Wendel deliver's State of County Address to CHQ Chamber Breakfast in Jamestown...
Chautauqua County has made "real, measurable progress" over the past year... and, the county's top-elected leader plans to keep that momentum going.  County Executive P.J. Wendel delivered his annual State of the County Address before a large gathering at the CHQ Chamber's annual "County Executive Breakfast" in Jamestown Tuesday morning.  Wendel touted his administration's ability to maintain critical services without raising taxes... "maintaining financial stability... improving infrastructure... and, promoting sustainable growth."  He says that's allowed them to keep and improve services while "managing rising costs."  Among those rising costs... Wendel says... is New York state placing more of the burden of safety net expenses on the counties.  The Lakewood Republican adds, though, that over the past few years... median household incomes have grown significantly... from $$46,000 in 2019... to $58,351 in 2024.  He says that's a 25% gain.  Wendel also highlighted the near-completion of the second-phase of the sewer extention project around Chautauqua Lake... and, securing funding for the third and final phase of the multi-year effort.  Wendel also touted work underway on three new, "shovel-ready" sites.  He also addressed several low and moderate income housing projects underway to address those needs as well.  
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A nearly 40-minute question and answer session followed at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Jamestown.

City Council to consider overriding State's 2% Property Tax Cap for 2027 budget in light of already-rising costs...
It doesn't look like costs are going down anytime soon... and, with that the Jamestown City Council will consider exceeding the state's 2% property tax cap for the 2027 budget.  Lawmakers in committee Monday night discussed a local law that would allow the city to override the tax cap... and, Corporation Counsel Eliot Raimondo feels it's better to act now than late in the year... since it's had to be used the past two years.  Raimondo feels it should be done now before the budget season gets underway.  He says the city is seeing two major cost increases so far in 2026.  The first being the cost of gasoline for a fleet of police, fire and other vehicles.  The second is anticpated increases to the state employee retirement programs.  Raimondo adds he wants to see the city avoid the arguments going on in other cities... like Buffalo where a 25% tax hike is being considered.  Past Council President Tony Dolce noted that... while lawmakers may approve a measure to override the tax cap... that doesn't mean they're locked into it.  Dolce also said that the local law would be introduced at next week's voting session... but, would be tabled until May.

Schmidt announces plea deal involving Cruz-Corraliza in north county area...
A man who was involved in two gun-related incidents in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from both.  Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 43-year-old Juan Cruz-Corraliza entered the pleas in county court to first-degree assault and third-degreecriminal possession of a weapon. Schmidt says the assault charge was in connection with a July 2022 drive-by shooting on Route 60 in the city of Dunkirk that injured two children.  He says both vehicles involved were southbound and one cut off the other before shots were fired from one vehicle to the other.  Schmidt says that case was about to go to re-trial after the initial trial ended with a hung jury, noting that there were credibility issues with an eyewitness.   He says a plea deal was reached last Wednesday when he offered a reduced weapon charge from an October 2024 incident at the Fredonia Wal-Mart... after words were exchanged with another man... who he then threatened when he came out of the store.  Schmidt says the assault charge will carry a sentence of five years in state prison.  The weapon possession charge from the Wal-Mart incident comes with an indeterminate sentence of 3-and-a-half to seven years behind bars.  Schmidt says both sentences will be served concurrently.

Garage damaged in Tuesday fire in Westfield...
Several fire departments were called out to a garage fire in the village of Westfield about mid-morning Tuesday.  Chautauqua County emergency dispatchers say the blaze was reported at 34 Washington St. just before 9:30 a.m.  Crews from Westfield got mutual aid from Ripley, Portland, North Lake, Sherman and Brocton, along with Chautauqua County Emergency Services.  The county's Fire Investigation Team was also called to the scene.

Woman from Jamestown, a native of Cameroon, doing well in nationwide entrepreneurship competition... 
A woman from Jamestown is hoping to advance to the next round of a national entrepreneurship competition.  Emily Jane Berakah is a second-year law student at Ohio Northern University... who is competing for the top prize in the "Enterpreneur of Impact" competition.  It's hosted by "Shark Tank's" Daymen John.  Berakah is working to develop a STEM program to help young girls in her native Cameroon live out their dreams.  The winner gets a one-on-one mentorship from John... a two-page article in the "Entrepreneur" magazine, and a $25,000 first prize.  Berakah is currently in second-place in her catagory... and, if she wins... she would move onto the final round.  You can vote on-line... and, the 2017 Dunkirk High School graduate says she's been getting a lot of local support through social media, and other means.  Berakah says you can support her in this round... which ends on Thursday... by voting on line at www.entrepreneurofimpact.org/2026/emily-jane-berakah.  She is also an intern in the Chautauqua County Public Defender's Office.