Fire destroys condemned home on Prendergast Ave; but, fire crews save two adjacent homes...
Fire has destroyed a vacant and condemned home on Jamestown's northside... but, quick work by firefighters saved two neighoring homes. City Fire Battlion Chief Nate Alm says firefighters were called to the scene at 612 Prendergast Ave. shortly after 7 p.m. Friday... and, first arriving crews found the home fully-engulfed in flames... and they moved quickly to knock down the flames, and protect the two adjacent hmes. Alm says the family living in one was safely evacuated... along with their pets. He says an off-duty shift of 15 firefighters and a commander was called in to assist. No injuries were reported... but, he says crews were at the scene for nearly five-and-a-half hours. The cause is under investigation... and the home at 612 Prendergast will be torn down.
Man from Jamestown and woman from Buffalo indicted on federal drug conspiracy charges...
A man from Jamestown... and, a woman from Buffalo have been indicted on a federal charge for allegedly being involved in a narcotics conspiracy. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced that a federal grand jury returned the indictment charging 41 year-old Brandon Murray... and, 35 year-old Latika Saintkitts... with narcotics conspiracy. DiGiacomo says the charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison... and a maximum of life. In addition, Saintkitts is charged with distribution of crack cocaine and fentanyl. Prosecutors say that between 2021, and September 2024, Murray and Saintkitts conspired with others to possess and distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. In addition, in April of 2024, Saintkitts possessed and distributed crack cocaine... and, in June of that year... she possessed and distributed fentanyl. Murray was detained... and, Saintkitts was released on conditions.
Charges now filed against man involved in stand-off last week in Fredonia...
Charges have now been filed against a man who barricaded himself for several hours inside a White Street home in the Village of Fredonia last week... prompting a shelter in place order for the area. Fredonia Police say a White Street resident reported on Wednesday that 44-year-old Kyle Denhardt was unwanted... refused to leave her residence, and was possibly in possession of a handgun. Officers responded... and, helped the woman off the property, then began communicating with Denhardt. A perimeter was established and maintained with assistance from Dunkirk police... University Police... and State Police. While the area was closed off to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, State Police Special Operations Response Teams were deployed... along with an Unmanned Aerial Systems unit. After warrants were obtained, Denhardt surrendered peacefully after several hours of negotiations to a special State Police Team. When police executed the search warrant, they discovered a large cache of weaponry, including a ghost gun, high-capacity magazines, ammunition, rifle parts, and related accessories.
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Denhardt, who is a resident of Maryland and South Carolina, faces charged including: second-degree menacing... second-degree criminal trespass... second-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was taken to the county jail on $400,000 cash bail.
Woman arrested in town of Hanover for incident with stun gun...
A woman has been arrested for allegedly displaying an electric stun gun during an altercation in the town of Hanover. Sheriff's officers say they were called to the scene about 7:30 a.m. last Thursday on a report of the incident. Deputies say they found that 26 year-old Allyson Lycett had pulled out the stun gun during the altercation... and, was arrested for fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Lycett was arraigned... and, issued an appearance ticket for Hanover Town Court at a later date.
Lake Property Owner's hold first meeting since court ruling "annuls" wetland regulations...
With last week's State Supreme Court ruling... the state Department of Environmental Conservation may have to do a full-blown environmental impact statement on any new wetland regulations. That from Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association president Jim Wehrfritz during the CLPOA's most recent meeting last Saturday in Bemus Point. Wehrfritz says the court's annulment of the regulations "demand accountabilty." Wehrfritz says the DEC may have to issue a "positive declaration..." meaning that the regulations would have to consider economic and social issues in those regulations. Wehrfritz... however... cautioned that if the DEC were to implement new wetland regulations.. they would be more "broadbased" because it would have to be for the entire state. He later focused on the June 2024 plan for the lake proposed by Dr. Robert Richardson at North Carolina State University. Wehrfritz feels it needs to be acted on, because it's time to have a plan that can be acted on. He says the CLPOA also feels there needs to be a study of the lake's condition... and, the wetlands regulations on property values on the lake.
State Supreme Court rules in favor of village connecting with the No. County Water District...
A State Supreme Court judge has sided with the village of Fredonia in a lawsuit that sought to annul a resolution for the village's project to connect with the North County Water District. In an 11-page ruling last Wednesday... Judge Grace Hanlon denied the request that was filed in October by members of the "Save Our Reservoir" group, who argued that the village violated the State Environmental Quality Review Act... General Municipal Law... and, the village's Zoning Code. Judge Hanlon determined that the village -- "neither abused its discretion nor was arbitrary or capricious in its determination" with regard to its SEQRA analysis.
