The National Weather Service is continuing a Winter Weather Advisory through late this morning. Forecaster David Church in Buffalo says a light wintry mix is possible... especially through the early part of the morning.later tonight and overnight. Church says a trace to a few-hundreds of an inch of ice is possible in some locations... so driving and walking caution is advised. The advisory is in effect until 11 this morning.
The large statue of late U-S Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson that welcomes people traveling into Jamestown on North Main Street will be moved to a new location later this year. The city School Board last night approved a resolution to loan the bronze statue of Jackson to the Center, so it can be placed in front of the Jackson Center at West Fourth Street and Prendergast Avenue. School Superintendent Tim Mains says discussions began a while ago... and, all the key players involved agreed to the move. Mains says the Jackson Statue... which was unveiled during a ceremony at it's current location in front of Love Elementary School in 1996... remains "very well regarded." In fact... he says the bust of Jackson on the statue has been used to create Jackson's likeness for other places across the country... including the new federal courthouse in Buffalo. Mains says Jackson Center officials believe the statue will be moved... after some clean-up work is done on the bronze monument... sometime this Spring. The statue was created by sculptor Dexter Benedict of Penn Yan.
A joint task force looking at cutting costs for the city of Jamestown and it's Board of Public Utilities held it's first meeting in several month's Monday. Second-Ward Councilman Tony Dolce -- who chairs the Joint Task Force on Efficiency and Cost Reduction -- called the meeting "productive." Dolce says members were given information to review... and, adds a pair of sub-panels were also named. Dolce says the idea of a more "centralized" fleet has been discussed by the joint task force for several months. In addition... the insurance issue has also been much discussed. The meeting reportedly did not include the rancor that had been part of previous meetings before Dolce decided to not have anymore meetings late last year. The panel includes two new BPU members... Councilwoman Maria Jones and Martha Zenns. They replace John Zabrodsky and Wayne Rishell... who were not reappointed to the panel. Another new member will be Kelly Hawkins from the BPU... who will be replacing the retiring Mike Anderson as Financial Services Manager later this year. The panel will meet next on Tuesday, March 22nd.
Gasoline prices in Chautauqua County have fallen just over 10-cents in the past two weeks to one-dollar-99 cents per gallon. However... the price has already fallen to 1-95 a gallon at a few places for regular, unleaded. The Triple-A East Central Fuel Gauge report says the average price was based on reports from 19 service stations in the area. The average price two weeks ago was just over 2-dollars-9 cents a gallon. The national average price is now one-dollar-71 cents. Nationally... Triple-A says the price is continuing to hover at levels not seen since the Great Recession. The Fuel Gauge says that's largely due to abundant supplies and low crude oil costs.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is out of the presidential race... and, that means Chautauqua County's Congressman will take a look at the other candidates who who remain to see who he will back. However... Corning Republican Tom Reed says he knows what he's looking for in a candidate. Reed decided early in the race to back Bush. With the former Governor now out of the running, Reed says he has not made a commitment to another candidate -- at this time. He says he believes the American people "will make an informed decision." Another election contest also has Reed's attention... his own. He is seeking a fourth term in the House. Reed made his comments during his weekly conference call with Southern Tier Media.
A Democrat originally from the Jamestown-area is making the rounds across the 23rd Congressional District as he challenges Republican incumbant Tom Reed. John Plumb is a career military man... who spent 22 years in the U-S Navy and Naval Reserves. During a recent stop in the area... Plumb said there are two key issues in his mind... the first being national security. Plumb says the other major issue is the economy... especially in the Southern Tier. He says the area needs a Congressman who will "throw his shoulder into it" and not just give lip-service. Plumb also served in the Pentagon and on the National Security Council after leaving active duty. He moved back to the area about a year ago. Reed is running for a fourth-term in Congress.
An anonymous whistle-blower has led to the arrest of a Jamestown man for allegedly receiving more than 12-hundred dollars in food stamp benefits he was not entitled to. Sheriff's officers say they arrested 32 year-old Eric Morrison early last weekend for welfare fraud. Deputies say they investigated the case... along with the county's Department of Health and Human Services... after receiving an anonymous letter reporting the alleged situation. Officers say Morrison allegedly failed to report employment income and unemployment insurance benefits that he received while actively receiving Food Stamps. He's accused of filing a false application in February of 2015 which did not include his unemployment benefits. As a result... deputies say he received one-thousand-298 dollars in unentitled food stamps between October of 2013... and, June of 2015. Morrison is charged with fourth-degree Welfare Fraud... Grand Larceny... and, first-degree Offering a False Instrument for Filing. He was issued appearance tickets for Jamestown City Court.
Chautauqua County fire investigators say a blaze that destroyed a barn in the north county late Monday has been ruled accidental. The Sheriff's Department's Fire Investigation team reports West Dunkirk fire crews were called to the scene at 10576 Temple Road in the town of Dunkirk at 5:45 PM. Officials say... following their investigation... the fire was determined to have started in a work shop due to a wall mounted heater. Investigators say the building was a total loss... but, no one was hurt.
Police in Syracuse say divers have recovered the body of a toddler who disappeared over the weekend with her father, who is being charged with murder. Police say the body of 21-month-old Maddox Lawrence was found yesterday in Syracuse's Inner Harbor. Maddox disappeared Saturday night with her 24-year-old father, Ryan Lawrence. He was taken into custody Monday.
Two free throws by James Rojas with just under 5 seconds left in the game was enough to carry the JHS Red Raiders to a 45-44 Semi-Final win over Williamsville North. Jamestown moves onto the title game at 8:30pm Saturday at the Buffalo State Sports Arena where they will face Niagara Falls.
Chautauqua Lake defeated Allegany Limestone 53-41. The Thunderbirds advance to play Olmstead at 8:15pm this Friday at Jamestown Community College.
