A Celoron man accused of leading an illegal Jamestown drug organization has now pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute one-kilogram or more of heroin........
U-S Attorney James Kennedy, Junior says prosecutors say -- in early 2016 -- that 47 year-old Sigfriedo Martinez led the drug ring which trafficked quantities of heroin and cocaine in the Jamestown-area. He had two co-defendants handle the "day" and "night" shifts for the organization and, every few days, Martinez would distribute a couple hundred bundles of heroin each to the men, who would then distribute it to smaller dealers and users. From February of 2016 to March of 2017, he says investigators conducted at least eight controlled purchases of heroin or cocaine from the two co-defendants. He was arrested during a raid the following month, and, faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10-million fine when he's sentenced in November.
Details are sparce, but one person was taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital after an apparent stabbing near the Bullfrog Hotel....
The Jamestown Post-Journal reports investigators were called to the area about 11:30 last night and, remained on-scene through the overnight. On arrival, police say they learned an unknown person was allegedly stabbed in the chest and that the male suspect was wearing a green shirt with jeans. The paper says the victim's condition is unknown at this time. We'll continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
Chautauqua County could become THE prime East Coast supplier for some farm products used in the brewing, distilling, and baking industries....
Those are the results of the ‘Grow Chautauqua’ study, unveiled Wednesday night in Mayville. The study was led, and partially paid for by agricultural entrepreneur Chris LaCorata. He says there’s a geographical imbalance for key products like hops and malted barley, with 95 percent of them coming from three northwestern states.
LaCorata believes there's potential for someone else and says 'it needs to be us.' The company he envisions, to be called Empire State Brands, would help regional farmers grow, harvest, process and market hops, barley and other grains. A major processing facility, upwards of 200,000 sqaure feet, would be located in Chautauqua County. LaCorata will now begin looking for the $14.7 million the project will cost. And, he hopes to hold a major gathering for farmers in October to encourage them to plant these specialty crops. Chautauqua County, the IDA and a number of foundations helped fund the $120,000 study.
A majority of economists say the United States is headed for an economic slow-down and, possibly a recession by next year or 2021....
Local Congressman Tom Reed doesn't dispute that, but says he's not overly concerned about those predictions because the economy is still very strong right now. At the same time, he says people should watch their rhetoric and not be rooting for a recession, either.
Reed says some political pundits seem to be "pushing a recession" to make President Trump look bad. However, Tariffs in recent months have had an impact. Reed was at Cummins' Jamestown Engine Plant Tuesday, which has seen solid growth in recent months. However, Reed says tariffs are a concern for the Jamestown-area's largest employer, because their markets include China and Mexico. The president said Tuesday that his administration is a looking at a variety of tax cut proposals, but not as a response to a potential recession.
The Jamestown High School Red Raider Marching Band will hold a preview of its 2019 competitive show tonight at JHS.....
The event will start at 8 PM on the field behind JHS. This year's program is called 'Journey Home'. The band has, for the second time in recent years, been boosted up to 'National Class', the highest level of competition in the New York State Field Band Conference. The band's first official show will be the Fall Festival of Bands at Strider Field in Jamestown, on the evening of Saturday, September 14th.
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly threatening several other people with a rifle last weekend in the Chautauqua Gorge State Forest in Mayville....
State Police in Jamestown were called to the scene late last Sunday and, arrested 62 year-old Douglas Murvine. Troopers say their investigation showed that Murvine became upset when another camper arrived with two dogs. He allegedly threatened to shoot the dogs and pointed a rifle at the victim and his dogs. Murvine then set the rifle down, picked up a rock and threatened to hit the victim with the rock. Troopers say this all occurred in the presence of four children. Murvine was arraigned on two counts of second-degree menacing, and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and, released on bail.
The first day of school is set for Thursday, September 5th for the Jamestown Public Schools.....
With that, the city school board has a major goal in mind for the 2019-2020 school year -- a focus on the "culture and genuine truth that all kids can learn." District Superintendent Bret Apthorpe says collaboration will be a main focus with principals and teachers, but also with parents of students. Another focus is the well-being of secondary students. Dr. Apthorpe hopes to give students the resources to find acitivities they can find an emotional connection to.
The 14th annual Jamestown Regional Celtic Festival and Gathering of the Clans is set to get underway this Friday night at Mayville's Lakeside Park with plenty of music, Celtic games and culture....
Principal Organizer Doug Clark says it's again being put on by the 96th Highlanders Pipes and Drums. Clark says that the gates open Friday night at 6 and, will feature the first of several musical groups from 7 to 9:30 PM named "Town Pants...."
Clark says the festival gets into full swing on Saturday morning, with three Celtic bands and, the pipe bands playing all day long through 5 PM. He says their vendors will be near the main entry way. In addition, Clark says they'll have 27 Heavy Athletes taking part in their annual competition. For more information... call 484-2833.
