Firefighters from four departments contain West Ellicott house fire to kitchen area...
An electrical issue is listed as the cause of a house fire that damaged the kitchen area of a home in West Ellicott -- near the Jamestown city line -- last evening. Celoron Fire Chief Tim Nelson says his department... and others... were called to the scene at 22 Columbia Ave. just after 7 p.m., and, found heavy smoke and fire coming through the roof. Nelson says he had Jamestown firefighters battle the flames from the back of the home... and, Busti and Lakewood also responded. He adds County EMS, and Ellicott Town Police also assisted. Nelson expressed his appreciation for all the mutual aid help... and, says it took about half-an-hour to bring the flames under control. He says the house appears repairable... with fire damage mainly confined to the kitchen area. No one was hurt in the fire. Celoron crews were at the scene about two hours.
Sherman woman arrested for alleged Arson fire...
A Sherman woman has been arrested after allegedly setting fire to a barn following a dispute with another person late Sunday night in Sherman. Sheriff's officers were called to the scene on Bailey Hill Road shorty after 10:30 p.m. for a reported structure fire. Deputies say their investigation showed that 21 year-old Susan Hostetler had set the arson fire... and, she was found a short time after they arrived. No one was hurt. Hostetler was arrested for third-degree arson and second-degree criminal mischief. She was issued appearance tickets for Sherman Town Court.
STEL Development Dir. presents $77-million Gateway Lofts project update to City Council...
The Jamestown City Council had plenty of questions for one of the people involved in development of the Gateway Lofts affordable housing project at the former Chautauqua Hardware building on Water Street. Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL) Development Director Steve Ald made a presentation to lawmakers at Monday night's work session... noting that the proposal was first made in 2017... and, mainly involves 110 apartment dwellings. He says most will be one bedroom apartments... with about 40-percent being used by clients of STEL. Ald says the project has increased in cost from $42-million to $77-million. Councilman Bill Reynolds says he been asked mostly about why each apartment would cost about $700,000 to construct. Ald says there are a number of reasons... including the need for potential space for a pharmacy... a credit union... and, BOCES program space. He says there are also remediation costs for contaminated soil at the site... along with lead and asebestos. Ald says he'll get more specific information from the general contractor about the cost per apartment. He adds STEL would staff the facility, and have security 24/7 during the week. The City Council will vote next week on providing $640,000 in HOME funding for the project.
Wendel says "State of Chautauqua Lake" is good -- right now...
The current "State of Chautauqua Lake" is good... but, that could change once we get into the summer months. That from County Executive P.J. Wendel... who says there was much more ice cover on the lake this past Winter... which is a change from the past few years. In the past... that's usually mean the invasive weed growth is slower because less sun is getting to the bottom of the lake. Wendel says one trend officials and researchers have noticed is things have been happening a month earlier than previously. He says curly pond leaf used to peak on the lake around July 4... but, it's been showing up earlier... and, dying off earlier. Wendel adds that Chautauqua Institution... which gets it's water from the lake... has seen lake turn-over taking place a month earlier that in the past. He says they've also learned that... through a demonstration project in the north basin... that cutting weeds sooner is better. Wendel says that leaves less bio-mass on the bottom of the lake, and produces less seedlings. In response to a question during Saturday's program... an official with The Jefferson Project said they have not bee prioritizing the north basin in recent times. He says they currently have their sensor... weather... and, monitoring stations situated in both ends of the lake.
Sinclairville woman arrested for drug possession during traffic stop in Jamestown...
A Sinclairville woman has been arrested for being in possession of hydrocodone during a traffic stop last Saturday night on Jamestown's westside. City police say they stopped a vehicle in the area of Cherry and West Seventh Streets shortly after 8 p.m., and, found that 58 year-old Sally Johnson was in illegal possession of the narcotic drug. Johnson was arrested for seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, due to bail reform... she was booked and released with an appearance ticket.
County Jail inmate arrested for damaging electric tablet belonging to the jail...
An inmate at the Chautauqua County Jail is accused of intentionally damaging an electric tablet in the jail earlier this month. Sheriff's officers say 47 year-old Joseph Cohen of Euclid Avenue in Jamestown was found to have damaged the tablet back on Mar. 12... and, he was charged with third-degree criminal mischief -- a Felony -- and he was arraigned at a later time on the new charge.
