(**New!)Three city residents found with illegal drugs, loaded hand-gun at Jamestown hotel...
Three people are jailed following two drug raids -- during which a loaded handgun was found -- at the Best Western Hotel in downtown Jamestown. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says members city and county's drug task forces... along with the State Police C-NET Team... raided rooms on the first and third floors of the hotel... located at 200 West Third Street. Samuelson says they found the gun on the first-floor... where they found 36 year-old Larry Hicks, and 26 year-old Johnee Thompson. He says they also found a quantity of powder cocaine, extacy pills, and more than $5,000 cash. Both Hicks and Thompson are charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and, third and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He adds the third suspect -- 39 year-old Dwight Leeper -- was found with 46 grams of cocaine and cash on the third floor. Samuelson says Leeper is charged with third-degree possession.. and criminal tampering for trying to eliminate the drug evidence. He says the raids were conducted as quickly as possible because the hotel is a "public" location. More Monday. Anyone with information on the illegal trafficking of drugs in the city is asked to call the Confidential Tip-Line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477.
McLaughlin lauds town of Ellicott plow crews for work in Tuesday's Winter Storm...
Ellicott Town Supervisor Pat McLaughlin is commending the town's Highway Department for a job well done during this past Tuesday's major Winter Storm. The nearly one-foot of snow that fell between Midnight and 1 PM that afternoon keep local and county plow crews very busy. McLaughlin says all four of their full-time plow trucks were out during that entire time... making four passes on some roads. He says crews were out in the "wee-hours" of the morning to make sure that roads, and local streets were passable for the morning rush hour. Otherwise... he says the town has had a good Winter season because the plows haven't had to be on the roads that much this year. McLaughlin says that's eased the pressure on the town's 2016 budget. He made his comments for this weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the five Media One Group Stations.
Cuomo says the fact Skelos and Silver are collecting pensions an "insult..."
New York's governor says it adds ``insult to injury'' that taxpayers have to pay for pensions for elected officials convicted of corruption. Andrew Cuomo's comments late this week came after the state comptroller's office announced that two former legislative leaders found guilty of corruption are getting pensions. Ex-Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos' annual state pension is $95,831. Ex- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is getting $79,222. Skelos, a Long Island Republican, was convicted of using his influence to get his son no-show jobs with companies that had state interests. Silver, a Manhattan Democrat, was convicted of trading favors to enrich himself. Both have asked for the convictions to be thrown out, arguing crimes weren't proven. Cuomo supports a Constitutional amendment that would strip pensions from elected officials convicted of official misconduct.
Director discusses interior renovations made to Reg Lenna Center for Arts theater...
The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts is putting the finishing touches on some major renovations at the 95 year-old Jamestown theater. Executive Director, Kathleen Eades, says part of the project involved removing some seats near the stage in the first three rows. She says that'll allow room for dancing when they have concerts, and allow children to better see the stage from the front. Eades says they've also repaired all the seats, done significant repainting, and are putting down new carpeting. In addition... they're responded to 20 years of requests from sound engineers, and moved the audio console to the main floor to they get a better read on the sound. The Lenna, Holmberg, Gebbie and Sheldon Foundations... and Cummins Engine Company helped fund the renovations. With the cooperation of the BPU, Jamestown Sign Company, and Ahlstrom Sheaffer Electric, all the lights in the Reg marquis have been changed to LED's. The next big show at the Reg is Cirque Ziva on Feb. 27.
Library Director talks about passing of author Harper Lee...
The literary world is mourning the loss of author Harper Lee... whose book ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' became an enduring best-seller and classic film. Lee's death was confirmed Friday by a spokesperson for Harper Collins. She was 89. "To Kill a Mockingbird" took a "child's-eye" view of racial injustice in a small Southern town in the 1930s. The Prendergast Library in Jamestown made "To Kill a Mockingbird" it's "Big Read" feature several years ago. Current Library Director Tina Scott says they found the book's popularity had not at all diminished... and, it may have been their most successful "Big Read."
