DUNKIRK: Going backward won’t fix finances

July 24, 2024

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 ...

TRAINING CAMP New year has start near Rochester

July 23, 2024

Some big changes will emerge starting Wednesday when the Buffalo Bills open training camp at St. John Fisher University outside of Rochester on Wednesday. We cannot help but be sentimental that the summers were once at the State University of New York at Fredonia, especially during the real four Super Bowl glory years of the early 1990s. Does this version have the ability to get back to the big game? The last four division championships have ended for all fans too early, especially with the last three in the divisional round. Though most of the summer camp focuses on the young ...

Havoc: State feeling weather’s wrath

July 22, 2024

We thought we had seen the destructive power of Mother Nature when a tornado ripped through Arkwright and Hanover a couple of weeks ago. Winds reached 110 miles an hour, but damage was largely limited to minor roof and tree damage along Henry Road in Arkwright; tree damage along Putnam, Zahm, and Bradigah Roads; and significant roofing damage on Gage Road. The damage is life-changing for those whose homes were damaged by the tornados. But it could have been worse for Chautauqua County. Tornados could have ripped through a major downtown area as they did in Rome last week. Barely a ...

Let us not forget we are Americans

July 19, 2024

In the moments following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump Saturday, there was horror and confusion. Trump emerged defiant from the pile of Secret Service members who rushed to protect him, but as the nation breathed a sigh of relief we learned the attack had, indeed, been deadly. Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who was attending the Butler, Pa., rally with his family, had dived in front of his wife and daughter to protect them from the bullets. He died for them. Meanwhile, Trump was able to let the nation know he was injured but “fine” after the ...

Jail Escape: Foiled quickly, but how was roof accessible?

July 18, 2024

Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies did a good job of quickly corralling a man who tried to escape from the Chautauqua County Jail on July 11. A perimeter was quickly set up after Eric Ryals made it to the jail’s roof. Unlike other jail escapes, deputies were actively chasing Ryals as he made his way to the jail’s roof, and officers got to Ryals quickly after he landed on the jail lawn to put an end to the escapade. In all, the incident could have been much worse. Deputies handled the attempted escape well and there wasn’t much danger to the public. Deputies have obviously ...

Thruway Turbines were a waste of money

July 17, 2024

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 ...