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GOWANDA PRESS Jan. 20-26, 2017
Officer-in-charge Raiport resigns from position By Rich Place
Managing Editor
GOWANDA — The Gowanda Village Board on Friday, Jan. 13 unanimously accepted the resignation of Police Officer-in-Charge Steve Raiport, ending his 24-year career with the Gowanda Police Department. Acceptance of Raiport’s resignation came three days after the village board created the Village of Gowanda Police
Committee, permitting village trustees to oversee the police force and provide feedback to the mayor. In a conversation with The Gowanda Press on Friday afternoon, Raiport said the formation of the police committee was the primary reason for his resignation. “It’s the micromanaging,” he said. He also noted his resignation will allow him to spend more time with his family. The village board promoted officer
Larry Green as interim officer-in-charge, effective immediately. He will serve in the interim position at a rate of $25 per hour until a permanent replacement is found. Raiport in December submitted an initial resignation letter to the village board, which convened during a special meeting Dec. 22 to address it. After a half hour conversation Raiport rescinded his resignation. See Raiport, Page 20
Rain, mild weather lead to only minor flooding By Rich Place
Managing Editor
Press photo by Rich Place
Workers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measure the speed and depth of the Cattaraugus Creek near the Main Street Bridge in Gowanda on Friday morning, Jan. 13. The creek at Gowanda crested at minor flood stage of 10.7 feet Thursday night, the highest level since the creek reached 11.54 feet in December 2013, according to USGS data.
GOWANDA — The rain came and the temperatures climbed into the 50s, but the village was spared from any major flooding late last week. The Cattaraugus Creek on Thursday night, Jan. 12, crested at 10.7 feet, which is considered minor flood stage. The mark is the highest level the creek reached since measuring 11.5 feet in December 2013, according to the National Weather Service. No major damage was reported in the early winter thaw that also ushered in significant rainfall earlier in the day. Nick Crassi, fire chief for the Gowanda Volunteer Fire Department, said personnel kept a close
Other areas of county not so lucky, page 3 eye on Thatcher Brook near the bridge on South Chapel Street. Unofficially, he said the highest water level there hovered around 5 feet on Thursday evening. “If it gets up close to the 6-foot mark then it’s just about ready to flood over,” he said. “It stayed bouncing between 4 and 5 (feet). It was close but not dangerous so that we had to let anybody know.” Rainfall in the morning stopped in the early afternoon, which was a welcomed sign and helped prevent more significant flooding, said Crassi. See Flooding, Page 20