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In Our Opinion

County Takes Quiet, But Important Step, For Chautauqua Lake

Two steps taken last week by the Chautauqua County Legislature could benefit Chautauqua Lake for years to come. Approval of ARPA funding to study sewers around the east side of Chautauqua Lake. Studies have shown that a majority of the phosphorus that enters Chautauqua Lake is from internal loading, groundwater sources and point sources, but septic systems are a significant contributor to phosphorus loading in Chautauqua Lake. That’s particularly true on the lake’s north basin. Even more important, however, is approval of $600,000 from the county’s reserve fund to pay the ...

Kindt’s Escape From Dutchess County Should Boost Borrello Bill

Imagine the shock of Cattaraugus County residents earlier this week when convicted murderer Edward Kindt fled his halfway house in Dutchess County and made his way back to Cattaraugus County. State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, said it is the second time Kindt has violated his parole since being released by the Parole Board last year, while Kindt also violated an order of the Seneca Nation of Indians banning him from their nation for at least one year. Perhaps the worst part is that the state Parole Division didn’t notify the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office of Kindt’s ...

Manchin’s Concerns Over Democratic Party Spot On

For a brief moment on Sunday following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would not seek re-election in November, Sen. Joe Manchin considered switching parties back to Democrat to explore running for office. That changed a short while later as support coalesced around Vice President Kamala Harris, but don’t expect Manchin, I-W.Va., to sit on the sidelines and simply toe the line for any nominee the Democrats put forth. “I am not running for office,” Manchin said Monday on CBS, comments he reiterated several times through the day. What Manchin said he would like to see ...

There Is Limited Time To Pursue Walkway, Bike Path Across Bridge

A bike path and walkway along the Veterans Memorial Bridge across Chautauqua Lake would be a nice addition - but only if it was part of the current construction project. We’re a little surprised a bike path and pedestrian walkway wasn’t part of the current $472 million bridge repair project given the way the state is incorporating biking and pedestrian access into most other projects it pursues. Let’s not forget the state wanted to make major changes to Second Street as part of an upcoming road reconstruction even though eliminating parking along Second Street would have made ...

Looking To Past Is Wrong Way To Approach Dunkirk Aid

County lawmakers will vote today on a resolution requested by County Executive PJ Wendel asking the state Attorney General’s office to investigate Dunkirk’s budget process, audit and applicable financial documents for the city from 2014 through 2024. “At the end of the day, we just need to make sure that if there’s any engagement from the county, we need to know exactly what has happened and how did they get into this position,” Wendel said recently. We’re not sure we agree. Yes, the county needs to make sure county taxpayer money isn’t wasted. And the county ...

Borrello Speaking The Frustrations Of Thousands Locally

State Sen. George Borrello was not Monday morning quarterbacking in criticizing the New York State Thruway last week over its poor decision to place turbines at its exits more than a decade ago. He was only speaking of the frustrations he’s heard from thousands of residents he serves. Last Wednesday, Thruway Authority officials took down the turbine at Exit 59 that had been out of operation for nearly five years. The removal ended an embarrassing tenure for the agency. “The Thruway Authority raised tolls because they claimed they are facing a multi-year, multimillion dollar ...