No records were broken... but, temperatures nudged above the 60 degree mark for the first time in several months in the Jamestown-area yesterday. Forecaster Kirk Appfel with the National Weather Service says most areas felt the warm-up yesterday. Apfel says the last time we saw 60 or better was last November. However... the warm-up wasn't to last, with a cold front crashing the party last night... bringing some thunderstorms. Apfel says much colder air tonight could bring an accumulating snow... as a second cold-front comes through. Apfell says it may only reach 40 with some rain or snow possible on Easter Sunday. There is a Flood Watch in effect for both Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties through Saturday afternoon due to the rain possibility. We'll have the latest forecast coming up shortly.
A multi-police agency effort has shut-down three locations in Jamestown where Heroin was alleged sold from... and, used at. The Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force... Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force... and, State Police C-NET team conducted two raids in the city about 7 PM Wednesday. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says they executed search warrants at one location on the northside... and, another on the eastside. Samuelson says they arrested one resident at 440 Buffalo Street. He says 52 year-old Jose Diaz-Solis was arrested for allegedly being in possession of Suboxone... which is used as a treatment for Heroin... as well as to get high. He says drug agents did find a quantity of Heroin there... but, adds users were also found at the scene. Samuelson says -- when the dealers are also "users" -- there isn't as much of the drug at the location. Diaz-Solis was arraigned on charges of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance... and, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was sent to the county jail without bail. Samuelson says more arrests are pending.
Police officials say a third-raid took place on Jamestown's westside early yesterday morning at another location allegedly being used to sell, and use Heroin from. JPD Captain Bob Samuelson says the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force joined the Metro Task Force shortly after 6 AM to execute a search warrant at 129 Fairview Avenue. Samuelson says dealers often move outside the city once they're been arrested, and later bailed out after being arrested in the city. Samuelson says police still had several people detained yesterday morning... but, no arrests are pending at this time. Anyone with information about illegal narcotic trafficking in Jamestown is asked to call the JPD Tip-line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477.
A Buffalo man has been arrested in Cattaraugus County for allegedly trafficking narcotics in the city of Olean. Agents with the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force say they arrested 29 year-old Justun Vance at a location on 13th Street Wednesday afternoon. Task Force members say Vance was taken into custody following a lengthy investigation that also involved Olean Police. Vance was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with iten to sell... and, one count of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He was arraigned... and, sent to the Cattaraugus County Jail with bail to be set.
A Warren, Pennsylvania woman has been arrested on drug charges... while another is recovering from a Heroin overdose... following rescue call Wednesday night. State Police in Warren and EMS personnel were called to the scene on Third Avenue about 7:30 PM... and, found an unresponsive 28 year-old woman. Troopers say she was taken to Warren General Hospital... then flown to the Hamot Medical Center in Erie for treatment. Further investigation led to the arrest of 20 year-old Deserae Anderson of Jacob Lane on multiple counts... including drug possession and drug delivery.
A city woman faces numerous charges for alleedly collecting more than 7-thousand dollars in unemployment benefits she was not eligible for in 2012. State Police in Jamestown say they've arrested 45 year-old Michelle Pitts on 28 counts of first-degree falsifying business records... and, one count of third-degree Felony insurance fraud. Troopers accuse Pitts of collecting the benefits during a 28-week period in 2012, while she was gainfully employed at two other jobs. State Police say she was issued appearance tickets... and, is to appear in Ellicott Town Court at a later date.
Cold and wet weather forecast for Saturday has led the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Department to move the city's 68th annual Easter Egg Hunt indoors this weekend. Parks and Recration Coordinator Julia Ciesla-Hanley says the move was made to the Allen Park Ice Rink for the health and safey of the participants. Ciesla-Hanley says -- with the move -- there is a significant change in how children will be allowed into the hunt. She says the youngest group of kids will go first. Ciesla-Hanley says the hunt will begin at the regular time... 10:30 AM. She says the 5-thousand pieces of wrapped candy... and, more than one-thousand eggs will still be hidden in the Hunt area. She says obstacles... including hay bales... will be put into the rink area to make it challenging for the kids. Ciesla-Hanley says there will still be 30-prize eggs... and, two silver, and two gold prize eggs... with the winners getting 100... and, 50-dollar gift cards for Wal-Mart. She says they are still being donated by the family of Steve Hess... late owner of Hess Enterprises. Egg Hunt sponsors also include the Media One Group... Sertoma Club of Jamestown... the Morton and Kendall Clubs... and, the Allen Park Women's Club.
In addition... there's another change in the 54th annual Eastside Fellowship's Easter Egg Hunt. After moving the event to the Tennis courts near Jamestown Community College... it has now been moved back to College Park on Curtis Street. The hunt begins at 10 AM.
Also... the annual Easter Egg Hunt in the village of Celoron has been cancelled due to the pending weather on Saturday.
U-S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is continuing her push for paid family leave. The New York Democrat launched a statewide tour earlier this week to build support for the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act she reintroduced earlier this month. She met with business leaders in Buffalo Thursday. he federal legislation would establish a paid family and medical leave insurance program that Gillibrand says would save people from having to choose between a paycheck and caring for themselves or a family member.
