The two men involved in the shooting of a Jamestown man in the Appleyard Terrace housing complex on the city's eastside have been formally indicted on five charges each. That from City Police Captain Bob Samuelson... who says Trenton Grant... and, Isaiah Pearson -- both 20 -- were returned to Chautauqua County late last month after their arrests in Tennessee. Samuelson says both men were extradicted from Madison County after being arrested by U-S Marshalls. He says three charges stem directly from the September 2nd shooting incident. Samuelson says it's believed both men were involved in the burglary... which included a number of items -- including the hand-gun -- being taken. At this point... he says police still believe the shooting was not drug-related. At this point... Samuelson says police believe this was a "street fight" in which the victim suffered multiple-gun shot wounds. He's still recovering. Samuelson says Grant is being held on 750-thousand dollars cash bail... while bail was set at half-a-million dollars for Pearson. It's believe both fled to Tennessee because Grant has family living there.
A city man is jailed for allegedly hitting a pedestrian with a mini-van on Jamestown's eastside late last Friday morning... then driving off from the scene.. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says investigators were alerted that a vehicle... matching the description of the vehicle involved in the incident... had been seen frequently in the area of Bowen and Dover Streets. Samuelson says further investigation led to the arrest of 27 year-old Tyler Shirley. Samuelson says Shirley allegedly struck the unidentified male with the van as the victim was crossing Falconer Street at Bowen. He says the suspect then drove over the victim's legs... severely injuring one. Samuelson says Shirley faces two charges... Felony leaving the scene of a personal injury accident... and, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation. The hit-and-run incident occured about 10:15 AM last Friday. Samuelson says people searched for the vehicle allegedly involved over the weekend. Shirley is being held pending arraignment in city court.
A major winter storm is hitting the northern Plains today... bringing up to a foot or more of snow in some areas around the twin cities in Minnesota. Will Western New York be in the path of the storm? Forecaster Jon Hitchcock with the National Weather Service in Buffalo says the storm will pass too far north... where temperatures will drop 30 to 40 degrees below normal. but it will bring a drop in the temperatures starting on Wednesday. Hitchcock says there are still questions about whether lake effect snow will become a problem as we move into Thursday and Friday. Right now... the Weather Service is saying the snowfall "may be significant." The highest projected snowfall totals are currently two feet in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Tradition will again make up Jamestown's commemoriation of Veteran's Day today. The annual Rifle Volley at the corner of Third and Main Streets will take place at 11 AM. It marks the "11th hour... of the 11th day" of November. Local veteran's will also present the "colors" at that time. They'll then march to St. Luke's Episcopal Church for the annual Veteran's Day Service... there will also be a service following that at Soldier's Circle at Lakeview Cemetery. Veteran's are then invited to be part of the Elks Club's Veteran's Day Breakfast -- which actually begins earlier in the day.
Congressman Tom Reed is ready for the lame duck session of the House and Senate Wednesday in which he hopes to push legislation he co-sponsored "across the finish line." Reed said Monday that he has already corresponded with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid about having the upper chamber take up the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation -- or RAMI Act. The bill was overwhelmingly approved in the House last September. The Corning Republican is looking to further correspond with Reid. President Obama has already said he supports an advanced manufacturing bill -- and RAMI in particular. Reed says the measure is just "good policy..." especially in creating a climate that allows new manufacturing to take hold... and, grow. He says it's been seen in Ohio with "3-D" printing at a Center of Manufacturing Excellence. Reed says advanced manufacturing creates not only new jobs now... but, also the "jobs of tomorrow." In addition to the RAMI Bill... Reed says he also looks forward to getting a continuing resolution approved by the December 8th deadline to keep the government operating. He made his comments during his weekly conferenc call with Southern Tier Media.
An important new county panel will meet for the first time -- possibly this week -- to begin looking at how to address Chautauqua County's "structural deficit." That from County Executive Vince Horrigan... who recently named his Deficit Reduction Commission. Horrigan says he wanted the best financial minds he knew to be part of the panel... including two county legislators. They are Republican Pierre Chagnon... and, Democrat Chuck Nazzaro. Horrigan says he also wanted two Certified Public Accountants -- one from the north county and one from the south. He wants them to have some recommendations in time for next February's State of the County Address. However... Horrigan says the approximately 6-million dollar structural deficit will be an on-going problem until it's addressed. While the county will have a nice reserve fund once the County Home is sold... that will be depleted soon with increasing costs in many areas... and, stagnant or falling revenues in others. Horrigan says County Finance Director Sue Marsh will also be part of the panel... and, he adds he's looking at adding a sixth person with a good financial background.
The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities offices will be closed today in observance of Veteran's day. BPU Spokeswoman Becky Robbins says the Customer Service office will reopen for business at 7 AM Wednesday. Garbage and glass recycling pickup will take place as usual today. Robbins says customers who need to pay bills after-hours may leave checks in drop-off boxes located at the top of the BPU's "D" driveway at 92 Steele Street... outside City Hall on Tracy Plaza... inside the vestibule of the Jamestown Police Department's East Second Street entrance... and, outside the Ellicott Town Hall in Falconer.
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has honored an 1861 graduate who was just awarded the Medal of Honor. West Point honored First Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing in during a ceremony Monday... just four days after President Barack Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to one of Fredonia native's relatives. Cushing was killed on July 3rd of 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg. Cushing defending the Union position on Cemetery Ridge against Pickett's Charge, a major Confederate thrust that was repelled by Union forces. Though severely wounded, his actions helped made it possible for the Union Army to repulse the assault.
