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WJTN Headlines for Sat., June 22, 2019

Flames heavily-damage vacant home, damages another in Jamestown overnight...
One firefighter was hurt when fire crews battled a house fire on Cherry Street in Jamestown that spread to a neighboring house late last night.  City Fire Battalion Chief Don Mowry says firefighters were called to the scene at a vacant home at 719 Cherry Street about 10:30 p.m. Friday.  Mowry says the flames had a good head-start... with heavy fire coming from the first and second floors of 719 Cherry.  He adds that flames had also spread to one side of 717 Cherry.  Mowry says an off-duty shift of 15 firefighters -- and one commander -- was later called in... along with three fire investigators.  He says the family living at 717 Cherry was able to get out safely.  He says the vacant home sustained major damage to the entire structure... and, damage was moderate to 717 Cherry.  Mowry says one firefighter was treated for minor injuries at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital and later released.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.  Mowry says crews were at the scene until about 5:30 this morning.


Largest graduating class from JHS honored, hears from 2005 graduate Hodgson Friday night...
The largest graduating class at Jamestown High School class in several years took part in last night's commencement ceremonies at Chautauqua Institution.  Some 340 members of the JHS Class of 2019 received diplomas last night... and, many will be heading off to college, while others will go into the military or enter a trade school.  Others aren't sure where they will end up next... and, those were the students Keynote Speaker Bryan Hodgson talked to.  The 2005 JHS graduate... now a major college assistant basketball coach... says he wasn't sure what he was going to do either.  Hodgson says it's "normal" and okay for students to not be sure of where they're going or what they are going to do.  For now, he says they have time on their side.  Hodgson says he was not the best student, or athlete... but, did his best.  He played basketball at JHS... and, later Jamestown Community College.  However... he was too late to try out his junior year at the SUNY College at Fredonia... and, became a Student Coach... and, he loved it.   Also during the graduation... The 100 Member Club presented $4,000 scholarships to Ellyse Noon... and, Christian Dolce, who are being honored with a Brunch today.


Chautauqua Institution kicks off 2019 season today...
Grammy Award nominee Judy Collins will be among the Week-One headliners at Chautauqua Institution... as it begins the nine-week season Saturday night.  Collins has been a headliner before at Chautauqua... and, Spokesman Jordan Steves says she'll appear with a well-known Jazz performer, Madeleine Payroux at 8:15 p.m.  Steves says there are a few tickets left for the concert... and, for more information call 357-6250.  Chautauqua will make history on Sunday... as a rabbi will speak during the Sunday Morning Church program in the amphitheater.  Later... Chautauqua President Michael Hill will present his annual "Three-Taps of the Gavel" opening address.  Steves says the coming week will feature several speakers... and the main theme in the amphitheater is "Moments that Changed the World..." and will feature appearances by National Geographic photographer Annie Griffiths... and Conservative Talk Radio Show host Hugh Hewitt.


State legislators approve measure decriminalizing Marijuana...
Lawmakers in New York state have voted to eliminate criminal penalties for public possession and use of marijuana after efforts to legalize pot stalled.  The bill would replace low-level criminal charges for possessing up to two ounces of marijuana with fines of $50 and $200-dollars... depending on the amount.  It would also expunge convictions from the records of thousands of people arrested for pot charges.  Governor Andrew Cuomo supports the bill.


Rosas named Chautauqua County Democrat of the Year...
Chautauqua County Democrats held their annual banquet late this week in Dunkirk... and, honored the north county city's Mayor, Willie Rosas.  Rosas is the first elected Hispanic mayor in New York State history.  He says he was very "humbled" to be honored by county Democrats... and, was touched to have Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown personally present him and endorse his re-election.  He says receiving the honor is "humbling."  Brown says that Rosas is recognized and "well-respected" across the state for the work that he is doing in Dunkirk... including making city government more efficient, or revitalizing the Dunkirk Waterfront.  Erie County, Pa. County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper was the keynote speaker at the dinner.


Hefner Returning to SUNY college at Fredonia as interim president...
The SUNY College at Fredonia will be seeing a familiar face return to its campus.  The SUNY Board of Trustees announced late this week that Dr. Dennis Hefner will be returning Fredonia as the university's interim president, effective July 1.  College Council Chairman Frank Pagano tells us that the university is excited to have Hefner return after spending the last seven years in retirement.  Dr. Hefner served 15 years at Fredonia's president from 1997 until 2012 before retiring.  He has a distinguished record of service at SUNY, including as former president of Fredonia and interim president at SUNY Potsdam.

City cuts ribbon on new "Breakwater Play-sculpture..."
The ribbon was cut this morning on the latest project along the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk with the opening of the new "Breakwater Play-sculpture" along the Eighth Street bike path.  Mayor Sam Teresi and City Parks Coordinator Julia Ciela-Hanley says the breakwater was one of 23 projects selected through a two-stage competition through KaBOOM's "Play Everywhere Challenge.  The city teamed up with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation’s “Built to Play” initiative to fund the $50,000 project to create play in an unexpected but everyday spaces.  More on this Monday.