Bemus Point man wanted in Jamestown, arrested on drug charges...
A Bemus Point man wanted in the city of Jamestown has been arrested for allegedly being found in possession of illegal drugs and drug packaging materials. Sheriff's officers say they arrested 34 year-old Jordan Eckwahl on the warrant shortly after Midnight this morning... and, found him in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine, and drug packaging materials. Eckwahl was issued an appearance ticket for Ellery Town Court for seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. He was then turned over to Jamestown police on the active arrest warrant.
Dunkirk firefighters make quick work of house fire...
Dunkirk city firefighters made a quick response to a house fire at 75 West 4th Street around 10:30 a.m. today. Fire Chief Mike Edwards says one occupant was able to get out with no injuries being reported. Edwards says there was extensive damage to the back of the house... but, damage was confined there. He says they also rescued a dog, and two cats. Dunkirk had mutual aid from East Dunkirk and the County's heavy rescue unit from Fredonia. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Clymer woman arrested for drugs and speeding in Minda...
A woman from Clymer is accused of driving while under the influence of drugs after her speeding car was pulled over last weekend in the town of Mina. Sheriff's deputies say they stopped the vehicle, operated by 28 year-old Emilee Carlson, on Mann Road around 9:30 p.m. last Saturday. Officers say they found she was impaired by drugs, and that her driver's license had been suspended. Deputies say that... while arresting Carlson... they found her to be in possession of methamphetamines and concentrated cannabis. She was issued appearance tickets for Mina Town Court on charges of driving while ability impaired by drugs... two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... aggravated unlicensed operation... and, speeding.
County records 48 new COVID Cases over past weekend...
The Chautauqua County Health Department is reporting 48 new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Virus over the past weekend... but, the infection rate remains low. Health officials say 11 of the new cases are in Dunkirk... and, 9 in the Jamestown 14701 zip code. There have now been a total of 7,711 cases... and, 127 of those are active. Officials say there were no new deaths, and 10 people are hospitalized. There have now been 7,446 cases that have recovered... and, the infection rate is 1.2-percent.
Gerry Rodeo officials say they need to know soon whether they can host 75th event this year, and number of attendees...
The postponed 75th annual Gerry Rodeo is set for early August... five months from now… and, Spokesman Paul Cooley says they’d like to be able to put it on. He says, though, they first need to find out if they can put it on... and, secondly, they need to know at what crowd capacity so they know whether they'll make enough to cover expenses. Cooley says it takes around $100,000 just to open the gates at Gerry. He says if they're only allowed to have 25-percent capacity, they won't make enough money. The pandemic has hurt all professional sports and athletes, but Paul Cooley believes it’s hit rodeo performers harder than most because they have to pay their own travel expenses, and entry fees. The scheduled rodeo dates this year are August 4th through the 7th. The Gerry Rodeo is the only annual fund raiser for the Gerry Volunteer Fire Department.
Top two state legislature leaders, Stewart-Cousins and Heastie pull back support for Cuomo...
The two top Democrats in New York's legislature have withdrewn their support for Governor Andrew Cuomo amid mounting allegations of sexual harassment, and undercounting COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins became the first senior Democrat in the state to say he should resign. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie stopped short of demanding that Cuomo quit... but, said in a Sunday statement that Cuomo should "seriously consider whether he can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York." It comes after Cuomo had said earlier Sunday he would not step down. Cuomo's workplace conduct has been under intense scrutiny in recent days as several women have accused him of inappropriate behavior.
Federal appeals court in NYS confronts violent crime definition...
Once annually, sometimes less, the full federal appeals court in New York meets to confront a perplexing legal question. This year... it was to decide whether shooting somebody point-blank in the face and stabbing somebody to death are violent acts. This past week, 14 judges of the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan decided by a 9-to-5 vote that the killings were indeed crimes of violence. Their decision was necessary because Supreme Court precedent requires courts decide whether a charge used to convict someone requires in every instance that violence be involved. The debate has tied courts in knots from coast to coast.
