U.S. DOT again denies Chautauqua County effort to restore commercial EAS service to Jamestown Airport...
Chautauqua County has again been denied in it's effort to restore Essential Air Service at the county airport near Jamestown. The U.S. Department of Transportation denied the request in a letter to the county... and, Southern Airways Express -- a copy of which was obtained by Glenora Radio -- which was sent on June 26. In the proposal... the county and Southern estimated that a Jamestown to Dulles in Washington connection would produce between 6,642 to 9,407 annual outbound and inbound commercial air passengers a year. However... the DOT said that number would not be enough to sustain the funding the county received in 2016. The DOT states it did not find the proposal -- "is likely to result" in the 10.6-passengers per day needed to reinstate the service. They added that there are also regional air hubs... such as Buffalo and Erie, Pa... within a 175 mile radius of Jamestown. We have a call into County Executive P.J. Wendel for comment but have not heard back yet.
Woman from Chautauqua dies from injuries suffered in Car-Bicycle accident late last Thursday...
A 78 year-old woman has died from injuries suffered in car-bicycle accident last Thursday in the town of Chautauqua. Sheriff's deputies say they were called to the scene on the Chautauqua-Stedman Road shortly before 1 p.m. for the accident. Officers say the driver of the car... 19 year-old Levi Graham of Ashville... was southbound when the crash occured. They say the car struck the bicylist... 78 year-old Mary Hustead.... who was flown from the scene to UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa. where she later died. Graham has been charged with failure to safely pass a bicycle... and, will appear in Chautauqua Town Court at a later date.
City Council to consider request for LWRP funding for Phase 2 of Chadakoin River Basin improvement project...
City lawmakers in Jamestown will consider a resolution later this month allowing the city to apply for grant funding from New York state for more improvements to the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk. The city's Department of Development is looking to apply for up to 2-million dollars in Environmental Protection funds administered by the state Office of Planning, Development and Community Infrastructure for a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program grant. Deputy Director of Housing Policy and Development Kasie Foulk says the funding would be for Phase 2 of the Chadakoin River Basin project. Foulk says the money would be used for the northside of the basin... which would include: signature gardens, tiered terrace seating, as well as improved access, circulation, safety, and placemaking initiatives intended to create a unique destination for residents and visitors to the City.
SUNY JCC receiving $2.9-million in funding for new Childcare Center at the college...
Work is expected to begin this fall on a new childcare center at SUNY Jamestown Community College's Jamestown Campus. The college has announced that space in the Katharine Jackson Carnahan Center will be renovated to create a center serving up to 102 children. Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced that JCC will receive nearly $2.9-million dollars for the project... one of 37 statewide supported by $106-million in awards from the Child Care Capital Construction Funding Program. The Jamestown Area YMCA will operate the childcare program.
Jamestown holding it's own financially through first half of 2026...
The city of Jamestown is holding it's own financially through the first-half of 2026...but, not all the information is in yet. That from City Comptroller Ericka Thomas who recently reported to the City Council that revenues are on track for the first two quarters of the year. However... she adds they are still waiting for more information in two revenue areas... one being sales tax revenues... the other is revenues from the sale of cannibus products in the city... which have come in higher than expected. However... Thomas says those numbers may change before the end of the year. She adds that overall salaries are also on track for the first six-months of 2026. She adds there are also payments due on three bonds... and, a current Bond Anticipation Note... all totaling nearly $14-million. Thomas says fuel costs so far this year are about $137,000 over budget so far... but, she says with Summer construction season underway... that will likely go up.
Chautauqua County Fair to get underway a week from today (Tuesday)...
Chautauqua County's annual celebration of farming, food and fun begins just one week from today. The 143rd edition of the Chautauqua County Fair is on tap July 21-26 at the fairgrounds in Dunkirk. County Fair Association President Linda Lanphere says the firing of a Civil War-era cannon will serve as the official kickoff of the fair on the 21st. Lanphere says there were only four such cannons that had survived through the years... but, this is the only one left that's usable. Amusements of America will provide the midway rides for the third consecutive year. Lanphere says there will be new attractions at this year's fair. She describes two of them... one is a blacksmith, and there will be a high-wire act near the entrance off Central Avenue. There will also be daily performances by Unbelievable Comedy Magic, as well as draft horses and goat-milking demonstrations. Lanphere adds that this edition of the fair aims to be more interactive with fairgoers. One example of that will be bringing the animal barns out to the midway. Events on the Grandstand will include two demolition derbies, harness horse racing, bull riding, and, a monster truck show. For more information... go on-line to chautauquacofair.org.
