All of Western New York remains under a High Wind Warning through 1 this afternoon.
Chautauqua and Erie counties are also under a Lakeshore Flood Warning for the same time period. The Lake Erie shoreline is bracing for its second round of strong winds in less than a week and the wind event on Sunday caused some damage along the waterfront in the city of Dunkirk. Meteorologist Jon Hitchcock with the National Weather Service in Buffalo says winds will be stronger in this latest event, with wind gusts of 60 to 65 MPH possible.
Hitchcock says the damaging winds will also cause more wave action on Lake Erie, with southwest winds pushing the water to the shoreline, and causing some shoreline erosion as well. No major damage or incidents were reported in the Jamestown area overnight, but There are power outages around the area. National Grid reports about 600 without power in Chautauqua County and nearly 600 in Cattaraugus County. NYSEG has about 200 customers in the dark in Chautauqua County and about 70 in Cattaraugus County.
A Buffalo-area man was seriously hurt and one person died a car crash in the Cattaraugus County town of East Otto Wednesday afternnoon.
Sheriff's deputies in Little Valley responded to the crash -- with passengers trapped inside the vehicle -- on East Otto-Springville Road about 4:30 PM. Officers say 56 year-old Terry Francis of Tonawanda reportedly lost control of the car and veered off the east shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle continued along a ditch for several hundred feet before going airborne over a creek... and, coming to rest in the embankment on the other side of the creek bed. Officers say Francis was flown to the Erie County Medical Center... while, an unidentified passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. East Otto-Springville Road was shutdown for several hours after the accident for scene re-construction. Deputies say the investigation is on-going.... and, no charges have been filed at this time.
Chautauqua County is in the top-five counties for percentage of voter turn-out for Early Voting's first-time in New York State.
That from County Democratic Elections Commissioner Norm Green... who says more than 2,400 people had cast ballots at the three polling locations by mid-afternoon Thursday. Green says only two other counties had a higher percentage of eligible voters taking part.
Green says he expects to see total voter turn-out exceed 2,500 by the end of the day. He says both he and Republican Commissioner Brian Abram are happy with what they've seen. Green adds that you can still vote early each day through Sunday... and, he says all you have to do is go to one of the three polling sites, and present your driver's license or other ID. Voting runs 10 AM to 6 PM again today at the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood... The County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk... and the Board of Elections in Mayville. Hours will be from Noon to 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday. For more information... go on-line to VoteChautauqua.com
Chautauqua County residents taking part in Early Voting this week are getting a glimpse of what voting may look like in the future.....
Those are the feelings of Democratic Elections Commissioner Norm Green... who says the electronic poll books they are now using will be used from here on... starting with next years presidential primaries.
However... Green says when someone signs in... the electronic poll book will be used to find you name quickly... and, get you the correct ballot to be used to cast your ballot. For Election Day next Tuesday, though, the current poll books will be used one last time.
A pair of prominent Democrats in New York state are endorsing local Democrat Eddie Sundquist in his run for mayor of Jamestown....
In a printed release late Thursday... Sundquist's campaign said he's received the full backing of Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul... and, U-S Senator Charles Schumer. Hochul says Sundquist "is the leader the city of Jamestown needs to keep up the momentum of economic growth." Schumer says “Jamestown is experiencing development that it hasn't seen in decades, and I firmly believe that Eddie Sundquist is the best possible candidate to build upon this momentum."
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegeldy being seen dragging a woman he had been ordered to stay away from along a street in West Ellicott....
Ellicott Town Police say they were called to the scene on Frederick Boulevard Wednesday... and, found that the suspect, 29 year-old Mark Watson, was detained by Lakewood-Busti Police at the scene. Police say Watson was caught after leaving the home through a window. He was arrested for second-degree criminal contempt, and take to the county jail pending arraignment.
