The investigation is continuing into four shooting incidents in the city of Jamestown last Thursday and Friday... one of which led to the death of a Buffalo man. City Police Chief Harry Snellings updated City Council members prior to Monday night's voting session on the situation. Three council members expressed their appreciation to Snellings during the meeting... including Council President Greg Rabb... who was out of town when the incidents occured. Rabb says he was "stunned" by the news. Rabb says he was sad to see one of the "targeted" incidents occured in the area where he lives. However... he adds that -- quote -- "I don't feel unsafe" in the city. He says police have beefed up their afternoon and evening patrols in an effort to further maintain safety... and, investigate each incident. The troubles began when an argument spilled into the street about 4 AM last Thursday on South Main Street... and, 26 year-old Allen Burnett, Junior of Buffalo was shot and killed. Two others were wounded. Three other incidents where shots were fired... but, no one was struck... later occured on the northside, and there were two incidents on the east side. City police say they're still following up on leads. If you have any information on the homicide, you're are asked to call JPD directly at 483-7537 or the confidential tip line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477. You can also contact them anonymously via the "JPD 411" App.
U.S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says she is willing to work with President-Elect Donald Trump when he takes over in January. During a trip to make an announcement in Fredonia... New York's junior Senator told us that there is some common ground. Gillibrand also told us that her approach with the new administration will be to look for places where they can work together on issues... such as expanding access to broadband. She says she will work for bi-partisan support of that measure. Gillibrand says... if she needs to fight for issues she strongly believes in... she will continue to do that. She was in Chautauqua County Monday to announce new legislation that would help close the gap when it comes to access to high speed internet in rural areas.
Gasoline prices in the Jamestown-area are down about a penny a gallon this week to just under 2-dollars-39 cents for regular, unleaded. The Triple-A's Fuel Gauge Report says the price had increased to about 2--39.5 a gallon last week. The Fuel Gauge says... generally... prices in the region have been moving up and down in recent weeks... but, generally moved lower this week. Nationally... the average price is down one-cent as well to 2-dollars-13 cents a gallon this week. Overall... Triple-A says drivers this year paid the second lowest gas prices for Thanksgiving since 2008.
It was an "exciting" and special "Giving Tuesday" for people in the immediate Jamestown-area looking to make a real difference for several local non-profit agencies. The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation hosted a day-long "Big Match" Day for people to give up to 25-dollars to a local agency or charity... and, the total would be matched by the foundation up to 5-thousand dollars. However... Foundation Director Randy Sweeney says they started at 8:30 AM... and, it never let up. Sweeney says that 5-thousand dollar ceiling was soon boosted to just over 10-thousand-dollars... and, surpassed the 15-thousand dollar mark by early Tuesday afternoon. Sweeney says they won't have any final figures until later today because there's been no time to tally the numbers today. He says they knew they had some donors who were going to provide some extra money. The foundation administers a number of non-profit, and other local organization funds that residents can give to at any time. For more information... go on-line to CRCFonline-dot-ORG... or call 661-3390.
Officials with the Federal Highway Administration and the New York state Department of Transportation will meet next month to discuss the removal of more than 500 "I Love NY" signs from the state's roadways. Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau will meet with DOT Commissioner Matt Driscoll at the FHA's Washington office sometime in December to formulate a plan for taking down the signs. The FHA has threatened to cut nearly one-billion in federal funding to the state if the signs aren't removed. State officials have long contended that the signs help promote tourism and provide valuable information about New York's attractions. FHA officials say the signs don't conform to federal standards and are dangerous because they contain so much information that drivers can become distracted.
A long-time employee with the village of Fredonia will be stepping down as village attorney after 48 years of service at the end of the year. Village trustees have unanimously accepted the resignation of Samuel Drayo, junior. for the purpose of retirement. In his resignation letter... Drayo thanked the village mayor, and board of trustees -- both past and present -- and village residents for the opportunity to serve the village. He says it's the "right time to retire..." though he will remain at his private practice for now. Mayor Athanasia Landis says a search for a successor will begin immediately. Drayo's retirement takes effect December 30th.
New York is cracking down so-called "ticket bots," software used to snatch up tickets to concerts, plays and other events that are then resold at significantly higher prices. Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a new law creating penalties for those who use ticket bots to circumvent limits on the number of tickets one person can buy. The law also makes it illegal for someone to resell tickets they know were bought using ticket bots. A report from New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office found that third-party ticket resellers often use ticket bots to purchase large blocks of tickets, which are resold at a high mark-up. Schneiderman say he worked with "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda to pass the law, which he says will help "bring sanity" to ticket buying.
