The District 12 Democrat Committee in Jamestown has named a woman to fill the seat that's been vacated by Fred Larson.  County Democrat Committee Chairman Norm Green says the panel has unanimously recommended Beth Kresge of Lakeview Avenue to replace Larson... who recently stepped down from the County Legislature to take a newly-created post as the second Jamestown City Court Judge.  Kresge was named after their first choice... Chuck Cornell... was rejected by the county legislature.  The panel must confirm the appointment. Green says Kresge's resume... and, volunteer work in the community impressed the committee very much.  She has worked as a staffer for two past members of Congress.  She and her husband, Jeff, have one child.  Green says the party's Executive Committee will also be meeting this coming Tuesday in Dunkirk to take up the endorsement of Beth Kresge as the party’s endorsed candidate for November.  The clerk of the Legislature will be receiving the recommendation from the Democrat’s district committee today for the interim appointment of Kresge to the legislature.  The full panel is expected to take that up at it's meeting later this month.

New York state officials have nominated 28 sites for addition to the have been nominated to the state and national registers of historic places... including downtown Jamestown.  The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation says the city's "Downtown Historic District" is included on the list.  That includes a collection of 101 buildings in the south county city.  The first area is North Main Street, which evolved as a major commercial corridor with banks and small mercantile buildings.  West of North Main Street is an area that developed as a center for large retail use and hotels.  The area east of North Main Street emerged as a center for entertainment and, specialized office buildings.  The last part is East First Street... which has had a continuous role in the city as an area of industrial activity.

State lawmakers have voted to authorize soil and water conservation districts to take steps to prevent and control non-native plants and insects considered invasive species.  The districts were established in counties to help deal with erosion and flooding.  Sponsors say 24 of the 58 districts two-years ago reported being involved in efforts to control invasives... including 62 projects against weeds and treating more than 6,500 acres.  The bill would provide statutory authority to continue programs to identify, prevent, and eradicate foreign plants and animals that threaten to displace natives.  The targets include one found in Chautauqua Lake... Eurasian Milfoil. 

It was a great weekend for baseball... and, the fans came out for the first three games of the Jamestown Jammers start to the New York-Penn League baseball season.  While many may consider it just a lower-level, minor league baseball operation... the Jammers have become very important part of the area's Summer economy.  In fact... Mayor Sam Teresi say an Economic Development Impact study shows the Class-A, short-season franchise either directly -- or indirectly -- brings in about 3.5-million dollars to the area.  But... Teresi adds there's more to having the Jammers here. Teresi says Jamestown is one of 150 cities nation-wide fortunate enough to have a professional baseball team... and, there are other city's that try to lure franchise's elsewhere.  Over the past year... it's been rumored that Jamestown... or another small city team in the NY-P League... may be moving.  However... Teresi says there's been no indictation by Rich Baseball... which owns the franchise... that they're going to move. In a recent interview with Media One News... Jammers General Manager Matt Drayer told us the same thing... community support will determine the fate of the franchise.  Mayor Teresi made his comments for this past weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the five Media One Stations.

A Gerry man is accused of shooting a neighbor's barking dog... killing it... and, burying the animal without telling the neighbor.  Sheriff's officers say they were called to a location on Damon Hill Road in the town of Gerry late last week after a man reported finding his dead dog in a field.  The man said his dog had been missing for several days... and, he had looked in several places, and talked to many of his neighbors.  He found an area of unearthed soil.  The man began digging, and found the dog.  Sheriff's Deputies investigated... and, determined that 46 year-old Robert Rearick had shot and killed the dog.  Rearick was charged with overdriving, torturing, and injuring an animal -- a violation of the Ag and Markets Law.  He will appear in Gerry Town Court at a later date.

A lot of work is going on behind the scenes as local and state leaders try to lure a developer to acquire the Carriage House facilities in Dunkirk and Fredonia that will be closing later this year.  Fredonia Mayor Steve Keefe says he is glad that ConAgra has agreed to NOT place any restrictions on future development of the plant.  Keefe says there have been weekly conference calls regarding the facilities.  Keefe was also pleased about Governor Cuomo's announcement regarding a 50-thousand dollar Re-Use study.  However... he'd like see Cuomo do more.
Some 425 workers are being impacted by the Carriage House closing later this year.  County Executive Vince Horrigan has indicated that they are taking a "dual-track" approach in developing the facilities... either by attracting a developer or by creating an agri-business park.