State Police say they, and other local law enforcement, will be out in force for Labor Day Weekend...
While many Western New Yorkers decided against long trips during the Summer vacation period... area law enforcement still believe local roads and highways will be busy during the Labor Day holiday weekend. That from State Trooper James O'Callaghan, the Public Information Office for the New York State Police Troop "A." O'Callaghan says they will be treating it no differently than any other travel holiday... because people are still driving and camping out. O'Callaghan says State Police and other local law enforcement will be participating in a crackdown on impaired driving across the state that continues through Monday, Labor Day. He says they'll be advertising, "Be sober, or get pulled over."
New COVID-19 cases in Chautauqua County number 15, lowest in a few days, overall number nears 500...
With the Labor Day Holiday Weekend here... Chautauqua County officials are calling on residents to be safe, and avoid large gatherings to avoid the possible spread of the COVID-19 Virus. Interim County Executive P-J Wendel... during a COVID Update this afternoon... noted that numbers are improving from the two clusters in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area. Wendel urged people to enjoy the long weekend... but, remain vigliant. He says "we need the same vigliance on September 4th that we had on April 4th, and May 4th, since this crisis began." Wendel says there were 15 new confirmed cases of COVID-19... with five of those from the SUNY College at Fredonia. That brings the overall total to 494 in the county. There are now 50 cases at SUNY Fredonia... but, that number, along with those at Fieldbrook Foods, are down. Public Health Director Christine Schuyler says 58 employees at the food processor got COVID-19... while 21 others were "close contacts," and also got the virus. Wendel says there are now 173 active cases in the county... while 311 people have now recovered. He says 630 are in isolation or quarantine. However... the number in "domestic traveler quarantine is down dramatically to 114 as for Friday.
Randolph woman arrested in double assault in Kennedy...
A Cattaraugus County woman faces multiple charges after allegedly assaulting one person, then breaking into a home and assaulting another person in Kennedy. Chautauqua County Sheriff's officers were called to the scene on Mud Creek Road just after 9:30 p.m. Friday night... and, arrested 47 year-old Carrie Congdon of Randolph. Deputies say Congdon arrived at the residence, and proceeded to assault a person in the driveway. She then forced entry into the house, and assaulted a second person while preventing them from calling 9-1-1 for help. Congdon was arrested for first-degree burglary... second-degree assault... and criminal mischief. Further investigation found that Congdon had drove to the residence drunk... and, she was also charged with driving while intoxicated. She's being held in the Chautauqua County Jail pending centralized arraignment.
Labor Council awards Ritzer Labor Award to "Essential workers" in 2020...
The Jamestown Area Central Labor Council is presenting this year’s George Ritzer Award to all the ‘essential workers’ who stayed on the job at the height of the COVID-19 shutdown.’ Business Manager David Wilkinson with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local made the announcement at City Hall Friday afternoon. Wilkinson says there were many people who went to work when many others couldn't... so they felt it was appropriate. Since 1984... the Ritzer Award has been presented to an outstanding leader in the labor force. Wilkinson says putting ‘Essential Workers’ on the plaque for 2020 will keep the memory of their sacrifices alive. Mayor Eddie Sundquist read a Labor Day proclamation at the event, and asked Jamestown residents to think about ‘labor’ as they go through the weekend. Sundquist adds, especially think of "those workers we lost this year." The Ritzer Award is usually presented at the city’s Labor Day Festival at Bergman Park… cancelled this year over COVID-19 concerns.
Jamestown's 76th Historic Marker unveiled, honoring Edith Ainge...
On the anniversary of her first arrest for protesting for women's right to vote... a local member of the Women's Suffragist movement a century ago was honored Friday in Jamestown. The city's Historic Marker Committee helped unveil Jamestown's 76th Historic Marker at the corner of East Fourth and Pine Streets... where the former home of Edith Ainge was located. City Historian Ashley Senke says the committee felt -- especially on the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote -- it was appropriate. Senke says Ainge played a "prominent role" in helping to get the 19th Amendment to the Constitution ratified. Local Professor Tracy Langworthy... a member of the committee... says Ainge ended up being arrested during a protest in Washington, D.C., for holding a banner at the event. Langworthy says that protest was held on Sept. 4, 1920. Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist presided over the marker dedication... his first as mayor... and, he said he looks foward to doing more in the near future.
