Three arrested on drug, weapons charges following probation check in Jamestown...
Three people face drug and weapons charged following a probation home visit on Jamestown's eastside Tuesday night. City police say they were assisting Probation with the visit for 45 year-old Michael Bane just after 7:30 p.m. Police say officers found a quantity of methamphetamine... packaging material for drug distribution, a digital scale and a Mossberg Rifle. The serial number on the rifle was also defaced... and Bane is a convicted Felon and is not allowed to be in possession of any firearms. Police add that he's charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. Officer say they also located two children... who were living in deplorable living conditions with no running water, no bed for the children... and, garbage and old food throughout the apartment. The mother, 34 year-old Marissa Morris, was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child. Officers say they then found 29 year-old James Morris hiding in a closet... and, he was found to be violating a stay-away order Marissa had against him. Morris was charged with second-degree criminal contempt. All three were jailed pending arraignment.
Gillibrand announces legislation to beef-up salaries and staffing for Long-Term Senior Care...
New York's junior U.S. Senator has introduced legislation she says will address a nationwide shortage of long-term nursing home, and home care workers. Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand held a video press conference Wednesday to announce the "Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act..." which she says would address the current shortage... and, help boost wages and benefits. She says it would improve reimbursements to agencies providing long-term care services to Medicaid recipients. Gillibrand says long-term care workers... including certified nursing assistants, personal care aides, and home health aides, allow seniors to age with dignity. However... she says low wages, understaffing, and poor working conditions in the field have led to a severe shortage of workers. Gillibrand says New York state currently faces a shortage of more than 1.2-million home care workers. She says most long-term care workers make less that $30,000 a year... and, 40% of New York's long-term care workers live in... or near the poverty line.
Boil Water order issued for customers of Fredonia Village Water System...
Chautauqua County and Fredonia village leaders have announced a boil water order for all customers of the Fredonia water system until further notice. Mayor Mike Ferguson says this includes customers in the town of Pomfret. The reason is the scheduled cleaning of the tank at the water treatment plant resulted in water with elevated levels of turbidity entering the distribution system. He says the water could contain harmful microbes... and, boiling the water kills bacteria and other microbes that may be present. All Fredonia water customers must boil water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth and making coffee until further notice. Water must be brought to a rolling boil for one minute then cooled prior to use. The water is safe for laundry. Once turbidity levels have fallen to acceptable levels the Village will collect water samples on consecutive days to make sure the water is safe. For more information... contact the village of Fredonia at 679-2307... or the County Health Department at 753-4481.
Ferguson says village leaders have been able to reduce tax increase in new budget from 19% to 13%...
It's quite a big difference than it was two weeks ago, but the Village of Fredonia's proposed budget for its next fiscal still calls for a significant tax hike. Mayor Mike Ferguson says officials have now presented a 2024-25 spending plan totaling just under $11.9-million dollars. Ferguson says the proposal calls for a property tax rate of $42.65 per $1,000 assessed value, which is an increase of 13%. He says much of the problem is that lawmakers had previously not enacted smaller, incremental increases, and it's now come time that a big increase is needed. The original proposed tax hike was nearly 19%. Ferguson says each department had to make significant cuts to get to the 13% increase. A public hearing on the proposed budget was held earlier this week on the proposal.
Trussalo approved as new Ring Elementary School Principal, beginning next year...
A local woman who has been the assistant principal at Fletcher Elementary School in Jamestown will be the new principal at Ring Elementary School next year. The Jamestown School Board this week approved the appointment of Michelle Trussalo to head up the school... beginning next July 1. School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker says "we are all very pleased that Michelle will be our new principal at Ring Elementary. The school has a rich history and tradition, and I know that Michelle will bring her unique talents to the building." She will succeed Annette Miller, who is retiring after nearly 35 years of service to the Jamestown Public Schools... including the last six as Ring’s principal.
Lentsch approved as new JHS Marching Band Director...
The Jamestown High School Marching Band will have a familiar face directing them in the next school year. The school board this week approved the appointment of Marc Lentsch to serve as the next band director. Lentsch, who is currently director of bands at Persell Middle School, currently serves as the marching band’s assistant director. He replaces Meghan Murray... who has been band director the past 15 years... and, recently announced she was stepping down.
