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City holds line on expenses, but tax collection lags

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The city of Dunkirk “is still $1.5 million ahead on our expenses” for the year so far, Fiscal Affairs Officer Ellen Luczkowiak said at the most recent Common Council Finance Committee meeting. However, Clerk/Treasurer Amy Dobek reported the city has still not taken in $1.8 million of its property tax levy for the year. The city has “roughly $7 million in the bank, but that’s got to get us through the end of the year,” Luczkowiak said. She noted the city has not received all of its revenue for the year, including the state Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) ...

Sheridan winery fined $1,000 for missed water reports

Local/Region

A winery in the northern end of the county has once again been fined after missing multiple water reports. During the Chautauqua County Board of Health meeting, it was announced there were 11 Agreements to Settle for public water supply violations. All businesses cited are on private well water and are required to do various reporting. Most of the businesses or organizations fined were for one or two reports missing. Woodbury Vineyards, however, was cited for missing its fifth water report from 2025. Justin Ortel, dba Woodbury Vineyards, at 3215 S. Roberts Road, in the ...

Gowanda hires two new teachers

Local/Region

GOWANDA — Two new teachers were recently hired by the Gowanda Central School District. Katelyn Mesch was appointed as the district’s newest Elementary Teacher, and Bryan Lucas Brawdy was hired as a Mathematics Teacher. Mesch has initial certifications in Students with Disabilities All Grades, Childhood Education Grades 1-6, and Students with Disabilities in English Grades 7-12. Her appointment takes effect July 1 and her probationary period ends Aug. 26, 2029. She will begin as a fifth grade teacher next school year. Brawdy, a Gowanda resident, holds initial certification in ...

Bird talk goes behind closed doors

Local/Region

The village of Fredonia’s legal team has muscled into the Dave Bird situation, counseling that discussion of the former Department of Public Works supervisor should be held in closed sessions. A motion to rescind Bird’s termination was on the agenda of last week’s Board of Trustees meeting. However, Mayor Michael Ferguson announced village legal counsel — the Webster Szanyi law firm of Buffalo — said the matter should be discussed in an executive session. The motion was not considered and no vote was held on Bird’s future. Ferguson was asked via text message after the ...

Area police reports

Area police

LANTERN BLAMED IN WEEKEND FIRE SINCLAIRVILLE --- At about 6:28 a.m. Saturday, multiple fire departments and the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to 30 Sinclair Drive for a reported structure fire. The firefighters were able to knock down and extinguish the fire quickly. Through investigation, it was found that the cause of the fire was accidental in nature caused by a decorative wooden lantern with a lit candle on the exterior of the house. The candle ignited nearby combustible materials allowing the fire to spread up the exterior of the structure. No injuries ...