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WJTN News headlines

After two days of record-setting warmth in Western and Central New York... we'll be dropping down to more seasonal temperatures during the day today.  That from Forecaster Steve Welch with the National Weather Service in Buffalo.  Welch said early last night that we've been under the influence of strong, High Pressure for the past few days. Welch says a cold front will move through this morning... bringing gusty winds and rain with it.  There may be some thunderstrom activity.  Welch says records were tied... or beaten in a few upstate New York cities the past two days.  Welch says they just missed the record for November 5th in Buffalo yesterday by one-degree.  The Buffalo record of 73 was tied Wednesday.  Welch says the records were broken by 4 in Rochester Wednesday and Thursday... while Wednesday's record in Watertown beat the previous record by 6-degrees.  We'll be dropping into the mid to upper 40s for the coming weekend.  The complete forecast follows our news.

 

Quick response from a city Public Work's crew helped get a family on Jamestown's eastside safely out of it's burning home early Thursday morning.  Fire Battalion Chief Sam Salemme (Suh-LEM-ee) says they received the call to 352 Falconer Street shortly before 7:30 AM.  Salemme says, fortunately, everyone was out of the building when they got there. Salemme says the flames erupted in the attic area of the two-story home.  He says it took firefighers about 10 minutes to bring the blaze under control.  Salemme says fire damage was extensive to the attic... but, the fire was pretty much confined to that area.  Salemme says six off-duty firefighers were called in... and, some members of the previous shift stayed on duty.  No injuries were reported.  The cause was an electrical problem.

 

Two local men are being sought by police in Pennsylvania and New York state for allegedly committing several burglaries in Warren County, the Jamestown-area over the past two to three-weeks.  State Police in Warren say Felony arrest warrants have been issued for 51 year-old William Lewis of Jamestown... and, 28 year-old Eric Lewis of Falconer.  Troopers say the two men are accused of breaking into multiple locations in Pine Grove, Farmington, and Sugar Grove Townships since the spree began last October 21st.  Police say charges are also pending against the Lewis' for alleged burglaries that occured here in New York State.  The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office... Jamestown, Ellicott and Lakewood-Busti Police have also been involved in the investigation.

 

Jamestown police have now released two new photographs of the man who allegedly phoned in the threat of an "active shooter" at Jamestown Community College last Friday afternoon.  City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says both are "front views" of the man on security video... apparently leaving the Prendergast Library.  Samuelson says that's where the suspect allegedly called in the threat.  The incident reportedly occured shortly before 2 PM.  JCC was put into a "lock-out" situation... until shortly after 6 PM.  No one was hurt... and, no threat materialized.  The man was wearing a yellow rain-coat... and, was wearing a blue knit hat with dark-colored jeans... and, shoes.  Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call City Police at 483-7537... or their Tips line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477.  We have put the photos up on our facebook page at RadioJamestown-dot-COM.

 

There are five races -- four of which are in southern Chautauqua County -- are still in doubt after Election Night this past Tuesday.  County Elections Commissioner Norm Green says each of those races will be determined when absentee ballots are opened on November 19th.  Green says they're still receiving absentees... and, adds regular absentees are due within seven days of the November 3rd election. Green says those military votes have 13 days in which to be returned.  There is a change in one vote total in the Lakewood Village Mayor's race... in which Cara Birritieri, the endorsed Democrat, now leads Republican incumbant David Wordelmann by 19 votes.  The gap was 20 on election night.  However...one vote was added to Wordelmann's total. Green says 53 of the 95 absentees in that race have been received so far.  In the town of Kiantone... Green says they're waiting on absentees in the Supervisor's race.  Incumbant Kevin Meyers received 107 machine votes on Election Night... while John Ostrander 'unofficially' had 109 write-ins on Election Night.  There are nine-absentees out.  In County Legislature District 11... Republican Dave Wilfong has a 42-vote lead over Democrat Bob Whitney.  Green says 44 of the 66 outstanding absentees have been returned in that race.  In Legislature District 12... Republican Elisabeth Ranklin leads Beth Kresge by 31 votes.  Green says there are 150 absentee ballots there, and 69 have been returned as of now.

 

It was a "good election night' this past Tuesday for Republicans running for the Chautauqua County Legislature.  However... Republican County Executive Vince Horrigan says he remains committed to working with 'everyone' on the panel -- regardless of political affiliation.  Horrigan was on hand to watch the returns at the American Legion Post in Celoron... as the GOP held onto it's supermajority... and, may have added two more seats.  The results are pending the counting of absentee ballots.  Horrigan says he's ready to work with whoever is elected. Horrigan says it's great to see the way lawmakers have worked together the past two years... because the challenges don't get any easier in the next two years.  He did differ with many lawmakers on the decision to use more fund balance to provide a larger tax cut... 5-percent... than he proposed in 2016.  He's concerned about having a "structurally" balanced budget through 2019.  However... he has signed the spending plan.

 

A doctor testifying as the government's star witness in its corruption case against New York's former Assembly speaker says he was ``terrified'' when investigators approached him.  Dr. Robert Taub told a Manhattan federal jury Wednesday that he lied when two investigators asked if he had referred asbestos victims to Sheldon Silver for legal representation.  Taub said he later admitted referring over 25 clients to the powerful Democrat in the hopes Silver would help his research center.  Taub is testifying under a non-prosecution agreement.  He said the 71-year-old Silver began arranging 500-thousand dollars in state aid to his center months after he referred patients.  The 79-year-old doctor said Silver also helped his children get jobs.  Silver is charged with earning $5 million illegally through bribes and kickbacks.  He has pleaded not guilty.

 

Seventeen young women... all high school seniors... will take the stage at Jamestown High School Saturday night for this year's 'Distinguished Young Women of the Lakewood Area'.  They'll be competing for college scholarships and the opportunity to move on to the state competition.  One of the chairwomen, Danielle Bongiovanni, says they've reached a landmark in the history of the program. The show starts at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors.  In the audience Saturday night will be some of the people who brought the program to the area a half century ago.  Tony Barone of Lakewood was the first general chairman of what was then known as Junior Miss. He was an active member of the 'Lakewood Jaycees', the junior chamber of commerce. They offered a lot of activities... mostly for boys. Barone says the 50 years of Junior Miss and DYW will be commemorated with a plaque at Southwestern High School, the original location for the program.  The names of all 50 winners will be included.