City woman to spend a dozen years in federal prison for trafficking of a minor...
A woman from Jamestown has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced Tuesday that 27 year-old Jasmin Osteen, received the 144 month sentence from U.S. District Judge John Sinatra, Jr. Prosecutors say that ... between August and October 2020... Osteen conspired with others to coerce two 17-year-old minors to engage in commercial sex acts. Osteen transported the minor victims to a hotel in Buffalo, where they were supplied with alcohol and drugs. Ross says Osteen then contacted various clients, who each engaged in commercial sex acts with minor victims. Osteen used Facebook to arrange for the commercial sex acts, and then received a majority of the proceeds.
City Council talks potholes, street conditions on East Second Street...
There's no doubt it's been an old-fashioned Winter... and, with a couple of freeze-thaw cycles...it's wreaked havoc on local roadways. In the city of Jamestown... there are potholes and ruts in many places... but, the worst by far are on East Second Street. That's a state highway... and, Mayor Kim Ecklund says they've been in touch with state lawmakers from the area... and, the Department of Transportation to speed up the DOT's major reconstruction job there. She says it's a big project that's slated to begin later this year. However... since it is a state road... and, we are in the middle of Winter... options for dealing with the street's condition is limited right now. Acting City Public Works Director Mark Roetzer has been out of town... but, should return today... and, Ecklund plans to talk with him about the matter. City Councilman Randy Daversa... who is retired from the Public Works Department... says until the asphalt plant is opened this Spring... they can only put cold patch into the holes. Daversa says some limited milling, and hot patching could be done in the spring before the project is bidded out. However... he says final milling and paving may not take place this year.
Fredonia boil water order remains in effect...
At last word... the boil water order in the village of Fredonia remains in effect... and, likely will until at least late tonight. That from Mayor Mike Ferguson... who says work was being done Tuesday to install the necessary parts to repair a blown pipe that caused a disruption in the chlorination system at the water treatment plant. Ferguson says once those are done... you're still looking at two consecutive days of testing to make sure the water is good. While Fredonia water customers will need to boil their water for drinking and cooking, Ferguson says the water is still okay for showering or doing laundry.
Molitor co-sponsors bill to allow schools to "opt out" of Electric Bus mandate...
A new bill in Albany would give school districts the option to opt out of New York State's zero-emission school bus mandate. The measure was announced during a press conference this week featuring the Assembly and Senate GOP conferences and a number of school superintendents. The legislation is co-sponsored by Assemblyman Andrew Molitor. He calls the measure a "common sense" fix, saying that many parts of the state are unable to comply with the mandate... and, it may keep them from competing in sports or other programs elsewhere in the state. Molitor... a Westfield Republican.... adds that current electric vehicle technology has not caught up with what the state wants... and, he says diesel buses are still much cheaper, and more reliable. Molitor also noted that while the electric bus mandate for schools starts in 2027... New York's state-owned vehicles are not mandated to convert to all electric until 2040.
Two former lawmakers in Jamestown, and Chautauqua County, have passed away...
We have a couple of passings to note... a former long-time member of the Chautauqua County Legislature... and, past chairman... has died. Lance Spicer... a native of Falconer... died suddenly on Jan. 26 at Olean General Hospital at the age of 81. He was an Ellicott Town Councilman before being elected to the legislature in 1978. Lance was chairman from 1990 to 1995... and, chaired several committees. He retired in 2008. He was also a member of the Jamestown Community College Board of Trustees... and, also served as chairman for a time. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Falconer Funeral Home where the famillly will receive friends fro 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.
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And... former Jamestown public works employee and City Councilman George Spitale passed away at his home at the age of 77. He worked for the DPW from 1969 to 2002. He was elected to the City Council in 2005 and served until retiring in 2015. The funeral for George Spitale was held yesterday in the Lind Funeral Home in Jamestown.
