Local News Headlines
City lawmakers will vote in two weeks on allowing the Board of Public Utilities to consolidate two substations on Jamestown's westside into one. Last night... the City Council's Finance Committee approved the BPU proposal to shutdown two older substations... one on Jones and Gifford Avenue near the boat landing... and, the other on Washington Street -- next to the Gateway Train Station on West Second. Council President Greg Rabb says the proposal to combine both at Isabella Avenue was unanimously approved at last month's BPU meeting. Rabb says putting up the single substation on Isabella Avenue also has an upside... because it's only been used as a "snow dump" during the Winter months by the city Public Works Department. Rabb says... once the project is completed... the development site on Washington Street near the train station will become more marketable. He adds that the park area on Jones and Gifford will also increase in size around the McCrae Point boat landing.
The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities Solid Waste Division's annual "Spring Clean-up" in Jamestown is underway. BPU officials say clean-up at homes where normal garbage pick-up is Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays... began yesterday... and,will also take place today and tomorrow. Residents whose garbage is collected on Thursday or Friday will have their spring clean-up items picked up on May 16th and 17th. Residents should bring their Spring Clean-up items at the curb with their garbage after 6 PM the night before their regularly scheduled pick-up. Clean-up items should be contained in plastic garbage bags whenever possible. Regular garbage will be picked up as usual during Spring Clean-up. But... no recyclables will be collected during this first week of the clean-up. Next week... beginning May 13th... paper, box board and corrugated cardboard will be recycled. The utility will accept landfill disposable items weighing less than 40 pounds -- including no metal -- and, easily handled by one person including clothes, dishes, glassware, toys, and, carpet remnants cut in small pieces. For more information... call the Garbage Hotline at 661-1651.
The process of narrowing down the field of candidates for the Jamestown School Superintendent's position to three began last night... and, continues through mid-week. The school board began holding closed-door, executive sessions last night... and, the other two are tonight and Thursday night with several school committees to review the candidates. The district began with about 20 people. That field was narrowed slightly to more serious candidates. School Board President Joe DiMaio says they're pleased with the work done by the BOCES Superintendent in getting that list together. The new superintendent will likely be selected before the end of the school year so that person can begin working with out-going Superintendent Deke Kathman on the transition. Kathman announced earlier this year that this would be his fifth... and, final year. Kathman will retire from the district on July 31st. Prior to replacing Ray Fashano in 2006... he was Assistant Superintendent for Instruction. Kathman and his wife, Debbie -- who is a Jamestown native -- say they plan to retire here.
Another city man was arrested earlier Sunday night for an alleged domestic violence incident on Jamestown's westside. Officers were called to the scene shortly after 6 PM... and, learned that 19 year-old Luis Santana-Lazuranis had restrained the female victim... and, damaged several items belonging to her. Police add that Santana-Lazuranis also took the woman's cell phone when she tried to call for help. Officers later found him at a different location... and, he was charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief... and, unlawful imprisonment. Santana-Lazuranis arraigned... and, sent to the county jail on 25-hundred dollars bail.
Manufacturing is poised to make a renaissance... and, Southern Tier Congressman Tom Reed believes the region can be a major player in that resurgence. However... Reed says there is work to do to make sure manufacturer's have the energy... and, skilled workforce needed to seize upon that opportunity. The Corning Republican held the first meeting of his Manufacturing Advisory Board in Jamestown late last week at the Manufacturer's Association of the Southern Tier headquarters. He says there were a number of "fantastic ideas" that came out of the meeting... including ways to free up venture capital for new businesses... or business expansion. Reed adds that another "common theme" during the meeting was the need to further develop oil and natural gas reserves across the region... and, nation. He says that's because it can be a source of power that drives utility costs down... and, keeps U-S Manufacturers competitive in the global market. Reed says Jamestown is a good example of connecting local colleges to manufacturer needs. They've done that through the Manufacturing Technology Institute at Jamestown Community College.
A motorcycle accident in Warren County Sunday afternoon sent two one person to the hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. State Police in Warren say 59 year-old David Reagle of Bear Lake was northbound on Old Route 77 in Spring Creek Township just before 1 PM when he lost control on a curve. Troopers say Reagle was flown to an Erie, Pennsylvania hospital for treatment. His passenger... 47 year-old Virginia Brown of Youngsville... was treated at the scene for minor injuries. No charges were filed.
