County celebrates no new COVID-19 cases over the past day...
For the first time in nearly a year... the Chautauqua County Health Department says no new cases of COVID-19 were reported Monday through the New York Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System. Public Health Director Christine Schuyler says "the last day that zero new cases were reported was August 14 of 2020. This is an encouraging indicator that vaccination is working to stop the spread of this virus in our community.” Schuyler says five cases of COVID-19 are currently active with a total of 24 people being monitored under isolation and quarantine orders. Three people are hospitalized... and, no new deaths were reported. She says there have been 9,291 total cases to date... and, 9,129 have now recovered. The seven-day positivity rate in the county is now at .4%... lowering the county's level of transmission -- according to the CDC -- to low. Late this morning... Governor Andrew Cuomo announced New York's State of Emergency, in place since the beginning of the pandemic, will end tomorrow.
Some upsets in Chautauqua County primaries Tuesday...
There will be a different Republican on the ballot this November for Chautauqua County Legislature in District 18. Former County Legislator Martin Proctor won yesterday's Primary over incumbant Bill Ward handily, 285 to 105. In the other Jamestown-area race of note... incumbant Carroll Town Supervisor Russ Payne won his Republican primary over Laura Smith, 191-to-110. Results are still unofficial at this time. Among the others in the county... Democratic Legislator Christine Starks lost her primary to Susan Parker.
Sundquist says his administration has begun work on a "draft plan" to use the nearly $30-million from American Rescue Plan the city will receive...
Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist and his administration have begun work on a "draft plan" for the nearly $30-million in federal stimulus funding they are receiving from the American Rescue Plan. Sundquist says they are moving ahead... even though they don't have all the guidelines from the U.S. Treasury Department yet. He told the City Council Monday night they should have something to look at by early July. Sundquist says he hopes to present that to both lawmakers, and the public in about two weeks. So far... Sundquist says the city has received just over $14-million of those stimulus funds because Jamestown is an "entitlement community" that receives funding directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He says he and other mayors across New York found out more about the funding during the state Conference of Mayors session in Albany. Sundquist says they also found out they're going to have "some heavy reporting requirements" back to the federal government for that money. While members of NYCOM were given a little more information about what the money can be used for... there are still a lot of questions that remain unanswered.
Cattaraugus County woman pleads guilty to possession of methamphetamine...
A Cattaraugus County woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to sell. U.S. Attorney James Kennedy, Jr. says 35 year-old Heidi Jankowiak of Franklinville entered the plea before District Judge Lawrence Vilardo in Buffalo. Prosecutors say Jankowiak was arrested during a traffic stop in the town of Salamanca back in late January... where she was the front seat passenger. Police were notified there was meth inside the vehicle. They later located Jankowiak's purse, and inside found a digital scale, two suboxone strips, two hypodermic needles, a large quantity of methamphetamine, and cocaine. Kennedy says the charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5-million dollar fine.
Gas prices go up slightly in Jamestown area this week...
Gas prices in the Jamestown-area were up again over the past week... but, nationally... the average is going down. The AAA East Central Gas Price Report says this week's local average is up nearly 2-cents a gallon, from just under $3.14... to $3.15 for regular, unleaded fuel. AAA says increasing gasoline stock levels have helped stabilize gas prices across the nation... and, the average is now down a penny to $3.07. Data from the Energy Information Administration shows total gasoline stocks are now about 243-million barrels, which is a 9-million barrel surplus compared to the same week in June 2019. Stock levels have increased in line with refinery utilization rates, which are at the highest rate since January 2020.
Jackals in second-place, looking to lock up play-off spot this weekend...
The Jamestown Jackals have made it to this season's playoffs for 'The Basketball League'... which are set to start next week. Team owner Kayla Crosby says there's one weekend left in the regular season, and Jamestown is in second place in its division. Crosby says they will finish up the season about middle and late next week. Pending the outcome of the final weekend... it appears Jamestown will be up against a team from South Carolina in the first round of the playoffs. As with the rest of the 'home' games this season, the matches aren't scheduled to be played locally. They are set for the Hagerty Center in Erie, Pa... as local arenas have been closed because of COVID-19. Crosby would like to change that... noting that if anyone has the ability to open-up a gym... she'd love to hear from you. She adds that while this 6th year of the Jackals has been the toughest, the team is the best she's ever put on the court.
