CROSSWALK

The annual Lockport Cross Walk was held Friday
at six churches in the City. The procession started
at noon at Emmanuel United Methodist Church at
75 East Avenue. The other stops included the first
AME Church at 123 South Street, First English
Lutheran at 185 Locust, Grace Episcopal at 100
Genesee, Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church at
5 Saxton, First Presbyterian at 21 Church, and the
Lockport United Church of Christ. Particpants
focused on a different them at each stop and a
formal reading of The Passion of Christ according
to the gospel of Luke was held at the final stop.
The cross was provided by Saint Mary's and it
was carried by different people from stop to stop.
It's difficult to say how many people took part
because they could come and go as their schedule
permits. The walk took about three hours to
complete.

SUGARTOWN

The State Health Department is continuing to
pound away at getting you to embrace that
proposed tax on sugary soft drinks. They released
a report from the journal "Health Affairs" that
said it would likely reduce soda consumption and
obesity among young people. The Rand Corporation
study was paid for by the Federal government and
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It included
more than 7,000 children whose activities were
followed between kindergarten and the fifth grade.
State Health Commissioner Doctor Richard Daines
also noted the Syrcause Post Standard has become the
sixth major newspaper in the State to support the
tax. An editorial says it's not about limiting
consumer choice or burdening taxpayers....it's
an opportunity for New York to take a leadership
role in combatting obesity and it's related ills.

CODE VIOLATIONS IN THE FALLS

The owners of 47 properties on Main Street
in the Falls were cited last weekend for code
violations during an enforcement blitz. Acting
Inspections Commissioner Dennis Virtuoso
says notices were sent out this week directing
them to correct the violations by May 1 or they
could be hauled into Housing Court and face
charges. Four inspectors conducted the blitz
last Saturday on Main between Lewiston Road
and the Rainbow Bridge. They looked at the front
and back of 129 structures but did not go inside.
Most of the violations were found between Niagara
and Linwood Avenues. They included missing
gutters, broken windows, rotted eaves and
facades, and garbage and debris on the premises.

GREATER LOCKPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The owner of Lockport's Rubberform Recycled
Products told the city's development agency
Thursday they probably won't be able to make their
monthly payments that are due starting this
month. Bill Robbins also said they're looking
at moving to another location in the County after
their lease runs out on their current location on
Michigan Street. He said they've looked at a
couple of buildings in the City and will defintely
stay in the county. The company owes the GLDC
$225,000. They have allowed them to make
interest only payments of $680 three times in the
last 17 months. Robbins said they just signed
a deal with a company to make loading dock
bumpers out of old conveyer belts and it should
bring in more than a million dollars a year.
The GLDC also agreed to lend another $40,000
to the holding company operating Harrison Place.
It'll be used to pay operations and maintenance
bills that are due before rents are collected. The
agency now has $315,000 invested in the complex.

DEL RIO

An unemployed Falls minister was advised yesterday
to remove his clercial collar when he's looking for a
job to help him pay back the money he stole from a
Cataract City church. Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrezza
also reduced Peter Del Rio's minimum monthly
payments to the church from $400 to $200. The 51
year old was previously found guilty of stealing over
$44,000 from Saint Paul's United Methodist between
2004 and 2006. Sperrezza said she was sure that, when
Del Rio was job hunting, his clerical collar shocked the
heck out of people when they discovered he had been
convicted of a felony. Del Rio was in court because he
couldn't make the minimum monthly restitution
payments. He said he's been turned down for
numerous jobs, and the judge said the collar might
be the problem.

FEE INCREASES

Officials from the State;s Office of Parks, Recreation,
and Historic Preservation identified $4-million in
fee increases yesterday that'll take effect for the
2010 season. The increased revenues are built into
their 2010-2011 fiscal year budget plan that calls for
closing and reduced operations at dozens of State
Parks and historic sites and they will not change the
number of locations set for cutbacks. Greens fees will
increase by varying amounts at golf courses, there'll
be a hike in vehicle use fees at "flagship" parks like
Fort Niagara, and out of state visitors will face a
surcharge when using campsites or if they rent a
cottage or cabin.

BICYCLE PATROL

Two Lockport men were charged with possession
of marijuana last night after they were allegedly
caught smoking the drug by officers on bicycle
patrol. Twenty-one year old Raymond Jackson
of 61 Genesee and 37 year old Antoine Ewing of
796 East High were among four people standing
in front of 4 Walnut. Officers said they could smell
buring marijuana as they rode by and after an
extensive search they found a small hand rolled
cigar with marijuana inside. During questioning,
they say they also found a suspected piece of cocaine
that was sitting on a porch within an arms length
of the four people. They said Jackson appeared
to be trying to hide it when he was told to sit down
on the steps. Jackson and Ewing were both charged
with possession of marijuana. Additional charges
are pending against Jackson after testing is
completed on the suspected cocaine. Police also
confiscated $480 in cash from Ewing.

WOMAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER

A 34 year old Lockport woman turned herself into
police yesterday on charges stemming from an incident
last Thursday at her home on Morton Place. Ruby
Clayton is charged with assaulting a police officer,
resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental
administration. Officers went to her home after a
friend called and said Clayton had taken an unknown
amount of pills and did not want to go to the hospital.
Clayton allegedly was argumentative and uncooperative,
told police to get out, and said she just wanted to be
left alone. She allegedly came at officers in a
threatening manner when the Fire Department told
her she had to go to the hospital. She is accused of
striking an officer in the jaw as she was forcibly
taken into custody and transported to the hospital.

PENSION PADDING

State Senator George Maziarz says he supports
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's efforts to investigate
pension padding in state and local governments. The
Senator joined Cuomo yesterday at a press conference
at the UB Law School where recent expansions in the
investigation were highlighted. Maziarz said public
employees are playing a dangerous and costly game when
they inflate their pensions by accruing an unusually
high amount of overtime in their final working years.
He said the Attorney General is absolutely right to be
going after these abuses. Maziarz said it's not only
unethical, but it adds to the heavy tax burden that's
driving businesses and jobs away. Cumo said taxpayers
could save close to $500-million over 20 years if just
one percent of inflated pensions costs are eliminated.

ACCIDENT

A Lockport woman was treated for facial injuries and
a 54 year old Wilson man was charged with DWI following
a motorcycle accident around 3am Thursday on Gooding
Street in Lockport. Jeffrey Routly was also charged with
vehicle assault two, unreasonable speed, and improper
lane use. Police found debris in the road on Gooding about
150 feet east of Glenwood. They found Routly and the
woman next to a motorcycle on the side of a residence.
Routly told them he had crashed his bike and the girl
needs help. Roxanne Rivers of Niagara Street in Lockport
was taken to ENH-Lockport.

PATERSON TAKES HIS CASE TO THE PEOPLE

The Governor told New Yorkers Wednesday they
need to let their representatives know they'll still
support them if they take the tough steps needed to
deal with the State's ever growing deficit. He urged
residents to contact lawmakers and not to criticize
them. He said people should remind them that, just as
they've had to make tough choices for themselves
and their families, they have to make them for the
State. He said residents should encourage them to
reduce spending and let them know they'll be with them
as they put the State on the road to fiscal recovery.
Paterson said the States budget deficit has grown since
he submitted his original spending plan in Janaury.
He said it's increased by over 25 percent and now
exceeds $9-billion. Paterson also signed 18 bills into
law including one sponsored by assemblywoman
Francine del Monte. It says volunteer firefighters
and ambulance workers will not have to pay tolls
if they use the Thruway during emergency situations.

CARTER FOUND GUILTY

Security was tight around the Courthouse in
Lockport Wednesday as a jury found a 23 year old
Falls man guilty of killing a landlord there last
March. Darnell Carter of 416 12th Street was also
convicted of two counts of first degree armed
robbery and two weapons charges. Prosecutors
said he led an armed robbery of 39 year old Robert
Biggs on March 20 ,2009 in the parking lot next to
the Hometown Market on Pierce Avenue. Biggs
owned a building next door. They said Carter
fired a handgunat Biggs and a bullet struck him
in the bicep fracturing his arm and repturing a
major artery. Biggs ran about two blocks before
collapsing from a loss of blood in the backyard
of a home on Whitney Avenue. His body was not
found till the next day. The jury apparently
did not buy Carter's story. He testified Monday he
did not shoot Biggs but thought a woman who was
among a group of people outside the store did it.
Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrezza set sentencing for
June 17. Carter could get 25 years to life in
prison. The names of the other involved are
known. Deputy DA Doreen Hoffman said they would
be reviewing the case to decide whether there will be
more indictments. Fifteen police officers and a
K-9 dog were stationed around the Courthouse as the
verdict was announced.

IN-LIGHTEN CHOSES CLARENCE

The Depew company that backed away from a deal
to buy those three re-habbed buildings on Canal
Street in Lockport announced yesterday they have
chosen a spot in Clarence. In-Lighten said they will
buy a 45,000 squAre foot facility at 9645 Wherle Drive.
They did not say how much they'll pay, but did say
the key to the deal was that the Town's I-D-A said
they would not increase the assessed value of the
property for ten years and they would also provide
five years of sales tax relief.

NEW LIBRARY DIRECTOR CHOSEN IN THE FALLS

The Niagara Falls Library Board voted 5-0
Wednesday to offer the Library Director's
job to Ronald Shaw. Shaw has been the director
of the Lewiston Public Library since 2006.
Interim Falls Director Dan Killian is expected
to begin contract negotiations today. He said
he expects Shaw to join the library in early May
since he has to give Lewiston 30 days notice. Shaw
was one of about a dozen applicants. Killian
described him as a "dynamic person whose well
aware of the community." He has a degree in
library science and started his career in
libraries in North Tonawanda in 1998. It's
expected he will earn between $70,000 and
$80,000 a year.

WYNDHAM LAWN

Sheriff's deputies were called to Wyndham Lawn
around 7:30 last night after a resident allegedly
attacked a supervisor. The 25 year old victim said
Kamal Ewing was causing a problem on the basketball
court and that when he confronted him, Ewing spat
in his face and tossed rocks through two windows of
the school building. The victim called for help and
more counselors arrived, but when the victim turned
his back, Ewing allegedly threw a rock at him and it
struck him in the wrist. Ewing is charged with assault
and criminal mischief. He's slated to appear at the
Lockport Probation department on Thursday, April 8.

PRESEASON BILLS SCHEDULE

Only one of the Bills preseason games will be played
at the Ralph this year. The Bills announced Wednesday
they'll face the Colts in a pre-season game August 19 in
Toronto. Buffalo will open the preseason on the road
against the Redskins sometime between August 12 & the
16th. The Bills will welcome Cincinnati to Buffalo between
August 26-29. The final game will be on the road at
Detroit.

MAN ATTACKED AT SMOKIN JOES

The Sheriff's Department is investigating after a
20 year old Wilson man said he was attacked around
12:45pm Wednesday at the Saunders Settlement
location of Smokin' Joe's. The victim said a white male
with dark hair and a mustache started yelling at him for
looking at him in a certain way as the two were pumping
gas. He said the man came over to him, punched him
in the head, pushed his head into his vehicle, and then
kicked him in the face. A witness called deputies and the
victim was treated at ENH-Lockport. A worker also gave
deputies the name of a possible suspect who drives a
silver Envoy.

SUGARY TAX

The State Health Department is still pushing for
that penny per ounce tax on sugary beverages. They
announced yesterday that five major newspapers
support the idea. One of them is the Buffalo News.
The others are the New York Times, the Albany
Times-Union, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle,
and Crain's New York Business. State Health Commissioner
Doctor Richard Daines said it shows that when the
facts are reviewed, the tax makes sense. He said it
would reduce obesity rates, provide badly needed
revenue, and it would cut health care costs in the
long term by reducing expenses for the treatment of
obesity related diseases like diabetes.

FRAUD

A 19 year old Newfane woman told Sheriff's deputies
yesterday she suspects a woman she used to baby-sit
for opened accounts in her name with NYSEG and
Verizon. She said a friend of her mother told her there
were bills in her name at the woman's residence on
Main Street. The NYSEG bill had a balance of over
$1,100 and the Verizon $430. The victim said she never
lived on Main Street and had contacted the fraud
departments at the two companies. They plan an
investigation.

LARGE TRASH PICK-UP IN THE FALLS

The Niagara Falls Public Works Department says
a large trash pick-up will begin Monday and continue
for five weeks. The pick-ups of trash, rubbish, and
debris is done every Spring and will coincide with
regular weekly garbage pick-ups. It's being carried
out through a co-ordinated effort between the City
and the Modern Corporation.

ACCIDENT

An 85 year old Lockport woman was killed
Tuesday morning when she was struck by an
SUV while crossing at the corner of Walnut and
Cottage. Virginia Barnwell of 108 Spalding was
walking North in the crosswalk on Cottage around
10am when she was struck by an SUV operated by
70 year old Robert Payne Sr of 3902 Lockport Olcott
Road in Wrights Corners. Barnwell was pronounced
dead at ENH-Lockport. Payne was not hurt and
released after the accident. Police said the
pedestrian has the right of wayand charges could
be filed after an investigation is completed. Neighbors
told the Union Sun & Journal Barnwell liked to walk.
She was a regular at Saint John the Baptist Church
on weekends.

LOCKPORT RECYCLING

The City of Lockport's garbage committee is looking
at other options after they learned last week the
State turned down their application for a $500,000
grant to buy garbage bins. Council President, and
committee member, Richelle Pisceri said they are
looking at a pay as you throw system. One method
being considered would require residents to buy
special bags from the City to dispose of their trash.
She said another option would be to sell tags. In
either case, garbage crews would be told they
should only pick up trash that's in the special bag
or with the tag. Residents would be given bins for
recycling and the more that you put in it the less
you would have to pay for crews to collect. She said
it would increase recycling. She said if the plan is
put into effect, the current line for garbage collection
would be taken out of the City budget. She said it
would be more fair because you residents would
only pay for what they throw away. The revenues from
the sale of the bags or tags would pay for the service
and non-profits would pay their fair share. The
committee will meet again April 13.

GODFREY CHOSEN

A committee of three County lawmakers last night
voted 2-1 to reccommend that David Godfrey be
appointed to the 14th district legilsature seat vacated
by Kyle Andrews. Godfrey is 63. He's a semi-retired
computer security consultant. The full legislature
will vote on his appointment next Tuesday. The
committee also interviewed Christopher Srock,
Kathy O'Keefe, and Dave Moyer. The committee
consisted of Legislature Chairman Bill Ross, Minority
Leader Dennis Virtuoso, and lawmaker Gerry Farnham.
Farnham said he backed Godfrey, whose a Republican,
because they needed someone who wouldn't have to
learn the process and would be able to get right to
work. The committee talked to each candidate for
a half an hour at the County's Center For Economic
Development in Sanborn. All four live in Wilson.

LARCENY

The owner of a Wheatfield machine shop says he
surprised a would be thief just after 11pm Monday
as the man was attempting to remove a catalytic
converter from his 2001 Hyundai. John Stoelting of
Niagara Falls said he was working in his shop on the
Boulevard when he heard noises. He looked outside
to see a man under his car. Stoelting ran outside and
briefly chased him through some yards. He told the
sheriff's department he found a cordless saw, a
portable jack, and his catalytic converter lying
under his car. Stoelting said the man was white,
about 6 foot 2 and he was wearing black Carhart
bibs with a black hooded sweatshirt.

LAYOFFS POSSIBLE

The Paterson Administration warned yesterday
State workers could face massive layoffs later this
year if their unions don't agree to concessions. The
workers are slated to get a four per cent raise
tomorrow under the terms of a contract negotiated
by former Governor Eliot Spitzer. They would add
$400-million to the budget. An official said the two
unions, the CSEA and the Public Employees Federation,
seemed to be disconnected from the real world. The unions
say they have offered ways to cut spending and called
the threat another measure of this administration's
incompetence and learning disability. PEF spokesman
Darcy Wells said you don't threaten your employees who
are working hard every day to make the administration
look good.

IT'S UP TO SEDITA

Amherst police say it'll be up to Erie County DA
Frank Sedita whether charges will be filed against
a homeowner who shot a 31 year old teacher to death
early Sunday. Sedia says he has three options, advise
police to file charges, advise them not to, or to present
the case to a Grand Jury and let them decide. He said he
would have to gather all the facts and look at them in the
context of the law before deciding. David Park was in
Amherst attending a baby shower when he left for
awhile and apparently returned to the wrong home.
The homeowner, David D'Amico, warned Park he had
a weapon and would use it if Park did not leave. He
didn't and D'Amico shot him to death. D'Amico is an
executive with a construction company. He's never
been in trouble with the law. He had a gun in his
home because he's an occasional hunter.

FALLS MAN GETS 12 YEARS FOR KILLING EX WIFE

A 67 year old Falls man was sentenced to a dozen
years in State Prison Tuesday for killing his ex-wife
last year. John Polley told police at the time he
accidentally shot 52 year old Julia Polley while they
were engaging in gunplay during sex. He changed
his story last December and admitted he intentionally
killed her after he agreed to plead guilty to first degree
manslaughter. Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrezza also
sentenced Polley to five years post release supervision.
Polley did not speak in court, his lawyer said his
client had expressed deep regret for his actions during
the year that he had worked with him. He said Polley
called Julia Polley a wonderful, admirable woman.

MAN GIVES DEPUTIES FALSE NAME

A 34 year old Lockport man was taken to the
County Jail on $500 bail just after 5pm yesterday
following a traffic stop on Tonawanda Creek Road
in Pendleton. Scott Stoddard of Colony Court is
accused of giving deputies his brother's name
and information, aggravated unlicensed operation,
and operating a vehicle with a suspended license
and registration. He told deputies he gave them
his brothers name because he did not want to go
back to jail. His license had been suspended for
failing to pay child support.

SMOKING MARIJUANA

An 18 year old Lockport man was issued an
appearance ticket for Town of Lockport court
after Sheriff's deputies allegedly caught him and
two buddies smoking marijuana just after 12:30
this morning in a car in the parking lot next to
the Cold Springs Bridge. Ryan Hayes of 6646
Heather Drive handed over a bag of the drug
after questioning. Deputies said they found some
more and a glass pipe in a pocket behind the
drivers seat. All three were taken to their
respective homes and Haye's mother took
possession of the car.

INLIGHTEN SAYS NO

The Depew company that was interested in buying
those three re-habbed buildings on Canal Street
backed out of the deal Monday. The news came in
an e-mail sent to City Hall. In Lighten said they
would announce a new location next month but had
decided to eliminate Lockport as a potential candidate
for the future home of their headquarters. Company
President & CEO Dan Synder said restrictions on
development and use of the property made it
insufficient to meet their needs. Mayor Mike Tucker
said they had just put some basic things in the
potential agreement that any municipality would do
to make sure they were covered. He said Synder had
never given any indictaion in the past that they were
deal breakers. He said they were very open with the
company and did some things for them they would not
do for anybody else. He said he was disappointed to
get the news in an e-mail, that a phone call would have
been appreciated. The company would have also
leased 20,000 square feet at Harrison Place if the deal
had gone through.

A GRAND JURY TO DECIDE

The case against a 17 year old Lockport boy
who allegedly struck and killed 17 year old
Adam Mottorn last November is being sent to
a Grand Jury. Anthony Cescon was charged
with leaving the scene of an accident on Poter
Street. He told police it was an accident but
officials believe it may have been intentional.
Captain Richard Podgers told the Union Sun
& Journal Cescon admitted to meeting Mottorn
to get some marijuana but he did not intend to
pay for it. He said homicide and any additional
charges are in the hands of the District Attorney.
Cescon is free on $25,000 bail.

MAKING A TERRORIST THREAT

The Falls man who held police at bay for five
hours Saturday night is being held in the mental
health unit at the Medical Center. Forty-nine
year old Nelson Ramos was arraigned there
yesterday on felony charges of making a
terrorist threat and falsely reporting an
incident. His next court date will be on April
26. Ramos allegedly threatened his neighbors
on Hyde Park Boulevard, telling them he was a
suicide bomber and he planned to blow up his
house on D Street. He jumped into the trunk of
a car as police approached and a State Police
robot was used to get him out. No explosives
were found.

NO SMOKING

The County Legislature's Public Works Committee
voted last night to place "No Smoking" signs in
County Parks but does not plan on enforcing the
ban. The signs are being donated by the Erie-
Niagara Tobacco Free Coalition. They tried to get
the committee to agree to enforcing the
restriction, but Public Works Commissioner
Kevin O'Brien said it would be more or less a
public relations effort, encouraging people
rather than hitting them over the head. The
resolution calls for the signs to be posted near
beaches, splash parks, playgrounds, restrooms,
warming houses and athletic fields. It says
enforcement will be through voluntary
compliance. The ban must still get
through another committee before it'll be
voted on by the Legilsature next Tuesday.
The coordinator of the Erie-Niagara Tobacco
Free Coalition is slated to address lawmakers
the same night. The Committee also voted to
use a bit more of the stimulus money to cover
cost over-runs on the reconstruction of
Wheatfield-Pendleton Townline Road. It's
about a third complete.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Catholic Charities announced Monday they had
raised $8,095,433.47 in cash and pledges, or 77.1
percent of their $10.5-million goal. Bishop Edward
Kmiec said the appeal will continue through the end
of their fiscal year on June 30. Saint Peters in
Lewiston led the county in donations with $98,164.00
in cash and pledges. Parishoners at Lockport's
Saint John The Baptist contributed $77,998.70.
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph parish in
the Falls reported in with $82,028.55. The total at
All Saints in Lockport was $36,056. Saint Mary's
was $29,077.95. Some others, Pendleton's Good
Shepherd parish $28,913....Saint Brendan's in
Newfane $30,329....and Our Lady of the Lake in
Barker, $5,166. The other parishes in the Falls
reported the following amounts. Saint John de
LaSalle $35,8312.....Saint Mary of the Cataract
$43,820.97....Divine Mercy $7,594....Saint Raphael
$27, 514...and Saint Vincent de Paul, $60,040.

STATE BUDGET

The State budget will be late. The Senate passed an
emergency spending bill yesterday that'll keep the
government running till April 15...and then left for their
Passover-Easter vacation. They are not expected back
till April 7. The State's new fiscal year begins Thursday.

$25,000

A Lockport woman has won $25,000 in the Lottery's
"Money" scratch off game. Thedora Kromer bought
her winning ticket at Bailey's Food Mart at 3821
Lockport Road in Sanborn.

FOUR POSSIBLE LAWMAKERS

Four people will be interviewed tonight after they
expressed an interest in the 14th district county
legislature seat vacated by Kyle Andrews. Republican
David Godfrey of Burt is an information technology
specialist and the current president of Wilson Fire
Company No 1. David Moyer of Wilson is a former
Republican who changed his affiliation to the
Conservative party after an unsuccessful run for
Town office. He's the owner and operator of Wilson
Hardware and a past member of the Town Zoning
Board. Kathy O'Keefe lives in the Village of Wilson
and owns the Noah's Ark toy store in Lockport. She's
currently an elected ward representative for the
Independence Committee in Wilson. Christopher
Srock is the Chairman of the Village of Wilson
Democratic committee. He's a worker at Wilson
Tuscorora State Park, a member of the fire company,
and a soccer youth coach. The four will be interviewed
by Legislature Chairman Bill Ross and lawmakers
Gerry Farnham and Dennis Virtuoso. The session is
open to the public. It starts at 6 tonight at the County's
Economic Development Center on Inducon Road in
Sanborn. The person chosen is expected to be sworn
in next Tuesday night, Andrews quit the Legislature
after he was chosen by the Governor to fill out the term
of former County Treasurer Dave Broderick.

DAIRY PROBLEMS

About 25 dairy farmers spoke about the problems
they are facing Monday during a lengthy session
at Genesee Community College in Batavia. The
meeting was organized by Senator Chuck Schumer
who said processors are making record profits at a
time when farmers are on the brink of going under.
He brought the Assistant US Attorney General in
charge of the anti-trust division along with him.
Christine Varney said the government is aware of
the dairy crisis and the reasons behind it. Schumer,
and the farmers who spoke, blamed part of the
problem on a lack of competition in the milk
processing market. Dean Foods of Texas controls
about 70% locally. Schumer said the Justice
Department must use every tool it has to address the
problem, He also suggested the government needs
to increase the help it provides under the MILC program.

FRAUD

A 64 year old Gasport woman says she got a
letter from the IRS after filing her taxes. It
said her return had already been filed. The
West Avenue resident contacted the Sheriff's
Department. They gave her an identity theft
victims packet.

PROPERTY TAX CAP

The Governor told legislative leaders Sunday he
wants them to consider his property tax cap
proposal in their budget negotiations. Paterson
wants to limit the amount of real property tax
growth that school districts, counties, cities, towns,
villages, special districts, and fire districts can levy.
His proposal calls for it t0 be limited to four percent,
or 120 per cent of the annual increase in the
Consumer Price index, whichever is less. The bill
is based on the reccomendations of the Commission on
Property Tax Relief. The Senate is already behind the
idea but it's stalled in the Assembly. This year's budget
will surely be late as it's due at midnight Wednesday.
The Senate was expected to pass an emergency
appropriations bill this morning to keep the State
running through April 14. The Assembly passed it
Friday night.

DAIRY FARMERS

Senator Chuck Schumer and the nation's top
anti-trust investigator are in Batavia today.
They're meeting with upstate dairy farmers and
consumers at Genesee Community College to
explore potential anti-competitive practices in
the dairy industry. The Assistant Attorney General
in charge of the Justice Department's anti-trust
division, Christine Varney, is there at Schumer's
request. He wants her to look into price disparities,
excessive market concentration, and marketplace
transparency. About 25 farmers from all over the
State will have a chance to speak.

TELETHON

Sunday's 48th annual Variety Kids Telethon on
channel 7 raised $1,251,331. Nine year old Sara
Kopasz of Lewiston was this year's Celebrity Child.
She was presented with a bicycle for special needs
kids during the 12-hour broadcast. The show
originated from the Adams Mark Hotel in downtown
Buffalo. The proceeds go to Womens and Childrens
Hospital. Variety Club Chair Ed DeVantier is also from
Lewiston. The entire cast joined together for the show's
traditional ending of "God Bless America." "Help 0ur
Kids Smike" was the theme of this year's appeal.

SABRES IN PLAY-OFF'S

The Sabres say individual game tickets for the
four potential first round home games in the
Stanley Cup play-offs will go on sale a week from
today. Dates and opponents have yet to be
determined. There will be about two-thousand
tickets available for each game. Buffalo earned a
spot Saturday night with a convincing 7-1 win over
Tampa Bay. Derek Roy scored a hat trick and
Patrick Lalime won his 200th career game with
the win.

NO WORLD RECORD FOR HEINRICH

An attempt by Heinrich Chevrolet to earn a spot
in the Guinness Book of World Records for the
largest Chevy truck parade fell short yesterday.
At least 220 Chevy pick-up's showed up but they
needed 250. Charley Heinrich said some of the
vehicles that took part did not register. The oldest
that signed up was built in 1940. The parade started
at 1pm at Outwater Park and made it's way to Transit
Road. Proceeds from a basket raffle, 50-50 split, and
hot dog sale were donated to Niagara Hospice, as was
a $10 entry fee for each truck which was provided by
Heinrich.

ALBANY SCHOOLTEACHER KILLED IN AMHERST

Amherst Police are investigating the death of
an Albany area schoolteacher. Thirty-one year
old David Park was fatally shot by a homeowner
around 1am Sunday after he claimed the teacher
had broken into his home on Millbrook Court.
Police said Park was visiting friends. His sister
said he was attending a diaper party for a close
friend whose wife was expecting. Detectives are
investigating reports Park left the party for awhile
and then entered the wrong home when he returned.
No charges had been filed against the homeowner as
of last night. Park passed away at Millard Fillmore
Suburban Hospital.

TERRORIST THREATS

A 49 year old Falls man who held police at bay
for five hours Saturday night will be arraigned
today on charges he made a terrorist threat and
falsely reported an incident. Nelson Ramos of
271 Hyde Park Boulevard allegedly confronted a
neighbor around 7:15 pm and said he was going
to hurt people. He told him to get his kids out
of there and that he had a bomb. As police
approached, Ramos jumped into the trunk of a
nearby car on D Street and slammed down the
lid. Police evacuated about five residents from
nearby homes and called the State Police, the
Sheriff's Department and the NFTA Police to
help and negotiations began. Around 11:30,
Ramos told them he wanted to give up but he
couldn't open the trunk. A State Police bomb
robot opened the drivers side door and
found a trunk release under the dash. The
robot was equipped with a rod to open it.
No bombs were found.

WAL MART SHOPLIFTERS

A 25 year old Lockport woman was charged
Saturday night with shoplifting about $272
worth of merchandise from the Transit Road
Wal-Mart. Jennifer Jarvis if 35 West High Street
was taken to the County Jail on $500 bail. The
store manager said Jarvis and a friend bought a
small plastic garbage can and two reusable
Wal Mart bags and then went through the store
and placed numerous items inside them. The
friend was not charged.

CHIMNEY FIRE

The Adams and Saint Johnsburg Fire Companies were
called around 7:30 pm Saturday to put out a chimney
fire in a home at 7138 Nash Road in Wheatfield. The
51 year old homeowner tried to put it out himself
using dry chemicals before calling for help. Officials
said there appeared to be very little fire damage to the
two-story Cape cod style home but they did have to
ventitlate it to clear the smoke.

MARIJUANA CHARGES

Two Lockport men were charged with possession of
marijuana during a traffic stop by police around 4am
Saturday on LaGrange Street. Thirty-eight year old
Rodriquez Bembo of 5777 Sweetwood Drive was
charged with an equipment violation, aggravated
unlicensed operation, and possession of the drug. His
passenger, 22 year old Lamont Candy Jr of 25 Harvey
with possession. Bembo was pulled over for a
malfunctioning brake light. He said he had some pot
in his sock. Candy told officers he had some in his
underwear. Some more was allegedly found in the
glove compartment.