State Police in Fredonia are investigating a three-car accident, in which a child was killed Monday afternoon.
Troopers with the Bureau of Criminal Investigations responded to scene on Route 60 in the Town of Pomfret just after 4 PM... and, say a 2009 Hyundai was northbound on 60 when it rear-ended a 2016 Kia that was stopped to make a left turn. Troopers say the Kia was pushed into the southbound lane and struck by a tractor-trailer. The unidentified 35 year-old driver and 7-year-old passenger were transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital, where the child was pronounced dead. The operator was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, Commercial Vehicle enforcement Unit and, Fredonia Police Department assisted at the scene.
The city of Jamestown is moving foward with resuming the process of annexing about four-acres of land -- most of it belonging to the Board of Public Utilities -- from the village of Falconer.
The City Council last night approved two resolutions by 7-to-2 votes to move ahead with the annexation of the Dow Street Substation, and approve a "negative" environmental declaration on the action. Council President Tony Dolce says he's disappointed that village, town of Ellicott, and Falconer school officials walked away from talks.
Mayor Eddie Sundquist, who campaigned saying he wanted to negotiate a deal that could benefit everyone involved... says he remains willing to talk. Dolce says all parties involved looked at and discussed a number of possible scenarios in the first meeting... including a partial... or phased-in annexation. They also discussed a proposal that would involve the county's Industrial Development Agency. The two new Republicans on council, Grant Olson and Jeff Russell, voted against the annexation measures.
City lawmakers also approved the purchase of eight new surveillance cameras for the Jamestown Police Department to track activity in the busiest parts of the city.
Police Chief and Public Safety Director Harry Snellings says the cameras they have put up in the downtown areas have already helped with several of their investigations.
Snellings says the eight cameras from DFT Communications will cost just under $48,000, and two systems at Second and Washington Streets, and Third and Washington, will be replaced. He says these will NOT be used for traffic enforcement. Snellings says they do have live feeds to their command room, so if they get a call about an incident in a particular area, they can see what's happening before a patrol gets there. The city will use $24,000 in contingency funds to buy the camera systems... while the other $23,899 will come from local drug seizure proceeds.
The Chautauqua County Democratic Committee has issued its endorsement for County Executive in the November election. Committee Chairman Norm Green says Dunkirk City Attorney Richard Morrisroe was unanimously endorsed by the committee.
Meanwhile, the current county executive intends to announce his candidacy this week. Interim "PJ" Wendel says county Republicans will meet tonight to make their endorsements. He says once that takes place... he'll be making a formal announcement of his candidacy. Wendel was appointed by the County Legislature in January and will face a special election in November. The Democratic Committee is also looking for a candidate to run for state Assembly... or to be considered for Democratic County Election Commissioner. Norm Green will be retiring at the end of the year... and, the new commissioner would start in 2021. If you're interested... send a resume to chqdem@gmail-dot-COM... or call Green at 499-9628.... or Jamestown Committee Chairman Jim Walton at 499-5001.
A Jamestown man faces several charges after allegedly ramming a police cruiser during a pursuit through the city Sunday night.
Officers say they attempted to pull over 27 year-old Samuel Gagliano for driving recklessly in the area of South Main and Harrison Streets, but he refused to comply and fled the scene. Gagliano continued driving recklessly and struck another car traveling near Fairmount and Whitley Avenues. Police say he drove to a residence on Catlin Avenue and struck the police car, causing heavy damage. He was later taken into custody without further incident and is being held in the city jail pending arraignment.
