Local Congressman Tom Reed is calling out "extreme behavior" after someone threw a brick through a front window of his Corning campaign office Tuesday night. A news report in Central New York has a picture of the broken window, with glass strewn throughout the office. Reed expressed outrage at the violence... saying that "volunteers are usually sitting right by that window. I am thankful no one was here when this happened, and no one was hurt.”
The rate of positive COVID-19 cases in New York state has now been below one-percent for 19 straight days. On Tuesday... point-79 percent of test results reported in the state were positive. However... New York state is closely monitoring the recent increase in Western New York's infection rate. Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters during a conference call Wednesday that Western New York remains under a caution flag, although the infection rate seems to be getting better. Two recent clusters of cases... including one of 22 cases tied to Fieldbrook Foods in Dunkirk... are being blamed for that.
A recent network news report shows that funding designed to help farmers get through the COVID-19 crisis mostly benefitted large, industrial farms as opposed to smaller operations. U-S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York says she wants answers about what happened with the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program from Agriculture Secretary, Sonny Perdue.
Gillibrand says -- if true -- the numbers show "striking disparities" between what some huge farms received... and what most smaller farms got. She says nearly 7,000 farms received less than $200 from the program.
A Cattaraugus man was arrested on charges including third-degree incest and first-degree coercion stemming from an incident in the Town of East Otto. Sheriff's Officers in Little Valley say 42 year-old Michael Kulczyk was arraigned Wednesday afternoon and sent to the Cattaraugus County Jail on $10-thousand dollars cash bail.
The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy will celebrate it's 30th anniversary during a "virtual" annual meeting tonight... with a talk by a state official headlining the event. The conservancy was officially launched in 1990 by a group dedicated to protecting the huge watershed area of Chautauqua County... by obtaining land around the lake to use as buffers to filter water going into that and other local lakes. Executive Director John Jablonski says they'll be joined by State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Erik Kulleseid (Cool-ih-sayd)...
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In addition... Watershed Conservancy Board President Rebecca Nystrom says there will be a business meeting as part of the celebration... and a short question and answer session after Kulleseid's presentation. She adds they will also elect a new board of directors. Jablonski says the Zoom Conference anniversary meeting begins at 7 PM. For more information on their 30th anniversay... he says go to either Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy's website... or their Facebook Page.
Nine new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Virus have been reported in Chautauqua County over the past day... bringing the local total now to 315 cases. That from Interim County Executive P-J Wendel... who says there are now 39 active cases -- two of which are hospitalized. Wendel says 267 people have now recovered from the virus... and 159 cases are under quarantine or isolation orders. He says 475 people are under the "domestic traveler quarantine" after arriving in the county from a state listed on the New York travel advisory.
City lawmakers in Jamestown will consider a local law next Monday night to have a 10-year residency requirement for members of the Police Department. An initial proposal of a five-year requirement was debated for about half-an-hour at Monday's work session... but, it was later changed -- and will be a 10-year measure at Monday's voting session. Mayor Eddie Sundquist says such requirements are legal... but, adds there will be a grace period for new hires to find a house, or apartment.
The local law grew out of discussions about possible police reforms earlier in the year... and, seemed generally supported by council members. They include retired JPD Officer Jeff Russell... who says employees, who are also residents, means they have a vested interest in what happens in the community they serve. A couple of council members felt a five-year requirement wasn't enough, so 7 and 10-year swere discussed. In a statement sent to the Jamestown Post-Journal... the union representing officers, the Kendall Club-PBA, came out in opposition to the proposal.
No injuries were reported when flames extensively damaged a garage on Jamestown's northside early Wednesday morning. City fire officials say crews were called to 120 Fulton Street about 1:30 AM... and found heavy smoke coming from the structure. Crews knocked down the flames quickly... but, there was heavy fire damage inside. They say the family got out of the attached home safely... but, a pet bird perished. An off-duty shift was called in to assist in fighting the blaze... the cause of which is under investigation.
The Chautauqua County Legislature on Wednesday recognized two businesses in the county for exemplary standards in customer safety and service during the COVID-19 pandemic. During their monthly meeting, legislators announced certificates of recognition for Chautauqua Marina and Big Inlet Brewing, both located in Mayville. Legislator Bill Ward says the leadership demonstrated by both businesses has contributed to helping the county and New York State "flatten the curve."
Chautauqua Marina and Big Inlet Brewing are the first two businesses to be recognized under the county's Hospitality Business Recognition Program. Also during Wednesday's meeting, legislators approved resolutions to accept funds from the FAA and New York State DOT for a runway lighting improvement project at the Dunkirk Airport, as well as performance of on-and-off airport obstruction removal at the Jamestown Airport. Legislator Bob Scudder of Fredonia voted against both resolutions.
