Four people were arrested Wednesday night during a street sweep conducted by Dunkirk Police, the Chautauqua County Department of Probation, and State Parole. Officers first responded to a home on Franklin Avenue after neighbors reported several young men entering a vacant home. They found 18-year-old Juan Bautista, 18-year-old Alfren Sanchez, and a 15-year-old female inside. A search turned u...read more

A key piece of evidence presented by the defense on Day #6 of the Jason Wells murder trial was disallowed on Wednesday. The Observer reports that Judge John Ward would not allow a video of Wells' mental evaluation into evidence, stating that it would have an adverse and prejudicial effect on the jury, in light of the prosecution pointing out that the video was made well after the diagnosis of Well...read more

Nine people from Erie County were charged with trespassing after they were spotted near an abandoned hospital building Tuesday night in Perrysburg.  State Police in Collins say all nine individuals, ages 18 to 21, were caught inside the fenced-in grounds of the abandoned JN Adam complex. The following people are due in Perrsyburg Town Court at a later date: Emmett Gerwitz, 20, of West S...read more

There are two major items on the agenda for tonight's meeting of the Chautauqua County Legislature in Mayville. Legislator John Runkle says one of the items on the docket will be submitting a resolution to increase the county's fund balance by $2.6 million... [audio:runkleincreasefundbalance.mp3]John Runkle: increase fund balance[/audio] The resolution comes as the sale of the County Home in Dun...read more

Farmers in Western New York, including Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, can now apply for grants to purchase farm equipment and construct or renovate agricultural structures. The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council recently awarded Farm Credit East $1 million to establish this agriculture development program. Up to $50,000 may be awarded per application....read more

This year, for the first time ever, tickets to the New York State Fair in Syracuse can be purchased online. Fairgoers can go here and purchase anything from a single-day advance sale ticket for just six dollars to a voucher for the Mega Pass for 70 dollars. This year's State Fair runs from August 21st to September 1st....read more

Our warmer temperatures have led to the first blue-green algae blooms to be spotted on the lakes in Chautauqua County. The county's Health and Human Services Department is urging all lake users to be cautious, especially when algae is present. The department's Deputy Director of Enviromental Health, Mark Stow, says blue-green algae is a type of cyanobacteria that can form thick "mats" on the water...read more

A couple from South Dayton will appear in court after allegedly creating a disturbing incident in front of their home. Cattaraugus County Sheriff's officers arrested 63-year-old Donald Bartlett, Jr. and 59-year-old Janice Bartlett Monday evening at their home at 258 Mill Street. Both were charged with disorderly conduct....read more

Chautauqua County will have a new airline and return to a popular, past destination point, beginning October 1st. That from County Executive Vince Horrigan, who says the U.S. Department of Transporation has selected Sun Air to provide Essential Air Service out of the County Airport near Jamestown. Horrigan calls it "great news," and adds that the county had been working hard with U.S. Senator Ch...read more

Testimony continued Tuesday in Day #5 of the Jason Wells murder trial in Mayville.  According to media reports, a corrections officer and a retired jail warden took the stand and testified on Wells' behavior while he was in jail. According to Wells' defense attorney, the 37-year-old was in an altered state of mind when he beat and stabbed 81-year-old Ruth Fisk to death in Fredonia in February...read more