County officials again urge vaccinations as COVID-19 cases, and hospitalizations remain high...
Chautauqua County officials are keeping a close eye on the rising COVID-19 numbers in the county. On Wednesday... the County Health Department reported 36 hospitalizations due to virus, an increase from 31 on Monday. However... that number has returned the past day to 31. County Executive P.J. Wendel says he has been in touch with local hospital officials... and, adds many of the hospitalizations involve individuals who are unvaccinated. He says one hospital administrator noted that 70% to 90% of their admissions have not been vaccinated. Wendel did indicate that some of the hospitalizations did involve break-through cases, but most were people with comorbidities. He says the county has been staying in touch with local hospitals. Over the past day... the Health Department reports 71 new confirmed cases of the virus... but, no new deaths. There are now 424 active cases right now.... and, there are now 10,989 total cases. Officials say 10,396 cases have now recovered.
WCA Home administrator responds to Hochul comments on vaccine mandate...
The WCA Home is taking issue with comments made by Governor Kathy Hochul that the facility should have plans in place to address the loss of staff due to the state's vaccine mandate for health care workers. The Fredonia adult home could lose a third of its staff due to the mandate. WCA Home Administrator Tammy McKool takes issue with the New York governor's comments that the facility should still have plans from last year that would allow the facility to increase resident capacity. McKool says, being an assisted living facility, they are only licensed for 42 beds... adding they are "not a hospital." She says the mandate should also include the option of testing for employees who don't want to get vaccinated.
Hochul stands firm on Health Care worker vaccine mandate...
Governor Hochul says she is sticking with New York state's mandate that hospital and other health care workers get the COVID-19 vaccine. Hochul made the comments in response to reporter's questions about looming staffing shortages due to the mandate. One of those locations could be the WCA Home... which announced last week that it was facing that loss of one-third of it's staff. That mandate is already being challenged in court. Hochul says they'll continue to stand-by the mandates leading up to an initial court date of Sept. 27. Hochul says the announcement was "anticipatory" with the requirement going into effect in a couple of weeks. She says her administration will "be on it. I’m not going to let this be a problem for the state of New York..." adding that they are required to have temporary staffing plans." She added that if facilities have an issue, she and the state Health Department will help them. Last month... former Gov. Andrew Cuomo mandated that all hospital care workers get their first dose of the vaccine by Sept. 27. All other health care facilities — including diagnostic and treatment centers -- must have workers vaccinated by Oct. 7.
Olson decided aainst running for second-term on City Council...
The first-term representative in Jamestown's fifth-ward on the City Council says circumstances have changed... and, because of that, he's not running again. Republican Grant Olson announced in a press release yesterday morning that he's not seeking another term because "things are looking a bit more optimistic these days." Olson says when he first ran... the city was potentially months away from a control board... and, the administration at the time had become stagnant." He said he was "ready and willing" to make some difficult decisions to move the city forward. However... he says the current administration has "not only managed to weather a global pandemic... but, also bring about a feeling of change about what goes on (at City Hall). He adds his work, and being a father is also taking up more of his time.
City woman arrested for alleged assault...
A Jamestown woman has been arrested for allegedly assaulting another woman on the city's southside Wednesday morning. City police were called to the undisclosed address about 8:30 a.m., and, spoke to the victim, and a witness. The victim told officers that 26 year-old Halli Buchanan confronted her inside the woman's home... and, grabbed her by the hair. She adds Buchanan then twisted her head... injuring her. Police then took Buchanan, who was still at the scene, into custody... and, took her to the city jail pending arraignment on a third-degree assault charge.
Meyers hired as new JPS School Safety Advisor...
A retired, 35 year member of law enforcement who retired earlier this year has been hired by the Jamestown Public Schools as the district's new School Safety Advisor. School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker says Brad Meyers retired as Fredonia Village Police Chief earlier this year. Before that, he was a Sergeant and police officer with the Jamestown Police. Whitaker says Meyers' job will have two parts... the first being supervisory. The other part will be to review and update the district’s annual safety plan. Jamestown High School has a School Resource Officer... who is a city Police Officer. Whitaker adds that Meyers will coordinate all safety training, use of educational materials and provide guidance in promoting awareness on a variety of safety issues and promoting prevention programs. Meyers will supervise the district's "Red Shirt" security in each of the schools.
