Weapons detection pilot program to be conducted at Friday night's JHS Varsity Football game...
Jamestown school superintendent Kevin Whitaker says there'll be something new at the main gate this Friday night for those attending the Jamestown football game at Strider Field. Dr. Whitaker says they'll be testing out a new weapons detection system for the game against visiting Bennett. Two detectors, rented from Chautauqua Institution, will be set up at the main gate. Whitaker says it'll be a good test for the staff to see what challenges the system creates at the gate. For fans attending the game... it'll be a reminder of what's not allowed on school grounds... including any kind of weapon, and or illegal drugs. Whitaker says the test was one of several recent recommendations from the district's Safety Committee. While games so far this year at the Jamestown field have been relatively civil, tensions have been high at some contests in the Buffalo-area this fall, leading to the suspension of one game and the cancellation of several others.
City man arrested in major drug raid on southside...
A Jamestown man has been arrested following a raid on his home on the city's southside for allegedly trafficking a variety of drugs... and, being in possession of firearms. City police say members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force... Sheriff's Office Narcotics Investigators... and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant just after 8 a.m. Wednesday at 15 Myers Ave. Police say the JPD SWAT Team gained entry to the home... and, agents found two pistols... .45 caliber ammunition... just over 74-grams of powder cocaine... 13.1-grams of fentanyl... 12.3-grams of crack cocaine... 81.7-grams of psilocyben mushrooms... just over 29-hundred grams of marihuana, and others -- including several thousand dollars in cash. Police say a child was found inside the home. They arrested 48 year-old Ameir Glover after he left the home... and, a traffic stop was conducted on his car. Glover was taken to the city jail... then the county jail where he is being held for the DEA on federal charges. Glover will be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Buffalo on his charges at a later time.
Dunkirk man identified as person killled in Route 60 head-on crash in town of Pomfret...
A Dunkirk man was killed when his Sports Utility Vehicle collided head-on Monday morning with a tanker truck on Route 60 in the town of Pomfret. State Police in Jamestown responded to the scene about 10:15 AM... and, found that 41 year-old Samuel Lobley's southbound GMC S-U-V had crossed into the on-coming lane... and, struck the truck. Lobley was pronounced dead at the scene. Chautauqua County Fire dispatchers say the accident forced Route 60 in that area to be closed until about 4 PM Monday. Police say the state Department of Environmental Conservation was called to the scene to clean up a diesel fuel leak. Troopers say Lobley's body was taken to the Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. The state Police Reconstruction Unit... and other agenies assisted police with the investigation.
County lawmakers approved revised OFAS receipt of $286,000 federal grant to help get vaccines out...
The Chautauqua County Legislature has approved the Office for Aging Services receiving a $286,000 federal grant to help get people more people important vaccines. Interim County Public Health Director Dr. Michael Faulk says it's especially timely with recent upticks in respiratory diseases... like COVID. However... lawmakers recently amended the measure to say the funding will not be used to give "incentives" for people to do it. Faulk says this will help get people those vaccines who need them. The amendment was approved with Sheridan Republican Terry Neibel voting "no." Neibel also cast the lone "no" vote on the final resolution. He cited a vote on a $75,000 grant last year that health officials said would not be used to push the COVID vaccine on children under 5. However... Neibel says, while the Health Department later apologized for that, he's concerned it will happen again. Dr. Faulk says it's part of the effort to prevent disease and it's spread.
Sundquist announces initiatives in his 2024 budget proposal...
Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist's 2024 budget proposal includes a number of initiatives... targeting dilapitated housing... and, the city's parks. During his recent budget presentation... Sundquist said $500,000 will be added to the usual amount budgeted to demolish what he calls "unsalvagable" condemned homes. Sundquist adds the Home Rehabilitiation program will be expanded, and there will be a new sidewalk repair fund. He says there's also some infrastructure work is also planned for storm sewers. Sundquist adds there will be projects coming to fruition at some of the city's parks in 2024... including new splash pads at two parks... and, major improvements to Willard and Roseland Parks. He says he's also budgeted some additional manpower for the Parks Department. The budget... which totals $40.15-million... marks the first time the city budget has exceeded $40-million. While the tax levy is up slightly in the budget... Sundquist says the tax rate remains at $23.69 cents per $1,000 assessed value. City Council will begin it's full review of the spending plan at next Monday night's work session. A final budget is due by Dec. 1.
