**Sorry these were not posted Wednesday, operator error...
Jamestown Republicans announce candidates for City Council and County Legislature...
Republicans in the city of Jamestown have endorsed a full slate of candidates for City Council... and, three county legislature for this Fall's elections. GOP Chairman Brent Sheldon says he's "excited..." to have a "full-slate of candidates "for the first time in 20 years." Sheldon himself is seeking re-election to his First-Ward seat... while Council President Tony Dolce is running again in Ward-Two. He says newcomer Robert Reedy, the owner of Elite Kreations and an Air Force veteran, is running in Ward-Three. Another newcomer, Richard Elardo, an employee of the Jamestown Housing Authority, is seeking election in Ward-Four... while incumbant Grant Olson is running in Ward-Five. In the Sixth-Ward... Sheldon says newcomer Andrew Faulkner, a journeyman electrician, is running. For at-large... incumbants Kim Ecklund... and, Jeff Russell are running again... along with newcomer Randall Daversa, who is a retired equipment operator for the state DOT. Three Chautauqua County Legislature candidates have been endorsed... including incumbant Elisabeth Rankin in District 12... former legislator David Wilfong in District 11... and, Kenneth Lawson... who was appointed to finish out the term in District 10. Sheldon says they hope to build on their slim majority on the City Council.
Combustables too close to heat source is reported cause of Washington St. fire...
Jamestown fire officials say combustables too close to a heating source is the cause of an early morning fire Tuesday at an apartment house on the city's northside. City Fire Battalion Chief Brian Achterberg says crews were called to the scene at 703 Washington St. just after 6:30 a.m., and, found the back apartment on the first-floor of the house fully-involved in fire. Achterberg says they also learned that someone may have still been inside. He says crews attacked the fire with a hand-line, which the aerial truck crew looked for possible victims trapped on the second floor. However... Achterberg says they soon found out the missing person had gotten safely out of the house. He says it took about an hour to bring the blaze under control. The Post-Journal is reporting this morning that a city Public Works employee helped two people who were trapped on the second-floor jump to safety. Achterberg says the first floor apartment was gutted... and, there was fire damage on the second-floor and attic areas. Crews were at the scene until about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Washington Street -- at Seventh -- was closed off while crews battle the flames.
Two north county men sentenced to prison time in County Court sentencings...
Two north county men have been sentenced in Chautauqua County Court in separate burglary and arson cases. District Attorney Jason Schmidt's office says Justin Baez of Dunkirk was sentenced by Judge David Foley Tuesday to seven-years in state prison after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary. In addition... Schmidt says Baez will serve five-years post-release supervision. The case was investigated by the Dunkirk Police Department. Earlier this year... Schmidt says Jason Maisonet of Fredonia was sentenced by Foley to a term of 1 to 3 years in state prison for third-degree arson. Maisonet plead to the charge... which was lodged by the Fredonia Police Department.
Candidates for two JPS Board seats can now begin circulating petitions...
Petitions for candidates seeking to run for two seats on the Jamestown School Board this May are now available at the superintendent's office on Martin Road. District Spokeswoman Cathy Panebianco says candidates must submit a completed petition with the names of 50 or more qualified voters in the district to be eligible to run in the May 18 election. Those must be turned into the superintendent's office by 5 p.m. on Wed. Apr. 28. Panebianco says if you have questions... contact Jaunita Walter at 483-4420... or e-mail her at jaunita.m.walter@jpsny.org. The two seats are currently held by Dan Johnson and Nina Karbacka. The proposed budget will be available to view before the May 18 vote at jamestownpublic schools.org... at the superintendent's office... or at the Prendergast Library beginning on May 12. The public hearing on the budget will be held on Tuesday, May 11 at 6 p.m. at Persell Middle School.
Gowanda man arrested for public lewdness...
A Cattaraugus County man has been arrested for public lewdness following an investigation into a recent incident in the town of Perrysburg. Sheriff's officers in Little Valley say they obtained a warrant for 32 year-old Edwin Cmielewski of Perrysburg... and, he was arrested about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. Cmielewski is also charged with second-degree harassment. He was arraigned, and released on ihs own recognizance.
Fredonia's 2021 budget proposal includes huge tax rate hike...
Fredonia Village Mayor Doug Essek has released a proposed $10.8-million budget that includes a whopping 17-percent hike in the tax rate. In delivering his budget message during Monday night's Village Board meeting... Essek said there's a huge budget deficit of $1.4-million. When he started, Essek says they have a very severe deficit. The budget proposal would increase the village tax rate by $6.10 per $1,000 assessed value. Trustee Jim Lynden called the proposed budget "misguided" and questioned the big change in finances. Trustees have scheduled a public hearing on the budget proposal for Monday, April 5.
