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WJTN Headlines for Thursday Nov. 16, 2017

County lawmakers have approved a one-year extension with Chautauqua County's largest employees union. 
 
The county legislature last night approved the new agreement with Civil Service Employees Union-#807 Unit 6300 by a 19-0 vote.  County Executive Vince Horrigan says there is a wage increase, but adds there's also an incentive for employees to move into a lower-cost, high-deductable health insurance plan.
 
County Legislator Terry Niebel of Sheridan says he favored the contract, though it's not perfect.  Niebel noted that the CSEA did include a good-faith effort to lower their health insurance costs by going with a "Allied Health Tele-medicine" program. 
 
On the county's agreeing to support employees who move to the higher-deductable insurance, Niebel says those already on it will now be getting "a reward" for staying on it.  Horrigan says the county now has union contracts in place with all of it's bargaining units.  The current CSEA contract was to expire at the end of this year.
 
 
The legislature held a moment of silence at the start of last night's meeting in honor of Joan Glenzer, the wife of past County Executive Jack Glenzer. 
 
Joan Glenzer passed away last Thursday at an Erie, Pennsylania hospital following an extended illness.  She was 83.  Joan Glenzer was an active campaigner during her husband's two terms and, was the first woman vice-president at the SUNY College at Fredonia. 
 
Later, legislators also acknowledged the passing West Ellicott's Ben Haskins, who regularily attended legislature meetings for many years.  They also recognized the passing of Silver Creek's Laurel Hotelling.
 
 
The mayor of Jamestown should not be able to present the city council an 'unbalanced budget.' 
 
The current mayor, however, says he's not going to proposed a "gimmicky" spending plan to lawmakers that appears balanced but, has unrealistic projections. 
 
Retired Board of Public Utilities' District Heating Manager Doug Champ has gone before lawmakers on the budget the past couple of weeks and, asked the question of council when the City Charter specifically asks for a "balanced budget".
 
Mayor Sam Teresi says, the past two years, he has presented spending plans that have had $825,000 and, $947,000 deficits due to increased costs and, loss of revenue.  Teresi says he certainly strives to present a balanced budget but, adds that hasn't always been possible in current times. 
 
City lawmakers will hold it's required public hearing on the Mayor's $35.7-million spending plan at 6 p.m. next Monday night.  A vote on the budget plan will be held on Monday, November 27th.
 
 
A group of off-duty police officers in the city of Jamestown will be back in the school district soon. 
 
At Tuesday's school board meeting, Superintendent Bret Apthorpe said that the officers called "Red Shirts" were not initially covered for liability.  However he says the board has worked with the Jamestown Police-Kendall Club PBA and civil service to take on the Red Shirts as district employees.
 
Apthorpe says the Red Shirts were not seen around schools, at football games or special school events for about three weeks.  After speaking with Frank Donato at the Kendall Club, the district is hopeful to see the Red Shirts resume their shifts after Thanksgiving break. 
 
Apthorpe says the officers play a large role in the student community because they interact with the kids directly and, the students and teachers enjoy that. 
 
 
There were some anxious moments but, no one was hurt when flames engulfed a dump truck that was being used to haul corn for a local farm in the town of Busti Wednesday afternoon. 
 
Lakewood fire officials say crews were called to the scene of a fully-involved truck fire on Southwestern Drive, near Baker Street Extension about 1:30 PM. 
 
They say the driver of the Oakview Farms truck got out of the vehicle alright.  The cause remains unknown at this time.
 
 
A Silver Creek man is $3-million richer after purchasing a winning "Benjamins" scratch-off ticket during a routine stop recently for gas. 
 
Chautauqua County's newest Lottery millionaire was introduced to the media in Buffalo today with Richie Thompson purchasing his $3 milllion-winning ticket at Cave's Food Center in Forestville. 
 
Spokeswoman Yolanda Vega with the New York Lottery presented Thompson with an oversized $3-million check and she told us he is a long-time lottery player.
 
Thompson opted to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment. Yolanda says he plans to open up a new trucking business in his hometown area, something he had always told family members he was going to do if he won the lottery. 
 
Thompson will receive a net check totaling $1,641,000 after required withholdings.  Yolanda says she never tires of presenting the oversized checks saying that she gets "all excited and involved" in their stories. 
 
 
A Bemus Point man was arrested on a warrant for issuing a bad check for over $2,500 Monday. 
 
State Police in Jamestown say they received a complaint back in September from a local business claiming that 29 year-old Matthew Mecusker gave them a check for more than $2,500 in June that came back returned. 
 
The business told Troopers they attempted to get Mecusker to pay the balance, but were unsuccessful and reported it to authorities.  After receiving the complain, police advised Mecusker of this but, he refused to turn himself in.  He arrested and jailed pending further court action.
 
 
Warren General Hospital has announced a comprehensive affiliation agreement with three major health networks officials say will enhance access to high-quality, high value health services. 
 
Warren General Chief Executive Officer Ron Allen says it's "an exciting day" to annnounce the joint venture with Highmark, LECOM, and the Allegheny Health Network. 
 
It's a huge step for the hospital and it's considered "rare" that all three would work jointly with one provider.  Allen says they're "thrilled to be moving forward in partnership with organizations that share our values and commitment to excellence in patient care, and community focused service."