A Cherry Creek teenager faces several charges following a domestic incident involving a shotgun and a sledgehammer Sunday evening into early Monday morning. State Police say what started as a verbal altercation quickly became physical at 9 PM Sunday.... and 19 year-old Joseph Chadwick began threatening his father and brother with an unloaded shotgun. Chadwick fled the scene twice before a search ensued, but the teen couldn't be found. Troopers say Chadwick then returned about 1AM Monday morning... and, began to vandalize his father's vehicle with a sledgehammer and smashed all the windows. He then entered the undisclosed residence and another physical altercation began. He attempted to break into a safe in order to obtain a firearm, but was unsuccessful so he removed the safe from the home. When Police arrived for the second time, they found the safe with all its contents still inside. Chadwick was located following a search of the area and contact was made via telephone. He turned himself in early Tuesday morning and was sent to the County Jail pending arraignment.
A Dunkirk woman was pulled over for speeding... and, later arrested for allegedly driving drunk with a child in the car early this morning. Sheriff's Deputies say they conducted a traffic stop in the Village of Silver Creek at midnight and identified the driver as 47 year-old Lisa Faison. Officers say an eight year old child was also in the vehicle. Faison was charged with DWI, Felony DWI Leandra's Law, Unlicensed Operator, Failure to Stop at Stop Sign, Speed in Zone, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
A Jamestown man has now been formally indicted for second-degree murder in the death of another city man early last month. Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson says the grand jury handed up the indictment this week against 28 year-old Carl Sorenson... who allegedly stabbed 23 year-old Brandon Holland in the chest the night of July 7th on North Main Street.
Jamestown Police Captain Bob Samuelson says Sorenson and Holland had gotten into a brief altercation on North Main Street -- near Fourth Street -- shortly after 10 PM... and, Holland was stabbed in what police called a "targeted incident." Holland later died at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital.
A Jamestown woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking methamphetamine in the area over a one-and-a-half year period ending in early 2019. U-S Attorney James Kennedy, Junior says 38 year-old Tracey Wynn entered the plea before U-S District Judge Richard Arcara to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Prosecutors say... between September 2018 and January 2019... Wynn was a drug trafficking associate of Douglas Beardsley, and sold meth supplied by Beardsley. Wynn typically received methamphetamine from Beardsley to sell... and sold it to undercover drug agents four times. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison... and, up to a $10-million fine. Charges are pending against Beardsley.
Four new cases of the COVID-19 Virus have been reported in Chautauqua County... with 18 active cases currently. Interim County Executive P-J Wendel says the new cases are a person under the age of 18... two men in their 50’s.. and, a woman in her 60’s. Wendel says there are 121 cases under quarantine or isolation orders, and are being monitored. In addition... there are 1,053 persons under the "domestic traveler quarantine" for having arrived here from a state listed on the New York travel advisory. There are now 244 confirmed cases... while 217 have now recovered. Wendel adds there have now been 24,113 negative test results to date.
School districts across New York state are continuing to work out details of what will mainly be "hybrid" learning plans to begin the new school year next month. But... if the coronavirus spikes again later in the school year... they feel better prepared to deal with going to 100-percent distance learning again. State School Boards Association Director Bob Schneider says school board members they recently surveyed gave mixed reviews to how the state and federal governments have responded to their need for more financial and other resources.
Schneider says the U-S Department of Education did provide some grant money to help with the effort to make classrooms safer... but, adds it's not enough. He adds -- though -- most everyone would like to have students back in the classroom... but, he says health and safety have to be considered along with education. Most districts are looking at a hybrid model of some classroom and some on-line learning to begin the school year.
There will be no 'What's New Fair' this November. Mary Lee Talbot, a long-time co-chair of the event, says the American Association of University Women gave thoughtful consideration to what would have been the 65th annual fair. In recent years the 'What's New Fair' has been held at Jamestown Community College and attracted more than 50 vendors and hundreds of holiday shoppers. The proceeds went to scholarships for women graduating from JCC. Talbot says the AAUW hopes to continue the scholarships, even without their major fundraiser. And, while the fair will not be held this year, the AAUW remains a force in the community. Talbot adds, the AAUW will take this 'off year' to evaluate the 'What's New Fair' and determine the best way forward for next year and beyond.
