Working smoke detectors credited with preventing injuries, and serious damage to city home early Saturday...
Quick work by Jamestown firefighters contained flames that damaged the kitchen area of a northside home early Saturday morning. Jamestown Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Rousch says crews were called to 33 Sturges St. shortly before 1:30 a.m. and found fire coming through a first-floor window. Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control quickly... and, rescued four cats inside. Rousch says an off-duty shift of six firefighters was called into assist... and, two residents were safe outside when they arrived. He adds the home had working smoke detectors... which helped them get out safely. Crews were at the scene until just after 5 a.m. No one was hurt... and the cause remains under investigation.
Five arrested in north county drug raids...
Five people are charged following two, simultaneous drug raids on apartments in the village of Silver Creek... and town of Sheridan early Wednesday morning. Sheriff's Department Narcotics Investigators were joined by Dunkirk and Jamestown police in executing a search warrant at an upper apartment at 6 Jaekle Avenue in Silver Creek... and, at the same time... narcotics investigators along with the Cattaraugus County SRT raided an apartment on Route 20 in Sheridan. Investigators say they seized 11.1 grams of fentanyl, 8.5 grams of methamphetamine, a quantity of prescription pills, scales and packaging materials... a shotgun and $770 in cash. Police arrested 31 year-old James Hurley, Junior... and, 28 year-old Marissa Moquin at the Silver Creek apartment. At the Route 20 address... 42 year-old Justin Schuk and 45 year-old Jodi Messere were both arrested fon drug and weapons possession charges. A third person found at the Route 20 location... 36 year-old Arlene Rivera faces drug-related charges.
City man gets 6 1/2 years in federal prison in drug trafficking case...
A Jamestown man has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in federal prison for his conviction on one count of conspiring to possess... with intent to distribute... and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross Friday announced that 28 year-old Tyler Tedesco received the 78-month sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Richard Arcara. Prosecutors say Tedesco was a drug trafficking associate of co-defendant Rocco Beardsley... who led a drug trafficking organization in the Jamestown area. Tedesco was found to have sold large amounts of meth, heroin, and fentanyl for profit, collected drug money, stored drugs and profits, and coordinated with co-conspirators to sell methamphetamine and heroin. Rocco Beardsley was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
JBC donates mansion, adjacent building to St. Susan's Center and UCAN Mission...
Jamestown Business College will close it's doors next March. However... a new chapter in it's historic facilities will then begin as two non-profit agencies move in. Past College President David Conklin announced Thursday that they are donating their mansion and adjacent building as a new location for the St. Susan's Center... and, the UCAN City Mission for a new woman-and children's shelter. Conklin says... after roadblocks to selling the facility cropped up... he and his family agreed to go the donation route. The St. Susan's Soup Kitchen has been located in the Gateway Center on Water Street for nearly two decades. But... due to maintenance issues at the former factory building... Director Cheri Rowland -- who is a JBC graduate -- says they began looking for a new location... and, the adjacent building has the kind of lay-out they need. St. Susan's will be in the upper floor of the adjacent building... while the United Christian Advocacy Network -- or UCAN -- will set up the new shelter in the former mansion. UCAN Board President Sharon Hamilton says the men's shelter will remain on First Street in Jamestown. She expressed their appreciation to Conklin and the college. Hamilton says they're hoping to create at least seven units to house women and children inside the mansion. Conklin adds that "the decision to donate the building to these incredible organizations ensures that JBC’s impact on Jamestown will continue for generations."
Langworthy talks tourism, and drawing people to Chautauqua County during CHQ Chamber presentation...
Harnessing and improving experiences on Lake Erie and Chautauqua Lake is "where our fortune lies." That was one of the key messages from Congressman Nick Langworthy... who was Thursday's featured speaker at the CHQ Chamber's Congressional Luncheon at Shorewood Country Club in Dunkirk. Langworthy says multiple levels of government working together to improve those lakes will help attract people to Chautauqua County and boost the county's tourism economy. Langworthy provided an example of such cooperation... that being the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' recent dredging of Barcelona Harbor. The Buffalo-area Republican says getting the attention of the Army Corps moved the dredging a couple of months ahead of schedule, helping save the tourism season for local businesses.
Fugitive arrested in Jamestown following traffic stop...
A city man wanted in two jurisdictions has been arrested on those warrants... and, for illegally possessing drugs... following a traffic stop on Jamestown's northside. City police say they saw a vehicle commit a traffic infraction just after 2 a.m. Thursday on Lakeview Avenue... and, tried to stop the car. However... officers say the driver, 49 year-old Victor Cameron, failed to comply... and, led police on a brief pursuit. Police say Cameron stopped and parked the car at a northside address... and, then fled on foot... but, was caught a short time later. He was found be wanted on warrants from Warren County, Pa., the town of Ellicott. Police also found Cameron in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine.
