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WJTN News Headlines for Mar. 29, 2018

Several north county residents thanked the Chautauqua County Legislature at the end of last night's meeting for standing up to the operators of major wind farms and limiting their scope...  
 
A handful spoke after lawmakers unanimously approved a measure calling on the county's Industrial Development Agency to no longer approve Payment-in-Lieu of Tax agreements for wind energy projects larger than five megawatts.  Arkwright's Jack Shimigah says their roads can't take the heavy-duty truck traffic anymore.
 
Residents say the deliver trucks bringing in the turbines and other equipment have caused major problems on Straight Road... along with Bard, and Meadows Roads.  County Executive George Borrello... who has been outspoken against wind turbines... later reiterated that wind turbines are profitable only because they are heavily subsidized by the government and they don't full-fill their "clean energy" promises.  Other towns seriously impacted include Villanova, and Pomfret, as well as the Cassadaga-area.  The legislature's resolution only makes a recommendation to the IDA because it's not a county government entity.
 
 
County lawmakers last night tabled a local law that would create an Animal Abuse Registry that would allow people selling animals to know more about who is buying them...  
 
Members of the legislature generally support the measure, but some concern was expressed last night about wanting more specifics about the proposal before a final vote is taken.  The legislature, however, did approve a local law declaring that the Opioid Epidemic was a "public nuisance" in Chautauqua County, allowing for a cost recovery program to be put in place if settlement monies are received from drug makers.
 
 
A Bemus Point man has been arrested for allegedly stealing two vehicles-- one in the town of Ellery, and the other in the Cattaraugus County town of Randolph...  
 
Sheriff's officers say they were called to the first scene at 5535 Weaver Road in Ellery about 7 a.m. Tuesday after the victim woke up and found his car was missing from his driveway.  Deputies say the vehicle was later recovered abandoned in Cattaraugus County.  Upon taking the report, Chautauqua County dispatchers got a call from the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office that a second motor vehicle was stolen in Randolph, and last seen driving towards Chautauqua County.  Deputies later located vehicle at an Ellery home.  Officers say they also found the suspect -- 31 year-old Shawn Paprocki -- in the presence of people that had orders of protection for him to stay away.  Paprocki was arraigned on several charges including Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and criminal possession of stolen property.  He was sent to the county jail without bail.
 
 
One-million dollars in state funding has been approved for a nearly $2.5-million project to redevelope the historic Viking's Lodge in downtown Jamestown...  
 
Governor Andrew Cuomo's office announced earlier this week the Restore-New York grant for the vacant structure at 318 Washington Street, which was purchased by James and Martin Schwab late last year.  City Development Director Vince DeJoy says they're estatic the funding has been approved to help get the building's infrastructure back up and working.
 
DeJoy says getting the former Vikings building back in use has been part of the city's development strategy for the westside with two major projects nearing conclusion later this year-- the National Comedy Center and the new DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.  He says the project will include a new, first-floor craft beer business called "The Beer Snob."  DeJoy says there'll be meeting rooms and a convention area upstairs that should augment what the hotel will provide.  DeJoy says they'll be in contact with the Schwab's about a final timetable for stabilizing the building, and moving forward.
 
 
The possibility of a pay raise for state lawmakers has emerged as a bargaining chip as Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders work to pass a new budget ahead of a deadline...  
 
Sunday is the start of a new state fiscal year and the deadline for a new budget.  But. lawmakers want to finish in time for the Jewish Passover, which begins Friday at sundown, or Christian Easter, which is Sunday.  Senate Leader John Flanagan said it came up during a meeting last night with Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Independent Democratic Conference leader Jeff Klein.
 
 
The proposed merger of Brooks Memorial Hospital of Dunkirk and TLC Health Network in Irving has now been finalized...  
 
That follows final approval of the move by the New York State Department of Health and filings with the state Attorney General and the New York Secretary of State.  The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon and the new organization will be known as the "Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Incorporated."  Brooks President and Chief Executive Officer Mary LaRowe says the merger has been in the works since late 2015.
 
While the two hospitals were at one time under the Lake Erie Regional Health System, LaRowe says this merger is a better fit because they can now better negotiate contracts.  She will serve as President and CEO of the Brooks-TLC Hospital system.  She says with the merger now complete, the Brooks-TLC Hospital Systems, Inc. will now move forward in the process of formally affiliating with Kaleida Health.