FIVE MINUTES

A Town of Lockport man told Sheriff's deputies
last night someone stole his car radio and
speakers while he went into his apartment for
five minutes. The 28 year old resident of
Glendale Drive said he parked his '98 Dodge
Intrepid, went inside and the Pioneer Face plate
and speakers were gone when he came back out.
They're worth $450.

POSSIBLE IDENTITY THEFT

A 22 year old former employee of Applebee's
charged Wednesday with the unlawful
possession of personal identifcation information
by Lockport Police. Ryan Habalou used to live
with his sister. She told officers she found
pieces of paper with credit card numbers and
names on them while she was cleaning out his
room. Police say they don't know if he used
them to steal anyone's identity. He was held for
court.

NIAGARA WHEATFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT

Officials at Niagara Wheatfield defended the
school district last night following the release
of that state audit that said they had been
hoarding too much money that could have
been used to lower your property taxes. School
Chief Carl Militello said the criticized fund balances
made it possible for them to keep the lid on
property taxes and maintain instuctional
excellence. School Business Executive
Kerin Dumphrey said the State had
issued similiar conclusions after audits
were done in Lockport, Newfane, Wilson
and Barker. He said the State could not find
any improper spending and they used their
funds properly.

NEW CHAIRMAN OF GAMING ASSOCIATION

The new chairman of the Seneca Gaming Corporation
saying Wednesday he will bring a higher level
of transparency and accountability to the organization.
Norman Cochese Redeye said he plans to lead a reform
effort in upper management that will allow them to
get past a series of recent scandals and give Nation
members a better rate of return. He promised to
institute a tighter system of checks and balances
and said they would immediately begin a review of
all internal financial controls. Redeye is a retired
Erie County sheriff's deputy. He replaced Seneca
Nation President Barry Synder Senior last week
during a surprise meeting of the Board of Directors.
The 51 year old has been on the board since 2005.
He's also a former tribal counselor and an Air Force
veteran.

WINTERGARDEN

The USA Niagara Development Corporation has
reached an agreement to buy the Wintergarden
from developer Joe Anderson. The Director of
Upstate Communications for the Empire State
Development Corporation says a tentative
closing date is expected late this month or in
early April. The Corporation's board initially
o-k'd the purchase back in July but decided to
renegotiate after low levels of asbestos were
found and they learned it would take more work
than thought to demolish the building.

DRUG CHARGES AGAINST A LOCKPORT WOMAN

A 55 year old Lockport woman was charged
with possession of cocaine as police were
investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle
on Lock Street. Sharon Park of 119 Genesee
was found hiding behind a tree down an
embankment and allegedly admitted to having
drugs in her car. Police say they found a clear
baggie containing a red ashtray, the coke, and
a razor blade plus two glass pipes. Park is charged
with 7th degree possession of a controlled
substance. She's due in court next Monday.

LOCKPORT CITY COUNCIL

Lockport lawmakers last night created a
temporary spot in the Police Department for
a new officer. The City's Police Board
decided Monday to hire Steve Tarnowski
to replace Officer Greg Chambers. Chambers
was expected to retire this month, but
alderwoman Flora McKenzie....who is the
Council's rep on the Police Board....said
last night Chambers may stick around till next
month or later. That led the Council to create
the temporary position so Tarnowski can
attend classes at the end of the month at
the County's Law Enforcement Academy.
Tarnowski has worked as a security guard
at the Seneca Niagara Casino and the Falls
Medical Center. In other police matters, the
Council o-k'd the construction of a seperate
police locker room for female officers. It'll be
installed in the basement of headquarters by
the D.R, Chamberlain Ciompany of Lockport
at a cost of about $26,000. Lawmakers also
o-k'd a contract to clean the air ducts in
City Hall. The job will be done by the John
W. Danforth Company for $62,500. Mayor Mike
Tucker said the ducts have never been cleaned.
The Council scheduled a public hearing for April
1 on alderman Pat Schraders plan to institute
a new "neighborhood commercial general residence
district" zone on South Transit.

UNDERAGE

Two convenience store clerks were charged with
selling alcohol to an underage undercover operative
last night during a sting by the Sheriff's department,
the State Police, and the State Liquor Authority.
Twenty-six year old Aaron Fose of Cambria and
52 year old Janice Wolfgang of Lewiston were
charged with unlawfully dealing with a child and
prohibited sales. Fourteen convenience stores were
checked during the four hour blitz which started
at 6. Twelve denied the purchase.

VILLAGE ELECTIONS

Patrick Kelahan was the winner in yesterday's
mayoral election in the Village of Wilson.
The Democrat defeated Republican incumbent
Thomas Bateman 246-181. Kelahan is 52 and
also the President of the Board of the Wilson
Free Library. In Barker, incumbent Joanne
Greenwald won another two year term. She
tallied 68 votes, Herbert Meyer received 58,
and John Hayden 25. Greenwald is 69 and the
Director of the Barker Senior Citizens. She
ran on the Working Peoples ticket. The two
seats on the Village board went to Margaret
Cole and incumbent William Bodine. Cole
received 94 votes, Bodine 89, and incumbent
James Harris was ousted with 86. The elections
in Middleport were uncontested.

SCOTTISH INN

The owner of Wheatfield's Scottish Inn...and his
family...were robbed at gunpoint yesterday morning
and then duct taped by three men. Forty-nine year
old Piavin Patel told deputies he went to the door
of the Motel office around 4:40 and let two men inside
because he thought they were customers. The men were
wearing white hoods and immediately pulled down
bandannas over their faces and forced their
way into the family living quarters. A third man
quickly entered and forced the rest of the family into
the living room. Two of the men put duct tape over the
eyes and mouths of all there victims while the third
took $200 from the register. The trio then went around
the lving quarters and took a bag of cash containing
about $3,000, a cell phone, a computer and about
$5,000 worth of jewelery. Sheriff Jim Voutour said
it was two white males and one black male and
they're looking at some of the things they said and
did..saying they appeared to be very organized and
that was unusual. .

COUNTY LEGISLATURE

County lawmakers passed a resolution last
night supporting a request by two County
judges. Matt Murphy and Sara Sheldon
Sperrezza want the State Comptroller's
office to do an audit of County Treasurer
David Brodericks work on the estates of
people who die without leaving a will.
Minority Leader Dennis Virtuoso wanted the
Legislature to set up a Board Of Inquiry to
look into the issue but County Attorney
Claude Joerg said Broderick's work is not
subject to such an investigation because it's
a private matter. Virtuoso maintains Broderick
is using his county office, it's equipment and
staff for his second job. He said he would ask
the Attorney General and the FBI to look into
the issue. The Legislature also renewed the
County's 4 per cent hotel and motel "bed tax."
They passed a list of projects to submit to the
State for possible funding with stimulus dollars
and o-k'd a resolution to hire a lobbyist to
push for funding in Albany. The firm will be
chosen by the Economic Development Committee.

LOCKPORT CONTRACTOR FACING OSHA CHARGES

A Lockport contractor is facing over $43,000
in fines from the Occupational Safety &
Health Administration. Custom Crews allegedly
failed to protect workers in a trench at 1925
Main Street in the Falls. OSHA issued the
company a willful citation for not guarding the
5 foot 8 inch trench against a possible collapse
of it's sidewalls. The company was also presented
with a serious citation for not having a ladder of
other safety device to leave the trench. The
comapny has asked for an informal conference
with OSHA regarding the allegations.

DELPHI

Salaried retirees of the Delphi Corporation lost
their bid yesterday to delay a Judge's order
allowing the company to cancel their health
benefits April first. A member of the Delphi
Salaried Retiree Corporation, James Frost, told
the Buffalo News they plan to appeal the
decision in district court. He said they did not
expect the Judge would issue a stay. Delphi says
cutting the benefits will help them reduce costs
as they emerge from bankruptcy.

NEWFANE

A Burt man charged with having inappropriate
conduct with two underage children did not
appear in Newfane Town Court last night because
he did not have an attorney. Forty-four year old
James Taylor of Fuller Road continues to be held
in the County Jail on $250,000 cash bail or
$500,000 bond. He's a maintenance worker for
the Newfane School District who was put on
unpaid leave after the allegations surfaced...but
State Police say the case has nothing to do
with the School District. Taylor allegedly had
improper contact with two children under the age
of 11 between 1997 and 2003.

SENECA SMOKES

The Seneca Tribal Council ruled yesterday that
cigarettes sold on nation land must meet the
State's fire safety standards starting in
September. President Barry Synder Sr. said
the Nation recognizes it's responsibility to sell
the safest possible products. The tribe's
import-export commission will enforce the
ruling. Wholesalers say the use of the special
paper will add 70-cents to a carton of smokes.
Synder said violators could be banned from
selling cigarettes on nation land.

SIGN LAW

The Lockport Journal reporting today that
sections of the city's new sign law are being
rewritten to deal with complaints it's too
confusing and the text is inconsistent. The
36 page document was passed last October.
It contains guidelines for businesses wanting
their signs o-k'd by the Planning Board.

PERRY

A 15 year old Wyoming County boy fought off an
apparent kidnapping effort Monday night in the Town
of Perry. State Police say the man thought to be
responsible, 39 year old Paul Richards of Silver
Springs, New York, apparently took his own life
a short time later on Oak Hill Road in the Town of
Castile. They say evidence collected at the scene
and in his home links him to the crime. The boy
told police he was walking home around 10:30
Monday night on Oatka Road when Richards
approached him from behind and struck him in the
head with a handgun. Richards tried to bind the
youngster with plastic flex cuffs but the boy
managed to gain control of the gun and fired two
shots into the ground and Richards fled the
scene in a pick-up. The boy suffered several
head lacerations and contussions but was able
to make it home.

BIG WINNER!

A 19 year old Albion woman won a million dollars
March 1 in the State Lottery's "Emerald 8's"
scratch off game. Brittanae DeClerck ignored
her grandmothers advice not to play new lottery
games when she bought the ticket at her local
Yellow Goose Market. She said she sat in her car
shaking for 20 minutes before she could drive
home to tell her parents. She claimed her prize
the next day but the lottery waited till Saint
Patrick's Day to announce her luck.

LOCKPORT DRUG BUST

A Rochester man was charged with three felony
drug counts in Lockport Monday after he
allegedly sold an unspecified quantity of
cocaine to an undercover police officer.
Forty-six year old Curtis McCoy was arrested
by members of the County Drug Task Force
shortly after 11am at 387 Lincoln Avenue.

BURT MAN CHARGED

A 44 year old Burt man is being held on $250,000
bail on charges he had inappropriate sexual
conduct with two children under theb age of 11.
James Taylor of Fuller Road was arrested by
State Police after they conducted a joint
investigation with the County Office of Child
Protective Services. The incidents allegedly
happened between 1997 and 2003. Taylor was
arraigned before Newfane Town Justice Bruce
Barnes Friday and is due back in court today.

ROBERT MOSES PARKWAY

Niagara Falls mayor Paul Dyster said Monday he's
frustrated by the lack of action by the State and he's
going to ask the City Council for money to pay for
design work that would remove a section of the
Robert Moses Parkway. The City signed a deal
with three state agencies in 2006 that said the Office
of State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
would lead the project but Dyster says they haven't gotten
anything done and the City is going to have to take the
initiative. Dyster wants to remove the section within the
City and replace it with a four lane boulevard that would
replace the current Whirlpool Street. He said no
economic stimulus money can be used because
the design work has not been completed. He did not
know how much the design work would cost or where
the money would come from.

TAX PROBLEMS

A Falls couple was charged Monday with filing
false income tax returns for 1999, 2000, and 2001.
Kenneth and Phyllis Kasper were indicted by a
grand jury. They own the Algiers Motel and
allegedly failed to report over $270,000 of
icnome. The charges carry a maximum penalty
of three years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

FALLS CITY COUNCIL

Former Falls lawmaker Candra Thomason is planning
to run for another term on the City Council in the Fall.
She made the announcement at last night's Republican
party re-organizational meeting in the County Courthouse
on Third Street. She said she would push for more money
to fix up streets and neighborhoods and wants to provide
an incentive program for people wanting to spruce up their
homes and businesses. Thomason said she wants to do
away with the city's two tier tax system and establish a
tax free zone near the Casino so private business can
compete. Local attorney Ted Janese is also planning
to run for one of the three seats.

LOCKPORT PARKING RAMP

A consultant yesterday told the committee in charge
of putting up a new parking ramp in downtown
Lockport the chances of getting any grants to pay
for it are slim. Robert Curtis of Foit Albert &
Associates said there are five possible sources.
One of them is a $2.5-million "Restore New York"
grant but the City wants to use it to help build the
ice rink in the old Jubilee Building. He said the other
four involve state programs tied to housing, parkland
conservation, and a transportation enhancement
program but no decisions on them will be made till
next year. Curtsis said the city could try to put
together a deal where a private operator would help
pay for the ramp's construction in exchange for
future profits. Mayor Mike Tucker said he wants them
to keep looking for grant money.

NIAGARA WHEATFIELD SCHOOLS AUDIT

The State Comptrollers office released an audit of the
Niagara Wheatfield School District today. It found
that district officials consistently overestimated
expenditures and underestimated revenues which
generated significant operating surpluses. The
Comptroller estimates the district has about
$8-million in excess funds that could be used to
benefit taxpayers by paying one time expenditures,
reducing debt, or cutting taxes. The auditors
concluded the district did not put together a
reasonable budget for the fiscal years starting in
2004 and continuing through 2007-2008.

HIGH ELECTRIC RATES

Senator Chuck Schumer saying yesterday New Yorkers
are paying about 10% more than they should be for
their electric service. He called for an investigation
saying the high rates are being caused by deregulation.
Schumer said the state's energy auction system needs
to come out of the shadows before residents have to
needlessly shell out a nickel to power generators who
could be gaming the system to reap profits. An industry
spokesman said New York's rates are far lower but they're
being hidden by high taxes, environmental protection fees,
and an undersized transmission system.

LAKE ONTARIO MEETING

The State DEC will talk about the state of fishing on
Lake Ontario at a meeting in Lockport Wednesday
night. There will be information about this year's
stocking levels and the latest details on invasive
species. The agency will also ask the audience for
their thoughts on how the fisheries are managed.
The meeting will be from 6:30 till 9:30 at Cornell
Cooperative Extension at the Fairgrounds.

FALLS POLICE OFFICER TO RUN FOR LEGISLATURE

A Falls police lieutenant is planning to run for the
Fifth District seat in the County legislature. Bryan
Dal Porto is also an Air National Guard officer
and a veteran of the Iraq War. Dal Porto is a
registered Democrat but said he would be
seeking all ballot lines. He said the City was in
good shape when he graduated from Niagara
Catholic but now the roads are crumbling
and they have no strong voice speaking for them
at the County level. He said he's running for his
two kids....and his neighbors who he watches
working hard every day to build a better future.
Dal Porto said a formal announcement of his
candidiacy will be out within two weeks.

SIGNS STOLEN

Wilson Mayor Tom Bateman told Sheriffs deputies
yesterday 22 of his re-election posters were stolen
overnight. The election is Wednesday and Bateman
said it would be impossible to replace the missing
signs. He has only one opponent , Patrick Kelehan,
and it appears none of his signs were taken.

SAINT PATRICKS DAY

The Lockport chapter of the Ancient Order of the
Hibernians is inviting the community to a noon
Mass tomorrow at All Saints Parish, the former
Saint Patricks Church. A parade afterwards will
go to the Big Bridge where a brief ceremony will
be held honoring the descendents of Irish heritage
in the City. A celebration will follow at the American
Legion. In the Falls, the 27th annual party runs
from 5 till 10 Tuesday at the Conference Center.
The music will be provided by the Lochside
Celtic Band from Buffalo and there'll also be
entertainment by the McCarthy School of Irish
Dance. The party also celebrates the city's birthday
and Mayor Paul Dyster will be there. The festivties
will be preceded by the world's shortest parade
running from the Old Falls Boulevard to the Conference
Center entrance. It begins at 4:45.