Mayville man dies in fatal car crash in the town of Ellery...
A 21-year-old Mayville man lost his life in a single car crash on Interstate 86 Tuesday afternoon. The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department says Joseph Zatyko was eastbound on the road when his vehicle veered off the south shoulder and struck the bridge of the Westman Road overpass. When officers investigated, they found Zatyko had succumbed to the injuries suffered as a result of the impact. The man was the lone occupant of the vehicle. The accident occurred around 3:10 p.m.
State Budget agreement reached late Tuesday... budget bills acted on today...
The late New York State budget will probably be finished before tomorrow. Chautauqua County Assemblyman, Andy Goodell, says that chamber was in session until 2 this morning, and will resume working on the remaining four bills sometime today. According to the Goodell, the budget increases education aid for the whole state by a record $6-billion, with half of that coming from the federal government. He says Chautauqua County schools will receive another $24-million in state funds... and, $66-million from the federal government. Goodell says there are other increases as well... including $100-million more for Consolidated Highway Improvement Program -- or CHIPS funding. Goodell, who is the 'floor leader' for the minority Republicans in the Assembly, decried what he called 'huge increases in taxes and debt' in the new budget. He believes the tax increases, aimed at the highest earning New Yorkers, will drive rich people out of the state and eventually lead to higher taxes for everyone.
Fredonia man receives 12 year sentence for trafficking crack cocaine...
A Fredonia man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison following his conviction for possessing with intent to distribute, and distributing, 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. The U.S. Attorney's Office says prosecutors say the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating the drug trafficking activities of 47 year-old Nathaniel Gates, Junior in April of 2015. During the investigation... investigators made three controlled purchases of narcotics from Gates. Investigators also executed a search warrant at the defendant’s Brigham Road apartment in Fredonia and recovered illegal narcotics and items commonly used in drug distribution. The 84-month sentence was handed up today in U-S District Court in Buffalo.
Parolee arrested following Vehicle Pursuit, crash in Jamestown...
A Jamestown man on parole faces several charges following a high speed chase, and later an accident, on the city's westside and downtown areas. City police say officers tried to stop a car, driven by 40 year-old Michael Newman, shortly before 10 p.m. last Friday night in the area of West Eighth and Washington Streets. However... they say Newman drove off on West Eighth before turning onto Locust Alley. Police say Newman struck a parked vehicle before the car eventually went behind several businesses around West Third and Clinton Streets. It then went down a steep embankment between Second and Third Streets... and, crashed onto the railroad tracks. Officers say Newman then led police on a short foot chase before he was arrested. Newman was arraigned on several charges... including third-degree unlawfully fleeing police in a motor vehicle... obstruction... criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, speeding. He was held pending arraignment.
County's Office for Aging Services joins with Rite Aid to provide COVID Vaccines at senior housing facilities...
The Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services has partnered with local Rite Aid pharmacies to help senior housing residents in Jamestown get their COVID-19 vaccines. Office for the Aging Director Mary Ann Spanos says "while all pharmacies have been focused on vaccinating seniors over the last few months, on-site clinics like these bring vaccines to people who need it most, where they are." County Executive P-J Wendel says they were excited to hold the clinic... adding that "these residents are a priority, because of transportation and computer issues and shared spaces in these buildings." Nearly 200 people were vaccinated during the first, on-site clinic at Covenant Manor on West Third Street. Another one will be held at Covenant Manor on Apr. 9 for those getting their second dose.
Cuomo opens up vaccine eligiblity to residents 16 years of age and older...
New Yorkers aged 16 and older are now able to make appointments for getting a COVID-19 vaccine. However... Governor Andrew Cuomo is concerned about rising positivity rates -- especially in Western New York -- where the positivity rate reached 4.72-percent last Sunday. He attributes it to people letting their guard down, and engaging in "bad behavior." Chautauqua County's positivity rate was 1.9-percent on Sunday, but that's lower that the Western New York average. Cuomo expanded eligibility to 30 and over last week and announced that people aged 16 to 29 would be eligible starting Tuesday.
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The county Health Department reported only 9 new COVID cases on Tuesday... bringing the local total to 8,373. The most cases was two each in Silver Creek, Stocton, and Frewsburg. However... the county's Health Department reports 165 active cases, and three are hospitalized.
Schumer high-lights Infrastructure Bill during Jamestown visit...
Democrat lawmakers on the federal level are now beginning to focus on a "big and bold" infrastructure bill recently laid out by President Joe Biden. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer visited the National Comedy Center in Jamestown yesterday to tout several parts of the American Rescue Plan. However... he also talked about the approxmiately $2-trillion infrastructure proposal. Schumer says there are two key parts to that bill... one is rebuilding our infrastructure, and he says it will provide thousands of new jobs in the county.
