A Falconer man is jailed without bail for allegedly being found in possession of methamphetime, and drug paraphernalia at an apartment in a local hotel...
Members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force and JPD SWAT team-- along with Ellicott Police, State Police C-NET team and the FBI-- raided an apartment at the Budget Inn at 2 East Main Street for alleged Meth sales. Once inside, Police say the SWAT team found the suspect, 35 year-old Ryan Percey, and a 15 year-old boy. Investigators say they found several items of drug peraphernalia, and hypodermic needles and, a quantity of meth. Percey was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, criminally using a hypodermic instrument and endangering the welfare of a child. He was arraigned in Ellicott Town Court and sent to the County lock-up. The 15 year-old was not charged.
While drug trafficking and issues related to addiction remain a problem in Jamestown, the rate of violent and property crimes in the city were down last year. That from Jamestown Police Chief and Public Safety Director Harry Snellings, who provided city lawmakers with year-to-year and five-year Part-One Index Crime Rates at this week's Council work session...
Snellings says the Part-One Violent Crimes include murder, and non-negligent manslaughter, forible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. He says the property crimes included burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. Snellings says he's not sure exactly why the numbers are down, but acknowledges that drugs -- and drug related crimes -- remain a problem. He says some of the crimes don't fall along traditional Part-One crimes. Of note, Snellings says the number of murders and non-negligent manslaughters fell from four in 2016 to two last year and, the number of robberies fell from 47 to 31. He says the full report can be viewed at the city's website.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken steps to make it easier for New Yorkers to get the influenza vaccine as the flu epidemic continues to spread across the state...
The Democrat signed an executive order Thursday that allows pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to people ages two to 18. The order suspends a state law that limits the authority of pharmacists to administer vaccines to anyone under age 18. The governor also ordered the Department of Health to expand the state's influenza public service advertising campaign to target areas of New York hit hardest by flu. State health officials say the number of reported flu cases rose over the past week to 7,779 laboratory-confirmed cases, with 1,759 New Yorkers requiring hospitalization. That's up from 1,606 hospitalized the previous week.
The Sherman Central School bus driver whose quick actions prevented serious injury -- or worse -- to about a dozen students when their bus caught fire -- has received a commendation from county lawmakers...
The legislature last Wednesday night presented the commendation to David Tenpas for his quick work to get students off the bus as it caught fire the morning of Thursday, January 4. The acknowledgement came from legislators David Himelein and Christine Starks.
Sherman School Superintendent Mike Ginestre says at the first sign of the problem occured on Parker Road near Mayvllle, Tenpas took action. Tenpas credited a motorist who was following the bus because he wasn't able to see the problem developing in the back of the vehicle. Once he was alerted, he got the children off the bus quickly. Another bus came by and picked up the students within a few mintues. Ginestre says the bus was extensively damaged, the cause is still being investigated.
As the dialogue continues between the Dunkirk City School District and the city over re-establishing a school resource officer's position in the district, two members of the Dunkirk Common Council say they want to see the district make the move...
First Ward Councilman Don Williams and Fourth Ward Councilman Mike Civiletto discussed the matter Thursday, Williams says the move is ultimately up to the school board.
Civiletto, a former teacher, says it's important for the district to have an SRO. He says every school he's taught at has had one. Civiletto says in addition to helping with safety, SRO's are often able to help students going through difficult circumstances. Last week, Mayor Willie Rosas indicated that the city provided the district with more information about the cost of using a city police officer and was waiting to hear back from the district.
New York will continue to provide Medicaid benefits to people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children - no matter what officials in Washington do with the program that protected them from deportation...
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program created by former President Barack Obama protected certain immigrants from deportation. But, President Donald Trump decided to stop DACA. What happens to those in the program is now under discussion in Washington. Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that New York won't stand by while some 42,000 state residents impacted by DACA lose health care. Cuomo also supports extending state college financial aid programs to students without legal status. He has supported that initiative, called the Dream Act, for years. There's strong opposition in the Republican-led state Senate.
The man who put the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County at the fore-front of the battle against the local Heroin and Opioid drug crisis will be honored today on his retirement...
The association will host a special recognition and program for Rick Huber at it's location on Water Street in Jamestown. Huber has been a leader at the organization the past 16 years. He has been both outspoken, and a key figure in the fight. The reception begins at 3 p.m. and the program starts at 4:00.
