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In Our Opinion

Catching child sex predators is better left to police

One thing is clear in the aftermath of the charges last week against a social media personality for an incident in which the personality was stabbed - there need to be some rules for social media’s “To Catch A Predator” crowd. Nicholas Attalla, better known as Niky Sal, was charged with second-degree criminal nuisance and endangering the welfare of a child. Two other men involved in the altercation at Tim Hortons in December were also charged with second-degree criminal nuisance and endangering the welfare of a child after an attempted sex predator unveiling in a public place ...

In Our Opinion

The controversy over deployment of Flock Systems cameras in the north county should serve as a lesson for the rest of the county’s local governments to be transparent with the types of video camera systems they are using. District Attorney Jason Schmidt recently attended a Fredonia Village Board meeting to defend the camera’s placement and use. We aren’t going to debate whether or not there is a need for video surveillance of some busy areas as county police agencies try to use technology to solve crimes. There is such a need. We have no doubt that cameras - whether they are ...

Don’t miss an opportunity to regionalize police services

The current Lakewood-Busti Police Department headquarters has been inadequate for some time. The time is coming soon for those inadequacies to be rectified. As it stands now the LBPD headquarters doesn’t meet portions of the state building code, Americans with Disabilities Act, state Commissions of Corrections standards, state Office of Children & Family Services standards to process youths separately and differently from adults, state Division of Criminal Justice Services standards for records retention, evidence handling and evidence storage; guidance from the International ...

25 Years Later, We Still Haven’t Forgotten

Do you remember where you were exactly six months ago at 8:47 a.m.? Probably not. But if we ask where you were 25 years ago at 8:47 a.m., chances are you will remember the moment as if it were yesterday. Sept. 11, 2001, was, without question, one of the most horrific in the history of the United States of America. At 8:47 a.m., the lives of all Americans changed when American Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center. Fifteen minutes later, United Flight 175 hit the second tower. An hour later, American Flight 77 hit the Pentagon in Washington. And, in a heroic twist, passengers ...

In Our Opinion

Two programs - a local one that is establishing itself and a state program that awaits legislative approval - both come with the same goal of helping families and caregivers bring missing loved ones home. A.11614 was introduced in the state Assembly earlier this year by Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Schenectady, after a June search for 7-year-old Harbe Nagi, an autistic and nonverbal boy who wandered away from a family gathering on Park Drive in Menands. The legislation would create a secure, voluntary statewide registry where individuals, parents, legal guardians and caregivers ...

Teacher shortage is no joke

Over the past few years we’ve seen Jamestown and other school districts around the county struggle to fill positions. Clymer, as recently as August, was struggling to find a science teacher while examining dual enrollment opportunities for chemistry students. The district was also looking at digital learning opportunities for art classes and electives as well since the school didn’t have an art teacher for all grades. Jamestown was advertising for positions as late as August and has made no secret over the past couple of years about the struggle to fill open positions and the ...