BLACK FRIDAY

Wal-Mart's plan to avoid lines in front of their
stores backfired in Lockport today. The store
had opened at midnight but was already filled
to capacity before many shoppers arrived and
they ended up waiting in a line that was actually
longer than in past years. Roger from Gasport
was near the front of that line. He had arrived
about an hour earlier and was told they would
let in about ten people at a time as customers
already inside left. One woman told us she
had dropper her grandkids off at 3 and now
she couldn't immediately get back in to find
them. A young lady named Ashley was waiting
for a TV set that was probably already gone...
and was "ticked off." The stores lot was
completely full and shoppers were parking at
the nearby Tops. We're told a similiar thing
happened at the Superstore on Military Road
in the Falls. Things started happening late last
night at the Fashion Outlets Mall. Marketing
Director Julie Clark said they moved their
tailgate party indoors. They opened the doors
at 11pm and some of the stores actually
opened then. She said they had a well rounded mix
of shoppers, Canadians and a strong prescence
from Western New York. The Kohl's store on Niagara
Falls Boulevard in Amherst opened at 4 and the
lot was full when we drove by at 4:30. Traffic
on the Boulevard was brisk and most of the
drivers were headed in the direction of the
Boulevard Mall. Back in the Falls, the manager of
the K-Mart said shoppers started lining up at 2am
for specials that included TV sets, clothing,toys and
games. Debbie said she's been working there for
25 years and described it as a fairly normal
Black Friday.

NEW VEHICLE POLICY

County Manager Greg Lewis wants a change
made in the County's policy on taking vehicles
home from work. He told a Committee this week
he wants to do away with a 1997 amendment that
allows several department heads to do so. The new
policy would give the County Manager the power
to approve such permanent car assignments. The
County's Risk and Insurance Director said they've
been working on the revision for months and it was
not motivated by any particular incident.

PROPOSED LAW IN TOWN OF LOCKPORT

Lawmakers in the Town of Lockport will
consider a local law next Wednesday that
would do away with tax breaks for anyone
converting a home into a condominium.
The 140 condo units already in the Town
would not be affected and it would not
prevent you from making the change, but
you wouldn't have the right to have your
assessment lowered. A public hearing on the
proposal is set for 7:30 Wednesday night.

LOCKPORT CAR BREAK IN

A Lockport woman teling police yesterday her
2002 Saturn was broken into overnight. The
Walnut Street resident said she found the
drivers side window smashed around 9:30am.
Over $600 in items were taken including a Nexus
GPS System, an I-pod Nanno, a hundred dollars
in Christmas decorations,and a couple of
flashlights. The damage to the window was
estimated at $300.

LOCKPORT MAN CHARGED IN BREAK-IN

A 19 year old Lockport man has been charged with
breaking into the Youth X-Clusive Store at 56 Locust
earlier this month. Phillip Ruiz Junior of Lockport
Olcott Road is charged with third degree burglary.
Police say he kicked in the door November 3. A
surveillance camera captured his image. The manager
of the building found clothing strewn all over the
parking lot and at the nearby corner of Locust and
South Streets the next morning.

LONG GUNS STOLEN

Two long guns were reported stolen from a
home on Lockport-Olcott Road in Newfane.
The victim told the Sheriff's Department an SGS
22 caliber assault rifle and a Winchester 300
20 gauge pump action shotgun were taken between
3pm Wednesday and 5pm Thanksgiving Day. The
victim's mom said she heard a noise while in the
shower around 3:45 pm Wednesday but thought it
was her son so she didn't think anything of it until
the guns were discovered to be missing. The victim
said he normally keeps them at his grandfathers house
but brought them home to clean. They were in a
downstairs bedroom. He said they were worth
$950.

NEWFANE HOUSE FIRE

Firefighters from Wrights Corners and Miller
Hose battled a stubborn blaze Wednesday night
at a home at 7106 Ellicott Road in Newfane. It
was reported by a couple living on the same
street around 8:30. They were driving by and saw
flames coming from the roof on the West side of
the structure. Harry Daubney grabbed a garden
houise and tried to put it out but smoke was still
coming from the home. The owner of the property,
Michael Molnar of Gasport, said he had been doing
roofing work with a torch but had finished around
4:30. None of the three residents were home at the
time of the blaze. The outer walls were damaged
on the West side but no figure was placed on the
damage.

THE RUDY COURAGE AWARD

A Senior at Niagara Falls High School could
win the national Rudy Courage Award. Anthony
Braham was nomated by football coach Don Bass.
Braham has not had an easy life. He was diagnosed
with Crohn's Disease at age 12 and is waiting on a
kidney transplant. His mother died about two weeks
ago from pneumonia. Despite that, he's known for
always having a smile on his face. The Rudy Courage
Award is named after the legendary Dan Ruettiger
who was made famous by the movie. You can vote
for Braham at High Schools Rudy Awards. com.
Voting closes Monday. The winner gets a $10,000
scholarship and a chance to meet Ruettiger.

NEW NAME/SETTLEMENT REACHED

The Pine Avenue Business Association will be
getting a new name. Board of Trustee Chair
Jerry Genova said it was decided Tuesday
night to change the name to The 62 North
Little Italy Business District. He also said
they had reached a deal with 18 members to
end last year's insurance problems. They've
agreed to accept 31 per cent of PABA's debt
to them. He said a certified letter would be sent
to others who were not at the meeting about
the proposed settlement. Ernie Lucantonio was
also hired to serve as Community Relations
Cooridantor. He'll be paid $12,000 a year. City
Council member Sam Fruscione and School
Board Member Jim Cancemi were also elected
to the Board.

QUALITY MARKETS MAY CLOSE

The 13 Quality Markets in Western New York
could be closing by February 15. The stores are
owned by Penn Traffic of Syracuse. They filed for
bankrupcty protection last week. They're looking
for a company to buy the stores but were required
to file a notice with the State Labor Department
about their possible closure. About 700 people
work in the stores including 71 at the Lockport
location. The closure would also affect Penn
Traffic's other stores that operate under the
Bi-Lo and P&C names in New York, Pennsylvania,
Vermont, and New Hampshire..plus workers at
their warehouse. In all, about 4100 jobs are at
risk.

STATE DEFICIT

State lawmakers left Albany yesterday after
the Governor made two proposals to deal
with this year's deficit. He presented them
with a series of cuts totalling $3.2-billion but
said they didn't want to take the political
heat to pass them they could give him the
authority to do it all by himself. State Senator
George Maziarz told WLVL he thought it
was a good thing that Paterson finally gave
them his plan for cuts after two weeks.Maziarz
called it a positive step forward and said
they at least now have it in writing what his
position is. He said the second part, to
let Paterson do the cuts himself, was not
meant with a very positive reaction by most
lawmakers. Maziarz said he was one of the
few who thought it might be the way to go.
He said the Legislature has failed to act in
the past two weeks and giving him the
authority to cut, without giving the right
to raise any revenue might be a good thing,
but the chances of it happening are very slim.
Lawmakers will deal with Paterson's suggested
cuts when they return to the Capitol Monday.
Maziarz said the Legislature and Paterson have
agreed on about $2.8-billion in reductions but
the sticking point is the proposed mid year cuts
to education. Most think school districts will
simply borrow the money and then raise
property taxes next year and that's what they
are trying to avoid.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS OF NIAGARA

The United Way of Niagara opens it's drive
thru Christmas display in Hyde Park with
a ceremony at 5:30 pm today. It''ll take place
at 911 Robbins Drive near the Ice Pavillion.
The program includes a performance
from the Step-In-time Studio of Dance,
music from the Niagara Falls Community
Choir, and a ten minute fireworks display.
It'll be open from 5-10 pm each night thru
New Years Eve. There is no admission charge
and you have the option of driving or walking
through the display which features nearly
60 illuminated scenes of holiday themes and
depictions.

COUNTERFEIT MONEY

Two teens from the Town of Lockport are facing
felony charges they used a home scanner to
make counterfeit money. Sixteen year old Matthew
Hodge of Day Road, and 16 year old Edward Koban
of Reger Drive were arrested Monday by State Police.
Eighteen year old Adam Flick of Akron Street was
charged with a misdemeanor for denying his
involvement during the investigation. Police say
they got a report of someone trying to pass a
counterfeit bill November 19 at Smokin Joe's
in Wheatfield. Hodge and Koban allegedly made
about $150 worth of counterfeit bills. They're due
in Town Court December 3.

COUNTERFIET STAMPS

A 31 year old Orchard Park man plead
guilty yesterday in District Court in Buffalo
to charges he made about $345,000 by
selling counterfiet US postage stamps.
Icarus Dakota Ferris admitted he started making
them in 2004 and that he sold them over the
internet. They were similiar to the ones offered
through Stamps.com. The crime carries a maximum
penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or
both. Ferris will be sentenced February 25.

M&T BANK ROBBED IN THE FALLS

A 32 year old Buffalo man was arraigned in City
Court in the Falls today on charges he robbed
the M&T branch on Main Street just after noon
Tuesday. David Anderson was pulled over a
short time later by State Parks Police on the
Robert Moses Parkway. He was arrested after
a short foot chase and with the help of a City
police officer. The red dye packs containing
the cash had burst onto his hands and the
money was found in his vehicle. Customers said
he came into the bank and handed a teller a note.
He was given a bundle of $50 and $20 bills and
two red dye packs. No weapon was displayed
and Police Chief Ernest Palmer said none was
recovered.

DAIRY FARMERS

Senator Chuck Schumer visited a dairy farm in
Batavia yesterday. He continued to urge Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack to release the $290-million
in direct aid to dairy farmers appropriated by
Congress. Schumer was joined by Gordon and
Scott Offhaus at their farm on Oak Orchard
Road and by other dairymen. Schumer said the
crisis is severe and the USDA needs to take
swift action. He wants the cash to be distributed
by the end of the year at the latest.

PART TIME DIRECTOR

The Niagara Falls Library Board has chosen an
interim part time director. Daniel Killian is the
former library director in North Tonawanda. He'll
start Tuesday and work about 24 hours a week.
Board Trustee Don King says Killian will also
help them come up with a job description as they
search for someone to take the job on a full time
basis. King said it could take as long as four
months.

EMMET BELKNAP CLOSED FOR A THIRD DAY

The extended holiday continued Wednesday for
students at Lockport's Emmet Belknap Middle
School. It was closed for a third day after a
water main break on Monday flooded the
boiler room. School Chief Terry Ann Carbone
says five feet of water accumulated within a
half an hour. It damaged two boiler systems,
an electric panel, and an emergency generator.
It could cost as much as $100,000 to repair,
but is expected to be covered by insurance.

PICK-UP HIT BY DEER

A 65 year old Lockport man only suffered
minor injuries yesterday when a deer jumped
into the passenger side of his pick-up on
Keck Road. The Sheriff's department says the
body of the deer entered the truck and smashed
the windshield. His antlers struck the driver in the
face and hand. Andrew Filipovich was treated at
ENH-Lockport. The accident happened just before
3pm.

GLOBE SPECIALITY METALS

Yesterday's re-opening of Globe Speciality
Metals in the Falls is being touted as a way
to leverage hydropower to produce solar
power. Mayor Paul Dyster talked up the process
during the ribbon cutting which was attended
by Governor David Paterson. The plant had been
closed for six years but has undergone a
$27-million renovation. They fired up two furnaces
last week at the Highland Avenue plant after
upgrading equipment used to make mettalurgical
grade silicon. Globe plans to invest $35-million
more during the next four years to expand their
capacity to produce a purified silicon used in
solar cells. The company will get 40 megawatts
of low cost power and they have agreed to a deal
to lure solar cell producers to the area. The Empire
State Development Corporation will get to offer
25 per cent of the plant's output at a reduced price to
the solar cell manufacturers. The first phase
of the operation resulted in the creation of
138 well paying jobs, as many as 500 will be
generated after the second phase is complete.

BURTON FOUND GUILTY

A county jury took 2 1/2 hours Monday to find
40 year old Daryl Burton guilty of raping one
woman and attacking another. He was found
guilty of ten counts of sexual and physical abuse.
Burton had been accused of raping a 17 year old
Lockport girl last year in a Park Avenue apartment
and of beating a North Tonawanda woman in
February of this year. Burton called himself "the
second son of God." His last address was on
Champlain Avenue in the Falls. He'll be sentenced
January 25 and could get as much as 50 years in
prison.

ACCIDENT FOLLOW-UP

Lockport Police Detective Richard Podgers
said Monday he expects charges will eventually
be filed against a 16 year old boy involved in
last Tuesday's accident that took the life of 17
year old Adam Mottorn. The boy was a passenger
in the pick-up that struck and killed Mottorn about
4pm on Porter Street. Podgers said the boy was
interviewed at length last Friday with his lawyer and
a prosecutor present. He said the teen gave a
written statement and he's expected to be charged
after all the evidence is processed. Investigators are
also testing the pick-up, physical evidence left at the
scene, and the cell phones of all those involved.
Seventeen year old Anthony Cescon of Ohio
Street was charged last Wednesday with leaving the
scene of an accident where a person dies. It's a
felony. Podgers expects additional charges will be
filed when the case is presented to a grand jury.

BUFFALO NIAGARA PARTNERSHIP AGENDA

County Legislature Chairman Bill Ross promoted
two county projects last night during the roll-out
of the Buffalo-Niagara Partnership's regional
agenda for 2010. For a second year, Ross said
they'd be looking for federal or state dollars to
do the $2-million Olcott Breakwater project. He
said it would improve the harbor and help prevent
shoreline erosin and aid in flood control...while
improving the business climate. He also said the
county wants to find a new use for the soon to be
vacant Army Reserve Center at the Falls airport.
The 22 acre site contains the buildings and one
of the best hangars in Western New York. There
are heated concrete floors, office space, and
storage space. The event was held at Pettibones
Grill at Dunn Tire Park. The economic development
blueprint focuses and directs the region's lobbying
efforts next year before the state and federal
government.

DEL COURT EAST

The Sheriff's Department was called to investigate
around 3am today after a resident at Del Court East
in the Town of Lockport said he saw two men checking
the doors of vehicles in his cul-de-sac. The caller said
he thought they were looking for unlocked doors and
he gave deputies the name of a possible suspect. The
man was found walking with another man on Central
Avenue near Crestwood Drive. They denied any
involvement but were driven to their respective homes
by deputies.

CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT

A 38 year old Middleport man was injured
just after 8am yesterday while working at the
Yahoo construction site in the Town of Lockport.
John Bianco of Graham Road was working in a
trench when his foot got caught on a piece of
rebar. He tripped and fell injuring his shoulder
and back. He was treated at the scene by South
Lockport EMS and then taken to ENH-Lockport
by ambulance for further treatment.

ROYALTON BRIDGE CLOSED

The State D-O-T has completely shut down the
Peet Street Bridge in Royalton. It was closed
to vehicular traffic in 1997 but remained open to
pedestrians. A recent inspection showed the
bridge's condition had worsened. There was no
word on whether it'll be torn down or replaced.

BODY IDENTIFIED

The man who died Saturday night at Meyers Lake
has been identified as 57 year old Ireri Gitari of
Buffalo. Sheriff Jim Voutour says Gitari was a
native of Kenya and he had been in this country
for about 15 years. At this point, no next of kin
can be found. The investigation is still on going
but his death does not appear to be suspicious.
Initial reports indicated his body was found around
8pm in a wooded area near Black Nose Spring Road,
but Voutour says Gitari actually drowned in the lake.
He said several factors may have contributed to
his death including intoxication, the water
temperature, the weight of his clothing, and
his swimming skills.

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING

Erie County Executive Chris Collins signed a
law Monday that'll give police the authority
to stop and ticket any driver they see texting.
The law will take effect in just a few days after
it's filed with the New York Secretary of State.
The fine will be $150. Niagara County passed
a similiar law that went into effect October 1.

STATE BUDGET

As the State enters another week without
action on this year's deficit, the Governor
sent a letter to all 212 members of the
Legislature Sunday. He asked them to
put the people first and not powerful special
interests. Paterson said they must reach a
responsible final agreement that protects
our State's finances. He urged them to make
the politcally difficult decision to cut school
aid and health care. The Senate has refused to
agree to the midyear cuts in School aid, and the
Assembly is trying to avoid it. They're in Albany
today while Paterson spoke this morning at the
opening of Globe Speciality Metals on Highland Avenue in
the Falls

VIGIL FOR MILLER

More than 500 people remembered the life
of former LewPort senior Jonathon Miller
during a vigil last night at the school's football
stadium. The 17 year old was killed in a one
car accident a week ago yesterday. His SUV
drifted off Lewiston Road and struck a tree.
Members of the Varsity football team spoke
about their team-mate and students and others
held candles in his memory. Lew Port Principal
Paul Casseri said he's been in education for 20
years and he had never seen a young man who
touched so many people.

BRUNO TRIAL

The jury is expected to begin deliberations
today in the fraud trial of former State Senate
Majority Leader Joe Bruno. State Senator
George Maziarz told the Buffalo News testimony
by former Laborers Local 91 President Mark Congi
was untrue. Congi had said that Maziarz acted
as a go between between the union and Bruno.
One of the allegations against Bruno is that he
used his position to try to persuade unions to invest
their pension plans or other money with a
Connecticut investment firm that paid Bruno $1.3-
million. Laborers Local 91 was one of the 11 unions
that made the switch. Maziarz was on the witness
list for both the prosecution and the defense but
was never called to testify by either side.

LOCKPORT SALVATION ARMY

Lockport's Salvation Army is expecting
to serve more than 600 turkey dinners
Thursday either at the hall or through in
home deliveries. Spokesman Al
SanMarco says people who need a
delivery should call 434-1276. About
50 turkeys were already cooked last
week by students in the NCCC Culinary
Arts Institute. Thye'll be kept moist and
tasty in a cooler till Thursday. The stuffing
will be prepared at John Rinadlo's Pizza
Oven on Vine Street. This is the 18th year
that San Marco, Rinaldo, and Wayne Wagner
have organized the meal. It'll be served from
11 till 2 Thursday.

FREQUENT FLIER PROGRAMS

Senator Chuck Schumer said Sunday the
Transportation Depertment needs to regulate
frequent flier programs offered by commerical
airlines. He said New York travellers and fliers
from across the country have lost tens of millions
of miles because they were recinded by airlines
and credit card companies. Schumer said
customers are not getting sufficient notification
and that accounts can be terminated and miles
can be deemed cancelled or expired with
seemingly little to no advance notice. He wants
the Transportation Department to investigate
whether or not they're engaging in deceptive
business practices. There are an estimated
10 trillion unused frequent flier miles in circulation
now worth about $165-billion. Airlines have the
freedom to close accounts with little or no
warning.

DMV HOLIDAY HOURS

County Clerk Wayne Jagow says the Niagara Falls
DMV office will not be open late Wednesday night.
They will close at 4:30. The North Tonawanda office
will be open late Tuesday till 6:30pm. All offices
will be closed Thursday and Friday.

HOLIDAY CONTEST

A cable TV network is looking for six
young Niagara County families interested
in taking part in a Christmas decorating
contest. HGTV says they will compete for the
title of Best Holiday House in front of the
community. Six familes will be chosen and
will be given a generous budget to design,
shop, and build something special within
48 hours. The network is looking for young
families with children or teens who live in a
heritage area or heritage home. The show will
be filmed between December 10-13 or between
December 15-18. You must live in the cities of
Lockport or North Tonawanda or in the DeVeaux
section of the Falls....or in Lewiston, Youngstown,
Newfane, Olcott or Wilson. Send an e-mail with
a family photo and a picture of your home to
Casting Director Sue Skinner. The address is
smsconcepts@rogers.com They must
receive it by Tuesday. The show will not air
until next year.

BODY FOUND

The Sheriff's department found the body a
man Saturday night in a wooded area around
Meyers Lake. Officials say they got a call
about the man. He was with a small group
of people camping in the area. They were
eating and drinking around a small fire when the
man wandered off and got lost. He was said to
be unfamiliar with the territory and was
probably intoxciated. Sheriff's deputies were
joined by Lewiston Police, State Police and
agents from the Border Patrol. The man's
body was found around 8pm near Black Nose
Spring Road. Night vision equipment and
a police dog were used in the search. The man
was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause
is under investigation, his name has not been
released.

CAR BREAK IN

A 40 year old Lockport woman telling Sheriff's
deputies Sunday her 2004 Pontiac Grand Am was
broken into while it was parked along the
towpath at Day and Canal Roads. The woman
said she left it there around 2:30 while she went
for a jog along the canal. She came back an
hour later to find the passenger side window
smashed and her red purse was gone. She had
left it on the passenger side floor covered with a
jacket. It contained her bank ATM card and
ten dollars in cash.

HO HO HO?

It's that time of year. A resident on Hamm Road
in the Town of Lockport told the Sheriff's Department
a "Happy Holidays" sign and a plastic Christmas
candle were stolen fron this front lawn Saturday
night. They were worth $25. Meantime, a turkey
breast and half a ham were reported stolen Sunday
from a freezer in the Community Room of an
apartment complex in Barker. A 56 year old
woman said she put them there last Tuesday.
The meat was worth about $50. The woman said
there's been an ongoing problem with people
stealing in the complex at 1889 Quaker Road.