Chautauqua County to be under Freezing Rain Advisory through late Tuesday morning...
Temperatures will rise to above normal levels again this week, but expect some icy weather before the warm up. The National Weather Service has issued a Freezing Rain Advisory from 8 p.m. tonight to 10 a.m. Tuesday for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Erie counties. Meteorologist Dave Thomas says up to a tenth of an inch of ice is possible, especially Tuesday morning on untreated roads and sidewalks. The freezing rain will eventually transition to just plain rain by Tuesday afternoon. Thomas says temperatures are expected to remain on the mild side for the next couple of weeks, but there are indications that arctic air will return later this month. He says the cold, artic air, is currently bottled up around the Arctic, will begin to move further south. Until the pattern change... temperatures are expected to remain generally above normal.
Huber "very pleased" to get news about funding approved for Long-Term Drug Rehab Facility in Jamestown...
It's a "huge start." Those are the feelings of one of the main people on the front-line of the Heroin and Opioid Drug Abuse crisis in the Jamestown-area. The head of the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County, Rick Huber, says he was "absolutely thrilled" to hear the news about the new, 20-bed long-term treatment facility that will be opening soon at UPMC Chautauqua WCA. Huber says he was in a meeting with County Executive Vince Horrigan and county Mental Hygiene Director Pat Brinkman in Mayville when they got the word. He says "we've needed that for a long-time, and it's going to save some lives." Huber mainly credited Director Andy O'Brien with WCA's head of drug rehab and mental health programs. O'Brien and UPMC Chautauqua WCA President and Chief Executive Officer Betsy Wright announced the $700,000 grant... and, the process they still have to go through to get the facility up and running at the Jones Memorial Health Center on Glasgow Avenue. Huber says he's also pleased that the facility will deal with each case in a "highly-individualized" manner... which is one of the things that's "very nice" about the proposal.
Ortolano says latest sentences from major cocaine ring bust sends strong message...
The sentencing of three more defendants to federal prison time in the city of Dunkirk's biggest-ever drug bust ever should send a strong message to the north county's residents -- and other potential drug dealers. That from Police Chief David Ortolano... who says he's pleased to see last week's sentencings for three more people found guilty of being part in the cocaine traffickng operation. Ortolano says Rafael Burgos, Alvin Torres Jr. and Angel Pierluissi, were arrested in June of 2015 after a lengthy investigation that involved several levels of law enforcement... including his own. He says it was a "major undertaking" by them, the U-S Attorney's Office... and, the U-S Drug Enforcement Agency. Burgos was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine... and, was sentenced to 75 months in prison. Torres and Pierluissi, who were convicted of possessing with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine, were each sentenced to a year-and-a-half each.
JPS's new interim Superintendent Silvia Root looks forward to her latest role...
The new, Interim Superintendent for the Jamestown School District says she's very impressed with what she's seen of the local district as she get's acquainted with the district, and it's leaders. Springville's Silvia Root will replace Superintendent Tim Mains after spent 20 years as a school administrator... and, doing six other stints as an "Interim" Superintendent. Root reetired in 2005 from the Potsdam District in northern New York. Root was formally introduced at last Thursday night's board meeting... and, says she knew a little about Jamestown prior to being asked to fill-in once Mains moves on Feb. 26. She says she's been "very impressed" with the core values of the board... and, that "students come first." Root was contacted by Erie-2 Chautauqua, Cattaraugus BOCES Superintendent David O'Rourke about replacing Mains... who has accepted the Superintendent's position in the Pine Bush Central District in the mid-Hudson Valley. She says her biggest task right now is learning the lay of the land... and, getting to know everyone she'll be working with.
Dunkirk School Board learns more about where NRG Repowering Project is going...
The NRG repowering project was one of the issues that was discussed during the Dunkirk School Board meeting late last week. State Senator Cathy Young hosted a conference call with school, city and county officials to confirm the go ahead with plans for the NRG repowering project. School Superintendent James Tracy says they are encouraged about the project that had stalled in 2016... and, says it looks like all the roadblocks have been removed. Tracy says that without the PILOT agreement, the District receives a reduced amount in transition aid with decreased amounts decrease each year...he adds that with the hopes of the repowering project, the funding will help keep class sizes reasonable and jobs intact. No set timeline on the repowering project has been determined.
