The NFTA unveiled a 2009 budget Monday that assumes there
will be two 25-cent increases in bus and rail fares next year.
The first is slated to happen January 1 and the second July 1.
Executive Director Larry Meckler said they would bring in an
extra $6.5-million. The spending plan was approved assuming
the State will provide $50-million in aid. The State requires
agencies to approve their budgets by December 31 even though
Albany won't decide how much State help they'll get till
sometime next year.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
FORGING PRESCRIPTIONS
A 22 year old Lockport man could be fined $250,000 and
be sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty
in federal court yesterday to forging prescriptions for pain medication.
Theodore Patti and his girlfriend stole a prescription pad
from the doctor's office where she worked and forged about
60 presciptions for over 5,000 tablets of oxycotin. Patti
admitted in court that he and his girlfriend became addicted
to the drug after being injured in a car accident in 2006. He
used the names of family members on the phony prescriptions
and paid for them using their health insurance. He agreed to'
repay them nearly $37,000. Patti will be sentenced March 2.
The Sheriff's deepartment initiated the investigation after a
pharmacist called to report a suspicious prescription..
be sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty
in federal court yesterday to forging prescriptions for pain medication.
Theodore Patti and his girlfriend stole a prescription pad
from the doctor's office where she worked and forged about
60 presciptions for over 5,000 tablets of oxycotin. Patti
admitted in court that he and his girlfriend became addicted
to the drug after being injured in a car accident in 2006. He
used the names of family members on the phony prescriptions
and paid for them using their health insurance. He agreed to'
repay them nearly $37,000. Patti will be sentenced March 2.
The Sheriff's deepartment initiated the investigation after a
pharmacist called to report a suspicious prescription..
CAR FOUND IN CANAL
A 2000 white Pontiac Grand Prix reported stolen May 12
was found in the canal yesterday as workers were
draining the waterway for the Winter. A State DOT
worker spotted the vehicle off Mill Street near Upson
Park just before 2pm. The Police Department said the
Sheriff's Department Dive Team and Beauman's Garage
fished it out of the water under difficult conditions. It
was called a total loss.
was found in the canal yesterday as workers were
draining the waterway for the Winter. A State DOT
worker spotted the vehicle off Mill Street near Upson
Park just before 2pm. The Police Department said the
Sheriff's Department Dive Team and Beauman's Garage
fished it out of the water under difficult conditions. It
was called a total loss.
MORE CITY COUNCIL
Falls Police Superintendent John Chella told the Council
the State Liquor Authority is looking into problems at the
Club New York bar on Third Street. Chella said the agency
has requested copies of all police reports for incidents in the
bar during the last two years. A fight November 16th triggered
the action. Chella said he's told his officers to cite any bar
on the street for disorderly premises if problems continue. He
also said the department would step up patrols on Third Street
tomorrow night, one of the busiest bar nights of the year. The
Council also voted 4-1 to spend $3-million to pay for
soil testing at the Hope Six site. The action taken after about
40 residents filled the chambers waving handmade signs
supporting the project. Councilmember Charles Fournier
cast the no vote. He thinks the developers should pay the cost.
the State Liquor Authority is looking into problems at the
Club New York bar on Third Street. Chella said the agency
has requested copies of all police reports for incidents in the
bar during the last two years. A fight November 16th triggered
the action. Chella said he's told his officers to cite any bar
on the street for disorderly premises if problems continue. He
also said the department would step up patrols on Third Street
tomorrow night, one of the busiest bar nights of the year. The
Council also voted 4-1 to spend $3-million to pay for
soil testing at the Hope Six site. The action taken after about
40 residents filled the chambers waving handmade signs
supporting the project. Councilmember Charles Fournier
cast the no vote. He thinks the developers should pay the cost.
FALLS CITY COUNCIL
The Niagara Falls City Council last night o-k'd the hiring of
Craig Johnson as the city's new Corporation Counsel after
voting 5-0 not to accept any more money from the Community
Foundation of Greater Buffalo to help pay the salaries of
city officials. Chairman Sam Fruscione said they would no
longer take the cash because of the prescence of an
unknown influence. The Council removed the $75,000 from
next year's budget the Foundation would have provided
to help pay Johnson's 93,000 salary. The Foundation also
provided about a third of the $110,000 salary of City Administrator
Donna Owens and $40,000 of the salary of new Economic
Development Director Peter Kay...and Frusicone said all
of the salary of Owens and Johnson would be paid for with
tax dollars next year. He said the extra money needed to
pay Kay's salary would come from casino dollars.
Craig Johnson as the city's new Corporation Counsel after
voting 5-0 not to accept any more money from the Community
Foundation of Greater Buffalo to help pay the salaries of
city officials. Chairman Sam Fruscione said they would no
longer take the cash because of the prescence of an
unknown influence. The Council removed the $75,000 from
next year's budget the Foundation would have provided
to help pay Johnson's 93,000 salary. The Foundation also
provided about a third of the $110,000 salary of City Administrator
Donna Owens and $40,000 of the salary of new Economic
Development Director Peter Kay...and Frusicone said all
of the salary of Owens and Johnson would be paid for with
tax dollars next year. He said the extra money needed to
pay Kay's salary would come from casino dollars.
Monday, November 24, 2008
DRIVING & HUNTING WHILE INTOXICATED
A 32 year old Medina man was charged with driving and
hunting while intoxicated Saturday in Colden. State Police
say they found a pick-up belonging to Dennis Monnin
blocking a lane on a country road around 5pm. They get
his home phone nunner by tracing his license plate and
his wife then gave them her husband's cell phone number.
They called it and asked Monin to move his pick-up. He was
on a nearby tree stand. Police say they smelled alcohol on
his breath when he emerged from the woods. He allegedly
registered a blood alcohol content of .21.
hunting while intoxicated Saturday in Colden. State Police
say they found a pick-up belonging to Dennis Monnin
blocking a lane on a country road around 5pm. They get
his home phone nunner by tracing his license plate and
his wife then gave them her husband's cell phone number.
They called it and asked Monin to move his pick-up. He was
on a nearby tree stand. Police say they smelled alcohol on
his breath when he emerged from the woods. He allegedly
registered a blood alcohol content of .21.
SPEEDING
A 29 year old Falls man who was allegedly going 70
miles an hour in a 40 mile an hour zone Sunday morning
told police they only arrested him because he was gay.
Officer John Schuster said he saw a car speed by him
just after 3:30 in the 96-hundred block of Niagara Falls
Boulevard. He said the driver looked at him as he went
by and then slid twice on the icy street as he tried to
slow down twice. The 66th Street man told Schuster
he was upset over a theft earlier in the evening and
was in a hurry to get home. Schuster said the man
begged him not to arrest him....but he was charged with
speeding, reckless driving, and speed not reasonable
for conditions.
miles an hour in a 40 mile an hour zone Sunday morning
told police they only arrested him because he was gay.
Officer John Schuster said he saw a car speed by him
just after 3:30 in the 96-hundred block of Niagara Falls
Boulevard. He said the driver looked at him as he went
by and then slid twice on the icy street as he tried to
slow down twice. The 66th Street man told Schuster
he was upset over a theft earlier in the evening and
was in a hurry to get home. Schuster said the man
begged him not to arrest him....but he was charged with
speeding, reckless driving, and speed not reasonable
for conditions.
LOCKPORT RECYCLING
The members of the committee looking into curbside
recycling in Lockport plan to meet tomorrow with
representatives of Waste Management. Councilmember
Richelle Pisceri says they've already talked with the
Modern Corporation and feels they'll be able to start
next April or May. The committee is chaired by Starpoint
School teacher Jeff Tracy and includes resident Kristen
Cook. Pisceri says Highways & Parks Superintendent
Mike Hoffman and City Engineer Norm Allen also
provide input along with Dawn Walzak from the County.
Pisceri says they can't say yet whether how much it
might cost the City or if money could be made by
starting the program. Public meetings are planned
once they get further along in the process.
recycling in Lockport plan to meet tomorrow with
representatives of Waste Management. Councilmember
Richelle Pisceri says they've already talked with the
Modern Corporation and feels they'll be able to start
next April or May. The committee is chaired by Starpoint
School teacher Jeff Tracy and includes resident Kristen
Cook. Pisceri says Highways & Parks Superintendent
Mike Hoffman and City Engineer Norm Allen also
provide input along with Dawn Walzak from the County.
Pisceri says they can't say yet whether how much it
might cost the City or if money could be made by
starting the program. Public meetings are planned
once they get further along in the process.
NEW FIRFIGHTERS IN THE FALLS
Fourteen new firefighters will be sworn in in the Falls
at 10am today by Mayor Paul Dyster. Fire Chief Bill
McKay says it's not that they've been short budgeted
positions. He said six vacancies were caused
by retirements and promotions. The other eight hires
are being paid for with a federal grant and are based upon
the staff levels they should have and the hazard levels
created by the number of high rises and chemical plants.
McKay says the $843,000 grant was the largest awarded
to any department in the State. It runs for five years
and the 8 positions can be absorbed through attrition
if it's not renewed or the City can't afford them. All
14 of the new hires live in the City and are expected
to complete training in February. They will bring the
department up to 141 uniformed employees.
at 10am today by Mayor Paul Dyster. Fire Chief Bill
McKay says it's not that they've been short budgeted
positions. He said six vacancies were caused
by retirements and promotions. The other eight hires
are being paid for with a federal grant and are based upon
the staff levels they should have and the hazard levels
created by the number of high rises and chemical plants.
McKay says the $843,000 grant was the largest awarded
to any department in the State. It runs for five years
and the 8 positions can be absorbed through attrition
if it's not renewed or the City can't afford them. All
14 of the new hires live in the City and are expected
to complete training in February. They will bring the
department up to 141 uniformed employees.
APPLETON
A large safe containing $42,000 worth of stacked $100
bills was stolen from a home in Aplleton Sunday morning
while the owner was out hunting. Sheriff's deputies said
footprints left in the snow indicated at least three people
took part. The prints indicated one burglar went to the
front door to see if anybody was home before the three
busted out a rear kitchen window. The heavy six foot
tall gun safe was unbolted from the living room floor and
hauled away. It also contained three guns including an
AK-47 assault rifle and some coin collections including
gold coins. Deputies checked the home of a possible
suspect trying to compare footprints but no immediate
arrests were made. The 64 year old victim said he left
at 10am to hunt on the property behind his home. He
discovered the break-in when he returned about
90-minutes later.
bills was stolen from a home in Aplleton Sunday morning
while the owner was out hunting. Sheriff's deputies said
footprints left in the snow indicated at least three people
took part. The prints indicated one burglar went to the
front door to see if anybody was home before the three
busted out a rear kitchen window. The heavy six foot
tall gun safe was unbolted from the living room floor and
hauled away. It also contained three guns including an
AK-47 assault rifle and some coin collections including
gold coins. Deputies checked the home of a possible
suspect trying to compare footprints but no immediate
arrests were made. The 64 year old victim said he left
at 10am to hunt on the property behind his home. He
discovered the break-in when he returned about
90-minutes later.
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