Four now in custody in connection with Home Invasion-Robbery, and shoot-out incident on Jamestown's eastside...
Jamestown police now say as many as seven people may have been involved in Tuesday's home invasion and robbery on the city's eastside in which three of them were confronted by police. One of the suspects at 188 Falconer St. then exhanged gunfire with officers. Jamestown Police Captain Bob Samuelson says four people have now been arrested so far. Samuelson says two "persons of interest" in the case were taken into custody near Burtis Bay... between Lakewood and Celoron late Tuesday afternoon after two were arrested earlier at the scene. He says they are still looking for the three men who fled the scene about 3 a.m. Tuesday when police arrived. The two men arrested near Burtis Bay are being held on Parole violations... while the pair arrested at 188 Falconer are charged with first-degree robbery. No names have been released. The incident is believed to be drug-related. Anyone with information is asked to call city police at 483-7531... their Tip-line at 483-TIPS -- that's 483-8477 -- or call 9-1-1.
Cattaraugus Co. man seriously hurt when his car hit's back of one truck, then strikes another head-on...
A Randolph man was seriously hurt when his car ran into the back of a pick-up truck on a Cattaraugus County Road... then struck another pick-up head-on. Sheriff's officers in Little Valley say 52 year-old Scott Brown of Phillips Brook Rd. was southbound on Route 353 just after 7 a.m. Wednesday when his vehicle struck the back of the Ford Truck... driven by 18 year-old Brock Doberstein of Little Valley. Deputies say Brown's vehicle then went into the northbound lane... and, struck a Chevrolet Truck, driven by William Andrews of Salamanca. Brown was flown to the Erie County Medical Center with serious head and chest injuries. Officers say he was not wearing a seat belt. The other two drivers were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The investigation is continuing... and, charges are pending.
State Police announce Holiday Patrols for three-day, Independence Day Holiday...
New York State Police are stepping up their patrols to catch drunk and distracted drivers over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Governor Andrew Cuomo said late Wednesday that the effort will run Thursday through Sunday. He says 500 electronic message boards will be placed alongside state roadways warning motorists against driving while intoxicated. In addition to increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints... state police say they'll devote more resources to stopping underage drinking. The Fourth of July holiday is typically one of the state's busiest travel periods. Last year... the state police issued more than 10,000 traffic tickets during the Fourth of July weekend.
Incumbant County Sheriff Joe Gerace formally announces run for sixth-term with three ballot lines...
Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace will have three lines as he runs for a sixth-term as the county's top cop this November. As he finishes his 20th year in the elected post... Gerace says he hasn't lost his passion to keep the county safe... and, he's ready to make another run for sheriff. He adds that he and his professional team have "risen" to every challenge presented to the office at the least possible cost to the taxpayers... and, believes that's the reason for the endorsements by the Democrat, Conservative and Independence Parties. Gerace says he's "honored" by those endorsements, and says he wants to continue working for the people of Chautauqua County into the future. He says his office has been successful in working with other agencies to make key arrests in several major cases in recent years... including last year's double-homicide in the town of Carroll. He says he's also initiated several innovative programs that have improved public safety at little or no added cost to local residents... including enhanced 9-1-1 services. Gerace is being challenged this year by Republican Russ Payne... who earlier announced he's running for Sheriff.
Titan-X management, and IAM sign HPWO Agreement...
A new type of labor-management agreement has been reached at a global-maker of engine cooling systems in Jamestown that both sides believe will keep the company competitive for years to come. The national leader of the International Association of Machinists was in town to sign a 'High Performance Work Organization' agreement with Titan-X. IAM President Thomas Buffenbarger says they began looking at the program locally... with management... late last year. Work on specifics began at the start of 2014... and, culminated with Wednesday's signing. Buffenbarger says it's "a signal of respect for each other's position..." and, what they do in the corporation -- no matter what they do. He says there are other corporations... such as John Deere... that has HPWO's in place. Union officials say such agreements basically "change the culture" to eliminate the adversarial positions labor and management have at times. Titan-X Human Resources Director Andy Johnson says the key benefit of the agreement is it makes the company better in New York's "tough" business climate. The IAM represents about 200 of Titan-X's approximately 300 workers. Titan's Group Vice-President of Operations Thomas Andersson was also on hand to sign the agreement.
Gas prices up about a penny a gallon this week in Jamestown-area...
Gas prices in the Jamestown-area have increased about a penny this week to $3.89 a gallon as we enter the Fourth of July holiday weekend. That's according to the AAA's Fuel Gauge Report... which says there was little change in prices last month. The price locally has risen to $3.90 to $3.94 a gallon for regular, unleaded. The average price nationally has stopped increasing as we approach the Independence Day holiday. However... prices remain at a six-year high for this time of year. Today’s national average is $3.67 per gallon. The price has remained relatively stable over the past seven days, and the current price is about the same as a month ago. The AAA says the situation in Iraq continues to put pressure on global oil prices.
