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WJTN News Headlines

 

The search continued over the weekend across the area for the Jamestown man accused of shooting and killing his wife during an incident on the southside last Thursday.  City Police last Friday confirmed that 36 year-old Shari Robbins was shot and killed by her husband, 36 year-old Keith Robbins.  Keith Robbins was initially identified as a "person of interest" in the shooting incident at 9 Prospect Street shortly after 9 AM.  A nationwide alert was issued for Robbins... who is a white male... about 5-foot-8 inches tall, and weighing 175 pounds.  Samuelson says he was last seen Thursday driving his pick-up truck... which was later found on Woodworth Avenue.  If you have any information on Robbins' whereabouts, call Buffalo Crimestoppers at 867-6161, and you could be eligible for a reward of up to one-thousand dollars.  You can also call the JPD Tips-line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477.  Robbins should be considered "armed and dangerous."

 

A Sheffield, Pennsylvania man has been arrested in the immediate Jamestown area as a fugitive from justice in Warren County on drug-related charges.  Members of the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force say they found, and arrested, 48 year-old Rickey Barr, at 414 Fairmount Avenue last Friday on Felony warrants... and, a charge of Access Device Fraud.  The task force was assisted by the Warren County Drug Task Force in the investigation.  Barr was arraigned in Ellicott Town Court... and, sent to the Chautauqua County Jail without bail pending an extradiction hearing.

 

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi says he expects to sign a local law that will allow the city council to exceed the 2-percent Property Tax Cap in the 2017 budget plan.  Teresi held a public hearing earlier in the week on the law, which was overwhelmingly adopted by city lawmakers.  With a now-825-thousand dollar shortfall starring them in the face... Teresi says -- unless they find some significant savings by December 1st -- they won't be able to avoid it. Teresi says they hope they don't have to exceed the cap... but, adds you need to have that available to you when finalizing the spending plan.  As of now... the budget exceeds the cap... which is point-69 percent... by about 20-thousand dollars.  Some 10 people or so attended with about half voicing their feelings about the move... and, Teresi says he heard from half of them.  He says it's important to listen... and, to hear what other ideas are out there.  Right now... the Jamestown City Budget increases the tax levy by about point-96 percent... or about 150-thousand dollars.  City lawmakers will look at budgets from the Department of Development... and, outside agencies and groups. Also tonight... lawmakers will hold a public hearing on the 35-million dollar proposal by Mayor Teresi.  That hearing begins at 6 PM in Council Chambers on the second-floor of city hall.

 

The Cuomo administration is offering a 20-million dollar award for local governments that come up with the best plan for saving money and cutting property taxes by sharing municipal services.  Under the Municipal Consolidation and Efficiency Competition, teams of two or more local governments will submit plans for sharing services and reducing property taxes.  The prize money will support the municipal actions.  A winner will be announced in August.  Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the competition late last week.  He said the goal is to get local governments to band together and streamline their bureaucracies to deliver real relief to taxpayers.  The Democrat first proposed the competition in his State of the State and budget proposal last January.

 

New York state has started a new program that aims to give veterans the skills and training they need to begin a new career in agriculture.  The initiative allows veterans to use their military benefits while at the same time earning a wage during the on-the-job training, which can last from six months to two years.  The program is starting with a single farm in western New York, but state officials say farms across the state can now apply to participate.  Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the program's launch on Friday, Veterans Day.  State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball says it addresses a shortage of skilled farm workers while helping veterans get the training they need to begin a career after leaving the service.

 

The Dunkirk School Board has learned more details about a nearly 700-thousand dollar, Pre-K grant the school district will be receiving from the state.  Superintendent James Tracy told the board late last week that the district will begin to get the information out to the families with children who are eligible for the program.  Dr. Tracy says the wheels are in motion in creating the needed steps such as a curriculum. Tracy says that the long-term goal is to create a pre-school center that would allow access for all three and four-year olds in the district.  He says several groups... including Chautauqua Opportunities, Incorporated... have been involved in the partnership with the Dunkirk schools.

 

A portion of the New York State Thruway was closed in the north county for a while last Friday when a car carrier caught fire in the westbound lanes between Exits 59 and 60.  Fire crews from Fredonia and East Dunkirk fought the flames that destroyed the vehicle near milepost 474 around 6 am.  There were no injuries reported.

 

A tiny group of college professors saw what pollsters and the political establishment didn't: Donald Trump was going to be president.  A few professors stood up to a tidal wave of prevailing thought to predict for months that the billionaire and reality TV star would pull off one of the biggest shockers in American history.  A political scientist at New York's Stony Brook University based his prediction on primary results and his "pendulum of change" theory.  A Yale professor tied his pick to economics.  And a history professor at American University relied on a formula he developed in the 1980s.  Stony Brook's Helmut Norpoth acknowledged he harbored some private doubts as the contentious campaign raged on.  But... he never wavered publicly, even after the leak of Trump's explosive "Access Hollywood" video.

 

Jamestown High School Senior Kaitlyn Healy has won the first ever Chautauqua Area Scholarship Program.  She was selected from 17 candidates in the event, held Saturday night at Jamestown High School. Kaitlyn received a $4,000 scholarship plus additional awards in the categories of 'self-expression', talent, and the panel interview.  Kaitlyn is the daughter of Michael Healy and Terry Smith.  Her adopted 'little sister' for the program was Emily Zaranack of Falconer.  Kaitlyn says being a part of the scholarship program has boosted her confidence. The First Runner Up in the contest was Paige Turcotte of Panama.  (For a complete list of results, see the Media One Facebook page.)  Local families, organizations and businesses contributed $18,000 for scholarships for the young women who competed.  The Chautauqua Area Scholarship Program was previously known as 'Distinguished Young Women' of the Lakewood Area.