The Chautauqua County Legislature has approved an approximately 230-million dollar budget... that eliminates just over one-million dollars in matching funds for the County Home. It also adds 250-thousand dollars to the Office for the Aging... but, cuts 250-thousand dollars from the Electric Fund. That leaves the tax levy at about 62-million dollars. That translates to a 9-dollar-13 cent per thousand full value tax rate... which is a slight decrease from this year's spending plan. Legislature Chairman Jay Gould it's a "compromise" he can live with.
The one item that was most discussed was adding the 250-thousand dollars to help relieve the caseload in the county's Office for the Aging. County Executive Greg Edwards initially wanted to add 500-thousand dollars to added everyone on it's waiting list. However... Republican Vince Horrigan asked lawmakers to consider the lower amount to help provide services for about 220 people who's cases were already being managed. However... some lawmakers... including Fredonia's Bill Coughlin... felt that if 500-thousand dollars was what the Office for the Aging really needed... they should get that... and, maximize savings down the road. However... an amendment to restore full funding failed. The measure to restore the 250-thousand was approved 13-to-10. The final budget was adopted by a 16-to-7 votes.
A Chautauqua County Coroner and a medical examiner took the stand Wednesday for the second-day of the second-degree murder trial of Anthony Taglianetti, Junior in County Court. Taglianetti is accused of shooting and killing Clymer School Superintendent Keith Reed, Junior in September of 2012. Retired Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Diane Bertis of Erie County testified yesterday afternoon. Bertis testified that Reed would have likely survived two of the shots he was hit with... but, the third struck several vital organs. She talked about several photographs... and, some pieces of Reed's clothing that were blood-splattered. Chautauqua County Coronor Jim Jackson testified... mainly about photographs of the scene, and Reed... entered into evidence by the prosecution. Jackson described Reed's wounds... and, told the jury that he ruled the death of homicide. Public Defender Ned Barone objected... but, was overruled by Judge John Ward.
A city man is jailed for allegedly trying to steal a cell phone from a woman who was walking on West Third Street shortly before mid-morning Wednesday. Jamestown Police were called to the scene in the area of 107 West Third about 8:15 AM... and, the victim said that a white male subject had approached her... and, tried to grab the cell phone out of her hands. She told officers that the man then threatened to harm here. He then ran off... but, was located by police at Sixth and Main Streets a short time later. Police say 56 year-old Robert Zimmerman was arrested on charges of third-degree Attempted Robbery... and, Menacing. He was being held pending arraignment.
New York's health exchange has already received 174-thousand completed applications for new insurance coverage starting next year... accounting for a large share of initial signups nationally under the Affordable Care Act. Obama administration officials have said about 500,000 applications have been filed through federal and state exchanges since they launched three weeks ago with some systems plagued by technical problems. But they haven't said how many people have managed to enroll. In California... officials say 126,000 people have started applications... but won't release figures on completed applications or enrollments until mid-November. New York addressed initial website problems by quadrupling capacity on the marketplace that includes low-cost plans and possible government subsidies. It says Wednesday that just over 37-thousand New Yorkers have completed the process and fully enrolled with individual insurers.
A new financial structure will be the key to continuing vital health care services in the north county in the midst of the possible closing of the Lake Shore Health Care Center. Those are the feelings of County Legislator -- and County Executive Candidate -- Vince Horrigan. Horrigan says people he's talked to in the Silver Creek and Irving-areas who are fearful of the possibility of the hospital... it's long-term care center... and, home health division... shutting down completely next January 31st. The Bemus Point Republican says there needs to be a "framework" established to continue what he calls three critical services. Horrigan says he understands the hospital's operator... Lake Erie Regional Health System... has been losing money. But... he feels that if the right partners can be brought in... those services can be saved. However... he adds it goes beyond the services provided. It's also the 460 jobs that could be lost. Horrigan says he's been speaking with local officials... about ways to save the hospital's services. He adds that Lake Shore is important because it's also involved in helping to service the Seneca Nation's Cattaraugus Reservation in Irving.
There is still a lot that can be done to save Lake Shore Hospital... or, at least it's critical services. That from Democratic County Executive candidate Ron Johnson... who says he's hoping for the best as talks are getting underway between the state, and officials with the Lake Erie Regional Health System... which operates Lake Shore. At the same time... Johnson says it's frustrating to see county leadership not close enough to the business community to do what needs to be done to keep the facility open. Johnson admits it's a "very complex" situation because the Lake Erie System is made up of more than Lake Shore Hospital... and, some decisions are made across the "spectrum of their business." He says this has been happening in a lot of areas of local business where local officials allow the control to go to people that make decisions for a whole lot of facilities instead of one."
Oregon-based Reser's Fine Foods is recalling about 22-thousand-800 pounds of potentially bacteria-tainted chicken, ham and beef products and refrigerated ready-to-eat salads made at a Kansas plant. The products were shipped to retailers and distributors in 27 states, including New York. There have been no reports of illness.
