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WJTN News Headlines for Feb. 1, 2019

A convicted Felon has been arrested following a short foot-chase, with a firearm in his possession, in Jamestown early Thursday morning....  

City police say they saw a man carrying a long-gun case in the area of East 6th and Grant Streets shortly before 3 AM.  Officers report the suspect -- identified as 29 year-old Cain Coville -- allegedly took off running when they attempted to make contact.  Coville was later found to be a convicted Felon and, should not be in possession of any weapons.  Police took him into custody a short distance away, and recovered the case he was carrying, which contained a 22-caliber rifle.  Coville was arraigned and sent to the county jail on $5,000 bail for fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. 

 

There have only been a few, minor issues caused by the Winter storm that struck our area -- mainly northern Chautauqua County -- with some lake effect snow and bitter wind chills.....  

The National Weather Service discontinued our Winter Storm Warning yesterday afternoon but, Chautauqua County remains under a Wind Chill Advisory through 11 this morning.  Wind chills in and around Jamestown Thursday morning were 20 to 30-below zero and, County Executive George Borrello says that's dangerous, so don't go outside unless you have to. 

For the second-day in a row, ALL county school districts closed due to the weather.  Forecasters in Western New York said we would have temperatures fall below-zero again through this morning and, rebound slowly during the day today.  However, wind chills could still fall to 25-below zero at times.  Chautauqua County has been on the fringe of the lake effect snow activity.  The storm was designated a blizzard Wednesday in Erie, Genesee and Wyoming counties by the National Weather Service.  Erie County officials say three people died during the storm.
 

With the closing of major roadways and travel bans along the Thruway, the United States Postal Service halted some mail delivery routes in Western New York....
  
USPS Spokeswoman Karen Mazurkiewicz says specifically all Buffalo stations were closed Thursday. However, she says the Post Offices in Jamestown were open and out delivering mail.  Availability was limited because of issues with trucks on thruways, but when weather conditions improve, Mazurkiewicz says all mail delivery and retail operations will be resume. 
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Additionally, Mazurkiewicz says curbside mailboxes should be shoveled out enough so that carries can drop-off or collect mail without leaving their vehicles.  The Postal Service also asks that steps and walkways be cleared of snow and ice, and salted for safety reasons. 


A locally-driven Skateboard Park project in Jamestown has been awarded a "Built to Play" Skatepark grant of up to $250,000 in matching funds from the Tony Hawk Foundation....  

The formal annoucement was made yesterday afternoon at Cijty Hall by Mayor Sam Teresi, the Tony Hawk Foundation's Trevor Staples and Jamestown Skate Products owner, Pete Schiera.  Schiera says he's very excited about a project he says will elevate skateboarding beyond what's currently in Chadakoin Park.


Schiera has been joined in pushing the project with Brazil Lounge and Restaurant owner Frank Besse. Mayor Teresi says the pair approached officials with the Parks and Recreation and Public Works Department last year about creating a "concrete bowl" kind of park and ways to fund it.  The "Built to Play" Skatepark Grants are made possible through a partnership between the Tony Hawk Foundation and the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, which is contributing $25,000 to the effort.  The up to $250,000 award requires the Jamestown community to raise at least $50,000 local matching funds.  The park would be located where the former Jamestown Trolley Company building was located just across the street from the McCrea Point Park Boat Landing.


The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities has approved a change-order to pay it's legal team another $125,000 to defend the city's attempted annexation of property in the village of Falconer....  

The BPU agreed to the move at this week's meeting.  Mayor Sam Teresi says it's unfortunate but, adds the challenge by the village, town of Ellicott and the Falconer School District continues.  Teresi says the next important date for the city is next Tuesday, February 5th, when they have to provide all their documentation.  He says the other parties get to respond and, all materials are then sent to the state Appellate Court this Spring.

Teresi says a final decision on whether the approxmiately four-acres of land the BPU's Dow Street Substation sits on could be made by late Spring, or early Summer of this year.  He says whatever the final decision is, it will likely be subject to an appeal.


A bi-partisan committee is continuing it's work on a continuing resolution that will pass both houses of Congress and, be signed by President Trump....  

Mr. Trump has elected to "hang back" as negotiations that would allow for a border barrier to be constructed in places along the southern border and, include other security measures as well.  Local Congressman Tom Reed says he remains optimistic that a deal can be struck but, with a February 15th deadline now in place, he's not as optimistic as he usually is.

Reed says if the opposing sides could at least talk, a solution could definately be found.  Many Democrats would like an extension or more permanent resolution for DACA recipients and, other Temporary Protected Status individuals.  However, there are several Republicans in the House and Senate who say that's nothing more than Amnesty.  Reed says he disagrees, saying this is not amnesty, but part of a solution to move the country forward.  White House officials say President Trump has made his border wall funding demands clear. 


Congressman Tom Reed will be in Chautauqua County later today to address the county's Chamber of Commerce in Mayville...  

The Corning Republican will be the featured guest at the Chamber's annual Congressional Luncheon at Webb's Captains Table on Route 394, beginning at 12 Noon.  He says he has a "positive" message about the economy.

Reed says he will discuss concerns about the crazy rises and falls of the Stock Market this year,  as well as concerns over trade and tariffs.  For more information on the Congressional Luncheon, call the Chamber at 484-1101.