Cuomo says Bowling Alleys can open on Monday, he'll also give guidance on opening gyms on Monday...
Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced that bowling alleys will be allowed to reopen on Monday at 50 percent occupancy. Bowlers must wear masks and every other lane will be closed. Cuomo says parties must stick to their assigned lanes. He says if you order food and or drinks, you have to be waited on by workers. In addition... he says New York City museums and aquariums are getting the green light to open again, while the state will soon release guidance for gymnasiums and fitness centers hoping to reopen one day. Cuomo told reporters in a Friday conference call that low-risk, indoor cultural activities including museums can open in New York City starting August 24. The governor said this administration will release long-awaited reopening guidance Monday for indoor gyms. But Cuomo has not set a date for gyms to reopen.
Wendel says Chautauqua County is making pitch to Amazon to locate here...
With Amazon officially withdrawing plans for a mega-warehouse project on Grand Island... other areas in Western New York are reaching out to the company in an effort to land the project that could lead to nearly 1,000 new, full-time jobs. Chautauqua County's top government official says they have submitted a proposal that includes two possible locations. Interim County Executive P-J Wendel one of those locations is in the town of Ripley. Wendel says he reached out to Industrial Development Agency Director Mark Geise, and the IDA's Rich Dixon to contact the developer about property in the county. He says county officials actually went to work on a plan a couple of weeks ago, when it first looked like the Grand Island proposal was falling apart. He says they reached out to the developers yesterday... and, sent an e-mail regarding possibly using sites in Ripley... and, the Mason Industrial Park in the town of Ellicott. Wendel says he believes both sites would lend themselves to what Amazon is looking for in a location.
No new cases of COVID-19 reported Friday...
There are no new cases of the coronavirus in Chautauqua County today... and, there are only four active cases at the moment. Interim County Executive P.J. Wendel says the number of confirmed cases remains 263... while 250 have now recovered. Wendel says no one is hospitalized... and, 80 cases are currently under quarantine or isolation orders... while 1,194 persons are under the "domestic traveler quarantine" for having arrived here from a state listed on New York's travel advisory. There have been 27,728 negative cases to date.
Randolph man arrested on Child Porn charges...
A Randolph man has been arrested for allegedly producing child pornography and sexually abusing an 11-year-old child. U-S Attorney James Kennedy Junior says 27 year-old Alexander Carnahan was arrested Thursday, and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography. Prosecutors accuse Carnahan of living with a family in Jamestown where he allegedly sexually abused an 11 year-old child. He was then kicked out of the home by the mother after pictures were found on Carnahan's phone. Prosecutors add Jamestown police later got a warrant to check his phone, and found no images... but ,they were able to get access to his Google Account, and found them there. He was arrested yesterday at his Randolph home. Kennedy says charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison... a maximum of 30... and a $250,000 fine.
Organizers call off Busti Apple Harvest Festival due to COVID-19 concerns...
One of southern Chautauqua County's major Fall time events has now fallen victim to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The 46th annual Busti Apple Harvest Festival has been postponed until September of 2021 due to state restrictions on large gatherings. Busti Historical Society Committee member Bob Schultz says they were holding out hope that they could hold this year's event on Sept. 27. Schultz says they're "disappointed" and would like the pandemic to be over. He says they have an open house at their 1846 Miller House on the society's grounds in December. Schultz says they were working with the county's Department of Health and Human Services to help make a decision... but, with a limit of 50 people per gathering... they wouldn't be able to accomodate their nearly 100 vendors and exhibitors. The Apple Harvest Festival is the society’s biggest fundraiser... and they split the proceeds with the Busti Fire Department. Schultz says the society also had to cancel their annual Victorian Dinner last Spring due to COVID-19. For more information on the Busti Historical Society... check out their Facebook page.
Investigation ongoing into Tractor-Trailder rollover on I-86 in Catt. County...
One person was hurt when a tractor-trailer overtuned on Interstate 86 in the Cattaraugus County Town of Allegany early Friday morning. Dispatchers in Little Valley say fire and rescue crews were called to the scene in the eastbound lanes about 1:15 a.m. Full details have not been released... but, the driver was taken to Olean General Hospital for treatment. The eastbound lanes of I-86 were closed about 5-hours while the scene was cleared.
