Drug bust in Dunkirk nets two arrests on drug and weapons charges...
Two north county residents have been arrested following an early morning raid today in the city of Dunkirk that led to the seizure of drugs and weapons. Sheriff's officers joined with Dunkirk Police, the Dunkirk SRT unit, Sheriff's Office Narcotics Investigators, and the Sheriff's Department K-9 unit to execute a search warrant on the lower apartment at 88 Maple St. about 6:30 a.m. The raid resulted from a two-month investigation into alleged drug trafficking from the residence. Inside... they arrested 53 year old Curtis Nash, and 32 year old Mercedes Melendez. They also found nearly 6-grams of fentanyl, point-10 grams of cocaine, scales and packaging material for narcotics sales, a dagger, a bullet proof vest, a 20 gauge shotgun and $965 cash. Both Nash and Melendez were charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... second-degree criminal possession of drug paraphernalia... and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Both suspects were transported to the Dunkirk Police Department.
Cattaraugus County man indicted on child sex abuse charge...
A man from Cattaraugus County has been indicted by an Erie County grand jury on a child sexual abuse charge. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn announced Thursday that 34-year-old Allen Larkin, Jr., also known as Allen Wheeler, of Steamburg, was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon in State Supreme Court on an indictment charging him with one count of first-degree sexual abuse -- a class D felony. Larkin is accused of subjecting the victim, who was under the age of 13, to sexual contact. The alleged crime occurred in March of 2021 at a residence in the town of Brant. Larkin, who is being held without bail, faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison if convicted.
Falconer man arrested for illegal dumping...
A man from Falconer is accused of illegal dumping tires earlier this month on Pratt Avenue in the city of Jamestown. City Police say they were alerted to the incident on September 11th... and, obtained video surveillance footage from the area. Officers say it showed a man... later identified as 32 year-old Blaydon Niles... rolling tires down the hill on Pratt... and, then leaving the scene. Police say several residents in the area identified Niles, who was driving a maroon-colored pick-up truck. Officers found and arrested Niles Thursday afternoon for littering. He was issued an appearance ticket for City Court. JPD thanked the community members who helped in solving the crime.
Gillibrand calls for full review of Federal Milk Pricing progam...
U-S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says she's pushing for a full review of the federal milk pricing system. The New York Democratic says she's calling on the U-S Government Accountability Office to evaluate the 'workability' of the two decade-old system. She made her comments during a video press conference Thursday... and says reforms a very much needed because many farmers -- nationwide -- have been driven into bankruptcy. In fact... Gillibrand says between 2018 and 2021... New York state lost 18% of it's family farms. She says dairy farming has been able to move into the 21st Century with new technology and methods... but, the pricing formula has not kept pace. Gillibrand... who chairs the Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, and local food systems... says the current pricing system leaves many of New York’s small and mid-sized dairy farmers at risk of inadequate pay. This is a follow-up to her introduction of the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act, which would pave the way for reforming and modernizing federal milk pricing.
BPU officials announce emcee, and moderator for "Retool '22" Conference in October...
A former news anchor at WJTN Radio will be the emcee for the October "Retool '22" Climate Technology Conference in Jamestown. The Board of Public Utilities has announced that Mike McKay... who is currently a corporate support account executive at WNED PBS TV and WBFO Radio in Buffalo... will emcee the Oct. 17-19 program at the Northwest Arena. BPU Business Development Coordinator Ellen DiTonto... who is organizing the conference... says local businesses will get to learn more about how they can take advantage of new technologies to power their operations... noting the Jamestown-area has a number of manufacturers that have metal pressing operations that are involved in making internal combustion engines, and they're going to have to retool in the coming years. Mike McKay worked at WJTN and SE-93 radio in the 1980s before moving onto the Buffalo market. The moderator for three of the sessions will be Dan Testa, who is news editor for S&P Global Commodity Insights, and a co-host for Energy Evolution Podcasts. DiTonto says, on Oct. 19, the Shults Auto Group will bring some electric commercial and consumer vehicles for people to check-out. For more information... go on-line to Jamestownbpu.com.
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The BPU Thursday also announced they have postponed the village of Falconer's Fall Water Main Flushing due to high water levels. BPU Spokeswoman Becky Robbins says the flushing... which was to begin with a pre-flush today... will be held at a later date. Flushing will now begin -- weather permitting -- on Monday, Oct. 3.
