Reed town halls draw huge crowds, confrontation with protestors...
Upwards of 200 people were on hand for what's best described asan unprecidented... and, at times raucous... town hall meeting last Saturday morning with local Congressman Tom Reed in Ashville. The event drew so many people it had to be held outdoors, because the fire code only allowed 120 people inside the North Harmony Senior Center. Health care... and, the future of the Affordable Care Act... was on the minds of many people on hand. Reed was booed -- loudly -- after reiterating his stand of repealing and replacing the ACA. However... he did reach some common ground with the locals on hand. One woman voiced the need for grants to help small businesses afford health insurance for their employees. Reed thanked them for their input. At times, though, it was the crowd that dictated where the Corning Republican went on certain issues. Abortion rights... President Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, and, the future of the EPA were other issues that come up during the town hall.
Confrontation also seen at other Reed town halls...
The Ashville Town Hall was one of four that Reed hosted on Saturday... and, each was heavily attended. Attendees at his second town hall in Cherry Creek grilled Reed on Trump's relationship with Russia. WKBW-TV in Buffalo reported that Reed told them, "It's something that we are keeping a close eye on." Perhaps the most contentious exchanges came at the first afternoon town hall in the Cattaraugus County town of Humphrey. The Buffalo News reports Reed had to defuse a near-scuffle when an older man called abortion "murder..." and got in the face of a young woman who saw abortion as her constitutional right. Reed told both "Let's respect each other." He finished up the day in the Allegany Town of Fillmore... where about 500 people attended. Many there called for Trump's taxes, and his possible ties to Russia, investigated.
Jamestown woman -- a Trump Supporter -- disappointed by town hall protest...
While the majority of people on hand for Congressman Reed's town hall forums confronted him on most every issue... there were a small number there who support Reed's positions. However... one says she felt "very disappointed" by the fact the Ashville forum became so confrontational at times. Jamestown's Marilyn Kelly is a member of the local TEA Party Patriots, and says the protestors "didn't want to listen" because they would cut him off in mid-sentence at times. Kelly says the local people who protested should have shown "a little more respect for each other's views." She says she's a Democrat who voted for Donald Trump... and, went back to something said by another Corning Republican -- Congressman Amo Houghton -- many years ago that more business leaders should run for elected office.
City man arrested on warrent, and Heroin and hypodermic needle possession...
A Jamestown man has been arrested during a warrant check in the city after fleeing police before being caught with Heroin in his possession. Jamestown Police say they were doing the check on 24 year-old Andrew Butts at 100 Hedges Street about 10:30 last Saturday night when Butts tried to run off. Officers caught him in the stairwell of the apartment building... and, he tried to throw-away what was later found to be Heroin... and, a hypodermic instrument. Butts was arrested on several charges... including criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument. He's being held pending arraignment.
Large crowd on hand for annual President's Day Winter Festival in Mayville, despite early Spring-like conditions...
It was 60 degrees Saturday afternoon at the height of the 'Winter Festival' in Mayville. Debby Marsala, Coordinator of the Mayville-Chautauqua Chamber of Commerce, says people came... and had fun... because they treated it like a "Winter Carnival." The mother of a family with young children was heard to say, "It's just not the same without an ice castle." Debby Marsala would disagree, adding the castle is just one part of the festival, which still had numerous events and vendors on hand. One was the Saturday Noon 'polar plunge,' which Marsala says was very successful. The plunge is organized by Family Medical Health Services and benefits the Food Bank of Western New York. The Winter Festival had its final events for the year on Sunday.
