The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office said fire crews were called to 4932 Herrick Road around 5:51 a.m. yesterday for a structure fire.

Two residents of the home, Jeffrey and Judith Church, both 66-years old, were found dead inside the the home by Fire Department personnel.

The Chautauqua County Fire Investigation Team is still investigating the cause of the fire.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office reports 65 year old Andrew Lawrence had been using a tractor on his property on Lamberton Road to try to pull out a different tractor that was stuck in the mud. The tractor Lawrence was operating rolled over backwards.

The Sheriff’s Office said Lawrence was pronounced dead at the scene.

Congressman Nick Langworthy and Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone (April 4, 2023)

Congressman Nick Langworthy met with Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone and toured public safety facilities in Mayville on a visit to the county.

Langworthy said it’s important for him to familiarize himself with the institutions he represents, like law enforcement, in the 23rd District, “I’ve know Sheriff Quattrone for many years. He’s an incredible Sheriff. He’s a great veteran of law enforcement. So, going through and meeting department by department with his team and seeing how it all works and how they handle dispatch and what some of the great challenges are department by department. I think it’s really helpful.”

Langworthy said he got to hear first hand accounts from Sheriff’s officers on the struggle of dealing with the fentanyl crisis, “It’s something that we face every day and we’re losing so many of our citizens to this horrible drug. And we have to do something about it. We have to stop it from coming into our country. We have to stop the Chinese from profiting off the death of Americans.”

Langworthy said the visit gives him more anecdotal information he can share in Washington.

He said one thing Sheriff Quattrone requested help with is the Unsolved Crimes Unit, “It is extremely concerning that we have an unsolved case load that is far greater than other communities. And they have requested some federal assistance in order to help bring some quick lab and DNA work to crack these cases. They’ve got some new personnel that’s taking on this department and I think there’s a lot of merit in it.”

Langworthy added that the families of missing or murdered victims deserve justice.

Video still of fire damage at the Maple Tree Cafe in Falconer (Video by Maple Tree Cafe)

A Falconer restaurant suffered damages in a fire late Monday night.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office reports that Falconer Fire crews responded to Maple Tree Cafe at 1993 East Main Street just before midnight Monday for a structure fire.

An investigation determined the fire was caused by a spontaneous combustion of towels which had been exposed to cooking oil prior to being laundered and left piled in a plastic laundry basket.

There were no injuries sustained as a result of the fire.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said as people gather at bars and pubs today and following days, it sometimes can lead to deadly consequences if plans aren’t made to get home safely.

The NHTSA said during the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day period, more than a third (36%) of crash fatalities involved a drunk driver. From 2016 to 2020, 287 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day period.

Sheriff Jim Quattrone said, “Please remember, Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. If you plan to drink this St. Patrick’s Day, plan ahead for a safe way home.”
He said even walking while intoxicated can be deadly. In 2020, 30% of the pedestrians killed in traffic crashes had blood alcohol concentrations at or above .08. Pedestrians who have been drinking should also arrange for a sober ride or for a sober friend to walk them home.

The NHTSA encourages everyone to take the following safety precautions, including:
– It’s never okay to drink and drive. Designate a sober driver or a call a ride service to get home safely.
– Never let a friend drive drunk.
– If you’re the designated driver, make sure you don’t drink so you can keep that promise of safety to yourself and your passengers.
– Don’t ride in a vehicle with a driver who has been drinking.
– And if you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement to report the driver.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office reports a car driven by 29-year old Tori Carlson of Jamestown went into the intersection of Bly Hill Road and Route 394 where she collided with a Jamestown School Bus.

Deputies say road conditions combined with speed were the cause.

Carlson and a passenger on the school bus were sent to UPMC for treatment of injuries. The two students on the bus were not injured.

Carlson has been charged with Failure to Yield Right of Way, Speed Unreasonable, Suspended Registration, Unregistered Motor Vehicle, and Operating without Insurance.

Evan Zeller (photo by Ohio Attorney General’s Office)

The body found near Canadaway Creek on the shore of Lake Erie has been identified as an Ohio man

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office reports that 30-year old Evan Zeller of Sheffield Lake, Ohio has been identified as the victim. He was reported missing in November 2022 after he had gone kayaking on Lake Erie near the town where he lived.

Coordination between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the Erie County Medical Examiner’s office led to the identification of Mr. Zeller.

The Sheriff’s Office said the Dunkirk Police Department received a report Thursday morning of a body of a man found near Canadaway Creek.

Officials says the man appears to have been dead for a significant amount of time and has not been identified. An autopsy will be completed in the case.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office said 48-year old Richard Lorek was struck by a car driven by 64-year old Polly Gambino of Cassadaga when he tried to cross Route 60 on foot. Lorek was taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital where he died.

No charges are expected at this time.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office said following the case going to Grand Jury, a suspect has been charged with 1st degree Manslaughter in the death of 19-year old Joseph Misciagno on July 5, 2022.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, has been arraigned and sent to jail without bail.