Gillibrand touting rural aspects of "Build Back Better" Act...
U-S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says nearly $1-billion for a program tailored to support rural communities will be included in the framework of President Joe Biden's 'Build Back Better Act.' Gillibrand spoke about the funding for the Rural Partnership Program during a video conference call this week with statewide media. The New York Democrat says it will provide funding for rural communities over the next decade... and, help reimaging how the federal government interacts with rural communities. Gillibrand says $873-million would be used for Rural Prosperity Development Grants. She says those grants would prioritize micropolitan and high poverty areas, and be used to promote rural development activities and pre-development planning activities... including improving infrastructure and strenghtening internet access. Gillibrand adds that $97-million would be for Rural Prosperity Innovation Grants. That funding would be made available to non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education that serve rural areas, and would be used for development and pre-development planning, organizational capacity-building to support rural development, or to support projects funded by Prosperity Development Grants.
Conewango Valley man arrested for falsifying report of shooting...
A Conewango Valley man has been arrested for allegedly making a false report of a "shots fired" incident about a month ago. Sheriff's deputies say they were called to the undisclosed scene about 8 p.m. on Oct. 11 on a report of an armed subject firing a rifle in the roadway. Officers say several units responded... but, further investigation showed the incident never occured. After an investigation... officers arrested 20 year-old Dominick Brisley... and, charged him with third-degree falsely reporting an incident. He's to appear in Chautauqua Town Court at a later date.
Wendel signs $278-million, 2022 county budget...
It's official. For the first time in several years... taxpayers in Chautauqua County will see a reduction in both the tax levy and tax rates in 2022. That from County Executive P-J Wendel... who has now signed the $278-million spending plan... which cuts the levy -- or the amount to be raised by taxes -- by $271,000... and, also cuts the tax rate by 41-cents per $1,000 full value. Wendel says getting "real numbers" in two areas helped reduce those numbers. One was a substantial reduction in the county's weekly Medicaid payment, and the other was higher sales tax numbers from the third-quarter. Wendel says the first 13-weeks of Medicaid payments in 2022 will be reduced by $61,000 each week. He adds the county increased it's anticipated sales tax revenues by $500,000. Wendel says the Medicaid reduction appears that it won't be just a one-time deal, either. The county legislature approved the 2022 budget plan at last month's voting session. Wendel made his comments for this coming weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the six Media One Radio Group stations.
Many women still missing from the job market...
As the U.S. economy rebounds from the ongoing pandemic, many women are choosing to sit out the labor force. The pandemic has laid bare the disproportionate burdens many women shoulder in caring for children or aging parents... as well as highlighted the roles they have traditionally played in the labor force. In September... 2.5 million fewer women were employed compared to the same month in 2019, and nearly 3.1 million more women were not in the labor force this past September compared to the number in the same month two years ago. Even with children back in school, a dramatic influx of women returning to work that some analysts expected has yet to materialize.
Reinhardt appointed as JPS Coordinator of Student Support Services...
A Jamestown woman has been appointed as the city Public Schools' new Coordinator of Student Support Services. District Superintendent Kevin Whitaker says Tamu Reinhardt began at her new position back on July 1. Dr. Whitaker says the Coordinator of Student Support Services is responsible for providing important leadership that includes monitoring and supporting a vision that includes a comprehensive student services plan. He says she'll be directly responsible, and work with those who work with students on their social and emotional needs, and how that translates to how those children do in school. Whitaker says "central to this position is the well-being of students." Reinhardt has also been a staff development specialist with the Erie-2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES... a Spanish teacher in the at Falconer Central Schools... an adjunct instructor at Jamestown Community College, and a curriculum and Hispanic Outreach Coordinator at the Jamestown schools.
Absentee ballot count to take place once Military and overseas ballots are received by Nov. 15...
Some important Election Day races in Chautauqua County are coming down to absentee ballots... and, the Board of Elections will be accepting absentees -- post-marked on or before Election Day -- through next Tuesday. Democratic Elections Commissioner Luz Torres says they sent out 2,516 absentee ballots and "as of today we have 1,462 returned. Military and overseas voters have until Monday, November 15th to return their ballots." The big race in the Jamestown area that doesn't have a clear winner is the Third-Ward City Council race between Regina Brackman and Robert Reedy. Brackman leads by 11 votes with 42 absentees returned. In the town of Carroll... Highway Superintendent Michael Walker leads James Mitchener III by 20 votes with 28 absentee ballots returned. Torres says "all countable ballots" will be opened on Monday, Nov. 15 beginning at 11 a.m."
