Mayville firefighters make quick work of Monday night house fire...
No one was hurt in a house fire this morning in the village of Mayville that damaged a wall. Sheriff's Department investigators say Mayville firefighters were called to the scene at 5433 Meadow Lane shortly after 7 a.m., and, found the fire had erupted inside the wall. However... crews had it snuffed out quickly. The Fire Investigation Team found the home had an electrical issue inside the wall... and, that caused the fire.
City Council approves $500,000 redesign project on West Third Street...
City lawmakers in Jamestown have approved the approximately $500,000 redesign project for West Third Street between Hall Avenue and Hallock Street. The project... which involves planting new trees, putting in new sidewalks, and burying electric lines... was approved at last night's council meeting, 7-to-2. Public Works Director Jeff Lehman was pleased with the outcome... and, says the project will be done in phases. Lehman says that will allow property owners in the area to only lose use of their driveways for a short time. He adds the city will open bids for the concrete work later this week... and, the project still needs to be approved by the city's Planning Commission. He anticipates a May starting time. There was some brief discussion prior to last night's vote... as Third-Ward Councilwoman Regina Brackman said she was voting against the project... but, did not give a reason. Sixth-Ward representative Andrew Faulkner didn't feel it was fair to other parts of the city where there's also a lot of need. The city plans to put in at least two varieties of new trees to replace the Oaks... which were taken down over the past few years, or fell because of old age, or disease. Lehman says the trees will be put in next Fall. New lighting is also part of the project.
Jamestown lawmakers approve using $750,000 in ARPA funding to help others get basic repairs done through-out the city...
The City Council last night also approved a resolution that came out of last week's retreat meeting on additional uses for American Rescue Plan Act funding. Lawmakers unanimously okayed an intitial, $750,000 allocation for a Healthy Communities and Neighborhoods program to deal with a number of needs in city neighborhoods. A member of the public highlighted that need early in the meeting. Council President Tony Dolce echoed those thoughts, and says there's "more to come." He says they're trying to strike a balance for projects in the downtown, and the neighborhoods. The resident, Ronda Swanson was concerned that, while West Third Street was getting all the attention... there are other areas of need. At-Large Councilman Jeff Russell says the idea is mainly to help lower-income, single-parent families. Fourth-Ward Councilwoman Marie Carrubba says senior retirees and veterans are among the others who also have limited funds to do projects around the city. The program will be administered by the Jamestown Local Development Corporation and the city's Urban Renewal Agency.
Search underway in north county area for West Virginia woman who allegedly took infant during child custody battle...
A West Virginia woman and her infant daughter are missing... and, believed to be in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area... after they went missing in a child custody case. The U.S. Marshalls' office reports they are searching in the region for the woman... identified by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Western New York... as 35 year-old Adrienne Marean. They say Marean was arrested on March 7th by Bridgeport, West Virginia Police for allegedly violating a Harrison County Family Court Order. Marean had been ordered to transfer custody of Iris Chidester last month... and, was believed to have fled Harrison County with the child. Marean is believed to be driving a gray Toyota Prius with New York license plate, JJR1907. She is described as a white female, approximately 5' 7" tall and weighs about 165 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Marean or the missing child should call the U-S Marshals Service at 304-623-0486 or call 911.
Della Pia officially announces run for Congress...
A man from the eastern end of the 23rd Congressional district is making it official: He's running for the Democratic nomination to run for the newly expanded district. Max Della Pia has been a community leader in the Owego, New York area... who sought the nomination a few years ago... but, was beat out by Tracy Mitrano. In a press release... Della Pia says he's the "only candidate in the race who actually lives in the district." The retired Air Force Colonel says he and his wife "moved ten times over the course of my military career but chose this community as our home." Della Pia says he views running for office as "a continuation of my service and that oath. Right now, our democracy is at risk from extreme factions who continue to propagate the 'Big Lie' without evidence." Della Pia says he supports bringing high-paying jobs to the region... and, investing in broadband because "our children should not have to go to a Walmart parking lot for WiFi to do their homework." If he secures the nomination... he would likely run against Republican Claudia Tenney.
