The Jamestown-area under the gun for severe weather -- including high wind and hail -- this afternoon...
It appears there will be two waves of severe weather coming through Western New York... and, Chautauqua County... as we go through the day today. There are no watches or warnings at this time... however... the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center is continuing to say we are under an "enhanced severe weather risk." Late this morning... Forecaster Liz Jurkowski in Buffalo said the initial wave of storm cells will move in early this afternoon between 1 and 2 p.m. Jurkowski says the second wave, along with a cold front, will move in between 3 and 5 p.m... and, the severe weather should be out of the area by about 9 p.m. o'clock tonight. She says... with this severe weather...comes the likelyhood of heavy rain and damaging wind gust of up to 60 mph. She adds there's also a lesser risk of damaging hail, and a tornado or two. Jurkowski says the worst of the severe weather will be away from Lake Erie. Temperatures had already reach the low 70s in parts of the Jamestown-area by mid-morning today... and, that will help spark the severe weather later. Jurkowski says the first wave of severe weather will be in advance of an approaching cold front... and, that front will move into our area during the second wave late this afternoon.
City Council approves new, four-year contract agreement with police union...
The Jamestown City Council has unanimously approved a new, four-year contact agreement with the union representing the city's police officers. Lawmakers voted last night, 7-0, to adopt the agreement with Councilmen Bill Reynolds, and Jeff Russell, abstaining from the vote because they're retired policemen. City Council President Tony Dolce says he's pleased to see the mediated agreement in place... adding that lawmakers feel it's a "fair contract" that keeps the city within what other similar communities are paying to "keep us competitive." Dolce says there are salary increases of between 2% and 4% for each year of the contract through the year 2028. The Kendall Club-Police Benevolent Assocation ratified the new agreement earlier. However... he agreed with both Reynolds and Russell that sooner... rather than later... consolidating departments with neighboring communities have to happen. With the Kendall Club-PBA contract completed... Dolce says the Ecklund Administration can now focus on a new fire department, public works and other outstanding contracts that need to be put in place.
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City lawmakers last night also approved two resolutions... one for just over $27-million for a new, Board of Public Utilities Pump House Station... and, $1.65-million for upgrades in other areas. The Council did reject a proposal to contract with a production company for a production of "Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid" for $30,000. The vote was 3-6.
Woman from Falconer arrested for alleged DWI crash...
A Falconer woman escaped injury... but, faces an aggravated drunk driving charge following a one-car accident on Jamestown's eastside early Sunday morning. City police say they were called to the scene in the area of Allen and Scioto Streets just after 2:30 a.m., and, found a street sign in the roadway, a damaged telephone pole and tire skid marks leading to a damaged vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway. Officers say they made contact with the driver... 43 year-old Carolyn Shields... who was in the driver'S seat. During their investigation... police found that Shields had been driving while under the influence. She was taken into custody for Aggravated DWI... because her blood alcohol content was about three-times the legal limit. She also faces a second DWI charge... and was issued appearance tickets for city court.
County's Office for Aging Services urges local senior to write to federal and state leaders about importance of senior programs in the county...
There are a number of changes being made... and, or being contemplated by federal and state lawmakers for senior programming in the future. With that... it's important for Chautauqua County's nearly 40,000 seniors to make their voices heard on what's important to them. That from County Office for Aging Services Director Dana Corwin, who is working to mobilize the county's seniors to call or contact their local representatives... and, if you don't know how to do that, she says contact their office... or call the NY Connects number at (716) 753-4582. Corwin says it's important to let lawmakers know the importance of programs like Chautauqua Adult Day Care, Meals on Wheels, and others. She adds that a lot of those programs... thanks to state and federal funding... are free to qualified seniors in the county. She says key lawmakers are U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand... Congressman Nick Langworthy... and, State Senator George Borrello, and State Assemblyman Andrew Molitor. Corwin made her comments for last weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the six Media One Radio Group stations.
