JEX FUNERAL

Lockport residents lined East Avenue yesterday morning
to pay their respects to fallen soldier Albert Jex. Some
had tears in their eyes and they silently held flags
honoring the 23 year old who was killed in Iraq February
9. The procession left Prudden & Kandt Funeral Home
and Mary Brennan Taylor and her two children were
standing across the street holding a large American flag.
She told WLVL it was the least they could do for the
fallen soldier. The procession included a humvee
similiar to the one Jex was riding in when he was killed.
Mayor Mike Tucker, State Senator George Maziarz, and
Assemblywoman Jane Corwin were together in a
vehicle near the front of the procession. Maziarz
said it was a sad day for Lockport and called Jex
a true hero from Lockport. The procession made
it's way to Mount Olive Lutheran Church where about
300 people gathered for the funeral. Jex was
posthumously promoted to Specialist and his family
was presented with the Bronze Star and other medals.
He was buried with full military honors at Cold Springs
Cemetery.

PATERSON

The Governor talked about the President's proposed
mortgage bailout plan this morning on CNBC's
Squawk Box. He said he could totally understand
the outrage of people who pay their mortgages, they
pay their debts, they didn't get into this problem, and
they look up and see their neighhbor getting help.
He said, unfortunately, the way out of these economic
downturns does require some amount of helping people
who maybe don't deserve it. He said one of the problems
is the same mentality that got us into this problem is
still prevalent. He said one of the problems in New York
is that the State will get $24.2-billion dollars (in the
Stimulus bill) over two years and you would think it
was $300-billion. He said nobody wants to reduce
spending and there's an addiction to spending
in New York's government. He said the State needs
to make cuts because the $24.2-billion only accounts for
30% of the debt..and there still is 70% to go. He talked
about the TV commericals run by advocacy groups saying
the cuts are the worst in history. Paterson saying that's
because this is the worst deficit in history ..three times
larger than ever before....and no one wants to face it.
He said he did not expect the State to go into bankruptcy.
One of the items in Paterson's budget proposal calls for
a $10 fee for those who file their taxes on paper rather
than electronically. Officials say it could generate
$6.8-million during the next fiscal year. The plan would
waive the fee for those making less than $15,000, $30,000 for
couples. Forty-one per cent of those filing last year used
paper.

MARSHAWN LYNCH

A spokesman for the Culver City, California police
department says Bills running back Marshawn
Lynch will not be charged with a felony after he
was allegedly found to be carrying a concealed,
loaded, unregistered firearm. Detective Ryan
Thompson says Lynch will face three misdemeanor
charges and will be arraigned March 3. The gun was
found last week and Lynch and two other men were
questioned by police when they approached the car
they were in because it had improper plates. Pro
Football Weekly is speculating the arrest will result
in a 4 game suspension for Lynch.

PATAKI

Former Governor George Pataki is thinking about
running for the U-S Senate next year. He was asked
to consider a return to politics at a meeting in New York
City Tuesday with the chairman of the National Republican
Senatorial committe. Pataki would run against newly
appointed Senator Kirtsen Gillibrand.

CUOMO

State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo was in Buffalo
yesterday promoting his plan to consolidate government.
He wants to change state law so ten per cent of the
voters in a municipality could sign a petition requiring
officials to begin the dissolution or consolidation process.
Cuomo says the State has 10,521 local governments and it
can't afford the old structure and remain competitive. He
said the 10,521 local governments include Counties,
Towns, School Districts, Authorities, and Special Districts
and they can tax and assess fees for everything from
lighting to sewage systems. He spoke at U-B's Law School.

FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Niagara Falls School Board was told last night they
could get $3.8-million more in funding as a result of the
stimulus bill. School Chief Cynthia Bianco said the cash
would offset a projected $3-million in cuts proposed in the
Governor's budget. She said they're not sure what to
expect and there are currently eight different budget
proposals under consideration for next year. The Board
voted not to hire a consultant to watch over a $13-million
reconstruction project that'll start this Spring at 11
district buildings. The contract would have cost $107,000.
Members also accepted the resignation of former
instructor Paul Chiarella. He plead guilty to disorderly
conduct and harassment January 14 after being charged
with having an intimate relationship with a 16 year old
female student. His resignation was included in his
plea deal with prosecutors.

FALLS STREETS

Falls Mayor Paul Dyster says the Greater Buffalo-Niagara
Regional Transportation Council is expected to o-k a list
of nine repaving projects for city streets when they meet
Monday. The $3.6-million cost would be paid for out of the
$52.9-million allocated for road repairs in Erie and Niagara
counties as part of the federal stimulus bill. The "shovel-ready"
projects include resurfacing parts of Pine Avenue, Main Street,
and Packard Road...Ontario, Lindbergh, and Highland Avenues,
plus 11th, 24th, and 56th Streets. Dyster said the work should
be finished by the end of the year if all goes as planned.

MENDOLA

A Lockport man was arrested twice Thursday night on the
same charge. Forty-nine year old Anthony Mendola of
Glendale Drive was charged with criminal contempt for
violating an order of protection when he was allegedly
found in the home of a Church Street woman. Officers
let him make a phone call to post bail. They said he was
on the phone too long and asked the person he was
talking to to identify themselves. It turned out to be
the same woman. Officers promptly re-arrested him on
the same charge...criminal contempt for violating an
order of protection. The order was issued by Judge
William Watson. It expires on May 7 of this year.

NEW HOME

Lockport's Main Street promotion program will be moving
to it's own office March 1. Program Manager Heather Peck
announced yesterday they've signed a six month lease for
space on the first floor of the Historic Post Office at 1 East
Avenue. Peck said owner Steve Talarico is basically
donating a portion of the rent he would normally charge...
and the cost of the utilities to the program. Lockport Main
Street is a not for profit group set up after the City was chosen
to take part in the National Trust For Historic Preservation's
Main Street program. They offer advice on how to improve a
small community's business district. The organization had been
using space in the accounting office at City Hall. A ribbon
cutting ceremony for their new office will be at 11:30 am next
Thursday.

FLIGHT 3407

Investigaors are looking at the possibility that
pilot error was the ultimate cause of last week's
plane crash in Buffalo. The National Transportation
Safety Board confirmed yesterday they're trying to
determine if the plane's autopilot was programmed
correctly before the plane lost control. Other sources
say investigators want to know whether the pilot later
mishandled his attempt to right the plane's course.
They caution it's far too early to determine any blame
and other experts wonder if any pilot could have saved
the craft.

JEX FUNERAL

Lockport residents lined East Avenue this morning to
pay their final respects to fallen soldier Albert Jex.
Some had tears in their eyes as they held flags honoring
the 23 year old who was killed in Iraq February 9. The
procession left Prudden and Kandt Funeral home
and Mary Brennan Taylor and her children were standing
across the street holding a large American flag. She told
WLVL it was the least they could do. The procession
included a humvee similiar to the one Jex was riding in
when he was killed by a roadside bomb. It was driven by
Sergeant First Class Cobb of the New York Army National
Guard. A vehicle carrying Mayor Mike Tucker, State
Senator George Maziarz, and Assemblywoman Jane
Corwin was near the front of the procession. Maziarz
said it was a sad day for the City. The procession made
it's way to Mount Olive Church where services started
at 11. Jex was to be buried afterwards with full military
honors at Cold Springs Cemetery. The Army announced
this morning Jex was posthumously promoted to
Specialist and the change was to be reflected on his
uniform.

JOHNSON ARRESTED

A 26 year old Falls man accused of stabbing and killing
his wife January 17 plead not guilty yesterday at his
arraignment in County Court. Robert Johnson was
arrested by Niagara Falls Police Detectives just after
5pm Tuesday on Rose Street in Buffalo. Detective
Captain Ernest Palmer said a Niagara County Grand
Jury returned an indictment. He said Johnson had
been the main suspect in the killing of 32 year old
Ahkenya Johnson. He said evidence showed he was
the only other person in their Jordan Gardens
apartment. He said his story was inconsistent
with the physical evidence. Johnson told police
he found his wife's body after coming home from the
barbershop. She had been stabbed multiple times
with multiple knives. Johnson is being held on
$200,000 cash bail or a $400,000 bond.

RESIDENCY RULE

A city worker in the Falls who was fired last November
for not following residency rules has gotten her job
back but is now threatening to sue. Sandra Bowman maintains
she was the target of selective enforcement. She works in
the Community Development Office in City Hall. The City's
Corporation Counsel said they had to start enforcing the
rules somewhere and unfortunately it started with her.
She got her job back after providing a lease agreement
and other documents showing she was complying with the
law...however the City Council is slated to vote on a
resolution Monday that would make it illegal for someone to
get their job back if they move into the City after they're
let go for not following the residency rules to begin with.

WHEATFIELD HOUSE FIRE

Firefighters from Bergholz put out a kitchen fire around
5:30 last night in a home at 6053 Ward Road in Wheatfield.
Reports say a pot was left on the stove and the entire top
of the unit was charred and burned. The kitchen wall also
suffered some damage along with the cupboards near the
stove.

FARM PANEL

An agricultural advisory board put together by Congressman
Chris Lee met for the first time yesterday in Batavia. Niagara
County Farm Bureau President Jim Bittner is a member of the
23 member panel. He told Lee farmers still have a major problem
with immigration. They want him to support proposal that would
allow them to bring legal migrants into the area to work on farms.
Bittner said the plan has been around for about a dozen years
and they want him to back it. Bittner also told him about problems
in the dairy industry because of falling milk prices. Upstate
Niagara Co-Op President Dan Wolf is also on the panel along
with Torrey Farms owner Maureen Torrey. The Presidents of
the Farm Bureaus in the other Counties in Lee's vast district
are also on the panel along with State Apple Association
President Jim allen. Bittner said Lee plans on holding two
face to face meetings a year but he will also call on them for
advice anytime he needs it.

CORWIN VISITS TOWN OF LOCKPORT

Newly elected Assemblywoman Jane Corwin told
lawmakers in the Town of Lockport last night upstate
voters need to lobby together to beat back the downstate
influence in Albany. She said lobbyists and interest groups
get heard first because they're organized and loud. She
also agreed with Town Supervisor Marc Smith that a bill
requiring changes in the operations of I-D-A's needs to be
defeated. The bill, proposed by State Senator Antoinne
Thompson and Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, would require
that businesses getting IDA help must pay the
prevailing wage...usually a union wage....to all of it's
employees. Corwin said it would cancel out any tax
benefits the business receives. Smith also said he's hoping
some of the stimulus dollars will find their way to the Town
to help pay for the Transit North project.

CAMBRIA GRANT

Senator Chuck Schumer announced Wednesday
the Cambria Volunteer Fire Company will get
a $70,300 grant from the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security. That's the same fire company
that lost more than a million dollars of equipment
when a blaze broke out in their main hall Monday
afternoon. Schumer said the funding could not
have come at a better time and the money will help
them buy new equipment and resources.

CAMBRIA FIRE COMPANY

Pay no attention to what you may see in the papers,
Cambria Volunteer Fire Company Chief Dan Heiser
says they are in service. He said they were out of
commission for about a day because of the fire but
they do have an engine and rescue in service at this
time. Surrounding fire companies are helping out
with mutual aid for ambulance. . An environmental
company was to begin cleaning up the Hall this morning and they
hope to have the meeting room open by next
Tuesday. They're waiting for an engineering company
to examine the truck bay to check for strucuural damage
to the ceiling before they start cleaning it. He said the Hall is insured for
equipment and contents. They plan to start their
Lenten fish frys next Friday. Heiser thanked all the
other fire companies that have responded to their
problem saying he's gotten multiple calls from
Niagara and Erie counties offering assistance
with gear, equipment, and trucks.

STATE OF THE CITY

Lockport Mayor Mike Tucker said these are uncertain
times during yesterday's State of the City address. He
commended city workers for the jobs they do but
said government had to learn to do more with less...
calling for attrition and job sharing to cut costs. He
noted that all five union contracts with the City had
expired and they are entering full scale bargaining
negotiations. He asked union leaders to reflect
on the world today and to be reasonable and open
to new ideas and techniques . He said this year's
tax rate was reduced slightly but total spending is
up by about a million dollars because of health
benefits. He said there was positive news and
talked about the large crowds that enjoyed last
year's Molson Canal Concert Series. He said there
would be 9 shows this year, one more than in
2008, and said businesspeople had told him
they do generate repeat business. He taked up
the proposed ice rink in the former Jubilee Market
and touted efforts to spruce up neighborhoods.
The speech was delivered during the Rotary Club
luncheon at the Lockport Town & Country Club.

SENECA LOSSES

The Seneca Gaming Corporation yesterday reported an
$11.4-million drop in revenues in the first quarter of it's
2009 fiscal year. The quarter ended December 31. Net
revenues were at $138.7-million, compared to $150.2-million
for the same period last year. Table games saw the
biggest drop, off 16.5 per cent while slot machine revenue
was down 6.7 per cent. The revenue from the slots is
whats shared with the City of Niagara Falls and the County.
Seneca President Barry Synder also serves as Chairman
of the Gaming Board of Directors. He said he was pleased
with the steps taken by the Board over the past 18 months
to prepare for, and adapt tom the onset of difficult economic
times.

BAIL INCREASED FOR HAMILTON

Niagara Falls City Court Judge Angelo Morinello more than
doubled the bail yesterday for the 34 year old accused of
shooting two police officers and stabbing and shooting
a woman earlier this month on South Avenue. Adam
Hamilton's bail is now $500,000 cash or $1-million bond.
He's out of ECMC now and is being held at the County Jail.
Officer Walter Nichols was also released from the same
hospital yesterday. Officer Michael Bird was also shot
and remains on leave with a shotgun pellet lodged in his
face.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE

Members of the County Legislature's majority caucus
passed a resolution last night calling on the State
Legislature to return $308-million in surplus funds they
raided from the Power Authority at the request of the
Governor. Majority Leader Rick Updegrove said Paterson
plans to take $476-million more through March of next
year and dump it into the State's general fund. The
total money grab amounts to $750-million. Updegrove said
the cash is supposed to be used to provide low cost power initiatives
for local businesses or it could have been used to lower
electric bills. The resolution passed with no support from
the body's small Democratic minority. Lawmaker Renea Kimble
said it would not accomplish anything and called it a moot
point. The Legislature voted to give the Niagara Military Affairs
Council $40,000 of the County's casino money to continue to
lobby for the Falls Air Base. Another $5,000 was given to the
Youngstown Fire Company so they can revive their Labor Day
weekend field days. Proposals to spend more money on a
feasibility study for a second Lockport marina, a United Way
Center on Pine Avenue in the Falls, and for various events in
Lewiston were sent to committees. Lawmakers approved a
list of 31 shovel ready projects for the State to consider when
those federal stimulus dollars arrive in Albany. They total
$41.1-million.

WILSON HAZING CASE CONTINUES

Wilson Town Justice George Berger last night dismissed
some of the charges against two of the three baseball
players involved in last year's hazing incident but enough
remain for the case to got to trial. The three defendants
will be back in court March 10 to either schedule trial dates
or complete a plea bargain. Berger said the prosecution
did not provide enough evidence of any physcial injuries
and threw out first degree hazing charges against the 19
year old accused in the incident. He still faces one charge
of first degree hazing, three counts of second degree hazing
and forcible touching and a single count of child endangerment.
Berger also tossed out one of the two first degree hazing
charges against one of the 17 year olds. He still faces single
counts of first and second degree hazing and forcible
touching. None of the charges against the other 17 year old
were dismissed. He faces single counts of first and second
degree hazing and forcible touching. Assistant D-A Robert
Zucco said the dismissals were for charges that would be
very difficult to sustain in court. The judge also ruled the
statement the 19 year old gave to State Police would not be
admissable in court because police talked to him after they
had been told he had an attorney. The judge did not
disallow the statements the 17 year olds made to officials.

STIMULUS BILL

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter says the Stimulus
Bill, to be signed by the President today, could
provide as much as $76-million for road and highway
projects in Western New York. She said she hoped
to see some of it go to employ people to fix up the
streets in Niagara Falls. Mayor Paul Dyster told WLVL
City Planner Tom deSantis had touched base last week
with a senior staffer in Slaughter's office. He said
Niagara Falls probably heads the list in demand for
funds road repair and other infrastructure projects.
He said there's a very large backlog of paving jobs
that need to be done and they had submitted a number
of projects to the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional
Transportation Council. They're expected to meet soon
to put together a list of projects. Slaughter said the
State is expected to receive $1.25-billion for mass
transit and $1.1-billion for highways and bridges.
Dyster said the City is hoping to get some money to
help in the effort to convert the old Customs House into
a Train Station.

COUNTY CASINO MONEY-MARINA

County lawmakers will be asked tonight to spend $75,000
of the county's casino money to complete the feasibily
study for a second marina in Lockport. The State gave the
City a $125,000 matching grant in December and Mayor Mike
Tucker is hoping the County will provide most of the match.
The resolution is sponsored by lawmakers Keith McNall,
Tony Nemi, and Rick Updegrove. The Upper Harbor Marina
would be built on the North bank of the canal above the
locks between the Tri-Way and Stevens Street bridges.
The idea for the facility was first floated in 2006 by Dave
Kinyon, His plan called for 500 feet of docks and a
6,000 square foot building with showers, restrooms,
laundry facilities, and a restaurant. The proposal is
one of several requests for casino money to be considered
tonight. Jason Cafarella and Danny Sklarski want
$10,000 to go to the United Way of Niagara's proposed
Community Impact Center on Pine Avenue. John Ceretto
is proposing to allocate $14,000 to support a variety of
events in Lewiston.

FALLS POLICE OFFICER TO RETURN HOME

The Falls police officer shot during a domestic violence
incident on South Avenue two Saturdays ago is expected
to be released from ECMC this afternoon. Officer Walt
Nichols Jr was seriosuly wounded when he was allegedly
shot by 34 year old Adam Hamilton. Nichols mom says
her son's recovery has been helped by the support he's
received from the community.

FLIGHT 3407

Senator Chuck Schumer toured the site of last Thursday's
plane crash yesterday. He said newly appointed Transportation
Secretary Raymond LaHood told him the government will come
ti a consensus over whether airplanes ought to be landed
manually or on auto pilot when there is ice on the wings.
Schumer said they don't know yet if icing caused the crash
but he noted the National Transportation Safety Board had
previously said a plane should be controlled manually
if there's ice but the FAA never issued such a ruling. He
said LaHood is going to quickly work out the differences
to make sure it's done the right way and that it's done quickly.
The families of the victims also toured the crash scene yesterday.
They issued a statement expressing their deepest gratitude
to all the agencies that have worked so hard and in such a
professional way during their time of grief. NTSB spokesman
Steve Chelander said their goal is to clean up all the wreckage
before some Winter weather moves in tomorrow afternoon.
He said 55% of the remains have been taken from the site
and they were putting it in bins to transfer to another un-named
location. He said they had found five of the six de-icing valves,
the control column, and the steering equipment.. They estimate the
plane weighed about 55-thousand pounds when it hit the house.
Meantime about 2,000 people attended an interfaith memorial
service yesterday at Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church in Clarence.
Emergency responders and members of the Clarence High School
chorus silently placed 50 white roses in a vase during the service.

FIRE AT CAMBRIA FIRE HALL

Up to a hundred firefighters from around the County
battled a blaze around 1pm yesterday in the main hall
of the Cambria Volunteer Fire Company. Three fire
trucks and an ambulance worth a total of $730,000
were lost in the blaze at 4631 Cambria Wilson Road.
Town Supervisor Wright Ellis said he toured the
scene afterwards as they were removing the pumper
where it's thought the blaze originated. He said he
talked with the Chief and County Fire Coordinator
Jim Volkosh and he's satisfied they can continue to
provide appropriate fire and ambulance service to
residents. He said Pekin would help out and the
other neighboring fire companies would provide
equipment and ambulance service. Ellis said he could
see the smoke from the window of his home. The fire
destroyed a $350,000 ladder truck, the main pumper
valued at $150,000, a utility truck worth $100,000, and
a $130,000 ambulance. Deputy Fire Chief Shawn
McIntyre said it would've been worse if oxygen tanks
in the ambulance and equipment containing compressed
air had exploded. The Main Hall is expected to be out of
service for at least a month. Cambria also has a substation
on Upper Mountain Road with a pumper and heavy rescue
truck. All the vehicles and the fire hall are insured.

PFC ALBERT JEX

Pockets of veterans and mourners were along Lincoln
Avenue yesterday morning as the body of PFC Albert Jex
was returned home to the Lock City. About 75 people
were at the Veterans Memorial on East Avenue as police
cars, limousines, and military vehicles drove by the hospital
around 10:30. Jex was killed a week ago today when a
bomb went off near a vehicle in Mosul, Iraq. The plane
carrying his body arrived at 9:30 yesterday morning at the
Buffalo-Niagara Airport. Funeral arrangements are being
handled by Prudden & Kandt and visitation will be from
2 till 4pm and from 7 till 9pm tomorrow and Wednesday.
The public is being asked to honor Jex by participating in
a Military Stand along the funeral procession at 11am
Thursday. It'll go from the funeral home to Mount Olive
Church and aftewards to Cold Spring Cemetery. The route
will go down Washburn to Main, up Main to East Avenue
past the Veterans Memorial to Mount Olive Church. The burial
at Cold Spring Cemetery will follow an 11am service. Jex will
be buried with full military honors and numerous military
organizations in the county are expected to pay their respects.

MARSHAWN LYNCH

Bills running back Marshawn Lynch is free on $35,000 bail
after being arrested last Wednesday in Culver City, California
on felony gun charges. Police say they found a loaded firearm
on the 22 year old when they talked to him and two other men
sitting in a 2006 Mercedes Benz. Lynch is charged with posessing
a concealed weapon. The Bills issued a statement Sunday confirming
the arrest. They said Lynch has hired an attorney but they would have
no comment until they gather all the facts.