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WJTN Headlines

A North County legislator announced plans this afternoon to run for Chautauqua County Executive and, he received the backing of a number of big name Republicans. 

 

Hanover Republican George Borrello made the announcement in Silver Creek and was introduced by the man he hopes to replace.  County Executive Vince Horrigan says he wouldn't leave the office for retirement without knowing that someone like Borrello was ready to run. 

 

Borrello has been a legislator since 2010 and says he's ready to do more. Among those backing Borrello's bid for County Executive is local Congressman Tom Reed who says to him, Borrello "respresents all of us." 

 

In addition State Senator Cathy Young, and Assemblyman Andy Goodell were among those on hand for the announcement.  Borrello's campaign theme is "Elevating Chautauqua County."


New York's senior U-S Senator is calling for the federal government to help provide crop insurance for malt barley growers in all upstate New York counties. 

 

Democrat Charles Schumer was at Southern Tier Distillery, next to Southern Tier Brewing, in the town of Busti late Wednesday morning to make the announcement. 

 

Schumer says the move will help local farmers and, the state's booming craft beverage industry.  He says right now there's not enough malt barley because the insurance is only available in four counties.

 

In fact officials at Southern Tier Distilling say they use about 4,000 pounds of barley a month for their growing product line which will soon include bourbon.  Schumer says the state now ranks third in the craft distilling business and fifth in craft brewing and, says that fact boost's New York's tourism industry. 

 

He says no new law is needed.  He says it needs the authorization of the U-S Agriculture Secretary.  However he says President Trump's new secretary has not been sworn in yet.


Senator Schumer is praising President Donald Trump for his promise to find a solution to a trade dispute with Canada that has left dairy farmers in New York and Wisconsin without a market for their product. 

 

During a speech in Kenosha, Wisconsin Tuesday Trump said that Canada has been "very unfair" to dairy farmers and "we're going to start working on that."  During his stop at Southern Tier Distilling Schumer blamed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a new "protectionist" dairy pricing policy. 

 

He says it's especially hurt the "ultra-filtered" milk industry. Canada has not imposed any new import taxes on the protein liquid concentrate.  However the government there has been able to get their milk producers to sell it cheaper than it's American counterpart. 

 

Schumer says this is one area where he will certainly work with the Trump Administration on.  In fact he says he's much closer to Trump's view on trade than he was Presidents Obama and Bush.  When he was a member of Congress Schumer voted against the North American Free Trade deal.


A town of Carroll teenager faces several charges, including Felony grand larceny after allegedly stealing a car in the town of Kiantone, and driving drunk when the car crashed on Water Street. 

 

Sheriff's officers were called to the scene just before 6:30 Monday morning and, found the 17 year-old male had fled the scne, leaving a 15 year-old girl there alone.  Deputies say the boy had taken the car from a Frewsburg home without permission.  He was located at another residence in Frewsburg a short time later, and physically resisted arrest. 

 

Deputies say they took the 17 year-old to UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital where he allegedly fought with police again and, struck a deputy in the face.  The 17 year old was later arraigned Kiantone Town Court on the charges which also include Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a child in the vehicle and, sent to the county jail without bail. 

 

The teen will appear in Carroll Town Court at a later date.  Officers say charges regarding incident at UPMC Chautauqua WCA hospital are pending.


New York is awarding more than $13 million to help law enforcement agencies combat gun violence. 

 

The money will go to 20 police departments in the 17 counties participating in the state's Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative.  The counties report 83% of the violent crime outside of New York City. 

 

A dozen counties received funding to specifically target gun violence. Those are Albany, Erie, Monroe, Westchester, Onondaga, Suffolk, Nassau, Schenectady, Orange, Niagara, Oneida  and Dutchess counties.  Five others were awarded grants to target aggravated assaults.  Those are Ulster, Chautauqua, Rockland, Rensselaer and Broome counties.


They couldn't  be outside but Jamestown Community College's Earthfest drew a big noontime crowd to the Hamilton Collegiate Center Wednesday. 

 

Emily Olds, a co-president of the JCC Earth Awareness Club, said 'sustainability' was a common theme among many of the exhibits and vendors. Emily is a sophomore majoring in Environmental Science at JCC.  She would like to see more people get connected to the environment in ways as simple as community gardening by expanding those garden bed to grow more. 

 

The Earth Awareness Club puts on Earthfest each year as part of its celebration of Earth Day.  Exotic animals, a petting zoo and music were also a part of this year's event.


New York's education commissioner has scheduled a hearing to decide whether one-time candidate for governor Carl Paladino should be removed from the Buffalo school board. 

 

The June 22nd hearing in Albany will focus on a complaint by other school board members that Paladino violated policy by disclosing information that was discussed in executive session.  Paladino says information he disclosed was a matter of public interest and that efforts to remove him are retaliatory. 

 

School board members and community groups have been calling for Paladino's removal since he wrote that he wanted to see former President Barack Obama dead of mad cow disease and Michelle Obama living with a gorilla in Africa. 

 

Paladino, who was involved in President Donald Trump's campaign, says his comments weren't meant for publication.