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Propane torch blamed in city garage fire

A Dunkirk garage was damaged in a fire Monday afternoon. At around 1:50 p.m., the City of Dunkirk Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a house fire at 60 Armadillo St. Upon arrival, crews found smoke coming from a detached two-car garage and not the house. Further investigation revealed fire burning inside the rear wall of the garage. Firefighters used a hose and tools to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries. Personnel were on scene for approximately 30 minutes and assisted by the Dunkirk Police Department. The fire was caused by the use of a propane torch to ...

Deer Street home heavily damaged in morning blaze

A fire early Sunday heavily damaged a Deer Street home and displaced four residents in the city. At 3:43 a.m., the Dunkirk Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a house fire in the area of Deer Street and East Fifth Street. Upon arrival, crews found fire engulfing the rear of the apartment house at 502 Deer St. Firefighters made an aggressive attack using multiple hose lines and tools to bring the fire under control.The house suffered significant fire and smoke damage. The exterior of the house at 500 Deer St. also suffered heat damage. Officers of the Dunkirk Police ...

Fredonia water resolutions set to go online

The resolutions concerning Fredonia’s big water decision on Wednesday will be on the village website sometime this afternoon, Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson told the OBSERVER. The Board of Trustees moved Wednesday’s special meeting to the Fredonia Opera House because it expects a large crowd. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. The board will be considering whether to buy water from the North County Water District, possibly setting the village on a path toward formally joining the district. Fredonia’s water system is currently fully independent, but its treatment plant and reservoir ...

Three charged in two city drug investigations

Investigations into narcotics activity in the City of Dunkirk led to two search warrants in two days. Narcotics Investigators from the Dunkirk Police Department, Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office and the Jamestown Police Department executed a search warrant at 500 Deer St. on Wednesday with ...

Silver Creek man going to prison after re-arrest

A Silver Creek man who was out on parole and was re-arrested will be headed to state prison. District Attorney Jason Schmidt announced that 35-year-old David Payne was sentenced to a 10-year term in state prison by Judge David W. Foley for convictions on two incidents. In July 2024, Payne pled guilty to second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony, for a domestic incident that occurred in June 2023 and also pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary, a Class C violent felony, for another domestic incident that occurred in July 2023. Payne was sentenced in July 2024 to a 1 year ...

Silver Creek couple accused of neglecting dog

SILVER CREEK – Two people have been arrested for allegedly not caring for a dog in their care. On Wednesday, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 22-year-old Damian O Molinaruiz and 19-year-old Paige M Wilmore. On Aug. 6 at around 10 a.m. deputies were dispatched to the report of animal cruelty in the village of Silver Creek. After an investigation deputies determined that Molinaruiz and Wilmore neglected care for a 2-year-old lab mix. The dog was taken to Eden Veterinary Clinic where it received medical care. Damian and Paige were issued appearance ...