City man arrested for violating order of protection, and assaulting victim...
A man from Jamestown has been arrested after allegedly violating an order of protection... and, assaulting the woman involved during a domestic incident on the city's westside.  Jamestown police were called to the unidentified location shortly after 2 a.m. Wednesday morning... and located 38 year-old Michael Hillman at the scene.  Officers say their investigation showed that Hillman had assaulted the victim... and, violated the court-order of protection.  In addition... they found he was wanted on an active warrant for violating the same order of protection.  Hillman was arrested for first-degree criminal contempt... aggravated criminal contempt... third-degree assault... and, on the warrant.  He was jailed pending arraignment.

No one hurt when hot-air balloon gets tangled in wires in Lakewood...
An unusual sight in the village of Lakewood early last evening... as a well-known hot air balloon got tangled in some power lines -- not far from Chautauqua Lake.  Lakewood-Busti Police and village firefighters were called to an address on Webster Street about 7:40 p.m.  National Grid also responded to assist with getting the "Jesus by the Sea" balloon off the wires.  Chautauqua County Fire dispatchers say no injuries were reported.  Crews were at the scene just over half-an-hour.  The balloon is owned by local enthusiast, Geoff Turner.

Borrello and GOP colleagues write to Hochul to return Medicaid Transportation program oversight to counties...
State Senator George Borrello and several of his Republican colleagues are urging Governor Kathy Hochul to return oversight of the Medicaid Transporation program to local counties.  The Sunset Bay Republican says the move would help end fraud in the program... which has seen "explosive cost increases and widespread fraud" since New York took over the program in 2011.  Borrello says Hochul needs to dismantle the state’s centralized Medicaid transportation broker model and return operational control and funding to county governments.  He says "Medicaid transportation used to be a local responsibility, run cost-effectively by counties that understood their communities.  Now it’s a billion-dollar boondoggle run by unaccountable brokers who answer to no one, while fraud is exploding and taxpayers are getting ripped off."  Borrello adds "this isn’t about politics -- it’s about protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring services are there for those who truly need them."  He says the lack of accountability in the program has been cited in the past by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli... and, has been a recent focus of the New York Attorney General’s office.

"Cents for St. Susan’s" campaign sets new record, bringing in over $36,000...
The yearly campaign to raise needed funds for Jamestown-area's largest soup kitchen has again broken a record.  Sponsors and other supporters of the 26th annual "Cents for St. Susan's" fund drive learned Tuesday morning that the effort had raised $36,330... exceeding last year's record amount by $928.  St. Susan's Executive Director Cherie Rowland thanked the community... and the drive's sponsors.  Even about three-years after the Pandemic... Rowland says "food insecurity" remains a problem... due largely to inflation and higher production costs.  Some of the sponsors included: Robinson Law Office... Boyles Motor Sales... Dan and Connie Evans... Kwik Fill... The Legend Group... Robbins and Johnson Attorneys... and, the Shults Auto Group.  The Board of Public Utilities' Becky Robbins heads up the campaign... which saw just over $1,900 raised by the more than 50 canisters placed around the area.  Rowland says St. Susan's has strived to be good stewards of the money... noting they are able to get a number of food items from local stores before it has to be discarded.  Rowland says they've been serving just over 200 meals each day this Summer to either the homeless... or people experiencing food insecurity.  The Media One Radio Group was again a media sponsor for the "Cents for St. Susan's" campaign.

United Way "Day of Caring" coming up in mid-August...
A one-day volunteering event benefiting nonprofits and school districts throughout Chautauqua County is scheduled for next month. The United Way of Chautauqua County invites individuals, community groups, and business teams to get involved with its inaugural "Day of Caring" on Fri., Aug. 15.  The event is being put on in partnership with Live CHQ.  United Way Executive Director Amy Rohler says volunteer registration is now available at several locations throughout the county... for either morning or afternoon.  Rohler says many locations to register are in the north county with some in the south end, and in Mayville.  Projects during the Day of Caring will last for three hours, with morning projects running from 9 a.m. to 12 Noon... and afternoon projects from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Rohler says each project is designed to help the organizations advance their missions.  Registration will run through Aug. 10.  For more information, visit the United Way's website, text "CaringCHQ" to 41444, or contact Eric Rinaldo at 483-1561.

City man arrested for theft at CVS store...
A man from Jamestown has been arrested for allegedly shoplifting merchandise... and, damaging property inside the CVS Store in Brooklyn Square.  City police say they were called to the scene at 19 South Main St. for a reported larceny.  Officers say they determined that 48 year-old Lawrence Gibbons had stolen items from the store and caused damage before leaving.  He was later found nearby... and arrested for petty larceny... and, fourth-degree criminal mischief.  Due to State Bail Reform... Gibbons was released with an appearance ticket for city court at a later date.