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WJTN News Headlines for May 24, 2019

There were 11 school budget defeats in New York state this past Tuesday, including the one in Clymer. ....

That from state School Board's Association Executive Director Tim Kreamer.  Kreamer has been monitoring what happened... and, says eight of those had budgets that exceeded the 2-percent property tax cap.  He says Clymer had a 4-percent cap this year... but, proposed a 13.2-percent tax levy hike.  Kreamer says... given how districts have been using up reserves in recent years... that's a sign of trouble.

In fact... Kreamer says school districts across New York used about one-billion dollars in reserve funds to offset spending increases in their budgets.  While Clymer had a big increase... he says Johnstown and Wyandanch had 40 to 45-percent tax hikes in their budgets.  Clymer School Superintendent Ed Bailey told us Wednesday that they will have another vote.  Kreamer says they could vote on the same budget, or one with more cuts.  The Clymer School Board meets on June 10th, and will hold another public hearing that night to determine what's to be voted on June 18th.


DTA-Safety in District-(rev)-#2  5PM                            5/23

Members of the Dunkirk Teachers Association are calling on the district and school board to implement increased safety measures in the city schools following last week's fatal stabbing on Lincoln Avenue.... 

DTA President Valarie Csont, who teaches at School-#3... told the board during its monthly workshop meeting on Wednesday that school safety is not being taken seriously enough.  She says she had to make a call to send students home because there was no direction from either the district or police.

Right now... Csont says both teachers and students do not feel safe.  She says she has heard such from them... and, she adds students should feel safe.  The School Board did not respond to the comments.  
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Meanwhile, a memorial service will be held next Wednesday for the victim of the stabbing in Dunkirk.  In an obituary in the Observer, the memorial service for 15-year-old Jefrena Brown will be held at 1 PM at the American Legion Post 62 in Dunkirk.


Well known local Veteran Cody Willett has been selected to be Grand Marshall of the Memorial Day Parade in Jamestown.... 

A veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Willett was recently featured on the Military Makeover TV program.  Monday's parade will organize near Baker Park around 9 AM.  The march begins at 10 AM at 4th and Washington... continuing down 4th Street to Prendergast Avenue, and then to Lakeview Cemetery.  Music will be provided by the Jamestown Municipal Band, the 96th Highlanders Pipes and Drums, and the JHS Marching Band, along with bands from the three city middle schools.  The full parade lineup will be published in the Post Journal on Sunday.  Following the parade, Veteran Doug Kibbe, pastor of the Church on the Rock, will be the speaker at the Soldiers Circle ceremony in the cemetery.  Out of respect for the solemn nature of the day, the United Veterans Council requests no candy throwing and no solicitation along the parade route.  


The Chautauqua County Legislature has approved using $10,000 from the 3-percent occupancy tax to support the newly-formed "Chautauqua Lake Pops by the Shore" in Mayville...  

Brocton-area Legislator Mark O'Dell... who chairs the Planning and Economic Development Committee... says the proposal was approved by his committee.  At Wednesday's legislature meeting...O'Dell said it's a good and proper use of those bed tax funds.

The Chautauqua Lake Pops was formerly the "Bemus Bay Pops..." where programming was doing during the Summer months from a floating stage.  However... the "Bemus Bay Pops" received bed tax funding a number of times.  With that... North Harmony Legislator Jay Gould noted that -- re-located or not -- the Pops would be receiving funding for more years than their guidelines allow.  He says any entity that's received three years worth of funding should not get more.  Jamestown legislator Elisabeth Rankin also supported the measure... noting that the bed tax funding was established to support events like the Pops.  The resolution was approved, 15-to-1 with Gould casting the lone "no" vote.


A man from Falconer is jailed for allegedly threatening people with a knife early Wednesday night in the town of Ellicott...  

Town Police were called to the undisclosed scene... where they looked into the matter... and, arrested 33 year-old Andrew Harper.  Harper was taken to the County Jail... pending arraignment on charges of second-degree menacing and unlawful possession of marijuana.