Four Central New York residents face Felony drug and weapons charges after their car was pulled over for making an illegal turn on Jamestown's eastside early Wednesday morning...
City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers stopped the car, driven by 29 year-old Michael Dubois of Canisteo, at the corner of Falconer and Winsor Streets -- just after 3:00. During further investigation, Samuelson says they found two hand-guns and, quantities of meth and heroin, drug paraphernalia, and cash.
Samuelson says they believe the four-some was passing through the area, but may have stopped here to buy the drugs. In addition to Dubois, he says police arrested 39 year-old Glenn Shugart of Elmira, 32 year-old Sheldon Peet of Painted Post and, 36 year-old Megan Harkenrider of Hornell. Samuelson says all four were arraigned on second and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance charges. Dubois is also charged with failure to signal a turn and aggravated unlicensed operation. They were sent to the county jail without bail.
A Jamestown man has admitted to commiting about $173,000 in food stamp benefit fraud at his store on the city's southside...
U-S Attorney James Kennedy, Junior says 57 year-old Joseph Gullotti entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wolford Thursday. Prosecutors say Gullotti -- as owner of Fresh Cuts on Newland Avenue -- accepted food stamp benefits to pay for ineligible items between January of 2015 and March of 2017. Officials say retailers are prohibited from accepting food stamps for beer, cigarettes, and hot prepared food. Gullotti faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine when he's sentenced in August.
Chautauqua County's representative in the State Assembly says lawmakers will review details of Governor Andrew Cuomo's executive order restoring the voting rights of parolees...
Republican Senate Leader John Flanagan said Wednesday the move is bad public policy and, potentially illegal since Cuomo chose to sidestep the Legislature. Local Assemblyman Andy Goodell -- who is also a Republican -- says that's a good question. Goodell says any such measure has to "work within the law."
The order could impact up to 35,000 parolees who currently aren't allowed to vote. Cuomo's directive will give corrections officials the power to block some former inmates from regaining the right to cast a ballot. Goodell says the legislature does have some recourse -- if lawmakers chose that path. He says they can challenge the law in court, or they could pass a new law that would override the order. The Associated Press reports some 14 states and the District of Columbia already allow people to vote once they are released from incarceration.
The pending loss of another employer in the Jamestown-area reported this week is cause for concern for Chautauqua County's top-elected official...
However, County Executive George Borrello adds there are literally hundred of jobs around for people with the qualifications. A maker of optics and electronic precision products located in Jamestown's industrial corridor will be closing by the beginning of October. Borrello says the decision to close Heidenhain Corporation is another decision made by an out-of-town parent company.
The closing by October 1st will put about 40 employees out of work. Heidenhain Corporation plans to move the facility to either Illinois or Austria. Borrello adds that the closing of Chautauqua Mall Anchor The Bon-Ton is a blow, but adds it's part of a national trend. He says many Internet mail order operations are also looking for "brick and mortar" storefronts as well. The Bon-Ton earlier this week was put up for auction after filing for bankruptcy protection last January. However, the only two bidders were a pair a liquidation companies. Store closings are expected to take place in August.
State Police in northwestern Pennsylvania are on the look-out for two men who burglarized a pharmacy in the Warren County boro of Tidioute...
Troopers in Warren say the Darling's Pharmacy was broken into just after 5 a.m. yesterday Wednesday and, a number of medications were allegedly taken. State Police say Darling's is taking an inventory of what was taken during the burglary, which lasted less than two minutes before the two suspects fled on Main Street. Troopers were later called to a vehicle fire on McGuire Street and found the car involved was the one used in the burglary. The owner of the car reported a short time later that her vehicle had been stolen from Irvine, Pennsylvania. The two men are both described as being 5"8 to 6"0 tall, 200-250 pounds and wearing dark hoodie-type jackets and blue jeans. If you have any information on the case, call State Police in Warren or Warren County Crimestoppers.
A leader of a liberal third party says it has no interest in playing spoiler in the New York governor's race - even if it means throwing its weight to Governor Andrew Cuomo over its recently endorsed favorite, "Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon...
Bill Lipton, the state political director of the Working Families Party, tells The Associated Press that if Nixon should lose the September Democratic Party primary to Cuomo, his party leaders will meet with Nixon and "make a decision that puts the interests of working families first." The party's leaders recently endorsed Nixon, giving her a possible line on the November ballot regardless of who wins the Democratic primary. That raised the possibility that Cuomo and Nixon could split the liberal vote in November, potentially helping a Republican candidate win.
A professional clothing drive and seminar to benefit sophomore, junior and senior high schoolers in the Jamestown-area is coming to the city for the first time ever...
That from Life Skills Educator -- Kayla Franchina of Chautauqua Striders -- who says the "Strides for Success" event will take place on May 15. Students will have the chance to pick out professional clothing and accessories donated by local residents and, receive a free headshot picture, and haircut. She says Striders will also be accepting donations at the time of the event, including slacks, blazers, blouses, ties, and jewelry. Items can be donated at Strides for Success from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Community Room at the Boys and Girls Club on Allen Street, or to the Chautauqua Striders' office on East 2nd Street. Franchina says that they are looking for items five years-old or newer. Any clothing and accessories not taken during the event will be donated to future drives this summer. When dropping off donations, she says put it to the attention of the event and/or Kayla Franchina at either location. For more information, contact her at 489-3484.
