COLUMN BY RICK PFEIFFER —
Longtime Niagara County Sheriff Tom Beilein may have moved on to keeping watch over the state’s corrections institutions, but his love of our region remains.
Nothing proves that better than the announcement this week of the third annual Thomas A Beilein Scholarship for high school seniors here.
The scholarships, not surprisingly, are for students who are seeking a career in criminal justice or law enforcement. Scholarship recipients must be enrolled in an accredited two or four year college criminal justice program in New York state.
There are three $1,000 scholarships available for the 2012 fall semester.
“Former Sheriff Thomas Beilein displayed impeccable work ethic and integrity throughout his entire 40-year career in law enforcement, serving the people of Niagara County,” current Sheriff Jim Voutour said. “He raised the level of professionalism at the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, which, in turn, improved public safety for county residents.”
Beilein was elected to four terms as the county’s top cop and served 14 1/2 fraction in that post. Though he now works in Albany, he still lives in Niagara County.
“Tom Beilein has always expressed great faith in the young men and women of Niagara County to be the next wave of law enforcers,” Voutour said. “We can honor his accomplishments and bolster his belief in the future by assisting those whose lives assume the responsibility to perpetuate society’s values and protect it’s citizens.”
Voutour called Beilein his “mentor” and said it was a pleasure to be involved in the scholarship program that bears his name.
The program is funded through the Niagara County Law Enforcement Foundation. High school seniors can obtain scholarship applications from their school guidance counselors.
The deadline for applications is March 5. Applications and other materials can also be downloaded at www.niagarasheriff.com
A hole in the newsroom
There’s a hole in the Gazette newsroom these days and, sadly, it has nothing to do with work crews or renovations.
It’s no secret that our City Editor Rick Forgione has decided to take his considerable talents, not to South Beach with Lebron James, but to the Falls School District. The district’s students will be the richer for his decision, we will be poorer.
I’ve worked with Rick for about a decade. It doesn’t seem even close to that long.
He’s a tough editor, a task master and, yeah, we’ve butted heads some times. That’s because he is as passionate about this business as I am.
“Forgie,” as we call him, is one of those far to rare Falls success stories. This is a guy who dreamed about growing up and one day working for his hometown newspaper.
I know how that feels. It was what I got to do at WBEN Radio and WIVB TV.
We’ve been told that Forgie will still be around here from time to time. I sure hope so.
When news breaks, the first thing I always want to do is call him and tell him about it. It’s what I’ve done for 10 years.
It’s hard not to just automatically call him now.
There’s a hole in our newsroom and it’s going to be tough to fill.
Contact reporter Rick Pfeiffer at 282-2311, ext. 2252.
Columns
Related Photos
PFEIFFER: Beilein still serving area through scholarship
- Columns
-
-
HAMILTON: Dandelions, parades, broken poles and people
There are still those remnants of the fading bouquets of floral tributes that still hang at that base of a tree on city hall’s lawn. It is near where, last year, from his shiny silvery cart, Melvin Johnson sold hot dogs and sausages to both city employees and passerbys while his tiny white dog excitingly yelped at anyone that came near.
- No Headline Provided
-
GLYNN: Gillibrand seeks help for prime bread-winners
A recent report shows that working mothers across the Empire State earn nearly 15 percent lower pay for the same work as men.
-
BRADBERRY: There really are spirits in the water
Over the centuries since it was “discovered” hundreds of millions of people have traveled from every corner of the world to visit Niagara Falls making it the most visited of the great waterfalls on the planet.
-
CONFER: The reality of rationed health care
The ongoing debate over Obamacare has brought to light the concept of rationed healthcare. Opponents of health care reform keenly point out that while the bill never explicitly calls out rationing, it features certain provisions that will lead the markets to adjust to strict federal demands and, therefore, dispense certain procedures in smaller amounts or not at all. Because of it being the first time that the subject has really come up in public circles, most people, especially on the right, believe that rationing is something new. It’s not. The free markets have been practicing that for quite some time. I should know; with a 4-inch long, 1-inch wide scar running south of my belly button – and a couple of related scars around my groin – I could be the poster child for rationed health care.
-
CITY DESK: A regrettable error
We owe Carol Sensabough an apology.
Several weeks ago, the long-time reader and Niagara Falls resident sent a letter to the editor explaining that she took offense to some of the things written by a syndicated columnist, Stephen Dick. -
HIGGS: Niagara Falls' own West Side story
Trusello’s Bakery was on Elmwood behind the family home at 840 19th St. The family, Richard, William (Billy) and Sam along with two sisters, lived in the house.
-
GLYNN: Falls, Ont., rolls out red carpet for Wallenda
Before Nik Wallenda even started practicing his high-wire routine in downtown Niagara Falls, state Sen.George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, had noted the warm welcome the tightrope walker received across the river.
-
HAMILTON: Civic ‘ParticipAction’ can work too
Back in the 1970s, our Neighbors to the North ran a national campaign called ParticipAction to encourage Canadians to get off their butts and do things for the sakes of their bodies.
-
GLYNN: Graduates find they’re in staggering debt
Countless senior citizens often gripe about something, sometimes even with good reason. Perhaps they should consider themselves fortunate, compared with the younger generation.
- More Columns Headlines
-
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
Hurricane Forecast: 15 Named Storms Expected
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Search Intensifies for Missing Louisiana Woman
Bloomberg: Man Implicates Self in Etan Patz Case
NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death
Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine
Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire
Obama: 'We've Got More Work to Do'
Astrologers Predict Outcome of Presidential Race
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
