Island Dispatch, 1989-10-06

              ISLAND DISPATCH With The GRAND ISLAND NEWS GRAND ISLAND, NY • 773-7676 VOL. 46 NO. 30 • Oct. 6,1989 24 PAGES 35« The Vikes Win The Big One Chris Roggow picks up yardage for the Vikes in the all important game against Niagara Wheatfield last Saturday. (Below): Vikings Chris Oursler and Chris Bennett help to bury N-W's Jack Forrest as he tries to run the ball against a fierce defense. Complete details on page 16. Photo, by Job* Reaar Weather THE OLD Fanner's Almanac says: Oct. 6-11: Indian summer weather. Oct. 12-13: clearing, cool. North Bridge Contract Awarded THE CIANBRO Corp. of Pittsfield, Maine, has now been awarded a $19.4 million contract for rehabilitating the North Grand Island Bridge. Controversy over the selection of the Maine company arose a month ago when the award was challenged by Buffalo area building unions. However a Thruway spokesman said an investigation has found no basis for the complaint that Cianbro had violated labor laws. Nevertheless, the allegations stalled work on the bridge which was scheduled to begin right after Labor Day. Traffic on the northbound bridge is expected to be reduced to a single lane during noncommuter hours. But somewhere along the line, the northbound bridge will be closed and two-way traffic will be shuttled onto the southbound span. With only one bridge in use at the north and south ends of the Island, repaying the Thruway between these points at the same time could escalate the present situation from a disaster standpoint, a resident observed Thursday. MEK Severed Cable Causes Isle Phone Blackout IT WASN'T vandalism that caused about 1000 Grand Island telephone users to be without service for 24 hours, beginning at 1 A.M. Monday morning after a major underground phone cable was severed at the north end of town. The wiring was cut by a contracting firm crew digging a trench on the east side of Baseline Road near South Lane. Fire Chief Ray Pauley credited Second Assistant Chief Steve Morgan with directing Fire Company operations which set up emergency service for residents affected. "First, we made sure that we had standby manpower at Truck House 2 on Stony Point Road near Huth so that residents could come there for any assistance or use the telephone for emergencies," Pauley said. He said the firemen also set up a mobile unit at the Huth Road Elementary School along with a crew stationed there and provided a portable cellular telephone to People, Inc. on Long Road, "for use in the event of an emergency with some of their disabled residents." The phone was also made available for neighbors needing such service, he said. Telephone service in the Sandy Beach area was restored about 1 A.M. Tuesday morning, Pauley said. MEK Weekend At A Glance FRIDAY OCTOBERFEST FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT LA VERNE LUTHER FOR SUPERVISOR. Knight* of Columbus Hall, 8-11 P.M. SATURDAY VARSITY VIKINGS VS. KKNMORE EAST, away. 2 P.M. FIRE COMPANY INSPECTION, Fire Headquarters, 5:30 P.M.. SUNDAY ROD & GUN CLUB FALL MEAT SHOOT, noon GI HISTORICAL SOCIETY QUILT DAY, River Lea, Beaver Island Park, 1-4 P.M. Mail T«: