Rabb elected council president in Jamestown again...
The man who has headed up the Jamestown City Council the past eight years will again lead the panel in the coming year. At Friday afternoon's re-organizational meeting... lawmakers elected Councilman at-large Greg Rabb to continue as Council President. Rabb thanked his collegues for the privledge of serving again in that capacity. Rabb told fellow lawmakers that he looked forward to "reshaping the way we do business..." and, pointed to their collective strength -- that being diversity. He also laid out some fairly specific agenda items for 2016... and, urged each Council committee to "persevere" in the new year. He called for lawmakers to move forward with consolidating the Jamestown Police, and Chautauqua County Sheriff's Departments. In addition... Rabb called on the Council's Public Safety committee to work with the public and private sectors to address the local drug problem as a "public health crisis..." and, establishing for a local, residential treatment center.
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There was no address by Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi... who began his fifth, four-year term Friday. Teresi was sworn in during a private ceremony late New Year's Eve attended by several family, friends, and collegues at City Hall.
Teresi appoints three new citizen members of the Board of Public Utilities...
In addition to electing the Council President... city lawmakers also approved Mayor Sam Teresi's several appointments to a number of boards and committees. The most anticipated nominations were for three citizen representative seats on the city's Board of Public Utilities. Teresi says he decided to go with three new people who come from different segments of the community. They are Tyler Case of The Resource Center, retired Biomedical Technician Terrance Horner, and Jamestown Metal Products Operations Manager Ralph Wallace. Teresi says the appointments were "nothing about the three members" that had served 12, 14, and 16 years of "dedicated" service to the BPU. Those members... John Zabrodsky, Carl Pillitierri, and Wayne Rishell... were all Teresi appointees. However... all three opposed the city's push to have the BPU make a Dividend Payment to the city each of the past three years. Asked about that... Teresi said he would not make this about what happened "in the past."
Rosas inaugurated as new Dunkirk Mayor...
The first elected Hispanic mayor in New York State is excited about taking over the leadership of the city of Dunkirk. Retired Buffalo City Judge Raul Figueroa gave the oath of office to Dunkirk's new Mayor Willie Rosas before an overflowing crowd at Dunkirk City Hall on New Year's Day. In his inauguration address... Rosas outlined his goals...the top one...keeping NRG Power open in Dunkirk. He also says it won't be business as usual... adding that he has appointed people who are ready to go to work for the residents of Dunkirk. Council members also seem to welcome the new mayor. New Councilman at-Large Andy Woloszyn, a former City Assessor, says he's looking forward to working with Rosas.
Frewsburg woman arrested for allegedly tatooing two young boys...
A Frewsburg woman has been arrested for allegedly tatooing the backs of her two juvenile boy's hands in Jamestown in late November. Chautauqua County Sheriff's Officers were called to check on the well-being of the two boys, ages 12 and 13, at their home on Emery Hill Road on New Year's Eve. After their investigation... deputies arrested 34 year-old Chantilly Thomas. Officers accuse Thomas of personally using a tattoo gun to permanently tattoo the words "Ride or Die" on the 12 year-old's hand... and, a Lightning bolt on the 13 year-olds. However... deputies say she did not have a license to perform tattooing in any state in the U-S. Thomas was charged with second-degree Unlawfully Dealing with a Child... and, released pending a future court appearance in Jamestown.
Frewsburg fire crews make quick work of New Year's Day cabin fire...
Quick work by five fire departments New Year's Day spared a cabin owned by an Ohio family from extensive damage near the Cattaraugus County Line. Frewsburg Fire Chief John Lindsey says his department was called to the scene on Sawmill Run Road in the town of South Valley about 8:30 AM. Lindsey says flames had come through the roof of the two-bedroom home when they arrived... but he adds they made a "good stop" on the blaze. Crews had the fire under control in about 45 minutes... and confined the blaze to an area near the chimney. Lindsey says Cattaraugus County Fire Investigators believe a crack in the chimney started the fire.
