Chautauqua County legislators approved a 2019 budget without opposition and with little debate during their monthly meeting Wednesday evening...
The proposed spending plans calls for a six-cent decrease in the full value tax rate. Legislator Pierre Chagnon chairs the Audit and Control committee, and was pleased with the way the budget making process went. However, an area that Chagnon and the committee will be keeping an eye on, will be sales tax revenues. While lawmakers passed the budget 17-0, one legislator did express concerns about the Legislature's decision to include additional funding for the County D-A's Office to hire a drug prosecutor. Jamestown Republican David Wilfong said the legislature and taxpayers will need to watch how that funding is used.
A Cattaraugus County man has died from injuries suffered in a three-car crash last Saturday in the town of Portville...
Sheriff's officers in Little Valley say 79 year-old Paul Jurenko of Olean was a passenger in a Sports Utility Vehicle that was struck nearly head-on by a car on the Portville-Olean Road. Deputies say the car, driven by 40 year-old Michael Bentley, was westbound about 11 a.m. when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck the SUV, operated by 76 year-old Susan Jurenko. A parked vehicle was also involved, and sustained minor damage. All three people involed were taken to Olean General Hospital and, Paul Jurenko was later taken to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, where he died late Tuesday. The investigation is continuing.
Methamphetime continues to be a problem in Jamestown and, two alleged traffickers were arrested early yesterday morning during a traffic stop on the city's southside...
Jamestown Police Captain Bob Samuelson says "good old-fashioned" police work by an alert officer led to the arrests of 32 year-old Brandon Smith, and 23 year-old Kylah Seiberg about 2:30 a.m. on South Main Street. Samuelson says officers found more than six-ounces of crystal meth, nearly three-ounces of marijuana and, $4,000 in cash in their possession.
Samuelson says Smith was found with the cash and a smaller amount of meth, while Seiberg had more than five-ounces of meth, and the pot in her possession. He says they were not considered mid or higher-level dealers, but adds the methamphetime appears to have been imported from Mexico or California. Both suspects are charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana. Smith was arraigned, and freed on $10,000 bail. If you have any information on illegal drug trafficking in the city, Samuelson says call the Metro Drug Task Force confidentially at 483-TIPS (8477). You can also call their Tips 4-1-1 app.
The Jamestown Community College Foundation has presented its 2018 John Hamilton Award to local investvent broker John Anderson...
He is the President of Bodell, Overcash, Anderson and Company, and has been a major contributor to JCC's Unified Student Assistance program. The JCC Foundation also presented two 'Community Partner' awards. One went to Lakeshore Savings Bank for its support of a number of JCC projects. The other went to Media One's Dennis Webster for his work with the JCC Alumni Association and the High School Bowl academic competition.
When the Appellate Division of New York Supreme Court opens its session later today at the Robert H. Jackson Center, the five judges will feel right at home. That from one of the founders of the Jackson Center, Greg Peterson...
Peterson says Cole Craft, located on Allen Street, made the five judge bench, two tables, a podium and a witness stand, transforming the Cappa Theater into a real court room. Dave Messinger, owner and CEO of Cole Craft, says it's typical of the kind of work they do with Red Oak wood. Support for the project came from a number of foundations, and local attorney Art Bailey. Fancher Chair and Geer Dunn also provided some of the amenities. The new furniture will stay at the Jackson Center to be used for other events there.
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Dave Messinger says one of Cole Crafts other big projects right now is showroom furniture for all the Bentley Auto dealers in North and South America. The company employs around 30 people.
The Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based sports group that owns the Jamestown Jammers is moving in another direction and, was ready to sell the team...
However, a local community group has stepped forward in an effort to buy the team, and keep it here. The announcement was made at Russell E. Diethrick Park late Wednesday morning by the current ownership group, ROC Ventures, represented by former Jammers Manager, Anthony Barone.
Barone has also accepted a new offer to be ROC's Field Manager and Community Relations Director for their new, independent pro team (the Milwaukee Milkmen) who will play in the American Association in 2019. With that, the Jammers will be "donated" to the new, non-profit group and resume play in the Perfect Game Collegiate League in 2020. Perfect Game League Commissioner Bob Julian says when he talked to Mayor Sam Teresi about the proposal, he said the new group will need the extra time to prepare and create the organization that will own the club going forward.
Special Meeting Announcement...
There will be a special meeting of the Ellicott Town Board tomorrow to deal with the proposed demolitions of two homes in West Ellicott. Town Clerk Mike Erlandson says the session will begin at 12 Noon in the Town Hall, where they will vote on accepting new County Landback credits for the demolition work.
President Donald Trump has signed legislation that will allow the U-S Army Corps of Engineers to work with local officials to study of what needs to be done to help Chautauqua Lake...
In a printed release yesterday, County Executive George Borrello says Congress had previously passed the America's Water Infrastructure Act, which allows the corps to due the study on developing ecosystem restoration, and flood risk management. Borrello thanked local Congressman Tom Reed and, U-S Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand for their support of the measure. He adds "we are excited to see Congress pass this important step towards addressing the challenges in Chautauqua Lake. Much work still needs to be done, but passage of this bill will allow the County to have an exceptionally experienced and powerful new partner in restoring Chautauqua Lake."
A federal judge has sentenced a son of former New York state Senate leader Dean Skelos to four years in prison after both men were convicted in a political corruption case...
U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood sentenced Adam Skelos on Wednesday, several hours after announcing that his father must serve four years and three months in prison. Both were convicted at a summer retrial. Prosecutors alleged that Dean Skelos, a Republican, paved the way for his son to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars by pressuring businessmen in return for legislative acts that helped them. Given a chance to talk, Adam Skelos said he and his father no longer speak. He says the loss of his relationship with his father was a loss he thought he'd only experience in death.
A Jamestown man was arrested following a domestic incident on Thayer Street yesterday evening...
City police responded to a situation involving a man allegedly threatening to harm himself with a knife. Investigation revealed 27 year-old Timothy Markham, II had damaged a TV-set during an altercation with an unidentified female victim resident. Markham was arrested on several charges including felony aggravated family offense. He's being held in Jamestown city jail pending arraignment.
