A north county man has been arrested after being accused of forcibly touching a child in the village of Silver Creek last weekend. 

 

Sheriff's officers say they issued an arrest warrant for 27 year-old Arthur Hubbard of Southside Avenue in Cherry Creek late Tuesday morning.  In addition to forcible touching deputies say Hubbard was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child out of Silver Creek Village Court. 

 

They says Hubbard was taken into custody without incident and, arraigned on the charges.  He was then sent to the county jail with bail to be set, pending a future court appearance.


A Cassadaga man is in the Chautauqua County Jail without bail for allegedly driving drunk for the second time in the past decade. 

 

Sheriff's officers say they got a report of a vehicle traveling erratically in the area of Hall Road in the town of Charlotte about 5 p.m. Monday.  Deputies later found the vehicle, and identified the operator as 47 year-old Shawn Cavender. 

 

Upon further investigation officers found that Cavender to be driving while intoxicated.  He was arrested for Felony DWI, Aggravated DWI and first-degree Aggravated Unlicensed Operation along with several other traffic violations.  Cavender was arraigned in Stockton Town Court and sent to the county lock-up.


A leading authority on China’s economic policy and its global economic relations says the world's biggest nation is trying to return to "the world stage." 

 

That from Deputy Director of China Studies Scott Kennedy with the Center for Strategic and International Studies... who was Tuesday's featured lecturer in the Chautauqua Amphitheater.  However Kennedy spoke earlier with our Dennis Webster about the U-S and China "Trading Places."  He says China is the "world's factory floor, and innovation workshop now" and it's taking a leadership role in multi-lateral discussions. 

 

Kennedy has worked hard to understand China and, it's international relations by working for nearly 30 years traveling to China where he has interviewed thousands of officials, business and political leaders.  He adds China has changed dramatically from when he first traveled there in 1988. 

 

While it's still a dictatorship it's been quickly growing economically.  Kennedy says, while the United States has it's political disagreements with the Asian nation the people there are "awesome."  He says they have a "rich history and culture."  Kennedy also says the people are "very competitive."  He spoke as part of "Geopolitics Today" Week at Chautauqua.


A city woman is free on bail but, faces several charges including a violation of Leandra's Law after her car was stopped for a loud exhaust on Jamestown's northside early Monday morning. 

 

City police say they pulled over 31 year-old Vanessa Maldonado on Lakeview Avenue about 4:30 a.m., and, found that Maldonado was allegedly drunk.  Officers say they also found a quantity of cocaine inside the car along with a 6 year-old child. 

 

Police say Maldonado has been charged with Driving While Intoxicated and Aggravated DWI, a Leandra's Law Violation.  Officers say she's also been charged with Felony first-degree Aggravated Unlicensed Operation and, endangering the welfare of a child.  Maldonado was arraigned and, later released on bail.


New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is heading to the North Country as his summer tour of upstate New York continues. 

 

The Bronx Democrat is scheduled to stop at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton and visit the Thousand Islands on Wednesday.  Heastie was in Rochester on Tuesday, where he toured a training center for apprentice carpenters and saw damage from recent flooding. 

 

Heastie is also planning trips to western New York, the Southern Tier, the capitol region and Long Island later this summer and fall.  He took a similar upstate tour after becoming speaker and says the trips help him better understand the challenges and opportunities facing the state's many regions.


Three children were among the six people hospitalized after a pickup truck crashed off a rural Cattaraugus County road not far from Buffalo. 

 

Sheriff's officers in Little Valley say the accident occurred around 4:30 PM Sunday in the town of Freedom, where the Cattaraugus, Wyoming and Allegany county lines meet 40 miles southeast of Buffalo.  Officers say the truck, driven by 18 year-old Richard Neamon, Junior of Freedom, crashed off state Route 98 into a parked minivan with two children in it, then hit another child and two adults who were in front of a yard sale near the van. 

 

Neamon and the adults, ages 42 and 39, were taken to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, while the children ages 2,3, and 4, were taken to Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo.  No information has been released on their conditions and, there's no word on any charges.


The annual Chautauqua County Fair is less than a week away, and this year, there will be plenty of new entertainment at the fairgrounds in Dunkirk. 

 

One of the big attractions at the fair has always been the demolition derbies, which will run on Tuesday, July 25th and Sunday, July 30th.  But one of the demolition derbies will feature something new this year. 

 

Fair Board member and past president Dave Wilson said there will be a "lawn mower" demolition derby during intermission on Sunday.  Fair Board Vice-President Becky Merrick says a country musician will perform at the fair on Monday, July 24th Ruthie Collins, who was born and raised in Fredonia. 

 

Merrick says Collins has been named as one of Country Music Television's Top 10 "rising stars."  She says her first music video was filmed at the Fredonia Opera House and, has "that connection to the Fair."  For more information about this year’s fair go on-line to www.chautauquacountyfair.org, or call 366-4752.