Electrical issue blamed for overnight house fire in Busti...
An electrical issue is the apparent cause of an overnight fire that heavily damaged the back of a home in the town of Busti.  Sheriff's Department fire investigators say Lakewood fire crews were called to the scene at 2313 Route 394 just after 1:30 this morning for a residential structure fire.  They were joined at the scene by Busti, Celoron, Ashville and Bemus Point crews.  Firefighters were at the scene for several hours.  Once the fire was out... the county's Fire Investigation Team was called in to look for the cause.  Investigators determined the blaze occured in the rear of the home... and, was caused by the electrical problem.  It's been ruled accidental... and, no injuries were reported.

Several sound off during public hearing on Fairmount Ave. sidewalk project...
A revised proposal to place new sidewalks on one side of Fairmount Avenue in the town of Busti and village of Lakewood has gained no more support than the initial proposal many months ago.  That was the outcome of last night's public hearing hosted by the state Department of Transportation at the Busti Town Hall... which drew a standing room only crowd.  The DOT's Cameron Schultz hosted the hearing... and, laided out details of the project... which includes no new sidewalk from the bridge west to Route 474.  There will be new sidewalk on the southside only from Ashville Rd. to Erie St... and new sidewalk on northside only from Erie Street to Shadyside Ave.  There would also be a widening of the road between Shadyside and Elmcrest Avenues to create a new, center turning lane.  Even though the amount of sidewalks would be reduced about 57%... former Village Board member Nancy Jones... who lives on Spruce Street -- just off Fairmount -- says the vast majority of people she talks to don't want them.  Jones says a survey should have been done to see what kind of foot traffic is on that road.  Another Spruce Street resident... and former Board member John Jablonski... says he frequently walks and bikes on Fairmount Avenue... and, feels it's a good compromise, adding that a lot of work has been done to make the project better.  Schultz says the new sidewalk would run from the area of Route 474 to Shadyside Ave.  He adds that the public comment period on the project runs until Wednesday, Mar. 18.  If approved... construction would begin in the Spring of 2027.

Gillibrand says the president needs to layout reasons, and goals for Iran Conflict before she'll vote to fund it...
New York's junior U.S. Senator says she'll oppose any funding measure for a war against Iran until President Trump comes to Congress and lays out his reasons.  Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand says the president has "broken his promises" on lowering costs, and ending "forever wars" with last weekend's attack that killed Iran's Supreme Leader, and many of his other officials.  Gilibrand says it's not only does the war endanger "our troops and our national security while raising your (Americans) costs."  She says she's also demanding that the president and his secretary of state develop a plan to get remaining Americans in the region out of harm's way... since there was no plan to get citizens out before the conflict began.  Gillibrand says gasoline prices are already risen "significantly"  due to the attacks on Iran... which have been carried out jointly with Israel.  She says as time goes on... the price tag for the war will only escalate. 

Gillibrand says she's heard from many Americans stuck in Middle East war zone...
There are still thousands of Americans left in the Middle East in the wake of the six-day old war... and, we are aware of one family from the Jamestown-area that had been living and working in Jordan.  Senator Gillibrand says her offiice has heard from several people trying to get out of the war zone... noting that she and her staff have talked with a"dozens of people."  The State Department said the first charter flight it arranged for private citizens who want to leave departed Wednesday, with several more expected Thursday.  Officials did not say where they would depart from, but the department asked Americans in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to fill out an online form for information.   Americans seeking help were urged to contact an emergency task force at 1-202-501-4444.  However... Gillibrand says the number -- up to this point -- has not been effective in helping Americans.

Langworthy applauds Trump's choice of Sen. Markwayne Mullin to be new DHS Secretary...
An ally of President Donald Trump will become the new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security following the ouster of Kristi Noem... and, local Congressman Nick Langworthy is on board.  In a printed statement... Langworthy says he applauds the appointment of Senator Markwayne Mullin.  He adds that "as a member of the Armed Services Committee where he serves on the subcommittees dealing with emerging threats and readiness, he brings a wealth of experience and management expertise that will allow him to seamlessly take the reins of this critical agency."  He calls the announcement "welcome news and now it’s time for Democrats to stop blocking funding to the department."