The longest serving member of the Jamestown City Council has been elected by the incoming Republican majority to be the next president of the council.
City GOP Committee Chairman, and Ward-One Councilman, Brent Sheldon, announced last night that Second-Ward Representative Tony Dolce will head up the panel next January 1st. Sheldon says the five GOP members met recently for the vote... something Dolce expected to take place shortly after the Election results were finalized.
Sheldon says Dolce is the longest serving Councilman in Jamestown's history.... adding that "Tony has by far the most experience of any Council person and has acted as acting Council President many times when the Council President was unable to be at a meeting." Dolce's nomination, as well as any others, would be made at the January 1st reorganizational meeting at Jamestown Community College. The four standing committee chairmen and members will also be named. New Mayor-elect Eddie Sundquist will also be sworn-in during that meeting.
Another member of the Chautauqua County Legislature has announced his decision to seek the nomination for county executive. Republican Legislator Mark Odell from District 7 has officially announced his candidacy for the post held by new State Senator George Borrello for nearly two years.
The Brocton resident believes he has the necessary experience... because he assumed some of Borrello's previous responsibilities when Borrello became County Executive. Odell says those include becoming chairman of the Planning and Economic Development Committee... and, serving as a legislature member of the Industrial Development Agency. Legislature Chairman Paul "P-J" Wendel recently announced his candidacy. County Attorney Steve Abdella is serving as Acting County Executive until a new county executive is confirmed by the County Legislature. That has to be done within 45-days of Borrello's resignation.
This week at First Covenant Church in Jamestown... the final rehearsals for the final 'Living Christmas Tree' are taking place.
The 35th Living Christmas Tree will be performed four times this weekend. Chairperson Kaye Young says there wasn't one single factor that led to decision to stop what is a major undertaking after 35 years, but they always wanted to go out on a high note... not to have it dwindle away. Brian Bogey is conductor for this year's contata 'The Sounds of His Love'... the same one performed at the first tree 35 years ago. Performances will be at 8 PM Friday, 5 and 8 PM Sautrday and 6 PM on Sunday. Tickets are $7 and are selling quickly... at the church and a number of other locations. First Covenant Pastor, Adam Rohler, knows there will be mixed emotions when the final performance concludes, "understanding the profundity of what's happened over the past 35 years.
A man from Ripley man is jailed after allegedly burglarizing a home in the western Chautauqua County town Sunday night... and, assaulting two people.
Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene on West Main Street in Ripley just before 6 PM... and, found that 34 year-old Edwin Munson had entered a home illegally. Officers say Munson allegedly damaged property, violated an order of protection, injured another person... and, choked a third person. Deputies say this all happened in the presence of multiple children under the age of 17. Officers were assisted by State Police... who located Munson a short distance away from the home. He was arrested on charges including second-degree burglary... third-degree assault... criminal contempt... and, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation. Munson was taken to the county lock-up pending arraignment.
Jamestown Police are still investigating last weekend's shooting at an eastside bar that's left one person in serious -- but, stable condition -- at an Erie, Pennsylvania hospital.
City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers were called to the Bullfrog Hotel on East Second Street -- at the city line -- just before 1:30 AM Saturday. Samuelson says a fight between two people led to two shots being fired... and, the victim was stuck by both rounds. That person was initially taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital for treatment, then transferred to UPMC Hamot. Samuelson says the person who shot the other man legally owned the gun, and is cooperating with police. He says no charges have been filed because the shooting may have been in self-defense. No names are being released. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call Jamestown Police at 483-7537... through the anonymous tip line at 483-8477... or via their Tips 4-1-1 app.
Nine more members -- covering a wide range of sports -- will be inducted next February to the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.
That from Hall of Fame President Randy Anderson... who says the living members of the Class of 2020 are Bob Goold, Chris Carlson-Jenkins, Justin Johnson, Tim Nobles, Elly Norton, Mark Orlando and Mike Tramuta. The deceased honorees are George Bataitis and Bob Bender. Anderson says they hope to have another sell-out for the event in Lakewood.
Anderson says the inductees come from all across the county... including Dunkirk-Fredonia... Pine Valley in South Dayton... and Jamestown. He says Nobles is in "a class by himself..." having coached seven state Class D Girls Basketball champions at Pine Valley. The 39th annual banquet will be held Monday, February 17th at the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club. The new honorees will bring the total number of hall of fame members to 209.
