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WJTN News Headlines for Jun. 6, 2019

The ribbon has been cut on the new, $20-million Womans's Center and Mental Health Inpatient Unit at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital....  

Local and county officials joined with hospital leaders for the grand opening of the 42,000 square foot, three-story facility Wednesday afternoon.  Interim President Brian Durniok says they're excited to have the new facility open and, praised the community effort to see the project through.

Durniok says the new maternity wing includes four labor and delivery suites, and three triage rooms, along with 12 private post-partum rooms for patients to heal.  The Mental Health section includes 10 inpatient adolescent beds and, 20 adult inpatient beds.  The funding was secured in 2015 under the direction of retired President and Chief Executive Officer Betsy Wrigh, who says they did a needs assessment that helped them get a $26.4-million state grant for the project.  Wright says two of the four priorities they identified are directly addressed by the addition.


A Jamestown-area maker of high-end solid brass decorative hardware has been acquired by a major, North American cabinet-brand manufacturer.....  

Water Street Brass in Lakewood has announced the agreement with Top Knobs and at the same time,announced the local company will break ground on a new expansion project next month.  That's exciting news to Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello, who credits Owners Matt and Chase Churchill for creating a "niche" in that industry.

Water Street was founded by brothers Matt and Chase Churchill in 2012 and, they bought the current facility in 2014.  Matt Churchill says, since acquiring the new facility, they have hired about 50 new employees.  He says "partnering with Top Knobs will provide significant new opportunities for growth and jobs, manufacturing capacity, and distribution."  He adds that Top Knobs has "made a strong commitment to Chautauqua County and the stakeholders of Water Street Brass."  Top Knobs President Warren Ramsland says Water Street has put out "a stunning, high-end brand that I've admired since it began."


A Mayville man has been arrested on a warrant charging him with second-degree rape....  

Sheriff's officers say they conducted a warrant check on a home in the village last Tuesday night and arrested 27 year-old Joshua Northrop-Dowdall.  Deputies say Northrop-Dowdall was on probation at the time.  He was sent to the county jail pending further court action.


New York's publicly funded Medicaid program paid more than $63,000 for erectile dysfunction drugs and other sexual treatments for sex offenders, despite laws banning such expenses....  

The figures come from an audit released Wednesday by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and first reported by The Associated Press.  State and federal laws prohibit payments for sexual treatments for any Medicaid recipient. Yet auditors found that the state approved a total of more than $930,000 for such treatments between 2012 and 2018. DiNapoli urged immediate changes to ensure the state isn't misusing taxpayer money.  Health officials say erectile dysfunction drugs can be used to treat other conditions, including prostate problems. But auditors discount that, saying in many cases the sex offenders who received the drugs had no relevant diagnosis.


The city of Jamestown is again "going big" for this year's annual "Summer Bandshell Performance Series" at the Goranson Bandshell in Allen Park....  

City Parks and Recreation Coordinator Julia Ciesla-Hanley announced the 2019 schedule yesterday afternoon and, says there'll be several musical, and other performances taking place between now and early August.

Ciesla-Hanley says everything kicks-off next week with the Jamestown High School Concert Band, under the direction of Meghan Murray, doing their annual concert beginning at 7 PM.  That'll be the start time each week, with Pearl City Jazz taking the stage on June 19th.  The following Wednesday... the Chautauqua Theater Company will put on a performance of Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Deam."  On Wednesday, July 3rd, the Jamestown Municipal Band will perform the first of six concerts each Wednesday through August 7th.  The Allen Park Women's Club will again provide refreshments.  


Some New York farmers say they're open to compromise on legislation designed to help agricultural laborers....  

Several farm owners traveled to Albany on Wednesday to discuss legislation before the Democrat-led Senate and Assembly which would allow farm workers to unionize, collect disability benefits and receive overtime for working more than 40 hours per week.  Supporters of the bill say it's about basic economic fairness, but farmers warn it could force some farms to close.  Vegetable farmer Brian Reeves said he can live with many of the bill's provisions but has concerns about the overtime proposal.  He says the seasonal nature of agricultural work doesn't lend itself to consistent, 40-hour work weeks, but that farmers like him might accept an overtime threshold of higher than 40 hours.