Burham receives 25 years to life sentence for murder of Kala Hodgkin...
The Jamestown-area man convicted of the murder of local mother of three, Kala Hodgkin, has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. We learned just before Noon today that 37 year-old Michael Burham, who's already serving time for kidnapping and escape in Warren County, Pa., received the sentence from County Court Judge David Foley. More when it becomes availble.
St. Susan's Center announces it will remain in the Gateway Center after costs to move into former Business College building triple...
The Jamestown area's largest soup kitchen will be staying in the Gateway Center on Water Street for the foreseeable future. That after the St. Susan's Center Board of directors voted to stay at their current location. Executive Director Cheri Rowland says the main reason is a tripling of the renovation and moving costs they were going to see to move operations into part of the former Jamestown Business College. Rowland says... those initial projections of about $1-million... had now climbed to $3-million. With that... she says the board decided to remain at it's current location at 31 Water Street... and, pursue tenancy with the new Gateway Lofts redevelopment project. Rowland says they are "incredibly grateful to the Conklin family for their extraordinary generosity." But... over the past year... she says the center completed architectural studies, site plan approvals, and detailed construction estimates for the JBC property. As planning advanced... projected renovation costs increased substantially — due in large part to changing the building's use from a school to food services. The Gateway Loft's project is being led by Southern Tier Environments for Living... and, their Executive Director, Tom Whitney, says they are "pleased" that the center has decided to remain in that building.
Fire rescue crews rescue man who fell through the ice on a town of Portland pond...
A man who had fallen through the ice on a pond in the north county was successfully rescued last weekend by local fire rescuers. Sheriff's deputies say the county's Water Emergency Team was also called to the scene to assist Portland and Brocton fire crews at the Gravevine Estates on Route 5 shortly after Midnight Saturday. Officers say the WET Team was able to get out to the man... and, secure him with a "life ring." Members of the fire departments, civilian bystanders, and Sheriffs Deputies were then able to pull the man back to shore where he was treated for exposure... and, taken to a local hospital for treatment. Deputies also remind the public that at this time of year... ice conditions can change rapidly. If you do venture out on to the ice, please wear a PFD and check ice conditions as you go.
City man sought on multiple warrants arrested following street check, and police find meth...
A man from Jamestown sought on multiple arrest warrants has been arrested in the Brooklyn Square area following a street check late last week. City police were patroling that area shortly before 1 p.m. last Friday... when they spotted 50 year-old Richard Barr. Officers took Barr into custody on the warrants... and, a further search turned up a quantity of methamphetamine in his possession. He was taken to the city jail on the warrants and one count of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, held pending arraignment.
Molitor, Borrello supporting local highway superintendents is effort to get more CHIPS funding...
About 650 highway superintendents from across the state... including 10 from Chautauqua County... will be in Albany this week to lobby for more highway funding. State Assemblyman Andrew Molitor says he is pushing for a $250-million increase in the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program -- otherwise known as CHIPS -- funding. Molitor says there was a slight increase in that funding last year, but not enough to keep pace with inflation... which he says has seen 50% to 60% each year, and the amount funding increases are not going far enough. Westfield Town Highway Superintendent, Dave Babcock, says boosting funding for local roads and bridges would prevent higher long-term costs for local municipalities.
----
State Senator George Borrello says Governor Kathy Hochul's 2026-27 budget keeps funding in the CHIPS program flat. Borrello says local highway superintendents and others plan to be in Albany this coming week to lobby for more funding due to major cost increases... for supplies, concrete, and aggragate are being kept at the same or lower levels in budget this year. Borrello says there used to be a formula used to fairly distribute CHIPS funding. However... he says since Democrats got the majority in the Senate... it's become more political. He made his comments for last weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the six Media One Radio Group stations.
Langworthy voices his support for President Trump's "Operation Epic Fury" in Iran...
Local Congressman Nick Langworthy is standing firmly behind President Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran... and, kill it's leader -- the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Langworthy says -- in a printed statement -- that "the Iranian regime is the world’s number one sponsor of terror and has the blood of thousands of Americans on its hands. Their “Death to America” chants and desire to annihilate Israel are not slogans, they are actively building the nuclear weapons and missile capabilities to make it a reality and over the last four decades have taken every opportunity to kill." The Buffalo-area Republican adds that the president gave them numerous chances to de-escalate the situation.
