Flames have extensively damaged the upper floors of a single-family home on the northside of the village of Falconer....
Falconer firefighters were called to the scene at 13 Mason Street shortly before 6 PM... and, Chief Charlie Piazza says they found heavy smoke and fire coming from the second story. Piazza praised crews for their efforts to get the fire out... and, keep flames away from two nearby homes.
Piazza says it took about an hour to bring the blaze under control, then get it out. A second-alarm was called. Piazza says Falconer was joined at the scene by Kennedy, Lakewood, Gerry, Fluvanna, and Kiantone fire crews. One child apparently suffered a minor injury and, was taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital for an evaluation. No one else was hurt. Crews were at the scene until about 8 PM. The cause remains under investigation.
The Cody Willett family is back in their completely "made-over" home in Ashville after it got a major, "Military Make-over."
The Lifetime Channel crew -- led by TV talk show legend Montel Williams -- completed shooting at the Roemer Road location yesterday afternoon. There was plenty of enthusiasm even before the family made it's return. Montel and Co-Host Art Edmonds recorded their closing from the home's deck.
A couple of passing rain showers failed to dampen the spirits of about 200 people on hand for the "big reveal." One of the major components of the 10-day effort was a strong volunteer effort to help rip, tear, and build. Chautauqua County Veteran Services Agency Director Greg Carlson says that effort involved a lot of local vets.
The Dwyer Program is a peer-to-peer military organization that helps veterans who deal primarily with PTSD issues, which Cody Willett deals with. The first episode of the program with the Willett's will air on the Lifetime Channel after Memorial Day.
From the looks on their faces, the Willett family is very happy with all the improvements made to the U-S Air Force veteran's Ashville residence. "Military Makeover" host and TV talk show legend Montel Williams had been out to the house several times in the past few days and, the program crew, local volunteers and vendors were hard at work leading up to Friday. He says Willett went through their application process and, their story fit what they look for.
Williams says the Willetts were selected among dozens of applicants. Willett suffered injuries in a rocket attack while he was serving our country in Afghanistan, and suffers from PTSD. However, Williams says Willett is now working as a computer specialist with the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office.
Five Chautauqua County communities have now received permits from the state Department of Environmental Conservation to do targeted herbicide treatments on Chautauqua Lake....
The Lake Partnership says the towns of Ellicott, Ellery, and North Harmony, and the villages of Lakewood, and Celoron, have been approved to apply Aquathol-K and Navigate on Eurasian Milfoil and Curley Pondleat weeds this Spring. The CLP says the DEC has indicated that registered herbicide application professionals will be restricted to the designated areas on Wednesday, May 15th from 7 AM to 8 PM. The application may take 3 to 6 days to complete. For more information, contact Glenn Sullivan at SOLitude Lake Management at (908)310-8775.
Local police and fire departments are in the midst of putting on about a half-dozen mock DWI crash events around Chautauqua County to warn people about the dangers of impaired driving....
Typically, the drills take place in the lead up to the Spring prom season. Sheriff Jim Quattrone says about half have been held so far... and, adds they're not just geared to the students. Quattrone says they stress the need for students to make "wise choices..." and it's also a message intended for staff and teachers, as well.
New York lawmakers are taking a closer look at authorizing sports betting on smart phones - and whether it would require a change to the state Constitution....
The Democrat-led state Senate held a hearing on the issue Wednesday that attracted gambling lobbyists, attorneys and representatives from the NBA and PGA. Supporters say the state could make hundreds of millions of dollars off sports betting - money that's now going to illegal wagers or to states like New Jersey, which has already legalized sports betting. New York's four non-Native America-owned casinos will begin offering sports wagers once new regulations are finalized. A bill before lawmakers would authorize bets on mobile devices and eventually at sports venues. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo contends that could take a Constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval.
