Clean-up continuing after Winter Storm dumps 8 to 12 inches in Jamestown-area; two-feet in Rochester-area...
The clean-up is continuing today with more snow falling in the Jamestown-area -- and all of Western New York. However... it's not the 8 to 12 inches we got from Tuesday's major storm. The snowfall actually did set a record at the National Weather Service Office at the Buffalo Airport yesterday. The Weather Service reports 8.7-inches had fallen through late afternoon... which broke the old record of 6.6-inches for Feb. 16. Cold will be the issue tonight with the mercury dropping to between zero and 5-above zero.
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As the Rochester area digs out from under nearly 2 feet of snow, some residents are questioning how local authorities handled the storm. The snow started falling early Tuesday and continued into the morning commute, causing major traffic backups on interstate highways and other roads across Monroe County. The wet, heavy snow caused tractor-trailers to become bogged down on Interstate 490, closing the highway in both directions and stranding motorists heading to work. Some people were stuck in their vehicles for several hours.
Three Heroin overdose cases reported in North County area in recent days...
The rising number of heroin overdoses are being felt in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area and local police officials say it's becoming a drain on their departments. Fredonia Village Police Chief Brad Meyers says they have had three cases within the past week, including one outside a local business. He says it could have had a tragic ending... because the person ingested the Heroin... then drove from Forestville. Police and fire units were able to use Narcan to revive the unidentified person who was then transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital. Dunkirk Police Chief David Ortolano says it's just an example of the growing problem that is sweeping the state... and, causing big problems in several parts of the country.
Reed says Obama nominee to replace Scalia on high court won't get a "free pass" to the bench...
If President Obama decides to nominate an "ultra-liberal" judge to the U-S Supreme Court to replace late Justice Antonin Scalia... it won't be approved by the Senate's Republican majority. Those are the feelings of Chautauqua County Congressman Tom Reed. During this week's conference call with Southern Tier Media... the Corning Republican was asked about the likelyhood that Obama will nominate a replacement. That person would have to be confirmed by the Senate. However... Reed says he's being a "realist" about the situation. He says "I know that this president has committed himself to changing the country to a 'liberal ideology,' but adds, "I don't anticipate that the president's going to be nominating anyone of that ideology." But... if he does, it will go "nowhere in the Senate." Reed says Obama's nominee...whoever it is... won't get a "free pass" to the bench. Some Republican Senators have already told the president to not even send up a nominee, because there's less than a year left in Mr. Obama's second-term. However... Obama has already said he will nominate someone. A few names have come up... including his current Attorney General... Loretta Lynch.
Jamestown man arrested on Felony warrants tries to elude police...
A city man is jailed without bail on several felony warrants following his arrest late Monday after he tried to elude Jamestown police during a street check. Officers on patrol spotted spotted 28 year-old William Blakey on the side of the road on Forest Avenue about 5 p.m., and, police knew he was sought on the warrants. However... Blakey ran inside a nearby home, and refused officers commands to turn himself in. They later found him hiding upstairs in the house. Blakey was arrested on several charges... including Felony second-degree criminal mischief... obstrucing governmental administration... and, endangering the welfare of a child. He was arraigned and sent to the county lock-up.
State sees factory activity pick up... but, only by small amount...
Factory activity shrank in New York for the seventh straight month in February, though measures of new orders and shipments ticked up from very low levels. The New York Federal Reserve's Empire State manufacturing index rose to minus 16.6, up from minus 19.4 in the previous month. January's level was the lowest since the Great Recession. Any reading below zero indicates contraction.
