CITY HALL FIRE

Workers at Niagara Falls City Hall were evacuated
for about 20 minutes this morning due to a fire
in the mechanical room for the main elevator . The
problem was discovered around 10:45 and
Fire Chief Bill McKay was convienently in the
building at the time attending an event for the
YWCA Stand Against Racism. There is no
estimate of damage or cause yet.

DELPHI

President Obama's Auto Task Force will meet
with officials from Delphi and General Motors
Monday for talks that could finally lead to
Delphi's emergence from bankruptcy. Delphi's
lenders and creditors are also expected at the
table. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Drain
o-k'd a timetable yesterday for the parties to
reach a deal. He set a final deadline of April
24 for the plan to be submitted. He also o-k'd
a deal whereby the auto parts supplier will
provide $8.75-million to help salaried retirees
offset their medical costs. The Delphi Salaried
Retirees Association agreed to drop their
lawsuit as part of the agreement. It sets up
a hardship fund to subsidize medical costs
for retirees and survivors suffering special
hardships from their loss of coverage for
medical and prescription drugs. It also lets
the Retirees Association set up a voluntary
benefit association where tax free funds
could be used to pay for health care expenses.
About 250 salaried retirees live in Western
New York.

POSTPONED!

The Newfane Lions Club has postponed their
Easter Egg hunt till next Saturday. It'll start
at 10am...April 11th... at the Newfane Middle School.

EASTER ACTIVITIES

The City of Lockport has postponed it's
Easter Egg Hunt till 1:30 pm Sunday. Mayor
Mike Tucker says the forecast for Saturday
isn't conducive to outdoor activities. It'll
still be at Outwater Park. The children will be
divided into three age groups, 2 to 4, 5 to 7, and 8-10.
Falls DPW Director Dave Kinney saidthey
are still planning to hold their activities
starting at 9:30 at Sal Maglie Stadium. Kids
should confirm their advance registartions
starting at 9:30. Three bikes will be among the prizes.
The Power Authority will have it's annual Eggs-travaganza
Saturday morning as well. It runs from 10-4
with face painting, crafts, games and prizes.
Photos with the Easter Bunny can be taken
until 2. The 4-H Teen Council in Lockport
has an all you can eat brunch, egg hunt,
and basket auction Sunday at Cornell
Co-operative Extension at the Fairgrounds.
It runs from 9:30 till 1:30pm and admisison
is $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 4-12.
The meal is being catered by Donna Eick.
The basket auction drawing starts at 1. You
don't have to be present to win but you must
buy a brunch ticket to particpate in the egg
hunt and Chinese auction.

STATE BUDGET

The State Senate passed two of it's nine
budget bills yesterday and is expected to
wrap up work on the $131.8-billion spending
plan today. One of the two approved bills
contained the touted revision to the Rockefeller
drug laws. Action was able to resume after
Senators o-k'd a measure allowing a Bronx
lawmaker to cast all of her votes at one time
so she could return to her hospital bed. The
Democrats needed her votes because they
have a slim 32-30 margin in the Senate. The
Assembly passed the 9 bills Tuesday. After
all the votes were tallied it turns out local
Democrats Sam Hoyt and Robin Schimminger
were among seven members of the party that
voted against all of them. Francine del Monte
and Cheektowaga representative Dennis
Gabryzak voted against eight. Hoyt told the
Buffalo News the spending plan pays no
real attention to the needs of Western New
York and Upstate. The Democrats have a massive
majority in the Assembly and the negative votes
had no affect on the outcome, but Hoyt told the
paper he would still have voted no if his had been
the deciding vote.

SMART GROWTH

The Appelate division of State Supreme Court in
Rochester set to listen to arguments today allowing
the Wal Mart SuperCenter to be built in the Town of
Lockport. Smart Growth Lockport is appealing
last year's decision by State Supreme Court judge
Richard Klock that upheld variances granted by
the Town's Zoning and Planning Boards. A written
decision will be issued sometime after today's
session.

LEGAL ACTION

County lawmakers expected to take legal action
next week to stop the State from giving it's
portion of the casino money to the City of
Niagara Falls. Assemblywoman Francine del
Monte and State Senator Antoinne Thompson
sponsored the bill which says the cash should
be given to the city to fix up it's streets. Both
say the County never adopted a formal policy
for using the money. County officials say a
variety of community groups have been given
cash for festivals and events that stimulate
the economy. Tuesday's resolution is
sponsored by Majority Leader Rick Updegrove.
It directs the County Attorney to revisit a
never used legal argument that claims the
County deserves a portion as one of the
host communities. The County was preparing
for a lawsuit back in 2005 but it didn't happen
because State Senator George Maziarz and
Del Monte agreed on a plan that gave the County
it's current share.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

The big push is on at Catholic Charities. The annual
appeal has collected more than $7-million, 158,000
dollars in pledges so far and the "appeal week"
wraps up Sunday. This year's target is $11-million.
Officials say the falering economy has caused 127
more families to register for help at the four food
pantries they operate and there's been a 10%
increase in those using their mental health service
programs and 50% of the clients are children.

ROYALTON BURGLARY

A 47 year old Royalton man got home from work
late last night to find his home had been burglarized.
The resident of Orangeport Road said a Toshiba
32 inch flat screen TV had been removed from the
wall in the master bedroom, a VCR/DVD combo
from his daughters room, and 25 bottles of liquor
from a basement recreation room. A variety of
watches and other jewelery were also taken, the
loss amounting to over $4,000. Deputies said a
rear window was broken to gain entry. The victim
also owns a four unit apartment house on the
property which was said to be isolated with
limited access. The break in happened between
3:30 and 11:30 pm.

NIAGARA STREET ELEMENTARY

An official with the Niagara Street Business
Association asked the Falls School Board
last night to push for laws that could reduce
the number of registered sex offenders living
near the Niagara Street Elementary School.
Ron Anderluh said eight offenders live in a
housing complex about 1500 feet from the
school and 33 within a mile of the building.
Most of the students walk to class. The
School Board will install two security
cameras outside the building Monday and
said a security officer will watch over the
area from 1 till 9 p.m.

STATE BUDGET STILL NOT DONE

The State Senate failed to finish work on the budget
yesterday after a representative from the Bronx was
re-admitted to Albany Medical Center. Ruth Hassell
Thompson had fallen ill Tuesday. State Senator George
Maziarz says activities ended around 6pm and very
little got done. They did debate the education bill
and he expected they would vote on it this morning.
The debate on the proposed utilty tax never happened
yesterday and Maziarz expects it will happen this
afternoon. He still plans to lead the charge against
the plan saying would severely impact the operations
of the GM Tonawanda Engine plant and Delphi. He
said the automotive industry is in severe trouble and
the bill would raise the cost of doing business in
New York and raise utility bills for all residents. There
are still 9 budget bills to be considered and Maziarz
expects the session could continue into Friday. He
thought they would work something out where the
Bronx senator could vote from the hospital.

NIAGARA RISES

Anotther Niagara Homecoming event is set
for tonight at the Seneca Niagara Casino.
It'll take up the entire mezzanine level and
organizer Frank Thomas Croisdale says
the Casino will put out a great spread of
food, there'll be a cash bar, a 50-50 split
and other door prize drawings. the
monthly meetings are held at different
locations on the first Thursday of each
month....all leading up to the Homecoming
event June 25-28. It's meant to encourage
former residents to return home. It'll
feature job fairs, real estate open houses,
and other events. Tonight's activities are
free and run from 5-7pm. Mayor Paul Dyster
and Council President Chris Robins will
be there.

WAL MART GRANT

The Niagara County Red Cross celebrating after
being awarded a $26,050 grant yesterday from the
Wal Mart Foundation. The local chapter was one
of 128 across the country sharing $5-million. The
money will be used for disaster readiness. The
Foundation received more than 500 applications.

G-6 FIRE

The Wrights Corners Fire Department finished
the job just after 4 this morning when a Town of
Lockport man tried to put out a blaze in his
2008 Pontiac G-6 with a fire extenguisher.
Twenty-seven year old Joshua Miller of 4595
Sunset telling Sheriff's deputies the cars horn
woke him up around 4. He went outside to find
flames coming out of the driver's side window.
He said he locked it when he went to bed around
11:30. The entire interior of the $20,000 car was
damaged. The Sheriff's department said a
canvas of the area showed no signs of criminal
mischief. The cause is not known. Miller was
treated by Rural Metro for smoke inhalation.

I'M A FEDERAL AGENT!

A 30 year old Lockport man was accused of
impersonating a public servant during an incident
outside Pour Boys Bar just before 2am today.
Edward Belcer of Birchwood Drive allegedly
told a man "I'm a federal agent" several times
when the man tried to intervene in an altercation
between Belcer and a 21 year old woman. Witnesses
said Belcer held the Newfane woman by her throat
and a man who called 9-1-1 also told deputies
he heard Belcer say he was a federal agent.
Belcer told deputies he has gotten into a verbal
argument with the woman and he pushed her
away after she began to hit him around the head
area. He was also charged with harassment. Belcer
is being held on $500 bail and is due in Town Court
April 9.

DRUG BUST

Two people from Lockport were among 17
arrested yesterday in a drug bust conducted by
the Orleans County Sheriff's Department and
Medina Police. Twenty-three year old Jillian
Bartholomew is charged with two counts of the
sale of a controlled substance. Twenty-nine
year old Relechia Person with 9 counts each
of the sale and possession of a controlled
substance. The arrests were made early
yesterday morning. The ages of those arrested
in Medina ranged from 19 to 73. One man, 31-year
old James Shanks Junior, was also charged
with two counts of assault and one each of resisting
arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
All 17 are due in Medina Village Court Monday.

BLOODS

Three members of the "Bloods" gang ...sought by
Falls Police after a recent drug round-up....have
found their way into custody in recent days.
Twenty-four year old Antwan Rose was turned in
by family members after his picture appeared on
the front page of the Gazette. Another 24 year old,
John Smith, turned himself into police Monday.
Officers found 20 year old Lawrence Smith in the
doorway of a home on Pierce Avenue Tuesday
night after getting information he was in the area.
The fugitives were among 26 Bloods targeted in
a March 12 round-up. Two more are still at
large, 27 year old Emanuel Rogers and 30 year
old Edward "Ned" Palmer.

POLLEY

A Falls man accused of shooting his ex-wife to death
January 11th was arraigned yesterday in County
Court. John Polley plead not guilty to an indictment
charging him with killing 52 year old Julia Polley
intentionally and unintentionally. Assistant D-A
Claudette Caldwell said they asked a Grand Jury
to consider both possibilities and they charged
both. Polley told police the couple had been drinking
at two veterans lodges most of the day and they were
about to have sex when the shooting occured. It
happened around 10pm in a basement bedroom in
his home on 78th Street. He told police afterwards
he had shot the woman he loved. He said they were
"fooling around" when he pointed the gun at her
with his finger on the trigger. The former Marine
continues to be held on $100,000 bail in the
County Jail.

SOUTH TRANSIT

Lockport alderman Pat Schrader's rezoning plan
for South Transit ran into a lot of opposition during
a public hearing last night at City Hall. A resident of
Woodbury Drive presented Schrader with a petition
with 106 signagtures opposing the idea during the
nearly hour long meeting. Ed Sandusky told the
alderman residential neighborhoods East and West
of South Transit are stable and added that every
place commercial goes, decay starts. Former
County lawmaker..and former City Building
Inspector Harry Apolito said Schrader's plan
would replicate what happened to Genesee Street
in the 1950's. He said that part of the city was
destroyed when beautiful single family homes
were turned into multiple dwellings and Schrader's
plan would do the same for South Transit. Schrader
said he's likely to make changes to the proposal
and remove the stretch in front of Lincolnshire
Drive. The "neighborhood commercial general
residence district" would encompass the existing
three residential zones but existing business
zoning would be left unchanged. Schrader said
he didn't know how long it would take to make the
changes but another public hearing would have to be
held before it could be considered for adoption.

PUBLIC HEARING

The City of Lockport will hold a public hearing after
tonight's 6pm council session on alderman Pat Schrader's
plan to rezone South Transit. He says they want to
change the mish-mash in place to a more friendly
zoning that makes it possible for everyone...commercial
or residential...to fix or remodel or add to their property.
He calls it the non conforming neighborhood commercial
residential zone. Residents, without affecting the character
of the residential area, would be able to add some small
commercial businesses using the existing residential
structures. No new large operations like the Rite Aid
store would be permitted and there would be restrictions
on how many people could work at a business. The
existing Rite Aid is grandfathered in. The Lockport
Plaza and the Lockport Motel are already on a block
that is zoned B-3. The move is being considered as
part of the Transit North Proposal. The change would
have to be o-k'd by the County and City Planning Boards.
Schrader says the city's 1998 master plan said the change
should be made.

RABIES

The Health Department says a fox that tangled with
a dog March 20 on Ide Road in the Town of Wilson
has tested positive for rabies. The dog did not have
it's shots and had to be euthanized. It's the first rabid
animal confirmed in Niagara County this year. There
have also been two incidents in North Tonawanda
in the past few days. A man was bitten by a fox
over the weekend on Erie Avenue as he tried to
pet it. Another man was bitten by a coyote
late Monday night while he was walking along
Sweeney Street. Neither animal was caught and
the victims are being treated for rabies. The Health
Department has issued the usual list of precautions.
A rabies clinic will be held May 16 at Cornell
Cooperative Extension in Lockport. Anyone bitten
by a wild animal or coming into contact with one is
urged to report it to the department at 439-7444.

COUNTERFEIT

A counterfeit $100 bill was found Monday night
when a woman was buying cigarettes at the
Saunders Settlement Smokin Joe's. A store
official said the bill was actually a five that had
been washed over several times and then
someone printed a $100 bill on the paper. When
it's held up to the light, you can see a hologram
of Abraham Lincoln and not Benjamin Franklin.
The woman said she got the bill from the money
exchange machine at the Seneca Niagara Casino.

SAVED BY COAT

A heavy Winter coat saved a Lockport man
from injury after a Buffalo woman allegedly
tried to stab him in the back just after 2pm
Tuesday in front of 103 Genesee Street.
Thirty-one year old Jammilla Grayson of
Maple Street in Buffalo was charged with
attempted assault, menacing, and possession
of a weapon. The man told police he saw
Grayson outside of 107 Genesee as he was
walking to the store. She was saying she
wanted to cut someone and inflict pain on
people. He saw her again as he was walking
back to his home and tried to walk around her
as she continued to say she wanted to cut
someone. She then told the man she was
going to cut his throat and took a knife and
stabbed him in the back...but it did not
penetrate his heavy jacket. The man managed
to get away from her as police were arriving.
They found a small knife near the woman.

NIAGARA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Parents and supporters of Niagara Catholic High
School are planning an all day blitz Saturday to
raise $250,000 to keep the school open. They man
phones in the Gym starting at 10am hoping to
raise the cash from alumni. Officials say the
money must be raised by June 30 or they will
have to shut the doors. If they're successful,
it'll solve the immediate problem, but they're
also facing another $500,000 shortfall next
year and supporters will be asked to make a
three year committment to the school. Development
Director Maureen Olson says about 20 alumni
pledged to contribute more than $100,000 toward
next year's need at a meeting Monday night.
The problems are being caused by a drop in
enrollment and cuts in aid from the diocese.
It is the only Catholic high school in Niagara
County.

CAIN SENTENCED

One of the so-called "Backwoods Sopranos," Christopher
Cain of Barker...was sentenced yesterday to 29 years and
7 months in prison. The 36 year old was found guilty after
a 7 week trial in December 2007 of five felony counts
including three arsons, the home invasion and robbery
of a 70 year old woman in Yates, and marijuana trafficking.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Catholic Charities announced Monday
they have collected $6.5-million of their $11-million
goal. That's about 59% of the target, the appeal
week continues through Sunday but donations
can be made through June 30. Director
Msgr. Joseph Sicari noted they did better on
opening Sunday this year...bringing in $1.6-million
as opposed to $1.3-million last year. He said the
tough economy is causing more people to ask
for help.

CASINO MONEY

The new State budget contains a provision that
would send all the local share of the casino money
in Niagara County to the City of Niagara Falls.
Assemblywoman Francine del Monte is denying
a charge by State Senator George Maziarz . He
said she worked to take the money away from the
County to get even for criticism he and County
lawmakers levelled at her for voting to sweep
surplus funds from the Power Authority into the
State's general fund. Del Monte says the County
already benefits from casino revenue that goes
to the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation
and the new terminal being constructed at the
airport. The language in the budget would have
the money for the project channelled trhough the
City rather than the County IDA, as it had been in
the past. County lawmakers met in a closed door
session with a private attorney last week to
discuss their legal options.

PALADINO

The son of real estate developer Carl Paladino
passed away last night ECMC. Twenty-nine
year old Patrick Paladino suffered severe head
injuries in an early moring crash Saturday on
Grand Island. His father said the family is
completely saddened by his death. He said they
loved him so much and he was really just starting
his life. He graduated from Bishop Timon High
School and went to Saint Bonaventure University
before joining his father's business. Funeral
arrangements are incomplete.

PIT BULLS

A 39 year old Lockport woman was arrested around
5:45 last night after her two pit bulls got loose and
apparently attacked another dog on Lewis Street.
Judy Hill of 166 Spalding is charged with reckless
endangerment and two counts of a dog at large.
Police reports say a black and white pit bull was
found in the backyard of the home on Lewis with
blood dripping from it's mouth and that a smaller
brown dog appeared to have been injured. A juvenile
male who seperated the two was treated by the Fire
Department for a cut on the hand. The other pit
bull was seen running East on Lewis toward
Robinson Place but police don't say what happened
to it.

STARPOINT

Officials at Starpoint will vote next Monday on
a $44.1-million spending plan. It'll raise taxes
an average of 1.38 per cent...that's about
30-cents more per thousand dollars valuation.
The spending plan contains money to add a
special education class for 8 students to be
held at the Fricano primary school. The students
currently go to BOCES and the district says it
will save $175,000 by having the class at
Fricano. They'll also receive State aid next
year. The budget also provides funding for
a varsity and j-v male volleyball program, another
first grade teacher, and a part time nurse would
become full time. A public hearing will be held
May 5.

GABRIEL DRIVE

Lockport police arrested a 42 year old resident of
Gabriel Drive just after 6 last night after they went
to investigate a 9-1-1 hang-up. They found a
disturbance in the parking lot where several
people were arguing. Carmen Ubiles of 47
Waterman allegedly was screaming and yelling
and eventually directed her anger at police. They
said residents came out to watch the commotion
and Ubiles was informed she was under arrest for
disorderly conduct. It took several officers to
bring her under control and she refused to be
fingerprinted or photographed at headquarters.
She was charged with resisting arrest, two counts
of obstructing governmental administration, and
disorderly conduct.

BILLS

The Bills Monday filled out the remainder of their
pre-season slate. They'll play the Bears in Buffalo
sometime between August 13-17, then play at Green
Bay between August 20-24, and at Pittsburgh between
August 27-31. They'll close out the pre-season
in Detroit on either September 3rd or 4th. It was
already known they would open the pre-season
against Tennessee in the Hall of Fame Game on
Sunday, August 9. It will be carried by NBC, all
the others will be on channel 7. The home games
will all be played in Buffalo, there is no preseason
game in Toronto this year.

FALLS REPUBLICANS

Republicans in the Falls last night endorsed
Candra Thomason, Ted Janese, and Vincent
Sandonato for the City Council race this Fall.
The decision coming after they interviewed
five potential candidates at the LaSalle branch
of the library. Thomason served one term on
the Council and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor
in 2007. Janese is an attorney with an office
on Pine Avenue. He's 31 and said he decided
to run because he's fed up with the all
Democratic council. Sandonato is 23 and a
graduate of Saint John Fisher College. He
works as a legal assistant for a law firm in
Amherst.

STATE BUDGET

The new state budget just about decided on over
the weekend. It's full of more than $7-billion in
new taxes, fees, assessments and surcharges.
Single taxpayers making more than $200,000 a
year will see an increase and it'll cost more for
a drivers, hunting, and fishing licenses. They're
also planning to add a nickel deposit for
bottled water. The STAR rebate checks have
been done away with. The total spending plan
comes to $131.8-billion, $10.7-billion more than
the Governor proposed just three months ago.
About two thirds of the increase will be paid for
with federal stimulus dollars.

HARTLAND BURGLARY

More than $4300 worth of guns and electronics
were taken during a Sunday afternoon break in at
a home on Ridge Road in Hartland. The loot
included a 42 inch Westinghouse flat panel TV,
a Sony laptop, a Remington rifle with scope,
and a G-2 muzzleloader. Deputies said a
neighbor saw a male in his mid 20's in front of the
home and talking with some other occupants in
a dark blue van. There was no sign of forced
entry. The 38 year old victim told them his father
may have accidentally given a woman a set of
keys to his home when he gave her some others
to watch over his property while he was out of town.

TRACTOR TRAILERS COLLIDE

About 150 gallons of fuel spilled this morning at
Transit and Robinson after two tractor trailers
collided just after 4am. The Sheriff's department
says both vehicles were going North when one
attempted to make a right hand turn in front of the
other . It continued northbound clipping the fuel
tank of the other. The County Haz Mat team contained
the spill. There were no injuries and no estimate
of damage. The mishap closed the North lanes for
about 4 1/2 hours.

LOU SABAN

Former Bills Coach Lou Saban is dead at the age of 87.
He died just afterv 4am yesterday morning at his home
in North Mrytle Beach, South Carolina. The Bills saying
this morning owner Ralph Wilson and the entire organization
pass along their deepest sympathies to his wife Joyce
and the entire family. They said his knowledge of the game
and his unique personality were the perfect fit for the early
years of the American Football League. Saban served two
stints as coach, leading the team to back to back AFL
championships in 1964 & '65. He turned the team around
when he came back from '72 through '76. They made the
playoffs in 1974. Saban had been having heart troubles
in recent years. He recently suffered a fall that sent him to
the hospital. The Bill said they are sad he will not be around
to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the league and their
franchise.

HOCKEY GAME

The Niagara Falls Fire Department bested the
Police 13-1 yesterday in a charity hockey game
at the Hyde Park Ice Pavillion. Thge fundraiser
was held to raise money for Officers Walt Nichols
and Mike Bird. They were shot and wounded while
on the job in February.

PALADINO

The 29 year old son of real estate developer Carl
Paladino is still in critical condition today at
ECMC. Patrick Paladino was hurt around 1:30
Saturday morning in a one vehicle accident just
outside the entrance to Beaver Island State Park
on Grand Island. Erie County Sheriff's deputies
say he failed to negotiate a turn and lost control.
His SUV went airborne across the trafiic circle
and overturned several times shearing off a tree
in the process. Paladino was ejected and thrown
about a hundred feet. He is one of three children
of Ellicott Development owner Carl Paladino.

LOCKPORT OFFICER HURT

Lockport police officer Matthew Hurtgam was treated at
Eastern Niagara Hospital-Lockport last night for an injury
to his right knee following an incident at the Wilson Farms
store on Park Avenue. Police were called there around 11:30
for a report of a suspicious male. Twenty-one year old
Aaron Coughenour of 47 Waterman was found on the side
of the store with two seperate packs of beer. Police determined
he had stolen it from the store and Coughenour tried to run up
North Transit. Officer Hurtgam was injured in a brief struggle.
Coughenour is charged with resisting arrest, petit larceny,
assault, and obstructing governmental adminustration. The
beer was worth $27.37.