PS Board begins review of nearly $104-million budget for city school district...
Members of the Jamestown School Board are getting their first look at a proposed, nearly $104-million dollar, 2024-25 budget that includes no tax increase.  That from School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker... who along with Assistant Superintendent for Finance... Brittney Spry... laid out the first draft of the spending plan at this week's board meeting.  Dr. Whitaker says the budget also keeps the services they've provided for students coming out of the pandemic in place.  Those include support programs for educational, emotional, and mental health.  Whitaker says spending is up slightly in this budget... but, he says a combination of additional BOCES Aid... and, Foundation Aid from New York state... is covering that.  He says he had the chance -- with others -- to find out from state legislative leaders about where base school aid is going.  He says that should see an increase of 2.5% for Jamestown.  The school board will continue it's review until a final budget goes up for a vote in May.

Borrello says he supports a number of proposals in legislature's "One House..." but, doesn't back others...
The New York State Senate and Assembly should begin debating budget bills in Albany Thursday after releasing their "one-house" spending measures.  In the meantime... negotiations are underway between legislative leaders and Governor Kathy Hochul.  Local State Senator George Borrello says he supports a number of proposals that are included in both the Senate and Assembly one-house budgets... but, has concerns over others.  Borrello says his biggest concern... which is shared by several others... has to do with restoring Foundation -- or Base Aid -- to local school districts.  He says that's especially important for rural districts... of which there are several in Chautauqua County.  However... The Sunset Bay Republican says the fact that policy issues remain in both budgets could be problematic.  Borrello cited... as an example... the New York HEAT Act... which is included fully in the Senate version.  He says the HEAT Act is a policy measure which would allow the state's Public Service Commission to decommission natural gas infrastructure in New York for any reason.

Dunkirk man arrested on multiple drug charges following raid...
A Dunkirk man faces multiple drug charges following a raid on his home in the north county city Tuesday afternoon.  Narcotics investigators with the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office... and, Dunkirk Police Department... executed a search warrant at 51 East Second St. about 12:30 p.m. with the help of Dunkir's SRT Team.  Investigators located 26 year-old Jose Pacheco inside... along with 5-grams of crack cocaine, scales and packaging materials for trafficking drugs... and a quantity of cash.  Pacheco was arrested on one count each of third-and fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia.  He was taken to the Dunkirk Police Department where he was held pending arraignment. 

County emphasizing safety on Apr. 8 for Total Solar Eclipse...
Personal safety is a big concern for Chautauqua County officials with the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse.  That goes for your eyes... and, on the roadways.  The eyes were the major focus for health officials... and Public Health Director Lacey Wilson emphasized the need to use properly ISO rated eclipse glasses... that will be distributed by the county.  Wilson warns that not every pair of solar glasses are ISO rated, and standardized.  She says the county's eclipse glasses have an ISO rating of 12312-2... meaning they meet several national and international standards for such glasses.  If you don't use the glasses... or the improper glasses... County Physician Michael Faulk says you can damage the retina.  Faulk says it's called "Solar Retinopathy."  He says the Retina is in the back of the eye... but, still can be harmed by the sun's powerful rays.  If that happens... Dr. Faulk says happens... symptoms could include: a blind spot in both one or both eyes... blurry vision... or headaches.  For the proper eyeware... go on-line to glasses@chqgov.com.

Jamestown man arrested as fugitive...
A city man is accused of driving without a license after being stopped on Jamestown's westside for allegedly having an uninspected car.  City police say they pulled over 48 year-old James Lindsay III near the corner of West Fifth and Jefferson Streets shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday... and, also found his license had been revoked.  Further investigation found that Lindsay was also sought on a warrant out of the Warren County Sheriff's Office in Pennsylvania.  He was taken into custody on a Felony fugitive from justice charge... and, and was jailed pending his arraignment.

Whitaker says JPS District excited about musical, basketball and other extra curricular activites...
It's an exciting time for extra-curricular events and activities in the Jamestown Public Schools... with the start of the annual Spring Musical... and, the Boy's Varsity Basketball Team in the final four at Glens Falls.  That from Superintendent Kevin Whitaker... who told our Dennis Webster Thursday morning that the musical begins tonight with a 7 p.m. performance.  Another 7 p.m. performance will be held on Friday, and a 2 p.m. matinee is set for Saturday.  In addition... the Varsity Boy's Basketball Team will play it's semi-final Class AA play-off game Friday at 2:15 p.m. against Elmont from the New York City Metro Area.  Dr. Whitaker adds both have identical 21-4 records going into the weekend.  The winner plays in the championship game Saturday.  He also congratulated Varsity Bowler Abbie Derby... Swimmer Connor Dean... and, Indoor Track stand-out Jared Cotter on making individual state championships.