(New) Fire damages town of Busti garage at auto parts location...
Flames have extensively damaged a garage behind the main building at an auto parts business in the town of Busti. Chautauqua County Sheriff's Dispatchers say Busti fire crews were called to the scene at Busti Auto Parts on the Busti-Stillwater Road about 2:30 p.m. Monday. Officials adds that mutual aid was called in from Lakewood, Kiantone, Frewsburg, and Fluvanna firefighters. Crews were still on the scene... and, County Fire Investigatiors were just getting to the scene. No injuries have been reported.
NWS continues Winter Weather Advisory, but, says precipitation will be mixed...
No more snow is expected... but, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for the Jamestown-area until 6 Tuesday morning... and, a Wind Advisory remains in effect until Midnight tonight. Forecaster Jim Mitchell with the National Weather Service in Buffalo says a "dryer area" of preciptiation has moved in right now... and, that's expected to produce some rain, freezing rain... or sleet in the higher elevations and lower, inland valleys. He says that's keeping temperatures in the low to mid 20s. Mitchell says we may still see up to a quarter of an inch of icing tonight. He says it depends on what elevation you're at. Places like Dunkirk and Westfield are seeing rain and some freezing rain. Besides the wintry mix... Thomas says there will also be gusty winds... up to 50 m.p.h. near the Lake Erie shoreline. This latest winter storm comes just two days before the official start of spring.
Reed optimistic that continuing resolution will be agreed to by end of March...
Chautauqua County's Congressman says he's optimistic there will be agreement on a continuing resolution to keep the government operating before the end of the month. That's also when the full effect of the so-called "Sequestration" cuts from the beginning of the month come in place for at least one local agency. Congressman Tom Reed says the $85-billion In government cuts remain in the House plan... but, there are some changes in where there can be 'more discretion' used in spending cuts. Reed says that will give those agencies -- like the Pentagon -- to reprogram cuts so they don't "cut too deep too quick." He says the "Sequestration" cuts haven't produced the "sky is falling" scenario that the White House and some agency leaders said would happen come Mar. 1. The Corning Republican says the good news is the House and Senate are working off the same number for the "continuing resoluation..." $984-billion... and, that includes the $85-billion in Sequestration cuts. He says that's a "huge obstacle" that's been overcome. Some agencies are beginning to feel the effects of some of those "Sequestration" cuts... and, 40 senior shut-ins receiving Meals on Wheels in Chautauqua County may not be getting those starting Apr. 1. Reed made his comments during his weekly telephone news conference with Southern Tier media.
"Temporary" income tax hike latest problem in state Budget negotiatiions...
Critics say a proposal to extend a ``temporary'' income tax hike for the second time in the state budget currently under negotiation is bad for New York. E.J. McMahon of the Manhattan Institute says the proposal is a political ploy to avoid extending the tax when it's due to expire in 2014... which is an election year. The proposal being considered in closed-door talks was first revealed last week by The Associated Press citing officials close to the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to divulge the effort. Legislative leaders confirmed the proposal Sunday night.
Cause of recent Panama house fire released...
An improperly installed exhaust pipe for a wood stove is being blamed for last week's fire that heavily damaged a Panama home. The Chautauqua County Fire Investigation Team was called to the scene late last Wednesday morning to investigate the blaze at 13 South St. Investigators say the pipe led to a chimney... but, had not been working properly. No one was hurt... but, two occupants are being helped by the local Red Cross. Six local fire companies were called to the scene about 10 p.m. Wednesday... and, were at there about four hours. Panama was joined by Lakewood, Clymer, Ashville, and, Busti fire crews from New York... and, Bear Lake, Pennsylvania volunteers in battling the fire.
JHS Winterguard Wins again -- remains number-one in the nation...
The Jamestown High School Express Winterguard is flying high... after winning a major meet in Cincinnati over the weekend. With that... the Jamestown group remains the top team in the nation. A Senior member of the team... Abbie Perrin... spoke with our Dennis Webster Monday morning... and, says they scored an 87.27 at the competition. The 16 members of the team returned late Sunday night and will spend the week getting ready for their local show, called 'Guards in Motion.' That'll be held Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the McElrath Gymnasium at JHS. Perrin says they use all the tools of the color guard to tell a love story about a guy and girl who split up... but, want to get back together again. Fourteen winterguards are set to perform in the local show Saturday at JHS. Tickets are $6 at the door. Following that event... the JHS Express will compete in two major competitions before the end of the season.
Annual "Maple Weekends" underway in NYS and Chautauqua County...
More than 110 maple producers across New York state held open houses this past weekend... and, will again next weekend for the 18th annual Maple Weekends. Participating producers are boiling sap to make syrup, and demonstrating how other maple products are made. Producers can be found online at www.mapleweekend.com. John Reid of Reid's Sugar Mill Farm in Washington County says he hopes to produce 1,500 gallons of syrup this season. He collects sap from his 4,500 maple trees using a vacuum tube system. In central New York... Greg Hotaling of Smokey Hollow Maple Syrup says technology has made syrup production more efficient. In the past, it used to take 43 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup. Now, it only takes about nine gallons using evaporators.
