Speakers high-light local observance of International Overdose Awareness Day...
Drug abuse and addiction has turned the United States into a nation "at risk..." and, more needs to be done to stop the epidemic which has led to increasing numbers of overdose deaths. That from speakers at last night's local observance of International Drug Overdose Awareness Day at the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood. Kim Carlson is the mother of Alex Foulk, who died of a Heroin overdose last February. Carlson recounted how Alex was a "normal" All-American kind of kid... who she knew smoked marijuana once in a while. She adds he hated needles... worked at a state job. She says she talked with him about drugs, and the fact there was "bad Heroin" in the area at the time, and he assured her that he wasn't taking it. Carlson started the Alex Foulk Foundation to help those with drug issues get a place to stay... or get to treatment or counseling. She's also part of the effort to bring long-term transitional housing to the Jamestown-area. In addition to Carlson... the audience of more than 50 people heard from former Chautauqua County Health Director Dr. Robert Berke... who now practices at Family Health Medical Services... Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings... and, Julie Franco with the Chautauqua Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Council.
Horrigan says he was not aware of any roadblocks regarding Athenex, and is still working with company on workforce matters...
Roadblocks in New York state have reportedly led the head of the anti-Cancer drug maker Athenex to begin looking elsewhere for a corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant. That from Athenex's Chief Operating Officer Flint Besecker... who tells The Buffalo News that he is "actively talking to someone else, actually, and it's in the U-K." Besecker is expressing frustration with the pace of constructing the new facilites. County Executive Vince Horrigan says he is surprised by the report... and, adds that the county has been working with Athenex officials on developing the needed workforce. Horrigan says education leaders in the county have toured Athenex's current facilities to see how they operate. The new plant in the town of Dunkirk is expected to employ 900 to 950 workers. Horrigan adds that the land has now been acquired by the company... and, he says some design work has been done on the new facility... which would be located off Routes 5 and 20.
Young responds, and works with Cuomo administration to change state agency involved in the Athenex project...
An area state lawmaker says that a media report about the Athenex projects hitting roadblocks is "disconcerting." And... that led State Senator Cathy Young to talk with the Cuomo Adminstration about the need to change state oversight of the project. Late yesterday... Young said that the administration had changed the state agency managing the effort from SUNY Polytechnic to Empire State Development. Otherwise... Young says everthing else is in place... including $225-million in state funding. Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas says he did hear back from Cuomo official... who assured him on the state end that the project was moving foward. Governor Andrew Cuomo traveled to Dunkirk earlier this year to announce the deal... calling it a "game changer."
Single-car crash in Sugar Grove, PA area sends two to the hospital...
Two women were hurt -- one seriously -- in a one-car crash on Jackson Run Road in Sugar Grove Township in Warren County, Pennsylvania. State Police in Warren say the vehicle, driven by 74 year-old Gloria Rieder of Warren, was southbound about 8 p.m. Tuesday when the car went off the side of the road. Troopers say the vehicle hit several mailboxes... and, continued on -- hitting a tree. Police say the car overturned onto the driver's side before stopping. Rieder and her passenger, 82 year-old Adelina Pitner of Sugar Grove, were taken to Warren General Hospital for treatment. Troopers say Pitner was later transported to the Hamot Medical Center in Erie for further evaluation and treatment.
Sullivan announces Family Court Judge candidacy, GOP endorsement...
The north county man who is the endorsed Republican candidate for Chautauqua County Family Court Judge says he's got the experience needed for the job. Fredonia's Mike Sullivan says he has more than 25 years of experience representing children, parents and others in the court. Sullivan recently received the GOP Committee's nod to run... adding that he will put his "full effort and attention to both adjudication of the cases before me, and work to improve the experience... of everyone in the court." He also touted his work to help establish a Family Treatment Court in the county the past 12 years. Sullivan says he knew from his first cases that he had a passion of this kind of work. He admits there are some bad days... but, adds that when you work hard and address what's in front of you... you can really help make a difference in the life of a child, or a family. Sullivan has also been rated "Highly Qualified" for election as judge by the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission.
Meningitis Vaccine to be given to all 7th and 12th graders in school in NYS...
Starting today... all school students entering the 7th or 12th grades in New York state will be required to be vaccinated against meningitis. Twenty-seven states already require the vaccine as part of standard immunizations. Meningitis refers to acute and often life-threatening inflammation of the membranes covering the brain. More than one-thousand people contract the disease each year in the U.S., with between 10 and 15 percent of them dying from the disease. Survivors can suffer hearing loss or limb amputation. Many public health advocates supported the push for the mandate, which lawmakers passed in 2015.
