4-H Meat Animal Sale goes well, despite pandemic restrictions at "Un-Fair..."
With no county fair in Dunkirk, the annual 4-H Meat Animal Sale was a 'stand alone' event last Saturday. 4-H Educator, Kate Ewer, said the change didn't seem to make much of a difference in terms of support, and having a full arena. Ewer says a total of 118 animals were sold, with a value of $171,000. All of the animal categories had good prices, with steer and lambs at near record averages of $4.38 a pound for beef and $5.71 a pound for the sheep. A dozen animals were donated back to the sale after purchase, raising an extra $10,000 to support 4-H projects. Even though a week's worth of activities were compressed into just four days at this year's 'Un-Fair', Kate Ewer said it had a nice feel. She says there was actually a "more relaxed vibe" because it was less busy in and around the 4-H area at the fairgrounds. Ewer says they may try to keep some of those features in place for next year, when the full county fair is set to come back.
Ripley woman, age 78, arrested for allegedly assaulting another person...
A woman from Ripley has been arrested for allegedly choking another person, and threatening them with physical harm during an altercation last Saturday night. Sheriff's deputies were called to a fight about 10 p.m. at an undisclosed scene in the town of Ripley. Officers say they found that 78 year-old Carolyn Torrance obstructed the breathing of another person... and, threatened to hurt the victim. Deputies arrested Torrance for criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation... second-degree aggravated harassment, and third-degree harassment. She was taken the the county jail for centralized arraignment.
Two people arrested for possession of Meth, and hypodermic instruments...
Two people sought on warrants were arrested last weekend in the town of Portland after Sheriff's deputies found them in possession of drugs and hypodermic instruments. Officers say they spotted 34 year-old Barbara Houser of Westfield... and, 43 year-old Todd Witt of Sinclairville... at a location on Rt. 20. Deputies approached, and found Houser in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine, and Witt was in possession of hypodermic instruments. Both were taken into custody, and taken to the county jail to be arraigned on the warrants... and, they'll appear in Portland Town Court at a later date on the new charges of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and criminally possessing a hypodermic instrument.
Quattrone says slow-moving vehicles need to take regular, motorized vehicles into account on the road...
Last week's accident involving an Amish horse and buggy in the town of Clymer should be a reminder that the vehicle and traffic laws involving slow-moving vehicles are a two-way street. Sheriff Jim Quattrone discussed the issue the day after the accident, in which the 18 year-old operator was found to be drunk. Quattrone says he faces serious charges... but, not one for driving while intoxicated. He says they can't do that in regards to horse and buggies, but, adds they've had too many of these kinds of accident.
Quattrone says the 18-year-old not only put his passengers in danger, but other vehicles on the road. He says it could have been a "very dangerous" situation. Quattrone says it’s important for the operators of slow-moving vehicles as well as motorize vehicles to follow the rules. He says that's been a concern both here, and state-wide. Quattrone also reminded local residents not to use slow-moving vehicle emblems as drive-way markers.
Several areas, including housing, downtown needs, recreational needs, focus of second input meeting on Jamestown's ARP award...
Jamestown city officials received a lot of input at the second of four public input sessions on how to use $28-million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan. About 20 people were on hand for the session at the Prendergast Library last Saturday... and one of the major topics was the need to put more money into improving housing, and neighborhoods. Currently... Mayor Eddie Sundquist says their "Master Plan" allocates $1.4-million towards that. City Council President Tony Dolce agrees housing needs to be a priority, and says he has no problem with allocating more of the funding for that. However... while some at the meeting said the city needs to tear down more buildings... Dolce says this money can't be used for that. One person expressed the need for good, quality apartment houses in the city to attract professionals and others who aren't looking for a house of their own at this point. Another suggested the possible need for a completely local, city bank for residents and businesses. The next public input session will be held Tuesday night, July 27 at 7 p.m. at the Chautauqua Center on Institute Street.
DOJ will not open civil rights investigation into government owned nursing homes over COVID response...
The Justice Department says it has decided not to open a civil rights investigation into government-run nursing homes in New York over their COVID-19 response. Under former President Donald Trump, the department's civil rights division requested data from several states about COVID-19 deaths in public nursing homes. The request came amid questions about whether New York inadvertently worsened the pandemic death toll by requiring nursing homes to accept residents previously hospitalized for COVID-19. In a letter sent Friday to several Republican members of Congress, the Justice Department said it had decided not to open an investigation after reviewing data sent by the state.
