City police arrest fugitive on warrants, and drug possession following traffic stop and pursuit...
A Jamestown man sought in two jurisdictions has been arrested on those warrants... and, for possessing illegal drugs... following a traffic stop on the city's northside.  Jamestown police say they saw a vehicle commit a traffic infraction just after 2 a.m. Thursday on Lakeview Avenue... and, tried to stop the car.  Officers say the operator... 49 year-old Victor Cameron... initially failed to comply... and, led police on a brief pursuit.  Police say Cameron stopped and parked the car at a northside address... and, then fled on foot.  He was soon after caught by officers... and, was found to be wanted on warrants from Warren County, Pa., and, the town of Ellicott.  Police also found Cameron in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine.  He was arrested as a fugitive from justice... seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... resisting arrest... second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation... and, various vehicle and traffic infractions.  He was jailed pending arraignment.

Rochester man sentenced for illegal gun possession in town of Portland...
A Rochester man arrested during a traffic stop in the town of Portland for illegal possession a gun will spend five years in state prison.  Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt has announced that 33 year-old Dan Crisoptimo-Baez was also sentenced Monday to five years of post-release supervision after being convicted of second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon... a Class D Felony.  Last March, State Police conducted a traffic stop of Baez’s vehicle... and, located a loaded 9-millimeter pistol.  Baez was arrested fro second-degree criminal possession of a weapon... but, in July.. he pled guilty to the lesser charge.  He was sentenced as a predicate felon for having more than one felony conviction within 10 years.  He was also out on state Parole at the time of the incident.

Dunkirk Councilman at Large, Weiser, calls budget proposal "not viable..." calls for changes...
The proposed 108% tax rate increase in Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz's 2025 city budget is "simply not viable."  Those are the feelings of Councilman at Large Nick Weiser, who spoke on the proposed $29.15-million spending plan during Tuesday's Common Council meeting.  Weiser believes the city needs to take a more balanced and multi-faceted approach, and offered three suggestions for consideration.  One is to appeal to Governor Kathy Hochul's Office to reinstate mitigation funding that ended earlier this year to help with loss of the NRG power plant.  The second is making sure all debts owed to the city are collected.  He says a recent audit shows that some of their receivables "not collected" are significant in size.  Weiser's third suggestion is aligning the city's workforce with its population size, noting that Dunkirk's current population is down from its peak of over 18,000 in the 1960s.  He says dates for budget hearings will be scheduled within the next couple of days.  A final budget is due by Dec. 15.

Jane Babinsky named as new Exec. Dir. for Humane Society...
There's a new executive director at the Chautauqua County Humane Society... but, she's not new to the non-profit community in the Jamestown-area.  The Humane Society today announced the appointment of Jane Babinsky... who most recently had headed up the Fenton History Center.  Spokesman Brian Papalia says Babinsky takes over at a "pivotal moment" in the organization’s nearly 120-year history.  He says Babinsky is a seasoned leader with experience in animal behavior and training.  Her appointment follows a rigorous national search led by the society's board of directors.  Board President Shauna Anderson says Babinsky brings a wealth of experience to the position... having held leadership roles in hospitals and nursing care facilities as well as 10 years leading museums in Ohio and Western New York.  Her resume also includes 11 years as a veterinary assistant, over 20 years as a consultant for pet therapy programs and owner of a dog daycare, training, grooming and retail business in Ohio.  Anderson says they are "thrilled to have found someone of Jane's caliber for our next Executive Director."

Bargatze named to Comedy Center Advisory Board... 
One of the top comedians on the circuit has joined the National Comedy Center's Advisory Board of Directors.  Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson says Nate Bargatze... who's been breaking records and selling out shows worldwide... will help to guide "the center’s non-profit mission to present the vital story of comedy, providing education on the comedic arts in the form of contextualization of its bodies of work and preserving its heritage for future generations."  Gunderson says Bargatze’s addition to the advisory board follows the 2022 addition of Amy Poehler, who was welcomed to the board by Pete Docter following the passings of founding advisory board members George Shapiro and Carl Reiner."

Dickey family donates new park bench for Jackson-Taylor Park...
A long-time Jamestown couple who were very involved with the local community have been honored with a new memorial bench at the city's Jackson-Taylor Park.  The family of Earline and George Dickey officially donated the bench to the city during a ceremony Tuesday at the park.  Two people spoke on behalf of the family during this week's City Council meeting.  One was new County Legislator, Tamara Dickey... and the other was one of the three Dickey brothers, Bob.  George Dickey was a well-known carpenter in the area... who constructed items for many homes in the city... while his wife, Earline, was a schoolteacher who championed literacy.