Here are the brief dispatches that the
early news telegraphers could pound out in about a minute each.
Items like this would go "right out" on the Western Union Wire. Longer reports
might wait until
evening when traffic was lower. Those longer reports were often called "Night
Letters."
Here on the web you'll find the longer material in three places:
Beilein charged in Pittsburgh. John Beilein, brother of Niagara County Sheriff Tom Beilein, was cited for Disorderly Conduct at Pittsburgh International Airport on Tuesday, 5/30, according to a report in USA Today and on AP wires. Mr. Beilein is Head Coach of the West Virginia men's basketball team and he reportedly cited that fact as a reason for not moving his vehicle from a "No Parking" zone outside the airport terminal. The Athletic Director at West Virginia said the school has no plans for disciplinary action against Beilein whom he called, "a man of high integrity." A lawyer for Mr. Beilein is quoted in news reports as calling the incident a "misunderstanding."(6/2/06)
Rabid skunk triggers emergency vaccination program. The Niagara County Department of Health says it will have "emergency" bait deposited around a 5-kilometer radius of a spot where a rabid skunk was found in the City of Niagara Falls. The baiting is to start Friday, 4/28 and will include most of Niagara Falls city, much of the Town of Niagara and parts of the town of Lewiston. Additional information is available by calling 439-7444. (4/28/06)
Buffalo-Niagara Partnership hostile to Niagara, politician claims. Dennis Virtuoso (D- Niagara Falls) a member of the Niagara County Legislature says BNP won't give Niagara County a seat on the 41-member board of directors without the payment of about $50,000 (per year). All members of the board are from Erie County although the group uses the Niagara name and claims to "represent" Niagara County in commercial and industrial promotion. Virtuoso indicates BNP's most significant failure for Niagara County of late is the loss of the potential 1000-job chemical company that decided not to locate in the Niagara-Wheatfield area. They company cited high cost of electric (just a few miles from the huge, cheap Niagara hydroelectric projects) as a prime reason for not locating here. (4/24/06)
Niagara County may turn IDA land over for farming. Niagara County Legislators are considering a proposal that would release most of the acreage at the county's ill-fated Industrial Development park for a Town of Wheatfield farmer to plant and culivate for farming. The so-called "Vantage" IDA park in the Town of Wheatfield, off Lockport Road, has been a huge failure,costing County taxpayers money and credit. The little success the venture has had has been mainly at the expense of the cities where companies have moved out due to tax considerations. (3/18/06)
Record-breaking crowd at Polar Bear Swim, Olcott Beach. Organizers say 481 people paid $10 each to enter the icy waters at Olcott Beach, Sunday, March 5, 2006 to become certified "Polar Bears." A crowd of about 2500 watched. Before, during, and after bars in the beachfront hamlet did a huge business as most took part in the party atmosphere that has been part of the event for all of its 37 years. (3/6/06)
Niagara County Emergency Training Center
Emergency
Training. Behind the sign Niagara County officials put up to congratulate
themselves for spending over a million dollars in public monies to build it, is a
nice building used to train firemen and other emergency responders. It is not a
heavily used facility but carries it quota of well-paid political jobs.
Although most all fire protection services out in the County is provided by
volunteers, to "coordinate" all the volunteers there is a multitude of paid
positions funded by taxpayers. These jobs, like most others in County government are
staffed through political appointment.
The facility is next to the Niagara County Jail on Niagara Street Extension.(3/4/06)
Practice
Burns.
As a part of the Emergency Training facility in the Town of
Lockport this structure is repeatedly set on fire so firefighters can practice techniques
of putting out fires, entering flaming buildings, and searching for occupants.
It is one of the most desirable facilities of its type available anywhere in New
York State. It was fully funded, and is maintained, with local public monies.
(3/4/06)