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News Headlines for Tues., Dec. 30, 2014

Man suffered medical emergency, truck crashes into car, then funeral home in Jamestown...

The driver of a pick-up truck that crashed late Monday morning into the front of the Lind Funeral Home in Jamestown has died of an apparent medical issue.  City police say the man was westbound on West Third Street when he was apparently stricken by a heart attack.  Officers say the truck crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a car... then struck an outer office, and bay window at the funeral home.  An employee at Lind's says they heard a loud crash... and, found the truck had slammed into the building.  A 47-year-old employee was taken to WCA Hospital for treatment... along with a 72 year-old man, and 70 year-old woman.  Their injuries were reportedly minor.  The 83 year-old man driving the truck later died at WCA.  The 60 year-old driver of the second vehicle declined treatment at the scene.  No names have been released.  The employee we spoke with says one funeral had to be moved to a local church... but, there should be no other disruption in services, or calling hours.


Father and son involved in double-fatal car-pedestrian accident in Ellery were struck by a neighbor's car...

State police now say the driver of the minivan that struck and killed a father and son walking along a town of Ellery road was a neighbor of the victims.  Investigators tell The Buffalo News that the 65 year-old woman told them she didn't see 85-year-old Wesley Lutgen and his son, 52-year-old Benjamin, as they walked on the Maple Springs-Ellery Road.  Both men were killed in the Saturday night accident, which happened as they were walking the short distance from the home they shared to Wesley Lutgen's daughter's house for dinner.  State Police say both men were wearing dark clothing.  The driver was not charged.


City Council approves using $1.6-million in grant money to fund pedestrian bridges for Riverwalk project...

The Jamestown City Council has approved a two-million dollar project to build two pedestrian bridges that will connect the north and southsides of city's Rivewalk near the Board of Public Utilities' power plant.  Lawmakers last night voted unanimously to use $1.6-million in federal funding to pay for 80-percent of the project's costs.  Mayor Sam Teresi says those funds are being provided for the 'Jamestown Intermodal Transportation Project' through the state Department of Transportation.  Teresi says they hope to have the project out to bid by next Spring... with construction starting next Summer.  However... he says that's contingent on approval by the state's Department of Transportation.  Teresi says... once the project is drawn up... the DOT will first have to approve the design.  The bridges will link up with Panzarella Island at the BPU on Steele Street.  Teresi says the city will have to cover 400-thousand dollars of the cost.  But... he says those will be non-tax dollars that come from previous grant money.  Teresi adds there will also be some in-kind services provided by city workers.


 

Gould expected to be named again as Chautauqua County Legislature chairman at re-organizational meeting Friday...

The Ashville-area man who has led the Chautauqua County Legislature the past three years is being tapped again to head up the panel in 2015.  Republican Jay Gould has been named by the GOP Majority to be chairman again next year... and, is likely to be approved at this Friday afternoon's re-organizational meeting in Mayville.  Gould says he feels the panel had two significant accomplishments in 2014.  But... the biggest one was the sale of the County Home in Dunkirk.  As for 2015... Gould says the budget will be another big issue... along with a couple of others.  Those are overcrowding at the county jail... and, the future of the county's two airports.  Gould says that $6-million 'structural deficit' is a major problem that County Executive Vince Horrigan is trying to address with a special panel... but, will likely involve some program cuts.  Also during this Friday's meeting... Clymer-area Republican David Himelein is expected to be named Majority Leader again... while Dunkirk Democrat Keith Ahlstrom will again be Minority Leader.


Minimum Wage set to increase on New Year's Eve in NY...

New York's minimum wage will rise from $8 to $8.75 an hour on New Year's Eve.  The wage could go up even more if lawmakers pass another increase in the 2015 legislative session.  Supporters of a higher wage are calling for a $10.10-per-hour minimum.  But... opponents say another wage hike could backfire by increasing labor costs and prompting employers to cut jobs.