Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Several dogs and cats died in a fire at Sunset Bay Monday night. The Chautauqua County Fire Investigation Team says the blaze broke out at around 8 o’clock in a home on Allegany Road in Irving. The homeowners were not there when the fire started. Because the house is outside the city water system Sunset Bay firefighters had to use tankers from a number of other fire departments. They knocked down the majority of the fire in about 20 minutes. There were no reports of human injuries. The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined yet. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Sunset Bay Area CSX Railroad will be conducting service on tracks Thursday and Friday. Motorists are asked to use the access road from 7 a.m. Thursday until 7 p.m. Friday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Gowanda man is in jail after allegedly grabbing a girl Friday night on a breakwall at Sunset Bay. Sheriff’s deputies say two young girls were walking along the breakwall at around 10 p.m. when 23-year-old Eric Thompson approached them and blocked their path. He kept obstructing their movement, blocking their way with his arm and getting in front of them. He then grabbed the arm of one of the girls. She hit Thompson in the head and was able to run off. Both girls ran to a nearby cottage to call 911. While deputies were interviewing the girls, Thompson ran by and the girls pointed at him and identified him. He took off despite repeated orders to stop. A short foot pursuit in and out of yards and streets ended up with Thompson being tackled to the ground. He is charged with Unlawful Imprisonment and Resisting Arrest.

An Orchard Park man is charged with boating while intoxicated following an incident Monday evening at Sunset Bay. Sheriff’s deputies say their navigation division saw an unmanned personal watercraft adrift off Sunset Bay, and a man attempting to swim up to it. He eventually did get back on to the jet-ski. Deputies later learned that 20-year-old Ryan Wagner had a blood-alcohol content above .08 percent and was operating a personal watercraft without taking a boater safety course.

A Tonawanda, New York, man is facing charges for shooting off an M-80 firecracker at the Sunset Bay Beach Club parking lot. Sheriff’s deputies were on patrol when they saw 24-year-old Kevin Mayer light fireworks near parked cars. After they heard an explosion, they stopped Mayer and found out he set off the M-80. He was cited for unlawfully dealing with fireworks and will appear in Town of Hanover Court at a later date.

A faulty kitchen appliance caused a fire that damaged a Sunset Bay home Tuesday morning. Sheriff’s deputies say the residents were not home when the fire started at around 8 a.m. The Sunset Bay Fire Department and several others responded to the blaze. The county fire investigation term determined the cause to be the appliance.

A Westfield, New York, woman is accused of trying to hit a sheriff’s deputy who was trying to arrest her early this morning. Deputies say they were called to Sunset Bay for a report of two women fighting at about 1 a.m. While they were talking to 20-year-old Alexa McMurray she attempted to hit one of the officers. As she was being taken into custody, she tried to fight with deputies and had to be restrained. McMurray then refused to provide any information to deputies about her identity. She was issued appearance tickets and released to a family member after they confirmed her identity.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to couple of incidents at Sunset Bay over the last couple of days. At about 9:30 last night they received a report saying a man was lying in the road with a knife that he displayed when he was being removed from a bar. Police did find 29-year-old Jesse Graser of East Otto in the road and took him into custody. He’s in jail in lieu of bail. At 2:45 Thursday afternoon deputies were called to Sunset Bay Beach for a report that a 16-year-old girl grabbed another female by the back of the head and repeatedly dunked her head under the water. The 16-year-old is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

A Buffalo man is facing charges for trying to steal a boat that was anchored at Sunset Bay and getting into a fight with its owner. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Sheriff’s deputies say 23-year-old Brandon Birdwell swam out to the unmanned boat, boarded it and tried to steal it. The owner of the boat was having dinner at a restaurant in Sunset Bay and was made aware of the situation. He and his friends went to the boat, and Birdwell got into a fight with them as they tried to keep him from stealing the vessel. Birdwell is charged with grand larceny, assault and criminal mischief. He’s in Chautauqua County Jail with no bail and will appear in Town of Hanover Court at a later date.

Several people were charged with underage drinking early this morning at Sunset Bay, and two more were charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. 18-year-old Rachel Track of Buffalo and 19-year-old Sarah Linder of Tonawanda, and Brandon Reed and Matthew Dlugokinski, both of North Tonawanda, were all cited for having an open container of alcohol while being younger than 21. 21-year-old David Ward of North Tonawanda and 21-year Angela Leising of Kenmore were each charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Also at Sunset Bay, 20-year-old Jennifer Webber of Dunkirk was arrested for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. Sheriff’s deputies say they got a report of a disorderly person at around 9:45 Saturday night and found Webber arguing with another woman. Witnesses say Webber threw a glass bottle at the woman, and it ended up hitting a sheriff’s car. They say she also used foul language after deputies asked her not to. compiled from e-mail sent by the Chautauqua County Sheriff...