ROYALTON

Royalton Town Justice Greg Bass yesterday
postponed any action till March 18 in the case
involving a homeowner whose accused of firing
15 rifle shots at a man last month. The District
Attorney's office asked for the time to decide if
they will present the issue to a Grand Jury.
Sixty-three year old Dennis Cherry was arrested
by State Police January 21 after he allegedly fired
the shots at 24 year old Anibal Cordero as Cordero
was attempting to flee in a pick-up. Cordero says
he was just giving Cherry's stepdaughter a ride
and got caught up in a family fued. That stepdaughter,
18 year old Jenna Zsebhazy of Washburn Street in
Lockpirt has since disappeared and is thought to be
in Texas. Cherry was charged with reckless endangerment,
criminal mischief, and menacing by the State Police,
while Cordero and Zsebhazy were charged with
attempted burglary. Cherry said he believed they had
also burglarized his home three days before and
took a handgun.

MILLIONAIRE

A 54 year old LaSalle woman was introduced
Thursday as the winner of a million dollars in
the lottery's Smooth Sevens scratch off game.
Debra Mauro bought the ticket February 3
at the Tops Store on Niagara Falls Boulevard.
She didn't believe she won at first and had to
call her daughter to verify it. The mother of
three grown children will receive $50,000 a
year for 20 years. After taxes it will come to over
$33,000 a year for the next 20 years. She said
some will go to pay off credit cards and to
buy a new snowblower. She said she also
promised God she would give some to
Childrens Hospital and Saint Jude. Mauro
plans to continue working, she's the assistant
manager at Regal Cinema.

GARCIA PLEADS NOT GUILTY

A 31 year old Hartland woman accused of
stabbing her boyfriend to death Christmas
morning plead not guilty to manslaughter
and weapons charges yesterday in County
Court. Gwendolyn Garcia of 8464 Ridge Road
had originally been charged with second
degree murder, but a County Grand Jury last
week reduced it to first degree manslaughter.
The change means Garcia is accused of causing
the death of 38 year old Randy Whitney while
only intending to seriously injure him. Garcia
called 911 after it happened and a dispatcher
talked her through CPR procedures in a failed
attempt to save his life. She's being held without
bail in the County Jail but Judge Matt Murphy said
he would consider setting it if her attorney can
find a place for her to live in Niagara County. Her
former apartment is being offered for rent and
all of her family lives in New Jersey.

GREENWAY DOLLARS

The County Historical Society will get more than
$176,000 from the Niagara River Greenway
Commission to build a gallery to house the
recently donated art collection of Charles Rand
Penney. The five thousand item collection will
be placed ina mezzanine gallery to be added to the
Erie Canal Discovery Center. The Greenway's
Host Communities Standing Commitee also voted
Thursday to provide $850,000 to help build
a park on the former Century Club property along
the Niagara River off Buffalo Avenue in the Falls.
The LaSalle Waterfront Park is a two phase project
and will eventually cost $1.7-million. The rest will
come from two State grants. One has been approved
and the city is waiting to hear on the other. The
Committee also o-k'd giving the County almost
$363,000 to help pay for new Splash Parks in
Oppenheim Park in Wheatfield and Krull Park
in Olcott. The remainder of the $525,000 project
will be paid for with a $99,000 state grant and
$67,000 worth of county services. The Splash Parks
will open in the Summer of 2011.

SUGARY BEVERAGE TAX

The State Health Commissioner said yesterday a
majority of New Yorkers support the Governor's
plan to add a tax on sugary beverages. Doctor
Richard Daines said it's increasingly clear decisive
action is needed to stop the epidemic of obesity.
Paterson wants to add a penny per ounce tax on
non diet sodas and other drinks containing large
amounts of added sugar. That would mean a 12-cent
tax on your typical can of pop. It's expected to cut
consumption by 15 per cent. Daines said it would
generate $450-million this year and over a billion
dollars over a full fiscal year. The cash would
supposedly go to prevent deeper cuts to health
care programs.

GENERAL MOTORS

G-M said Thursday it will invest $425-million in
it's Tonawanda plant to manufacture their new
ecotec engine there. About 470 jobs are expected
to be created and the 300 workers currently on
indefinite layoff will get the first shot at them. UAW
workers furloughed from other GM facilities will be
next in line. Hiring and training is not expected to
start till sometime next year. A GM spokesman
said the exact nature of the new jobs and their pay
rates are yet to be determined. Senator Chuck
Schumer called the expansion proof the Federal
government was right when it rescued the company.

STEVIE V'S PIZZA

A 21 year old Lockport man was charged last
night with taking an envelope containing
$1,075 from Stevie V's Pizza on Robinson
Road. John Albone Junior of 6315 Robinson
allegedly took the envelope around 9:45. A
worker, Steve Verbocy, told deputies he had just
counted the money and put the envelope on the
counter and went into the back room to restock
supplies. Albone had placed an order but left
without it and that's when the envelope was
found to be missing. Verbocy said one of the
$50 bills in it was torn and deputies found one
matching it's description on a shelf in Albone's
apartment. He was also carrying $510 on him
and another $385 was discovered in a laundry
hamper. He was issued an appearance ticket
for Town court on February 25.

NIAGARA TOURISM & CONVENTION CORP

The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation
Thursday unveiled their 2010-2011 marketing plan
and a five year strategic plan. Their goal is to bring
in $15 for every dollar spent on marketing and
promoting the region. They hope to generate a
minimum of $65-million in direct visitor expenditures
to the County this year and have identified 21 market
segments to target. They include individual leisure
travellers, domestic group and motorcoach visitors,
international tourists, meetings and conventions, and
local visitors. The Board o-k'd new performance measures
to increase their accountability to Lockport and the
Falls, and the County.

MOLESTING CHARGES

A 35 year old former Lockport man was charged
with molesting a 13 year old girl in 2007 in an
indictment unsealed Thursday in County Court.
Shaka Hodge, formerly of Chestnut Street, was
captured earlier this week in Geneva after
absonding from parole supervision. He's charged
with two counts each of first and second degree
sex abuse and another of endangering the welfare
of a child. He's expected to be arraigned today.

LEWISTON

Two Republicans apparently want the same
job in the Village of Lewiston. Long time
Village board member Tom Collesano announced
Thursday he will run against for Mayor in June
against incumbent William Geiben. Geiben was
appointed Mayor by the board late last year after
former Mayor Richard Soluri retired. He's
previously indicated he plans to run in the June
15 election. Collesano is 69 and owns a
barbershop on Center Street. He's been on the
board for almost 20 years and served as Deputy
Mayor from 1994 thru 2006. He plans to form a
bipartisan committee to help his campaign.

TERM LIMITS PUT ON HOLD

That proposal to set term limits for Lockport
lawmakers was pulled from the agenda at
last night's meeting by it's sponsor. Fourth
ward alderman Andrew Chapman said he
hoped his colleagues would sample public
opinion while the matter is tabled. His action
came after residents at a sparsely attended
public hearing said the issue should be delayed.
His proposal calls for alderman to be limited
to three two-year terms and for Mayors to
two four-year terms. Incumbents could run
again after taking a term off. The law would
take effect for terms starting in 2012 and
current office holders would not be affected.
Several of the speakers said those on the
Council who are opposed should poll their
constituents...others said it should be voted
on by the public in a referendum. Corporation
Counsel John Ottaviano said State law does
not permit it.

ACCIDENT INVOLVING POLICE OFFICER

A 22 year old Lockport police officer.and a
city resident..were treated and released early
Wednesday following an accident at the corner
of South Transit and Willow. It happened at
5 minutes after midnight. Officer Steve Tarnowski
was going North on Transit when a car operated
by 46 year old Jeffrey Donohue of Willow Street
allegedly made a left turn into his path. He and
Tarnowski were both taken to ENH-Lockport.
Donhoue was given a ticket for failing to yield
the right of way, though police said his view
might have been obstructed by a truck that was
making a left turn at the same intersection.

NEW TRIAL?

Conflicting testimony was heard yesterday in
County Court as attorneys for convicted killer
Robert Johnson tried to convince Judge Matt
Murphy he should order a new trial. Seventeen
year old Robert Thousand said a former fellow
inmate at the County Jail told him he was present
when a friend of his killed 32 year old Ahkenya
Johnson in her Falls home in January, 2009.
Thousand's testimony was contradicted by
the jailhouse buddy. Seventeen year old Thomas
Pryor denied ever talking to Thousand about the
case. Robert Johnson was sentenced to 25 years
to life in prison January 26 for his wife's murder,
but his attorney said at the time, that Thousand had
written a statement reporting that Pryor had
committed the murder. Thousand changed his
story on the stand and said it was actually an
unidentified friend of Pryor who had killed the
woman while Pryor was there. Thousand testified
Pryor told him the two got into the woman's
apartment by telling her they were selling candy
bars. Murphy said he would decide on a new
trial after receiving the attorney's written
aurguments which are due in late March. Thousand
is one of the two teens accused of killing Lockport
youth counselor Renee Greco in June, 2009.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

State Senator Antoine Thompson is holding a
Black History Month celebration tonight in the
Falls. His press spokesperson, Heather Zies,
says the keynote speaker will be the Rev.
Timothy Brown Sr and there will be food catered
by a cafe. The Harambee Arts Center will
provide a dance and there'll be music by solosists Jackie
Jefferson and City Councilmember Charles
Walker. Additional entertainment will come from
the Holy Trinity Baptist Church choir and the
Housing Authority Youth Choir. The senator will
speak as well. It's free and runs from 7 till 8:30
at the Doris Jones Family Resource Center at
3001 Ninth Street.

GROW & SELL

Falls police raided a marijuana "grow and sell"
house at 10:30 Wednesday morning at 419 25th
Street. They seized about six ounces packaged
and ready for sale and dismantled a growing
operation in the basement. Thirty-four year old
William Hald Jr was charged with fourth degree
possession, unlawful growing, and seventh
degree possession of a controlled substance.
Police said Hald also had an AK-47 assault rifle
and 140 rounds of ammunition, and a shotgun.
The raid was prompted by numerous tip line
complaints over the past two months.

GENERAL MOTORS TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL

GM officials will be in Tonawanda today to officially
announce their new four cylinder Ecotec engine
will be built there. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter
leaked the news last week. She and Congressman
Chris Lee will be joined by the Governor for the
announcement of the multi-million dollar investment
the company plans to make in the facility. Slaughter
said last week it could mean the recall of about 375
laid off workers. The company says it will have a
positive impact on employment.

SNOWMOBILERS UNHAPPY

The President of the New York State Snowmobile
Association is vowing to fight the Governor's plan
to divert money from the state snowmobile fund into
the state's general fund. Michael Fisher says the
money was paid exclusively by snowmobilers for
the development and maintenance of the trail system.
Paterson's budget would take a million dollars from
the fund each year..for the next five years...and put
it into the state's general fund. Fisher says they're
starting a letter writing campaign and expect help
from State Senator George Maziarz and Assemblywoman
Francine del Monte.

UNWANTED PERSON

A 25 year old Lockport man was charged with
criminal mischief and possession of a controlled
substance just after 2:30 this morning after
police responded to a report of an unwanted
person at 47 Waterman. Police said they found
Christopher Mulcahy of 6 Walnut on the porch.
The resident claims Mulcahy broke the glass on the
front door. Police said he dropped a clear plastic
bag containing three hydrocodone pills as he was
being placed under arrest for criminal mischief.
He was treated for a cut on his right hand by the
Fire Department. Police said he was intoxicated.

MARIJUANA, GLASS PIPES & BONGS

Lockport police say they found marijuana, phony
cocaine, numerous glass pipes and water bongs
last night in a home at 53 Dayton. They went there
just after 11 after getting a call about a woman
screaming for help. Twenty year old Jeffrey Farrell
allegedly told police all the material was his and he
did not want to pursue charges against his girlfriend.
She punched him in the nose during an argument over
his playing a video game. Police said they saw a bong
and a pipe and the drugs in the living room and asked
for permission to walk through the house. Once given,
Officer Steve Ritchie and his dog Thunder were called
and the remaining pipes and bongs were found. Farrell
is charged with possession of marijuana and he was
released till his court appearance.

DISTURBANCE ON SOUTH STREET

A 22 year old Lockport man was charged with
disorderly conduct around 5pm Wednesday
after police were called to a possible fight at
16 South Street. Jarrod Coffey of 129 Willow
was said to be highly intoxicated and verbally
assaulted officers with a slew of profanities.
He admitted to police he was wanted on a
warrant out of Lake County, Florida but said
they will not extradite him. Police checked,
and they won't. He also admitted he was
violating an order of protection and police
say more charges are pending. The landlord
called police because she thought she heard
a fight on the third floor.

ANOTHER ARMED ROBBERY

About $250 was taken Tuesday night in the third
armed robbery in four days on the Eastern side
of the County. It happened around 6:30 at the Stop
& Gas at 4004 Lake Avenue in the Town of Lockport.
A clerk told deputies a man wearing a gray hoodie and
a blue bandana over his face pulled out a black handgun
and demanded money. The clerk described him as being
in his late teens or early 20's, about 5 foot 9, and weighing
about 155 pounds. Sheriff Jim Voutour said they're
concerned, that if it happens again, something might
go wrong and the weapon might be discharged, he
said anytime a handgun is used they tend to get braver.
He said the department is pulling out all their resources
to catch those responsible. He urged store owners and
workers to be vigilant, especially at night...and said this
isn't just for the County, that the next target might be
in the City of Lockport. Deputies found several sets of
footprints in the snow South of the Stop & Gas last
night and a similiar set were located across the street
at the Dollar General. A Yellow Goose in Royalton was
held up Saturday night and Chapman's Food Mart in
Hartland was targeted Sunday evening.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE

County lawmakers passed a resolution last night
calling on the State to do away with the tax on
Industrial Development agencies contained in the
2009 budget. Majority Leader Rick Updegrove said
it imposes fees for every transaction and it's
retroactive to 2008. The tax on the county IDA
is almost $220,000 for 2008 and is yet to be
determined for 2009. Lawmakers also o-k'd a
$2-million increase in tax exempy bond funding for
the Hope Six housing project in the Falls. The Executive
Director of Norstar Development said the increase
from $16-million to $18-million was needed to sell
state tax credits that'll bring in enough money to
complete the first phase of the project. Falls lawmaker
Vince Sandonato denounced the City for wasting
it's economic casino development money and voted
no. County lawmaker Renea Kimble voted yes but
said she just knew there would be more problems down
the road. The IDA still plans to vote next month on the
revised deal. Lawmakers also forgave interest and
penalities on back taxes for the Fallside Inn and the
Inn On The River in the Falls. The owners, Merani
Hospitality, agreed to pay about $154,000 in taxes and
pilot fees. Lawmakers observed a moment of silence
in memory of the County's Director of the Office of the
Aging. Forty-four year old Chris Richbart died Sunday
at ECMC following a long illness. He had been on
medical leave since last September. He was from
Newfane and leaves behind a wife and two children.
Calling hours will be held from 2-4 and from 7-9pm
Saturday at Gaul Funeral Home in Lockport. A
prayer service will be held there at 10:30 am Monday
followed by funeral services at 11 at Emmanual
United Methodist Church at 75 East Avenue.
County Manager Greg Lewis has been administering
the department in his absence.

LOCKPORT POLICE OFFICER INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT

A Lockport police officer was involved in a
two car accident just after midnight today at
the corner of South Transit and Willow.
Officer Steve Tarnowski was operating a marked
patrol car and was going North on Transit when
a Southbound vehicle made a left turn into his
path. Police say the man's view may have been
obstructed by an uninvolved vehicle that was
making a left turn at the same intersection. The
Fire Department took both drivers to ENH-Lockport
where they were treated an released. The driver
of the Southbound vehicle, 46 year old Jeffrey
Donohue of Willow Street, was cited for failing to
yield the right of way. He'll be in court March 9.

COMMERCE SQUARE

The State DEC has started an environmental
investigation at the former Harrison radiator
plant in downtown Lockport. They're
drilling holes through concrete floors and
installing soil borings to collect samples
of the environmental conditions below the
structure. The majority of the work is being
done inside but groundwater monitoring wells
are being installed around the exterior. The work
is expected to last through March and a report
on what they find will be released in September.
Copper and brass auto parts were made in the
complex from 1914 through 1987.

FAILURE TO APPEAR

Twenty-four year old Stephanie Williams of
237 North Transit was arrested at her home around
4:30 Tuesday. She's charged with second degree
criminal contempt. Police say she was subpoened
January 26 by the District Attorneys office in the case
of the people versus Shannon Richardson. She was
to be in court at 9am on February 8 but failed to
appear and charges against were Richardson were
dismissed. She was arrested at her home, she also
goes by the name Stephanie Strickland.

HAMILTON FOUND GUILTY

A county jury Tuesday found 35 year old Adam
Hamilton of the Falls guilty of trying to kill his
ex-girlfriend and two police officers last
February. It took the six man, six woman
jury about 5 1/2 hours to reach a decision. The
charges stemmed from an incident on South
Avenue on February 7, 2009 where Hamilton
shot Stephanie Turk and police officers Walter
Nichols Junior and Michael Bird. Hamilton could
face life in prison when he's sentenced April
28 by Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrezza. His
court appointed attorney,Joel Daniels, said
he expected Hamilton's family will appeal. The
trial ran ten days.

REFUNDS TO BE DELAYED?

Lawmakers are reacting to a report the
Governor wants to wait till April to give
some New Yorkers their tax refund checks.
A Paterson spokesman said it's being
considered because the Legislature has been
unwilling to address the current year deficit. The
State generally limits the amount of refunds it
pays in the first three months of the year to
$1.75-billion, Paterson is considering reducing
it to $1.25-billion. He says the State needs to roll
$1.4-billion into next years budget to close this
years gap. Assemblywoman Francine del Monte
called it an ill conceived gimmick that would
severely harm working families. She said it
amounted to an interest free loan to the State.
Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb said it
was the latest case of the perpetual "nickel and
diming" of residents.

TEA PARTY TO TARGET SLAUGHTER, HIGGINS AND OTHERS

A coalition of Western New York tea party
groups says it plans to target Congresswoman
Louise Slaughter and Congressman Brian
Higgins this year. The coalition also has State
Senators Bill Stachowski, Dale Volker, and
Antoine Thompson in it's sites. They say each
race involves long serving incumbents who
favor bloated government. A candidate recruitment
committee has been created and it's chaired by
former Amherst councilmember Shelly Schratz.
They're looking for qualified citizens to run for
each office and say no prior political experience
is needed. The movement plans to hold a
convention later this year.

U-B

Classes are being held as normal today at UB
after officials searched for a reported gunman in the
Lockwood :ibrary last night and found no-one.
Students, faculty, and staff were evacuated from
the six story building on the North campus around
4:30 pm Tuesday after getting reports a suspicious
man carrying a gun was seen entering the building.
Police finished their search around 7:45 last night.
Classes and activities on the Amherst campus were
cancelled last night.

VILLAGE OF LEWISTON PLANS FOR SUMMER

The Lewiston Village Board decided last night to
install street map directories this Summer to help
tourists get around. They'll be placed in Academy
Park, in front of the little yellow house on Center
Street, and at Water Street Landing. Advertising is
expected to cover the cost which will range from
$1,500 to $1,700. Brochures and maps will also
be available. The Board approved a plan to allow
the Historical Association to use the dock below
the Silo for weekend fundraisers. It was announced
that the restored tall ship, The Black Pearl, will
come from Olcott and dock in Lewiston on weekends
for historic cruises.

MCNULTY

Former County lawmaker Andrea McNulty is back
on the County payroll. She's been appointed to a
$34,000 a year job as the confidential assistant to
Risk & Insurance Director Jennifer Pitaresi. McNulty
was a Democrat when she resigned from the
Legislature last year after moving from North
Tonawanda to Pendleton. She's now a Republican.
McNulty says she has insurance and secretarial
experience having previously worked as a
secretary at an Allstate office. She also has a
property and casualty license that allows her to
sell policies and run offices for agents while they
are away.

ALUMNI NIGHT AT N-C-C-C

It's Alumni Night tonight at NCCC and former
basketball coach Dan Bazzini will be honored
in between two games against Genesee
Community College. It starts with the womens
game at 5 pm. There'll be a hospitality room for
alumni with refreshments and snacks. Bazzini
will be honored around 7pm just prior to the
mens game at 7:30. He compiled an impressive
record of 197 wins and 68 losses in his ten
seasons at the school. His best year was in 1977
when the Trailblazers had a 26 & 1 season. They
dropped a one point decision in the finals of the
National Junior College Athletic Association
Championship. Bazzani went on to coach at UB
and Niagara Falls High School where he was
named national coach of the year and the Wolverines
laid claim to the nation's number one ranking. There
will be also be free giveaways and contests for
alumni during the break between the two games.

NT LAWMAKER RUNNING FOR STATE SUPREME COURT

County lawmaker Paul Wojtaszek announced
Monday he's running for State Supreme Court.
His sister in law, Caroline Wojtaszek said she
is not. Paul's in his second term in the County
Legislature and represents N-T's 11th district.
He's a Republican. Caroline Wojtaszek is a
Democrat but is married to former County GOP
Chairman Henry Wojtaszek. She had planned to
run herself but changed her mind. The Eighth
Judicial District covers all 8 counties in
Western New York.

N-T MAN KILLED IN SNOWMOBILE ACCIDENT

A 24 year old North Tonawanda man was killed
Sunday in a snowmobile crash on Chautauqua
Lake. Luke Manth was killed when his vehicle
hit a tree along the shore in Long Point State
Park around 2:30am Sunday. It was the fourth
serious snowmobile crash in Chautauqua County
this year. It came amid warnings snowmobilers
should not ride on the frozen lake.

LATEX GLOVES

The Sheriff's Department recovered three latex
gloves yesterday morning that may have been
used in Sunday night's robbery of Chapman's
Food Market in Hartland. A Johnson Creek Road
man said his 22 year old son found them after a
suspicious car stopped in their driveway
between 10:30 & 11 Sunday night. A female
clerk at Chapman's said two young males armed
with a black handgun robbed the store just after
10:30 Sunday night.

TRAFFIC STOPS/MARIJUANA

Two Lockport men were charged with possession
of marijuana Monday during seperate traffic stops.
Seventeen year old Brandon Sprung of Chestnut
Road was pulled over just before 7 last night on
Genesee Street after officers said he failed to signal
a turn. Police said Sprung tried to throw the pot
under his car as he was ordered out of the vehicle.
Police also seized $193 in cash. Twenty-nine year
old Marcus Hamilton of Northview Drive was stopped
just after 4:30pm on West Avenue. He was pulled
over for an equipment violation. Police said they
found the marijuana in a Crown Royal bag under
the driver's seat and another baggie was
discovered in the right pocket of his jacket during
booking. He was also charged with aggravated
unlicensed operation.

FORMER TEACHER

A former North Tonawanda teacher convicted
of molesting six elementary school girls about
ten years ago is out of prison and living in the
Memory Lane Motel in Niagara Falls. Thirty-six
year old Jason Lorich was to have been
paroled in mid January but was held at the
Gowanda Correctional Facility until the State
Division of Parole approved a place for him to
live. He plead guilty to six counts of first degree
sex abuse in April 2001 for molesting six 8 & 9
year old girls at Meadow Elementary School in
1999 and 2000.

CONSUMERS

A 31 year old Falls man was charged Monday with
breaking into the Consumers Beverage store on
Niagara Falls Boulevard and stealing several packs
of cigarettes and a gumball machine. Police caught
Steve Primaerano by following his footprints in the
snow from the store to his 70th Street apartment.
He allegedly used the gumball machine to smash the
front door window. Police said they found it and
the smokes in his apartment. He was taken to the
Medical Center after failing a suicide screening. He
reportedly tried to take some pills during an interview
with detectives.

JOB FAIR

Western New York's top companies will be at
job fair today in Cheektowaga. It runs from
9am till 3pm at the Millenium Airport Hotel
on Walden Avenue next to the Galleria. You
should bring copies of your resume and come
dressed for success. More information can be
found at BuffaloJobFinder.com/career fest.

PIT BULL KILLED BY POLICE IN THE FALLS

A Falls police officer shot a 90 pound pit bull
to death Monday after it bit another officer
while they were responding to a burglary
in progress around 7:30 Monday morning
on Grand Avenue. 0fficer Paul Tripi
was treated and released at the Medical Center.
He had eight bite marks on his arms and another
on his leg. The dog was shot by 0fficer William
Kutis after it allegedly attacked Tripi on the
porch of an apartment building at 2018 Grand.
It ran out of an apartment and down the
stairs and onto the porch and attacked Tripi
as Kutis was talking to Kathy Mount Pleasant.
The pit bull was owned by her daughter Alexandra.
She was charged with having an unlicensed dog and
failing to restrain it. Police also tracked down
the man who allegedly entered the building.
Twenty one year old Milton Daniels IV of
Niagara Street was charged with trespassing.
He's the estranged boyfriend of Alexandra
Mount Pleasant.

TWO CONVENIENCE STORES ROBBED

Two convenience stores on the Eastern end
of the County were targeted by armed
robbers over the weekend. The most recent
happened just after 10:30 last night at Chapman's
Food Market in Hartland. The night cashier
says two young white males came in at
closing time and threatened her with a black
handgun. They demanded cash and then fled
on foot in an unknown direction. Deputies are
not saying how much was taken. The first
robbery took place just after 9:30 Saturday night
at the Yellow Goose on Telegraph Road in
Royalton. The clerk said she was cleaning the
coffee area when a white male came in wearing
a ski mask. He said, "don't make this any harder
than it has to be," and pointed a black semi-automatic
handgun at her. He told her to put the money in
a black bag, which she did, and he left and walked
around the corner of the store and went out of
sight. Deputies found footprints leading to 7960
Telegraph Road where it appeared the man got
into a car parked alongside the road. They found a
cigarette butt in the snow nearby. The man was
described as being about 5 foot 10 and weighed
about 170 pounds. He was wearing a gray hooded
sweatshirt with black gloves. About $300 was taken.

DOWNSIZED RAMP?

Lockport lawmakers plan to talk about the City's
closed Main Street parking ramp during Wednesday's
work session. Mayor Mike Tucker told them last week
there's a chance the city may have to settle for fewer
than the 200 parking spaces that were proposed by the
design firm working on the replacement. Tucker says
it would cost $10-million and the City can't afford it.
He said they might have to settle for an above ground
lot with only one level underground instead of two.
The current closed facility has 260 spots on five levels.

STRANGE BUT TRUE

A 31 year old Falls woman told police yesterday
her home was burglarized after she drove to the
store with a man. The 24th Street woman said she
went to a store on Military Road with a man about
5pm. She left him in her car...which was running..
while she ran inside. When she came back out her
car and the man were gone. She took a cab home and
found her car in her driveway and the front door to
her house was wide open. An X-box 360 and four
games worth an estimated $600 were gone. The woman
thinks the man lives somewhere on Ninth Street.

EVEN STRANGER BUT ALSO TRUE

A 19 year old Ransomville woman told Sheriff's
deputies Sunday her 20 year old boyfriend was
kidnapped by his mother and taken to Staten
Island. The woman said her boyfriend met his
mom in the old Doorwood Store parking lot
around 11:30 and that she saw the mother push
her man into a cream colored mini van. The
young woman waited about 2 1/2 hours and then
called the Sheriff's department. A dispatcher was
able to contact the mother by phone. She said the
mom was hostile to her but she was able to talk to
the victim. He said he didn't want to go to Staten
Island. The mom told the dispatcher he would have
to take a bus if he wanted to come back. The
dispatcher says that's what the 20 year old told her
he would do.

NEW TRUSTEE IN VILLAGE OF LEWISTON

Lawmakers in the Village of Lewiston are
expected tomorrow to appoint Ronald Craft
to the seat on the board left vacant by the
resignation of Ron Winkley. Craft is an
antique shop owner, a member of the
Lions Club, a Republican, and a political
newcomer. He wants to use his knowledge
of business and retail to continue the Village's
economic success. Winkley stepped down
last Monday to take a seat on the Town Board.
Village trustees are also expected to name
Bruce Sutherland as Deputy Mayor and Mayor
William Geiben will also become police commissioner.

THREE 55 GALLON BAGS OF POT

Local and State police hauled three 55 gallon
bags of marijuana out of an Akron home
Saturday afternoon after they responded to
a domestic incident on Newton Avenue. Forty-
nine year old Marshall Pann is being held in
the Erie County Holding Center on felony
charges. Akron Police Chief Richard
Lauricella said they got a search warrant after
an office noticed something that aroused his
suspicions. The pot was being grown in the
basement and the garage and Lauricella
believes it was being sold locally. Pann works
as a countertop maker and police said he had
some criminal history.

MORE FLU CLINICS

The County Health Department will offer another
free seasonal and H1N1 flu clinic Wednesday at
the Doris Jones Family Resource Building
at 3001 Ninth Street. The shots will be given to
any County resident over the age of six months.
Bo appointments are needed. Another clinic i
set for a week from today at Niagara Catholic High
School on 66th Street. Both will run from 10 till 7.

MEDICAL CENTER TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The pastor of Buffalo's True Bethel Baptist
Church, the Reverend Darius Pridgen, will be
the keynote speaker Friday as the Falls Memorial
Medical Center and the Schoellkopf Health Center celebrate
Black History Month. A longtime employee will
be recognized following Pridgen's remarks. Betty
Gandy is a licensed practical nurse and has worked
at the hospital and the center for more than 30 years.
The theme of this year's celebration is "Helping Hands"
and participants will be asked to contribute to the
Red Cross for relief efforts in Haiti. The annual
observance starts at 10am in the Medical Center
Auditorium. A lunch will follow at 11:30 and will
feature music by the Niagara Street School Chorus
and vocalists Brianna Pressley and Louise Robinson.
Roswell Park will present a workshop on African
Americans and cancer research and there will also
be presentations on heart disease, diabetes, and
stroke. Everything is free and open to the public.

SMOKE AT TRANSIT LANES

The Wendelville & South Lockport Fire Companys
were called to the South Transit Lanes around 7:30
last night after a worker saw smoke near lane 24.
Another employee went to the attic where he saw
more smoke. The Chief of the Wendelville Fire
Company said it may have been caused by a faulty
heater. There was no damage and they plan to have
their maintenance staff evaluate the heater.