Man killed in Mina following domestic call in officer-involved shooting...
A middle-aged man is dead... and, a Chautauqua County Sheriff's officer was wounded after the exchanged gunfire during an incident in the town of Mina. Sheriff Jim Quattrone says two deputies were called to a domestic incident on the Mina-French Creek Road shortly after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday... and, were met by a middle-aged man holding a shotgun... and, pointing it at the officer. Quattrone says that officer ordered the man to put down the gun... but, he refused. He adds the deputy tried -- several times -- to de-escalate the situation, but, to no avail. Quattrone says fire rescuers from Clymer... Sherman... and, Findley Lake responded... along with State Police... county EMS... and, the state Attorney General's Office. He says the A.G.'s office will always send an investigator to take part in the probe into any officer-involved shooting. Quattrone says the deputy was taken for treatment to an Erie, Pa., where he was expected to be treated and released. He says the entire incident took only minutes to transpire. No names have been released.
More information released on incident in which a boy on a bike is struck by a truck...
An 11 year-old boy remains in critical condition after his bicycle was stuck by a pick-p truck on Willard Street in Jamestown -- near the intersection with Kinney -- early yesterday afternoon. City police and firefighters were called to the scene about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday... and, Alstar Ambulance was called in to rush the boy to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital. He was soon after flown to Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo. Police are investigating the accident... along with the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department Accident Reconstruction Team. Investigators say all parties are cooperating with the investigation... and no charges have been filed against the driver at this time.
Kiantone man arrested on nearly 70 counts of littering...
A man from the town of Kiantone faces 68 counts of throwing trash on highways and adjacent lands for allegedly throwing out whip cream cans on an "on-going" basis. Sheriff's deputies say they conducted an investigation... and, arrested 34 year-old Mackenzie Tray last Sat., June 14. Officers say they charged Tray with one count of third-degree criminal tampering... and the 68 counts of throwing refuse. He was issued appearance tickets for Kiantone Town Court at a later date.
Borrello says there were some good items passed in state legislative session... but, lawmakers missed the mark on others...
The New York State Senate has wrapped up its legislative session for the year... and, while there were some worthy bills that passed with bipartisan support, lawmakers missed chances to improve the state's quality of life and make it more affordable. That from State Senator George Borrello, who says the $254-billion spending plan that was passed in early May does not offer "meaningful relief" for small businesses. The Sunset Bay Republican says Democrats in Albany pushed policies that ignored the "real needs" of New Yorkers... with more attacks on public safety -- including state corrections facilities. He adds a new version of the HEAT Act is no better than the original in transitioning the state from natural gas to electricity. Borrello says some of the positives that came out of the session included... addressing the state's unemployment insurance deficit and okaying a ban on smartphones in schools. Borrello says other disappointments in this year's session included Democrats refusing to roll back sanctuary policies, rejecting efforts to close a loophole in the state's drugged driving laws... and, approving a $13.7 million loan for the city of Dunkirk that he says would add to the city's debt without addressing "dysfunction" by the city.
Molitor opposed revised HEAT Act...
Chautauqua County's representative in the New York State Assembly has raised concerns about a rebranded version of a bill that would transition the state away from natural gas to electricity. The Customer Savings and Reliability Act was approved in the Senate last week and awaits action in the lower chamber. Assemblyman Andrew Molitor says the legislation is as "reckless" as the original HEAT Act, and would be costly for local residents and businesses. Molitor says he believes the assembly and senate both held off on voting on the measure until the end of session when they might be able to "sneak it through." If passed... Molitor says it would lead to issues with the state's electrical grid because the infrastructure to meet that demand is not in place yet. He adds that the legislation would also repeal a rule that requires utilities to extend gas service to new customers within 100 feet of an existing gas main at no direct cost to the customer. While the Assembly has not acted on the legislation as of Monday evening... Molitor says the lower chamber did vote to repeal the 100-foot rule.
City man arrested for allegedly trying to steal coins from vaccum machine at car wash...
A man allegedly trying to steal coins in a vacuum machine in Jamestown's Brooklyn Square has been arrested after extensively damaging the machine. City police were called to the EZ Clean Car Wash at 17 West Harrison St. just before 2:30 a.m. Wednesday on a report of the attempted theft. Officers say they saw 25 year-old William Gardner trying to pry open the machine in an effort to get to the money. Gardner was arrested for third-degree criminal mischief... and, jailed pending arraignment.
