Rushdie takes stand in case against Hadi Matar, the New Jersey man accused of trying to kill him...
Author Salman Rushdie took the stand on the second-day of the attempted murder trial of the New Jersey man accused of stabbing him multiple times two years ago on the amphitheater stage at Chautauqua Institution. The trial of 27 year-old Hadi Matar began with opening statements, and witness testimony Monday to lay the groundwork for the prosecution's star witness. Rushdie discussed the masked attacker as rushing the stage without warning... and, hitting him several times. He soon after realized he was being stabbed when he fell on the stage in a pool of his own blood. The Post-Journal reports that Public Defender Ned Barone did not give the defense's statement Monday because he was hospitalized over the past day with an illness. The Assistant Public Defender asked for a delay... but, Chautauqua County Court Judge David Foley said the defense should be ready regardless... and, he ruled they were moving ahead. Matar faces several state charges in the case... including second-degree attempted murder, after allegedly running onto the stage at Chautauqua and attacking Rushdie. Rushdie suffered permanent injuries in the incident... including the loss of an eye.
City officials say they have verbal agreement with state DOT on doing half of the emergency patching of potholes on East 2nd Street...
The New York state Department of Transportation has agreed to go "halves" with the city of Jamestown in doing emergency patching on East Second Street. The state road has been plagued this Winter with numerous potholes... ruts and other deterioration from freeze-thaw cycles. That from City Council Public Works Committee Chairman Randy Daversa... who says a DOT crw was on-scene Monday. Daversa says, if the city did it alone, would be costly and use up a lot of manpower. Acting Public Works Director Mark Roetzer says DOT officials were agreeable to having them do half the work on the thoroughfare... which has been the focus of numerous complaints in recent weeks. However... he says this is a temporary solution to get the street to the start of the DOT's major, reconstruction of the roadway. Mayor Kim Ecklund says while the city is required to handle the basic "maintenance" of East Second Street... the state is responsible for any total reconstruction of the road. Ecklund says the "maintenance" end of the street only allows the city to cold patch potholes temporarily... and, keep the street plowed.
City Council reviewing new Local Preservation Ordinance...
The Jamestown City Council is reviewing a proposed, Local Preservation Ordinance that was recently put on the agenda for two of the council's standing committees. The new ordinance was recently discussed, and tabled by the council's Housing and Public Safety Committees last week. It would include a new, city Preservation Board, which hasn't yet been established. With a number of historic buildings already being used in the city... the question was raised about how much input business leaders and landlords would have. Council Housing Commitee Chairman Bill Reynolds says the city's principal planner, Ellen Shadle, will talk with the Planning Commission at it's meeting next week. The ordinance is currently more than 40-pages long. However... City Development Director Crystal Surdyk says it's not meant to be restrictive for such things as window replacement. Surdyk says there would be no restrictions if improvements are paid for by the owner or developer themself. She says having a designation is needed to receive state or federal funding for a project involving that structure. The creation of new historic districts or amendments to existing historic districts would reportedly have to go through review by the city’s principal planner... a preservation board... the Planning Commission and the City Council. Reynolds agreed with resident Peter Miraglia's comments that the proposal needs more input from property owners.
Rollover accident in town of Poland sends woman to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital...
A woman from Falconer had to be treated at a local hospital for injuries suffered when her car went off Route 394 in the town of Poland Monday morning and rolled over. Sheriff's deputies say they were called to the location shortly after 9 a.m., and, located the driver, 36 year-old Amanda Wickstrom, at the scene. Officers say they found that Wickstrom failed to negotiate a curve... and, the vehicle went off the roadway and overturned. Wickstrom was evaluated at the scene and taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital for further treatment. She was issued appearance tickets for Poland Town Court at a later date.
Altercation in North County leads to several charges against town of Pomfret man...
A north county man faces numerous charges... including menacing and weapons possession... following an altercation in the town of Villanova Sunday morning. Sheriff's officers were joined by State Police in Fredonia in responding to the location on Route 83 about 10:30 a.m. They made contact with the suspect... 20 year-old Tucker Bauer of Pomfret... on arrival. Following an investigation... Bauer was arrested for second-degree harassment and menacing... fourth-degree criminal mischief... fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon... second-degree strangulation and, unlawful imprisonment... and, endangering the welfare of a child. He was taken to the county jail pending centralized arraignment.
