Ashford man arrested for menacing with rock...
A Cattaraugus County man faces menacing and other charges after allegedly threatening two people with a rock during a recent incident in the town of Ashford. Sheriff's officers in Little Valley says they arrested 46 year-old Joseph Gambino of Ashford, following the July 31 incident on Bolton Rd. Gambino is charged with second-degree menacing... and petty larceny for allegedly stealing a reusable grocery bag from the victim's vehicle. He was arraigned and issued appearance tickets for town court at a later date.
Hamburg man arrested for DWI following accident in Ellery...
A Buffalo-area man faces a drunk driving charge following a single-car accident in the town of Ellery early last Saturday morning. Sheriff's Officers were called to the scene on Bayview Road shortly after midnight... and, found the driver was 39 year-old David Mangione of Hamburg. Deputies say further investigation showed that Mangione had been drinking and driving. He was not hurt. Mangion was arrested for DWI... and, issued appearance tickets for that, and failure to keep right, for Ellery Town Court on a later date.
Borrello says recent Fentanyl exposure's involving corrections officers signal need for changes in visitation rules...
Some 16 corrections officers in Western New York were recently exposed to a deadly chemical suspected to be fentanyl by inmates inside two prisons. One of the incidents involved 11 officers at the Collins Correctional Facility in southern Erie County... while the other incident took place in Wyoming County. Local State Senator George Borrello says dangerous incidents like that are becoming a daily occurrence statewide because of legislation like the HALT Act... which allows more contact between visitors and inmates. The Sunset Bay Republican accuses Democrats in Albany of being "criminally negligent" for putting state employees in harm's way. He says Governor Kathy Hochul and legislature Democrats are trying to appease radical, left-wing groups. Borrello is calling on lawmakers to reverse the HALT Act, adding in a social media post, "It's prison, not daycare."
More than 100 vehicle stops recorded in Chautauqua County during STOP-DWI High Visibility Campaign during July 4th periiod...
More than 100 vehicles were stopped... and, 38 tickets were issued during the long, Fourth of July period in Chautauqua County by the Sheriff's Office STOP-DWI 4th of July High Visibility Engagement Campaign. Sheriff Jim Quattrone says the campaign began Wednesday, July 3... and, ran through Sunday, July 7. The Sheriff's Department's efforts were conducted with other local law enforcement... and, the New York State Police. Quattrone says they work together to cut the number of impaired driving injuries and deaths... with a special emphasis on driving while impaired by either alcohol or drugs. The July 4th campaign resulted in 103 traffic stops... 38 tickets and two DWI arrests. Quattrone says the county's STOP-DWI Program is funded by drinking and driving fines collected from convicted drunk drivers.
Whitaker discusses hiring, and the need for more candidates...
There's less than a month to go before the start of Fall classes in the Jamestown Public Schools... and, the push is on to fill several teaching and other positions in the district. That from School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker... who says there is still a teacher shortage -- among others -- across the state. Dr. Whitaker says it used to be that 40 to 50 people would apply for a position... but, now there are far more openings than candidates to fill them. He says that makes recruiting more challenging... because the district just can't put ads in the paper, or trade papers now. Dr. Whitaker says Jamestown already offers good starting pay and benefits... so that's not an issue. He says they have a "healthy, starting" wage in comparison to other neighboring districts. The new school year in Jamestown... and most districts in the region... begin classes shortly after Labor Day... which falls on Monday, Sept. 2 this year. Dr. Whitaker made his comments during a recent Media One Radio interview.
JPS announces new Ass't Principals hired...
Another reason for hiring new people in the Jamestown Public Schools is because of promotions... which include the appointment of two new, assistant principals in the district. School officials say Megan Brown was appointed in early July to be the assistant principal at Fletcher Elementary School... while Michelle Buccola was approved to be second in command at Persell Middle School at the end of July. School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker says the appointments come following the promotions of Michelle Trussalo as principal of Ring Elementary School... and, Katherine Zwald as principal at Jefferson Middle School. Dr. Whitaker says Megan Brown comes to Fletcher after serving the 2023-24 school year as Assistant Principal for the fifth through 12th grades in the Cattaraugus/Little Valley Central School District, where she had served during her career to date. Buccola comes to Persell from the Temple Elementary School in Falconer, where she had served as an AIS Reading and Math teacher since 2012.
JPS announces new student, school board members for 2024-25 school year...
The Jamestown school district has also recently welcomed two new student, ex-officio members to their roles. High School seniors Lincoln Carpenter and Jarren Cotter will serve as student representatives to the board for the 2024-25 school year. Their appointments comes by virtue of their role as public relations officers for the JHS Kappa Alpha Tau chapter of the National Honor Society.
