District Heat rates projected to increase 10%

October 5, 2026

The BPU’s aging district heating system is projected to have a 10% rate increase to pay for increasing capital costs. BPU board members learned more about the proposed district heat rate hike as well as an increase in solid waste rates during a recent board meeting. During their latest meeting the board heard a report specifically on the district heat and solid waste budgets, along with key items from the water and wastewater budgets. Jami Rishel, BPU accounting supervisor, went through draft district heat and solid waste budgets as well as initial key items for water and ...

County OKs seniors property tax exemption hike, rejects higher level

October 5, 2026

MAYVILLE – County lawmakers have agreed to increase the income level by $1,000 to get a real property tax break for low income seniors. An attempt to increase that level was rejected by Republicans. During the Chautauqua County Legislature meeting, officials approved a resolution to ...

Three charged in pair of Dunkirk drug probes

October 5, 2026

DUNKIRK --- A pair of drug investigations last week ended in three arrests in the north county. On Sept. 29, an investigation into firearms and narcotics activity at 935 Swan St. in the city of Dunkirk ended with a search warrant being executed on last week and two being charged. The warrant was executed by narcotics investigators from the Dunkirk Police Department, the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office and Jamestown Police Department along with assistance from detectives from the Buffalo Police Department and FBI Safe Streets, a news release issued Monday reported. Located inside ...

Candidly Speaking: County DSS commissioner discusses homeless, housing assistance, shelter space

October 3, 2026

  MAYVILLE - The Director of Community Mental Hygiene Services for Chautauqua County, Carmelo Hernandez, stated that the situations of homelessness and those being unhoused did not occur suddenly - nor will solutions be found quickly. However, Hernandez shared insights the general public ...

Clerk asks state Attorney General to resolve NYC ticket issue

October 3, 2026

A Chautauqua County official is asking the state Attorney General to address the problem of dozens of traffic citations being issued to a local resident for violations in New York City based on a license plate that he doesn’t have. Last month, County Clerk Gregory Carlson sent a letter ...

Local visitation fight leads mother to push for Kyra’s Law

October 3, 2026

A local mother is seeking more protections both locally and on the state level for herself and her child following continued open cases of abuse and child custody. Tonya Purlow has been working through the courts and judicial system to protect her son from his father, who was recently indicted on three counts of first-degree rape and three counts of third-degree rape. Purlow has been diagnosed with PTSD and has receipts and papers that she shared with The Post-Journal and will be shared with the judge and courts, detailing abuse and some incidents on Facebook, including her son's ...