Man from Mayville arrested for allegedly starting arson fire at 234 Fulton St. that seriously hurt another person...
A Mayville man faces a pair of Felony charges for allegedly setting last Sunday's fire that destroyed a condemned home in Jamestown... sending one person to the hospital with serious injuries. City police say officers and Jamestown firefighters responded to 234 Fulton St. just after 7:30 a.m. for a reported structure fire. Police found the victim at a nearby home, who had sustained serious physical injuries from the fire... and, having to jump out a second story window to escape. The unidentified victim was taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital's emergency room... and, later transferred to another hospital for further treatment. Once the fire was out... investigators determined the fire was an arson... and, police began investigating. They determined that 34 year-old Eric Courtier intentionally set the fire -- knowing the victim was inside. Courtier was arrested late Wednesday in Mayville... and, taken to the city jail on charges of first-degree arson, and assault. He was arraigned Thursday morning... and, remanded to the county jail without bail.
City man receives just over 26 years in federal prison on drug trafficking charge...
A Jamestown man has been sentenced to more than 26 years in federal prison for being involved in trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine in the area. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross has announced that 52 year-old Luis Martinez -- also known as Noel or Noelly -- had been convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five grams or more of methamphetamine. Ross says Martinez was sentenced to 318 months in prsion by U.S. District Court Judge John Sinatra, Jr. Prosecutors say in May and June of 2020... Martinez conspired with others to sell methamphetamine. Then on June 5 of 2020... investigators raided a Water Street home... and, recovered about 20 grams of cocaine... a loaded Glock handgun... just over $3,500 in cash... 14 individually wrapped plastic bags containing about 363 grams of methamphetamine... a kilo press, two digital scales, several cell phones and tablets... additional smaller bags of cocaine and methamphetamine, and other drug paraphernalia. Then a few days later... investigators received information that Martinez had an outstanding parole warrant issued against him, at which time he was located in a vehicle on Price Street and taken into in custody. They also found over $37,000 behind a nearby residence.
County Legislature approves receiving state grant for indigent legal services...
The Chautauqua County Legislature has unanimously approved receiving a new state grant to help provide defense lawyers for indigent people who cannot afford a defense attorney in court. However... there was an exchange over whether the scales of justice were being tipped. That was raised by Sheridan Republican Terry Neibel... who says -- generally -- there is now a 2-to-1 ratio of public defenders to district attorneys. Jamestown Democrat Fred Larson pointed out that the state mandates having a public defender on hand for each arraignment. Neibel also noted there have also been added burden's put on D-As... most notably a more condensed time period for discovery. Larson... who is a retired City Court Judge... added while New York is requiring legal defense for defendants being arraigned... the state is footing the bill for that. While the state requires a public defender be present... Larson says there is no such requirement for the D-A's Office to have the district attorney or an assistant D-A on hand.
Blue Star Mothers involved in two Memorial Day programs this weekend...
The local Blue Star Mothers will host two events over the Memorial Day weekend. The first is the 11th annual ‘Gold Star Memorial’ Saturday at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park on Jamestown’s west side. Blue Star Mothers’ First Vice-President Kathy Collver says its purpose is to honor families who’ve lost a child in service to the nation. The keynote speaker will be First Sergeant Jeremy Young of Sugar Grove, Pa. Young has served in the U.S. Army for 28 years... and, has a lot of understanding about what being a "Gold Star" family is all about. Sgt. Young is a Senior Operations Manager for National Fuel Gas, as well as being in the Army Reserves. Kathy Collver encourages everyone take a chair, and possibly an umbrella, and go to the remembrance. Collver says the other event the Blue Star Mothers have organized is the Memorial Day Service at Soldiers Circle in Lakeview Cemetery... which immediately following the Jamestown’s Memorial Day parade.
New JHS Marching Band director high-light's plans for next season...
The newly appointed director of the Jamestown High School Marching Band confirms there will be changes in the band's operation this fall. But, Marc Lentsch, who is also director of bands at Persell Middle School, says the JHS band will be on the field performing and competing just as it always has... and, he says there will be "very little difference" between what they used to do, and what they'll do going forward. One big difference this year is Jamestown will be leaving the New York State Field Band Conference... and they will be in a different regional circuit, and another national circuit. Lentsch adds the band experience may be a little less demanding for participating students this year. The number of practices will be slightly reduced and the field show will be a little shorter. On Wednesday night... the Jamestown School Board approved Gina Wakefield as the marching band's assistant director.
