Five-year-old girl dies in riding mower accident in Cattaraugus County...
A five-year-old girl has died from injuries caused when she was thrown from a riding lawn mower in Cattaraugus County, and was run over by the mower.  State Police in Jamestown said late Friday that troopers were called to the scene on Route 241 in the town of Conewango late Wednesday for a child unresponsive under the mower.  Further investigation revealed the unidentified child was on a riding lawn mower without an adult... and, the five-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Wendel praises local residents and businesses in final COVID-19 Response Team press briefing...
Interim Chautauqua County Executive P-J Wendel held his last, scheduled weekly COVID-19 press briefing Friday... and, praised residents and businesses for their efforts during the pandemic.  However... Wendel also struck a cautious tone as well when noting there were three new cases today.  He says the first was a woman in her 30s, and two men... one in his 20s, and one in his 30s.  He says there are now 10 active cases, and 101 under quaratine or isolation orders, and they continue to be monitored.  Wendel says there are no new hospitalizations for COVID... while 98 people have fully recovered.  He adds there are now a total of 115 confirmed cases in the county... while there have been 11,800 negative tests results returned to date.  Wendel also praised all the members of his COVID-19 Team... which includes Public Health Director Christine Schuyler, Sheriff Jim Quattrone, and Health Physician Dr. Robert Berke.  

Cuomo also holds final scheduled press briefing on COVID...
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wrapped up a string of more than 100 daily briefings by declaring the state has "done the impossible" in taming the coronavirus.  Cuomo appeared alone behind his desk during a brief address Friday, a departure from his routine of presenting slides and taking questions from reporters.  He praised New Yorkers for rising to the occasion... and, says beating back the virus "shows there is nothing we can't do."  Otherwise... his message was the same as in recent days.  He said New Yorkers worked together to beat back the virus and now must be on guard for a second wave. 

Northwest PA couple arrested for allegedly leaving dog in hot car...
Two Smethport, Pennsylvania residents were arrested in the Cattaraugus County town of Allegany for allegedly leaving their dog unattended in a hot vehicle earlier this month.  Sheriff's officers in Little Valley say their June 6th investigation found witnesses saw a red pick-up truck in the Home Depot parking lot, not running with the windows closed and a dog inside.  Deputies say with the temperatures reaching above 90-degrees, witnesses tried to find the owners, with no luck.  Officers responded to the scene shortly after with Allegany Police, and found the Cocker Spaniel in distress.  They were able to unlock the truck and remove the dog from the vehicle, and a bystander provided shade and water, until the owners came back.  Deputies say 81 year-old Darell Goodwill and 74 year-old Lynn Goodwill face animal neglect charges and are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Ortt elected new Senate Minority Leader in NYS...
Republicans in the New York State Senate have decided on a Western New York lawmakers to be their minority leader.  Lockport Republican Senator Robert Ortt was tapped today by the minority caucus... to succeed John Flanagan who is leaving the Senate later this month for private sector employment.  Local Senator George Borrello says it's a very important leadership position, especially given that the state continues to deal with the COVID crisis, and it's an election year.  Earlier in the day... Borrello said he was not seeking the post, saying that it's his first year in the Senate and he wants serve residents of the 57th Senate District.  He did not announce his choice earlier... but, says he "fully supports" Ortt... adding the new leader has an "extraordinary record as well as the will and ability to be a strong leader."

Barmore says DMV Offices will begin resuming In-Person visits Monday, with limitations...
Chautauqua County's three Department of Motor Vehicles offices will reopen for in-person visits this coming Monday, June 22nd.  County Clerk Larry Barmore says they will only be doing transactions in-person that cannot be done by mail or drop box.  Barmore says several workers are out on voluntary furlough, so they will only be able to serve a few people at a time.  Currently... he says they are planning on servicing three customers at a time in Jamestown, two at a time in Dunkirk and one at a time in Mayville.  Barmore adds that to keep everyone at least 6 feet apart... they will only take a customer at every other window and only those customers being served will be allowed in the building.  All customers will wait their turn in line outdoors.  For more information, contact the Clerk's office at 753-4331.

Little Theater holding Telethon Saturday...
The Lucille Ball Little Theater of Jamestown will have its first ever telethon/fundraiser Saturday from 9 AM to 9 PM on Facebook.  Board member and Public Relations Co-chair, Holly Weston, says some of the theater's 'amazingly talented community members' will be singing, dancing, doing a full reading of the play 'The Importance of Being Earnest'... and presenting some surprises as well. The Little Theater's been hit hard by the coronavirus shutdown.  Weston says, the telethon offers a way for the theater to cover operational expenses and gives their performers a creative outlet that's been taken away from them.  There'll be a 'donate button' on screen throughout the Saturday telethon.