City Council committee approves nearly $29-million in borrow by BPU for three major projects...
The Jamestown City Council will vote next week on a pair of bonding resolutions for new projects at the Board of Public Utilities. Council Finance Committee Chairman Brent Sheldon says the panel first approved the BPU borrowing $1.65-million for two projects... one of them being improvements to the Wastewater Treatment plant... and construction of a new gasoline/diesel fueling station. Sheldon says $900,000 off the bond will go for the Wastewater Treatment plan... and the other $750,000 will be for the new, gasoline/diesel fueling station to replace the old one. He says the city has already approved chipping in $500,000 in ARPA funding for that project. Sheldon says the Finance Committee also approved allowing the BPU to borrow up to $27-million for a new water pump station... which will include a new tank, and hydro-chloronation station... along with a generator and electric service. He says the committee also approved that measure. Sheldon adds that BPU General Manager Dave Leathers spoke to lawmakers in some detail about the measures two weeks ago.
Local Catholic administrator expresses surprise, loss... with passing of Pope Francis...
Catholics across the U-S... and, here in the Jamestown-area... are mourning the loss of Pope Francis, who passed away early Monday morning at The Vatican. It came as a jolt to many because the Pope had appeared to the faithful for Easter Services, and a ride around St. Peter's Square in Rome Sunday. The Pope was being hospitalized for double pneumonia for two months before his recent release... and, Father Paul Cygan, administrator for Holy Apostles Parish in Jamestown, was among those surprised by the news. Cygan says he saw some of the video clips of Francis' meeting with Vice-President JD Vance... and, from him being at the Easter Sunday Mass... and, thought he was on the mend. Cygan says seeing the Holy Father pass away is like losing a grandfather, or someone else in the family. Frances was often regarded as "The People's Pope..." because of his willingness to visit and speak to the downtroden. Father Cygan says the pope made that a focus of the "Year of Jubilee" during Francis' third-year. Father Cygan heads up five perishes in Western New York... including Holy Apostles in the Jamestown-area. He says the parishes will put up black and white buntings... and, be open for people for special prayers during the period of mourning for Pope Francis.
Fredonia woman arrested for allegedly taking more than $27,000 in SNAP benefits she wasn't entitled to...
A north county woman is accused of bilking the U.S. Supplimental Nutrition Assistance Program... otherwise known as SNAP... out of $27,000 in benefits. The Sheriff's Office reports they arrested 30 year-old Tifanny Pratt of Fredonia Monday on six counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing... third-degree welfare fraud... misuse of food stamps... and, third-degree grand larceny. Deputies say their Criminal Investigation Division... along with the county's Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services Program Integrity Unit... and, the District Attorney’s Office... found from May of 2022 through January 2025... Pratt filed multiple SNAP applications with the Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services... and, failed to disclose income resources when she filed the SNAP applications. With that... she received the more than $27,000 SNAP benefits she was not entitled to. She was arraigned and issued an appearance ticket to appear in Fredonia Village Court. If you know of suspected welfare fraud or food stamp misuse should be reported by calling the hotline 1-800-388-5365.
Distracted driving blamed for rollover crash in Cattaraugus County...
Distracted driving is being blamed for a one-car rollover crash that injured one person in the Cattaraugus County town of Dayton. Sheriff's officers in Little Valley say the unidentified driver was traveling on Route 353 just after 1 p.m. last Sunday when he looked down at his GPS... and, was unable to navigate a turn in the road. Deputies say the car went onto the shoulder and almost into a ditch. While trying to steer back onto the roadway... officers say the driver lost control and the car slid into the oncoming lane of traffic and rolled onto the roof. The driver was taken to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo for treatment of minor injuries.
Jamestown woman arrested following eastside domestic incident...
A Jamestown woman has been arrested following a domestic incident on the city's eastside in which she threw a cellphone at a window. Jamestown police say they were called to the location shortly before 10 p.m. last Tuesday... and, found that 22 year-old Selena Santiago had gotten into the argument, and threw the phone... breaking it and the window. Santiago was arrested for fourth-degree criminal mischief... and, was held pending arraignment.
