Schmidt "devastated" by not guilty verdict in Richard murder trial...
A town of Ellicott man accused of murdering his stepfather has been acquitted by a Chautauqua County Court Jury on both charges against him. The jury Tuesday found 20-year-old Tucker Richard not guilty of second-degree murder and criminally negligent homicide in connection with the January 2023 shooting death of 57-year-old Scott Blake on Willard Street Extension in the Town of Ellicott. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says he is "devastated by the verdict... (and,) I feel somehow personally responsible." He says he doesn't take a case to trial unless he feels certain they can get a conviction... and, he says the prosecution was able to get "90% to 95%" of the evidence they wanted into the trial. Schmidt adds that it was "clear" that the jurors did not find there was enough evidence presented to convict Richard. The jury reached the not guilty verdict on the third day of deliberations. Richard had contended that he got into a heated argument with Blake and he wrestled a gun away from him... and, shot the man in self-defense. The DA's office believes the evidence showed the shooting was intentional.
Damage kept to a minmum in store/deli fire in Dunkirk...
Quick work by Dunkirk firefighters prevented serious damage to a store in the north county city yesterday afternoon. Chautauqua County Fire dispatchers say crews were called to 75 East Fifth St. about 5 p.m. for a reported fire in the basement area. Dunkirk fire officials put an initial call into Fredonia for mutual aid...but, they were sent back to station. Fire officials say the blaze was reportedly put out quickly... ad, they were at the scene about 45-minutes. No injuries were reported.
Regional AAA presents top awards to area police departments for Traffic Safety...
Nine area police departments... including three from Jamestown and Chautauqua County... have received AAA's highest-level Community Traffic Safety Awards for their efforts. AAA East Central's Safety Advisor, Terri Rae Anthony, presented the awards during their annual luncheon at the Olive Garden Restaurant in Lakewood. Anthony says each department received their Platinum Award... the top award they can receive. She says each department fills out an application for the award. The departments honored this year included: the Jamestown Police Department... Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office... and, New York State Police in Jamestown. Anthony says the departments work to eliminate or minimize aggressive driving, impaired driving... and bike and pedestrian safety. As for the proliferation of e-bikes and scooters in recent years... she says more dealing with their safety will hopefully be coming soon, because there are few laws on the books to deal with them right now. In addition to the departments in Chautauqua County... AAA also presented Platinum Awards to the Conewango, St. Mary's, Warren and Youngsville Police Departments... as well as the Warren County... and, Elk County Sheriff's Departments.
Dunkirk firefighters make quick work of store/deli fire in city...
Quick work by Dunkirk firefighters prevented serious damage to a store in the north county city of Dunkirk yesterday afternoon. Chautauqua County Fire dispatchers say crews were called to 75 East Fifth St. about 5 p.m. for a reported fire in the basement area. Dunkirk fire officials put an initial call into Fredonia for mutual aid...but, they were sent back to station. Fire officials say the blaze was reportedly put out quickly... and, they were at the scene about 45-minutes. No injuries were reported.
Hochul hints lower cost NYC Congestion toll program may be put in place soon...
A $15 toll -- possibly lowered to $9 -- on vehicles entering the busiest parts of New York City could be revived. That as the state's Democratic governor considers enacting the program before President-elect Donald Trump takes office and can block it. In the days since Trump's victory, Governor Kathy Hochul and her staff have been reaching out to state lawmakers to gauge support for resuscitating the plan -- known as "Congestion pricing" -- but, with a lower price tag. That from two people familiar with the outreach who spoke to The A--P on condition of anonymity because they were revealing private conversations. Hochul halted the plan to ease gridlock and pump billions into mass transit just weeks before it was set to launch this summer. All the costly infrastructure such as license plate readers was already in place. At the time, she said she worried it would cost motorists too much money, but it was also widely seen as a political move to help Democrats in closely watched congressional races in the city’s suburbs. Hochul long insisted the program would eventually reemerge... and, is now looking at the lower fee... and, a new internet sales tax or payroll tax to make up the money lost by lowering the fee.
