JAMESTOWN MAN ARRESTED AFTER LEADING POLICE ON CHASE THROUGH CITY
JAMESTOWN – A Jamestown man is in police custody after being involved in a high-seed chase through Jamestown late yesterday morning. Jamestown Police say 24 year-old Thomas Bascom was spotted by a Town of Ellicott officer driving a vehicle that was reported stolen from a parking lot on Jones & Gifford Ave. Bascom allegedly failed to stop for the patrol vehicle, and continued through several side streets on the city’s west side.
Officers from Jamestown and the Sheriff’s Department joined the pursuit as it continued into the downtown, where the stolen vehicle then collided with another vehicle at the intersection of 6th and Spring Streets. Bascom then attempted to flee the scene on foot but was apprehended. He was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment, and multiple vehicles and traffic charges and sent to the county jail. No serious injuries were reported.
POLICE CHARGE MAN AFTER DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE INCIDENT
JAMESTOWN – A Jamestown man is in the county jail after being arrested early Tuesday morning for allegedly choking a woman and holding her against her will. City police were called to a home on the north side of the city for a domestic disturbance. The victim reported to officers that she her estranged boyfriend – 31 year-old Robert Grazulwicz – allegedly forced entrance into her home, forcibly restrained her and also choked her. Police located Grazulwicz a short time later at his home and arrested him on related charges. He is currently in the city jail awaiting arraignment.
COMMISSION TO BEGIN REDISTRICTING WORK LATER THIS MONTH
MAYVILLE – The independent redistricting commission in charge of redrawing the new Chautauqua County Legislative Lines could be meeting later this month to begin the process of reapportionment. That’s according to Chautauqua County legislator Lori Cornell (D-Jamestown), who tells WRFA the panel is currently working on a schedule that will allow all members to attend and take part in the process. Cornell was one over several lawmakers who actually wanted to see the panel reduced to 15 members, but the group eventually settled on 19 members during last month’s voting session.
Some have said that a reduction of the legislature will hurt representation from residents in rural areas of the county. Larry Barmore’s (R-Gerry) district covers a rural area northeast of Jamestown and says regardless of where the legislators live, a lower number will mean more work.
“I represent four different governemnts – Gerry, Ellicott, Falconer and Sinclairville. I attend all those meetings and I assist them in any issues they may have,” Barmore told WRFA following February’s voting session. “We have six legislators in the city of Jamestown and none of them – that I am aware of – ever attend the Jamestown City Council meeting, nor are they probably really welcome there as the city of Jamestown would just as soon govern itself. And so, a rural legislator has so much more work to do than a city legislator. Until you’ve been here you don’t realize what there is to do.”
Barmore added, “When I was on the outside I used to make the same criticisms that I hear now. And now that I’ve been here for more than four years and you find out the amount of work there is to do, it’s just overwhelming…. Almost every single night of the week I have a meeting someplace. It’s a lot of work involved in this. I’m not complaining because I really enjoy it and I enjoy the service to the people. But it’s not just coming to Mayville once a month and coming to a committee meeting and arguing back and forth. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into this job.”
Barmore is one of eight people who will serve on the reapportionment commission. The other members will be legislator Tom DeJoe (D-Brocton), Fredonia’s Minda Rae Amiran from the League of Woman Voters; Fredonia’s Kevin Sanvich – selected as a representative of the County Chamber of Commerce; and citizens Michael Haddad and David Sheppard of Jamestown, Sharon Kaminski of Fredonia, and Ray Rusboldt of Dunkirk.
The independent reapportionment commission is expected to hold its first meeting at the end of this month, although an exact date has not yet been announced. The deadline for finalizing new plans to be presented to the legislature for approval is June 1.
SALES TAX EXEMPTION ON CLOTHING PURCHASES UNDER $110 RETURNS APRIL 1
MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards would like to remind businesses and residents that on Sunday, April 1, 2012 clothing under $110 will once again be tax exempt.
In an effort to increase the state’s revenue for two years, the New York State Legislature enacted a 2010-11 State Budget in August of 2010 that repealed the sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear under $110. By amending the sales and use tax law, the State Legislature created a three phased change to sales tax exemption that would affect counties across New York State and eventually restore the tax exemption to its previous amount.
“The State has modified its tax policy on numerous occasions as to the sales tax exemption on clothing,” said County Executive Greg Edwards. “The County policy has not changed but businesses need to be aware of this upcoming modification so that they may act accordingly.”
The first phase, from October 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011, eliminated the sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear. This was projected by the New York State Division of Budget to raise $330 million in revenue for the State’s fiscal year 2010-11.
The second phase, from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012, provided an exemption on clothing or footwear that is less than $55 per item or pair. This was projected by the NYS Division of Budget to raise $210 million in revenue for the State’s fiscal year 2011-12.
The third and final phase will begin on April 1, 2012 and it will restore the original exemption on clothing and footwear items that are less than $110.
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