CAFARELLA

Falls lawyer and County lawmaker Jason Cafarella
was named in a lawsuit this week by the State
Attorney Generals office. Andy Cuomo says it's
on behalf of consumers who have allegedly been
victimized by unlawful debt collection practices.
Cafarella's law office is one of 35 firms and two debt
collection agencies identified in the suit. It was filed
Tuesday in State Supreme Court in Erie County.

WHEATFIELD BREAK-IN'S

Sheriff's deputies were kept busy in Wheatfield
yesterday morning investigating events that
happened overnight. The owner of Nearhood
Auto Service on Walmore Road said somebody
threw a rock through the windows of his double
glass doors and stole a tool set, inspection
stickers, a $4,000 pro scan tool, and a graphing
meter. Audio equipment and speakers were taken
from a locked vehicle on Lancelot Drive and from
another in the 2000 block of Duero Drive. The
owners of both saying their loss was more than
a thousand dollars. Deputies said they advised
a nearby flea market owner of the thefts and
said to contact them if anyone trys to sell the
items.

THURSDAY DRUG ARREST

Two people were arrested on drug charges around
1pm Thursday as Lockport police were serving an
arrest package at 272 Green. Thirty-nine year old
Nathaniel Carson of 22 Van Buren was charged with
possesion of a controlled substance and marijuana.
Forty-two year old Jacqueline Sutton of 272 Green
with possession of a controlled substance. Police
said they found cocaine on the top of a refrigerator
as they were interviewing Carson. He also allegedly
gave them the marijuana from his sock when they
asked if there were any other illegal substances
present.

SPRAY PAINTERS ARRESTED

Two adults and two teens were arrested by Lockport
police just after midnight today after they allegedly
spray painted letters and symbols on the wall of a
building on John Street and the nearby pavement.
Twenty-seven year old Richard Zuehlke of 19 John,
19 year old Thomas Washburn of 251 Caledonia,
and 16 year olds Christopher Holmes of 4 Walnut
and Brittany Doxey of 6 John all charged with
criminal mischief and making grafitti. Police said
Holmes refused to cooperate and they used pepper
spray on his face. He also accused officers of
breaking his cell phone.

RECYCLING COMMITTEE

Lockport Mayor Mike Tucker thinks the chances
the City will begin curbside recycling this year
are 50-50. He made the estimate after the City's
Recycling Committee met last night trying to
figure out the true cost of the program. Alderwoman
Richelle Pisceri said the Council may have to push
the decision back to the Fall when next year's budget
is put together, and then start the program next year.
Alderman Pat Schrader and Joe Kibler and Pisceri
want to set up a garbage district so everyone in
the City...including churches and other not-for-
profits ..would have to pay for trash related services.
Pisceri is also pushing for some sort of limit on how
much trash you can place at the curb hoping it will
encourage recycling. The Committee will meet again
next Thursday to come up with a "bare bones"
proposal.

COMPETITION

The Executive Director of the Eastern Niagara
Animal Welfare Alliance told lawmakers in the
Town of Lockport last night her group will be
submitting a bid this Fall to handle the Town's
stray or injured animals. The work is currently
done by the County SPCA. Bobbie Mael also
wanted to talk to the Board about the group's
plan to set up a shelter in the Town but
lawmakers told her they needed more details
about it's engineering and tabled the issue till
next month. The Town pays the SPCA $811 a
month and the contract expires at the end of
the year. Mael says the SPCA euthanizes too
many animals and doesn't provide prompt care
for injured animals collected at night. SPCA
Director Al Chille disputes most of the charges
but admits they do put a lot of cats to sleep
because they can only handle 90.

LOCKPORT ASSAULT CASE

A Lockport man accused of punching a three
month old child during a domestic incident
Saturday night had the charges against him
reduced yesterday. Thirty-three year old
Thomas Lee McDowell was originally facing
two felony charges of burglary and criminal
mischief in connection with the incident that
took place in a home on Gooding Street. The
charges were reduced to misdemeanors so the
case could remain in City Court. His next
court date is August 12. Police said the child
was being held by his Mother, and McDowell
hit him as he was taking a swing at her.

THE BIKE WAS STOLEN

The Sheriff's Department says the motorcycle
involved in a fatal crash July 14 in Hartland
was stolen. Thirty-three year old Brian Hill
of Dutten Place was killed when he collided
with another car after he crossed over the
center line of Ridge Road. The Sheriff's
Department said the 2008 black Yamaha
Hill was riding had been reported stolen
June 23 by a man from East Amherst.

PUBLIC LEWDNESS

A 75 year old Lockport woman was charged with
public lewdness yesterday. Dawn Webb of 268
Garden Street was allegedly seen by city court
staff and police officer Paul Beakman urinating
and exposing her buttocks in front of a northwest
window of the courtroom. Police said she made
no effort to conceal her private body parts.

SAVE A LOT

The manager of the Save A Lot in what's left
of the Summit Mall arrived at work yesterday to
find someone had filled the locks to the doors
with super glue. The Sheriff's Department said
they were the only ones in the complex that
had been tampered with. Damage was estimated
at $175.