Catt. Co-Fatal Bus Axe-#1 5:30 PM 12/17
A school bus driver from the Buffalo-area was killed Tuesday morning when his bus slammed into a ditch in Cattaraugus County... and, he was thrown from the vehicle. Sheriff's officers in Little Valley aren't identifying the 57 year-old man... whose from Cheektowaga. Deputies say the First Student bus was northbound on Route 16 in the town of Ishua just after 9 AM when the driver lost control of the vehicle... which had no students on board. Officers say the operator was later pronounced dead at Olean General Hospital... while a female bus monitor was treated at Olean General for minor injuries. The accident remains under investigation.
About 40 people -- many of them employees of the city of Jamestown -- were on hand last night for the last of four public input sessions hosted by incoming Mayor Eddie Sundquist and his transition team. Some of the employees spoke... and provided input on everything from snow plowing... to a potential fire-based Emergency Medical Service. Sundquist says his City Operations and Human Resources team sent out flyers to all employees about the session.
That was music to the ears of many employees... among them Jamestown Professional Firefighters Union President Shawn Shilling... who called the new administration "a breath of fresh air" because "they want to hear from us." Shilling says Sundquist wants to talk with the employees to see how they feel about operations. He outlined two other areas the firefighters union would like to see addressed by the new administration... one being to "fix" the EMS crisis in the city due to cut-backs by UPMC Chautauqua Hospital... and, ending the animosity between the city and it's unions.
Mayor-elect Eddie Sundquist's Transition Team will now compile and catagorize the feedback they're received over their four meetings and put together a report to the public after the first of January. Transition Team Chairman Tom Benson told the audience last night that they are following the model used by Pensacola, Florida last year when a new administration took office. Sundquist says they are closing in on a full slate of people to be department heads, and on boards and commissions in the new year. He hopes to have that list finalized shortly. Benson also says that what they come up with from the input sessions will be an "actionable plan." If you would like to contact the transition team... send them an e-mail to 'transition@eddiesundquist.com'
The city of Jamestown's 75 historic markers now have an on-line presence to allow people to see them all... and, any others that'll be added in the near future. Mayor Sam Teresi and members of the Historic Markers Committee were on hand Tuesday afternoon for the launch of a new, historic marker section to the city's website. Teresi says it's a less expensive way to add new markers.
The process began last Summer when long-time City Historian B. Delores Thompson retired... but, said she wanted to see a new publication for all of the current markers. However... the last marker booklet only had up to number-58. Mayoral Assistant and City Webmaster Matt Hanley says he then began working to get what they had on-line. However... it was new Historian Ashley Senske who began work on getting the newer markers on the website. Hanley says you can easily access the new part of the website by going on-line to Jamestownny.net. and click on the Parks and Recreation tab. You should then go to the Historical Marker tab.
Union workers, first responders and elected officials gathered outside TLC/Lakeshore in Irving Tuesday, calling on New York State to delay the closing of the facility that serves portions of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Erie counties. Members of 11-99 S-E-I-U were joined by State Senator George Borrello, Assemblyman Andy Goodell, Acting County Executive Stephen Abdella, and others. The union's Peter DeJesus says they represent over 160 workers at the hospital... and, spoke on the impact the closing would have on workers and the community.
Borrello traveled to Albany recently to meet with state officials to discuss the closing, slated for January 1st, but he didn't like the response he got. He says he asked a lot of questions... but, got no answers. Borrello says the fight is not about politics. The Hanover Republican read a statement of support from Senator Tim Kennedy, a Democrat. Borrello has another meeting with state officials, this one in New York City. It will involve representatives of Governor Cuomo's Office.
Water Division employees with the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities will be restoring use of the Harrison Street water line this evening. BPU Spokeswoman Becky Robbins says the line has been out of service since July, as part of the Harrison Street Bridge Reconstruction Project. Robbins says service will be restored at 8:30 this evening. As part of reactivating the line... she says water flow will change direction, causing water to stir and discolor for 12-to-24 hours. That'll begin downtown Jamestown and then flow throughout the system. Customers should be on the look-out for discolored water after that.
