Ellicott Town Bd. rescind's second town justice position after public pressure...
The Ellicott Town Board has voted to restore the town Justice position cut earlier this year. The official action to rescind the resolution was unanimous, 5-0. Town Supervisor Janet Bowman declined to comment on the reversal. Had the original resolution stood... Justice Marilyn Gerace’s post would have been eliminated. However... Gerace says with the town board's decision, that position will remain on the ballot this November. A firestorm of controversy resulted from the original decision. The other Town Justice, Sally Jaroszynski, says the board did the right thing... and, they're thankful for that. However... she says if town officials had spoken to them earlier, this could have been avoided. If the board had not changed its mind, Gerace was ready to take the issue to a public referendum later this year.
City Council to have Zoom meeting with FEMA officials on SAFER Grant next Tuesday...
City lawmakers in Jamestown will hold a special meeting next Tuesday afternoon with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get more information on the city's SAFER Grant. Lawmakers have asked for more details on the $1.8-million outlay to hire eight new firefighters. During last night's work session... City Council President Tony Dolce said the administration discussed the matter with FEMA... and, set up the meeting at 4 p.m. at City Hall via Zoom. Dolce says council members provided questions to Mayor Eddie Sundquist, who then gave them to FEMA. He says those questions, and any follow-ups, will be addressed at the Tuesday meeting in the Mayor's Conference Room. The meeting came out of discussions during last month's voting session when council members asked if the city was locked into having to hire eight firefighters under the grant... or could the number be lowered. While lawmakers have voiced the need for more firefighters there are major concerns over how much the city will have to pay once the grant expires in three years. Dolce says that's the first of four key questions they have. Another question was could the city reapply for the grant for another three-years, and what's the likelyhood they would get it.
Buffalo-area man killed in weekend motorcycle-truck crash in Cattaraugus County...
A North Collins man was killed late Sunday morning when his motorcycle struck a pick-up truck head-on in the Cattaraugus County town of Allegany. State Police in Olean were called to the crash on Buffalo Road just after 10:30 a.m. Troopers say 21 year-old Razvan Tuduc was northbound on his Harley-Davidson when he failed to negotiate a curve.. and, crossed the centerline before hitting the truck. Tuduc was pronounced dead at the scene. The people in the truck were not hurt. The Cattaraugus County Medical Examiners office will perform an autopsy. The crash remains under investigation.
Hochul in WNY to lay-out how state will use $1-billion to improve mental health services...
New York Governor Kathy Hochul was in the Buffalo-area Monday to outline her $1-billion mental health care plan that's part of the new budget approved by state lawmakers last week. The Western New York Democrat was joined by a number of mental health and community leaders in Buffalo for the announcement. Among the highlights... she says... are plans to triple the number of inpatient psychiatric treatment and outpatient service locations. Hochul adds the budget also mandates insurance coverage.... which she calls a big step towards insuring those who need quality health care get it. She adds that the state will also be developing thousands of more units of supportive and transitional housing for people with mental illness... some 3,500 more. Among the elected leaders who attended the event was Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist.
More information released on Non-Fredfest stabbing incident...
Fredonia Police investigators continue to probe a stabbing incident that occurred during a Non-Fred Fest gathering on Canadaway Street in the village Saturday night. Two victims from Jamestown were transported to Brooks Memorial for treatment and have since been released with non-life threatening injuries. Police have released two photos that may help identify a possible stabbing suspect. Meanwhile.. police say they met an "unruly" crowd of about 1,000 people when responded to the incident and required assistance from area law enforcement agencies to secure and clear the area for the investigation.
Mayville woman arrested for DWI following accident...
A Mayville woman is accused of driving with twice the limit of blood alcohol in her system when her car crashed in the town of Chautauqua last Saturday night. Sheriff's officers say 45 year-old Cara Magill was driving on McKay Rd. shortly after 7 p.m. when her vehicle was involved in an accident. Deputies say their investigation found that Magill had a blood alcohol content of .18% or higher while she was driving. She was charged with Aggravated DWI... DWI... and, moving from lane unsafely. She was issued appearance tickets for Chautauqua Town Court at a later date.
Schmidt announces Dunkirk man gets 8 years for violating probation...
A Dunkirk man has been sentenced to eight-years in state prison for violating terms of his probation for attempted sale of drugs. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 42 year-old Rodney Clyburn has been on five-year probation this past January for third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. Schmidt says the conviction occured in March of 2022... and, adds a hearing was held last Friday in County Court. After the hearing... Judge David Foley determined that Clyburn had violated his parole. He also received three-years post-release supervision.
