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WJTN News Headlines for Jan. 7, 2019

With the Plastic-Bag Ban scheduled to begin state-wide March 1st, Wegmans grocery stores announced they will be removing all single-use bags from their stores ahead of the deadline.  

In a printed release, Wegmans Packing and Sustainability Manager Jason Wadsworth... indicated a successful pilot program at its Corning and Ithaca stores led to the decision.... and, will be implemented in all its New York state stores Monday, January 27th.  Wadsworth says the goal is to shift all customers to reusable bags. Under the new law, local counties will have the option of imposing a 5-cent fee on paper bags. Wegmans officials say the amount of money collected from the charge will be donated to the local food bank. It's unclear if Chautauqua County has made a decision on whether to opt in to the fee. 


The city of Jamestown may become one of the first muncipalities to vote to urge state lawmakers to either repeal, or reform the new bail reform laws that took effect on January 1st. 

 The City Council's Public Safety Committee discussed such a measure, which has now been approved by the Evans Town Board in Erie County.  Committee members discussed the matter earlier with Police Chief Harry Snellings.  Council President Tony Dolce says, thankfully, there haven't been any issues locally, as yet.

Snellings says he's on board with several other police chiefs... and local District Attorneys who oppose the new law.  Dolce says there have been issues state-wide with the new bail reforms... which eliminate cash bail for some 400 or so offenses that were considered by a majority of state lawmakers to be "non-violent."  Dolce says Public Safety may have a resolution to look at next week.


There will be some hold-overs at Jamestown City Hall through late January when the City Council is expected to vote on a few new department heads... and, members of boards and commissions.  

In recent years... lawmakers typically suspended their rules, and voted on those people at that particular meeting.  However... last Wednesday... they automatically tabled action until on several new appointments made by new Mayor Eddie Sundquist.

The new appointments include City Clerk/Treasurer Rudy Andelora... who is a retired school teacher in Jamestown, and Corporation Counsel, Elliot Raimando.  Sundquist says Raimando is a Jamestown native, who worked in Albany on labor issues.  Sundquist's appointments also included three new members of the Board of Public Utilities.  He says he has spoken with the people currently holding those seats, along with the new appointees.  Sundquist says part of the reason for the change is his desire to have the BPU look into developing municipal Internet services.


The city of Jamestown's first demolition of the new year will take place at the location of a former westside business after the building collapsed last weekend.  

City firefighters were called to the former Quality Rebuild at 823 Clinton Street late Saturday afternoon... where they found the top floor had caved in on the building.  Acting Development Director Crystal Surdyk says the area has been closed off... and, a crew will begin demolition work this morning.

Surdyk says it will take about 10 days to complete the demolition because materials inside have to be tested, and properly disposed of.  Mayor Eddie Sundquist says fortunately, no one was hurt when the building collapsed.  But... he says there were a number of vehicles in and around the building.  He says most were not part of the business property.  It also appears the city will not be able to recoup any of it's demolition costs from the defunct ownership.  


A Gerry woman was arrested for Unsafe Backing and driving while intoxicated nearly three times the legal limit last Saturday night. 

Jamestown Police and Sheriff's Deputies say they were investigating a reported fight at Jeremy's Belview restaurant on Foote Avenue, when they allegedly saw a grey Dodge Journey back up into a parked vehicle in the lot nearby.  Officers determined the driver -- 33 year-old Brittany Abramson -- was drunk and placed her under arrest.  She was sent to the Jamestown City Jail and released with an appearance ticket.  Police say no one was injured during the incident. 


Pennsylvania State Police are investigating what appears to be a deliberate attempt to release bedbugs in a Walmart store in Edinboro. 

 A police spokeswoman said Monday that troopers have made no arrests and do not have any suspects.  A manager from the store in northwestern Pennsylvania contacted police Saturday after store employees found pill bottles with bugs in them.  Police say a hygiene services contractor contacted by Walmart found bugs crawling around in the men's fitting room and identified them as bedbugs.  Troopers were testing for fingerprints on the bottle while store officials were reviewing surveillance video.