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WJTN News Headlines

City police have arrested the man who allegedly robbed two 7-Eleven stores on Jamestown's eastside both Sunday and Monday mornings.  JPD officials have yet to identify the robber. They say that the man entered the 7-Eleven store at the corner of East Second and Buffalo Streets early both mornings... and, pulled a gun on the store clerk.  Police say the man then took money from the cash register before fleeing on foot.  More details are expected to be released later today.

 

Dunkirk Police made two arrests after responding to a call from a concerned citizen about an attempted burglary in the city early Sunday morning.  Police say they arrived to the Dollar General store on East 4th street and found 19- year- old Benjamin Catalino of Silver Creek and 21- year-old Julio Montanez of Dunkirk in front of the store.  Police Chief David Ortolano says the suspects were apparently trying to burglarize the business at the time. Ortolano says a citizen who saw some suspicious activity near the store alerted police... and, he says the "great citizens" of Dunkirk help them a lot.  Catalino and Montanez have been charged with third-degree attempted burglary... third-degree criminal mischief... and, obstruction of governmental administration.  Both men were arraigned in City Court and are being held in County Jail pending a preliminary hearing.

 

A city man is jailed for allegedly threatening a physically disabled person last Sunday afternoon in the Top's Market parking lot on Jamestown's northside.  City police were called to the Washington Street location about Noon... and, found a domestic incident had occured in the lot.  Officers found the victim, and the suspect -- identified as Patrick Liberte.  They say witnesses told them that Liberte was swinging a belt around like he was going to strike the disabled victim.  Police then arrested Liberte for second-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.  He was jailed pending arraignment.  The victim was taken for evaluation to WCA Hospital.

 

With bids for the reconstruction of the historic Chautauqua Amphitheater coming in higher than expected... institution officials should seriously look at alternatives.  Those are the feelings of preservationists who say upgrading the current structure would be much less expensive.  The man heading up the "Save the Amp" group, Brian Berg, says the cost to replace the current structure have already increased by 16-million dollars since the project was first laid out in 2012.  Berg says the architect their group has hired, shows a renovation and modernization, could save between 5 and 15-million dollars. Berg says his group... and, the others who have opposed a total reconstruction of the Amphitheater... are urging a restoration.  He says that's especially the case now when you want to draw more visitors to the institution.  Berg says "people seek authenticity..." and, not a "modern theater that looks like any place else."  He says the "Save the Amp" group is sending out a letter to the Chautauqua community... urging them to press the board to at least look at the alternative.  He says another concern... with costs going up... is what may be left out of the project. 

 

Chautauqua Institution has named a new artistic director for the Chautauqua Theater Company to replace Vivienne Benesch following the 2016 Season.  Vice-President and director of Programming at Chautauqua, Deborah Sunya-Moore says Andrew Borba will be co-director with Benesch during the 2016 season... and, become the new director in 2017.  Benesch was recently named producing artistic director of PlayMakers Repertory Company, the professional theater in residence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Sunya-Moore says -- "Chautauqua is fortunate to have two artistic leaders as accomplished, dedicated and syncopated as Andrew and Vivienne.  We are thrilled for Andrew to grow his leadership role at CTC and grateful to Vivienne for her guidance during this transition.  We look forward to continuing a close relationship with her for seasons to come." 

 

Chautauqua County's Congressman says the three-year, 325-billion dollar federal transportation bill that has cleared the House should benefit Western New York.  Reed says he has heard the concerns of local and state officials about the need for federal assistance in repairing local highways and bridges. Reed says the House bill includes 4.5-billion dollars in funding for freight and highway projects that total at least 100-million dollars.  The Corning Republican says he would like to see the Route 219 project in Cattaraugus County compete for the pot of money.  He says that project will cost about 700-million dollars... and, he hopes Governor Cuomo will apply for funding from "that 4.5-billion dollars."  Reed says there are "minor" differences with the Senate bill and he believes they can be worked out before November 20th when funding is expected to run out.

 

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer wants the Food and Drug Administration to investigate a new caffeinated peanut butter that targets the athletic and fitness market.  It's called ``STEEM Peanut Butter,'' and was launched by three friends in Massachusetts last year.  Right now... it's sold mostly online and at a few fitness centers and small shops in Massachusetts and Connecticut.  The developers say it combines the protein of peanuts with the energy boost of caffeine.  They say the caffeine is released slowly because peanut butter takes longer to digest than coffee.  But, Schumer says a single serving of STEEM delivers five times more caffeine than a single can of Coke.  He says it may pose a health threat, especially to children.  Schumer urged the FDA to investigate the safety of using caffeine in peanut butter.