Chautauqua County lawmakers have been able to find more than $400,000 in further reductions to County Executive George Borrello's proposed 2019 budget plan...
The legislature's Audit and Control Committee met with department heads last week to review the more than $254-million spending plan. Committee Chairman Pierre Chagnon says they made a "laundry list" of changes to the budget.
Chagnon says there was no specific big item that was cut, but does say a couple of them were "contentious," and will be looked at further when legislature committees meet next week. He says there was a lot of good discussion among committee members about the budget and, department staff members. Chagnon says he's "very proud and pleased" of the work they did. Chagnon says the committee's final action will likely be taken at the committee meeting on Thursday, October 18. He says the moves last week tentatively cut another 6-cents per thousand full value off the tax rate to about $8.38. The budget hearing and full legislature meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 24.
Two Chautauqua County men face drug-related charges after their vehicle was stopped for a traffic infraction in the town of Stockton...
Sheriff's officers say they recently stopped a car, driven by 40 year-old Jason Raymond of Dunkirk, on Route 60 for no "distinctive" plate. Deputies say they allegedly found Raymond and his passenger, 41 year-old Ronald Caruso of Frewsburg, in possession of two kinds of controlled substances, and a quantity of marihuana. Officers say Raymond was issued appearance tickets for third-degree criminal possession of marihuana, two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and, no "distinct plate." Caruso was also given appearance tickets for Unlawful Possession of marijuana and seventh-degree criminal possession of a Controlled Substance. Both will appear in Stockton Town Court at a later date.
The aunt of one of the victims in a limousine crash that killed 20 people in upstate New York says the vehicle was on its way to a birthday celebration...
Valerie Abeling says newlyweds Erin Vertucci and Shane McGowan were among those killed. She says Vertucci was 34 and McGowan was 30. Abeling says her daughter had been invited along but was unable to go. She says the family has not learned much about the circumstances of the crash. She says "our lives have been changed forever." Officials say Saturday's crash in Schoharie was the deadliest transportation accident in the U.S. since a 2009 plane crash in Buffalo, New York, killed 50 people.
The city of Jamestown has sent a letter to the owner of a new auto parts store on the city's northside whose operations have raised concerns in the neighborhood...
An 11th Street resident-- Jeanette Jones-- recent spoke to city council members during their voting session at Chadakoin Park about the new NAPA Store, which she says has had semi-trucks parked along 11th Street, and idling after Midnight. Jones the noise has been an issue.
Jeanette Jones noted that some of the landscaping that the NAPA store developer had promised was not in place. During this past week's City Council work session, Public Safety Committee Chairwoman Maria Jones noted that a letter had been sent to the store's operators, about the hours trucks can be idling, and semis cannot be parked on 11th Street. Jones adds that the Police Department is aware of the parking issues on 11th Street, and they will monitor that situation.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has accepted the ballot line of the liberal Working Families Party in next month's general election...
Cuomo said late Friday, through a spokeswoman, that he would accept the ballot line of the party that earlier backed his Democratic primary opponent, actress Cynthia Nixon. Working Families Party leaders said Wednesday they would offer the party's ballot line to Cuomo, a two-term incumbent. Cuomo's acceptance means his name will appear on the November ballot under the Democratic, Independence and Working Families lines. Nixon ended her campaign after losing the Democratic primary to Cuomo. But, she could have taken votes away from Cuomo if she had stayed on the ballot as the Working Families Party nominee. Cuomo holds a commanding lead over Republican Marc Molinaro in recent polls.
Around 200 people took part in the 3rd annual Buddy Walk Saturday, starting and ending at the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club. Karen Silzle, of the Resource Center, is one of the organizers of the walk. She says it's held to raise awareness about Down Syndrome....
At the walk, members of the community are encouraged to walk with a ‘buddy’ who has Down syndrome, a chromosomal disorder. Tim Adam is another of the walk’s organizers… and the parent of a child with Down syndrome. He believes getting to know someone with Down syndrome can open a person's eyes and, make them realize that they can do just about anything they want to do. Despite inclement weather in the hours before the event, the rain let up enough for the walk to be completed successfully.
An upstate New York police chief is accused of diverting discarded prescription drugs for his own use...
Kenmore chief Peter Breitnauer was charged late last week with possession of hydrocodone. He could face up to a year in prison if he's convicted. Federal prosecutors say Breitnauer admitted taking more than 100 pills from a medication drop box at the police station because he's addicted to prescription painkillers. The 68-year-old Breitnauer has been on the Kenmore force since 1984, serving as chief since 2012. The community of about 15,000 people is just north of Buffalo. Breitnauer was released after appearing in federal court in Buffalo. His lawyer says he remains employed and is weighing treatment. His lawyer says Breitnauer's arrest is "strictly a personal matter" and that his actions have no bearing on his professional conduct.
BPU--Columbus Day Schedule....
The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities will be open during normal operating hours today, even though it's Columbus Day -- a federal holiday. BPU Communications Coordinator Becky Robbins says hours today are from 9 AM to 4 PM. In addition, Robbins says garbage and recycling collection for this week will take place on regular schedule and water main flushing will follow announced schedules.
