Jamestown police say a 16-month old girl was killed Wednesday night on the city's southside... and, police says the death was a homicide. JPD Captain Bob Samuelson says the child was brought from a home at 218-and-a-half Newland Avenue to WCA Hospital's Emergency Room Wednesday night by the girl's mother. Samuelson says the child was later transferred to Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo... where she later died of her injuries. An autopsy at the Erie County Medical Center determined the cause of death was homicide. Samuelson says police are not releasing the infant's name... but, adds they do have several leads they're tracking down. He says they are still conducting interviews... and, are asking anyone with information to contact JPD at 483-7537... or their confidential tip-line at 483-8477.
Fire Crews were busy fighting a fire overnight in the town of Ellicott. Chautauqua County Dispatch reports that crews were called out to 3161 Moon Road just after 10:30 Thursday night. Fluvanna was assisted by Busti, Ellery Center, Sinclaireville, Gerry, Bemus Point and Dewitville. There is no word on whether anyone was home at the time of the fire or of any injuries. Crews are still on the scene investigating the cause of the blaze. We'll have more details when they become available.
A Chautauqua County Legislature committee has agreed to a loan... and, refund to Forestville to help the village avoid a potential 445-percent property tax increase. Audit and Control Committee Chairman John Runkle says Thursday morning's vote was a close, 3-to-2. Runkle says the panel agreed to a 150-thousand dollar loan to the village from the county's Capital Reserve Fund.... and, would be paid back at 2.5-percent interest. He adds the other key part is agreeing to pay back Forestville just over 87-thousand dollars in landfill tipping fees for an emergency demolition in the village in 2009. Combined... Runkle says that will help the village pay off just over 237-thousand dollars of a total of 400-thousand dollars that's due from the village government to pay off a couple of Bond Anticipation Notes. He says there are three other parts to the resolution... including having Forestville start to obtain grant monies for a study into dissolving the village. He says the village board will vote on that item next Tuesday. Runkle says he's most concerned about the residents ability to keep their homes because a significant, one-time, property tax increase will still be needed to balance the village budget. Runkle and fellow Republican George Borrello... along with Democrat Shawn Heenan voted for the measure. Democrats Chuck Nazzaro and Pierre Chagnon (Shag-nun) voted against it.
The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a phone scam in which the caller says they're a member of the department... and, are calling people regarding a debt on a recent purchase. The Sheriff's Department says a man received the call from the number 938-9191... which is the department's number. However... they say the scammer was apparently able to disguise the actual number using a computer program. In this case... the caller said a company called ACE claimed the money was owed for a tool purchase... and, that if the money wasn't paid... the victim would be arrested. Officers say the man gave out his credit card information. Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb says his office does not call people to collect unpaid bills... and, if you receive such a call, do NOT give out any personal bank or credit card information unless you know the organization is legitimate.
The Randolph Central School bus driver accused of having inappropriate relations with a 6 year-old boy in March of last year has agreed to a plea deal in the case. Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley says 67 year-old John Hitchcock pled guilty in county court to endangering the welfare of a child to satisfy an indictment against him. However... Foley says seven counts of first-degree Sexual Abuse against Hitchcock were dropped after lengthy discussions with the child's family.
This week's report by the Tax Foundation that recent changes in New York law would raise the state's national corporate tax climate ranking by 21 places is a -- "very positive step forward." That from Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Tranum... who says the Washington-based organization's findings is a reflection of the hard work they, and other groups have put in on the issue. The Tax Foundation reports that if ALL the cuts took effect this year, the state's corporate tax rank would go from 25th in the nation to fourth. Tranum also thanked state lawmakers for moving forward reducing New York's tax burden. Tranum says the steps taken this year are important to not only bringing new business to New York... but, keeping others here and allowing them to expand. However... he says the Tax Foundation -- a non-profit research group -- also indicated that, overall, the state would only move from 50th to 48th in the U-S... and, more needs to be done to bring down property, and other taxes. Tranum adds the unemployment insurance tax is another area that needs to be addressed.
Gas prices in the Jamestown-area have gone up a little over a penny this Easter Week to 3-dollars-74 cents a gallon for regular, unleaded. However... some prices as we close out the week have increased to 3-dollars-75 cents to 3--79 a gallon. That from the Triple-A's Fuel Gauge... which reports the current national average price at the pump is 3-dollars-64 cents per gallon. That's 6-cents more expensive than one week ago. For the first-time since mid-January... the national average price registered higher than the same date the year prior last Wednesday. The Triple-A says motorists in the majority of states are now paying a 'year-over-year' premium. Triple-A ties the increase to refineries drawing down their supplies of gasoline at this time of year so as not to be left with winter-blend fuel that they can no longer sell after May 1st.
