Cleaning Out Some Odds & Ends

J.C. Amato's murder trial date has been set back once again according to this morning's papers. Last Saturday it was reported that Amato's defense attorneys requested a continuance on two points. The first being their crime scene expert wasn't available for the scheduled February 17 trial date and that there has been development in a new potential defense witness that needs looked into. Wonder if that new witness is the result of Judge Pike's new open discovery orders? In this morning's papers it was reported that a continuance has been granted. The new trial date has been set for August 18 with a final status hearing scheduled for August 10.



In Amato's second weapons/pipe bomb charges a suppression hearing has be set for March 13 before a visiting judge from Jefferson County. If the suppression is denied a trial date for the additional charges has been set for May 19 with a status hearing set for May 11. These are the additional charges that resulted from a search last September. It's a separate case from the murder charges and Amato's defense is trying to get them thrown out.



Judge Pike's open discovery orders are beginning to prove very costly to law enforcement agencies. These orders are forcing the prosecution to turn over to the defense nearly every bit of information they have along with back ground checks on their witnesses. To comply requires many extra man hours on the part of the investigators. Maybe these extra costs should be charged to the court.



Getting back to town, MAA & Associates, a Wellsville book keeping company, will be offering a free income tax preparation event this coming Friday. It is open to all area seniors and will be held from 9 - 11 A.M. at Shoub Towers. You can contact them at 330-532-9484 for more information and what you need to bring.



Someone recently commented on here getting on reporter Jo Ann Bobby Gilbert inadvertently naming Tony Cataldo as chairman of the Personnel Committee in one of her reports. In last Sunday's "Loose Ends" column in the MJ she asks that you bear with her. It's been a long time since she covered the ville. Most of the people are all new to her and it will take a while for her to get all the names, faces and titles straight.

A couple of weeks ago it was reported that the historic steam boat the Delta Queen will be moved from New Orleans to Chattanooga, TN, and converted into a riverfront hotel. The Queen passed by here many times on cruises before she lost her exemption. It doesn't look promising that we'll see her again in these parts. That's a shame.

Have only seen five petitions being reported in the papers filing for election. None of them are Wellsville people. A week from Thursday is the filing deadline. We will be electing two nominees for council seats in the upcoming primary.

Got a new Boy Scout troop in town. It's Troop 29 sponsored by the Covenant Presbyterian Church. Long time Troop 19 is sort of in limbo. Their charter is still active but it's been a while since the 5th Street church has offered any funding as their sponsor. To get the Scouts going again the organizers had to apply for a new charter. They meet Mondays at the 18th Street church from 6 - 7:30 P.M. Anyone interested in joining can show up at a meeting or call 330-532-4670 for more information.

Congratulations to spelling bee winners Austin Rodriguez, Halle DuMoulin, Damon Pucci and Dante Colella. They will be representing Wellsville in the county spelling bee. Alternatives are Destiny Crow and Chelsie Brush. Those young people can probably spell words I never heard of and they don't use spell check.

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