Firefighters in Fredonia, Hartfield areas battle house fires...
Firefighters from several departments responded to a house fire in the village of Fredonia last night. Fredonia firefighters were called to 10 Woodcrest Drive around 10:45 p.m. Thursday. Fredonia received mutual aid from the city of Dunkirk, Sheridan, East Dunkirk and the Sunset Bay FAST Team. The Chautauqua County Fire Investigation team was called to the scene to search for a cause. There were no reports of any injuries.
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Meanwhile... firefighters from nearly a dozen departments were called to a house fire at 6060 Hartfield-Centralia Road in the Hartfield-area late this morning. County fire dispatchers say crews were called to the scene at 10:46 a.m... and, included DeWittville, Mayville, Hartfield, Chautauqua, Stockton, Sherman, Bemus Point, Brocton, Portland, Cassadaga, and Ellery Center Depts. The county's Fire Investigation Team has determined a propane leak near a heater triggered the blaze. No human injuries were reported... but, several family pets perished in the blaze.
Langworthy meets with Weber-Knapp, Dream it, Do it officials about boosting advanced manufacturing...
The Southern Tier Region is poised to see a manufacturing upswing... but, the key to having it happen will be tapping into a smaller labor pool. Local Congressman Nick Langworthy talked with officials and toured Weber-Knapp manufacturing on Chandler Street in Jamestown this morning to learn more about efforts to fill local manufacturing jobs. Langworthy says he's ready to help support workforce development efforts in the region... citing his recent visit to a training facility in Corning, where they expanded a welding program using federal funding in 2018. Executive Director Todd Tranum with the Manufacturer's Association of the Southern Tier touted the success of the Western New York "Dream it, Do it" program... which began several years ago in local schools to get students interested in advanced manufacturing careers. While there's been some success... Tranum says there's still a lot of untapped potential... with a lot of schools, community colleges and infrastructure in place. Weber-Knapp President Rhonda Johnson began at the company on the ground-floor... literally... and, discovered a career. She says she's proof that manufacturing can be a career for women, also. Weber-Knapp was established in the early 1900s... and, now designs and manufactures mechanical hardware and kinematic motion control devices.
STEM Wars another big success at SUNY JCC...
The annual STEM Wars competition took place Thursday morning at SUNY Jamestown Community College. Around 600 students from 30 Chautauqua County schools competed in various science, technology, engineering and math events. The Director of ‘Dream It, Do It’ in Chautauqua County, Melissa Himes, says there was something new this time at STEM Wars... that being drone competition, and that's big because students are really into drones right now. The drones were flown in the college’s racket ball courts to keep them contained. There were 13 different competitions during this year's STEM Wars... which is designed to get students thinking about careers in modern manufacturing.
City man pleads guilty to providing drugs that took life of local man in 2020...
A Jamestown man has pleaded guilty to a federal charge for taking part in a drug conspiracy that resulted in a fatal drug overdose. U-S Attorney Trini Ross says 37 year-old Ryan Bloom entered the plea in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Prosecutors say Bloom and co-conspirator, Rachelle Allison bought and sold the drugs for profit using Facebook. On April 5th of 2020... Sheriff's officers responded to an Ashville home for a possible overdose death. Deputies say they found a person -- identified as 'D.R.'-- deceased. A search of D.R.’s cellphone revealed Facebook messages between 'D.R.' and Bloom the previous day that were drug-related. Bloom admits that he and Allison sold heroin and fentanyl that person the day before their death. That July... Bloom sold heroin and fentanyl to an individual from a Fairview Avenue residence... and, that person overdosed. However... the victim was revived using Narcan. Ross says the charge against Bloom carries a maximum of 20 years in prison... and, a $1-million fine.
RTPI to host new exhibits that open tonight...
Two new exhibits open tonight at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown. The title of one is ‘Hope Is the Thing with Feathers.’ Curator Maria Ferguson says it features birds… drawn or created by five artists… and, all of them are women. Ferguson says some are painters, sculptors and illustrators. She says each artist has incorporated scientific research and data into her presentation. The second exhibition, upstairs at RTPI, is called ‘Alex Warnick — The Art of Observation.' She says Warnick was their inaugural 'resident artist.’ That research into the Roger Tory Peterson archive resulted in six new paintings. An opening reception for both exhibits will be held at 6 p.m. tonight at RTPI on Curtis Street. Both exhibitions will be up until mid-June.
Sheriff issues warning about drinking and driving on St. Patricks' Day...
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is urging everyone to drink responsibly during this year’s St. Patrick’s Day. Sheriff Jim Quattrone says the international celebration is often recognized by adults as a time for gatherings at bars and pubs. Unfortunately... he says one night of drinking can lead to deadly consequences if plans aren’t made to get home safely. During the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day period... from 6 a.m., Mar. 18... about 36% of the crash fatalities involved a drunk driver.
