With good weather, and presidential election, county Board of Elections expects 75% 2024 election turn-out...
About 25% of the registered voters in Chautauqua County took part in early voting... or have now voted by absentee ballot for this year's election. That from County Republican Elections Commissioner Brian Abram... who was very pleased with how the early vote went over it's nine-day run that ended Sunday. Abram says 17,046 voters took part in early voting... nearly 3,000 more than in 2020. He says the most votes... just over 6,600... were cast at the County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk. He says the second largest turn-out was at the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood... while both the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown... and, the Carlson Community Center were third and fourth, respectively. As for Election Day today... Abram says their 48 polling sites will be open now until 9 p.m. He says you must vote at your designated site shown on the yellow mailer you received a short time ago. If you go to the wrong location... Abram says poll workers will help you find where you need to go. Otherwise... you may need an affidavit ballot... which will be reviewed once the election is completed. As for the best times to vote, he says those are typically during the lunch, or dinner hours. For more information go on-lin to VoteChautauqua.com.
National, state and local candidates and measures dot this year's ballot in the county...
The top of the ticket includes the presidential race between former President... and, Republican candidate Donald Trump... and, current Vice-President... Democrat Kamala Harris. There is also a state-wide U.S. Senate race between Democratic incumbant Kirsten Gillibrand... and, GOP challenger Mike Sapricone. There's also the state-wide proposition-one... which is the Equal Rights Amendment. Locally... first-term Republican Congressman Nick Langworthy is running for relection to the 23rd Dist. seat. He's being opposed by north county Democrat Tom Carle. There's also a contested State Assembly race to replace the retiring Andy Goodell. The Republican candidate is Andrew Molitor... who is being opposed by Democrat Mike Bobseine. Both State Senator George Borrello and Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt are running unopposed. There's also a Family Court Judge race between Peter Johnson... and Sally Jaroszynski to replace the retiring Jeffrey Piazza.
Thruway worker killed Monday morning now identified, and investigation continues...
The State Thruway Authority has now identified the worker who was killed Monday morning when he was struck by a vehicle while working on the Thruway near Silver Creek. Authority Executive Director Frank Hoare says Stephen “Steve” Ebling was a maintenance supervisor based in the Silver Creek Section of the Buffalo Maintenance Division. Hoare calls Ebling a "a committed public servant, having devoted 15 years of his career to the Thruway Authority and is remembered by his fellow colleagues as a hardworking and dedicated person who was always willing to help." Hoare adds that "it cannot be emphasized enough that the men and women who work along the roadway are real people with families that they want to go home safe to each day." He adds the state's "Move Over Law requires drivers to be alert, slow down and safely move over for all stopped vehicles on the side of the road."
City man receives just over 12 year prison sentence for trafficking meth...
A Jamestown man will spend just over a dozen years in federal prison for his conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute... and, to distribute... 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced today that 40 year-old Mark Maio was given the sentence of 12 years and one month by U.S. District Judge Richard Arcara. Prosecutors say in January of 2019... investigators raided the home of both Maio, and co-defendant Brittany Dellahoy. During the search... police found quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana, crack cocaine, heroin, drug paraphernalia, and just over $2,000 in cash. Dellahoy was previously convicted and sentenced.
Jamestown City Council reviews two more budgets in Monday night 2025 spending plan deliberations...
Two more entities had their budgets reviewed by the Jamestown City Council during last night's last, initial review of departmental or agency spending plans for 2025. Lawmakers heard from the Department of Development and the Fenton History Center. The Department of Development is receiving a slight increase in funding next year, but, Development Director Crystal Surdyk says their staff -- especially code enforcement officers -- are spread very thin. The biggest concern for the Fenton is the need for a new roof. That from Interim Director, Joni Blackman. Council Finance Committee Chairman Brent Sheldon says... with next Monday being Veteran's Day... there will be no council meeting for two weeks. Sheldon says the public hearing on the spending plan will be held on Monday, Nov. 18 in council chambers at 6 p.m. He says if lawmakers have any potential amendments, changes, contact him or Council President Tony Dolce. One concern was raised by Councilman Jeff Russell... who chairs the Public Safety Committee. Russell says he's worried that the Mayor's proposed budget reduces the City Police fuel spending by $20,000, and that will hurt the road patrol. Mayor Ecklund's 2025 budget totals $43.3-million... and, increases the tax levy by just under 7.8%. Under the proposal... the tax rate would go up by $1.82 cents per $1,000.
