Reed hosts first of three town hall meetings in Kiantone this morning...
There were smaller numbers... but, the passions were just as high for a couple of federal issues during a town hall meeting hosted by local Congressman Tom Reed in Kiantone this morning. There were about 50 people on hand at the Kiantone Fire Hall... and, many expressed concerns over two proposals now being considered by the U-S Senate. Reed says he opposes the Cassidy-Graham bill because it doesn't consider three areas the Problem Solvers Caucus he co-chairs deal with. He says one was to stablize the current Affordable Care Act exchanges... and, guarantee payments to insurance companies, a stability fund that states would have access to exchange funding, and that would also help states that have only one, or no exchanges left. On the Republican side... Reed says they were able to get Democrats to agree to increasing the number of employees to be considered for a small business from 50 to 500 workers... and, set the "work week" provision at 40 hours instead of the current 30. There were also heated discussion over how the Trump Administration has been dealing with the immigrantion issue. Town Halls are also being held today in Fredonia and Ellicottville. The 50 people on hand this morning was about a quarter of the number at two previous town halls this year in the immediate Jamestown-area.
Former Ellington Supervisor John Griffith named as new county Emergency Services Director...
An Ellington man with more than 35 years experience in the fire and emergency services, and many years as a businessman, has been named Chautauqua County's new Emergency Services Director. County Executive Vince Horrigan Friday afternoon announced that John Griffith will begin his new position on October 2nd... replacing Julius Leone... who will be retiring after 15 years as director at the end of October. Horrigan says Griffith has a wide variety of experience in the fire service... including Battalion Coodinator, Hazmat crew member, and fire chief. He adds that Griffith has also been a successful businessman in the Jamestown-area. Griffith has been Fourth Battalion Coordinator since 2012. He was Ellington Town Supervisor from 1992-to-1999. For nearly 20 years... Griffith was also co-owner of the Zahm and Matson John Deere dealership in Falconer. He thanked Horrigan for the appointment... saying it's an honor to be chosen.
Jamestown man arrested for allegedly robbery late this week...
A city man is jailed without bail for allegedly robbing a woman of $300 in cash at knife-point early Thursday afternoon on Jamestown's eastside. City police say officers were called to the scene at 124 Barrows Street just after 1 p.m., and, found the female victim visabily upset and crying. Police say she told them that 26 year-old Terin Butler took the money and fled the scene on foot. They later found Butler at a location on Pine Street... and, he was detained there until the victim could arrive and identify him. She positively identified the man... and, he was arrested for first-degree robbery and, first-degree unlawful imprisonment... and, second-degree menacing. Butler was arraigned and sent to the county lock-up.
United Way of So. Chautauqua County kicks-off -- literally -- it's 2017 Campaign...
The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County kicked-off it's 2017 General Campaign last night -- literally -- at a local high school football game. Leaders with this year's campaign held a "Live United" banner that players from the Southwestern Trojans ran through before last night's home opener against Allegheny-Limestone. United Way Executive Director Tory Irgang says School Superintendent Maureen Donahue is a member of the Campaign Committee, and said Southwestern would like to host the unique kick-off. Last night's kick-off event that was the first public event to begin the annual fund-raiser for the local human service agency. Irgang says they're pleased to have Jane Cleaver-Becker as this year's chairperson. She adds that this year's goal is higher than in the past couple of years -- $1,325,000 -- which she calls "very achievable." The United Way recently finished up it's Pacesetters Campaign... which has brought in 11-percent of their goal for this year. For more information on the campaign... go on-line to www.uwayscc.org... or call 483-1561.
