David George

JAMESTOWN – A Jamestown resident who was making plans to run for mayor of Jamestown says he’s withdrawing from the race.

Retired JCC professor David George informed WRFA of his decision on Wednesday afternoon, saying he’s been unable to find the support he needs to get his name on the ballet.

“I’m withdrawing from the race for mayor,” George said in a voice message to WRFA. “I’ve had a pretty hard time collecting signatures and the support system is not there. So I’m not submitting my nomination.”

George had not been endorsed by any of the established political parties. As a result, he was trying to start his own independent political party, the Patriots Party, so he could get his name on the November ballot. A total of 300 signatures from registered voters in Jamestown needed to be collected by Aug. 19 and submitted to the county Board of Elections in order to qualify George as a candidate on the ballot.

Current Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, a Democrat, has already announced his intention to run for a fifth consecutive term.

Teresi was first elected in 1999 when he defeated then-mayor Richard Kimball. 2003 saw a rematch between the two candidates, with Teresi again coming out on top. In 2007 he defeated Republican challenger Shirley Sanfilippo and in 2011 he ran unopposed.

No other candidate has come forward to challenge Teresi, other than George, in the 2015 race.

WEST ELLICOTT – Local authorities are continuing their search of an Ellicott Senior Citizen this morning after he was first reported missing yesterday afternoon. The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office says 78 year-old John Kircher was reported missing at noon yesterday from his residence at an assisted living home on 560 Fairmont Avenue. Kircher is describd as a white male, 5’2″ and 120 lbs. with thinning brown and grey hair and beard. He also walks with a limp and has a cane.

He was last seen wearing a flannel shirt and grey winter coat. It is believed Kircher walked out from his home at lunchtime and has not been seen since. He has no money on him, but is likely to hitchhike.

Ellicott Police is asking the public’s assistance if they have seen this individual to call our dispatch center at 661-7232.

CITY MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

SHERMAN – A Jamestown man was charged with sexual misconduct Tuesday after an incident that allegedly occurred in October. Authorities say 58 year old Joseph Valvo was charged with sexual misconduct, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child on Tuesday at the Jamestown barracks in Ellicott. The arrest comes from an incident that allegedly occurred in the early evening on Oct. 19.

According to police, on Oct. 19, troopers responded to a complaint in Sherman where a 15-year-old male victim reported that a white man in a beige Ford pickup truck approached him and asked his assistance in programming his radio. The youth entered the truck and while setting the radio stations, the suspect allegedly inappropriately touched teenager. The youth then got out of the truck and reported the incident to the State Police.

Information to the man’s identity was limited until receiving information from the Ellicott Police Department that their agency handled a very similar investigation in the spring of 2011 involving a 13-year-old male in Celoron, where Valvo was developed as the suspect, but police chose not to press charges due to lack of evidence.

After conducting its own investigation, Valvo was found to be the suspect involving the 15-year-old victim and was taken into custody. He will appear in Sherman Town Court at a later date.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO DETERMINE CO. LEGISLATURE’S DISTRICT 14 RACE

MAYVILLE – It appears the balance of power in the Chautauqua County Legislature will once again come down to the county of absentee ballots. According to the county’s election website votechautauqua.com, the candidates in Legislative District 14 stand only 20 votes apart. Democratic candidate Timothy Hoyer is currently in the lead with a total of 210 votes. Republican candidate Michael Haddad has a total of 190 votes.

According to an article today in the Jameestown Post-Journal, 42 of the 67 absentee ballots issued for the district have so far been returned. Of the 42 absentee ballots returned to the county, a total of 26 were from registered Republicans and a total of 16 were from registered Democrats. To count in the election, absentee ballots have to have been postmarked by Monday, Nov. 7. The deadline for ballots arriving is Nov. 15 for non-military ballots and Nov. 21 for military ballots – meaning the other 25 ballots in District 14 still have time to arrive. The Board of Elections’ counting of ballots will start at 1 p.m. Nov. 21.

AUDIT AND CONTROL COMMITTEE TO ACT ON RESOLUTION INVOLVING COUNTY HOME

The County Legislature’s Audit and Control Committee is meeting this morning in Mayville with several items on its agenda. Most notebably is a resolution supporting the selection of Marcus & Millichap for the Marketing of the Potential Sale, Lease, or other Disposition of the Chautauqua County Home in Dunkirk. The home has been the subject of much debate in recent months, particularly at the county legislature voting sessions, where members of the CSEA have turned out to voice their opposition to selling the home.

This morning’s committee meeting begins at 8:35 a.m. in Room 331 of the Gerace Office Building.

HIGGINS TO MEET WITH AREA SENIORS THIS MORNING, BUSINESS LEADERS THIS AFTERNOON

DUNKIRK – Congressman Brian Higgins will be in Dunkirk this morning for Breakfast With Veterans and Seniors. Later in the day, he’sll also attend a luncheon with local business leaders. Higgins will attend the breakfast at the Dunkirk Senior Center at 45 Franklin Street beginning at 9 a.m. Several organizations will be on hand, including Meals Wheels, The Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, Chautauqua County Veteran Service Agency, The Dunkirk VA Outpatient Clinic, CARTS and the Office of the Aging – among many others.

Later in the day, Congressman Higgins will provide an update on activities in Washington, DC and Western New York followed by a question and answer period with the chamber of commerce and other local business leaders. That event will take place at noon in the Shorewood Country Club – 4958 West Lake Road, Dunkirk.

FREE RABIES CLINIC TODAY IN MAYVILLE

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Department of Health announces that the final free rabies vaccination clinic of 2011 will be held today from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Town of Chautauqua Highway Building on Patterson Street in Mayville.

The clinic is sponsored by the Health Department and Dr. Joseph Powell is the attending veterinarian. For more information, go online to myhealthycounty.com or call 1-866-604-6789.

WCA AUXILIARY TO HOST HOLIDAY SALE TODAY AND TOMORROW

JAMESTOWN – The WCA Hospital Auxiliary will host their popular annual Holiday Sale on today  from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the WCA Hospital Auditorium, at 207 Foote Avenue, Jamestown, New York. Shoppers support the WCA Hospital Auxiliary’s pledge to support WCA’s Sharing the Gift of Health capital campaign for the hospital’s new Emergency Department. The public is welcome. Parking is available in the visitor parking lot.

MAYVILLE – Today is Election Day in Chautauqua County, and while there are many uncontested local races in the area, there is an important proposition on the ballot this year that every voter in the county will have an opportunity to vote on.

Proposition No. 1 will let voters decide whether the County Legislature has no more than 19 members. Currently, there are 25 members on the panel, a number that’s been in place for over 30 years.  The proposition will be available on the backside of all paper ballots used in this year’s election.

Polling offices will be open from now until 9 p.m. this evening. For information on specific voting locations or ballots, contact the Chautauqua County Board of Elections or go online to www.votechautauqua.com.

ONLY ONE CONTESTED RACE IN JAMESTOWN

JAMESTOWN – As far as local elections go, it will be a quiet year in Jamestown, with only one contested race on the ballot. That race is for the Ward 4 seat in the Jamestown City Council, where incumbent democrat Vince DeJoy will be squaring off against challenger Dan Johnson – who’s been endorsed by the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties.

Jamestown Republican Party Chairman Brent Sheldon says he’s excited about Johnson running as a candidate.

The rest of the council, as well as Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, are running unopposed. Sheldon said the GOP tried to find a challenger but was unable to do so. Teresi is seeking a fourth term in the mayor’s office. He was first elected to that position in 1999.

LEGISLATURE HAS EIGHT CONTESTED RACES

MAYVILLE – There are also several uncontested races in the county legislature. In fact, a total of 17 seats only have one candidate, with seven incumbent Democrats and ten Republicans (Eight incumbents) going unchallenged.

Of the uncontested races, two new candidates are going unopposed – Vince Horrigan in Bemus Point and PJ Wendel in Lakewood. Both are running for the Republican party. Horrigan will be replacing longtime Republican legislator Dick Babbage while Wendel will be taking the seat currently held by Democratic Minority Leader Rudy Mueller.

There will be eight contested races for the legislature, leaves a total of eight actual races for the Chautauqua County Legislature.

In the city of Jamestown, the Legislative District 14 race features Timothy Hoyer on the Democratic line. He faces Republican candidate Michael Haddad for the district currently represented by Scott Stutzman, I-Jamestown.

In District 15, Maria Kindberg, D-Jamestown, is vacating her seat – making the race a first-time election for both Bob Whitney and David Wilfong. Whitney holds the Democratic, Conservative and Independence lines. Wilfong will appear on the Republican line on November’s ballot.

In District 10 – which covers part of Busti and West Ellicott, incumbent Republican incumbent Mark Tarbrake is being challenged by Pat Tyler, who holds the Democratic, Conservative, Working Families and Independence Party lines.

Other Local races of note include District 7, which covers the towns of Cherry Creek, Ellington and Poland. There, incumbent Republican candidate Bob Stewart is being challenged by Democrat Tamara Miles.

In District 8 – which covers the towns of Carroll and Kiantone, incumbent Republican candidate Tami Downey is being challenged by Thomas Erlandson, who holds the Democratic, Conservative and Independence Party lines.

The Democrats in the legislature who are running unopposed are Keith Ahlstrom, Dunkirk; Shaun Heenan, Dunkirk; Vickeye James, Jamestown; Lori Cornell, Jamestown; Paula DeJoy, Jamestown; Chuck Nazzaro, Jamestown; and Tom DeJoe, Brocton.

The Republicans who stand to return unopposed are Bob Duff, Sheridan; George Borrello, Irving; John Runkle, Stockton; Larry Barmore, Gerry; Jay Gould, Ashville; Fred Croscut, Sherman; David Himelein, Findley Lake; and Bob Scudder, Fredonia.

EDWARDS WILL NOT VETO ITEMS IN BUDGET

MAYVILLE – In other news, County Executive Greg Edwards announced Monday that he will not veto any part of the legislature’s 2012 budget. County lawmakers passed the spending plan in a 20 to 5 vote last month. Edwards then had 10 calendar days to review the changes made and issue any vetoes. Edwards used his Monday Morning Memo yesterday to announcing his decision, in which he called the final budget passed by the legislature “a mockery of our fiscal management policy.” Edwards explained that he would not be implementing any line item vetoes because the budget was passed overwhelmingly by the legislature and therefore the 20 who supported it last month could override any vetoes.

Next year’s budget will take the county’s property tax rate from $8.90 to 9.22 per thousand dollars of assessed value, an increase of 32 cents. As proposed by the county executive, the 2012 budget initially started with a $1.13 per thousand tax increase, which would have taken the property tax rate to $10.03 per thousand.

POLICE SEEK ROBBERY SUSPECT

FINDLEY LAKE – The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred in Findley Lake early Monday morning. According to police, at 5:22 a.m. a white male subject entered the Holiday Inn Express, 3025 Route 426, in Findley Lake, and demanded money from the front desk. Police say he used a semi-automatic pistol to threaten the desk clerk.

The suspect fled in an unknown direction in a vehicle with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect is described as a white male, age 20 to 30, 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, medium build, weighing about 180 to 190 pounds, with grayish-blue eyes and light freckles over the bridge of his nose.

He was wearing a blue winter jacket, knit hat and a scarf over his face to conceal his identity. The hat and scarf were either red or gray in color.

The Sheriff’s office is encouraging anyone with information on this incident to call the We Tip number at 1-800-78-CRIME (800-782-7463) or the Sheriff’s Office at 753-4925. Callers are eligible for a $1,000 reward if the information leads to the arrest and conviction of the person involved. All calls will remain anonymous.

BUSTI – It appears the same candidate will have his name on both the Democrat and Republican ticket in the race for Busti Town Supervisor. Busti Republicans yesterday voted for candidate Jesse Robbins to represent the party in the November general election. Robbins defeated current town Supervisor Kathleen Sullivan 291 to 263 in yesterday’s Republican Primary. He had already received the backing of the Democratic Party.  Sullivan has served as Busti supervisor for six years.

In other primary results from yesterday, Jamestown City Council Ward 4 Candidate Dan Johnson defeated Vince DeJoy 11 to 3 in the conservative party primary.

In Elington Reid Johnson won the Republican party’s support in the race for Town Justice, While Troy Everetts received the party’s endorsement for highway superintendent.

In North Harmony, Everett Bensink won the Republican bid for town justice and Dan Strickland received the party’s support for highway superintendent.

And it was a close primary in Pomfret, with David DeJoe defeating David Prince 358 to 354 in the Republican Party primary for Town Justice. Prince also received the Independence Party and the Conservative Party support. DeJoe did win the primary from the Working Families party.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL HOLDS PUBLIC FORUM

JAMESTOWN – Investments in advanced manufacturing may be the key to economic development in Chautauqua County and Western New York. That’s the opinion of the majority people who attended last nights forum at JCC hosted by the Economic Development Council of Western New York. The meeting, which lasted more than 2 and a half hours, was designed to collect input on a five-year economic development plan for the Western New York Region. The plan would then be used to help leverage economic development funding from New York State. More than 80 area residents attended the meeting.

The forum, which was hosted by both elected, business and education officials from throughout the region, allowed participants to weigh-in on the importance of various factors and sectors of the local economy. Not only did adanced manufacturing receive a high rank of importance, but both agriculture and tourism also scored high.

Besides focusing on various sectors of the economy, the forum also discussed way the state could improve economic development. By far the biggest factor was reducing the tax burden on business and property owners. Providing stronger assistance for local entrepreneurs also ranked high.

The panel will take the input gathered from the forum and combine it with feedback from other forums to help fine-tune a preliminary economic development plan. Other interactive forums with the community are also expected in the coming months.

JPD INVESTIGATES BURGLARY

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Police Department is looking for help in identifying a person who burglarized a business near the intersection of E 2^nd and Winsor Streets. The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting this morning that the Eastside Liquor Store at 713 E. Second St. was burglarized at about 2:40 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The suspect was inside the building only for a few minutes and took a quantity of cash and a small amount of liquor. He is described as a male wearing black shorts, white shoes and a black shirt. He is shown in video stills covering his face with his T-shirt to conceal his identity.  The Jamestown Police Department is asking anyone with information to contact them at 483-7531 or 483-7537. All calls will be kept confidential.

MARIJUANA GROW OPERATION FOUND IN HOME STRUCK BY VEHICLE

JAMESTOWN – An accident that occurred Monday in Jamestown led to the discovery of a marijuana-growing operation. When officers and members of the Jamestown Fire Department responded to a vehicle that crashed into a house at 71 Wescott St., the growing operation was found. Officials then called in the  Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and the plants were removed from the home. The grow operation was described as a medium-sized operation. The resident of the home is currently not in custody and no arrest has been made, but the investigation is continuing.

Police say two people were in the house at the time of the accident and were uninjured. All three of the vehicle’s passengers – including two children – were slightly injured in the accident, but police say the injuries were minor because of the use of child safety restraints and seat belts.

The American Red Cross responded to provide disaster relief assistance to help meet the emergency needs of the family displaced by the accident with the vehicle crashing into the home.

MAYVILLE, NY – A total a 19 Primary Elections will take place in Chautauqua County for this year Primary Day. County election officials say Republican voters will participate in eight of the 19 Primaries, the most notable for Busti town supervisor. There will also be primary runoffs for highway superintendents in Clymer, Ellington, North Harmony and Ripley. The GOP in Ellington, North Harmony and Pomfret will also hold a primary for town Justice.

Democrats will also hold an opportunity to ballot for the county legislature’s district four seat, representing northern Hanover and Silver Creek. No name will appear on the ballot and Democrats will have an opportunity to write in a candidate’s name.

Conservatives will see Primary elections for Jamestown Ward 4 City Council. There will also be a conservative primary for town justice seats in Ellington and Pomfret. An opportunity to ballots vs. endorsed Conservative candidates will be held for the legislature’s district 8, district 10, district 15 and district 25 seats.

Independence Party voters will see a Primary Election for County Legislature district 25 and Working Families will find a Primary Election for Pomfret Town Justice.

This year’s primaries will take place on September 13.

NIOBE POST OFFICE MAY CLOSE

BUFFALO, NY – The U.S Postal Service has marked 3700 post offices nationwide for possible closure or consolidation, according a list released yesterday. Just one post office in Chautauqua – the one in Niobe – was included on the list. Those slated for elimination in Cattaraugus County were the ones in Dayton, Farmersville and Otto.  The closing list is in response to fewer people using the postal service. Five years ago, the postal service handled 213 billion pieces of mail. This year, that number is expected to be 170 billion – that’s a drop of 20 percent.

Post offices on the list will be subject to reviews in the months ahead. When candidates for closure are selected, the Postal Service will send letters to homes and businesses they serve before holding community meetings to discuss the impacts.

LEGISLATURE MEETING IN DUNKIRK

DUNIRK, NY – This month’s Chautauqua County legislature meeting will be held tonight at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center in Dunkirk. The meeting begins at 6:30.

SPOON RIVER PROJECT UNDERWAY

JAMESTOWN, NY – The Spoon River Project held its first performance last night on the grounds of Lakeview Cemetery in Jamestown.  This unique adaptation of Edgar Lee Master’s Spoon River Anthology features nearly two-dozen different actors from throughout the area.

The Spoon River project is produced and directed by Tom Andalora, a Jamestown native who now teaches acting in New York City. Performances will continue each evening at the Lakeview Cemetery from now through Saturday, starting at 8:30 each evening. A brief cemetery tour takes place prior to each performance. There will also be a late night performance on Saturday at 11 p.m., with a tour of select mausoleums in the cemetery. The final show will be July 31 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $15 Presale and $17 at the Door. All proceeds benefit the Fenton History Center. For more information, visit spoonriverproject.com.

COUNTY FAIR CONTINUES

DUNKIRK, NY – The Chautauqua County Fair Continues today with several events on the schedule. The Star Family Circus is the main event for this evening, and admission to the event is included with general admission to the fair. For more information, visit chautauquacountyfair.org.

TASTE OF JAMESTOWN IS THIS FRIDAY

JAMESTOWN, NY – The Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation’s annual ‘Taste of Jamestown’ will be taking place this Friday and Saturday on Third Street in downtown Jamestown. In addition to great tasting food from area restaurants, the event will also feature a beer and wine garden and live entertainment. For more information or to register, call 664-2477.