Members of the Chautauqua County Legislature have unanimously called on Congress to provide direct federal aid to local government through federal COVID-19 relief bills. During a Zoom conference meeting last night... lawmakers also voted to call on the state and federal governments to fully release funds promised in the earlier Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security -- or CARES Act. Jamestown Democrat Charles Nazzaro says the county is facing "significant budget challenges..." and, the aid is much needed.
Mayville-area lawmaker Bill Ward added that funding sent to the state to support child care for essential workers needs to be doled out to localities. Ward says there "will be no reopening" if there isn't adequate child care. Of the $163-million for that paid to the state... he says only $30-million has been allocated to localities. County lawmakers also approved a motion requesting the overall State Regional Control Room for the "New York Forward Re-Opening" open it's meetings to the public. The legislature also approved about $7-million in budget changes to the 2020 budget due to COVID-related matters.
The man who has helped lead Jamestown's effort to rejoin the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League this season is announcing he is not renewing his contract for next year. Frank Fanning says this afternoon that it's "time to return home..." likely meaning his hometown of Montreal, Canada after wrapping up affairs here. It was a 2020 season that appeared full of promise with the reception for the new Tarp Skunks franchise being "a hit." However... like many other sports... the league fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fanning says he was hired for one year to help turn around the former Jamestown Jammers, and feels that's happened. Through an extensive naming and marketing effort... the name Tarp Skunks was unveiled back in January... and, the new, odiforus name took off.
Governor Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump set aside political differences Wedneday morning... and, talked about the need to "supercharge" the nation -- and New York's economies. Cuomo told reporters later that they talked about getting stalled infrastructure projects going in New York City... and, adds he avoided politics.
Cuomo told a reporter he did not include discussion of any upstate projects during his time talking with Trump because he didn't want to be "too aggressive" in his approach. He wound up giving his daily COVID-19 press briefing in Washington following the meeting at the White House. The Democratic governor says Long Island officially moved into Phase-One of reopening Wednesday... meaning only New York City remains shut-down at this time.
A city man is accused of breaking into a home and stabbing another person on Jamestown's eastside Tuesday afternoon. City police were called to the scene on East 8th Street... and, found the unidentified victim with multiple stab wounds. Officers say the person was taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Further investigation found 44 year-old William Buckley had entered the home illegally... and, allegedly started an altercation with the victim before stabbing them. Buckley was located and taken into custody for second-degree assault and first-degree burglary.
Chautauqua County's Congressman will be hosting a meeting of regional nursing home leaders, and other stakeholders later today to discuss problems with the state's handling of COVID-19. Corning Republican Tom Reed and several Republican state lawmakers want to know why Governor Cuomo ordered seniors with COVID-19 to nursing facilities on March 25th when guidance said they shouldn't. However... he says some nursing facilities have been able to weather the outbreak better than others.
Reed adds that while the governor has now ordered twice-weekly testing of nursing home workers... the matter of who's going to pay for it has not been fully addressed. He says, while staff has to be tested, the testers themselves don't have to be. Reed he and those at tomorrow's roundtable meeting will hold a press conference afterwards to high-light what they discussed. He made his comments during his weekly telephone conference call with regional media.
A man from Mayville faces a second-degree menacing charge after allegedly pointing a loaded handgun at another person during a dispute in the Town of Chatuauqua. Sheriff's officers were called to an undisclosed location Monday night... and identified 68 year-old Joseph Kaye as the suspect. Officers located Kaye near his home and placed him under arrest. He was released with an appearance ticket for Chautauqua Town Court on a later date.
Fredonia firefighters responded to a fire in the basement of a house on Blockhouse Road in the town of Pomfret early this morning. Fire Chief Ryan Walker says crews got the call around 5:30 AM... and, when they reached the scene the homeowner and a Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputy were able to extinguish the flames. Walker says a hot water tank apparently had overheated and ignited the wall boards. There were no injuries.
