Pair from Jamestown arrested on drug and weapons possession charges...
A Gun-Involved Violence Enforcement detail led to the arrest of two people on Jamestown's eastside on several drug and weapons possession charges early Wednesday night. City police say they and the Jamestown Fire Department and K-9 Unit were assisting probation with a "home check" just before 7 p.m. They assisted in contacting Donovan and Sabrina Paquette -- both 27 -- at the location and while inside the residence... probation officers saw various indicators of drug activity. Further investigation led to discovery of just over 104-grams of methamphetamine... 23 individual glassine envelopes filled with fentanyl, numerous digital scales, packaging materials, metal knuckles, cash... and, two loaded handguns. It was found that one -- a Taurus 9-mm handgun -- had been reported stolen out of Warren, Pa. The other handgun was an 1897 lever-action .22 caliber long rifle with the barrel sawed partially off into a single shot pistol. It was also found that all the illegal contraband and drug paraphernalia in the residence was not properly secured... and, was readily accessible to an 8 year old child at the residence. Police add that the Paquette's did not have pistol permits... and, had been previously convicted of numerous crimes. Both were arrested... while the child was turned over to a family member. They were both charged with second-and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon... three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon... criminally using drug paraphernalia... and, endangering the Welfare of a Child. Both were jailed on those and other lesser drug charges pending arraignment.
Two drug traffickers are sentenced to significant time in federal prison...
Two men -- one from Jamestown -- face signifiant jail time in federal prison for their roles in a drug ring in the city more than three-years ago. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross says 31 year-old Michael Murphy of Jamestown... and, 43 year-old Jarrod Adams of Erie, Pa, were sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Buffalo. Ross says Adams, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison. Murphy, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 192 months in prison. Prosecutors say between June 2019, and October 2020, Murphy bought, sold, and distributed quantities of meth, using Facebook to conduct his drug trafficking. In July of 2019... U.S. Marshals and other law enforcement officers went to a Bishop St. home in Jamestown to apprehend Murphy... who was a federal fugitive at the time. Murphy was taken into custody along with Adams. A search warrant was executed, during which investigators seized a quantity of meth... more than $1,400 in cash... and drug paraphernalia. During the conspiracy...Murphy, who got his supply from Adams and co-conspiratory Rocco Beardsley, also supplied large quantities of meth to other. Another raid at Murphy's Newland Ave. home in late 2019 uncovered drugs... two guns... and, more than $1,600 in cash.
City resident voices concern over proposal by by JCC to take transfer of Diethrick Park from city for upgrades...
A city resident is calling on the Jamestown City Council to avoid a hasty decision to transfer Diethrick Park to SUNY Jamestown Community College to get a facility upgrade. Scott Axelson commented during this week's budget hearing about the matter... calling on lawmakers to not proceed with the transfer unless it's not financially feasible to keep the baseball stadium. JCC officials recently made the request so they could move foward with a $27-million to $30-million project to install a new, turf field there. Axelson questions whether the proposal is worth that kind of an investment. The proposal would seek 50% funding from the state... with Chautauqua County and JCC spliting the remaining 50% of the costs. Axelson says he lived in Nashua, New Hampshire for 22 years... and, while it's a bigger city than Jamestown... it didn't have a stadium like Jamestown has now... but, did host Double-A baseball at one time. The initial proposal would convert Diethrick Park into a 3-in-1 facility for baseball, softball and soccer for a cost of $30-million. The second, and latest proposal would keep Diethrick Park a baseball stadium... and upgrade Stadium West for soccer and softball with a new turf field as well.
Goodell urges Dunkirk Common Council to sign onto letter calling on NYS to release funding for new New Brooks Memorial Hospital...
With more than $70 million in funding for a new Brooks Memorial Hospital still in the hands of the New York State Health Department... a local state lawmaker is calling on Dunkirk lawmakers to sign onto a letter urging Governor Kathy Hochul to have that funding released. Assemblyman Andy Goodell, who spoke during a public portion of Tuesday's Common Council meeting, says he put together the letter with State Senator George Borrello.
Terrorism not suspected after speeding car slams into toll barrier at Rainbow Bridge on U.S. side...
A vehicle speeding toward a U.S. - Canada bridge from the American side crashed and exploded at a checkpoint in Niagara Falls on Wednesday, killing two people and prompting the closing of multiple border crossings for hours. Authorities weren't sure what spurred the wreck... but, say there were no signs it was a terror attack. The FBI's Buffalo office said late Wednesday that it had concluded its investigation: “A search of the scene revealed no explosive materials, and no terrorism nexus was identified,” it said in a statement. “The matter has been turned over to the Niagara Falls Police Department as a traffic investigation.”
