Toddler dies in apartment house fire in Jamestown...
A young boy has died in an apartment house fire that occured on Jamestown's northside early this morning. City Fire Lieutenant Bruce Sheldon says crews were called to the scene at 823 Prendergast Avenue shortly after 8 a.m. Sheldon says firefighters were alerted to the fact a child was still inside the second-floor apartment when they arrived. He says the adults were outside, yelling that a child was still inside... and, firefighters went quickly to the apartment, but, found the 22-month-old child dead inside. Sheldon says he hasn't heard back from the medical examiner whether the boy died from burns or smoke inhalation. However... he says the bedroom was fully-engulfed in flames on arrival. Sheldon says two other people -- the child's mother and uncle -- were treated at WCA Hospital after trying to rescue the child. No names have yet been released. Sheldon says firefighters had the flames knocked down fairly quickly. An off-duty shift of 15 firefighters and a shift commander was called in. Sheldon says another child alerted the mother to the fire. Crews were at the scene until about 10:30 a.m. The cause is under investigation.
Florida man hurt seriously in single-car crash in Ellicott...
A Florida man was seriously hurt when his car slammed nearly head-on into an embankment at a town of Ellicott intersection late Thursday night. Town Police say 20 year-old Aaron Nauert of Palm Harbor was northbound on Curtis Street... just outside of Jamestown... shortly after 11:30 p.m. when the accident occured. Officers say Nauert was apparently traveling at a high-rate of speed when he passed a stop-sign at the intersection with Horton Road. Police say the car jumped a ditch, and hit the embankment. Nauert was flown to the UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie for treatment. No charges have yet been filed.
Union members at SKF Aerospace reject company contract offer, but, are not going on strike...
The union representing about 350 workers at SKF Aerospace in Falconer has overwhelmingly rejected the company's latest contract offer. However... the membership will not be going on strike at this point. That from UAW Local-#338 President Rick Weilacher... who says the vote was taken late this morning. Weilacher would not give exact vote totals. However... he says union members will continue working while trying to work out a new agreement. The new offer from the company was for one-year.
BPU chief says board looked at several options before deciding to purchase natural gas pipeline...
Several options were considered... but, in the end... the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities has decided to buy the natural gas pipeline that supplies their gas turbine on Steele Street. That from BPU General Manager Dave Leathers... who says the board decided the move was "best for our customers..." and, voted to approve a contract to purchase the pipeline from Emkey Transporation of Erie, Pennsylvania. Leathers says the $5.4-million dollar purchase puts them in a "strong ownership position..." and, saves their customers about 25-percent on their fuel adjustment cost. Leathers says the purchase will take 90 to 120 days to conclude with the state's Public Service Commission. He adds the Fuel Adjustment is the cost for the energy supply to make electricity. Leathers says they had a 20-year lease agreement with Emkey to pipe natural gas the 27 miles from Mayville to Jamestown... but, it was going to run out in 2020. He says the main company... Emkey Gathering... will continue to operate and perform maintenance on the pipeline and related equipment under a separate agreement. The system has been in use since 2001.
Rosas releases his first Dunkirk city budget...
Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas has released his proposed, 2017 city budget to the Dunkirk Common Council... and, it does NOT include a change in the tax rate. The proposed spending plan totals just over $21.9-million, and it calls for the tax rate to remain at $17.25 per $1,000 of assessed value. Rosas says while cuts have been made to the general fund, all city services will remain unchanged. Rosas says he has also included "transitional aid" in the budget to cover 80-percent of the loss of PILOT money from NRG.
