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WJTN News Headlines for Wed., Apr. 6, 2022

Mayville woman indicted on Felony drug and weapons charges... 
A Mayville woman has been indicted by the Chautauqua County Grand Jury on eight Felony drug and weapons possession charges.  County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 41 year-old Alisha Klinger was arraigned Tuesday morning by County Court Judge David Foley on the indictment.  Schmidt says the indictment includes one count of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... five counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... one count of second-degree criminal possession of a Weapon... and, third-degree criminal possession of a Weapon.  The defendant is scheduled to appear in County Court in May.


Goodell says no movement yet on approving remainder of state budget bills...
Negotations on the overdue, 2023 New York state budget are now five-days old... but, there's been no word on any breakthroughs reported on the main sticking points.  That from local State Assemblyman Andy Goodell... who says the only bill that lawmakers have approved so far is the $15-billion dollar Debt Service bill... which he says is about 30% of all the tax revenues taken in by the state.  Goodell adds, though, of the more than $200-billion in total debt the state has racked up... only about $2-billion of that was approved by the voters.  He says that's been part of the state constitution since 1938.  However... the Jamestown-area Republican says lawmakers have found ways to work around that by establishing several agencies and authorities over the years... and, they were given the ability to borrow money to avoid having the public vote on it.  The legislature did approve an "extender" appropriations bill Monday, which allows New York to meet payroll and other obligations through Thursday.  


Chautauqua County to lose it's Human Resources director on Apr. 16...
The woman who has served as Chautauqua County's Human Resources director since August of 2020 will soon be relocating with her family...  and leaving county government.  County Executive P.J. Wendel says Jean Riley is resigning her position as of Apr. 16.  Riley says she and her family made the decision to relocate... but, adds they'll "miss beautiful Chautauqua County.  I thank the County Executive for the opportunity to serve my community and for all the support and encouragement I received during my time with the County.”  Wendel says for nearly two years... "Jean has been an exceptional leader for our Human Resources Department and I have been honored to have her be a part of my team.  She has worked tirelessly to foster and create a fair, consistent environment for all county employees."  He says he will begin the process of finding a replacement soon... including setting up a bi-partisan search committee to help find a new director.


Silver Creek school superintendent says allegations of elementary school Isolation Room are false...
The superintendent of the Silver Creek Central School District says a number of allegations regarding the use of a de-escalation room as an 'isolation cell' in the district's elementary school are "utterly false."  Todd Crandall issued a statement late Monday in response to the allegations, which were received by the district last Tuesday and publicized by a school administrator.  In a video message to district families... Crandall said that while the district does use a de-escalation room, it has never been used as a form of punishment or has any negative implications.  He says the district "does not now, nor has ever, utilitized an isolation cell."  Crandall says the independent people they've had investigate say there has never been a child locked inside a room at the school by themself.  He says an inspection of the room on Monday by a State Police investigator, the Erie-2, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus BOCES Coordinator of Health and Safety, and the Silver Creek Fire Chief found that the de-escalation room is safe and meets all fire codes and regulations.  He adds the district has suspended the use of the de-escalation room pending a full and complete investigation.


Jamestown-area gas prices fall 11-cents a gallon over the past week...
Gas prices across the U-S... as well as the Jamestown-area... have fallen over the past week.  However... AAA says overall they still remain at or near record levels.  The East Central's Gas Price Report this week says the average price for a gallon of unleaded, regular gas is down 11-cents to just over $4.28 a gallon.  AAA says the national average is now $4.18 a gallon... which is six cents less than a week ago, and 35-cents more than a month ago.  The association says the decrease has come simultaneously with President Biden's announced plan to release one million barrels of oil per day for six months from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.  There has also been a slight drop in demand the past few days.


Capitol rioter from NYC sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison...
A New York City man accused of taking part in the attempted insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and still facing federal charges has been sentenced to 3-and-1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty in state court to a count of criminal weapons possession.  Thirty-three-year-old Samuel Fisher had been arrested a couple of weeks after the Jan. 6 2021 riot, with authorities citing posts on social media that included firearms and talked about being at the Capitol.  Prosecutors say a search of Fisher's apartment on Manhattan's upper east side turned up multiple weapons and loaded high-capacity ammunition magazines.  His attorney called the sentence "tough but fair."