Reed hears from about two-dozen people during Opioid Abuse Roundtable in Jamestown...
Chautauqua County's representative in Congress heard Friday afternoon from people involved directly with the battle against drug addiction across the region. About two-dozen local officials, prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and the families of overdose victims took part in a Opioid Abuse Roundtable at the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County with Corning Republican Tom Reed. Reed has already held a few roundtables across his district... but, this was the first in the Jamestown-area. He says "communication is two-ways..." and you "need to hear from people" in tackling this issue. Reed says it was also important to hear what constitutents have to say about the recently signed Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016. President Obama signed the measure earlier this year in response to the nationwide Heroin and Opioid epidemic. Reed says it was equally important to hear from the parents of two overdose victims who were at the roundtable. Reed says law enforcement officials... including Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings and Assistant Chautauqua County District Attorney John Zuroski... urged federal lawmakers not to eliminate part of the penal code that deals with drug dealers. He says mid and higher level dealers are very aware of the law... and, ways to get around it.
Gowanda man arrested for allegedly accepting Marijuana shipments in the mail...
A Gowanda man who was allegedly receiving marijuana through the mail to sell on the street is free on bail pending future court action. Gowanda Police say they... and, members of the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force... arrested 36 year-old Charles Smith of West Main Street as part of an on-going investigation. Police say they -- and other agencies -- executed a search warrant at the Can Do Bottle Redemption Center at 185 Buffalo St. They say they have evidence that the marijuana was being delivered to that location under the name of his deceased borther from out-of-state. Police recovered a package containing 3.5-pounds of marijuana, and $2,300 dollars cash. Smith was arraigned on one count of second-degree criminal possession of marijuana... a Felony, and jailed on $1,500 bail. Police say the investigation is continuing.
Two hurt, but not seriously, in one-car accident in Poland...
Two people were hurt... but, not seriously... in a one-car crash on Route 394 in the town of Poland late last Saturday night. Sheriff's officers were called to the scene just after 11 p.m., and, found that the driver of the vehicle, 21 year-old Jace Warner of Sinclairiville, was eastbound when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel. Deputies say the car then crossed into the westbound lane, and wound up crashing into a ditch. Officers say Warner and his passenger, 22 year-old Stevie Provorse of Conewango Valley. were both taken to WCA Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Warner was issued traffic tickets from Poland Town Court for failure to keep right and unsafe/illegal tires.
Weather Service says August on pace to set new record for warmest ever...
Western New York is on it's way to it's hottest August ever... as well as one of it's hottest Summer's ever. That from Forecaster Steve Welch with the National Weather Service in Buffalo. Welch says the city of Buffalo itself is well above the August record already with just a few days left in the month. He says the current average is 76.0-degrees... while the record in 1947 was 75.2-degrees. However... Welch says it's much less likely that this will become the hottest month ever on record... but, he says July of 1947 was 76.2-degrees, and it doesn't look like we'll get that hot before the end of the month. There's been a lot of discussion about whether this may be the hottest Summer of all-time in Western New York... and, Welch says... it'll be close. At this point... he says we are looking at one of the top-5 hottest Summers ever... and potentially the second-warmest. The previous warmest was in 2005 when the average temperature was 73.2-degrees. The weather forecasts for the next few days... though the end of August... show daily highs in the low to mid-80s... and overnight lows of 65 to 70. He says that should assure the August record.
Chautauqua Amp. project to resume on Monday after conclusion of 2016 season...
The 2016 season at Chautauqua Institution wraps up this weekend... and, plans call for construction work to resume immediately on Monday on the "renewed" or new Amphitheater. Chautauqua's Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer George Murphy says contruction crews will be back to work the day after the season comes to an end. Murphy says crews will be facing an "aggressive" schedule... especially next May when lighting, rigging, and services are put in. He says a lot of work was done prior to this season...which will help to allow crews to complete the project in time for the start of the 2017 season. He says that includes a lot of the 'earth work...' and, getting foundations poured. He says they dealt a lot with the current issue of the Amphitheater's "stability." The current season will close with the "three taps of the gavel" on today.
