JHS Boy's Basketball team given rousing send-off to state championships...
The Jamestown High School boy's basketball team got a rousing send off to the New York state championships in Glens Falls this morning. Students and staff and faculty formed a column for the team to go to their bus, and the JHS Band played "On Red Raiders" as the team left the building for the bus for the trip to northeastern New York. The Raiders will play Green Tech of Section 2 in tomorrow night's Class-AA Semi Final at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Co-Captain Trey Drake said on the district's Facebook page that it's been kind of a surreal experience. He says having the entire student body behind them like this is "just awesome to see." Tomorrow night's game against Green Tech tips off at 7:45 p.m., and, you can hear all the action right here on WJTN... with our play-by-play team led by Tom Ames. If JHS wins... they'll be in the championship game at 6:45 p.m. Saturday.
---
On the girl's side... Sherman will play in the Class-D semi-finals at Hudson Valley Community College at 6:15 p.m. Friday. Their finals game would be at 8:45 p.m. Saturday. Good luck to both teams!
Reed calls Zelenskyy's address to Congress both inspiring, and heart-breaking...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to Congress Wednesday morning was both 'inspiring' and 'heart-breaking.' That from local Congressman Tom Reed... who heard Zelenskyy's address with his colleagues... in which he pleaded with lawmakers to do more to help Ukraine's fight against Russia. Reed says he supports a number of things Zelenskyy asked for... including more sanctions -- including those oligarchs, and others who support Russian President Vladimir Putin. However... Reed says he also does not support the U.S. helping to establish a "No-Fly" zone over Ukraine because of the possibility of us getting drawn directly into the conflict. However... he said an emphatic 'yes' to more military and humanitarian aid. During his address... Zelenskyy said "We need you right now. I call on you to do more." Lawmakers gave him a standing ovation before and after his speech. Zelenskyy showed a packed auditorium of U.S. lawmakers the emotional, graphic video of the destruction and devastation in his country has suffered in the war. Reed made his comments during his weekly telephone conference call with regional media.
While the Russia-Ukraine conflict is front and center, Reed warns about looming China threat...
The decision by a middle eastern oil producer to settle it's oil sales in the Chinese dollar is raising concern for local Congressman Tom Reed. While the world continues to focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict... Reed says China is continuing to make moves they believe will put them into "a checkmate" position against the U.S. in a chess game to become the new world leader. He says it looks like Saudi Arabia is going to settle it's oil sales to China in the Chinese dollar. He says this will "change the world as we know it." Reed says "America needs to wake up and recognize the very real threat that China poses to our country and the world as we know it." The Corning Republican says Chinese leaders "believe they have cornered a weakened, and divided United States." He adds, though, there is time to right the ship. Reed says the country needs to get it's debt under control... and, rebuild it's industrial strength so China isn't needed to produce goods for us.
Fire significantly damages Pennsylvania Ave. home in Jamestown...
An electrical issue is the apparent cause of a fire that caused significant damage to a home on Jamestown's southside late Wednesday afternoon. City Fire Battalion Chief Cris Dahlgren says crews were called to the scene at 39 Pennsylvania Ave. about 4:40 p.m., and, found smoke coming from the basement... and, windows blown out on arrival. Dahlgren says the person calling in the alarm said they heard an explosion... and, called 911. He says the woman living there was at work, and not home at the time. No injuries were reported. Dahlgren says there was a lot of fire damage in the kitchen and basement areas... with heat damage through-out the home. Crews were at the scene nearly four hours. Dahlgren says the fire appears to have been accidental.
Wendel credits Hochul for keeping local governments in mind during budget negotiations...
Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel says he believes Governor Kathy Hochul is keeping local counties in mind in her budget for New York State's 2022-2023 fiscal year. Wendel, who attended Hochul's address this week to the New York State Association of Counties, says he met with other county executives across the state, and they share the same sentiment that he does. He says her statements and other information he's received indicates the Hochul administration has been doing just that, unlike the Cuomo administration. Wendel says one way that Chautauqua County should benefit in the state's spending plan is through increased Consolidated Highway Improvement Program... or CHIPS funding.
City man arrested for lewd behavior in convenience store...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly exposing himself to some children at a convenience store on the city's westside Tuesday afternoon. Jamestown police were called to the scene about 3:30 p.m. on a complaint that 73 year-old Timothy Somnitz exposed himself to children under the age of 7. Officers arrested Somnitz for first-degree public lewdness... and, endangering the welfare of a child... and, he was jailed pending arraignment.
