County Humane Society announces closing of 2nd Chances Thrift Store...
The inability to fully-recover from the COVID Pandemic has led the Chautauqua County Humane Society to close it's Second-Chances Thrift Store in the coming weeks. That from Humane Society Executive Director Kellie Roberts... who says it was a difficult decision for their board. However... she says they've been reviewing their situation at the Fairmount Plaza location in West Ellicott for about the past two years... and the decision's been made to close the store. Roberts says they were ready to make some changes to boost the operation right before the Pandemic shut-down occured in March of 2020... and, they "just haven't been able to recover "financially from that." She says no firm closing date has been determined... but, she says it will likely be sometime in the next two to three weeks. She says all Second Chances operations will be shut-down by the end of February. Roberts adds that the Humane Society also needs to consolidate to meet New York's new Shelter Standards Act that's been in place for about a year now.
Wendel praises first responders on efforts during Tuesday Wind Storm...
Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel is praising local first responders and utility crews for their response to Tuesday's wind storm. Wendel says he believes the county "dodged a bullet" in terms of severe damage. At mid-day Wednesday... Wendel said there were still as many as two-thousand electric customers without power... mainly in the north county. He urges people to not go near downed power lines because you can't be sure whether it may still be "live" or not. He adds that if you come across them, call the local power company... or 911. At the height of the storm... county officials reported about 12,000 customers of either National Grid and New York State Gas and Electric were without power. Wendel says there was some significant damage to one county building. He says that was a three-sided salt storage shed in the town of Sheridan which ended up losing one side. Wendel says... if you come across any power lines on the road... or on the ground... do not approach them... call the local power company... or 911.
County, Fredonia and Pomfet open warming center at SUNY Fredonia...
With parts of the north county area still without power... Chautauqua County announced the opening of a warming center at the SUNY College at Fredonia Thursday. The village and town of Pomfret are opening the center at the Williams Center at 301 Old Main Drive in Fredonia from Noon to 9 p.m. Spokesman Justin Gould says additional days and hours will be broadcast on a needed basis.
Man accused of shooting and killing man during incident in Sinclairville pleads guilty...
The teenaged suspect in the July 2022 shooting death of a man in the village of Sinclairville has pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the case. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt has announced that the defendant... who was under the age of 18 at the time of the incident.... entered the plea just before jury selection was to begin for his trial. Schmidt says Joseph Misciagno was shot once in the back during a daytime street fight at the corner of Reed and Park Streets... just outside a baseball field where little leaguers and their families were present. The defendant now faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Mar. 1. Schmidt says there was no plea agreement involved... adding "one way or the other, whether by plea or conviction after trial, it was our intention to hold this individual responsible for the crime he committed."
City man arrested for calling in false stabbing report...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly reporting that he had been stabbed Wednesday night on North Main Street... but, it never occured. City police were called to the Robo North store just after 9 p.m., and, made contact with the reported victim, 26 year-old Schuyler Coleman. Officers say Coleman told them that he had been stabbed in the abdomen. However... it was soon found that no stabbing had actually occurred... and, Coleman had no marks or stab wounds on his body. He was arrested for third-degree falsely reporting an incident... and, was jailed pending arraignment.
New JHS Principal approved by Jamestown School Board...
An assistant principal at Jamestown High School will become the school's new principal... beginning next Tuesday. The city School Board Tuesday night approved the appointment of Allyson Smith as the new JHS Principal... replacing Dana Williams... who will be phasing out of the position through the second-semester. School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker says... in addition to her "exemplary services to JHS... she did very well during the interviews..." and, has made many good connections at the school. Dr. Whitaker says Smith "really stood out throughout the process with each of our stakeholders groups. Her understanding of the challenges and strengths of Jamestown High School is quite deep and this understanding as well as the relationships that she has forged, will serve our high school staff and students well." Prior to joining the staff at JHS in 2019... Whitaker says Smith served for seven years as a special education teacher at Persell Middle School.
