Bush Industries closes plant in Mason Industrial Park; Wendel reacts...
A mainstay of the Mason Industrial Park near Falconer the past four decades is closing it's doors after efforts to find a buyer fell through. Bush Industries... now known as eSolutions... has formally announced the closing of the furniture maker's plant... a move that puts more than 200 employees out of work. Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel says the Industrial Development Agency had worked with Bush... and, it's holding company... to find investors to no avail. Wendel says Bush's holding company is declaring bankruptcy... and, any offers for the company -- while credible -- did not satisfy eSolutions creditors. Employees were reportedly told earlier this week that the closing would take place... but, there was no public announcement until Thursday. Unfortunately... Wendel says it's another case of "out-of-town" decisions being made that impact local industry, and it's employees. The Post-Journal is reporting that eSolutions was facing a soft furniture market... and, head winds from tariffs that could not be overcome. The company is expected to be in a Canadian Court later today regarding a bankruptcy filing. Former Owner Paul Bush founded the company in the Jamestown-area in the mid-1980s.
Cattaraugus County man indicted by Federal Grand Jury on major drug charges...
A Little Valley man who fled from police during a high-speed chase last September has been indicted by a federal Grand Jury on major drug charges. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo says 44 year-old Ronald Mitchell has been charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Prosecutors say Mitchell had been identified by police as a distributor of meth and cocaine in Cattaraugus County... and, police saw him selling drugs from inside his vehicle last Sept. 17. A Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputy later conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, during which Mitchell appeared very nervous. When he was asked to get out of the car... he drove off... leading deputies on a chase where speeds exceeded 90 mph. Mitchell eventually crashed into a tree in Ellicottville, and he fled. Investigators seized 52 grams of cocaine and a large amount of cash from the vehicle... and, later found a bag on Route 242 containing 196 grams of cocaine, and 472 grams of meth they say Mitchell had discarded when he ran off. The charges carry a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10-million fine.
Ferguson calls for shutting down of EconoLodge after county DSS takes homeless housed at Clarion near Jamestown to new location due to conditions...
The mayor of Fredonia is calling for the immediate closure and abandonment of a property in the village that has been used to shelter the homeless in recent months. Mike Ferguson says the former EconoLodge on Route 60 has been the site of -- "hundreds of police and fire calls and numerous public safety concerns." Ferguson says the action would be similar to what was done by Chautauqua County Department of Social Services in moving people out of a portion of the Clarion Pointe Hotel on Route 60 -- north of Jamestown. Ferguson says they had code enforcement going in twice this past week, and they found "deplorable conditions." In a press release sent to Media One Radio this morning... Falconer Mayor Jim Jaroszynski said he, along with Ellicott Town Supervisor Janet Bowman... and Falconer School Superintendent Steven Penhollow... called for relief for the two Falconer hotels... the Quality... and Budget Inns... which he says are full. The Ellicott Code Enforcement officials closed the portion of the Clarion Pointe Hotel where the homeless were housed due to it's condition. The decision was then made to take the homeless there elsewhere.
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Jaroszynski added that they have been meeting monthly with county DSS Director Carmello Hernandez... who proposed that anyone accepting DSS services would be required to sign an agreement regarding standards of behavior expected of the individual in order to continue receiving benefits, and if found to be in violation, would receive expulsion from services for 30 days. In addition to these measures, officials also expressed the need for private security at these facilities to mitigate complaints. Of the three locations discussed, only the Quality Inn has attempted these initiatives. Jaroszynski adds that they reiterated the need for additional follow-up services for individuals using blue code/transitional housing... including mental health support, addition services, parenting and financial education.
City Council approves BPU borrowing $1.5-million dollars for engineering work on upgrades to Cassadaga Pump Station...
City lawmakers in Jamestown have okayed the Board of Public Utilities borrowing $1.5-million to begin a project at the Cassadaga Pump Station. That's where the city's water supply comes from... and, it's in need of major refurbishing. Mayor Kim Ecklund says this will fund engineering work for the project. Ecklund says the city agreed to putting out a $27-million bond anticipation note for the overall project. However... she says the BPU is also looking at alternative funding to lower the amount being borrowed though grants and other means. BPU General Manager Kris Sellstrom spoke during a recent Council work session... and noted that the board has already obtained a $5-million grant for the project.
