Community Spotlight, the area's longest running local public affairs radio program, airs on all six Media One Radio Group stations each weekend and is also available to hear in our Podcast Section.  Each week we sit down with a community leader or another special guest to talk about issues within our community.  


Weather Forecasts are available across our radio stations each day and also as your fingertips! 

Connect with The National Weather Service's Buffalo Office or with WGRZ-TV for accurate weather information!

 

 

 


 

News Headlines for Sat., Aug. 6, 2016

2016 Olympics underway... but, Jenn Suhr won't leave for Rio until Monday...

Some 70,000 people were at the stadium in Rio de Janeiro last night for the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics... and, many in the village of Fredonia are following the activities very closely.  That's because one of their own will be involved in her third summer Olympics.  Jenn Suhr lives near Rochester, but she remains close to her hometown as she goes for her third Olympic medal.  Jenn's father, Mark Stuczynski, says she wasn't in Rio for the opening ceremonies... and, will be arriving in Rio on Monday.  Stuczynski says she'll be staying on the cruise ship there being used by many of the U-S athletes because many of the athlete dorms are not finished.  Suhr won a Silver Medal in the 2008 games in Beijing... and, the gold in the 2012 games in London.  The pole vaulter will also have to wait a while longer before she can compete this time around.  Qualifying isnt until Aug. 16, and the medal round begins on Friday, Aug. 19.  Mark Stuczynski says Jenn and the entire family are please with the support shown by the community... with many residents digging out their signs from her previous Olympic appearances.


City man jailed for contempt after call to check on well-being of adults, children at eastside home in Jamestown...

A call to check on the well-being of two children possibly being taken care of by adults allegedly using narcotics has led to the arrest of a Jamestown man on several charges.  City police responded to the scene at 633 East Second St. late Wednesday morning... and, found several hypodermic needles on the floor in the bathroom.  There were four adults and two children in the apartment... including Shane Eshbach.  However... police say there was a valid order of protection for Eshbach to stay away from the residence.  He began fighting with officers when he was being arrested... and, was charged with obstruction.  Police say Eshbach was also charged with first-degree criminal contempt... aggravated Family Offense... and, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.  He was arraigned and jailed pending further court action.


Gerace says Chautauqua County Jail is over capacity...

There's been some success in controlling the population at the Chautauqua County Jail... but, it's now again overcrowded.  That from Sheriff Joe Gerace... who oversees the jail operation in Mayville... who says they have recently had to board out some inmates.  Gerace says six total are being housed elsewhere... at county expense.  He says they often have more activity during the Summer... but, don't see jail levels go up until after Summer.  Gerace believes one problem has been "high bails" for some defendants.  In addition... Gerace says there's been a position that's opened up in the Public Defender's Office.  He says a woman who was the Defender's Advocate... and, worked hard for Alternatives to Incarceration... recently retired.  Gerace says he hopes that position is filled again soon.  He says he's met with the county's Public Defender and Acting District Attorney about the situation.  Gerace adds he's be meeting soon with officials from the Eighth Judicial District.


Onoville Marina to close early for Season due to low water, rainfall totals...

The lack of rain this Summer is forcing a local recreational boating location in the Jamestown-area to close early this season.  The Onoville Marina on the Alleghany Reservoir in Cattaraugus County will be closing on August 15th because they're about 4 to 5 inches below normal rainfall.  That from Marina Manager Jim Welch... who's worked there the past 20 years.  He's been manager the past four... and, says he's seen the water level lower... but, adds it wasn't this early in the season.  Welch says the water will only drop further without any significant rain, because the reservoir is part of the Flood Control program for the Alleghany River in Warren County.  Welch says... without rain... more water is being let out through the Kinzua Dam than is flowing into the river behind it.  He says the U-S Army Corp of Engineers tells him that they would need about 9-inches of rain 'run-off' to recharge the reservoir to 100-percent.  He says they are currently about 8 to 9-feet below their normal level.

 

Former firefighter pleads not guilty to setting fire to black volunteer firefighter's home in North Tonawanda...

A former firefighter says he's innocent of arson charges in the blaze that damaged the western New York apartment of a volunteer firefighter who said he received a racist, threatening letter earlier this week.  North Tonawanda police say 39-year-old Matthew Jurado was arrested Thursday and charged in the fire at 28-year-old Kenneth Walker's home.  WGRZ-TV reports Jurado is Walker's neighbor and the two know each other.  A judge entered a not guilty plea Friday morning for Jurado because he didn't have an attorney for his arraignment.  He's being held in jail on 50-thousand dollars bail.  Police say Jurado confessed to setting the fire.  But they say he didn't claim responsibility for an anonymous letter that Walker said was left in his mailbox on Monday.  It told him to resign because he's black.  Investigators say Jurado told them a friend of his was behind the letter.


Health Insurace rates in NYS to increase by 8 to 17-percent next year...

New York regulators have set health insurance rates for 2017, rising about 8-percent for small group plans that enroll more than one-million New Yorkers... and, almost 17 percent for individual plans with about 350,000 people enrolled.  The Department of Financial Services says rising health care costs and termination of the federal reinsurance program are pushing up rates.