Rolison pleads guilty to manslaughter, vehicular homicide in fatal accidents...
The Jamestown man charged in connection with two fatal traffic accidents in Chautauqua County the past year-and-a-half has pleaded guilty to charges in both.  District Attorney Jason Schmidt announced the pleas entered by 60 year-old Randall Rolison in County Court before Judge David Foley.  Schmidt says Rolison pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the New Year's Eve 2021, death of 15 year-old Lexi Hughan in Jamestown... and, to aggravated vehicular homicide for the December 3, 2022, death of Linda Kraemer in the town of Arkwright.  Hughan was a 10th grader at Jamestown High School when she died.  Kraemer was 71.  As part of the pleas... Schmidt agreed to drop weapons possession charges in a third case.  Rolison faces up to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and up to 25 years on the aggravated vehicular homicide charge.  Sentencing is set for Aug. 28 in County Court.

City man arrested on drug and weapons-related charges...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine... and a loaded, high-capacity magazine during a traffic stop.  City police say they pulled over 57 year-old Tarik Salik near 25 South Main St. about 5:30 p.m. Thursday, and, found he had an active warrant for his arrest.  Officers say they soon after found Salik with the drugs, and the ammunition magaine.  He was arrested for third-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and, seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  Salik was jailed pending arraignment.

Jamestown pair arrested in drug raid...
Two people from Jamestown have been arrested on drug and weapon's possession charges following a drug raid on the city's westside late Thursday morning.  Jamestown police say members of the city's Metro Drug Task Force... and, Sheriff's Department Narcotics investigators... executed a search warrant at 114 West Seventh St. shortly before 11 a.m., and, found 37 year-old Heather Crilley... and 54 year-old Ronald Mesler inside.  Detectives conducted a search and found a small quantity of methamphetamine... along with suboxone, scales... and, a loaded .44 Magnum revolver.  Both Crilley and Mesler were taken to the city jail pending arraignment.  Crilley is charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weaspon... and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  Mesler faces one count of criminal possession of a firearm.

NYC suing 30 upstate counties -- including Chautauqua -- over States of Emergency...
New York City leaders say they are suing 30 update counties -- including Chautauqua -- that have issued what they call "unlawful" states of emergency prohibiting asylum seekers from staying in private hotels within their jurisdictions.  Those officials say this would be at the city of New York’s expense -- amidst a major humanitarian crisis and statewide emergency.  Mayor Eric Adams says the 30 counties have filed the states of emergency to "wall out asylum seekers."  While not commenting specifically on the litigation itself... Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel says they are aware of the lawsuit... and, says the county "objects in the strongest possible way to the defamatory comments that the actions taken by the county are xenophobic bigotry.” 

Gillibrand again pitches call for U.S. Forest Service to help with wildfires in Canada...
Air quality in and around the region has improved since early afternoon Thursday... when conditions due to the Canadian wildfires were still hazardous.  There was another Air Quality Alert for Friday that expires at Midnight, however, the AQI is much lower than the past two days.  Chautauqua County Interim Public Health Director Dr. Michael Faulk recommended all outdoor activites be either postponed or cancelled Thursday... and, some -- including the Jamestown Tarp Skunks baseball game -- were postponed.  In addition to calling on the U.S. Forest Service to assist Canadian firefighters if called upon... U-S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also called on fellow lawmakers to agree to appropriate $5-million to improve the northeast's air monitoring systems.

Lost child in Jamestown by passerby, stepfather charged...
Jamestown police have arrested the step-father of a 4 year-old child found wandering alone during a search on the city's northside Wednesday night.  City police were called to a report of a missing child in the area of North Main and Buffalo Streets just after 8 p.m., and, made contact with a passerby who saw the child in the area.  After further investigation... it was determined that there were no adults looking for the discovered child... and the police didn't receive any calls for a missing child.  Officers checked the nearby area and were able to locate the stepfather, 35 year-old Harry Stauffer, Jr, and he was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child.

Celoron Ribfest underway through Saturday...
The annual Celoron Ribfest is underway in the village... with a large number of ribbers... and, others selling food during the four-day event.  It's put on by the village as a fund-raiser for local non-profit organizations.  Mayor Scot Schrecengost says they have some long-time favorites among the rib-makers back this year... and others.  Schreckengost says they also other food available for people that don't want ribs... or want something a little different...  including pulled pork and chicken sandwiches.  He says it's all excellent.  Schrecengost says they also have soft drinks... and, the beer tent and wine garden back this year.  Schrecengost says they'll have plenty of music each night.  As for the hours... they're until 10 tonight.... and, on Saturday they'll be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.  Schrecengost thanked their several sponsors... but, in particular, their presenting sponsor -- The Shults Auto Group.