Fire destroys vacant, condemned home on Allen St. in Jamestown...
Fire has destroyed a 2-and-a-half story, vacant and condemned home on Jamestown's eastside.  City fire officials say crews were called to the scene at 302 Allen St. about 10:30 p.m. Thursday... and, found the first floor of the structure fully-engulfed in flames... and, spreading to the second floor.  An off-duty shift was called in... and, officials say crews had to take a defensive posture because of the amount of fire.  Battalion Fire Chief Shawn Shilling says firefighters continued pouring water on the blaze for several hours to get the flames out.  No one was allowed be in the building... and, all services had been disconnected.  Two firefighters suffered minor injuries due to slip and falls.  No investigation has been conducted due to the severity of the fire damage.

Man from Celoron pleads guilty to federal Child Porn charge...
A Celoron man has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography... and, faces up to 20 years in prison when he's sentenced next June.  U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced that 41 year-old Jose Perez entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor.  Prosecutors say that... in mid-December of 2022... Perez's home was raided after he allegedly uploaded a child pornography file to "Dropbox..." an electronic service provider that offers internet-based file storage services.  During the search... agents say Perez’s cell phone was seized... and, they found three images and one video of child porn.  They add some of the images show prepubescent minors less than 12 years old engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  In addition... they say Perez admits that, on two or more occasions, he engaged in the sexual abuse, exploitation, and attempted sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor.  In addition to the prison term... the Attorney's Office says Perez faces a quarter-of a-million dollar fine if convicted.

Man arrested for alleged drunking driving crash in Ashville...
A 45 year-old man has been arrested for allegedly driving drunk and crashing his car into a snowbank on Route 474 in Ashville last weekend.  Lakewood-Busti Police say they were called to the scene about 11:20 p.m. last Friday for a motor vehicle accident... and, a woman who could be heard in distress.  Officers were joined by State Troopers... and, found the woman outside the vehicle with facial lacerations and visibly shaken up.  They were told the driver... identified as William Bogner... had fled the scene leaving the woman behind.  Police later found Bogner's footprints in the snow... and, he was found in a driveway about half a mile away.  Officers say his breath smelled of intoxicants... he had slurred speech... and, bloodshot eyes.  He failed sobriety tests... and, was arrested for DWI... refusal to take a breath test... leaving the scene of a personal injury accident... and, speeding.  Bogner was issued appearance tickets for Busti Town Court... and, released.

Ferguson says he's is considering doing away with -- or putting more restrictions on -- privilege of the floor at meetings...
Discussion is underway on whether to do away with the public comment portion of Fredonia Village Board meetings.  Mayor Mike Ferguson says he's looking into the possibility of either suspending it... or eliminating it entirely during the rest of his administration. During a Village Board workshop this week... Ferguson said he's considering it due to what he calls a "lack of following" the rules and the "extreme disruption" that has happened multiple times during his time in office.  Ferguson says the idea is not to censor the entire community, but to maintain the safety and civility of the community.  He adds that some won't come to meetings to discuss issues beucase of past disruptions.  Ferguson also emphasized that the public portion of meetings is up to individual communities, and that there is no law requiring the public to speak.  Ferguson made his comments in response to accusations made last week by two former village trustees that the current board has been violating the state's Open Meetings Law.

Dunkirk fire on King Street results in minor damage...
A Wednesday afternoon fire caused minor damage to a two-story home in Dunkirk's Fourth Ward.  That from Dunkirk Fire Chief Nick Barter, who says his department responded to a report of a possible fire at 170 King St. shortly after 2 p.m.  Barter says when crews arrived, they heard smoke detectors activated and found smoke coming from a back door leading to the basement of the two-unit home.  He adds no injuries were reported.  City and county fire investigators are working to determine the cause.

 
City man arrested for allegedly violating three orders of protection...
A man from Jamestown is accused of violating three orders of protection to stay away from three people inside an apartment on the city's westside.  Jamestown police say they were called to the scene of a possible domestic incident about 11:20 a.m. Wednesday... and, on arrival... heard a man and woman arguing inside the apartment.  Officers say they made contact at the door... and, checked the residence.  They found 23 year-old Josniel Morales inside a bedroom closet... but, he initially refused to come out.  Police eventually took him into custody on three counts of first-degree criminal contempt... and one of resisting arrest.  He was taken to the city jail pending arraignment.