City lawmakers approve several end-of-year, financial related resolutions...
City lawmakers in Jamestown dealt with several year-end financial matters Monday night that had to be taken care of by the end of the year. Among those were just over $3.4-million dollars worth of project and insurance costs for 2024. City Council President Tony Dolce says all 22 resolutions were approved. Dolce says two sparked the most debate... one was for another $400,000 to replace the roof at City Hall. Dolce noted the contractor had to stop work at one point because an issue arose, and some design changes had to be made. He adds the other resolution of note was the city allocating $500,000 to help decomission and replace the Board of Public Utilities' gasoline and diesel refueling station on Steele Street. In the long run... he says that's less costly than filling up at a local, commercial station. Dolce says the money for each of those items will come from left-over American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds... which had to be commited by today -- New Year's Eve. About $2.3-million of the $3.4-million is for increased health insurance-related costs.
Hunting accident in town of Hanover sends Silver Creek man to Erie Co. Medical Center...
A hunting accident last Saturday morning in the town of Hanover sent a Silver Creek man to a Buffalo-area hospital with a severe leg wound. Sheriff's officers were called to the scene off Buffalo Road just after 10 a.m. for a deer hunter who suffered a gunshot wound. Deputies say 23 year-old Nicholas Stalker was hunting with 34 year-old Bobby Ackerman of Irving when Ackerman attempted to go down a steep hill when he fell to the ground causing his muzzleloader to accidentally discharge. They say Stalker, who was standing nearby, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. He was taken to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo for treatment. No charges have been filed.
Jamestown woman arrested for domestic incident, and resisting arrest...
A city woman has been arrested following a domestic incident... and, struggling with police... on Jamestown's southside early Sunday night. City police were called to the unidentified address shortly before 6 p.m., and, found that 43 year-old Erin Dale had damaged some property during the dispute. After being told she was under arrest... Dale allegedly tried to prevent officers from taking her into custody. She was arrested following a brief struggle for fourth-degree criminal Mischief... and, resisting arrest. Dale was jailed pending arraignment.
Westfield woman arrested for passing fake $100 bill at Ripley business...
A woman from Westfield has been arrested for allegedly using a phony $100 bill to make a purchase at a business in the town of Ripley early Sunday. Sheriff's officers were called to the Shortman Road location just after 7:30 a.m. on a report the woman had tried to pass the counterfeit bill at the business. Deputies say their investigation showed that 47 year-old Kimberly Ramey did receive some cash back from the purchase... which was stolen from the business. Ramey is charged with petty larceny and third-degree criminal possession of a forged Instrument... and, was issued appearance tickets for Ripley Town Court at a later date.
Rebranding of County Chamber to "CHQ Chamber" among top stories of 2024...
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce officially became theh ‘CHQ Chamber' last July. The re-branding was unveiled by President and Chief Executive Officer, Dan Heitzenrater, during a special program at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. More than 50 people gathered at RTPI to help launch the new name... which Heitzenrater says shows the chamber as it really is.. one fully-functional county wide organization, which he says will make it more effective. He says the new logo shows ‘CHQ’ in stylized letters with the word ‘chamber’ underneath. He says there are "moving lines" that highlight connections between business and the community. Heiztenrater called it an "exciting look for us." The CHQ Chamber got help in the re-branding from the ‘Mr. Smith Agency,’ a marketing and branding firm based in Buffalo.
Government, law enforcement express shock and outrage over beating death of Marcy Correctional Facility inmate...
Both government and law enforcement officials across New York state are expressing shock and outrage at the beating death of a Marcy Correctional Facility inmate last week. Among them are Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone, who shared a statement from the "Sheriff's of New York State" late last week. It says they are "shocked, like any rational person is, by the actions of State Corrections Officers at Marcy Correctional Facility which led to the death of Robert Brooks, as revealed by body camera footage (that's been) released. No human being should be treated that way by another human being. This situation is made even worse by the fact that the extreme cruelty was inflicted by those entrusted with the power of government, against those they were entrusted
to guard and protect." It further says "the job of a Corrections Officer is difficult, making those who join the field part of a distinct group of law enforcement professionals who are entrusted to uphold all state laws while facing understaffing and forced overtime hours." However... they add that recent state laws have banned virtually all discipline... and, that has emboldened many inmates during that time.
