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WJTN News Headlines for May 3, 2019

Chautauqua County's first-term executive says he's ready to make a run for the 57th New York State Senate District........  

Republican County Executive George Borrello officially announced his candidacy to replace the retired Cathy Young in a banquet room full of supporters last night in Mayville.  Borrello says he'll work for what he's strived to do in the county as both a legislator, and as county executive.

Borrello thanked several people for their support on both the county, and district levels... especially his wife, Kelly.  State Assemblyman Andy Goodell was on hand for the announcement... and, recalled being concerned when former County Executive Vince Horrigan decided not to run for re-election nearly two years ago.  But, he says Horrigan assured him he had a great candidate to replace him in Borrello and, he hasn't been disappointed.  Both Borrello and Allegheny County Legislature Chairman Kurt Crandall will square off in a June Primary and, the winner will face Democrat Austin Morgan of Freedom in Cattaraugus County.


A Lakewood man who has spent two terms on the village board and, worked in the Busti Town Assessor's Office for more than three decades has announced he is running for mayor..... 

 Republican Randy Holcomb is the first person to formally announce he is running for the open position after last year's resignation of Cara Birritierri.

Birritierri resigned amid controversy early last October, and the position has been unfilled.  Deputy Mayor Ted McCague  has run village board meetings since Birritierri stepped down.  He has not yet announced his intentions.  Holcomb has a couple of main priorities, one being keeping village departments strong to better serve the residents, especially the village's Fire Department.  He says it's also important to find good replacements for village employees who retire.  Holcomb adds that his other priorities are keeping taxes down, economic development, and working to keep Chautauqua Lake healthy and clean.  He says he'll vy for the Republican nomination when the party caucuses this coming July.


An acclaimed expert on innovation was the keynote speaker Thursday at the annual meeting of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier.....  

Bob Roitblat of Chicago takes a novel approach to the commonly heard phrase, "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got." He believes the world is turning so fast, that if you do what you've always done, you'll fall farther and farther behind.  Roitblat says innovation is key to staying ahead, and adds the process is NOT about brand new, earth shattering ideas, but finding something meaningfully different for customers.  He believes many businesses fail at innovation because they don't spend enough time discovering their customers' unmet needs BEFORE launching a new idea.  The MAST annual meeting was held at the new Doubletree in downtown Jamestown.


A Sherman man has been arrested for animal neglect after the new owner of his property found more than a dozen dead chickens inside a chicken coop on the property....  

Sheriff's officers were called to the undisclosed location late last month, and, found 14 dead chickens, which appeared to have been locked in cages with no way out.  After an investigation, deputies determined that 43 year-old James Linger was the previous owner of the property and chickens.  Linger has been charged with failing to provide sustenance to the chickens and, was issued an appearance ticket for Sherman Town Court for overdriving or torturing an animal. 


Southwestern Central School District voters will decide on whether to approve a $29.2-million budget for the 2019-2020 school year on May 21st.

  School Superintendent Maureen Donahue says the spending plan is about 1.8-percent higher than the current year's budget.  Donahue says personnel costs are the main reason for the increase... although some of those costs -- namely health insurance -- have been reduced.  She adds they got only a slight state aid increase.

Donahue says the tax levy is up about 1.5-percent, but, adds that's within the 2-percent state property tax cap.  She says the tax rate will be nearly the same as in the current budget.  In addition to the budget, Donahue says there'll be two other propositions.  The first is a $496,000 transportation measure... which includes five vehicles.  Two of those are full, 66-passenger buses.  The third proposition is for a new Capital Improvement fund to offset future project costs.  School Board member Cory Miller is running unopposed.  A public hearing on the spending plan will be held on May 14th and, the vote on May 21st will be from 7-to-9 AM... and, 2-to-8 PM at the High School.


Millions of dollars in federal funding is available for New Yorkers with serious health problems to obtain air conditioners for their residences....  

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that people can start applying for air conditioners or fans through the Home Energy Assistance Program at their county department of social services. The Democrat says the state has set aside $6 million in federal funding to pay for the program.  People with health issues that are aggravated by extreme heat can apply. Last summer, nearly 8,000 households received cooling assistance, compared to 4,000 households in 2017.  Assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are being accepted through Aug. 30, or until funding runs out.