**Happy New Year!**

Lake Effect Snow to return to Jamestown-area with several inches of the white stuff to usher in the new year...
Lake Effect snow is moving back into southern Chautauqua County... and, it's going to provide a snowy start to the New Year across the region.  It's beginning as more moderate snowfall... but, Forecaster Matt Drothers with the National Weather Service in Buffalo says we'll see heavy snow at times during the evening hours.  Drothers says many locations are seeing 1 to 2 inches falling per hour... and, we'll see much of that continue into the start of the New Year... adding it won't be as heavy going through the day Thursday.  Most of our snow is expected along the Lake Erie shoreline... and, into the Chautauqua Ridge area.  Drothers says some of those locations will be getting some impressive snow totals... as much as 6 to 12 inches in some places... with another 4 to 6 inches into the overnight hours.  Drothers says once the Winter Storm Warning expires... we'll still see some snow shower activity during the day on Friday.  

Wendel says county continuing Travel Advisory for the county until Thursday... 
Road conditions improved across Chautauqua County since the arrival of Winter Storm Ezra on Monday... but, with a winter storm warning is still in effect through 1 a.m. Friday.  With that... County Executive P.J. Wendel says the county is keeping its travel advisory in place for now.  Wendel warns that lake effect snow and blowing snow can cause conditions to change rapidly... especially in wide open spaces where the wind can have a big impact... so "be cautious."  Wendel says if you have to be out on the roads, give yourself extra time to get to your destination... and, he says they have more information on the county government website at CHQgov.com.  Total snow accumulation may range anywhere from one to three feet in persistent areas of lake effect snow through the duration of the winter storm.  Wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour may also cause blowing and drifting snow, leading to potential whiteout conditions.

Ten arrested for alleged thefts in two cemeteries in Dunkirk-area...
Ten people have been arrested following a joint law enforcement investigation into a series of larcenies at local cemeteries.  Dunkirk police say they were assisted in the probe by State Police... and, it began in late October with a report of thefts involving a large number of bronze vases, and other grave markers taken from gravesites at Willowbrook Cemetery in the city.  Officers say further investigation found that a similar incident had occurred in the town of Dunkirk.  Police say 25-year-old Hannah Cole of Brocton... 41-year-old Kimberly Ferguson of Westfield... 52-year-old Susan Lilly of Fredonia... 36-year-old Mathew Mulville of Brocton... 52-year-old Melinda Pelayo of Dunkirk... 44-year-old Derek Saxton of Westfield... 46-year-old Jarrett Sikes of Dunkirk... 36 year-old Jesse Spellman of Ripley... 47-year-old William Eppinger of Dunkirk... and 37-year-old Stephen Falkner of Dunkirk were all charged with one count each of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.  Additional charges are pending.

City man arrested after being seen on surveillance video going through dumpster on Falconer school grounds...
A man from Jamestown has been arrested for allegedly being found in possession of a weapon while rumaging around in a dumpster on the Falconer Central School district grounds earlier this month.  Ellicott Town Police say they responded to a call for a "suspicious person" on the grounds during the overnight hours of Dec. 18.  Officers say they arrested 54 year-old Kevin Newby after viewing school video camera surveillance... which captured him as gathering items from the dumpster... and being in possession of the weapon -- which was seen in his waistband.  Police say Newby was later found with the weapon... and he was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon on school grounds.  He was issued an appearance ticket for Ellicott Town Court.

Woman arrested for obstruction last weekend in Jamestown...
A Jamestown woman is accused of trying to prevent an ambulance crew from giving first aid to another women who cut herself during an incident early Sunday.  City police say they were called to an eastside address just after 2:30 a.m., and, while rendering aid to the unidentified woman... another woman -- 34 year-old Darieli Rodriguez -- reportedly got into the faces of officers, and EMS crew multiple times, yelling and demanding they get away from the woman needing help.  Rodriguez allegedly tried to push then away... and, take the woman away.  She was advised to get away multiple times... but, refused to do so.  She was subsequently arrested for second-degree obstructing governmental administration... and, issued an appearance ticket for city court.

City man arrested for stealing laundry basket, and several other items from Lakewood Wal-Mart Supercenter...
A man from Jamestown is accused of trying to steal a laundry basket -- filled with stolen goods -- from the Lakewood Wal-Mart Supercenter before Christmas.  Lakewood-Busti police were called to the 350 East Fairmount Ave. location the evening of Dec. 19, and, they found that 40 year-old Christopher Haberberger had taken the laundry basket... and, put a "large quantity" of stolen goods from the store in it before trying to leave without paying for them.  Police investigated along with Wal-Mart Asset Protection... and, Haberberger... was found to have previously trespassed at the store -- and he was charged with Felony third-degree burglary... petty larceny... and, criminal possession of burglar's tools.  He was taken to the county jail pending arraignment.