The first lake effect snow event of the season is to take shape this morning... with some parts of the Jamestown-area seeing about 4 to 8 inches of snow. The National Weather Service is continuing a Lake Effect Snow Advisory from now until 4 PM Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Southern Erie Counties. Forecaster Bill Hibbert with the weather service's Buffalo Office says it's an early wake up call for drivers to slow down and be attentive. The heaviest snow is expected this morning after some spots get an early 1 to 2 inches. Hibbert adds that... as with most lake effect snow events... the heaviest snow will occur over the higher terrain. He adds we could see another 2 to 3 inches in some areas tonight. The complete forecast is coming up.
A Town of South Valley man is in the Cattaraugus County Jail after allegedly building a home made bomb that was inteded to be placed under another persons vehicle. New York State Police say they received information Tuesday about possible explosives at a residence that they were able to use to excecute a search warrant on Bone Run Road. Police found the Improvised Explosive Device (I-E-D) and disabled it. The property owner 64 year old John Haluska was arrested and faces charges including criminal posession of a weapon and attempted assault. Haluska was arraigned and sent to the Cattaraugus County Jail in leiu of ten thousand dollars cash, or twenty thousand dollars property bond.
The 12-member jury in the double-murder trial of Davide Coggins is expected to get the case today in Chautauqua County Court. Both District Attorney David Foley... and, Public Defender Ned Barone... gave their closing statements yesterday. However... since that took until 1 PM... it was decided to hold off on instructing the jury... then allowing the panel to begin deliberating Coggins' fate. The charge to the jury is expected to be lengthy because there are 11 counts in the indictment. Those include first-degree murder in the deaths of Gordon and Joyce Skinner in their town of Carroll home in the Spring of 2013.
The investigation is underway into whether the driver killed in Tuesday night's one-car crash in the town of Pomfret was either being chased... or racing some "sports motorcycles." Deputies say they have done several neighborhood canvasses in the area of Chautauqua and Maytum Roads where the accident occured just after 7 PM. Officers say 57 year-old Richard Caldwell died when his car crashed into a ditch on Chautauqua Road... and, rolled over. Officers say a witness reported seeing three "crotch rocket" type motorcycles parked... with their headlights facing the accident scene.... and, the riders with their helmets off. When another vehicle approached... investigators say all three motorcycles road off south on Chautauqua Road. One of motorcycles was seen using a "blue headlight". Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at 753-2131.
A long-time, case good and ready-to-assemble furniture maker in the Jamestown-area is again under local ownership. A group of four upper-level management officials have bought Bush Industries, Incorporated at One Mason Drive between Jamestown and Falconer. Bush's new Chief Executive Officer, Jim Garde (Guard), says they're excited about being able to buy the company from two private equity firms from New York City and Boston. Garde says both DDJ Capital and Silverpoint were "pretty fair" in negotiations... adding that DDJ had been wanting to divest themselves of all the entities they owned. He says... because Bush is a relatively small manufacturer... the new ownership group had some financial hurdles they had to clear... but, they did just that. In addition to the Mason Drive, and Allen Street facilities... Garde says the new group has also acquired Bush's warehousing facilities in Erie, Pennsylvania... and, Reno, Nevada. They also acquired Bush's facility in China. Garde says about 65-percent of their product is made at the Mason Drive facility... as the Allen Street plant is being phased-out. The purchase price was not disclosed.
A pair of elected officials were also on hand for yesterday morning's press conference at Bush's facility in the South County industrial Park... and, both called the purchase great news. Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan says the county... and, it's Industrial Development Agency has been working with the new owners to acquire the facility. Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi says Bush Industries isn't physically in the city of Jamestown... but, is very important to it in terms of employment... and, as a customer of the Board of Public Utilities.
Gas prices in the Jamestown-area fell almost two cents a gallon for regular, unleaded this week. That from the Triple-A's weekly Fuel Gauge report... which says the average price fell from about 3-dollars-39 cents to 3--37.6 this week. The Triple-A says the price was based on reports from 19 service stations in the Jamestown area. The average price for unleaded regular gasoline in New York today is now just over 3-dollars-29 cents per gallon. Today’s national average for regular unleaded gasoline is 2--93 per gallon... which is the lowest price since December 4th of 2010. Motorists are paying 5-cents less than one week ago.
A 40-foot Colorado Blue Spruce has now been set up at Jamestown's Tracy Plaza as the city's official 2014 Christmas Tree. City Arborist Dan Stone says the tree was donated by the Fargo family on Loretta Street. Stone and a Parks Department crew were on hand yesterday morning to cut down the 60-foot tall tree. He says they had plenty of help from Lakeshore Paving and the Board of Public Utilities in getting the tree taken down... transported... and, set up. Stone says the tree was initially going to be donated last year... but, they used a different tree in 2013. Stone says their crew had the tree up... and, set onto the plaza by early yesterday afternoon. He says they hope to begin decorating it today. However... he says Mother Nature may have something to say about that. Stone adds they have it "well-anchored" for the season. He says they have about 5-thousand lights... and, a star ready to be set on top of the tree. It will be lit at the beginning of the city's annual Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration in early December.
