Chautauqua County is on the move. That was the message delivered by County Executive Vince Horrigan this morning during the county Chamber of Commerce's annual Executive Breakfast in Fredonia. Horrigan says the county is working hard on economic development efforts and job creation. He believes he demonstrated that they are making inroads in both areas... but, adds there's still a lot of work to do on regional initiatives like the North County Water district. Horrigan says he was asked a number of questions concerning regional development initiatives. However... the Bemus Point Republican says he was surprised he was NOT asked about the county seeking a half-a-percent increase in the local sales tax. However... that may not be as big an issue because of the planned property tax cut that's part of the proposal. In the past... the county Chamber has opposed such a move. About 100 people turned out for the annual breakfast held at the Williams Center at the SUNY College at Fredonia.
A city man is being held in the county jail without bail after he was pulled over during a traffic stop on Jamestown's southside Thursday afternoon... and, the investigation allegedly led to a Methaphetime Lab in his house. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, and State Police C-NET Team, stopped a car driven by 35 year-old Aaron Phillips just after 12:30 PM Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear in court. Police say they soon found Phillips in possession of a quantity of Meth... and, they obtained a search warrant for his house. Task Force members later raided the home at 115 Wilton Avenue... and, found items known to be used for making Meth. The State Police C-SERT Team was also called into assist and clean-up the scene. Phillips faces charges including third-degree unlawful production of Methamphetime. He was arraigned and sent to the county lock-up.
Students who would be going to Love Elementary School next Fall will instead attend three other schools due to a major, 8-million dollar renovation project at the district's oldest school. School Superintendent Tim Mains says Love will be shutting down while the entire electric service is being moved from the basement to the first floor... and, the heating and cooling systems are upgraded. Mains says the project will get underway once the current school year is finished... and be finished at the end of next Summer. Mains says school officials met with Love School parents Thursday night to explain what's taking place... and, what nearby schools their children will be attending next Fall. He says students in Kindergarten through second-grade will be bused to Lincoln Elementary School... while third through fourth-graders will be sent to Washington Middle School. He says Love School's Pre-K students will be assigned once they know who would be attending Love School. He says several of them will likely be bused to Ring School. Mains says details will be part of a letter soon to be sent out to parents.
It's been a busy past eight-months for employees of a local real estate group involved in the transformation of the former federal building on Jamestown's eastside. An Open House was held yesterday to give the public a chance to look at the changes to what is now the Lynn Building at 301 East Second Street. Event Coordinator Heather Lynn says they purchased the old post office building in 2010. Lynn says they moved into the building in 2012... and, have now built it out for six different groups or businesses. She says they needed to do a lot of duct, and, plumbing work. Lynn says both the Infinity Visual and Performing Arts... and, Chautauqua Striders moved into the first floor... off Second Street. Four others have also moved in just before or after that. They include the U-S Post Office -- which is in a new location.
State health officials plan to let the public know early next week which companies, nonprofits or others bid for licenses to grow and distribute medical marijuana in New York. Before Friday's application deadline... several bidders had announced proposals, including some now running similar programs in other states. New York's health department is expected to grant up to five licenses this summer, with each recipient allowed to establish up to four dispensaries. Under the law signed last July, patients with cancer, AIDS, Parkinson's disease and certain other medical conditions will be able to obtain non-smokeable versions of the drug, which can be ingested or vaporized. According to the Drug Policy Alliance... 23 other states have passed medical marijuana laws, while four have legalized it for adult use like alcohol.
A farmer's wife has pleaded not guilty to killing her husband, who was buried in manure after being struck with a pitch fork and shot in the head. Wyoming County District Attorney Donald O'Geen says 48-year-old Charlene Mess is being held on one-million dollars bail. Searchers found the body of 52-year-old Douglas Mess on the couple's town of Attica farm in April after his son reported him missing. Investigators say he was killed by a .22-caliber rifle shot to the back of his head. A seven-count indictment charges Charlene Mess with second-degree murder, assault, evidence tampering, using a firearm in a crime and lying to investigators.
