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WJTN Headlines for Tues., Mar. 5, 2019

Jamestown man to spend 21 years behind bars for dousing woman with gasoline, and setting her on fire...
A city man accused of dousing a woman with gasoline and setting her on fire during a domestic violence incident in 2017 has been sentenced to 21 years in state prison.  Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson says 38 year-old Luis Castro-Mojica of Jamestown received the sentence from County Court Judge David Foley Monday... along with five-years of post-release supervision for his first-degree assault conviction.  Swanson said, "today... the defendant was held accountable for his horrific acts.  My hope is that the victim an her family can find some closure."  The incident in which the unidentified woman was burned occured on Thayer Street.


Overton receives a year in County Jail for abusing, and killing his dog...
A Jamestown man accused of killing and hanging his dog in a wooded area in late 2017 has been sentenced to a year in the Chautauqua County Jail for aggravated cruelty to animals.  District Attorney Patrick Swanson says 48 year-old Robert Overton, Jr. was sentenced Monday to the term... which he earlier had pleaded guilty to.  Swanson, though, says the case "reminds us of the deficiencies in New York State law.  Many people believe that this level of punishment is insufficient.  What I say to those folks is that they need to contact their state representatives and push for change."  By law... the most Overton could have received was two year in prison.  Swanson adds that Overton will be "the first offender to be placed on the Animal Abuser registry in Chautauqua County."


Goodell says rush to legalize recreational marijuana slowed-down... 
When the new state legislative session began in Albany in January... many observers thought that with Democrats in control of both chambers... legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in New York would happen quickly.  But, with a budget deadline less than a month away, action has still not taken place.  Local Assemblyman Andy Goodell says the process has slowed considerably after a number of groups -- including police agencies -- made their "serious" concerns heard.  Goodell, who opposes the move, says he still expects legislation to pass.   The Jamestown-area Republican hopes that when the final bill takes shape, it takes into consideration many of the concerns that been raised about legalization... but, he says he doubts that will derail the legislation.  Goodell made his comments as lawmakers returned to Albany this week to deal with a number of issues... including those surrounding the possible legalization of marijuana.  Lawmakers and Governor Cuomo have less than a month to get an on-time budget in place.


Gov. and Legislature disagree on State Budget revenues...
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his fellow Democrats controlling the Legislature have been unable to agree on revenue estimates for the state budget that's due in less than a month.  The inability of Cuomo and the Assembly and Senate to reach a consensus means Democratic state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli must come up with an estimate by Tuesday.  The governor and the leaders of both chambers will use DiNapoli's revenue estimate as the starting point to negotiate a final budget... which is due by April 1st.


Jamestown Chamber Salute awards presented Monday night...
The Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce has named Lakeshore Paving as it '2018 Business of the Year.'  The award was presented at the annual 'Salute to the Finest' Monday night.  Longtime employee Craig Smith accepted the award... saying while Lakeshore started paving in 1998, they now do any kind of major outdoor project.  Lena's Pizza was named the 'Restaurant of the Year.'  The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel earned honors as the 'New Business of the Year.'  Other award receipients included: Wegmans, Cummins, the UCAN Ministry, the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, and Joe and Alyvia Town, the new owners of Pace's Pizza.  


City received $2,000 more from Community Foundation to help replace Ash Trees...
The city of Jamestown is receiving $2,000 more from it's annual grant to help pay the cost to plant new trees from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.  The grant, totalling $7,000, was approved by the City Council's Finance Committee last night... and, will help replace hundreds of trees.  But... in this case... Committee Chairman Tony Dolce says most of those are Ash Trees destroyed by the Emerald Ash Borer.  Dolce says City Arborist Dan Stone was able to get the additional money after approaching city lawmakers last year with the news that at least 200 Ash Trees in city property... or in rights-of-way... were severely damaged by the Emerald Ash Borer.  Dolce says some parts of the city... especially on the north and east sides... saw the Ash Tree population severely impacted. 


Second Maniscalco Show scheduled for Comedy Festival...
The National Comedy Center in Jamestown has added a second show with comedian Sebastian Maniscalco during the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in August.  Executive Director Journey Gunderson says the move comes after Maniscalco and fellow headliner, John Mulaney's shows, at the Northwest Arena both sold out the first day of on-line, public ticket sales.  Gunderson says this is the first time that's happened in the history of the Jamestown festival.  She adds that the originally-scheduled show with Maniscalco will take place the same night at 8 p.m.  She says tickets for this show will go on pre-sale for National Comedy Center members only starting this Wednesday, March 6 at Noon... and, to the public on Friday, March 8th at Noon at www.comedycenter.org.