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WJTN News Headlines

He was ready to run for re-election to another full term on the Jamestown School Board... but, President Joe DiMaio has decided that 12 years is enough.  DiMaio made the stunning announcement prior to last night's public hearing on the 2016-17 budget at Persell Middle School.  He says he is withdrawing his name from consideration... though his name will still be on next Tuesday's ballot.  DiMaio gave no particular reason for bowing out... just adding that the timing is right. DiMaio did say the past several years had been a "roller coaster" with state aid being cut... then brought back.  He's also been at the fore-front of Jamestown's effort to win it's "fair share" of aid through the Small Cities School District lawsuit against the state.  However... DiMaio says he's been most proud of the local board's support of that... and, the fact they put "students first."  DiMaio's name is also on a "reminder" postcard that's been mailed out to district residents about the budget, and school board vote next Tuesday.  Incumbant Board member Patrick Slagle... and, newcomers... Todd Rushforth... and, Jeffrey Yeates... are on the ballot. One person spoke during last night's public hearing on the proposed, 2016-17Jamestown school budget.  However... it pertained to proposition-#2... which is for the lease-purchase of seven new school buses.  School Business Manager Vern Connors explained the approximately 930-thousand dollar proposition.

 

A fire that originated in an upstairs bedroom has left a two-story home in Frewsburg heavily-damaged.  Frewsburg fire crews were called to the scene at 27 Denman Street about 12:30 yesterday afternoon.  Fire Chief John Lindsey, Junior says they found a lot of fire coming from the upper portions of the house on arrival. Lindsey says they immediately called in mutual aid from Falconer, Busti, and Kiantone... and, adds they were able to attack the blaze from both the inside and outside of the home.  He says it took about an hour-and-a-half to knock down the flames and get them under control.  Lindsey says fire damage was confined to the upstairs... and, there was water damage to the downstairs.  He says Frewsburg was also joined at the scene by firefighters from Lakewood... and Kennedy was on stand-by.  He says no one was hurt.  Lindsey says a mother and her five children were home at the time... but, got out safely.  He says the cause is under investigation.

 

There is a boil water in effect for the village of Sinclairville... and, all customers of it's water system.  The county's Department of Health and Human Services is also asking all customers of the village's water supply to conserve water used for drinking and cooking.  County Executive Vince Horrigan's office reports a major leak developed last night in one of the water mains in the village, causing a drop in pressure and partial loss of water in the village's water system.  The break has been repaired... but, you will have to still boil the water for at least one-minute before consuming.  Residents will be notified when tests confirm that no harmful bacteria are in the system, and you no longer need to boil your water.  For more information... call the Mayor's office at 962-9455.

 

It was business as usual yesterday for an area school district that’s being affected by the boil order.  Cassadaga Valley Central School Superintendent Charles Leichner said Tuesday afternoon that they've been using bottled water to help handle the situation.  Leichner says they have enough cooler space through-out the elementary and high school buildings.  He says they got extra water from Cassadaga... which has no water issues.  Leichner says the district should be able to manage through Thursday.  He credits the teachers and staff for being flexible and able to roll with any challenge the district has to meet. 

 

The increase in gasoline prices in the Jamestown-area has slowed slightly this week... with Triple-A reporting a 2-cent per gallon jump over the past seven days.  The Triple-A's Fuel Gauge Report says the price has increased during that time from 2-dollars-37 cents, to 2--39 this week.  The average price for self-serve, regular is based on prices reported at 19 local service stations.  Last year at this time... the price was just over 2-dollars-85 cents a gallon.  Nationally... Triple-A says the price is just under 2-dollars-21 cents a gallon.  The national average price of gas declined slightly on the week... and, it is possible that prices have begun to stabilize as refineries increase production to meet record-high demand.  Despite this recent trend... retail averages are down by a penny a gallon this week.

 

Governor Andrew Cuomo has appointed a task force aimed at ending what he called a crisis of heroin and opioid addiction continuing to plague families and communities in New York.  The group will be chaired by Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, commissioner of the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.  The other 21 members include representatives of health care, drug treatment, advocacy, law enforcement and education.  They're expected to hold public listening sessions and develop a statewide coordinated plan.  State efforts so far include expanding insurance coverage for treatment and a law requiring drug prescribers to consult a state database to check patient prescription histories.  Officials credit that for a 90 percent decrease in "doctor shoppers" seeking multiple opioid prescriptions.  The task force was announced Tuesday.

 

With it's latest Parking Ticket Amnesty program ended... the city of Jamestown will now be "aggressively pursing" collections on fine and fees that are still outstanding.  That from Mayor Sam Teresi... who says the latest program -- which brought in more than 35-thousand dollars -- was successful.  However... Teresi says there are nearly 395-thousand dollars in fines and fees outstanding.  To try and collect what's remaining... he says two notices will be publishing in this Sunday's Post-Journal. Names have been included with the plate numbers on that list.  Teresi says the second list is of people who failed to show up for City Court on their tickets... and, have had arrest warrants issued.  He says the city has also resumed it's parking ticket enforcement... including booting tires, and towing of vehicle with plates that have more than 150-dollars worth of parking violations.  Teresi says his office, along with the City Clerk, will be listing all remaining 4-thousand-516 plates that have any outstanding tickets on the city's website shortly.  That can be accessed at Jamestownny-dot-NET.  

 

The New York Senate Elections Committee has briefly considered legislation to close a campaign finance loophole for limited liability companies and its Republican members have voted to send it to another committee.  Senator Daniel Squadron, a Manhattan Democrat and sponsor, urged the Elections Committee to send it to a floor vote in the Republican-controlled chamber instead, where all senators would have to publicly show their positions.  Chairman Fred Akshar, a freshman Republican from Binghamton, says Monday the referral was requested by the Codes Committee, though he wasn't sure by whom.  Akshar says there needs to be ``a global conversation'' about campaign finance issues, including union donations.