Authorities in Cattaraugus County are looking into the death of a man whose body was found in Little Valley Creek behind 103 South Court Street in the village of Little Valley Monday. Sheriff's Deputies report that the body of Kyle J. Michener was found just before 12:30pm. Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Bureau Personell and the County Coroner were at the scene. An investigation is ongoing and an autopsy has been scheduled.
Tips from the public helped Jamestown Police make a quick arrest in their investigation of two early morning robberies Sunday and Monday at an eastside convenience store. City Police Lieutenant Paul Abbott says the bandit... now identified as 41 year-old Noel Vellon... is accused of entering the 7-Eleven store at East Second and Buffalo Streets about 4 each morning... and, pull a gun on the clerk. Abbott says the man then demanded cash from the register. Abbott says Vellon "lines up" with the description of the man they were looking for in connection with the robberies. Police now say he faces two counts of second-degree robbery... and, two counts of menacing. Vellon was arraigned, and sent to the county jail without bail. Police add they have also recovered an "air soft" replica pistol the suspect allegedly used in the robberies. If you have any information on the case... you're still encouraged to call police at 483-7537... or 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477.
A father and son from Jamestown are now in the Chautauqua County Jail without bail after being arrested in connection with a two-state burglary spree. Sheriff's Deputies add that local charges have now been place against 51 year-old William Lewis... and, his 28 year-old son, Eric. Officers say police investigated several daytime burglaries in various parts of the town of Harmony and North Harmony during October and early November. Several others were investigated in the towns of Busti and Ellicott. Officers say they have also been working with Pennsylvania State Police on similar burglaries in Warren County. Troopers say a Honda CRV was spotted at several of their break-ins... and, a car matching the description was stopped in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania back on November 2nd. Both men were arrested... and, interviewed by local police. The Lewises were formally arrested by Lakewood-Busti police Tuesday... and, are jailed on three counts each of second-degree burglary.
Dunkirk City firefighters were busy yesterday battling a large fire at an abandoned warehouse. Crews were called to the former Edgewood Warehouse facility at 320 South Roberts Road just before 1:45 PM. Fire Chief Mike Edwards says crews found a large fire burning in discarded refuse inside the building. Edwards says they found a large amount of fire inside when they arrived. He says the fire had also spread to structural components of the roof. He adds there was structural damage... but nothing major. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze, but remained on duty. The cause is under investigation. Dunkirk Fire was assisted at the scene by Dunkirk Police, Chautauqua County Fire Police, and Alstar Ambulance.
The effort to locate a new, Veteran's Memorial in the town of North Harmony is underway to recogize the more than 700 veterans who have lived in the town. Project Chief Engineer Rex Tolman says they're about mid-way through the project's design phase... and, they're looking for donations to put the fund-raising effort over the top. Tolman is a local engineer... and, says the new memorial will be designed similar to Veteran's Memorials now in place in other towns... like Busti. Tolman says... while there have been horror stories about V-A Hospitals in the U-S... he has nothing but positive things to say about the V-A Hospital in Buffalo. He says his business has also done a lot of work for the Veteran's Administration through his certification as a Disabled Veteran's firm... and, says they've designed about 35 projects over the past few years across the region. For more information about the North Harmony Veteran's Memorial... Tolman says call the town office at 789-3445. Officials say they hope to have the final memorial in place at Fardink Road and North Maple Avenue -- just outside Ashville -- sometime next year.
There's a push by some state lawmakers in New York to do more for the Empire State's veterans. In an announcement timed for Veterans' Day... the state Senate's Democratic minority will announce a series of bills Wednesday designed to link veterans to programs to help them get jobs, housing, mental health care and other services to ease the transition to civilian life... and, reward them for their service. One of the measures would create an employment website for veterans. Another would allow them to receive educational credits for military training and a third would create programs for veterans who are victims of sexual violence.
The Chautauqua County Water Agency is preparing for meeting Thursday night in Dunkirk... but, all of the local governments involved in a proposed North County Water District were represented at a Monday workshop meeting. We have learned from Dunkirk Mayor A-J Dolce that representatives from all of the local governments... and, the county were involved in the meeting held at the State University of New York at Fredonia Incubator. Dolce feels the session went well. The city of Dunkirk would play a key role in the project by providing the water for the district. Dolce believes he and the Common Council are on "the same page..." and, ready to take the next step. While he would not comment on the meeting itself... Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan feels positive about Thursday's meeting, the first one the County Water Agency has held since June.
The New York Thruway Authority says bridge and highway tolls won't increase in 2016. The agency also says Monday a new panel will study future tolls on the new Tappan Zee Bridge, along with potential discount programs and other aspects of financing the span. The authority is proposing a 2.1-billion dollar budget that is 291-million dollar, or 16 percent, higher than this year. It includes one-billion dollars for the new Tappan Zee Bridge now under construction over the Hudson River, $348 million for the operating expenses of the authority and the state Canal Corp. and $380 million for other capital projects across the Thruway and canal systems. Authority officials also pushed back the timetable for opening the first Tappan Zee span from December 2016 to spring or summer in 2017.
The city of Jamestown's official Christmas Tree is on up on Tracy Plaza... and will soon be decorated with some 25-hundred lights for the Holiday season. That from City Arborist Dan Stone... who says a crew from the Public Works Department and Board of Public Utilities took down the 70-foot Spruce Tree in Allen Park Monday morning. Stone says they then brought it to the plaza... where it was cut down to 45-feet... and, trimmed before being stood upright. Stone says they had no real problems bringing down the tree... and, transporting it to City Hall. He says it has an "Ascending" branch array... which made it easier to get on the truck... use of which was donated by Lake Shore Paving. Stone says the tree will be officially lit to kick off this year's Tinseltown Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration on Friday, December 4th at 6:30 PM. The event on Third Street is put on by the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation.
