Slow moving showers and thunderstorms hit portions of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties yesterday morning... dumping more than two inches of rain in some locations. The torrential rains caused flash flooding with some of worst occurring in Ellington... and, the village of Silver Creek in Chautauqua County. Cherry Creek also saw a lot of high water. Silver Creek Mayor Nick Piccolo says the heavy rain caused creek levels to rise very rapidly. Route 5 in the village was closed a while... and, a few buildings were evacuated temporarily. Meteorologist Dan Kelly with the National Weather Service says the heavy rain resulted from a stationary front that was draped over the area. Kelly says the storms hit a stationary front... and, just kept re-occuring. He says it produced 2.6-inches in Forestville. Piccolo says the flood waters seemed to ease as the sun came out across the area later in the day. Route 394 near Waterboro Hill Road in the Ellington-area was also closed a few hours. It reopened by late morning.
The Jamestown City School District's chief financial officer says he feels "very good" about the final, 2014-15 budget that will go before voters next Tuesday. Assistant Superintendent for Administration Dale Weatherlow presented details about the 75.7-million dollar spending plan during last night's public hearing at Persell Middle School. Weatherlow says there's a slight, 399-thousand dollar increase in spending... but, adds there's no increase in the tax levy. That's despite a 29-percent increase in state pension costs. Weatherlow says the school board talked about using the state's "pension smoothing" plan... but, he's opposed to it. Weatherlow says other factors in the half-a-percent increase in spending is more money being allocated to professional development... which he says it "sorely needed..." but, adds the increases are being offset by a "fairly large" amount of debt that's been paid off... and, is coming off the books. No one spoke during the public hearing. District voters will weigh in on the spending plan next Tuesday from Noon to 9 PM at Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington Middle Schools.
The budget will be one of two propositions on the ballot in Jamestown next Tuesday. Another proposition to borrow 606-thousand dollars for bus purchases will be the second. Assistant Superintendent for Administration Dale Weatherlow says some vehicles in the city district's fleet are aging... and, in dire need of upgrading. Weatherlow says Proposition-Two will allow for three new "spare buses" to be brought on-line... along with a new, wheelchair bus. He says one of the current one's they have won't pass another state DOT inspection unless costly repairs are made. For more information on the proposition... and, the 2014-15 budget... you can contact the district offices... or go on-line to Jamestownpublicschool-dot-ORG.
It was a two-and-a-half year effort that produced the U-S Department of Energy's order for special glass containers from RHI Monofrax in Falconer. That from Monofrax's local president, Daryl Clendenen, who praised local Congressman Tom Reed for pushing to have Monofrax get the contract because it's the only U-S company that makes the refractories used to store nuclear waste. Clendenen says Reed championed the effort... along with U-S Senator Chuck Schumer... local unions... and, Assemblyman Andy Goodell and State Senator Cathy Young. He also thanked county officials for keeping the issue at the forefront. Reed announced the agreement with the DOE... for a minimum of 1.5-million dollars... yesterday (Monday). Clendenen says they expect a final contract to be in place by early to mid-July. He adds the best news is that 74 employees who were laid-off during a slow fourth-quarter last year... and, slow first-quarter this year...will be recalled to fill the orders. He says they should be "ramped" back up by mid-June.
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly approaching officers during a domestic dispute on the city's eastside Monday with a knife in his hand. However... city police say the accused man, 51 year-old David Baron, dropped the knife after being told several times to drop it. Officers were called to the scene at 108 Bowen Street shortly after 1 PM. Police say they also found Baron in possession of stolen property from a related incident. He was arrested for criminal possession of stolen property... and, obstruction... and, sent to the county jail without bail.
A former racer at Stateline Speedway... and, area businessman... will be reopening the town of Busti dirt track early July. Westfield native Bill Catania, Jr. announced during a press conference yesterday morning at the Peek 'n Peak Resort that he will be leasing the one-third mile oval for this year while continuing to work on a final purchase agreement. Catania announced late last month that he had made a "fair market" offer for the Kortwright Road facility. Catania says he plans to have opening night on Saturday, July 5th after some facilities upgrades are made. He adds that ALL classes that ran last year will run this year. Catania also says there will be an "open practice and Champions recognition" night on Thursday, June 26th. Last year's division champions... and, top 10 finishers will be honored.
