The local Red Cross chapter is looking for people who would like to become Disaster Action Team members. Southwestern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross Director Bill Tucker says that classes will begin in September... and, trained volunteers help the Red Cross to respond to disasters locally... as well as on the regional or national scene. Tucker says the next training cycle for disaster volunteers will be in September with the classes being held at the Jamestown office. He says anyone who might want to be a volunteer can call them at 664-5115... and, they can give you all the information you need about becoming one. Local volunteers have responded 98 times to assist 565 people across the area served by the Southwestern New York chapter that includes Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. Several volunteers have been called out to national disasters including Hurricane Sandy which hit the downstate area two years ago.
Three people -- two from Jamestown -- have been arrested for allegedly stealing a number of items... several times... from the 7-11 Store on North Main Street in the city. Jamestown Police add they are still looking for a fourth suspect. Officers say the JPD bike patrol arrested 31 year-old Amy Robbins... and, a 17 year-old -- both of Jamestown -- and, 45 year-old Michael Pacheco of Salamanca... about 11:30 PM Tuesday. Officers say the trio was acting suspiciously or committing other offenses when they were stopped on North Main. A black male between the age of 17 and 20... wearing an off-white shirt... was able to flee the scene. If you have any information on the suspect... call city police at 483-7531... or their Confidential Tip-line at 483-TIPS. That's 483-8477.
A Gowanda man has become the second member of Local 17 of the International Union of Operating Engineers to be convicted of extortion for allegedly trying to intimidate a contractor involved in a Buffalo Waterfront project. The U-S Attorney's office says 45 year-old Michael Eddy was sentenced Tuesday in U-S District Court to eight months in prison, four months home confinement, and two years of supervised release. Assistant U-S Attorney Anthony Bruce says Eddy was also ordered to pay 2-thousand dollars in restitution to the victim -- Earth Tech of Latham, New York. Bruce says Eddy was part of campaign designed to force Earth Tech to sign a collective bargaining agreement with Local 17 regarding a 2005 project.
The newly-renovated Lillian Dickson Park on Jamestown's eastside has been officially dedicated... and, being used by neighborhood families and children. The ribbon was cut on the updated facility yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon by the Friends of Lillian Dickson Park... city officials... and, members of the Chautauqua County Health Network... and, others. Mayor Sam Teresi was among those on hand... and, he says they not only celebrated the park's re-opening... but, the way the "community-based" project came together. Teresi says the project was also reflective of similar ones in the past... where there was a joint public-private effort. He says the city provided 50-thousand dollars for the project through Community Develpment Block Grant funding. Teresi adds there were about 13-thousand dollars in charitable contributions made... along with 11-thousand more from the Health Network. He says the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation was also a player in the effort. Teresi adds the city provided a lot of "in-kind" services with members of the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department.
CSX Transportation says it hauls an average of 20 to 35 trains a week loaded with crude oil from North Dakota's Bakken region across 17 upstate New York counties en route to coastal refineries. Canadian Pacific says it hauls an average of five to nine crude oil trains a week through five counties from the Canadian border to Schoharie County. The information was released to The Associated Press Tuesday by the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services in response to a Freedom of Information Law request. The U.S. Department of Transportation in May ordered railroads to give state officials specifics on oil train routes so emergency responders can better prepare for accidents. New York officials declined requests from CSX and Canadian Pacific to avoid public disclosure of the information.
Two Chautauqua County residents who are in the Philippines for a United Methodist Church youth conference are okay... but, had some scary moments when a typhoon hit the island nation. Local Youth Leader... and, former interim Cassadaga Valley Central School Superintendent Tom Schmidt... is among the regional delegation to the Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative Assembly in Manila. Schmidt says about 200 to 300 of the attendees were in a retreat center when the full-force of the storm hit Tuesday. Bemus Point United Methodist Youth member Emily Allen is also there. Schmidt says everyone is okay... though there was extensive damage to the first building they were in. Speaking with our Dennis Webster this morning... he says they weathered the storm as well as can be expected... and, were being moved to another location closer to downtown Manila. Schmidt says the roofs were torn off a few of the buildings in the complex... along with a number of windows. Early reports were that the typhoon had resulted in 12 deaths. Manila did not take a direct hit... and, is possibly heading towards northern Vietnam or China's Hainan Island.
