The public process of determining which projects will be supported by the city of Jamestown's 10-million dollar Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant is underway. A kick-off meeting of the Local Development Committee with it's state consultant took place Monday afternoon. Mayor Sam Teresi is co-chairing the committee with President Michael Metzger of Blackstone Advanced Technologies... and, says they met with several state officials.Teresi adds that the money for each project will likely not flow to the city first... but, will go directly to the entities directly involved. City Council Housing Committee Chairwoman Marie Carruba is not a member of the committee... but, sat in on the committee meeting... and, says she was "very impressed." Carruba says downtown stakeholders are a big part of the process... and, a few of them are involved with the committee. She says there are more and more people living downtown... and, with that will need services that a "liveable, walkable community" can provide. The outside consultant for Jamestown during the final planning process is H-R-and-A Associates of New York City.
Firefighters from 13 fire departments responded to the scene of an early morning barn fire yesterday morning that heavily-damaged the structure in the town of Portland. The first crews reached the scene at 82-86 Thayer Road just before 4:30 AM. Brocton Fire Chief Phil Gerace says responding departments included several tanker trucks. Gerace says all the animals got out safely. Gerace says no animals... nor humans were hurt. He says most of the 13 departments called in responded with tanker trucks to get water to the scene. Gerace says they used two back-hoes to separate... and, pull hay from the barn to help stop the flames. He says the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.
Police in southern Erie County say a Dunkirk man riding a sport bike with a group of other motorcyclists died after he hit a turkey vulture on a town road. First responders arrived at the scene near County Road 323 in the Erie County town of Evans Saturday afternoon. Town police say the motorcyclist had been travelling faster than the 55 mph speed limit when the crash happened. Police say the 25-year-old Dunkirk man, who hasn't been publicly identified, was thrown from the bike. He was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead. WGRZ-TV in Buffalo reports police say several turkey vultures had been eating a carcass on the side of the road where the biker hit one of them.
Federal approval of a new, artifical pancreas is "exciting news" for America's approximately 36-million diabetics... and, their families. That from Local Congressman Tom Reed... who says the Food and Drug Administration recently approved the machine for use by Type-One diabetics. Reed says he learned of the new tool in fighting the disease through the Congressional Diabetic Caucus... which he co-chairs with Colorado Democrat Diana DeGette (De-Get). He says the news is 'great' for his family. Reed says there were 340 house members who co-signed to support the Special Diabetes Program... which targets research efforts surrounding Type-One Diabetes. In addition... the Corning Republican also sponsored legislation which would require Medicare to cover Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems. He says they already have 260 co-sponsors for that legislation. Reed says the Artificial Pancreas... which is an external machine... is available now. He says it's a closed-loop system that continuously monitors blood sugar. He made his comments during his weekly telephone conference call with Southern Tier Media.
There's been an increase in the number of new voters in Chautauqua County... and, state-wide. However... there are no local figures yet. That from County Democratic Elections Commissioner Norm Green. Green tells us the board has been busy trying to keep up with the volume. Green says the increase is undoubtedly connected with the presidential election... and, there are indications that social media has been helping to stir up interest in voting. He says there have been a lot of new, young voters who have been drawn in by Facebook and other platforms. Statewide... the deadline for registering by mail is a week from Friday, October 14th. The last day for in-person registration is Saturday, October 15th. Green says they will be holding special hours for registering at the Mayville office from 2 to 9 PM on the 15th.
Officials at the Greater Chautauqua -- Jamestown Airport are looking for a new operator for the restaurant at the facility on West Oak Hill Road in the town of Ellicott. Airport and Parks Manager Bill Tucker confirms that the lease for the Tarmac Restaurant expired on September 30th. We have learned that the operators have now opened a restaurant, called Tarmac-Two... on Fairmount Avenue in West Ellicott. Tucker says the county will soon develop a Request for Proposals to find a new restaurant operator, but, declined further comment. It's been difficult in the past keeping an operator at the restaurant due to lack off foot traffic at the airport.
A possible strike by teachers in Warren County could begin as soon as this Thursday. The Warren Times-Observer reports that the Warren County Education Association officially delivered it's notice to the paper about 4:30 PM Monday. The newspaper says WCEA President Louise Tharp stated in the notice that the association's members have "lost faith" in the school board's willingness to reach an agreement. Until the strike starts on Thursday... the teachers and education professionals that are part of the union will continue to work. In Pennsylvania... the union is required to give 48 hours notice before striking.
Residents in the city of Corry, Pennsylvania are enduring another day without water unless it's been boiled. We have learned that an unknown contaminant turned up in the water supply late last week... and, a boil water order was issued for anyone on city of Corry water. We have also learned that any restaurant on Corry water has been closed because the Erie County Health Deparment hasn't met with them yet. Once that's done... they may be able to open sometime tomorrow. More when it becomes available.
No official records are kept... but, it appears that Chautauqua County is on track to see at least 200 drug overdose deaths this year. That from Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County Chief Executive Officer Rick Huber... who says the county has been seeing at least two overdose deaths a week. Huber says... the problem remains the way deaths are recorded in the county. During last weekend's event... put on by the group "Be Part of the Solution" Huber expressed his frustration with the lack of longer-term drug treatment facilities... and, programming in the county. In some cases...the families of overdose victims said Saturday that their loved one had been in a 30-day program... but, again fell prey to their addiction after leaving short-term rehab.
