One man is dead... and, another is being sought by Jamestown Police after an early evening shooting on the city's northside Thursday afternoon. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers were called to the scene at 853 Prendergast Avenue about 5:45 PM... and, the found a man who had been shot several times as he was standing on his porch. Samuelson says witnesses in the area say the assailant was a black or Hispanic man who was wearing dark clothes... who walked up to the porch from behind the house. He says the suspect then fired several shots before running off. Samuelson says the victim... who has not been identified... was rushed to WCA Hospital... where he was later pronounced dead. He says this homicide was not a "random act..." but, says the victim was targeted. Samuelson asks anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the JPD Confidential Tip-line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477.
Cattaraugus County Sheriffs are investigating what they are calling the accidental drowning death of a Town of Conewango man. Authorities were called out to 5405 Route 241 in Conewango Valley just before 8pm Thursday. 42 year old Todd Newman was swimming in a pond there when he drowned. Deputies say the investigation is ongoing. New York State Police, Ellington, Conewango and Randolph Fire Departments were all at the scene.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating a strong-armed robbery reported by a woman who was picking up mail at the Stow Post Office branch Wednesday night. Sheriff's officers say the victim was at the drop boxes on Old Bridge Road about 7:30 PM when she was assaulted by an unknown male suspect... who then grabbed her property, and fled. The victim was not seriously hurt. Anyone with information on the robbery -- or was in the area at that time -- is asked to call Investigators Holder at 753-4925... or Morton at 753-4912. You can also call the Sheriff's Department We-Tip Line at 1-800-78-CRIME... that's 1-800-782-7463.
Showers and thunderstorms hit the Jamestown-area again yesterday... but, they did not bring enough relief from one of the driest springs in decades. That from Meteorologist Jim Mitchell of the National Weather Service says the area is experiencing a significant rainfall deficit with only 6-and-a-half inches of rain for the season... when we should have about a foot of rain so far. Showers moved across Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties late yesterday afternoon and early evening. However... Mitchell says it's not likely that what fell will deal entirely with the deficit.
A motor vehicle accident on Jamestown's eastside led to a power outage for more than 90-minutes in the Allen Street area late yesterday. Board of Public Utilities' Spokeswoman Becky Robbins says the outage occured about 3:50 PM when the accident damaged to two utility poles in the area of 20-27 Allen. Robbins says BPU Linemen reset the poles, and completed repairs about 5:30 PM... and, then restored power to the Allen Street industrial-area. She says Rand Machine and Bush Industries were two of the affected companies. No other problems were reported in the BPU service area... nor around the county as thunderstorms hit the region late yesterday afternoon and early evening.
New York state lawmakers are heading to the finish line but several unresolved items could delay their adjournment. The most significant debate concerns Mayor Bill de Blasio's request to extend his control of New York City schools. Senate Republicans support a one-year renewal of the policy first enacted in 2002. Assembly Democrats and Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo want three years. Other remaining issues include regulations for daily fantasy sports... and, measures addressing government corruption. Deals have already been struck on bills to combat opioid addiction, expand breast cancer screening and allow bars and restaurants to sell alcohol before noon on Sundays. Lawmakers must pass those bills before adjourning Thursday or Friday.
WCA Hospital has been on a "Path of Transformation" over the past year... and the future looks exciting. That from WCA President and Chief Executive Officer Betsy Wright... who presided over the 21st annual "Meeting of the Corporations" at the hospital yesterday morning. Wright first expressed her appreciation for a "foward-looking" board of directors, which has taken a hard-look at how the hospital was delivering health care to the community.
Wright touted the arrival of new services... such as WCA's Stroke Center... which allows patients and their families to stay here for their care. She says they were developed through a community survey... and by working with other providers and the Chautauqua County Health Department. Wright was also pleased to report that WCA finished in the black for the past year. They had a one-million dollar surplus. She adds their new affiliate agreement with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center recently got the first of three needed regulatory approvals to move forward. Also represented at WCA's Meeting of the Corporations was it's four other entities... which include the WCA Foundation... Starflight Helicopter... and, Alstar Ambulance.
Could there be a new building in Brooks Memorial Hospital's future? The hospital has not made an official statement... but, Brook's Chief Executive Officer Mary LaRowe told members of the hospital's auxiliary Wednesday that the hospital is developing a plan as part of the 57-million dollars in state funding that Brooks and TLC Health Network will be receiving from New York's Essential Health Care Provider Program. According to a story in the Times-Observer... LaRowe indicated that a new facility could be part of the plan that will also look at the services the hospital would offer as part of moving forward.
Local officials are hearing more about plans for the eagerly awaited Athenex plant that will be opening in the Dunkirk-area in the near future. A representative of the company spoke at a meeting organized by Jamestown Community College, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation's Local Economic Development Committee. County Executive Vince Horrigan says they learned more about the jobs that will become available... but, he adds the time-table for the plant has still not been finalized.
Horrigan says as the county prepares for the plant... they will be putting together a group that will focus on work force development. It will include representatives from the colleges, the Work Force Investment Board, the Chamber, and area high schools, to discuss the jobs of the future that will be coming to Chautauqua County. The project was first announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo when he traveled to Dunkirk back in February.
