Nearly two feet of snow has piled up in southwestern New York, where a winter storm finally moved out last night....
The National Weather Service in Buffalo says the city of Jamestown received nearly 18-inches by 8 a.m. yesterday and, that led to school and other closings across Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. Perrysburg in northern Cattaraugus wound up with more than 30-inches of new snow since late Monday, while Randolph reported about 24-inches by last night. We also had an unofficial report of nearly two-feet in Sherman in western Chautauqua County.
A resolution that would allow Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson to hire qualified Assistant D-A's from outside of the county was defeated by lawmakers at last night's meeting....
The measure, which would allow the assistants to be hired from "adjoining counties" was rejected, 12-5, along party lines. All 12 Republicans voted against the proposal, noting that they didn't want to encourage hiring ADA's from outside the county. Jamestown Democrat Charles Nazzaro emphasized that hiring locally is always the goal.
However, Sheridan Republican Terry Niebel pointed out what an official with the Jamestown Bar Association said earlier when she said that -- when positions are open -- Swanson has not availed himself of ways to find more local applicants, including the county's Human Resources Department. Niebel adds that Swanson also has a website, but there is nothing on it about how to apply for positions. It was noted in the measure that several other counties in upstate New York, including Yates and Wyoming, have been authorized to hired Assistant DAs who reside in adjoining counties.
County lawmakers last night did table what was an emergency resolution to use just over $25,000 from the county's two-percent bed tax to help clean-up the huge "weed mass" in Chautauqua Lake...
Legislator Jay Gould of North Harmony noted two reasons for delaying action on the measure. Gould says the main one is the early onset of Winter weather, which doesn't allow the use of weed harvesters by the Chautauqua Lake Association in Burtis Bay. He adds that -- since it's no longer an emergency resolution -- it would go back through the committee process. The vote was unanimous. The move will also allow the project to be bid out.
New York lawmakers are taking a close look at state spending on agricultural programs....
The state Assembly's agriculture committee is undertaking the review as the Legislature prepares to return to Albany in January to begin work on the next year's budget. Agriculture is one of the state's leading industries, with apples, grain and dairy products as some of the leading products. Each year lawmakers set aside millions of dollars in the state budget to support programs that conserve land, protect water sources and help farmers. The committee has scheduled a public hearing Wednesday in Albany to go over how the money is being spent, with an eye toward improvements in next year's budget. The full Legislature will reconvene at the state Capitol in early January.
President Trump says he will shut-down the government next week if there's no funding for a border wall in the latest continuing resolution lawmakers need to act on by December 7...
However, local Congressman Tom Reed says he doesn't believe it will come down to that. Reed says the possible shut-down is the major issue facing lawmakers right now, but he feels if it's part of a "border security" measure, a shut-dow will be avoided.
Reed says he believes lawmakers will be able to approve a package that deals with improved security in light of what's happening now at the southern border. Otherwise, the Corning Republican says the other issues to be hammered out include a new Farm Bill, additional tax reform and a full disaster package to deal with the California wildfires, and hurricanes up and down the East Coast. Reed made his comments for his weekly telephone conference call with Southern Tier Media.
A Jamestown woman faces assault charges following an alleged stabbing Tuesday morning....
City Police were called to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital about 8:30 a.m. and found that the unidentified victim was stabbed during a domestic incident that occurred earlier on Windsor Street. The suspect -- who was also at the hospital -- was identified as 33 year-old Damaris Lopez-Mendoza and arrested for second-degree assault. She was taken to city pending arraignment. The victim was treated and released.
Four police departments from across the region have been honored with the AAA's most prestigeous traffic safety and education award....
East Central AAA Regional Spokewoman Teri Rae Anthony was in Lakewood for a Wednesday luncheon to present their Platinum, and other awards to nine regional departments. Anthony says they annually honor those departments who put on program to increase road safety, including seat belt use and problems with driving while intoxicated.
Anthony says the Platinum Awards were presented to the Jamestown and St. Marys, Pennsylvania departments, along with the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office, and New York State Police based in Jamestown. There were also four agencies that got Gold Awards -- which are the next level. They are the Youngsville and Warren Police Departments and, the Warren and Elk County Sheriff's Departments. The Silver Award went to the Conewango Police Department in Warren County.
