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WJTN News Headlines for Dec. 17, 2018

A Cattaraugus County has been arrested for allegedly raping, and sexually assaulting a child in the city of Olean...  

Sheriff's officers in Little Valley say 32 year-old Shawn Sayers, Senior was arrested on a sealed indictment warrant last Friday at a location on Leo Moss Drive.  Deputies say Sayers is charged with two counts each of preditory sexual assault against a child and, sexual conduct against a child, along with first-degree rape, and preditory sexual assault.  Officers say he was arraigned, and sent to the Cattaraugus County Jail without bail.


A Cassadaga man faces several traffic and vehicle charges after leading police on a high-speed chase on Route 60 in the town of Stockton late last Friday night....  


Sheriff's officers say they tried to pull over a motorcycle after seeing a violation shortly after 10 p.m., but the operator failed to comply.  Deputies say the bike took off at a high-rate of speed and, into the town of Gerry -- where the motorcycle was stopped.  Officers arrested 28 year-old Anthony Digangi for speeding in a 55 mile per hour zone third-degree unlawfuly fleeing a police officer with a motor vehicle, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation and, several other vehicle and traffic violations.  He was arraigned in Charlotte, Stockton, and Gerry Town Courts, and sent to the County Jail on $10,000 cash bail.

 

The Jamestown City Council will decide tonight whether to exhaust it's remaining contingency account to help purchase a new, trackless bombadier snowplow to use on sidewalks....  

City Council Finance Committee Chairman Tony Dolce says Public Works Director Jeff Lehman told lawmakers earlier this month that one of their sidewalk plows broke down during the last big snow storm and, needs to be replaced.  Dolce says it was the second of two pieces of equipment that has to be replaced.

Dolce says the other item was a front-line truck that was paid for entirely out of the contingency account.  In addition, he says the Teresi administraton will use at least some of the money that comes out of the annual "over-and-under" from the current year's budget.  That's expected to be about $95,000 a year.  He says Public Works is one of the main "equipment-dependent" departments in city government.  Dolce adds they're also looking at some new equipment and vehicles for the fire department.  He says they may have to bond for a new engine and, overhaul an old ladder truck.  Tonight's Council voting session begins at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.


A pay raise for New York lawmakers that will give them the highest state legislative salaries in the nation is being challenged in court...  

The Government Justice Center filed a lawsuit Friday challenging the legality of a panel's vote last week to raise lawmakers' pay for the first time in 20 years.  The conservative legal advocacy group claims pay raises must be voted on by the state Senate and Assembly.  The 63 percent increase will be phased in over three years, with legislative pay going from $79,500 a year to $130,000 Members of the pay committee also voted to limit how much money lawmakers can earn from outside jobs.  Governor Andrew Cuomo said on WCNY radio Friday that he believes the panel acted within its authority.


It took some extra effort at the end, but this year's 'Holiday Haul' for St. Susan's Center collected five tons of food and supplies, and $11,500... 

Organizer Keith Martins's voice cracked with emotion as he thanked the community for its contributions.  The final push on Saturday afternoon came from the Falconer JV Girls' Basketball team.  The team's coach, Dan Keefe, says the nine players on the team collected 1,603 pounds of food, and $520.  Keith Martin says that's the most that any sports team has raised anytime in the 6 years of the Holdiday Haul.  Martin, who is the Executive Director of Northwest Arena, spent three days in front of the Jamestown Cycle Shop, collecting non-perishable items and cash for St. Susan's.


Overseas recycling policies are having a negative impact on recycling world-wide and, in Jamestown and Chautauqua County....  

Last year, China began policies that restrict the importation of foreign recyclables.  In a recent release, the Board of Public Utilities noted that many organizations who collect recyclables -- like them and the county landfill -- have been hard hit by China's policies, especially in the mixed paper market.  With that market essentially closed, recycling has become much more costly.  However, BPU General Manager Dave Leathers says they've been able to weather the storm so far.

In the past, Leathers says various entities paid the BPU for recyclables brought to their facilities.  In 2014,  he says plastic, metals, cardboard, paper and box board were sold for $5.00/ton.  While the BPU must pay to dispose of paper/cardboard and box board, plastics and metals are accepted with no payment to or from the BPU at this time.  No vendor accepts glass recyclables in the area, but the BPU receives support from the county for glass.  Leathers says BPU officials will meet during the first-quarter of 2019 to see if any changes need to be made.


A new state task force will examine the availability of child care across New York state...  

The panel, which met for the first time earlier this month, includes child care providers, child welfare advocates and business leaders.  Created as part of Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2018 Women's Agenda, the task force is charged with coming up with ways to improve access to affordable, quality child care throughout the state.  Cuomo, a Democrat, says availability of child care is essential to the state's economy, since a lack of child care options can force parents to choose between caring for a child and working.  Initial recommendations from the task force are expected to be submitted to the Cuomo administration next year.