City woman arrested on four Leandra's Law violations following Monday crash in Jamestown...
A woman from Jamestown has been arrested for allegedly driving drunk when her car crashed with four young children inside her vehicle on the city's southside. Jamestown police say they were called to the scene at Baker and Chapman Streets just after 3 p.m. Monday... and spoke with the drivers involved. Officers say the driver at fault was identified as 42 year-old Christina Blair... and, they determined she was driving while intoxicated. Blair was arrested... and, submitted to a chemical breath test... and, was found to have a blood alchool content more than twice the legal limit. She was charged with DWI... Aggravated DWI... four counts of Aggravated DWI with a child in the vehicle -- all violations of Leandra's Law... and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child... along with multiple traffic infractions. She was jailed pending arraignment.
Trio of city residents arrested on drug charges following traffic stop on northside...
Three people from Jamestown have been arrested for alleged drug possession following a traffic stop on the city's northside last Sunday night. Jamestown police say a patrol stopped the car for allegedly equipment violations in the area of East Eighth Street and American Place about 9:30 p.m. Their investigation show that 45 year-old Jesus Antonio Lao... 31 year-old Tatiana Lopez... and, 27 year-old Kemuel Velazquez-Torres were in possession of a quantity of Fentanyl... and, a large number of glassine envelopes that are used to distribute user weight of narcotics. All three were arrested... and, put in the back of a marked patrol car. While officers finished searching the vehicle... they found that Lao had opened a bag of crack-cocaine in the back of the patrol car that was concealed in his underwear. Police say he tried to snort -- and or -- eat the crack-cocaine in effort to conceal the illegal drugs before entering the city jail. All three were taken to the city jail at that point... where they also found that Lao was concealing 9.4-grams of crack cocaine inside of his buttocks. They also found that Velazquez-Torres had a quantity of hydrocodone pills without having a prescription. Lopez has been charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. Velazquez-Torres is charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, one count of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. Lao is charged with fourth-and, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia.. and, tampering with physical evidence. Velasquez-Torres and Lopez were booked and released with appearance tickets for city court... while Lao was held pending arraignment.
Election Day 2025 underway in Chautauqua County...
More than 3,800 people have already voted on this Election Day 2025 across Chautauqua County with some key local races in the balance. It's a sunny, early November day... which should help turn-out for this off-year election. The major race on the ballot is for County Executive... with incumbant Republican P-J Wendel of Lakewood running for a second, full-term. Wendel touted his experience of six total years in the job and "proven leadership..." and investing in infrastructure and improving broadband access. Wendel is being opposed by Fredonia Democrat, Tom Carle, who was appointed the past year to the legislature to fill the unexpired term of Susan Parker. Carle has touted his experience in the private sector of turning around companies... including a huge bakery operation in Ohio that employs 2,500 people and is now leaner, and efficient as it ever was. Carle has also worked for a third-party contractor involved with creating efficiencies for retailers like Wal-Mart.
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In addition to the executive's race... there's also a race for County Clerk... which is an open seat with the pending retirement of current clerk, Larry Barmore at the end of the year. County Veteran's Services Director Greg Carlson is running on the Republican line... while Dunkirk-area businessman and former Mayor Greg Krauza is the Democrat opponent.
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The entire Chautauqua County Legislature is also up for a vote... with the likelyhood of at least two new members with Tom Carle running for executive... and, Terry Neibel retiring from the panel.
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The entire Jamestown City Council is up for election... with the likelyhood of at least two new faces. At-large Councilman Jeff Russell is running for county legislature... while Sixth-Ward Councilman Bill Reynolds is retiring from the panel.
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We'll have Election Night coverage here on WJTN tonight... beginning just after 8:30 p.m., up to 9 p.m. when "Our American Stories" takes the air. We will provide updates at 9:30 and 10:30 p.m., and, drop-ins after that. You can also follow on-line at VoteChautauqua.com.
Five fire departments respond to rekindle of house fire in Arkwright...
A handful of north county area fire departments responded Monday morning to a rekindle of Sunday morning's fire that destroyed a town of Arkwright home. Chautauqua County fire dispatchers say Forestville firefighters were called back to the scene at 8996 Park Road a little after 7 a.m. Monday... and, were joined by Sheridan... Cassadaga... East Dunkirk and Stockton fire crews at the scene. They were there about four hours. No one was hurt. Fire investigators determined the cause Sunday was a propane heater in the living room too close to combustable materials. The fire was ruled accidental.
