It's been a difficult travel period the past 24-hours in many parts of Chautauqua County... and, especially on Interstate 86 to the west. The Sheriff's Department says an accident involving two tractor-trailers in the westbound lanes between Stedman and Sherman led to that stretch being closed just over two hours Monday. Dispatchers say the accident... occurred shortly after 11 Monday morning near Sherman. It's unclear what caused the accident... though there was Lake Effect Snow in the area. No one was hurt... and, traffic was re-routed between Exits 6 and 7 until the accident scene is cleared shortly before 2 PM. We received a few more inches of Lake Effect Snow overnight... and, our Warning expires at 7 AM.
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly selling Heroin to undercover agents with the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force. Task Force members say they arrested 41 year-old Juan Perez-Aponte at 66 Ellicott Street late last week on an arrest warrant. Authorities accused Aponte of selling Heroin to agents several times in the city of Jamestown. Aponte is charged with one count each of third-degree criminal sale, and possession of a controlled substance. Task Force members say he was arraigned in City Court... and, sent to the County Jail without bail. Anyone with information on illegal narcotics trafficking in the area is asked to call the Southern Tier Task Force at 1-800-344-8702. Police say all calls will be kept confidential.
Working smoke detectors are being credited with saving a family of three from their burning home on Jamestown's northside Sunday morning. City Fire Battalion Chief Matt Russo says firefighters were called to the scene at 613 Spring Street just after 7:30 AM... and, found heavy fire in the front of the structure. However... Russo says the two adults and one 6-month old child were outside on arrival. He says it took about 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control. Fire damage was confined to the front of the structure. The two adults had to be treated for smoke inhalation. But, Russo says there were no other injuries. He says an off-duty shift was called in to assist. The cause remains under investigation.
Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi says he's hoping a renewed effort by a combined City--Board of Public Utilities task force will find some cost savings for both entities in the future. Teresi also says he's pleased that -- despite what appeared to be some stall-tactics in 2015 -- the chairman of the Joint Task Force on Government Efficiency and Consolidation has scheduled a meeting for later this week. At the City Council's last work session... Councilman Tony Dolce noted that the panel will be meeting this Friday at City Hall. The task force was initially to look at 35 items brought up by the county's Chamber of Commerce... and, the Manufacturer's Association of the Southern Tier... for possible cost savings. Teresi says he set five general areas he wanted the panel to get through. They did get through the 35 items submitted by the Chamber... and, MAST. However... they did not get through the five major areas... partly because not everyone could make it to all the meetings. Teresi -- though -- also questioned other motives after reviewing minutes, and meeting tapes -- and found the group have to keep going "over and over" areas already covered.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to extend a tax credit to small wineries, distilleries and alcoholic cider makers to encourage an industry that he says helps promote the entire state. In his State of the State address last week... Cuomo also announced a plan to overhaul the regulations governing online sales of craft alcohol to make it easier for producers to sell their products on the Internet. The tax credit is now given to small craft breweries, and Cuomo says it makes sense to offer the same incentive to craft wineries, distilleries and cider makers. He estimates that the credit would save these businesses $2 million a year, money that he says they can reinvest. Cuomo also wants to eliminate existing alcoholic beverage taxes that are imposed on free tastings.
Chemists at the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry are leading the way in protecting New York’s lakes. Students and staff have been working with a public volunteer program to collect thousands of water samples from more than 130 lakes. They’re looking for blue-green algae blooms, which graduate student Zach Smith says is associated with a harmful bacteria that can cause liver, intestinal and nervous system issues in both humans and pets. The school’s Great Lakes Research Consortium works in conjunction with the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program -- a state-run, volunteer-based monitoring and education program. The blue-green algae blooms have been a problem the past few years in Chautauqua County... on both Chautauqua Lake, and Findley Lake. If toxins are detected, officials say the positive results are transferred to state environmental or health departments, so the proper advisories and warnings can be issued.
One person was hospitalized following a two-vehicle accident late Sunday morning in the city of Dunkirk. Police in the north county city say a Jeep, driven by 62-year-old Angelo Zappie of Dunkirk, was traveling south on Washington Avenue shortly after 11 AM. Officers say a vehicle driven by 31-year-old Aaron Shanahan of Silver Creek pulled out of a parking lot and crashed into Zappie's vehicle... causing it to roll over. Zappie was taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Shanahan was ticketed for failure to yield the right of way.
A 24-year-old man distraught over a recent break-up stabbed to death his ex-girlfriend and another college student in her off-campus apartment in Geneseo... then killed himself. Officials late Monday said Colin Kingston entered the apartment of 21-year-old Kelsey Annese just before 6 AM Sunday near the SUNY College at Geneseo. Kingston found her with another student, 24-year-old Matthew Hutchinson, of Vancouver, British Columbia. Police say Kingston killed them both with a large knife. Investigators say the former Geneseo student called his father before turning the knife on himself. Kingston's father called police and officers found the bodies. Annese played basketball for Geneseo. Hutchinson played hockey for the college.
Hundreds of people packed into a New York City church as comedian Chris Rock, actor Michael B. Jordan and others performed historic speeches in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday's event at the Riverside Church in Manhattan was meant to celebrate King's legacy and provide a discussion on how to continue his message in today's climate. Organizer Shawn Dove says the event was meant to ``ignite'' the audience, which he said was ``hungry'' for change. King delivered a sermon expressing his views opposing the Vietnam War at the Manhattan church in 1967. Composer and Tony winner Lin Manuel Miranda recited a portion of the speech at Monday's event. Jamestown's annual MLK Observance took place last Sunday at Immanuel Baptist Church.
