An investigation is underway into an undetermined death that occurred in the Town of Pomfret sometime Thursday afternoon. Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley says that State Police were called to a report of a missing person in the area of Spoden Road. Foley says it appears the incident occurred shortly after 12 Noon when a male subject was called in to police as missing. He says that person.... identified by Troopers as 18 year-old Jacob Schuk... was found dead in a creek bed at Canadaway Creek. The cause of death has not been determined at this time... and, an autopsy is pending. The investigation is being conducted by State Police with assistance from Foley's office.
A local architectural and design firm has been hired by the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation to develop a new gateway design plan for the city's northside corridor. The project... dubbed "Unite North Main" was launched yesterday afternoon at the offices of Clark-Patterson Lee on North Main Street. JRC Deputy Director Peter Lombardi says they're looking at a plan that unites the city's Urban Design Plan... and, Neighborhood Revitalization Plan to improve that corridor. Clark-Paterson Lee Associates Joseph Rollman and Brian Kulpa will work on designing the new corridor on several fronts... including incorporating residential areas with commercial and office buildings. There's also Love Elementary School... and, the vacant Holy Family School building. Kulpa says the final product will look at everything from economic and social vitality... to traffic flow. JRC Executive Director Greg Lindquist says the Chautauqua County Housing Trust Fund... Chautauqua Region Community Foundation... Sheldon Foundation... and, Northwest Savings Bank are providing up front money for the archtictural design work.
Several of the approximately (corrected) six new security cameras in the downtown area of Jamestown are now up and operational. City officials were joined by Johnson Foundation Executive John Sellstrom this afternoon to high-light the new, overlook cameras, during a press conference at the intersection of North Main and Eighth Streets. Mayor Sam Teresi and Police Chief and Public Safety Director Harry Snellings joined Sellstrom for the event. The Johnson Foundation helped foot the bill for the new security cameras... which will help police maintain safety downtown.
Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan appears to have enough support among moderates and conservatives that he could become the next Speaker of the House -- if he wants it. That's the big question as Congress returns to Washington next week from a short recess. Corning Republican Tom Reed says -- if Ryan decides he wants to succeed John Boehner at the end of the month -- he would support him 100-percent. Reed says he's pleased to see that Ryan is considering such a move. Reed admits there is some short-term "pain and concern" over the fact no real candidate has come forward since House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy withdrew his name from consideration. The local House member has come to know Ryan because they both serve on the Ways and Means Committee... and, he's hopeful that Ryan will strongly consider becoming Speaker. In addition to McCarthy... Congress members have been discussing three other possible candidates. Reed made his comments during this week's telephone Conference Call with Southern Tier Media.
A state commission has put seven lawyers on the short list for Governor Andrew Cuomo's pick to be New York's next top judge. Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, now 70, must retire at the end of the year as the presiding judge at the state Court of Appeals and chief administrator of the court system. The post pays 198-thousand-600 dollars a year. The term is 14 years. The seven include former Manhattan U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore and former New York Chief Administrative Judge Gail Prudenti, now executive director of the Center for Families, Children and the Law at Hofstra University. Others culled from 33 applicants and found well qualified are private practice attorneys Carey R. Dunne, Caitlin J. Halligan, Rowan D. Wilson and Stephen P. Younger.
It's been a busy year for the Jamestown Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. The local para-military organization held it's annual Awards Banquet last night... and, celebrated a number of achievements by it's members. About 60 people were on hand for the event at LaScala's Restaurant. Lieutenant Colonel Ellen Maternowski... who is commander of the local squadron... says they had an exciting year that saw membership grow to about 30 cadets. Maternowski says they took part in a number of fund-raisers... and, events where they supported community events. She says one of the major high-lights was having a record 11 cadets -- and one senior cadet -- take part at one time in the annual CAP Encampment at Scotia, New York. Maternowski says many got to fly in a C-130... and, learned leadership skills. Among the awards given out was the Cadet of the Year... which was given to Nicholas Lahmer. The Cadet Airman of the Year was Emma Haynes... while Most Improved Cadet was Michael Houser. For more information on Civil Air Patrol... go on-line to civilairpatrol-dot-COM... and, type in the local zip code.
Due to our recent inclement weather... the Main Street Parking Ramp at the corner with West Second Street in Jamestown... will remain closed through the end of the month. That from Public Works Director Jeff Lehman... who says the ramp will be closed through Sunday, November 1st to facilitate updates to the ramp. In the meantime... Lehman says lease holders should contact All-Pro Parking at 849-7275 to coordinate alternative parking locations.
