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News Headlines for Thurs., Sept. 14, 2017

Remnants of Hurricane Irma brings about 2-inches of rain to Jamestown area...
The remnants of Hurricane Irma moved out of Western New York late yesterday morning... but portions of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties got some heavy rainfall during the early morning hours.  Enough in fact to cause some localized flooding.  In some locations, Forecaster Aaron Reynolds with the National Weather Service says rainfall amounts reached over 2 inches in some places.  Reynolds says most places received at least an inch of rain.  There were reports of over 2 inches in the Jamestown area.  Kennedy received 2.3 inches, the greatest amount of rainfall in Chautauqua County.  Conditions slowly improved during the afternoon Thursday... with some sun breaking out later in the day.  Meanwhile, the Dunkirk-Fredonia area received only about a tenth of an inch of rain. 
 
 
Irma's rains cause High Water issues at JPD...
There were a few flooding problems in the immediate Jamestown-area Thursday due to the remnants of Irma.  Jamestown police have had flooding issues at headquarters in the basement of City Hall since early yesterday morning.  Officials say they had high water at the front entrance... as well as the command desk and entryway to the headquarters on the Second Street level of the building.  That are is closed until further notice.  Anyone needing to make a non-emergency call to JPD call the Mayville 9-1-1 center at 661-7232.
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The other issue was high-water on Route 394 in the area of Route 62 area near Kennedy.
 
 
Cuomo sends Air National Guard to southern states to help with relief efforts...
Governor Andrew Cuomo has sent units of the New York Army and Air National Guard to two southern states to assist in the response to Hurricane Irma.  The Democrat says 10 Blackhawk helicopters and 55 soldiers from the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade deployed Monday to Florida. The unit operates out of airports in Rochester, Albany and Ronkonkoma on Long Island.  The crews are flying to Richmond, Virginia, and are scheduled to arrive in Jacksonville on Tuesday.  Cuomo also has dispatched to Mississippi a C-17 cargo plane from the 105th Airlift Wing based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh.  The seven-member crew is handling satellite communications in support of the Florida National Guard.  A plane from the 106th Rescue Wing based on Long Island also deployed Monday to Kentucky to transport military personnel to Florida.
 
 
City man arrested for trespassing...
A Jamestown man faces several charges for allegedly breaking into an apartment house on the city's southside, and then resisting police when he was being arrested.  Jamestown police were called to the scene at 45 Baker Street late this past Tuesday night on a noise complaint.  On arrival... officers say they heard the sound of breaking glass... and, spotted a man climbing into a second-story window.  They later found 27 year-old Israel Aponte Camacho... and, tried to arrest him.  However... Camacho actively resisted verbal commands... but, he was taken into custody for second-degree criminal trespass... criminal mischief.. and obstruction.  He was jaile dpending arraignment.
 
 
Olean Man faces federal Bank Fraud charges for stealing nearly $500,000...
An Olean man has been arrested for alleged bank fraud following an investigation into his alleged withdrawl of nearly half-a-million dollars from a local business owner's account.  U-S Attorney James Kennedy, Junior says 53 year-old Joseph Stevens was recently arrested after he was found to have taken the money out over a three-and-a-half year period.  Kennedy says they found that Stevens had been hired by the unidentified business owner as a bookkeeper... and, was given responsibilities, including paying vendors, employee payroll, and personal and business tax return preparation.  The owner began learning about the problems in the Fall of last year... and, that Stevens had received a couple of checks -- not authorized -- that were made out to him.  Stevens was later arrested.  He faces up to 30 years in prison... and, a one-million dollar fine.
 
 
Horrigan to announce new Director of Emergency Services Friday...
Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan has made a decision on who will be his new director of Emergency Services... and, will be announcing that choice this afternoon.  Horrigan says he'll be making the announcement outside the Office of Emergency Services on Academy Street at 3:30 PM.  Horrigan says he'll be joined by current director Julius Leone, Junior... and, members of the bi-partisan Emergency Services Director Search Committee.
 
 
State Budget borrowing in PA debated...
Pennsylvania's Republican-controlled House of Representatives is sending the Senate a no-new-taxes borrowing package to help plug state government's $2.2-billion dollar budget gap.  The GOP-penned measure passed, 103-91, late Wednesday night, with heavy opposition by Democrats.  Pennsylvania's budget stalemate is in its third month and Democratic Governor Tom Wolf says the House GOP's plan doesn't solve the state's underlying financial problems.  The plan follows the collapse of earlier House GOP proposals. Republican Representative Paul Schemel of Franklin County, says it uses money the state already has.  But critics say it "robs Peter to pay Paul."
 
 
PA Uninsured Rate drops again in 2016...
The number of people without health insurance in Pennsylvania continues to decline, reaching what Democratic Governor Tom Wolf's office says is the lowest uninsured rate on record.  U.S. Census Bureau data released this week shows Pennsylvania's 2016 uninsured rate at 5.6 percent, tied for the 12th lowest rate in the nation.  That's down from 9.7 percent in 2013 and 6.4 percent in 2015.  The national uninsured rate was 8.6 percent last year.  The Census Bureau estimates 700,000 Pennsylvanians lacked health insurance last year, about 500,000 fewer than in 2013.  Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid in 2015 under the Obama administration's signature health care law, and Wolf's administration says more than 1.1 million Pennsylvanians are covered through the law's Medicaid expansion or individual policies sold through the Healthcare.gov exchange.