Two city men plead guilty in major drug trafficking conspiracy...
Two Jamestown men have pleaded guilty in federal court to their roles in a major conspiracy to traffic heroin and fentanyl in the city two years ago. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross in Buffalo announced Monday that 29 year-old Justin Yuchnitz... and, 38 year-old Brandon Andino entered the pleas before U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Vilardo. Ross says Yuchnitz pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin and fentanyl... while Andino pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl. She says Yuchnitiz faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $1-million. Andino faces a mandatory minimum of 5-years in prison, a maximum of 40, and a fine of $5-million. Prosecutors say Yuchnitz sold the drugs he received from co-defendant Joseph Zaso, utilizing electronic media. They add that Andino distributed large amounts of heroin and fentanyl that he also received from Zaso.
County commemorates "9/11" with program in Mayville...
Chautauqua County's annual "9/11" rememberance was held early Monday afternoon in front of the County Courthouse in Mayville. The local ceremony was one of hundreds held across the nation on the 22nd-anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City... Washington, D.C., and, Western Pennsylvania. American Legions from around Chautauqua County helped put together the program in Mayville. County Executive P.J. Wendel got emotional in talking about his former classmate... who was a flight attendant on one of the planes flown into the World Trader Center... Celoron native Amy King. He said he got the terrible news that afternoon that Amy King had taken on working that flight with her boyfriend so they could spend some time on the west coast. American Legions from around Chautauqua County helped put together the program in Mayville. The county's Legion Commander, Kirk Miller, also spoke. He paid tribute to his cousin, Craig Miller... who was a member of the Secret Service... and, was in New York on an assignment at the UN when he saw what happened, and tried to help get people out of Tower Number-1. His duffel bag, with his belongings were found there. A witness later said Craig had been seen in the stairwell just before the building's collapse.
City man arrested for DWI after being spotted driving the wrong way...
A Jamestown man was arrested early Monday morning for driving the wrong way on East Fourth Street... and while under the influence of alcohol. City police say they spotted the vehicle -- near the intersection with Pine Street -- going the wrong way just after 2 a.m. Officers stopped the vehicle... and, determined that 30 year-old Kellen Fiore... was drunk at the time. Fiore was taken into custody without incident, and taken to the city jail. He was ticketed for aggravated DWI... driving the wrong way on a one-way street... and, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration.
City Council's Housing Committee talks about boosting housing stock...
The Jamestown City Council's Housing Committee is discussing various ways to boost new housing in the city in light of local companies looking to hire. Committee Chairwoman Marie Carrubba says fellow Councilman Bill Reynolds addressed the panel about the need with at least one company expanding... and, new companies -- like Electrovaya -- coming in. Carrubba says he talked about the need with Cummins' Engine hiring more people with it's expansion project. She adds that there are several lots available still at Countryview Estates. In addition... Carrubba says they have learned a company called Modular Homes... which is currently putting up modulars in the Pittsburgh, Pa. area... may come here to do likewise. She says they're also looking to take advantage of a new state law that allows "tiny" smaller homes to be put onto vacant housing lots.
County Legislators honor town of Busti for it's Bicentennial program...
The Chautauqua County Legislature is honoring the town of Busti on it's big, bicentennial celebration that will be having it's big finale later this month. Busti-area lawmakers Jamie Gustafson and Travis Heiser presented a proclamation during last night's town board meeting. Gustafson noted that the town's namesake -- Paul Busti -- immigrated to the United States in the late 1700s... but, never settled in Busti. Busti began working in the U.S. with the Holland Land Company, and did come to Western New York and Erie, Pa. The town of Busti was formed in 1823, encorporating parts of the towns of Ellicott and Harmony. Town Supervisor Jesse Robbins thanked the legislators for the recognition... and, praised former Supervisor, Dale Robbins, for making the town what it is now. The town's bicentennial continues with a number of events at the Busti Firemen's Grounds on Sept. 21-24.
Mitchell Anderson to do one-man show this coming Friday and Saturday...
Jamestown born actor and restauranteur Mitchell Anderson will perform a one-man show Friday and Saturday at the Cappa Theater at the Robert H. Jackson Center at 7 p.m. Anderson says he wrote the show during the pandemic... and, says he talks a lot about Chautauqua County, and Jamestown, in the show. Mitchell Anderson is the son of the late R. Quintus and Sandra Anderson. His show is titled 'You Better Call Your Mother.' Tickets for 'You Better Call Your Mother' are $30 from 'Brown Paper Tickets' online. All proceeds will benefit the restoration of AIDS Memorial Park in downtown Jamestown.
