TEXTING TAKES ANOTHER LIFE

The Sheriff of Livingston County said Thursday
the accident that claimed the life of 22 year old
Mary Kavanaugh of Sanborn was caused by
texting while driving. Sheriff John York said
the 2006 Starpoint grad was not wearing her
seatbelt and she probably died on impact when
she was thrrown from her vehicle. He also said
the mishap happened earlier than previously
thought, he said based on text messages that were
sent, received, and unopened...it happened a little
past 1:30am. Her body was not discovered until
just before 5 by a passerby. Kavanaugh was
headed from Geneseo..where she attended college..
to a friend's house when she apparently lost
control and swerved off Caledonia Road in the
Town of Leicester. The vehicle rolled over and came
to rest on it's side. She was a Communications
major at the school.

PATERSON WITHHOLDS RAISE FOR STATE WORKERS

With no State budget in place, the Governor announced
yesterday he would not be putting money for raises
for State workers into an emergency spending bill
he'll submit Monday. About 120,000 members of the
CSEA and the Public Employees Federation were slated
to get a 4 per cent raise on April 1 that would show up
in their paychecks April 22. Paterson said they would be
held until the budget is done and he's prepared to defend
it in court. He said how is the court going to make the
State use money which would only drive it into insolvency.
Lawmakers were not happy about it but Assembly Speaker
Sheldon Silver said there was very little they could do.
He also said they could not initiate a spending bill to
restore cuts to road and bridge work when there is no
budget, and they are asking Paterson to rethink his
decision to wihhold money for such projects. Paterson
said the workers will eventually be paid. Legislative
leaders worked on the spending plan yesterday but
Silver said he could not point to specific progress other
than to say they agreed there were things they had to do
and they would talk later. There is no schedule or timetable
in place when budget meetings will begin. Local
Assemblywoman Jane Corwin said she was frustrated by
the inaction. Assemblywoman Francine del Monte said
the State could lose almost $2-million in federal aid
if the Governor's proposal to close 41 state parks is not
stopped. She said the Interior Department sent a letter
to Paterson at the end of last month warning him of that
possibility.

GRASS, BRUSH & WEEDS

A proposed grass, brush, and weeds law in Cambria
was rejected by a 3-2 vote last night. Town Supervisor
Wright Ellis says the proposed law would have required
owners to maintain their properties. He said every year
they have two or three properties that cause problems,
that they're either abandoned, foreclosured on, or
owned by out-of towners who lose a tenant and don't get
someone in and the property is not kept up. He said it
becomes a problem for neighbors who keep up their
properties and they're concerned about the condition
of the neighberhood and property values. Ellis said
the building inspectors asked for the law because
there's no law in place that gives them the authority
to respond to citizen concerns. He said board members
were concerned it opened up too many possibilities for
people complaining about neighbors they did not like.
He said 99 1/2 percent of the residents keep up their
property. The law, if it had passed, would have said
yards with more than 8 inches of grass and weeds or
an accumulation of rank vegetation would not be
allowed.

SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGETS

The Niagara Falls School Board last night passed
a $126,033,000 spending plan for the coming year.
Twenty-six jobs will be elininated but there will be
no increase in taxes. Officials say it keeps all
student programs in place. The job cuts will be
realized by attrition. Meantime, residents of the
Roy Hart School District will face a 5 per cent
tax increase under a 2010-2011 spending plan
approved last night. The budget cuts spending
by 5.27 per cent to make up for the loss of $1.5-million
in state aid. A US&J story says it includes cutting
the Varsity football and modified sports programs.
There will be four lay-offs and four other positions
will not be filled after they received notifictaion of
eight retirements. A public hearing will be held
May 6.

PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY DAY

County residents will have a chance to safely rid
themselves of sensitive documents without having
to worry about identity theft tomorrow in Lockport.
"Protect Your Identity Day 2010" is a joint effort
by State Senator George Maziarz, Mayor Mike Tucker
and the County Refuse District. They will take
power supplies, rechargeable batteries, telephones,
pagers, laptops, printers, copy machines, fax machines,
scanners, modems, cameras, projectors, televisions,
cell phones, VCR's, monitors, computers, keyboards,
microwaves, game gear, and x-rays. The items will
be taken at no cost and portable shredders will be there
to destory documents. Businesses must make an
appointment to participate and should call 731-8740
to schedule a corporate clean-out. The event will
be held from 10 till 4 Saturday at 120 Main Street in
Lockport near the SubDelicious Restaurant. About
40 volunteers will be involved. A similiar event last
year netted 40,000 pounds of documents and more
than 70,000 pounds of electronics. The Mayor also
says census workers will be nearby at Locust and
Walnut from 10 till 2 to help anyone needing help
filling out their forms.

LASALLE PRIDE

LaSalle Pride will launch a petition drive
tomorrow asking the City to install a canoe
launch at the Griffon Park Boat Docks at 9400
Buffalo Avenue off Cayuga Drive. The petition
is addressed to the Mayor & City Council. It
encourages the city to spend the grant money
it's received at that location noting it has
established parking and is a safe distance from
the activity of motorized boats using the docks.
Several LaSalle Pride members plan to use a
canoe or kayak at 11:15 Saturday morning to
show it's a good spot. They'll be collecting
signatures through the end of the month.

NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER

Mount Saint Mary's Hospital cut the ribbon yesterday
morning in the Falls for their new Neighborhood Health
Center at the corner of Profit Lane & Ninth Street. The
$1.6-million facility more than doubles the space they
occupied in the Doris Jones Resource Center at the
Housing Authority. More medical services will be added
focusing on primary care. They expect to see their first
patients there next week.

LOCKPORT SCHOOLS

The President of the Lockport School Board says
they are planning to cut another $414,000 from next
year's budget in order to present one with no increase
in spending. Marietta Schrader says they're still
looking at everything line item. But even if there's
no increase in spending, the tax levy will be increased
but they are trying to get it lowered. The District said
March 10 it would be an 11.9 per cent hike. She said
next Wednesday's meeting has been moved to the
High School in anticipation of a larger crowd. She said
just a few reporters, a PTA official, and some
administrators attended last night. She's hoping
some members of the community show up next week.

HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR

A committee of the County Legislature last night
resurrected the idea of having a Homeland Security
Director. The Community Safety & Security Committee
approved the plan after hearing from Sheriff Jim Voutour
and Health Director Dan Stapleton. The Legislature o-k'd
creating the position in June 2008, but then decided to
hold off on filling the position until after the Sheriff's
election. Voutour was for it, but Republican candidate
Ernest Palmer said it wasn't needed. Voutour told WLVL he
sees the deficiencies the county has and there is too
much tasked on the Fire Coordinator. He says he looked
at the Erie County organizational chart for their Homeland
Security..or Emergency Services Co-ordinator, and the
Staff they have in place is ten times what Niagara County
has. He said he isn't looking for that, but does want
someone to serve as a focal point that can conduct
stumulation drills and make the County as safe as it can
be. Lawmaker Clyde Burmaster said they should get it in
the budget this year, somehow...and it certainly should be
something they put it in for next year. Chairman Paul
Wojtaszek said the salary and search procedure are not yet
set.
a focal point, or a center point, that can
be a much larger county, but

JAYNE PARK

About 90 Falls residents were at a meeting last night
at the LaSalle Library branch. They were talking about
the future of Jayne Park. Most were against any plan
to develop it that would bring more traffic to the
residential neighborhood surrounding it. City Planner
Tom DeSantis said a parking lot and boat launch ramps
would not be included. He acknowledged they were in
a Master Plan developed ten years ago but said it was
outdated and reflected what people wanted at that time.
The City Council turned down a nearly $30,000 contract
March 8 for a consultant to come up with a new plan. The
21 acre park is on Cayuga Island in the Niagara River. Most
of the speakers said the city needed to cut the grass, pick
up debris, and remove dead trees. Some said a walking
path would be an improvement. Mayor Paul Dyster said
maintenance would be improved this Summer.

LOCKPORT COMMON COUNCIL

The co-ordinator of the Lockport Main Street
program told the Common Council last night
seven downtown businesses have expressed an
interest in applying for a State grant to spruce
up their buildings. The money for interior and
exterior improvements would come from the State
division of Housing & Community Renewal. They would
re-imburse 75 per cent of the cost but no-one would
get more than $50,000. Heather Peck would not say
who they are until the application is filed April 23.
She said up to $320,000 would be in play if all the
applications are o-k'd. In other business, the
Council awarded a $1,200 contract to Wendell
Duchscherer to create new maps for the final
version of the Waterfront Revitalization Program.
They also agreed to use $3,500 in drug forefeiture
money to help pay for a new evidence storeroom at
the police department.

GRAND LARCENY

A 22 year old Lockport man was charged yesterday
with using another man's car, bank card, and checkbook
while he was in the hospital. Twenty-two year old Kenneth
Walker of 122 Locust is charged with fourth degree grand
larceny and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The
victim said he was taken from 111 Cottage to Millard
Fillmore by ambulance March 15 and Walker had agreed
to drive his car there so he would have it when he got
out. The car was low on gas so he gave Walker his bank
card and PIN number so he could fill it up. He says Walker
returned it when he arrived at the hospital and he put it
under his bed with his personal belongings....but his
condition worsened and he was taken by staff and
was eventually transferred to Rochester. He was
released Easter Sunday. He told police he hasn't seen
his car since March 15 and that someone used his bank
card on numerous occasions racking up charges of
over $1,500. His checkbook was also in the car and two
checks totalling $1,675 were cashed at a bank in Medina.

MARIJUANA

Lockport police confiscated nine small marijuana
plants just after 12:30 this morning as they were
investigating an argument in an apartment at
141 Pine. They had been called to apt. #3 by other
residents who said it had gone on for hours. Police
said they could smell it as soon as the woman involved
opened the door. She said the fight was over and
everything was o-k. Officers said they found five
plants growing in small red cups on the window sill
and four more under a couch. They also allegedly
found some pot in a white container and a bong and
pipes as well. Twenty-one year old Jonathon Willard
was charged with possession. He said he was growing
the plants to pass on to someone else.

LOCKPORT LIBRARY VOTE

The few people who bothered to vote yesterday
approved a $34,000 increase in the portion of
the Lockport Library budget that comes from
tax revenue. Three-hundred-twenty-two votes
were cast, 255 were for the increase, 67 said no.
The total library budget from all sources will be
$1,540,000. Local tax support comes to
$1,278,000. The new budget takes effect July 1.
The Library's "My Favorite Character" kids vote
featured favorite feisty female characters in
childrens books. The winner by a wide margin
was Olivia, with Eloise and Fancy Nancy following
behind.

SHOPPING CARTS

The Sheriff's department is investigating the theft
of ten to fifteen shopping carts from the Lockport
Save-A-Lot. They were taken about three weeks ago
but it was not reported till yesterday. They're worth
at least $2,000. Save A Lot was apparently notified
of their disappearance by a security manager from
Wal-Mart. She said she had video surveillance of the
theft and a possible vehicle involved.

ORLEANS COUNTY MAN DIES AFTER FIRE AND EXPLOSIN

The Orleans County Sheriff's department says a
Town of Carlton man passed away at 12:30 pm
yesterday from injuries he suffered when his house
exploded last week. Forty-nine year old Steven
Broadwell had been hospitalized at Strong Memorial
in Rochester. Offcials won't say for certain what
caused the explosin and fire at his home at 2056
Oak Orchard River Road just before 7pm last Friday.

NEWFANE

A Newfane couple says over $3,000 in coins were
taken from their Transit Road home last week
while they were on vacation. The victims told
the Sheriff's department they were in two coffee
cans in their bedroom and basement. Their 22 year
old son was watching the home but worked during
the day. The victims said their home is never locked
and it was known they would be out of town.

SUMMIT MALL

Wheatfield Supervisor Bob Cliffe tells WLVL
that as far as he knows, no deal has been struck
for the Summit Mall. Cliffe told us this morning
"I have no reason to believe the Mall has actually
sold at this point, I certainly have not been notified
that it has." WLVL talk show host, and former
Supervisor Tim Demler said on his show Tuesday
he understood the mall had been sold to a
Canadian company. Cliffe said a Canadian
company had come in and talk to him about it
but it doesn't mean there's an offer on the table.
He said he was not part of the negotiations, and
said current owner Jim Anthony had told
him he would tell him if a sale took place and
he had not done so. He could not say if talks
were continuing, saying, "simply put, I have
no news".

NEW VERSION OF BUDGET

A new version of the Newfane School District
budget would use another $600,000 of their
reserves and restore a host of programs that
were to be cut under the spending plan
presented in March. The Circuit Stompers
Robotics team, the High School yearbook and
musical, and the National Honor Society are
back in the budget along with middle school
Lego robotics, the Student Senate, and the
Model U.N. School Chief Gary Pogorozelski
said the proposal also reduced personnel
costs by $900,000and there will be some increase
in class sizes.

SANBORN RESIDENT KILLED IN CAR CRASH

A Geneseo State college student from Sanborn was
killed yesterday in an early morning crash in the
Livingston County town of Leicester. Twenty-two year
old Mary Kavanaugh of Lower Mountain Road graduated
from Starpoint in 2006. Officials say the accident
happened shortly before 5am when her car went out
of control and rolled over on Caledonia Road in
Leicester.

SPLASH PARK DECISION

State Supreme Coirt Judge Richard Klock ruled
Monday Niagara Falls Redevelopment got a fair
price for the former Splash Park that was
absorbed by the Seneca Niagara Casino. Klock
said the $18-million they already received as a
down payment was all it was worth. NFR had wanted
$75-million more.

NIAGARA FALLS REDEVELOPMENT

The Gazette reporting today arrangements are
being made for Senator Chuck Schumer to take
part in a follow-up conversation between Falls
Mayor Paul Dyster and NFR owner Howard
Milstein. The three announced after a meeting
in New York in January that Dyster and Milstein
would hold monthly chats, but none have taken
place so far. Dyster told the paper he thinks a
future study to be done by USA Niagara will provide
NFR with the information they need to convince
lenders to back projects in the City.

FALLS PAVING

Twenty-two streets were named yesterday as Falls
Mayor Paul Dyster announced the City's in-house
Summer paving program. Dyster told WLVL they
would start in the downtown area in the hotel
district and then move into LaSalle. The press
conference was held at the corner of Frontier
and 91st Street. Dyster noting 91st Street is where
the LaSalle Little League normally holds it's
parade and they've had to move it to other streets
in recent years due to the condition of 91st. He
said he did not know if they'd get in done in time
for the parade but said it's repair is part of their
plan. He said a number of other streets in LaSalle
that have gone neglected for a very long period
are also part of the program. He said it's just the
beginning and they hope to make another
announcement before the season is over. They're
hoping to do about four dozen with just the in-house
work. He said other paving would be paid for
with stimulus money and state funds.

SABRES WIN NORTHEAST DIVISION

The Sabres took the Northeast Division title last
night with a 5-2 win over the Rangers. Buffalo
scored the final three goals in the game. It's
their sixth division championship. The team
announcing yesterday they will be hosting a live
Party In The Plaza before and after each home
playoff game. This year's parties will be bigger
and better. They plan to add a large tent so it can
go on rain or shine. The pre-game festivities will
begin two hours before the start of each game and
it'll continue afterwards with a live band. Tickets
for their four potential home games in the first
round of the play-offs are now on sale.

LIBRARY NEWS

The Director of the Lewiston Public Library saying
"no" to an offer to take over the management of the
Niagara Falls Library System. Ron Shaw deciding
instead, to accept an appointment as the Director
of the Chemung County Library District in Elmira.
Officials in the Falls had expected to ratify a contract
with him during a special meeting yesterday. Now
they have expanded their search to include the
entire U.S. and Canada. It was previously confined
to the Northeastern U.S. In Lockport, residents of the
City School District are eligible to vote today on the
portion of their budget that comes from tax revenue.
They are asking for an increase of $34,000 which
would bring the total funds from property taxes to
$1,278,000. The voting is from 10am till 9pm in the
Community Meeting Room.

NEW APPOINTEE TO POLICE BOARD

Lockport Mayor Mike Tucker has appointed a 30
year old Genesee Street man to the new fifth seat
on the City's Police Board. Andrew Rosenberg is
the son of John Rosenberg, the owner of Prudden
& Kandt Funeral Home. The council added the
fifth seat in December. Tucker had wanted to
appoint elementary school principal Marianne
Curry Hall to the seat in February but withdrew
the nomination because the City Charter says
appointees must live in the City.

PHONY $100 BILL

A worker at Kassie's Pizza in the Town of Lockport
called the Sheriff's Department around 10:30 last
night to report a possible counterfeit $100 bill that
had been used to pay for a take-out order. Deputies
said it looked like a fake and took it for further
examination. The worker said a man named Randy
used it to pay his bill around 7:15. She said he
was white, about 5 foot 11, weighed about 240 pounds
and had red and gray hair. He did leave a phone
number when he ordered.

LOCKPORT MAN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH FATAL ACCIDENT

A 70 year old Lockport man has been charged with
failing to use due care for a pedestrian following
last Tuesday's fatal accident that took the life of
an 85 year old woman. Robert Payne of 3902 Lockport
Olcott Road is due in Court on Tuesday, April 20
at 1:30. Virginia Barnwell of Spalding Street was
was allegedly struck around 10am by Payne while
she was crossing at the corner of Walnut and
Cottage. She was pronounced dead a short time
later at ENH-Lockport.

PALADINO ANNOUNCES

About 600 people crowded the atrium at Buffalo's
Ellicott Square Building last night as attorney and
developer Carl Paladino formally announced his
run for Governor. Clips from the movie "Network"
played prior to his speech, highlighting his campaign
theme. Paladino asked the crowd several times if
they were "mad as hell and weren't going to take it
anymore." The 63 year old touched on many of
the problems facing the State as he interacted with
the crowd. He repeated his promise to only serve
one term and said he would declare a fiscal state of
emergency immediately after taking the oath of
office. He said he would cut State spending by
ten percent, reduce optimal Medicaid services, and
stop people from coming here to collect welfare. He and
his campiagn team boarded a bus afterwards for
Albany where he met with the press this morning.
He'll be in New York City this afternoon and Syracuse
tomorrow.

CLIFFE SAYS WHEATFIELD HAS FINANCIAL TROUBLE

Wheatfield Supervisor Bob Cliffe told the Town
Board last night the previous Administration
was spending about $775,000 more each year than
it was taking in during the past four years. He called
it reckless and said a fiscal control board would have
had to assume operations before the end of the year
had it not stopped. Cliffe said revenue was
over-estimated, taxes were cut, and fund balances
were depleted without any thought to the future. He
said the Town has a deficit of almost $664,000 and the
long term debt is about $16-million. He said he
expected they would be paying it back for the next
15 years. He accused former Supervisor Tim Demler
of using financial gimmicks and long term debt to
pay for standard services like road repair and
recreation. Board members said Demler was the chief
financial officer and sometimes didn't tell them things.

TOWN OF LOCKPORT

The Town of Lockport will apply for a $500,000
state grant that would be used to improve the
outer appearance of buildings on part of South
Transit. It would only cover the west side
between Ruhlman and Strauss Road. Eight
businesses have expressed an interest in the
program. Economic Development Coordinator
Dave Kinyon said it would cover up to 50 percent
of the cost of a facelift made by a business but no
one would get more than $50,000. He also said there
was no guarantee the Town would be selected. The
application must be in by April 23. The Town Clerk
said the State had turned down their request to
lower the 45 mph speed limit on Old Beattie between
Dysinger and Rapids. The State said a study showed
that 85 per cent of the traffic on the road was driving
at 49 mph or lower. Town Attorney Dan Seaman
announced they have till September 17 to formally
o-k the new flood zone maps prepared by the Feds.

FALLS CITY COUNCIL

Lawmakers in the Falls voted Monday to spend
$3.6-million on the first stage of repairs to the
Hyde Park Ice Pavillion. Contracts were awarded
to Sicoli Construction, C-I-R Electric, J.R. Swanson
Plumbing, and the JW Danforth Company. The lead
architect for DiDonato & Associates said the work
would include the expansion of the ice resurfacing
or "zamboni" room. He said it would also facillitate
the next phase when the locker rooms would be
enlarged and improved. The electric room will
be redone because it isn't large enough to meet
current codes. The plan also calls for a new chiller
for the two rinks and the installation of new rubber
flooring near the concession area. A new roof will
be built over the locker room between rinks one and
two. The work will be paid for with casino money.
Councilmembers Charley Walker and Bob Anderson
said they wanted to make sure somebody would be
in charge of maintaing the building after they spend
the money.

SHOVEL

A 20 year old Lockport man who allegedly approached
police with a large shovel in his hand was arrested just
before 9pm Monday on South Street. Richard Bishop
of 281 Walnut is charged with two counts of menacing,
reckless endangerment, and obstructing governmental
administration. Police reports say Bishop went to a
friends apartment drunk and wanted to relax....but he
became agitated while there and was asked to leave.
The victim walked Bishop to the door and says Bishop
said some words to him and then threw a brick at him
and vowed to come back and kill him. The victim called
police, and as they were interviewing him, Bishop returned
swinging a large shovel. He yelled profanities as he was
told to stop but eventually dropped the shovel and was
arrested. The victim requested a full order of protection
saying he feared for his life.

CAMBRIA

A 31 year old Williamsville woman was charged in
Cambria Sunday with burglary, possession of a
controlled substance, possession of stolen property,
and petit larceny. Kristiana Needham is accused
of taking oxycodone and lorazepam pills from the
bathroom of a woman on Unicorn Court. The victim
said Needham entered her unlocked home and asked
to use the restroom. The Sheriff's department had
already been called by a neighbor about a suspicious
person in the area and allegedly found the pills on
Needham. The neighbor told deputies she had tried
to get into his apartment as well. At last report,
Needham was being held on $1,500 bail at the
County Jail. She's due in Town court at 2:30 today.

ORCHARD HOUSE

A resident at a group home in Newfane was treated
for a bloody nose and mouth Sunday night after he
was allegedly attacked by another resident. Seventeen
year old Thomas Tyshawn of Ferry Avenue in the Falls
was charged with 3rd degree assault. He said he punched
the victim at the Orchard House on West Lake Road because
he was going to snitch on him to the staff. Tyshawn was
taken to the County Jail on $500 bail. The victim said he
was tired of the other residents picking on him and told
them he was going to tell.

CONVENIENCE STORES

Inicidents were reported at two area convenience
stores late Sunday and Monday morning. A 26 year
old Lockport man was charged with shattering the
front door of the Yellow Goose Market at 4815 Sunset
in the Town of Lockport. Christopher Wagner of
4625 North Ridge Road was arrested in his car
just after 1am Monday on Ridge at Ewings. He
allegedly admitted to using a metal headed hammer
to break the door around 10:15pm. Nothing was
taken. He's charged with criminal mischief and is
due in Town Court a week from today. The Sheriff's
Department says the manager of the Wilson Farms
on Ward Road in Wheatfield told them a customer
told her he saw a black male around 30 years of age
stuff a $60 box of Nestle One-Hundred-Thousand-Dollar
bars into his coat around 9am Monday and leave with
two friends. She got his plate number and said they
had been in the store before and may work in the area.

CHAPEL AT CROSS POINT

Hundreds of people were at Lockport's Palace
Theatre yesterday for the Chapel at Cross Point's
first service in the city. They sang songs of praise
and listened to the Easter message delivered by
Pastor Jerry Gillis from the churches main
headquarters in Getzville. It was shown on a
special system given to the theatre. Local pastor
Matt Eisenhower announced that all of Sunday's
offerings would be sent to help earthquake victims
in Haiti. A childrens service was held across the
street in space they rent in the Old Post Office.

PALADINO

Buffalo developer and attorney Carl Paladino is
slated to announce his run for Governor tonight.
About a thousand people are expected to crowd
the atrium of his Ellicott Square Office Building
in the Queen City for the announcement. Paladino
is seeking both the Republican and Conservative
lines and has pledged to spend up to $10-million
of his own money. The 63 year old has set aside
a suite of offices in Ellicott Square for the
camapign and an intensive internet effort is
planned. Paladino says would significantly
reduce the State education budget but he would
not cut teachers or increase class sizes. He would
also freeze wages and benefits, cut State spending
by 10 per cent, and prevent people from moving to
New York to collect welfare. He was convinced to
run by Tea Party activists Rus Thompson and Dave
Di-Pietro.

TRASH PICK-UP

The Modern Corporation begins a five week
collection of large items with today's garbage
pick-up in the Falls. DPW Director Dave Kinney
says it will coincide with your regular weekly
pikc-up day. He says residents can usually only
put out one bulk item with their trash, but the
limits have been lifted through Friday May 7.

DOLLAR BILL CHANGER

A dollar bill changer was recovered Saturday
morning after it was stolen overnight from the
Middleport Laundromat at 87 Telegraph Road.
The owner of the poperty behind the nearby
Middleport Pharmacy said he saw a suspicious
man come out of the woods behind the drug store
and leave in a gold Chrysler or Dodge. The bill
changer was on the ground nearby. The
laundromat's surveilance system showed a man
came in just after 4am Saturday. He forced open
a closet door, spent nearly an hour inside, then
came out and removed the bill changer from the
wall and threw it out a window. The man is
described as being about 5 foot 7 and weighing
about 140 pounds. He was wearing dark clothing
and a mask covered his nose, mouth, and cheeks.
The total damage was around $4,000.

CHILD ENDANGERMENT

A 39 year old Town of Lockport woman was
charged Saturday with endangering the welfare
of a child. Michelle Ross of Continental Drive
is accused of leaving her seven year old son alone
in her car for nearly 40 minutes while she shopped
at Wal-Mart. She was arrested as she was leaving the
store around 1:45pm. She said her son was not
feeling well and that's why she left him in the car.
Deputies said the windows were rolled down and
the keys were in the ignition.

LIBRARY BUDGET VOTE

Residents of the Lockport City School District
will have a chance to vote Wednesday on the
portion of the Public Library budget that
comes from tax revenue. Librararian Marie
Bindemann says they need an increase of
$34,000. It would bring the total funds from
tax revenue to the Library to $1, 278,000. The
Library also gets money from the Nioga System,
overdue fines and printing and copier fees,
interest earned on deposits, donations, and
State aid. The Towns of Pendleton and
Lockport provide some as well. Wednesday's
vote will be from 10am to 9pm in the Community
Meeting Room.

POSSIBLE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE FOUND ON LAWN

The Erie County Bomb Squad was called Saturday
after a 73 year old Wheatfield man found a two
liter bottle filled with some type of liquid, foil,
and white balls in front of his Jagow Road home.
Officials said the liquid was probably toilet bowl
cleaner which interacts with the other materials
to produce a gas that can explode. Town of Niagara
police believe such a device was used to explode a
mailbox in the Town Friday.

LOADED HANDGUN & CASH

Falls police confiscated a loaded handgun and nearly
$7,500 in cash from a Niagara Avenue man outside his
home around 8:30 yesterday morning. They say a tip
led them to the home of 54 year old Felix Gibbs. He was
allegedly carrying the weapon in a case. They said they
found three hydrocodone pills in his vehicle as well.

MIDDLEPORT BUDGET HEARING

A public hearing is set for tonight in Middleport
on the Village's proposed $1.7-million budget for the
coming year. It includes a ten cent increase per
thousand dollars valuation and represents a
$63,000 increase over this year. Most of it is to
pay for highway improvements that could happen
if the State comes through with funding. The Village
would eventually be re-imbursed for the cost if the
work is done. The spending plan also contains a
two per cent raise for village employees, but
elected officials would not receive obe. The hearing
starts at 7 in the Village Hall.

FIRE IN VACANT HOME IN BERGHOLZ

A fire around 2:30 Saturday afternoon heavily damaged
a vacant home at 2537 Washington Street in Bergholz.
A neighbor reported smoke coming from the foundation
and crews found the east side engulfed in flames when they
got there. The home is owned by a North Carolina couple
and has been for sale for about two years. The Sheriff's
Department said an initial investigation showed that
two doors may have been left open after it was recently
shown. They found some wine coolers upstairs. Bergholz
and Adams fought the blaze.