Police say a western New York man has died three days after he killed his estranged wife and her boyfriend and then shot himself in the head. The Buffalo News reports that 38-year-old Daniel Podolski died Saturday after being hospitalized in critical condition since Wednesday. Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb tells the News that Podolski shot himself after fatally shooting his estranged wife, Kimberly Podolski, and her boyfriend, Dennis Larweth. The shootings happened in the Podolskis' former home in Limestone. A third man who was in the home managed to flee and summon police. Limestone is a tiny hamlet on the Pennsylvania border.
The Jamestown man who has severed as Chautauqua County's Public Defender the past two years will spend another two years at the appointed position. The county legislature this past week unanimously approved Barone's appointment without discussion. Barone -- a Democrat -- was initially voted into the position two-years ago when the legislature failed to muster enough votes to reappoint Tom Rankin to the post. Barone says he's "humbled" by the support because it's such "an important position." He says representation of those who cannot afford private counsel is critical... and, is an on-going challenge. Barone says they've been having to do more with less in the Public Defender's office by securing grants, which has allowed them to take advantage of current technology. He says that technology -- such as videoconferencing -- allow him and his assistants to provide counsel to many clients immediately. Barone says it's especially helpful because their caseloads are up. He adds that they've also received help from the New York State Indigent Legal Services Department to help them represent people who have little or no means to pay someone privately.
No injuries were reported... and, no animals were killed in a weekend barn fire on Route 380 in Brocton. Chautauqua County Sheriff's dispatchers say several north and central county fire departments were called to the scene at 82-11 Route 380 about 8:10 AM last Saturday. Officials say, fortunately, all the animals were rescued safely from the barn... and, no residents nor firefighters were hurt. There is no damage estimate at this point. County Fire Investigators were at the scene by late Saturday morning.
More than 600 people attended the third annual Souperbowl... Sunday, at Lakewood Rod and Gun Club. And when the votes were totalled-- Sarah Sanders, executive chef at La Scala on Fluvanna Ave, won the competition with her fire roasted red pepper soup. This year the Superbowl benefitted the robotic surgery area at WCA Hospital. The Scallion Bistro took second place in the voting. Gametime Sports Bar and Grill was third. Nineteen restaurants took part in this year's event. Karl Sisson estimated the total raised at around $6,000. Media One helped put on the event. Maplevale Farms was the presenting sponsor.
Westfield Academy and Central School music teacher Kent Knappenberger already has his just-received Grammy Award before the bright lights... and, big names came out for last night's awards show. Knappenberger... and, several others... were honored in Lost Angeles Saturday night by the Recording Academy and Grammy Foundation. Knappenberger received the first-ever Grammy Music Educator of the Year award during the Grammy's Special Merit Awards ceremony. Westfield School Superintendent David Davison says Knappenberger is an inspiration to his students and the school. Davison says they weren't completely surprised by the formal announcement... whichw as made about a week ago. He says they already knew... over his 25 year-career... that Knappenberger was an "awesome teacher..." and the best choice. The Westfield district held an assembly to honor Knappenberger when he became a top 10 finaliest for the award. Some 30-thousand teachers were originally nominated.
The new president of Jamestown Community College has been on the job for six-months now... and, says he's been very impressed by the people who manage... and, attend JCC. Dr. Cory Duckworth adds he's been a long-time advocate for junior colleges... dating back to his most recent position at Utah Valley University. Duckworth says it was a community college that later expanded to also become a university. However... he and others later found that unless someone stepped forward to protect and preserve it's two-year college mission... they would lose it. He later became a negotiator for Utah when a community college and university wanted to merge. That's when the JCC job opened up after Greg DeCinque decided to retire after 19 years at the helm. In his first half-year at the local college... he says he's been surprised by place JCC has "in the hearts" of the people it serves. Duckworth says he was also surprised at how well JCC has been operated... especially financially. He says that's often not the case. Duckworth made his comments on this past weekend's "Community Spotlight" program.
Fans of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que will have another place to dig into ribs when the Syracuse-based restaurant chain opens its eighth eatery next month in the city of Buffalo. The company has announced that the newest restaurant will open February 12th. John Stage, the company's founder and CEO, says he had planned to open a Dinosaur restaurant in upstate New York's largest city years earlier but plans fell through. Stage announced in the summer of 2012 that he would open a Buffalo eatery the following summer in a former film storage facility located in the city's downtown entertainment district. But... the refurbishing project took longer than expected, delaying the opening to early 2014. The original Dinosaur is in downtown Syracuse. The other restaurants are in Harlem, Brooklyn, Rochester, Troy, Connecticut and Newark, New Jersey.
