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WJTN News Headlines for Sept. 12, 2018

BPU Water Alert for Lakewood.... 
 
There may still be some discolored water in the Lakewood area and to the west this morning after a hydrant was accidently opened yesterday without notice.  Jamestown Board of Public Utilities Spokeswoman Becky Robbins says a contractor accidently opened the hydrant while working on a project.  She says water customers in the village to the Ashville BOCES should be on the look-out for unsettled water through late morning today.
 
 
City police are on the look-out for two men accused of breaking into a home on Jamestown's southside last weekend and assaulting and robbing the woman who lived there...  
 
City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says two white males allegedly entered an apartment on Chautauqua Avenue shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday morning and, one was armed with a hand-gun.  He says they have a video of the break-in on their Facebook page. 
 
Samuelson says that the address and woman involved were targeted.  He says this was not a random act, and it appears that drugs were also a factor.  He says the woman suffered minor injuries but, will be okay.  He would not say to what extent she is cooperating with the investigation.  However, he urges anyone with information to call their confidential tips line at 483-TIPS (8477).  You can also contact them through their Tips 4-1-1 app.
 
 
 
A north county man is jailed on $50,000 bail for allegedly having sex with a juvenile victim on various occasions about a year-and-a-half ago...  
 
Sheriff's deputies say their Criminal Investigation Division looked into the allegations and, arrested 27 year-old Joshua Northrup-Dowdall on four counts of second-degree rape.  Officers say the incidents allegedly occured in March of 2017.  Dowdall was arraigned on the charges in Chautauqua County Court and, sent to the county lock-up.
 
 
It was all smiles at the first regular school board meeting Tuesday night for Jamestown Public Schools since the first day of classes. During his Superintendent's Report, Dr. Bret Apthorpe expressed his feelings about the first day, saying it was "very, very fun."
 
Apthorpe also noted some statistics for the 2018-19 school year, indicating that enrollment is down by 55 students, to 4,519 for the current year. However, the district's Pre-K program is full with 400 students enrolled for the 2018-19 school year. However, on the flip side, the district's Pre-K program is completely full with over 400 students enrolled. Apthorpe says that official district enrollment numbers will be available in mid-October. 
 
 
 
A regular board meeting for the Jamestown Public School District began with an executive session Tuesday night to "test" new technology the board will be implementing this school year... 
 
That from board Vice-President Patrick Slagle, who says 'Board Docs' is a user-friendly way for board members, parents and students can go online and look at the agenda for upcoming meetings.  The board used their iPads for polling on resolutions at their first meeting since the beginning of the new school year. Slagle says the votes are cast through the program and later projected onto a screen so people can who voted/motioned what. He says it will also use less paper. Slagle adds that even though they're not speaking their votes, this is a program that many other districts implement into their board meetings, namely the Chautauqua County School Board Association. He says they are still working out the kinks but hopes to have Board Docs fully operational soon. 
 
 
A new training program for basketball officials begins tonight...and the teacher of the course says many more refs are needed...  
 
Roger McTavish of  IAABOA the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials invites anyone interested to Room 250 at Jamestown High School tonight (Wednesday) at 7:00 There are currently 55 officials working school games in this area.  McTavish says there's room for at least 20 more. The course costs $225, and runs to the end of November.  After passing a test, new refs will make up to $91 for a varsity game, more than $80 for 7th and 8th grade.  Candidates should be able to easily move up and down the court.  Otherwise, there are no pre-qualifications. Anyone interested should go to JHS tonight, or phone Roger MacTavish at his home in West Ellicott.   
 
 
Congressional Republicans say they will be introducing "Tax Cuts 2.0" this week... which will basically make temporary cuts approved last year permanent...  
 
During his weekly telephone conference call with Southern Tier Media, Corning Republican Tom Reed said the time is right due to the success of last year's massive tax reform package approved by lawmakers, and signed by the president.  While tax cuts have triggered a "booming" economy in many places, there are two issues looming that could short-circuit the improvements.  Reed believes, though, that tariff's will help the economy in the long-run.
 
Reed agrees that "creeping" inflation -- which has been cited by some economists -- could take away some of the benefits from last year's tax cuts.  He also says making the cuts to individuals and small businesses permanent, will help the economy even more.  Those cuts were to sunset in eight years.  Reed cited Cummins Engine -- just outside of Jamestown -- as one employer that has benefitted greatly from the first round of cuts.  He says they were able to begin offering $15/hr wages to start with the company.
 
 
Some economic indicators show there have been benefits to businesses, and others, from tax cuts enacted by Congress and the Trump Administration....  
 
However,  there have been problems for others -- namely farmers who own large amounts of land across the 23rd Congressional Distrct.  That from Democratic challenger Tracy Mitrano, who challenged Republican Tom Reed's stance on tax cuts and trade Tuesday morning.  Mitrano says people she's talked to say tariffs are hurting businesses and farmers.
 
Mitrano adds that capping the federal property tax write-off at $10,000 directly affects farmers because even small farms have a significant amount of land to them.  She adds that tariffs are also impacting farmer's abilities to go into Canada and, China.  Mitrano adds that farmers she's talked to complain that a lack of Immigration Reform is also hurting them because they need migrant workers to help harvest their crops. 
 
 
Three men were arrested Tuesday morning when Jamestown Police allegedly found several controlled substances and paraphernalia during a traffic stop... 
 
The vehicle was pulled over at 1:15 a.m. near North Main and East 6th Streets for making an improper left-hand turn. Officers conducted a search of the car after a meth pipe was allegedly seen in plain sight. Two-grams of meth, pills and a metal knuckle knife were found, along with a digital scale and packaging materials. The operator was identified at 42 year-old Jack Ferry of Warren, and he was taken into custody with his 37 year-old passenger from Warren, Pennsylvania, and 26 year-old Jamestown passenger.  The men are being held in Jamestown City Jail pending arraignment. 
 
 
Nearly 3-thousand people were killed 17 years ago today in New York City, Washington D-C, and Pennsylvania in the 9/11 terror attacks...  
 
During a solemn ceremony held outside Dunkirk Fire Headquarters under dreary skies and a heavy drizzle, local first responders remembered those who lost their lives and recalled the attacks.
 
Among the speakers was Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas.  He was a state trooper at the time of the 9/11 attacks and one of the first from Chautauqua County to make the trip to New York to assist with the recovery.  Rosas says it had a unifying effect.
 
Dunkirk Fire Chief Mike Edwards says it's important to remember the attacks and how firefighters responded.  He says they showed "drive, commitment, and bravery..." and it's up to us to continue that commitment.  The remembrance ceremony was organized by the fire department and Dunkirk Professional Firefighters Local 616.
 
 
Both Congressional candidates in the 23rd District paused at the beginning of their conference calls to remember the victims of the "9/11" attacks 17 years ago...  
 
Incumbant Congressman Tom Reed paused for one-minute at 9:03 a.m., when the second plane hit the World Trade Center towers.  Democratic opponent Tracy Mitrano also recognized the victims, and the heroes of "9/11."  She noted an op-ed in the New YorkTimes written by Joe Quinn, whose brother died in the attacks.  Mitrano says he speaks as a member of the military who is calling for an end to one of America's longest wars.   There was also a "9/11" rememberance ceremony in front of the Chautauqua County Courthouse in Mayville at Noon time.  Chautauqua County had one casualty during the "9/11" attacks.  Celoron native Amy King was a flight attendant on board the second plane that struck the World Trade Center towers that morning.
 
 
A city man is jailed without bail following a drug raid on the northside of Jamestown late Monday night...  
 
City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, and the JPD SWAT Team executed a search warrant at 815 Prendergast Avenue shortly before 10 p.m. and, arrested 41 year-old Esteban Santiago.  Samuelson says they also found just over 39-grams of powder cocaine cash and, a drug scale.  He says Santiago was arraigned on charges of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and criminally using drug paraphernalia and, sent to the county lock-up.  City police say the State Police K-9 Unit and Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force assisted with the raid.
 
 
Saint Bonaventure University in upstate New York is rescinding an honorary degree bestowed to former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who's accused of engaging in sexual misconduct with minors and adult seminarians....  
 
The private, Franciscan Catholic university posted a statement on its website Monday saying its Board of Trustees voted on Friday to rescind its honorary doctorate of humane letters awarded to McCarrick in May 2011.  University president, Dr. Dennis R. DePerro, said the school has "an unwavering commitment to stand in solidarity with all survivors of sexual abuse."  The Vatican removed McCarrick from public ministry in June after it determined allegations he sexually molested a teenager more than 40 years earlier were credible. McCarrick later resigned from the College of Cardinals in July.