Two Jamestown residents have been arrested for allegedly trafficking heroin on the city's southside... and, child endangerment. City police say they and the State Police C-NET Team raided the residence at 516 Newland Avenue about 4:30 PM yesterday... and, found a quantity of heroin, drug paraphernalia, and cash inside the home. Officers arrested one resident... 22 year-old Barry Matteson... and, charged him with Felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Matteson is also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia... and, endangering the welfare of a child. A second person... 22 year-old Elizabeth Griffin... was also arrested and charged with child endangerment. The two young children involved were turned over to a relative. Matteson and Griffin were jailed pending arraignment. Anyone with information on drug activity in Jamestown is asked to call the JPD Confidential Tip-line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477.
The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities has approved a 475-thousand dollar dividend payment to the city that will be used as revenue for the 2014 budget. The Board voted 6-to-3 yesterday to have the entire 475-thousand dollars come from the BPU's Electric Division. BPU Chairman John Zabrodsky was among the minority that voted against the measure. Zabrodsky says his biggest problem with the move is, he feels the money should be "invested" in other ways by the city and the BPU. As a citizen member... he feels a responsibility to the utility customers -- as well as the city. Zabrodsky says the BPU went with taking the entire 475-thousand dollars from the Electric Division because it was "most appropriate." The projected profit for the division in 2014 is just over 4-million dollars. The original proposal had 400-thousand was to come from the Electric Division... while 75-thousand was to come from Electric. In addition to Zabrodsky... and, fellow citizen members Wayne Rishell and Carl Pillitierri voted against making the dividend payment.
The Board of Public Utilities held a closed-door session before the vote was taken... which Zabrodsky says is legal under "pending litigation." He says that's because any electric rate increase proposed has to be approved by the state's Public Service Commission. Zabrodsky says that means any financial matter involving the acceptance or paying out of money is subject to litigation. He says anything that deals with paying money to the city starts at the state level... and, filters down. Zabrodsky adds the BPU has to do it's due diligence before moving forward with such an action because the PSC may become involved in the matter... or it may be challenged to the PSC. At the same time... he feels the board needs to use more due diligence in 2014... especially if the city is going to come to the BPU for a dividend payment each year.
For the first time in recent memory... the state Education Commissioner will be in Chautauqua County to see a working classroom, and take part in a public forum today. The Jamestown Public Schools and Jamestown Community College are playing host to Commissioner John King, Junior, and Board of Regents Chancellor Emeritus Bennett at Jamestown High School. The forum runs from 5 to 7 PM... but, Jamestown School Superintendent Tim Mains says both will get to see work being done in at least one classroom. Mains says the public is invited to be at the forum... and, that they'll know at least the basics of the forum's focus: The Common Core. The more rigorous educational program has been rolled out for Math and English Language Arts... and, Mains says the session will be more for people to express concerns, and ask questions about Common Core. King was shouted down in the first such forum held earlier in the Fall of this year... but, Mains says others have gone... and, he expects the same tonight. Again... the forum at Jamestown High School with Education Commissioner King... and, Regents Chancellor Emeritis Bennett begins at 5 PM. Mains says King will just make a few preliminary remarks... then get into the discussion. The forum will be moderated by the county's League of Women Voters.
Voters in the Frewsburg Central School District have approved a capital project to renovate the middle and high school. District Clerk Lona Carlberg says yesterday's vote was 107 to 78.
Everything is falling into place for this year's annual Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration in downtown Jamestown Friday night. Jamestown Renaissance Corporation Event and Programming Associate Tiffani Conti... who says the number of groups and businesses involved is nearly 100... and, the actual number of floats and units is well-over 125. Conti says pre-parade activity begins at Tracy Plaza at 6 PM this Friday... and, the Parade steps off at 6:30 with the lighting of the city tree. This year's theme is "Jamestown's Snowball Express" with a rail engine... and, caboose part of the procession. The Harmony Express Barbershoppers will kick off the pre-parade activities... and, Santa will arrived at the end on a Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad caboose. JRC Director Greg Lindquist says that's where the Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation is taking part because the DJDC is helping to provide the train "parts" for the parade. The DJDC... led by Lee Harkness... now operates the new Gateway Train Station. Lindquist and Conti made their comments on last weekend's Community Spotlight program. For more information... call the JRC at 664-2477.
High School Basketball:
Girls:
Sherman beat Maple Grove 58-52 in overtime to win the first round of the Cassadaga Valley Tip-Off Tournament.
Falconer defeated Cassadaga Valley 51-23 in the tournament. Falconer will take on Sherman for the title on Friday. gametime 8:30pm.
Southwestern downed Clymer 69-38. Alex Sullivan and Emily Wuebbolt led the Lady Trojans scoring 25 and 20 points respectively.
