National Weather Service confirms tornado touchdown in town of Portland...
The National Weather Service is confirming a small tornado touched down... and, may have destroyed a barn in the town of Portland early Thursday evening. It was a wild weather day in the county... with severe thunderstorms producing gusty winds and torrential rains during the late afternoon and evening hours. The weather service reported widespread damage throughout the county, and Forecaster Liz Jurkowski says they have officially confirmed a small tornado in the Town of Portland... along with some severe wind damage in parts of Cattaraugus County -- including Salamanca. There were also reports of flash flooding, causing some roads to be washed out. Many locations in Chautauqua County received 1-2 inches of rainfall.
Chautauqua County reports three new case of COVID-19, county nearing 200 cases total...
There are three new confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus reported in Chautauqua County... today as the total nudges towards 200 overall. Interim County Executive P-J Wendel says the three new cases include a man in his 20s... a woman in her 40s... and, a man in his 60s. Wendel says they are among 44 active cases... all of whom are now recovering. He adds there are three hospitalizations... and, there are now 196 total cases. Wendel says there are now 775 cases under quarantine or isolation orders, and are being monitored. There have now been 19,329 negative test results to date.
Cardinale blasts Goodell for "not doing his job" during coronavirus shut-down and reopening...
The Democratic challenger for the 150th State Assembly seat is going on the offensive Friday... saying incumbant Andy Goodell hasn't been "doing his job" during the coronavirus crisis. Jamestown's Christina Cardinale says small businesses are hurting... and, she's talked to parents concerned about sending their children to school this fall. Cardinale says "Mr. Goodell should be sitting down and talking with... small business owners and talking with constitutents he represents" about their needs during this time... including access to the federal Payroll Protection Plan. Cardinale says Goodell's "radio silence" is deafening... and, cited two examples... the first being the closing of a long-standing restaurant in downtown Jamestown... Forte... where he boyfriend was a chef for five-years. She questioned where the help was to allow them to keep open. Cardinale also criticized Goodell's recent Facebook post about the removal of confederate statues... but, noted no one is removing statues in the 150th District. Cardinale made her comments for this weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the six Media One Radio Group Stations.
Goodell replies that he has been "doing his job," and has been very involved in working to get businesses back up and operating...
Incumbant State Assemblyman Andy Goodell says both he and his staff have been "quite busy" since the COVID-19 shut-down began to help businesses get back up and running. Goodell responded to criticism from opponent Christina Cardinale by saying that he worked with local State Senator George Borrello to work on a "phased-in reopening" plan similar to the one later adopted by Governor Andrew Cuomo. The Jamestown-area Republican says there was more... as they worked up a more detailed analysis that laid out criteria on how quickly some businesses can reopen. He credited Gov. Cuomo for "considering our suggestion." Goodell and Borrello submitted the initial proposal because, while New York City at the time was not anywhere near being able to reopen... Western New York -- including Chautauqua County -- would be at some point. He says he has also co-sponsored new legislation to help people and businesses... including repurposing capital programs -- such as Start Up New York, and reducing some regulations to help start ups more.
Dunkirk firefighters battle business blaze early Friday...
Dunkirk firefighters were called out to a blaze early Friday morning at a business in the city. Fire Chief Mike Edwards says crews responded to the Refresco plant on Cliffstar Drive at about 4:40 a.m., found the blaze in the ceiling above the second floor advancing into a third-floor storage area. Edwards says they found fire in the ceiling area...and, the sprinkler system helped contain the fire. He says investigators determined the cause of the fire to be accidental, started by electrical wiring. One firefighter was evaluated for a minor injury but remained on duty.
