Ferguson announces run for Chautauqua County Executive on Democratic line...
A Democratic candidate from the Fredonia area has now come forward to announce that he is running for Chautauqua County Executive. However... Mike Ferguson is well-known in the county on both the sports management and radio broadcast industries. Surrounded by family and friends in front of the county Courthouse... Ferguson said that he is a Democrat that's much in the mold of the last Democratic County Executive -- Mark Thomas -- who was another Fredonia-area resident. Ferguson says he wants to further develop the industrial parks that got a jump-start by Thomas when he supported the construction of "spec" buildings in the parks. Ferguson also wants to make Chautauqua County a "hub" for organic farming as a way to reinvigorate that industry.
Vacant home on Hazeltine Avenue damaged by fire...
Fire caused a smokey mess inside a vacant home on Jamestown's southside this morning. City fire crews were called to the scene at 70 Hazeltine Ave. about 10:15 a.m., and, Fire Battalion Chief Andrew Finson says firefighters found a lot of smoke coming from the house on arrival... and, the windows were blackened. He says there was no fire visable from the outside. Finson says crews were able to get inside... and, found a small blaze in the back of the house. He says they had the flames put out quickly. However... he says there was smoke and water damage through-out the house... which had reportedly been vacant for some time. No injuries were reported and an off-shift was called in. Finson says the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Route 60 closed several hours this morning after accident...
A two-vehicle accident involving a car and tractor-trailer in the town of Gerry forced the closing of Route 60 just north of Kimball Stand to Sinclair Drive this morning. Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department dispatchers say the accident was called in about 5:40 a.m. after the big rig went off the road, and took down some guard rails when it tipped over. A car was also reportedly involved. Dispatchers say the tractor-trailer spilled it's load, and clean-up was completed about 10:15 this morning. The unidentified truck driver was taken to UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital with minor injuries.
