ANDREA MCNULTY RESIDENCY

A controversy is brewing about where County
lawmaker Andrea McNulty lives. She represents
North Tonawanda in the legislature but her
husband recently bought a home in Pendleton
and residents in the Colony Court area say she
apparently lives there. County Democratic Chief
Dan Rivera says he's personally seen her car
in the driveway and he believes he saw her
doing yard work in front of that house with her
husband last Saturday. He says she's defrauded
the County and should pay back her salary for
the months since she's moved. Democratic
Elections Commissioner Nancy Smith says
she checked with the State Board of Elections
to see what the situation would be if she no
longer resides in her district as an elected official
and they said she would have vacated at her
office. She said McNulty should do the right
thing and resign. She said there's always the
possibility of court action. McNulty told the
Buffalo News she is still a resident of North
Tonawanda and that she and her husband
maintain seperate finances and she owns
the home on North Jessela Drive in theLumber
City. We called her at her NT phone number at
7:20 this morning and got an answering machine and
she has not returned the call.

SUMMIT MALL

State Senator George Maziarz wants the
New York Power Authority to move it's
headquarters to Wheatfield's Summit Mall.
He outlined his plan Thursday at the
shopping center. He said NYPA could easily
sell it's 17 story office building in White Plains
and use the money to pay for the move. He
noted they would be close to their
crown jewel, the Niagara Power Project,
and that the Niagara Falls Airport was just
a few blocks away. He said NYPA Chief
Richard Kessel has previously said he's
committed to Western New York and such a
move would show he means it. Maziarz
announced he had sent letters to Kessel
and the Governor about the proposal. Town
Supervisor Tim Demler said he was optimistic
and would ask the owners of the Mall to
extend their June 6 deadline for it's
closure. He said it would give NYPA time
to respond and also let talks continue with
another interested retail party. He said the
Town was prepared to take legal action to
keep the Mall intact if NYPA indicated an
interest. The tenants told Demler they were
unsure of what to do and that they had been
besieged by realtors offering space since
the announcement of the closure. The owner
of the Krows Nest, Tim Krawczyk, said he and
others would prefer to stay put in the Mall.
Demler said he expects to know within a few
days if they will extend the June 6 deadline to
close.

WILSON TEEN CHARGED

THE 16 year old Wilson girl who allegedly
gave her classmates her deceased mother's
prescription pain killers was arrested Monday
on felony drug charges. Brandie Lowman
is charged with the criminal sale of a controlled
substance. She was arraigned by Town Justice
Robert Botzer and released to her stepfather
without bail. She'll be back in court May 28.
Lowman allegedly brought the pills to school
April 22 and gave some to classmates on school
grounds. Sheriff Jim Voutour said it was a
situation where drugs were being handed
out in school and it's not tolerable and not
acceptable. He said they could have charged
her with an even higher felony, that it was
a sad case and they thought the charge was
appropriate for the situation. As it is, the
charges carry a 15 year prison term.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service will be held at noon
tomorrow for the Lockport soldier who
was killed in Iraq. The family of Spec 5
Albert Jex will lay a wreath in his honor at
the Veterans Monument on East Avenue.
State Senator George Maziarz, Mayor Mike
Tucker, and School Superintendent Terry
Ann Carbone will speak and members of
the military will offer remarks. The Emmet
Belknap Middle School band will perform.

GOLISANO

Sabres owner Tom Golisano told a group of
Rochester business executives yesterday
he's moving to Naples Florida to escape New
York's high income and property taxes. He
said it would save him $5-million a year...
and that the increase in levels of taxation
are going to push a lot more people out of
the State. He said he did not want to pay
$13,000 a day in income taxes and that
he wants to put the money to better use...
he said it might include charities and
forming a political action committee
designed to shake up Albany.

NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

About 1100 students are eligable to receive degrees
from Niagara County Community College in
commencement exercises beginning at 10am
Saturday in the campus' main gym. School
President Doctor James Klyczek will preside
over the ceremony. President's Medallion
winner sophomore Vincent Wright of Niagara
Falls will introduce commencement speaker
Jeff Taylor. Taylor founded Monster.com and
served as it's chief executive officer.

CENTER FOR JOY TO REOPEN

The Health Association of Niagara County
announced Thursday they would take over
the operation of the "Center For Joy" in the
Falls. The community center in the North end
closed it's doors in January when they ran out
of money. HANCI said it had gotten a $25,000
grant from HSBC and a three year committment
from VISTA's "Serve New York" program to
place a volunteer at the center. Niagara University
also plans to lease space there for it's Re-New
Niagara program. HANCI said they would soon
restart a youth mentoring program and plans to
offer the center's Summer Peace Camp.

SECOND WARD CANDIDATE

A 43 year old Lockport man annoucing he's
running for the second ward City Council seat
this Fall. Jack Smith of 77 Waterman has been
an HVAC technician for twenty years and currently
works for Vastola Heating and Air Conditioning.
The Democrat serves as President of the United
Neighborhood Watch Group and also leads
Lockport Neighborhood Revitalization Incorporated.
He's married with 4 kids. He says his goal is to
improve neighborhoods and he's not afraid to
speak up.

MOVING

The Niagara Falls Police Department started moving
yesterday into their new headquarters on Main
Street. The process continues today and is
expected to wrap up Monday.

A-E-S TAX BREAK

A lot of activity yesterday on the recently negated
AES tax break. The Supervisor of the Town of
Somerst says he wants to negotiate a new
assessment level for the plant instead of going back
to court. The County IDA also decided to try to
appeal the ruling that annulled the controversial
tax break. The request alone would keep the
payment in lieu of taxes deal in effect until the
Court decides whether to hear it. The plant's
manager also confirmed yesterday they are
losing money and are offering buy-outs to
many workers.

MARLEE MATLIN

Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin
is in the Falls today to speak at tonight's annual
Parents & Partners Dinner. She'll hold a Q & A
session with high school students this afternoon.
District spokeswoman Judy Gregory says the
dinner will follow the formal program which begins
at 5:30 at the High School. About 800 people
bought a ticket for the dinner and it'll be a
larger crowd than normal. It is sold out. Matlin
is deaf and is probably best known for her work
on West Wing but she's appeared on numerous
other TV series and in the movie, "Children of a
Lesser God." Matlin is also an activist who convinced
lawmakers to require the closed captioning device
on all TV sets sold in the country.

SWINE FLU

Two more cases of swine flu among schoolchildren
were confirmed yesterday in Erie County. One of them
is at Transit Road Middle School where officials said
last week a student had recovered from a mild case
of the illness. The other involves a student at Willow
Ridge Elementary in the Sweet Home School District.
Erie County Health Commissioner Doctor Anthony
Billitier said both students are expected to return to
class Monday. He's still not reccomending the
closure of schools.

FALLS LAWSUIT

The 34 year old Falls man accused of shooting
two police officers and his estranged girlfriend
in February says he may file a lawsuit against the
City. Adam Hamilton filed two notices of claim
last Friday reserving his right to sue. His list of
complaints includes negligence, assault with a
weapon, the intential affliction of emotional
distress, use of excessive force, and the violation
of his civil rights. Hamilton has pleaded not
guilty to a list of charges stemming from the
incident. He's accused of shooting officers
Walter Nichols and Michael Bird and his
estranged girlfriend Stephanie Turk on South
Avenue after a plan to kidnap Turk fell apart.
Hamilton's attorney said he filed the notices
to reserve his clients right to sue if information
comes out that police were negligent.

LOCKPORT PARKING TICKETS

Lockport lawmakers are expected to officially
endorse a plan next Wednesday to offer an
amnesty program in June for those with
oustanding parking tickets in the City. The
measure would allow them to be paid at
cost with no late fees if the person donates
at least three non perishable food items for
each ticket. The food would be given to
the Salvation Army, church food pantries,
and others involved with feeding the needy.
The City has about 800 outstanding tickets
going back to 2005. The standard fine is
$20, but it rises to $30 if it's not paid within
five business days, and goes to $50 if it's
not settled within 15 days. The Hickory
Club says it will match the food donations
brought in. The manager of the Farmers
Market in Middleport was also at the City
Council work session. Stacey McAvoy
gave them suggestions on how to increase
the number of vendors at the City's Farmers Market.
She suggested cutting the hours
and moving it to a park....but Council President
John Lombardi said afterwards it would stay
in the Walnut Street parking lot and the hours
would remain the same. He said the peddlers
permit issued by the City does not limit the
hours.

HANDICAPPED FACILITY IN TOWN OF LOCKPORT

Construction is expected to start next month on a
$4.4-million apartment complex for the handicapped
in the Town of Lockport. The Town Planning Board
yesterday extended the o-k previously granted to the
Olmsted Center for the Visually Impaired. An official
said they have acquired the money to start constrcution.
The two story, 24-unit building will be filled by a
lottery and is open to any disabled person, not just
the blind. It'll be at 5556 Davison Road in the
Ulrich Business Park South of Lincoln Avenue.

BUDWEY'S

The County IDA yesterday awarded the new
Budwey's store opening in Newfane a ten
year break on property taxes. The allocation
follows a previous award of low cost
electricity for Budwey's Marketplace.

INTERFAITH MEMORIAL SERVICE

Area police agencies will honor the memories of
law enforcement personnel tonight who gave their
lives in the line of duty. The 12th annual
Interfaith Memorial Service at Saint Paul's
Episcopal Church in Lewiston starts at 7. The
guest speaker will be FBI agent Steven Lanser.
A reception sponsored by the Falls Block Club
Council will follow in the Church Hall. The
church is at 400 Ridge Street in Lewiston.

SAME SEX MARRIAGE

The State Assembly voted 89-52 last night to
legalize same sex marriage in New York. Five
Republicans joined the Democrats in passing
the bill. Senate Majority Leader Malcom Smith
issued a release saying the momentum is
shifting and marriage equality will be a reality
in New York and he welcomed that day. He
said it was his goal to get it passed in the
Senate, that it was about equal rights and basic
personel freedom that no person should be
denied. Assemblywoman Jane Corwin voted
no. She told WLVL her constituents had
repeatdly told her over the past few months
they were not in favor ...and that, as the bill
is written, religious organizations and
institutions could be threatened with legal
action for refusing to recognize the marriages.
Religious camps, day cares, and counseling
centers could be sued under public accomodation
laws and Catholic hospitals could be denied
contracts, grants, or funding. Assemblywoman
Francine del Monte also voted no.

STATE REIMBURSEMENT

The State's Division of Parole has informed
County's they will no longer reimburse them
for housing a state parole violator and
state ready inmates. The new policy will
require taxpayers to pick up the entire cost
which ranges from $60 a day in some counties
to more than $200 in others. The State had been
partially reimbursing county governments for
$37 a day. Meantime the New York State Association
of Counties says the reforms passed to the
Rockfeller era drug laws will mean most of the
convicted drug offenders will end up in local
jails with the cost to be picked up by County
taxpayers.

LOTTERY WINNER

Seventy year old Betty Lou Ross of LaSalle
was introduced yesterday as the first million
dollar winner in the Lottery's new "Price Is
Right " scratch off game. The retired hairdresser
bought the winning ticket at the Wilson Farms
at Plaza and Sawyer Drives in Wheatfield. She'll
get her million dollars over 20 years...receiving a
little over $33,000 a year after taxes till 2029. She
bought the ticket April 28 after winning $1,000
in the "Price Is Right"game at the Casino the
night before. She plans to buy a canopy bed
and to take a trip to 'Vegas....plus set up a
trust fund for her two grandchildren. Ross
was named Miss Congeniality in 1958 when
she was a contestant in the Maid of the Mist
pageant in the city.

COMMITTEE ACTION

The County Legislature's Administration
Committee o-k'd a resolution last night
to look into the possibility of taking the
duty of administering estates away from
County Treasurer Dave Broderick. The
Committee decided to get more information
before calling for an audit of Broderick and
forcing him to repay the County for the use
of time, personnel, and equipment. The
resolution that passed directs the County
Attorney and the County Manager to look
into other options for unclaimed estates.
The Community Services Committee met
immediately afterwards and
approved a resolution demanding that
Albany impose a residency requirement for
Medicaid. Majority Leader Rick Updegrove
said about 500 people moved into the County
last year from out of state. He said the average
cost per year per recipient is $8,600.
Furthermore, more recipients means Social
Services must hire more people to handle
the workload. Updegrove said they
brought the resolution to respond to the
Governor's challenge that he wanted Counties
to provide ideas to help the State reduce the
costs it passes onto local governments and
taxpayers.

TASER

The attorney representing a Falls man who
was tasered by police to compel him to give
a DNA sample said yesterday he plans to
sue the County and the City of Niagara Falls.
Christopher O'Brien said his client, 21 year old
Ryan Smith, was tortured by police when the
incident happened last September 29. He said
we won't allow it in Iraq and Afghanistan and we
shouldn't allow it in Niagara Falls. O'Brien waited
too long to file a notice of claim however, and
he plans to ask State Supreme Court Judge
Richard Klock on June 4 to allow him to file
the suit. Smith has pleaded not guilty to charges
he shot a man and robbed a gas station in
seperate incidents in the Falls in September
2006. The hearing on the incident continued
yesterday in County Court, Testimony revealed
police had sent a first DNA sample to the wrong
lab so they had to obtain the second one where
the taser was used. They'll be back in Court
Friday.

TIRE FIRE

A tire fire at Lockport's High Tread International
around 11am yesterday sent plumes of smoke
over the West side of the city. Officials said a
50 by 50 foot pile of debris containing tire chunks
and other organic material caught fire as a payloader
was lifting it into a dump truck. It hit an air pocket and
ignited. Workers were wetting the debris down at
the facility at 490 Ohio Street when firefighters arrived.
Company owner Derek Martin helped them pull apart the
burning pile with the loader. Fourteen firefighters
battled the blaze. No nearby homes were affected
and the fire was out in a half an hour.

GROGAN

A former Special Education teacher at Newfane
waived his right to a felony hearing yesterday
in Town Court. Fifty year old Allan Grogan is
accused of showing a female student obscene
material and having a sexual relationship with her.
His case was transferred to County Court. Officials
are now deciding whether to seek an indictment
against him or to offer a plea deal. Grogan lives
in Derby and had taught in the District for six
years. He was suspended without pay following
his arrest April 21.

WINTERGARDEN

The USA Niagara Development Corporation
yesterday awarded a $2.2-million contract to
Mark Cerrone Incorporated to tear down the
Wintergarden. The work will start soon and
continue into the Summer. It'll include removing
asbestos from the eight story glass building
and the restoartion of the walls of two buildings
that adjoin it. The money to pay for the work
comes from $7.9-million in state funds the
agency received in 2007 for a project to rebuild
the West Pedestrian Mall to connect Old Falls
Street from the casino to the State Park. Cerrone
submitted the lowest of four bids.

BARKER

About 40 people packed the Barker
Village Hall last night for a meeting about
dissolving the Village government and
merging it into the Town of Somerset.
No one spoke in favor of the idea and
Deputy Mayor William Bodine told the
Union Sun & Journal a town meeting
should be held to see what the interest
is. He said he was not in favor of spending
$30,000 to $40,000 to do the research unless
he knows the majority of residents want it
to happen. No official committee was
established. Mayor Joanne Greenwald
said the Village Board and two members of the
Town Board would look into the issue.

BIG WINNER

A retired hairdresser from LaSalle will be
awaded a check for a million dollars today.
Lottery officials say she's the first top prize
winner in their new "Price Is Right" instant
scratch off game. Her name was not released
but we're told she was also a contestant in the
Maid of the Mist pageant back in 1958. She'll
be presented with the traditional oversized
check at 11am today at the Wilson Farms
Store at Plaza and Sawyer Drives in
Wheatfield.

WHEATFIELD

The Town of Wheatfield has filed a seven page
appeal asking FEMA to remove more homes
from the proposed flood plain map. Supervisor
Tim Demler told the Town Board last night he
expects that, when it's all finished, about 750 of
the 920 homes added last September will be off
the list. About 320 are still on it. Lawmakers also
agreed to hold a public hearing June 22 on
proposed restrictions on the discharge of
firearms North of Niagara Falls Boulevard in the
Southeast section of the town. A petition in
favor of such a move containing 21 signatures
was presented to the board last night by
residents of North Creek Run. The Board o-k'd
a reccomendation from the Building Inspector to
no longer require inspection stickers on unregistered
cars on private property. Only one unregistered
vehicle is allowed per property.

MOCK LEGISLATIVE SESSION

A select group of students from around the
County were at the Courthouse last night
for a mock legislative session. They had been
spending the last three months sitting next
to County lawmakers as interns watching how the
legislature operates. Niagara Falls High School
Senior Kelly O'Brien...whose dad is the
County's Public Works Director....particpated
in the intern program last year and was asked
to come back and perform the duties of Chairman.
Roy Hart High School Senior Joe Fagan said
he came away from the progranm with a great
appreciation for government but now knows it
takes a great deal of time to change something.

TASAR

County Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrezza will
decide whether Falls police went too far to
get a DNA sample. She watched a 40 second
video in court yesterday showing how police
used a tasar to get the sample from a 21 year old
accused of kidnapping, robbery and burglary.
Ryan Smith allegedly pointed a gun at a police
officer during the incident at a gas station in
December 2006. Three police officers testifed
during yesterday's proceedings. Smith told
reporters afterwards he refused to voluntarily
give the sample because he didn't feel they
had to take it and he had never seen a court
order. The hearing resumes at 2pm today

BUFFALO MEN SENTENCED FOR KILLING A FALLS MAN

Two Buffalo men were sentenced to 50 years
to life in prison Monday for killing a 24 year old
Falls man in the driveway of his home in August
2007. Twenty-four year old Brandon Dennis and
22 year old Paul Osbourne were found guilty by
a County jury in February. Donald Paige Junior
was beaten and then shot in the neck and head
as his family watched.

BROKOB

The North Tonawanda man already sentenced
to 25 years to life for kidnapping and sexually
assaulting a young girl was given another 20
year prison sentence yesterday. Mitchell Brokob
pled guilty to the receipt of child pornography.

BEATTY PROMOTED

Sheriff's Captain Thomas Beatty has been
tapped by the Sheriff to take the place of
former Chief Deputy John Taylor who
retired Saturday. Beatty has been with the
department since May 1978 when he joined
the road patrol. He was the director of the
Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy
ofr 14 years and also performed
administrative duties for the Sheriff. Beatty's
duties increasingly centered on homeland
security after 9-11 and he was appointed
Chairman of the Niagara County Homeland
Security Support Team. Just this year he
was appointed co-chair of the Buffalo-Erie-
Niagara Urban Area Security Initiative Work
Group. He received the Sheriff's
Distinguished Service Award in 2002 and
the Sheriff's Craig C Harmon Memorial
Award in 2007.

NEWFANE SCHOOLS PUBLIC HEARING

The Newfane School Board will hold a public
hearing at 6 tonight on the district's proposed
$32.8-million spending plan for the upcoming
year. It'll be in the gym at the Early Childhood
Center.

SWINE FLU

Erie County's first case of swine flu was
confirmed yesterday. Health officials
said a Transit Middle School student had
a mild case but had recovered. A decision was
made not to close school.

MONDAY NIGHT CRUISE

Lockport's Monday Night Car Cruise
will begin it's tenth season tonight at
Ida Fritz Park. It runs from 6 pm till
dark. Several special nights are already
scheduled including the Fender Bender
July 27 with the Brickhouse Band. A
T Bird night is planned for August 24
and Terry Buchwald has already committed
to putting on his annual free show August 31.
The profits made each year are donated to
Niagara Hospice, Carly's Club, and other
charities.

ROY HART BUDGET

A public hearing will be held tonight on the
Roy Hart School District's proposed
$23,424,000 budget for next year. School
Board President Patty Reigle said it
contains no tax increase. She said they
were able tto get some federal stimlus
money which allowed them to not have
to increase taxes. There will be some minor
changes as they did have to reduce some
spending to get it down to a
zero percent increase but they were worried
about the economy and the number of
people who might lose their jobs during
the upcoming year. The session starts at 7
in the High School Auditorium. It'll be
followed by a short regular meeting.

YAHOO

Senator Chuck Schumer said Sunday Yahoo is
looking at sites in Orleans and Genesee counties
for a possible data center. Assemblywoman
Francine del Monte also circulated a press release
saying the internet company was also looking
at a location in Cambria. It said the Town offers
many, if not all, the qualities they are looking for.
Schumer said Yahoo likes our area because of
the cool climate needed for computer systems..
and because there's a good supply of electricity
and a well educated work force. The Governor has
told NYPA and the Empire State Development
Corporation to work with the company on
possible State assistance involving low cost
power and other incentives.

BREAST CANCER CANAL WALK

Hundreds took part in yesterday's 13th
annual Mothers Day Breast Cancer Canal
Walk in Lockport. The proceeds from the
walk and a basket raffle go to a wig room
for cancer survivors and the American
Cancer Society. Walkers wore pink T shirts
as theymade the two mile trek around the
waterway. This year's walk was in memory
of Stacey Kenyon Blackley, Pamela Murray,
and Beth Reynolds Kahle.

BARKER

The Barker Village Board is expected to get
a report tonight about the disadvantages and
advantages of dissolving the Village government.
It'll be delivered by Town Attorney Dan Seaman.
The topic coming up after resident Neal Gordon
asked lawmakers to investigate the issue and let the
people decide once and for all. The session starts at
7 in the Village Hall.

DOG FIGHT

A two year old male beagle had to be put
to sleep yesterday after it was allegedly
attacked by a pit bull in Hartland. The
owners of the beagle told deputies their
dog escaped from it's pen and the husband
found it in the front yard at 2353 Checkered
Tavern Road where it was being attacked by
the pit bull. He seperated the two and called
the Sheriff's department. They said the front
of the pit bull was covered with blood but not
agressive while they were there. Hartland dog
warden Martha Sherman said both owners
would receive tickets, the owner of the pit
bull for having a dangerous dog and the owners
of the beagle for violating the leash law. She said
she would classify the pit bull as a dangerous
dog. She said the beagle was attacked so badly
that it's owner took it to a vet in Buffalo and it had
to be put down. The house of the owner of the
pit bull burned down last Sunday and his paperwork
on the dog was lost so Sherman is waiting till
Town Hall opens tomorrow to see if it was registered
and had it's rabies shots. Sherman said Town Justices
Brian Fitts or Joanne Sullivan would determine what
would happen to the animal.

ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE

Two people were arrested overnight after a
$6,000 all terrain vehicle was stolen from a
home at 5215 Upper Mountain Road in
Cambria. Thirty-four year old David Figueroa
of 6285 Bayview Station in Newfane is accused
of cutting a chain holding the Yamaha to a pole,
hot wiring the vehicle, and then driving it away.
A friend heard it's distinct sound going by his
house at 12:35 am and called the Sheriff's
Department. He also gave pursuit and stopped
Figueroa in front of 4727 Townline Road but
a female in a mini van drove up and distracted
him and Figueroa ran off into a wooded area.
The friend was talking to deputies on his
cell and as he was doing so, the female
allegedly picked up Figueroa and drove away.
The Sheriff's depafrtment found them on Lower
Mountain Road and brought all the occupants
back for identification...two small children were
also inside. The driver of the mini van was
identified as 27 year old Nicole Houghton...
also of 6285 Bayview Station. She and
Figueroa are both facing a dozen charges
including grand larceny, possession of
burglary tools, and endangering the welfare of
a child. The youngsters were turned over to
Houghtons mother.

DEBBIES BOULEVARD CAFE

About $400 in cash and coins were taken in a
weekend break-in at Debbies Boulevard Cafe
in Wheatfield. The owner discovered an open
window on the North side of the building at
3387 Niagara Falls Boulevard when he arrived
for work at 4:45am Sunday. He told deputies
$335 in cash and coins were taken from the
register and another $65 in coins were removed
from two nearby plastic boxes. The break in
happened between 7pm Saturday and Sunday
morning.

TREE

A 28 year old Lockport man was taken to
ENH-Lockport around 2:30 Sunday morning
after he fell out of a tree in the backyard of
a home on Kinne Road. Adam Benedict was
intoxicated at the time. His female friend told
deputies she told him numerous times not to
climb the tree. She said he fell about six feet
and hit the back of his head on a branch as
he was coming down. Benedict was treated
at the scene by Rapids Volunteer Ambulance
and could not remember falling. He said, "I'm
just hungover," but admitted he might have a
mild concussion.