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WJTN Headlines

The investigation into last Saturday morning's fatal fire in the town of Ellicott in which a man in his 40s died is continuing. 

 

Falconer Fire Chief Charlie Piazza says crews were called to the scene at 37-30 Wilson Hollow Road shortly after 7 a.m.  At the scene Piazza told us that he and initial crews found heavy fire in half of the house.  He adds neighors told them that someone was trapped inside and, they called in a second alarm. 

 

He says they found the fire load was too much to get firefighters inside, and there was also a lot of debris inside the home.  Piazza says would not say where the unidentified man was found inside the home.  He says the man's name is being withheld pending notification of relatives and, an autopsy at the Erie County Medical Center. 

 

Piazza says the resident apparently was a hoarder and, that made fighting the blaze difficult.  He says county Fire Service officials are debriefing firefighters who were there and touched by the tragedy.  Piazza says it took about an hour to bring the fire under control. 

 

Falconer firefighters were joined at the scene by crews from Gerry, Kennedy, Fluvanna, Sinclairville, Ellington, Cassadaga, and Kiantone.


Two people have been arrested for allegedly trafficing cocaine, pills and marijuana and, being in possession of a weapon during a Target Enforcement Patrol on Jamestown's southside. 

 

City police say they were joined by State Police in conducting the vehicle stop on Foote Avenue, near Barker Street, shortly before 10 p.m. last Friday.  Officers say they saw the car, operated by 55 year-old Randy Nicoloff, commit a traffic infraction and, he was stopped. 

 

During the stop police confiscated the drugs, along with a switchblade knife.  Police arrested Nicoloff on several charges including fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and, unlawful possession of marijuana. 

 

His passenger, 38 year-old Douglas Fain, was charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of drugs and, criminally using drug paraphernlia.  Both were jailed pending arraignment.


The state's fiscal watchdog is sounding a "cautionary" alarm, saying that New York could be headed toward increased financial challenges later this year and further in the future. 

 

Late last week DiNapoli issued a report in which he cited uncertainty in Washington about proposals to cut funding for health care and other programs that boost the state's bottom line. 

 

During a stop at Southern Tier Brewing in the town of Busti he said potential changes to the U-S Tax Code are also a concern with potential tax reform on the horizon.  He says changes to the Affordable Care Act could also be an issue.  DiNapli also pointed to lower-than-expected tax revenue as a concern. 

 

He says year-to-year those collections are down just over $1-billion and collections versus projections for the year are also down about $315-million. 

 

DiNapoli says personal income tax receipts in the first quarter of this fiscal year were down by about $1.7 billion dollars from estimates made back in February.


One of the six men convicted of running a drug trafficking ring in the Dunkirk-area has been sentenced to time served in connection with the two-year case. 

 

Acting U-S Attorney James Kennedy, Junior announced late last week that 32 year-old Javier Pagan, Junior... who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, cocaine received the sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth Wolford. 

 

Prosecutors say that Pagan was one of the key people who ran the organization between 2013 and, June of 2015.  Pagan was arrested at that time, along with David Jesus Pagan and Rafael Burgos. 

 

Three others were later arrested for allegeldy distributing a large amount of cocaine being in possession of about $175,000 in drug proceeds and, an assault rifle.


A big week of Comedy at Chautauqua Institution and in Jamestown gets underway today with political comedian Lewis Black being the featured lecture at Chautauqua. 

 

Black kicks off the week-six theme of "Comedy and the Human Condition" in the Amphitheater while the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival begins with a show by another well-known Comedian Jim Gaffigan in Jamestown Thursday

 

National Comedy Center Director Journey Gunderson says that show is a sell-out but, adds the Friday night show featuring Kevin James still has tickets remaining for his show at the Northwest Arena in downtown Jamestown.  James has been in movies, and stars in the CBS Sitcom, "Kevin can Wait." 

 

Gunderson adds that James started in stand-up comedy and, his show is very good.  One of the most popular programs during the festival, though, will be next Friday with the Stand-up Comedy Showcase at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts which is free to military veterans and, will feature five comedians including Tammy Pescatelli. 

 

For more information on all events at Chautauqua and in Jamestown call 484-0800 or go on-line to www.lucycomedyfest.com.


Organizers are very pleased with the first-ever Wild America Nature Festival at Panama Rocks. 

 

Chairman Bill Hackney with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute Board of Directors says it was an "overwhelming success."  The institute partnered with Panama Rocks to put on the weekend event. 

 

A crowd estimated in the thousands went to the lectures, watched the birds of prey demonstrations, listened to the music, and sampled the food.  Jonathan Weston, General Manager of Panama Rocks, was the principal organizer of the festival. 

 

Weston says they're received great feedback on the event, and people seemed very happy with it.  Around 40 artists were placed in the wooded area adjacent to the rocks.  One of them assessed the scene and the fair weather and called it 'dreamy'.