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Trustee’s comments stir ire in Fredonia

Comments made in a recent OBSERVER article by Fredonia Trustee Roger Britz were met with sharp responses by Mayor Doug Essek and Trustee James Lynden at Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting. “The quote that the village is down a mayor is incorrect,” Essek began. “I’ve been able to conduct business, do many of my duties remote. I was not able to attend the Dec. 14 meeting due to COVID and double pneumonia. However, I was watching the YouTube video and responding to many of the issues with the department heads and personnel during my quarantine time.” Essek took a moment to ...

Fewer COVID deaths at county nursing facilities

Fewer residents of nursing homes and adult care facilities appear to have died due to COVID-19 complications in Chautauqua County when compared to other counties in the state. According to data compiled by the state Health Department and updated daily, there have been six confirmed coronavirus-related deaths at nursing homes in the county — five at Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dunkirk and one at Absolut Care of Westfield. One death also was reported at The Magnolia, an adult care facility and formerly known as the Frewsburg Rest Home. In early November, the ...

County keeping eye on vaccination process

Nearly 3% of county residents have received the COVID-19 vaccine, according to data released by the Chautauqua County Department of Health. Roughly 3,500 people have received their first dose of the vaccine while 162 have received the second dose. Transit employees, grocery clerks, teachers, police officers, firefighters and others became eligible to get the vaccine Monday as the state opened up registration to those in category 1b. “I want to be clear that there is still the 1a phase that needs to be completed,” Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist told The Post-Journal, noting that ...

Cattaraugus County reports three new COVID deaths

The Cattaraugus County Department of Health reported three additional COVID-related deaths. They involve an 84-year-old woman, 97-year-old man and 40-year-old woman. To date, 64 Cattaraugus County residents have died due to COVID-19 complications. "We extend our deepest condolences to their family and the entire Cattaraugus County community," the county Health Department said. There have been 3,128 confirmed cases of the virus in Cattaraugus County, with 489 cases considered active. There also have been 2,578 recoveries and 43 people with the virus in the hospital.

County reports 46th COVID death, 67 new cases

The Chautauqua County Department of Health reported another COVID-related death on Wednesday, marking 46 to date during the pandemic and six in the last week. The county also recorded 67 new COVID cases, of which 21 involve people living in the Dunkirk zip code, six in Fredonia, 12 in Jamestown and five each in Silver Creek and Falconer. Several municipalities also had between one and three new cases, according to information collected for Tuesday and released Wednesday by health officials. There have been 5,198 confirmed cases of the virus in the county, with 695 currently ...

Coronavirus, state deficit dominate State of the State address

Gov. Andrew Cuomo believes better days are ahead for New Yorkers, but admits the challenges the state faces are bigger than ever. On Monday, Cuomo gave his State of the State address. The address lasted 45 minutes and focused on seven topics: defeating COVID-19; vaccinating 70-90 of New ...