Home near downtown Jamestown extensively damaged in Sunday morning fire...
Flames have extensively damaged a home near the immediate downtown-area of the city of Jamestown. City Fire Battalion Chief Matt Coon says firefighters were called to the scene at 4 Forest Park about 2:30 Sunday morning... and, found heavy smoke coming from the area on arrival... especially the attic. Coon says everyone was out of the home on arrival, and crews attacked the flames with two hose lines. He says they rotated personnel through the building due to the smoke. Coon says it took about 20-minutes to bring the flames under control. He says the worst of the damage was in the attic area... although the home does not appear "unsalvageable." Coon says fire crews were there for about four hours, and the fire investigation team was on scene until about Noon. An off-duty shift was called in to assist, along with crews from Busti... Lakewood... Celoron... Falconer... Kiantone... and, Kennedy. County fire police and investigators were also called in. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries.
City man arrested after allegedly assaulting, and holding woman against her will...
A Jamestown man faces a number of charges after allegedly assaulting a woman, and holding her against her will, early last weekend. City police say they were called to 112 Crossman St. last Friday on a report of damaged property... and, again on Saturday on a report of the assault. Officers say 40 year-old Telly Ortiz allegedly struck the same woman with a metal object, and blocked her attempts to leave the home. Police say they also found that Ortiz was sought on a bench warrant in Warren County, Pennsylvania. He was taken into custody without incident for charges including two counts of aggravated family offense... second-degree unlawful imprisonment... and, third-degree assault... and, jailed pending arraignment.
Four arrested during drug bust in Cattaraugus County...
Four people have been arrested... and, three remain jailed... following a drug raid in the Cattaraugus County city of Salamanca late last week. Agents with the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, and other police agencies, raided an apartment at 61 1/2 Elm Street late last Thursday. Task Force members say they found 16 grams of Fentanyl... 2-grams of Methamphetime... and scales and packaging material. Police arrested a resident of the Elm Street address, 27 year-old Lindsey Little... along with 31 year-old Christopher Dupont of Salamanca, and 23 year-old Cordell Wheeler of Randolph, on Felony charges. Those include criminal possession of a controlled substance, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Task Force members add that 45 year-old Michael Cook of Randolph was arrested for criminal contempt for allegedly violating a court order of protection. Little, Dupont, and Cook were arraigned and sent to the Cattaraugus County Jail with bail pending. Wheeler was issued an appearance ticket for Salamanca City Court at a later date.
George Spitale receives George Ritzer Labor Award for unprecidented second-time...
The weather cleared in plenty of time for most every scheduled event at Sunday's annual Labor Day Festival in Jamestown... including presentation of the annual George Ritzer Labor Award. For the first-time ever... there was a second-time winner of the award. Retired City Councilman George Spitale... who has also been involved about 50 years with the local labor movement... received the award from Central Labor Council President David Wilkenson at Bergman Park. Mary Spitale was there with her husband for the ceremony. George Spitale chose not to speak... but, Wilkenson presented a few comments on Spitale's behalf. He says the main point was that since Spitale and others who were doers in the labor movement are retiring... who is going to pick up the mantel? He says one of their battles, for health care, is continuing today. Spitale first received the Ritzer Award in 1985... the second-year it was presented. He was the head of the American Federation State County Municipal Employees for 22 years from 1980 to 2002. Spitale retired from the City Council last year.
Linda Johnson recognized in retirement from UPMC Chautauqua Hospital...
A career that began just over 40 years ago concluded at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital last Friday afternoon when long-time communications and marketing manager Linda Johnson walked out the door. Johnson began working at the former WCA Hospital as a 19 year-old... filing tests. She has been one of hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Betsy Wright's "right-hand" people over the years... and, Wright says she'll miss Johnson "very much," and wished her "very well in her retirement." Wright adds that Johnson will be hard to replace... and, says no replacement has been selected as yet. Johnson says she's loved her work... and, says her heart will always be with UPMC Chautauqua -- even in retirement. She says she'll be visiting, and taking part in fund-raisers for the hospital. Wright says Johnson has done "incredible" work for the hospital... from internal and external communications -- and just "getting the story out."
