Nushawn Williams to remain civilly confined after jury returns verdict in county court...
It didn't take a Chautauqua County Jury long to detemine that convicted HIV Predator Nushawn Williams should remain behind bars. The 12-member panel returned it's verdict late this afternoon. Count officials say the 36 year-old Williams was seeking to be released from state custody... citing a new test in Massachusetts that his defense lawyer says shows he's not HIV Positive. In fact... his attorney claimed Williams was never HIV Positive. The former drug dealer was arrested in the late 1990s after being accused of infecting nearly a dozen young women in Chautauqua County with the virus that causes AIDS. Williams... who now goes by the name Shyteek Johnson... completed 12-year prison sentence in April 2010. But... he remained in custody as the state sought to have him civilly-confirned as a threat to society. The decision came following a two-week "closed-door" trial.
After strong thunderstorms, and some flooding, a nice evening shaping up in Chautauqua County...
The Jamestown-area remains under a Flood Watch through late tonight... though we may not see any more rainfall the rest of the evening. That from Forecaster Jim Mitchell with the National Weather Service in Buffalo... who says we may even see the sunset tonight. Mitchell says there was some flash flooding around the county... especially mid to late-morning. However... the worst of the flooding issues are behind us. Mitchell says it will be an "unsettled" weekend with humidity, and afternoon showers and thunderstorms... but, the flooding issue will have passed. Today's troubles began when a line of thunderstorms extended from Ripley through Westfield... and, into the towns of Portland and Pomfret. The Jamestown-area got hit about 10:45 this morning with heavy rain and thunder. Mitchell says that's all to the north now. Right now... the county DPF reports Beech Hill road between Routes 380 and Parcell Road in the town of Portland is closed due to flooding. Earlier... there were reports of flooding on Ellicott Road near Brocton. Flooding caused a utility pole to topple with some live wires on Burr Road in town of Portland. Here in Jamestown... the city Fire Department reported high water on Buffalo Street at the railroad viaduct... so drivers were asked to avoid that area until the water receeded.
JNP Closing this weekend due to duplication of services, and loss of funding...
It's a "very difficult day" at a long-time human service agency in Jamestown which is shutting it's doors for good as of the end of the weekend. We learned late last May that the Joint Neighborhood Project would be closing it's doors due to funding contraints... and, an effort to prevent "duplication of programs and services." During a recent interview... Interim Executive Director Patty Perlee told us it was an "extremely difficult" decision for the JNP Board to make. Perlee says "everything has it's own season, and after 50 years, the season for Joint Neighborhood Project is coming to a close." She says the duplication of services comes in the form of their food pantry... and, thrift shops for people to buy clothing... and other essentials. Perlee says they got a little public funding from the state... but, most was private. It came from foundations, contributions or churches. The Joint Neighborhood Project began in the 1960s as a provider of recreational opportunities for children in that part of the city. A Jamestown couple began the effort in 1963... and, three churches joined forces in 1969 to create JNP. It became the first local sponsor of GED classes... and, the USDA sponsored Women, Infants, and Children -- or WIC -- Program was first housed at JNP's 532 East Second St. location. The Emmanual Lutheran Church will maintain ownership of that site.
