Two city men arrested for allegedly trepassing at business... and, stealing scrap and copper metal items...
Two men from Jamestown have been arrested for allegedly stealing scrap metal and copper belonging to an eastside business. City police say they were called to the address about 3 p.m. Tuesday for a "suspicious situation" complaint. On arrival... officers located 59-year-old Eugene Lesak, Jr., and, 62-year-old Mark Brightman inside a fenced in area of the business they were not allowed to be in. Police say they found both men with the stolen items... and, that Brightman was in possession of a small quantity of methamphetamine. Both men were arrested for third-degree criminal trespassing and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Police say Brightman's also charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. City police were assisted by Ellicott Town Police. Both men were processed and released with appearance tickets.
Man from Jamestown arrested following alleged domestic violence incident...
A city man has been arrested after allegedly pushing a woman to the ground... and, trying to choke her during a domestic incident on Jamestown's eastside. City police were called to the scene about 6:30 p.m. Monday for an alleged domestic incident. Officers say they found that 42-year-old Ryan Edwards had allegedly thrown and damaged a protected party's cellphone. Edwards is then accused of taking the woman to the ground and applying pressure to her neck. Following the incident... he allegedly contacted the woman -- violating the order of protection -- numerous times using generated phone numbers. Edwards then returned to the woman's house the following day and made contact with her... further violating the stay-away ordr. With the help of Ellicott town police... city officers found Edwards outside the city... and, took him into custody. He's being held pending arraignment on two counts of first-degree criminal contempt... one count of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation... and one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief.
Gies stands with SEIU1199 workers to keep 23rd District hospitals, nursing homes and pharmacies open...
The Democrat challenger in the 23rd Congressional District race has picked up a major endorsement from the nation's largest healthcare workers union. Olean's Aaron Gies also used the opportunity outside the Dunkirk Rehabilitation and Nursing facility Monday to sound the alarm about an impending healthcare crisis putting hospitals and nursing homes at risk of closure in the southern tier. Gies thanked regional SEIU1199 members for their support. He also pointed out findings by the Fiscal Policy Institute that planned cuts to Medicare and Medicaid would mostly impact the 23rd District. Gies says 12 hospitals are currently considered "at-risk..." and one of those is Westfield Memorial Hospital. Since President Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" was signed into law last year... Gies says the 23rd District has five nursing homes... and, since 2023 has lost 28 pharmacies. He adds more are at-risk. Gies blamed Langworthy in part due to his support of the "Big, Beautiful Bill."
Western Region OTB in Jamestown among the six slated for closure at the end of October...
After a year of internal turmoil and financial issues... Western Regional Off-Track Betting has announced it will be closing six of it's eight branches in the region. The OTB Branch in Jamestown is one of those being considered for closure by Oct. 31. Various Western New York media outlets report the others expected to close include Rochester... Auburn... Cheektowaga... Empire... and, North Tonawanda. are all scheduled to close at the end of October. The OTB board is expected to take formal action on the proposed plan, which was approved after several years of reviewing the financial performance and changing needs of the OTB branch network. The Post-Journal reports the six branches currently proposed for closure lost about $730,000 in 2025... and, have already lost more than $700,000 through last month. Those losses are projected to reach nearly $1-million for the full year.
Ecklund says next Local Planning Committee meeting for Jamestown's DRI will be held today (Wednesday)...
A significant step will be taken in the process of deciding which projects will be included in the city of Jamestown's Downtown Revitalization Initative today. The Local Planning Committee assembled to guide the process will meet from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. this afternoon at the Prendergast Library. Mayor Kim Ecklund says the committee and others attending will get a good look at the projects vying for some of the $10-million in state funding. She says people will get a first look at all the projects being proposed... and, those total about $38-million to $40-million in requests. Ecklund has hinted that a few of the projects include items that tie the downtown core to the Chadakoin River... including the Furniture Mart building... and, others. From those nearly $40-million in projects... state economic development leaders will decide on 10 to 12 or so projects that will receive some kind of DRI money.
City man arrested following domestic violence incident...
A man from Jamestown has been arrested for allegedly pushing and hitting a female victim during a domestic incident. City police say they were called to an eastside address shortly after 11 a.m. Monday for an alleged domestic dispute. Officers determined that during a verbal dispute that 40 year-old Corey Bryant had shoved and struck the victim... who had a valid order of protection against him. Bryant was taken into custody, and charged with Felony first-degree criminal contempt... and, was taken to the city jail pending arraignment.
