Latest STOP-DWI Enforcment Crack-down underway...
Another law enforcement campaign to crack down on impaired driving is underway for the St. Patrick's Day weekend. The campaign will include a number of sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols along with a statewide underage drinking detail. Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace, who heads up the STOP DWI campaign in the county, says the problem of impaired driving seems to spike during celebrations such as St. Patrick's Day. Gerace says they look at the number of accidents, fatal accidents, and the number that are caused by drunk or "drugged" driving. He says while alcohol remains a concern, they have seen an increase in the number of cases involving "drugged" driving. As part of the crackdown... investigators from the state Department of Motor Vehicles will also be conducting underage drinking and fake I-D prevention operations in cooperation with the state Liquor Authority.
Three city men jailed for allegedly running "one-pot" Meth Lab in the city...
Three Jamestown men have been arrested for allegedly operating a "one-pot" Meth Lab in an upstairs apartment at a home on the city's westside. City Police Chief Harry Snellings says the arrests came following a report of smoke, and strong odor coming from the building at 212 West Sixth Street. Snellings, and city fire officials, say they were called to the scene about 4:25 p.m. Thursday. He says investigation of the situation led to discovery of the lab... and, was the second time in a week they had been called to that apartment. Snellings says they found precursors for Meth at that time. Snellings says, though, that the number of Meth labs being seen in the city had fallen tremendously in recent months. He says that's due to a lot of the Meth in the city now being brought here from out-of-town. Snellings says the three men arrested are Jacob Tunison... Cody Richenbach and David Soderberg. He says all three face three charges... including Felony unlawful manufacture of methamphetime... and, criminal possession of a controlled substance. He says they also found a number of syringes inside the apartment.
City woman arrested in domestic incident...
A Jamestown woman has been arrested for her alleged part in a domestic incident reported Thursday afternoon. City police say they were called to 815 Newland Avenue shortly before 3 p.m. for an apparent verbal domestic dispute. Officers say the victim came home to find 25 year-old Toni Schnars in his apartment... and, he had an order of protection against her. She was later found on Crown Street... and, charged with first degree Criminal Contempt and aggravated family offense. She was jailed without incident.
Cattaraugus woman charged with DWI following crash...
A Cattaraugus County woman faces a drunk driving charge after her car crashed into a telephone pole on Route 438 in the village of Cattaraugus. Sheriff's deputies in Little Valley say 25 year old Cylee Twoguns was northbound about 8 AM last Sunday when her car went off the right side of the roadway and struck the pole. She was taken to Lake Shore Hospital for treatment... and, later was ticketed for DWI in New Albion Town Court.
Goodell says now that Senate and Assembly have "one-house" budget's approved, negotiations will now begin...
Now that all sides have their own budget proposals in place... the negotiating begins on New York state's 2017-18 budget plan. That from local State Assemblyman Andy Goodell...who says there is "broad consensus" already on a number of major items in the budget proposed last January by Governor Andrew Cuomo. However... Goodell says each plan also has it's particular items" that the majorities favor. Goodell says both houses of the state legislature approved their "one-house budgets" this past Wednesday. He says Assembly Democrats will "throw everything they can into their resolution, then use them as a bargaining chip in talks with the Senate." He says they then - essentially -- begin "horse-trading." Each plan totals about $152-billion. One of the main areas of consensus is on increasing public school aid... with the governor only calling for a $450-million increase. However... both the Senate and Assembly would add more than $1-billion to that total. Goodell made his comments for this weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the five Media One Group statiions.
Young says Senate budget provides Tax Relief...
Several billion dollars worth of water infrastructure improvements and upgrades are included in the State Senate's proposed "one-house" budget resolution approved this past week. That from Senator Cathy Young... who chairs the panel's Finance Committee that works on the budget. Young says there will be money in the $152-billion dollar spending plan to help local water contamination issues... including those at schools. He says a lot of local communities can't afford to make major upgrades to their older water systems... and, she says lead has shown up in several school districts in her 57th Senate District. Meantime... while the budget includes a tuition free college program like Governor Cuomo's proposal, the Senate plan would also include private schools. Young says New York is not a "one size fits all state..." and, needs to take much into account. She says it gives major tax relief to middle class families.
