More water distribution has been scheduled for customers of the village of Mayville's Water System today due to the "Do Not Drink" order due to contamination. Chautauqua County Public Health Director Christine Schuyler says that distribution will be held at the Top's Market on South Erie Street from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Schuyler says Top's has generously donated bottled water for residents... and, it will be available for pick-up in the store's parking lot. The State Health Department's Dr. Gary Ginsberg says the PFNA found in the water supply is an 'emerging contaminant' that is still being studied. Ginsburg adds their research shows the contaminant could impact the liver, thyroid and cause developmental delays. Schuyler says any persons in Isolation or Quarantine for COVID-19 should NOT leave their homes to pick up water. If there is no one available to bring water to you... she says please call the Health Department at 753-4491. Schuyler adds that all COVID-19 precautions will be taken at the distribution including masking and social distancing.
Few details were available... but, at last word over the weekend... Chautauqua County's number of COVID-19 cases climbed to 2,323 as of Sunday morning. In Cattaraugus County... the Health Department reports the 33rd COVID-related death of a resident. Officials say he was a 24-year-old man who experienced a cardiac event and was unable to overcome his illness despite aggressive medical treatment.
A Jamestown woman faces numerous charges for allegedly driving drunk with four-times the legal limit of alcohol in a property damage accident in the town of Gerry. Sheriff's officers received a report of a vehicle traveling on Route 60 that had gone off the road... through a lawn -- causing damage... and leaving the scene just after 6 PM last Thursday. Deputies found the vehicle a short time later, and saw the driver commit numerous additional traffic infractions. Officers pulled over 45 year-old Bethany Johnson, and arrested her. Johnson submitted to a chemical breath test which showed her level of intoxication. She was charged with DWI, Aggravated DWI, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, and numerous other charges. Johnson was issued appearance tickets for Gerry Town Court at a later date.
Two Wyoming County residents were arrested late last week during a traffic stop in Cattaraugus County for being in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Sheriff's officers in Little Valley say they stopped 36 year-old Jennifer Barber of Arcade in the town of Allegany last Friday... and, called they called in the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force to assist. They found a total of three grams of meth, and the paraphernalia. Deputies also arrested the passenger, 20 year-old Louis Szabo -- also of Arcade. Both were issued appearance tickets for fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Barber was taken to the Wyoming County Jail on a warrant issued there.
The COVID-19 Protocols put in place by the National Comedy Center in Jamestown have helped to keep the center open... and, the vast majority of visitors say they've felt "safe or very safe." That from Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson... who also says the head of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center told The Buffalo News they fully-endorsed their "Laugh Safe" protocols.
Gunderson says the Laugh Safe protocols involve taking away the need to touch screens with your fingers. She adds they also urge visitors to make reservations to tour the Comedy Center so they can safely socially-distance. Gunderson says their Comedy Shop is also open selling a number of items -- on line or at the store itself -- to make people laugh. In addition... Gunderson also announced a special "Holiday Admission" rate -- beginnnig today -- for Chautauqua County residents. She says now through January 3rd local residents get 40-percent off the regular admission price. She says that makes the price about 15-dollars a person. Gunderson says the Comedy Center... and, "The Comedy Shop" are both open Thursdays through Mondays from 10 AM to 5 PM each day. For more information on the National Comedy Center... go on-line to comedycenter.org.
New York's Electoral College electors are still set to meet in person despite a surge in COVID-19 cases. Governor Andrew Cuomo said Friday that the law requires an in-person meeting and that extra precautions such as testing, masks and social distancing are being taken to prevent the spread of the virus. President-elect Joe Biden won New York and the state's electors are a group of prominent state Democrats that includes Cuomo, Bill and Hillary Clinton and Attorney General Letitia James. Electors will be tested for the virus before convening in the state Assembly chamber at the State Capitol in Albany. Cuomo said state officials decided against holding the Electoral College meeting virtually because they didn't want to risk the chance of yet more election-related litigation.
Moderate Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney of New York is about to take over the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. And even many progressives say they're ready to give him a chance. Maloney and his Democratic colleagues face a possible precipice. Their House majority will be extremely narrow next year... and, they're divided over why they lost seats in last month's elections. The 54-year-old Maloney will lead their campaign operations in the 2022 elections. He's an analytical, openly gay moderate who's been an attorney and a businessman. And he's a five-time winner in a congressional district Donald Trump narrowly carried in 2016 that's north of New York City.
A man who's been essential in the founding and development of the Robert H. Jackson Center is leaving its board of directors. Greg Peterson will step down today. The organization was started 20 years ago today (December 14th) at a meeting in Peterson's law office at Phillips Lytle in Jamestown. Along with building the center, Greg dedicated himself to capturing the stories of those who'd worked with Robert Jackson at the Supreme Court and the War Crimes Trials following World War Two. Peterson's quick to add he still has projects he wants to complete at the Jackson Center, as he continues to practice law in the Jamestown area. (Robert H. Jackson... a local native... was a Supreme Court Justice, and Chief Prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials. He died in 1954.)
