It's going to be very cold the next couple of days with cold temperatures... and, gusty winds producing below-zero wind chill temperatures. The National Weather Service is continuing a Wind Chill Advisory through 10 this morning. Forecasters say the air temperature will fall to about zero... and, with winds at 10 to 20 MPH... it's feeling like about 15-below. While the advisory ends at 10 AM... wind chills will remain as low as 15-below during the day today. Tonight... the weather service says it'll be very cold...but, a partly to mostly cloudy night won't drop the temperature as much as first expected. Lows will again be about zero... and, wind chills will be about 15-below once again. Snow showers this morning could also slick up roads in spots...so driving caution is advised. Saturday... it'll be sunny... with highs nearing 25.
Jamestown Board of Public Utilities water customers may want to run a "pencil thin drip" of water from their faucets during this recent cold snap. BPU Spokeswoman Becky Robbins says that's a way to prevent water pipes from freezing. Robbins says... while repairing water main breaks in recent days... BPU water crews have observed the frost line as far as 38 inches below the ground's surface. She says water pipes and lines do not lie too much lower than the frost line... and, can freeze.
Cold temperatures and freezing equipment made it a rough night for area firefighters as they battled a house fire in Panama. Panama Fire Chief Vernon Sheldon Junior said they received a structure fire call early Thursday morning and arrived at 541 Goshen Road in Panama around 12 AM. Sheldon called in assistance from Clymer, Ashville, Busti, and Sherman Fire Departments as well as from three Pennsylvania Departments... Bear Lake, Rightsville, and Columbus. The Chautauqua County Sherriff's Department investigated the scene and determined the cause of the fire to be a wood stove. Luckily the resident that was home at the time was able to evacuate. Firefighters did face frigid temperatures, which caused trucks and air packs to freeze. Damage was reportedly extensive... and, the Red Cross is assisting the residents. Fire crews were on the scene for about 7 hours.
Two people from Kane, Pennsylvania... and, one from Jamestown... are jailed without bail for allegedly selling cocaine to undercover police officers in recent weeks. Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force members... city police and, other agencies were involved in a vehicle stop late Thursday afternoon. Officers say the trio... 36 year-old Theresa Russo of Barrett Avenue, Jamestown... and, 42 year-old Samuel Russo and 20 year-old Samuel Bundy of Kane... were arrested shortly after their car was stopped on Winsor Street. Task Force members say the suspects were found to be in possession of an additional quantity of cocaine... along with the drug Suboxone...and, cocaine scales. Police say all three were jailed pending arraignment on two counts of criminal posession of a controlled substance... and, one count each of criminal sale... and, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officials with the Long Island firm looking to buy the Chautauqua County Home says they will hire back "most" of the home's 280 employees if the sale. The principles with VestraCare also addressed employee... and, resident issues at length during Wednesday night's meeting with county lawmakers. However... local Civil Service Employees Association President Steve Skidmore says many of the CSEA workers there are frightened. Skidmore says they haven't talked with VestraCare officials... but, they have spoken with CSEA leaders now at the former Ulster County home in eastern New York. VestraCare's Shannon Cayea says employees must pass a background and drug test before they can be hired back. Cayea also says -- in their analysis -- the home is understaffed to deal with that's there... and, the expansions they are planning. That sounded good to Skidmore... but, he adds they still have questions about the agreement. As for the 216 residents of the county home... Cayea says they in "no way, shape or form intend to evict any (current) resident." Regarding the very poor... she says they will "help them find a payer-source" so they can stay or more into the home.
One of the biggest trips ever for Jamestown High School music students is just a week away. Members of the marching band, acappella choir, and the concert orchestra will all be heading to Disney World on Friday, February 14th. That's Katie Darrenbacher, director of the JHS orchestra. The band will be marching in Disney World's Electric Light Parade. The choir and orchestra will be performing in downtown Disney. Choir director Norm Lydell says the community has been very supportive of the 'big trip'. There are 185 people making the six day trip. Lydell says donations are still welcome. Contact the trip coordinator, Billy Stevenson, at 664-0707. (The JHS Bands' winter concert is tonight (Thursday} at 7 PM at JHS. Tickets are just $5. Choir Director Norm Lydell will conduct the concert. Band Director Meghan Murray is on maternity leave.
Three guards are recovering from injuries following a confrontation with inmates inside a western New York prison. The Department of Corrections says that a sergeant and two corrections officers were treated and released following the incident Wednesday at the Gowanda Correctional Facility. The medium-security prison in Cattaraugus County is about 30 miles south of Buffalo.
