Water Conservation Order in Ripley lifted after rains replenish water system...
Officials with Chautauqua County and the town of Ripley have announced that the water conservation order issued for Ripley Water District customers on Oct. 10 has now been lifted.  The good news was announced this afternoon by the County Health Department... which reports that town water operators have confirmed that the Ripley Reservoir has returned to near normal levels for this time of year, and the creek that flows into the reservoir is no longer dry.  With that... they say it's no longer necessary to conserve water.  Town Supervisor Lauree Pless says "the town would like to thank all of our customers for doing their part to conserve water while this order was in effect.  We would also like to thank all of the volunteer firefighters and companies that helped us with trucking water, and North East (Pa.) Township for allowing us to draw water from their system."  With that... residents may return to normal water use at this time. 

Man from Dunkirk sentenced to 15 years in prison for illegal possession of a gun...
A Dunkirk man convicted earlier this year of felony illegal possession of a handgun will spend the next 15 years in state prison -- the maximum allowed by law.  That from Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt... who has announced that 34 year-old Nathaniel Hollins received the sentence in county court late last week on one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon by a county jury.  In addition... Schmidt says Hollins will also be subject to five-years of post-release supervision.  Hollins was sentenced as a violent predicate felon for having more than one violent felony conviction within a certain time period.  Schmidt says Dunkirk Police had received a tip provided by their federal partners on Nov. 8 of 2023... and, arrest Hollins in the area of Webster Street in the north county city.  An FBI agent working with Dunkirk Police officers found a loaded handgun near the place Hollins was caught... and, Schmidt says a DNA analysis found that Hollins was in possession of the gun that day.  The jury rendered the guilty verdict on June 11.

Jamestown man accused of being in possession of drugs during traffic stop...
A city man is accused of being in possession of quatities of methamphetamine and fentanyl following a traffic stop on Jamestown's southside.  City police say they stopped a vehicle in the area of King and English Streets about 5 p.m. last Friday for multiple traffic infractions.  They identified the driver as Jarred Ristau... who they found had an outstanding warrant out of the Sheriff's Office.  Police took him into custody without incident... and, alleged found him in possession of methamphetamine.  Officers then searched the car turned up additional quantities of meth and fentanyl inside.  Ristau was arrested on two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  He was issued an appearance ticket for City Court... then turned over to the Sheriff's Office to answer to the outstanding warrant.

City man arrested for breaking victim's glasses, and choking them during a physical domestic incident...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly breaking another person's glasses... and, trying to choke them during a domestic incident on the city's southside.  Jamestown police say they were called to the unidentified location shortly before 4 p.m. last Friday... and, investigated.  Officers found that 23 year-old Michael Shafer had physically prevented the victim from leaving the residence before breaking the glasses... and, applying pressure to their neck.  Schafer was taken into custody without further incident for second-degree unlawful imprisonment... fourth-degree criminal mischief... and, criminal obstruction of breathing.  He was held pending arraignment.

Early voting in Chautauqua County draws more than 700 people to the polls...
Early voting for the upcoming general election continues the rest of this week after getting underway this past weekend.  That was the start of the nine-day early voting period that runs through Sunday, Nov. 2.  Here in Chautauqua County... Republican Elections Commissioner Nacole Ellis says there were 754 total votes cast this past Saturday and Sunday... with 488 submitting ballots on Saturday, and 266 on Sunday.  The four polling locations include the county's Board of Elections Offices on North Erie St., the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk, the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown... and the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood.  Ellis says early voters do not need to bring anything to cast their ballot... you just need to verify your home address.  She adds that voters can also preview their ballots by going to the County Board of Elections website at VoteChautauqua.com.  Hours for the four polling sites today and Tuesday are Noon until 8 p.m.... they're then 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.  They'll again be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday and Sunday.

City man arrested following domestic in front of two minor children...
A man from Jamestown has been arrested for allegedly getting involving in a physical altercation with another person in front of two minor children on the city's southside.  Jamestown police were called to the scene just before 7 p.m. Friday for a report of a "fight in progress."  Officers say they learned that 34 year-old Jamie Sheldon and the other person had gotten into a domestic dispute that became physical.  Police arrested Sheldon for two counts of endangering the welfare of a child... and, he was taken to the city jail pending arraignment.