The effects of toxic substances on veterans will be the subject of a town hall meeting in Frewsburg on Saturday. Bob Lewis, President of the local Vietnam Veterans chapter, says one of the critical issues is the long term effect of the Agent Orange, a defoliant used in Vietnam.
The problems caused by burn pits for current veterans will also be discussed, as well as benefits availalble to those who've been affected by toxic substances. Two nationally recognized experts will be in attendance.
The town hall meeting will be at the Frewsburg American Legion from 2 to 4:30 Saturday. Veterans, their family members, and the public are all welcome to attend.
A Fredonia-area man has come forward to announce that he is running as a Democrat for Chautauqua County Executive.
However Mike Ferguson is well-known in the county in both the sports management and radio broadcast industries. Surrounded by family and friends in front of the county Courthouse Ferguson said that he wants to further develop the industrial parks that got a jump-start by former Executive Mark Thomas when he supported the construction of "spec" buildings in the parks.
He also talked about dealing with quality of life issues such as the Heroin and Opioid Epidemic. He called the drug problem a "three-headed monster."
Ferguson also talked about the need for Clean Water in the county and, the need to protect resources such as Lake Erie and Chautauqua Lake. As for new initiatives he says he wants to work to make Chautauqua County a "hub" for organic farming as a way to reinvigorate that industry while complimenting the local grape and wine industries.
Ferguson will face Town of Hanover Republican, George Borrello this November unless there are primaries.
A group of 20 attorneys general, all Democrats, is calling for the appointment of an independent special counsel to continue the investigation into Russian interference in last year's presidential election.
The group led by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey called Republican President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey during the ongoing investigation a "violation of public trust."
The group, which also includes New York's Eric Schneiderman said in a Thursday letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that only the appointment of an independent special counsel "with full powers and resources" can begin to restore public confidence.
Those signing the letter also include the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Maine, and Pennsylvania.
Jamestown fire investigators are still looking into the cause of small fire that left a lot of smoke and water damage inside a vacant home on the city's southside yesterday morning.
Jamestown firefighers were called to the scene at 70 Hazeltine Avenue about 10:15 AM and, Fire Battalion Chief Andrew Finson says crews found a lot of smoke coming from the house on arrival. Finson says a crew went inside, and found the fire, and got it out quickly.
Finson says there wasn't much fire damage and that was mainly to the living room-dining room area of the house. He says the building had reportedly been vacant for some time.
No injuries were reported and an off-shift was called in. The Board of Public Utilities is still warning of discolored water in that part of the city this morning because fire hydrants had to be opened.
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 early Thursday morning.
Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department dispatchers say the accident was called in about 5:40 AM after the big rig was struck by the car and, went off the road, and took down some guard rails when it tipped over.
Dispatchers say the tractor-trailer spilled it's load, and clean-up was completed about 10:15 yesterday morning. The unidentified truck driver was taken to UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital with minor injuries.
We have no word on the driver of the car.
The investigation is continuing into a robbery that took place late Tuesday night at a Dunkirk convenience store.
Dunkirk Police indicate that officers responded to the incident at the ROBO Mart at the corner of Central Avenue and 5th Street.
A store clerk told police that a male with a slender build entered the store and displayed what appeared to be a handgun and demanded money. The clerk complied, and the suspect then left the store.
Anyone with any information on the incident is being asked to call Dunkirk Police at 366-2266 or their confidential tip line at 363-0313.
New York car manufacturers can now apply to test driverless cars on public highways.
Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced the state will begin accepting applications from companies looking to test or demonstrate autonomous vehicle technology as part of a year-long pilot program authorized by lawmakers this year.
The vehicles will have to comply with state and federal safety standards and have a $5 million insurance policy in place. During testing on public highways, a person holding a valid driver's license must be in the driver's seat.
The companies will submit reports on the tests to the commissioner of motor vehicles before March 1st of 2018. Democrat Cuomo says the program is a step toward making New York "the epicenter of cutting-edge technology and innovation."
