City man arrested for assault and unlawful imprisonment following domestic incident...
A man from Jamestown has been arrested after allegedly assaulting... and, restraining another person during a domestic incident on the city's southside. Jamestown police were called to the scene about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday... and, made contact with 48 year-old Arthur Norene. Officers say their investigation determined that Norene had assaulted the victim... then allegedly held them against their will. In addition... police say they also found that the incident occurred while a valid order of protection had been issued to prevent Norene from making contact with the victim. He was arrested without incident on one count each of third-degree assault... second-degree unlawful imprisonment... and, Aggravated criminal contempt. He was taken to the city jail pending arraignment.
Cordell receives 15 years in state prison after violating probation and trafficking drugs...
A Dunkirk man has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison following his conviction for violating his probation for third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 29 year-old Dakota Cordell received the sentence Tuesday from County Court Judge David Foley following a probation hearing. Schmidt says Cordell was convicted twice in separate narcotics investigations. In September 2025... he says Cordell was put on a five year term of probation following six months of incarceration in the county jail. In September of 2024... the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and Fredonia police raided a home in the village of Fredonia... and, Cordell, and two other people were found in possession of a large quantity of fentanyl. In May of last year... Cordell was offered a plea agreement to participate in "Interim Probation" for the chance to get a reduced sentence. Before this sentenced could be imposed... Schmidt says Cordell was again arrested in June 2025 for possessing a large quantity of fentanyl and methamphetamine by Dunkirk police. He was then arrested again last March during a raid in the north county city.... and, he and three others were found in possession of more than 300-grams of meth... and, a firearm.
Man from Brocton indicted on nearly three-dozen charges following property thefts at 10 Amish homes...
A Brocton man faces 35 counts after being indicted by the Chautauqua County Grand Jury for allegedly burglarizing several Amish residences. District Attorney Jason Schmidt has announced that 46-year-old Jarrett Sikes faces charges... including 11 counts of second-degree burglary... nine counts each of fourth-degree grand larceny... and, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property... two counts of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property... and, third-degree grand larceny... and one of second-degree attempted burglary after an investigation into 10 separate burglary incidents. Beginning in July of 2025... and, through September of last year... Sheriff’s officers received multiple reports from individuals in Amish communities in the towns of Chautauqua, Portland and Sherman that their houses had been broken into and possessions stolen. Deputies say they identified two suspects... Sikes and 56-year-old Melinda Pelayo of Dunkirk. Investigators say they identified items stolen... including several firearms and personal items exceeding one-thousand dollars in value. Investigators were able to recover some of the stolen items. Pelayo was charged with two counts of second-degree attempted burglary. County Court Judge David Foley set bail for Sikes at $100,000 cash bail or $200,000 property bond. Pelayo was arraigned and Foley released her without bail. Both are scheduled for a discovery conference later.
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Sikes and Pelayo were also among 10 people charged last December by Dunkirk city police following a coordinated investigation into a series of larcenies committed at local cemeteries. Beginning in October, Dunkirk police received a report of thefts involving a large number of bronze vases and other grave markers taken from Willowbrook Cemetery in Dunkirk.
Langworthy tours and meets with officials at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital to discuss rural hospital, and health care needs...
For the first time since he was initially elected to Congress... 23rd District Representative Nick Langworthy visited the hospital he was born in. The Buffalo-area Republican spoke with officials at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital -- formerly WCA Hospital -- Wednesday morning... and, toured the facilities newly-expanded Emergency and Maternity Departments. Langworthy says UPMC was one of the local, rural hospitals in his district that face unique challenges... including having smaller patient populations, longer travel times, and difficulty in recruiting and retaining specialists and other workforce needs. Langworthy also spoke about the $50-billion Rural Health Transformation legislation that he helped to craft... and pass. UPMC Chautauqua President and Chief Executive Officer Tracy Gates expressed her appreciation with that... and says they're also using that to develop new collaborations with other partners to provide better outcomes "right here at home." Unlike many other hospitals in the region that are looking at possible downsizing or closing... Gates says UPMC Chautauqua is "here for the long-haul."
Rowland talks about expansion project at St. Susan's Center...
Officials with the Jamestown-area's largest soup kitchen hope to soon begin work on an expansion project to help them better serve the community. The St. Susan's Center on Water Street has received more than $160,000 from two state grant programs to -- in particular -- install a new "walk-in" freezer for the center. St. Susan's Executive Director Cherie Rowland says some private money is also coming in from local foundations and others. A $61,000 grant from the state Dept. of Environmental Conservation was presented earlier this year.
