Jamestown man arrested for allegedly firing off shotgun near woman...
A city man has been arrested for allegedly firing multiple rounds from a shotgun at a Jamestown woman during an incident last Friday night. City police were called to a report of "multiple gunshots" in the area of 713 East Second St. shortly before 10 p.m. On arrival... officers say they saw 25 year-old Darius Franklin and another man fighting in the roadway. Police took both men into custody. The female victim then told officers that Franklin had fired several shots at her. They were able to locate the shotgun used in the incident behind a vehicle in a parking lot next to a business. They also found that Franklin had damaged two vehicles belonging to a neighboring business that were struck by the gunfire. He was arrested for first-degree reckless endangerment... fourth-degree criminal possession of a Weapon... second-degree menacing... and, several City Code violations. Franklin was jailed pending arraignment.
Two people arrested on drug charges following traffic stop in Gerry...
A man from Buffalo and a woman from Jamestown have been arrested for drug trafficking after their car was pulled over for speeding on Route 60 in the town of Gerry last Friday night. Sheriff's officers say they stopped the car, driven by 22 year-old Megan Leeper of Jamestown, shortly after 11 p.m. Deputies noticed a plastic bag with a white powdery substance in the vehicle. Officers searched the car... and, seized nearly 10 ounces of cocaine... more than 17 grams of fentanyl... a digital scale and packaging material for drug sales... and, $135 cash. Both Leeper and 25 year-old Kori Robinson were arrested for first- and second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. They were jailed pending arraignment.
Lexi Hughan Memorial dedicated at Washington and W. Sixth in Jamestown...
A six-month effort to create a permanent memorial to the Jamestown teenager tragically killed by a hit-and-run driver on New Year's Eve of 2021 culminated last Saturday morning. Family and friends joined with several city leaders to cut the ribbon on the Lexi Hughan Memorial bench and picnic table in Dow Park. The memorial... which is located next to the intersection of Washington and West Sixth Streets... was spearheaded by city resident Melissa Paterniti. She took on the project with Lexi's mother, Sarah Rafolowski. Paterniti says she saw the markshift memorial across the street... and, the fact the weather was taking it's toll. She says that's when she started talking to city officials, and others about a more permanent memorial. Rafolowski, says having the dedication on Pride Day in Jamestown was important to her, and would be for Lexi as well. She says it's a "little difficult" having the memorial next to where Lexi was killed, but, expressed her appreciation to the city for allowing it in part of Dow Park. Lexi Hughan was 15 when she was struck and killed when she was struck by a car carrier, operated by 60 year-old Randall Rolison of Jamestown at that corner.
D.A., Rafolowski react to Rolison agreeing to plea deal of vehicle deaths...
Chautauqua County's top-prosecutor says the plea deal for the Jamestown man accused in two fatal accidents the past year-and-a-half was the "best he could do" for the victim's families. However... the mother of one of the victims says she's satisfied with the pleas... and, that there won't be a trial. District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 60 year-old Randall Roilson will receive the maximum sentence for second-degree manslaughter in the hit-and-run death of Jamestown's Lexi Hughan on New Year's Eve of 2021. Lexi's mother, Sarah Rafolowski, was in the courtroom to hear the pleas... and, says she's relieved that there won't have to be a trial, and detailed testimony about what happened. Rafolowski made her comments after last Saturday's dedication of a memorial to her daugher in Dow Park. The other victim was 71 year-old Linda Kraemer... who died in two-car crash in the town of Arkwright last Dec. 3. Rolison is charged with second-degree aggravated vehicular homicide for that accident. Schmidt says Rolison will be sentenced on both charges Aug. 28, and, adds that Rolison will receive 13 1/3 to 40 years on the combined charges.
Borrello blasts state legislature approval of moving local elections to even years...
A bill approved by the New York state legislature to mandate local governments move their elections to even-numbered years is being blasted by local State Senator George Borrello. The Sunset Bay Republican says... putting those elections alongside elections for Senate, Assembly, statewide offices, Congress and president is part of "continual efforts to rig the political system in (Democrats) favor." Borrello says "every session since they took full control of New York State government has seen them scheming to maximize and cement their political power by changing the rules of the game. The 2023 Session has been no exception."
Give Big CHQ a big success...
The 6th annual ‘Give Big CHQ’ was a great success. The joint fundraiser put on by the Chautauqua Region and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundations was held last Thursday. Tory Irgang is the Executive Director of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation... and, says they raised nearly $300,000 for all 120 organizations involved in the on-line fundraiser. Irgang says the foundations will add another $30,000 in ‘incentive’ or ‘prize’ money early this week. She says that while all non-profit organizations can benefit from ‘Give Big,’ the dollars and recognition gained by the smallest ones are a big help to their missions.
