A man and a woman from Jamestown are jailed without bail following a domestic incident on the city's southside allegedly involving a gun and, where police allegedly found several kinds of illegal drugs.
Jamestown police were called to the scene at 248 Forest Avenue just before 9 PM Sunday on a report of woman being threatened by a man with a shot-gun earlier in the day. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says one of the suspects 32 year-old Todd Dalton came outside to meet officers.
Samuelson says in addition to the shot-gun and air gun police also found a digital scale with powder residue on it, and plastic baggies to package drugs for sale. Officers then allegedly found a small quantity of methamphetamine and cocaine, 43 grams of marijuana, and several prescription pills.
Both Dalton and 32 year-old Jacqueline Delo were arrested on several charges including eight counts each of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Samuelson says the shot-gun had apparently been stolen from another city home Saturday. Both Dalton and Delo were arraigned and sent to the county lock-up.
No one spoke during last night's public hearing on the Jamestown School District's 84.9-million dollar, 2017-18 budget proposal that's up for vote next week.
The spending plan includes no tax increase thanks in large part to major cuts and belt-tightening in the district the past several years. However with one-million additional dollars in state aid the district is able to do some hiring, and set aside some additional reserves.
Director of Business and Financial Services Vern Connors adds they also want to do some important projects. Connors says the new budget also includes about 10 new hires namely some teaching positions that had to be cut in previous budgets. A couple of school counselors are also going to be hired.
With no dissenting voices last night, Connors says he feels pretty good about the new spending plan and, adds that the district has only had to raise taxes one year over the past 12 years. Next Tuesday's budget vote runs from Noon to 9 PM at Washington and Jefferson Middle Schools and, Lincoln Elementary School.
In the wake of three local town halls in his Congressional District Corning Republican Tom Reed is trying to clear-up what he says is "misinformation" about the recently approved American Health Care Act.
Reed said Tuesday that the biggest misconception about the new law is that people with "pre-existing" conditions will be kicked-off their current health care or be priced out of the market. He says that will not be the case adding that he's in that situation with a son who has Type-One Diabetes.
Reed says there's also misinformation about what's going to happen to New Yorkers, and others who are part of the "Essential Health Plan." That's available to low-income earners who aren't eligible for Medicaid.
Reed says that program, which covers 400,000 state residents remains in place. However he says funding could be an issue and, he understands there may be some issues with that.
But he says the state should have the ability to prioritize funding for that. Reed also says there will be no changes to Medicare under the American Health Care Act. He made his comments during his weekly telephone conference call with local media.
The unemployment rate in Chautauqua County held steady for the second straight month to close out the first quarter of the year but, March's jobless numbers are much better than a year ago.
That from State Labor Department Analyst John Slenker who says the rate remained at 6.1-percent in March the same as it was in February. The jobelss rate was 7.1% in March of last year.
Slenker says the available workforce in the county was 55,500 which was up slightly from February and, there were more people working. Slenker says job gains were seen in leisure and hospitality which gained 100 over the month and start of the year.
He says a number of factors are playing into the leisure and hospitality increases as you see seasonal businesses starting to get ready for Summer by hiring workers. Slenker says professional and business services were also up for the month while manufacturing held steady from month to month.
However, he says those are down 300 for the year due mainly to some losses in the north county area.
Unemployment numbers in Cattaraugus County showed some significant improvement in March falling from 7.2% in February to 6.3% in March.
The labor Department's John Slenker says it was 6.5-percent in March of 2016. Slenker says the job count was down by 100 to 31,500.
However, he says that number is steady from the start of the year. Slenker says there was some upward activity in financial activities and, professional and business services which were both up by 100.
However he says leisure and hospitality was down 200 as the ski season wound down.
Legislation that would authorize people with terminal illnesses to request life-ending drugs from a physician is again before state lawmakers in Albany.
Supporters of the bill include several New Yorkers who lost loved ones to painful terminal illness. They plan to meet with lawmakers Tuesday at the state Capitol. The bill would require two physicians to certify the patient's illness is terminal.
Physicians could refuse to agree to the request for any reason. The measure has been introduced before but hasn't received a vote.
Supporters say the bill gives suffering patients the freedom to end their lives with dignity but has proper safeguards. Opponents worry the measure would be abused.
Colorado, Washington, Vermont, California and Oregon already have current laws allowing people to request life-ending medication from a physician.
Fredonia village board members have hired a new village attorney and he will be working on a part-time basis.
Monday night, the Village Board approved the appointment of Todd Thomas of Jamestown by a 4-to-0 vote. Thomas succeeds Sam Drayo who announced his retirement late last year after serving the village for 48 years.
Mayor Athanasia Landis says she is very pleased to have Thomas on board. Thomas says he is looking forward to beginning his new role and, working on the challenges the position brings.
Thomas, who begins his new duties immediately, will be paid an annual salary of 40-thousand dollars.
Too much water on Lake Ontario from recent flooding has put many charter fishing businesses on hiatus, while recreational boating is on hold until conditions improve.
Run-off from weeks of rainy weather has pushed the lake to near-record levels, and lakeshore erosion caused by high winds has deposited trees, large logs, docks, tires and lawn furniture in the water along the lake's southern shoreline from the Niagara River to the St. Lawrence River.
Jerry Felluca, who runs charters out of Hamlin, west of Rochester, likens the conditions to a minefield. The Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester reports that many charter captains have had to cancel or reschedule trips because marina docks and parking lots are still under water.
Most motor boat and sailing enthusiasts have been prevented from launching their vessels because of hazardous conditions.
