NOT A HOMICIDE

Falls police said yesterday the medical examiner
has determined a 25 year old woman who was
found dead in her Pine Avenue apartment Wednesday
was not the victim of foul play. Detective Captain William
Thomson said a combination of energy drinks, diet
pills, and nasal spray may have led to an accidental
death but it's still under investigation. He said the
woman might have been dead for as long as a day.
The cries of her two year old son caused neighbors
to summon police about 2pm Wednesday. They broke
down the door and found her body on the floor. The
toddler was running around the apartment and was in
good condition. He was turned over to a grandmother.
The woman's name has not been released.

POWERTRAIN

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter says General
Motors will be investing hundreds of millions of
dollars to upgrade it's plant in Tonawanda to produce
the next generation engine used in Chrevrolets and
Pontiacs. The production of the fuel efficient four
cylinder ecotec engine might mean about 375 employees
on indefinite layoff could be called back to work. The
plant currently makes the LA50 engine and Slaughter
said the announcement affirms the competitiveness
of the plant.

HAMILTON TRIAL

The Falls man accused of shooting his ex girlfriend
and two police officers last February told the Jury
yesterday he was only trying to scare her and
police fired on him as he was trying to surrender.
Thirty-five year old Adam Hamilton was armed with
a rifle when he jumped out of the trunk of the woman's
car as she arrived home. He claims police shot him
twice while he was down. Closing arguments are
expected Tuesday following a four day Presidents
Day break.

FLIGHT 3407 MEMORIAL WALK

Over 500 people were expected to take part in a
walk today to remember the victims of last years
crash of Flight 3407. It started at 9:30 at the
scene of the disaster on Long Road in Clarence
Center. Their route went down Goodrich
Road to Main Street to Transit to Genesee and
to the airport. They expected to arrive at the
airport after 2 when Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and
others will offer remarks. About 160 of the
participants lost a family member or friend in the
crash. Pendleton resident Cheryl Borner was
there in memory of her husband David who was
on board the fatal flight.

GREAT APPLIANCE SWAP OUT

The State's "Great Appliance Swap Out"
started today and continues till February 21
or until the money runs out. New York State
residents who buy a qualified energy efficient
appliance will be eligible for a rebate from
the State's Energy Research & Development
Authority. You'll get an even larger rebate if
you're recycling an old appliance. You'll have
to fill out an application and submit it by March
15 and you'll get the rebate in the mail. Rebates
of $75 are available for refrigerators...$105 with
documented recycling, $75 for washing machines...
$100 with documented recycling....and $50 for
freezers...$75 with documented recycling. Rebates
for dishwashers are only available if they're purchased
as part of a three appliance package of CEE rated
appliances. The bundled purchase will qualify for
a $500 rebate ...and $550 with documented recycling.
Call 1-877-697-6278 for information or go to
www.NYApplianceSwapOut.com for more details.
A total of $16.8-million is available, but the money is
for all the State and some think it could run out as soon
as tomorrow. Many appliance stores opened early
today or late last night to give customers a chance to
take advantage of the savings.

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER

The Barker School District will lose it's school
resource officer if the Governor's proposed
budget for the State Police is approved. Trooper
Jill Pezzino would be returned to regular duty
to fill positions left open by retirements. Paterson's
spending plan does away with some money to the
State Police Academy which would produce
new recruits to replace the retiring officers. The
State Police started providing Troopers to districts
in 2003. About 90 are currently assigned to districts
around the State, but Barker is the only one using
them in Niagara County.

SNOWBALLS

Three teens were arrested by Lockport police
around midnight today for throwing snowballs
at cars on Davison Road. They are 16 year old
Shae Rekito of 134 Hyde Park, 16 year old
Jerrod Scheeler of 6851 Akron Road and his
brother, 17 year old Jessie Scheeler, of the
same address. They were all charged with
disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental
administration. Police reports say they fled
as police arrived to buildings behind Professional
Parkway...and police followed. They continued to
run after being ordered to stop and were finally
caught in the backyard of an Akron Road
apartment complex. They were ordered to the
ground and Rekito and Jessie Scheeler were
handcuffed. Jerod Scheeler walked up a
moment later and apologized for running from
officers. Police say they had responded to the
same location for a similiar complaint on the
previous day.

BREAK-IN IN ROYALTON

Two jugs full of coins were taken Thursday during
a break-in at a home on Akron Road in Royalton.
The victims said one contained about $400 and the
other about $200. The Sheriff's Department went
to the Transit Road Tops and asked if anyone had
cashed in a lot of change at the Coinstar machine.
The manager said someone had cashed in $417 in
change just after 3:30 and deputies will be back
today to look at video taken by a surveillance
camera. Deputies also found a black pillowcase
with a piece of glass in a trash car near the machine.
Several footprints from a Nike sneaker were in the
snow next to the victims home and a hammer was
found inside. One of the victims found the glass
on a sliding door shattered when he discovered the
burglary.

FREE FLU CLINIC TODAY

The County Health Department is offering free
seasonal and H1N1 flu shots today at Niagara
Wheatfield High School. It runs from 10am till
7:30 p.m.

FOUR POSSIBLE BUDGETS

The Business Administrator of the Falls School
District told the school board last night he's
come up with four possible budgets depending
on how much state aid they receive. Timothy
Hyland said they range from the best case
scenerio where the loss is $3.3-million to the
worst where it's cut by $5.4-million. Eighty-four
employees, including 48 teachers, could be let
go under his worst case budget. It's hoped,
if that's the case, that some of the lay-offs
could be taken care of through retirements.
There are no pay raises in any of the four
spending plans.

TOWN HALL MEETING

About 50 people told Assemblywoman Francine
del Monte last night the State needs to get a grip
on spending and not raise taxes during a town
hall meeting at the Wheatfield Community Center.
She started the discussion by saying you can't
spend money you don't have and New York State
does not have the money to spend. She suggested
consolidating or eliminating some agencies with
overlapping responsibilities.

STOLEN CARS FOUND AT SCRAPYARD

A car dealer on 55th Street told Falls police
this week he found six vehicles that were
stolen November 11 at a Packard road
junkyard. They inlcuded a '92 Porsche,
an '88 Ford pick-up and a 1960 Triumph.
The owner of the scrapyard told police
the man who sold them was a Falls resident
who presented a Pennsylvania drivers
license and a New York State benefit card.

IT COULD BE TWO

Officals in Lockport said last night they may have
to close two elementary schools, one more than
they were talking about last week. School Board
President Marietta Schrader said they would
definitely close one this year but they are not
sure which one it will be. She said they're still
looking at all the data and there is a distinct
possibility that, if the nunbers don't look any
better coming from Albany, that they might
be looking at closing a second school, if not
this year, than possibly next year. A standing
room only crowd was at last night's meeting.
They were told the District is expecting to lose
$4-million in State aid and they're also facing a
$4-milliion increase in operational costs. Many of
those at last night's meeting wore DeWitt Clinton
shirts and School Chief Terry Ann Carbone said
it, and John Pound and Washington Hunt are
the oldest, they cost the most to maintain, and
are the obvious candidates for closure.
Schrader says no decision has been made yet.
Between $500,000 and $900,000 could be saved by
closing one school, but there will still have to be
a tax increase. Schrader emphasized they are
not even close to finalizing a budget, she called
it a work in progress.

WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN HER FALLS APARTMENT

Falls police are looking into the death of a 25 year
old woman in her apartment in the 1900 block of
Pine Avenue. Her body was found yesterday
afternoon by officers after they were called by
neighbors who said they had been hearing a baby
crying for hours. Police had to break down the
door. They found the woman's body on the
floor and there were some pills, nasal spray,
and some energy drinks nearby. Detective
Captain William Thomson said they're awaiting
the results of an autopsy before deciding whether
the death was accidental or a homicide. A two
year old boy was in the apartment. He appeared
to be unharmed and in good condition. He was
turned over to his grandmother.

MATERNITY UNIT TO CLOSE

The maternity unit at Eastern Niagara Hospital
in Newfane will be closing March 11. The
hospital said 11 nurses and nurses aides will
be affected by their decision to consoldiate
all maternity services in Lockport. Spokesperson
Carolyn Moore said the 11 can apply for open
positions in other units in Newfane and Lockport.
She said the decision was made to save money
and State budget cuts were to blame. About 400
babies were born in Lockport last year, less than
a hundred in Newfane.

THOMPSON ACTUALLY VOTED YES

The Buffalo News is reporting today State Senator
Antoine Thompson actually voted in favor Tuesday
night of ousting Hiram Monserrate. The paper says
Thompson staffers called Albany yesterday and
tried to get his vote changed to a no but they were
rejected. They also say Thompson told them
yesterday he was also o-k with the yes vote, even
though the paper says he told them in three different
ways Tuesday night why he voted no. Thompson
said yesterday he was tired and sick during his
discussion with the paper Tuesday night and he
misspoke.

LOCKPORT CITY COUNCIL

At their work session yesterday, Lockport lawmakers
informally agreed to contribute $5,000 to the planned
Old Home Week celebration in July. They also listened
to another company interested in taking over the phone
service at City Hall. Time Warner pitched it's service last
week and Paetec of Rochester did so last night. They
would charge $881 a month plus an estimated monthly
usage charge of $228. The Council decided they needed
more information from both companies during a closed
door meeting with City Engineer Norm Allen. Mayor Mike
Tucker said they might want to add new equipment and
internet service to any possible deal.

BUDGET PROBLEMS FOR STATE PARKS

State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash said yesterday
fees will increase this year and some parks may have to
close or operate on reduced schedules due to the
state's budget problems. She said it was too early
to say which ones might close but reductions made
last year will remain in effect. Nothings been decided
for sure, but Ash said, as an example, some programs
at Artpark could be scaled back. She stressed all of
the considerations are tentative and they could be
revised several times before they are finally adopted
in the State budget. Ash did say a $20-million capitol
improvement project would go forward. It includes
$1.5-million to design repairs or a replacement for
the Goat Island bridges that date back to 1901,
$1.1-million ti improve the sewage system at Fort
Niagara, a million dollars to repair roads at Alleghany
State Park, and $550,000 to replace restrooms and
showers at Letchworth State Park.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

A 51 year old Lockport woman was arrested last
night after she allegedly tried to a get a phony
prescription filled at the Rite Aid at 459 South
Transit. Karen Fritton of 147 Stevens Street was
charged with forgery, possession of a forged
instrument, and criminal personation. She
allegedly used a false name and address
but the pharmacist recognized her because she
tried to do the same thing last year and got
caught. He called police and several units went
to her home. Police reports said they smelled
marijuana when her husband opened the door
and Fritton was found in a bathroom. She was
taken to headquarters where she explained how
she had gotten addicted to pain medication. She
was also charged with another count of possession
of a forged instrument for a similiar crime last
year when she tried to get oxycotin from the
Medicine Shop.

DRIVING WHILE ABILITY IMPAIRED BY DRUGS

State Police charged a 30 year old Newfane man
with driving while his ability was impaired by
drugs during a traffic stop Tuesday. Jeffrey
Denton of Autumnview Station was pulled over
for not wearing his seatbelt just before 4pm on
Robinson Road. He was also charged with
possession of marijuana, aggravated unlicensed
operation, and on warrant from the City of Lockport
for aggravated unlicensed operation.

UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT

The Falls Memorial Medical Center agreed
Tuesday to pay an undisclosed settlement
to a Lockport family over the death of Jonah
Drisdom. He was a psychiatric patient there
when he was shot to death outside the hospital
in 1997. It's the second settlement the family
has received. The Falls City Council agreed
January 25 to pay the family $225,000. Drisdom
was shot by Officer Walter Nichols Jr with his
police pistol while he was working as a security
officer for the hospital. He was told Drisdom was
leaving without permission and he had a knife.
Nichols shot Drisdom after he lunged at him
with the knife, but it turned out to only be a
butter knife.

MONSERRATE BOOTED OUT

The State Senate voted 53-8 last night to oust
Hiram Monserrate. The Queens Democrat was
previously found guilty of a misdemeanor for
dragging his girlfriend through his apartment
lobby. Monserrate said his expulsion will
deprive voters of their right to chose a
representative and he is appealing his conviction.
The decision will throw the Senate into a turmoil.
There are now 31 Democrats and 30 Republicans
and it takes 32 votes to pass anything. Senator
Antoine Thompson was one of the 8 to vote
against removing him. He said he voted no
because Monserrate is still appealing his
conviction. The New York Chapter of the
National Organization of Women hailed the
decision. They say any violence against women is
unacceptable.

TIED UP

Three workers at a business on Pine Avenue
were tied up while being robbed at gunpoint
last night. It happened just before 10pm at
Universal Wireless in the 3000 block. About
$520 was taken. A female worker told police
the man produced a black gun and took cash
and change from the registers and then ordered
her and two others into a back room where they
were tied up. The man is described as being a
thin black male. He was wearing a ski mask and
was dressed in black with a black vest.

GARAGE FIRE

The Ransomville Fire Department fought a blaze
around 7pm last night in a two story garage at 2929
Braley Road in Wilson, It orginated on the second
floor. Several animals and vehicles were safely
removed and the fire was declared under control
in 34 minutes. No damage estimate was provided.
The exact cause is udner investigation.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY

A winter weather advisory is in effect till 7pm
for areas to our South. It includes Erie,
Genesee, Wyoming, Livingstonm Chautauqua,
Cattaraugus, and Alleghany counties. The
National Weather Service says two to three
inches of snow are expected in most of those
areas today, with up to four inches across
the higher terrain of the Boston Hills and
Wyoming County. Just a couple of inches are
expected here in Niagara County.

PATERSON RESPONDS TO RUMORS

The Governor responded Tuesday to all those
rumours that he would resign over a story
about to be published by the New York Times.
Paterson said the only way he would not be
Governor next year is at the ballot box and the
only way he would be leaving office before is in
a box. He said the rumors originated in news
outlets and blogs other than the Times. He said
three sources contacted reporters at the start
of Sunday's Super Bowl to leak word he was
about to step down and said it seemed to be
somewhat orchestrated/ Paterson talked to the
Times yesterday and he said he expects their
article to be a profile and not about alleged sexual
escapades or drug use. He said the reporter
did not ask any questions about it.

TELEPHONE TOWN HALL MEETING

Congressman Chris Lee will hold a special
telephone town hall meeting at 6pm tonight.
He says the co-pilot of last year's Miracle
On The Hudson, Captain Jeff Skiles, will
particpate as they try to push for aviation
safety improvements in the wake of the Flight
3407 tragedy. The legilsation is currently
stalled in the Senate after passing in the
House. Lee says they normally call between
60,000 and 100,000 homes inviting those
who answer to participate. As many as
15,000 usually do. If you have an unlisted
number and want to be included, go to Lee's
website, http://chrislee.house.gov, and
there's a place where you can plug in your
phone number. Skiles will take questions
tonight. Lee normally holds the meetings
about every two weeks.

CAMBRIA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BREAK IN

A 20 year old Cambria man will be sentenced
April 8 after he plead guilty in County Court
Tuesday to taking part in a break-in at Knead
The Dough in Ransomville last December 3.
John Kalita of North Ridge Road told Judge
Sara Sheldon Sperrezza he's been diagnosed
with mild cerebral palsy and bipolar seizure
disorders. He was one of three men charged
with the crime and also for a burglary the same
day at Ed's Country Store in Wilson. He only
admitted to the break in at Knead The Dough.
Charges in the cases remain pending against
16 year old Adam Christy and 18 year old Aaron
Clark of Ransomville. Christy is also charged
with an August burglary at Casey's Malt Shop
in Ransomville.

CREGO

The Union Sun & Journal is reporting today that
39 year old Christopher Crego wants to be returned
to Lockport to face charges of second and third
degree assault stemming from an incident in November
2008. Crego fled to a small town outside of Terre
Haute Indiana last Fall. D.A. Michael Violante told
the paper Crego is not waiving his extradition rights
and he actually asked them to get a governor's warrant
to bring him back. He could not say when that might
be. Police reports say he was also arrested last August
for DWI and possession of marijuana. Lockport police
say he will also face an additional charge of bail jumping
when he returns. Crego formerly lived at 4617 Sunset
Drive. He was captured by US Marshalls last week at
his workplace in Indiana. He's currently free on
$25,000 bail out of Vigo County but is slated to have
a court appearance there on Monday.

CLEAN WATER ACT

A 54 year old Falls man plead guilty Tuesday to
violating the federal Clean Water Act. Louie
Zaninovich was the Plant Superintendent at
the Tulip Corporation on Highland Avenue in
2006 & 2007 when the company piped water
contaminated with lead into a city sewer. He
faces up to $25,000 in fines for each day of the
violation and a year in prison, plus another year
of supervised release. He'll be sentenced May 5.
The Tulip Corporation is based in California.
They plead guilty last week to a felony charge
of knowingly storing hazardous waste without
a permit between October 2004 & July 2007.

HAMILTON TRIAL

A Falls police officer testifed Tuesday in
County Court in the trial of Adam Hamilton.
Officer Richard Fleck is thought to be the
one who shot the 35 year old in an incident
on South Avenue on February 7th of last
year. Fleck said he fired nine rounds but it's
never been determined if the shots that
smashed Hamilton's knee came from his
weapon. Hamilton is accused of shooting
his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Turk, and
wounding officers Walter Nichols and
Micheal Bird as they responded to
the call. The three officers fired 37 rounds
altogether. Hamilton is believed to have
hidden in the trunk of Turk's car and then
to have attacked her as she arrived home from
work.

PATERSON STILL ON THE JOB

A rumor that Governor David Paterson would
step down yesterday turned out to be just that,
a rumor. It was fueled by reports the New York
Times is set to publish a "bombshell" story
that'll include accusations of womanizing and
drug use. His office spent a good deal of time
Monday denying he would step down. His
spokesperson, Marissa Shorenstein, said the
rumors were completely false and irresponsible.
She said there are no scandals and everything
was completely fabricated out of thin air. Meantime,
Paterson proposed a new Ethics Bill after he
veotoed one passed last week because he said
it was too weak. His suggestion came after the
Assembly overrode the veto but the Senate was
unable to get enough votes to do the same. Senate
Majority Leader Pedro Espada also proposed
legislation to expel Senators convicted of
misdemeanor assault. It would not affect Senator
Hiram Monserrate who was convicted of dragging
his girlfriend through his apartment building lobby.
The Senate is expected to decide his fate today,
Espada said he would not vote to expel him.

FALLS POLICE RECEIVE AAA AWARD

The Triple A presented the Falls police
department with it's bronze award Monday
for their work done on traffic safety in 2009.
Vice President Wally Smith said the Traffic
Division had done a good job in dealing
with underage drinking and driving, DWI,
agressive driving, seatbelt use, and school
bus safety. The AAA only gives out ten
such awards statewide each year and the
Falls is the only community in Western New
York to earn one this year. Traffic Captain
Salvatore Pino accepted and introduced
the men in the Traffic Division, so he said,
the audience would know their names if
they should pull them over.

FALLS CITY COUNCIL

Lawmakers in the Falls pulled a resolution
Monday to spend $8,640 for a fancy cabinet
to display the city's mementos in the lobby
of City Hall. The action was taken after the
owner of Art's Woodshop on Portage Road
complained he was not given an opportunity
to bid on the job. Mayor Paul Dyster said
the city was not obligated to take bids for
projects under $10,000. The original
resolution called for the job to be done by
Viola's Cabinet Shop on Hyde Park Boulevard
in the Town of Niagara. Art Garabedian said
his business is in the city and pays local
taxes. Councilmember Steve Fournier said he
would prefer it be done by a city business....and
Dyster said they were unaware a local business
could do the job. Garabedian says he plans to
submit a bid after he gets the spec's. The Council
also pulled a resolution to spend about $2,000
to replace 25 year old carpeting in the new
office of the Equal Employment Commission after
Chairman Sam Fruscione questioned whether it
was really necessary. City Controller Maria Brown
warned the city needed to keep a close watch on
spending because there will be less money coming
from Albany in the future.

WOMAN CHARGED WITH RAPING A TEENAGE BOY

A 26 year old Gooding Street woman plead not
guilty Monday in City Court to charges she
raped a 14 year old boy. Nicole Nelson was
ordered held on $1500 bail. A felony hearing
was set for Wednesday. She's charged with
second degree rape, the sex allegedly took
place last Wednesday.

WINKLEY APPOINTED TO LEWISTON TOWN BOARD

The Lewiston Town Board last night appointed
former police chief Ron Winkley to a seat left
vacant by the resignation of Michael Johnson.
Johnson stepped down two weeks ago to
become part time budget director. Winkley had
been on the Village board but he resigned earlier
in the day in anticipation of the appointment. The
Village Board now has to fill an open seat for the
third time since Richard Soluri resigned as Mayor
last October.

DEL MONTE TO HOLD TOWN HALL MEETINGS

Assemblywoman Francine del Monte will hold
two town hall meetimgs this week, and two more
next week, to discuss the Governor's proposed
budget. The first 90-minute session will be at
6:30pm Wednesday at the Newfane Community
Center. Another will take place at the same time
Thursday at the Community Center in Wheatfield.
The others will be next Tuesday at the LaSalle
branch library in the Falls, and on Wednesday
in the Youngstown Village Hall. They also begin
at 6:30.

STOLEN HORSE

The Sheriff;s department was called to a barn on
Wheatfield-Pendleton Townline Road Monday to
investigate a stolen horse complaint. A 26 year
old Elma woman said she had "free leased" her
animal to a woman named Aime and she went
to check on it's welfare and it was gone. She said
other people who board horses there told her Aime
had taken the horse and four others and moved
them to an unknown location. The victim said she
tried to call Aime but got no answer. The horse
is about five years old, chestnut in color, and it has
a white star on it's forehead. It's worth $3,000.

POT FOUND ON MIDDLEPORT MAN DURING TRAFFIC STOP

A 23 year old Middleport man was released on $100
bail after Lockport police stopped him around 3am
today on Park Avenue for a loud muffler. Michael
Wagner of 10 Alfred Street was also charged with
aggravated unlicensed operation and possession
of marijuana. Police said it was in plain view on the
center console.

BAIL JUMPING

A 22 year old Newfane woman was charged with
third degee bail jumping Monday by Lockport
police. Tara Prentice of 2754 Main Street is
accused of failing to show up for an appearance
in City "court December 22 to answer a charge
of possession of a forged instrument dating back
to February 2008. Police issued a bench warrant
for her arrest in December but she managed to
elude arrest until she was captured Sunday by the
Sheriff's department.

ANOTHER CHARGE AGAINST HASELEY

Lockport police Monday filed an additional charge
of endangering the welfare of a child against 26
year old Carly Haseley of 224 Locust. She's the
woman whose three month old baby was removed
from her home early Sunday after she told police
during a traffic stop that the child was home with
it's father who was an alleged heroin addict. Haseley
was originally charged with aggravated unlicensed
operation and possession of a hypodermic needle
Sunday. The girl's father, 24 year old Michael Card,
also of 224 Locust, with possessing needles and
a controlled substance, and child endangerment.

CHILD REMOVED FROM HOME

In Lockport, a three month old baby girl
was removed from a home at 224 Locust
early Sunday after her 26 year old mother
was arrested during a traffic stop. Carly
Haseley was pulled over around 1:45am
on South Transit and charged with possessing
a hypodermic needle and aggravated
unlicensed operation. A passenger, 22 year
old Shavale Ewing of Rochester was charged
with having a hypodermic needle as well and
possession of a controlled substance. Police
said they found a syringe containing a clear
liquid,two more syringes, and a knife with
suspected heroin on it in the car and a
chunk of cocaine on Ewing. Heseley told
police during booking her three month old
daughter was at home with the baby's dad.
She allegedly told police he was a heroin
addict and was intoxicated. Police went to
the home and said they saw several
hypodermic needles in plain view and
some contained heroin residue. Twenty-seven
year old Michael Card was charged with
possessing the needles, possession of a
constrolled substance, and endangering the
welfare of a child. The baby was turned over
to her grandparents. Further charges are
pending.

SNOW ON THE WAY

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter
Storm Watch for the Southern Tier for late
Tuesday and Wednesday, and forecasters
say we should see 3 to 4 inches here. It'll be a
general snowfall and no lake effect is expected.
The heaviest snow is expected across Pennsylvania
and New Jersey where they just had a storm over
the weekend. As for us, NWS forecaster Dave Sage
says we're about 6 1/2 inches below our average snowfall
for up to this point in the year.

NYSEG RATE INCREASE?

Staff members at the State Public Service Commission
say a $215-million increase requested by NYSEG ias
excessive. The company's request would add nearly
$40 a month to the combined average electric and gas
bill. They reccomend an increase of $27-million for
electricity but say gas rates should stay the same. The
talks began late last month and hearings will be held
later in theyear. If the two sides cannot agree, an
adminisrative law judge can make a reccomendation,
but the final decision will be up the five member
Commission.

SATURDAY MORNING FIRE IN SOMERSET

Two familes and their pet dogs are being helped
by the Red Cross after a fire did an estimated
$10,000 damage to their apartment building in
Somerset Saturday morning. It was at 7730
West Somerset Road and it was reported by
a tenant around 8:30 after he smelled smoke in
his apartment. He traced it to a vacant unit below
his and tried to put it out with buckets of water
before calling for help. The Barker Fire Company
said the blaze was in a wall. Miller Hose also
responded. The exact cause has not yet been
determined.

CHILDRENS GAME SYSTEM

A 32 year old Robinson Road woman reported
Saturday her daughter's pink Nintendo D-S
game system was stolen from the children's
play area at the Transit Road Wal-Mart. The
woman said her daughter left it on a change
machine around 5pm and walked away, and
it was gone when she went back to get it.
It was worth $99, and it had a $20 Super Mario
Brothers game inside.

CABINET VOTE TONIGHT

The Niagara Falls City Council is expected tonight to
vote on whether to spend more than $8,000 for a
cabinet to house mementos given to the City over the
years. City Administrator Donna Owens talked about it
at their meeting two weeks ago. The Administration wants
the job to go to the Viola Cabinet Company on Hyde Park
Boulevard. It would include framed doors with tempered
glass, shelving, lighting, and security locks for all the
doors. Owens said it would be placed in the atrium and match
the historical integrity of the building. Former Council
President Chris Robins suggested it be built late last year.
The money to pay for it would come from a portion of the
interest earned on the city's share of casino revenue.

13 INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED BAGS

A 20 year old woman from the Falls and a 21 year
old Lockport man were both charged with
possession of marijuana around 11:30 Saturday
night as Lockport police were responding to a
9-1-1 call at 74 Genesee Street. Officers said
Katrina Burton of 1515 North Avenue in the Falls....
and Frank Hudson Jr of 612 Birchwood Drive came
out of the house as they arrived and went to
Hudson's car. Police say they saw a large bag
of marijuana in plain view on the back seat. It
contained 13 individually wrapped smaller bags
apparently ready for sale. They also confiscated
$1,257 from the woman.