A pair of sisters from southern Chautauqua County have pleaded guilty in federal court stealing proceeds from postage stamp sales while working a two different, local Post Offices. U-S Attorney William Hochul (HOE-Kul), Junior announced late yesterday that 35 year-old Amanda Elliott of Ellington... and, 30 year-old Tamara Elliott of Falconer... pleaded guilty to misappropriation of postal service funds by a postal service employee. Hochul says the two cases were separate and unrelated. However... Assistant U-S Attorney Russell Ippolitto, Junior... says both committed the thefts between December of 2012... and, September 5th of 2013. Amanda Elliott is accused of stealing 55-hundred-79 dollars while employed at the Lily Dale Post Office.... while Tamara Elliott stole more than 11-thousand-300 dollars while working at the Ellington Post Office. Both face a maximum sentence 10 years in prison, a fine of 250-thousand dollars -- or both.
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly breaking into a consignment store on the city's eastside early Wednesday morning. City police say they took 20 year-old Steven Becker into custody yesterday... with the help of Ellicott Town Police... in Falconer. Officers say their investigation found that Becker broke a window to get inside the Kind Thirfter Consignment Store at 8 East Fifth Street about 3 AM. Once inside... they say he allegedly stole several items before leaving the business. Police say most of the property has been recovered. Becker is charged with third-degree burglary... and, is in the city jail awaiting arraignment.
The Jamestown Democrat whose appointment to fill a vacancy in the Chautauqua County legislature has been rejected... has apparently ruled out going through the process a second time. Chuck Cornell's appointment to fill the Legislative District 12 vacancy was rejected Wednesday night by a 10-to-7 vote. However... Cornell, who was disappointed by the outcome, doesn't want another vote. The chairman of the Chautauqua County Democratic Committee Norm Green says he would like to see Cornell run for the seat when a special election is held in November. Green says he's recommending that the Jamestown Democrat Committee stick with their choice... and, that Cornell run in a special, November election. He says he was disappointed with the two Democrats who broke ranks. Dunkirk-area Legislators Keith Ahlstrom and Shaun Heenan sided with eight Republicans in rejecting Cornell's appointment.
A Dunkirk man already serving time in the Chautauqua County Jail now faces additional charges stemming from alleged Crack Cocaine Sales. The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force reports that 19 year old Dyquan Smith sold the cocaine to a task for agent on multilple occasions in the city of Dunkirk. Smith was then indicted by a secret Chautauqua County Grand Jury on May 28th based on the information brought before them by the task force. Smith was arrested while already in the county jail and now faces two counts each of criminal posession and criminal sale of a controlled substance. Mr. Smith will be held without bail pending arraignment before County Court Judge John Ward at a later date. The arrest wraps up a 3 month long investigation into crack cocaine sales.
Cattaraugus County Sheriffs Deputies are investigating an accident involving a Gowanda School bus that sent one student to the hospital. Shortly before 7 AM yesterday... officers say the school bus... driven by 67 year old Ronald Warrior of Brant, New York... was travelling north on Mosher Road when it colided with a large farm tractor towing a "ripper" that was traveling south on the same road. There were ten children on the bus, one was sent to Lake Shore Hospital with complaints of neck pain. Deputies were assisted by State Police and the Gowanda Fire Department. At this time no charges have been filed... and, the accident remains under investigation.
Work is now underway to repair the bell tower at St. Lukes Episcopal Church in downtown Jamestown. The bell tower is a local landmark and has been without a working clock, bells and music since it was struck by lightning last September 1st during a violent rain storm. St. Lukes is also welcoming a new rector - Reverend Luke Fodor (foe-der). Fodor describes the construction. Fodor says they are hoping the clock can be sent out to be fixed now as well. The repair will involve a significant amount of construction including two large cranes that will affect the northbound lane of North Main Street between fourth and fifth streets through the end of the week. While insurance will cover a portion of the 20 to 40 thousand dollar cost of the repair needed to fully restore the clock and Westminster Chimes. Reverend Fodor says any financial help from the community -- especially those who enjoyed the bells -- is welcome. Donations may be dropped off or mailed to the St. Luke's church office at 410 North Main Street.
Gasoline prices in the Jamestown-area are holding steady for another week... as the Summer driving season gets underway. The Triple-A's Fuel Gauge Report says prices remained about 3-dollars-85 cents a gallon for regular, unleaded. Nationally... The Fuel Gauge says the Memorial Day holiday saw drivers paying slightly more for gasoline than the previous two years -- 3-cents more than in 2013 -- when it was 3-dollars-63 cents. The Triple-A adds that elevated global oil prices have kept a relative 'floor' under retail gas prices for motorists.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino says term limits for New York lawmakers and statewide elected officials would help clean up corruption in Albany. The Westchester County executive told reporters Wednesday that he believes eight years is enough time for elected officials... and, that any more time can lead to a culture of political insiders who place their own interests ahead of the voters'. Thirty-six states impose term limits on governors and more than a dozen have limits on lawmakers.
