A Jamestown woman faces three charges for allegedly being found in possession of stolen and forged checks after city police responded to a business alarm last weekend....
City police were called to the scene at Winsor and Crescent Streets just after 4 AM Saturday and, found two people leaving the area. Officers tried to identify both, but, were given a false name by the woman because she was sought on two active warrants through Jamestown and Lakewood-Busti Police. Officers say 33 year-old Rachelle Allison was finally identified, and arrested. She was also found with the checks and, further charged with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, criminal possession of stolen property and false personation. She was jailed pending arraignment.
A teenager has been arrested for allegedly setting fire to an outhouse located in Sherman Park late last week....
Sherman firefighters and sheriff's officers were called to the scene just after 9 PM Thursday on a report of the blaze. Deputies say they found the 18 year-old boy set the hand sanitizer on fire inside the outhouse, starting the fire that damaged the building. The teen was issued appearance tickets in Sherman Town Court on charges of fifth-degree arson and fourth-degree criminal mischief.
A New York judge has denied the vaping industry's request to delay a state emergency ban on flavored e-cigarette sales....
Acting state Supreme Court Justice Gerald Connolly on Friday refused to issue a temporary restraining order on the regulations approved on September 17th by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Health officials issued them in response to worries that vaping may cause illnesses and that its use is growing among teenagers. The 90-day emergency regulations ban possession, manufacturing, distribution and sale of all vaping flavors except tobacco and menthol. The ban must then be extended or passed into law. The governor applauded Friday's court ruling, saying he wants to also ban sales of menthol-flavored e-cigarettes. The Vapor Technology Association and two retailers sued Wednesday requesting the temporary injunction on the regulations.
The 45th Busti Apple Harvest Festival drew between 9,000 and 10,000 people to the area around the old mill on Sunday.....
That's the estimate of Judy Schultz, one of the organizers. She expressed gratitude to all who attended this year and in years past. Six bins of apples, 500 gallons of cider, nearly 200 pies and lots of apple butter and candy apples were sold during event. Many visitors toured the restored mill as it ground a variety of grains. The society's Norm Carlson encouraged those fascinated by the operation of the mill to join the society and get involved in its growing list of exciting projects. The Apple Harvest Festival occurs on the final Sunday of September each year.
In New York government news, Governor Andrew Cuomo has picked a new leader for the board that oversees the State University of New York....
Merryl Tisch is a philanthropist and former teacher who led the state's Board of Regents for seven years. Cuomo, a Democrat, called her the "perfect" person to lead SUNY's board. Meanwhile, a report from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli finds that 25 local governments around the state face potentially serious fiscal stress. None are in Chautauqua County. The report looked at the financial health of hundreds of local governments, including an analysis of budget deficits, cash reserves and other indicators. Local governments listed as fiscally stressed include Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, Westchester County and the city of Niagara Falls.
Incentives have been approved for two economic development projects in northern Chautauqua County that expand the operations of two companies, and create new jobs....
The county's Industrial Development Agency board late last week approved tax relief on sales, use and real property taxes for the owner of Fieldbrook Foods. Wells Enterprises is looking to make an $87-million upgrade of its ice cream manufacturing facility in Dunkirk. The incentives will ensure Wells keeps the 492 full-time positions at the plant and allows it to move forward with a plan to create 50 new full-time positions over the next three years. Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas says the city has been working very closely with the company.
Rosas adds that Fieldbrook will add 70 total new positions by 2025, with an average salary of $50,000 each. In other action, S. St. George Enterprises in the town of Pomfret will receive an abatement related to a $765,000 expansion project. The project will add nearly 20,000 square feet to its existing 23,000 square foot facility in order to create a temperature-controlled environment for inventory and heavy equipment storage. The company currently employs 58 full-time employees, and plans to create seven new full-time positions over the next three years.
Pennsylvania's top law enforcement officer is joining several other top state Democratic officials in backing the legalization of marijuana for recreational use by adults....
Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement early last weekend that he changed his mind after months of internal research and discussions with law enforcement colleagues. Shapiro's announcement comes two days after Governor Tom Wolf made a similar announcement that he supports it. Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, both Democrats, have long supported the idea, too. However, leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature have pushed back forcefully and said they oppose it. Only two state legislatures, in Vermont and Illinois, have passed bills to legalize marijuana. Voters in nine other states legalized marijuana through referendum, an avenue that Pennsylvania law doesn't allow.
