Dale’s Briefs – Thursday October 20th

More than 2-thousand visitors from all over the world are in Buffalo this week for the National Preservation Conference. The work that has been done here to preserve some architectural gems is one of the reasons the conference was attracted to Buffalo. Visitors will be among the first to see the progress so far in the renovation of the Lafayette Hotel downtown.

Originally, the news was that Kent Hull died of a heart attack on Tuesday, but yesterday a medical examiner said he died of intestinal bleeding. The former Buffalo Bills center anchored the offensive line during their Super Bowl years and went to three Pro Bowls. Kent Hull was 50.

The death of a woman in Batavia is being linked to the listeria outbreak caused by tainted cantaloupe. 25 people nationwide have died.

Buffalo police continue to search for the driver and the vehicle involved in a fatal hit and run earlier this month. 48-year old April Smith was struck and killed while trying to cross Broadway on the morning of October 2nd. A $1000.00 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver.

There’s been a mistrial declared in the case of a stabbing death at a Kenmore bar. Jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in Erich Jones’ claims of self-defense in the stabbing death of Carlo Gibson with a pocket knife at Drifters Bar on Military Road. He'll be back in court November 9th to schedule a new trial date.

The new Amherst Walmart at Sheridan and Bailey is set to open next week. If after six months there’s a negative effect on traffic in the area, Walmart will pay for measures needed to correct the problem.

Sabres continue their road trip tonight in Miami against the Florida Panthers. They play Saturday night in Tampa.