Green confirms run for Chautauqua County Executive...
The long-time chairman of the Chautauqua County Democratic Committee says he plans to formally announce later this week that he's running for county executive. Norm Green says he has the management experience that's necessary to run the office... with 40 years of experience with Brand Names, and, he was County Democratic Elections Commissioner for 22 years. However... he admits to having some challenges with a party that's split over who will replace him as commissioner. Green says he's been supported by his fellow officers, and some of the committee in general. He hopes to bring the committee together to support his run. On the race itself... Green says he questions the management of the county, especially in the past year during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says the handling of the outbreak at Fieldbrook Foods... and, lack of weekend reporting are troubling. Green recently resigned from his position as Elections Commissioner after that break in the party on who should replace him became public.
Chautauqua County says there were 119 new confirmed cases of COVID from Easter weekend...Chautauqua County recorded 119 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the Easter holiday. In its first report since last Thursday... the county's Health Department announced 46 newly diagnosed cases in Jamestown and 15 in Fredonia. There are currently 168 active cases, with five people in the hospital. The total number of deaths from the disease remains at 142. The seven day positivity rate is 1.5-percent. Vaccine eligibility in New York expands to everyone 16 and over starting today.
Jackals set to begin the season -- with no place to call home...
The Jamestown Jackals are set to begin their sixth season of professional basketball… with no place to call home. Team owner, Kayla Crosby, says COVID related issues mean no gym in the Jamestown area is available to rent right now. The Jackals have been practicing at the newly-constructed gym at Park United Methodist Church in Sinclairville… and will play their first two games this weekend at the YMCA in Warren, Pennsylvania. Beyond that... Crosby says they only have one more home weekend set -- possibly in Erie, Pa for week-two. After that, the schedule is open. This weekend’s games will be Friday at 7 p.m. against the Tri-State Admirals from New Jersey, and Saturday at 5 p.m. versus the Syracuse Stallions. Two-hundred tickets are on sale for each of this weekend’s contests in Warren at $10 apiece through jamestownjackals.com. Five of the twelve roster players have been with the Jackals before. Their new coach is Brandon Lesovsky, who has coached in the Jackal’s league previously, as well as the Canadian Basketball League.
NYS has only recovered just under half the jobs it lost during the COVID-19 shut-down...
New York State has recovered less than half of the 2-million jobs that evaporated when the coronavirus pandemic hit just over a year ago. Statistics from the State Labor Department, released Monday morning by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli show only 3,700 non-farm jobs added in February, down dramatically from 45,300 jobs added in January. Overall, the 'leisure and hospitality' sector has added back the most jobs since May of 2020... some 260,000. 'Construction' is getting healthier, regaining 74-percent of the jobs lost from February to April last year. The areas of 'educational services', 'government', and 'financial activities' have all continued to lose jobs, despite the recovery in other sectors.
Schumer says independent art venues can now apply for PPP, and "Save Our Stages" funding...
"Help is on the way...." and it's coming in many forms from the new, federal American Rescue Plan. That from New York's Senior U-S Senator Charles Schumer... who was at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown Monday to tout areas that will help Chautauqua County coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Schumer says the "Save Our Stages" program will help non-profit arts-related businesses, in addition to the extended Payroll Protection Program. He says you can apply for PPP through June, and can also apply to "Stages" through September. Schumer says the Small Business Administration will begin accepting applications for that program this year. The New York City Democrat also promoted other, lesser known parts of the $1.9-trillion program, including the Child and Income Tax Credit programs, which are designed to help lift children out of poverty. He says eligible families will receive 250-dollars a month for each child per month for a year... starting in July. Monday's visit to the county by Schumer was his first since being named Majority Leader.
City man arrested for DWAI-Drugs after driving more than 100 mph, and crashing stolen car...
A Jamestown man faces several charges his car was clocked at more than than 100 miles an hour, and crashed on Interstate 86 in the town of Sherman late last week. Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene about 10:30 p.m. last Thursday... and, say they also found that 21 year-old Johnathan DeJesus-Godineaux was under the influence of drugs. Officers accuse DeJesus-Godineaux of intentionally veering off the roadway after telling his two passengers that he was going to kill them. Deputies say they found the car he was driving had been stolen from a Jamestown dealership earlier that evening. DeJesus-Godineaux was also found to be in possession of other items stolen from the dealership. Deputies say he, and his two passengers were taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital in Jamestown for treatment of minor injuries. DeJesus-Godineaux faces charges including two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, and second-degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was jailed pending arraignment.
