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WJTN News Headlines

An official with a Buffalo-area hospital confirms that a junior player on the Westfield/Brocton varsity football team has died from head injuries suffered in a play during last Friday night's game at Portville.  Women and Children's Hospital Spokesman John Moscato confirms 16 year-old Damon Janes passed away yesterday afternoon from his injuries.  He was being treated in the hospital's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.  Janes was hurt in the third-quarter of the game.  In a statement released by Moscato... Janes' parents "wish to express their gratitude to those who have supported and prayed for Damon and his family, and continue to request that their privacy be respected at this time."

 

Two Erie, Pennsylvania residents have been arrested for child endangerment after their speeding car was pulled over in the town of Ripley.  Sheriff's Deputies add that 47 year-old Franciso Otero and 44 year-old Luzbel Curry were also drinking and smoking marijuana.  Officers say they stopped Otero for speeding on Route 20 just after 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon... and, he was also found to have a suspended New York driver's license.  During the investigation, Otero and Curry were found to have open containers of alcohol... a burning marijuana cigarette... and, a small quantity of pot in the car.  Officers say there was a 13 year-old girl in the vehicle, as well.  Otero was arrested on several charges... including speeding, and, child endangerment.  Curry faces two charges... one of child endangerment.  Both subjects were arraigned in Ripley Town Court.  Otero was sent to the county jail on one-thousand dollars bail.  Curry was released to a family friend along with the 13 year old passenger. 

 

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi says he has no problem with a third, new hotel proposed for the area around the Interstate 86 intechange with Route 60 -- north of the city.  However... Teresi and other city officials do have issues with a proposed 15-year Payment in Lieu of Tax agreement between the county's Industrial Development Agency... and, the developer... Boxwood Hotel, LLC.  City officials voiced their opposition to the PILOT the IDA was proposing during a recent public hearing.  Teresi calls the agreement "unprecidented...." Teresi adds Boxwood... which is proposing a Holiday Inn Express... would pay 25-percent of the taxes the next five years... and, 50-percent the next five before the hotel would pay full taxes around 2029.  He says NO other hotel project in the Greater Jamestown-area have ever received such a deal.  Teresi believes the hotel will do fine without it.
Teresi says the city has encouraged development at the I-86 -- Route 60 interchange -- including the addition of street lighting in that area of the city.  He made his comments on last weekend's "Community Spotlight" program.

 

A Virginia man accused of driving hundreds of miles to Chautauqua County last September to kill the superintendent of the Clymer School District is set to stand trial.  Jury selection is scheduled to begin today for the second-degree murder trial of Anthony Taglianetti.  Taglianetti is charged with fatally shooting 51-year-old Keith Reed, Junior outside his rural Chautauqua County home last September.  Authorities have said Taglianetti believed the superintendent of the Clymer school district was in a relationship with his wife.  Taglianetti was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Virginia eight days after Reed's body was found.  He has pleaded not guilty.

 

Local Congressman Tom Reed is backing a Republican Conference effort to put a work and training requirement in for able-bodied people who receive food stamp benefits... and, have no kids.  Reed says the conference is trying to bring a full-reform package to the floor later this week that would include the requirement.  The Corning Republican says they would have to either try to get a job... or already have one.  Reed says they could also do volunteer work for a local agency.  He says the goal is to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the system.
However... opponents reportedly don't like the bill because there is no funding in the bill for job training.  Reed says... let's get the bill to a conference committee first.  He says the funding aspect can easily be addressed there.  Reed estimates the work or volunteer requirement would save 20-billion dollars over 10 years... and, the package of reforms would save 40-billion.

 

The Chautauqua County Legislature has approved a $129 thousand dollar funding increase for the Dunkirk airport. The Jamestown Post Journal reports that the legislature met Monday for a special meeting to discuss additional funding for the Dunkirk airport. The additional funding was requested for obstruction removal. The total cost of the project is $329 thousand dollars. According to the resolution, 90 percent - or $296 thousand dollars - would be covered by federal funds. The additional 10 percent would be covered at the state and local levels. According to Sam Arcadipane, director of airports and parks for the county, it was necessary to contract out the work to clear the obstructed area at the airport. The resolution passed 16-5. Four legislators were absent from the meeting.

 

New York's 16 medical schools have 120 more students this fall than last year, including the first in a pair of three-year programs that allow students to graduate faster and with less debt.  Associated Medical Schools of New York says the 2,424 new medical students represent an enrollment increase of 120 over last year. More than half are state residents.