A Republican County legislator from Lakewood has been re-elected as chairman of the Chautauqua County Legislature....
Lawmakers backed Paul "PJ" Wendel for a second year at the helm, by a 15-0 vote. Wendell is pleased with legislators' support and praised their work in 2018, calling the lawmakers a "united legislature."
Wendel says the biggest challenge in 2019 is addressing health of Chautauqua Lake. He says some questions and issued rose at the end of the Lake Season. Along with other issues, Wendel says County Executive George Borello is looking to bring air service back to the Jamestown Airport. Meantime, he says legislators are also still looking for the opening of Athenex in the near future.
It's time to stop letting the "extremes" on both sides of the political aisle control the debate as Congress gets to work today on legislation to end the partial government shut-down...
Local Representative Tom Reed is back in Washington and, says it was disappointing to see an apparent agreement to keep the government running get rejected. Reed believes there is common ground to be found on border security with the agreement reached last year by the Problem Solver's Caucus he co-chairs.
Reed says, right now, both the far left and far-right are fixated on the word "wall..." and, says that's almost made it a non-starter. However, President Trump this afternoon reiterated his need for $5-billion to build the wall. Reed says Trump has expressed the need for other security measures at the border, including more border agents and use to monitoring technology. He says there is still a lot of "political theater" going on in Washington regarding a border wall and, in the public debate about what it'll take to get a deal.
Congress begins it's 2019 legislative session today, but first has to elect a new Speaker...
Local Representative Tom Reed says he won't be voting for Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi for speaker, but he will be voting for the Democrat's new rules package that allows more bi-partisan legislation to come to the floor. Reed said yesterday that Pelosi did not agree to all the rules the Problem Solver's Caucus wanted, but was pleased to see a number of them included.
Reed says there are some rules that are part of the package he doesn't agree with. He also agreed to some new measures called the "Collins Rules..." after indicted Congressman Chris Collins. He says he worked with some others on a measure to disqualify members who sit on corporate boards from sitting on committees. Collins, who is from Clarence, is under federal indictment for alleged insider trading violations. Reed says that, under the new rules, Collins would not be allowed to sit on a committee in 2019.
The Chautauqua County Fair ran a week earlier than usual in July of 2018 and will again this year...
Dave Wilson, the President of the Fair Board of the Directors said they changed to get 'Powers Amusements' as the carnival provider and it worked out fine. This year's fair will be July 15-21 at the fairgrounds in Dunkirk. Wilson adds they have won some grants from the State Department of Ag and Markets to improve the animal buildings on the fairgrounds... including construction of a new show arena at the goat barn. Chautauqua County Fair tickets will be the same price as last year-- $7 pre-sale, and $12 at the gate.
Two Jamestown residents were arrested as fugitives from justice following a traffic stop late New Years Day....
City police pulled over a vehicle at Forest Avenue near Washington Street and, found 37 year-old Nicole Stein was operating the vehicle with a suspended license. Officers say the front seat passenger allegedly provided a false name, and was later identified as 42 year-old David Van Guilder. He was found to be wanted on several warrants out of Jamestown, and one out of Pennsylvania. Stein was additionally charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operator and improper turn signal. Both were transported to Jamestown City Jail without incident.
The investigation is on-going into last month's police involved shooting on Liberty Street in the village of Fredonia...
Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson has confirmed the identity of the man who was shot to death on December 10 at 76 Liberty Street as 23-year-old George Penev. Swanson says the man's family, from Wyoming County, had requested that his name not be released.
Penev allegedly went after Police Officer Nathan Scriven with a knife according to initial reports. The officer shot and killed Penev outside the house. Swanson says the investigation is still ongoing and they are still awaiting the autopsy and toxicology reports on the man. Penev's family has established a GoFundMe appeal to help cover the costs of the man's funeral.
The owner-operator of the new Chautauqua Harborfront Hotel says the venture in Celoron was a "risky" one, but he believes it will be well worth it....
Hart Hotel's Owner David Hart was the main speaker at the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting, held at his hotel soon after it officially opened. Hart says having a hotel at a well-know destination point is where they want to be.
During one of those searches for places to recreate and visit, Hart says Chautauqua County has carved out quite a niche with a number of world-class attractions now in place. The upscale hotel cost about $40-million to build. It's the third-biggest story of 2018.
