The investigation is continuing into a pair of drive-by shootings that took place over Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day in two different parts of the city of Jamestown. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers were first called to a northside intersection shortly after 11 PM on Tuesday, Christmas Eve.
Samuelson says they also believe the second shooting incident... near the corner of Newland and Forest Avenues about 4:30 PM Wednesday... was a targeted one. He says it also appears to be unrelated to the first one. In the second incident... a Sports Utililty Vehicle was struck by a silver-colored four-door car... and, those inside the car reportedly fired on the SUV. Samuelson says they've received several helpful tips already... and, they are following up on them. No one was hurt in either incident. However... while they appear to be "targeted" incidents... Samuelson says police are taking the threat very seriously. If you have any information on either incident... call City Police at 483-7537. You can also call the JPD Tip-line at 483-8477. Samuelson says all calls will be kept confidential. You can also contact them on their Tips 4-1-1 app.
A man struck by a mini-van on Jamestown's southside early yesterday afternoon has now died of his injuries... and, the vehicle involved has been found.
City police were called to the scene on Newland Avenue about 1:30 PM on a report of a hit-and-run accident. Officers say the man was walking his bike when he was struck. Police say video surveillance video in that area helped identify the suspect vehicle... which was later found on Fairmount Avenue by Lakewood-Busti Police. Police say the driver of the vehicle was an 82 year-old woman, who may have had a medical emergency prior to the incident. Police Captain Bob Samuelson says the woman was transferred to UPMC Chautauqua and later to UPMC Hamot in Erie, PA. No names have been released... and, the investigation is continuing.
As state lawmakers get ready to return to Albany in January... local State Senator George Borrello is preparing for his first session as a member of the legislature.
Borrello says one of the biggest issues facing the state is a projected budget deficit of nearly $6.1-billion. He says rising Medicaid cost is a major factor behind the deficit, accounting for nearly $4 billion. Borrello says New York spends more per capita than any other state in the nation. The Irving Republican believes much of it is due to fraud and waste, something he feels the state needs to address.
A new program to put up permanent wayfairing signs, and "Smart" parking meters in the city of Jamestown will be getting underway early in the new year.
That from Mayor Sam Teresi... says the city has received approval for a $400,000 Federal Highway Administration grant through the state Department of Transportation. Teresi says the Parking Task Force made some key recommendations... including making the downtown area easier to navigate, and find parking for those people coming from out-of-town.
Teresi says the task force's recommendations included changing most of the free parking spaces downtown back to paid parking. However... spaces where the SMART meters are located will be able to take cash, as well as credit cards, or you can pay using a phone app. The Gebbie Foundation put up the $100,000 match for the federal grant. Teresi says the recommendations came from a study by Bergmann Associates. He says just over $400,000 from the matching grant will be used to put up the new wayfairing signs, as well as fund 200 new Smart Meters.
Chautauqua County police agencies say the conducted 30 vehicle stops, arrests and summonses during last month's New York State STOP-DWI Thanksgiving Enforcement Crackdown.
Sheriff Jim Quattrone says the crackdown began on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, and continued through Sunday, December 1st. Quattrone says the event is funded by a 2019-2020 grant from the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, and is part of a national crackdown effort. In Chautauqua County... he says "removing intoxicated drivers from Chautauqua County roadways is one of our top priorities. If you choose to drink, don't drive. Drunk drivers not only put themselves in danger, they threaten everyone who shares the road with them." The Chautauqua County STOP-DWI Program is funded by drinking and driving fines collected from convicted drunk drivers.
