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WJTN News Headlines

Jamestown Police arrested two city men Thursdsay afternoon after they were found with a large quantity of Heroin. Police report that an ongoing investigation into sales and trafficking of illegal narcotics led investigators to apartment 1 of East 4th Street just after 1:20pm where 61 year old Juan Garcia Pinto and 53 year old Jose Diaz Solis were allegedly found to be in possesion of 120 bags of Heroin, cash and a shotgun. Both were taken into custody on a charge of third degree posession of a controlled substance.

 

The primary actor in the August 2014 murder of a Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra violinist spend 25 years in federal prison once he completes a 25-years to life sentence in his state murder case.  U-S Attorney William Hochul, Junior announced Thursday afternoon that 45 year-old Jonathan Conklin of Sherman received the added 25 years in U-S District Court in Buffalo for federal carjacking.  Conklin and his accomplice... 32 year-old Charles Sanford... pled guilty to the local, second-degree murder charges in the shooting and stabbing death of 61 year-old Mary Whitaker.  Hochul says Sanford received 15 years for unlawful possession of a firearm... and, conspiracy to transport a stolen vehicle in interstate commerce.  Hochul says Whitaker "represented the best of our community.  While the defendants' cowardly actions may have taken her life, they will never extinguish her generous and caring spirit which continues to live on in all who knew her."  Sanford will be sentenced on his local charge in Chautauqua County Court this morning.

 

A Brocton man has been arrested for allegedly making Methamphetime... and, a large quantity of Meth oil in his apartment.  Agents with the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force say they arrested 28 year-old Aaron Clark earlier this week on an arrest warrant issued out of village court.  Task Force members say the raided the upstairs apartment at 96 Central Avenue about Noon Wednesday... and, found materials used to make Meth, and the oil.  However... task force members say some items had to be destroyed because they were so toxic.  Agents say Clark was arraigned on one count of third-degree unlawfully manufacturing methamphetime.  They add that the Meth oil will be processed at a laboratory... and, then an additional charge of second-degree criminal possession of Methamphetamine will be placed against Clark.  After arraignement... he was sent to the County Jail on 20-thousand dollars cash bail.  Task Force members continue to ask residents to report any suspicious narcotics related activity by calling them at 1-800-344-8702... or 363-0131.

 

The first-ever, one-day Business Expo in downtown Jamestown is being viewed as a huge success.  The event at the former Artone Manufacturing plant in Brooklyn Square drew some 60-plus businesses in the Greater Jamestown-area to learn more about each other.  The expo was put on by the Lynn Development Group... the city of Jamestown.... and, the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation.  Lynn Development Founder Gary Lynn says his son's now run the business... and, says they've taken off with it. Lynn says his partner... Jason Span (Spain) was also involved in putting the "business to business" expo together in about two-weeks.  Gary Lynn says he started the business as Allied Fire Protection in 1975... and, it later evolved into what's now Lynn Development Group.

 

In addition to hosting the Jamestown Business Expo... Lynn Development was also showing off the former Artone Manufacturing plant to a New York City developer looking to start up a solar energy business.  Gary Lynn says they've been looking bring new entreprenuers to the Jamestown-area to use places like the Artone building... which they now own.  Lynn says he met the unidentified developer a while ago. Lynn says the principle owner is a man who immigrated from Hungary about 30 years ago... and, he's been looking for a smaller city-area to develop his invention.  He says the creator of the "Solar Booster" has already been offered a lot of money to go elsewhere.  Lynn says he and his group have been taking the investor around to meet local leaders during the course of the day Thursday.  He says he wanted to bring them to Jamestown to see the facility... and, what the city offers.  Lynn says they envision employing about 50 people to start with.  Details and logistics have yet to be worked out.

 

Local community leaders and elected officials got a better idea Thursday about the Athenex manufacturing facility that will be located in the town of Dunkirk and the types of jobs that will be offered.  Senior Vice-President of Corporate Development and Legal Affairs at Athenex, Teresa Bair, was among the speakers who took part in a presentation held by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation's Local Economic Development Committee.  Bair says skills and training will be important for many of the production jobs at the plant. Bair expects many of the jobs will include production operators, production mechanics, warehouse associates and laboratory technicians.  Bair, who is the first company official to discuss the project since Governor Andrew Cuomo made the announcement in Dunkirk earlier this year, says the hiring process will begin well before the start of production.  Bair took part in the presentation that also featured Michael Fancher of SUNY Polytechnic Institute and County Executive Vince Horrigan.  Officials would not give a specific timeline for project.  About 75 people turned out for the event held at the SUNY Fredonia Science Center.

 

The Jamestown Community College board of trustees have approved a 33.6-million dollar, 2016-17 budget, that cuts spending by 6-percent.  JCC President Cory Duckworth says the spending plan was approved at the board's meeting this past Tuesday.  Duckworth says the 6-percent cut reflects operating budget "efficiencies" as well as personnel reductions that include retirements and vacant positions that will not be filled.  He says "JCC is not alone in facing an enrollment decline."  Duckworth adds the budget includes a state aid amount of 2-thousad-697 dollar per Full-Time Equivalent... which is up slightly from the 2015-16 budget.  Officials say full-time New York resident tuition will increase by $55 to $2,315 per semester.  The out-of-state tuition rate will be $4,630 per semester.

 

Two local firefighters have been given prestigious local awards from WCA Hospital for being top Emergency Medical Technicians in the Jamestown-area.  Jamestown Fire Lieutenant and EMT Donald Mowery was given the Lisa Heath Memorial EMT of the Year Award during this week's ceremony at WCA Hospital.  Mowery trains and re-certifies EMT's for the city department.  He says he's both "honored and humbled" by the award. Mowery also called the award "special" because he and Lisa Health were good friends in High School... and, went through early EMT training together.  The other award winner was Cassadaga Fire Chief Terri Penhollow... who is the first woman fire chief ever in the county.  She has also been involved in EMT Service for the past 26 years.  Penhollow was given the Denny Skeels Distinguished Service Award during a ceremony at WCA earlier this week.  Penhollow was unable to attend... so, fellow EMT Laura Logan accepted the award on her behalf.

 

New York health insurers have proposed premium increases averaging 17 percent for next year in the market for individuals and 12 percent for small groups.  The Department of Financial Services often reduces proposed increases before approving them.  Approved rates are expected in early August.  The amounts posted Wednesday by the department are averages for an insurer's various plans, including those offered on the New York Health Exchange.  In the individual market... they range from 6.1 percent by MVP Health Plan and HealthNow New York to 89.1 percent by Crystal Run Health Plan.  The small groups proposals range from 5 percent for Healthfirst Health Plan to 61.9 percent for Crystal Run.  The New York Health Plan Association says the higher premiums are necessary for the financial stability of New York's market.