Category: PostNews

BOSTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — A driver is dead following a two-car crash in the Town of Boston.

Wednesday around 2:30 p.m., New York State police say Justin Mendyke was headed north on Boston State Road when he veered into the other lane and hit another vehicle head-on.

The 39-year-old Depew man was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver was taken to ECMC for non-life threatening injuries.

Police are investigating this crash.

ARCADE, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Take 5 ticket worth nearly $40,000 was recently sold in Wyoming County.

The ticket for the April 20 evening drawing, worth $39,688, was purchased by someone at the Tops on W. Main Street in Arcade.

The winning numbers for the drawing were: 6-21-25-26-34.

A winning lottery ticket can be cashed up to a year from the date of the drawing. More information on the New York Lottery can be found here.

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Lockport woman has been accused of driving drunk with two young kids in the vehicle.

On Wednesday evening, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office says Karen Trinkwalder, 38, was seen driving near the intersection of Lake Avenue and Old Niagara Road. At the time, they say she appeared to be drinking an alcoholic beverage while behind the wheel.

Trinkwalder was stopped in the parking lot of the Crosby’s on Lake Avenue. At the time, two children, ages 6 and 8, were inside the vehicle, they say.

After giving her sobriety tests, deputies arrested Trinkwalder, charging her with DWI, possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The children were placed in the care of a family member and Trinkwalder was remanded to the Niagara County Jail pending arraignment.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A cat is dead after a Wednesday evening house fire on Alma Avenue in Buffalo.

The fire broke out just after 6 p.m. at 106 Alma Ave., according to Buffalo Fire.

Damage to the house is pegged at $120,000.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — During Wednesday’s Buffalo Board of Education meeting, the board took time to salute a security guard who was shot during a violent attack outside McKinley High School.

Walker was shot while running to help a student who was stabbed outside McKinley back on February 9. He said he’s blessed that he’s doing better after that horrible day, but he doesn’t consider himself a hero.

“I’m always there to help, no matter what. If it’s when I’m on duty or not. If people like to call me that, it’s fine, but I’m just me, I’m Bradley Walker, I just want to help somebody, that’s it,” Walker said.

“It’s annoying:” Buffalo teachers picket for new contract before Board of Ed meeting

Two teenagers are charged, one for shooting Walker, and another for the assault on the student.

McKinley’s teachers and another security officer were also honored Wednesday night.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Members of the Buffalo Teachers Federation say they are insulted by the Buffalo School District’s latest contract offer. They carried their message directly to the school board using picket signs before the board’s monthly meeting.

Teachers from across the district gathered to hold signs and walk in front of the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts on E. Ferry St. at 3:45 Wednesday afternoon. They called the most recent proposed deal “insulting and degrading.”

“When it becomes the politics of it and the kicking back and forth and all of that, it’s annoying,” James Healy, teacher at Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, said.

Mask requirement back in place for airports, buses and, rails

Federation President Phillip Rumore addressed Interim Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams and the Board of Education directly during the public comment portion of the meeting. He says he submitted a new resolution to the board and wants to return to the negotiating table.

“They say it will cost tens of millions of dollars to put us where the other teachers in other school districts are. Well, what does that tell you? That’s how far behind we are from the other school districts. Shame on you,” Rumore said.

The Union has not successfully negotiated a new contract with the district since 2019. They claim teachers in Buffalo are making less money than surrounding districts. In their resolution, they add teachers are behind their colleagues in the “Big 6” school districts in the region.

“Nobody goes into teaching to get rich. You do it as a calling and it should be recognized,” Healy added.

Buffalo Public Schools says negotiating this deal is critical, but they claim the Federation canceled three negotiating sessions and demanded to return to mediation. The district is also handling another contract dispute with the custodial staff.

“I expect that we are going to have vigorous, hearty, and productive discussions about what it is going to take,” Nate Kuzma, general counsel for Buffalo Schools, said.

Woman opens emergency exit, inflates slide on plane at Buffalo Niagara International Airport

Education officials say this deal will be an investment, but the district has priorities and so do teachers. The delay is frustrating.

“We’re ready to come to the table with whomever is at the top. It would be nice to see if it can get done with this interim Superintendent. We’re just hoping for progress,” Ellen Malone, post-secondary assessment and advisement instructor at Buffalo Schools continued.

Negotiations are set to resume with a mediator on Thursday. Attorney Kuzma says he hopes to get this deal done in a month.

NIAGARA, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Niagara County Sheriff’s office is investigating the death of an infant from the Town of Niagara.

Town of Niagara police and the United States Border Patrol responded around 12 p.m. Wednesday to a call for an “infant in distress” at the Cayuga Village Mobile Home Park, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The infant was taken to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

The Niagara Active Volunteer Fire Company and Mercy EMS also assisted at the scene.

News 4 will update this article as more information becomes available.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Divers took to the water surrounding the USS The Sullivans Wednesday as crews continue work on saving the ship.

The original plan was for these divers to get in the water Tuesday, but mother nature got in the way. Wednesday’s dive is just part of the reason officials say they’ve made significant progress in saving The Sullivans.

With Wednesday’s decent weather, BIDCO divers were able to start an underwater assessment of the ship.

United States Coast Guard Captain Lexia Littlejohn said it’s important to take a look at the outside of The Sullivans first, to get an idea of how exactly the water is getting inside. Once they figure that out, crews will decide whether to go into the ship.

Officials have been looking at the original renderings of The Sullivans in order to prepare for what’s next.

Community donates food, supplies to crew working on USS The Sullivans

“Some of the things that they’re looking for is the condition of the hull. Where is the water coming in from? Can we repair it? Because if we can repair it, we can right the ship and get it to a place where it’s in a stable situation,” Littlejohn said.

After making an air assessment, officials said they see no damage to the shoreline, which was something they were originally concerned about. Crews were also able to start pumping water from the ship again.

Littlejohn said after reinforcing the boom Tuesday, they were able to contain the oily-waste water that was coming from the ship.

Water is now getting pumped out at a rate of 300 gallons per minute.

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — Over the years, the City of Niagara Falls has lost some luster as the “Honeymoon Capital.” But Mayor Robert Restaino said he is about to change that with a five-point program to restore the city’s image.

If you have been to the Cataract City in recent years, you know the world-famous Niagara Falls are not all that get your attention. Dilapidated housing and teeth-rattling potholes are everywhere, but Mayor Restaino is promising to put that in the rearview mirror.

First in Restaino’s “Neighborhood Initiative:” A home improvement loan program providing low-interest loans up to $15,000 for homeowners to fix up their property.

“We hope that making these funds available to our residents will assist them in making the improvements I know they would like to make to their homes, and obviously that we would like for our residents to be able to afford to do,” said Mayor Restaino.

Homeowners would have 10 years to pay the loans back. With acres and acres of vacant lots, the mayor is also offering up 52 lots owned by the city for homeowners to add to their existing property.

$50,000 Powerball ticket sold in Niagara Falls

“Having a garden, some private space, build a garage, put in a pool. All those things that they might otherwise be limited in doing because of their current lot size,” he added.

Those pock-marked streets in many parts of the city, Restaino puts much of the blame on broken sewer laterals, which he said are the responsibility of property owners. The city is offering loans to homeowners with limited household incomes, with the city doing most of the work.

“We will go about the business of making sure that the contractor is paid. In order to qualify you have to have proof of ownership of your home, your property taxes must be paid in full,” the mayor said.

The mayor is also working on improving the city’s 311 information line, which can also be accessed through a smartphone portal.

“We have a lot of complaints in the city of old infrastructure, trees down. When residents can call that line now and get a response and understand what is going on with their request, I think that improves their quality of life,” said John Spanbauer, chairman, City Council.

Police frustrated over Niagara Falls shooting suspect’s release just hours after arrest

“Niagara Falls is starting to reinvent itself. There’s good bones to a lot of the homes that are here in the community. It’s a great place to start a family. I think programs like this help attract people into the city,” added Traci Bax, councilmember, City Council.

Niagara Falls is also launching a new text alert program, on an opt-in basis. Residents can get instant alerts about street repairs, youth and senior programs, and out-of-town family members can even keep up-to-date with loved ones living in the city.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Anastasia is the latest Broadway show gracing the Shea’s stage. It started its Buffalo run Tuesday night.

Lead actress Kyla Stone may have started her run as Anya in the U.S. Broadway tour of Anastasia this past October, but she goes way back with the show.

“I’ve known this show since I was a little girl. My sister showed me the film when I was I think seven so I’ve always loved the music and to have the opportunity to be the first black woman to play this role and get to show audiences it doesn’t matter what you look like you can tell a story like this and be a princess is so amazing and such a gift,” Stone said.

She celebrated six months with the tour on Tuesday night in Buffalo.

One of Stone’s favorite songs to sing is “Journey to the Past,” the act one finale.

“It’s about knowing that there’s fear and uncertainty and putting that aside and being like, ‘I’m gonna follow through no matter where this takes me at the end of the day I’m still gonna be me and I’m gonna find out who I am.'”

She said the first Buffalo audience was receptive to the show.

“I love just sort of getting to vibe with them and figure out what they like and what their comedy is.”

Stone said the cast ranges from ages 13-to-70, presenting a wide variety of experiences for everyone to relate to.

“You’re in for a whirlwind, you’re in for spectacle, if you love romance you’ll love it if you love drama if you love comedy, and a little mystery, there’s definitely that, ‘oh is she, Anastasia,’ and we even tease that at the end of the show so it’s up to you.”

Anastasia runs at Shea’s through Sunday, April 24.

The 2021-2022 M&T Bank Broadway Season wraps up with Ain’t Too Proud starting May 10.

Kayla Green is a reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.