Chautauqua County officials report there are 23 new cases of the COVID-19 Virus being reported in the county over the past day... but, no other information is being released at this time. The county's Health Department says this brings the total number in the county to 1,237. We do know that two of the new cases reported are in the Jamestown Public School district. Spokesperson Cathy Panebianco says one is a student at Fletcher Elementary School, who last attended school this past Tuesday. She says the other is a Jamestown High School teacher who was last in school on a week ago. The teacher instructs all classes by distance learning only. School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker says "we continue to stress the importance of social distancing, face masks, and frequent hand washing both at school and at home." If you have questions... call your school's nurse... or email the Coordinator of Health Services, Jill Muntz at jill.a.muntz@jpsny.org or call her at 716-483-4376.
The Cattaraugus County Health Department is reported 2 new COVID-19 related deaths... bring the county's total to 21. Health officials say the deaths involve an 82-year-old male and 95-year-old female. Both reportedly developed respiratory failure and were unable to overcome their illnesses. As of Tuesday night, Cattaraugus County has reported 585 cases since the pandemic began... with 99 active cases.
Governor Andrew Cuomo says all restaurants, bars and gyms will have to close at 10 PM across New York state in the latest effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The governor said Wednesday that people will also be barred from hosting private gatherings with more than 10 people. Cuomo says the new restrictions go into effect Friday. He says they are necessary because new coronavirus infections have been traced to those types of activities. Only carry-out service will be allowed after 10 PM.
If former Vice-President Joe Biden holds on to win the Presidential election... that could signal a move towards bi-partisanship in Congress. Those are the feelings of Chautauqua County's representative in Congress... Cornign Republican Tom Reed... who has had some dealings with Biden when Biden was Vice-President. Reed says the one big event was when he and Biden were on hand in Rochester for a major announcement of the new Revitalize American Manufacturing Innovation -- or "RAMI Act" -- which Reed played a key role in developing.
Reed worked with Democratic Congressman Joe Kennedy in putting the RAMI legislation together. He says.. while Biden had an "open door" policy as Vice-President for people on both sides of the political aisle... he says that was not the case with former President Barack Obama. Late Tuesday... Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says there's "no reason for alarm" as President Trump pursues his legal challenges to President-elect Biden's victory. Republicans are increasingly pointing to a December deadline for Trump to exhaust his legal challenges. That's when the states face a deadline to certify results, and the Electoral College has a December 14th deadline to cast its votes.
The Jamestown City Council's Public Safety Committee will review the results of a recent community survey about the city Police Department when it meets Thursday afternoon. The survey was released as part of the Jamestown Police Reform Initiative. The survey was developed by Acting Police Chief Timothy Jackson... and, is required under a directive by Governor Cuomo to develop a plan that reinvents and modernizes police strategies and programs based on community input. Each police agency's reform plan must address policies, procedures, and practices. It must be in place by next April 1st.
A house fire in the Town of Hanover remains under investigation, after firefighters battled the blaze overnight Tuesday. The County Emergency Dispatch Center reports that crews responded to the fire at 10151 Allegany Road that was reported shortly before 9:30PM. The last units cleared the scene around 1:45 AM Wednesday. Forestville firefighters received mutual aid from fire departments from Sunset Bay, Hanover Center, Irving, Perrysburg, South Dayton, Cherry Creek, Sheridan, East Dunkirk, and Silver Creek. Chautauqua County Emergency Services also assisted at the scene. Everyone was reported to be out of the building when crews arrived on the scene.
A Medford, Oregon man was arrested in the Town of Hanover for allegedly burglarizing a business and stealing a vehicle early Tuesday morning. Sheriff's Officers were called to a business on Routes 5 and 20 just after midnight... and, discovered multiple crimes had been committed at the scene and a vehicle was allegedly stolen. Deputies were able to locate the vehicle and identify the operator as 35 year-old Nathan Joyce. Officers say all victims were returned their respective property shortly after it was recovered and processed. Joyce is being held in the County Jail on charges including possession of burglar tools... three-counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property... and third-degree grand larceny.
At the annual Veterans Day service at St. Luke's Church in Jamestown Wednesday, the speaker was Clyde Card, Past County Commander of the American Legion. He talked about the real purpose of the day. Card said he believes Veterans Day gets the 'short end of the stick,' as many people don't get the day off. He also noted that unlike Memorial Day, which primarily honors the dead, Veterans Day also celebrates those who served and 'made it back.'
The annual service is conducted jointly by St. Luke's Church and the American Legion. (At this year's event, everyone was required to be masked and socially distant. On that point, Clyde Card said, "I don't think the American people have been called on to change their way of life... like we have today... since World War Two.")
