of the street. Tucker says he doesn't think the city will interfere, but adds that quote, "I don't exactly know what the plans are." Stay tuned!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

THREE COUNTY CHURCHES PLAN TO MERGE ::Tuesday, May 13th::

Our Lady of the Rosary in Wilson, St. Bridget's in Newfane, and St. Charles Borromeo in Olcott will become St. Brendan on the Lake this Memorial Day. Reverend Robert Wozniak said Monday that the name came out of the blue, and that quote, "it surfaced from people's personal preference. parishioners wanted something different and considered 25 names. According to Irish legend, St. Brendan was a navigator and discovered the new world before Christopher Columbus. St. Brendan was a 6th century monk from Ireland. The closing liturgy for Our Lady of the Rosary will be in Wilson at 4pm, St. Bridget's at 9 am on the 25th, and St. Charles will have their's at 11am also on the 25th. The new parish will have two regular worship sites, St. Brendan's in Wilson and St. Brendan's in Newfane, with an oratory in Olcott. The rectory and office for the merged parish will be located in Newfane. The rectories in Olcott and Wilson will be sold.

WHEATFIELD MAN SUBDUED BY POLICE ::Tuesday, May 13th::

Niagara County Sheriff's deputies kept an apparently despondent man in Wheatfield from harming himself Monday. When deputies arrived at the Niagara Falls Boulevard address, they found the man in a 2nd floor apartment with a shotgun on his lap. Deputies said that after speaking with the man for about 45 minutes, he agreed to put the gun down and was transported to Falls Memorial for mental evaluation. The man's identity has not been released. Deputies confiscated his weapon, and no charges were filed against him.

PATERSON IN WNY TO DISCUSS FARMING ::Tuesday, May 13::

Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Dave Paterson in Batavia Monday for an agricultural town hall meeting. Schumer told about a hundred farmers that if the new farm bill is passed, it will be a victory for the more than 6,200 dairy farmers in New York State. He said he and the Governor fought to get an amendment included that ties milk prices to the price of animal feed. That would mean the increased prices farmers pay will not diminish their profits. The Senate is slated to vote on the bill sometime next week. Paterson also talked about the state's aggressive program to contain and eradicate the plum pox virus, the problems farmers having hiring seasonal workers, and a plan to encourage the exporting of the state's agricultural products to Cuba.

Monday, May 12, 2008

AIRPORT SECURITY BREACH CREATES PROBLEMS ::Monday, May 12th::

Things got a little hairy at the Buffalo International Airport yesterday. A security breach shut down the east and west concourse through the exit lane after a woman walked into the east concourse through the exit lane - unobserved. After the woman informed a ticket agent she hadn't been screened, NFTA Police evacuated both concourses so the area could be screened. All passengers had to be re-screened. NFTA spokesman Doug Hartmayer says airport operations have since returned to normal, and that the incident was just an honest mistake.

MISSING LOCKPORT GIRL FOUND O-K ::Monday, May 12th::

A 17 year old Lockport girl missing since Friday night has been found safe and sound. Monica Nicpon of Old Beattie Road was reported missing by her mother Amy, who told Niagara County Sheriff Deputies her daughter left home about 10:30pm Friday. Authorities said she was found at a friend's house Sunday night in "good shape."

ERIE COUNTY D.A. FRANK CLARK WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION ::Monday, May 12th::

Three term Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark will not run for reelection. Sources say Clark - who has had recent health problems - has decided he will not run for a fourth term. The county Democratic Party must now begin a new process of screening candidates.

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