Two city men arrested for drug possession following traffic stop...
Two Jamestown men face drug related charges following a traffic stop early Tuesday morning where one of them was allegedly driving drunk. City Police say a patrol stopped the car... driven by 38 year-old Darryl Cavness... on Harrison Street near Forest Avenue just before 1:30 a.m. Officers say Cavness appeared to be drunk... and, his license had been revoked for a previous DWI conviction. Police say a search of the vehicle uncovered a quantity of Alprazolam pills and suboxone strips. Cavness was charged with DWI, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle... circumvention of an Interlock Device... and, two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Cavness' passenger, 50 year-old Jonathan Barlow was also charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a Controlled Substance. Both men were taken to the City Jail pending arraignment.
City man arrested for driving drunk with one-year old in car...
A Jamestown man has been accused of driving drunk with a one-year old child riding in the backseat of his car. City police say they conducted a traffic stop on a car for failure to keep right on East Virginia Blvd just after 1 p.m. Monday. Officers say they also found the car had a suspended registration -- along with a cracked windshield that obstructed the driver's view. The driver... identified as 47 year-old Dale Goodridge... who failed field sobriety tests during the investigation. He was also found to have a revoked driver's license for a prior DWI conviction. Police say a one-year-old child was seen in a carseat in the back seat of the vehicle... making it a Felony charge under Leandra's Law. Goodridge was taken to the city jail where his BAC was found to be nearly twice the legal limit. He was jailed pending arraignment on charges including failure to keep right... DWI Leandra's Law... and, first degree aggravated unlicensed operation.
United Way exceeds 2022 General Campaign goal...
The 2022 United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Campaign was another huge success. The local human service organization last night celebrated beating it's campaign goal of $1.3-million at the Northwest Arena. The United Way raised $1.37-million through the efforts of three campaign co-chairs: Danielle Stone, Denise Heppler, and Heather Turner. Heppler thanked the United Way staff for all their help and guidance during the effort. She says she feels privledged to have worked on the campaign behind the scenes to see how it all works... and, that the co-chairs did a "decent job..." which drew some laughs. Stone expressed her appreciation to the staff, division chairs and others on hand. She says being part of the campaign was an "incredible experience." Turner says being involved in this year's effort was a "blessing." United Way Executive Director Amy Rohler says being able to beat their goal in a small community like this requires a "united effort."
Ribbon is cut on new Pearl City Clay House in Jamestown...
A new arts shop and gallery is now officially open in downtown Jamestown that's part of the Infinity Visual and Performing Arts program. The ribbon was cut this afternoon on the new "Pearl City Clay House" on East Second Street... across the street from Infinity. Infinity's Executive Director, Shane Hawkins, says the Clay House has been in the works for five years... and had to take several months "off" due to the COVID Pandemic. However... Hawkins says they knew there was a need for programming in the community that helps sustain the program for the long-term. She says this gives adults a chance to work with their families on various projects, with money raised to help the overall Infinity program. Hawkins was joined by Clay House Program Director Deb Eck, who says they're able to offer a number of art, pottery, and other classes at the studio. Several local officials and Infinity Board members joined in the ribbon cutting. They included Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist and Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel.
NYS Legislature approves measure barring discrimination based on abortion, or "gender expression..."
The New York State Legislature has taken a "critical step" towards adopting a constitutional amendment that would bar discrimination based on ``pregnancy outcomes'' or ``gender expression.'' Supporters say the provisions are intended to protect abortion rights, and a person's right to seek gender-affirming care. Both the Democrat-led Assembly and Senate Tuesday approved the proposed amendment... which will now put it on New York's November 2024 general election ballots for voter ratification. The Legislature gave initial approval to the amendment last summer after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. It was the first step in the state's amendment process, where lawmakers have to pass a resolution twice in order to send it to voters.
PA governor refuses to disclose Inaugural party donors...
The refusal thus far of Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro to disclose who paid for his inaugural party has exposed the gap in state law that lets governors in Pennsylvania escape the kind of transparency sometimes required elsewhere. Presidential inaugural committees are required by federal law to disclose donors who give over $200 to inaugural celebrations. States like Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey have such laws, as does the city of Philadelphia. Many other states have no such disclosure laws, and millions of dollars can be given secretly by donors who seek favorable treatment under state regulations.
