City man arrested for allegedly operating a Meth. Lab out of West Cowden Place apartment...
A Jamestown man is jailed without bail for allegedly making Methamphetime in an apartment on the city's southside. But... this Meth Lab was discovered in a strange way. A person living in the area of West Cowden Place and Barrett Avenue reported seeing smoke coming from two trash bags in front of 20 West Cowden. City police were called... and, investigated. They found products allegedly used to make Meth inside the bags. Police Chief Harry Snellings says investigators determined that the trash came from the upstairs apartment... and, they investigated further. A search warrant was obtained... and, police found additional materials... and, Meth itself inside. The occupant... 24 year-old Kyle Moore... was arrested on two Felony charges... including second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was arraigned, and sent to the county lock-up pending further court action.
County Legislature Committee approves Microbead ban local law...
A Chautauqua County Legislature committee has unanimously approved a local law that would ban personal care products from store shelves that contain plastic microbeads. Legislator George Borrello, who chairs the Planning and Economic Development Committee, is pushing for the ban, which would be similar to the one recently enacted in Erie County. Borrello's panel discussed the measure during the meeting... and, it will now go before the full legislature. Once the law is passed, he says it will take six-months to take effect to give manufacturers, distributors, and retailers time to sell or get rid of products with the tiny, plastic beads in them. Borrello says there will also be plenty of opportunity for public comment on the proposal. He says people will get to speak at the beginning of next Wednesday night's legislature meeting... and, there will be a public hearing later before County Executive Vince Horrigan signs the measure. The public was also able to address the issue at last night's meeting. As mentioned... a microbead ban has already been approved in Erie County, New York... and, a similar law has also been proposed now in Albany County, New York.
State Education Commissioner announces cut-back on length of Common Core testing...
New York state's education commissioner says the Common Core tests to be given in the spring will be shorter than in previous years. Speaking to the Board of Regents at its monthly meeting Wednesday in Albany, Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said that some of the writing and reading passages will be removed from the English assessments and the math assessments will lose some multiple choice questions. The tests are given statewide to third- through eighth-grade students each spring to measure student and teacher performance. Elia says the tests' length is why some parents sat their kids out during the last school year.
Stateline Speedway has new owners...
A stock car racing venue in the Jamestown-area for nearly six decades is now under new ownership. Jim and Jean Scott... and, local businessman Brian Horner officially closed on the purchase of Stateline Speedway in Busti late Tuesday. Jean Scott tells us they bought the track from the estate of the late Frances Seamens... and, adds they're excited... and a little overwhelmed to finally have the speedway, and, it's go-cart track... in their possession. She adds that Jim... a retired Late Model racer... has a lot of ideas to improve racing... and, the "fan experience." Jean Scott says they have a five-year plan that includes improvements to the racing surface. That will include new clay... which is slated to be brought in for next season. She says other improvements will be made to concessions... and, even the rest rooms. The purchase price was not announced. The transactio was officially announced on the NEW Stateline Speedway Facebook page Wednesday morning. Stateline -- under the new ownership -- will have it's final night of the 2015 season this Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
TRC hosts first-ever agency-wide picnic...
The Resource Center held its first ever agency-wide picnic Wednesday outside the administrative offices on Dunham Avenue. TRC Community Relations Director Steve Waterson says... in addition to hot dogs and soda... the event had a serious theme -- titled 'It Matters to Me'. Agencies like the Resource Center all across New York are asking the state for three things. Enhancing expanding residential services for people with disabilities, for better wages for direct support professionals, and keeping work centers -- like their's on Jones and Gifford Ave. -- as an employment option for people with disabilities. Mark Morton, Assistant Executive Director for Employee Relations, says raising the miminum wage for some entry level workers in the economy could have a negative effect on agencies serving people with disabilities. Morton says their staff are also "deserving of a higher wage, too." Following the picnic, the center held its annual recognition for Direct Support Professionals, the people who work every day helping individuals with disabilities.
NY National Guard helicopter crew sent to help defend southern border against drug, and human trafficking...
A New York Army National Guard helicopter crew is headed to the U-S--Mexico border to conduct aerial reconnaissance missions. Officials at National Guard headquarters in suburban Albany say four crew members are flying a UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter to the Mexican border in Arizona. They departed from Latham Tuesday morning. The aircraft and crew are headed to Marana, Arizona, to support U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agencies. The four-man crew from New York will be accompanied by a Customs and Border Patrol agent on all missions. Their mission involves keeping watch for drug smuggling and human trafficking.
