A 56 year-old woman has died after reportedly drowning when her car went off Hoag Road in the town of Harmony last Saturday night and, landed in a private pond.....
Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene about 11:30 last Saturday night and, found the vehicle had entered the pond. Officers called in the Chautauqua County WET Team, which soon after found the vehicle, and located the woman dead inside the car. The vehicle and victim were removed from the scene... and, the Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the incident.
A north county man has been arrested for vehicular assault after a passenger in his car was seriously hurt in a single-car accident in the town of Arkwright early last weekend...
Sheriff's officers were called to the scene on Route 83 and found the driver, 39 year-old Jeffery Ortel of Dunkirk, was impaired by a combination of drugs and alcohol. Deputies say a passenger in Ortel's car, who was not identified, was taken to Brook's Hospital in Dunkirk for treatment. Ortel was taken into custody for second-degree vehicular assault, and driving while ability impaired by drugs and alcohol and, sent to the county jail pending arraignment.
The tradition of the Gerry Rodeo will go well beyond this past week's 75th anniversary event....
Spokesman Paul Cooley says members of the Gerry Fire Department voted unanimously Saturday afternoon to host the Professional Cowboys and Cowgirls Rodeo Association for another five-years, Cooley says details of who will run the rodeo, and other logistics will be worked out over the next couple of months. This year's event also featured a number of past "Rodeo Queens" returning for the anniversary and, a large number of food and other vendors on the grounds. Cooley says they will talk with their stock provider, Painted Pony out of Lake Luzerne, New York, about next year's rodeo,soon.
Two standing room-only crowds capped off the 75th anniversary Gerry Rodeo as the four-nights of action and pagentry concluded last Saturday night. Spokesman Paul Cooley says it was a perfect four-days and, locals and out-of-towners turned out and packed the grandstand off Route 60.
Cooley adds the Rodeo may have also set a record for Beef Barbecue dinners served. He says they sold at least 900 more meals Saturday night, unofficially making it $3,500 over the four-days. Cooley says one of the high-lights of the week was the entertainment provided by Rodeo Clown, Keith Isley, who brought his trained horses, and other acts to the rodeo. He says people were also entertained by four consecutive night's of fireworks and patriotic music to conclude each program. He says the biggest surprise of the week was provided by young Parker Kempfer of Florida, a rookie who scored 82 points Saturday night to win the saddle bronc competition. About $50,000 in prize money was handed out at the Rodeo.
In New York State government news....
New York state is preparing to review its high school graduation requirements, including the make-or-break Regents exams that students have taken for more than 100 years. Chancellor Betty Rosa of the policy-making Board of Regents initiated the discussion following another round of graduation rates that, while inching upward, remain stubbornly separated by race, poverty and special needs. A commission is expected to report its findings next year.
The city of Jamestown is joining the nation in celebrating it's farmer's market.....
Mayor Sam Teresi was on hand last weekend to proclaim it as National Farmers Market Week in Jamestown now through next Saturday. Speaking alongside Jamestown Public Market Manager Linnea Carlson, Teresi talked about how having a public market has enhanced the experience in Jamestown for residents and, out-of-towners. He recalled a breakfast meeting he had recently at the new Doubletree by Hilton on West Fourth Street.
Teresi noted that he had tried to get a Farmer's Market going in the downtown area when he was city Development Director back in the late 1980s and 1990s. However, it didn't happen until a few years ago. Carlson was pleased with the turn-out and, agreed with Teresi about the economic impact farmers and public markets have nationwide. Locally, she says there's about a 2-to-1 return on money spent here. The Jamestown Public Market is held each Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM on Cherry Street between West Second and Third Streets.
New York's governor has approved a law allowing human trafficking victims to hide their address from offenders....
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the measure late last week. He says it will protect survivors from "further abuse" by shielding their addresses from public view. The law takes effect in 90 days and also applies to victims of stalking and sexual offenses. Those victims can use a substitute address from the New York's Department of State instead of their work or home address. Cuomo's office says domestic violence victims were previously the only survivors eligible for the department's confidential address program. State Senator Julia Salazar of Brooklyn says the law will stop future physical violence and emotional harm. The Democrat says it provides victims "the peace of mind they need and deserve."
