Accidental fire severely damages Lakewood home...
No one was hurt in an accidental overnight fire that heavily-damaged a home in the village of Lakewood. Lakewood firefighters were called to 19 Owana Way shortly before Midnight Sunday... and, several other departments were also called in to assist. The Chautauqua County Fire Investigation Team was also called in... and found the blaze started when an electrical sub-panel feed wire became compromised, and had an issue causing the fire under the floor space. The fire then traveled up the wall space to the second floor and into the attic. The occupant, Jonathan Blasius, was not hurt in the blaze. There was severe fire and water damage throughout the home.
Wanted Gerry man arrested after vehicle stop...
A Gerry man wanted by Lakewood-Busti Police was arrested early last weekend on a warrant... and for violating an order of protection. Sheriff's officers say they spotted 29 year-old Jeffrey Holmberg II inside a car on Nobles Road in the town of Gerry. Deputies knew Holmberg was known to be wanted by Lakewood-Busti Police... and, the vehicle was stopped and Holmberg was arrested. While speaking with the car's occupants... officers found that one person had an active order of protection against Holmberg. He was additionally charged with second-degree criminal contempt.
City man arrested on drug, and fugitive from justice charges...
A Jamestown man has been arrested in the town of Ellicott for allegedly being found in possession of drugs, and as a fugitive from justice from Pennsylvania. Sheriff's officers say a patrol stopped the vehicle, driven by 39 year-old Christopher Decker, for a traffic violation on Allen Street about 2 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20. Deputies say, upon further investigation, that Decker had a suspended license, was in possession of a controlled substance and had a warrant out of Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was taken to the Sheriff's Office for processing, and was sent to the Chautauqua County Jail pending extradition.
U.S. Surpasses 100,000 opioid drug deaths, and county also seeing record numbers...
The numbers are striking: The number of drug overdose deaths in the United States for the past year ending in April of this year reached 100-thousand for the first time ever. There have also been increasing numbers in Chautauqua County triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic... and, a more dangerous drug supply. The latter is most concerning to Steve Kilburn, spokesman for CombatAddictionCHQ.com, who says more and more drugs are being laced with a deadly, synthetic opiod -- Fentanyl. Kilburn says Fentanyl is a "legal drug" that is used medically... but, is 50 to 100-times more potent that Morphine. He says a very small amount mixed in with another drug, such as heroin, can kill a person. While heroin is an illegal drug, though, there are people who are buying what Kilburn calls "one-offs." That means they appear to be legitimate prescription pills that a dealer may say is hydrocodone, when it may also contain Fentanyl, and the buyer doesn't know that. Kilburn says help is available through their CombatAddictionCHQ.com website. He says those include test strips to see if Fentanyl is in your supply.
City Council to act on 2022 budget tonight...
City lawmakers in Jamestown will vote tonight on a $38.9-million, 2022 budget that includes no tax rate increase for property owners. However... it will likely be changed by lawmakers prior to it's approval. City Council President Tony Dolce says panel members have been letting Finance Committee Chairwoman Kim Ecklund know about changes they would like to see made to the spending plan. Dolce says, though, he doesn't expect major changes. He adds the biggest challenge facing lawmakers this year has been Mayor Eddie Sundquist's intermingling of American Rescue Plan funds with the general fund budget. Dolce says they're been busy trying to separate those funds to get a general fund budget in place, and then decide on the ARPA funds. There is also a resolution regarding the use of $3.7-million of the city's ARPA funding for "lost revenues" in the budget. That money will mainly be used on just over 40 projects in the budget. Council must vote on a budget plan... otherwise Mayor Eddie Sundquist's proposal would go into effect on Dec. 1.
Council to also introduce local law to "opt-out" of marijuana dispensaries, and on-site consumption locations...
The City Council will also introduce a local law that would opt Jamestown out of allowing marijuana dispensaries and on-site consumption location in the city. The voting session's pre-filed resolutions include the local law... which Council President Dolce says will not be voted on tonight. Dolce says a couple of councilmembers requested it be put on the agenda to initiate discussion and to begin a review so they can act on it before the end of the year. Tonight's voting session begins at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.
As Winter approaches, Great Lakes remain warmer than usual...
Winter is just around the corner, but experts say the Great Lakes haven't gotten the message. The Chicago Tribune reports that summer and fall evenings failed to cool down sufficiently. So, Great Lakes surface temperatures are trending above average. It's an example of climate change. Record-or near-record warm spells in Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York and Illinois set up a domino effect. Warmer lake temperatures can produce more lake effect snow. Snow diminishes with the onset of ice, which itself is delayed. Ice helps deter shoreline erosion.
