Chautauqua County's representative in Congress is supporting President Trump's decision to pull out of the thre-year-old Iran nuclear agreement...
The president Tuesday afternoon signed a presidential memorandum withdrawing from the agreement and he is planning to reinstall sanctions on the Iranian regime. Corning Republican Tom Reed says he wanted to hear Mr. Trump address two key areas, one being the need to stop the Iranians from building their ballistic missile program.
The president said in his address to the nation that he will be reinstituting the highest level of sanctions on Iran and, warned any country not to help the Iranian government. Reed made his comments during his weekly telephone conference call with Southern Tier Media.
One federal lawmaker from New York says she's "strongly opposing" President Trump's decision to leave the Iran nuclear agreement...
U-S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says the agreement "gave us the critical ability to aggressively monitor and verify Iran's behavior. By walking away from the agreement, the President has opened the door to Iran going back to developing a nuclear weapons program." Gillibrand says this "unilateral decision" will cost the U-S the ability to maintain a strong coalition holding Iran accountable.
The proposal to create a separate library tax was much of the focus of questions during a public hearing on the Southwestern School District budget last night...
School Superintendent Maureen Donahue says the district accepted the petition by the Lakewood and Hazeltine Libraries to hold the special vote during the regular budget vote to save money on costs. Donahue says the district would collect the tax this year, but the $204,000 would not be released until next January for the 2019 fiscal year.
Voters in the Southwestern Central School District will not only decide on a budget, and bus proposition next week, but, also a measure to fund the two public libraries in the district...
It's called the "259 Referendum..." because state education law allows libraries to put such items onto the school budget ballot. This measure would raise $204,000 through a special tax to fund the Lakewood and Hazeltine Libraries. Lakewood's Karen Denerline says most libraries in New York state are funded this way.
Denerline adds there would be no increase in taxes for voters in Busti and Lakewood, but she says there would be a first-time charge in West Ellicott and, the village of Celoron. At the same time, Denerline says there are a "high number" of library users in the that area. The Lakewood Library would receive $139,000 of the $204,000 to be raised, while the Hazeline Library in Busti would receive $65,000.
The Jamestown Board of Education hosted a public hearing regarding the proposed 2018-19 budget Tuesday evening...
With a stable tax levy unchanged in eight-years, the $86.6-million budget will set the stage for the 2019-20 school year. Director of Finance Vern Connors says the proposal reflects the Board's goals to institute long-term fiscal tools, maintain school tax levy and, focus on student achievement. There are two propositions on the ballot voters will decide on in the May 15th election. The first establishes a capital reserve fund to set aside up to $2-million to pay local share costs for local capital projects and long-term school building repairs. The second is the addition of an ex-officio student school board member.
Ellicott town Police are investigating a serious accident that occurred near the intersection of South Work Street and Elmwood Avenue Monday night...
Sergeant Matt Kubinski says officers initially received a report that a child was struck by a vehicle just after 6:00. However, he says the victim allegedly fell OFF an SUV that pulled out of the driveway and struck his head on the curb. The unidentifed 16 year-old was treated at the scene and, flown by Starflight Helicopter to Buffalo Children's Hospital. Kubinski says officers have talked to the victim's family and, learned the teen may be released from the hospital this week. Police say the 17 year-old driver was not injured and is cooperating with authorities. Anyone with information on the accident is asked to call Ellicott Police at 665-7083.
Democrats and Republicans seem to back the decision by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to step down after an article published in the New Yorker in which two women accuse Schneiderman of physically abusing them. In all, four women have come forward. Governor Andrew Cuomo said the development was both shocking and disturbing...
Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello also feels that resigning was right thing for Schneiderman to do, though he say he deserved his own day in court. In a statement, Schneiderman said he did not commit assault, he did not engage in non-consensual sexual relations. He did acknowledge though to "role-playing" during intimate encounters. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has indicated it will launch an investigation into the allegations.
Gas prices in the Jamestown area are up nearly four-cents this week to $2.93 for a gallon of regular, unleaded fuel...
That from AAA's weekly gas price report, which says the price at the pump is 38-cents higher than this time last year. Officials say gasoline inventories saw an 1.3-million barrel build on the week, and are at the highest levels in two months at 62-million. Nationally, fuel prices are up 45-cents more than last year at $2.81. AAA says prices could continue to rise as the summer driving season approaches.
