Landmark motel in West Ellicott destroyed in early morning fire...
Flames of an unknown origin have destroyed a more than 70 year-old, landmark hotel in West Ellicott.  Celoron firefighters were called to the Colony Motel on Fairmount Avenue around 5:30 this morning to battle the blaze... which apparently began in the center portion of the structure.  Celoron Fire Chief Jamison Justham says that part of the building -- mainly in the back -- was heavily-involved in fire when they arrived.  Justham says the fire was starting to spread into the room wings when they got there.  Two aerial trucks were still on the scene at mid-morning, pouring water on the building.  That part of West Ellicott is serviced by the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities... and, Justham says they were definately "taxing" the system... with about 4,000 gallons between those two aerials being poured per minute.  He adds they also set up a tanker shuttle to deal with the back of the structure.  Justham says there were 15 people staying at the hotel... and, four people had to go to the hospital.  Two were civilians... and, two were firefighters.  They all had minor injuries.  Justham says they, along with Lakewood and Busti... with some assistance from the Jamestown Fire Department... initially responded.  The building is being demolished.  Several other departments responded... with others on stand-by.  The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

Celoron Fire Chief: Fairmount Ave. to remain closed in that area most of the day due to fire...
The Colony Motel fire at 620 East Fairmount Ave. led to the closing of that four-lane portion of the highway this morning... and it will likely remain closed through the day today.  That from Celoron Chief Jamison Justham... who says that's due to the fact the building may have to have to be torn down at some point today.  Justham says that could be a "rather extensive process."  He says with that... it's likely that Fairmount Avenue will remain closed between Dunham and Howard Avenues through early this evening.  In addition... due to the strain from water being poured on what's left of the motel... the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities says water in West Ellicott and west Jamestown will be discolored through the day today due to the water use for the fire. 

City man convicted in jury trial of criminal possession of loaded handgun...
A Jamestown man has been convicted by a Chautauqua County Court jury of being in possession of a loaded handgun illegally in early April of last year during a traffic stop.  District Attorney Jason Schmidt says he was pleased to announce the panel reached the verdict against 36 year-old Joshua Hammer on Monday on one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.  Schmidt says the case was prosecuted by Assistant DA's Andrew Molitor and Erik Bentley.  He adds that Hammer faces a maximum of 25 years to life in state prison if found to be a persistant Felon with three previous Felony convictions.  Hammer will be sentenced on Dec. 18 in county court.

Jamestown man arrested for sexually abusing young child...
A Jamestown man has been arrested following an investigation into his allegedly sexually abusing a child under the age of 11 on the city's northside.  Jamestown police say arrested 47 year-old Jose Rosario last Saturday for first-degree sex abuse... first-degree predatory sex act... and predatory sex assault of a child.  Officers say Rosario was arraigned in Jamestown City Court... and, sent to the Chautauqua County Jail pending further court action.

Salamanca Man gets 23 years in prison for Child Porn... 
A Cattaraugus County man has been sentenced to 23 years in federal prison for producing child pornography three-years ago in his on-line accounts.  U.S. Attorney Trini Ross has announced that 38 year-old Robert Calkins, Jr. of Salamanca received the sentence in federal court in Buffalo Monday after being convicted of production of child pornography.  Prosecutors say in April of 2020... the state Police began an investigation into Calkins after receiving dozens of reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children... saying Calkins was in possession of suspected child pornography within his Google accounts.  In September 2020... investigators executed a search warrant at Calkins’ East Jefferson Street home in Salamanca... and, seized four cell phones and an S-D card.  A forensic analysis conducted by Homeland Security Investigations recovered thousands of images and videos of child pornography, including several images that Calkins produced using a minor victim.  

City Council discusses DPW and Parks budgets during Monday night deliberations...
The Jamestown City Council continued it's review of Mayor Eddie Sundquist's 2024 budget proposal with a look at one of the biggest departments in the city.  Acting Public Works Director Mark Roetzer discussed details of his spending plan during last night's budget session.  One question regarded what kind of Consolidated Highway Improvement Program... or CHIPS funding... the city was looking at for next year.  Mayor Eddie Sundquist and Roetzer noted that line item includes more than CHIPS funding.  Sundquist says there's also Emergency, and Recovery fund with that, among others.  The five items in that line total $1.5-million in 2024... which Sundquist says was a pretty good increase from the current year's $700,000.  Parks were also discussed... and, a question was raised over the Allen Park Ice Rink.  Sundquist's 2024 budget totals $40.15-million... and, includes a slight, $207,000 increase in the tax levy... but, no increase in the tax rate.  That would remain $23.69 per $1,000 under the proposal.