EXPENSIVE TRIP

A 51 year old Ontario man who was caught trying to sneak
247 pounds of high grade marijuana over the Lewiston
Queenston Bridge was recently given a 36 month prison
term by U-S District Judge William Skretny. Stipan Krak
of Grimsby had hidden the pot in six hockey duffle bags
in the cab of his tractor trailer. The offense happened on
March 20, 2007. Officials say the pot was worth an
estimated $938,000.

TOY FUND TELETHON

The 80th anniversary of the Niagara Falls Fire
Department's "Christmas Toy Fund" will be
celebrated Saturday during their annual telethon.
The broadcast starts at noon in the High School
Performing Arts Center. Spokesman Bill Butksy
said they hope to make it a bit nostalgic by
bringing back some of the old announcers. The
Toy Fund always operates a year in advance and
the money they collect Saturday pays for next year's
activities. The show will air on Time Warner Cable
Channel 21 in the Falls and Lockport. The broadcast
itself will be handled by students at the High School.
The Niagara Eexperience Players, The Hot
Country Liners, and three live bands are included in the
entertainment line-up. Last year's money is being
spent this week. Firefighters passed out about
$30,000 in vouchers for Winter clothing Monday at
Wal-Mart to familes that had requested help. Seniors
from area nursing homes were also treated to a holiday meal
Thursday at Antonio's. The toys will be distributed to
about 1,200 kids next week.

LOCKPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT

Lockport firefighters dealt with a problem in the elevator
shaft around 6pm Thursday at N-C-C-C's Corporate Training
Facilty at 50 Main Street. We're told there was some smoke,
but no fire. There was no estimate of damage.

ASSAULTING CHILDREN

A 21 year old Falls man accused of assaulting two
children accepted a plea deal Thursday in County
Court. Rondell Levick of Elmwood Avenue plead
guilty to reckless assault on a child in one case.
He shook his 4 1/2 month old son so forcefully
last December first that it caused permanent brain
damage. He also admitted to beating his girlfriend's
3 year old daughter in April. Levick could be sentenced
to seven years in prison when he's sentenced January
22. His trial on more serious charges would have
started Monday.

METROPOLITAN

The furnishings and equipment from the recently closed
Metropolitan Bar and Grille in downtown Lockport will be
auctioned off December 16 to help pay $376,000 in
delinquent loans. City Corporation Counsel John
Ottaviano said the auction will start at 10am at the
restaurants location at 80 Main Street. Owner Pete
Calieri of Clarence received three loans totalling
$400,000 from the Greater Lockport Development
Corporation.

FINAL TALLY

Final numbers released yesterday by the Board of Elections
showed Barak Obama carried Niagara County by nearly
a thousand votes. Once all the absentee ballots were
counted and affadavit ballots were ruled upon, the final
number for Obama was 47,303. McCain had 46,348. The
Democratic candidate has carried the County in the
past six presidential elections. The Board also released
the final tally in the Sheriff's race. Democrat Jim Voutour
had 44,124 to 41,480 for Republican Ernest Palmer.

FALLS SCHOOL BOARD

The Niagara Falls School Board agreed last night to cut
$866,000 in spending as they attempt to deal with a
$4.7-million deficit. They could not agree on saving
another $243,000 by cutting five substitute teachers and
a monitor. That issue ended up in a 4-4 tie vote. Some
of the board saying they will look at other ways to
realize the savings and revisit the issue when they
meet again next Thursday. As for the $866,000 in cuts..
they included a $300,000 reduction for utlities, the
elimination of $200,000 from the contract of a technology
consultant, and the removal of $89,000 from the fue
budget ...since gas prices have fallen.

TOO MUCH

State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli says the Lockport School
District has piled up a $9-million surplus that could have
been used to cut your taxes. The number is a result of an
audit of the district that included the period between Jukly 2006
and May 2008. He said everyone wants to save for a rainy day
but is unacceptable for school districts to hold money at the
expense of local taxpayers. He said the district needs to eliminate
unnecessary reserve funds and use the surplus to reduce the
district tax burden. The audit found the district increased taxes
by 11 per cent in the 2002-2003 fiscal year. In that same year, they
also created five new reserve funds and significantly increased
the amount in a sixth. He said officials could not explain why
the reserve funds were created or why they're still needed.
School Chief Terry Ann Carbone offered no apologies when
we spoke with her yesterday. She said the reserve funds
were legal and not funded to the full amount. She said both
she and the board felt they have been very prudent and
fiscally responsible by putting money aside for a rainy day.
Nevertheless the Board has to submit a corrective action plan
detailing how they will address the concerns addressed in
the audit.

THEATRE

The City of Niagara Falls Development Corporation last
night gave the owner of the former Dome Theatre a $250,000
grant to help renovate the building. John Hutchins said he
plans to rename it as the Rapids Theatre and offer rock concerts
that'll appeal to a regional audience. The 1920's era structure
at 1711 Main has been closed since Hutchins bought it a tax
foreclosure auction last year. The entire upgrade will cost
$1.8-million and he said he needed the money to attract
private financing. Hutchins said he already has concerts
booked for next April.

LOCKPORT COMMON COUNCIL

Hoping to get two for one, Lockport lawmakers pulled a
resolution last night to buy five new vehicles for the
city's building inspectors. The purchase was put off till
their next meeting because some alderman said they had
heard commercials from car dealers offering two for one
deals. The Council was going to buy the cars through the
State after six local dealers couldn't beat the State's price
of just over $78,000. Alderman Joe Kibler also wondered
where the money was going to come from. Mayor Mike Tucker
said his Charity Ball last Saturday raised an estimated
$13,000 to $15,000 for Niagara Hospice. He said he would
not know the final number until all the bills are paid.

TOY FUND SENIOR DINNER

About 500 seniors from nursing homes across the County
expected at Antonio's today for the annual free holiday meal
sponsored by the Niagara Falls Fire Department. It'll start at
1. The meal is one of the many activities paid for with money
raised during the Toy Fund telethon. This year's broadcast
starts at noon Saturday and originates from Niagara Falls High
School. It'll be carried on Channel 21 on Time Warner Cable
in the Falls and Lockport. This year marks the 80th anniversary
of the Toy Fund.

WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT

The parents of a 12 year old Bronx girl who drowned in
the Niagara River in August planning to file a wrongful
death lawsuit against the City of Niagara Falls and the
County. The Lubowska's maintain they failed to stop
Eva Hedges and her son Timothy from operating an
unlicensed summer camp on Fourth Street in the Falls
known as Renaissance House. Magdalena Lubowska
was staying there when she was taken on a field trip
to Whirlpool State Park August 13. She slipped on a
rock and fell into the rapids. The family alledging
negligence, carelessness, recklessness, and gross
negligence.

FALLS POLICE OFFICER

The Niagara Falls police officer arrested on drug and
sex charges Tuesday night pleaded not guilty in federal
court Wednesday afternoon. Police Superintendent John
Chella said in July, the FBI, the ATF, and the DEA became
involved into the investigation into the activities of 27 year
old Ryan Warme. He said it followed years of citizen complaints.
Officials believe Warme raped two women in October 2006. He
reportedly told one of them he would take her to the reservation
and shoot her if anybody found out. And while on duty on
September 24, 2007, he allegedly forced a woman to perform
oral sex while at her apartment investigating a domestic dispute.
Investigators also alledge Warme bought cocaine multiple times
a week..at least five times while in uniform. U-S Attorney
Terrence Flynn said Warme could be sentenced to life in
prison if found guilty. He is the son of retired Falls Police
Captain Gordon Warme.

WAL MART SUPERCENTER

Town of Lockport Attorney Dan Seaman annouced
at Wednesday night's board meeting the
Appelate Division of State Supreme Court will hear
oral arguments in March on the Wal Mart
Supercenter lawsuit. Lockport Smart Growth
maintains waivers and variances given to the
retailer last year were illegal. They lost their
case before State Supreme Court Judge
Richard Klock and filed an appeal in the
Rochester court November 21. The Town Board
also decided to hold a public hearing at 1pm
December 17th on increasing sewar rates. The
plan calls for a $5 increase per quarter for all
users and adds a residential usage charge
for the first time. They would pay a dollar for
every thousand gallons used over
15-thousand. The increases would take
effect with January's billings.

NORTH TONAWANDA WAL MART

North Tonawanda City Attorney Shawn Nickerson
says he'll ask Judge Ralph Boneillo to dismiss a
lawsuit trying to block the construction of Wal Mart
Supercenter. The City must file it's challenge to the
suit filed by Frank Budway and residents of the
Wurlitzer Park area by December 17. The case is
slated to be heard January 28 in State Supreme
Court in the Falls. Budway says the supercenter
would put his grocery store out of business. Residents
maintain it will destroy the quality of life in the
Wurlitzer Park area.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE

Four residents giving County lawmakers an earful during
last night's hearing on next year's proposed $304-million
budget. Cathy Ellis of Wilson asking if they wanted her
to jump up and down because they're cutting her taxes
21-cents per thousand dollars valuation. She said
obviously you don't live in the same world the rest of
us do. Edwina Luksch, Don Hobel, and Rosemary
Warren also spoke. Lawmakers passed a resolution
asking the Governor to investigate why gasoline costs
so much in Western New York. They want Paterson
to determine if suppliers are engaged in price gouging.
Lawmakers awarded a contract to an Elma company
to design the new entrance to NCCC on Route 31.
The Palace was officially given $10,000 of casino
money to halp them meet their Kenan Challenge
goal. The money will go toward renovations at the
historic theatre.

ARREST WARRANTS

Lockport Judge Tom Dimllo issued warrants yesterday
for eight property owners who didn't show up for
their arraignment on minor property maintenance
citations. All but one involved residents who
allegedly put their trash out more than 24 hours
ahead of it's scheduled pick-up.

NEW G-M AT BRIDGE COMMISSION

The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission has hired a new
General Manager. Lew Holloway will take over the post
January 19. He's been the chief administrative officer
for the Town of Niagara-0n-The-Lake in Ontario for the
past 17 years. The Commission says more than 70
applications were considered by an international
executive search agency. The Bridge Commission
owns, operates, and manages the Lewiston-Queenston,
Rainbow, and Whirlpool Bridges. It's 8 members
consist of four from the U-S and four from Canada.
Former General Manager Tom Garlock left the
post earlier this year.

NEWFANE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER

A motion to renew the contract of the high school resource
officer was tabled at last night's meeting of the Newfane School
Board. School Superintendant Gary Pogorzelski told the
Union Sun & Journal Board President Patrick Kilcullen
wants him to get more information, options, and choices
as part of the budget process. The contract with Sheriff's
Deputy Joe Flagler expires December 31. He was paid
$65,000 but the new deal calls for a raise to $75,000.

WILSON HAZING CASE

Wilson Town Justice George Berger refusing to toss out
child endangerment charges against two suspended
coaches in the high school baseball team hazing case.
Thomas Baia and Bill Atlas must return to court January
13. Berger's decision was issued in a ruling Tuesday.
Assistant D-A Robert Zucco said they'd start talking about
a trial date on the 13th. Baia and Atlas face up to a year
in prison if found guilty. The three varsity players
are due in court next Tuesday for legal arguments
in their cases. They're now charged with various counts
of forcible touching and hazing.

SENECA LAY-OFFS

The Seneca Gaming Corporation said Tuesday 210 workers
in all departments are being laid off at their casino's in the
Falls, Buffalo, and Salamanca. Chairman Barry Snyder telling
the media he's confident of their long term business model,
but they have to be realistic about what's happening in the
economy and how it will affect discretionary spending, The
Corporation said net revenues have fallen over the past
several months. Besides the lay-off's, a salary freeze has
been instituted for anyone making over $70,000 a year.
There'll be no yearly bonuses, and members of senior
management and the Board of Directors have been asked
to take a 5 to 15 per cent pay cut to help prevent future
lay-off's.

FALLS POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED

Falls Police calling a press conference for 2pm today
to talk about last night's arrest of a member of the
department on drug and sex charges. Twenty-seven
year old Officer Ryan Warme allegedly had been
buying and selling cocaine and is also accused of
forcing two women to have sex with him. U-S Attorney
Terrence Flynn said Warme sometimes committed the
offenses while in uniform and while carrying his weapon.
He said an FBI investigation showed
Warme was buying coke from drug dealers in the Falls
two to five times a week at one point. As for the rape
charges, an Assistant Attorney said Warme held his
hand on his police firearm while forcing one of the
women to commit sodomy on him. The incident happening
last year in the woman's apartment while he was
investigating her complaint a former boyfriend abused
her. Officials said she knew Warme and had a previous
relationship with him, A second woman alledges he raped
her last year. Flynn said Falls Police Superintendent
John Chella opened the investigation and sought
federal help. He had high praise for Chella. Warme
is also slated to be arraigned sometime this afternoon
in U.S. District court.

N-F-T-A FARE HIKE

N-F-T-A customers in Niagara County will get their
only chance tonight to tell officials what they think of
plans to hike bus and rail fares next year. The agency
is proposing a 25-cent increase for Janaury 1 and
possibly another such hike in July. Spokesman Doug
Hartmayer said the second could be avoided if the
State provides about $3-million more in aid. The
NFTA won't know if they'll get the money until the
State puts its spending plan together for next year...
however cash is tight in Albany and it seems
unlikely. Tonight's hearing starts at 7 at the
Portage Road Transportation Center in Niagara Falls.
A second hearing will take place tomorrow at ECC
at 121 Elicott Street in Buffalo.

D-W-I ARREST

A Border Patrol agent called Lockport Police Monday
afternoon and told them he had followed a suspected
drunk driver from the Town into the City. Police
responded and arrested 37 year old Tony Townsend
of 197 Olcott a short time later on Lake Avenue. The
Border Patrol Agent told police Townsend nearly
struck a school bus and he also saw him holding a
cup to his face and thought he might be using drugs.
Townsend was charged with D-W-I, reckless driving,
ability impaired by drugs, and three other traffic
violations.

VACANT HOUSE

The Sheriff's Department was called to a vacant home on
Beach Ridge Road in Pendleton yesterday afternoon after
a passing motorist noticed a broken front window. The home
is owned by a couple spending the Winter in Florida and
a relative said she had last checked it about ten days ago.
Deputies said most of the rooms appeared to be
undisturbed but it looked like someone had been in the
bedroom. Cigarette ashes were also found in the bathroom
sink and a cigarette butt in the kitchen sink...but nothing
appeared to be missing.

WORLD AIDS DAY

The State Health Department will mark the 21st observance
of World Aids Day today in Albany. They'll honor individuals
and organizations statewide for their work in the fields of
HIV and AIDS. About 116,000 New Yorkers are living with
one or the other. New York remains the epicenter of the
epidemic. Sixteen per cent of all people living with the
disease reside in our state.

MOULDS

Buffalo Police Monday cleared former Buffalo Bill Eric
Moulds of any involvement in an assault early last
Friday outside a Chippewa Street tavern. They said it
appeared to be a case of mistaken identity. The victim
had told them Moulds punched him in the face when he
went up to shake his hand. They said Moulds was in the
area but was not involved in the incident. The victim was
treated at the V-A Medical Center for a broken front tooth
and a cut lip. Police are continuing their investigation.

DYSTER CHOSES CITY ENGINEER

Falls Mayor Paul Dyster announced Monday he had
selected a Los Angeles man to be the new City Engineer.
He wouldn't reveal his name but said they're talking
salary. He also said the City Council wants a chance
to meet him and he hoped he could be hired this month.
Council Chairman Sam Fruscione said they're leaning
toward not filling the position and contracting it out.
He told the Gazette they're going to let the Mayor proceed
with the process and see what the man's qualifications
are....that it would all depend on what they're getting
and how much it's going to cost.. Dyster decided not
to keep former City Engineer Bob Curtis around when
he took office in January. Dyster also announced his
first veto of an amendment made to next year's
proposed budget by the Council. He said "no" to
their plan to eliminate the position of Senior Planning
Director Tom DeSantis. Dyster must return the spending
plan to the Council by Thursday for possible overrides...
expected to happen at next Monday's meeting.

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

A report containing 32 reccomendations was presented
to the Governor Monday by the "Commission on Property
Tax Relief." They called for a property tax cap, a reduction
in state mandates, and a cut in school district personnel
costs. The Commission said districts with less than a
thousand students should be consolidated, non-
instrcutional services should be run through BOCES,
and Mayors should have greater control of schools in
the State's four big cities. Paterson said he agreed with
their finding that property taxes should be capped at
4 per cent or 120 per cent of the consumer price index.
School districts could override the cap if 55% of their
residents agreed to do so. The Commission was
established in January by former Governor Eliot
Spitzer. They held 14 public hearings, took
testimony from hundreds of individuals, and
received 45 white papers from outside parties.
Paterson said he hoped the reccomendations
would guide lawmakers toward new legislation.

GOODYEAR-DUNLOP

Goodyear-Dunlop announced yesterday they would cut
147 hourly jobs at their plant on Sheridan Drive in the
Town of Tonawanda. Fifty-two were employee buy-outs,
95 others were laid off. Passenger auto tires and
commercial truck tires will only be produced five days a
week rather than seven. The company blaming the continued
weakness in the auto industry for the lay-off's...which
they warned they would make back in October.

FRATELLI'S OWNER ATTACKED

A 38 year old Town of Lockport man is being held
without bail after he allegedly attacked the owner
of Fratelli's Pizza Saturday night on West Avenue.
Christopher Crego of Saunders Settlement Road
is charged with felony second degree assault.
Police say he attacked 47 year old Patrick Petrie
when Petrie intervened in an arguement Crego
was having with two women outside Attitudes
Bar...which is next door to the pizza place. Petrie
was treated at LMH for an injury to his orbital
socket requiring surgery. Crego turned himself
into police Monday.

WILSON

Two defendants in the Wilson hazing case returned to
school this morning. A third suspect has already
graduated. The boys appeared before High School
Principal Dan Johnson in recent weeks and he
reportedly told Superintendent Michael Wendt the
teens should be allowed to return. Town Judge George
Berger lifted an order of protection that barred them
from school. The three are slated to be in court
December 9.

STOLEN CAMERA

A Newfane man says a camera was stolen Saturday night that
he installed to catch those responsible for committing acts
of vandalism on his property. The 38 year old victim says he
uses the fenced in lot on Coomer Road to train dogs. He said
some of his neighbors don't like it and there have been various
acts of criminal mischief involving the fence. The victim says he
has other pictures from other cameras and will prosecute if the
$432 camera is not returned. Deputies interviewed two possible
suspects who denied any knowledge of the theft.

ARBY'S

A drive-thru customer who allegedly gave a worker at the
Transit Road Arby's a hard time last night was later arrested
by sheriff's deputies. They said the license of Michael Wolf
of Minnick Road had been suspended or revoked numerous
times for alcohol related offenses. Wolf's problems started
when a worker at the store called deputies just after 10:30
after Wolf allegedly became irate. Deputies pulled up as he
was leaving and followed him into the Burger King lot across
the street. Wolf claimed his food had been tampered with but
deputies told him to sit back in his pickup and give them the
keys. He did not do either...leading them to runn a check
and discover the violations. Wolf was taken to the County
Jail on $250 bail. He's due in Town of Lockport court
tomorrow night.

NIAGARA FALLS FIREFIGHTERS TOY FUND

A lot of happy faces at the Falls Wal-Mart today as
firefighters distributed vouchers for warm clothing
for needy children. They're giving out about 500
vouchers worth $60 apiece. The families are being
assisted by off-duty firefighters who make sure they
are used for warm clothing. About $30,000 is being
spent today. The money to make it all possible was
collected during last year's Toy Fund telethon. They'll
dig some more into last year's take Thursday for the
special meal for senior citizens at Antonio's. All of
this week's events lead up to Saturday's annual
broadcast from Niagara Falls High School. Students
at the school will handle all the behind the scenes work
this year. The show will be carried live on Channek 21
in the Falls and Lockport. They always work a year
ahead so the money collected this year will pay for
next year's charitable events. The fire department
wil handle the toy distribution next week. Saturday's
broadcast runs from noon until 10 p.m