VOTER ACCESS

New York just invested $60-million to comply with a
federal law making sure people with disabilities have
equal access to voting, but advocates say that's not
what happened on Election Day. "The Center For The
Independence of The Disabled" says the State
bought the new ballot marking devices for each polling
site but failed to give poll workers ample training so
the new devices ended up being off limits to many
voters. The State Board of Elections says some counties
did not get the full shipment of devices till August so
there was little time for training. Plans to correct the
problem are already being hammered out, including
on-line training for some poll workers.

LOCAL PHARMACY CLOSINGS

State medicaid reimbursement cuts to pharmacies in New
York have caused more than 150 to close this year
according to a recent review by the Pharmacists Society
of New York State. The closures were primarily caused by
the $50-million in medicaid reimbursement cuts that took
affect in July. The Executive Director of the Pharamcists
Association of Western New York, Dennis Galuzzo, says
the cuts left New York last in the nation in pharmacy
reimbursements. He said it costs a lot more money to do
business in our state. He says the last time pharmacies
in New York got an increase was in 1976. What's worse
is that the Governor wants to make another $30-million in
cuts in next year's State budget. Galuzzo saus they can't
take anymore and there is no more to give. He said
Paterson is hitting the wrong people.

CONCERT PROMOTER SUED

The promoter who ran the shortened concert series last
Summer at North Tonawanda's Gateway Park is being sued
by one of the bands that never got to play. Dark Star Orchestra
was to perform August 2, the same night the State Liquor
Authority stopped the series for alleged illegal beer sales.
The band from Columbus, Ohio wants the $25,000 they
were to have received for performing and filed suit in
State Supreme Court in Buffalo. They also want the
$5,000 they were to have received for collection charges
and attorney's fees in case of default.

TURKEY TROT

A 21 year old Ransomville man won the men's division
in yesterday's 113th annual Turkey Trot in Buffalo. Dennis
Pollow Junior finished the eight kilometer course in
24 minutes, 46 seconds. That was just a second ahead of
Charlie Kern of Sweet Home High School and Elmhurst,
Illinois. Aileen Hoak defended her title in the women's
division finishing with a time of 29 minutes 17 seconds.
A record number of 10,200 took part. It's the first time
they had more than 10,000 participants. More than
nine thousand actually finished the course.

DISTURBANCE

Sixteen year old Shaquille Davis of 197 Pine Street was charged
with harassment around 10pm Thanksgiving night following a
disturbance involving several teens on Lewis Street. Davis
allegedly pushed the mother of one of the boys involved after
she went outside to see what was happening. She said she told
them to leave and they refused and that Davis allegedly
approached her in a threatening manner and shoved her
several times. The rest of the family then came out and the
teens dispersed. Lewis was caught by police a short time
later in close proximity to his home. He was taken back and
identified by the victim...who requested an order of protection.

BLACK FRIDAY

It's Black Friday and a group of guys from Wheatfield
and Lockport were first in line at the Lockport Wal Mart
this morning where the line stretched all the way across
the front of the store and around the side. They had been
there since 10:45 last night. The people in charge actually
opened the doors a few minutes before 5 and workers
handed out maps of the store. In the Falls area, the
Fashion Outlets got a jump on everyone. They opened
at midnight and held a tailgating party for shoppers with
the Buffalo Jills that started at 10. Spokesperson Julie
Clark said their parking lot reached capacity just after
11 and people started parking on Military Road, Factory
Outlet Boulevard and in other empty lots nearby. She
said the crowd appeared to be a good mix of Canadians and
Americans...and that several bus loads stopped in
overnight.

TWO FELONIES

A 29 year old Wrights Corners man plead guilty in
County Court yesterday to two felonies. Thomas Yarger
of Hope Lane admitted to attempted third degree burglary
for his role in an April 29 break-in at a home on Coomer Road
in Newfane....and felony DWI for his October 21 arrest in
the City of Lockport following a high speed chase where
police said he was driving a stolen car. Judge Sara Sheldon
Sperrezza said he would be sentenced January 6. Twenty-seven
year old Michael Cochrane of Newfane is also charged in the
Coomer Road case....as well as for the armed robbery of
The Daily Grind coffee shop in Lockport June 19.

VICTORIAN VILLAGE

The Union Sun & Journal reporting today that a mortgage
holder on the failed Victorian Village condo project has
filed a notice of a pending lawsuit with the County Clerks
Office. Graham Jones says he loaned $500,000 to the
project at 501 Park Lane Circle in October 2005. City
Attorney John Ottaviano told the Union Sun's Joyce Miles
18 contractors have mechanics leins and judgments against
Lockport Condominium Development LLC worth $224,000.
He said they might not get paid if the State Supreme Court
agrees to foreclosure. The 20 building, 80 condo project
was announced in May 2006 but only one building was
ever constructed. The City of Lockport is among the
defendants named in the notice of a pending suit but
Ottaviano said they have not yet received written notice.
He said the City and the others involved can challenge the
mortgage or Jones' right to be paid first from the
proceeds of the foreclosure sale.

DRUG CHARGES

A Lockport man and a resident of Buffalo were both
charged with possession of drugs following a traffic
stop early Tuesday morning on Lewis Street. Forty-one
year old George Davis of North Transit Street was charged
with driving while intoxicated and possession of
marijuana. Twenty year old Eric Cobb of Buffalo
allegedly gave police a false name. He was also charged
with three counts of 7th degree possession of a
controlled substance and possession of marijuana.
Police say they found pills, the pot, a crack cocaine
pipe and suspected crack residue.

FALLS HOMECOMING

Niagara Falls will join the City of Buffalo in it's
annual homecoming festivities next June. Mayor
Paul Dyster annouced the city's participation
yesterday morning. The event will take place
from June 25-28. There'll be simultaneous job
fairs and concerts in both cities and tours
highlighting Niagara County wineries, it's
history with the Underground Railroad, and
even mob tours. The weekend will wrap up
with a sunrise spiritual service on Goat Island.
Dyster said the nation's economic problems may
make our area look more attractive. Business
Weel recently said Western New York was one
of the best spots in the nation to ride out a
recession.

SCHOOL AID

The Governor telling school districts across the state
in a letter yesterday to get ready for some major cuts
in aid in next year's budget. Paterson said fiscal
management is all about making hard, painful decisions.
He said the Legislature's rejection of mid year
reductions in aid only means deeper declines in
funding will be necessary next year. His letter was
sent to School Superintendents and School Board
Presidents.

STAFFING AT COUNTY JAIL

County lawmakers continued talking last night at their
budget hearing about the alleged need for three more
corrections officers at the County Jail. The conversation
started Monday when Acting Sheriff Sam Muscarella
said he had talked with former Sheriff Tom Beilein.
He's now in charge at the State Commission on
Corrections and Muscarella said Belein told him
the County must comply with guidelines they issued
if it wants to continue making extra money by housing
federal prisoners. Falls Democrat Renea Kimble said
she believes the State has an ulterior motive and
demanded an independent study be done to see if
they're needed. Jason Murgia said if they are, then
the three positions must be budget neutral and they'd
have to make cuts elsewhere. County Manager
Greg Lewis reserved comment during the public
portion of the meeting...which was followed by
another behind closed doors. Lawmakers took the
time before the meeting to ackonwledge the 75th
birthday of Legislature Chairman Bill Ross and
also the buirthday of County Attorney Claude
Joerg.

SEARCH FOR PATIENT SUCCESSFUL

A K-9 unit from the Lockport Police Department and a
Sheriff's department chopper were used last night as
officials searched for a 26 year old patient who fled from
the intensive care unit at Lockport Memorial Hospital.
The man was found at his home by police around 9:20,
taken into custody, and returned to the hospital for
treatment. Police said the hospital called around 6:15
asking for their help. L-M-H said the man's condition
warranted his return for additional treatment under the
State's mental health law.

CORRECTIONS OFFICERS

Former Sheriff Tom Belein is unhappy with the staffing at
the County Jail. That was the word last night from Acting
Sheriff Sam Muscarella. He told a county budget work session
he talked with Belein Monday about variances the County receives
that make it possible for the County to make extra money by
housing federal prisoners. Belein said the State could pull
them at any time. Muscarella said Belein felt the County had
reneged on a promise last year to add six more corrections
officers at the jail...only three were hired due to budget constraints..
and Belein wants the remainder hired. It's projected their pay
and benefits would come to $120,000 a year. The County budget
office expects to make $2.7-million next year housing the federal
prisoners. It's expected the issue will be discussed behind closed
doors tonight following another budget session.

TURKEYS

Lockport's Salvation Army will get a dozen turkeys for
their Thanksgiving feast thanks to the efforts of three
county lawmakers. Legislature Majority Leader Rick
Updegrove said he heard about a shortage of the birds
in a story we broadcast last week and called lawmakers
Keith McNall and Tony Nemi about they could do to help.
The three had decided to buy some turkeys while
discussing the issue at Lil Robbins Restaurant. The
owner, Tim Reinsel heard them and donated some
more money and the had enough to buy a dozen turkeys.
The Transit Road Tops also gave them a reduced price.
The Salvation Army's Director of Volunteers Robert
Drinkwater said they were about to buy them but
decided to first put a notice about their need on WLVL.
It was heard by the lawmakers and the donation was a
result.

FARE INCREASE STILL A "GO"

The NFTA unveiled a 2009 budget Monday that assumes there
will be two 25-cent increases in bus and rail fares next year.
The first is slated to happen January 1 and the second July 1.
Executive Director Larry Meckler said they would bring in an
extra $6.5-million. The spending plan was approved assuming
the State will provide $50-million in aid. The State requires
agencies to approve their budgets by December 31 even though
Albany won't decide how much State help they'll get till
sometime next year.

FORGING PRESCRIPTIONS

A 22 year old Lockport man could be fined $250,000 and
be sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty
in federal court yesterday to forging prescriptions for pain medication.
Theodore Patti and his girlfriend stole a prescription pad
from the doctor's office where she worked and forged about
60 presciptions for over 5,000 tablets of oxycotin. Patti
admitted in court that he and his girlfriend became addicted
to the drug after being injured in a car accident in 2006. He
used the names of family members on the phony prescriptions
and paid for them using their health insurance. He agreed to'
repay them nearly $37,000. Patti will be sentenced March 2.
The Sheriff's deepartment initiated the investigation after a
pharmacist called to report a suspicious prescription..

CAR FOUND IN CANAL

A 2000 white Pontiac Grand Prix reported stolen May 12
was found in the canal yesterday as workers were
draining the waterway for the Winter. A State DOT
worker spotted the vehicle off Mill Street near Upson
Park just before 2pm. The Police Department said the
Sheriff's Department Dive Team and Beauman's Garage
fished it out of the water under difficult conditions. It
was called a total loss.

MORE CITY COUNCIL

Falls Police Superintendent John Chella told the Council
the State Liquor Authority is looking into problems at the
Club New York bar on Third Street. Chella said the agency
has requested copies of all police reports for incidents in the
bar during the last two years. A fight November 16th triggered
the action. Chella said he's told his officers to cite any bar
on the street for disorderly premises if problems continue. He
also said the department would step up patrols on Third Street
tomorrow night, one of the busiest bar nights of the year. The
Council also voted 4-1 to spend $3-million to pay for
soil testing at the Hope Six site. The action taken after about
40 residents filled the chambers waving handmade signs
supporting the project. Councilmember Charles Fournier
cast the no vote. He thinks the developers should pay the cost.

FALLS CITY COUNCIL

The Niagara Falls City Council last night o-k'd the hiring of
Craig Johnson as the city's new Corporation Counsel after
voting 5-0 not to accept any more money from the Community
Foundation of Greater Buffalo to help pay the salaries of
city officials. Chairman Sam Fruscione said they would no
longer take the cash because of the prescence of an
unknown influence. The Council removed the $75,000 from
next year's budget the Foundation would have provided
to help pay Johnson's 93,000 salary. The Foundation also
provided about a third of the $110,000 salary of City Administrator
Donna Owens and $40,000 of the salary of new Economic
Development Director Peter Kay...and Frusicone said all
of the salary of Owens and Johnson would be paid for with
tax dollars next year. He said the extra money needed to
pay Kay's salary would come from casino dollars.

DRIVING & HUNTING WHILE INTOXICATED

A 32 year old Medina man was charged with driving and
hunting while intoxicated Saturday in Colden. State Police
say they found a pick-up belonging to Dennis Monnin
blocking a lane on a country road around 5pm. They get
his home phone nunner by tracing his license plate and
his wife then gave them her husband's cell phone number.
They called it and asked Monin to move his pick-up. He was
on a nearby tree stand. Police say they smelled alcohol on
his breath when he emerged from the woods. He allegedly
registered a blood alcohol content of .21.

SPEEDING

A 29 year old Falls man who was allegedly going 70
miles an hour in a 40 mile an hour zone Sunday morning
told police they only arrested him because he was gay.
Officer John Schuster said he saw a car speed by him
just after 3:30 in the 96-hundred block of Niagara Falls
Boulevard. He said the driver looked at him as he went
by and then slid twice on the icy street as he tried to
slow down twice. The 66th Street man told Schuster
he was upset over a theft earlier in the evening and
was in a hurry to get home. Schuster said the man
begged him not to arrest him....but he was charged with
speeding, reckless driving, and speed not reasonable
for conditions.

LOCKPORT RECYCLING

The members of the committee looking into curbside
recycling in Lockport plan to meet tomorrow with
representatives of Waste Management. Councilmember
Richelle Pisceri says they've already talked with the
Modern Corporation and feels they'll be able to start
next April or May. The committee is chaired by Starpoint
School teacher Jeff Tracy and includes resident Kristen
Cook. Pisceri says Highways & Parks Superintendent
Mike Hoffman and City Engineer Norm Allen also
provide input along with Dawn Walzak from the County.
Pisceri says they can't say yet whether how much it
might cost the City or if money could be made by
starting the program. Public meetings are planned
once they get further along in the process.

NEW FIRFIGHTERS IN THE FALLS

Fourteen new firefighters will be sworn in in the Falls
at 10am today by Mayor Paul Dyster. Fire Chief Bill
McKay says it's not that they've been short budgeted
positions. He said six vacancies were caused
by retirements and promotions. The other eight hires
are being paid for with a federal grant and are based upon
the staff levels they should have and the hazard levels
created by the number of high rises and chemical plants.
McKay says the $843,000 grant was the largest awarded
to any department in the State. It runs for five years
and the 8 positions can be absorbed through attrition
if it's not renewed or the City can't afford them. All
14 of the new hires live in the City and are expected
to complete training in February. They will bring the
department up to 141 uniformed employees.

APPLETON

A large safe containing $42,000 worth of stacked $100
bills was stolen from a home in Aplleton Sunday morning
while the owner was out hunting. Sheriff's deputies said
footprints left in the snow indicated at least three people
took part. The prints indicated one burglar went to the
front door to see if anybody was home before the three
busted out a rear kitchen window. The heavy six foot
tall gun safe was unbolted from the living room floor and
hauled away. It also contained three guns including an
AK-47 assault rifle and some coin collections including
gold coins. Deputies checked the home of a possible
suspect trying to compare footprints but no immediate
arrests were made. The 64 year old victim said he left
at 10am to hunt on the property behind his home. He
discovered the break-in when he returned about
90-minutes later.