City man pleads guilty to arson in porch fire last September...
A Jamestown man faces at least four-years in state prison after pleading guilty in Chautauqua County Court to third-degree arson for setting a porch at a westside home on fire. District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 50 year-old Eric Goodlow entered the plea Thursday. Jamestown police say city fire crews were called to the scene at 514 Monroe St. in the early morning hours of last September 2, and, found part of the porch on fire. Crews put out the blaze quickly. Police accused Goodlow of throwing two "incindiary devices" onto the porch. No one was hurt in the incident. Schmidt says the plea includes a promised sentence of not less than four-years in state prison. Goodlow is to be sentenced this coming August.
Borrello supports fellow Senator's proposed incentive to get people back to work...
Another proposal has been made by a state legislator from Western New York to help lure workers who are collecting enhanced federal unemployment benefits back to the workplace. Buffalo-area Republican State Senator Ed Rath has introduced a $1,200 incentive for people to return to work, and remain employed for at least four weeks. Local Senator George Borrello says getting people back to work remains a priority. Borrello adds he doesn't blame people for staying home and getting the benefit, but, adds it's time to get the economy "back in gear." The Sunset Bay Republican says the measure is similar to one he recently introduced that would have New York opt out of the added $300 a week jobless benefit. He says, though, that it's been frustrating trying to get his colleagues from the opposite side of the aisle to support these kinds of bills because many of them have remained in their home districts during the pandemic.
Jamestown inducted into Babe Ruth International Hall of Fame...
Jamestown, New York has been unanimously elected into the Babe Ruth International Board of Directors Hall of Fame. The announcement was made late Thursday by Babe Ruth International... which noted their "long and successful" relationship with the city began in August of 1979 when local Babe Ruth President Russ Diethrick received a telegram awarding Jamestown the first-ever 13 year-old World Series. That led to what will soon be 18 World Series events that Jamestown has hosted. Babe Ruth officials say the local committee soon created the "blueprint for other host cities to follow." Babe Ruth League President and Chief Executive Officer Steven Tellefen says "Babe Ruth League's successful relationship with Jamestown is a tribute to the leadership and dedication of Russ Diethrick and the many more people like him in their community." Jamestown joins more than 200 individuals and organizations that have been inducted into the Babe Ruth League, Incorporated, International Hall of Fame.
"Spread the Love" peanut butter food collection drive set for Saturday...
People in the Jamestown-area have the chance to help out the needy in Chautauqua County and the entire region by donating unopened peanut butter containers to FeedMore Western New York this weekend. The second annual "Spread the Love" food collection will be held this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood. Meals on Wheels of the Jamestown-Area Executive Director Barrie Yochum... who is also a board member for FeedMore Western New York... says they hosted one of last year's collections... and collected the third-most food of the 10 locations involved. Since most food drives were cancelled in 2020... Yochum says the effort went very well. He says they're already collected three boxes of peanut butter from Meals on Wheels clients already. Yochum says the FeedMore WNY "Spread the Love" peanut butter collection will take place Saturday in front of the JC Penny store at the Chautauqua Mall. He says they are also accepting any non-perishable food item for the collection. Yochum adds they'll also accept monitary donations. Just make checks out to FeedMore WNY.
Gas prices increase by one-penny a gallon this week in Jamestown-area...
Gasoline prices in the Jamestown-area are up a penny a gallon this week to just under $3.06 for regular, unleaded fuel. AAA East Central's Gas Price Report says the price was just over $3.04 a gallon leading into last weekend's Memorial Day Holiday. AAA says most states saw no change in pump prices, or a decline on the week. But, that may not last long. For the week ending May 21.... demand jumped to 9.4 million barrels a day. This is the highest reported number since March 2020... just before the pandemic. In fact... AAA says gasoline supply and demand levels are looking more like typical summer numbers right now. Demand has steadily jumped week-over-week since the end of April and supply has decreased. The national average is now $3.04 a gallon.
Case number of COVID continue downward trend in Chautauqua County...
The number of new COVID-19 cases in Chautauqua County remains low... and, the infection rate continues to drop. The county Health Department reports 6 new cases over the past day... bringing the local total to 9,257. There are 25 active cases... and, four of those are hospitalized. There were no near deaths. The infection rate is now down to point-7-percent... and, the number of recovered cases is 9,077.
