A pair of structure fires Wednesday evening kept fire crews in the central part of Chautauqua County busy and, heavy damage was reported in each case.
The first call came just before 5 p.m. from a mobile home near Interstate 86 in the Ellery area. Sheriff's Department dispatchers say Ellery Center and Ashville firefighters were called to the scene. The occupants were outside when fire crews arrived. The second blaze was called in about 7:30 p.m. from a location on Route 60 near Sinclairville.
Dispatchers say Sinclairville and Cassadaga fire crews were called in, along with tankers from other departments. No injuries were reported in that fire. Crews were still at the scene late last night.
Chautauqua County lawmakers have passed a 2018 budget that includes a tax cut.
By a 19-0 vote, the Legislature approved a spending plan that lowers the county's full value tax rate by four-cents per thousand. County Executive Vince Horrigan says he welcomes the changes legislators made to his original budget plan which proposed a 10-cent per thousand increase.
Legislators approved changes proposed by the Audit and Control Committee. Chairman Pierre Chagnon was pleased with the process, calling it a total teamwork. Chagnon says it's fourth consecutive year that county lawmakers have been able to deliver a budget that cuts property taxes.
Three people have been arrested in Jamestown for allegedly being found in possession of three gun and, a significant amount of cocaine during a separate burglary investigation.
City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers were following up on a tip from Lakewood-Busti Police about a recent home burglary in the town of Busti. Samuelson says officers raided the residence at 18 Hedges Avenue shortly after 5 PM Tuesday evening.
Samuelson says the cocaine seized totalled nearly 30-grams. He says they also arrested 45 year-old Cindy Cunningham and her husband, 39 year-old Anthony Cunningham and, 21 year-old Maiker Anderson.
Anthony Cunningham is jailed without bail, while Cindy Cunningham is being held on 50-thousand dollars cash bail. Anderson is being held on 60-thousand dollars bail.
All three are charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He says they are pleased to have the guns off the street given the number of recent shooting incidents in the city. He says more charges are expected.
If you have any information on illegal drug activity in Jamestown, call the confidential tips-line at 483-TIPS. You can also call the JPD Tips 4-1-1 app.
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly displaying a pistol in the city's riverwalk area Tuesday night.
City Police responded to the intersection of Institute and First Streets for a person with a weapon. Officers say they spoke to a victim who described the suspect later identified as 25 year-old Benny Overstreet, Junior. Officers were able to locate Overstreet and place him in custody. He was jailed pending arraignment on a second-degree menacing charge.
A Buffalo police officer killed in a training dive accident has been hailed at his memorial service for his bravery, dedication and sense of humor.
Fellow officers eulogized Craig Lehner today Wednesday as someone whose steady demeanor enabled him to engage calmly with colleagues and the public during his nine years with the Buffalo Police Department.
The 34-year-old member of the department's underwater rescue team went missing during a training dive in the Niagara River back on October 13th.
Several thousand officers, several from Chautauqua County along with elected officials and others filled the KeyBank Center for the service. Dozens of police K-9s and their handlers were among those lining the street outside the arena.
Residents in the Jamestown public school district are being asked to decide next Monday on a proposal to sell the district's former Crescent Street Warehouse.
The school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to sell the building because it no longer served the district's purposes. Back on October 14th the district received a bid at auction from Henry James Properties, LLC to buy the warehouse for one-dollar.
However the district's Director of Finance and Business Affairs Vern Connors says the district must have the public's approval before selling the warehouse to the winning bidder. He urged residents to call him for more information.
Unless the sale is approved, Connors says the building would most likely be torn down at a cost of $500,000. He says that's due to the state Education Department building regulations driving up the price tag.
Connors adds that an additional benefit to the sale is the building would go back onto the city's tax rolls. Next Monday's vote runs from Noon to 9 PM. Again... for more information, call 483-4420.
A Cattaraugus County man has been arrested for allegedly having sex with an underage girl several times in the village of Perrysburg.
Sheriff's officers in Little Valley say they arrested 24 year-old Jack Richter (Rick-ter) of Perrysburg late last week regarding several incidents involving Richter and a 14 year-old girl. He was arrested for second-degree rape and, endangering the welfare of a child. He was arraigned in New Albion Town Court, and sent to the Cattaraugus County Jail on 25-thousand dollars bail.
Two teenagers were taken to the hospital after they were thrown from their Amish buggy during an accident in Conewango Township yesterday morning.
Cattaraugus County Sheriff's officers say 36 year-old Rachel Fuller's car was southbound on Route 241 when her vehicle struck an Amish buggy traveling in the same direction. Both teenage occupants of the buggy were ejected, injuring both. One teen had a severe head injury... and the other sustained head and leg injuries.
They were transported from the scene to UPMC Chautauqua WCA hospital. Fuller and two young occupants of the vehicle were not hurt. She was issued a traffic ticket for Conewango Court at a later date.
