When the Chautauqua County Legislature meets tonight in Mayville, it will consider a local law that would give the sheriff’s Office the ability to remove abandoned vehicles throughout the county. Under the language of the pending local law, the Sheriff’s office would have the authority to take into custody any abandoned vehicles and the county would also be able to sell it and keep the proceeds.

In addition, lawmakers will act on a motion that supports a pending state law that makes it easier to contact owners of vacant structures by using banks and other lending institutions.  Both the state senate and state assembly are considering a bill that would make it mandatory for lending institutions to provide contact information of responsible parties regarding vacant structures; and require good faith in maintaining vacant or abandoned real property prior to transfer of the property in foreclosure.

Other items to be acted on tonight is the distribution of the 2012 occupancy tax – or “bed tax” – proceeds. Under the pending resolution,  Several local organizations and events would see funding from the county. The include:

• Lucille Ball Comedy Festival (Aug. 7 to 11): $10,000.00
• Jazz at Chautauqua (Sept. 15 to 19): $4,500
• Festivals Fredonia (event series): $ 6,400.00
• Jamestown Regional Celtic Festival (Aug. 23 to 24): $10,000.00
• Scandinavian Folk Festival (July 19 to 21): $ 3,000.00
• Village of Celoron Waterfront Revitalization Plan: $10,000.00
• Portland Bicentennial Celebration (April to July): $ 2,000.00

Tonight’s legislature meetings begins at 6:30 p.m. on the third floor of the Gerace Office building Mayville and is open to the public.

In all, there will be eight bagpipe bands, seven Celtic music groups, ethnic foods, a beer and wine garden, and Scottish heavy athletes in competition. Admission tonight is free. Tickets Saturday are $8, $6 for seniors and children 12 and under free. For information, visit www.96thhighlanders.com.

JAMESTOWN – There wasn’t any noticeable damage, but some nerves were rattled yesterday afternoon as the city of Jamestown and the Chautauqua Region felt the effects of a 5.8-magnitude earthquake centered near Richmond, Va. The quake’s effects could be felt as far north as New England, as far south as the Carolinas and as far west as Ohio. By the time the tremors reached Western New York, they caused shaking but no damage. However, as a precaution, Jamestown City Hall was evacuated and closed for inspection for nearly an hour.

LEGISLATURE VOTES TONIGHT IN MAYVILLE

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Legislature will be meeting tonight in Mayville with a full agenda on schedule. Among the items to be acted on is a resolution naming Katherine Tampio as the new clerk of the legislature. She will replace Ron Lemon as clerk if approved.

The legislature will also act on a resolution on a one-year lease agreement for space to be used as a restaurant in the Chautauqua County Airport to Teel Wolcott, owner of the Backyard Bar and Grill in Kimblestand – at a cost of $600 per month.

And the legislature will act on distributing the county’s bed tax money to several tourism based organizations and events, including $16,960 to the 2012 Lucill Ball Comedy Festival; $11,302 to the Jamestown Regioinal Celtic Festival; and $4,048 to the Lawson Boating Heritage Center in Bemus Point.

Tonight’s meeting begins at 6:30 in the legislative chambers.

STOCKTON MAN CHARGED WITH STEALING FROM FIREMEN’S FRATERNITY

STOCKTON – A Stockton man was arrested on charges of grand theft and writing a bad check after it was found he allegedly took money from the Stockton fire department. The county sheriff’s office says Robert Kawski – President of the Chautauqua County Firemen’s Fraternity – had allegedly obtained a bank debit card using without the permission of the board of directors. Kawski allegedly used the card at various locations to obtain money from the Fraternity bank account. Kawski was arrested on a warrant and placed in the county jail on $10,000 bond.

COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY INTRODUCES ‘GREEN PAWPRINT’ INITIATIVE

JAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County Humane Society is asking area residents to turn their carbon footprint into a green pawprint. The organization’s 2nd Chances Thrift Store wants all of your fabric and electronic cast-offs, especially the stuff that would normally be thrown in the garbage. Any old clothes, bedding, curtains, towels- right down to the dishrag at your kitchen sink that seems to have no future option- can be donated, recycled and re-manufactured for other uses. The Thrift store is also interested in obtaining any outdated or broken electronic items, regardless of the condition. This keeps it out of our burgeoning landfills and all the proceeds go to care for the Chautauqua County Humane Society’s sheltered animals.

The Chautauqua County Humane Society  is a non-profit that is not part of any government organization and its mission to care for animals by promoting adoptions, preventing cruelty and providing education relies solely on public support. For more information call 664-4504.