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News Headlines for Fri., Mar. 1, 2019

Young announces she is resigning from State Senate March 10th...
One of the most powerful Republican voices in the state Capitol is moving onto the private sector after 23 years as a local, county, and state lawmaker.  Olean's Cathy Young has announced that she is stepping down from the Senate after 13 years in the position.  Young says the decision to leave the Senate for a job heading up Cornell University's Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture was "not easy..." and, bittersweet.  She says she's "loved her job... and, it's been a such and honor and privilege to represent the people of the 57th District."  Young launched into state politics in the late-1990s... winning election to the state Assembly when Pat McGee was tapped to replace the late Jess Present in  the Senate in 1998.  When McGee passed away in 2005... Young won a special election to replace her, and has held the seat ever since.  Young will leave the Senate Mar. 10.. and begin her new post at Cornell the following day.  There has been no word yet on when a special election will be held.   


Borrello, Green react to Young's announcement...
Shock and surprise... that's the reaction from both Republicans and Democrats in Chautauqua County to Senator Cathy Young's announcement that she is leaving the State Legislature to head up the Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech.  County Executive George Borrello tells us the announcement caught him off guard.  Borrello says Young has been a "champion" for Chautauqua County and the entire region.  Republican and Democratic party officials are now searching for candidates to run should a special election be called.  County Election Commissioner and County Democratic Chairman Norm Green says it will be up to Governor Andrew Cuomo to call a special election in conjunction with the June primaries, or next November's special election.  When asked whether he was interested in running, Borrello says he has a "lot on his plate" as County Executive... but he would not rule it out. 


Dunkirk man in critical conditions after being hit by snowplow in Hanover...
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office is investigating an accident in which a snowplow struck a Dunkirk man in the town of Hanover Wednesday night.  Deputies intially responded to Route 5 and 20 for the collision just after 7:30 p.m., and, learned that 52 year-old Eric Corns was walking west in the westbound lane when he was struck by a private snowplow.  Officers say the man is in critical condition at the Erie County Medical Center.  The plow driver -- 32 year-old Joshua Bloom -- was not injured.  The Silver Creek Fire Department... County EMS and ALSTAR assisted at the scene. 


Borrello outlines vision for Ripley Gateway Center in State of County address...
Chautauqua County George Borrello hopes the county can use a travel center in West Virginia as a model for a Ripley Gateway Center.  Borrello outlined a number of initiatives in his State of the County message that he delivered during Wednesday night's County Legislature meeting, including the need to address the entry point for thousands of travelers.  He says the Ripley gateway has been neglected far too long.  The top county official also spoke about another initiative he is working on…a 'Grow Chautauqua hops and grains cooperative.'  He pitched a concept to Chris LaCorata, a successful manufacturing executive.  Borrello says LaCorata believes that can be done in the next two years.  He says LaCorata has agreed to pay for half of the feasibility study.


Legislature Chairman Wendel upbeat about State of County...
County lawmakers seemed upbeat about Executive George Borrello's State of the County presentation.  Legislature Chairman P.J. Wendel of Lakewood says he was intrigued by many of the initiatives... including the push for collaborations on the local level.  Wendel says Borrello has really worked hard to establish those.  He says he'll also be looking for a final, consensus strategy for Chautauqua Lake... using the information each group gave him individually.  Borrello expects to wrap up work on the management plan by the end of March.  


Mockingbird ready to go at Little Theater, despite potential "cease and desist" orders from Broadway producer...
The play 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is set to open next week at the Lucille Ball Little Theater of Jamestown. The local production has been unaffected,  so far, by a controversy over what 'versions' of the play can be performed and where.  Little Theater Board President, Bob Ostrom, says Producer Scott Rudin has sent 'cease and desist' letters to many community theaters.  Rudin has legal rights to one version... currently on Broadway... and has asserted that's the only one that can be performed.  Ostrom adds the theaters that have gotten letters are ones closer to metropolitan areas where the Broadway version is going to be staged. Ostrom says the Jamestown production is ready to go, and interest in the community is high.  But, if the Little Theater was told to 'cease and desist' they would not have the resources to fight the order. 


New downtown Doubletree now open...
A new hotel has finally opened in downtown Jamestown.  The DoubleTree by Hilton Jamestown opened late yesterday afternoon for the first time on West Fourth Street.  In addition to the hotel... the new Pearl City Hops Restaurant & Tavern is also open for business.  The announcement was made by the hotel on it's Facebook page yesterday afternoon.