Air Quality Alert issued for Chautauqua Co. due to smoke from Canadian forest fires...
High pressure in the region is bringing smoke from forest fires in eastern Canada into our area today... and, likely into early tomorrow.  The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an Air Quality Alert now through Midnight tonight.  National Weather Service Forecaster Liz Jurkowski in Buffalo says -- so far -- the smoke has produced high-level haze in the sky.  Jurkowski says it could be pushed to lower or ground-level, but, adds that's not likely.  With that haze... there won't be as much sunshine today... which will keep temperatures in the low to mid-70s.  Jurkowski says the haze may continue through early tomorrow... but, it should be pushed out later tomorrow when a cold front moves in.  She says it's comparable to last month when smoke from wildfires in Alberta, Canada, reached our area. 

A dozen fire departments respond to House and Shed Fire in Carroll late Saturday...
A two-alarm fire in the town of Carroll had firefighters from a dozen area departments busy late Saturday night into Sunday morning. The call came in at about 10 p.m. to a reported fire across the street from 563 Ivory Rd.  The Falconer Fire Dept., one of the responding departments, stated on its Facebook page that the fire started in a shed and had spread into a house.  Other responding departments included Frewsburg, Kiantone, Busti, Kennedy, Ashville, Gerry, Lakewood, Ellington, Randolph, East Randolph and Cold Spring... along with the Chautauqua County FAST Team and Chautauqua County EMS.  There were no injuries reported... nor cause of the fire.  Crews were on scene for more than six hours.

Man and woman arrested after traffic stop turns up drugs and handgun...
A man and a woman face drug and weapons possession charges after their jeep was stopped for a traffic violation on Jamestown's eastside last Friday night.  City police say they stopped the Jeep Wrangler at the corner of Tower and English Streets about 6:30 p.m., and, found both 33 year-old Demeatrice Maddox and 36 year-old Stephanie Armstrong in possession of a small amount of cocaine.  They also found that Maddox was in possession of a loaded handgun.  He tried to run off on foot... but, was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit.  Maddox was also found to be a convicted Felon and was out on Parole.  He was arrested for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and, unlawful possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device.  Both Maddox and Armstrong were charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  Both were jailed pending arraignment. 

Structure fire in Ashville ruled accidental...
There were no injuries reported after a structure fire late last week in the Ashville-area.  Chautauqua County Fire dispatchers say Ashville firefighters were joined by Lakewood crews in responding to a location on Rt. 474 just before 11:30 last Thursday night.  The fire was extinguished fairly quickly... and, investigators were called in.  Their probe of the blaze determined that the fire was accidental, and originated above a drop ceiling due to faulty electrical wiring.  

Jamestown pair arrested after stealing car with "significant amount of cash" -- and rabbits -- inside...
Two city residents are accused of stealing a car on Jamestown's southside with two pet rabbits... and, "substantial amount of cash" inside it.  City police say they got a report of the car being stolen from a parking lot shortly after 9 a.m. last Friday at the corner of West Eighth and North Main Streets.  The owner also told police about the cash... and, officers later found the vehicle in a parking lot at a southside business.  Police soon after found the two people allegedly involved... and, took 34 year-old Jennifer Conti, and 49 year-old Charles Thomas, Sr. into custody.  Conti was determined to be the driver... and, she was charged with second-degree criminal possession of stolen property... and, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance after being found in possession of a small amount of narcotic drugs.  Police add she also had an order of protection against Thomas.  He was also charged with charged with second-degree possession of stolen property... and, second-degree criminal contempt.  Both were jailed pending arraignment. 

Wendel issues State of Emergency extention to deal with upstate influx of migrants and asylum seekers...
The State of Emergency put in place in mid-May by Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel to keep local entities from contracting with New York City to accept migrants and asylum-seekers has been extended another 30 days.  Wendel announced late Friday that the order... which had been put into effect on May 18, was being extended from May 30 to June 30.  During last weekend's Community Spotlight program on the six Media One Radio stations... he said the order is in response to New York City's intentions to send migrants and asylum seekers to other New York counties.  Wendel says -- specifically -- local towns, villages and cities are prohibited from contracting with New York City to take those people.  Wendel says the order was issued "due to the economic, health care, safety and security burdens this migration would have on the county."  He adds it also requires "any municipalities that might bring migrating or asylum-seeking people into Chautauqua County to ensure they will be fully cared for and paid for."  Wendel says he's talked with agencies that have helped migrants already here, and they have told him they can't handle at this time.