City Council begins review of three new ordinances dealing with housing, rentals and public nuisance issues...
Three new ordinances that deal mainly with housing issues have been introduced by Jamestown's Department of Development. The City Council's Housing Committee discussed the three ordinances at length with Development Director Crystal Surdyk... and, outlined those discussions with the full council. Committee Chairman Bill Reynolds says the first establishes a Vacant Real Property Registration. Reynolds says it's a "pretty cut and dry" proposal. The second ordinance establishes a set of Rental Inspection policies... which Surdyk says she wants to get feedback from council members, residents, and landlords about. She would like to see a full council vote on that next month because there are still some logistics they are working through. The third ordinance would involve a set of "Public Nuisance policies..." which have been formulated based on the work of the city's recently hired Public Nuisance Officer. Surdyk credited Kasie Foulk from her office for doing a lot of the work on the three ordinances.
Schmidt announces Dalton sentencing...
A Jamestown man has been sentenced to four years in state prison for violating terms of his probation after being found in possession of methampetamine during a traffic stop a year ago in the city. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 39 year-old Todd Dalton received the sentence... along with two years post-release supervision... from County Court Judge David Foley Monday. Dalton was convicted after pleading guilty to fourth-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance during the March, 2023 traffic stop. He pleaded guilty to the charge back in January. Schmidt says he was also on felony probation on a charge of third-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in August 2022. He was sentenced as a non-violent, predicate felon due to having more than one conviction in 10 years.
Another day of possible record warmth in store for WNY...
Our unusually warm Winter is continuing for the first two days of this week... and, on Monday... a new record high temperature was set in the region. The National Weather Service reported a 72-degree reading at 2 p.m. in Buffalo... smashing the old record of 63 set back in 1974. Forecaster Jon Hitchcock in Buffalo said Monday that warm air from the south has made it's way into Western New York... and, much of the northeastern U.S. Hitchcock said it was already in the mid-60s across the area late Monday morning. The high in Dunkirk was actually the high temperature across Western New York. It reached 76-degrees near the Lake Erie shoreline. Hitchcock adds that we may see another record broken today... with highs right around 70. Here at our Media One Radio Group studios... the high was 73 yesterday... and, we will get close to 70 today. However... there is a slight chance of rain by the afternoon. By Wednesday... highs will be around 50... which is still well above the normal high for this part of March.
City woman, Jail inmate from Dunkirk, arrested for promoting prison contraband...
A Jamestown woman has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle illegal drugs to a Chautauqua County Jail inmate... who has also been arrested. Sheriff's officers say the arrest of 43 year-old Tammra Topliffe... and, 30 year-old Preston Lawrence of Dunkirk... are part of a concerted effort to curb the influx of illegal substances into the jail. Last Friday... deputies say corrections officers intercepted Topliffe during routine security at inmate visitation. Acting on a tip... they kept surveillance on Topliffe while she was in the visitation area... and, saw her passing a cache of narcotics to Lawrence. Deputies say they seized the contraband... Suboxone... a prescription medication which is a controlled narcotic... and, they say it represents a flagrant violation of jail regulations. Topliffe is charged with first-degree promoting prison contraband... and fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Lawrence was also charged with first-degree promoting prison contraband... and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Both were arraigned and issued appearance tickets for Chautauqua Town Court at a later date.
Chamber presents it's "Salute to Finest" awards in Jamestown...
The Chamber of Commerce presented its ‘Jamestown Salute to the Finest’ awards last night at the Doubletree hotel downtown. The Legacy Award went to Chautauqua Patrons Insurance. Executive Vice President, Brian Willink, accepted the award on behalf of company Chief Executive Officer Mark Prechtl. Willink says Chautauqua Patrons was established in 1877, and has provided many kinds of insurance to the Jamestown-area, and upstate New York. Willink says they now have 250 independent agents across the region. The Service to Humanity Award went to Mike Roberts, President of Allied Alarm. Roberts was humbled by the designation... and accepted it on behalf of the organizations he's been involved with. Chautauqua Soap Company was named ‘Rising Business of the Year.’ ‘Ryan’s Phil and Cindy’s Lunch’ was honored as Restaurant of the Year.
Closings announced for Chautauqua Lake Bridge rehabilitation project...
Work has been underway on the approximately $78-million Chautauqua Lake Bridge reconstruction project... but, some traffic changes began Monday. Chautauqua County Public Facilities Director Tim Card confirms the state Department of Transportation has closed off Exit 10 at Long Point State Park from eastbound Interstate 86 to westbound Route 430 now until 6 a.m. next Saturday. In addition... westbound I-86 will be closed between Exit 10 and Exit 9 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. today through Friday. Detours will be posted.
