City holds 70th Easter Egg under cloudy skies, but no rain...
The city of Jamestown's 70th annual Easter Egg Hunt was held -- outdoors -- this morning after recent forecasts predicted rain and thunderstorms this morning. However... rain predicted held off, and the hunt went off as scheduled. The Media One Group was one of the sponsors of the event... which was held on what would have been late WJTN Morning Man Jim Roselle's 91st birthday. The Golden Eggs were found by Alexander Simpson of Jamestown in the 9-12 year-old catagory, and Sophia Semyenova of Sinclairville found it in the 5-8 year-old group. Silver Eggs were found by Joe Trinici (9-12), and Izzy Walsh (5-8).
Lakewood man seriously hurt in Motorcycle-Car Accident...
A Lakewood man had to be flown to an Erie, Pa. hospital after his motorcycle crashed into a car yesterday afternoon on a road in the Frewsburg-area. Sheriff's officers say they were called to the scene on Frew Run Street shortly after 3 p.m., and, found that the motorcycle's operator was unable to negotiate a curve in the road. Deputies say 52 year-old Anthony Barto's two-wheeler then struck the oncoming vehicle... operated by 51 year-old Karen Davis of Frewsburg. Officials say Barto was flown by Starflight Helicopter to UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie for treatment of his injuries. Davis was not hurt.
Goodell critical of use of reserves, borrowing in state's 2017-18 budget...
The new budget adopted by the New York state legislature last weekend is "balanced..." but, it relies heavily on borrowing and use of reserve funds. Local Assemblyman Andy Goodell says state leaders had to take about $2-billion out of it's reserve funds to balance the $153-billion spending plan. Goodell says it's not a good practice... and, that's why he voted against the debt service part of the budget. Goodell says he feels they wouldn't have had to do that if previous legislatures had been more fiscally prudent. Like the man he replaced in the Assembly... Bill Parment... Goodell railed against the state's on-going practice of "back-door borrowing" through it's various authorities and agencies. He says most of that $10.5-billion in borrowing for this budget should have to be voted on by state residents. Goodell adds that using the $2-billion in reserve funding leaves the state with about $5-billion in those accounts.
"Little doubt" that new Chautauqua Amphitheather will be ready for 2017 season...
There is now "little doubt" that the new, $41.5-million amphitheater at Chautauqua Institution will be ready to go for the start of the 2017 season. That from Chautauqua's Director of Communications Jordan Steves... who says the main public pieces of the project are now in place just over two months before the season begins. Steves says the concrete in the "bowl" of the Amp is now finished, and the ceiling is being framed in. During an on-site interview with our Dennis Webster... Steves explained that the new stage has been framed up... and, the sub-floor is in place. However.. he says that the "Back of the House" area was "significantly behind" at one point. Right now, though, the contractor is back on schedule. Steves add the institution expects to have it's programming people in the facility by sometime next month.
Cattaraugus County woman convicted of homicide on Heroin overdose death...
A Cattaraugus County woman will spend 1 to 3 years in state prison after being the first person to be successfully prosecuted there for selling heroin to a victim that led to an overdose death. Sentencing for Chelsea Lyons of Olean was reported by the Olean Times-Herald... and, says Lyons was accused of selling heroin laced with Fentanyl. The sentence is a combination of several felonies... including criminally negligent homicide. Cattaraugus County District Attorney Lori Rieman says Lyons then pleaded guilty... and with that waived her right to appeal.
Some 130-plus J-C Penny stores slated for closure get last minute reprieve...
J-C Penney has now announced that it is delaying plans to shutter 138 stores -- including one in the north county -- amid a surge in shoppers making final visits. Penny's spokeswoman Daphne Avila told CNBC Thursday that "ever since the company announced its store closure list, those stores have seen better-than-expected sales and traffic." The influx of last-minute shoppers prompted the chain to postpone store closings until July 31. The J-C Penny in the D-and-F Plaza in Dunkirk was among the stores slated to close.
Upstate Community College to lay-off all cafeteria staff and replace with vending machines after current school year...
The entire cafeteria staff at an upstate New York community college will be laid off and replaced with vending machines at the end of the school year. The Middletown Times Herald-Record reports that nine full-time and three part-time workers will lose their jobs in June at the Orange County Community College. Students say they'll miss the staff members and the fresh food. The Orange County Community College Association, a nonprofit that runs the cafeterias, says in an email to students that the change follows a deficit last year of more than $150,000 in food-service operations.
