County Legislature approves motion calling on NYS to release funding for new Brooks Hospital...
Chautauqua County lawmakers voiced strong support behind a motion urging New York State's approval for building a new Brooks Hospital. Dunkirk Legislator Kevin Muldowney was among lawmakers who urged the state to release $70-million that has been set aside for the new facility. Muldowney, a Republican, says if the county wants to draw new business and residents "we need a new state of art hospital." Jamestown Republican Elisabeth Rankin says it’s important for county legislators to send a united message to both the governor, and "our state elected officials." Legislators also passed two other motions. One calls on the state to continue to pass-thru Federal Affordable Care Act Enhanced Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage -- or eFMAP funding. A third motion urging the state to support natural gas also passed, but one legislator, Jamestown Democrat Tom Nelson opposed it.
Buffalo man arrested in Jamestown on drug charges, and warrants from multiple law enforcement agencies...
A man from Buffalo faces several drug-related charges following a foot chase with Jamestown police in the area of East Fourth Street late Wednesday morning. Officers -- along with Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputies -- attempted a street check on a man during a narcotics investigation. When an officer tried to make contact with 33 year-old Brandon Wallace... he immediately began running away. Police pursued Wallace... and, saw him throw an object onto a nearby roof. He was later taken into custody... and, the object was recovered. Police found it was a bag containing just over 9-grams of crack cocaine packaged for sale. Officers say Wallace allegedly gave them a false name and other inaccurate information. Further investigation confirmed it was Wallace, and that he was wanted on several warrants in Buffalo... as well as Erie and Niagara Counties. He's sought on charges including: second-degree burglary... and, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Locally... Wallace is charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, second-degree criminal impersonation.
Gasoline prices in Jamestown-area fall for the first time in several weeks Wednesday...
The price for a gallon of gasoline in the Jamestown-area is going down as we reach mid-week... with many stations now showing a 4-cent drop from last week. The AAA East Central's Gas Price Report says the average cost for a gallon of regular, unleaded began the week at just over $3.69 cents a gallon. Some locations are now charging just under $3.66 a gallon. Last week's price was just under $3.70 a gallon. AAA reports the national average for a gallon dipped a penny this week to $3.40 a gallon. Officials say lower demand for gas and fluctuating oil prices are the primary reasons the average is stuck in neutral. Today's national average is the same as a month ago, and 13 cents less than a year ago. The crude oil price fell 47-cents to begin the week at $78.59 a barrel.
BPU announces receipt of NYSERDA grant with JPS to study electric school bus conversion...
The Jamestown school district and the Board of Public Utilities have received a just over $95,000 state grant for a feasibility and planning study to convert the district's bus fleet to an all-electric operation. BPU General Manager Dave Leathers says recent changes to the law require that public school districts begin purchasing electric buses by 2027... and, have an all-electric fleet by the year 2035. The grant is being provided by the New York State Research and Development Authority to help develop the plan to fully evaluate the infrastructure needed to make the conversion to electric buses. Leathers says... since the BPU is the sole provider of electric power in the community and district... the utility must provide the necessary infrastructure to maintain an electric fleet. Leathers says two companies... Stark Tech Group and Emerald Alternative Energy will complete the project within a six to nine-month time frame.
Two arrested on drug, fugitive from justice charges during Jamestown traffic stop...
Two people have been arrested on drug and fugitive from justice charges following a traffic stop early Wednesday morning on Jamestown's eastside. City police say a patrol stopped the car, driven by 58 year-old Kevin McCool of Jamestown in the area of East Fifth St. and Factory Al. just after 1 a.m. Further investigation found that McCool was wanted on a city court warrant for failure to appear. They also found that a passenger, 39 year-old Amanda Mcclellan of Bradford, Pennsylvania, was wanted for a parole violation in Pennsylvania for a parole violation. Officers also searched the vehicle... and, found a quantity of Codeine. Police arrested McCool for seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... while Mcclellan is charged with being a fugitive from justice.
City man arrested on menacing warrant after struggle with JPD officers...
A Jamestown man sought on a menacing warrant has been arrested after struggling with arresting officers Tuesday afternoon on the city's westside. Jamestown police say officers responded to an undisclosed address shortly before 4 p.m. to check on the well-being of the subject. Police made contact with William Groom... and, found that he was wanted on the warrant issued in city court. When they tried to take Groom into custody... he became combative... and, would not obey the officers. After a brief struggle... officers finally took him into custody without further incident. He was jailed pending arraignment on new charges of second-degree obstructing governmental administration... and, resisting arrest. He was also held on the warrant for second-degree menacing.
