Utilities are working to restore electricity to tens of thousands of customers in northern and parts of western New York after freezing rain coated trees with about an inch of ice... snapping limbs that brought down power lines. However... while Chautauqua County officials were ready... there were no problems in the north county along the Cattaraugus, Walnut and Silver Creeks. County Emergency Services Director Julius Leone said last night there was some ice jamming on Walnut and Silver Creek... but, that was cleared out late Friday night. Leone adds it never became an issue on Cattaraugus Creek. Temperatures reached 60 degrees in the Jamestown-area Sunday. However... there were major icing problems in northern parts of Buffalo and Niagara County yesterday.
A Mayville man has been arrested for allegedly stealing several items from a Valley Street home in the village over the past weekend. Sheriff's officers were called to the scene about 7:30 AM Saturday for a burglary in progress. However... the alleged suspect -- 28 year-old Joshua Powell -- fled the scene before police arrived. Deputies say they were able for find Powell behind a business in Mayville. They determined that Powell did not have permission to be in the home... and, had taken a number of pieces of property. After arresting the suspect... officers allegedly found him in possession of a controlled substance. Powell was arraigned on charges including second-degree burglary... and criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, sent to the county jail on 10-thousand dollars cash bail.
Some key recommendations have come out already from Chautauqua County Executive-Elect Vince Horrigan's nine-member transition team. Horrigan named the team not long following his election to the county's top-elected post. The Bemus Point Republican says he's had "much discussion" with each of the panel's nine members.... and, says the key will be implementation of those recommendations. Horrigan says the first one came out clearly in those discussions. That is the need to bring people together from all across the county to help push economic development and job creation. But... at the same time... Horrigan says you can't say too much too early about some projects in the beginning stages because that may "kill the deal." But... he says there needs to be confidence instilled in local residents that "positive" developments are underway. In fact... Horrigan says there are now 60 such projects underway in the county. Some of those... he says... have come out the governor's "Start-UP New York" program involving the SUNY College at Fredonia... and, Jamestown Community College. Horrigan made his comments on our "Community Spotlight" program last weekend.
New York residents who haven't registered yet for a property tax break are about to get automated telephone calls reminding them that the December 31st deadline is coming up. The state tax department will be notifying about 620-thousand homeowners who haven't registered yet for Basic STAR, including more than 210-thousand in New York City. It says 2-million have registered. The state set the December 31st deadline to re-register for STAR as part of a program to weed out anyone claiming the exemption on properties other than their primary residence.
Three former aides have accused New York state Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak (GAB'-ruh-Zack) of sexual harassment. Gabryszak's former communications director and two other aides say in legal documents that they reported inappropriate behavior to their supervisor, but he failed to take any action. All eventually quit. A phone message left at Gabryszak's Albany office wasn't initially returned yesterday.
Governor Andrew Cuomo says a state assemblyman accused of sexual harassment should resign if the allegations are true. Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak was accused in a legal filing Thursday of repeatedly subjecting three aides to sex talk. The women say he told them they should wear bikinis, made salacious comments about his genitalia... and, sent one woman a video in which he appeared to be engaged in a sex act. Phone calls to Gabryszak's offices were not returned.
The first-ever "Holiday Haul for St. Susan's" to re-stock the soup kitchen's shelves... and, raise needed funding was a "wonderful success." That from organizer Keith Martin... athletic director at Jamestown Community College... who said it was "time" for him to give back to the community. Martin camped out during the day-time hours in the parking lot of the Jamestown Cycle Shop with a Jamestown Mattress Company truck. He accepted food donations... and, money from local residents all day Thursday, Friday, and part of Saturday. Martin says they were able to fill the truck with dozens of items... from boxes of pasta... to bottled water... and, cans of fruits and vegetables. He says young people even dropped off pennies. St. Susan's Center Executive Director Sue Colwell was "very excited..." and, grateful. Colwell was especially grateful to Martin... who came up with the idea about three weeks ago. It's not clear yet how much money was raised... but, Martin was pleased with the response. Two school groups presented 500-dollar checks each.
A Silver Creek man is jailed for allegedly pulling a large pocket knife... and, threatening his girlfriend with it early last weekend. Sheriff's Deputies accuse 55 year-old David Sodaro of breaking a front door window to get into his residence at 6 Jaekle Avenue. Officers say Sodaro then pulled out the pocket knife... and, started waving it in a threatening manner at the woman. Deputies say he then threatened his girlfriend further by throwing the knife so it stuck in the floor. They add Sodaro is also accused of intentionally breaking a large window at the front of the home. Sodaro was arraigned in the Silver Creek Village Court... and, sent to the county jail on 4-thousand dollars bail.
