Cause released in Silver Creek area auto parts store fire...
Sparks from a metal cut-off saw coming in contact with cardboard combustable is the apparent cause of last weekend's fire that damaged an auto parts store on Routes 5 and 20 in the town of Hanover.  Chautauqua County fire dispatchers say Silver Creek fire crews were called to the NAPA Auto Parts store -- near the intersection with Hanford Rd. -- shortly after 9 a.m. last Saturday.  Mutual aid was called in from several departments... including Fredonia, Sunset Bay, Hanover, County EMS, and Evans and Angola from Erie County.  Dispatchers say the blaze was under control in about 45 to 50 minutes... and, county investigators were called to the scene.  No injuries were reported. 

City man faces drug and fireworks possession charges...
A Jamestown man faces several drug and illegal fireworks charges following a traffic stop in the city late last Saturday night.  Jamestown police say a patrol spotted a vehicle with a switched license plate in the area of Forest and Columbia Avenues shortly before 11 p.m., and, stopped the car.  Officers say they determined that 24 year-old Mohamed Alhaj was in possession of nearly 5-pounds of commercially-produced Psilocin gummies... more than 16 ounces of cannabis... fireworks... and, various other commercially prepared THC and Mushroom products.  Alhaj was taken into custody without incident... and, charged with second-degree criminal possession of a Controlled Substance... third-degree criminal possession of Cannabis... and, unlawfully dealing with fireworks... and, consumption of cannabis in a motor vehicle along with numerous traffic violations.  He was held pending arraignment.

Borrello happy to see action delayed on controversial HEAT Act...
A bill that allows New York State to curb its natural gas infrastructure was left out of the final state budget for the new fiscal year... but, a local state lawmaker say he'll continue to fight against the measure.  Senator George Borrello says the New York HEAT Act has cleared the Senate and is waiting for action to be taken in the Assembly.  Borrello says it's a measure that Western New Yorkers should be very concerned about... even thought it's been renamed and "watered down."  He says that the sponsor, Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, said it didn't gain any traction this year.  The Sunset Bay Republican says he believes that's because approving it could be "politically damaging" for Democrats in an election year.  Borrello calls the omission of the NY Heat Act one of the "positive aspects" of the final $237-billion spending plan.

Langworthy votes no on Ukraine aid, but, approves rest of $95-billion foreign aid package...
The $95-billion foreign aid package that President Joe Biden signed into law this past week received partial support from Chautauqua County's Congressman.  Republican Nick Langworthy voted in favor of the bills to provide over $26-billion in aid to Israel, and $8-billion in assistance to the Indo-Pacific region, but he opposed the measure to send nearly $61-billion in aid to Ukraine.  Langworthy says while Ukraine has every right to defend itself from Russia, he believes the price tag of $61-billion was too high... mainly because it helps to fund the Ukrainian government, and it's pensions.  Langworthy added that he heard "loud and clear" from his constituents that they don't want to see their funds going to prop up Ukraine's government.  The Buffalo-area Republican says the war between Ukraine and Russia is likely going to be a war of attrition, and as a result, he hopes that our financial aid to Ukraine is the "last tranche for a long time."  Meanwhile, Langworthy also voted for the bill containing a provision that would ban the social media app TikTok if it doesn't divest itself from it's ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

Ribbon cutting held for Grand Reopening of Everyday's True Value...
The ribbon was cut on a blustery morning last Saturday at the grand re-opening of Everyday's True Value on Jamestown's southside.  A large crowd was on hand for the ribbon cutting... and, the addition of 6,000 new products at the Foote Avenue location.  Everyday's owner, Mike Laurin, thanked everyone who came out... and, says they're "very thankful to be part of this community."  The ribbon cutting was hosted during the Everyday's grand reopening by the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce.  President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Heitzenrater was also pleased with the turn-out.  However... he was happy to be part of another ribbon cutting -- the third in one week.  He says they're on another record-setting pace.  Laurin's family has owned Everyday's True Value for the past 24 years... and it includes some locally made products... such as Peterson's Candies... and Kyle Sorenson Catering. 

City man faces drug and other charges following domestic investigation...
A domestic dispute call on Jamestown's eastside early Saturday morning has led to unlawful imprisonment and drug charges against a city man.  Jamestown police were called to the scene about 4:30 a.m., and learned that 60 year-old Douglas Martin has pinned a woman against the wall by her neck.  Martin is then accused of pulling the victim's property from her that he knew contained her cellphone so she could not call the police.  During the altercation... officers say the woman was able to flee to a neighbors residence
until they arrived.  Officers then took Martin into custody... and during a subsequent search... they found a quantity of Buprenorphine and Naloxone Sublingual films... and, a quantity of Fentanyl in his possession.  He's also accused of lunging at officers as they were putting him into the patrol vehicle.