Local News Headlines
A body was discovered by a voluntary search group and recovered Sunday from Conewango Creek above Fifth Avenue in Warren, Pennsylvania according to District Attorney Ross McKeirnan. The Post Journal reports that No confirmation as to identification or cause of death has been made a this time. Organizers of the search reported that the body was found at 10:47 a.m. Sunday. An autopsy has been scheduled for today. The search was organized as an effort to locate the body of the Reverend Dan Wolboldt. Wolboldt is Scoutmaster of North Warren Boy Scout Troop 13 and pastor at both the Interfaith Chapel on the grounds of Warren State Hospital and Emanuel United Church of Christ in Warren, was reported missing on the morning of March 23. Officials did not confirm the identity of the body. More information will be released when confirmed.
He won't face the grind of a re-election campaign... but, the final eight-months of his second, and final term in office will be anything but easy for Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards. Edwards stunned many late last week by making an early announcment that he won't seek a third-term as the county's top elected official. The Busti Republican says it was "time" for him to move on to something else. However... he didn't say what that something else was. He did talk... however... about the many challenges still ahead in 2013. One was in the north county... another in the south. The idea of public sewers around the lake has been discussed and debated for many years. Edwards says he will also continuing pushing for the controversial sale of the Chautauqua County Home in Dunkirk. That effort has come up just short of the needed votes in the legislature twice. Howeve... he says he remains confident they'll find a buyer... and, that the necessary votes will eventually be there. Also in the north county... Edwards has talked about completion of the Millinium Parkway projects.
Improperly extinguished... or discarded smoking materials are being blamed for triggering a weekend house fire in a mobile home in the town of Portland that's left three people temporarily homeless. However... Sheriff's Department fire investigators say the Brocton-area family of three escaped safely late last Friday night from the home on Lot 69 at 57-72 Ellicott Road. Few details have been released on the blaze... but, officials say it broke out just before 10 PM. The family is being assisted by the local chapter of the American Red Cross. Investigators say they found the fire started on the front steps in an enclosed entryway. The fire has been ruled accidental.
Two of the four men accused of murdering a town of Carroll couple... then setting their house on fire to try and cover up the crime... are charged with first-degree murder. There has been some question as to why the other two were not. Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley says that's because 18 year-olds Rickey Knickerbocker and Steven Todd aren't old enough to be charged with that crime. Otherwise... Foley says the 11-count indictment applies to them... and, 34 year-old David Coggins... and, 21 year-old Joshua McCormick. He says it took a lot of work to ultimately bring the case to the county Grand Jury. If convicted of first degree murder... Coggins and McCormick could face life without parole. Since a Court of Appeals case in 2004... New York State has NOT had a death penalty statute. Coggins... McCormick... Todd... and, Knickerbocker all face two counts of second-degree Murder... and, two counts of second-degree Intentional murder in the deaths of 66 year-old Gordon, and 59 year-old Joyce Skinner. Bail for the four ranges from 1.5-million to 2.5-million dollars.
Jamestown police are asking for the public's help in finding whoever stabbed a city man during a disturbance on the city's eastside which led to an altercation. City officers were called to 627 East Second Street just before 1 PM Friday on the report of a stabbing... and, found it was not a random act. Police say the victim was rushed to WCA Hospital for emergency surgery. They add the man is apparently not in a life-threatening situation at this point. However... they are still looking for the suspect. They're asking any witnesses to come forward. If you have any information on the incident... you're asked to call city police at 483-7537... or the JPD Anonymous Tip-line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477.
A conservative group wants a ruling on whether Governor Andrew Cuomo's girlfriend... Food Network TV star Sandra Lee... should disclose financial information as if she's the governor's wife. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, a religious-based lobbying group, asked the Joint Commission on Public Ethics for the ruling. The request late this week comes after The Associated Press reported the commission authorized Lee to use the state aircraft with Cuomo on official business. It deemed her a ``domestic partner'' in the ``first family.'' Cuomo and Lee live in Westchester County. The commission doesn't require Lee to file financial data intended to flag potential conflicts of interest involving elected officials. The commission says the Legislature would have to change any requirement. Cuomo declined comment. The same group unsuccessfully sued to overturn the legalization of gay marriage championed by Cuomo.
Authorities in Pennsylvania say a suspect is being held in the stabbing deaths of a man and woman found at a mobile home near the Warren County line. Coroner Norman Wimer of Forest County says 42-year-old Marcelle Edwards of Tionesta and 43-year-old Donald Shay of Leechburg were found early last Saturday. Wimer says Shay was found just outside the door and Edwards, who lived at the Tionesta mobile home, was found inside. He says both died of what appeared to be multiple stab wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. State police said a 42-year-old man described as a former boyfriend of the woman was taken into custody later Saturday. Wimer said there had been an ongoing dispute between him and the victims. State police are investigating. No charges were immediately announced.
