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WJTN Headlines for Friday Nov. 17, 2017

Local Congressman Tom Reed was among the Republican majority yesterday that approved the "Tax Cut and Jobs" Act in the House of Representatives. 
 
With no Democratic votes, the House approved the more than 400-page document, 227-to-205.  The measure includes four tax brackets compared to the seven that are in the current Senate bill.  The Senate has yet to act on it's measure. 
 
While House Republicans agreed to keep the highest tax bracket at 39.6-percent, Reed says most people will be taxed at the new, lower level.
 
Reed adds that what happens in the U-S Senate has yet to be determined.  However, he says he will continue to push for keeping a 10-thousand dollar deduction, at least on local and state property taxes.  The Senate bill completely eliminates the SALT provisions, and does not have the property tax deduction.
 
Reed says the process remains "dynamic" at this time.  President Donald Trump calls the House passage of the $1.5-trillion tax package "a big step'' toward delivering on the Republican Party's promise of tax cuts by year's end. 
 
Trump says he wants to deliver a final measure as a "Christmas present" to the American people.
 
 
Working smoke detectors are being credited with saving three people from flames that broke out about mid-morning Thursday on Jamestown's westside. 
 
Fire Battalion Chief Matt Coon says crews were called to the scene at 12 Mount Vernon Place about 9:15 a.m. and, found heavy smoke coming from the second-floor windows and attic area.
 
Coon says it took about 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control.  He says the three adults living in the house were able to get out of the home safely, thanks to the smoke detectors.  No other injuries were reported. 
 
Coon says there was no extension of the flames but, there was smoke and water damage to both floors of the house.  He says an off-duty shift of 12 firefighters was called in and, the cause remains under investigation.
 
 
Jamestown firefighters did have to rescue two pets dogs from inside the residence at 12 Mount Vernon Place and, officers have charged the three residents there with animal cruelty because one dog was found suffering from "extreme neglect." 
 
City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says the toy Poodle was found with extremely matted hair and, was covered in feces with open sores.  She also had a large cyst on it's abdomen. 
 
Samuelson says the dog was seized, and taken to a local veterinarian for treatment.  The three residents, 40 year-old Lisa Bortz, 39 year-old William Wright, and, 31 year-old David Wright, were charged with animal cruelty. 
 
That's a violation of the state's Ag and Markets Law.  They were being held pending arraignment.
 
 
County lawmakers Wednesday night also approved an amendment to the current budget for the Office of Child and Family Services custody services that are back-billed by the state to the county. 
 
The legislature voted 18-to-1 to approve paying an additional 3.8-million dollars from fund balance to cover the extra cost for the year 2015. 
 
Jamestown Democrat Chuck Nazzaro said he would vote for the measure but, expressed frustration over the fact the state gave no explanation about why the cost was doubled on the county.  He and others agreed that they should try to get the state Comptoller's Office to investigate the additional charges.  Frewsburg Republican Ron Lemon cast the lone "no" vote on the matter.
 
 
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office has been re-accredited for the new year and, was recognized for that prior to Wedneday night's monthly legislature meeting. 
 
The acknowledgement came from Lakewood Republican Paul Wendel, who chairs the Public Safety Committee.  Wendel says the local department is one of a small number that has ALL the accreditations offered by the state's Law Enforcement Accredition Program.  He says there are 110 different standards involved in three areas: adminstration, training and operations.
 
Sheriff Joe Gerace and Accreditation Manager Lieutenant Kirk Lynon were on hand with the plaque they received from the state. 
 
Gerace thanked the legislature for it's on-going support of what they do and, said he's "very proud" of the men and women in his department because they meet and often exceed the highest-known standard for public safety. 
 
Gerace says when the state comes in for it's three-days to audit the department, they go through the department's files, and monitor everything done for those three-days.  Officials did note that the plaque was made up while Lyon was still a Sergeant.  He was recently promoted to at Lieutenant in the Sheriff's Department.
 
 
A city man has been arrested for drug possession for allegedly being found in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop on Jamestown's southside. 
 
City police say the stopped a vehicle just after 5 a.m. Thursday at the corner of King and Barrows Street and, found one of the passengers was wanted on a warrant out of Pennsylvania. 
 
Officers say they arrested 29 year-old Seneca Booth, who was found to have been in possession of a quantity of Meth and the paraphernalia.  Booth was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia and, Felony fugitive from justice.  Booth is being held pending arraignment.
 
 
An event to connect homeless and at-risk veterans with services in Buffalo, has been recognized nationally for effectively organizing a one-day "Stand Down". 
 
Today from 10 AM to 2 PM, a "Stand Down for Jamestown" will be held at the Herman Kent American Legion Post in Celoron.  U-S Marine Veteran Sean Lindstrom with the V-A Health Care for Homeless Veterans program, says bringing a Stand Down to the Southern Tier is important because some veterans who could benefit the most from services may not have the capabilities to travel to Buffalo for them.  
 
 
Manufacturing activity in New York expanded at a slower pace this month but remains at a healthy level. 
 
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York says its Empire State Manufacturing Survey slid to 19.4 in November from a three-year high 30.2 last month.  But any reading over zero signals growth.  New orders grew faster this month, but shipments and hiring expanded at a slower pace. 
 
Across the United States, factories are benefiting from a strengthening global economy and from a weaker dollar, which makes U.S. products cheaper in foreign markets. 
 
The New York Fed's report adds to evidence that the U.S. economy is healthy.  Growth clocked in at a solid 3 percent annual pace from July through September.  Unemployment has dropped to 4.1 percent, close to a 17-year low.