No one hurt in Hartfield house fire...
Heavy damage is being reported from an early afternoon house fire in the Hartfield area Wednesday. However... no injuries were reported in the blaze at 6441 Hartfield-Centrailia Rd. Hartfield firefigthers were called to the scene just after 1:30 p.m., and, found the structure fully-engulfed in flames. Nine other mutual aid companies were called to assist at the scene. Chautauqua County Fire Dispatchers say the owner called in the alarm... and, said everyone had gotten out of the home safely. The county's fire investigation team was called in... but, has not yet determined the cause.
Five people arrested for alleged home invasion, and assault in Jamestown...
Five people have been arrested in connection with a home invasion robbery in which a 73 year-old victim was tied to a chair... and, assaulted while they stole property inside the home. City police say they were called to the undisclosed scene about 5:30 p.m. Monday... and, found that two subjects had forced their way into the home and tied up the victim, who was held at gun-point during the incident. Officers say their investigation showed that 47 year-old William Buckley and 34 year-old Joshua Ryan -- both of Jamestown... and, 29 year-old Joneece Talley of Dunkirk... were responsible for the home invasion. Two others... 33 year-old Cameron Strasser... and, 28 year-old Ryan Gifford of Jamestown... were also on-scene and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police say Buckley, Talley, and Ryan are all charged with first-degree robbery... first-degree burglary... first-degree criminal use of a firearm... second-degree menacing... fourth-degree conspiracy... and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon. Buckley is also charged with drug possession and, obstruction. All five were jailed pending arraignment.
Man treated for leg wound following shooting incident in Jamestown...
Jamestown Police are continuing to investigate a mid-evening shooting incident on the city's southside last night that left one person with a leg wound. City police say they were called to the scene at Newland Avenue and Park Street about 9 p.m. A JPD Sergeant tells us the victim was taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital by a private vehicle for treatment of a leg wound... and, he was later released. However... police say the man has not been cooperative with their investigation. More when it becomes available.
Wendel reports county involved in helping Erie Co. with blizzard response...
Chautauqua County is providing help to it's neighbor to the north as the Buffalo-area begins digging out out from what many are calling the "blizzard of the century." That from County Executive P.J. Wendel... who says says several fire departments are ready to assist, including one local department. Wendel says Forestville has now been deployed to the area... and the others are on stand-by. As for our county... Wendel says we were fortunate to escape with just a few inches of snow as opposed to four-feet in the Buffalo-area. However... Wendel says there was a lot of electrical infrastructure damage caused by the strong winds along the lake shore from Barcelona Harbor to Sunset Bay... and, that had to be replaced. He adds it's the fourth-year in a row there's been this kind of damage in that part of the county.
State and Millitary Police sent to Buffalo to enforce driving ban...
Officials in New York say state and military police were sent to keep people from driving in snow-choked Buffalo. The Erie County executive said Tuesday that police are being positioned at entrances to Buffalo and at major intersections to enforce a ban on driving. Officials say now that some 35 people have died in the region. That's in addition to about two dozen other deaths the huge storm caused around the country. And an emergency services commissioner in the Buffalo area says crews are keeping an eye on warmer weather forecast for later in the week that could bring a threat of flooding as the snow melts.
Huge contribution from foundation help's Salvation Army smash Red Kettle Campaign goal...
The Salvation Army of Jamestown found itself in a dire situation late last week. It's Red Kettle Campaign had only brought in $80,000... and, was suspended late in the week due to the weather. However... thanks to the generosity of a local foundation... they not only beat their $115,000 goal... but, smashed it. Major Kim Merchant told the story on our Dennis Webster Show Tuesday morning... saying they received an e-mail from the Carnahan Founation last week that informed them that the foundation would be contributing $120,000 to the campaign on behalf of benefactor David Carnahan, and his wife. That means the campaign brought in a record $200,000. However... Merchant says a lot of the extra money will likely be eaten up by inflationary costs in the coming year. She says... while the contribution was unexpected... the fact it came from the Carnahan's was not. Merchant says David Carnahan was a 53-year member of their board.
Gasoline prices down again in Jamestown-area...
Gasoline prices in the Jamestown-area continue to drop during the holiday season... with the price falling 16-cents since the beginning of last week. That from AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report... which has the price at just under $3.70 a gallon for regular, unleaded gas. That's still 15-cents higher than last year at this time. The price is also still well above the national average of $3.10. That's 4-cents less than last week. The Energy Information Administration reports that gasoline demand has increased slightly. Higher demand, coupled with fluctuating oil prices, could cause pump price decreases to become smaller as the year ends.
