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WJTN News Headlines for Oct. 15, 2018

Two Jamestown men were hurt -- one seriously -- in a one-car rollover crash on Route 20 in the town of Sheridan early yesterday morning...  

Sheriff's officers were called to the scene just after 7 a.m., and found the driver, 24 year-old Bryan Sandreth of Pine Ridge Road, was westbound when he fell asleep at the wheel.  Deputies say the car crossed the center line and went off the roadway and stuck a utility pole.  The vehicle then rolled over several times.  Officers say Sandreth was taken to Brooks Hospital for treament of minor injuries.  However, his passenger, 33 year-old Kenneth Walker, was taken to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo for treatment.  Officers say Sandreth is charged with failure to keep right.


City lawmakers begin their extensive review of Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi's 2019 budget proposal tonight....  

Teresi proposed the nearly $36-million spending plan back on October 9.  There is no tax increase in the budget and, actually includes a 13-cent per thousand tax rate increase.  However, Teresi says there remain several challenges in the new spending plan,including salaries and benefits.  He says there are no increases in the budget, partly due to only filling positions that need to be.

At the same time, Teresi says there is the possibility of new contracts being agreed to -- or imposed -- for the police and fire departments.  He says one other challenge that remains is health care costs, but he says there is a silver lining in that.  The city received $1.5-million to initiate a new program that would allow retirees to transition from the city's "self-insurance" program into Medicare.  Teresi says 30 people signed up last year for the first time, saving about $300,000.  Tonight's review of the Public Works and Parks budgets begins at 6:30 PM.


The nearly $23.7-million budget proposed by Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas holds the line on property taxes, thanks in part to a state grant to improve lighting in the north county city....  

Rosas released the spending plan late last week, which includes about $1.1-million more in spending.  However, he says they are continuing to work with the state's Restructuring Board to find ways to reduce costs and says they have received a $1.1-million to put in new LED lights, which he says will save the city about one-million dollars over the next four years.  Rosas says -- even with the challenges they face -- they have been able to keep their undesignated fund balance in compliance with General Accepted Accounting Principles.  One of the biggest challenges, the loss of revenues from the mothballed NRG plant.  Rosas says the city is looking to utilize more shared services and is searching for more grant funding. 


A 1943 Supreme Court decision that has come to define 'civil liberties' in the United States will be celebrated Tuesday and Wednesday at the Jackson Center in Jamestown....  

Robert H. Jackson wrote the majority opinion in West Virginia vs. Barnette.  The Jackson Center's Greg Peterson says the decision supported the rights of the Barnette children, as Jehovah's Witnesses, to NOT salute the flag in school.  What Jackson wrote 75 years ago, for the majority in the 6-3 decision, is regarded as an exquisite expression of rights, including freedom of expression. 

One of the Barnette sisters will be at the program which begins with an open house Tuesday at 4 p.m., and continues Wednesday morning.  The Jehovah's Witness 'Watchtower Society' and C-SPAN television will be part of the event.  The public is welcome.


In New York state government news, when it comes to campaign cash, Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo is well ahead of Republican challenger Marc Molinaro just weeks before Election Day...  

According to the most recent filings, Cuomo has more than $9-million in the bank, compared to Molinaro's $211,000.  Also this week, a new analysis from Democratic Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli offers more dire predictions about the future of New York City's subways.  The financial report found the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will face big deficits in just a few years.  Finally, a state effort to combat a deadly disease affecting thousands of New Yorkers is underway.  Cuomo appointed several physicians, public health experts and community advocates to a new Hepatitis-C task force.


A new, seasonal attraction has officially opened on Baker Street Extension near Jamestown....

The ribbon was cut Saturday morning on the first-ever Pumpkintown on the former Cedarquist Farm property on the southside of Baker Street Extention in the town of Busti.  Pumpkintown is the brain-child of Eric Anderson, Marshall Miner, and Jason Jemberg and takes an "educational approach" to agriculture to teach how vegetables are grown, and cider is made.  Refreshments and food are available.  Anderson says they'll be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October.  General admission is $10.00, children under 2 are free.  He says seniors 65 and over are $5.00 and all veterans (retired and active) are free.


An Erie, Pennsylvania man accused of killing his wife and tossing her body into Lake Erie has been convicted of first-degree murder...  

The Erie Times-News reports that jurors deliberated for an hour and 40 minutes before convicting 49-year-old Christopher Leclair, who faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole.  Prosecutors in Erie County said Leclair was having an affair and killed his 51-year-old wife, Karen, in the summer of 2017 because his girlfriend had given him an ultimatum to choose between her and his wife.  Defense attorney Bruce Sandmeyer argued Friday that Karen Leclair killed herself because she was upset that her husband had been cheating on her.  Leclair convicted on all counts, which also included abuse of a corpse, evidence-tampering, and false reports.


Firefighters in Warren County were busy battling a blaze at the Conewango Apartments on Holly Street in Warren's Glad Township late Friday night....  

According to the Warren Times Observer the fire apparently broke out initially in the easternmost apartment, the farthest from Conewango Avenue. The Glade Volunteer Fire Department was in charge at the scene and firefighters and equipment from numerous departments including the city of Warren, Pleasant, Russell, Scandia, and Starbrick responded.  At about 9:40 p.m. the fire appeared to be out.  The Warren tower truck extended toward the building shortly thereafter and firefighters were working on the roof.  Shortly before 10 p.m., flames burst through the roof and rose high into the air, and were still visible near the center and east end of the building after 11:00.  A neighboring building was also reportedly damaged. Information about injuries, the cause of the fire, and other details were not available at press time.


A Sherman man has been arrested for allegedly punching another person in the face during an altercation at a location on Route 430 in the town of Sherman...  

Sheriff's officers say they were called to the scene of a physical altercation about 11:30 p.m. last Friday and arrested 54 year-old William Hurlbut.  Hurlbut was arraigned on one count of third-degree assault, and released pending a future court appearance.