One person hurt when SUV crashes into Jamestown apartment house...
One person had to be taken to the hospital after a sports utility vehicle went off West 17th Street in Jamestown this morning... and, slammed into the side of an apartment house. City Fire Battalion Chief Brian Acterberg says a crew, and city police were called to the scene at 15 West 17th shortly before 7:30 a.m., hitting the kitchen area of the first-floor. Acterberg says the male driver was taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital for treatment. He adds the SUV also hit a gas line... so services had to be shut-off to the house. No one inside was hurt... but, Acterberg says the residents are being helped by the local Red Cross while the house is being repaired. City police are continuing their investigation.
Several departments respond to house fire in Westfield...
Several fire departments responded to a house fire in the village of Westfield. The blaze at 66 So. Portage St. was first reported around 8:30 this morning. The Chautauqua County Emergency Dispatch Center says that crews from Westfield are receiving mutual aid from Brocton, Portland, Ripley, Mayville, Crescent and Fuller Hose from North East, Pennsylvania and Stockton. Chautauqua County Emergency Services is also assisting at the scene. No injuries have been reported so far.
Sundquist in NYC for Hochul signing of gun control measures; reports to city council Monday night...
One local, elected leader was on hand when New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed 10 new laws into effect that regulate guns... and, who can buy and possess them. Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist was among those attending the ceremony in the Bronx Monday morning. Sundquist highlighted the brief trip during remarks at last night's City Council work session. He says they're small steps... but, he's hopeful they'll help in places like Jamestown. Sundquist says he's optimistic that more will be done for mental health issues in the near future... along with gun violence in cities. In fact... he said the city was concluding it's fourth-day in row in which there was no gun-related incident or arrest. He says that's the longest stretch of this year. Many of the measures are well-known... but, Sundquist adds two surprised him because they aren't on the books already. He says one law establishes making a crime of 'making a threat of mass harm...' and, another for 'aggravated making a threat of mass harm.' The key measure for Hochul was making it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to buy or possess a semi-automatic weapon.
Hochul signs gun control legislation...
Governor Kathy Hochul signed those laws during the ceremony in the Bronx she says will enhance New York's already tough gun laws. The move comes just a few weeks after 10 Black people were gunned down in Buffalo. Hochul says the state is taking "bold, strong action... to keep guns away from dangerous people." They also increase the age to legally purchase or possess a semi-automatic rifle to 21. Hochul also spoke about the need for federal legislation... saying "enough of the bloodshed" because gun violence is now the number-one killer of school aged children. State Attorney General Letitia James says the legislation also helps address the role that social media platforms can play in gun violence... saying they have become an "unchecked vehicle for these dangerous and corrosive ideas to spread."
Quattrone says raising the age to buy semi-automatic rifles will create staffing problems for Sheriff's Office...
Chautauqua County's top elected law enforcement official believes the new laws signed by Governor Kathy Hochul primarily address one issue, guns. Sheriff Jim Quattrone also says the legislation raising the age to 21 for the sale of AR-15s will create a staffing problem for his office because sheriff's offices will have to do those background checks. Right now... Quattrone says keeping up with pistol permitting is difficult. He is also concerned about the lack of details after the bills were passed by state lawmakers last week... and, calls the legislation is "somewhat a knee-jerk reaction."
Gas prices down after tax caps take effect, shoot up again this week...
Gasoline prices in the Jamestown-area remain lower than they were to begin the week last week... due to the state and county gas tax cap going in place on June 1. However... since then the price has been steadily increasing to $4.76 Monday in most places locally. One location in Lakewood was charging $4.89 a gallon The price had initially fallen by 21 to 23 cents a gallon. The price was 16 cents lower by the end of the weekend. The cost is increasing rapidly across most of the country in part due to seasonal trends and the rising cost of crude oil. The cost of a barrel of oil is nearing $120 -- nearly double from last August, as increased oil demand outpaces the tight global supply. The national average has surged by 25 cents in one week to hit $4.86 on Monday.
Little Theater of Jamestown announces three shows for 2022...
No dates have been set... but, during its ‘Summer Kickoff Celebration’ Monday night the Lucille Ball Little Theater of Jamestown announced three shows that will be staged this year. Theater Vice-President Holly Weston says two of them were on the schedule before the pandemic shutdown -- and include "Young Frankenstein" this Fall... and, "Elf: the Musical" will be in the Winter. This Summer it will be "Disenchanted."
