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WJTN News Headlines

The Jamestown Public Schools have closed for the day.  School Superintendent Tim Mains explains that the decision wasn't made based on the current weather conditions, but on the aftermath of those conditions. As of early this morning many roads and sidewalks in Jamestown were still snow covered and slippery. Mains says he's putting the kids safety first. The Greater Jamestown area has received an unprecedented 41 inches of snow since last Thursday afternoon. Find the closings and cancelations at Radiojamestown.com.

 

With Chautauqua County's Budget Director being promoted to be the county's new Finance Director... the search is now on for a new Budget Director.   Kitty Crow will take over for the retiring Susan Marsh next February 1st after leading the Budget Office for the past 10 years.  County Executive Vince Horrigan made the announcement last Friday... and, says the search is already underway for a new Budget Director. Crow will be working with Marsh through January 31st... which will be Marsh's last day.  Horrigan says Crow brings 24 years of experience with finance and budgeting to the position... and, in-depth knowledge of county government, and it's finances.  Since April of 2012... Horrigan says Crow has also served as the county's Health Insurance Administrator.  As Budget Director... and, Health Insurance Administrator... he says Crow has managed the development and delivery of 11 county budgets, administered the county’s health insurance plans for active employees and retirees.

 

Finding a new budget director isn't the only department head search for the county executive as 2016 winds down.  Vince Horrigan says he is looking for a new Airport and Parks Manager with Bill Tucker having left county government as of last Friday.  Horrigan says Tucker... who was hired in October of 2014... is moving onto the private sector locally.  The executive praised Tucker... who was previously the director of the local chapter of the American Red Cross. Horrigan credits Tucker with doing a lot of positive work in reducing the county's local share of cost for it's two airports in Jamestown and Dunkirk.  Until a new manager is found... Horrigan says the airport duties will fall to Public Facilities Director George Spanos.  Horrigan says they have received a few applications for the Airport and Parks Manager... and, says they are looking to receive two or three more before making a decision.

 

New York state has published a "bill of rights" for home owners facing foreclosure.  Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the move late this past week.  It's one piece of a broader effort to help New Yorkers struggling to stay in their homes.  The bill of rights reminds residents that they have the right to stay in their home and the duty to maintain it during the foreclosure process.  It also lets residents known they have a right to be properly notified before a foreclosure suit is filed.  The state's Department of Financial Services also completed new rules designed to address a wave of abandoned properties left in the wake of the recent housing crisis.  The regulations include a requirement that lenders report vacant properties to the state.

 

State police are warning New York residents of an identity phishing scam.  Troopers say several people have received calls from individuals claiming to be members of the New York State Police.  They've been told their identity has been stolen, or that they're being investigated.  Authorities say the ruse is an attempt to "phish" for personal information, or to solicit money.  State police say the phone number that's been displayed on caller IDs during these calls is 1-(518)-897-2000.  That's a number for State Police in Ray Brook, outside Lake Placid.  Troopers say the calls are not originating from that substation, and warn that they do not solicit donations from the general public.

 

A big boost by workplace campaigns has helped put the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County at 82-percent of it's 2016 General Campaign goal.  That from Executive Director Tori Irgang... who says the effort had reached one-million-70 thousand dollars by late last week.  The goal by the end of the year is 1.3-million dollars.  Irgang says many of the workplace efforts wrapped up over the past two to three weeks. Irgang says they still have to raise just over 200-thousand dollars to reach this year's goal... and, she says they want people who still plan to give yet to, make sure they do that.  She says they've been helped by three areas in particular, during this campaign.  Irgang says the Industrial, and Individual giving have been "very good."  Campaign Co-Chairs Paul and Anne Hedin say they hope to "build a stronger community" through and during the campaign. The effort supports 42 programs at 25 partner agencies.  For more information on the United Way campaign... call 483-1561... or go on-line to UWayscc-dot-ORG.

 

A Miami, Florida, resident who was caught at the northern U.S. border with 73 forged credit cards has pleaded guilty.  Prosecutors in Buffalo, New York, say 36-year-old Deladier Benitez faces up to seven years in prison following his arrest as he tried to enter Canada from the United States in October.  He pleaded guilty late last Friday to criminal possession of a forged instrument.  Authorities say they found the forged credit cards and a forged Ohio driver's license during a search at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo.  Benitez is a Cuban national.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 13th.

 

The Department of Environmental Conservation says hunters have reported taking about 5 percent more deer during the Southern Zone regular season so far than the same period last year.  Statewide across all deer seasons, hunters have reported about 9 percent more deer than 2015.  All deer hunting in the Northern Zone and the regular season in the Southern Zone ended on Sunday.  DEC says many hunters typically make a last push to secure some venison during the final days of the season, and they're expected to take 15-thousand to 20-thousad more deer.  The regular firearm season ended yesterday.

 

Anyone hoping Pennsylvania's 20 "unbound" Electoral College members might turn against Republican president-elect Donald Trump is almost certainly going to be disappointed.  The state's electors are expressing strong support for Trump ahead of the December 19th vote, despite being bombarded with calls, letters and emails urging them to change their minds.  The onslaught led the Pennsylvania Republican Party to make a complaint to the state police, which has confirmed it's investigating.