Flames heavily damage second-story of No. Main St. home in Jamestown...
Jamestown firefighters battled flames... and heat and humidity... during a late afternoon house fire on Jamestown's northside Wednesday.  Fire Battalion Chief Shawn Shilling says crews were called to 860 No. Main St. about 4:45 p.m., and, found heavy flames shooting from the second-story apartment.  Shilling says firefighters immediately took a defensive posture to bring the exterior blaze under control.  He then sent interior crews in... but, they were driven back twice by intensifying flames due to the heat, and wind.  Shilling says it took nearly an hour to bring the blaze under control.  Shilling says the structure has heavy fire damage to the second-floor... and, water damage to the first-floor.  While the house is still standing... it has been condemned.  Shilling says it's not clear if anyone lived in the second-floor apartment... and one person lived on the first floor.  He says that person was taking a nap at the time -- and a passerby pounded on the door to wake him up.  An off-duty shift was called in to assist.  No one was hurt.  The cause remains under investigation today.  

County Legislature unanimously approves new, four-year contracts with CSEA, CCSEA workers...
Members of the Chautauqua County Legislature Wednesday night unanimously approved new labor contracts with the Civil Service Employees Association-Local 6300... and, the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Employees Association.  During their monthly legislature meeting... lawmakers discussed the measures briefly.  Legislature Minority Leader Bob Bankowski of Dunkirk commended both county and labor negotiators for agreeing to fair contracts.  Bankowski, and Jamestown Republican Elizabeth Rankin agreed the county needs the agreement to help recruit, and retain good workers.  Rankin says it's a lot less expensive to keep good people than to bring new ones in often, and have to train them.  While he ultimately voted for the contracts... Sheridan Republican Terry Neibel warned fellow lawmakers that they also need to look out for the taxpayers because the wage hikes add $1.7-million to the budget.  Bankowski and others had earlier said the contracts "won't break the county."  Both contracts run for four-years.  The CSEA contract includes 3% wage increases the first two years... and, 3.5% the next two.  The one for CCSEA includes 3.5% increases each year... and both includes cost of living bonuses each year.

City man pleads guilty to Meth drug conspiracy...
A Jamestown man has pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking methamphetamine as part of a drug conspiracy in the city three years ago.  U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced Wednesday that 57 year-old Austin Gordon entered the guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Richard Arcara to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five grams or more of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  Prosecutors say Gordon bought, sold and distributed quantities of meth for profit between June and December of 2019... using Facebook.  In July of that year... investigators looking for a federal fugitive on Bishop Street found methamphetamine inside the residence.... and, seized the meth, along with drug paraphernalia, and just over $1,400 dollars in cash.  In November... they recovered drugs -- including 32-grams of meth... just over $1,600 cash, two firearms and 454 rounds of ammunition at Gordon's home.  He faces a manditory minimum of 5-years in prison... and, a maximum of 50.

Jamestown woman faces assault charge after domestic incident...
A city woman has been arrested for allegedly injuring a male victim during a domestic incident on Jamestown's southside early Wednesday morning... and, doing it in front of two children.  City police say they were called to a Prospect Street home about 1:30 a.m. for a domestic dispute.  Their investigation showed that 28 year-old Jessica Glovier had injured the man... and, damaged property belonging to him.  Officers say Glovier was taken into custody on charges of third-degree assault... fourth-degree criminal mischief... and, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Gillibrand proposes ban on posting of 3D Ghost Gun blueprints...
The recent proliferation of what are called "Ghost Guns" has led New York's junior U.S. Senator to craft legislation that would ban on-line distribution of 3D printing of blueprints for those homemade guns.  During a video conference Wednesday  morning... Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand outlined her "3D Printed Gun Safety Act."  She says it would make it illegal to publish and distribute the digital blueprints to make those guns.  Gillibrand says it would make it more difficult for bad actors to get their "hands on them."  She adds the problem with ghost guns is they have no serial number, making them untraceable and extremely difficult to regulate.  Since many of the 3D printed guns are made of plastic... she says they're hard to detect at places that rely on security measures... including courthouses, airports and other "secured public areas."  In 2022... Gillibrand says police in New York State seized 85% more ghost guns than they did the year before in 2021.

Abbott to receive 2023 Joseph Mason Award...
The man who has been president of the Jamestown School Board the past seven-years... and, has been a local volunteer... has been selected to receive this year's Joseph H. Mason Award.  The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County will present the award to Paul Abbott during the organization's annual "Salute to Labor" dinner at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel on Wed., Aug. 9.  For more information on the dinner... call the United Way at 483-1561.