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News Headlines for Fri., Feb. 5, 2016

Alleged Warren County drug kingpin arrested with others...

The alleged kingpin of the illegal drug trade in Warren County, Pennsylvania was arrested Thursday morning along with a number of his cronies.  The Warren Times-Observer reports that members of the Warren County Drug Task Force, State Police, Warren city police and a number of other agences raided a residence at 625 Conewango Avenue in Warren about 8 a.m.  During the raid... the alleged kingpin... 46 year-old Franklin Geiger was taken into custody on charges of possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child.  Geiger is accused of selling 1-to-3 pounds of marijuana a week along with prescription medications.  Three others were also arrested on charges ranging from criminal possession of drugs... to endangering the welfare of a child.


Investigation continuing into fire at vacant home at 196 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown...

The investigation is continuing into an overnight fire at a vacant house in Jamestown that extensively damaged the upper floors of the building.  Deputy Fire Chief Chet Harvey says a neighbor to the structure at 196 Fairmount Ave. knocked on the door at Station-#5 about 1:30 p.m. morning... and, alerted firefighters across the street.  Harvey says fire crews found heavy flames on the second-floor and attic area.  He says it took about 1 1/2 hours to bring the blaze under control.  Harvey says one firefighter was treated for minor burns at WCA Hospital and released.  He says crews used a number of different hose lines to battle the flames.  He says no one was home at the time the blaze was called in.  No one -- aside from the one firefighter -- was hurt.  Harvey adds crews worked to protect the exposure side at a neighboring house that had been vacated recently by a family.


Acting D.A. Swanson says he's running for County District Attorney in November...

The man serving as Acting Chautauqua County District Attorney says he is running to be the D-A for the next four years.  Patrick Swanson announced his candidacy Thursday afternoon... saying that he has the experience of prosecuting thousands of cases in the D-A's office over the past nearly five years.  The Fredonia Democrat says he also has a lot of criminal law experience in Memphis, Tennessee.  Swanson says he's "settled into the office..." and, feels -- after talking to family and friends -- that this was the next step for him.  He is a Sherman native... who has been a lifelong Chautauqua County resident.  He says he and his wife, Natalie, moved back to the area after getting their professional degrees.  Swanson says it gives him a chance to "give back" to an area that's given him so much.  He says the office needs someone who "understands the problems that permeate through-out the county."  While he is a Democrat... Swanson says he would like to pursue other major party lines for next November's Special Election -- including the Republican line.


JPS officials hold second public budget planning session...

The first steps in developing the Jamestown School District's 2016-17 budget were taken last night... and, district leaders will now create a spending plan to present board members later this month.  School officials hosted the second of two budget planning meetings last night to prioritize, and determine how much money is needed for each part of the spending plan.  School Superintendent Tim Mains says break-out groups discussed four educational areas.  Mains says those were identified in the first meeting... and, include Instructional Excellence... Whole Child Development... Family and Community Engagement... and, Support and Metrics.  Mains says the input from the two sessions will be collated... and, presented as part of the preliminary budget plan at the school board's Feb. 23 meeting.


Horrigan returns from NYSAC Conference with new view on current issues...

The annual New York State Association of Counties annual Legislative Conference went very well... and, helped Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan better "frame" his vision for the county.  Horrigan is back from the three-day conference in Albany... where he says the NYSAC Conference was one of the most well-attended ever.  He says it helps him in understanding where other counties are in dealing with similar issues... ranging from jobs to the Heroin epidemic.  Horrigan says it's given him a new perspective on those issues... many of which he'll be addressing in his State of the County Address at the end of February.  He adds he did have a chance to meet privately for a few moments with Gov. Andrew Cuomo during a gathering of some NYSAC leaders at the Governor's Mansion.  Horrigan says they talked about two issues... the NRG Project in Dunkirk... and, a 200-million dollar "Commercialization Center" project in the county.  Horrigan made his comments for our "Community Spotlight" program this weekend.


Horrigan learns more about proposed $200-million "Commercialization Center" in county; TBN story adds to it...

We are getting bits and pieces about the $200-million "Commercialization Center" proposed for Chautauqua County in the governor's budget.  However... County Executive Vince Horrigan says he can't talk very much about it.  Horrigan can only confirm it will be a "significant project."  However... the Buffalo News yesterday is reporting it will be a $200-million "high-tech drug manufacturing center."  The News says it would be located in Dunkirk... and, adds the company involved is "Athenex..." which makes a specialty Cancer drug and has a headquarters in Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus.