Two people hurt in serious single-car accident in Mina...
Two Warren County, Pennsylvania residents are being treated at an Erie hospital after their car crashed into a ditch... then telephone pole... on Rt. 426 in the town of Mina. Sheriff's officers say the vehicle... operated by 49 year-old Darcy Smith of Youngsville... was northbound shortly before 10 p.m. last Saturday when she lost control of her car. Deputies say the car went into the ditch... and then struck the utility pole. Smith and her passenger, 53 year-old Charles Insinger -- also of Youngsville -- were treated at the scene. Insigner was flown by Starflight Helicopter to the Hamot Medical Center in Erie... while Smith was taken by ambulance. No charges have been filed... but, the accident remains under investigation. The county's Accident Reconstruction Team was among the response units called in.
State Police begin "Operation Hang Up" on Thruway to deter using cell phones and driving...
Troopers will be stepping up patrols on the New York Thruway to nab motorists using cellphones while driving. State Police Troop 'T' says ``Operation Hang Up'' will kick in today... and, continue through next Sunday. Police say texting or talking on mobile devices continue to be growing problems despite the clear hazards. Cell phone use and texting are responsible for a significant proportion of traffic crashes, injuries and deaths. Troop T issued 150,000 tickets last year, approximately 4,664 of which were for cell phone violations.
State, local region recognizing Earth Day today, and this week...
The state Department of Environmental Conservation is sponsoring events around the state all week to mark the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day. The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, the same year New York's DEC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency were created. Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson after he toured the devastation of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. On Monday... DEC hosts a citizen science eel project along the Hudson River in Staatsburg, a birdwatching walk at Peebles Island State Park in Waterford, and a green cleaning product workshop in Depew. Jamestown Community College was also hosting a number of Earth Day events Monday.
Edwards "excited" about "possibility" of German pet food producer moving into former AFA Foods building...
A German pet food producer is very interested in locating a new plant in Chautauqua County. However... the former AFA Foods site in Ashville is competing with another location in Michigan for the $20-million project proposed by Saturn Petcare. County Executive Greg Edwards updated county lawmakers on the Audit and Control Committee on efforts to land the new business. The AFA Foods plant is the former Fairbank Farms location... which has been idle since AFA closed it last year. Edwards says he and Industrial Development Agency Director Bill Daly met with the number-two man at Saturn last Wednesday... and, they're excited about the possibilities. He says it would be "direct foreign investment in Chautauqua County." Edwards says Chautauqua County is a finalist because it's within a day's drive of 50-percent of the U-S population. On last weekend's "Community Spotlight" program... he said talks were very upbeat... but, he adds that state-backing is also needed. Edwards says he's "confident" that the county... and, state... "put their best foot foward" to make the project a reality.
Chadwick Bay Industrial Park building sold to Dunkirk Metal Products for $1.8-million...
Chautauqua County has finished a "complicated deal" that will both sell... and, fill the north county's Chadwick Bay Industrial Park spec building. The building was completed along with others around the county several years ago... but, the county had been unable to sell the structure. County Executive Greg Edwards says... through the efforts of the Industrial Development Agency -- and, one local business -- that building has now been sold. He says it's Dunkirk Metal Products, which is combining it's two locations, and expanding. Edwards adds that Dunkirk Metal will be renting out the unused space in the facility to an international company, as well. He says that's a German company, which plans on being there long-term. Edwards says the proceeds will help pay off the rest of the spec building's costs. That includes reducing the bond pay-off from 30 to 20 years. Edwards says that'll save the county a significant amount of money.
WCA hosts Open House for new Center of Orthopedics, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation...
The wraps have been taken off WCA Hospital's new Center for Orthopedics, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation at 31 Sherman Street. The center is located right behind the hospital... and, WCA President and Chief Exeuctive Officer Betsy Wright was very pleased with the turn-out for Monday's open house. Wright says they've now been able to set up the offices for both their orthopedic surgeons on staff. He says they have Drs. William Fritz, and Peter Robinson offices upstairs. In addition... Wright says Podiatrist Dr. Brooke Kelly was on hand... along with Michael Glenn... who is an orthopedic surgeon from the New York Surgical Hospitalist program. She says all of their therapists were also on hand. However... Wright says the new center has already been up and running for about a month and a half now... and, allows them to focus on outpatient-rehabilitation. She says they moved their Medical Rehabilitation unit from the Jones Memorial Health Center... so everything... including audio and hearing rehabilitation is in one localtion... next to the hospital. Dozens of people came through the for open house... which included health screenings, and information on making appointments or getting referrals.
