A Westfield man has been arrested following an arson investigation in the town of Pomfret earlier this month....
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office says Deputies and the County Fire Investigation Team were called to investigate a structure fire on North Road shortly after 11 PM on August 2nd. As a result, 46 year-old Andrew Davidson was charged with felony third-degree arson. Davidson reportedly turned himself in to the Sheriff's Office and, was taken to the County Jail for arraignment. He posted $20,000 bail and was released.
Three Gerry residents were arrested for Endangering the Welfare of a Child between last Saturday this past Tuesday....
State Police in Jamestown say they were called to a home in the town of Gerry for a child hanging out of a second-story windown and on arrival, found living conditions that were "deplorable and unsuitable." Troopers say the child stated he was only leaning out to look at a bird and was not hurt. It's unclear how many children were in the residence at the time of the investigation, but police say they were turned over to a relative pending further investigation by Child Protective Services. Taken into custody were 32 year-old Nikki Coulson, 24 year-old Jacob Atwell and 37 year-old Benjamin Frost. Each are to appear in Gerry Town Court next month. (**State Police say Atwell and Coulson also arrested back in May for a near-identical incident, when the Troopers checked the welfare of a toddler in Route 60 and resulted in the discovery of the children living in squalor.)
A new law in New York is designed to spare victims of domestic violence some penalties on their monthly bills.....
The law signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo allows people fleeing their batterers to terminate multi-year telephone or cable contracts at the home they're leaving without paying a penalty. The law covers victims who have received an order of protection. Cuomo says the survivors of domestic violence should not have to handle the added stress and red tape that comes with contract termination penalties. The law takes effect immediately.
Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello has almost another month to fine-tune a new, 2020 budget for the county legislature to consider.....
Borrello says it will be a challenge to hold the line on taxes, mainly because of new and ongoing state mandates. However, he says he and his budget team are finishing up meetings with department heads. Borrello says another step will be taken in the budget-making process next week when they get a "broader look" at where they are after looking at each indivdual department. The county executive's preliminary budget is due out on September 25th.
The Chautauqua County Legislature has decided to move ahead with an approximately one-million dollar project to rehabilitate a former private hangar at the Jamestown Airport.....
Jamestown Democrat Chuck Nazzaro and Audit and Control Committee Chairman Pierre Chagnon worked on the revised resolution, in which the county would only pay out $50,000 in capital reserve funds. Originally, the county was going to shell out $172,000.
Nazzaro says the state Department of Transportation will be providing a $900,000 Aviation Grant for the project. He says the additional money will come from $48,000 in in-kind services from the Department of Public Facilities, and $65,000 in timber sales from the airport property. Sheridan Republican Terry Neibel supported the measure, but questions whether the county can afford to have two airports, with some big expenses pending. Nazzaro also noted that if the county did nothing, and had to tear down the old hanger, it would cost them $80,000 to do that. The measure was approved Wednesday night, 14-to-2.
More accolades for the Sherman High School sophomore who finished second in the Decatholon in the Hershey National Track and Field Championships last month....
John Swabik was recognized by the Chautauqua County Legislature at Wednesday night's meeting for his feat. Swabik led the competition in California early on in late July and, wound up with a Silver Medal. He won a state title with the Clymer/Sherman/Panama team and, was given the commendation by Findley Lake area Legislator Martin Proctor.
Legislature Chairman P-J Wendel says they were going to present a commendation last month but, Swabik was getting ready for the nationals at that time, and preparing to be in five new events. Swabik told the legislature that he also has a long-term goal -- making the U-S Olympic team in 2024. Wendel says one of Swabik's teammates, who also won a state championship, will be honored by the legislature next month.
New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand has dropped out of the presidential race....
The 52-year-old U-S Senator announced her decision Wednesday on Twitter as her campaign, which once looked to ride strong 'MeToo' credentials, was plagued by low polling and fundraising struggles. She had failed to meet thresholds for required numbers of donors and polling to qualify for the September debate in Houston. Gillibrand was appointed to the Senate in 2009 to fill the seat vacated by Hillary Clinton.
He will still be on the November ballot, but a Republican Jamestown City Council candidate has withdrawn his candidacy from the race....
Former City Planner Greg Lindquist says he "regrets" the decision but, says "due to personal circumstances I have chosen not to seek this elected position." Lindquist was running for an At-Large seat.
