The Post-Journal

HINSDALE -- New York State Police are reporting that a section of Interstate 86 in Cattaraugus County remains closed after a tractor-trailer carrying explosive materials overturned as the driver swerved to avoid a deer. The truck overturned just before 7 p.m. Thursday, closing both lanes of I-86. The driver has a broken leg from the accident. Full Story »

The lineup order for The Resource Center and TRC Foundation's Oh Christmas Tree Parade and Holiday Celebration parade is as follows: DIVISION 1 - PORTER AVENUE " Location of the Porter Avenue Division - Porter Avenue and Front Street. " Lineup Location - On the west side of Porter Avenue and on the north side of Front Street. Full Story »

Cherry Street between Second and Third streets will be closed for a little while longer as engineers work to determine what has made bricks begin to pull away from the underlying structure of the Covenant Manor building on East Third Street. Full Story »

Two men have been charged with arson, following a lengthy investigation into a suspicious fire that happened in July. Twenty-year-old Lakewood resident Michael Jackson and 19-year-old Jordan A. Carey of Ashville were both charged with third-degree arson, a Class C felony, in connection with their part in an alleged arson fire that destroyed an Ashville home over the summer. Full Story »

Those looking for good in the community needed to look no further than the Robert H. Jackson Center on Thursday. Honoring people and businesses who can make the community proud, the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce held its ''Salute to our Finest'' recognition reception. The eighth annual event showcased chamber members who make outstanding contributions to the city and the are. Full Story »

A West Ellicott man is one of the first in New York to be charged with violating the ban on text messaging while driving, as he crashed into two parked cars in Jamestown on Wednesday evening. According to Jamestown police, Steven A. Yuchnitz, 39, was driving west on Newland Avenue near Myrtle Street around 6 p.m. when he was texting someone on his cell phone. Full Story »

Those waiting anxiously for the James Prendergast Library to reopen will have to wait until January. Catherine Way, the library's director, said Wednesday morning that while the asbestos removal project was complete, other portions of the renovation were proceeding more slowly and the library will not be able to reopen by Christmas as originally planned. Full Story »

With the approach of President Barack Obama's White House Job Summit today, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, has released a proposal to create more jobs to jump start the economy. On Tuesday, Sen. Gillibrand said she is sending a letter to President Obama proposing a job creation tax credit as part of ongoing economic recovery effort. Full Story »

Jamestown's mayor is considering whether to veto the City Council's decision to balance the city's 2010 budget using $350,000 from the city's fund balance. The veto could, if upheld by the council, increase the city's property tax rate by another 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Full Story »

It was a deeply divided Jamestown City Council that, on Monday night, came within four hours of violating the city's charter. Under the city's charter, the council is required to pass a balanced budget for the upcoming year by Dec. 1. And while the council managed to pass a balanced budget - after Council President Greg Rabb, D-At-large, cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the $31. Full Story »

ELLERY - Maple Grove High School has shown its competitive nature in the field of athletics for decades. But recently, it was a friendly competition among the school's grade levels that resulted in a massive donation to the area's hungr. Full Story »

ELLERY - About 125 students and staff at Maple Grove High School received H1N1 shots Tuesday during a clinic described by school officials as ''very smooth. Full Story »

Pregnant women and people between 6 months and 24 years of age who don't have underlying medical conditions are eligible to receive H1N1 influenza vaccinations today and Thursday in Jamestown. The Chautauqua County Department of Health's branch office at 110 E. Fourth St. will be offering the vaccines for these priority populations today from 9 to 11 a.m. and Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. Full Story »

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York's Legislature is scheduled to pass its $2.8 billion deficit reduction plan Wednesday, even as Gov. David Paterson said far more painful cuts will be necessary. Paterson said he'll take the extreme steps of delaying aid to schools and hospitals as needed to make sure the state has enough cash to pay its bills and avoid a costly downgrade of its credit ratin. Full Story »

When the dust settled Monday night, the Jamestown City Council had passed a 2010 budget that includes a tax rate increase only one penny less than was originally proposed by Mayor Sam Teresi. The city's 2010 budget is a $31,417,821 spending plan that includes a tax levy of $13,939,808. The tax rate will increase by $1.49 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $20. Full Story »

FREWSBURG - No one was injured Monday when a Pontiac struck a tractor-trailer on Falconer-Frewsburg Road in Frewsburg. Just before noon, a 911 call reported the collisions as a minor-injury accident and the Frewsburg Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched along with the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department. Full Story »

Less demand is forcing Cummins Engine to lay off at least 400 employees from the Jamestown Engine Plant at the start of the year, the company announced Monday. Full Story »

MAYVILLE - The Republicans are a little bit closer to taking control of the County Legislature. Following a court hearing Monday, the Board of Elections opened three ballots which had been contested by legal counsel representing Republican candidate Robert Stewart. Two of the ballots featured votes for Stewart, while the third was blank for the District 7 rac. Full Story »

BUSTI - On Monday, Cummins Engine announced it will be laying off at least 400 employees at the start of the year because of decreased demand. Full Story »

European and U.S. stock markets fell Monday amid concerns about the start of the Christmas shopping season in the U.S. and despite relief over the pledge from the United Arab Emirates' central bank to back lenders exposed to Dubai's debt problems. In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares closed down 55.05 points, or 1.1 percent, at 5,190.68 while Germany's DAX ended 5. Full Story »

The National Weather Service in Buffalo issued a lake effect snow advisory to be in effect from 1 a.m. to noon Tuesday. A band of possibly heavy lake effect snow expected to develop over Lake Erie after midnight tonight will become better organized early Tuesday morning. It is expected to extend across the Niagara Frontier and could include the Lake Erie shore area of Chautauqua County. Full Story »

Local officials are opposing U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations saying state women between 40 and 49 years old do not need routine mammograms. Full Story »

At Infinity Performing Arts, Shawn Bekeleski has been learning how to sing and play guitar. Earlier this month, he was able to meet some guys who have made a career out of singing and playing guitar: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo - also known as Metallica. When news broke that the heavy metal band would be visiting HSBC Arena in Buffalo on Nov. Full Story »

Physics class first thing in the morning and pre-calculus just before stepping out the door. That might sound like a rough start and end to every day, but they are perfect bookends to the school schedule of Jamestown High School senior Steve Maisto. ''I guess I begin my day and end my day with good classes,'' he said. ''I've always been a science person. Full Story »

Consider it a sign of the times. A short announcement in Bemus Point Central School's district newsletter for November states that the elementary school will no longer be issuing perfect-attendance certificates to students. Full Story »