First of two drug busts in Jamestown leads to seizure of meth and fentanyl, along with 6 arrests...
A pair of raids in Jamestown over the past day have led to the arrests of seven people... and, the seizure of quantities of Fentanyl and methamphetamine.  City police say the first drug bust occured early Thursday afternoon in the lower apartment at 47 Charles St. following an eight-month long investigation.  Members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force made entry with the help of the JPD SWAT Team... and, following a search... located 10 grams of fentanyl... methamphetamine... packaging materials, scales, and cash.  Police arrested 43 year-old Sandra Pavlock for third, fourth, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia... and, first-degree criminal nuisance.  In addition... 24 year-old Larissa Pavlock was arrested for second-degree criminal nuisance... and two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  The other four... Dontrel Buchanan, and Robin Hadley -- both 20... 30 year-old Savannah Gross, and 34 year-old David Lindsay, Senior... were all charged with for two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  All six were arraigned and released with appearance tickets per New York State Bail Reform.

Drug Bust on Broadhead Ave. lands seventh person in Jail...
The second drug bust occured shortly after 6 this morning at 284 Broadhead Avenue... with the JPD SWAT Team again assisting the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force in the raid.  Investigators located two adults and three children inside.  Detectives conducted a
search and found a quantity of fentanyl, methamphetamine, packaging materials, scales, and cash.  As a result... police arrested 37 year-old Heather Keeler for two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia... and, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.  She was taken to the city jail pending arraignment.  Anyone with information about illegal drug activity is asked to call Jamestown police at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477... or the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department Tip line at 664-2420.

City receive's $1.8-million SAFER grant to hire eight more firefighters...
The Jamestown Fire Department will be able to bring on eight new firefighters thanks to a $1.8-million federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency -- or SAFER Program -- grant.  Mayor Eddie Sundquist announced the city got word of the grant award Thursday from the Federal Emergency Management Agency... which will fully cover the cost of the eight new hires for the next three years.  In a press released... Sundquist said the city will not have to provide matching funds for the new firefighters.  U-S Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand say Jamestown, Fulton and New Rochelle were the only three communities in New York state awarded SAFER Grants from the 2021 funding cycle. 

Sundquist talks with Hochul about changes to Bail Reform law...
Jamestown's mayor had the chance to speak directly to New York Governor Kathy Hochul during the recent State Conference of Mayor's about making changes to the bail reform law.  During his Mayor's Report to the City Council this week... Sundquist talked about discussions at NYCOM... with the governor... about at least giving discretion back to local judges on setting bail across the state.  He says it's a "pretty big thing to Jamestown, as well."  Sundquist did not give any details about what that conversation entailed.  However... the mayor's likely had a receptive ear... given the back Hochul talked about the need to change the law because of the number of people who re-offend once their given appearance tickets and are freed.  From early on after the new bail reform law was enacted... police agencies -- including those locally -- talked openly about the problems they were having with people re-offending... sometimes within just hours of their release.

Whitaker talks pros and cons of year-round school...
The jury is still out on whether there should be school year-round in the United States.  However... there are a lot of considerations that need to be taken into account.  Those are the feelings of Jamestown School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker just days before many New York schools take their mid-Winter break.  On our Dennis Webster Show Thursday morning... Dr. Whitaker said sometimes it depends on whether both parents work... and, there's a need for child care.  Whitaker says there's also Summertime maintenance schedules that have to be considered.  Most districts will use the break for the Summer as times to do various construction projects so they don't interfere with classes.  He adds many districts would have to also install air conditions for the hotter Summer months inside.  Whitaker adds another consideration is that many teachers do work a second job... or a "side gig" in the Summer to help suppliment their income.  In Virginia... the A-P reports that some districts are going to a "12-month calendar."

City man arrested after stealing cellphone during domestic incident...
A Jamestown man has been arrested following a domestic incident on the city's southside in which he allegedly stole the victim's cellphone.  Jamestown police were called to the location just after 2 p.m. Tuesday... and located the suspect -- 23 year-old Christopher Johnson -- a short distance away.  Johnson was taken into custody... and, taken to the city jail pending arraignment on a charge of fourth-degree Grand Larceny.