Late night fire Tuesday damages home in Kiantone...
A home in the town of Kiantone was damaged by a fire Tuesday night. Kiantone firefighters were called to 1758 High St. just after 9:30 p.m. Chautauqua County Fire Disptachers say Kiantone was assisted at the scene by Jamestown, Busti, Frewsburg and Lakewood. The fire apparently started in a refrigerator and spread to the kitchen. No injuries were reported. The local Red Cross is assisting residents.
Lakewood man arrested on drug, child endangerment charges...
A Lakewood man has been arrested after being found in possession of drugs and stolen property from a location in the city of Jamestown. Lakewood-Busti Police say they assisted State Parole officials in performing a home check on 34 year-old Pablo Figueroa at an undislosed address in the village. Police say he was found with methamphetamine, scales and packaging materials. Officers say they also found several hypodermic needles spread all over the residence, which also housed several children. Police also found the stolen items... and, another person was found at the residence who was in possession of Fentanyl. Charges are pending in that matter. Figueroa was arrested for third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell... seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... criminal possession of stolen property... and, endangering the welfare of a child.
A.G. James reports money being received in first traunch of Opioid Settlement funding...
New York state's Attorney General has announced that New York's 62 counties and five major cities will soon receive their first payment from the settlements reached with major opioid manufacturers. James says western New York's share will be more than $12.8-million. She says there will be "more money to come..." and it's part of the state's overall payment of $1.5-billion. James did not give figures for Chautauqua County... but, did say that Erie County will receive just over $8.3-million... while the city of Buffalo will receive $582,000. She says the funding will be used for treatment, prevention and education efforts.
City of Jamestown, BPU, to hold public meeting at library to present findings of muni broadband study...
The results of a feasibility study into establishing a municipal broadband program in Jamestown will be discussed during a public meeting at the Prendergast Library this Thursday night. Mayor Eddie Sundquist says the city, and the Board of Public Utilities, will present the findings during the meeting... which begins at 7 p.m. in the library's Fireplace Room. Sundquist says the presentation will go over the findings of the broadband study... as well as a discussion on the next steps going forward. In a statement... Sundquist said he's excited to show the public their findings... adding "the potential for municipally-owned broadband infrastructure is critical to address the digital divide and attract investment. This study charts a bold path forward and makes affordable, high-speed internet for all Jamestown residents much closer to reality.”
Reed begins "Farewell Town Hall" sessions at Kiantone Fire Hall...
Local Congressman Tom Reed kicked off his series of "Farewell Town Hall" meetings last night before about two-dozen people at the Kiantone Fire Hall. The six-term Republican from Corning announced last year that he would not seek another term in the U-S House of Representatives. County Executive P.J. Wendel spoke at the beginning about how Reed brought $143-million in federal funding over 10 years to the county. Wendel says "Tom's efforts in keeping us at the forefront in getting us the funding we need from the federal government is critical." While Reed appreciated the comments... he says the biggest difference was everyone working together. He says more often than not... that doesn't happen in Washington. Reed says the lines of communication were always open to local leaders. He discussed a number of topics during the more than hour-long session in Kiantone... including the rift between the 'left' and 'right' in the U-S. He says he heard concern about that from foreign leaders during his trip to Eastern Europe last week. Reed says he's most concerned about the United States' loss of stature in the world.
World still being impacted by climate change as "Race to Zero" by 2050 continues...
Despite efforts to mitigate the toll of climate change... New Yorkers and billions of others around the world still are impacted by its consequences and remain at risk for future widespread disruptions. That from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which reports that even as world governments continue their 'Race To Zero' for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, more "urgent action" is needed to avoid irreversible impact. Ulster County Executive Patrick Ryan says, while his area is ahead of schedule for short-term 2030 goals, human-induced climate anomalies continue to cause serious problems. Ryan says his county has been battered in the past decade by severe storms, and flooding that are happening multiple times a year now that are only supposed to be happening every 100 years.
Spring snowstrom brings foot of snow to parts of Upstate NY, and power outages...
About 100,000 electric customers were without power Tuesday morning in upstate New York as a late-season storm dumped a foot or more of heavy, wet snow on some high-elevation areas. In Binghamton... Broome County Executive Jason Garnar declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban for nonessential workers. Some higher-elevation areas of the Southern Tier had up to 14 inches of snow, though accumulations were less for lower elevations.
