POT DEALER TOLD TO LEAVE

A 31 year old Lewiston man will have to leave the
State under a plea deal o-k'd yesterday by County
Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrezza. Brian Renaud of
Old Ransomville Road had been charged with his
second marijauana felony in six years. Sperrezza
agreed to put him on probation as long as he lists
his house for sale by June 30. She said banishment
isn't something she takes lightly or does often..and
added that Renaud wants to move to California. He
was arrested in December 2008 after police found
him growing pot in his home. He had previously
served three years in prison after police found 31
pounds of marijuana packaged for sale in another
raid in 2004.

SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

A spokesperson for Lockport's Saint John the Baptist
Church says a spiritual renewal starting Sunday is not
being held in response to the Chapel at Cross Point's
decision to hold Sunday services at the Palace. Debbie
Brown says it was planned long before the Chapel's
annoucement. She said they wanted to hold it during
Lent but the speaker was not available. She said it had
been planned for almost a year. The renewal starts Sunday
and continues through Wednesday. It'll be led by Domician
priest Father Hugh Burns. He's known as "The Preaching
Kojack" because he's similiar to the TV figure in style and
appearance. Sermons will be at 7pm Sunday thru Wednesday
and there will be others following an 11am mass Monday
thru Wednesday. Refreshments and baby sitting will be
provided.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE

County lawmakers decided last night not to
hire any new department heads until they hire
a new County Manager. The resolution was
sponsored by Majority Leader Rick Updegrove.
He says the next manager should have a say in
determing the members of his team. The issue
occupied a good chunk of the meeting. Supporters
such as Lockport's Keith McNall insisted the
next manager should be involved in any long
term department head vacancies but Democrat
Renea Kimble said current manager Greg Lewis
inherited his team when he was hired in 2003.
She said government cannot function properly
with all the vacancies. North Tonawanda
Republican Pete Smolinski ended up voting
with the Democrats. He said the Office of the
Aging needs a director now. The post has been
vacant since former director Chris Richbart went
on sick leave in September. He passed away in
February. Lewis leaves at the end of November.

MARIJUANA CHARGES

Lockport police say they found 15 individually
wrapped one gram packets of marijuana when
they pulled a 17 year old over for talking on his
cell while driving around 2am today on North
Transit. Jared Ribbeck of 158 Gooding was also
charged with operating out of class, no insurance,
plate display, and failing to notify officials of
an address change. Police said he told them he
sold marijuana. They confiscated about $239 he
was carrying. Ribbeck was released on $100 bail
around 3:15am.

A-T-V ACCIDENT

A Wheatfield man is in fair condition at ECMC
following an all terrain vehicle accident around
4:30 pm yesterday on Pierce Road. Deputies say
John Montgomery lost control and went into a
drainage ditch on the south side of the road. He
was thrown from the vehicle and landed in a
farmers field not far from the ATV which came to
rest on the side of the road. The St. Johnsburg Fire
Company and Tri Community Ambulance treated him
at the scene before he was taken to the hospital by
Mercy Flight.

LEW PORT SCHOOL BUDGET

The Lew-Port School Board voted 5-1 last night
to adopt a nearly $41-million budget for 2010-2011.
The spending plan closes a $1.8-million gap in state
aid. The tax levy is about $109,000 less than this
year. The savings were realized by a decision not
to replace resigning or retiring teachers and by
union concessions over health care. No programs
would be cut.

BILLS SCHEDULE

The Bills will open their regular season at home
against Miami September 12. Buffalo will play
at Green Bay the following week and wrap up the
month at New England September 26. The Jets will
be in town October 3 and the Jacksonville Jaguars
will be here the following week. They'll have a bye
October 17 and be at Baltimore and Kansas City on
the following two Sundays. The Bills will host the
Bears in Toronto on November 7 and the Lions will
be at the Ralph on the 14th. They'll play at Cincinatti
November 21 and welcome the Steelers to the Ralph
on the 28th. December's games include a contest
at Minnesota on the 5th, the Browns will be in Buffalo
on the 12th, and they'll be in Miami on the 19th. The
final two games will feature the Patriots at the Ralph
December 26 and they'll play the Jets in New York
January 2.

MAN CHARGED AFTER DOMESTIC INCIDENT

A 29 year old Lockport man is facing charges
of assault, menacing, and harassment following
a domestic incident around 2am yesterday on
Niagara Street. Police said Adam LeMay was
highly intoxicated when he struck the victim and
threatened to kill her. He allegedly spit on
officers and was also charged with resisting
arrest. The victim requested an order of protection.

MISSING FIVE YEAR OLD

A five year old Town of Lockport boy who had been
reported missing by his mom around 9 o'clock
Tuesday night turned up after Sheriff's deputies
were called to the area. The youngster was hiding by
the side of a building on Ruhlman Road. He would
not tell his mother where he had been hiding while
other people were looking for him.

NOISE & THE BASKET FACTORY

Following a public hearing Monday that drew more
than a hundred people, the Middleport Village
Board voted to form an ad-hoc committee to study
the sound level of the music eminating from the
Basket Factory during it's outdoor concerts. The
committee will include the owners of the restaurant,
neighbors, police, and some village board members.
They'll make a report to the Board next month.