Dunkirk man sentenced to seven-years in prison for guilty plea to weapons possession...
A Dunkirk man has been sentenced to seven-years in state prison and five years post-release supervision after pleading guilty to being in possession of a firearm as a predicate Felon. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt has announced that 35 year-old Jesus Aponte-Rosario was sentenced Monday to the determinate term in County Court. Schmidt says Aponte-Rosario pled guilty to the charge back on Jan. 15. Schmidt thanked Dunkirk police and the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force for their hard work on the case.
Panama man arrested after drugs found in his home...
A man from Panama faces several drug-related charges following a parole check... which led to a raid on his residence a short time later. Sheriff's officers say the narcotics were allegedly found at the 9 School St. home of 37 year-old James Chase. Parole officials called in deputies, and Dunkirk police... who then obtained a search warrant. Officers say they seized 30.5-grams of methamphetamine... one-gram of fentanyl... and, scales and packaging material for the distribution of narcotics. Deputies charged Chase with one count each of third, fourth and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the county jail pending Centralized Arraignment.
Legislature approves renewing added 1% sales tax after 45-minute debate...
After further review... Chautauqua County's additional 1% sales tax will remain in place once it's approved by New York state. That after the county legislature voted along party-lines Wednesday night to request it's continuation for the next two years. Democrats pushed for a lower rate of .75% of a percent... while majority Republicans wanted to keep it where it currently. Their main argument was that state and federal aid is in question due to federal cuts by the Trump Administration. Fredonia Republican Robert Scudder says the county is antcipating receiving just over $38-million in federal aid. The county has about a $40-million surplus right now. Scudder also said that local municipalities received nearly 40% of total sales tax revenues by the county. However... Jamestown Democrat Tom Nelson read from a recent, Post-Journal editorial that says the county already has a large surplus and could absorb slightly lower sales tax, and sharing more with local municipalities. The editorial was critical of the legislature approving raises for themselves last year... but, also "hoarding" a $40-million surplus. Some other GOP legislators felt that with both federal and state funding up in the air... they didn't want to draw down the fund balance any more than is already allocated for 2025. The resolution to keep the 1% sales tax was approved, 14-5. Democrat Fred Larson's proposal to reduce it to .75% was then ruled "out of order."
Wendel highlights 2024 accomplishments, looks ahead to rest of 2025 in State of County Address...
Chautauqua County is "on the rise..." and the county's top-elected official says he's optimistic that the moment will carry through 2025. County Executive P.J. Wendel highlighted those efforts during his annual State of the County Address at last night's legislature meeting in Mayville. During the half-hour long speech... the Lakewood Republican outlined three main goals for this year... boosting local economic development, enhancing infrastructure... and, promoting "sustainable county growth." Wendel noted the investment in Wells Enterprises in Dunkirk... and, the opening of Wicked Warren's in Jamestown -- among others. To further economic growth... he pointed to two new "shovel-ready" industrial sites. One is a 40-acre site in the Mason Industrial Park in the town of Ellicott... and, the other is the 150-acres being developed in the town of Ripley. Wendel also touted efforts to bring new businesses, and people here through the Live CHQ and Choose CHQ websites to stem the county's decline in population. There were some other new initiatives... including creation of a new "local municipal fund" to help spur more municipal mergers and consolidations... which he says would be strictly voluntary. Another new initiative proposed by Wendel was the forming of a committee to look into developing micro-nuclear energy here.
City man arrested for allegedly violating order of protection...
A Jamestown man has been arrested after allegedly banging on the wall of an apartment and yelling at a person who has an order of protection against him. City police say they were called to a southside apartment house just after 3 a.m. Friday and investigated. Officers determined that 40 year-old Juan Rivera had violated the "stay-away" order... and, he was found in a neighboring apartment. Police say -- after being placed into custody and while walking through the common hallway of the building -- Rivera allegedly kicked at the victim's apartment door and yelled at them again. He was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal contempt... and resisting arrest. He was held pending arraignment.
Stefanik withdrawn as nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations...
A member of New York's Congressional delegation has had her name withdrawn from consideration as the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. It's a stunning turnaround for President Donald Trump's Cabinet pick, Elise Stefanik, after her confirmation had been stalled over concerns about Republicans' tight margins in the House of Representatives. Trump confirmed the decision in a Truth Social post on Thursday, saying that it was "essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress."
