ARRESTS

A father and son were among thre people arrested Thursday
in Newfane in relation to three burglary cases in Olcott. They
are 42 year old Robert Baker and 16 year old Ryan Baker...both
of 5892 Washington Street in Olcott. The son allegedly took
part in a burglary in November on Harrison Street in Olcott
where some personal electronic equipment was taken. He also
allegedly participated in another break in on Washingon Street
in Olcott around the end of last December. Cash, jewelry, and
alcohol were taken. The father was charged with possession of
stolen property for allegedly selling some of the items taken on Washington
Street. Seventeen year old James Boyce was charged with
taking part in both break-in's and for a burglary at the Olcott
United Methodist Church on December 20 where some food
items and cash were taken. He's charged with three seperate
counts of burglary, two of petit larceny, and one of grand larceny.
Ryan Baker is charged with two counts of burglary, one of
petit larceny, and another of grand larceny. The investigations into
each of the cases is continuing and more arrests are expected.

WIND CHILL ADVISORY

The wind chill warnings issued yesterday for Friday were
downgraded to windchill advisories today. The advisory
continues till 11am Saturday morning. Wind chills of 20
below are possible today and 15 below tonight and early
Saturday. Schools were closed Friday in Lockport, Niagara
Falls and North Tonawanda. The temperature outside our
studios dipped to minus 1 around 7am and stayed there for
nearly an hour. The low at the Falls Airport was 2.

LOCKPORT FIRE BOARD

The Lockport Fire Board deciding last night that all new
firefighters must be certified paramedics before they're
hired. Fire Chief Tom Passuite made the reccommendation
and the city's Civil Service Commission will add the
requirement to the job specifications before the next exam
is given in June. More than half of the city's 51 firefighters
currently have the certification. Candidates who don't have
it can take the test but they'd have to get it before they're
hired. Passuite expects there'll be one or two openings
due to retirements. The Board voted to ask the Common
Council to buy a new pumper truck. It would replace one
that's 22 years old. Pete Robinson was relected President
of the Board.

NIAGARA FALLS BRIDGE COMMISSION

The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission celebrated the
completion of the first phase of a more than $129-million
capitol project Friday on the Canadian side of the
Lewiston Queenston Bridge. The upgrade includes
the construction of a completely new toll plaza,
parking, and commercial inspection facility for
trucks expanding the number of lanes from three
to five. There's also a new maintenance storage facility.
The first truck to use the improved facility was driven by
former Bridge Commissioner Robert Lewis of Lockport.
He's the President of RELCO Systems, an international
transport company. Phase two will start in April.
It'll include the conastruction of new facilities for the
Canadian Border Services Agency, the relocation
of some plaza facilities, and an expansion of the
primary passenger processing facility. The second
phase will cost $80-million, but the Canadian government
will pay up to $62-million of the cost.

NEW STORE IN RANSOMVILLE

State Senator George Maziarz, Assemblywoman
Francine Del Monte and County lawmaker Cylde
Burmaster among those at the grand opening of a
new Crosby's Convenience Store Friday morning
in Ransomville. The store is the 31st Crosby's
location operated by Reid Stores of Brockport.
They're a division of the Reid Group which also
owns Reid Petroleuum of Lockport. The store
includes a Dunkin Dougnuts and a Corner Cafe
with free internet access. It'll employ 15 people
and is at 2569 Youngstown Lockport Road.

NOCO ROBBERY

The Sheriff's Department catching a man who allegedly
robbed the NOCO Express at 6724 Williams Road in
Wheatfield at gunpoint just before 5am Friday. Joshua
Skrzypek was caught by Deputy Nathan Shumaker on
Williams Road just as he was about to enter the LaSalle
Expressway. He was arraigned before Wheatfield Town
Justice John Mattio. Bail was set at $10,000 cash or
$20,000 property. Skrzypek is charged with second
degree robbery and criminal impersonattion.

WIND CHILL WARNING

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill
Warning that'll be in effect from 4am till noon Friday.
It'll be bitterly cold with wind chill values as low as
25 below zero. The State Health Department is urging
residents to protect themselves from hypothermia and
frostbite.

CHIARELLA

A Falls High School teacher accused of having an
inappropriate relationship with a 16 year old female student
accepted a plea deal Wednesday in city court. Paul
Chiarella plead guilty to disorderly conduct and
second degree harassment. Judge Robert Merino
sentenced him to 30 days in the County Work Program.
He must also turn in his teaching certificate and have no
contact with anyone under the age of 18 for the next year.
He's also forbidden from going on school grounds or
playgrounds unless he's accompanied by his wife
who also teaches at the High School. He will not have to
register as a sex offender. The 39 year old was originally
charged with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare
of a child. Merino said he would have sentenced him to
the maximum penalty of a year in jail if there had been a
trial and he had been found guilty.

BROKOB

The North Tonawanda man who previously plead guilty to
charges he kidnapped, drugged, and sexually assaulted a
young girl at knifepoint last March....plead guilty in federal
court in Buffalo Wednesday to receiving child pornography.
Mitchell Brokob will get an additional 20 year sentence.
Assistant U-S attorney James Kennedy Junior said a
computer recovered from Brokob's home contained
images of child pornography. What's more, a forsensic
anaylsis revealed he had typed "Pre-teen Child Rape
Porn" and "Cold Steel Knives" onto the computer.
Brokob will be sentenced March 5 in State Court for
the crimes of kidnapping and predatory sex abuse of
a child. He'll be sentenced May 27 on the porn charges.

TECH WARS

The Lockport School district won it's third straight team
championship at yesterday's Tech Wars at Niagara County
Community College. They racked up a total of 38 points.
Grand Island and Newfane tied for second with 26 and the
City of Tonawanda was third with 19. Barker wound up
with 11 points and Lew-Port 8. Over 500 middle and
high school students from 21 school districts took part.

LOCKPORT DOWNTOWN MANAGER

Lockport's new downtown program manager has not been
paid yet even though she started working six weeks ago.
Heather Peck is supposed to make $30,000 a year. She was
at last night's City Council work session and told lawmakers
the problem is being caused by a delay in completing the
certificate of organization for "Lockport Main Street Incorporated."
She said once that's done they can open a checking account.
The program is not officially run by the City government although
their agreement with the National Trust Main Street program
requires them to come up with $50,000 in donations to fund it.
She said they are close to that amount. They're still looking for
someone to donate office space.

UNITED WAY MERGER

The two United Way agencies in Niagara County are planning
a merger that will also include the "United Way of the
Tonawandas." Members of the three individual agencies
will vote on the plan at the end of next month. The new
agency would be called "The United Way of Greater Niagara,
Serving Niagara County & The Tonawandas."

BOOZE

Two Lockport men were arrested just after midnight
today after police accidentally discovered an underage
drinking party in an apartment at 300 High Street. Police
had gone there about a possible burglary in Apartment 4
and knocked on the door of Apartment 3 to see if
the occupants saw or heard anything. Once inside, they
noticed a bottle of Jim Bean on the table with multiple
cups. Most of the people inside were under 21. They
charged the host, 21 year old William Lewis, of unlawfully
dealing with a child. Another man, 19 year old Christopher
King of 28 Erie, was also arrested after he allegedly gave
police a false name. He said he did so because he throught
there might be a warrant out for his arrest. The others
were released to their parents.

SPECIAL ELECTION

Hillary's about to be confirmed as Secretary of State
and Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco submitted
a bill Tuesday calling for a special election to fill her
Senate seat. He said the State has too many
accidental officials noting that Governor Paterson
and State Comptroller Tom DiNapioli were not
elected to their offices. His bill would require
special elections for any vacancies occurring in the
office of U-S Senator from New York. It requires the
Governor...within ten days....to call a special election
within 90 days. Tedisco said if Paterson appoints
someone, they will not be seen as legitimate until
they stand for election in 2010.

SOMERSET

Lawmakers in Somerset voted last night to put out a
request for proposals for the Town's legal services...
and also decided to keep current attorney EdwinShoemaker
on until the end of March. Shoemaker took a leave of
abscence Monday from the law firm of Andrews,
Pusateri, Brandt, Shoemaker, and Roberson after the
IRS told the Town payments to Shoemaker should be
sent directly to them to help pay a personal income tax
lien of $108,000.

TRANSIT NORTH

Elected officials and Planning and Zoning Board members
from Pendleton and the City and Town of Lockport met at
City Hall last night for a meeting on the Transit North plan.
Town Supervisor Marc Smith told Mayor Mike Tucker and
Pendleton Supervisor James Reister they needed to follow
the Town's lead and pass laws implementing design standards
for businesses in the Corridor. He said the laws needed to be
passed so they would be ready when the economy recovers.
Smith said he did not expect Transit would look the same from
one end to the other and called for "cohesive uniqueness."
The plan encompasses the five mile stretch running from the
Erie County line to the Canal. They want buildings to
conform to architectural styles typical from the 1820's to
the 1920's.

SENECA NATION TO FIGHT CIGARETTE TAX

The Senecas served notice yesterday they intend to fight
the State's effort to collect taxes on cigarettes sold to
non-Indians at reservation stores. Nation President
Barry Synder Senior said they are a sovereign nation
and they have certain rights under their treaty and they
expect the State to honor them. The Tribal Council
authorized Synder to spend up to a million dollars to
retain and train emergency response personnel. Tribal
Council member Richard Nephew said they would take
steps to make sure that food, water,medicine and medical
emergency services would continue if they're under seige
by the State of New York again. The Senecas are also
suing to collect $20-million in tolls they say the Thruway
Authority owes them for using their land near Irving. They're
also making plans to collect the tolls themselves if the
State refuses to give them the money. The State plans to
begin collecting the cigarette taxes February 13.

LEE APPOINTMENT

Congressman Chris Lee has been appointed by House
Republican leaders to serve on an economic recovery
working solutions group that has been tasked with
developing constructive ideas to help put the nation's
economy on the path to recovery. Lee is the only newly
elected member named to the group. Lee said their
ultimate goal is to present ideas to President-elect Obama
and Democratic leaders that could be included in a
bi-partisan economy recovery package. He said we should
not squander this opportunity to work across party lines
and craft a package that strikes the right balance between
short-term stimulus and long term growth.

DOG BITE

The dog that bit a 20 year old Lockport woman Sunday
has been found. We're told it's owners live on
Willow Street and the victim has positively
identified it as the one that bit her. More importantly,
the animal had it's rabies shots and the woman will
not have to undergo painful treatment for the illness.
Paul Szatkowski, the girls dad, tells us a Good
Samaritan told him where the dog lived. It was
not licensed. He thanks everyone who helped out.

PROMOTION

Sheriff Jim Voutour announcing Investigator Scott Ellliott
has been promoted to Captain. Elliot's been a member of the
department since 1986 when he joined as a deputy. He's held
a variety of positions including Sergeant, DARE instructor,
juvenile investigator, welfare fraud investigator, and most
recently, he was co-diretcor of the Niagara County Law
Enforcement Academy. Voutour said Elliott would return
to road patrol supervision and would command the afternoon
shift beginning Sunday.

WILSON AUDIT

The Wilson School district has not prepared a reasonable budget
since the 2004-2005 school year. That was the word from State
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli Tuesday when he released an audit of
the district. He said officials overestimated expenditures and
underestimated revenues even though data was available to
develop more accurate estimates. The audit also found they made
budget transfers far in excess of amounts disclosed to voters.
DiNapoli says the district generated operating surpluses of $7.6-million
as a result and put the majority of the $1.9-million annual surplus in
reserves. The report says they only used about $250,000 a year to
lower the tax levy. The district is also holding $3.2-million in the
Debt Service Fund and most of it has no identifible purpose. His
office estimates about $2-million in taxes were unnessarily
levied in the 2007-2008 fiscal year alone.

WILSON HAZING

The trial for the two Wilson High School baseball coaches
involved in last year's hazing incident is expected to take
place in April or May. Assistant District Attorney Robert
Zucco said yesterday he may file a motion asking the Judge
to let him introduce evidence about reports of hazing on
the team in previous years. The Judge is expected ...on
February 26th...to schedule a date for oral arguments if
the motion is filed. Zucco told the Buffalo News no other
pre-trial hearings are needed. He said a trial date can be
set once the issue of prior incidents is resolved. Meantime
a hearing on the legality of statements given to State Police
by the three teens involved will continue on January 24.
It started last Saturday and ran for nearly four hours. The issue
is whether the parents of the accused should have been
present when they were interviewed.

DRUG CHARGES

Twenty year old Eric Sobers of 211 Lock Street is facing
drug charges. He was arrested just after 9:30 last night
after allegedly selling cocaine to an individual on Lock
Street. Police say another small bag of cocaine was also
found on him during booking.

SHOEMAKER

Somerset Town Attorney Edwin Shoemaker is taking a
personal leave of abscence from his law firm because the
IRS has filed tax liens against him. The County Clerks
office says he owes the federal government $86,000
from 2008 and more than $13,000 in 2003. He and his
wife also owe more than $29,000 from 2000. Shoemaker
also owes the Statwe $9,100 from 2008. The Somerset
Town Board is slated to appoint it's legal counsel for next
year tonight and one of Shoemaker's partners is expected
to attend. The Cambria Town Board approved a
resolution last week keeping his law firm.

SENATE SEAT

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco wants the public
to decide who'll replace Hillary in the Senate. He'll unveil
a bill this morning calling for a special election to fill the
seat and any other future vacancies. The Governor currently
makes such appointments.

"FOOLING AROUND"

A Falls man accused of killing his wife Sunday night tells
police he shot her accidentally while the two were "fooling
around." Sixty-six year old John Polley said he and his
ex-wife, Julia, had been drinking all day. He said she agreed
to come to his home at 337 78th Street to have sex, that they
got frisky with the gun, and it went off. Polley plead not
guilty to second degree manslaughter and criminal use of
weapon Monday in City Court. He's being held on $100,000
bail. Detective Captain Ernest Palmer said each of them had
been arrested in the past for DWI but there was no history of
domestic violence. They divorced about 6 1/2 years ago.
Julia Polley was a 1974 graduate of Niagara Falls High School
and served as President of the John Welch American Legion
Auxillary for six years. She helped organize food baskets
for the needy during the holiday season. She was recently
elected President of the Femmes of the 40&8 Societyof the
American Legion and was a lifetime member of Saint Mary of
the Cataract Catholic Church.

WILSON

An 18 year old resident of Burt was charged with possession of
marijuana after Sheriff's deputies came upon a smoke filled
vehicle just before 6pm Saturday in the parking lot of the Wilson
pier. John Caleb Staley of East Lake Road was in the vehicle
with three others but allegedly admitted the pot was his. Deputies
allegedly found a bottle of Seroquel pills and anorther
unidentified pill and additional charges are pending. The other
occupants were 17 &18 and from Appleton, Newfane, and
Barker.

COCAINE

Three Lockport residents were charged with possession of
cocaine during a traffic stop Saturday night just after 8:30 on
Niagara Street. Fifty-three year old James Hunt and 50 year old
Diane Morse...both of 267 Niagara...were charged with possession
of a controlled substance. The driver, 48 year old Paul Root of
167 Chestnut with possession and an equipment violation. The
car was originally pulled over the equipment violation.

INAPPROPRIATE

A 61 year old Lockport man was told not to return to
Allie Brandt's after a juvenile told management Saturday
night he had acted inappropriately in the men's room.
A report by the Sheriff's department indicatedthe man
talked to the boy outside the room and went into it
shortly after the youngster did. The boy said the man did
not look over or under the stall and never made any
physical contact with him. Management said the man
walked out of the business when they tried to talk to
him. He was found in the parking lot by deputies and
denied talking to the boy or drinking alcohol. Deputies
drove the man home.

WHITE DOG

A Lockport man is looking for a white dog that bit his
20 year old daughter yesterday on Maple near Willow.
The incident happened as she was walking their dog
with a friend between 3:30 &4. Paul Szaktkowski says
the friend kicked the white dog off his daughter and the
dog ran down Maple toward the Prics Street area. The
woman was taken to LMH for treatment and Szatkowski
says they must find the animal within ten days to
determine if it had rabies shots. Anyone with information
is asked to call 439-1817 or Lockport Police.

COLD WEATHER ON THE WAY

Some of the coldest weather we've experienced in four
years will be invading Western New York by mid-week.
Forecaster Steve McLaughlin says it's been building up
over Western Canada and Alaska where temperatures
have been -50 and -60. It's been slowly oozing it's way
South and will make it's way here via a couple of low
pressure systems. The first will come through tomorrow
and produce very windy conditions and a couple of inches
of snow. He says the coldest day will be on Friday and
we'll be lucky if the daytime high reaches 5 degrees. The
overnight low could be 5 below. Temperatures should
return to the upper 20's by Sunday.

ICE ARENA

The opening date for Lockport's ice arena has been pushed
back to Spring of 2010. Spokesman John Ottaviano says
they're run into problems getting the $400,000 state grant needed
to buy the former Jubilee building on Chestnut Street. The money
is supposed to come from the State Dormitory Authority and
they're awaiting several pieces of information...a copy of the
appraisal of the structure done by Benderson Development,
a long form copy of an environmental impact study, a copy of
the extension of a real estate contract, and the Authority wants
a new version of the group's budget that would include the
acquisition of some equipment. He says most of this will be in
the mail by Friday. He said the state's budget crisis and the
economy are also contribituting factors. The ice arena board
met Saturday and talked with a Buffalo consultant about
strategies for future fundraising. Ottaviano says the first
objective will be directed toward endowments and foundations.

FALLS SHOOTING

A 66 year old Falls man has been charged with fatally shooting his
ex-wife in the head around 10pm Sunday in the basement of a
home on 78th Street. John Anthony Polley is being held on
$100,000 bail after being arraigned this morning before Judge
Robert Merino. He plead not guilty and will be back in court
January 20. Detective Captain Ernest Palmer said the victim
is 52 year old Julia Polley. He said Mr. Polley called them following
the shooting. The first officers on the scene came upon Polley in
the driveway of the home and he had to be forcibly subdued.
Officers found his wife's body on a bed in the basement and she
had been shot once in the face. He's charged with manslaughter
and criminal use of a firearm. Palmer said Polley admitted to
firing the gun and could not give them a reason why the shooting
occurred. Palmer said they were attempting to resolve thier problems
and the two lived in the same home.