Victims of Pittsfield, PA Double-Fatal accident identified...
Two Warren, Pennsylvania women have now been identified as the people killed when their sports utility vehicle was struck by a Mack truck at an intersection in Warren County's Pittsfield Township late this week. State Police in Warren say the car was operated by 71 year-old Vercil Pierce... and, the other fatality was her front seat passenger, 80 year-old Louise Williams. Troopers were called to the scene on Route 6 shortly after 10 a.m., and, found that Pierce was westbound, and had stopped at the intersection with Route 27. However... Troopers say she failed to yield to the oncoming truck and the truck, operated by 61 year-old Gerald Silvis of Franklin, crashed into the car. Both Pierce and Williams were pronounced dead at the scene. A third passenger, 52 year-old Susan Conquer of Warren, is in critical condition at UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pennsylvania. Silvis was not hurt.
Jamestown man arrested for alleged drug trafficking Friday...
A city man is jailed on multiple drug-related charges following a late morning raid on Jamestown's eastside Friday. City police say members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, State Police C-NET Team, and JPD SWAT Team... executed a search warrant at 10 Peterson Street about 11:30 a.m. Once inside... police say they found the suspect, 30 year-old Shanis Garcia, and a young child... and, a loaded 40-calibur hand-gun. Police add they also found quantities of heroin... hydrocodone pills... suboxone... and Clonazepam in Garcia's possession. Garcia faces charges including second-degree criminal possession of a weapon... third and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, endangering the welfare of a child. He was jailed pending arraignment.
City man arrested for allegedly Cocaine possession...
A city man is jailed on drug-possession charges following a call for a domestic incident yesterday morning on Jamestown's northside. City police were called to the scene at 16 Blanchard Street about 10:30 a.m., and found that 22 year-old Tyler Rizzo had broken a window at the house. When taking Rizzo into custody... police say they found 28-bages of powder cocaine in his possesion. He was jailed on charges of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, fourth-degree criminal mischief.
Drug Task Force members arrest two in Dunkirk raid...
Two north county residents have been arrested for allegedly trafficking crack-cocaine, and being found with a stolen gun, at a home in the city of Dunkirk. Members of the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force... and Dunkirk Police Department... conducted a raid in the upstairs apartment at 632 Deer Street about 6:40 a.m. Friday. Once inside... task force members found and arrested 31 year-old Ontario Eldridge... and, 27 year-old Katelyn Smith. The task force had an arrest warrant for Eldridge on one count each of third-degree Criminal Possession and Sale of a Controlled Substance. The arrest warrant for Eldridge stems from a months long investigation by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and alleges the sale of crack cocaine. Task Force agents also say they found a marijuana grow operation... packaging materials... and a stolen handgun. With that... Eldridge was also charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Smith also faces several charges... including fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.. and, unlawfully growing marijuana. If you see or know about illegal drug activity in your area... contact the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force at 1-800-344-8702.
Chagnon relieved that committees work done on proposed 2018 County Budget...
It's a relief to have concluded budget delibrations... but, even better to have concluded discussions by cutting projected taxes in Chautauqua County for 2018 by about 13-cents per $1,00 full-value. That from Audit and Control Committee Chairman Pierre Chagnon... who says lawmakers had an exhaustive week of hearings... but, says it was worth. Chagnon says everyone worked together to produce a 3-cent per $1,000 tax rate cut in County Executive Vince Horrigan's $236.4-million spending plan... and adds that he's "very pleased and very relieved by what we were able to accomplish." Horrigan's budget proposal... which was presented at the legislature's Sept. 27 meeting... included a 10-cent per $1,000 increase to $8.58. While there were "across the board" cuts in the budget... Chagnon says lawmakers did increase one line... and that was for Cornell Cooperative Extension. He says the 4-H Program will receive another $50,000. However... no decision has been made yet on the county's Coroners request for a pay increase in 2018. As for revenues... Chagnon says sales taxes have been trending upwards the past couple of years... and, lawmakers decided to bump that number up for 2018.
About 50 take part in Domestic Violence Awareness Walk in Jamestown...
Domestic Violence Awareness Month began Friday afternoon during the 20th annnual Walk Against Domestic Violence and 15th annual Unity Day Celebration in downtown Jamestown. Roughly 50 people joined the walk down 3rd Street starting from the Northwest Ice Arena and ending at Tracy Plaza. Project Crossroads Program Manager Elizabeth Bracey, who says the intial Unity Day was recognized in October 1981 by the National Coalition Against Violence and... over time... has evolved into commemorating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. She began the event with a moment of silence. Keynote speaker for the Unity Day celebration this year was the director of the county's Department of Health and Human Services, Christine Schuyler, says education is power and necessary to success... and, calls attention to what we can do to prevent future cases. Schuyler says they need to "ensure support and resources" to those people traumatized" in abuse cases. A victim of domestic violence herself, Schuyler shared her story with those in attendance today for the first time.
