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WJTN News Headlines

The Jamestown City Council has learned there will be about a 15-thousand dollar savings in the city Assessor's Office due to the assessor's retirement.  Lawmakers learned last night that Randy Holcomb... who's been assessor the past several years in Jamestown as part of a shared service arrangment... will step down at mid-year in 2015.  Council Finance Committee Chairman Tony Dolce says they'll looking at moving an assistant up to that position, and likely not filling the resulting vacancy. Dolce says... in subsequent years... the city should save about 30-thousand dollars a year on that retirement.  He says there were also some savings found in the city's Information Technology Department.  Lawmakers reviewed a few, smaller departments last night... and, learned that by replacing a few older copy machines with just two new ones... there can be some savings.  Dolce says the three departments sharing those copiers will be the City Clerk, Comptroller, and Corporation Counsel's offices.  He says they're still trying to find additional savings to get the tax increase down as much as possible.

 

City lawmakers have unanimously approved a new, five-year lease for RS Entertainment to bring it's Prospect League baseball franchise to Jamestown's Russell E. Diethrick Park next year.  During a brief, special session last night... the City Council okayed the five-year lease deal for the former Lorain, Ohio franchise in the 12-member league.  Council Finance Committee Chairman, Tony Dolce, sponsored the measure... and, called it "very good news" for the city.  He adds it's one that continues Jamestown's proud, 75 year-tradition of baseball. The proposal by RS Entertainment was one of six reviewed by the Jamestown Baseball Advisory Committee... which was called together by Mayor Sam Teresi after it was announced that Rich Baseball was moving the Jamestown Jammers Class-A franchise to Morgantown, West Virginia.  Dolce says the lease agreement has a number of incentives if the new franchise meets certain attendance... and, performance standards.  However... Dolce says the base lease... which runs from now through December of 2019... is more than what the Jammers were paying.  The first year's payment is 30-thousand dollars.

 

Governor Cuomo and a host of other Democrats urged voters Monday to show up to the polls in numbers on Election Day.  Cuomo spoke to hundreds of union health care workers, carpenters and hotel employees at a rally Monday in Manhattan's Times Square.  He predicted labor will vote in droves.  A host of former and current elected officials seized on an upstate Republican assemblyman's recent comments that city voters were too lazy to vote.  Congressman Charles Rangel said New York City residents will vote ``like our life depends on it.''  Earlier... Republican candidate Rob Astorino said in an interview his campaign was not a ``dry run'' for another race.

 


Monday was the final full-day of campaigning for candidates running for local, statewide, and national office in New York state... and, Chautauqua County.  All three major, state-wide races are contested... led by the Governor's race.  However... there is one local race in Jamestown that will fill an open County Legislature seat.  In addition... County Democratic Elections Commissioner Norm Green says there are two county-wide race that have attracted a fair amount of attention. In that Sheriff's race... five-term incumbant Democrat Joe Gerace is being challenged by Republican Russ Payne.  In the Family Court Judge's race... the four candidates are Republican Jeff Piazza... Democrat Sally Jaroszynski... Working Families candidate James Spann... and, Green Party nomimee Michael Sullivan.  State-wide... incumbant Democrat Andrew Cuomo is being opposed by Republican Rob Astorino.  But... Green says there are local implications depending on how that vote comes out.  The line with the most votes gets the top line on the ballot.... while the second-most gets the second line, and so-on.  Back to the District 12 County Legislature race... Democrat Beth Kresge is running against Republican Elizabeth Rankin.

 


The final two pieces of consolidating poll sites and election districts in Chautauqua County have been put in place by the county's Board of Elections.  That from Elections Commissioner Norm Green... who says the move initially began several years ago... but, accelerated in recent years to save money.  Green says voters in the south county will see no difference from last year... but, he says a couple of changes... spearheaded by Republican Commissioner Brian Abram... have been taken care of in Silver Creek. Green says there are now 51 poling sites in Chautauqua County... and, the number of election districts has been reduced from 124 to 99.  He says that process began once the county legislature agreed on a redistricting plan.  Green adds that if you have a question about where you vote... or, your voting status... go on-line to VoteChautauqua-dot-COM... or call the Board of Elections in Mayville.  He says you can still vote if you're "inactive..." but, you have to vote by provisional ballot.  For more information... contact the Board of Elections in Mayville at 753-4250... or go on-line to VoteChautauqua-dot-COM.  Polls open today at 6 AM.  Our coverage on WJTN begins at 8:30 tonight.

 

A north county man pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography three years ago during an appearance in federal court in Buffalo Monday.  U-S Attorney William Hochul, Junior says 43 year-old Shane Taylor of Dunkirk entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.  Hochul says the charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a 250-thousand dollar fine.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol Bridge, who is handling the case, says law enforcement officers raided Taylor's home back on July 18th of 2011... and, seized a computer and a shot-gun from Taylor’s room.  Bridge says officials found over 3000 images of child pornography.  Taylor is to be sentenced next February 13th.

 

A Salamanca woman has died after being pulled from her burning home early Sunday morning.  Fire officials in the Cattaraugus County city tell local media that the blaze was reported around 4:30 AM.  When fire crews arrived... they rescued a woman from the second floor.  Officials say she was taken to Olean General Hospital, where she died a short time later.  The cause of the fire is under investigation. The victim's name has not been released.

 

Move over, Sonoma, California... New York has been declared ``Wine Region of the Year.''  The honor was bestowed by Wine Enthusiast magazine, citing the quality of New York wines, the tremendous growth of the industry, and improved business climate.  The state was selected over Champagne, France; Chianti (Key-ahn-tee), Italy; Red Mountain, Washington and Sonoma, California.  The award will be presented at the Wine Star Awards gala dinner on January 26th at the New York Public Library.