Leading off today: State investigators have cited the Buffalo Public Schools for the condition of the steep metal stairs at All High Stadium that caused the death of
Buffalo News sportswriter Tom Borrelli, the
paper reported today.
Five “serious” safety violations have been leveled at the school system by the Labor Department for the ship’s ladder leading to the press box on the stadium’s roof. The charges were filed Jan. 16 after a state inspection of the facility behind Bennett High School on Nov. 19.
Borrelli, 51, was covering a high school football game Nov. 8, when he fell climbing the stairway to the press box and tumbled down the metal stairs. He died Nov. 20.
The state gave the school system until July 18 to correct the violations.
The Buffalo Public Schools spent between $6 million and $9 million renovating All High Stadium in 2006 but eliminated a proposed elevator to the press box because of cost overruns, the paper reported. All High Stadium was built in 1926.
"The hazard has existed long enough that through due diligence, the employer should have known of the hazard,” wrote inspector Paul Shemkovitz in his report.
It's that time of year: Sectional playoff action has opened in earnest in parts of New York, and Deer Park didn't bother waiting for March to infuse a little madness into the basketball postseason.
The Falcons, seeded 15th in the Section 11 Class AA boys basketball tournament, pulled an 84-81 upset of No. 2 Brentwood (14-6) in double overtime yesterday to advance to the quarterfinals.
Deer Park's Marques Charlton, who finished with 21 points, made two free-throws with 23.7 seconds remaining, and a buzzer-beater three-pointer by Jamie Jennings
