LACEY TO BE FREE WHILE TRIAL GOES ON

A judge in North Tonawanda ruled Thursday
that a 21 year old Lockport man can remain
free while the DWI and vehicular manslaughter
case against him continues. Ryan Lacey was
driving the car that crashed into a tree in the
Lumber City taking the life of passenger,
Kristina Moley. Her mother told the Union
Sun & Journal she doesn't want Lacey to
serve any jail time. She said he would have to
live with what happened for the rest of his life
and that was punishment enough. She said her
daughter got into the car too and she would not
have if Lacey was very drunk. Lacey appeared
in court following weeks of recuperation from
his injuries.

HEALTH CARE DEBATE

A mix up in communications prevented
WLVL from attending Congresswoman Louise
Slaughter's visit to the Doris Jones Resource
Center in the Falls yesterday where she
discussed the proposed health care reform
bill. We do have some remarks she made Wednesday
in Washington when she appeared with a
former health care official. She said then
that she believed that all of members of
Congress would come back re-energized
after the August recess and pass the bill.
She said they had to do it for the good of
the United States. Slaughter said the
country would never get a handle on the
economy if we fail to get a handle on health
care and give it the kind of future it needs.
She said she believed what was going on in
the Town Hall meetings was being led by
people who never wanted health care reform.
Congessman Chris Lee will discuss the
impact of the proposed bill on small businesses
at 11:30 this morning. That'll take place at the
Amherst Chamber of Commerce at 350 Esjay
Road in Williamsville.

BUSY WEEKEND IN NEWFANE

Newfane will be a busy place tonight and tomorrow.
Between 800 and 850 motorcylists are expected in
Town for an annual rally. Business Association
President Sue Neidlinger says a section of Main
Street will be closed for the event that runs from
6 till 10. She said the bikers ride into Town and
park them along both sides of Main Street. She
said everyone walks up and down and looks
at the bikes, that there are food vendors, beer,
and a rock band plays right on the Street. She
compares it to a car cruise with bikes. There is
no admisison charge. The Business Association
also helps put on Saturday's 23rd annual August
Fest. Maureen Goodlander is in charge. She
says about 40 arts and crafters are expected,
along with food vendors. A chicken barbecue will
be offered at the Methodist Church starting at noon.
There'll be entertainment at the Gazebo and a parade
down Main Street at 3. The Newfane American
Legion will be looking for donations at both events
to help one of the dozen families that lost
everything in last week's fire in an apartment
building on Lockport Olcott Road. Post 873
Commander Paul Leader says the head of the
family, Christopher Poss, is on active duty in the
Navy aboard the USS Carl Vinson. His wife and
two daughters are staying with her mom in Newfane
since the fire. The Legion will have a collection
bucket at tonight's rally and a basket auction tomorrow
at the August Fest. Donations are still being accepted
at 471-0382.

BODY FOUND IN RIVER

A man's body was pulled from the Upper Niagara
River near the water intakes for the Power
Project just after noon Thursday. Officials are
investigating a possible connection to a report
that a man jumped from the Grand Island Bridge
into the river Monday. County Coroner Cindy
Lou Joyce said the body had been in the water
for three or gour days. It was taken to the Erie
County Medical Examiner.

TWENTY YEARS TO LIFE

County Court Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrezza
yesterday sentenced a 50 year old Porter man
to 20 years to life in prison for molesting a six
year old girl in January while her 7 year old
brother watched. Franklin Schafer of
Dickersonville Road plans to appeal. He was
found guilty June 18 after a jury deliberated
for 15 hours. A letter from the victims mother
was read in court. She called Schafer a
"horrible monster." Sperrezza denied a
request by Defense Attorney Scott Stepien
to overturn the verdict because of a possible
error in the re-reading of the six year old's
testimony to the jury. He said he thought the
conviction would be overturned on appeal
based on precedents regarding incomplete
assistance to the jury.

RECYCLING EVENT SATURDAY AT NCCC

County residents will have a rare opportunity
Saturday to get rid of their old TV sets for free
at a recycling event at Niagara County Community
College. The County normally charges a fee to
take them at the landfill. The collection will be
included as part of a "Protect Your Identity
Day" event. They will also talk a wide variety
of electronics including telephones, cell phones,
pagers, laptops, printers, fax machines, keyboards,
monitors, X-rays, and microwaves. Document
shredding will also be included but businesses
must make an apppointment at 731-8740. The
event will take place from 10 till 4 Saturday
in the South parking lot at the school.

SOBREITY CHECK

A 31 year old Falls man was among 13 people
arrested by the State Police last night and early
this morning as they conducted a sobreity
saturation detail in the Town of Darien and
a sobriety checkpoint on Colby Road in
Pembroke. Greg Martin was charged with
DWI and allegedly had a BAC of .09. Twenty-
six year old Thomas Lalomia of Getzville was
also charged for the same offense and
allegedly had a BAC of .16. Four out of state
residents were charged with possession of
marijuana. A 24 year old from NT and another
26 year old from Tonawnada were also charged
with DWI.

TASER USED ON FALLS MAN

Falls police used a taser on a 30 year old man
just after midnight Thursday after he tried to
flee after officers tried to arrest him for peering
into the windows of cars and pulling door
handles in the 500 block of Rainbow Boulevard.
Shane Rossman of 13th Street is facing several
charges. He wrestled with police after being
tasered and allegedly struck officer George
McDonnell in the face. He's charged with
felony assault, resisting arrest, obstructing
governmental administration, and disorderly
conduct. He was treated at the Medical Center
for a cut to the bridge of his nose. Police say
the neighborhood where it happened has been
plagued by car break-in's.

TAX BREAKS O-K'D FOR TWO FALLS HOTELS

The County IDA yesterday o-k'd an unusual tax
break for a Canadian company for the former
Fallside Hotel on Buffalo Avenue. The deal for
Merani Hospitality says they must meet specified
levels of investment to get a five year break on
property taxes...and it's also tied into the company's
plan to buy and reopen the former Inn On The
River. Both hotels would get sales, mortgage, and
property tax breaks for between 15 & 20 years but
only the Fallside would be fully tax free for the first
five. The IDA took the action even though the City
asked them to first determine whether the incentives
were needed to move the projects forward. The
agency also said it would seek and outside opinion
on whether a Seneca Nation policy that gives
preference to Seneca workers applies to the
Hickory Stick Golf Course. IDA Attorney Mark
Gabriele was told to consult with the Bureau of
Indian Affairs on whether the policy applies to
projects outside of their soverign territory. The
question came up after a board member asked
why contractors have been required to hire
Seneca workers. The IDA involved because they
gave the project a five year cut in property taxes
in 2007 along with sales and mortgage tax
exemptions.

SOUTHERN TIER

The Governor toured the flood damaged areas
of the Southern Tier yesterday and announced he
would send in the National Guard to help in
recovery efforts. Paterson said about 60 soldiers
from the 152nd Engineer Support Company in
Buffalo would see duty in Chautauqua, Cattaragus,
and Erie Counties. They will bring 10 five-ton dump
trucks and four front end loaders. Paterson spent
a lot of time yesterday in Silver Creek and Gowanda.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and
the State Emergency Management Office will begin
conducting preliminary damage assessments today
to see if it comes to $26-million so they can qualify
for federal help.

MARZBAN

Falls Mayor Paul Dyster saying Wednesday
suspended City Engineer Ali Marzban will
face some tough questioning when he returns
from representing the City at a conference
in Texas. Dyster told The Gazette he and City
Administrator Donna Owens want to talk to him
about the events that led to his unpaid
suspension last week. Dyster would only say it
involved conduct in the office and that Marzban
had already gotten verbal and written warnings
about it. Mazban was hired in December after a
national search. Even though he was suspend,
he left last week for an engineering and
infrastructure conference which had been
scheduled back in June.

RECYCLING IN LOCKPORT

Lockport Mayor Mike Tucker telling the
City Council last night he will put money for
a recycling program in next year's budget
and let them decide whether to keep it in or
cut it out. Tucker said he would talk to them
before deciding on the amount. The program could
cost as much as $550,000 depending on which
of several options is chosen. Highways and
Parks Superintendent Mike Hoffman said that
no matter which one is selected, the start up
costs for all of them would include about
$40,000 for bins, $19,000 for larger totes for
businesses and apartment houses, and $4,000
for hydraulic lifts to empty the totes into
trucks. The City could apply for a state grant
to pay for half of that....and also for 50% of the
cost of a new $155,000 garbage truck.

PATERSON COMING TO LOCKPORT?

Last Friday WLVL reported that the Governor was
expected to be in Lockport this Saturday for a
leadership luncheon sponsored by the Niagara
Organizing Alliance For Hope and the First AME
Church of Lockport. NOAH Treasurer Charles
Jones told us today Paterson has not yet confirmed
he will be here. Jones said about 125 tickets had
been sold for the conference to be held at the Dale
Association. He said an alternate speaker would
fill in if Paterson doesn't make it. The tickets for
the lunchoen are $25. Call NOAH at 573-4550
for more information.

MEMORIAL WALK

A memorial walk and vigil set for noon today
in the Falls. It was a year ago today that a 12
year old Bronx girl drowned while on a field
trip to the Niagara Gorge. Magdalena Lubowska
had been staying at a Fourth Street home that
was being run as an illegal bed and breakfast.
The walk will start at the home at 772 Fourth
Street and follow the route they took a year ago.
The 24 year old that led that walk, Timothy Hedges,
remains under criminal investigation for leading
the more than 20 children on the walk to
Whirlpool State Park. The families attorney has
filed a notice of claim against the City and the
State.

TEENS ARRESTED FOR BURGLARY AND GRAND LARCENY

Three teens were charged yesterday with stealing
over $2700 worth of musical instruments, electronics,
and bicycles from a garage at 198 West Avenue.
Sixteen year old Bryan Korkuc of 378 West Avenue,
and 17 year olds Zachary Conrad of 92 Lewis and
Brandon Forsyth of 219 West Avenue were all
charged with burglary and grand larceny. Two of
the teens allegedly sold some of the loot at the
Tone Doctors store. The items taken included
a drum set, two amplifers, a bell kit, an electronic
keyboard, three bicycles, and a video camera.

THUNDERBIRDS COMING TO LOCKPORT

More than a hundred Ford Thunderbirds
will be on display in Lockport when the
International Thunderbird Club holds it's
convention here starting August 23. Many will
be on display at the Car Cruise at Ida Fritz
Park on the 24th. They'll also be parked
at the Erie Canal Discovery Center the
following day.

UPCOMING SEASON

"The Wizard of Oz" and "Annie Get Your Gun"
will be among the offerings in the upcoming
season at Lockport's Historic Palace Theatre.
Officials say four fully staged musicals , a play,
a concert, and two gala events will be included.
The season starts in September with "Nunsense."
It'll be presented in conjunction with the Lake
Plains Players. Season tickets are $75 and they
are on sale now at the box office.

PUBLIC LEWDNESS

Two people were arrested just after 10pm Thursday
after Lockport Police allegedly caught them having
sex on a picnic table at Outwater Park. A 34 year old
woman and a 45 year old man were charged with
public lewdness and loitering at night. Police say
they found a car on the side of the road and shined
their mounted spotlight on the North Pavillion
where the two were located.

WHEATFIELD WOMAN LOSES $1700

A 63 year old Wheatfield woman told the Sheriff's
Department yesterday a young man she had taken
in last week to help him change his ways racked
up $1700 in charges on her bank debit card. The
Ward Road resident said he called her after he
left and admitted doing so.

MOVIES & MORE

Tonight's free movie at Altro Park in Lockport
will be "Night At The Museum, Battle of the
Smithsonian." It''ll start at dusk and you're
advised to bring a blanket or lawn chair. The
same film will be shown tomorrow night at the
Town of Niagara Recreation Department
at 7105 Lockport Road under the stars. It'll
also be shown Friday and Saturday night
at The Riveria Theatre in North Tonawanda
when admission will be $3. Tonight's
Wednesday at The Gorge at Artpark will
feature The Gin Blossoms. They had the
big hit "Hey Jealousy" back in '93.
McCarthyism will open. The free concert
tonight at Gill Creek Park in the Falls
will feature The Flat Tops. It runs from
7 till 9.

YAHOO

Groundbreaking ceremonies are set for
11am today in the Town of Lockport for
the new Yahoo facility. Town Economic
Development Director Dave Kinyon said
it'll take place in the Industrial Park near
Junction and Upper Mountain Roads.
Representatives from the company are
expected along with others from the State
and local dignitaries. Construction will
start immediately. Kinyon saying Yahoo
wants the Northeast Data Center to be
operational by September of 2010. The
$180-million project will generate immediate
construction jobs and about 75 high paying
permanent ones once it opens.

EARLY MORNING FIRE DESTROYS HOME IN SOMERSET

The Barker and Hartland Fire Departments
called in just after 4:30 this morning to battle
a blaze in a vacant house at 9953 Hall Road
in Somerset. The Sheriff's Department says
it was fully engulfed when they arrived with
arching power lines. The owners of the
property say it was vacant. The County's
Cause & Orgin Team is investigating.

TRIAL BEGINS FOR MAN WHO WAS TASERED

The trial of the Falls man who was tasered to
obtain a DNA sample started yesterday in
County Court. Twenty-one year old Ryan
Smith is charged with being involved in a
home invasion and subsequent shooting..
and a seperate gas station robbery. The
victim in the home invasion could not
identify Smith as being involved....and co-defense
counsel Dave Douglas told the jury in his
opening statement they would not hear any
human being identify Smith as a person who
was at any of the crimes. The prosecution
said DNA would place him at the scenes. The
tasering of smith to obtain the sample was
previously ruled valid by Judge Sara
Sheldon Sperrezza but is expected to be
appealed if Smith is convicted. There's also
a civil suit pending against the City of Niagara
Falls.

WILSON COACHES GET THEIR JOBS BACK

The Wilson School Board last night appointed
Bill Atlas as head varsity football coach...and
Thomas Baia as boys soccer coach. The positions
are the same ones they held before they were
suspended last year over the hazing incident.
They did not attend the meeting.

POT & COCAINE FOUND DURING DOMESTIC INCIDENT

Three people are facing drug charges after Lockport
police went to investigate a domestic incident
around 6:30 last night in an apartment at 42
Waterman. Seventeen year old Andre Coley and
23 year old Bethany Payne..both of apartment 3,
and 23 year old Brenton Poole of Ridge Road West
in Albion...were all charged with two counts of
possession of a controlled substance and possession
of marijuana. Coley and Payne were also charged
with endangering the welfare of a child....Coley and
Poole with obstructing governmental administration,
and Coley also with assault. Police said they found
cocaine and marijuana in the living room..and
several other bags of pot and an unspecified
quantity of cocaine elsewhere in the apartment.
Coley was charged with assault for allegedly
breaking a bedroom door and injuring Payne.
Blood was found on the door and walls. It all
allegedly happened in front of their three year old
daughter.

SEX OFFENDER MUST MOVE AGAIN

One of the convicted sex offenders who had been
moved from the MidTown Inn in the Falls to the
B Cozy Motel on Niagara Falls Boulevard will be
moving again. State Senator George Maziarz said
yesterday James McKinney will have to find a new
place to live by the end of the month. He said the
motel is too close to the Meadowbrook subdivision
and an elementary school run by a church is slated
to move into the neighborhood in September. The 51
year old was released from prison in the Spring
after serving a seven year term for having sexual
contact with four girls under the age of 14.

NEW FBI CHIEF IN BUFFALO

The FBI announced yesterday that a 20 year veteran
of the agency will be the new Special Agent in Charge
of the Buffalo office. James Robertson will replace
Laurie Bennett, whose already left to serve in
Washington. Robertson had been the Section
Chief of international Terrorism Operations in the
Counter Terrorism Division since November 2007.

DOG DRAGGED BUT SURVIVES

A six month old pure bred cocker spaniel is
recovering at the Erie County SPCA after it
was dragged behind a car Saturday on Lake
Avenue near Cold Springs Road. The dog
suffered severe injuries to all four paws and
had exposed bones. The Sheriff's Department
says 32 year old Martin Clough of Gasport
was following the gray Chevy Lumina and
managed to force it into the parking lot of the
K&K Food Mart on Lake Avenue. He said the
dog was being pulled by a leash behind it.
A teenage female driver and a male passenger
got out, opened the trunk to undo the
leash, and fled on Old Niagara Road. The
dog was taken to the Wrights Corners Animal
Care Center by the manager of the store, Linda
Tilton. They told her to take the dog to the
Greater Buffalo Vet Clinic in Amherst . The
surgery ran a couple of hours and it cost almost
$3800. The clinic forgave some of it but
Tilton was faced with a nearly $3300 bill.
She paid $1500 and more bills are expected.
She told WLVL she plans to adopt the dog
and call it Walker, in the hopes it will walk
again. The Sheriff's department says the
car may have come from the Fairgrounds....
and Tilton says she has heard many
conflicting reports but one that's she
heard is that the people were high on crack
and thought it was funny. She said it came
from someone who claims they know them
and she's hoping they did talk to the police.
She sent a copy of the surveillance video
to the Sheriff's Department and it captures
the car going around twice. The Director
of the Erie County SPCA says they have
established a fund to help pay the dogs
bills. You can donate at 'Your SPCA. org."
Carr said this may be the saddest thing she's
ever seen in her career. Tilton says you can
follow the dog's progress on her Facebook
page under her name Linda Tilton.

BINGO MONEY STOLEN FROM ELKS LODGE

A safe containing about $8,200 in bingo money
was taken during a break in Sunday night at the
Elks Club at 6791 North Canal Road. The Sentry
safe was found later pried open in front of the
portable bathrooms behind the pavillion. The
Sheriff's Department says phone and cable lines
to the building were cut preventing a security
system from sending an alarm. The break in was
discovered just after 4am yesterday by a cleaning
person. Entry was apparently made by throwing
a rock through the back glass door. An inside
door leading to an office was kicked in. Bingo had
been played at the hall Sunday night.

INDECENT EXPOSURE

An 18 year old female NCCC student telling
Sheriff's deputies yesterday a black male
exposed himself to her around 5pm in the
school library. She said he sat down at a
table next to her, tried to start a conversation,
and then stood up and dropped his pants.
The victim left the library went into a
stairwell, and at that point the power went
out. She said he passed her in the stairwell
in the dark and left. The student told deputies
she did not know him. Security personnel
said they would provide a copy of the
surveillance video to deputies. The girl said
he was bald with a medium build and looked
to be in his 20's. He was wearing a gray tee
shirt and denim shorts.

YOUTH DEPARTMENT BREAK-IN

Lockport Police are investigating a weekend
break in at the Recreation Department building
at Grossi Park on West Avenue. Tony Nemi
says the door was pried open and the building
was ransacked. He said paint was thrown on
the walls and a name was painted on them
that police believe may have something to do
with what happened. Damage was estimated
at $400. The case was turned over to the
juvenile division.

SOMERSET COUPLE SURPRISES BURGLARS

Two men were arrested Monday morning after a
Somerset couple found them burglarzing their
home. The incident happened just after 10 am
at 1972 Johnson Creek Road. Twenty-six year
old Keith Fletcher of Lyndonville aqnd 32 year old
Wilberto Alvarez of Orlando Florida were each
charged with burglary and grand larceny. The
victims said they arrived home and found a
black SUV in their driveway. It's operator said he
was at the wrong address and started to back out,
that's when the couple noticed several of their
electronic items were sitting on their back porch.
They followed the SUV while calling 9-1-1.
Middleport Police pulled the SUV over near Chase
Road and State Police arrived to help out. The
Sheriff's Department says daylight burglaries are
not uncommon and all suspicious activity should
be reported. They do caution you to avoid any
contact or confrontation with potential suspects.

FALLS POLICE WAITING FOR TOXICOLOGY REPORT

Police in the Falls are waiting for a toxicology
report to determine if the 28 year old man who was
killed in an accident early Sunday had been
drinking. It's expected it will take about ten
days for it to come back. John DeSantis of
Pershing Avenue was killed around 1am Sunday
when he hit two trees on Buffalo Avenue. The
vehicle was ripped in half and DeSantis was
thrown out of it. DeSantis had been convicted
of DWI after a crash in December 2005.

STATE OF EMERGENCY

The Governor declared a state disaster emergency
Monday for Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Erie
counties as a result of the heavy rains and flooding
that hit the area Sunday and Monday. The storms
took the life of an 80 year old man in Cattaragus
County who drowned while he was checking out
his property. Another man died yesterday of an
apparent heart attack after flooding prevented
emergency crews from reaching him. A hospital was
evacuated in Gowanda and water had to be boiled
in some areas. There were widespread power
outages and damage to scores of roads, homes,
and businesses.

MISLEADING ADS

Basil Toyota of Lockport is among 40 auto
dealers accused of running misleading and
deceptive ads for the "Cash For Clunkers"
program. Attorney General Andy Cuomo
Monday also said Basil Resale Sheridan,
Cappellino Buick, Dave Smith Ford,
Emerling Chevrolet, and Paddock Chevrolet
were also running incorrect ads. Cuomo
said they fail to explain the substantial
requirements needed to qualify. Questionable
ads can be reported at 800-771-7755.

WICKED WEATHER

A flash flood watch continues till late tonight.
Showers and thunderstorms developing over
Michigan early this morning are expected to
push East and impact Western and Central
New York later this morning and continue
into tonight. Seventy National Grid customers
are without power in Niagara County with full
restoration expected by midnight.. The company
was reporting 294 outages in Orleans County
as of 10am where restoration was also promised by
midnight. Western New York experienced two rounds
of severe weather Sunday, the first around noon
and the other about 10 last night. The Weather
Service will be checking out a report today that a
tornado may have touched down near Rushford
in Alleghany County. The first storm moved Southeast
from Toronto and Hamilton and hit around the noon
hour. A tree fell onto the roof of a home on Niagara
Avenue in the Falls around 12:30 damaging the roof
and gutters above the front porch. The seconc came
through around 10 last night. NYSEG says it caused
outages on 22 streets and roads, including Sunset
Drive & Court, Stone Road, Green, North Adam, and
Mill Streets, and on Johnson Purdy, Plank and
Ridge Roads. The noon time rains left the parking
lots at the County Fair slick with mud and the
Merchants Tent was flooded. Activities resumed by
mid-afternoon. Interim Fair Director Paul Lehman said
the threat of rain kept Saturday night's attendance down
and he expected Sunday's final numbers would also
be lower. The rain also caused problems around noon
at Molinaro's Italian Festival at Walnut & Pine, but
it also resumed after skies cleared. Proceeds from the
event were to be split between Breast Cancer Research
and restaurant owner Chet Secrist.

BILLS WEEKEND IN CANTON

Bills owner Ralph Wilson and former player
Bruce Smith were inducted into the Pro
Football Hall of Fame Saturday as the NFL
celebrated the 50th anniversary of the
founding of the American Football League.
Buffalo lost Sunday night's Hall of Fame Game
to the Tennesee Titans 21-18. The stars did
not play long, Terrell Owens caught two passes
for 27 yards in his 9 play debut. No starters
were injured. Bills Quarterback Trent Edwards
was also in just 9 plays. He used the no-huddle
offense as he marched the team 49 yards before
throwing an interception that led to a Tennessee
touchdown. The Titans had previously scored
on a trick play at the end of their first series
when it looked like they would punt. Buffalo trailed
21-6 at the half. Their next preseason game will
be against Chicgao Saturday night.

KIDS & KITES NEEDS HELP

The youngsters attending next month's
"Kids & Kites" Festival might not get the
free T-shirt they've gotten used to getting without
some help. County Deputy Social Services
Comissioner Sharon Sloma says they always
provide a free kite, hot dog lunch, and T-shirt
for the first thousand kids but unless they get
some help from sponsors, they won't be able
to provide the shirts. They need about $3,000
and are looking for sponsors. They need to
raise the cash by the end of August so they can
be ordered. The festival will be held Saturday,
September 19 at Reservoir State Park in the
Town of Niagara. You can reach Sloma at
439-7062.

FALLS FATAL ACCIDENT SUNDAY MORNING

A 28 year old Falls man was killed around 1am
Sunday when his car struck two trees on Buffalo
Avenue near 81st Street. John DeSantis of
Pershing Avenue was ejected from his '98 Mazda
and pronounced dead at the scene. Police said
the impact split the car in half and debris was found
as far as a half block away. Minutes before the
accident, DeSantis was pulled over near the I-190
exit on Buffalo Avenue for speeding. Excessive
speed is believed to have been one of the reasons
for the crash.

TRANSIT ROAD ACCIDENT

Two people were taken to ENH-Lockport after a
two car collission at South Transit and Willow
just after 6pm last night. Traffic on Transit
was re-routed until Fire & Police cleared the
scene around 7pm.

D-M-V FEES

County Clerk Wayne Jagow says he and other
County Clerks across the state are against those
upcoming fee increases we reported on last
week. He's especially frustrated about next
April's plate exchange. The new reflectorized
plates will cost you $25, and Albany will charge
you another $20 if you want to keep your same
plate number. The last plate exchange was in
2001 and cost only $5.50. Jagow says the more
than 160,000 licensed drivers in our county
depend on their vehicles for their transportation
and livlihood and the increases will only add
to their already challenged wallets.

KANE ARRESTED IN BUFFALO

The National Hockey League's Best Rookie of 2008
was arrested around 4am yesterday following an
altercation with a 62 year old cab driver in Buffalo.
Twenty year old Patrick Cane of the Chicago
Blackhawks is charged with felony robbery and
misdemeanor counts of theft of services and
criminal mischief. He and his 21 year old cousin
James Kane, apparently caught the cab on Chippewa
and allegedly punched the cabbie and grabbed money
they had given him back after he told them he did not
have 20 cents in coins to give them their change.
The cabbie said he was punched in the face and
head and grabbed by the throat when he dropped
them off on Eastwood Place off Main near
Canisus College. The two Kanes spent about
2 1/2 hours in the Erie County Holding Center and
were released after their 8am arraignment.