Two men escape serious injury in crash landing at Jamestown Airport...
The pilot and co-pilot of a small private jet were "very fortunate" to walk away with relatively minor injuries when their plane crash landed at the Chautauqua County Airport near Jamestown. Those are the feelings of county, and airport officials about the two men involved in the crash... which occured shortly after 10 a.m. Monday. Officials say the pilot encountered an electrical problem on board near Jamestown after taking off from the Dunkirk Airport earlier in the morning. Airport Manager Shannon Fisher says the men are very familiar to airport personnel... having been tenants of the Dunkirk facility. However... neither men have been identified yet. Fisher says the men were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment... but, adds the pilot requested to go to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo. The plane was extensively damaged due a fire from the crash... and, wound up just off the runaway after landing. The airport remains closed... and, the FAA was enroute to investigate Monday afternoon.
City man sentenced to five-years in prison for third-degree criminal possesssion of drugs...
A Jamestown man will spend the next five-years in state prison after being convicted of a Felony drug offense. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 23 year-old Alex Johnson was sentenced by Judge David Foley last week to the determinate prison term... along with two-years of post-release supervision after being convicted of Felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Schmidt says in November of 2022... the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force executed a search warrant on Johnson’s residence... and, found a quantity of fentanyl. Johnson was initially charged with second-degree criminal possession of a Controlled Substance... but he pled guilty to the reduced charge in April 2024. Schmidt thanked Jamestown police... and, Assistant DA Erik Bentley for their work on this case.
Pittsburgh man arrested on illegal gun possession charges after stopped for driving the wrong way on I-86 in Ellery...
A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania man has been arrested after his car was spotted going the wrong way on Interstate 86 in the town of Ellery last Friday night. Sheriff's officers say a patrol spotted 71 year-old Voris Posset traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes shortly before 11 p.m. Deputies say Posset nearly stuck the patrol vehicle... and he continued on the wrong way. Sheriff's officers were finally able to stop the vehicle with the help of State Police, and the Ellicott Police Department. During the subsequent investigation... Posset was found to be illegally in possession of three loaded firearms. He was arrested for three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and, one of second-degree reckless endangerment for driving the wrong way. Posset was taken to the county jail pending centralized arraignment.
Some 10,000 attend annual Gerry Rodeo...
There was plenty of action in the arena, and lots of excitement in the stands as the 79th Gerry Rodeo wrapped up Saturday night. Announcer Greg Simas got the crowd going for each of the performers. Longtime rodeo spokesman, Paul Cooley, said all four nights were great... with full houses each night. Cooley says it looked like a couple of nights might be rainy... but, the rain ended up holding off. In one particular event, the crowds at Gerry got to see an unusually good show this year in the bare-back riding. The bull riders didn’t fare so well, with only one successful ride for the whole rodeo. Cooley thanked all the volunteers who worked to put on the rodeo for the Gerry Fire Department.
Wendel says services for the homeless are there and available... but, they need to want the help...
Chautauqua County is providing the services that many in the city of Jamestown's homeless population need. However... the question becomes do they want those services... or abide by the rules to get them? That's an issue being raised by County Executive P.J. Wendel... who feels there needs to be more collaboration to help those people -- especially those with mental health -- and or -- addiction problems. He says he's spoken with others involved in those services... and, in many cases they say... people have to want to take those services. Wendel says officials learned during a mid-week meeting last week that the U-CAN Mission for men does have room for more individuals. However... he says there are times when the men taken in don't follow the rules... and, they have to leave. Wendel says they are looking at a different option to deal with that. He made his comments for last weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the six Media One Radio Group stations.
Ellington Town Picnic and Bicentennial a success...
The 200th anniversary of the Town of Ellington was marked officially late Saturday afternoon in a ceremony at the Ellington Town Picnic. Supervisor Karen Bifaro led it off... saying she was "very proud" of the community and "how they work together." State Assemblyman Andy Goodell made a presentation on behalf of the state Assembly and Senate... a citation commending town officials and residents. Longtime resident, and Ellington fire chief, Steve Rexford spoke to this year’s celebration and one to come in 2025... with the department's 100th anniversary. Bicentennial and Town Picnic events began Thursday and continued through the weekend.
