Cause released in Villanova house fire...
A malfunctioning gas boiler valve is the listed cause of a fire that destroyed a home in the Town of Villenova late Sunday morning.  Chautauqua County fire investigators released the cause late this morning... adding that the blaze at 935 Route 83 originated in the basement.  Fire dispatchers say the fire was called in about 11:15 a.m., and, eight departments responded.  South Dayton received mutual aid from Cherry Creek, Forestville, Sunset Bay, Cassadaga, Sheridan, Ellington and Leon in battling the fire.  One firefighter was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. 

Georgia man arrested for alleged menacing with a gun in Jamestown...
A Georgia man has been accused of threatening another man... who was holding a 2 year-old child... on Jamestown's northside late last week.  City police say they were called to an intersection near a business about 11:30 a.m. last Friday on a report of an argument.  Officers say -- when they arrived -- they learned that 39-year-old Larico Jones had allegedly threatened the other man with a gun.  Police say a search of the area led them to find a loaded, .380-caliber pistol concealed under Jones’s car at the scene.  Jones did not have a valid pistol permit, and, he was arrested for second-degree menacing... endangering the welfare of a child... and, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.  He was jailed pending arraignment.

Quattrone says Sheriff's Department to get just over 6% bump in proposed 2026 budget... 
Chautauqua County's tentative 2026 budget contains a spending increase of just over 6% for the Sheriff's Office.  That from Sheriff Jim Quattrone, who says the bulk of that increase comes from three new collective bargaining agreements that were recently approved by county lawmakers.  Quattrone says it also includes funding for a new animal control officer position... and says there is a need for it.  While there dog control officers in local cities, towns and villages, he says there are no animal control officers in Chautauqua County.  Quattrone adds that if everything in County Executive P.J. Wendel's spending plan passes, he wants to be able to make security upgrades at the County Jail.  Quattrone says they need to upgrade their camera systems... and, possibly provide body cameras for their corrections officers.  The County Legislature is expected to take action on Wendel's $309.7-million budget for 2026 this coming Wednesday night... Oct. 22.

Gillibrand says any military operations against Venezuela, and other South American countries regarding drug trade or other issues need to be brought before Congress...
President Donald Trump recently confirmed that he's authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela... and, says he was weighing carrying out land operations on the country.  That acknowledgement comes after the U.S. military in recent weeks has carried out a series of deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean.  U.S. forces have destroyed at least five boats since early September, killing 27 people, and four of those vessels originated from Venezuela.  U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says Mr. Trump does not have that authority -- Congress does.  Gillibrand says he did not even advise Congress about taking out the alleged Venezuelan drug boats.  Asked during an event in the Oval Office on Wednesday why he had authorized the CIA to take action in Venezuela... Trump affirmed he had made the move.  He said he authorized the moves for two reasons... "Number-one... they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America.  And the other thing, the drugs, we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea." 

City man arrested following DWI crash on Harrison Street late last Friday...
An accident near a business in the Brooklyn Square area late last week has led to the arrest of a Jamestown man from for drunk driving.  City police say they responded to the Harrison Street busienss about 9:45 p.m. last Friday... and, determined that 51 year-old John Thompson, Jr. was one of the drivers involved.  They also found he was allegedy under the influence of alcohol... and, he was arrested for DWI... and, Aggravated DWI with a blood alcohol content of more than .18%.  He was released with traffic tickets for city court.

Woman from town of Portland arrested on Felony warrants...
A north county woman has been arrested on multiple Felony warrants... and, illegal drug possession after she was found by Sheriff's deputies at a town of Portland home.  Officers say they had received a tip that 43 year-old Rachel Blanchard was at the location... and, with the help of Narcotics Investigators... they raided the home.  They found Blanchard... who was allegedly in possession of 4-grams of Fentanyl.  She was arrested on the warrants... and the drug possession.  She was jailed pending arraignment.

Man from Dunkirk accused of drunk driving in DWI Crash in town of Sheridan...
A north county man is accused of driving drunk after his car struck a utility pole in the town of Sheridan last Friday night... injuring a passenger.  Sheriff's officers say they were called to the scene on Route 20 shortly before 7 p.m.  They say the driver... 21 year-old Julian Alcongaspar of Dunkirk... was not hurt... but, found to be driving while intoxicated.  Alcongaspar was arrested for DWI... and, moving from lane unsafely... and, taken to the Sheriff's Office Substation for processing while the passenger was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries.  It was later revealed that Alcongaspar was being investigated by U.S. Border patrol and he was transferred to their custody.