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WJTN News Headlines for Mar. 13, 2018

Another nor'easter is taking aim on the Northeast this week and, like last week's storm, there won't be a direct effect on Western New York...  
 
However, forecasters expect the area to pick up some snowfall.  Meteorologist Jim Mitchell with the National Weather Service in Buffalo says the snowfall could start to add up by mid-week, especially over the higher terrain.
 
The flow around the storm will result in periods of snow from today through Wednesday night with moderate accumulations across the lower elevations and locally heavy amounts for the higher terrain of the Chautauqua Ridge. A winter storm warning is in effect from 6 p.m. this evening  until 2 a.m. Thursday morning. Today's snow accumulation of three to six inches are expected. 
 
 
A new Salary Review Commission will begin reviewing current salaries for elected officials in the city of Jamestown and, make recommendations on any changes to lawmakers...  
 
City Council Finance Committee Chairman Tony Dolce says the commission is enpaneled every four-years to review current pay for council members, and the mayor.  Dolce handed out some information on salaries-- dating back to the late 1950s.  He says there will be six members of the new panel.
 
Dolce says the city council has not had a raise since 1984, when individual council members were granted a $5,000 a year salary.  The Council president reviewed $6,000 a year.  Dolce adds that the mayor's salary is now $72,000 per year, which has been in place since 2008.  He says the Salary Review Commission is to meet as many times as they feel necessary, then report to the city council by the end of this year, or very early in 2019.  Dolce says the council can accept the recommendations, not accept them, or adopt modified recommendations.  In 2014, he says the commission decided against any change in salaries.
 
 
There's been a stablization in the number of condemned and vacant homes in the city of Jamestown.  However, due to a shortage of funds, the city will only be able to demolish 10 of them this year... 
 
That from City Development Director Vince DeJoy, who told the city council that his department had done a quick tally and found between 100 and 105 homes are still unoccupied, and condemned.  DeJoy says they worked up their list of homes to be torn down from those whose owners can no longer be found.
 
DeJoy says they could only do 10 demolitions this year because the grant monies provided to the Chautauqua County Landbank to pay for tearing down the homes has been used up.  City Council Housing Committee Chairwoman Vickeye James says two of the properties listed would have been torn-down by a private developer if the state had agreed to support the Jackson-Spring Housing Project on the city's northside. 
 
 
A 3-on-3 basketball tournament open to all-ages returns to Jamestown this summer for the second-consecutive year... 
 
That from Publisher Mike Bird of the Jamestown Post Journal, who says the Gus Macker Tournament is celebrating it's 45th anniversary. Bird says the tournament returned last year with the help of three local newspapers-- the Post Journal, Dunkirk Observer and Warren Times Observer. He says 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the Alex Foulk Fund.
 
In addition, Bird says last year's event hosted 200 teams and 800 players and expects up close to 300 teams this year. The tournament will be held Saturday, June 2 through Sunday, June 3 along Third Street between Washington and Monroe Streets. Bird says this also incorporates the Northwest Arena as well as Layfette Street and a portion of Second Street. Player-registration is Friday, June 1 inside the Northwest Arena from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.. Bird says they will also hold registration that Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. however, players must be registered before their first game and wearing their tournament-issued bracelet throughout the entire weekend. For more information, visit Macker.com or call Mike Bird at the Post-Journal: 487-1111, extension 201.
 
 
A Jamestown was arrested following a domestic incident on Barrows Street yesterday afternoon... 
 
City police were called to the residence shortly before 4 p.m. and could hear screaming and observed clothingn on the ground outside on arrival. Investigation revealed 44 year-old James Cook allegedly held the unidentified victim down and would not ler her leave the residence. Cook was additionally found in possession of a gravity butterfly knife, which is illegal. He was taken to city jail pending arraignment on charges of second-degree unlawful imprisonment and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. 
 
 
The leader of Planned Parenthood is coming to Albany for her organization's annual lobby day...  
 
Cecile Richards plans to address a rally of Planned Parenthood supporters Tuesday near the New York state Capitol. Richards is president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.  State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins are also expected to speak.  All are Democrats.  More than 1,500 advocates for women's health and abortion rights are expected to attend the rally and participate in other events, such as meetings with lawmakers. 
 
 
A special Saint Patrick's Day celebration is returning to the Chadakoin River this Saturday morning... 
 
That from Vice President of the Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce Bill Stevenson, who says only three cities in the United States besides Jamestown turn their waters green for the Irish-American holiday: Chicago, Indianapolis and Tampa.
 
Stevenson says the Chamber voted to bring back turning the Chadakoin River green in Jamestown this year.  He says spectators can stand on the Riverwalk area along the Jamestown Area Medical Associates parking lot.  Additionally, Stevenson says the event is free and some Leprechauns will be on-hand. He says the recipe for turning the water green is a well-kept secret by the late Randy Peterson.  Peterson headed up the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities water operations for many years.  Stevenson says this year's Saint Patrick's Day green river will be in memory of Peterson.
 
 
More than $8-million in federal funding is available for emergency response teams across New York state...  
 
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced late last week that $8.5 million in funding from the federal government's State Homeland Security Program can be used to support hazardous materials teams, bomb squads, bomb-detection K-9 teams, SWAT units and urban search teams. The Democrat says the funding will help ensure that New York's first responders have the tools and resources they need to protect local communities. 
 
 
A Frewsburg man was arrested following an investigation into harassment and unwanted contact by the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office over the weekend...  
 
Deputies say 43 year-old Eric Sohl allegedly intiated contact with a person between December 2017 to March 2018, after repeatedly being told to stop such contact.  A warrant was put out for Sohl on 2 counts of fourth-degree stalking. Deputies say he was taken into custody Saturday afternoon and remanded to the county jail on $1,000 bail.