Fire that destroys large home dating back to 1800s in Jamestown under investigation...
Flames have destroyed one of the oldest homes left in the city of Jamestown... dating back to the late 1800s. City fire crews were called to the scene at 131 Forest Ave. about 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Fire Battalion Chief Shawn Shilling was one of the first people on scene... and says there was heavy fire showing from the second-floor and upper portions of the vacant structure when they arrived. SHilling says he called in an off-duty shift of 15 firefighters and a shift commander. However... due to the condition of the structure... crews maintained a defensive posture. An aerial truck was called into help douse the flames. Shilling says the building is close to a couple of other structures... which crews protected. He says one was a nearby church. Shilling says it took about an hour to get the flames under control... and most of the fire out. He says it appears that no one had been inside the structure for some time. Shilling adds that no firefighters, nor residents were hurt. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The city's Department of Development ordered the building be demolished. Shilling says the home was constructed back when that part of Jamestown was still mostly pasture land.
NYS legislature approves 2024-25 Budget that includes housing, migrant and other measures...
New York lawmakers passed a $237-billion state budget late Saturday that includes plans to spur housing construction and combat unlicensed marijuana stores. The package also includes a raft of other measures such as expediting the closure of some state prisons, addressing a recent influx of migrants and continuing the pandemic-era policy of allowing people to buy takeout cocktails. The state Senate and Assembly finished working through several budget bills Saturday after hours of debate. The spending plan was later signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. The negotiations, which were conducted in private between the governor and top legislative leaders, largely hinged on a sweeping proposal to jump-start the state's housing market. The plan offers developers a tax break if they agree to rent a portion of apartments in new buildings for below market price. The deal also includes measures to protect some tenants against unreasonable rent increases and evictions. The 2024-25 budget was due by Apr. 1.
Fredonia lifts Boil Water Order...
The Boil Water Order has now been lifted for customers of the Fredonia Village System. The Chautauqua County Health Department, in conjunction with the village, lifted the boil order late Sunday morning for all customers... including customers in the town of Pomfret. Turbidity in the distribution system returned to acceptable levels and two consecutive days of testing showed the water throughout the system is safe for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, making coffee, and others. Officials say plumbing lines that have not been used regularly since the boil water went into effect late last week should be flushed before water from that line is consumed. This includes ice makers and refrigerator water dispensers. If you have any questions... contact the village of Fredonia at 679-2307... or the county Health Department at 753-4481.
More revisions made to lower Fredonia tax hike in new budget...
After taking plenty of criticism from the public... Fredonia village officials have made some changes to the village's proposed 2024-2025 budget. Those revisions took place during a special budget meeting this past week at the Village Hall. Mayor Mike Ferguson says the changes resulted in a further reduction in the village's proposed property tax rate increase from 13% to 9.25%. Ferguson says adjustments in the areas of hiring firefighters and police officers allowed for that reduction. He says they have to bring on one new firefighter to replace a person who retired... and, they had to bring their "basic numbers" back up in the police department. Ferguson adds that many state-mandated programs that were unintentionally removed, as well as the village's summer recreation program, have been put back into the budget. A second public hearing on the proposed $11.9 million budget will be held this coming Wed., Apr. 24 at 7 p.m.
Trio of people arrested during traffic stop in Jamestown last month now formally charged with drug-offenses...
Three people have been formally charged with several drug-related offenses following a late March traffic stop Jamestown's southside. City police say officers conducted the stop the late evening of Mar. 28. in the area of Maple St. and Everett Ave. for multiple traffic infractions. Officers identified the driver as 56 year-old Debra Leeper... and, her passengers as 51 year-old Koran Leeper... and, 43 year-old Jordan Czerniak. Police say they saw illegal drugs in plainview in Koran Leeper's possession... and, further searched the vehicle. Officers add they located numerous items of drug paraphernalia... including a digital scale with fentanyl residue and packaging materials. Police also found Czerniak in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine... and, Debra Leeper had a quantity of cocaine. All three subjects were taken into custody, and transported to the city jail, pending arraignment. While in the jail... police found Debra Leeper trying to conceal 12.7 grams of fentanyl... and, she was also in possession of a quantity of crack cocaine packaged for sale. Koran Leeper was also found in possession of a quantity of fentanyl.
