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WJTN News Headlines

A Jamestown man is jailed... and, city police are searching for about 200-thousand dollars in silver necklaces the suspect ran off with during a day-light burglary at a jewelry store.  Jamestown Police Captain Bob Samuelson says the alleged suspect... 28 year-old Darius Coleman of Jamestown... walked into Carlson's Jewelry at 31 North Main Street about 12:30 PM Wednesday... and, asked to see the necklaces.  Samuelson says the clerk brought over about 18 to 20 that were on a rack... which Coleman grabbed and ran off with.  He was later caught... without the silver.  Samuelson believes it's related to drugs. Samuelson says they found Coleman on East Fifth Street... and, while he had none of the stolen items on him... they had enough evidence to arrest him.  He says they're looking for the rack... and, the stolen necklaces.  Samulson says he believes the rack was discarded at some point along the way... and, that Coleman "handed-off" the jewelry to an accomplice.  He's being held pending arraignment on a Grand Larceny charge.  If you have any information on the theft... call city police at 483-7537... or the JPD Tip-line at 483-TIPS.

 

County lawmakers have approved an amended measure to provide enhanced police services to the north county village of Silver Creek through the end of the year.  The legislature voted last night, 22-to-2 after more than a half-an-hour's debate on the resolution... which covers the rest of the calendar year.  Silver Creek Mayor Nick Piccolo says he was hoping to wait until July 1st to put the agreement with Sheriff Joe Gerace in place... but, says all of his full-time officers had left for better jobs by May 30th.  Jamestown Democrat Lori Cornell praised the mayor and Gerace for dealing with the matter quickly. But... Fredonia Democrat Bill Coughlin was concerned with how the approximately 360-thousand dollar cost was arrived at for the contract... which runs from this past June 1st until the end of 2014.  Jamestown Democrat Chuck Nazzaro had similar cost concerns... but, mainly for next year.  Namely... what pay increases... and, health insurance costs are going to look like.  Nazzaro's concern led to the contract being amended to last through the end of this year... and, then further discussions will be held on a 2014 agreement.

 

County lawmakers last night rejected Executive Greg Edwards' appointment of Katie Geise to the Industrial Development Agency board.  Edwards has the Fredonia woman to fill the term of Michael Piazza... who recently retired.  Geise is the wife of Mark Geise who is the Deputy Director of County's Planning Department.  Mark Geise's boss, Bill Daly is also the director of the IDA.  The vote was 15-to-9 against the appointment.  Most lawmakers acknowledged that Geise is highly qualified... but, some expressed concern over potential conflicts of interest.  Also... a motion opposing early voting in New York state did NOT reach the floor because it lacked enough signatures to be acted on.  The measure would cost the county Board of Elections about 30-thousand dollars more to enact.  However... only 11 lawmakers signed the measure.

 

State Attorney General General Eric Schneiderman says 20-million dollars taken from banks involved in the collapse of the housing market will be used to rebuild communities statewide.  Schneiderman says one of those areas will be Chautauqua County.  The money is New York's share of a settlement with the nation's largest banks called the National Mortgage Settlement.  Schneiderman will invite competitive proposals from eight banks to combat fallout from the foreclosure crisis that drove people out of their homes when they could no longer afford adjustable payments that skyrocketed.  The attorney general can provide the program funding to so-called land banks located in Schenectady, Onondaga, Erie, Niagara, Suffolk, Broome, Monroe and Chautauqua Counties.  New York received more than 130-million from the national settlement last year.

 

Jamestown city lawmakers approved receipt of several grants this week... including two that will move the new Veteran's Memorial Park on the westside to completion.  The City Council approved receiving a 10-thousand dollar grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation... and, another for 15-thousand dollars from the Hultquist Foundation.  Acting Council President Tony Dolce says the city appreciates their support... and, adds this gets them closer to the 120-thousand dollars to complete the park's move to Logan Park. Councilwoman Kim Ecklund expressed her thanks from the council dias... and, urges residents to make a donation towards the effort... even if it's a small amount.  Ecklund also conveyed the council's thanks to the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County for it's 65-hundred dollar grant to help fund the Summer Lunch Program that's again part of the Summer Playground Program. The city is putting on the program in conjunction with Chautauqua Opportunities, Incorporated.  The City Council also approved receipt of another 5-thousand dollar grant from the Community Foundation for the Summer Playground Program. 

 

Hundreds gathered last night on the New York City block where the gay rights movement was born to celebrate the Supreme Court's decision striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act.  Supporters greeted each other Wednesday with hugs and salutations of ``congratulations'' as they amassed for a rally organized by GLADD, one of the country's leading L-G-B-T groups.  Edith Windsor, the plaintiff who challenged the federal law, was greeted by cheers as she took the stage.  She said she was ``honored and humbled and overjoyed' about the ruling.