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WJTN News Headlines for Feb. 19, 2018

 
A Jamestown man remains jailed on $80,000 bail after a traffic stop in the town of North Harmony led to multiple drug charges against him...  
 
Sheriff's deputies say they pulled over a car operated by 18 year-old Camille Lopez of Jamestown, for an alleged traffic violation on Route 394 shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday.  Officers say they also identified Lopez's passenger as 28 year-old Jonathan Vega-Rivera, who was wanted on multiple Felony and misdemeanor arrest warrants.  Deputies arrested him on the outstanding charges and they brought in K-9 Officer "Link" for an exterior sniff of the vehicle.  He alerted officers to narcotics being inside the vehicle.  During the search, officers found drug paraphernalia, multiple prescription pills, and a quantity of methamphetamine.  Vega-Rivera was arraigned on two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and, sent to the county lock-up.  Lopez was given appearance tickets for unlicensed operation, and inadequate head lights.
 
 
 
An elderly woman died in a house fire in Dunkirk this past Friday afternoon...  
 
Dunkirk Fire Chief Mike Edwards says crews responded to 35 Crooked Brook Drive at about 2:30.  On arrival, Edwards says firefighters were alerted by a resident that there was a person with burns inside the house.  He says they found an elderly woman deceased and a small amount of fire in a living space.  The fire was quickly put out.  Dunkirk Police, Chautauqua County Fire investigators, and the Chautauqua County Coroner were also called to the scene.  The fire and fatality are under investigation.  The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of family.
 
 
 
It was one of the most successful -- if not most successful -- President's Day Weekend Winter Festivals ever at Lakeside Park in Mayville...  
 
Those are the feelings of Mayville/Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce Coordinator Debbie Marsella, who says having an ice castle this year played a major role in that success.  However, Marsella says it wasn't easy; she gave full credit to their work crew for keeping it up through the weekend.
 
Marsella says it was "very scary" when they got to Friday because of the warmer weather, and it's potential impact on the castle.  However, she says the work crew was determined to do what it took to keep the structure up and in place.  She adds it helped their other activities, including what may have been a record number of people taking part in the annual "Polar Plunge" on Saturday.  She adds they had a great sign-up for their Chili Cook-off.  Marsella says the more "moderate" weekend weather conditions likely helped with attendance and, they were busy right up to closing time at 4 p.m. Sunday. 
 
 
 
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly holding another person against their will during a domestic incident on the city's eastside early last weekend...  
 
Jamestown police were called to the scene on Barrows Street about 1:30 a.m. Saturday for a domestic dispute in progress.  Officers say their investigation showed that 20 year-old Duane Crawford-the-third prevented the unidentified victim from leaving several times.  Police took Crawford into custody, and he was booked on one count of second-degree unlawful imprisonment.  He was held pending arraignment.
 
 
 
While the numbers on what the federal government have come in on the low-side, President Trump's proposal to rebuild the nation's infrastructure is still a "huge opportunity"...  
 
Those are the feelings of local Congressman Tom Reed, who reacted to the public-private plan crafted by the administration.  While a plan identifying one-trillion dollars in projects was outlined by the "Problem Solvers Caucus" he co-chairs. Reed says it could still end up being larger.
 
Reed says being a former mayor, he agrees that there are a lot of "traditional" infrastructure needs including roads, bridges, and water and wastewater treatment.  At the same time... he says any plan must also take "non-traditional" infrastruture needs into account, including broadband -- especially in rural areas.  He says there also has to be a hard-look at upgrades to the nation's power-grid.  Several New York lawmakers... including fellow Republican Chris Collins, were critical of the president's plan because the federal government would only provide $200-billion of the cost.  Reed made his comments for his weekly telephone conference call with Southern Tier Media.
 
 
 
A New York City Council member has announced he will challenge Kathy Hochul in this year's Democratic primary for lieutenant governor...  
 
Jumaane Williams announced his candidacy for the position on Friday outside New York City Hall.   The 41-year-old from Brooklyn says his record as a progressive leader on the City Council shows that if elected, he would be he "people's lieutenant governor."  Hochul was elected four years ago as the running mate of Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo.  No Republicans have so far stepped forward to announce their candidacy for lieutenant governor, an often overlooked position that is second in line to the governor.
 
 
 
State officials are hosting a free fishing weekend and an ice fishing clinic...  
 
The Department of Environmental Conservation has designated Saturday and Sunday as one of a series of free fishing weekends, with license fees waived.  On Wednesday, DEC and the state parks and recreation office are hosting a free ice fishing clinic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Glimmerglass State Park on Otsego Lake.  Anglers can expect to catch yellow perch and chain pickerel. Bait and tackle will be provided for beginners.  Free sport fishing days have been around since 1991.