ELLICOTTVILLE—Cattaraugus County’s first female district attorney will take the oath of office today and begin work Monday, when she will en-counter a hefty court calendar.

Lori Rieman of Machias will take her oath of office, administered by Court of Claims Judge Jeremiah J. Mortify III, at 1 p. m. in Ellicottville Town Hall. Rieman was first assistant district attorney for eight years under outgoing District Attorney Edward M. Sharkey. She won the November election over him by a nearly 2-1 ratio, running as a Republican.

She begins her four-year term with a criminal court calendar of nearly 50 cases before county Judge Larry M. Himelein. One of her first cases involves the death last month of an 80-year old Delevan man. An arrest has yet to be made in that case.

Rieman said she will keep most of the staff in the district attorney’s office but is seeking a full-time investigator and full-time first assistant.