Lakewood woman hurt in motorcycle-deer accident...
A Lakewood woman has to be airlifted to an Erie, Pa. hospital yesterday afternoon after her motorcycle was struck by a deer on Route 394 in the town of Poland. Sheriff's officers were called to the scene... near the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus County line... shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday. Deputies learned that 67 year-old Patricia Portale was westbound when the deer ran into the roadway and struck her. Portale... who was the only person involved... was flown by helicopter to the Hamot Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. No charges have been filed.
County reports 433 new COVID-19 cases over past week...
There has been a drop in the number of weekly, COVID-19 cases being reported the past week in Chautauqua County... with 433 cases reported the past seven days. The county's weekly COVID-19 Dashboard says there were also three new deaths... bringing that total to 192 during the pandemic. There have now been 12,612 cases total. County officials say 331 cases are now active... and, 33 are hospitalized. There are now 12,013 cases that have recovered. The most new cases... 130... were reported in Jamestown the past week. The rate of infection is 7.9%.
Hochul expresses disappointment on federal court ruling on religious exemption...
Governor Kathy Hochul says she's "disappointed" that a federal judge has ruled that New York must continue to allow health care workers to seek exemptions from a statewide COVID-19 vaccine mandate on religious grounds. Hochul later made her comments on Tuesday's ruling by a federal judge in Utica... who had issued a temporary restraining order a month ago after 17 doctors, nurses and other health professionals claimed in a lawsuit that their rights would be violated by a mandate that disallowed the exemptions. Hochul says people going into hospitals or nursing homes need to know they are safe... adding the pandemic has forced the state's hand on this. Hurd's ruling Tuesday means New York will continue to be barred from enforcing any requirement that employers deny religious exemptions. Hochul says the state is appealing the decision.
Hochul pleased with news the northern border with Canada will soon be reopended...
Full details are still not available... but, the White House has informed New York Congressional representatives that the Canadian border will be opening in 'early November.' The Buffalo News adds the Mexican border will open as well. The paper reports the opening will occur in phases.... the first, in November, will allow fully vaccinated Canadians and Mexicans with proper travel documentation to cross U.S. land borders for nonessential reasons. It was good news to Governor Kathy Hochul... whose from Western New York. The Biden Administration says there will be no testing requirement for Canadians entering the U.S. Canada does require vaccinated Americans to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of their arrival in Canada. The second phase of the reopening will begin in January 2022, when all travelers across U.S. land borders – even those who are traveling for essential reasons – will be required to be vaccinated.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet opens today at Chautauqua Mall...
A well-known close-out retailer is officially opening it's doors at the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood this morning. Mall officials say they're excited to welcome Ollie's Bargain Outlet to the mall... where it will be located next to JC Penny. Ollie's will occupy the 32,000 square feet previously occupied by Office Max. Officials say they'll have the Basil & Bones Food Truck on hand... along with on-premesis food options in that part of the mall including Five Guys, Sakura Buffet and Taco Bell. Mall Manager Julie Bihler says "our guests are always changing and evolving, and at Chautauqua Mall we want to be able to offer them today’s top trends and shopping destinations."
SUNY JCC holding both in-person, and virtual Open Houses...
Jamestown Community College will offer a series of 'Open Houses' beginning this week, and for the first time since the pandemic began... some of them will be in person. The Director of Admissions, Corrine Case, says being 'on campus' is an important part of choosing a school and see what they look like, how they feel, and cost. The Olean campus will have open house this Saturday (10/16) from 10 AM to noon, with the Jamestown event set for Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition, a series of six virtual open houses is also getting underway. Today... the 'Society and Human Expression' area will be explored. The rest of the virtual open houses will be next week. Each on-line open house starts at 7 p.m. Registration for all these programs... in person and virtual... is available at sunyjcc.edu. For those visiting in person, COVID protocols will be in place.
Ross officially sworn in as Western District U.S. Attorney...
A western New York woman who is a 1988 graduate of the SUNY College at Fredonia has officially been sworn-in as the new U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. Trini Ross was nominated by President Joe Biden this past July 26... and, was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on Sept. 30. President Biden signed Ross’s commission this past Oct. 5. The U-S Attorney's Office was given the oath of office by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth Wolford. Ross says it's "an honor to serve as the U-S Attorney for the Western District of New York."
