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WJTN Headlines for Tuesday Nov. 7, 2017

It's Election Day, 2017 and, the polls are now open across Chautauqua County at 6 AM with a number of local races to be decided.  
 
Turn-out is expected to be low across New York state, even with three state-wide propositions and some key mayoral races taking place. 
 
Locally there are two county-wide races in Chautauqua County, where voters will decide on a replacement for retiring County Executive Vince Horrigan. 
 
Republican County Legislator George Borrello of Irving is taking on Democrat Michael Ferguson of Fredonia.  There is also a county clerk's race with incumbant Republican Larry Barmore facing off against Democratic challenger LeeAnn Lazarony of Cassadaga. 
 
All 19 County Legislature seats are up for a vote, but only nine of them are contested. 
 
Two key ones to watch locally are District 11 in Jamestown where County GOP Chairman David Wilfong is being challenged by Democrat Frank Besse and, in District 16, where two men are vying to replace the retiring Ron Lemon.  They are Republican John Davis, and Democrat Terry Walker.
 
In the city of Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi is not on the ballot this year, but the entire city council is.  However, there are only two contested Ward Seats this year. 
 
In Ward-2, long-time Republican member Tony Dolce is being challenged by Democrat Joseph Scapelitte.  In Ward-4, Democratic incumbant Marie Carubba is being challenged by Republican Rick Elardo.
 
All three at-large seats in Jamestown are contested.  Incumbants Greg Rabb a Democrat and, Republican Kim Ecklund are on the ballot.  They are joined by Republican newcomers Michael Laurin, and Andrew Liuzzo and, Democrats Vanessa Weinert, and Robert Whitney.  Whitney is a former County Legislator.
 
Polls are open until 9 PM tonight.  Our coverage of Election Night, 2017 begins following the ABC News at 8 PM.
 
 
While flood waters have receded local and county governments are now surveying the damage caused by Sunday night's torrential rainfall from slow moving showers and thunderstorms that crossed the region. 
 
Chautauqua County Emergency Services Director John Griffith says the worst hit area in the county was the village of Fredonia.
 
Water levels were also on the rise in Silver Creek, but Griffith says evacuations were not needed.  A portion of Route 60, near Route 83, was closed for several hours overnight because of the high waters.  Griffith says they will be looking for damage estimates from the flooding caused by the heavy rains.
 
The rain stopped, and Chautauqua County began drying out Monday morning after torrential rains late Sunday triggered flood watches and warnings across Western New York. 
 
Some flooding took place Sunday night after the ground had already become saturated with water in recent days.  Forecaster Jon Hitchcock with the National Weather Service in Buffalo says most of the high water came from heavy rains that were part of a storm system that dropped between 2 and 3 inches of rain from Sunday morning through early Monday.
 
Initially, the weather service issued a Flood Watch for all of Western New York through early Monday afternoon.  Then, an "Areal" Flood Warning was put in place for the entire region for all streams and rivers. 
 
Hitchcock says one of those was in the Fredonia-area for a while Sunday night.  However, he says it was caused by some debris temporarily damming up along the Canadaway Creek. 
 
Hitchcock says a weather spotter in Sinclairville said they received just under 3-inches of rain from the storm. 
 
 
A driver in the town of Stockton was left stranded when his vehicle was partially submerged in water yesterday morning. 
 
Sheriff's deputies say 52 year-old Gerald Haley was traveling on South Stockton-Cassadaga Road when he failed to obey two road closure signs, drove around the signs and, proceeded southbound on the flooded roadway. 
 
Haley's vehicle became disabled and was partially submerged in water.  He was helped by Sheriff's officers, the Stockton Fire Department and, a local private citizen.
 
Haley was charged with failure to obey traffic control device and is to appear in court at a later date. 
 
 
A Jamestown man faces several charges after being arrested last weekend after he was found to be in possession of just under four grams of drugs during an accident last month. 
 
New York State Police in Jamestown responded to a motorcycle accident on October 21st in the city at the intersection of Route 60 and Kiantone Roads.  Investigation revealed that 42 year-old Victor Cameron left the roadway striking a sign post and, was injured. 
 
While conducting an inventory of Cameron's clothing cut cut off by EMS in order to treat his injuries, troopers located 1.3 grams of methamphetamine and, 2.5 grams of marijuana. 
 
A check of Cameron's driving record revealed that his license had been suspended for driving under the influence of drugs.  He was arraigned in City Court and released but, was later arrested by Jamestown Police on a larceny warrant.
 
 
A local initiative to help Spanish-speaking residents become bi-lingual and more employable is in the running for a $10,000 grant from M-&-T Bank. 
 
Community Helping Hands in the Gateway Center in Jamestown is one of five nationwide finalists for the grant from it's "Understanding What's Important Business Challenge."  Community Helping Hands Executive Director Amy Rohler says they were nominated by Jim Holler at Trinity Guitars on West Third Street.
 
Pastor Rohler says M-&-T Bank began on-line voting for the winner late last week and, voting continues through November 22.  She says they are currently in second-place in the voting, so they have some work to do.  She says first of all, you can vote by going on-line to Bank-dot-MTB/Business Contest.  She says you can use pretty much any device to make your vote. 
 
Rohler says you can also go on-line to CHHNY.ORG for more information on voting.  One other community-based group in the Hudson Valley community of Kingston is also a finalist for the $10,000 M-&-T grant.
 
 
Three men from the city of Dunkirk have been arrested on drug-related warrants following a month long investigation into the alleged sales of crack cocaine and marjuana in the north county city. 
 
The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and Durkirk Police say they carried out search warrants last Friday for two separate apartments at 47 West Second Street in the city. 
 
Officials say 21 year-old Irvin Pachecho was located at the lower rear apartment and, 21 year-olds Jonathan Torres-Morales and Victor Quinnones were taken into custody at the lower front apartment. 
 
As a result of the searches, authorities say they located and seized a quantity of cocaine, marijuana, a large sum of cash and a loaded rifle. The three subjects were taken into custody pending their arraignment.
 
 
Cornell Cooperative Extension's 'Leaf' classes are underway for the season. 
 
'Leaf' stands for 'learn, empower, achieve farm'.  Each of the sessions offers a low cost way to be introduced to an agriculture related topic. 
 
Extension educator, Katelyn Walley-Stoll, organizes the series.  She is particularly excited about a new course to offered this Thursday at 6 PMat the Bratt Agriculture Center.
 
Molly Vacco of Erie County will be teaching the Essential Oils and Animals workshop.  There are around two dozen 'Leaf' classes between now and next spring. 
 
The full catalog is available at cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Pre-registration is required for each class.  The 'Leaf' program is presented with the support of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.