BRWS hopes to get back on track after all-day rains Wednesday...
The remnants of tropical storm Fred have wiped out Wednesday's four pool games games at the 13-Year-Old Babe Ruth World Series in Jamestown. Local Committee Vice-President, Kim Ecklund, made the official announcement late Wednesday morning... adding that all four pool-play games are being held today... starting about half-an-hour earlier. Ecklund says the rain delay will lead to a further changes later in the week. She says the quarter-finals scheduled for Thursday will be moved to early in the day Friday -- then followed by the semi finals. The championship game is still set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. Park. Aside from the rain... Ecklund says the tournament has gone well... and, they were able to get the five games in to stay on schedule Tuesday. The local team, the Jamestown Krusaders, has been competitive... and now play their next game against Hawaii tonight at 7 p.m. and that game will be broadcast on WJTN.
Wednesday's weather causes few issues in Jamestown-area...
No serious issues were reported... but, there was some flooding from Wednesday's all day rains from remnants of Tropical Storm Fred in the Jamestown area. Chautauqua County fire dispatchers say there was some flooding reported on Old Warren Road in the town of Kiantone. In addition... dispatchers say a tree was knocked down on some power lines on Route 394 -- near Stone Road -- in Kennedy. There were initial reports of a possible fire involved... but, that was not the case.
Health Dept. reports 13 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday...
The Chautauqua County Health Department is reporting another 13 new, confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past day. That brings the total since Aug. 1 to 232... and, 9,576 overall. Health officials say 113 cases are now active... and, seven remain hospitalized. The total number of recovered cases is now 9,304. Of the 232 cases this month... the Health Department says 155 of those -- or 67-percent -- were not vaccinated. The seven-day infection rate is now 5.4-percent... which is still considered "substantial."
Union official from Celoron sentenced to probation, restitution in federal case...
A Celoron man has been sentenced to two-years probation... and, ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution after being convicted of theft from a labor union. U.S. Attorney James Kennedy, Jr. says 41 year-old Scott Russell Merritt was given the sentence Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Buffalo. Prosecutors say Merritt... who was treasurer of Ironworkers Local 470... embezzled $50,850 in union funds between May of 2011 and August of 2018 to pay personal expenses.
Cattaraugus County woman sentenced on child porn charges...
A woman from Cattaraugus County will spend 10 years in federal prison following her conviction for distributing child pornography. U.S. Attorney James Kennedy, Jr. says 47 year-old Melanie Thompson of Cattaraugus was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John Sinatra, Jr. Prosecutors say Thompson took sexually explicit photographs of one victim so she could impersonate that minor. She then engaged in conversations of a sexual nature with two minor male victims, and one adult. During those conversations, Thompson solicited a sexually explicit picture from a second victim via social media... sent the sexually explicit photograph she had taken of Victim 1 to a third victim. She also discussed sex with an adult male over social media, and sent him sexually explicit photographs of the first victim.
Rosas credits United Way and others efforts with helping find Dunkirk population increase...
The city of Dunkirk was one of the few bright spots in Chautauqua County from the 2020 Census figures released last week. The city's population increased by 180 residents from 2010 Census... reaching 12,743. Mayor Willie Rosas credits the work of the United Way of Northern Chautauqua and others in forming a Complete Count Committee... especially United Way Executive Director Adam Dolce and his team. Rosas says the updated Census figure should help the city when it comes to leveraging federal funding... and, he says up to this point, they have been lacking in that funding. Dunkirk's population increased by about 1.4 percent... while Chautauqua County's overall population dropped by about 5.4 percent.
County's 46th annual Antique Equipment Show set for this weekend...
The 46th annual Antique Equipment Show is set for this weekend at the Chautauqua County Antique Equipment Association's grounds in Stockton. One of the members of the association, Pat Carr, says they are unveiling a brand new building this year after the association had a vote, and it was unanimous to construct the building so their equipment will be stored -- especially during the winter days." The 30-by-60 foot building will display some 'hit and miss' engines and oil field equipment... with more to come. Each year the show features certain kinds of old gear... and, there will be Ford and Fordson Tractors this year. The show... on the grounds off Cemetery Road... runs 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 to 4 Sunday. Admission is only $5 for adults... under age 14 free. There's $3 admission for senior citizens on Friday. Tractor pulls are scheduled for each day, and a old equipment auction will be held Saturday at 10 a.m.
