Two Jamestown residents among seven who have pled guilty in connection with WNY drug ring...
Seven people -- two from Jamestown -- have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced in connection with a drug trafficking operation in Western New York. State Attorney General Letitia James has announced the pleas by the seven for selling fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine throughout the region. James says her office's investigation recovered nearly one-kilogram of cocaine... worth $30,000... more than half a pound of methamphetamine worth $1,500... more than one ounce of fentanyl worth $1,600... and, about $4,000 in cash. All seven defendants were indicted in February 2025, and have since pleaded guilty. One of the local defendents... 32-year-old Devan Huntington... pleaded guilty in November 2025 to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. As part of his plea... James says he admitted to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to sell. Huntington is still awaiting sentencing. The second defendent... 52-year-old Sabrina Leeper... pleaded guilty in September 2025 to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. As part of her plea... Leeper admitted to selling methamphetamine. She was sentenced last Jan. 15 to five years of probation. Two of the key leaders of the drug ring... Ronnie Dupree and Antwain Jackson of Buffalo... traveled from Buffalo to Jamestown to meet customers and make sales.
Two arrested in Jamestown for drug trafficking...
A man and woman from Jamestown have been arrested following a drug raid early Tuesday morning on the city's northside. Chautauqua County Sheriff's officers say their narcotics investigators... along with those from JPD... executed a serach warrant at 1087 N. Main St. shortly after 6 AM. The JPD SWAT Team forced entry to the home... and, located 44-year-old Angel MacDonald... and, 51 year-old Ralik Hamilton... inside. Police also seized 81.4 grams of crack cocaine... 8.2 grams of cocaine... .3 grams of methamphetamine... scales and packaging material used to traffic drugs... and, nearly $500 in cash. MacDonald was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia... and, tampering with physical evidence. Hamilton was charged with first-degree criminal nuisance. Both were taken to the city jail with MacDonald to be arraigned on her charges. Hamilton was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Quick work by Ripley firefighters confines ceiling fan fire to home's bathroom...
Fast work by Ripley firefighters limited damage to a home in the town of Ripley Tuesday afternoon. County Emergency dispatchers say crews were called to the scene at 9807 Sandy Lane shortly after 1 p.m. for a reported structure fire. The county's Fire Investigation Team was later called in to look for the cause... and, found it was a malfunctioning ceiling exhaust fan in the bathroom. Officials say crews were able to contain the fire to the bathroom resulting in minimal damage to the home. Investigators say quick actions by the occupant... and, firefighters... confined flames to the bathroom area. There were no injuries... and, the fire's been ruled accidental.
Fredonia firefighter named county's Firefighter of the Year...
A member of the Fredonia Fire Department has been named the Chautauqua County Fire Service's Firefighter of the Year. Captain Dan Aldrich got the commendation at the Fredonia Fire Hall this past weekend in recognition of the actions he took during an ice rescue operation in the town of Portland. County Fire Advisory Board Awards Chair Marsha Holland, who presented the award, says Aldrich responded from his residence to an incident involving two individuals who fell through a frozen pond at an address on Route 5 last Feb. 28. One of the two individuals was able to get out of the water before first responders arrived. Holland says coordinated efforts by Aldrich, who is part of the county's Water Emergency Team, allowed responding firefighters to pull out the victim who was still in the water. County Emergency Services Director Noel Guttman nominated Aldrich for the award.
DeJoy leaving Dunkirk to take position with NC not-for-profit at end of October...
The city of Dunkirk will be in search of a new Director of Planning and Development... and, Democrats will have a new candidate for county legislature. That after Jamestown's Vince DeJoy said that he is leaving both positions at the end of the month to accept a position with a not-for-profit health care organization in North Carolina. DeJoy says his position with Dunkirk has "been a passion," and he thanked Mayor Kate Wdowiasz, along with his colleagues at the city and county levels. He says he's very "grateful and thankful" to have the opportunity to work in the city of Dunkirk. DeJoy, who was appointed in November 2021, touted numerous accomplishments during his time with the city. Among them are his role in helping Dunkirk land a $10-million, Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant from the state, as well as other grants from state and federal governments and others.
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With DeJoy leaving for North Carolina, he also plans to soon resign from his seat on the Chautauqua County Legislature. DeJoy says the county's Democratic Committee feels it has a "very, very strong, respectable" candidate to potentially replace him. His name will still be on the ballot in November because it's too late to remove it. However... he believes it's a good replacement. DeJoy has represented Legislature District 9 in Jamestown since January.
