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In Our Opinion

Make School Reorganization Meetings Available By Video

The initial steps taken this year by the communities of Clymer, Sherman and Panama toward a possible reorganization of the school districts has us thinking back to the last time we started this process. Of course, the last reorganization attempt only involved Clymer and Panama, districts that at the time were sharing a superintendent, several sports teams along with Sherman and several office positions. If ever a reorganization made sense then, it was Clymer and Panama. If ever a reorganization makes sense now, it’s Clymer, Sherman and Panama. As we look back on the 2017 merger ...

Chautauqua Lake Solutions Remain Complicated In A Simple World

Unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere in the narrows of Chautauqua Lake, you’ve probably heard complaints about the condition of the lake this summer - particularly conditions in the southern portion of the lake. We’ve gotten good at articulating the problems. Weed growth is making it difficult to impossible to get boats from docks to navigation channels cleared by the Chautauqua Lake Association. Algal blooms are again popping up. Weed masses earlier in the year required extensive cleanup efforts. To make things interesting a native species - elodea - is flourishing ...

When It Comes To Politics, There Is No Moral High Ground

Texas Republicans are considering redrawing the state’s Congressional districts - for a second time this decade - in an attempt to help secure a Republican majority in the House of Representatives when the 2026 elections roll around. We disagree with the move. The way to secure a continued Republican majority is through policy, not political games. The only way anything should change in Texas is if the change is court-ordered. Lines have been drawn and, in our opinion, both parties should abide by them. Of course, New York Democrats couldn’t stand having the moral high ground ...

Misuse Of Flare Guns Lead To A New Bill

On its face legislation requiring those who want to purchase flare guns to show proof they are over the age of 21 makes sense. The proposal includes criminal penalties for those who sell flare guns to under the age of 21. The bill (A.8920/S.8455) comes after incidents in the Albany area this summer where a flare gun was fired during a Fourth of July celebration and started a fire that destroyed two buildings. Then, an incident involving five youths who allegedly assaulted employees at a Subway restaurant included one of the youths firing a flare gun at people. Again, on its face ...

If HALT Act Doesn’t Stem Fentanyl’s Flow, Try Something New

It was fitting that Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-23, visited Jamestown last week to speak about the HALT (Halt All Lethal Trafficking of) Fentanyl Act. In 2017, fentanyl didn’t show up on the Jamestown Police Department’s list of most-seized drugs for either 2015 or 2016 in the department’s annual report. Fast forward to this year’s report. Fentanyl rose to second on the list of most-seized drugs, trailing only methamphetamine, at 1,090.50 grams. Over the preceding six years, fentanyl seizures in Jamestown grew from 161 grams to 308 grams, 857 grams, 5,552 grams, 9,384 grams and ...

Government Can’t Create Jobs, Except Its Own

Debate over goals and objectives and performance measures for the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development.during last week’s Chautauqua County Legislature should have been pretty mundane. For the record, the goals are: - to improve the quality of life for all county residents by completing more than 10 plans and studies; - implement state-mandated programs to ensure state compliance and effective governance; - support smart growth principles, complete streets and placemaking initiatives in downtown corridors to attract residents, address population decline ...