Unusual thunderstorm, with hail, reported Wednesday night in Chautauqua County...
Thunder, lightning and even hail accompanied a line of thunderstorms that moved through Chautauqua County about mid to late evening last night. While it was mainly rain, thunder and lightning in parts of the Jamestown-area... there were reports of good sized hail falling in the Dunkirk-Fredonia and Cassadaga areas. There was no significant damage... but, there was a reported power outage in the Dunkirk-area for about two hours last night. The unusual February weather lasted through late evening.
Langworthy in Falconer to announce $1-Million in federal funding for Fluvanna Water Extention project...
A decades-long effort to run municipal water from the city of Jamestown into the Fluvanna area of the town of Ellicott has taken a major step forward. Local Congressman Nick Langworthy was at the Ellicott Town Hall Wednesday afternoon to announce that he has secured $1-million in funding for the Town of Ellicott Water Service Extension Project. Langworthy calls it a "critical infrastructure investment that will bring clean, reliable public water service" to that area. He says replacing the current wells... 40% which are reported to be unsafe for consumption... will ensure safe, clean and reliable municipal water for "generations to come." Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel expressed his appreciation for the funding... which he says should allow more development at the Strunk Road Interchange with Interstate 86. Town Supervisor Janet Bowman extended her appreciation and that of Fluvanna residents... who have called for joining the city's water system for a long time. Bowman says it will also improve the climate for development in that part of the town. Langworthy adds that bringing municipal water to Fluvanna will also enhance fire protection in that area of the town because the water will have consistant, and adequate pressure. Bowman says they will also be extended sewer service as part of the project... which is currently in the design phase.
Man with 34 license suspensions arrested during traffic stop in Jamestown Wednesday night...
A man whose driver's license has been suspended 34 times has been arrested again following a traffic stop on Jamestown's eastside late last night. City police say they saw 45 year-old Daniel Pfaffenbach commit a traffic violation in the area of Winsor and Harrison Streets shortly before Midnight... and, a background check turned up the nearly three-dozen suspensions on 11 previous dates. Pfaffenbach was arrested for first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle... and, on the traffic citation. He was held pending arraignment.
Three arrested following vehicle stop and drug raid in Jamestown...
Three people have been formally charged following a traffic stop... and, raid on a condemned home on Jamestown's eastside earlier this month. City police say they conducted the stop in the area of Prendergast Avenue and Price Street about 1 p.m. last Friday... and, say 20 year-old Jeremy Thompson of Buffalo tried to destroy evidence and flee the scene. However... he and 37 year-old Miranda Evans of Jamestown were both arrested after officers found about 10.7-grams of cocaine... 10.5-grams of crack-cocaine... 3.3-grams of fentanyl... just over 35-grams of methamphetamine... and nearly $1,400 in cash in their possession. Later that day... the JPD SWAT Team raided the home at 128 Water St., and, officers found 33 year-old Andrew Butts, Sr. inside. They also found nearly 518-grams of meth... cutting agents... packaging materials... and, digital scales. Thompson and Evans are charged with second, third, fourth and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... criminally using drug paraphernalia... and others. Butts is charged with second and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and criminally using drug paraphernalia.
With "hostile amendment" defeated, Borrello renews call for state Medicaid Audit...
An amendment that would have required an audit of New York's Medicaid program was defeated this week in the State Senate. The "hostile amendment" was introduced by Local State Senator George Borrello, who has been leading the charge in calling for an investigation into the program. Borrello says the Medicaid spending in the new budget proposal by Gov. Hochul totals an astounding, $115-billion... which is just under half the state budget. He adds that reviews by the State Comptroller and the Empire Center that report there are "billions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse." Borrello says nearly half of the state's population is on Medicaid. However, the Sunset Bay Republican says the Empire Center for Public Policy has found that while 5.5-million New Yorkers meet income qualifications for Medicaid, a total of 8.5 million people are receiving Medicaid benefits. Borrello says the Empire Center has requested the eligibility of each person on Medicaid, but, that FOIL request has fallen on deaf ears.
Chautauqua FD rescuers assist person stranged on peninsula after snowmobile falls through ice...
The Chautauqua Fire Department says it's ice rescue training was a big help in assisting a person stranded on a small, wooded peninsula after their snowmobile went through lake ice. In a Facebook post... officials say they responded to a report of a person who swam through the water after their sled went through the ice last Saturday night. Despite the darkness and freezing conditions... they say the individual was able to stay above water and swim to shore... and, became stranded on the peninsula. The person's wet cell phone died shortly after placing the 911 call. The rider later told responders they had become disoriented on the lake at night and headed toward what they thought was the right direction.
