Dunkirk man identified as victim in car -- tractor-trailer fatal accident...
A north county man has now been identified as the person killed when his car struck the back of a tractor-trailer on Route 60 in the village of Fredonia. State Police in Fredonia were called to the scene just after 2 p.m. Tuesday for a two-vehicle crash involving a big rig. Troopers say a northbound Peterbilt tractor-trailer stopped in traffic at a red light... when the car... driven by 42 year-old Derek Seeger of Dunkirk... failed to stop and struck the rear of the trailer. Police say Seeger was pronounced dead at the scene. The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit... and, their Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in this investigation... which is ongoing.
City man arrested for alleged menacing incident in town of Ellicott...
A Jamestown man faces charges after allegedly threatening a woman with a knife... and, several people with an airsoft rifle at a Fluvanna-area home. Ellicott Town Police say they were called to a Fluvanna-Townline Road home a week ago on a report of a domestic dispute. Officers say they found that 27 year-old Lee Larson threatened the female victim... and, shot towards several people with the airsoft gun. Police adds that several children were present during the incident. Larson was arrested for second-degree menacing... and, endangering the welfare of a child. He was jailed pending arraignment.
County Legislature approves new partial tax exemption for senior property owners...
The Chautauqua County Legislature has reversed course... and approved a lower income level for senior property owners to receive a partial exemption on their county taxes. Lawmakers in Mayville last night approved the new limit of up to $30,000 to receive the 5% exemption in a party line, 12-3 vote. Four legislators were absent. The legislature last month agreed to a $55,000 level... but, looked further into the matter... and, decided on the lower number. Sheridan Republican Terry Niebel felt the new number was "fair and reasonable...." and is the median income for seniors in the county. Niebel felt the higher figure put an undue burden on other taxpayers. Following a discussion with County Office for Aging Services Director Mary Ann Spanos... Fredonia Democrat Susan Parker proposed a decrease to $37,650. Parker says lawmakers haven't made any changes to the law since 2017... and, that should be done more often. Parker's proposed amendment to set the figure at $37,650 was defeated in another party line vote of 3-12.
CCIDA approves for loans for business expansions, and acquistion...
The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency has approved low-interest loans for three separate businesses totaling $725,000. Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, and IDA Chief Executive Officer Mark Geise, says the loans will help companies that "want to invest in our communities and local workforce, and each of the loans approved by the IDA Board of Directors do just that." The largest loan... totaling $400,000... is for a just over $1-million project being undertaken Shults Auto Group owners Tim and Ed Shults. Geise says the project will use the 60,000 square foot ,former Quality Markets Store on Fluvanna Avenue for additional manufacturing space. The IDA Board also approved two loans totaling $225,000 to help LINC acquire Universal Tool Company on Route 60 in Gerry. LINC is a small, Native American-owned business and is certified as a New York State Minority and/or Women-owned Business Enterprise. It specializes in business development/technical sales; supply services for machine tools, tooling, and manufacturing equipment. The third business... ENI in Silver Creek... is receiving a $100,000, working capital loan to help fullfill two large orders for it's building complex mechanical equipment, prototype components, and low-volume production runs of specialized equipment for undersea, naval, and nuclear applications.
Two more parcels sold for residential use at Country View Estates in Jamestown...
The Jamestown City Council has approved the sale of two, 20-acre parcels of land to a pair of families at the Country View Estates to build new homes. On Monday night... lawmakers okayed the measures unanimously... transferring title to Michael and Gail Espinoza... who currently live on Hallock Street. The other property was sold to Paul and Linda Nelson of Howard Street. Council President Tony Dolce says there are still about a dozen parcels available to build on... and, they all remain eligible for a 10-year tax abatement program. Dolce says the approved sales are very good news for the city... which has seen little new home building in recent years. He adds that one of the families moving in actually live outside the city limits... so that's good to see.
Calimeri appointed to replace Slagle on the Jamestown School Board...
The Jamestown School Board has approved the appointment of Joseph Calimeri to fill the vacancy recently created by the resignation of Patrick Slagle during Tuesday night's meeting. In addition... school officials say long-time school board member Joseph Pawelski was also nominated, and elected to serve as the board’s vice president during the meeting. Calimeri, a 2003 graduate of Jamestown High School, will serve until the May 21 Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election. In that election, the two candidates who receive the highest vote totals each will be elected to a three-year term to begin this July 1... and run until June 30 2027. The candidate with the third highest vote total to be elected to a one-year term beginning on May 22nd. Calimeri has served as partner at the law firm of Wright and Calimeri since 2017.
