Conklin and Sanford indicted by federal Grand Jury in Whitaker murder...
The two homeless men accused of murdering a violinist from New York City who played with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra... have now been indicted by a federal Grand Jury. U-S Attorney William Hochul, Junior announced late Friday that the panel indicted 43 year-old Jonathan Conklin... and, 30 year-old Charles Sanford on three charges. Hochul says they include carjacking... use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence... and, Felon possession of a firearm. He says the charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison... and, a maximum sentence of life. Hochul says the federal case is being handled by Assistant U-S Attorney Timothy Lynch. Conklin and Lynch are accused of robbing 61 year-old Mary Whitaker inside her town of Westfield home on Aug. 20, and, they allegedly shot and killed her soon after Whitaker answered the door at her home. Both men remain jailed... and, will be arraigned next Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Community Education Program set for next Thurs. on Heroin, Opiate Drug Addiction problem in Jamestown-area...
A timely community education program on the struggles of drug addiction... from law enforcement to it's impact on families... will be held next Thursday night in Jamestown. The program, entitled "Striking Back at the White Plague..." will feature three speakers on the issue of Heroin, and other opiate drugs. Dr. Lillian Ney... who heads up the Health Care Action Team for the city's Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission... says the program is timely because of the seven drug sweeps in the city this past week. Ney says the free program will be held at the Robert Lee Scharmann Theatre at Jamestown Community College next Thursday night at 7 p.m. She says they'll have three speakers on hand who will talk about the underlying causes, and scope of the problem. Ney says the speakers will include Dr. David Withers of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He formerly chaired the Emergency Department at WCA Hospital. Withers will talk mainly about addiction, and treatment issues. Dr. Karen McElrath... a Jamestown native who is a professor in Criminal Justice at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina... will speak to those areas as well. The third speaker will be Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings... who has been at the forefront of the war against drug trafficking in the city. Several community organizations... including the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County... are sponsoring next Thursday's program.
Deed Scam returns to Chautauqua County...
An old scam has apparently resurfaced in Chautauqua County regarding people being billed for copies of the deed to their property. That from County Clerk Larry Barmore... who says he's received calls about the invoices several residents have received. Barmore says the most recent letters are coming from a company called Record Transfer Services out of Westlake Village, California. He says the fee to obtain a copy of their deed from this company is $83. But... Barmore adds that other companies have also sent similar letters charging various fees from $59 and up. He says "in most cases, property owners already have their deed. It was returned to them after they purchased the property." If you do need a copy... Barmore says you can get a certified copy from their office for about $2. He adds that, under no circumstances, "should anyone pay these companies anywhere from $50 to $90 for a copy." For complete more information on getting a copy... call the County Clerk's Office at 753-4331.
