Public Health director urges residents to get vaccinated as COVID-19 "rages" in county...
The Chautauqua County Health Department is urging residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and or booster shots because the virus is "raging" locally. Public Health Director Christine Schuyler issued the plea late Tuesday... and, is also urging people to wear a mask in public indoor spaces... and, stay home when you're ill. County Executive P-J Wendel... in a video message... echoed those thoughts... "strongly encouraging" people to wear a mask at indoor public places, wash your hands frequently, and socially distance. Schuyler adds that "the threat of COVID-19 infection spread and severity of illness are totally unpredictable... but, the unvaccinated are at such higher risk of severe illness and death. If you or your loved ones are not vaccinated, please reconsider." New numbers just released show another 873 new cases of COVID-19 for the week through Dec. 7.
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Schuyler adds there is another county vaccination clinic set for next Monday, Dec. 13, at Jamestown Community College for first, second and third doses. That clinic will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Physical Education Building on Curtis Street. Bring identification, or vaccination card, and wear a mask. For children... the next vaccination clinic for the pediatric vaccine will take place on Saturday, Dec. 18 at the Chautauqua Lake Central School gymnasium from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You must pre-register at Chqgov.com/public-health/covid-19-vaccination-clinics.
Cold temperatures persist after foot of Lake Effect snow falls in immediate Jamestown-area...
Cold temperatures overnight may produce some slippery areas this morning in the Jamestown-area after residents spent much of the early part of Tuesday digging out from about a foot of new snow that fell overnight. We were initially expecting up to 3 to 5 inches at the most during the day Monday. However... that amount grew as a lake effect snowband set up just the right way to bring us the snow... and, not the traditional snow belt areas. National Weather Service Forecaster Steve Welch says the larger amounts -- initially -- were to fall to our south. Welch says the snow band set up further north and into the western Southern Tier. Here at our Media One Radio Group stations... we recorded a foot of new snow, and there was also a foot reported in the lower parts of the town of Ellicott. There was about 10 inches of new snow in Lakewood... 9 inches in Falconer... and, 7 inches on West Oak Hill Road outside the city. Welch says the amounts we were expecting actually fell in the those snow belt areas.
Beverage truck overturns in slick conditions in town of Poland...
No one was hurt Tuesday morning when a tractor-trailer loaded with beer slipped off of snow-slicked Quaint Road in the town of Poland and overturned. Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputies and Ellicott Town Police confirmed the accident occured about 4:30 AM at the intersection with Clay Pond Road. Police say the county's Hazardous Materials Team responded to the scene along with the Kennedy and Falconer Fire Departments. No charges have been reported, and the beer was off-loaded by hand.
Chautauqua County D.A. reports two sentencings in county court...
Two Chautauqua County men received prison sentences for their convictions earlier this year for robbery... and, attempted burglary. District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 23 year-old Kevin Philbrick of Jamestown was given a 1 1/3 to four-years indeterminate term in state prison after being convicted of third-degree robbery for an incident last March. Schmidt adds that Philbrick was also convicted of two counts of second-degree attempted assault. The incident was investigated by Jamestown Police.
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In addition... Schmidt says 28 year-old Torry Kenny received a four-year determinate term in state prison and five years post-release supervision for his conviction for second-degree attempted burglary. Schmidt says the incident occured in Westfield in February of this year... and, was investigated by village police.
SWCS residents learn more about proposed, $18.2-million capital project proposal...
Residents of the Southwestern Central School district heard more about a just over $18.2-million capital project proposal during a public hearing Tuesday night. Officials announced the plan back in mid-October. It includes more than 30 individual projects, and, involves all three school buildings. School Superintendent Maureen Donahue says much of the plan deals with upgrading school infrastructure... but, also includes replacing the surface of the football and soccer field. Donahue says one of the major focuses has been on creating more space... especially in the high school cafeteria. She says air flow and heating and cooling are also part of the plan. She says they will use a combination of American Rescue Plan funds... the district's capital reserve fund and state aid to pay most of the cost. Donahue says the public vote on the capital project will be held next Tuesday, Dec. 14... from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the multi-purpose room.
Gas prices down slight in Jamestown-area, and nation, to start the week...
The price for a gallon of unleaded, regular gasoline has dropped both in the Jamestown-area... and, nationwide. AAA East Central's weekly gas price report says the local price fell by about 3-cents from just under $3.60 cents to slightly over $3.56 a gallon. AAA says the national average price for gasoline dipped 4-cents a gallon to $3.35. AAA says pump prices continue to decrease Nationwide as fears of a possible COVID-19 global economic slowdown pushed oil prices into the mid-$60s per barrel... which hasn't been seen since August.
