City man jailed following alleged assault with a cane...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly hitting another person in the head several times with a metal cane on Fulton Street last weekend. City police were called to the scene shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday... and, spoke with the victim and other witnesses. They also viewed a video of the alleged incident... and, arrested 38 year-old William Morse for second-degree assault. Morse was taken to the city jail pending arraignment.
NYS among those states restarting J&J COVID vaccine use...
With a green light from federal health officials, many states -- including New York -- resumed use of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine on Saturday. Among the venues where it's being deployed is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where free vaccinations were available to anyone 18 or older. Among the other states ordering or recommending a resumption, along with Indiana and New York... are Virginia, Missouri, Michigan, Arizona and Tennessee. Those moves came swiftly after U.S. health officials said last Friday evening that they were lifting an 11-day pause on vaccinations using the J&J vaccine.
Jamestown lawmakers to vote on second JPD officer going through drug recognition training...
City lawmakers in Jamestown will vote tonight on sending a second police officer to be trained as a drug recognition expert. Last week... the Finance and Public Safety Committees approved moving the measure forward to allow Alexis Carlson attend DRE courses in Buffalo... now through the end of the month. Police Chief Timothy Jackson says there are actually two parts to the training. Jackson says the coursework is being done in Buffalo, and the practical training will be in Florida. Finance Committee Chairwoman Kim Ecklund says the timing is right with the state now legalizing recreational marijuana use. Ecklund says the training had previously been postponed due to the COVID Pandemic. Currently... the Jamestown Police Department has one drug recognition expert amongst it's ranks. Tonight's Council voting session begins at 7:30 p.m., and, can be followed on-line at Jamestownny.gov/live.
Quattrone says Sheriff's Office making adjustments in response to legalization of small amounts of marijuana...
Law enforcement agencies across New York state are having to "adjust on the fly" with the legalization of recreational marijuana. That's especially the case when someone whose "high" drives a motor vehicle. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the legislation on March 31... allowing anyone 21 or older to possess and use of up to three ounces. However... Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone says it's effects on drivers is still being looked at. Quattrone says the drug can still have lingering effects for several days once the "high" is gone. Right now... he says there are more questions about the new law than answers... and, adds they are still learning about everything that's included in this new law. Some of those provisions won't take effect for another 18 months. Quattrone says some of their changes include the approach taken to traffic stops involving motorists impaired by marijuana. He says he has directed his department to focus on 'impairment indicators' when making arrests. Quattrone says drug recognition expert officers are in short supply here... and the legislation does not provide funding to local departments to train more DRE's to help with enforcement.
Borrello and Goodell slam "incentives not to work" in NYS and nation...
How to get people past ‘incentives not to work’ was addressed late last week at the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce ‘Zoom’ legislative breakfast. Local State Senator George Borrello, a Republican, said, at the beginning of the pandemic extra federal unemployment assistance helped keep people safe. But now... he believes those dollars are keeping people from trying for jobs. He says Wells Enterprises in Dunkirk is offering $2,500 to $5,000 bonues to get people to be shift-workers. Local Assemblyman Andy Goodell, also a member of the GOP, told the chamber the additional federal unemployment benefit of $600, now $300 a week… is having a profound effect on ‘entry level’ workers. Goodell says "workers are smart... and, not really interested in taking a significant cut in what they're getting and leave their kids at home and work." He adds the added federal help will fade away in September, and he’s working to establish a database of resources for what jobs… and training… will be available at that time.
COVID19 Heroes announced for Week 11...
Eight people have been nominated as COVID-19 Heroes of the Week in Chautauqua County for the eleventh week of the program. That from County Executive P.J. Wendel... who says they include Brenda Leone who has worked for 40 years at the WCA Home... Jennifer Phillips with Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation... and David Burlee from Cummin's Jamestown Engine Plant. Others include National Guard Fire Lieutenant Malysa Battaglia... Sean Jones from the Mental Health Association... and, Barbara Block from Brooks Memorial Hospital. The two remaining are Kathleen Webber who is a phlebotomist... and, Stacey Kucharski with Chautauqua County Children and Family Services. While nominations have now closed... Wendel says "we continue to recognize the selfless work of people in our communities across Chautauqua County."
