Three people arrested during drug bust outside of Jamestown in Fluvanna Ave. area...
Three people have been arrested during a early morning drug raid today at a home just outside of Jamestown in the town of Ellicott. Jamestown police say members of their Metro, and the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 2892 Bentley Ave. shortly before 6 a.m. with the help of the JPD SWAT Team. Investigators found 61 year-old Katherine Utegg, and 28 year-old Tayler Treadway inside... along with two children. Detectives say they found 6.5-grams of crack cocaine... 1.7-grams of cocaine hydrochloride, a digital scale, and packaging materials during a search. During the search... police say 24 year-old Demetrie Williams arrived to the residence... and, he was detained as a part of the search warrant. Williams was searched and found to be in possession of 12.2-grams of crack cocaine... and, $116 in cash. He's charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, two of criminally using drug paraphernalia. Williams was taken to the city jail pending transfer to the county jail. Police add that Treadway was wanted on a warrant for third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle... and, was taken to the county jail pending arraignment. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected. If you have any information about illegal drug or other criminal activity... you're asked to call the JPD Tipline at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477... or the Sheriff's Office tipline at 1-800-344-8702...or at 664-2420.
Falconer woman pleads guilty to Child Porn charge...
A Falconer woman has pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge for allegedly selling a video to two different Snapchat users of she, and a man, having sex with a 16 year-old girl. U-S Attorney Trini Ross has announced that 23 year-old Lily Brandow entered the plea Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Buffalo. Ross says the charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors say that in June of 2021... Brandow sold the videos for the users for $20. The videos showed her... co-defendant Yusef Myrick... and, the 16-year-old girl engaged in sex. In addition... while Myrick was in custody in connection with the case... they say he instructed Brandow to "get rid of" a cell phone, which both Myrick and Brandow knew contained child porn. He also allegedly told Brandow to log into, and delete his Snapchat and Google accounts, making them inaccessible. When Brandow was arrested in January 2022, the cell phone was found in her purse. A search of phone recovered an image and three videos of child pornography. Ross says charges are pending against Yusef Myrick. Brandow is to be sentenced next Feb. 6.
Three illicit cannabis shops in Chautauqua County closed by state...
New York state has closed 17 businesses in Western New York... including one in Jamestown and another in Falconer... for allegedly selling cannibus products without a license. The Buffalo News reports it was part of a statewide effort by the Illicit Cannabis Task Force to shut-down illegal dispensaries... most of them in the Buffalo-area... since May. The one closed in Jamestown was the 615 North Main Convenience Smoke and Vape shop. The one in Falconer was Tiger Puff Smoke at 56 East Main St., and, a third one in Dunkirk -- the In & Out Express Mart on East Second Street... were also closed.
City Council approves using just over $900,000 in ARPA funds for City Hall roof and parapet wall repairs...
The city of Jamestown will be able to use left-over American Rescue Plan funding to fix the roof on City Hall... along with the parapet walls around Tracy Plaza. The City Council recently approved using $685,000 of ARPA funding for the roof project... another $120,000 for the parapet wall work... and, a contingency allowance of $100,000. Council President Tony Dolce says it's a "win-win" because the project will cost less than $1-million... and, ARPA funds will cover it. Dolce says the past administration was criticized for not having the project initially funded with ARPA monies to begin with. However... he says some monies allocated were not needed, or used, so there was additional funding available. Original estimates for the cost for the roof alone were about $1.5-million. Dolce says the parapet wall project was added after workers found some issues with those. The issue of the leaky roof was brought up some time ago... and, replacing it was going to be part of a bonding measure that was to cost just over $6-million. The work will be performed by Jamestown Roofing on Clifton Avenue.
New Assistant Principal appointed to JHS...
A Randolph native has been appointed to serve as the assistant principal as Jamestown High School for the new school year. District officials say the school board this week approved hiring Julia Kinney to replace Allyson Smith... who is now the new JHS principal. The district's Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and School Improvement, Tina Sandstrom, says -- "we are excited to welcome Julia Kinney to Jamestown High School. With proven dedication to student success, Ms. Kinney’s strong instructional background and previous administrative experience will be an asset to the great faculty and staff at JHS." Sandstrom says Kinney joins JHS after serving as Assistant Principal at Southwestern Elementary School since April 2023. Prior to joining Southwestern, she spent five years with the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES as both a social studies teacher at the Western New York P-TECH and as a Staff Development Specialist.
