A Jamestown man will spend the next dozen years in state prison following his sentencing Tuesday on drug and weapons charges in federal court in Buffalo. U-S Attorney James Kennedy, Junior says 19 year-old Jacob Graham was convicted to possessing with intent to distribute five grams or more of actual methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Prosecutors say Graham was one of two people seen fighting with another person in the city in May of last year. City police say Graham and the other man then got into a car and sped off. They were later found two baggies of meth, and a loaded 12-gauge shotgun.
A 61 year-old man has serious lower leg injuries after being struck by a vehicle while crossing the street at the intersection of East Sixth and Pine Streets in Jamestown. JPD Captain Bob Samuelson says the victim was hit by the dark-colored car -- believed to be a Chevy Impala -- that was turning left just before 5:30 Tuesday morning. The vehicle may have sustained front-end damage. The victim was reportedly knocked to the ground, and taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital for treatment. Samuelson says although serious, his injuries are not considered to be life-threatening. Investigators say traffic camera footage shows the sedan traveling south on Pine Street from East Sixth... then turning onto several other streets. A photo of the alleged vehicle is available on the Media One Radio Group Facebook Page... and, anyone with information is asked to call JPD at 483-7537, use the Tipline at 483-TIPS or via the TIPS 411 app.
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In addition... Samuelson says Crime Stoppers of Western New York will be accepting tips as well for this case at 867-6161 or via crimestopperswny.org. Tipsters could be eligible to receive a reward if there's an arrest and conviction.
City lawmakers in Jamestown are expected to vote next week on hiring a company to install more than 100 new, SMART Parking meters for nearly 473-thousand dollars. Mayor Eddie Sundquist says ID SignSystems, Incorporated had the lowest of two bids for the project... which will mainly be paid for by federal aid. Sundquist says the meters, which have new technology... will be placed in the downtown area... but, won't replace all the meters there.
City Council Finance Committee Chairwoman Kim Ecklund says a local foundation is helping to pay most of the local match... which totals $122,000. Ecklund says the Gebbie Foundation will be providing $100,000 of that... and the city will put up $22,000 from it's contingency account. Officials say federal aid will cover $350,000 of the project. Sundquist says the new meters... which are part of the city's SMART Capital Projects approved last year... will allow motorists using those spaces to pay with cash, credit card... or their Smart phones.
There are 10 new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Virus in Chautauqua County... including one from Jamestown, and another from Falconer. That from the county's Health and Human Services Department, which reports 36 active cases, which are recovering. Interim County Executive P-J Wendel says five of the cases are in Fredonia... and, there are now 623 total confirmed cases... while 577 have now recovered. He adds there are 252 cases under quarantine or isolation orders... and, there are 27 persons under the "domestic traveler quarantine." Wendel says there have now been 41,435 negative test results to date.
A north county man faces numerous traffic tickets after a crash on Chautauqua Road in the town of Pomfret last (Monday) night that seriouly hurt one person. State Police say 20-year-old Justin Edwards of Fredonia lost control of the vehicle while going around a curve. Troopers say the vehicle struck a traffic sign, then a tree causing the vehicle to overturn striking multiple parked vehicles that were unoccupied. Police say a 47-year-old passenger had possible internal injuries, and was flown by Mercyflight to UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Officials in the village of Fredonia are hopeful that they can lift the boil order for the village's Water System by week's end. Mayor Doug Essek gave an update during Monday evening's Village Board meeting... saying the Chautauqua County Health Department has been heading up the effort find the problem. The water system has been under a boil order since September 10th. Essek says the village and county are trying to find, and get to the problem causing turbidity in the system.
The city of Dunkirk's attorney for the past three years is the Democratic candidate for Chautauqua County Executive in this November's election. Richard Morrisroe came to Dunkirk a few years ago after working in various jobs and capacities in the city of Buffalo. Morrisroe says he's been trained in leadership and management and led bank branches... to classrooms as a Spanish teacher. He was also a partner at a legal firm in Buffalo... before moving on to other opportunities.
In addition to getting the county through the COVID-19 Pandemic... Morrisroe says the biggest issue in the county is reversing the loss of jobs and population. He says he's a "people person..." with the ability to do that. Morrisroe made his comments for last weekend's Community Spotlight program on the Media One Radio Group stations. Current Interim Executive P-J Wendel, the Republican candidate, will be our guest this coming weekend.
Chautauqua County health officials are asking for help in finding anyone who may have come in direct contact with a stray, adult black cat on Clinton Street in the village of Westfield on or before September 16th. Public Health Director Christine Schuyler says the cat was confirmed to have rabies. She says it had a small, white patch on it's chest... and, was seen between Portage Road and Franklin Street. If you may have come in contact with the cat... call the county Health Department at 753-4772.
