After weekend of near record warmth, and rain, Lake Effect Snow to return...
After a round of heavy rain and flooding... the weather is switching back to more seasonal conditions. The National Weather Service has issued a Lake Effect Snow Watch from late tonight through Tuesday evening for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Forecaster Dave Thomas in Buffalo says colder air will be returning to the area, setting the stage for lake effect. By late tonight and early tomorrow... Thomas says a band of snowfall will form over Lake Erie, and cross into Chautauqua County. He says snowfall totals of 7 inches or greater are possible in some places. While the snow will be a narrow band... the strength and location of the band is still uncertain.
Three men arrested for allegedly stealing scrap metal from Stockton location...
Three men from central Chautauqua County have been arrested in connection with the theft of a significant amount of scrap metal from a town of Stockton location last September. Sheriff's officers say 29 year-old Christopher Harding of Sinclairville... and, a pair of 23 year-olds, Peter McTaggart, Jr. of Sinclairville and Frank Orazio of Stockton... were taken into custody last weekend. They allegedly took the items from a Bear Lake Road location back on September 21st. The trio has been charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, petty larceny... and, criminal trespass. McTaggart and Orazio were issued appearance tickets for Stockton Town Court. Harding... who is currently in the Chautauqua County Jail on unrelated charges... will appear in Stockton Town Court at a later date.
COI Navigator Supervisor says today's the day you have to be enrolled in NYS Health Exchange...
New Yorkers whose health insurance policies were cancelled because of federal health care reform... or, don't have insurance are facing today's deadline to pick a replacement plan if they don't want a lapse in coverage. Today is the last day people can buy a plan through the New York "State of Health" on-line insurance marketplace -- if they want coverage to be in effect on New Year's Day. Locally... sign-ups have gone well through Chautauqua Opportunities, Incorporated's Navigator Program... which was established to help people get coverage. Supervisor Melanie Booth says they will help you get coverage through the state's exchange. Booth says states had the option of being part of the federal program, or setting up their own exchange. New York decided to have it's own, along with 35 other states. In fact... Booth says they beat their October and November projections by signing up more than 300 individuals and families. She says it usually takes about an hour for you to sign up through one of COI's three navigators. Booth says the site is "user-friendly..." but, takes some time to navigate because you need to prove your identity. You can get to the website by Googling "New York State of Health." For more information... call COI at 661-9430.
Investigation underway into Humane Society Thrift Store burglary...
Officials with the Chautauqua County Humane Society and Ellicott Town Police are asking for the public's help in the wake of a burglary at the Humane Society's Thrift Store on Fairmount Avenue. Society Community Relation's Director Edwin Rodriguez says someone broke into the store between the close of business last Friday, December 20th... and, the open of business on Saturday, the 21st. The burglars took Friday's proceeds from the cash register. Those proceeds help keep the Humane Society operating, and, to adopt out the pets. The Human Society calls it a "devastating loss..." and, their asking the community's help. If you have any information... call Ellicott Police at 665-7083. You can also call Humane Society Director Jeff Lubi at 665-2209.
