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WJTN News Headlines for July 30, 2018

A State Trooper from Erie, Pennsylvania risked his own life to protect others as a two-state pursuit of a wanted man and his passenger ended last Saturday with the driver going the wrong way on Interstate 86 near Sherman....  
 
Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputies say the pursuit began in the Erie about 11 a.m. after the driver, 48 year-old William Lisek, failed to comply with a traffic stop.  Police say Lisek and a 36 year-old woman were sought for a strong armed robbery, and weapons charges.  State Police say the pursuit went onto Interstate 90 before moving onto I-86 and, into Chautauqua County.  Police say Lisek lost control of his car, and it spun just past the Sherman exit.  Police say he then began driving west in the eastbound lanes.  An unidentified trooper-- seeing what happened-- then hit the fleeing vehicle.  The Trooper was not hurt but, both Lisek and the passenger were hospitalized. Numerous charges are pending.
 
 
A Mayville man has been arrested for alleged drug-trafficking following a vehicle stop early last weekend in the town of Stockton...  
 
Sheriff's officers say a patrol spotted 41 year-old Harry Radke traveling on Route 380 just after 7:30 last Friday morning, and stopped him on an outstanding Felony warrant.  Deputies say K-9 Drake was brought in during the stop and, the K-9 allegedly found Felony levels of methamphetamine, and heroin and, packaging materials, and a digital scale.  Radke was charged with two counts of Felony third-degree criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and, Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia.  Other felony level charges are pending, including violation of probation.  Radke was arraigned in Chautauqua Town Court, and sent to the county jail without bail.
 
 
The National Comedy Center is slated to open in Jamestown this week, but this morning, a federal lawmaker will be in town to critical funding for historic preservation....  
 
U-S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will be at the center to announce the successful push to get just over $56-million more for historic preservation in the 2019 federal budget plan.  Gillibrand says the funding supports historic preservation and economic development projects around the state -- including the National Comedy Center -- which includes part of Jamestown's old train station as one of its buildings. 
 
 
The director of Chautauqua County's Department of Public Facilities has been recognized for his nearly 14-years of heading up the department...  
 
George Spanos is retiring on August 15.  Since the legislature doesn't meet until later in the month, Spanos was presented a commendation at this past week's legislature meeting in Mayville.  County Executive George Borrello says he has some "awfully big shoes to fill" in replacing Spanos, who just celebrated 31-years with the DPF.
 
Borrello adds that Spanos was also able to finally move the Millenium Parkway in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area to conclusion.  He says that's led to new development, including the new Cold Storage facility being located there.  Spanos says he appreciates the support he received from four county executives after being appointed by former Executive Mark Thomas in August of 2004.  He was originally appointed by Mark Thomas, and stayed on with Greg Edwards, Vince Horrigan, and for about 8 months with Borrello. Spanos has also been president of the New York State County Highway Superintendent's Association.  Borrello has named a committee to look for a new DPF director.
 
 
New York Army National Guard soldiers are heading to Puerto Rico to build houses as Hurricane Maria recovery continues...  
 
The 45 soldiers being deployed Saturday are members of the 204th Engineer Battalion headquartered in Binghamton.  They're from across the state.  They'll work with Habitat for Humanity as part of the Defense Department's readiness training program.  The New York National Guard deployed 300 soldiers to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria struck the island 10 months ago.  The 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation flew four UH-60 Blackhawks on relief missions.  The New York Air National Guard also flew supply missions.  Military unit rotations to support construction efforts began in late spring and are expected to continue through the summer.
 
 
Today is the final day for out-going Fredonia Village Administrator Richard St. George.  But with that resignation, what will village officials do now?  
 
After the 12-year administrator announced his resignation last Thursday, the village board did approve a resolution to advertise for the position of a full-time village clerk.  However, Mayor Athanasia Landis says they need to at least get someone immediately to deal with day-to-day matters.
 
Landis says they need to find someone by tomorrow because that's the day they do payroll for village employees.  In addition, trustees have another vacancy to fill.  The board has rescinded the provisional appointment of Perry Mitchell as Public Works Supervisor.  The move returns him to his position as working supervisor, so trustees will have to fill the post with someone who has passed the the civil service test for the position.
 
 
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani says the late politician and power broker who convinced him to run for office was his "staunchest ally" and "greatest defender"....  
 
Giuliani was among the mourners at Guy Molinari's funeral Mass on Saturday at Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church on Staten Island.  Molinari died last Wednesday at the age of 89.  The lifelong Staten Island resident served as a state assemblyman and five-term congressman in the 1980s.  He was also borough president.  Molinari was the first New York City politician to endorse Giuliani for mayor.
 
 
The politics of abortion could be especially prominent as Democratic Governor Tom Wolf and Republican challenger Scott Wagner hit the final stretch of Pennsylvania's gubernatorial campaign...  
 
President Donald Trump's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court and lawsuits winding through federal courts seem sure to put abortion rights front-and-center in governor's races this fall.  Meanwhile, Wolf and Wagner are on opposite sides of abortion bills that could see votes in the Legislature before the November 6th election.  
 
 
For the second year in a row, thousands flocked to Panama Rocks over the weekend for Roger Tory Peterson's Wild America Festival...  
 
The grounds were filled with nature artists, demonstrators, local food vendors and musicians.  Jonathan Weston of Panama Rocks was thrilled with the response, and spoke of a deeper purpose for the two-day festival-- to get people to "engender a deeper connection to the world around us and to each other'. 
 
The Wild America Festival is put on by Panama Rocks and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute.  One of the speakers this year was Roger Tory Peterson's son Lee, author of the Peterson Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants.
 
 
People were dancing on Second Street Friday evening, in front of the Lucille Ball Little Theater of Jamestown....  
 
The party was organized by one of the theater's board members, Todd Pullan. He says they were celebrating with a street dance called "Curtain's UP!"  Bob Ostrom, President of the Little Theater Board, says they have a lot to celebrate, including six plays for the 2019 season, in lieu of the usual five. Ostrom says the six shows for 2019 are 'No Sex Please, We're British', 'To Kill a Mockingbird', 'Curtains', 'Disenchanted', 'The Producers', and 'Harvey'.  The 2018 season will wrapup with 'Mama Mia' this October, and a Christmas musical.  Ostrom adds, the Little Theater's new air conditioning system should be fully installed this week.