A smokey fire in the service area of a northside car dealership in Jamestown kept city fire crews busy late last Saturday night and early Sunday morning....
Fire Battalion Chief Chris Dahlgren says crews were called to Dave Warren Chrysler-Jeep at 1001 Washington Street shortly after 10:30 PM when a passerby saw smoke coming from the roof, and called 9-1-1.
Dahlgren says firefighters laid one hose-line from a hydrant across Washington Street to attack the flames. He says they were able to deal with the service using the hose but, had to get the the upstairs fire through the attic area of the building. Dahlgren says fire damage was confined to a small area, near the service area. He says an off-duty shift was called to the scene to assist. Dahlgren says no one was hurt, and, crews were at the scene about six hours. He adds that Dave Warren himself, and two others from the business were on hand to help the firefighting effort. The cause appears accidental.
Less than 40 National Grid customers in Chautauqua County were still experiencing power outages late yesterday from the two-day high wind and rain storms of late last week...
Chautauqua is one of 11 upstate counties that have had States of Emergency declared in the wake of last Thursday night and Friday mornings wind storms that struck the region. Governor Andrew Cuomo issued the declarations early Friday as heavy rains and high winds caused flooding and power outages throughout most of the state. Cuomo says the extreme weather caused nearly 60 roads closures across the state and, left more than 240-thousand buildings or homes without power. The Governor deployed 200 members of the National Guard to assist localities with response and clean-up operations. Here in the county, there were several evacuations in the Sunset Bay Area of Lake Erie, and, there was shoreline damage in the Dunkirk and Fredonia areas.
The unveiling of the new "Lance Corporal Aaron Swanson Memorial Highway" in Lakewood was a bittersweet day for his family, friends and fellow members of the U-S Marines....
Route 394 in the village was officially renamed in Swanson's memory late last week, and it was attended by several people. Retired State Senator Cathy Young told Swanson's family that renaming the road was a fitting tribute to his memory.
Several members of Swanson's unit in Afghanistan were also on hand. One, Sergeant Alex Andrest, manned their combat vehicle with him, except for the February day in 2011 that Swanson was killed by a roadside bomb. Andrest had fond recollections of Swanson as a friend and fellow solider... and, a man whose mechanical abilities came in handy when their vehicles needed work done on them. Local Blue Star Mothers Chapter President Sue Rowley was also on hand... and, related the story about presenting Swanson's family with their "Gold Star" banner when his body was returned stateside.
A Jamestown area man is charged with criminal mischief after allegedly damaging property at the Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Lakewood late last week...
Lakewood-Busti Police were called to the scene at 350 East Fairmount Avenue about 3:30 PM Friday on a report of a man damaging property belonging to the store and, arrested Devin Smith. Smith was later searched and, found in possession of three hypodermic needles. He was also charged with criminally possessing a hypodermic instrument, and issued appearance tickets for Busti Town Court at a later date.
A woman who has worked as an administrator in recent years in the Sherman Central School District has been named as the new superintendent for the Pine Valley School District....
The district reports the school board has approved a 3.5-year contract with Bryna Moritz-Booth, beginning December 1st. Board President Jeffrey Chase says Booth "has an outstanding record of administrative experience – having served in a multitude of roles with amazing outcomes for students. Her energy and commitment to the Pine Valley school community, coupled with her educational leadership and willingness to engage stakeholders, will serve
our students and community well." Booth worked in Sherman the past decade and, has been Pre-K-through-12 Principal and Director of Special Education since July of 2016. Booth attended Pine Valley from Kindergarten through 8th grade. She says she's excited about returning to the district that "formed so much of who I am."
A credit ratings agency says the lack of a plan for toll increases on the New York State Thruway, and on the new Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge in the Hudson Valley, could endanger the road's bond rating and borrowing costs....
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports that Moody's Investors Service is suggesting that tolls will have to go up by 2022. A moratorium on toll increases on the thruway and the bridge is set to expire at the end of 2020. The Thruway Authority could need an additional $53-million to cover its costs by 2022. Current Governor Andrew Cuomo has used $2-billion in settlements from Wall Street firms to bail out the authority. The authority hopes to save $300 million on bridge debt through refinancing.
