WLVL News

TASER USED

2010-07-30T10:40:00.010-04:00

Lockport police used a taser around 5:30 Tuesday
morning to subdue a 19 year old man wanted on a
felony warrant. Darius Adair of 111 Cottage allegedly
tried to close the door after officers showed up to
arrest him. That's when they deployed the taser.
Adair was charged with resisting arrest, bail jumping
three, and criminal impersonation.

TASER USED

2010-07-30T10:40:00.004-04:00

NEW VISITORS CENTER

2010-07-30T10:40:00.003-04:00

The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation
celebrated the official grand opening Friday morning
of it's new $2.4-million Visitor Center. President and
CEO John Percy said it's in a prominent location on the
new roundabout on Daly Boulevard and First Street.
It's the first new building constructed in the downtown
Niagara Falls corridor since 2006. It'll be staffed by
five full time employees and be open year round. The
hours will be from 9 to 7 between May and September
and from 9 till 5 the rest of the year. Visitors will find
displays highlighting the four distinct regions of the
county, the Falls, the river, the lake, and the canal regions
as well as exhbits centered around the themes of arts
and culture, history and heritage, fishing and outdoors,
agri-tourism and the Seaway Trail. Flat screen TV's will
show visuals of the county and newly developed brochure
racks will provide information and maps. Lockport
Mayor Mike Tucker, local State representatives, and others
were on hand for the festivities.

ASSEMBLY MEMBERS SOUND OFF

2010-07-30T10:33:00.002-04:00

Members of the State Assembly are sounding off
after this week's special session. Jane Corwin
said the governor told them they were supposed
to be working on ten different issues, but there
were no bills on their desk to work on. She said
she had not seen any legislation whatsoever on
any of the issues. She said the rank and file members
were certainly not at fault and it's either the governor
or Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver...who knew
there were no bills on the desk. She wants to know
why they're being called back to do nothing. Steve
Hawley said they met for about 12 seconds Wednesday
night and for about 15 seconds yesterday. He said it
was an absolute disgrace and he was ashamed to be
a part of the proceedings. Both noted that it cost
$100,000 a day for them to be in Albany. Minority
Leader Brian Kolb suggested the governor should
reimburse taxpayers for the waste of money.

NEW VOTING MACHINES

2010-07-30T10:29:00.002-04:00

The new voting machines will be used throughout
the county this year and the Board of Elections is
planning to display them and give demonstrations
on their use during the month of August. You can
take a look at them from 10 till 2 and from 4 till 7
at various locations. Officials will be at the Newfane
Town Hall Monday, Lockport Town Hall Tuesday,
and Hartland Town Hall Wednesday. Thursday's
demonstrations will be at the Dale Association.
They'll resume the following Monday, Aug 9, at the
Lewiston Senior Center. You can find the complete
list at their website,www.Elections.Niagara.NY.US.

WEST NILE VIRUS

2010-07-30T09:59:00.001-04:00

A pool of mosquitoes in Erie County has tested positive
for the West Nile virus and the County Health Department
is reminding all Niagara county residents to take extra
measures to protect themselves. Deputy Director Victoria
Pearson said no mosquitoes have tested positive here but
we should take precautions and try to get rid of areas of
standing water. Most of the cases in the northeast take
place during August and September.

OLD HOME WEEK

2010-07-30T09:53:00.002-04:00

Lockport's Old Home Week wraps up tonight with
closing ceremonies at 5:30 at Day Road Park.
Chairman Jay Krull says it'll start at 5:30 with a
dance studio performance, and magician Tony
Weiland will take to the stage at 6:30. Awards
will be handed out at 7:30 for the decorating
contest and the parade entrants. There'll be
music by Funk The System at 8:30 leading up to
a closing fireworks display at 10:30. He says
parking won't be a problem. Krull says overall.
he's satisfed with how the week turned out. He
said a lot of it was an experiment and the various
open houses were well attended. WLVL has an
open house today from noon till 5, and just up the
street, Candlelight Cabinetry will also offer tours
from 1 till 5.

FIRST EVER SENIORS DAY

2010-07-30T09:47:00.002-04:00

The County Office of the Aging will hold it's first
ever "seniors day" at this year's county fair. Nutrition
co-ordinator Glenda Reardon says it'll be held on
Friday, Aug 6 from 10 till 2 and will include a health
fair. There'll be a tai chi demonstration and a lot
of information and assistance from their office staff.
A spokesperson will be there from the New York
Connects program and a free bingo will be held with
prizes. A meal will be offered at noon for a suggested
contribution of $3. It'll be a breaded chicken drumstick
meal which is one of the favorites at their nutrition sites.
Reservations must be made by next Tuesday, August 3.
Call 438-4030. The event is for those 60 years of age
and older.

HOME MADE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE

2010-07-30T09:43:00.002-04:00

A 23 year old Newfane woman was awakened around
1am today by a loud bang and discovered that someone
had set off a home made explosive device next to her
2004 Pontiac Grand Am. The Hatter Road resident
found a two liter soda bottle in several pieces and a
sheriff's deputy said he could smell the odor of toilet
bowl cleaner and he found a burned piece of aluminum
foil near her car. The explosin caused heavy scrathes
to the vehicle and a large amount of chemicals were
sprayed on it.

PALADINO

2010-07-30T09:36:00.002-04:00

The Paladino campaign clarified remarks yesterday
made by the gubernatorial hopeful Wednesday during
a New York City TV interview. He had indicated he
would not actively campaign for governor on his
Taxpayers party line if he lost the Republican primary
to Rick Lazio. Campaign manager Mike Caputo said
Paladino would continue to work for other candidates
who are now circulating petitions to be on the ballot
on the Taxpayers line. Campaign advisor Rus Thompson
said Paladino had made it clear for months he would
not actively run on the line, but Thompson said he was
so sure Carl would win the GOP primary , he was not
going to think about it. Also yesterday, Lazio replaced
his campaign manager as new polls showed Paladino
was making gains. The former executive director of the
State GOP and their current director of strategic planning,
Matt Walter, takes over from Kevin Fullington. The
Lazio campaign is concerned about a poll released
Wednesday and Walter also has the task of getting more
contributions. They only had $668,000 on hand as of
July 15.

MAN ACCUSED OF BEATING DOG

2010-07-30T09:33:00.001-04:00

A 48 year old Falls man was charged with
cruelty to animals around 1:30am yesterday
after he allegedly beat his dog with a wooden
table leg. Chester Harris of Townsend Place
told police he was tired of cleaning up after his
pit bull terrior mix and heaving him tear things
up. He was turned in by a neighbor who said
Harris had yelled obscenties at her. She said
he then went up to his balcony and started
beating the animal. Officers took the table leg
as evidence and turned the dog over to the SPCA.

FALLS MAN CHARGED WITH STEALING COPPER FROM CHURCH

2010-07-30T09:30:00.002-04:00

An alert neighbor helped Falls police catch a
man just after midnight Thursday as he was
reportedly ripping copper gutters from a
Catholic church on Buffalo Avenue. Twenty-
seven year old Franklin Mease of Pierce
Avenue was charged with criminal mischief and
petit larceny a short distance from St. John dela
Salle Church. He was caught after a brief chase
between nearby apartment complexes.

FOUR TEENS ARRESTED AFTER ENTERING OLD FACTORY

2010-07-30T09:25:00.002-04:00

Four 17 year old's were charged with tresspassing
last night after they allegedly entered the old
Flintkote plant at 300 Mill Street. They are
Chelsie Goodrich of 6035 South Transit, Kelsey
Russell of 4285 Plank Road, Bryan Bowers of
239 Niagara Street, and Russell Moyer of 5491
Niagara Street Extension. Police found them on the
second floor of the rear building. They were given
appearance tickets and released to their parents or
guardians.

NO EXPLANATIONS

2010-07-29T10:11:00.002-04:00

County DA Michael Violante said Wednesday he would
not be offering any explanation on his decision to o-k
a controversial plea deal given to the daughter of a
North Tonawanda councilwoman after she was charged
with DWI. In a statement, Violante said "I will not make it
a practice to explain or justify my decisions to the press in
regard to plea bargain offers made by this office." County
Legilsature Minority Leader Dennis Virtuoso called the
statement very unfortunate and says Violante owes the
people of Niagara County an explanation in the case
involving 23 year old Sara Donavon. He said he would
ask the State Attorney General's office to look into the case,
that it didn't pass the "smell test." Donavon was charged with
DWI July 11 after she hit two parked cars on Payne Avenue.
She ended up with a speeding ticket and a parking ticket
and a small fine and was ordered to attend a DWI victim
impact panel.

ALBANY

2010-07-29T09:58:00.003-04:00

The governor was cleared of any wrongdoing
yesterday over his alleged involvment in a
domestic violence incident involving an aide.
Paterson visited with WOR Radio's John Gambling
this morning and Gambling noted it was those
charges that caused Paterson to drop out of
the governor's race. Paterson said he was very
happy to see that the candidates who are running
now are pretty much doing what he had been doing
all along and it validates that he would have been a
strong contendor in the race. He said it was four
months ago, and you make a decision then and there's
no sense vacillating or thinking about what went on
before. Paterson said his new goal is to leave the state
in the best possible financial picture it can have and
it'll give new meaning to his last year of service. He
said many consider him a lame duck but he said this
duck is quacking and swimming. The four month
probe by Independent Counsel Judith Kaye said
Paterson made errors in judgment but there was no
evidence he broke the law by reaching out to the
victim. Paterson also said he was losing patience with
the Legislature after they met for five minutes Wednesday
night and did nothing. He said he would see what they
did today and the next time he calls a special session next
week it will be for every day until a budget is passed. He
said he was willing to go to court again to force them to
do their jobs.

OLD HOME WEEK

2010-07-29T09:49:00.002-04:00

A Krolick's chicken barbecue will be offered at the
Lockport Presbyterian Home today as the City
continues it's celebration of Old Home Week.
Chairman Jay Krull says it'll begin at 3:30 and
continue till it's sold out. The dinner will be
followed by a concert by the Lockport Community
Band at 6. Many of the day's other events are in
Lowertown. Joe Whalen will do a booksigning
and presentation from 2 till 4 at the Market Street
Art Center. A concert by North Coast will run from
4 till 7 at Widewaters and there'll be a pie eating
contest between local elected officials at intermission
featuring food from Hall's Apple Farm. The buskers
will also be along the Canal from 5 till 7 and the
Step Back In Time players will present a show on
the history of Lockport at 7pm at the Palace. The
show is free and you might be able to get a ticket at
the Library, the Palace, the Discovery Center or Mills
Jewelers. It's also the final day for the carnival
behind City Hall. WLVL will be offering tours again
today of our Michigan Street studios from noon till 5.

SANTA CLAUS

2010-07-29T09:39:00.002-04:00

A $10,000 Santa Claus house is coming to a Lockport
park. The Common Council last night gave the
executive director of the Palace Theatre informal
permission to install the 16 by 16 foot house next to
an old cannon In Altro Park. Chris Parada told the
Council there's little to do in Lockport around the
holidays and you have to go to the Mall outside the
city if you want your kids to see Santa. The one story
house is already being built by BOCES students and is
nearly finished. Parada said he would play Santa
three days a week during the Christmas season and he
would not charge admission or accept donations. He was
worried any money in the house might invite a burglary
and he didn't want the public to think he was using city
property to make a profit. Parada said a special sleigh
will be installed inside where children can sit with Santa
rather than on a chair. There'll be lots of items on
display including pictures, postcards, and buttons
made in the 1940's & '50's. The structure will be named
in honor of the Albion man who ran a Santa training
school for many years. It'll be called the Charles W Howard
Santa Claus House. In other business, Corporation
Counsel John Ottaviano said FEMA wanted to know why
the City was taking the second lowest bid for a new fire
truck. The agency gave the city a $247,000 grant toward
it's purchase.

AUGUST 24

2010-07-29T09:35:00.002-04:00

Town of Lockport Justice Raymond Schilling said
yesterday he will announce his decision August 24
in the case against auto repair shop owner Dave
Mongielo. He is charged with six counts of
violating the Town's sign ordinance and could be
fined $350 for each one. Town Building Inspector
Brian Belson was a witness yesterday and Town
Prosecutor Brad Marble showed pictures depicting
the alleged violations. Mongeilo's attorney maintained
there was no way of knowing when the photo's were
taken.

PALADINO

2010-07-29T09:29:00.002-04:00

Carl Paladino said Wednesday he will not continue his
run for governor on a third party line if he loses the
Republican primary to Rick Lazio. He made the statement
during a New York One t-v interview. Paladino said if
they did not win the primary, we're going to be gone at that
point. He said he did not want to be a spoiler to someone
running against Andrew Cuomo, who he described as "the
poster child for everything that the people don't want in
government anymore." A Quinnipac University poll released
yesterday found Lazio leads Paladino 39-23 per cent with
33 per cent undecided. State Democratic committee
chairwoman June O'Neill called it "an early surrender,"
and said Paladino realizes the people of this state would
never elect a racist and a sexist as governor.

DRUG CHARGES

2010-07-29T09:24:00.002-04:00

Lockport police said they found a scale that allegedly
contained cocaine residue in plain view in a children's
room last night as they executed a search warrant in an
apartment at 152 Caledonia. Thirty year old Christine
Olivate was charged with two counts of unlawfully
dealing with a child and seventh degree possession of a
controlled substance. Police said a knife that also
contained cocaine residue was found next to the scale
and other controlled substances and a large amount of
cash were also recovered. The bust happened around
9pm and police said a large group of people were in the
apartment.

CROSS

2010-07-29T09:22:00.003-04:00

A 21 year old Lockport man was charged with disorderly
conduct and resisting arrest just before midnight last
night on Pine Street. Police said they told Anthony Cross
of 116 Bacon to move on after he began yelling obscenties
on Main Street...and he did....but he resumed his tirade
on Pine. Officers said it caused a crowd to gather. They
added that Cross was highly intoxicated.

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

2010-07-29T09:19:00.002-04:00

The Sheriff's department is investigating an attempted
burglary, and another that was successful at two homes
on Chestnut Ridge Road in the Town of Lockport. A man
in the 7100 block said a Stihl chainsaw and a Milwaukee
drill and screwdriver set were taken from his garage between
10pm Tuesday and Wednesday morning. The two items worth
$1,200. A man next door said his garage was also entered
but nothing was taken.

WINDMILLS

2010-07-28T09:57:00.003-04:00

County lawmakers decided last night to appoint a
special commitee to study NYPA's plan to put
windmills two miles off the shore of Lake Ontario
and to decide whether they should take back their
previous support of the project. Legislatuure Vice
Chair Clyde Burmaster was one of three lakeshore
representatives who sponsored a resolution
opposing the idea. He said rather than have it
be voted down, it was decided to form ad hoc
committee to attempt to get answers to questions
about the number of jobs that would be created,
the environmental impact on fish, birds and wildlife,
and what would be the reduction in electricity costs
when all is said and done. Lawmakers got an earful
last night as a host of speakers from the Youngstown
area spoke out against it during the public comment
period. Burmaster says he's gotten a lot of calls and
only one was in favor. All of the other calls from
organizations and people has been negative. He said
they came from homeowners, businesses, yacht clubs
and Old Fort Niagara have been in opposition. The
stretch from Youngstown to Wilson has been identified
as an area where they would be placed. Five companies
submitted bids last month but the Power Authority
has refused to say which areas on Lakes Erie and Ontario
they are interested in. Burmaster said the windmills would
be 400 feet above the lake level and there could be as many
as 150. He says they will talk about the make-up of the
committee today. It will include Burmaster and co-sponsors
John Syracuse and Dave Godfrey and members from outside
the legilsature. He expected it would have seven to ten members.

MORE LEGISLATURE

2010-07-28T09:46:00.002-04:00

The Legislature also passed a resolution calling on
the Power Authority to reserve any increase in
production at the Niagara Power Project for the
County's use. It was sponsored by Lewiston lawmaker
John Ceretto. He says the $460-million ten year
upgrade announced June 29 will have a negative
impact on the environment and he wants the
increase to be turned over to the county's Empower
Niagara program. A public hearing was set for
August 24 on a local law that would have the county
treasurer turn over all commissions for handling
estates without wills to the county. In return, the
treasurer would be paid an extra $25,000 a year for
estate work but it would not count toward his state
pension credit. Minority Leader Dennis Virtuoso also
called for an investigation into the plea deal granted to
the daughter of North Tonawanda councilwoman Nancy
Donavon after she was arrested for DWI. Virtuoso called
it a black eye on Niagara County.

THREE MEN INJURED IN BOAT FIRE

2010-07-28T09:41:00.002-04:00

Three men were hurt Tuesday in Wrights Corners
when the engine of a 16 foot boat they were working
on in a yard exploded. Eighteen year old Jonathon
Ludwig of Lockport is in fair condition at ECMC after
suffering second degree burns to his arms. Twenty-
three year old Adam Kumm of North Tonawanda is
also in fair condition at the same hospital He was
treated for second degree burns to his face and arms.
Twenty-seven year old Joseph Woodring..also from
NT...was treated for similiar burns to his arms and
was released last night. The accident happened just
after 4:30pm at 5659 Ridge Road. The Sheriff's
department said the three men were working on the
16 foot fiberglass boat on the front lawn when the
gasoline ignited and caused a fireball. The Wrights
Corners Fire Department said the boat was destroyed.
Most of the interior was charred and engine parts were
strewn on the lawn beside it's remains.

OLD HOME WEEK

2010-07-28T09:30:00.002-04:00

Open houses are one of the main attractions today as
Lockport Old Home Week continues. Chairman Jay
Krull says one of them will be at the Odd Fellow and
Rebeccah Health Care Facility from 11 till 3. They'll be
selling hot dogs and beverages for just a quarter. The
First Presybertian Church has a program for children
on Christmas In July from 1 till 3. The Lockport United
Church of Christ has tours, refreshments and kids games
from 1 till 4, and Grace Episcopal Church and the Arnold
House will be open from 1 till 4 as well. All Saints Parish,
the former St. Patricks, has tours from noon till 3. You
can take a look at the operations of WLVL as tours will be
offered from noon till 5. LCTV has an open house from
2 till 10pm and you can watch the taping of a show at 8pm.
Niagara Produce will have contests for kids from 3 till 5
and there'll be free hotdogs for youngsters from 5 till 7.
The Palace Theatre has tours from 5 till 9 and there'll be
a concert by The McClure Artist Guild at 7 at the Lockport
Library. The Town of Lockport says Matt James will play
cool music for kids at 8pm at Town Hall. It'll be followed
by the showing of the movie, Annie, outdoors at dusk.

PLEA DEAL

2010-07-28T09:24:00.002-04:00

The President of Niagara Active Hose accepted a
plea deal yesterday in Wheatfield Town Court in
connection with his June 6 DWI arrest. Thirty
year old Robert Jasper Jr plead guilty to a reduced
charge of driving while his ability was impaired. He
was fined $300 and his license was suspended for
90 days. Jasper was also ordered to attend a victim
impact panel and drinking and driving education
classes. He says he hopes to keep his post as
president. Jasper was removed from active duty as
a volunteer firefighter after the fire company SUV he
was operating struck a car driven by a North Tonawanda
woman at Sy Road and Niagara Falls Boulevard. Niagara
Active Hose attorney Damon DeCastro said the board
could meet next week to decide if Jasper will remain as
president.

RACE TO THE TOP

2010-07-28T09:21:00.002-04:00

The State could get $500-million in federal education
aid in the second round of the Race To The Top program.
New York was one of 19 finalists announced yesterday.
In a statement, the governor commended the legislature
for approving his proposal to lift the cap on charter
schools, to link teacher evaluations to student performance,
and to provide resources to start a data system to track
individual student performance. Paterson said they were
all areas identified by the Education Department as
weaknesses in the state's first application.

DOWNSIZING ALBANY

2010-07-28T09:17:00.002-04:00

Erie County attorney Kevin Gaughan wants to
downsize the State Legislature. He's started a
campaign to get a measure on the November
ballot that would reduce the number of seats in
the Senate from 62 to 50...and the Assembly
from 150 to 125 members. He says it would save
taxpayers $37-million a year. Gaughan has sent
questionaires to all potential candidates asking
them if they are for or against the idea. He says
he will post their responses on his website,
"Let The People Decide . org."

ONE NIAGARA

2010-07-28T09:14:00.003-04:00

Frank Parloto Jr is no longer one of the owners of
the former Occidental Chemical office building in
the Falls. One Niagara, as it's now called, is now
owned by a group of local investors. The sale price
was not disclosed. Paul Grenga, who represented
Parloto and his Whitestar Development Corp, is
now the leader of the new investment group. Tony
Farina is still the President. Another member of the
team is former Lewiston mayor Richard Soluri.

LOCKPORT POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH DWI

2010-07-27T10:40:00.002-04:00

A 34 year old Lockport police officer is on paid
administrative leave after he was charged last Thursday
with DWI following a minor crash. Toby Trowbridge
plead not guilty in city court Monday and surrendered
his drivers license for six months as a result of his
refusal to submit to a breath test. He was also charged
with tailgating. Trowbridge was pulled over at about
10pm last Thursday by Lt. Steve Abbot after his 2009
Chevy truck allegedly rear ended a '97 Ford Mustang
at South Transit and Gaffney Road. The car was operated
by 19 year old Victor Golanka of Washington Street. Both
he and Trowbridge were treated at ENH-Lockport for
minor injuries. Police Chief Larry Eggert called it a
disappointment, that they train their people to be
upstanding citizens and obviously, in this case, a major
mistake was made and it's upsetting to him and whole
department. He said the decision to place Trowbridge
on paid leave will probably be re-evaluated at the next meeting
of the Police Board He said they had to be put Trowbridge
on paid leave because it's just an accusation at this point
and he hasn't been found guilty of anything. He said they
would wait till a legal determination is made on guilt or
innocence. Mayor Mike Tucker said they were not going to
treat this any differently than any other case.

PALADINO

2010-07-27T10:37:00.003-04:00

About 200 people were at the Wheatfield Community
Center last night as Carl Paladino spoke at a meeting
of the Niagara County Patriots. Paladino told the
crowd he's seen similiar looks on the faces of hard
working taxpayers around the State who no longer
know where to turn for answers to their concerns
about the state of their state and federal governments.
He talked about the exodus from Western New York
because of the lack of jobs and the effect it has on
families. Paladino said a vote for his is a vote for an
open government of the people and against tax and spend
politics as usual.

NIAGARA FALLS CITY COUNCIL

2010-07-27T10:14:00.003-04:00

The Niagara Falls City Council o-k'd a package of
resolutions Monday involving the long awaited
conversion of the Whirlpool Street Customs House
into a modern train station. Resetarits Construction
of Buffalo was named the General Contractor at a bid
of $1.8-million. The JR Swanson Company of the
Falls won the competition to be both the plumbing
and mehanical contractor...and Industrial Power and
Lighting of Buffalo was named the electrical
contractor. City Planner Tom DeSantis presented the
council with an update and said if the funding requests
are all approved the station should be up and running
by 2013. The Council o-k'd a resolution permitting the
rates to vary between $5 & $10 a day at city owned parking
lots and ramps to better respond to the competition of
private operators. They approved a resolution for roof
replacement at the Royal Avenue Fire Hall, the 10th Street
Firehall and the John Duke Senior Center. It went to
Joseph Sanders and Sons of Buffalo for a low bid of
$292,000. They also approved a plan to spend more than
$40,000 of stimulus money on trees. Grant writer Sherry
Shepard-Corulli said it was part of $150,000 they got
from the Energy Department and the trees must be
planted in front of a building so they will provide shade
when they mature.

OLD HOME WEEK

2010-07-27T09:54:00.002-04:00

Lockport's Old Home Week celebrations continues
today with a focus on Lowertown. Chairman Jay
Krull says author Cynthia Storrs Cotten will have
a question and answer session and book-signing at
2pm at the Market Street Art Center. Juggler and
comedian Nels Ross Cremean will perform at
Widewaters at 4pm...and he'll be joined by a collection
of buskers...magicians, singers, and others all
along the canal till 7. A concert with Dave Stockton and
Pocket Change starts at 7 in the City Hall Parking Lot
and the winners of a beard growing contest will be
chosen during the show. There'll be prizes for the
longest moustache, bushiest beard, and best of show.
The winners will be chosen by audience applause.
Entries will be taken right up to the competiiton. The
Lockport Presbyterian Home has an open house and
ice cream social from 2 till 5 at 305 High Street. Lockport
Locks and Erie Canal Cruises will be offering a discount
cruise at 7pm at 210 Market. The carnival also continues
in the lot behind City Hall from noon till 9 pm.

DOMINK DEFLIPPO ARRESTED

2010-07-27T09:52:00.003-04:00

Lockport police Monday arrested the owner of DeFlippo's
during an investigation into the recent theft of money from
his home. Forty-one year old Dominick DeFlippo was
charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and
obstructing governmental administration. The report said
he was arrested as he became belligerent and began yelling
profanities.

SHERIFF'S BLOTTER

2010-07-27T09:28:00.003-04:00

The Sheriff's department is investigating the theft of
a $1,400 Evinrude boat motor from an unlocked barn
on Lincoln Avenue in the Town of Lockport. The
victim said a church picnic was held Sunday in the lot
near his home and the people using a dfriveway would
have been able to see the itmes in his barn. Elsewhere,
a 1990 jet ski that was for sale on the front lawn of a
home on Lockport Road was stolen between 2:30 and
4am Monday. A Newfane woman reported someone
had used her identity to buy over $567 worth of
merchandise from an Office Max store in Illinois. Her
bank said they would cancel the charge after receiving
a copy of the police report.

OLD HOME WEEK

2010-07-26T09:47:00.003-04:00

Former astronaut Bill Gregory was the main attraction
at two events Sunday celebrating Old Home Week in the
City and Town of Lockport. He spoke at a Welcome
Home breakfast at the Holiday Inn where he said, unlike
a supermodel whose known to be from Lockport, he
doesn't list Buffalo as his hometown, he's proud to be
from Lockport. He shared details about space flight
as he showed a video. The American Legion Band played
in the afternoon as he appeared at the Old Home Week
community picnic at Town of Lockport Hall. Supervisor
Marc Smith calling it "an awesome day." He said it's
an opportunity for all of us to see each other more than a
couple of times a year and to talk to our neighbors for more
than 30 seconds. Old Home Week Chair Jay Krull says
several open houses are on the schedule for today. There'll
be one at Niagara Landing at 4434 VanDusen Road from
noon-6pm. The Town of Lockport Historical Society has
another during those same hours at the schoolhouse on
Lower Mountain and Leete Roads. Dave Stockton will
provide live music at the Niagara Landing event and it's
hoped planes from the Smith Airfield will be there as well.
The Dale Association has an open hour, dinner and Wii
tournament from 4 till 7 at 9 Ontario Street. The meal includes
hot dogs, lemonade, and strawberry shortcake. The Wii
tournamet starts at 5 with registration at 4. The doors to the
Masonic Temple will be open from 4-8pm and the Lockport
Cruise will also celebrate the Old Home Week at Ida Fritz
Park. The movie "Casablanca" will be shown at 7:30 tonight
at the Palace, admission is $5. A childrens carnival also
opens at noon today on the lot behind City Hall. It'll
run through Thursday from noon till 9 each day. About
9 rides are there primarily aimed at children.

TORNADOES

2010-07-26T09:38:00.002-04:00

Three tornadoes hit the Southern Tier Saturday
afternoon. The National Weather Service says
survey teams were sent to the region Saturday and
Sunday and they determined one touched down
in Chauatuqua County and two in Cattaraugus
County. Winds were clocked at 125 miles an hour
as the first twister went through the community of
Mayville just before 5pm. The weather service says
the first tornadic siganture showed up on radar
over Lake Erie and residents were given 30 to 40
minutes warning. Two others struck in Cattaragus
County between 5 & 6pm. A twister that was said to
be seven miles long and a half mile wide lasted for
about ten minutes at speeds of between 100 and 125
miles an hour. It struck the Town of Randolph and
uprooted about 250 trees. Roofs were torn from
multiple homes and businesses. A third tornado
travelling at speeds of 90 to 95 miles an hour struck
the Towns of Carrollton and Alleghany beginning at
5:49pm. Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards
said 20 homes in the County received anywhere from
moderate to significant damage.

PALADINO TO APPEAR IN COUNTY TONIGHT

2010-07-26T09:35:00.001-04:00

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Carl Paladino
will be at tonight's meeting of the Niagara County
Patriots. His campaign calls it a "meet and greet"
but Patriots co-founder LouAnn Gosch says it's
usually pretty difficult to keep him from speaking.
The meeting runs from 7-9pm at the Wheatfield
Community Center.

THE DONAVON AFFAIR

2010-07-26T09:25:00.002-04:00

Former County Republican Chairman Henry Wojtaszek
is in the news again. He's the attorney for the daughter of
North Tonawanda councilmember Nancy Donavon and he
convinced County D-A Michael Violante to reduce DWI
charges against her last week. Twenty-three year old Sara
Donavon was arrested on Sunday, July 11 after she struck
two parked cars on Payne Avenue as she was on the way home
from a Webster Street bar. Her blood alcohol content was
.13 per cent but she was permitted to take a plea deal last
Thursday. She was given a speeding ticket for going 44
in a 30 mph zone and a parking ticket. She paid $280 in
fines and was ordered to attend a DWI victim impact panel.
Wojtaszek told the Gazette he did not believe his past political
connections played a role in his ability to successfully negotiate
a deal. He said Sara Donavon called him, not her mother. He
said he asked for the reduction based on circumstances in the
case.

ULRICH

2010-07-26T09:21:00.003-04:00

Lockport developer David Ulrich may take the city
to court over the assessments on several of his
commercial properties. His attempt to have them
lowered for the City Centre were rejected by the
Board of Assessment Review on Grievance Day. The
deadline to file assessment lawsuits is Friday. The
City Centre is covered by a payment in lieu of taxes
deal granted by the County IDA, but the amount
Ulrich pays is pegged to a percentage of the assessed
value. The payments he makes are slated to double
starting with the 2011-2012 school tax. He pays
15 per cent now. Ulrich also filed unsuccessful
grievances in May over assessments for other properties
he owns.

CAR BURGLARY

2010-07-26T09:19:00.001-04:00

A 43 year old Lewiston man had over $1,600 worth
of electronics stolen from his car around 1pm Saturday
as he was jogging on the NCCC campus. The victim said
he saw another man nearby as he started his run around
the main building. A $900 Dell laptop, a $350 pair of
BOSE headphones, and an $80 digital recorder were
among the items taken.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY

2010-07-26T09:16:00.002-04:00

A would be thief apparently gave up around 2:30
Sunday morning after cutting the electrical lines
at Reeds Jewelers on Military Road in the Town of
Niagara. A patrolling sheriff's deputy heard alarms
going off and noticed the power to the building was
off. He found the electric meter box on an exterior
wall had been tampered with. The meter had been
partially pulled out creating a power disconnect. The
alarm was running on a battery. The building was
not entered and nothing was taken.

NYSEG INSPECTING LINES

2010-07-26T09:14:00.002-04:00

NYSEG will be inspecting their high voltage lines
with low flying helicopters this week in the Lockport
area. A spokesman says they are the backbone of the
system and their goal is to spot potential problems and
correct them before they inconvience their customers.
The company is also conducting similiar inspections
in Lancaster.

FALLS WOMAN KILLED IN FIRE

2010-07-23T10:42:00.002-04:00

A 64 year old Falls woman died this morning as a
result of injuries she suffered during an overnight
fire at 2114 22nd Street. Susan Hurtt was removed
unconscious from a second floor bedroom by
firefighters and taken to the Medical Center where
she passed away. The fire was reported around 10pm.
It did an estimated $25,000 damage to the building and
$6,000 to it's contents. Firefighters cleared the scene
just before 3am. We're told it was caused by the
improper disposal of smoking materials and the
smoke detectors on the second floor were not working.
A second blaze was reported at 5:30am at 2017 22nd.
It was also in a 2 story home and the damage has been
estimated at $35,000 to the building and $10,000 to
it's contents. All the residents got out safely. The cause
has not yet been determined.

STOLEN VEHICLES

2010-07-23T09:56:00.003-04:00

Three vehicles that were reported stolen were found
around 8pm last night in a wooded area east of Chew
Road on the Tuscorora Indian Reservation. One of
them was a $35,000 GMC Envoy owned by a Falls
woman who said it had been taken from Fantasy Island.
The Sheriff's department was led to it's location by
OnStar. Deputies said it had been stripped of it's
passenger sliding door, front grill, and tires and there
was damage done to the inside. A 2001 Chevy Silverado
was also found that had been reported stolen out of
Amherst. It was stripped of it's tires and passenger
door and the steering column was damaged. The third
was a 2005 Chevy Silverado that had been stolen from
McCartney Electrical on Linden Avenue in Buffalo. It
was stripped of it's tail gate and the steering column was
also damaged.

FIRST NIAGARA

2010-07-23T09:53:00.002-04:00

First Niagara Financial Group reported record
operating earnings yesterday for the sec0nd quarter...
$44.9-million or 22-cents a share. That's up 76% from
$25.5-million or 18-cents a share a year ago. Officials
attribute the increase to it's two Pennsylvania
acquisitions, strong commercial loan and core
deposit growth, and their stable credit quality.

DOMIN CAUGHT

2010-07-23T09:45:00.003-04:00

The 37 year old man who allegedly stole a Dodge
Charger Wednesday and led police on a high speed
chase down the Boulevard was caught yesterday
morning after a citizen in North Tonawanda saw
him walking on Ruie Road and called police. John
Domin was arrested a short time later at a nearby Red
Apple convenience store. He's facing multiple charges
including grand larceny, unauthorized use of a
motor vehicle, reckless endangerment, fleeing a police
officer in a vehicle, and two counts of child endangerment.
The last leveled because Domin's girlfriend and her
two children..one 1 1/2 and the other 2 1/2 years of age
were in the Charger for most of the chase. He's also
facing a variety of vehicle and traffic charges. Domin
said he spent Wednesday night in the woods after
avoiding capture. He was arraigned in Wheatfield
Town Court and ordered held without bail until his
next court appearance Tuesday.

OLD HOME WEEK

2010-07-23T09:36:00.003-04:00

Lockport's Old Home Week kicks off tomorrow
with two parades and other activities. Chairman
Jay Krull says a kiddee parade starts at 11am at the
Erie Canal Discovery Center and the Grande Parade
is set for 1pm. It'll start at the hospital and go
down East Avenue and Main Street and end at
Ida Fritz Park. Between 110 and 120 units will be
in the March and he expects it will run 2 1/2 hours.
A family concert will be held at 4pm at the Lockport
United Church of Christ. Opening day ceremonies
and more music will begin at 5pm at City Hall. It'll
feature the Jackie Davis band and the group 21. Sunday's
events include a Welcome Back breakfast with former
astronaut Bill Gregory from 8 till 11 at the Holiday Inn.
He will also be at the Lockport Town Hall from 1 till 4.
A complete list of all that's going on can be found at
Lockport Old Home Week.com

PALACE CELEBRATES A BIRTHDAY

2010-07-23T09:34:00.002-04:00

Lockport's Palace Theatre will celebrate it's
85th birthday during the Old Home Week celebration.
Free tours will be offered every half hour from 6-9pm.
The movie Casablanca will be shown at 7:30 pm Sunday
and admission will be $5.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

2010-07-23T09:29:00.002-04:00

The Director of Patient Services for the County
Health Department reported Thursday the
number of people visiting the sexually transmitted
disease clinic has been steadily rising...but Wanda
smiley said the number of actual cases has been falling.
She said more than 1,500 men and women visited the
free clinic in the Trott Access Center last year. The
number of confirmed cases was generally down except
for chlamydia and syphilis. There were 173 confirmed
cases of chlamydia compared to 103 in 2007. Ten
cases of syphilis were confirmed. There were four in 2008
and none the year before that. Three cases of HIV were
also confirmed out of 767 tests that were adminstered.

UNEMPLOYMENT

2010-07-23T09:25:00.002-04:00

The Governor said yesterday about 190,000 New
Yorkers will benefit from the extension of
unemployment benefits signed yesterday by the
president. Paterson said state lawmakers can
help the unemployed by passing his bill that
would increase maximum benefits for the first
time in a decade and restore the state's unemployment
system to solvency. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter
said the bill signed by Obama will retroactively restore
payments to recipients who started losing their
benefits as early as the end of May. She said 12,000
people in Western New York will benefit from the
extension.

ONE NIAGARA

2010-07-23T09:20:00.002-04:00

State Supreme Court Judge Frank Caruso Thursday
ordered one of the owners of One Niagara in the Falls
to post a $500,000 bond to protect the building on
Rainbow Boulevard from tax foreclosure. Frank
Parloto Jr and his company...Whitestar Development..
were told to post the bond in light of more than
$476,000 in back property taxes owed on the building
from 2006 & 2007. The co-owners, Incredible
Investments Limited..sued Parloto and Whitestar
in June in an attempt to force them to pay the back
taxes. The $476,000 is just a portion of the $1.57-million
in property taxes owed on the structure. They could
put the property on the tax foreclosure list due out
later this year.

FLOOD PLAIN

2010-07-23T09:17:00.001-04:00

The Lockport Common Council o-k'd a federally
mandated flood control law Wednesday that
includes the revised flood plain maps drawn up
by FEMA. The only people in the city left in the
flood plain are the residents of the Common on
Davison Road. The new law imposes a $50 fee
for anyone wanting to build in a flood plain to
apply for approval by the Building Inspection
Department.

DOMIN CAUGHT

2010-07-22T12:34:00.003-04:00

Sheriff James Voutour announced today that John
Domin ...who was wanted for questioning in
connection with a stolen vehicle and high speed
chase yesterday....has been taken into custody.
An anonymous citizen contacted the North Tonawanda
police deparyment and advised them that an individual
matching Domin's description was walking on Ruie Road
near a Red Apple Store. Upon North Tonawanda patrols
arrival Domin was located and detained at the store.
Sheriff's deputies responded and Domin was taken into
custody without incident. He's currently at the Sheriff's
office and the investigation is continuing.

FIRE TRUCK

2010-07-22T09:53:00.002-04:00

Lockport lawmakers decided last night to give
Fire Chief Tom Passuite one more chance next week
to convince them they need to buy a new custom made
pumper truck. Passuite had told them a bid for truck
that cost $80,000 less should be rejected because it did
not include features he thought were important. He
wants to buy a $529,000 model that includes a foam
sprayer that he says works better than the one on the
lower priced truck. Alderman Andrew Chapman had
questioned the purchase but he told the Buffalo News
he would give Passuite a chance to show why he needs
the more expensive one. Former alderwoman Diane
Tuohey questioned Chapman during last night's public
comment section. He admitted he had never toured
the Fire Department and that he did not know Lockport
businesses have lower fire insurance premiums due to the
city's large number of hydrants and it's pumper capacity.

NYSEG

2010-07-22T09:49:00.002-04:00

NYSEG has cut the size of the rate increase they
requested last September from the State Public
Service Commission. The company now wants the
o-k to hike electric rates by 2.2 per cent next year,
1.2 per cent in 2012, and 1.5 per cent in 2013. They
also want permission to increase natural gas charges
by 13 per cent over three years. The proposal must be
approved by the five member PSC board. The company
had originally submitted a plan last year that would
have boosted a typical residential electric bill by
almost 19 per cent a month and natural gas by 17 per
cent. Public hearings have been scheduled in Rochester
and Bnghamton, but none locally.

NIAGARA FALLS SPORTS FESTIVAL

2010-07-22T09:43:00.003-04:00

Applications are out in the Falls for a Sports
Festival that'll be held on Saturday July 31 at
Sal Maglie Stadium. Associate Youth Director
Patricia Travis says the idea originated with the
City Council. They hope it will become an annual
event. It will include soccer for those between the
ages of 8 & 12 and basketball for those between 12
& 18. Registration and sign in will start at 8am and
the games will be played from 9 till 6:30. Forms can
be picked up at City Hall or at the DPW Department
on New Road and at the Weed & Seed office on
Highland Avenue. They're also available at the Boys
Club and at city parks and pools. Everyone that
participates will get a t-shirt, a free lunch, and a dog
tag medal. Everything is free, the City Council is
picking up the tab. She invites the community to come
and watch.

CANDIDATE NEEDED

2010-07-22T09:39:00.003-04:00

The democrat who was going to challenge State Senator
George Maziarz in the November election has dropped
out of the race. That's Christopher Scrock of Wilson.
The Board of Elections says he signed a letter declining
the nomination. The Democrats have till tomorrow to
find another candidate or Maziarz will run unopposed.

BAIL SET FOR WALLESHAUSER

2010-07-22T09:25:00.002-04:00

County Judge Matt Murphy agreed Wednesday to
set bail for a Town of Lockport man accused of
sexually abusing two boys after he learned the man's
father is ill and could die within days. Fifty year old
Michael Walleshauser of Parkwood Drive had been
held without bail in the County Jail since he was
arrested last Friday. He's charged with felony counts
of predatory sexual assault of a child and of committing
a first degree criminal sex act and with a misdeameanor
count of attempted sex abuse. One of the alleged victims
is under 11 and the other is between 11 & 13. Murphy set
bail at $20,000 and Walleshauser was given till Friday
to post additional security consisting of all of the equity
in his home. He will also be subject to probation and
pre-trial supervision including unannounced home visits.
He was ordered to stay away from the two boys. Walleshauser
had worked with the Scouts but the victims were not members
of his troop.

ALBANY

2010-07-22T09:22:00.002-04:00

The governor made plans yesterday to force lawmakers
to come back to Albany in the coming weeks to finish the
state budget. It's nearly four months overdue. The
democratic majorities in both houses insisted Paterson
can't do it because they never formally ended a session he
had called months ago. Paterson rescinded those previous
sessions yesterday and said it restores his constitutional
authority to call them back. He called it a "silly charade"
that they've been in extraordinary sessions for the last
185 days. The budget was due April 1.

EMPIRE STATE GAMES

2010-07-22T08:44:00.002-04:00

Opening ceremonies were held last night at UB Stadium
for the 32nd annual Empire State games. First Niagara
donated $500,000 to help bring them back after they
were suspended last year due to the state's financial crisis.
A coalition of other businesses and individuals raised
another $600,000 to support the competition and opening
ceremonies. About 6,000 athletes are taking part in 27
Olympic style events and another 20,000 are expected to
watch. The competition will be going on primarily at
UB, Erie County Community College, Niagara University,
and Canisus College. This is the fifth time the games have
been held in Buffalo. They'll be in Rochester next year.

OVERCHARGE

2010-07-22T08:39:00.002-04:00

Lockport is among five local school districts that'll
be getting some money back as part of a $20-million
settlement announced Wednesday by State Attorney
General Andrew Cuomo. Food services provider Sodexo
admitted they failed to pass along savings they realized
bu cutting sweetheart deals with suppliers. Lockport
will get about $7,500, Lew Port about $2,100, Roy
Hart a bit more than $2,400, Medina $2,000, and
North Tonawanda a little over $12,000. The settlement
covers 20 school districts, a child care association, and
SUNY. The State will get $15-million, the whistleblowers
$3.6-million, and the remainder goes to the victims. Cuomo
said the company failed to pass along the savings between
September 2004 and the end of last August.

NEWFANE

2010-07-22T08:27:00.001-04:00

In news from Newfane, a worker at the Tim Horton's
on Lockport-Olcott Road told the sheriff's department
yesterday someone had passed a counterfeit $20 bill
sometime between 6am & 2pm. Meantime, a 20 year
old Main Street man said a $520 aluminum canoe had
been stolen from the embankment behind his home. He
said it had been locked up to a tree, the chain was
missing but the lock was left behind, still locked. The
last time he used it was two to three weeks ago.

WALLESHAUSER

2010-07-21T10:22:00.002-04:00

A prosecutor said last night the case against a
50 year old Town of Lockport man will go to
a grand jury within 45 days after he plead not
guilty in Town Court to sexually abusing two
boys. Michael Walleshauser of Parkwood
Drive was charged last Friday with committing
a felony first degree sex act, predatory sexual
assault of a child, and attempted sex abuse. He
was fired Monday from his position as a Cub
Scout leader but the sheriff's department said the
victims were not associated with the scouts.
Assistant DA Robert Zucco told the Union Sun
& Journal one crime allegedly happened within
the past two weeks and the other sometime last
Summer or Fall. He said it was an ongoing
investigation. Walleshauser is currently being
held without bail but Zucco said it could be set
once the case is sent to County Court. Walleshauser
is married and has children.

TEMPORARY SUPERINTENDENT

2010-07-21T09:55:00.002-04:00

The Newfane School Board last night appointed
Christine Tibbetts to be the district's interim
superintendent when Gary Pogorzelski retires
in about two weeks. Tibbetts previously served
as interim superintendent for three months when
Pogorzelski was out for health reasons. She'll
be paid $500 a day until a permanent superintendent
is named in the Fall. Tibbetts worked in the district
for 29 years as a teacher and principal at the Early
Childhood Center. She finished her time there as
the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and
Assessment. She also served as school superintendent
at Lyndonville for five years starting in 2000.

PALADINO MAKES IT TO THE BALLOT

2010-07-21T09:50:00.002-04:00

The Paladino campaign announced yesterday they
had collected nearly twice as many signatures as
they needed to challenge Ri ck Lazio in the Republican
primary in September. He had to get 15,000 signatures
including 5 per cent from voters in each of at least
15 of the state's 29 Congressional districts. Paladino
is also ciculating petitions to create an additional line
on the November ballot called the Taxpayers line. It
would assure him a spot on the ballot if he loses the
primary to Lazio. Both he and Paladino trail Democrat
Andrew Cuomo in the polls.

LOCKPORT MAN CHARGED WITH DWI

2010-07-21T09:45:00.003-04:00

A 27 year old Lockport man is charged with DWI
following an accident at 10:30 last night on Plank
Road. Police said they were notified by Onstar an
accident had taken place and the driver was not
responding. They said no one was in the heavily
damaged vehicle when they arrived but they found
Gordon Chapman of 59 Weld Street hiding in the
bushes near the creek. He exhibited all the signs of
intoxication and failed field sobriety tests. A 22 ounce
can of LaBatt Blue was in his pocket. A check showed
his license had been suspended for a previous DWI.
He allegedly tried to pull away as officers attempted
to take him into custody and was said to be
uncooperative at headquarters. Chapman was also
charged with resisting arrest and obstructing
governmental administration.

HOLLOWAY

2010-07-21T09:42:00.002-04:00

County Judge Matt Murphy sentenced 22 year old
Phillip Holloway yesterday to 35 years to life for
shooting Deion Wood to death last June in the
Falls. Holloway did not speak in court on the
advice of his attornies. They feared that anything he
might say could hurt his chances of overturning his
conviction on appeal. His accomplice, 27 year old
Darrius Molson, was sentenced to 22 years to life
on June 29.

BURGLARY

2010-07-21T09:40:00.002-04:00

A sony playstation and eight games were stolen Tuesday
from a home on Evergreen Village Drive in the town of
Lockport. The victim told Sheriff's deputies he left his
residence for about 20 minutes and came back and the
stuff was gone. There was no sign of forced entry but
the victim insisted he had locked the door when he left.

NEWFANE PRO AM PAR 3

2010-07-21T09:35:00.003-04:00

About $500 worth of items were reported missing
yesterday morning from the Newfane Pro Am Par 3
golf course. Three coolers, one worth $315, were
taken from an area near holes 5 & 6. Two flag sticks
and flags and a plastic cup dispenser were also missing.
A 72 year old employee said he followed ATV tracks into
the woods with negative results. He said this is not the
first time property has been taken from the course this
month, but it is the most costly.

GEISE SENTENCED

2010-07-20T10:26:00.002-04:00

Newfane dentist Scott Geise was sentenced to 15
months in federal prison Monday after pleading
guilty to filing a false health care claim and a false
tax return. The trial of the 48 year old had already
begun in March with witnesses being called when
he decided to take a plea. Judge Richard Arcara
also ordered Geise to pay $125,000 restitution to
insurance companies and the federal government.
He sentenced him to three years of post release
supervision as well. Prosecutors said the Army
veteran of the Persian Gulf War devised a scheme to
defraud insurance companies by submitting false
claims. He also admitted to employing an additional
scheme to defraud General Motors and Delphi's
self-insured dental plan and to assisting another
person with the submission of a fraudulent claim for
health care benefits to the Laborers Local 91 Welfare
Fund. He also admitted he failed to record cash
receipts for his business, Newfane Family Dentistry,
as income.

ONLY ONE

2010-07-20T10:22:00.002-04:00

The Republican running against Assemblywoman
Francine del Monte this Fall says most of her campaign
money is coming from outside the district. John Ceretto
says he found 49 seperate donations totalling $21,185 in
her latest filings, but he says only one came from within
the district and it came from a company that subsequently
went out of business. Ceretto says the vast majority came
from Albany and New York City based organizations.
Twenty-eight came from political action committees that
often are very influential in advancing or blocking legislation
in Albany.

SHAWNEE VOLUNTEER FIRE CO

2010-07-20T09:56:00.003-04:00

The Shawnee Volunteer Fire Company will host the
111th annual convention of the Western New York
Volunteer Firemens Association tomorrow thru
Saturday. It'll bring firefighters from the 11 Western
New York counties to their grounds on Lockport Road
in Wheatfield. The events include an EMT competition
at 7pm Thursday in the Starpoint gym. A memorial
service honoring WNY firefighters who passed away over
the past year is set for 9am Friday at St. Paul's United
Church of Christ on Mapleton Road. A grand fireman's
parade will be held at 7pm Friday. It'll start on Lockport
Road between Shawnee and Townline Roads and continue
to the fire company grounds.

CANAL FEST

2010-07-20T09:53:00.002-04:00

North Tonawanda won the annual tug of war yesterday
between NT and the City of Tonawanda at this year's
Canal Fest. It only took about 30 seconds. Crowds are
expected to the line the streets tonight for the annual
parade. More than a hundred units will be in the march
which starts at 6:30 at Main & Minerva in Tonawanda.
The route goes down Main, across the Renasissance
Bridge and onto Webster Street in NT. The theme is
Sports Spectacular.

EARLY MORNING ACCIDENT

2010-07-20T09:49:00.002-04:00

An Amherst man was charged early Monday with DWI
and leaving the scene of an injury accident after Lockport
police found his Ford Ranger had struck a telephone pole
on Ohio Street around 2:30am. Thirty-seven year old
Michael Lewis of Millersport Highway was also charged
with unreasonable speed. Police found him hiding under a
bush in the woods near the scene. His passenger, 41 year old
Daniel Fry of Tonawanda Creek Road in Pendleton was found
bleeding from his right arm and stuck in the vehicle. He and
Lewis were treated at ENH-Lockport.

BILLS SHUTTLE

2010-07-20T09:46:00.002-04:00

The NFTA holds a public hearing at 6 tonight in the
Falls on the future of the Buffalo Bills shuttle bus
program. It'll be held at the Authority's Transportation
Center on Factory Outlet Boulevard. Only one person
showed up last night at a similiar hearing in Buffalo.
The program will either continue as is if costs can be
reduced, shrink from seven routes to four, or be
discontinued entirely.

THOMPSON PICNIC

2010-07-20T09:41:00.003-04:00

State Senator Antoine Thompson holds his fourth
annual free outdoor cook-out from 5 till 7 tonight
at the Oasis at Hyde Park in the Falls. We're told
there'll be music and food for everyone and you should
bring your own lawn chair for comfortable seating.
Thompson also announced he will hold his monthly
free public breakfast Saturday from 8:30 till 10 at the
John Duke Senior Center. Mayor Paul Dyster, Deputy
DPW Director John Caso, and North Star Project
Director Kevin Cottrell are slated to speak. There'll be
a representative from the police department there as
well.

FIELD TRIPS

2010-07-20T09:37:00.003-04:00

The Lockport Department of Youth and
Recreation is offering a Thursday afternoon
field trip to a Bisons game this week. It's only
$8 including the cost of transportation. The
bus will leave at 11:45am and return about an
hour after the game. Children under 12 must be
accompanied by an adult and those under 18 need
a parental permission slip. The department will also
sponsor field trips to the Aquarium of Niagara and
the Fort Niagara pool on July 29, the Buffalo Zoo
on August 5, and Fantasy Island August 12. They won't
take reservations over the phone, but you can call them
for information at 434-3071.

COCAINE

2010-07-20T09:31:00.003-04:00

A 21 year old Falls man plead guilty in federal
court Monday to conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack
cocaine. Aarmon Askew jr of Packard Court
promised to cooperate with authorities in
prosecuting other drug and gun cases. He
has been identified by prosecutors as a leader
of the local chapter of the Bloods. He faces a
minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum of
life in prison when he's sentenced November 9.
Askew was among 24 people arrested in a joint
federal, state, and local crackdown on narcotics
trafficking in the Falls on March 11 of last year.
It's leader, Sean McIver, plead guilty June 25 to
engaging in a criminal enterprise.

NEWFANE POOL TO BE CLOSED TUESDAY

2010-07-19T09:53:00.003-04:00

Newfane Athletic Director Doug Ames says the
high school pool will be closed Tuesday for
repairs. He said they would be replacing a
pipe that acted up last week. All the
swimming activites that take place at the pool
starting at 7am will be cancelled Tuesday. The
pool is open today.

NEW POLICE OFFICERS

2010-07-19T09:48:00.003-04:00

Falls City Administrator Donna Owens says the
16 new officers that'll be joining the police
department soon will reduce overtime costs and
increase police prescence. The recruits are
currently in the Police Academy where they'r
learning how to be patrol officers by riding with
experienced officers during their work hours.
Superintendent John Chella said they would be
assigned to accompany the veterans for ten weeks
before they're sent out alone. He hopes they will
produce a more visible police presscence in the
downtown tourist area making visitors feel safer
and cutting down on the recent rash of car break-in's.

CANAL FEST

2010-07-19T09:41:00.003-04:00

County lawmaker Pete Smolinski was among those
attending Sunday's opening festivities for the 28th
annual Canal Fest in the Tonawanda's. He started by
warning Tonawanda Mayor Ron Pilozzi they won't
have an easy time of it in the annual Tug of War between
the two cities. He said NT Mayor Rob Ortt has a bad
back and urged the rest of the team to take up the slack.
Canal Fest President Larry Denoff said more than 500
people donated 20,000 hours of work to make the yearly
event a reality. The opening featured remarks from the
mayors of the two cities, the introduction of the Canal
Fest queens, the raising of the flag, and a ceremonial
cannon shot from the Rennaisance Bridge, where the
ceremony was held. The theme of this year's parade is
Sports Spectacular. It starts at 6:30 Tuesday night at Main
and Minerva in Tonawanda. It'll go down Main Street and
pass over the bridge onto Webster Street in NT.

WYNDHAM LAWN

2010-07-19T09:37:00.003-04:00

A female resident of Lockport's Wnydham Lawn Home
allegedly punched, kicked, and bit another girl Saturday
night after they argued about the use of a bathroom. The
Sheriff's Department said the two had been seperated by
personnel, but one broke lose and found the other. One of
the girls was treated at ENH-Lockport. The alleged
assaliant is due in Family Court Friday for previous
incidents that recently happened at the facility.

FIGHT AT ALDI'S

2010-07-19T09:32:00.003-04:00

Lockport police arrested a 41 year old man around
7:15pm Saturday following a disturbance in the
parking lot of the Aldi's store at 601 South Transit.
Phillip Dearborn of 144 Grant was arrested at his
home after he left the scene. He was charged with
assault and menacing. Police said the victim told
them he was loading his car with groceries when
Dearborn struck up a conversation with his son.
He said he was concerned for the boy's safety and
asked Dearborn to leave. He said at that point Dearborn
began to swear at him and allegedly came at
him in a threatening manner. Police reports said
the victim suffered scrapes on his leg and he said he
had been kicked below the waist. Dearborn could not
tell police why he left the scene. He said he was on
anxiety medication.

LOCKPORT MAN CHARGED WITH DWI

2010-07-19T09:30:00.002-04:00

A 23 year old Lockport man was charged with driving
while intoxicated last night after he allegedly sideswiped
a car parked in front of 178 Erie Street. Raul DeSantiago
of 326 South Street was also charged with improper lane
use in the accident that happened at 10pm. Both vehicles
suffered minor damage.

APARTMENT BURGLARIZED

2010-07-19T09:26:00.003-04:00

Two pieces of jewelry worth an estimated $3,500
were taken from an apartment on Sweetwood Drive
in the Town of Lockport overnight Saturday. The
29 year old victim said a white gold ring and a
white gold tennis bracelet were taken in the break-in
that happened between 6pm Saturday and 4:15am
Sunday. Sheriff's deputies reported two bedrooms
were entered and clothing and other items were thrown
about. Entry was made by breaking the molding on a
window on the front door.

GASPORT FIRE

2010-07-09T09:21:00.004-04:00

A fire around 7:30 last night destroyed two large
vacant warehouses near Route 31 in Gasport. Five
fire companies fought the blaze at 8101 and 8105
State Street. They included Gasport, Terry's
Corners, Hartland, Wolcottsville and South Lockport.
They used their 101 foot aerial ladder to attack
the flames and smoke, which could be seen for miles.
The stone and brick structures were used in the
late 1800's and early 1900's to store pears, apples, and
other fruit grown by local farmers. The cause is
under investigation. The sheriff's department
interviewed four males that were playing basketball
across the street, they said they did not see anyone in
the area prior to the fire. A property at 8103 State
Street owned by Ryan Harris was damaged by a
truck from the Hartland Fire Company when it
got stuck as it was on it's way to the canal to
retrieve water.

MONGEILLO

2010-07-08T10:58:00.002-04:00

In a ruling issued yesterday, Town of Lockport
Justice Raymond Schilling refused to dismiss the
charges against auto shop repair owner Dave Mongeillo.
He's accused of violating zoning laws by operating a
sign that changes it's message every few seconds
on Robinson Road. The case will now go to trial
and Mongeillo told WLVL he can't afford any more
legal fees and will probably represent himself. He
said a request for a change of venue was denied. The
date for the trial has not yet been determined. Mongeillo
had asked that the charges against him be dropped in
a court appearance on June 9. Schilling said he would
issue a written decision, which he did yesterday.

ANOTHER SCORCHER

2010-07-07T09:49:00.002-04:00

An air quality alert for high ozone levels has been issued
today for the entire state as the heat wave continues. The
National Weather Service says it was close yesterday, but
they never reached 90 degrees at the Buffalo-Niagara Airport.
A high of 89 was set at 3:22pm. They're forecasting a high of
91 today, but it will be warmer away from the lakes. The heat
index topped out in the mid 90's at the airport, but again
it was much more in sections of Niagara and Orleans counties.
The heat wave is expected to end Friday when a cold front
will bring rain and more manageable temperatures.

RECORD HIGH ENERGY USAGE

2010-07-07T09:43:00.003-04:00

National Grid says it's upstate customers broke a four
year old record yesterday for electricity demand. Between
2 & 3pm, the demand soared to 6,804 megawatts, which is
just shy of 7-billion watts of energy that was delivered. The
all time high of 6,692 had been set on August 2, 2006.
Company spokesman Steve Brady advised homeowners
to set the thermostat on their air conditioners a few
degrees higher than they might like to save money. He said
to clean your filter, and if it's possible on your unit, to set
it so it recirculates the air that's already in your home rather
than bringing in more hot air from outside. The company also
reccomends drawing blinds or shades to block the sun during
the hottest part of the day. They say to turn off lights when
they're not needed and to avoid cooking, bathing, or washing
clothes during the hottest hours.

GASPORT TEEN SENTENCED TO 60 DAYS IN JAIL

2010-07-07T09:38:00.002-04:00

A Gasport teen was sentenced to 60 days in the
County Jail Tuesday for beating another teen with a
wrench last December. Judge Matt Murphy denied
youthful offender status for 16 year old Brandon Buryta
of Royalton Center Road. He also sentenced him to
five years probation and ordered him to pay more
than $6,700 in medical expenses that were not covered
by insurance. Murphy said the victim, 18 year old William
Brown, suffered a permanently scarred retina. He's had
several reconstructive surgeries at ECMC as they attempt
to repair the damage to his face and eye. The incident
happened when Brown stood up for a female victim who
was verbally and physically assaulted by Buryta at her
home in Hartland. Murphy could have sentenced Buryta
to four years in state prison. Buryta said he was sorry
it happened and it was an honest mistake.

REINEKE GETS ANOTHER TERM

2010-07-07T09:32:00.003-04:00

A 4-3 vote last night gave James Reineke another term
as president of the Newfane School Board. He was
supported by Cynthia Ames, Joe Flagler, and Kelly
Artieri, who was chosen as Vice President by a similiar
vote. The three new board members, Frank Westgate,
Michele Malone, and Flagler also took their oathes of
offices during the re-organizational meeting. The Board
decided to hold their future sessions on the first and
third Tuesdays of each month at the Early Childhood
Center. In the regular meeting that followed, they
talked about filling a districtwide technology position.
It's already in the budget and the slot will be filled by
a current employee. The Board accepted a $2,300
donation from the district's Parents & Students
Association. It'll be used to buy reading materials for
students in kindergarten through the second grade.

A CONTINUING CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE

2010-07-07T09:26:00.003-04:00

A 31 year old rap singer and gang leader from the Falls
took a guilty plea Tuesday in federal court. Sean McIver
admitted to a felony charge of running a continuing
criminal enterprise...a drug gang that sold cocaine in the
city between 2005 & 2009. Judge William Skretney said
McIver could be sentenced to 12 1/2 years to life in
prison depending on whether he cooperates with an
ongoing federal drug investigation. McIver records
under the name Raw. Police called him one of the leaders
of the Niagara Falls Bloods when he was arrested in
March of last year, but he only admitted to being a
leader of an unnamed gang that had at least five members.
His arrest followed a lengthy investigation into drug
violence conducted by the police, the DEA, and the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
He'll be sentenced October 22.

A SIX PER CENT DROP

2010-07-07T09:23:00.002-04:00

The State DMV announced Tuesday there was a six
percent drop in overall traffic fatalities in the state
last year. Commissioner David Swarts said there
was a 17 percent decrease in motorcycle fatalities
and a more than 29 per cent drop in bicycle deaths.
Swarts also said alcohol was a contributing factor
in 30 percent of all fatal crashes. He said the use
of seatbelts also increased to 90 percent. The
national use rate is 84 percent.

81 YEAR OLD BREAKS LOCKPORT TRASH LAW

2010-07-07T09:03:00.003-04:00

An 81 year old Lockport woman turned herself into
police Tuesday for putting her trash out too early.
Eneida Rodriguez of 77 Rogers Avenue allegedly
committed the offense on June 2 of this year. Community
Police aide Robert Turner said she put her trash
out more than 24 hours before it's scheduled pickup.

A SAD CHOICE

2010-07-07T07:57:00.002-04:00

An Eagle scout from Newfane was sentenced Tuesday
to four months in jail and ten years probation for having
sex with a 12 year old girl last year. Twenty year old Matt
McIntyre of Dale Road had plead guilty to second degree
rape. Judge Matt Murphy told McIntyre..."we have
laws in place to protect 12 year old girls," but he added,
"otherwise you're the kind of person anyone would want
as their son or grandson." McIntyre admitted he had made
a "sad choice."

PROTESTORS WANT MORE

2010-07-07T07:52:00.003-04:00

About a dozen protestors were outside Wheatfield Town
Court Tuesday. They wanted officials to levy more serious
charges against 40 year old Joelle Kott. She was arrested
January 29th when the SPCA seized 47 dogs from her
Norman Road home and from two other locations. She's
charged with six misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty
and two others of child endangerment. Officials said her
two children were living in deplorable conditions because
of the large amount of animal waste. Kott did not appear
in court, but her attorney, James Faso, said he was told
by the D-A's office that the case will stay in Town Court
and felony charges would not be filed.

ADMISSION

2010-07-07T07:48:00.002-04:00

A 24 year old Falls man who previously admitted to
robbing a convenience store in that city plead
guilty in county court Tuesday to stealing more than
$20,000 from a Lockport business when he worked
there last year. Solomon Dixon of Delaware Avenue
admitted to fourth degree grand larceny for the
thefts from the Game Crazy on South Transit. Dixon
had already admitted in city court that he robbed
the Sunoco A Plus Mini Mart April 21. He's
awaiting sentencing in that case. Police said he
fought with the clerk who said Dixon offered him
$50 to cooperate in the hold-up. He'll be sentenced
August 20 for the thefts at Game Crazy.

HOT HOT HOT

2010-07-06T10:23:00.003-04:00

It may have been hot and sticky Monday but
we didn't break any records. National Weather
Service forecaster Bob Hamilton says we're not
likely to do so on any day this week. The record
high for today is 97, tomorrow's all time high was
94, and we'd have to get above 96 to bust a
record Thursday. It's the high humidity that makes
it even more uncomfortable. The heat index was
in the low to mid 90's Monday and it'll be the same
today. An air quality alert is also in effect. We'll
have elevated ozone levels into this evening.
Tomorrow's highs will be a couple of degrees
warmer than today, we should see some relief
on Friday. Hamilton says the last time they hit
90 at the Buffalo-Niagara Airport was in
September, 2007.