A Jamestown man has been arrested on Felony charges after being arrested for allegedly being a repeat offender in a weekend domestic violence incident. City police were called to the scene at 322 South Main Street late last Saturday morning. Upon arrival... officers spoke with the female victim... who told them she had been attacked by Moises Lopez-Encarnacion. The woman told police that Lopez-Encarnacion pushed her to the floor... kicked her... and, punched her several times in the face. The victim did not require hospitalization. Officers arrested Lopez-Encarnacion... and found he had a privor conviction of a Family offense... which resulted in a Felony charge of Aggravated Family Offense. He was also charged with second-degree unlawful imprisonment... and, third-degree assault. Police says Lopez-Encarnacion is being held pending arraignment.
A Jamestown man is in the county jail on 15-hundred dollars bail for allegedly hitting another person during a domestic incident on the city's eastside last Saturday night. Police add that 23 year-old William Kaiser, Junior is also accused of trying to grab a police taser from arresting officers. Officers were called to 458 Allen Street just before 11:30 PM... and, learned from the victim that Kaiser had struck him... and, kicked in a door. Police say they found Kaiser in an upstairs apartment... but, he became confrontational. At one point... officers say the suspect yelled "arrest me, arrest me" and came towards officers aggressively. Police say Kaiser tried to grab the taser from one of the officers... but, he was subdued, and arrested. He was arraigned on charges of criminal mischief... and, obstructing governmental administration.
New York state will be picking up the local share of costs to help pay for the costs for 17 counties -- including Chautauqua -- affected by severe flooding the past two years. That's good news to County Executive Vince Horrigan... who says they submitted a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for about one-million dollars in costs... much it from this past Spring in both the north and county county areas. Horrigan says he received word that the county was going to get the 25-percent share from New York state late this past week. However... he says he hasn't received the exact dollar amount yet. Horrigan says FEMA is verifying the final budget figures for what has been or needs to be repaired or replaced. The south county flooding was especially bad in the Falconer, and Frewsburg areas.
The Republicans who will soon control the state Senate will gather in Albany today to discuss their priorities and objectives for the new year. The group plans to meet for a conference expected to include discussions about their agenda... and, their relationship with Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Democrats who control the Assembly. The state Senate had been led by an unusual coalition of Republicans and a breakaway faction of Democrats. But... Republicans won the majority outright in this month's elections.
The Dunkirk City School District is one of 10 winners in the latest round of awards through the New York State Pathways in Technology Early College High School... or P-Tech partnerships. School Superintendent Gary Cerne tells us he is thrilled with the news. Cerne says the partnership involves a regional consortium led by the Dunkirk City School District... working with Jamestown Community College. He says students from Dunkirk and several surrounding districts will have an opportunity to get a college education at no-cost under the program. Cerne says it's a six-year program that will involve an initial group of 30 to 40 students. He says it's a great chance to get a regents diploma, and an Associates Degree. Governor Andrew Cuomo says a the new public-private educational partnerships will add an additional 3-thousand students to the nearly 6-thousand New York high school students from round-one who are preparing for high-skill jobs in technology, manufacturing and health care related fields.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office has issued warrants for two men accused of breaking into a barn in the town of Chautauqua last month... and stealing a number of items... including older model farm tractors. Deputies say 27 year-old Chance Blanchard of Mayville, and, 25 year-old Christopher Douglas of Sherman, allegedly entered the Morris Road barn in the early morning hours on October 16th and 25th. Once inside... they stole the items... including a large amount of scrap metal. Officers say the pair then sold the scrap metal for cash. Deputies are asking the public for it's help in finding both men. If you have any information... contact the Sheriff's Office at 753-4925.
U-S Senator Charles Schumer says the federal government should reimburse New York City and Bellevue Hospital for costs related to Ebola. The Democrat said Sunday that more than 20-million dollars has been spent on tracking health professionals and others arriving from Ebola-stricken countries... and, treating Dr. Craig Spencer, a physician who recovered from the illness after receiving treatment at Bellevue. Schumer says federal reimbursement for most of the costs is justified because the efforts are helping to keep the deadly disease from getting a foothold in the U-S.
Hunters, snow plow drivers and anybody else who is outside this winter should watch for trees damaged by Emerald Ash Borer. That's the request from Betsy Burgerson, chairperson of the Chautauqua County Forest Pest Taskforce. A key indicator is woodpecker damage on an otherwise healthy tree... light brown patches all up and down the trunk of the tree... in a checkerboard pattern. The pests favor the green ash and white ash species. And while the borer has been confirmed in Randolph and the Dunkirk-Fredonia area, Burgeson is pretty sure it's moved elsewhere. If you think you've found a tree with Emerald Ash Borer, call Betsy Burgeson at Cornell Cooperative Extension at 664-9502, Extension 204. Ash trees are a valuable forest product, and trees throughout this region are threatened by the borer. The Emerald Ash Borer Taskforce recently changed its name to Forest Pest Taskforce, reflecting the growing threat of other invasive threats.
