City man arrested for drug and weapons possession after his motorcycle is pulled over...
A weekend traffic stop on Jamestown's southside of a man riding a motorcycle led to his arrest on several charges... including drug and weapon's possession. City police say they stopped 24 year-old Anthony Ortiz-Morales on Park Street -- near Newland Avenue -- about 8:30 p.m. last Saturday for not wearing the proper safety equipment... and, for having a suspended driver's license and no insurance. Officers say they were also aware that Ortiz-Morales had an outstanding City Court warrant. While taking him into custody... police say he tried to pull away and flee the scene. During the incident... they say a pocket knife was removed from Ortiz-Morales' pocket. After a brief struggle... he was taken into custody... and, a search turned up a quantity of fentanyl in his possession. Ortiz-Morales also damaged another person's property while resisting. He faces charges including: seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... fourth-degree criminal mischief... and, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Ortiz-Morales was jailed pending arraignment.
Vehicle chase leads to arrest of local woman on traffic and drug-related charges in Jamestown...
A local woman has been arrested on several traffic and drug related charges after allegedly leading Jamestown police on a vehicle pursuit that began on the city's southside... and, ended in the town of Ellicott. Jamestown police say a patrol spotted a car committing a traffic infraction in the area of Newland Avenue and Myrtle Street just after 9:30 p.m. last Friday. However... when officers turned on their emergency lights... they say the driver failed to comply... and, led officers on the pursuit through the city. The vehicle came to a stop at a dead end in the town of Ellicott... and the driver, 47 year-old Renne Wolfe... tried to flee on foot. However... officers were able to quickly take Wolfe -- who was the only person in the car -- into custody without further incident. Police found Wolfe was wanted on a Felony warrant out of the Chautauqua County Sheriffs Office. Officers searched the vehicle... and found 18-grams of methamphetamine... a quantity of cocaine, numerous Acetaminophen/Hydrocodone pills and Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine pills... a digital scale, and packaging materials. Wolfe faces charges including: third and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... two counts of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia... and, third-degree unlawfully fleeing in a motor vehicle. She was jailed pending arraignment.
Give Big CHQ fundraiser a "Big" success...
Last Thursday’s ‘Give Big CHQ’ on-line fundraiser was very big. Liz Jones, the Community Impact Officer at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation had the figures last Friday afternoon... noting the amount raised was about $388,000 for more than 130 non-profit organizations." That total is the second largest in the seven years of ‘Give Big.’ Only 2021 saw more money raised... and only by a few thousand dollars. This year did have the highest number of donors. Foundation Executive Director, Tory Irgang, says it’s a good sign at a time when the non-profit sector is feeling a lot of pressure since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's aftermath. At over 130... the number of organizations helped through ‘Give Big’ has never been higher.
Two Jamestown residents arrested for trespassing inside condemned home...
Two city residents are accused of trespassing inside a condemned home on Jamestown's northside early last Friday night. City police were called to the scene just after 7:30 p.m., and, when they arrived... they located 44 year-old Ted... and, 38 year-old Ebony Casler inside. Officers arrested both on third-degree criminal trespass charges... and they were arraigned and issued appearance tickets for city court.
Juneteenth celebration held under clear, and warm conditions in Jamestown...
The sound of ancestral music welcomed in Jamestown’s annual Juneteenth Celebration Saturday at Jackson-Taylor Park. Activities actually began at the Wintergarden Plaza on Friday night, and moved to the park for Saturday and Sunday. The holiday marks the day in 1865 when black slaves in Texas were finally freed, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth committee member Paul Leone read the official document known as ‘General Order Number 3" which read that "all slaves are free." As the opening ceremony unfolded... Juneteenth chairperson Regina Brackman noted the nearby memorial for the late Vicki James, one of the founders of Juneteenth in Jamestown. Brackman says James "loved Juneteenth and put her heart and soul into making this event happen every year." A wide variety of events followed both Saturday and Sunday, including musical performances, a worship service, scholarship presentation, and a ‘gospel fest.’
Unofficial opening of Jackson-Taylor Park Splash Pad takes place during Juneteenth...
There was a ‘first’ for the Jamestown Parks Department on Saturday, in conjunction with this year’s Juneteenth Celebration. City Parks Manager, Dan Stone, explains that they were going to have it up and going for the weekend's activities. Stone adds they do have some "fine turning" yet to do on the both the Jackson-Taylor and Allen Park Splash Pads. He says he expects both pads to be officially open around the time school fully ends for the summer. He told our Dennis Webster that the experience is kind of like running under the sprinkler hose... except no one needs to hold it. The addition of the splash pad at Allen Park has led to a significant street reconfiguration around the ‘upper glen’. New curbs have been put in, and a parking lot has been created.
