Jamestown man arrested for allegedly threatening two people with a knife in front of multiple children...
A city man is accused of threatening two people with a knife last Saturday night in front of three children on Jamestown's eastside. City police were called to the scene for a person with a weapon shortly before 5 p.m. -- along with State Police. Officers say they secured the scene on arrival... and, found the suspect... 38 year-old Angel Baez-Huertas. Further investigation showed that Huetras had allegedly menaced two people with the knife... and, threatened to kill them in from of the children. Police also confirmed that Huertas was the subject of an active order of protection involving one of the children present. He was arrested for third-degree criminal possession of a weapon... two counts of second-degree menacing... second-degree criminal contempt... and, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He was held pending arraignment.
Man with connections to people victimized in last Friday's mass shooting says suspect showed no signs of distress or anger prior to incident...
A man whose toddler was among eight people killed in a mass shooting in Erie, Pa., says that the gunman was a grandfather who never seemed distressed or out of the ordinary. Julius Windham said Sunday -- "I think that was a front for him. Him every day, him smiling and being just -- you would think of nothing like that would happen." Windham spoke to a reporter as he stood at a memorial to victims of Friday’s shooting, including his 1-year-old daughter Amarianna, her pregnant mother and the woman’s 5-year-old son and unborn baby. The 45-year-old gunman -- who remains unidentified -- took his own life. However... Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said he was related to seven of the victims. The eighth was a friend of the pregnant woman, he said. Police have not made their names public, either. Those killed include 2 women outside the home.
City Council President says mayor's tentative budget isn't "ugly..." but, not good, either...
Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund's proposed 2027 budget is not "an ugly one..." but, it's not a good one, either. Those are the feelings of City Council President Regina Brackman following the mayor's release of the $47.3-million spending plan that increases taxes by 7.3%. It increases the tax rate by $1.87 cents per $1,000. Brackman says she is happy to see no lay-offs in the budget... in particular, the 12 firefighters hired under American Rescue Plan Act... and, SAFER grant funding. Both are running out at the end of this year... or early next. Ecklund is also proposing use of $2.77-million in undesignated fund balance to hold down the tax increase. Brackman says that leaves the city's "rainy day" fund well below what's recommended... and, she's "hoping" they don't have to. The includes use of some of the $1.59-million was in additional "Temporary Municipal Aid" that Jamestown and some other cities received from New York state. However... there is no additional state funding for the new city budget.
Texas teen arrested for DWI after being seen driving the wrong-way on city street...
An 18 year-old resident of Texas has been arrested for drunk driving after he was stopped for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Jamestown. City police say they stopped the vehicle shortly after 1:30 a.m. last Friday at the intersection of North Main and East Sixth Streets after spotting the vehicle traveling the wrong way. During the investigation... officers found that the unidentified driver had been operating the
vehicle after consuming alcohol while under the age of 21. The teen was arrested without incident for driving the wrong way on a one-way street... and, operating a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol while under the age of 21. The 18 year-old was held pending arraignment.
Pa. man arrested for driving the wrong way on W 6th Street...
A Bradford, Pennsylvania man has been arrested for allegedly driving drunk when his car was spotted going the wrong-way on a one-way street in Jamestown. City police say a patrol was in the area of Washington and West Sixth Streets shortly before Midnight Saturday when they saw the vehicle going the wrong way on West Sixth. Officers stopped the car, driven by 49 year-old Kenneth Distrola, Jr., and, found he was driving while in an intoxicated state. Police also found that Distrola was driving with a revoked driver's license. He was arrested for DWI... aggravated unlicensed operation... driving the wrong way on a one-way street... and, having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. Distrola was taken to the city jail pending arraignment.
CHQ Chamber presents annual awards at Banquet...
The CHQ Chamber rolled out the blue carpet last week to celebrate several businesses and organizations across Chautauqua County. Those organizations were recognized during the Chamber's annual Awards Banquet at the SUNY College at Fredonia. Among the awardees was DFT Communications in Fredonia, which received the Chamber's Business of the Year Award. DFT Co-President Mark Maytum says he's very proud to accept the award on behalf of it's employees. Wells Enterprises in Dunkirk was named the Chamber's Producer of the Year. The local ice cream plant recently completed Phase 2 of its expansion project and gained recognition from a national dairy publication. Wells representative Brian Ardillo says that awards represents what his team does every day. The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation received the Not-for-Profit of the Year Award. The other award recipients were Chautauqua Lake Dental (Business Champion Award), Westfield Makerspace (Emerging Business of the Year), Sanfilippo Solutions, Inc. (Service Business of the Year), and 3 Lakes Cafe (Hospitality Business of the Year).
