City police investigating alleged drive-by shooting on Jamestown's northside...
Jamestown police are investigating the first drive-by shooting reported in the city since several occured late last year. City police were called to the scene at 6 West 12th Street about 3:30 a.m. Friday on a report of multiple shots being fired into the house. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson tells the Post-Journal that the people inside were likely "targeted." Samuelson says they don't have an exact number of shots being fired... and, adds the occupants were "not cooperative with our efforts" to investigate. He says the motive for the incident are being looked into... but, he says it was likely the result of some kind of dispute... or an altercation. Samuelson also tells the paper that there were several children living inside the home when the incident occured. If you have any information on the alleged shootings... call the JPD Tips line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477.... or leave an anonymous tip via their Tips 4-1-1 app.
State Budget agreement reportedly reached by Cuomo and legislative leaders...
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says he and state legislative leaders have agreed on a 2017-18 budget plan. The Democratic governor said the proposal includes $1.1-billion dollars more in school spending, the authorization for Uber and Lyft to expand upstate, and free college tuition for students from families making $125,000 or less. The budget was due by April 1st... but lawmakers and Cuomo couldn't agree on final details. Lawmakers must still approve the compromise. The spending measure also includes $2.5-billion in funding for water quality and water and sewer upgrades. The final issues to be nailed down include a proposal to raise the age of adult criminal responsibility from 16 to 18. Cuomo says that reform, which was a top priority for Democrats, is one of his top accomplishments.
Young frustrated by delay in budget agreement, says lawmakers were already close at mid-week...
With last night's agreement on a state budget... work is underway to get lawmakers back to Albany to approve final remaining bills in the spending plan. State Senator Cathy Young told us late this week that the sticking points remained "Raise the Age..." and school aid. The Olean Republican thought they had an agreement earlier in the week regarding a measure that would increase the age for criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 years old, but that was before the mid-week breakdown in budget talks Young says they supported raising the age... but, wanted measures to make sure youthful offenders were "held responsible" for their crimes. Young was also concerned about state aid for schools, especially foundation aid.
Falconer demolition work completed on buidlings, West Main St. now open!...
Demolition work is complete... and, the portion of West Main Street in front of the buildings destroyed in the massive fire from late last month in Falconer has been reopened. The good news comes from village Mayor Jim Rensel... who says what was left of the structures from 29 to 39 West Main came down late last Thursday night. Rensel says, though, there was still debris from the site to deal with... and, clean-up was completed on the road before the road was re-opened about 10:15 a.m. Friday. One lane of West Main Street was closed for a while today while the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities installed new utility poles and power lines in front of the West Main Street location. The street was closed between the four-corners with South Work Street and Davis Street since the March 22 blaze occured. Officials this week announced that the fire was set by accused serial arsonist Jonathan Young... a native of Falconer.
Rensel says work continuing on finding new locations for burned-out businesses in Falconer...
One of the five businesses burned out of their locations in the March 22nd fire has already begun the process of relocating to another address in the village. In fact... Mayor Rensel says Better Life Nutrition is going to be moving into the former Tasta Pizza building on East Main Street -- just a few blocks away from their previous location. He says the owner of that building sought out the nutrition business owners... and, helped to get them started moving into that space. Rensel also praised the owners of the buildings that were heavily damaged in the first... Art Bailey and Jim Gronquist, Junior. He says both made themselves available to all necessary meetings they had about the fire, and getting the building's torn down.
Schumer, Reed voice support for U-S Airstrike on Syria...
There is bi-partisan support being voiced over Thursday's "limited missile strike" on a Syrian airfield in response to the Assad government's alleged chemical weapons attack on his own people. Late Friday afternoon... U-S Senator Chuck Schumer released a statement on the military strike... saying that "making sure Assad knows that when he commits such despicable atrocities he will pay a price is the right thing to do." However... Schumer added that "It's incumbent on the Trump administration to come up with a strategy and consult with Congress before implementing it." Local Congressman Tom says the "use of weapons of mass destruction where innocent civilians, including women and children are killed, cannot go unchecked unless we risk the unfettered escalation of such weapon's use in the future around the world." Reed says "it's the right thing to do..." but, adds diplomatic efforts also need to continue.
City of Jamestown's annual Easter Egg Hunt set for next Saturday morning...
The city of Jamestown's annual Easter Egg Hunt at Allen Park celebrates a milestone this year... the event a week from today will be the 70th in the city's history. City Parks and Recreation Coordinator Julia Ciesla-Hanley says the egg hunt will be held at 10:30 a.m. on April 15 in the upper area of the park... and, will be for all children 12 years of age and under. Ciesla-Hanley adds it's also a free event that is put on with the help of several community sponsors. She says there'll be three age-group areas for the youngsters up to age 12 will hunt for the chocolate eggs. Ciesla-Hanley adds that the Media One Group of radio stations is also again a sponsor. She also says the Hess Family will again provide prizes for the children who find the Gold and Silver Eggs during the Hunt. Ciesla-Hanley says they have all 3-thousand filled eggs stuffed for next weekend... thanks to local Girl Scout Troop-#20029... who did it all in one hour. She says the Easter Bunny will arrive by Fire Truck to start the event next Saturday, April 15. In case of inclement weather... she says the egg hunt will be moved indoors to the Allen Park Ice Rink.
