Roldan-Pantojas sentenced for August 2022 shooting on Prendergast Ave...
The Jamestown man accused of shooting and killing another man in August of 2022 has pled guilty to a first-degree manslaughter charge in Chautauqua County Court.  District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 24 year-old Kevin Roldan-Pantojas entered the plea recently for the homicide of Jesus Bastista-Perez on Prendergast Avenue on Aug. 19 of 2022.  Schmidt says "shootouts and gun violence may seem more commonplace than ever before here in our community... but, we are doing everything in our power, with the limited resources available to us, to reverse the tide.  From the time of this shooting that afternoon... to the day that Mr. Roldan-Pantojas pled... JPD detectives, myself and my Felony Team... have worked tirelessly to ensure a conviction in this manner.  Roldan-Pantojas is scheduled to be sentenced next Jan. 12.
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Another Jamestown man has pleaded guilty to a Felony burglary charge in connection with a home invasion nearly one year ago in the city.  Schmidt says 48 year-old William Buckley entered the plea in County Court to first-degree burglary on Nov. 27.  The D-A says Buckley entered the home of the victim, an elderly person whom he had previously targeted under the guise of a home improvement job, displayed what appeared to be a firearm, restrained the victim and assaulted them before stealing the individual’s property.   Buckley was indicted last January on the burglary... and other related charges.  He'll be sentenced next Feb. 5.
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A South Dayton man has been sentenced to 2 to 6 years in state prison for violating his probation in October of last year.  Schmidt says 27 year-old Paul Davis was sentenced in County Court by Judge David Foley Tuesday.  He says Davis was convicted in April 2022 of third-degree burglary for an incident in Westfield in November of 2020.  Davis was sentenced to five-years probation on that conviction.  However... he violated the terms of his probation shortly after beginning his term... and, a warrant was issued a short time later. 

Carrubba updates City Council on clean-up of former Crawford Furniture Mfg plant...
The clean-up of the former Crawford Furniture Factory site on Allen Street is well-underway... and, Jamestown city officials hope to see it completed by late Spring or early next Summer.  That from City Council Housing Committee Chairwoman Marie Carrubba... who says the committee got an update on the effort Monday night by City Development Director Crystal Surdyk.  Carrubba says the Environmental Protection Agency is on site now.  She says the debris has to be wetted down before it can be taken to the county landfill for disposal.  In fact... Carrubba says the city will only have to pay the costs of work done before the EPA's $5-million clean-up began.  She says the site is also eligible for New York State Brownfield programs... so it should be "shovel-ready" for a new development.  The largely vacant factory was destroyed by a huge fire in November of 2022.  U-S Senator Charles Schumer was on hand this past January to announce the EPA would be moving ahead with final clean-up of the site.

Investigation underway into simultaneous fires at five Dunkirk homes...
Three north county fire departments battled flames for several hours from some five buildings Tuesday morning in the city of Dunkirk.  The fire in the 500 block of Columbus Avenue was first reported just before 7 a.m.  Dunkirk Fire Chief Mike Edwards says crews from his department, along with East Dunkirk and Fredonia, responded to the scene and found two houses that were heavily-involved in flames.  Edwards says the house at 535 Columbus was vacant... while there were 10 people living at the one at 533 Columbus.  He says they also got out safely.  Edwards says the city ordered that both houses be demolished.  He says that 535 Columbus Ave. was "completely destroyed" by the fire, while 533 Columbus sustained heavy fire damage.  Meanwhile, three other nearby structures sustained moderate heat damage to their exteriors.  The local Red Cross is assisting those affected.  No injuries were reported.  City and county fire investigators are looking into the cause.

Homeless man arrested for allegedly breaking into Jamestown auto shop...
A homeless man has been arrested by Jamestown police for allegedly breaking into an auto repair shop on Winsor Street in Jamestown late Monday night.  Officers say they responded to J-1 Auto -- near Brooklyn Square -- shortly after 11:30 p.m. for a burglar alarm.  When they arrived... police allegedly found a broken window and a man inside the business.  Police say 36 year-old Chad Walters ignored commands to come out of the building... so they requested a key holder come to the scene.  Once inside... officers arrested Walters without incident and he was taken to the city jail on charges of third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief... and, possession of burglar's tools.  He was jailed pending arraignment.

Durniok named new permanent president at UPMC Hamot...
The search is on for a new president at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital with the decision to make Brian Durniok the permanent president of UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pennsylvania.  In a printed release... UPMC officials said Durniok has been interim president at the Erie location the past several months.  Durniok was first appointed president at UPMC Chautauqua in January of 2019... and oversaw more than $54-million worth of upgrades there.  He will serve as interim president at the Jamestown hospital until a new president is named.