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WJTN Headlines

The first of three Erie, Pennsylvania men accused of car-jacking a vehicle, and stealing a truck in the Dunkirk-area about two years ago has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. 

 

Acting U.S. Attorney James Kennedy, Junior says 21 year-old Michael Gonzalez-Colon was recently convicted of carjacking and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.  He was then sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo. 

 

Prosecutors say Gonzalez-Colon and the two co-defendants rode stolen ATV's in Erie and, road them to Dunkirk in July of 2015... and, shortly after arriving in Dunkirk, the ATV's were seized by police.  Without transportation they then assaulted two people in the vicinity of Robin and Second Streets and, stole their car at gun-point.  They also stole a pick-up truck.


A city man is jailed without bail and, a teenaged boy is also in custody for allegedly trafficking crystal methamphetime on Jamestown's north and east sides. 

 

City police say they were called to the area of Dearborn Street late Monday morning on a report of 19 year-old Joshua Verrett being spotted walking there.  Verrett was wanted on several oustanding city court warrants and, police say they found the Bishop Street man with a 17 year-old on Dearborn Street. 

 

Officers say they arrested Verrett without incident and, during the arrest, allegedly found a quantity of crystal meth and, two digital scales in his possession.  Police say the 17 year-old was also found in possession of a small amount of crystal meth in his possession. 

 

Verrett was arrraigned on charges including Felony third-degree criminal possesion of a controlled substance and, the 17 year-old was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession.


The Jamestown School District can now move forward on hiring 10 new staff members four of them teachers for the upcoming 2017-18 school year. 

 

The school board unanimously approved formally adding the posts during last night's meeting.  Interim School Superintendent Silvia Root says she's pleased to be able to move forward on filling these positions.  Root says funding for the positions is included in the new, $80-plus million dollar budget. 

 

Root says she believes this is "the beginning of meeting students needs, and being able to support it.  Root says the positions include two English Language Learner teachers two ESL paraprofessionals two school counselors and two elementary teachers.  There will also be one new music teacher and, one school psychologist. 

 

Root says the district should be set once those people are hired.  However she says the district did leave some financial "room" for the new superintendent to possibly fill two other positions once he or she is hired. 

 

The school board also approved the final canvass of the May 16th budget, and school board vote.  The spending plan was approved 505-to-106.


Governor Andrew Cuomo and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi say New York's eight Republican members of Congress must be defeated in 2018. 

 

Pelosi and the Democratic governor told hundreds of union members at a Manhattan rally Tuesday that New Yorkers can play a key role in returning the House of Representatives to Democratic control.  Cuomo said New York's Republican Congress members don't represent the state's interests. 

 

He called them "political pawns of the ultra-conservative puppet masters in Washington."  While it's not uncommon for Democrats to criticize Republicans, Cuomo's remarks come amid speculation that he may seek the White House in 2020.  Corning Republican Tom Reed is one of those House members being targeted.


A Great Lakes researcher and SUNY College at Fredonia professor is preparing to swim the length of Chautauqua Lake later this month in preparation for a longer swim across Lake Erie. 

 

Sherri Mason has announced that she will attempt the 15.5-mile journey during the week of June 19th.  She says that the idea began as a swim across Lake Erie, but she was encouraged to do a "trial swim" first of at least 10-miles.  Dr. Mason has been in training for the swim for nearly a year. 

 

Initially the focus of the swim was on the problem of plastics pollution, but the message has become a larger one because of the Trump Administration and the push for changes in environmental policy.  Mason says it's a matter of how important fresh, clean water is to us in America, and the entire world. 

 

No specific date for the Chautauqua Lake swim has been set.  It will begin at Lucille Ball Memorial Park in Celoron and conclude at Lakeside Park in Mayville.