Fire heavily damages garage in town of Arkwright...
Firefighters from six departments battled a garage fire early Monday morning in the Town of Arkwright. Crews from Forestville, Cassadaga, Sheridan, Sunset Bay, East Dunkirk and Fredonia responded to the blaze at a detached garage at 1994 Shaw Rd. shortly after 2:30 a.m. The Forestville department reported on it's Facebook page that flames began to melt the siding on the house and cracked all the windows in the front. Additional tankers were called... but, not needed. One firefighter was taken to a local hospital for a medical issue. County fire investigators were also called to the scene.
Jamestown man arrested for assault, and attempted assault of police during domestic investigation...
A city man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting one Jamestown police officer... and, trying to assault another... as he was being arrested for an alleged domestic dispute. City police say they were called to a southside address shortly before 1 a.m. last Saturday... and, learned while going to the scene that the suspect had allegedly forced his way into a nearby home. Once they arrived... officers tried to take 23 year-old Xavier Williams into custody. However... they say Williams refused to follow commands... and, tried to hit a uniformed police officer. During the ensuing struggle... another officer suffered a minor injury. Police say their investigation found that Williams had allegedly grabbed and choked a female victim prior to forcing entry into a nearby home and trying to assault the occupants inside. Williams was taken to the city jail... pending arraignment on charges including second-degree attempted assault of a police officer... second-degree assault of an officer... second-degree burglary and harassment... and, criminal obstruction of breathing.
City man arrested for violating orders of protection in weekend incident...
A Jamestown man is accused of again violating orders of protection... this time for four people... three of them children. City police were called to a violation of an order of protection complaint shortly after 12 p.m. last Saturday... and, made contact with 42 year-old Timothy Smith... who had been released from jail that morning. Upon being released from jail... officers say Smith entered and remained inside the victim's home as three of the protected children were inside. He was arrested and taken to the city jail where he was being held on four counts of second-degree criminal contempt... and one count of second-degree criminal trespass... pending arraignment.
Despite nearly $3-million in additional expenses... legislature able to eliminate any increase in 2024 budget proposal...
The Chautauqua County Legislature has been able to find enough savings and additional monies to offset just under $3-million in added expenses in the proposed 2024 budget proposal. Lawmakers will do a final review of the spending plan during this week's committee meetings after being able to trim the spending plan back to the levels in Executive P.J. Wendel's tentative proposal. Legislature Chairman Pierre Chagnon was pleased with how the first round of deliberations went. Chagnon says lawmakers were able to find some additional reductions, and revenues. He says increases were anticipated in four areas: The first was an additional $650,000 in payments to New York state for Medicaid. The second was having to pay out another $750,000 in "safety net" funding. Chagnon adds that state retirement costs are up nearly $1-million... and, court-ordered psychiatric evalutions are up about $500,000. However... lawmakers did find additional reductions... the biggest being road salt costing the county $500,000 less next year.
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Once lawmakers complete the final review at this Thursday's Audit and Control meeting... the just over $294-million budget will be up for a public hearing and vote at the legislature's Oct. 25 meeting.
Hanover man arrested for harassment...
A north county man has been arrested for allegedy getting into a physical altercation with another person at a home in the town of Hanover. Sheriff's officers were called to the scene on Jaekle Ave. about 10:40 a.m. Saturday... and, their investigation fund that 41 year-old Robert Bissell of Hanover made unwanted physical contact to another person. Deputies arrested Bissell for second-degree harassment... and, he was taken to the county jail pending arraignment.
Borrello joins workers at Collins Correctional Facility for protest over "celebration" for inmates...
State Senator George Borrello joined with correctional officers and their families last Friday to denounce a decision by the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to host a celebration for inmates and their families amid increasing inmate-on-staff violence and deteriorating working conditions. Borrello says union leaders for the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association were also on hand to express their outrage. Senator Borrello says "while our hardworking correctional officers are being assaulted and injured in record numbers... and whose own family lives are suffering because of extraordinary amounts of forced overtime... DOCCS has expended its focus and resources on planning a celebration for inmates and their children... and, a ‘pampering’ event for wives and girlfriends."
Langworthy supports Jordan for House Speaker...
As House Republicans continue to struggle with naming a new speaker... local Congressman Nick Langworthy has thrown his support behind House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan. Langworthy says "the time is come for the Republican Conference to unite and support Jim Jordan to be the next Speaker of the House. Jim has a plan to take us forward in a narrow majority in divided government. He has a proven track record of conservative leadership that makes him uniquely qualified to bring us together with a stronger resolve."
