Around town / Niagara County meetings and hearings this week
Lewiston (Updated: 11/22/09 7:26 AM )
New Wheatfield tax created to cover highway budget gap
WHEATFIELD — A new town tax for next year was created by the Town Board last week to cover a $640,000 gap in the Highway Department budget. (Updated: 11/22/09 7:25 AM )
Students to cook holiday dinner
LOCKPORT — Students from the Niagara County Community College Culinary Institute will be handling the turkey preparation for this year’s Salvation Army Thanksgiving dinner. (Updated: 11/22/09 7:25 AM )
‘Best Holiday House’ seeking six families
Cable network HGTV is looking for six Niagara County families to participate in the show “Holiday Battle on the Block.” (Updated: 11/22/09 7:24 AM )
‘Share the Bounty’ event hosted by 11 wineries
All 11 wineries on the Niagara Wine Trail are hosting a “Share the Bounty” event this weekend, in which participants are encouraged to donate a nonperishable food item or $2.50 per wine tasting, all to benefit local food pantries. (Updated: 11/22/09 7:24 AM )
Leaf pickup areas identified by city
NIAGARA FALLS—City crews will target the following areas for leaf pickup beginning Monday: (Updated: 11/22/09 7:24 AM )
Defense attorney takes stand in bid to help client over death of baby
LOCKPORT — A defense attorney put himself on the Niagara County Court witness stand Friday in an effort to prove that his client had hired him in time to make incriminating statements inadmissible in an upcoming trial over the death of his baby daughter. (Updated: 11/21/09 6:44 AM )
Ex-businessman denies he stole from employee retirement funds
A former Lockport businessman pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon to federal charges that he stole money from his employees’ retireement funds. (Updated: 11/21/09 6:44 AM )
Texan pleads guilty in fatal crash
LOCKPORT — A Mesquite, Texas, man who crashed his car in Pendleton while he was smoking marijuana, killing his wife, pleaded guilty Friday to criminally negligent homicide in Niagara County Court. (Updated: 11/21/09 6:44 AM )
‘Share the Bounty’ event hosted by 11 wineries this weekend
All 11 wineries on the Niagara Wine Trail will host a “Share the Bounty” event this weekend, in which participants are encouraged to donate a nonperishable food item or $2.50 per wine tasting, all to benefit local food pantries. (Updated: 11/21/09 8:56 AM )
Town Board creates highway tax to cover budget gap
WHEATFIELD — The Wheatfield Town Board has created a new tax for next year to cover a $640,000 gap in Highway Department funding. (Updated: 11/21/09 6:44 AM )
Water Board rethinks line repair plan
NIAGARA FALLS — The Water Board has backed off a controversial proposal to make residents pay for water service line repairs in the street in front of their homes. (Updated: 11/21/09 6:44 AM )
DEC gets Niagara message
LEWISTON — The message to state environmental regulators was clear Thursday night—stop treating Niagara County as New York’s toxic waste dump. (Updated: 11/22/09 9:37 AM )
Broderick will not seek re-election as treasurer
LOCKPORT — Niagara County Treasurer David S. Broderick announced Thursday he will not seek re-election next year, and County Legislator Kyle D. Andrews said he will run for the post. (Updated: 11/20/09 6:59 AM )
5 detectors all lacked batteries in fatal fire
NIAGARA FALLS — A battery is a small thing, but might have been enough to save two lives last weekend. (Updated: 11/20/09 10:40 AM )
Council targets 2 Dyster appointees
NIAGARA FALLS — The City Council targeted two top positions in Mayor Paul A. Dyster’s administration Thursday as it began a series of budget cuts that will play out during the next four weeks. (Updated: 11/20/09 6:59 AM )
Holiday Art Trail includes nine sites
Get a jump-start on holiday shopping this weekend with some unique, handcrafted gifts on the “2009 Holiday Art Trail,” a coordinated event Saturday and Sunday at nine venues throughout northeast Niagara County. (Updated: 11/20/09 6:59 AM )
Niagara Falls School Board fills residency vacancies
NIAGARA FALLS — The Niagara Falls School Board has filled the remaining slots vacated in September when they fired seven employees for living outside the district — but more firings and hirings over residency are expected. (Updated: 11/20/09 8:03 AM )
Swine flu clinic limited to Starpoint district residents
PENDLETON—The swine flu immunization clinic at Starpoint High School on Saturday is for Starpoint district residents only. (Updated: 11/20/09 2:41 PM )
Eastern Niagara drive at 92 percent of goal
LOCKPORT—The Eastern Niagara United Way has yet to reach its $750,000 goal for this year’s campaign, a crowd of about 60 was told at the organization’s annual luncheon Wednesday at the County Fairgrounds. (Updated: 11/20/09 6:59 AM )
Niagara County student dies of swine flu
A 10th-grade student at Niagara Wheatfield Senior High School died Monday night of complications from swine flu, the Niagara County Health Department confirmed Wednesday. (Updated: 11/19/09 11:04 AM )
Suspect charged in Lockport hit-run fatality
LOCKPORT — City police took two suspects into custody and charged one of them Wednesday in a fatal hit-and-run crash Tuesday afternoon. (Updated: 11/19/09 8:29 AM )
A knifing relived; this time, with justice
LOCKPORT — A city limousine driver was called on to save a life March 1. (Updated: 11/19/09 7:44 AM )
Kenan Center readies gift show
LOCKPORT — Handmade felt purses and eco-friendly greeting cards are just two of the new offerings this weekend, as the Kenan Center hosts its annual Holiday Gift Show. (Updated: 11/19/09 7:45 AM )
Teen admits her guilt in fatal DWI
LOCKPORT — A North Tonawanda teenager admitted Wednesday that she was driving drunk when she crashed her car and killed her boyfriend on May 31. (Updated: 11/19/09 7:07 AM )
Public targets DEC over hazardous waste plan
NIAGARA FALLS — For the second time in a year, state environmental regulators came to Niagara Falls to hear from the public about a draft of its plan to guide the future development of hazardous waste facilities. (Updated: 11/22/09 9:37 AM )
Nonprofit has big plans for Lockport neighborhood
LOCKPORT — A Syracuse not-for-profit organization is planning an extreme makeover of one of Lockport’s most run-down, crime-ridden neighborhoods. (Updated: 11/19/09 7:07 AM )
Niagara County IDA, Falls continue their war of words
WHEATFIELD — The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency and the City of Niagara Falls continued their war of words Wednesday, while the IDA approved a tax break for a new hotel in the city. (Updated: 11/19/09 7:07 AM )
Trial on sex assaults under way
LOCKPORT— Daryl L. Burton, who allegedly told two women he was “the second son of God,” went on trial in Niagara County Court this week on charges of raping one, sexually abusing the other and beating both of them. (Updated: 11/19/09 7:07 AM )
Student mentors help freshmen succeed at Lockport High School
LOCKPORT — Lockport High School is using one of its most plentiful resources to help its latest freshman class succeed — other students. (Updated: 11/19/09 7:08 AM )