County legislature member not hurt in fatal, car-motorcycle accident in town of Westfield...
A member of the Chautauqua County Legislature escaped injury when his car struck a motorcycle last week -- killing the rider -- on Hardenburg Rd. in the town of Westfield. Westfield Police say the crash occured shortly before 3 p.m. last Thursday, when a Sports Utility Vehicle -- driven by 77 year-old John Hemmer of Westfield -- crossed the center line and struck the motorcycle. Officers add that the bike's operator -- 83 year-old Jeffrey DuChaine of Westfield -- was initially taken to Westfield Memorial Hospital. DuChaine was flown to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo... where he later died. Police say the investigation is continuing and no charges have been filed. Hemmer is in his sixth-term on the county legislature.
Search for Michael Burham now one-week old... law enforcement continues to receive tips on whereabouts...
The search for escaped prisoner Michael Burham in Warren County, Pa. is now entering it's seventh-day... and, police continue to follow up on leads into where the murder, kidnap and rape suspect may be hiding. Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens reported Wednesday that investigators are looking into whether someone used a drone to help Burham escape from the county jail last Thursday night. Bivens says they've interviewed a couple of people who noticed a drone in the area about the time he escaped. If it's found the drone was in that area... and, someone was operating it with the intention of helping Burham break out of the jail... Bivens says that person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. At this point... he says a couple of witnesses said they heard a drone in that area around the jail. Bivens again noted that Pennsylvania State Crimestoppers has now offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the 34 year-old Burham's capture. That's in addition to the $2,000 already put up by Warren County Crimestoppers... and, the $7,500 by the U-S Marshalls Service. If you have information regarding Michael Burham... you're asked to call the Pennsylvania State Police Command Post Tip Line at 717-265-9650 or 717-265-9651.
City police arrest man in illegal possession of loaded firearm...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly being in possession of a loaded 9-mm. handgun without a state pistol permit. City police say they were called to check on the well-being of a person in the Warner Place--Barrett Avenue area shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday. Officers say they also found that the handgun in the possession of 24 year-old Cody Boisvert had been reported stolen during a burglary in the city last month. Police arrested Boisvert for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was jailed pending arraignment.
Wendel signs new, five-day extension of State of Emergency for migrant situation...
Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel has signed another, five-day extension of the State of Emergency regarding migrants being brought to here. Wendel signed the measure on Monday... which prohibits local hotels and municipalities from contracting with New York City -- or any other county -- to bring groups of migrants to the county. He says Chautauqua and other upstate counties simply don't have the resources to take care of such large groups. Wendel says state and New York City officials may say they aren't shipping migrants to upstate countie... but, they have. Wendel says the State of Emergency does not prevent people from coming here on their own. The Lakewood Republican says county leaders across New York state are continuing to push to have face to face meetings with Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York Mayor Eric Adams.
Gillibrand proposes "Resilient Transit Act" to fund mass transit improvements in wake of catastrophic storms...
New York's junior U-S Senator is proposing legislation she says would help restore mass transit and highway service faster after major storms. Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand says this week's floods in parts of the state shut-down vital transporation corridors... including some Metro-North lines north of New York City. During a video press conference Wednesday afternoon... Gillibrand announced the "Resilient Transit Act" which would set aside federal funding for preparing those systems to withstand those major events. She says the legislation comes on the heels of another measure she got included in the $1.9-trillion Infrastructure Bill approved by lawmakers last year. Gillibrand says the "Resilient Highways Act..." which allows states to make such improvements to highways, bridges and tunnels. Gillibrand says this weeks storms... which claimed one life in the Mid-Hudson Valley... have "made it clear that our roads and railways are highly vulnerable to flooding and other extreme weather." She says we can't wait until the next "devastating storm" to fix weaknesses in such critical infrastructure.
JPS Superintendent announces adminstrative restructuring...
A new "administrative structure" has been put in place in the Jamestown Public Schools... but, most of those changes are "in name only" to clarify the positions involved. That from School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker... who made the announcement during this week's school board re-organizational meeting. Dr. Whitaker says -- "the most noteworthy of these is a change from three ‘chief’ positions to two assistant superintendent titles.” In the new structure... Tina Sandstrom will now serve as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and School Improvement. Brittnay Spry will now be Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations... and, Jessie Joy will now serve as Executive Director of Information and Student Services.
