A city man faces several Felony drug and weapons charges following a traffic stop last week at an intersection in Frewsburg. State Police in Jamestown say they pulled over 28 year-old Devonte Chandler after he allegedly committed a traffic violation on Railroad Avenue and Route 62 last Wednesday. Trooper say further investigation led to a search... and, they found a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun, a bag containing cocaine and ecstasy, two bags containing fentanyl and heroin, a bag of cocaine, and several items used to package and sell narcotics. More investigation showed that the handgun had been reported stolen from Pennsylvania, and that Chandler’s New York drivers license had been suspended. Chandler was arraigned on charges including two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was sent to the county jail pending further court action.
A man from Sinclairville is accused of driving under the influence of drugs last Friday in Bemus Point with three children in the car with him. State Police in Jamestown say they stopped a car driven by 31 year-old Chad Clark on the Bemus-Ellery Road for a traffic violation... and, he failed several field sobriety checks. Troopers took Clark to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital in Jamestown where he provided a blood sample, and he was then evaluated by a State Police Drug Recognition Expert and determined to be under the influence of marijuana. Clark was then ticketed for DWAI -- and violating Leandra's Law, and, issued tickets for Ellery Town Court, and released. The children were turned over to a sober third party.
Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel's proposed 2021 tentative budget was one of the issues raised during a one-hour radio debate late last week featuring the candidates running for county executive. Wendel -- a Republican -- is being challenged by Dunkirk City Attorney Richard Morrisroe -- a Democrat. Wendel feels he has presented a physically sound budget and that sales tax revenues are ahead of projections. But... Morrisroe has concerns about the projections, as to whether they are sustainable or not. Wendel is proposing a 5-cent decrease in the county's full value tax rate.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden blistered President Donald Trump as only pretending to care about the working-class voters who helped flip the Rust Belt to the Republican column four years ago. Biden made the charge Saturday against the backdrop of a union facility in Erie, Pennsylvania... a key battleground location. Biden spoke to a masked, socially distanced crowd at a training facility for plumbers and other tradespeople. Erie County was one of the most populous counties nationally that flipped from Democrats in 2012 to Trump in 2016.
A second restaurant in downtown Jamestown will soon be able to take advantage of the city's new parklet program... which allows expanded outdoor dining in targeted areas. City lawmakers this past week heard plans for an East Fourth Street location. Mayor Eddie Sundquist says the first parklet was approved back in late Spring for 4-Below... and, he says it really turned out well by using some old Oak barrels to elevate an on-street parking area.
Parklet's allow for typically wooden platforms to be used to cover parking spaces in front of the restaurant that are set up for outdoor dining. Sundquist says the parklet for Labrynth and Brazil should be ready for use soon. He says restaurants can use the program through the end of the year. However... as of now, outdoor dining will likely end by October 31st. Labrynth's Doug James was on hand to explain his proposal. Development Director Crystal Surdyk says planning department staff signed off on the permit... which was also approved by the City Council's Public Safety Committee.
The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County has presented it's annual Joseph Mason Community Service Award to the president of CSEA Local 6300. United Way Executive Director Amy Rohler says they presented the award to Steve Skidmore... who had also been a long-time treasurer for the Central Labor Council in Jamestown. Skidmore was also an organizer, and the president of District 65 I-A-M, as well as the president local I-A-M 2111. He's also known for his involvement with a number of organizations... including the Babe Ruth World Series, Elks Club, and the Special Olympics.
The only great-grandaughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Senior has died at the age of 31 from Stage 4 breast cancer. WGRZ-TV reports PEOPLE Magazine confirmed that Desiree Anzalone, the daughter of Julia Arnaz and Mario Anzalone, died on September 27th at the Smilow Cancer Center in Connecticut. Her maternal grandfather was Desi Arnaz, Junior, the son of the late "I Love Lucy" stars. Her mother told PEOPLE that her daughter died "peacefully," but "watching her slip away was just, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. No mother should have to watch that."
