Man in stable condition following shooting incident early Thursday; suspect still at large...
A Jamestown man is in stable condition following a "targeted" shooting on the city's westside early this morning... and the suspect remains at-large. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers were called to a westside location -- near West Sixth Street -- around 2 a.m. Samuelson says the address was 38 Whitley Ave. He says officers found the unidentified victim... who was initally taken to UPMC Chautauqua in Jamestown... then UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa. Samuelson says city police are still looking for the suspect... and, if you have any information... call them at 483-7537... or their confidential tip line at 483-8477. He tells us they have little information on the shooter... aside from the fact it was a male, wearing a sweatshirt and blue jeans. Late Thursday afternoon... police said they believe he fled east over the Sixth St. Bridge. Police say all calls will be kept confidential.
Man killed in rollover accident in Panama now identified...
A Panama man has now been identified at the person killed in a one-car, rollover crash early this week in Panama. Sheriff's officers say 27 year-old Lester Yoder was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident... which occured about 11:30 p.m. Monday. Deputies say Yoder was ejected, and pinned underneath the vehicle. Several rescue and fire department personnel responded.
Jamestown man in custody after leading police on chase that injured one officer...
City police say a Jamestown man is now in custody after allegedly leading officers on a chase that injured one of them. Jamestown police say they found 29 year-old Wayne Wright III following the vehicle/foot pursuit in the area of Baker and Colfax Streets shortly before Noon Wednesday. Officers say Wright was also wanted for failure to appear in court on a charge of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. They say he has a "violent criminal history..." and he was last believed to be in the Axtel... or Park Street areas.
County officials looking at goal of getting more homeless out of temporary housing... to transition, supportive and affordable housing...
Chautauqua County's leaders say their goal -- over time -- is to move away from the use of local hotels as homeless shelters... and, expand the use of shelters. That from the county's director of Community Mental Hygiene Services Carmelo Hernandez... who says a location like the Budget Inn in Falconer has provided immediate public shelter. However... Hernandiez adds a "long-term structured support is vital to success." He says the county is working with the area’s Homeless Collation to identify priority areas. He says they need a progression of “Emergency Housing, transition housing, supportive housing and affordable housing." He says there's also a need to provide help to the chronically homeless... those with mental illness and drug addiction issues. The county has contracted in recent years with the Budget Inn, and others to provide the emergency housing. However... village leaders and residents have complained in recent times about issues with crime, open drug use... and, other problems associated with use of the hotel.
About 100 on hand for Farm Bill "Listening Session" hosted by Langworthy...
A number of farm and farm-related issued were touched on during a two-hour long listening session hosted by local Congressman Nick Langworthy in the town of Portland Wednesday morning. Langworthy and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson of Northwestern Pennsylvania heard from several people during a "listening session" at Cornell Cooperative Extension on West Main Road. One... Fred Johnson of Johnson Estate Winery... spoke from the perspective of having worked in agriculture in several places around the world. Johnson says the U-S has the "best agriculture in the world..." but, needs to focus on three things; the first being land-grant colleges, basic and applied research, and extension. He says that's "all we need." Steve Cockram with the Grower's Coop in Westfield called for a push to "level the playing field" in the U.S., and, the world. The 5-year Farm Bill authorization bill is up this Fall in Congress.
Fredonia mayor issues State of Emergency for village water system...
On-going problems with the village of Fredonia's water system have led Mayor Doug Essek to declare a State of Emergency regarding the system. A source in the north county confirmed the move... which took place at the village board meeting Tuesday night. In addition... the Post-Journal reports that if something isn't done about the water system's 15 health violations quickly... it could be fined up to $2,400 a day for each one. That was part of a Chautauqua County Health Department report earlier this week. The village had had on-going problems with it's water system since 2020... including four boil water orders. Health officials assured Fredonia users their water is safe to drink -- for now.
Schneider says schools continue to hire, and look for people to fill positions as school begins...
One of the biggest needs among local school districts is bus drivers. They're especially crucial for rural districts. However... some districts have had to get creative in filling positions for the 2023-24 school year. That's been seen in Jamestown... where the district has agreed to share a transportation supervisor with the Southwestern and Frewsburg districts. New York State School Board's Association Executive Director Bob Schneider says others are using signing bonuses... and, consolidating routes. Regarding other positions... Schneider says some districts have decided to use apprenticeships to help recruit new workers... and, can get help from the state Department of Labor in that effort.
