A 2020 budget that contains an $0.08 increase in the county's full value tax rate, has cleared the Chautauqua County Legislature....
Lawmakers approved the budget 15-4 Wednesday night, with Legislator Elizabeth Rankin of Jamestown among those who opposed the revised budget plan, supporting County Executive George Borrello’s tentative budget that called for a flat tax rate. Audit and Control Committee Vice Chair Chuck Nazzarro of Jamestown calls for prudence when it comes to using fund balance. Rankin, Terry Niebel, Martin Procter, and David Wilfong voted against the final budget.
A Jamestown man and woman have been arrested on drug trafficing charges for the second time in the past two months at the same location they were arrested back on September 6th....
City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says members of the Jamestown Metro, and Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Forces, along with Ellicott and State Police, raided an upstairs apartment at 320 Newland Avenue just before 6 AM Wednesday and, arrested 35 year-old Richard Kinsey, and 23 year-old Brandi Whitford.
A third person from the September 6th raid, 39 year-old Terrance McRae, was not there. Samuelson says the federal counts include significant jail time if the pair is convicted. Samuelson says police also allegedly found more than 2 ounces of crystal methamphetamine, and about $2,000 in cash. He says this is the same address where a stabbing incident occured late last week, but, he says the drug bust was not related to that, and that investigation is continuing. If you have an information on illegal drug activity, you are asked to call the JPD Tips line at 483-TIPS.
A Ripley woman faces charges for allegedly drinking and driving following a roll-over crash in the town of Ripley early Tuesday morning....
Sheriff's Officers responded to NE Sherman Road shortly after 5AM and, found the operator -- 36 year-old Karri Treacle -- was in an intoxicated state. She was taken into custody on charges including DWI, Speeding and Consumption of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle. Deputies say Treacle was released with citations and is to appear in Ripley Town Court on a later date.
The city of Jamestown is continuing to live within it's budgeted revenues and expenses for this year, but there are some concerns heading into the fourth-quarter of 2019....
City Comptroller Joe Bellitto updated City Council this week on the first nine-months of the year and, again voiced concern over expenses for the Public Works Department's Central Garage on Steele Street. Bellitto says he's been getting updates from Fleet Manger Pat Monaghan.
As for revenues, Bellitto says the one main area of concern is four of the divisions of the Board of Public Utilities. He says only one -- Water -- is exceeding budget after three-quarters. Right now, he says payments in lieu of taxes from the BPU will be $50,000 under budget if trends continue. Bellitto says the other revenue variable will be sales tax proceeds, which he says will come out the first week of November. He adds that all salary accounts so far this year are "generally within budget."
The Chautauqua County Humane Society has announced the 15th annual Walk for Paws went off without a hitch!
That from Community Relations Director Brian Papalia, who says -- despite a chilly October 5th day -- about 200 walkers attended the fundraiser with their pets and raised over $32,000 for the animals at the shelter.
Papalia appeared on The Dennis Webster Show yesterday morning with CCHS Executive Director Kellie Roberts. She says they also have a new website -- CHQHumane.org. Roberts says they decided they wanted to go with more "local branding" in their on-line presence. Roberts says it's 'a great step forward for the organization' and anyone who may visit the old site will be re-directed to the new one. The Chautauqua County Humane Society is also available on-line via their Facebook Page or by calling 665-2209.
A painting that was stolen by the Nazis has been recovered from an upstate New York museum by the FBI....
The work "Winter" by American artist Gari Melchers was part of the collection at the Arkell Museum in Canajoharie before it was recovered September 10th. Court documents say German publisher and philanthropist Rudolf Mosse acquired the painting at the Great Berlin Art Exhibition in 1900. The Nazi government seized control of the family's art collection after Mosse's family members fled Germany in 1933. Suzan Friedlander, the museum's executive director and chief curator, told The Times Union the institution "was of course very upset to learn the history of the painting's seizure." The FBI will hold the painting until it is reunited with the Mosse family.
