Man from Westfield arrested on child porn charges following lengthy investigation...
A Westfield man has been arrested following a several month-long investigation into alleged possession and promotion of internet-based child pornography. The Sheriffs' Department's Criminal Investigation Division initiated the probe into 25 year-old Nicholas Neal back in March... and, he was arrested Tuesday afternoon... and, his devices were seized. Further investigation... and, the use of search warrants... led investigators to find a large quantity of images portraying obscene sexual performances by children. Neal was arrested at his home... and, charged with one count of promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child... and, 10 counts of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child. Deputies say Neal was taken to the Chautauqua County Jail for centralized arraignment... and, he'll answer for his charges in State Supreme Court in Mayville. The Sheriff’s Office states it remains committed to protecting children from online exploitation and holding offenders accountable. They work closely with local, state, and federal partners through the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in utilizing advanced technology and any available investigative resources to identify, track, and arrest those who target children online.
Silver Creek man arrested for DWI after his motorcycle crashed last month in north county village...
A man from Silver Creek has now been arrested for drunk driving following a motorcycle accident that sent him to a Buffalo-area hospital. Sheriff's deputies say 57 year-old David Babcock, Junior was operating the bike in the north county village on the morning of Monday, Sept. 22 when he crashed. Babcock was taken to the Erie County Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. Further investigation led to officers determining that he was operating the bike while drunk. Babock is charged with DWI... failure to keep right... moving from lane unsafely... and, operating out of class. He was issued appearance tickets for Hanover Town Court at a later date.
Ferguson says water conservation order remains in effect, but, hopefully not much longer...
Fredonia water customers remain under a water conservation order amid the ongoing drought... but, conditions appear to have improved in the Fredonia Reservoir. That from Mayor Mike Ferguson... who says the water level in the reservoir has risen by a couple of inches in the last couple of days. However... it's still about 8 inches below the spillway. Ferguson adds that he doesn't expect the conservation order to last much longer... especially if the area receives the 2 to 4 inches of rain in the next few days from a Lake Effect system that's been predicted. The National Weather Service in Buffalo is forecasting that rain to be in the area through Friday. Ferguson adds that village residents have helped "a lot" by following the conservation order. He says people have been avoiding washing their cars... and watering their lawns. Ferguson adds that Village Emergency Manager Joshua Myers is working on contingency plans in case the area don't get enough rain. Most of Western New York, including Chautauqua County, remains under a drought warning from the State Department of Environmental Conservation.
City of Jamestown to file new application for DRI funding...
It's been a decade since the city of Jamestown applied for... and, was one of the first communities in New York state to receive a $10-million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant. With that time passage... the city is now eligible to apply for the program again... and, the Department of Development in preparing to submit a new proposal on Nov. 7. Finance Committee Chairman Brent Sheldon led the discussing during Monday night's City Council Work Session... saying the DOD is looking at improvements to the Brooklyn Square and riverfront areas... and, some downtown businesses. The resolution to be voted on next week would also outline strategies for promoting and connecting waterfront activity along the Chadakoin River. Sheldon says another regional city -- Olean in Cattaraugus County -- recently unveiled what their DRI did for their downtown area. A few of the projects from the first DRI program... which took place under the Teresi administration... were wrapped the past 2 to 3 years. The north county city of Dunkirk has also been awarded a $10-million DRI Grant.
Rousch highlights revenues from fire department's second ambulance, and program...
More revenues are coming in from the Jamestown Fire Department's second ambulance... but, that revenue has not been consistant. That from City Fire Chief Ryan Rousch when discussing revenues that his department has brought in during the course of 2025. During Monday night's budget session at City Hall... Rousch told the City Council that they had brought in just over $272,000 through insurance billing from both ambulances through mid-October. With this year's trends... Rousch says City Comptroller Ericka Thomas noted they were on pace to collect just under $340,000 from the program.
