City man sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking Fentanyl...
A Jamestown man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after being convicted of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of acetyl Fentanyl.  U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced Wednesday that 25 year-old Wade Paulisick received the 120 month sentence from U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo.  Prosecutors say that in September of 2019... a search warrant was executed at Paulisick’s residence on Tower Street... and they found and seized quantities of narcotics including quantities of acetyl fentanyl, fentanyl and methamphetamine, and a stolen handgun.  He was then arrested on the federal charge. 

County reports number of new COVID-19 cases totalled 1,743 for previous week; number is lower, but, still considered high...
While the state-wide trend has been going downward... Chautauqua County's COVID-19 numbers remain high this week.  However... the number of new cases is down slightly from Jan. 9--16, with 1,743 new cases.  The Health Department reports that 339 of those are currently active... and, 31 of those are hospitalized.  This brings the total number of cases to 22,878... while 22,249 have now recovered.  Health officials say four people died over that week period... bringing that total to 290.  The daily average of cases is 249... and, the seven-day infection rate fell about 3-points to 17.3-percent. 

Reed expresses concern over Hochul's first budget proposal, but, also offers praise of new governor...
Governor Kathy Hochul's first budget presentation shows how things have changed in a year.  That from local Congressman Tom Reed... who restarted his weekly telephone conference calls Wednesday... and, commented on the $216-billion spending plan.  Reed says just over a year ago... New York was facing major budget deficits until the American Rescue Plan was adopted.  However... he reiterated that state government also had a spending problem... and that led a few years back to a $10-billion to $14-billion budget deficit.  Reed says he hopes the state doesn't "squander-away" the added revenue... and, find itself back in a deficit situation again.  As for Hochul as governor... the Corning Republican says he was pleased in the beginning to see her work in a bi-partsian manner with the state's Congressional Delegation.  However... he says in the past two months or so... Hochul has held a conference call and meeting with only Democratic members of the delegation.  He called that "very problematic..." and, that it didn't sit well with him and other GOP members of Congress from New York.

Reed critical of Biden's inability to bring unity on one-year anniversary of his inauguration...
President Joe Biden is making his first-year anniversary in office... and, it's been a difficult year for the nation's 46th president.  There have been a number of missteps... but, local Congressman Tom Reed says he thinks the biggest is Biden's inability to unite the country after campaigning that he would.  In fact... Reed says if the president had taken his original path on the infrastructure bill... it would have been in place sooner.  However, after meeting with Congressional Democrats, he decided to tie the bill with his "Build Back Better" legislation.  Reed says... if Biden continues to pander to the far-left of the party... there will be more congressional gridlock.  The President hosted his first stand-alone press conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss a wide range of issues... including dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic... and economic challenges -- including supply chain issues.  

Mayor Sundquist talks about city's response to nor'easter, and sidewalk issues...
Removing snow from sidewalks in Jamestown is still the responsibility of property owners... but Mayor Eddie Sundquist says the city is looking at more ways to help.  Sundquist told our Dennis Webster Wednesday that the plows the city uses to clear sidewalks are specialized... and, unfortunately break down easily.  The mayor says they are looking at purchasing some additional equipment, but, adds the Public Works Dept. has recently been hit by several absences due to COVID.  Sundquist says clearing streets and highways is the first priority for city crews following a major storm.  Sundquist also suggested that Jamestown is considering a system to directly communicate urgent information to residents in critical situations.  Sundquist says residents would be able to sign-up to receive the alerts for such things as weather-related issues... or closings.  The mayor praised the response of city crews to the storm, but said the number of available workers continues to be depleted by COVID-19.

Swanson named new head of Jamestown Community Chamber...
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce has announced a local woman has been named as the new coordinator and office administrator for the Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce.  County Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Heitzenrater says Carrie Swanson has been hired to the position... after being employed at Wegmans Food Markets for many years where she had managed several departments including Meat, Produce, and the Deli.  Heitzenrater says she's also completed the Dale Carnegie Course Skills for Success, and served as a job coach mentor for the Wegmans Management Intern Program.  Swanson was also a United Way Co-Chair. 

Former WJTN "Italian Hour" host passes away...
A former member of the Media One -- James Broadcasting family has died.  Jim Conti hosted WJTN's "Italian Hour" for many years... and, was a supervisor for the Chautauqua County Highway Department.  He was 84.  Our condolences to his family and friends.  Riccardi's Hubert Funeral Home is handling arrangements for Jim Conti.