A city woman is jailed on 20-thousand dollars for allegedly trying to rob the U-S News Store in the East Second Street Plaza earlier this month. Jamestown Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers arrested 27 year-old Jena Blocker Thursday morning on a warrant at her home. He says they got a lot of good information on Blocker from the clerk at U-S News... who was pushed away from the counter by the would-be bandit after the employee tried to press the store alarm. Samuelson declined to tell our Terry Frank much about a motive for the attempted robbery. Samuelson adds their detailed description also helped locate Blocker... along with several tips phoned into their anonymous tip-line. He says the would-be bandit entered the eastside store back on January 5th... and, handed the clerk a note -- demanding money from the cash register. After not being able to get any money... Samuelson says Blocker ran out of the store... and, police got out a description of her and what she was wearing. She was arraigned in city court on a third-degree attempted robbery charge... and, sent to the county lock-up.
A Jamestown man is jailed after he was allegedly found to be driving drunk in a car that he allegedly stole from a local dealership. State Police in Jamestown tell us that 49 year-old Rodney Thomas was pulled over Tuesday on Route 60 for driving a vehicle with no license plates. Troopers say further investigation determined the car has been stolen. Thomas was taken to the State Police station where a breath test showed his blood alcohol count was point-14 percent. He was arraigned in Ellicott Town Court on charges including Felony driving while intoxicated... unlicensed operation... and, criminal possession of stolen property. Thomas was sent to the county jail without bail.
The new, consolidated appropriations bill approved by the U-S House includes about 64-million dollars to continue clean-up efforts at the West Valley Nuclear Demonstration Project. Congressman Tom Reed says that's an increase of more than 2-million dollars over last year's levels for the Cattaraugus County location. Reed says he stood with the local community... which pushed for the increased funding... and, says those "cumulative efforts are being recognized." The Corning Republican says -- "protecting public safety is one of the most important functions of government and one that provides long-term economic and environmental benefits to the region." Ashford Town Supervisor Chris Gerwitz... whose also a member of the West Valley Citizen Task Force... says the bill will "allow work (at West Valley) to go forward this year as planned." Reed also vowed Thursday to see the clean-up project through to completion.
Officials with Jamestown's Prendergast Library are looking to begin a 537-thousand dollar project that will create new space... and, make their restrooms completely handicapped accessible. Library Director Tina Scott says they've received a state grant of 243-thousand dollars for the project... which will also include Americans with Disabilities Act funding through the city... and, funds the library has raised. Scott says those two items are the first-phase of the project. She says the second phase will deal with a stairway... and, a walkway that connects the Children's area to what's now storage space upstairs. Scott says they hope to begin the project to make the library's restrooms handicapped accessible in April. She will be our guest on this weekend's "Community Spotlight" program that'll be heard on all five Media One Group stations.
Chautauqua County's remaining Catholic elementary school will remain open for the next school year as part of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo's "Faith of Tomorrow" initiative. A total of 10 Catholic elementary schools in western New York... including the one in Gowanda... will close at the end of the current school year. Bishop Richard Malone says the St. Joseph School... which has 42 students in Kindergarten through eighth grade will be closed down. Malone says the remaining schools... including Northern Chautauqua Catholic in Dunkirk... will remain open -- and, transition into "Community Schools" governed by lay advisory boards that will work with pastors on budgeting and other school operations. A couple of years ago... Holy Family Catholic School in Jamestown was ordered shut-down in a first-round of closings.
Governor Andrew Cuomo reports he has 33.3-million dollars in campaign cash as he heads into the election year. Cuomo's campaign committee says Wednesday that the Democratic governor raised $7 million since the last report in July and spent 1.5-million dollars. The hefty campaign war chest underscores Cuomo's strong position to run a statewide campaign for a second term. It's not clear who the Republican candidate will be in November. Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino has said he'll make a decision in the next two months. Donald Trump has said he would consider running if state Republicans join together behind him.
Donald Trump, who says he'd consider a run for New York governor, is scheduled to head upstate to attend a Republican fundraiser. The Erie County Republican Committee says Trump will be at its Lincoln Leadership Award event in Buffalo on Jan. 31. The New York City real estate developer is being recruited by some in the GOP to challenge incumbent Democrat Andrew Cuomo. He's said he would consider running if state Republicans join together behind him. Trump told The Buffalo News that he would commit $30 million to $50 million of his own money against Cuomo.
