Community Spotlight, the area's longest running local public affairs radio program, airs on all six Media One Radio Group stations each weekend and is also available to hear in our Podcast Section.  Each week we sit down with a community leader or another special guest to talk about issues within our community.  


Weather Forecasts are available across our radio stations each day and also as your fingertips! 

Connect with The National Weather Service's Buffalo Office or with WGRZ-TV for accurate weather information!

 

 

 


 

WJTN Headlines

Jamestown's mayor says the nine arson fires over the past week amount to "terrorism." 

 

Sam Teresi conveyed his thoughts following last night's City Council voting session where a few people expressed their concerns over the fires, and about vacant homes in their neighborhoods. 

 

Teresi says some may joke about fire's in vacant homes being called "urban renewal" but, he says it's not a joking matter. 

 

Teresi says fire damaged homes are costly to tear down at the city's expense.
 

Teresi says part of arsonists try to do is strike "terror" into the hearts of local residents. 

 

He also spoke to the media gathered about the need for the state to impose stronger, manditory penalties on people who commit and are found guilty of arson. City police and fire investigators are still looking to talk to people who may have seen something, or heard something last Friday night when five fires, four in vacant homes were set. 

 

Teresi echoed At-Large Councilwoman Kim Ecklund's comments during last night's meeting where she emplored residents that if they "see something, say something" to authorities.


Jamestown police investigators are pouring over information, and video surveillance in an effort to find the person or persons responsible for nine arson fires in the city over a four-day period last week. 

 

Five of those occured within a three hour period late last Friday night, and Saturday morning. That from City Police Chief and Public Safety Director Harry Snellings who says police and fire officials met yesterday morning to update the investigation. 

 

Snellings says they've received a number of tips so far. The first call last Friday night came in for a vacant, two-story house at 654 East Sixth Street just after 11 PM.  The other calls came in quick succession through just after 2 AMSaturday.  However it was quiet the rest of the weekend. 

 

Snellings says, though, there is still a lot of concern that the suspect may strike again. Senllings says he's never seen anything like this and says it's kept both firefighters and police very busy. 

 

He says anyone with information on any of last week's arson fires is asked to call JPD at 483-7537 their Tips-line at 483-TIPS that's 483-8477. You can also go to JPD's Tips 4-1-1 app or their Facebook page.


Discussions continued Monday between Falconer village officials, building owners and contractors on beginning demolition work on the half-a-block area on Main Street in the village ravaged by last week's massive fire. 

 

Mayor Jim Rensel was back at the scene yesterday morning discussing the best course of action to take at 29 to 39 West Main Street. Rensel expressed some frustration because no equipment is in place yet to start the work.

 

That's because the threat of a partial building collapse remains in place.  Rensel says a piece of the wall did fall off last Saturday night.  However the 6-foot tall "collapse zone" fence did it's job, and there was little damage and no one was hurt. 

 

Rensel adds that the Falconer business community has also done a great job helping the seven businesses inside the building that lost storefronts.  He says they're all "working well together" and, the ones burned out of their previous locations now have  at least temporary quarters. 

 

Rensel adds the local Red Cross is helping the approximately 19 people who lived in apartments above the commercial businesses on the first floor find temporary shelter following the blaze.


Local Congressman Tom Reed believes the House of Representatives will be back dealing with health care before the end of the year due to problems Republicans believe will come forward with the Affordable Care Act. 

 

The Corning Republican says he was "re-committing" to be part of a governing block of House members going forward. Reed says the ACA also known as "ObamaCare" is looking at 40 to 50-percent premium increases this year and, fewer insurance choices. 

 

If that does happen he expects lawmakers will HAVE to act. Reed says it may require the unraveling of the ACA for some lawmakers who were hesitant about backing the House GOP bill to finally get on board.  He himself just got to the point of supporting the new, American Health Care Act, just a week ago.

 

As for what could have been done to garner support for the AHCA Reed says the GOP leadership should have probably brought more of the policy to light before a vote including proposed tax credits. 

 

He says it's time for lawmakers to work together to find bi-partisan solutions and pointed to the "Problem Solver's Caucus" and "No Label's" groups he works with.


A coalition of anti-hunger advocates, agricultural groups and environmental organizations are urging New York leaders to create a tax credit for farmers who donate fruits, vegetables and other products to foodbanks. 

 

The measure has broad support in the state Legislature. But it has been vetoed before by Governor Andrew Cuomo because it wasn't a part of the state budget. Supporters are gathering today in Albany to ask that the tax credit be included in the budget this year. 

 

Farmers already donate millions of pounds of food annually, but say tax credits would reduce the costs of harvesting and transporting surplus crops that would otherwise go to waste. Environmentalists and anti-hunger advocates say more donations would reduce food waste and give poor New Yorkers access to healthy fruits and vegetables.


The power was back on about mid-morning Monday for about 350 National Grid customers in the city of Dunkirk. 

 

National Grid Spokesman Steve Brady says the outage was first reported around 6 AM. Brady says the customers were in an area served by a tap-line off their "Main line" failed. 

 

Dunkirk Police Chief David Ortolano says the outage affected several traffic lights on Central Avenue and the Police Department was operating with an emergency generator until the power was restored around 9 AM.


Jamestown's Interclub Council named the 2016 Woman of the Year, Monday night at the Marvin House  and the winnner is Carol Drake.

 

Carol and her husband Rod, moved to Jamestown 40 years ago. Over that time Carol's volunteered for a dozen or more organizations. Carol is a volunteeer at the Robert H. Jackson Center, a place she worked for 10 years as Office Manager. Carol Drake, Jamestown's Interclub council's 2016 Woman of the Year.


A professional wrestling show is coming to the Northwest Arena this Saturday that will benefit a local wrestling team. 

 

Southern Tier Wrestling Spokesman Randy Grey says there will be plenty of entertainment for wrestling fans at this show and, there is a lot of effort being made to make it successful.

 

Grey says this event is designed to be a fundraiser for the Jamestown Community College Wrestling Team and it will help fund their operations. Grey says bell-time at Northwest Arena is 6 PM and, pre-sale tickets are $10 each and it is $20 for front row seats.

 

For more information call the Northwest Arena Box office or go on to the Gold Rush Wrestling Tournament Facebook Page.


The Maid of the Mist tour boats at Niagara Falls are being readied for their earliest launch ever. 

 

The famed boats that bring passengers from the New York shore to the base of the falls in the lower Niagara River will open the 2017 season this coming Saturday

 

A similar attraction, operated by Hornblower, launches from the Canadian shore the same day.  Last year 1.6 million people rode the Maid of the Mist boats during the tourist attraction's 131st year.  The season runs through early November.