More than 1,000 show up for rally to repeal NY-SAFE Act...
More than 1,000 demonstrators have again filled a park outside the state Capitol calling for repeal of New York's new gun law. While cheering former Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino and Jeannine Pirro, a broadcaster and former Westchester County district attorney, protesters sang ``God Bless America'' and held signs for the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Pirro said Tuesday authorities should hunt criminals, not try to criminalize gun owners. The law generally sets a seven-bullet limit in magazines, tightens the definition of illegal ``assault weapons'' and requires owners of many formerly legal semi-automatic guns to register them. Repeal now appears unlikely. Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos says amendments haven't been discussed in recent meetings between the governor and legislative leaders. Thousands of protesters attended a similar rally in February.
Lt. Governor Duffy to be in Jamestown Thursday to tout "Tax Free" zone program...
The number two-elected official in New York State will be in Jamestown later this week to push for creation of the new, "Tax-Free" zones being proposed by Governor Cuomo. Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy will be at the Jamestown Community College city campus late this coming Thursday morning. Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Spokeswoman Shelia Webster says Duffy will be at the Week's Reception Room at 11 a.m. She says Duffy was originally scheduled to be here a couple of weeks ago. Webster says they're encouraging their business members, as well as members of the Manufacturer's Association of the Southern Tier, to be on hand if they can be for some "back and forth" with Duffy. Webster is urging those members to contact the Empire State Development Corporation if they plan on attending. She says you must contact the ESD office in Buffalo at 846-8250 before Noon Tuesday because there is limited seating available.
CLA President cautions boaters to look out for storm debris in the Lake...
Boaters and others who use Chautauqua Lake are being warned about large amounts of upstream debris in the Lake due to the recent rains and stormy weather in the region. Chautauqua Lake Association President Doug Conroe says the problem has been so prevailent... they've had to divert crews from weed harvesting and training to debris removal. Conroe says they've found that a lot of the tree... and, other debris has come from the streams and canals that feed into the lake. As of Monday, Conroe says they've taken out four, huge truck loads of debris... including tree limbs... and, huge treet stumps. He says a lot of the problems upstream are caused by rain storms causing the stream banks to become unstable. He says the CLA expects more debris to be found due to more rainy and stormy weather predicted through the end of the week. Conroe also expressed the group's appreciation to Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards for helping them find a disposal location for those four truck-loads of debris. He says the CLA isn't able to take that debris to their normal composting sites... so, Edwards was "extremely helpful" in opening up a site for them.
50th annual Dairy Princess contest won by Clymer teen...
The Chautauqua County Dairy Princess program has celebrated its 50th year with the selection of Samantha Nickerson of Clymer as the next princess. She was the 'alternate' last year... but, she feels it was helpful. Samantha adds she's looking forward to being at the Chauatuqua County Fair again this year. She is the daughter of Bert and Brenda Nickerson. She is a junior at Clymer Central School... and the sister of last year's winner, Katrina Nickerson. The new Alternate Dairy Princess is Ariel Slaven, a sophomore at Cassadaga Valley Central School. Slaven says she gets to do a lot that the princess does, but, gets to try again next year. The Dairy Princesses spend the year promoting the value of three daily servings of dairy products. For the 50th anniversary, eight previous princesses attended... including the 1984 winner... Jennifer Nichols... who is now an advertsing manager for the National Association of Convenience Stores. The annual Dairy Princess pageant was held Friday night in Bemus Point.
