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WJJTN News Headlines

The ribbon has been cut on the Chautauqua County Republican headquarters in downtown Lakewood.  Local Congressman Tom Reed did the honors during last night's opening at 119 Chautauqua Avenue.  However... Reed was just one of a handful of local Republican candidates who were on hand.  County GOP Chairman Al Hendrickson of West Ellicott says he was "very pleased" with the turn-out.  Hendrickson says they decided on Lakewood for a few reasons... including parking. Hendrickson says the accessiblity is good for people wanting to stop by the headquarter... as well as volunteer there.  It will now be open everyday through the November election.  State Senator Cathy Young was the only member of the ticket not on hand because she was in Albany on Senate business.  However... Assemblyman Andy Goodell was there... rallying the party faithful for the local candidates... including Reed.  Also on hand were GOP District Attorney candidate Jason Schmidt... and, Family Court Judge candidate Mike Sullivan -- both of Fredonia.

 

In addition to the local GOP headquarters... Congressman Tom Reed's campaign will also be using the space in Lakewood as his western New York headquarters.  Reed emphasized the need for teamwork during the final 90-days of the 2016 campaign... noting that he has been able to help the county with issues from dredging Lake Erie... to school taxes. Assemblyman Andy Goodell touted Reed's 200 town hall meetings that he's held with contituents all over the expansive 23rd District.  Reed says "if you're representing people, you gotta to listen to people, an hear what they have on their minds."  The Corning Republican says they help him bring the important issues to them, to the forefront in Washington, D-C.

 

Federal authorities say they've busted up an international drug ring that used containers labeled ``sea cucumbers'' to send millions of dollars' worth of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl to western New York via California and Mexico.  U.S. Attorney William Hochul, Junior announced at a news conference late Tuesday morning  that 17 people have been indicted on federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges.  Prosecutors say the ring linked to Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel used front companies in California and the Buffalo area to smuggle narcotics on pallets of goods purporting to be sea cucumbers, used in Chinese cuisine.   The Drug Enforcement Administration says the sting netted more than 2.5-million dollars worth of illegal drugs. Federal officials say the traffickers sent about 20-million dollars from Buffalo-area banks to California in a one-year period.

 

Authorities say they've discovered what they believe is a methamphetamine lab under the parking lot of a suburban Buffalo Wal-Mart store.  Police in the town of Amherst say officers on routine patrol found chemicals and other items used to make meth in an underground culvert that runs below the parking lot.  Officers say the culvert is tall enough for a person to stand up in.  Police and fire crews on Monday removed several jars of suspected meth from a manhole that's accessible from the culvert.  Authorities say they plan to look at the Wal-Mart store's surveillance video to see if it shows people using the culvert.  No arrests have been made yet.

 

Portions of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus remain under drought conditions... but, there could be some good news on the way for farmers in the form of rainfall... beneficial rainfall.  Forecasters say a complex frontal zone is forecast to stall over our region this weekend... and, it has the potential to produce periods of rain and scattered thunderstorms.  That from Forecaster Dave Thomas of the National Weather Service in Buffalo. Unfortunately... should the weather system materialize, the rain could become heavy enough to produce some isolated flash flooding.  Thomas says the rainfall deficit since March 1st is close to eight inches, with Western New York only getting about half of its normal rainfall. 

 

Local Congressman Tom Reed says he shares the concern of other lawmakers and farm officials over the long-term effects of the current drought on the upstate region.  U-S Senator Chuck Schumer has asked the U-S Department of Agriculture for a "damage assessment" on how the lack of rain could impact crops as the harvest season looms ahead.  Reed says he recently met with officials from the New York Farm Bureau... and, adds the issue did come up. Reed says all aspects of the farming industry will likely be impacted... but, says it will likely be seen most in the "specialty crop" area... including grapes... corn... onions... potatoes... and apples will be affected.  Local grape growers say it's going to be a matter of who got the most rain.

 

Fire has damaged a large grain solo at a farm in the south county town of Poland... which led to a portion of Route 62 being closed for about 3-and-a-half hours Tuesday morning.  Kennedy Fire Chief Keith Bean says his fire crews were called to the scene at the Stearns farm at 25-91 Route 62 about 7:20 AM.  Bean says a passer-by called in the alarm... and, adds they found the blaze pretty quickly. Bean says while the silo was filled with smoke and some fire... there was never a threat to the attached Barn... nor the nearby house.  He says they were joined by eight other fire departments at the scene to help get water and fire retardant to the scene.  Bean says they don't have a cause yet... but, he says it appears the heat spawned the combustion of some materials in the silo.  He says Route 62 between Hartson and Scott Hill Roads reopened shortly before 11 AM.  Kennedy was joined at the scene by several other departments... and, the county's HazMat Team.  No one was hurt.

 

Service arrangments have been announced for former WJTN, SE-93 FM radio host Steve Ehmke... who passed away at his apartment in St. Petersburg, Florida last Thursday morning.  Steve... who went by the on-air name, "Dave McKay" on the WQYK-FM in Tampa... was with the powerhouse Country station for the past 24 years.  The memorial service will be held at 5 PM this Thursday at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg... with doors opening at 4:30 PM.  Steve died suddenly at the age of 55.  Hundreds of fans signed memorial tributes to McKay at WQYK's tents at the Hank Williams Jr./Chris Stapleton concert in Tampa.  The station reports there's also been  an enormous outpouring of support from country artists.  Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley and Jennifer Nettles are among the singers who have expressed condolences to the station.  Brad Paisley tweeted -- "Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Dave McKay.  He was always fun, always upbeat, and one of the great ones."

 

We have a correction on a story we aired Monday on the new statue of Lucille Ball in Celoron.  Mayor Scot Schrecengost says the old, "Scary Lucy" statue that gained international fame will now remain in Lucille Ball Memorial Park permanently.  That decision was made a short time ago.  Initially... it was to be placed in the new, National Comedy Center in Jamestown... but, that is no longer the case.  The "Scary Lucy" statue is now located near the Summer Wind landing... and, faces Chautauqua Lake.