There are eight new cases of the coronavirus in Chautauqua County today... and, there are more than 600 domestic travelers who are self-quarantining in the county. That from Public Health Director Christine Schulyer... who says the eight cases brings the local total to 210 cases. Schuyler says 23 cases remain active... while two people are hospitalized. She says 179 people have now recovered. There are 541 local cases that are in quarantine or isolation... and, there are 669 travelers who are under the "domestic traveler quarantine" status. They are from 31 states where COVID cases have been surging... and, must quarantine for 14-days when they arrive in New York state. Schuyler says there have now been 20,278 negative test results to date.
Jamestown fire officials say a vacant, two-story house on the city's eastside was damaged... but, not seriously... during an overnight fire Monday. Acting Deputy Fire Chief Matt Coon says crews were called to the scene at 132 Barrows Street about 11:30 PM Monday... and, found fire on the back of the second-floor, and it was starting to move into the attic and roof.
Coon says the home was being renovated... and, apparently some discarded wood stain-soaked rags and brushes were put in a plastic bucket... and, they caught fire. He says investigators determined the cause was accidental. Coon says an off-duty shift was called in to assist... and, no one was hurt. Firefighters were on the scene just over an hour and a half. Fire investigators arrived at the scene later in the morning... and, determined the cause.
The driver of a dump truck is being treated for serious facial injuries after his truck crashed and overturned on Thornton Road in the town of Cherry Creek yesterday afternoon. Sheriff's deputies say the tires of the truck, operated by 66 year-old Donald Blair, left the roadway about 1:40 PM... and, due to the uneven ground... Blair lost control. Deputies say the truck climbed a dirt embankment and rolled over before coming to rest on the driver's side in a ditch. Blair was flown by MedEvac helicopter to UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pennsylvania for treatment of facial injuries.
A committee of stakholders should be created to determine how best to resume in-person school this Fall in New York state and Chautauqua County. That from Democratic State Assembly challenger Christina Cardinale of Jamestown... who says she's talked with a number of parents, teachers and others about the situation. Governor Andrew Cuomo recently ordered schools to submit their plans to reopen by the end of the month.
Incumbant Republican Assemblyman Andy Goodell says he and Senator George Borrello have introduced legislation that would put the power to reopen schools back into the hands of the state Board of Regents, and ultimately, local school boards. Governor Cuomo recently provided his two main guidelines for reopening: The region must be in Phase-Four of the coronavirus reopening... and, the infection rate cannot be higher than 5-percent on a rolling, two-week average.
A north county man lost his life in a motorcycle accident on the Fredonia-Stockton Road in the town of Pomfret last Saturday afternoon. The Dunkirk Times-Observer says State Police report that 31-year-old Timothy Vogt was following three friends on motorcycles when he apparently lost control of the bike he was riding, crossed the center line and struck a trailer that was being towed by a pick-up truck. The paper says State Troopers indicated the motorcycle was traveling around 40 mph at the time of the crash, and that no alcohol was involved.
COVID-19 and the related shutdown have had far-reaching effects on New York agriculture. The state Farm Bureau today revealed the results of a survey of over 500 farms throughout the state. On a Zoom conference call, The Farm Bureau's Director of Public Policy, Jeff Williams, talked about the degree of disruption. Those effects include loss of markets... and early on... the throwing out of milk, produce and flowers. Other farms reported difficulty in getting machinery parts, and enforcing new COVID protocols. Another farmer spoke to the challenge of getting farmers to stay home when they are sick. He says their instinct is to 'go to work and tough it out.'
A seven-month investigation in the Town of Ellicott led to grand larceny charges against a 21 year-old Jamestown-area man. Early Tuesday... Ellicott Town Police say $5,000 worth of property was stolen from a vehicle back on January 8th... and, they were able to locate and return it to the owner. Officers also accuse Randall Mesler-junior of taking property belonging to another person with a value of $3,000 in a separate incident. He was issued an appearance ticket for a later date.
Democratic Congressional challenger Tracy Mitrano is challenging incumbant Republican Tom Reed to five live televised debates spread across New York's huge 23rd district. In a printed release today... Mitrano said "campaigning during this pandemic, our top concerns should be the health and safety of the voters and getting them the information they need to pick the best candidate. These whould be civil, productive debates on the many issues affecting voters, and they should be carried live on television with recordings available online through election day." The Penn Yan resident is calling on debates to be held in Binghamton, Elmira-Corning, Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester. The two only debated twice when Mitrano ran against Reed in 2018.
