SABRES

Ryan Miller made 38 saves last night to lead the
Sabres to a play-off opening 2-1 win over the
Bruins. Miller stopped 23 shots in the second
period alone. Captain Craig Rivet scored the
go-ahead goal with a slap shot from the right
circle with six minutes left in the second period.
Thomas Vanek put in Buffalo's first goal in
the team's first play-off game in three years.
Coach Lindy Ruff said they expected it would
be a close game. Those who didn't have tickets
watched the game outside the Arena under a
tent packed with fans. A post game party was
added to the pre-game festivities this year in the
plaza. Game two of the best of seven Eastern
Conference Quarterfinal series is set for 1pm
tomorrow in Buffalo.

ADJOURNED IN CONTEMPLATION OF DISMISSAL

The felony charges against a Royalton man who was
accused of firing 15 rounds at an alleged burglar in
January were reduced yesterday to misdemeanors by
County prosecutors. Town Justice Gregory Bass than
accepted their reccommendation to adjourn the case
against Dennis Cherry in contemplation of dismissal.
That means the charges will go away in six months as
long as Cherry stays out of trouble. The incident
happened January 21 when Cherry's stepdaughter, 18
year old Jenna Zsebhazy, and 24 year old Anibal
Cordero came to his home for what Cherry thought
was going to be a burglary. He said they had stolen a
gun from his home two days before and he didn't want
them to come back and kill him. He fired at Cordero's
car as it was backing out of his garage. He said if he had
wanted to hit him he could have. His attorney told the
Buffalo News Cherry will testify before a Grand Jury
against the alleged burglars. Cherry had originaly been
charged with two felony counts of reckless endangerment
and criminal mischief by the State Police.

COLD, RAINY WEEKEND FORECAST

People will be talking about the weather this weekend,
but not in a good way. The National Weather Service says
a switch back to cold weather will be preceded by showers
and maybe a thunderstorm late this morning or early in the
afternoon. Temperatures will be falling a bit this
afternoon and a whole lot more tonight. It'll stay cold
throughout the weekend. There could be some accumulating
snow Saturday night in the higher elevations south of the
City of Buffalo. The Lockport-Niagara County area will
likely see a dusting but a couple of areas could see a coating
on cars or grassy surfaces. The Weather Service says it's not
unusual to see some snow at this time of year. The rain or
snow and cooler temperatures should clear some of the pollen
out of the air for those with allergies.

CANAL CLEAN SWEEP

The City of Lockport's Erie Canal Development Task
Force will be hosting the annual Canal Clean-Up
tomorrow. It'll start at 9:30 at the Gazebo on Canal
Street. Lockport Main Street director Heather Peck
says about 25 volunteers from the local rotary club
will be taking part. Anyone who wants to pitch in
is welcome. You'll be assigned a space along the
Canal to clean. They ask that you bring work gloves
and to wear long pants and work boots. A rake
would be helpful as well, they will provide trash
bags. The clean-up will run till about 1:30. If
it's raining before 9 am , the event will be postponed till
May 1. Call 434-0212 for more details. The event
is one of a variety of more than 80 Earth Day activities
that'll be going on along the waterway across the state
this weekend. The entire event is called The Canal
Clean Sweep.

SPCA HAS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Board of Directors of the County SPCA hiring
42 year old John Faso of Grand Island as it's new
executive director. The appointment was confirmed
April 6 at their Board of Directors meeting. Faso was
chosen from over 175 applicants. He graduated from
Niagara University and had previously been the General
Manager of the Falls Conference Center. Prior to that,
Faso served as the Director of Events for the Sabres
and HSBC Arena. Board President Brandy Scrufari said
Faso stood out in the interviews due to his administrative
and management, fundraising, and public relations and
organizational skills. She said they were not necessarily
looking for someone with prior animal shelter or not
for profit experience.

NYSEG AGREES TO SETTLEMENT

The New York State Public Service Commission
announced a $200,000 settlement with NYSEG
Thursday stemming from charges they failed to
prevent a 55 foot spruce tree from enchroaching
on a transmission line in July 2008. The tree caused
a circuit trip that did not lead to any customer
outages. The company agreed to contribute
$200,000 in shareholder funds to a ratepayer
deferral account. They must also provide a
written report detailing the number and location
of in-house versus contract foresters. It must include
a plan to provide replacements for foresters who
are in five years of retirement and make reccomendations
to stem the outflow of division foresters.

JUSTIN BEIBER

The students at Sanborn's Edward Town Middle
School were treated to a free concert Thursday by
teen idol Justin Beiber. The show was at
the Riveria Theatre in North Tonawanda. The kids
won the concert by raising almost $17,ooo in pennies
for Buffalo's Womens and Childrens Hospital. The contest
was sponsored by local Top 40 outlet KISS 98.5.

PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY DAY

Last Saturday's "Protect Your Identity Day " in
Lockport turned out to be the single largest one
day electronics recycling event in state history.
One-hundred-twenty-five thousand pounds of
electronics, 35,000 pounds of paper, and 12,000
pounds of cardboard were turned in. The event
drew about 600 cars and ultimately collected
nine tractor trailer loads of waste.

CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

A federal grand jury Thursday returned a six
count indictment charging 34 year old Jeff Coon
of the Falls with the distribution, receipt, and
possession of child pornography. The indictment
says he knowingly distributed the material in April
2008, knowingly received it in March 2009, and that
he knowingly had it on two computer hard drives and
two CD roms in April 2009. The case was brought as
part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative
to combat the growing epidemic of child sex
exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the
Justice Department. Coon could be sentenced to as
much as 20 years in prison and fined $250,000 if he's
found guilty.

A SEVEN PERCENT TAX INCREASE

Lockport taxpayers will be voting on a
proposed seven per cent hike in school taxes
next month after the School Board approved
a $77-million budget last night by a vote of 6-3.
School Superintendent Terry Ann Carbone said
it's been a very painful process for the board
members and the community. The Board was
facing a ten per cent tax increase but voted to
use a million dollars of their reserves to get it
to 7.03 percent. It would mean rates would
rise to $23.99 per thousand dollars valuation,
it was at $22.42 this year. The district's problems
were caused by a $3.9-million loss in State aid
and a $4-million increase in operating costs.
Thietry-eight positions would be cut, 14 through
retirements, 20 through attrition, and 4 through
layoffs. DeWitt Clinton would be closed and John
Pound would be used for universal pre-K. The
Summer reading program was cut out of the
budget as were all of their Summer School programs.
Carbone said the reading program would continue
as some teachers had volunteered to run it. About
150 people were at the meeting in the High School
Auditorium. The three no votes were cast by Jimmy
Gugliuzza, Allan Jack, and Thomas Fiegl. A
public hearing was set for May 5.

ONE DEAD IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

A 39 year old Gasport man was killed overnight in
a motorcycle accident at the intersection of Slayton
Settlement and Day Roads in the Town of Lockport.
John Watson of 8898 Bradley Road was pronounced
dead at the scene. A passing motorist called the
Sheriff's Department around 12:45 am and said he saw
a motorcycle on it's side in the roadway. After an
investigation, deputies said Watson was going east
on Slayton Settlement heading into a curve when he
crossed the westbound lane and ran into a guardrail.
The bike continued contact with the guardrail for
some distance and then Watson was ejected. The
motorcycle then continued on for a distance on it's
own before coming to rest in the intersection.

TWO ARRESTED FOR GOING THRU CARS

Following a search through backyards and city
streets, Lockport police arrested two men overnight
after a witness told them he saw them going through
cars at Harrington's Garage at 3 Prospect. Twenty-two
year old William Harris of 51 Elmhurst, and 22 year old
Matthew Kaminski of 6128 Ruhlman Road are charged
with trespassing, resisting arrest, sixth degree conspiracy,
and obstructing governmental administration. Harris was
found in a backyard at 140 Webb around 11:20pm. Kaminski
was taken into custody about an hour later near Reid's
Petroleum on Stevens Street.

PALADINO

Buffalo attorney and developer Carl Paladino is
continuing his gubernatorial campaign despite the
release of those controversial forwarded e-mails.
He wrote on his blog yesterday "the liberal elite
are hysterical, they are panicking because they
know we are coming. If they want me to back down
they will be disappointed." Meantime, a State official
told the Buffalo News the State will review the nearly
$85-million worth of leases Paladino holds with State
agencies. He acknowledged Paladino was the lowest
bidder but said they wanted to see if there was a
morality clause that could cancell them. Another
official said Paladino should voluntarily withdraw
from a pending lease with the Workers Compensation
Board for space in his Ellicott Square Office Building.
Albany area Republicans rescinded an invitation for
Paladino to speak Friday...but the Western New york
GOP still plans to interview him and other statewide
candidates Saturday at the Holiday Inn in Cheektowaga.

MENACING

Thirty-four year old Martin Hahn of Bishop Road
in Appleton was charged with menacing and
harassment last night following an incident around
6pm at Snell's Gas Station on Ridge Road in Royalton.
Hahn is accused of punching a 24 year old Gasport man
three times in the side of the head and ear in a dispute
over a debt. He allegedly threatened to kill the victim
if he didn't get his money. Hahn was arrested at his
home and arraigned in Hartland Town Court. Judge
Joanne Sullivan released Hahn to the custody of his
parents with a strict warning to stay away from the
victim. He will be back in court April 20.

ACCIDENT UPDATE

A 70 year old Lockport woman is in fair condition
at ECMC after she was struck by a pick-up around
11:45 Tuesday morning at the corner of Transit
and Willow. Barbara Pescara told police she left her
home in the Willow Ridge Condimiums to go shopping.
She was taken to the hospital suffering from head and
hip injuries. The driver of the pick-up, 45 year old
Virginia Herrick of Chestnut Ridge Road in the Town
of Lockport was charged with failing to yield the right
of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. She will be in
City Court May 4 at 1:30.

JUDGE SAYS NO

County Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrezza yesterday
refused to dismiss burglary and murder charges
against one of the teens accused in last June's
murder of group home leader Renee Greco in
Lockport. The trial of 19 year old Anthony Allen
and 17 year old Robert Thousand will not start
on May 17 as planned and a new date has not yet
been chosen.

NEWS FROM THE FALLS

Falls Mayor Paul Dyster says work will start
within two weeks to repair the front steps to
City Hall and the building's front wall. He
expects it will be done by the Fall. In
other news, the State DEC will stock Hyde
Park Lake with nearly two-thousand yearling
brown trout at 11am next Tuesday. The City's
Parks Department says the white 9 and the
North 18 golf courses in the park are slated
to open at 9am Friday, weather permitting.
Season passes for golf will be on sale from
2 till 6pm today and from 9-1 Friday in the
clubhouse on Porter Road.

ROLLOVER ACCIDENT

A 30 year old Town of Lockport woman is in fair
condition at ECMC following a rollover accident
Wednesday morning near 2894 Lockport Road
in Wheatfield. Jera Czajkowski of Robinson Road
was going west when her SUV rolled over as she
was attempting to pass a vehicle on the right. She
was freed by the Bergholz Fire Department and
treated on the scene by Tri Community ambulance
for leg and head injuries. The Sheriff's department
said charges are pending.

OPERATION SAFE STOP

Today's the day the State sets aside to remind you
not to pass a stopped school bus that has it's red
flashing lights activated. Operation Safe Stop
started in 1993. Officials are expecting to write
as many as 1200 tickets. They say the law is
broken at least 50,000 times a day in New York.

LOCKPORT WOMAN STRUCK BY PICK-UP

Lockport police have identified the 70 year old
woman who was struck by a pick-up around
11:45 yesterday morning at the corner of Transit
and Willow. She is Barbara Pescara of the Willow
Ridge Condiminiums. She was taken to ECMC by the
Fire Department suffering from head and hip injuries.
Officials at the hospital are only saying she was
admitted and has been assigned a room. The pikc-up
was driven by 45 year old Virginia Herrick of 7052
Chestnut Ridge Road in the Town of Lockport. She
is charged with failing to yield the right of way to a
pedestrian in a crosswalk. She will be in City Court
at 1:30 pm on May 10.

LOCKPORT SCHOOL BUDGET

The Lockport School Board is slated to adopt it's
budget at a meeting tonight, but School Board
President Marietta Schrader told us this morning
the spending plan is not yet finalized. She said she
spoke with School Superintendant Terry Ann Carbone
yesterday and they're still looking at different areas
and gathering figures. Schrader says they don't have
to vote on it tonight and they have till next week to
pass a budget. She said she did not know what the
final numbers are going to look like, that Carbone would
present them tonight She said there's always the
possibility they could vote on it tonight, but she doesn't
think they will. Whatever happens, the meeting has been
moved to the Lockport High School auditorium. The
executive session is at 5pm, the public portion begins
at 7.

FAMILY LEAVE

It was a year ago next month that New Jersey became
the second state in the nation to offer paid family
leave and federal funds are now available that could
get New York into the act. President Obama included
$50-million in the budget to provide grants to states
who want to start paid family leave programs. Ellen
Bravo at Family Values At Work says our state is a
prime candidate because it already offers temporary
benefits and the federal funds could help the state grow
into a full paid family leave program. Bills for paid
family leave were introduced in Albany last year and
are still pending, but have been sidelined because of the
deficit. Bravo says it would give new moms more time
at home to breastfeed their babies. She says studies
show it saves lives and healthcare costs too. Employers
will be required to give unpaid breaks for mothers to
breastfeed as part of healthcare reform.

PALADINO CAMPAIGN

The forwarded e-mail scandal is causing big
problems for the Paladino campaign. The
Ellicott Square Office Building in Buffalo was
evacuated yesterday afyer the campaign
received a bomb threat during the lunch hour. A
male claiming to be with a black militant group
called around 12:35 and threatened to quote,
"bomb all of you." A search took about 40 minutes
and nothing was found. The National Tea Party
Express also disowned Paladino's campaign for
Governor. The group's chairman, Mark Smith,
said "you've seen the e-mails, so what makes you
think we should support him?" The Conservative
New York Post ran an editorial that was headlined,
Bigot from Buffalo.

NEW NEWFANE TOWN HALL

Newfane Supervisor Tim Horanburg tells WLVL
the Town is moving into their news offices in the
former Miller Hose building. He says the
larger pieces of furniture and equipment are
being moved today and Thursday, and both the
new and current offices will be closed Friday when
phones, data lines, and computer equipment
will be moved. The remodeling was paid for with
help from the US Department of Agriculture.
Horanburg says they borrowed money from them
after they helped the fire department move into
their new headquarters. The current town hall on
Transit will still be used by the courts and the
water and highway departments. Work started on
the project about three years ago. They had their
first public hearing on April 16, 2007. The new
Town Hall will include a Community Center where
Seniors and non profits can meet. Horanburg
says it's something they've never had. An offical
ribbon cutting is slated for Saturday, May 1 at
1pm.

FOOD PANTRY BREAK IN

Police in the Falls arrested a 26 year old man
around 3am Tuesday after he was allegedly
found hiding in a storage area of the food
pantry at Our Lady of Lebanon Catholic Church
at 1120 Niagara. Gasir Young of Niagara Street
is charged with third degree burglary, criminal
mischief, and petit larceny. Police say a neighbor
calledf and said a light was on. Officers found
a broken window and grocery bags filled with
food when they arrived. It was the second break-in
in as many days. Church officials found a broken
window and the food pantry ransacked on Monday.
Every cabinet had been opened and $30 was stolen
from a coffee can.

LOCKPORT GARBAGE COMMITTEE

Two of the new members of the Lockport Common
Council presented differing views yesterday when
they sat in on a meeting of the City's Garbage
Committee. Fourth ward alderman Andy Chapman
said his constituents want recycling and are willing
to spend extra money on it. Second ward
representative Jack Smith said his constituents
don't care. Committee chair Jeff Tracy said they
have not made any decisions yet and are just gathering
information. The final decision will be up to the
Common Council.

N-T SCHOOL BUDGET

The North Tonawanda School Board last night
o-k'd a $61.7-million budget that includes closing
the Grant Street Elementary School. The budget
cuts spending by about $2.6-million and there
would be no increase in taxes.

SATURDAY GATEWAY CONCERT SERIES CANCELLED

The free Saturday night concert series at North
Tonawanda's Gateway Harbor won't be happening
this year. Organizers said Tuesday they can't find
a sponsor. The President of the Gateway Harbor of
the Tonawandas, Rhonda Reid, said sponsorship
dollars are really tight right now. The main sponsor
last year was Labatt Blue. Reid said competition is
increasing for supporters noting that lawmakers
in the Falls vote din January to spend $180,000
to put on six free shows in conjunction with the Hard
Rock Cafe. The City of Lockport also extended it's
deal in January for the Friday Night Molson Canal
concerts through 2013. Reid said they had only
planned on having six shows so they could bring in
high calibre acts. She said they would continue ti
have free shows on Wednesday and Friday nights, and
if somebody could come up with the money, they
could still do the Saturday shows.

FIGHT AT LOCKPORT HIGH SCHOOL

A 17 year old boy at Lockport High School was
suspended for five days Tuesday after he
allegedly punched another student. Matthew
Wright of 309 North Adam is accused of
punching another boy in the head and face
several times with a closed fist. The victim
told police he did not retaliate and Wright
admitted to an assistant principal the boy
never struck him back. The incident happened
just before 10 in the Science hallway as
classes were changing. A large group of
students gathered to watch. Wright is
charged with disorderly conduct.

NASTY E-MAILS GET PALADINO IN TROUBLE

Buffalo attorney and developer Carl Paladino
is scrambling to save his run for governor after a
local media company released a series of sexually
graphic and racially degrading e-mails he forwarded
to a group of friends. The 63 year old told
reporters he confessed to being human and imperfect
as are all God's children. He said he was not a racist
and that he said so in some of the e-mails that were
hacked from his computer. One from December 2008
showed a video of African-American tribesman
performing a traditional dance. It was titled Obama
Inaguration rehearsal. Another from September
2009 showed pornographic material.
Paladino acknowledged he had forwarded them to
a large group of friends. He said, "to any of the
ladies I've offended, I apologize. I say this to the
men out there who have never opened a graphic
image on the internet, don't vote for me. For those
who have, I welcome your vote." The e-mails were
uncovered by WNY Media . net. Paladino's campaign
manager Mike Caputo accused Democrats of wanting
to change the subject. He said few represented
Paladino's opinion and almost none were worth
remembering. Paladino said he doesn't expect they
will hurt his chances of getting the Republican
nomination. He said he sent them to a very specific
bunch of friends who enjoyed that type of humor.
Paladino hosted a tea party rally last night in the
FingerLakes region.

FORMER SANBORN MAN SENTENCED IN RAPE OF FOUR YEAR OLD

A 20 year old former Sanborn man was sentenced
to 15 years in State Prison Monday for sexually
abusing a four year old family member last year
in Cambria. Scott Piper Jr will also be subject to
20 years post release supervision. The victim's
dad told Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrezza he trusted
Piper to watch his three daughters for only an hour
and a half for three days while they got off the bus
from their first year in kindergarten. Assistant DA
Elizabeth Donatello described Piper as being
incredibly dangerous. She said he abused the four
year old girl in the first three days he ever spent
with her.

TEA PARTY EXPRESS

The size of the crowd for yesterday's Tea Party
Express stop in Buffalo varied depending on who
was making the estimate. Organizers placed it
at around 1500, the Buffalo News said over a
thousand, and others said hundreds were there.
Whatever the number, the participants ranged
from the very old to the very young, and lots of
people in between. The 11am stop at the Erie
Canal Commercial Slip featured comments from
former Saturday Night Live actress Victoria
Jackson and former Albany area talk show host
Mark Williams. Carl Paladino also addressed the
crowd. The Tea Party Express started in March
in Searchlight, Nevada. They were in Syracuse
yesterday afternoon and and will be on the steps
of the Capitol in Albany this morning.

VILLAGE OF LEWISTON BUDGET

Lawmakers in the Village of Lewiston last night
adopted a $2.93-million spending plan for the
coming year. It's less than this year's $3.09-million
budget but the tax rate will stay at $6.24 per
thousand dollars valuation. Most Town workers
will get a three per cent cost of living raise but
elected officials are not taking an increase and
some appointed officials such as the attorney
and engineers took pay cuts to hold costs down.
The spending plan takes effect June 1.

MEDICAL CENTER/MOUNT ST MARY'S

Two hospitals on the western side of the County
announced Monday they are joining a regional
computer system for sharing patient health records.
The Medical Center and Mount Saint Mary's are
joining Health E link. The system was set up last
year by insurance companies and hospital groups.
It's purpose is to make health histories immediately
available to doctors anywhere in the system who might
be treating a particular patient.

RUTTY

A 27 year old Lockport woman was arrested at her
home at 71 Crosby around 9am yesterday for allegedly
attacking another woman Sunday night in the parking
lot of the Summit Street Saloon. Erica Rutty is accused
of punching a North Tonawanda woman under her left
eye causing her to fall to the ground. Police reports
say she jumped on top of the victim and punched
her several more times before a man pulled her off.
The victim then ran to her car but Rutty followed and
punched her several more times while she was sitting
in the driver's seat. The victim then managed to get
away and the Fire Department treated her in the parking
lot of a Wilson Farms store. Rutty's charged with third
degree assault. The victim requested an order of
protection.

WHEATFIELD

Lawmakers in Wheatfield last night o-k'd possibly
spending another $4,000 to help fight the flood management
maps proposed by FEMA. The money may be used if the
agency doesn't pay for a computer model needed by the
Town in it's protect of the maps in the Bergholz area.
Wendel Duchscherer engineer Tim Walck said FEMA had
paid for a consultant to do the work on a similar case
in Cortland but said the deadline to file a claim is
coming up and they would have to start work on them by
Wednesday in order to finish in three weeks. The Town has
already spent $61,000 and the plan is to ask Fema for
re-imbursement of some of it if they win the appeal.
Deputy Supervisor Ken Retzlaff said a group of urban
planners from UB will present their work on a master
plan for the Town at a special meeting at 6:30 April
28 in the Community Center.

DALE ASSOCIATION SPRAY PAINTED

Lockport police are looking into the spray painting
of some nasty words on the outer walls of the Dale
Association. The words "island bitch," "queen bitch,"
and "five star bitch" were discovered around 7am
Monday. The damage estimated to be $300.

LAFARGE TO RE-OPEN QUARRY

LaFarge announced Monday they will resume blasting
in May at a limestone quarry on Tuscorora Road in the
Town of Niagara. It's been silent for three years due to
the economic slowdown. A group of residents at the
nearby Tuscorora Village filed a lawsuit against the
company and the owners of their mobile home park
at the time claiming the blasting caused damage to
their homes. It is still pending. LaFarge will hold a
public meeting to discuss their plans April 22 at
6:30 in Town Hall.

THREE CATS KILLED IN HOUSE FIRE

Three cats were killed in a house fire just before
9 yesterday morning in the Town of Niagara. The
blaze at 4915 Isherwood Drive is thought to have
started as a grease fire in the kitchen. The husband
telling Town Police he left the room and went into
an attached garage and came back to discover the
blaze. He tried to put it out with water which only
made it worse. Damage was estimated at $35,000.
The family of four is being helped by the Red Cross.

CALF SHOT IN HARTLAND

The owner of a Hartland farm telling Sheriff's
deputies Monday one of his four month old
calves was shot in the pasture behind his home.
The Quaker Road man said he's had animals
injured and killed in the past and gave
deputies the name of a possible suspect.
The man said the calf was worth about $300
and the shooting took place sometime within
the past two weeks.

TEA PARTY EXPRESS

The Tea Party Express will be in Buffalo at 11am
today. Local coordinator Allen Coniglio says this
is the tour that started March 27 Searchlight,
Nevada, the hometown of Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid. Coniglio says the bus will bring their
usual crew with speakers, singers, and musicians.
He said they don't know who exactly is coming
but there won't be anybody like Sarah Palin on
board. The rally will be at the Erie Canal
Commercial Slip near HSBC Arena and the Buffalo
Naval Park. Gubernatorial hopeful Carl Paladino
is expected to speak and several Tea Party candidates
will be introduced to the crowd. The bus will leave
for Syracuse for a 4pm event there. A group called
The Loyalist Society of Buffalo plans to hold
a counter protest.

LOCKPORT GOLF SHOW

The Lockport Town & Country Club will host a
golf show Sunday. Co-ordinator Otto Calderone
says it will run from 10 till 4. He says there are
new golf clubs introduced each year and they'll
have some of the vendors there to talk about them.
Representatives from local courses are expected
and vendors will be selling products. Others
will be selling golf related products and services,
such as chiropractors, insurance for "hole
in one contests, " and discount cards. The show
will include a putting and chipping contest, a
golf memorablia auction, a basket raffle, door
prizes and free food and drink. Two golf
clinics will be held at 11:30 and 2:30 with the
Club's golf pro. The proceeds will go to
Relay For Life, Juvenile Diabetes, the Boy
Scouts, the Breast Cancer Canal Walk, and Camp
Happiness. Presale tickets are on sale at the
Country Club thru Saturday for $5. They'll be
$10 Sunday.

PAUL LEHMAN RETIRING

Cornell Cooperative Extension Educator Paul Lehman
is retiring after 38 years of service to the residents of
Niagara County. The 63 year old says he will be using
up some vacation so his last day will be May 13 and for
all practical purposes he will not be going in except to
clean out his office. Lehman grew up on a dairy farm
south of Watertown and spent three years teaching
school in Nigeria before coming to Niagara County. He
was hired as a 4-H staff assistant in 1972. He served in
that capacity until 1979 when he became Agriculture
Program Leader. He applied for and received grants
enabling him to complete projects in recycling education,
farmland protection planning, Ag worker education, and
farm market development. He won the Distinguished
Service Award in 2001 from the National Association of
County Agents and served as the President of the
Extension fraternity, Episoln Sigma Phi in 2005 & 2006.
He says he's leaving all of his options open as he begins
retirement. He may contract back with Cooperative
Extension to do some things until they fill his position.
He will also work part time for awhile with the Census.

POLISH LEADERS KILLED IN PLANE CRASH

County lawmakers Paul Wojtasek and Danny Sklarski
say they were deeply saddened by the plane crash that
claimed the lives of Poland's president and other top
leaders of that country over the weekend. They called
President Lech Kaczynski a "champion of freedom"
and an opponent of Communism. State Senator George
Maziarz issued a statement as well, saying it was ironic
it happened as they were travelling to Russia to
commerate the 70th anniversary of the slaughter of
Poles in the former Soviet Union. Maziarz said
Western New York and Poland are connected through
many bonds of family and friendship.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Catholic Charities announced Friday they have
now collected $8,804,241 in cash or pledges. That
is 83.8 per cent of this year's goal of $10.5-million.
The Appeal continues through June 30. They need
$1,695,758 more. They raised an additional
$700,000 in the last two weeks.

HIGHEST NUMBER OF CHILD ABUSE CASES

The County's Social Services Commissioner told
lawmakers last Tuesday child abuse cases reached
record levels in the County in March. Anthony
Restaino said they took 358 reports, the previous
high of 311 was set last May. Restaino said the
increase could be blamed on the bad economy and
problem drinking. The Social Services Director,
Burt Marshall, also says another reason is a new
State law that requires schools to report suspected
abuse. There were about 2,800 reports in 2007,
over 2,900 in 2008, and 3,159 last year. The increase
caused the County to add six new caseworkers,
a supervisor, and a clerk last Fall. A $203,000
state grant paid for their salaries ane benefits
but it ran out at the start of April and the County
is now responsible for 25% of the increased cost.
Marshall said Niagara Falls generally supplies
the most reports of abuse.

MOM CALLS POLICE

A Lockport mom called police Friday and said she
thought her 21 year old son was growing marijuana
in his bedroom closet. With her permission, police
searched his room in their apartment at 144 Pine
and allegedly found a large water tank with tubes
coming out of it. A wooden board with several small
cups of fertilized dirt was on top. Police found a seed
in the dirst but said they could ot charge him for
growing it because it had not yet sprouted. They say
they did find marijuana, pipes, and a bong in a
cabinet and a suspected roach in an ashtray. Derrick
Gunning was charged Saturday with possession of
the drug.

INTOXICATED TEENS

Two Lockport teens were treated at the local hospital
Sunday after police found them intoxicated around
6:30am on Willow Street. Seventeen year old Allen Lee
of 23 Oliver told police he, another boy, and several
others had been drinking and smoking pot on the
bleachers at Emmet Belknap. Police said Lee was next to
a teen who was unconscious on the ground. They
allegedly found a bag of marijuana and a silver and
red smoking pipe on Lee. He was charged with
unlawfully dealing with a child, possession of
marijuana, and alcohol under 21.

TARGET SHOPLIFTER

Falls police were called to the Target store on the
Boulevard around 1:30 pm yesterday after a 37
year old woman allegedly tried to leave without
paying for $356 worth of merchandise. Security
said Rebecca Carper of Niagara Falls Boulevard
had stuffed 15 DVD's into a bag, she was charged
with petit larceny.

FALLS D-W-I

A 23 year old Falls man is facing two counts of DWI.
Police say a car driven by Shawn Bernoski of 71st
Street struck another car and sheared off a utility
pole around 2:30am Sunday at the corner of 22nd
& Cudabeck. Bernoski was also charged with
leaving the scene of an accident and failing to keep
right.