City fire investigators looking into cause of blaze in vacant home on Jamestown's northside...
Flames gutted a room-and-a-half at a vacant, two-story house on Jamestown's northside early Thursday morning. City Fire Lt. Brian Eckteberg says crews were called to the scene at 1052 1/2 North Main St. about 6:10 a.m. today. Eckteberg says firefighters found flames starting to come out of a window on arrival. He says it took about an hour to bring the blaze under control, and snuff out the fire. He adds that crews were at the scene until 10:15 this morning. An off-duty shift was called into assist at the scene. No one was hurt... and, the cause is under investigation.
More records set for high temperatures in Upstate New York...
Temperatures are starting to fall, after record-breaking warmth earlier today. The National Weather Service reports that two high temperature records were set this morning. It was 65 degrees late Wednesday night... and 66 early this morning in Buffalo. Meteorologist Dave Thomas says a cold front dropped temperatures... but, it will still be unseasonably mild for Christmas Day. Thomas says the normal high is about 34 to 35 degrees this time of year. The high will be about 10 to 15 degrees higher than that on Christmas Day. Thomas adds there doesn’t appear to be major pattern for the remainder of the month, but a change could be in the works for January. Here's another interesting stat about the overnight weather. The National Weather Service says the coolest temp was 59 degrees... that's warmer than 37 nights this summer (June-August 2015), or about 40% of the summer.
Gerace urges motorists to drive safely, and avoid drinking and driving over Christmas Holiday weekend...
It's a Christmas Eve like no other in recent memory. Temperatures in the 60-degree range have kept the snow away... and it's going to be a "Green Christmas." But... while snow and ice won't be an issue... local police are still urging motorist to travel safely as some 100-million Americans hit the road this holiday season. Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace says his officers are ready to do their part to keep the traveling public safe. Gerace says there'll still be plenty of traffic on the highway, and people going from place to place. He says make sure to wear your seatbelt, and think safety as much as possible. Gerace says... if you are driving some distance to get to a relative or friend's house... make sure you're well-rested... and, haven't been drinking, or using illegal drugs. He says the county's police agencies are all taking part in the state-wide Stop DWI Crackdown. Gerace says they get help from the New York state Stop DWI Foundation to put on the patrols.
City woman accused of stabbing another person with Steak Knife...
A Jamestown woman has been arrested for allegedly stabbing another person with a steak knife early this morning on the city's eastside. Jamestown police were called to the scene at 6 Hedges St. around Midnight for a reported fight... and, found both parties allegedly involved on arrival. Officers say their investigation determined that 32 year-old Stephanie Lockett has grabbed the knife and stabbed the unidentified victim in the right shoulder. The victim was treated at the scene. Lockett was arrested for second-degree assault... and, sent to the city jail pending arraignment.
Reed says, despite low approval ratings, Congress accomplished a number of things in 2015...
Local Congressman Tom Reed says there were a number of accomplishments made by the House of Representatives in 2015 -- both nationally and in his 23rd District. Reed says the just-approved, $1.1-trillion Omnibus Spending Bill includes a number of measures that boost Advanced Manufacturing... and, tax reform. The Corning Republican has pushed reforming the tax code for some time... and, touts a "New Market" Tax Credit... which is being used for a major project underway in Jamestown. That's the National Comedy Center, which can possibly put that tax credit into place... and, also puts the North County Water District in place to meet their water needs. As for Advanced Manufacturing... Reed says several projects are in the pipeline now, using the "Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation" - or RAMI Act that he sponsored, and is now law. He says the $610-million award to Rochester for the new Photonics plant is just an example of what can be done across New York state. Reed made his comments during his weekly conference call with Southern Tier Media.
Reed concerned about future of NRG as 2016 approaches...
The status of the NRG Repowering project is the big concern weighing on Congressman Tom Reed's mind as we head into 2016. During his weekly Conference Call with the media... the Corning Republican said that he met over the past week with officials from Entergy Corporation. That's the rival group that filed the lawsuit against the state's Public Service Commission to halt the project. Reed says he wants to make sure that the problems Entergy is having with Indian Point and elsewhere doesn't stop the progress locally. He believes the project will go forward once the suit is disposed of. A handful of environmental groups have also joined in the lawsuit... saying that the NRG project does nothing to halt the use of fossil fuels. The repowering project would convert the Dunkirk Plant from coal to natural gas.
