A two-year Amish child has died in a fire in the top floor of a three-story farmhouse in the town of Busti -- near the Harmony town line. Busti Fire Chief Mike Volpe last night identified the child as Eli Shetler. Volpe says crews were called to the scene at 4835 Kortwright Road just after 2 PM... and, found heavy, black smoke coming from the upper stories. He told our Terry Frank at the scene they quickly called for mutual aid because a number of family members were reportedly trapped inside. Volpe says the rest of the family members got out safely. He says 12 mutual aid companies responded to help at the scene. Volpe adds a "mayday" was put out for a couple of firefighters after a floor collapsed under them. Volpe says other volunteers were able to pull the two men out... and, they suffered only very minor injuries. At that point... he says they went to a defensive posture to attack the fire. The blaze was deemed under control about 3:30 PM. Volpe says toddler was found dead on the third-floor. He says county fire investigators have determined the blaze was caused by children playing with matches.
Fire Crews were busy fighting a barn fire in Panama Thursday night. Chautauqua County Dispatch reports that Panama Firefighters were called out to 6024 Randolph Road just before 10:30. Crews had the fire out quicly after the barn collapsed. Investigators determined the cause of the blaze was sparked by a small garbage fire nearby that had been left unattended. No Injuries were reported. Ashville and Bear Like assisted at the scene.
A Jamestown man arrested earlier this month during a major Heroin bust on East Second Street... has again been arrested for allegedly dealing the narcotic just across the city line in the village of Falconer. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says 37 year-old Cesar Santiago was arrested Wednesday afternoon as part of the department's on-going investigation into drug trafficking in the Greater Jamestown area. Samuelson says the new Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force had obtained a search warrant for a room at the Budget Inn in downtown Falconer. Samuelson says Santiago was one of five people arrested back on September 3rd at an alleged Heroin trafficking operation at an apartment house at 10-91 East Second Street in Jamestown. During that bust... Santiago was arrested with three others for allegedly using a vacant apartment to deal drug from. Samuelson says he bailed himself out... and, allegedly "set up shop" in Falconer. The State Police C-NET Team was also involved in this investigation that led to Santiago's arrest. Samuelson says Santiago was arraigned on one count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, sent to the county jail without bail.
There are now six jurors seated for the murder trial of the alleged ringleader involved in the deaths of two town of Carroll residents in April of last year. Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley says two more people were selected for the panel Thursday for the trial of 34 year-old David Coggins. So far... the panel is made up of six men. Jury selection began Tuesday in county court. Coggins... along with three others... are accused of breaking into the home of 66 year-old Gordon... and, 59 year-old Joyce Skinner on Wheeler Hill Road. The four are also accused of setting the home on fire to try and cover up the crime. All four men had been initially charged with two counts each of second-degree murder.
Some major, underground utility work has been completed... and, the new road base and surface will soon be put down on West Fifth Street in Jamestown. The major thorough-fare in the city has been closed this Summer for a complete reconstruction. Jamestown Public Works Director Jeff Lehman says he appreciates motorists patience... because it's about to be rewarded. Lehman says -- with the Board of Public Utilities -- they completely replaced the water line between Fairmount Avenue and Washington Street. He adds National Fuel and Windstream also did some major utility work on the street as well that added time to the project. Just recently... Lehman says DPW crews milled West Third from the Sixth Street Bridge to Fairmount in conjunction with the Fifth Street reconstruction. Once the final top coat is put on West Fifth from the bridge to Washington Street... the road will be reopened.
The city's Public Works Department is in the process of finishing off some 90 Summer construction projects... most of them road reconstruction or re-surfacing projects. DPW Director Jeff Lehman says... despite a rainy Summer... they were able to stay pretty much on schedule. The rain did interrupt completion of one project recently. That's the resurfacing of West Second Street from Washington to Main Streets. Lehman adds they're also finishing up work on Sixth Street. He adds that a portion of the westside of Second Street is now being repaved Saturday. Inclement weather did not allow that last weekend. Late yesterday morning... Lehman also announced the DPW will begin doing further road construction on Lakeview Avenue from Falconer and Crossman Streets next Monday. He says that portion of Lakeview will be closed to through traffic until the project is completed. Motorists are asked to use alternate routes.
