SCHAFER

A 49 year old Porter man who was arrested by State
Police last week on child sex abuse charges is a former
social services worker for the County. Franklin Schafer
stopped working for the County two years ago. He used
to drive foster children to and from doctor's appointments.
Schafer allegedly abused a girl in the prescence of a boy,
both younger than the age of 11. He was in County Court
yesterday where a trial date was set for June 8. The charges
carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

GILLIBRAND

Newly appointed Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will hold
closed door meetings with top elected officials tomorrow
as she makes her first visit to Western New York. County
manager Greg Lewis will be among them. Gillibrand's
office said the meeting would take place at the Excellence
In Bioinformatics Center on the Buffalo Niagara Medical
Campus. Congressman Brian Higgins is also expected
to meet with Gillibrand who was appointed to take the
Senate seat after Hillary Clinton became Secretary of
State. She will also meet with reporters before moving
on to another event in Rochester. Her office also
announced her committe assignments today. She will
serve on the Environment & Public Works, Agriculture,
and Foreign Relations committees.

STATE OF THE CITY

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster last night called on
City residents to join him in working on five major goals
during his 40-minute State of the City address. He said
good government, a revitalized economy, a strong
quality of life, safe neighborhoods, and a green mind set
were his vision for the city. He told the 200 or so
people listening at the Conference Center he would
work with the City Council this year to pass a new
comprehensive plan and updated zoning codes and
to promote diversity in the City's workforce.

LEARDINI OUT OF RETIREMENT

Retired Wilson School District Business Administrator
Bill Leardini was hired by the Niagara Falls School Board
last night. He'll handle their business duties while they
search for someone to take the job full time. Leardini
will start February 11. The deal calls for him to work
through the end of June at $600 a day. He retired from
Wilson several years ago after serving for more than 20
years. He's also served as interium Business Manager at
Lockport and Barker in the past. The Board also hired
Mark Laurie as it's acting Deputy Superintendent. He'll
make about $119,000. He'll serve till a permanent
replacement is found. The Board has started a search for
a new superintendent and deputy superintendent.

LOCKPORT MALL

The Union Sun & Journal says David Ulrich wants to
buy the vacant Lockport Mall. The paper says he submitted
a purchase offer to General Growth Properties about three
weeks ago but has gotten no response. He would not say
how much he offered, just that it's significant and that he'd
pay cash for the structure "as is." He also would not say
what he planned to do with it if he got it. The Town Planning
Board has already given it's approval for a Super Wal Mart
on the site.

RECORD FINE

The Lockport Housing Court levied a record $12,000
fine this week against an absentee landlord for building
code violations. Rome Holdings of Downington,
Pennsylvania was cited last year for a leaky roof
in a 2 story rental home at 177 North Transit. They
never fixed it and no one from the company showed
up in court. Judge Tom Dimillo fined them $50 a
day for each of the 240 days since the citation was
issued. No one lives there now but the house was
occupied when the roof started leaking and the
drywall began falling off the ceiling. Rome Holdings
owns another property in Lockport that's in good
shape.

BIG FISH

The State DEC says an ice fisherman from Kill Buck caught
a 16 pound, 9 ounce walleye January 20 on Mystic Lake in
Cattaraugus County. Thomas Reed's walleye surpassed the
now historic 1994 state record by two ounces. It was also
caught in Cattaraugus County. The DEC estimated Reed's
fish was 20 years old.

NIAGARA FALLS BRIDGE COMMISSION

Norma Higgs is back in the top spot at the Niagara
Falls Bridge Commission. She was elected Chair
at their annual meeting, a position she's held in the
past. Higgs was on the Commission from 1976
thru 1996 and was reappointed to the bi-national
board last year when she served as Vice Chair.
She's also activie in the Niagara Falls Block Club,
the Niagara Arts & Cultural Center, and the Niagara
Beautification Commission. Former chairperson,
Janice Thiompson of Ontario is now Secretary.
Doctor Kenneth Loucks, also of Ontario, is the
new Vice Chair while Patrick Brown of New York
is Treasurer. The Commission's U-S members
are appointed by the Governor, the Canadians
by the Premier of the Province of Ontario.

SIENA COLLEGE POLL

New Yorkers approve of the Governor's decision to
give Hillary's Senate seat to Kirsten Gillibrand. A poll
released this morning by Siena Collge showed voters
liked her selection by a nearly two to one margin. Fifty
one percent approved of Paterson's choice, 28 per cent
did not. Upstate voters liked her most. They approved
of the appointment , 63-19 %. The same survey found
Paterson's favorability rating fell below 55% for the first
time since May. Thirty per cent now have an unfavorable
view of the Governor. The telephone poll of 622 registered
voters was taken from Sunday thru Tuesday.

RABIES CLINICS

The County Health Department will hold six free
rabies clinics this year. The first will be on March
28 at the Town of Royalton Highway Garage. Two
will be held at the Fairgrounds in Lockport, one in
May and the other in September. Others will take
place in the Falls in June and in Lewiston in
August. The final clinic will be held in North
Tonawanda in December and also include free
flu shots for humans.

NO FREE CAR

Steve Baldo Ford says they will not provide a free
car this year to a graduating senior at Niagara Falls
High School. Now that they're one of only two
Ford dealerships in the County, owner Steve Baldo
says he's getting more requests from other organizations
for help and they plan to spread these types of things
around. He said they would still be doing something for
Niagara Falls but it won't be a car. The dealership
provided one for the last three years. It went to a student
with perfect attendance for the entire school year.

FALLS EVENTS

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster will deliver his "State
of the City" address at 6pm tonight at the Niagara Falls
Conference Center. Free parking will be available in the
city lot at the corner of Third & Niagara and at the
256 Third Street lot. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
will present a free concert at 7:30 at Niagara Falls High
School. It'll feature music by LeRoy Anderson,
Engleburt Humperdink and Stravinsky. No tickets are
needed. The presentation is being provided by the School
District and The Arts In Eductaion Institute of Western
New York.

STIMULUS BILL

One of our two local representatives voted against the
stimulus bill last night, the other for it. Republican Chris
Lee joined the rest of his party and said "no" to the
$819-billion bill. Democrat Louise Slaughter voted for it.
She said our nation's economic downturn is no longer
subject to debate......and said the bill would jumpstart our
economy and begin transforming it for the 21st century.
Lee said the bill is bloated with pork and provides
$335-million for the prevention of sexually transmitted
diseases, $50-million for the National Edowment for the
Arts, and $600-million to buy new cars for government
workers. Senator Chuck Schumer said it also contains
$137-million in school aid for Niagara and Erie counties.
Education leaders say that's not enough.

LEWIS COULD BE LEAVING

County Manager Greg Lewis could be leaving in a little more
than two months. The 62 year old is one of five finalists for
a County Administrators position in St. Louis County ,
Minnesota. The Board of Commissioners there is expected
to make their choice Tuesday. Duluth is the biggest city in
that county which spans more than 7,000 square miles. Lewis
would make a lot more than he gets here..as much as
$154,000. He earns $105,000 in Niagara County. Lewis'
contract with the County runs through the end of November,
2010 but he can give 60 days notice and leave. He's been
County Manager since May 2003 and came here from
Minnesota where he led two county governments in the past.

WINTER STORM WARNING

The National Weather Service has Western New York
under a "winter storm warning" till 11pm tonight. Total
accumulations are expected to reach 8 to 10 inches
by late this evening. The snow will be heavy at times
and snowfall rates of an inch per hour are possible at
times. The snow is "greasy," and roads are extremely
slippery. The snow is expected to taper off from West
to East tonight as the low pressure system responsible
moves away.

HOMELAND SECURITY

Falls Democrat Jason Cafarella wants to create a committee
that'll bring together top law enforcement officials from Niagara
and Erie counties to discuss the best way to structure the County's
Department of Homeland Security. The department was formally
created last June nut has yet to take any actions. Lawmakers
revisited the issue in December and cut the salary for a Director
from this year's budget. Cafarella is hoping to jumpstart the
conversation. He wants the Legislature to form a committee of
14 experts to make reccomendations to them about how it
should be structured and the director's duties.

MIDDLEPORT

The Village of Middleport is planning to kick off it's
150th birthday celebration March 28. A candlelight
procession will go down Main Street and anyone
interested in taking part should call Mayor Julie Maedl
at 735-3303. Hot dogs will be served at 6 pm and light
refreshments will be served at the Firehall at 7. Maedl
will also unveil a new Village logo and special souvenir
mugs and calendars will be sold. Other activities will
be held over Memorial Day weekend and a street dance
with the Easy Street Big Band is planned for July 18.
Businesses and organizations are invited to plan an
event tying in with the celebration for Labor Day.

LOTS OF INTEREST IN WILSON

Wilson Athletic Director Charlie Jufer told the School Board
last night nine people have now applied for two open
coaching positions on the baseball team. The District had
only received two applicants when the positions were first
advertised. Both of the men had been on the bus last year
as volunteer assistants when the much publicized hazing
incident took place. Jufer said five residents are
interested in the varsity position and four in the j-v slot.
He said the two former assistants, John Thilk and Gerry
Kadryna are still in the running. The Board is expected to
make the appointments at their February meeting.

RANSOMVILLE

State Police say 49 year old Franklin Schaefer of
Dickersonville Road in Ransomville was arrested last
Thursday on charges he had sexual contact with a child
less than 11 years of age. The case was presented to a
grand jury that returned an indcitment and issued an
arrest warrant. Schaefer was arraigned before Judge
Sara Sheldon Sperrezza laat Friday and is being held on
$50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond. He's charged with
two counts of predatory sexual assault and first degree
sex abuse....both felonies...plus two misdemeanor counts
of endangering the welfare of a child.

POOR BOX THEFT

$150 was stolen Monday from the poor box at Saint
Brendans church in Newfane. Father Robert Wozniak
told deputies a man came to his door just before 4 pm and
asked for help. He said his father was in the hospital and
he needed money for gas. Wozniak gave him a $25 gift card
and he left...then about a minute later another man came and
asked to use the restroom. Wozniak led him there and went
back to his office. A few minutes later he decided to check on
him and he said the man appeared to be nervous and said he
could not find his way out of the Church. Wozniak showed
him the door, and discovered the broken poor box as he
was headed back to his office. Deputies talked to the first man
who said he had gone to the Church with a friend. He said
he did not know that he had allegedly broken into the box.
Deputies are looking for the friend and the investigation
continues. No charges have been filed yet.

ATTEMPTED MURDER

A 49 year old Royalton woman is accused of trying
to suffocate an elderly family member overnight Monday.
Deborah Kozody of Royalton Center Road is charged with
second degree attempted murder. She was arraigned in
Town Court and sent to the County Jail where she's being
held in lieu of $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond. She will
also have to undergo a court ordered psychiatric evaluation.
The Sheriff's Department did not identify the gender of the
victim but said they had suffered injuries that did not
require hospitalization. Chief Deputy James Preish called
it a very sad case of elderly abuse in an assisted living
situation. A friend of the victim called officials.

SMOKING

State Supreme Court Judge Rose Sconiers issued an
injunction yesterday barring the State from collecting
taxes on cigarettes sold to non Indians at reservation
stores. The judge agreed with attorneys who said the
State has yet to come up with a system not to tax native
American customers. Seneca President Barry Synder
Senior called it an endorsement of his nation's point
of view. The State is expected to appeal. Governor
David Paterson and Synder have agreed to talk about
the issue but no meetings have been scheduled.

RESCUE REIMBURSEMENT

Falls Fire Chief Bill McKay is hoping to get back
the money the City spent when firefighters
rescued two people from the Gorge early last
Saturday morning. He says he'll ask the US
Attorneys Office to consider if they're
found guilty..to ask the Judge if they will
consider adding restitiution to the City. He
said there was a small bit of overtime and
they're not sure if the equipment used can be
salvaged. He estimated it'll be less than a
thousand dollars. Thirty eight year old
Mark Prince and 50 year old Linda Ann
Summerfield were caught after Summerfield
snuck across the border on ice under the
Rainbow Bridge. The two appeared in Court
yesterday and Judge Jerimiah McCarthy sent them
to jail pending further proceedings. They're
charged with felony counts of conspiring to
violate immigration laws...Summerfield also
with trying to illegally enter the U-S.

NIAGARA FALLS CITY COUNCIL

Lawmakers in the Falls last night officially added
$2.63-million to the cost of the new Courthouse
and Public Safety Building. They o-k'd two
amendments to the deal that were initially
approved by a committee 14 months ago. The
amendments added the cost of an electronic
system and fixtures, furniture, and equipment
to the final bill which is now at $47-million. The
council also approved spending up to $502-thousand
for furnishings for the police portion of the
structure. Mayor Paul Dyster said the developers
would still get an 8 per cent procurement fee even
though the City would buy the furniture through
the State. That amounts to about $37,000. The
cash coming from casino revenues.

FLIGHT OF FIVE

The State Canal Corporation and officials connected with
Lockport's "Flight of Five" project will be meeting today in
Syracuse. The local committee met last night and discussed
issues raised during a previous session in December. The
Canal Corporation told them then they won't agree to
any restoration work if it interferes with day to day
operations. They're unhappy about plans to eliminate a
bridge over the old locks and the maintenance building
that lies between them and the current locks. Committee
Chairman Dave Kinyon said the talks are ongoing and
they're optimistic the issues can be resolved. He said
their goal is still to restore all five locks. He said the
draft design report identifies alternatives that'll enable
the project to go forward while the canal operates. JHe
described the situation as "fluid."

TAINTED PEANUT BUTTER

The State Health Department says there are 19 cases
of salmonella poisioning in New York as of today caused
by that tainted peanut butter. None have been reported
in Niagara County. Signs and symptoms can occur three
to five days after being infected. They include mild or
severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever and vomiting.
They usually go away in 5 to 7 days. Those infected usually
don't require treatment unless the person becomes severely
dehydrated or it spreads to the bloodstream. If that
happens it can be serious for seniors and infants. An
infected person can carry the bacteria in their intestines
for a few days or several months. They can spread the
infection to others in their homes if they don't wash their
hands.

NIAGARA FALLS CITY COUNCIL

The Niagara Falls City Council will decide today whether
they'll accept a relatively new awning and a hot dog
stand as payment for back rent due by the former operators
of the Greens Restaurant at the Hyde Park Golf Course.
Mark and Gloria Calvello and Kenneth Zuber owe about $11,000.
The Administration says clearing up the matter will allow the
city to find a new operator. Lawmakers will also vote on whether
to formally accept two amendments to the Courthouse project
that were previously signed by an advisory committee appointed
to oversee it's construction. An update on the project is
expected during their 4pm work session, along with another
on the Hyde Park Ice Rink.

SENECAS

Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder Senior says the
governor's told him they will not stop shipments of
cigarettes to reservation stores until the two sides talk
to each other. Snyder read a letter from Paterson
yesterday during a rally. In it, the Governor indicated
his desire to begin talks. More than 150 people attended
the rally just South of the Route 438 Thruway overpass.
It ran from late morning till late afternoon. Participants
held signs saying "Honor Treaties" and "No New York
State Taxes." Snyder released a statement Sunday
afternoon saying the Nation would reconsider a series
of actions announced January 13....the Nation said
at that time they planned to retain emergency response
personnel and devise a strategy to collect their own
tolls on the section of the Thrruway running through
their territory.

WILSON BASEBALL TEAM

The Wilson School District is having problems finding
coaches for this year's baseball season. The only
applicants are two former volunteers who were also
on the bus when last year's hazing incident took place.
School Chief Mike White says 47 year old John Thilk
and 60 year old Gerry Kadryna submitted their names
after no one else applied. White said they are determined
to field a team this year. The two could be hired when
the School Board meets February 10. Athletic Director
Charlie Jufer is slated to update them tomorrow on the
search. Spring baseball practice begins March 2
and the season April 3.

ENDING A RELATIONSHIP

A 42 year old Lockport man was arrested Sunday
after he allegedly attacked a woman trying to end
their relationship. Michael Clines of 271 Locust was
charged with menacing, unlawful imprisonment, and
harassment. The victim said he threw her on the bed
and punched her on the mouth and head....then threw
her against a wall. He allegedly pulled her back into the
apartment when she tried to leave.

DRINKING PARTY

Lockport Police charged two people with unlawfully
dealing with a child after they broke up an underage
drinking party just before 1am Sunday in an apartment
at 99 Garden Street. Twenty-one year old Kali
Wojtowski was the host. Police said 22 year old
Mark Dennis Junior of 8005 Ridge Road in Gasport
was merely there drinking with his underage friends.

GASOLINE PRICES

Congressman Brian Higgins and Senator Chuck Schumer
want the new Chairperson of the Federal Trade Commission
to speed up the agency's investigation into Western New York's
high gas prices. The Obama Administration hasn't named the
Chair yet but the two representatives say they want the agency's
study to be made public and they want to be sure it covers all
the bases.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

DeSales launches a school wide service project today as
they begin a week long celebration of "Catholic Schools
Week." Students will participate by contributing non
perishable food items to the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen.
Some of the younger students will decorate placemats to be
used there while the older ones will volunteer some time
at the kitchen during the February break. Major John Wheeler
will speak to the student body at 1:30 today. The service theme
will be reinforced Thursday when local dentist and DeSales
grad Jim Shaw talks to the students about his involvement
with the Big Brother-Big Sister organization and his visit to
New Orleans where he and others provide free dental care
to needy children. A Mass with Father Dumphrey will be
held at 9:30 Wednesday morning. The week wraps up Friday
with "School Spirit Day."