BPU GM reports only one of five divisions has a rate hike for 2024; updates water main replacement projects...
Only one of the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities' five divisions is seeing a rate increase in 2024.  That from BPU General Manager Dave Leathers... who gave a quarterly update for the City Council this week.  Leathers told lawmakers that was for the wastewater division.  However... he says a couple of others saw some other charges increase... including water service connections... and, the electric division was looking at a possible fuel charge adjustment.  Leathers says the Water Division is moving into Phase-Two of it's Water Main Replacement Grant program.  Leathers says they are looking to see how much of their $5-million grant remains... and, will then put the projects out to bid.  He says Phase-One was on Washington Street.  He says there are five streets in Phase-Two... which will include: West Virginia Blvd... Glenview... Mercury Lane... and, West 18th Street.  Leathers also told the City Council that there have been four water main breaks so far in 2024 after coming off what may have been a record low number in 2023.  He says the BPU has also been producing a significant amount of power in recent months using the power plant's gas turbine.

State Legislature looking at bill that could end parents of Foster kids having to pay for their care... 
A bill in the New York State Legislature could alter how the foster care system operates in the state, by ending the requirement that parents have to pay for their child’s stay in foster care.  New York collected more than $2-million in 2021 from low-income parents with kids in foster care.  These so-called "maintenance payments" include a 9% interest rate.  Jill Berrick, a University of California Berkeley professor who tracks this issue, notes half of these families make less than $10,000 per year... which means they may be handing over $10 to $100 a month which could turn their finances upside down."  Berrick adds the bill faces little opposition, with many in the child welfare system supporting it.  If it doesn't pass... Berrick notes taxpayers will continue footing the bill for most payments, since parents aren’t usually able to make them.  California, Michigan, Montana and Washington have already taken action to end systems like this.  The bill is now in the New York Senate Judiciary Committee.

Gerry man arrested for speedking and DWI...
A man from Gerry has been arrested for allegedly driving drunk and speeding on Route 60 in the town of Gerry last weekend.  Sheriff's deputies say they stopped the car shortly after 10 p.m. last Saturday... and, found that 28 year-old Devin Parker was operating the vehicle.  Officers say he was found to be driving while intoxicated... and, was arrested.. and, issued appearance tickets for speeding, and DWI for Gerry Town Court.

CSHOF Induction Dinner now a sell-out...
Next Monday night's Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner is now a sell-out.  Hall of Fame President Randy Anderson tells us they have sold 350 tickets for the annual event at the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club on Feb. 19.  Anderson says the Class of 2024 includes nine new inductees... from many different backgrounds... and for the first time... the majority of them are women.  They are Karen Bakewell... Cheryl Miller-Burns... Carlene Sluberski... Karen Tellinghuisen... and, Judy Young.  The male inductees include the late Danny Bryner... Tom D'Angelo... Doug Kaltenbach... and, Rod Maloy.  Anderson says this is the 42nd group of inductees since the Hall of Fame was established in 1981.

Langworthy announces bipartisan letter writting effort to EPA regarding farm manure emissions...
Chautauqua County's Congressman is leading a bi-partisan letter writting effort... urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to refrain from considering  the reporting of certain substances emitted into the air by the natural break-down of animal manure.  Buffalo-area Republican Nick Langworthy is among those signing the letter to EPA Secretary Michael Regan to not consider the rule... which he says would add significant red tape for farmers and ranchers in an industry that is already heavily-regulated.  Langworthy says the letter is co-led by Democratic Congressman Jim Costa of California, and has been signed by a bi-partisan coalition of 44 additional members.   Republican Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson, who represents Warren County, Pa., has also signed onto the letter.

Rep. Rapp announces more than half-a-million dollars in fire and rescue grants for Warren, Crawford, and Forest County departments...
Fire and ambulance companies in Pennsylvania's 65th Legislative District... including several in Warren County... are receiving just over $566,000 in state grants.   That from Republican State Representative Kathy Rapp... who says the funding will come from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency... and, the Office of the State Fire commissioner.  Rapp says most of the grants are going to Warren County fire-rescue entities... and, total between $13,000 and $16,000 each.  The city of Warren is receiving just over $31,000 between two grants.  Rapp also represents parts of Crawford and Forest Counties.