Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A contractor hit and ruptured a natural gas line in Bemus Point this morning, igniting the line, sending flames shooting into the air, damaging utility poles and leaving parts of the village without power. Sheriff’s deputies say a vehicle was destroyed but no homes were damaged and no people were hurt. The fire started at about 8:45 a.m. and last for about 45 minutes. About 200 people were without power at one point. Most of it was restored at about 4 p.m. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two unruly customers had to be taken out of the Bemus Point Village Casino early Sunday morning. Sheriff’s deputies say 31-year-old John Peterson and 35-year-old Kelley Peterson, both of Warren, were involved in a fight inside the business at 1:35 a.m. and were told to leave several times, but refused. They were both arrested for trespassing and scheduled to appear in Town of Ellery Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The official fireworks at Bemus Point apparently weren’t enough for these guys – they were both charged for unlawfully dealing with fireworks last night. 51-year-old Bruce Stockton was allegedly setting off fireworks at about 9:40 p.m. on South Everett Avenue. 19-year-old Peter Trathen of Lakewood was allegedly setting them off at about 11:50 p.m. on South Oriental Avenue. Sheriff’s deputies issued both of them appearance tickets for Town of Ellery Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Findley Lake man is accused of driving at nearly 100 mph while he was drunk with a child in the car. 36-year-old James Spitale was allegedly driving 94 mph in a 65 mph zone near Bemus Point at about 6:30 Sunday evening when state troopers stopped him. He failed several field sobriety tests and, because he had a conviction for driving while intoxicated within the last 10 years, was charged with a felony He also had a child younger than 16 in the car, which is a violation of Leandra’s Law. Another passenger in the car was a woman who has an active order of protection against him. Besides the driving while intoxicated charges, Spitale is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and criminal contempt. He’s jail on $2,500 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bemus Point woman is accused of throwing things at a child and trying to hit her with a car. 37-year-old Wendy Seastrum is charged with menacing and endangering the welfare of a child. Seastrum was arraigned in Town of Ellery Court and then sent to Chautauqua County Jail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bemus Point man is facing charges for having a billy club in his car. State police say they pulled 19-year-old Michael Babbage over on Monday for not wearing a seat belt, and smelled marijuana. During a search of the vehicle troopers found the two-foot-long billy club. Babbage was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and issued a court appearance ticket. Troopers did not charge him with marijuana possession because they say the amount he had was not a violation of the law. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 75-year-old Bemus Point man is accused of sexually abusing two girls. Investigators say Ralph Bush assaulted the girls in his home between June and December of 2011. Sheriff’s deputies did not say how old the girls are, other than they are adolescents. He is charged with sexual abuse, sexual conduct against a child and endangering the welfare of a child. Bush is jailed on $20,000 cash bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 16-year-old Bemus Point girl is facing charges for allegedly stealing a co-workers lunch and cell phone. Sheriff’s deputies say the girl, whose name they did not release because of her age, was working at the Italian Fisherman Restaurant on Thursday afternoon when she stole a lunch bag and the phone. Deputies say after they questioned the girl she returned the phone. She is charged with petit larceny and will answer the charge in Town of Ellery Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bemus Point man is accused of intentionally spitting blood at EMS personnel who were trying to help him after an accident this morning and, later, spitting blood on a deputy sheriff. Deputies say they got a call about a crash at just before 3 a.m. and found 22-year-old Scott Oram and his vehicle in the woods off Hannum Road in the Town of Chautauqua. Oram sustained facial injuries in the crash and while being treated by EMS personnel started swinging in an attempt to punch them. While being transported to the hospital he allegedly spit blood on the EMS providers, and also tried to hit one of them and a sheriff’s deputy. He also allegedly spit blood on the deputy. At the hospital he had to be restrained so he could be treated. When he was discharged from the hospital he was sent to jail on $10,000 cash bail. Oram is charged with obstruction of EMS and obstruction of governmental administration as well as driving while intoxicated and a number of traffic violations. The news leader ...

One man is dead after driving his vehicle into Chautauqua Lake this morning. Sheriff’s deputies got a call at around 5:45 a.m. reporting the vehicle in the lake. They found it about 40 feet beyond the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry Launch submerged in about 4 feet of water. The driver, 64-year-old Mark Swanson of Stow was removed from the vehicle and taken to WCA Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. They say it appears Swanson may have suffered from a medical condition prior to the accident, which is still under investigation. Ashville FD, Bemus Point FD and the county's Water Emergency Team also responded to the scene. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Mayville teenager is facing assault charges for breaking another teen’s jaw during a fight. Sheriff’s deputies say a 16-year-old got into a fight with an 18-year-old from Bemus Point, and during the fight the 16-year-old punched the 18-year-old in the jaw and broke it. The 18-year-old was taken to Westfield Memorial Hospital then transferred to Hamot Medical Center in Erie. The 16-year-old turned himself in. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.

A Bemus Point man is in jail after fighting with two people early this morning in North Harmony. Sheriff’s deputies say 29-year-old Joshua Danielson entered a home and fought with the people, injuring one of them. That person was taken to WCA Hospital in Jamestown for treatment of facial injuries. Danielson is charged with burglary, assault, criminal contempt, harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

A Springville teenager is facing charges following a hit-and-run boat accident in the Bemus Point area. 19-year-old Peter Saunders is charged with leaving the scene of a boat accident that happened on July 17. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say the accident happened when a 23-foot recreational vessel hit a 73-foot public vessel. The operator of the smaller boat left the scene and didn’t report the accident. Deputies say that after a lengthy investigation by members of their Marine Division, and with help from several witnesses, they were able to identify Saunders, who will appear in Town of Ellery Court at a later date.