Institution names Mark C. Johnson as it's 19th President...
A veteran U.S. diplomat and third-generation Chautauquan has been appointed to lead Chautauqua Institution into Its next chapter. The chair of the institution's Board of Trustees, Laurie Branch, today announced the appointment of Mark Coolidge Johnson as the Institution’s 19th President. The institution says Johnson brings more than 30 years of diplomatic service as a Senior Foreign Service Officer... attorney and third-generation Chautauquan to the institution. Currently... Branch says the Jamestown native serves as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City -- the largest American diplomatic mission in the world -- where he oversees more than 3,000 employees... nine consulates and nine consular agencies with a $282-million operating budget. Johnson is the son of the late Joe Johnson, who served the Institution for 20 years as Vice President of Finance, and is also the grandson of a Chautauqua grounds engineer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Boston College and a juris doctorate from American University’s Washington College of Law. Johnson calls the appointment the "honor of a lifetime to return home and lead this extraordinary community into it's next chapter." Branch says "Mark’s exceptional career leading complex, large-scale organizations across the globe -- combined with his deep personal roots in this community and his genuine passion for Chautauqua’s mission -- make him the ideal leader for this moment." Johnson is expected to assume the presidency after the 2026 Summer Assembly season.
City man arrested for throwing cooking grease around kitchen, and threatening another person with a "dangerous instrument..."
A man from Jamestown has been arrested for allegedly throwing kitchen grease... and, threatening another person with a "dangerous instrument." City police were called to a southside address about 6 p.m. Monday night for a report of a disorderly person. Officers say they found that 31 year-old Kevin Lopez had thrown the grease around the kitchen and onto the floor. Lopez is then accused of threatening the victim. He was arrested for second-degree menacing... third-degree criminal tampering... and, fourth-degree criminal mischief. He was jailed pending arraignment.
Forestville woman arrested for allegedly trying to assault a Sheriff's officer...
A woman from Forestville is jailed on $100,000 cash bail after allegedly trying to assault a Sheriff's deputy last Saturday afternoon. Sheriff's officers say they responded to a welfare check at a Prospect Road address in the town of Villenova shortly before 5 p.m. While at the scene... deputies say 41 year-old Kate Pinkowski became disorderly... and, started actively fighting with officers. As a result... Pinkowski was taken into custody and charged with second-degree attempted assault. She was taken to the county jail, and arraigned. She also faces additional charges from the New York State Police.
Quattrone says search for Emerson continues more than three-weeks after his truck is found in lake...
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office continues to conduct daily shoreline searches along Chautauqua Lake for a Lakewood man who has now been missing for more than a month. That from Sheriff Jim Quattrone, who recently gave an update on the search for 64-year-old Daniel "Scott" Emerson. Quattrone says crews have been operating on the premise that the investigation is now a recovery mission... because it appears likely that Emerson went into the lake with his truck. They also want to try and find out why he was on the lake ice to begin with. Emerson's truck was pulled from Chautauqua Lake on Mar. 20, but Emerson himself has not been found. Quattrone says it remains unclear why Emerson went onto the ice on Chautauqua Lake. However, he noted that Emerson may have become disoriented as the result of a crash prior to his disappearance. Emerson was last seen in Lakewood on Mar. 3.
Preliminary work on total reconstruction of portion of East Second Street in Jamestown now underway...
Preliminary work has begun for New York state's total reconstruction project on East Second Street in Jamestown from East Fourth to Tiffany Avenue in Falconer. Members of the City Council's Public Works Committee were updated on the Department of Transportation's project last night. Mayor Kim Ecklund says the focus of the early work has been around the intersection of East Second and Fourth Streets. Ecklund says they're starting work on curb cuts, infrastructure... and, she adds that a lot of that work has already been done. She made her comments on last weekend's "Community Spotlight" program. Public Works Committee Chairman Dan Gonzales says the main contractor, CatCo, began work on handicappred ramps... curb cuts... and crosswalks. He urged residents to be aware of what's going on... and, where crews are. Gonzales says it's still hoped that the approximately 3-mile long project... on what is also NYS Rte 394... will be done before Fall. At the most... he says it should be done by the end of the year, or shortly after.
City man accused of menacing another person with an axe...
A man from Jamestown who menaced another person with an axe during a recent altercation on the city's southside. Jamestown police say they were called to the location the evening of Apr. 4 for a person with a weapon. Officers say their investigation showed that 35 year-old Demetrius Goldsmith has threatened the victim with the axe... and, he was found inside the home. Goldsmith was taken into custody without incident... and, charged with second-degree menacing... and, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. They also found that Goldsmith had an outstanding arrest warrant through Jamestown City Court.... and, say he was also held pending action on the warrant.
