Breaking News

In Our Opinion

Eventually The Hitchhiker Will Land In Chautauqua County

It was good news last week when the state DEC told The Post-Journal that the spotted lanternfly found at Hogan’s Hut recently was likely a hitchhiker that found its way here. Unfortunately, we all know it’s going to be a brief reprieve. Eventually, this unwanted hitchhiker is going to find its way to Chautauqua County. For years, this region has heard warnings about the devastation this creature can bring to agriculture, especially grape vineyards. We’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars eradicating one of the spotted lanternfly’s favorite host plants, the Tree of Heaven, ...

City Makes Progress Building New Shelters

Jamestown is making progress in creating places for those who need a helping hand. Recently, the Salvation Army held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a $5.7 million project, which will create a 7-unit, 19-bed temporary housing shelter. The new shelter will also offer counseling services, legal assistance, and educational programs to support survivors of domestic violence. There has long been a need for expanded services for domestic violence survivors, and it’s encouraging after years of looking for a site that one has been found so work can begin. A year ago during Domestic ...

It’s Time To Seriously Consider Police Consolidation

It was encouraging to see the city and the union representing Jamestown police officers come to a contract agreement last week. The lawsuit challenging the city’s 22% health care premium increase made us wonder if the city was in for a lengthy arbitration with the police union, so seeing the communication between the city and union attorneys and then Monday’s contract approval was a welcome sight. Cities don’t tend to come out ahead when they take public safety contracts to the Public Employees Relations Board, so the city likely did well by taxpayers by coming to agreement at ...

Last-Minute Fund Drive Illustrates Problem With Lake Maintenance Model

The Chautauqua Lake Partnership got an unexpected gift recently when the state DEC approved more acres of Chautauqua Lake for herbicide treatment than CLP officials probably expected. Recent history has been that the CLP receives herbicide treatment permits for roughly one-third of the acreage it requests. So imagine the CLP’s surprise when it received notification that the DEC had approved nearly all of the acreage requested - 95 acres in Busti, 66 acres in Lakewood, 131 acres in Ellery, 68 acres in Bemus Point and 90 acres in Ellicott and Celoron. In total the DEC approved 450 ...

Could Involuntary Commitment Changes Help With Worst Of Homeless Cases?

Included in an agreement Monday night to resolve the state’s late budget includes a change in state law to allow hospitals to involuntarily commit mentally ill New Yorkers to their care if patients cannot meet their basic needs. It’s a change from the previous standard, which allowed involuntary commitment only when a patient posed a physical threat to themselves or others. Could the new standard help with some of Jamestown’s most persistent homeless residents? It’s entirely possible. County officials have stepped up in recent months to do more to help those who find ...

Blueway Trail Adds Another Way To Enjoy The Outdoors

Bemus Point and Ellery have long been a key hub for boats on Chautauqua Lake. The village could find itself a key outpost on the lake for kayakers, too, with the opening of the Bemus Point-Ellery Paddle Trial and Blueway Course. Copies of the route are finished as town and village officials push to have the kayak and canoe trail open for the summer season. Bemus Point had previously received a $15,000 grant to study the idea and then move ahead with a blue water trail along the shores of Chautauqua Lake. Water trails or blueways are marked routes on navigable waterways such as ...