House fire in Silver Creek blamed on unattended stove catching nearby combustables on fire...
A kitchen stove burner left unattended caught triggered flames in nearby combustables... causing a house fire in the village of Silver Creek early last weekend. Sheriff's deputies say Silver Creek fire crews were called to the scene on Beachview Drive shortly before 3:30 p.m. last Saturday... along with other mutual aid companies. The county's Fire Investigation Team was called in once the fire was out... and, determined the burner had accidently caught the combustables on fire. No one was hurt... but, three pets had to be rescued.
Shrub fire next to County office building in Dunkirk quickly doused...
An early morning fire in the Dunkirk's Fourth Ward is under investigation. City firefighters were called shortly before 6:30 a.m. Saturday to a report of bushes on fire outside a building at 60-62 Franklin Avenue... which houses a Chautauqua County Certified Community Behavioral Health Center and County Probation offices. Fire Lieutenant Jason Kirell reports that crews found bushes and shrubs burning on the southwest corner of the building. Kirell says they used a hand line, tools and ventilation fans to put out the fire and clear light smoke conditions in a first-floor office. The fire was contained to exterior bushes with light smoke conditions inside the building. Firefighters were at the scene for about 45 minutes.
Clymer man arrested on drunk driving, weapons charges following police chase with UTV...
A Clymer man faces drunk driving, and weapons possession charges following a high speed chase involving his Utility Task Vehicle in the towns of Mina and French Creek. Sheriff's officers say they spotted the vehicle speeding on a public highway shortly after Midnight Sunday... and, activated their emergency lights in an effort to stop the UTV. However... the operator... later identified as 28 year-old Denton Holthouse... sped down several roads in an effort to evade officers. Deputies say Holthouse later entered an industrial farm and traveled down several dirt roads before becoming stuck. Officers say Holthouse was detained without further incident... and, he was allegedly found with an unregistered pistol inside the vehicle, which contained a high-capacity magazine. Following an investigation... deputies found he was intoxicated with a BAC level above a .18% and operating on a suspended driver's license. Holthouse was arrested for second-and-third-degree criminal possession of a weapon... first-degree cggravated unlicensed operation... aggravated DWI... unlawfully fleeing a police officer... and others. He was arraigned, and issued appearance tickets for Mina and French Creek Town Courts at a later date.
Comedy Center cuts ribbon on new exhibit of Joan Rivers' joke archives...
The more than 70,000 written jokes from late Comedian Joan Rivers are now on display at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown. However... Center Director Journey Gunderson began the ribbon cutting in Rivers' trademark way by saying "can we talk..." drawing laughter on it's own. The opening of the new exhibit took place last Saturday afternoon at the center... which is dedicated to preserving such material on everything from culture to sex. Gunderson says it was appropriate to do it now because what Joan Rivers did mirrors current times... because jokes are a vital force for challenging assumptions, and giving voice to those who don't have one. Joan River's daughter, Melissa, was unable to attend the ceremony due to a personal emergency... but, the daughter of one of Joan Rivers' contemporaries was on hand. The late George Carlin's daughter, Kelly, says it's exciting to the families of these comedy legends that there's somewhere to keep their legacies alive -- adding "Thank God this place is here." The ribbon cutting took place as part of the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival... which concluded Sunday.
Elected leaders forum at CHQ Chamber gathering talks natural gas, and future use of nuclear energy to power former NRG Plant...
Three of Chautauqua County's top-elected officials agree that micro-nuclear power could be the way to meet New York's energy needs in the future. However... they also agree that the former NRG Power Plant could be restarted using natural gas to meet current demand. During last Friday's CHQ Chamber Luncheon... County Executive P.J. Wendel said there are two turbines sitting idle at the Dunkirk facility... and, a region rich in natural gas. Wendel says there's enough natural gas in the region to power the plant for 15 years, or however long it takes to get a nuclear facility up and running. First-term State Assemblyman Andrew Molitor says the New York Independent System Operator is already predicting there's not enough capacity on the state's power grid to meet future energy demands. State Senator George Borrello says Governor Kathy Hochul has changed her tune on tapping into micro-nuclear because solar and wind won't be enough. All three lawmakers agree that restarting the NRG Plant would help provide more of the increasingly-needed power in New York state... and, would bring back needed revenues to the city of Dunkirk.
City woman faces Leandra's Law violation after being stopped for speeding, DWI...
A Jamestown woman faces a Leandra's Law violation after she was stopped for allegedly driving drunk when her speeding car struck a curb on the city's southside. Jamestown police say a patrol spotted the car shortly before 3 a.m. last friday... leaving the area of a business. They later conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Hazeltine Avenue and Myrtle Street, where the driver was identified as 28-year-old Jastic Anzalone, who had a child in the vehicle with her. Their investigation showed that Anzalone was driving while intoxicated... and, she was arrested for Felony DWI -- Leandra's Law... aggravated DWI -- with a blood alcohol content greater than ..18%... and, multiple traffic violations.
