Buffalo man sentenced to 15 years for being convicted Felon in possession of a firearm...
A repeat Felon from Buffalo will spend the next 15 years in state prison... and, faces another firearms indictment next month in Chautauqua County Court.  District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 39 year-old Dion Carr was was arrested during a traffic stop in Jamestown after city police found a 9-mm pistol on the floor of the car -- just under the driver's seat.  Carr pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon -- a Class C Violent Felony -- last April 11.  However... he failed to appear for sentencing... and, a warrant was issued for his arrest.  During that time... Carr was again arrested and charged with possessing a loaded firearm and narcotics by Jamestown police last Sept. 26.  He was indicted by the grand jury on new charges in January... and, those remain pending.  Carr was also sentenced to 5 years post-release supervision.  He'll be back in county court on April 28 on the new firearms indictment. 

Three men from Central America formally charged after being detained by ICE officials in Dunkirk...
Three Central American men have been formally charged after they were arrested late last month during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Dunkirk.  U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced that 29 year-old Hector Noel Soto-Villalta of Honduras... and, 39 year-old Isaias Fernando Diego-Lucas... and, 52 year-old Manuel Juan Mateo -- both of Guatamala -- were detained.  ICE officials say they spotted a man back on Feb. 24, leaving a home in Dunkirk, and get into the back seat of a vehicle... which was later stopped and the occupants questioned.  DiGiacomo says a records check showed that Soto-Villalta is a Honduran citizen and national living here illegally... and, he had previously been deported three times.  During questioning... he says Diego-Lucas provided a Guatemala ID card bearing the same name.  A records check determined that he is a citizen and national of Guatemala illegally residing in the U.S.  And... Mateo presented a permanent resident card which he told agents was real.  However... a subsequent check determined that the card was a fake.  All three appeared in U.S. District Court... and, were detained.

Dunkirk Treasurer's Office closed after subpeona is issued for ongoing investigation by state, and local D-A's Office...
The mayor of Dunkirk says the sudden closing of the Treasurer's Office at City Hall was done to preserve documents contained within the office as part of an open and ongoing investigation by the New York State Comptroller's Office... and, the Chautauqua County District Attorney's Office. During Tuesday's Common Council meeting... Mayor Kate Wdowiasz said the discovery of "questionable accounting practices" was brought to light through new policies, procedures, and oversight measures she implemented in order to "safeguard" public funds.  Wdowiasz says she is committed to transparency and accountability... and, will provide more details as the investigation progresses.

Second-annual Chautauqua Lake Symposium set for this Saturday...
County officials are reminding residents that the second-annual Chautauqua Lake Symposium will be held this coming Saturday at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron.  County Executive P.J. Wendel says the event is free... and, open to the pubiic... and, begins at 9 a.m.  Wendel says it's a great opportunity to hear from experts and community members about the health and future of the lake... with representatives from The Jefferson Project, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on hand to update residents.  The Army Corp is performing a Chautauqua Lake Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study... and, Wendel adds that a dedicated public question and answer session will be held to gather community input and address questions residents may have.  He says the Army Corps study... which is a multi-year initiative funded through a combination of federal and local resources... seeks to address critical aquatic impairments affecting the lake’s ecosystem.  Through a $3 million partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Pittsburgh... he says experts will assess strategies to restore aquatic ecosystems, improve water quality, and enhance recreational opportunities.  

Borrello announces co-sponsorship of bill to establish a "Commission on Government Efficiency" at state level...
There's legislation in Albany to create a New York State version of DOGE... othewise known on the federal level as the Department of Government Efficiency.  A bill recently introduced by State Senator Mark Walczyk from the North Country, would create a bipartisan Commission on Government Efficiency.  The legislation is co-sponsored by State Senator George Borrello, who says COGE would operate on the same principles as DOGE... in an effort to weed out "waste, fraud and abuse" on the state level.  He says attention has been called to it by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.  The Commission on Government Efficiency would be tasked with examining state spending, identifying unnecessary and wasteful expenditures, and issuing recommendations for eliminating inefficiencies. 

City man arrested on four child endangerment charges following domestic incident...
A Jamestown man has been arrested on multiple child endangerment charges following a domestic incident Monday night on the city's northside.  City police were called to the scene shortly before 10 p.m., and, found that 50 year-old Robert Ormsby had become disorderly... and, took away the victim's cellphone while they were trying to call 911.  Ormsby is also accused of making alarming comments to four children who were there during the incident.  He was arrested on four counts of endangering the welfare of a child... and, fourth-degree criminal mischief.  He was jailed pending arraignment.