Jamestown Fire and Police Departments busy late Tuesday morning...
It's been a busy morning for Jamestown firefighters... and, police. City fire crews were called to three fires.... the first was a vehicle fire on Barrett Avenue -- near a house -- shortly before 10:30 a.m. Fire crews then were called to two fires on Broadhead Avenue. The first was at 49 Broadhead just before 10:30... and, the second was reported shortly after 10:30 a.m. at 55 Broadhead. No other information was available at airtime.
---
Jamestown police and several other agencies were also called to a report of a "large fight" at Jamestown High School. County dispatch reports the fight apparently took place in the cafeteria just after 11 a.m. The situation was reportedly brought under control within minutes. No other information is available on those incidents right now. No significant injuries have been reported.
Most local elections in Chautauqua County on this Election Day are contested...
Voters head to the polls today to decide a number of races in the Jamestown-area... with a city mayoral election and the entire city council up for election. Incumbant Democrat Eddie Sundquist is running for a second-term as mayor... and, he's being challenged by long-time At-Large Councilwoman Kim Ecklund.
As for City Council... all but one ward seat is being contested. That race is in the second-ward where Council President Tony Dolce is running unopposed. In Ward-One... incumbant Republican Brent Sheldon is being opposed by Democrat Travis Knight. In the third-ward... incumbant Democrat Regina Brackman is being opposed by Republican Robert Reedy. In Ward-Four... incumbant Democrat Marie Carrubba is being challenged by Republican Joe Paterniti. The Ward-Five race is being incumbant Republican Bill Reynolds... and Democrat Kaycee Colburn. In Ward-Six... incumbant Republican Andrew Faulkner is being challenged by former Councilwoman Vanessa Weinert... who is a Democrat.
The At-Large seats are being contested by incumbant Republicans Randy Daversa and Jeff Russell... as well as newcomer Russ Bonfiglio. Democratic challengers include: Alyssa Porter... and Isaiah Rashad. The top three vote getters will win seats.
---
There are also contested races in the town of Ellicott... led by Republican Supervisor Janet Bowman... who took over the position when Pat McLaughlin resigned. She's being challenged by Demcrat Todd Beckerink. There's also a race for the new mayor of Dunkirk, since incumbant Willie Rosas decided against running for another term.
---
There are a majority of Chautauqua County Legislature seats being contested this year. In Jamestown... Republican incumbant Elizabeth Rankin is being challenged by Democrat Fred Larson in District 12. Larson is a former legislator who served as a City Court Judge the past several years. Incumbant Democrat Billy Torres is being challenged in District 9 by Republican Phil Landy... Republican incumbant David Wilfong is being challenged in District 11 by Democrat Bob Whitney. In District 13... Democrat Tom Nelson is being challenged by Republican Joseph Tickle... and, in District 10... Republican Jamie Gustafson is being challenged by Democrat Julie Jackson-Forsberg.
Voting today runs from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all 47 polling sites in the county. Our coverage of Election Night 2023 on WJTN begins about 8:30 p.m. with our Terry Frank anchoring.
City Council concludes detailed budget review Monday night...
The Jamestown City Council has completed it's review of individual department spending plans that are part of the just over $40-million, 2024 budget. Lawmakers last night looked over the Department of Development and Fenton History Center budgets to complete the review. Council President Tony Dolce says they'll next hold a public hearing next Monday night on Mayor Eddie Sundquist's proposal. Dolce adds any amendments need to be submitted by this Friday. He says they have no meeting scheduled for Nov. 20, and that could be used for further review and discussion. At this point... Dolce says there have been no surprises... and, no big changes being looked at. One likely one is a proposed increase on the property tax exemption for seniors from $19,000 to $22,000 to take cost of living increases into consideration. Dolce says the local law will be voted on at the Nov. 27 voting session, as well. The mayor's $40.15-million spending plan does increase the tax levy slightly in the city... and, keeps the current tax rate of $23.69 per $1,000 full value. Lawmakers need to approve a budget by Dec. 1.
Lawmakers hear Police and Fire Budget presentations, and proposals for new vehicles...
During last week's budget talks... the City Council looked at vehicle and equipment purchases for the police and fire departments. Police Chief Tim Jackson noted they need four new cars -- two marked and two-unmarked patrol cars. He says their Domestic Violence Officer is driving a 2009 model vehicle, and it needs to be replaced. Jackson added their detective vehicles also haven't been replaced in several years. As for the fire department... Deputy Chief Matt Coon noted the need for a new transport vehicle... and, a ladder truck. Coon says the department usually retires vehicles every 30 to 35 years.
Schmidt announces pair of County Court sentencings Monday...
A Jamestown man will spend the next 3 to 6 years in state prison after pleading guilty to a third-degree robbery charges early last September. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 29 year-old Isaiah Pearson received the sentence Monday in County Court from Judge David Foley. Schmidt days Pearson was arrested last Feb. 26 by Jamestown police for a robbery incident in which he had threatened the victim with a knife, and stole their property. Pearson was also sentenced to 2 to 4 years after being convicted of second-degree attempted assault for injuring a corrections officer while he was an inmate at the county jail. Schmidt says the sentences will run concurrently.
----
In addition... a Westfield man was sentenced in County Court to 6 years in prison after pleading guilty to a third-degree drug possession charge. D.A. Schmidt says 45 year-old Shawn Conway received the sentence Monday from Judge Foley after pleading guilty to the Felony charges last Aug. 28. He says Sheriff's officers conducted a raid on a town of Mina home in October of 2021 where Conway was found... and, he was arrested on drug-related charge. Schmidt says Conway is already serving a sentence of 10-to-15 years in state prison on a drug conviction from April 2023, and, this sentence will serve concurrently to the April conviction.
Russ Diethrick receives NYS Exemplary Volunteer of the Year award...
A long-time member of our Media One family has been honored with New York's Exemplary Volunteer Service Award for his more than 50 years of volunteer service in Jamestown. The city's "Mr. Baseball" Russ Diethrick... learned about receiving the Governor's award during a phone call with state Office for the Aging Director Greg Olson... who says Diethrick has provided 61 years of overall service to about 40 local organizations. Olson says one of the things that stood out about Russ was his life-long passion for baseball... and, dedication to Babe Ruth Baseball. Russ still co-hosts WJTN's "The Times of Your Life..." and appears with our Dennis Webster on Tuesday mornings at 8:40 a.m.
