COMMON COUNCIL TO SUPPORT A STATE GRANT FOR UNION STATION ::Friday, April 25::

In Lockport the city may sponsor a state grant application to restore the burned out Union Station. The city did the same for a previous owner in the 1990's, but that project fell through. A similar request was brought before the board of the city's Economic Development Agency Thursday; who didn't act on it, but are expected to do so at a future meeting. Mark Davidson - a 43 year old set dresser who works in various Hollywood movie studios - and his wife Michelle - a Lockport native - bought the station for $80-thousand in 2006. Like the previous owner - Brian Yaiser of Royalton - they have notions of making the gutted train station into a profitable business and attraction. The station as a restaurant after regular train service stopped, but it was ruined in a fire in the early 1970's. Since then, little has been done there.

LOCK-CITY TRASH TALK ::Thursday, April 24::

The Lock-City this week ordered the party responsible for a big mess on John Street to clean it up or face arrest. In between two nicely kept John St. homes a trash pile had grown as a couple losing their Pine St. home to foreclosure put the house's contents to the curb. The garage was set out behind the house, at the foot of the driveway leading from 267 Pine west to John. Furniture, boxes, wood, glass panels, and miscellaneous junk was deposited at the curb unbagged, and at least two feet high over the width of the lot. A John St. homeowner claimed the pile emerged several weeks ago and changed in size as garbage pickers helped themselves; and passerby's added to it. After taking a complaint about the mess, Mayor Michael Tucker took the bull by the horn and tracked down the former owner - John Preston - at his new residence. Tucker says he told Preston that city garbage crews won't pick up the pile, that he'd have to get rid of it on his own or be cited for multiple violations of the local garbage ordinance. Preston promised to hire a truck and have the garbage taken away immediately.

That was on Tuesday.

When the pickup didn't happen, Tucker said he was preparing to send police after Preston when his contractor and a representative of Hunt Real Estate each appealed to Tucker to give it a little more time.

And now - according to the Mayor - the garbage has been cleaned up.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT DOUG YOUNG'S 8:25 INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR, AS WELL AS HIS APPEARANCE ON DIALOG... ONLY IN WLVL'S INFAMOUS PODCAST SECTION!

MAGIC POTHOLE FIXER IN THE FALLS? ::Thursday, April 24::

Well it's not real magic...

Officials plan to negotiate with a Pennsylvania based company to lease a one man pothole patching machine this spring for a 'pothole blitz.' With that plan being announced by Mayor Paul Dyster Wednesday. Representatives from Patch Management of Morrisville demonstrated a spray injection patcher Wednesday morning to the Mayor and council members Chris Robins and Steve Fournier. Dyster says officials are considering leasing the equipment this spring to supplement existing equipment that fixes potholes. The machine can address potholes quicker than the equipment the city currently uses. Meantime - on Monday - the city council approved the use of $77-thousand to hire temporary workers who will be assigned to fill potholes during the next few months.

CAT KILLER FOUND COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL ::Thursday, April 24::

A Lockport man accused of drowning a cat in a bathtub at Urban Park Towers will be screened for a possible entry into mental health court, after a 3rd competency exam ruled him fit to stand trial. 23 year old Brian Soock pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated cruelty to animals. Soock allegedly drowned his girlfriend's cat in the bathroom of her apartment at 77 Main St. on February 1st. He underwent two exams last month to determine if he is mentally fit to proceed in court. The results of those tests conflicted with each other, so Judge William Watson ordered at third; which proved to be the charm, as it ruled Soock is mentally capable to stand trial. Public defender Michael Ingham said he agreed with the Finding, but asked the judge to allow Soock to be screened for mental health court, which he'll undergo Friday morning. He's currently being held in lieu of $25-thousand bail.

POP everything in the car AND LOCK the doors ::Wednesday, April 23::

Pop and Lock Corporation is apparently crossing Niagara County off its list of places to do business. Company owner Brian Mitchell said Tuesday that he's been unable to find factory space anywhere that's both suitable and readily available. He also spoke very highly of the local government's efforts to accommodate him, but said his options at this point seem exhausted. Pop and Lock is under contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to produce a weapons part beginning this month. The Welland, Ontario auto parts company previously anticipated a $1.2-million local investment and up to 60 jobs in 3 years with relocation. They started looking in Lockport earlier this year after negotiations to purchase a Wheatfield site fell through.

HIGHER COSTS FOR HIGHER KNOWLEDGE AT SANBORN COLLEGE ::Wednesday, April 23::

Tuition for full time resident students at NCCC will go up by $60 a semester in the fall under the school's new budget approved Wednesday morning by the college's board of trustees. The $44.1-million spending plan must still get an OK from the county legislature and they're expected to take it up in early June. The increase for part time resident students will be $5 per credit hour. The proposed budget is $2.4-million more than the current one and includes a request for an additional $177-thousand in support from the county.

LPD STILL ON LOOKOUT FOR SUSPICIOUS MAN ::Wednesday, April 23::

Lockport Police are still looking for a man who reportedly frightened a young girl near Charlotte Cross School on Monday. A spokesman for LPD said the investigation was continuing, but that there wasn't any new information as of yesterday. A man described as being white and in his 20's waved at the girl as he drove by, parked, and got out of his car - according to the police report. The girl ran away and hid while the man look for her, but later drove off. The Lockport School District initiated its emergency calling notification system to inform parents of the incident. The district says that more than 6-thousand phone calls were received, and the response from parents has been mostly positive. A letter was also sent home with students. Superintendent Terry Ann Carbone says quote, "we've gotten good feedback. We needed to do everything in our power to keep kids safe."

"BAD DAY AT WORK JUDGE" AWAITS RESULTS OF FINAL APPEAL :: Tuesday, April 22::

A spokesman for the State Court of Appeals says a decision on whether Niagara Falls judge Robert Restaino can keep his job could come at the end of May or the first week of June. Six judges listened to ral arguments Monday on why Restaino should stay on the bench, despite a 9-1 decision by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct said that he should be removed. Restaino's problems go back to March 2006 when he jailed 46 people because a cell phone rang in his courtroom an no one would take responsibility.

LOCAL THRUWAY AUTHORITY MEMBER WILL BE OUT COME SUMMER :: Tuesday, April 22::

Jeffrey Williams - the Lewiston resident who's a member of the state Thruway Authority board - won't be on much longer. Williams has been informed that when his term ends on June 30, his services will no longer be required. Williams was the only board member to vote against proposed toll hikes, and the only one with enough guts to talk about it. Williams says because of that, he thinks the powers that be wanted him out. Donna Lou of Depew is apparently going to be Williams replacement. She was notified last week that she would be joining the board once she's confirmed by the State Senate.

MAN INJURED AFTER LOSING CONTROL OF TRACTOR :: Tuesday, April 22::

A Sunset Drive man was injured Monday morning when he lost control of his tractor and it rolled over him. 70 year old Stanley Kulak suffered rib, back, and head injuries just before 10 a.m. at his home on the 4-thousand block of Sunset, near Upper Mountain. Kulak was rolling his lawn at the crest of a large drop when the tractor started to roll. Deputies say that before the tractor came to a rest, it rolled on top of Kulak. He was transported by ambulance to ECMC where he remains under observation, where he's expected to recover.