FALLS POLICE CAPTAIN WILL ANNOUNCE RUN FOR COUNTY SHERIFF ::Friday, May 30th::

The worst kept political secret in Niagara County is now out of the bag. Niagara Falls Police Captain Ernest Palmer will announce on Monday that he is a candidate for the republican nomination to run for County Sheriff this November. Palmer is looking to replace Sheriff Tom Belien, who will leave the post to become chairman of the State Commission of Corrections. Palmer has long been rumored as a potential candidate for the post, however, the Falls detective chief has held off a formal announcement, waiting for Belien to formally leave office. Meantime, current Sheriff's Chief Deputy James Voutour is expected to receive the democratic nod to run for the job. Palmer could also face a GOP primary. Sheriff's deputy Brian Greer has also expressed a desire to capture the republican nomination to succeed Belien.

THRUWAY AUTHORITY LOSES 'FREE-Z-PASS' ::Friday, May 30th::

Thruway Authority commissioners who set toll rates are now paying tolls like the rest of us. Authority executives - pressured by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo - cancelled free EZ Passes on Wednesday for seven current and former members of their governing board. Board members had enjoyed lifetime EZ Passes that allowed them to travel the thruway for free. The authority has approved several toll hikes, and critics duly noted the EZ Passes exempted board members from paying the toll increases they imposed on the public. State Senator George Maziarz was one of the most vocal critics, and co-sponsored a bill that helped right this wrong.

BATAVIA TEEN DIES IN FIRE ::Friday, May 30th::

Tragedy in Batavia where a teenager is dead after a fatal fire early Friday morning . Genesee County Sheriff's deputies says the blaze broke out at 2am Friday on Lewiston Road. 17 year old Erik Mooney evidently was overcome by smoke, and was found at the top of the stairwell and was rushed to United Memorial where he was pronounced dead. Two other people did manage to escape the flames. 41 year old Judy Clark told deputies that she woke up to the sound of a smoke alarm and the barking family dog. 15 year old Michael Mooney got out of the burning home through a bathroom window. 47 year old Scott Clark had already left for work. Investigators say the fire started on the porch and burned through the first floor. The Town of Batavia Fire Department is still trying to determine the cause.

CATALYTIC CONVERTERS GO MISSING IN WOLCOTTSVILLE ::Thursday, May 29th::

The Sheriff's Department is investigating the theft of five catalytic converters from a Wolcottsville business Tuesday night. The owner of Buck's Small Repair at 3060 Griswold Street said the five had just been removed from vehicles Tuesday and were hidden under a pile of junk. Nothing else was taken even though a lot of metal and tools were in plain sight. A recently hired worker told deputies he found the door open at 10:30 Tuesday night and allegedly gave deputies several conflicting stories as to why he was there. They said he was nervous during the interview. They told him a criminal investigator would be contacting him to further the investigation.

LOCK CITY METAL THEIF BEHIND STEEL BARS; ONE STILL ON THE LOOSE ::Thursday, May 29th::

Lockport Police arrested a man in connection with the suspected theft of metal from a factory on William Street. 35 year old Christopher Fitzgerald of 158 Transit Street was charged on Tuesday with burglary and possession of stolen property, along with petty larceny. Officers responded to William and Jackson Streets at about 2 pm Tuesday after a report of someone stealing scrap steel. Witnesses said they had seen a red pickup in the area. Police located the truck going south on Clinton, and the chase was on! Soon both men in the truck fled on foot, and Fitzgerald - the passenger - was apprehended. The driver managed to elude police. In the bed of he pickup officers found scrap metal that had been taken from a factory at the end of William Street. The search for the driver is still ongoing.

TOWN OFFICIALS TELL WALGREENS REPRESENTATIVES, "SIGN TOO BIG!" ::Wednesday, May 28th::

Members of the zoning board of appeals told Walgreens development agents that they're looking for conformity with sign size rules as the pharmaceutical chain looks to build a new store and Lincoln and Davison Roads. The board did not act to approve any of the five variance request by Kramer Property Holdings at yesterday's meeting, but members made it clear that they won't yield easily to a request for significantly more square footage in signage that the town code allows. The company is proposing a monument sign that covers 130 square feet. Local code limits it to 96 feet. Attorney's for Walgreen said the proposed sign is the smallest prototype by the company, and defended its aesthetic virtue. Walgreens wants to build at the site of the former Eagles Hall, in the middle of the commercial hub on Lincoln Avenue, directly across Davison Road from Rite Aid.

NEWFANE SCHOOL BOARD ANNULS MAY 18TH MEETING/CIRCUS ::Wednesday, May 28th::

A special school board meeting held to rescind a previous decision ended up getting recinded itself. In a 7-0 vote last night, the Newfane Board of Education decided to annul the May 18th meeting that was called by Carl Steiffenhoffer. Prior to the vote, the board went into executive session to discuss the matter with the school's attorney - Karl Kristoff. Superintendent Gary Porgorzelski says the annulment was approved upon the advice of their legal counsel, and the action voids and action the board took. Steiffenhoffer originally called for the meeting to ask the board to reverse its decision about paying for any legal fees board president Donna Pieszalla would encur in her defense of a complaint Steiffenhoffer filed against her with the State Education Department. He cited a law that says she could be represented by an attorney if there was a conflict of interest with the schools district's attorney. As a result of yesterday's meeting, Pieszalla's legal fees will be paid by the district, which is what the board originally agreed on bfore the May 18th meeting. She can also choose an outside attorney for any legal work related to the complaing. Pieszalla called it a step in the right direction, and that "hopefully we can keep moving forward." Meantime, resident Brian Hellner says the Steiffenhoffer should repay the district for what the May 18th meeting cost in tax dollars.

STATE APPROVES ENHANCE DRIVER'S LICENSE ::Wednesday, May 28th::

New York State motorists this summer will be able to obtain new enhanced driver's licenses, enabling them to travel to and from Canada without the need for a passport. The enhanced driver's licenses will cost an additional $30, and will only be available to U.S. citizens. They were given final approval by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after seven months of discussions between state and federal officials. The state estimates that about 1.6-million New Yorkers - out of 12-million licensed drivers - will get the new license, which officials promise will help speed border crossings as motorists reenter the U.S. into Western New York. Governor Paterson says the development of this license will help to ease long lines at our New York-Canadian border crossings, allowing commerce to flow more freely and securely in and out of the state.