No one was seriously hurt due to a number of weather-related accidents in the Jamestown area late last Saturday morning. Most were fender-bender type crashes... especially in the city where freezing rain was a big issue for a few hours. There were also a couple of roll-over accidents. One occured on the Bemus-Ellery Road in the town of Ellery just after 10 AM. Sheriff's officers say 28 year-old Cody Jacobson was westbound when he lost control of his vehicle on Black Ice. Deputies say Jacobson's vehicle left the northside of the roadway... entered a small ditch... and, struck the end of a driveway pipe before rolling onto it's roof. Jacobson was not injured... and, no charges were filed. Officers say the Bemus-Ellery Road was closed until the vehicle was removed.
Winter returned during the overnight hours... after temperatures reached the mid-50s yesterday. The warm-up also brought some rain... and, with temperatures dropped through the overnight... and, snow in the region... there are likely some slick-spots this morning. A Lake Effect Snow Advisory is in effect... and, driving caution is advised.
The leadership of the Chautauqua County Legislature for the past year will remain intact for 2015. Legislature Chairman Jay Gould was elected unanimously at last Friday's reorganizational meeting to lead the panel for the fourth-straight year. Gould says he's excited to have the leadership team remaining in place for the new year... because he's recognizes that there are several challenges facing lawmakers this year. Gould says a bi-partisan... eight-member panel will begin looking for ways to deal with that 6-million dollar "structural deficit" in the new year. However... he feels "very confident" in the legislature's leadership... which will remain intact from top to bottom. Personally... Gould says he looks forward to moving ahead on dealing with the phospherous issue in Chautauqua Lake. That includes a long-term goal of providing sewer services to ALL entities on the lake. Gould says that'll take more than a year. In addition to Gould... GOP Majority Leader David Himelein... and, Democratic Minority Leader Keith Ahlstrom were also re-elected to their positions Friday. The oath of office was also given to new legislators Elisabeth Rankin and Paul Whitford of Jamestown. Whitford is a Democrat... Rankin, a Republican.
A Panama woman has been arrested following a vehicle stop in the town of North Harmony for allegedly being found in possession of several drugs -- including Methamphetime -- that were package for sale. Sheriff's officers say they pulled over the driver... 28 year-old Brian Olsen of Busti... for an alleged traffic infraction on Route 394 early last weekend. Deputies found Olsen had a suspended license... and, had no vehicle registration. They also found his passenger... 33 year-old Melissa Ecker... trying to hide contraband. Further investigation showed that she was in possession of packaged Meth... hash... and, prescription pills. Agents with the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force were called in... and, Ecker was arrested on several charges... including fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, unlawful possession of marijuana. She was arraigned... and, sent to the county jail on 35-thousand dollars cash bail. Officers say Olsen faces charges... including aggravated unlicensed operation... and, driving with a suspended registration. He was issued citations, and released.
A city man is jailed without bail for allegedly demanded money from an employee of a tattoo shop just south of Jamestown.. However, when the worker didn’t comply... he allegedly stole a mug. State Police in Jamestown say 26 year-old William Michishima is accused of trying to rob the "Something Beautiful Tattoo and Piercing Shop" on Foote Avenue in Kiantone. Troopers say Michishima entered the business and demanded money before taking a coffee mug from a display shelf. The suspect was later located by police, who said he admitted to the incident. Michishima was arraigned on third-degree attempted robbery, and petty larceny charges and sent to the county lock-up.
Late Governor Mario Cuomo's number-two man for eight of his 12 years in office says he's "very sad" to hear of Cuomo's passing. Former Lieutenant Governor... Congressman... and, Jamestown Mayor Stan Lundine says he and Cuomo first became aquainted when Lundine was mayor... and, Cuomo was New York's Secretary of State. Lundine says it's hard to believe Cuomo has passed because had so much "vitality" when he served in public office. That vitality was first spotted nationally in 1984 when Cuomo delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. While he may have considered running for president... Lundine says he never pulled the trigger. He believes the main reason in 1992 is because Cuomo felt he should be focusing on the state's budget problems, instead of running for the highest office in the United States. The Cuomo-Lundine team was defeated in 1993 by a then, little known Westchester County lawmaker named George Pataki.
With former Governor Mario Cuomo's death, liberals have lost one of their loudest champions, a proud progressive who represented an older Democratic Party. In his three terms... Cuomo became a leading critic of President Ronald Reagan and used his rhetorical gifts to champion the working class. It's a legacy reflected by liberals including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Cuomo died last Thursday at age 82.
Governor Cuomo has postponed his state-of-the-state address for two weeks until January 21st at the Empire State Convention Center in Albany. Officials announced the changed date late Friday. The annual address describing initiatives for the coming year was scheduled for Wednesday. Cuomo's father, former Governor Mario Cuomo, died last Thursday evening. Calling hours are scheduled Monday with private funeral services Tuesday in Manhattan.
The annual battle over education spending in New York is taking shape, with divvying up the state's $5 billion windfall from bank settlements among the issues to watch. New York spent about 22-billion dollars on education last year, about one-billion more than the year before. Advocates are looking for $2 billion more in the budget Governor Andrew Cuomo will propose later this month... including a share of the surplus.
Organizers of Pennsylvania Democratic Governor-elect Tom Wolf's inauguration say the celebration will be comparable to those of other recent governors. And... like past inaugurals, the January 20th events will likely take on their own character. For example... Republican Tom Ridge celebrated his re-election in 1999 with two days of festivities, including a flyover by Pennsylvania National Guard jets, a concert by 1960s recording stars and a lavish inaugural ball in Hershey. Ridge's term was interrupted when President George W. Bush tapped him as the nation's first homeland security director following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Ridge's successor, Mark Schweiker, limited his inauguration to a swearing-in ceremony on the Capitol steps. Instead of an inaugural ball... he held a private dinner reception for friends and relatives.
