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WJTN News Headlines for Friday, Jan. 13, 2023

Rite Aid store on No. Main St. in Jamestown closing Jan. 19...
One of the Jamestown area Rite Aid stores is closing later this month.  The home office of the pharmacutical retailer says the store at 811 No. Main St. will be closing on Thursday, Jan. 19.  There was an erroneous mention on another Media One station that the location at 50 South Main is closing... but, that is not the case.  In a printed statement... Rite Aid Spokesperson Catherine Carter says "like all retail businesses, we regularly review each of our locations to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers, communities and overall business.  A decision to close a store is... based on a variety of factors including business strategy, lease and rent considerations, local business conditions and viability, and store performance." 


Wendel offers "mixed review" of Hochul's State of State Address...
The top-elected official in Chautauqua County believes the county can benefit from some of the proposals that Governor Kathy Hochul presented in her State of the Address earlier this week.  However... County Executive P.J. Wendel adds he also has some concerns.  Wendel attended the address this past Tuesday in Albany... and, says Hochul's proposed $1-billion commitment to mental health care is "paramount," and it would particularly help in the north county, because UPMC Chautauqua Hospital in Jamestown is the only "acute mental health crisis" facility in the county.  He says boosting those services "is paramount."  The Lakewood Republican also had positive comments about Hochul's efforts on public safety, including her commitment to put more state troopers on the road and her willingness to discuss possible changes to bail reform.  Meanwhile, Wendel expressed some concern over her New York Housing Compact proposal, citing the state's ongoing trend of population loss.  He says increasing the number of homes by 800,000 doesn't make sense given that the state has lost about 500,000 people in the previous decade.  Wendel also questions how much of what she proposed will actually be included in the state budget.


State School Boards Assoc. chief pleased Hochul wants to fully-fund Foundation Aid to schools in new budget...
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is vowing to make good on raising public school funding to necessary levels in the 2023-24 state budget.  That from New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Bob Schneider... who says their staff has read through the detailed State of the State message... ... and, found that Hochul is proposing a $2.7-billion increase in Foundation Aid.  Schneider says officials are very happy to see what is a 13% increase in that "general aid" catagory.  He says that's important in dealing with inflation... and, expected, added costs to increase mental health... and other support services... for students impacted by the pandemic.  He says some of that support may also come from Hochul's proposal to boost mental health spending by $1-billion dollars.  As with anything else in the governor's State of the State Address... the rubber really meets the road at budget time.  Hochul will present the 2023-24 spending plan to the legislature by the end of the month.  Schneider says they're waiting to see what the Senate and Assembly come back with and budget negotiations begin.


Investigation underway into fire at former farmhouse on Moon Road in town of Ellicott...
Chautauqua County fire investigators are now looking for the cause of last night's fire that involved a large, former farmhouse on Moon Road in the town of Ellicott.  Chautauqua County's Emergency Dispatch Center says Fluvanna firefighters had mutual aid from Ellery Center, Gerry, Bemus Point, Sinclairville, Chautauqua, Ashville, and the Chautauqua County FAST team in battling the fire around 10:20 p.m. Wednesday.  Heavy fire was reported when crews arrived at the location at the intersection of Strunk and Moon Roads.  No injuries were reported.  Fluvanna firefighters were called back to the scene at 6 a.m. Thursday after the fire rekindled.


Whitaker outlines new Visitor Policy for people coming to city schools...
The Jamestown Public Schools are looking to update their policy for all visitors in the wake of new background technology that will require photo identification.  School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker says the new procedures should be in place for school hours by the end of January or early February.  Dr. Whitaker told our Dennis Webster this morning that school board Tuesday approved the initial reading of the policy change... which they currently practice, but, now is down on paper.  He says they're also using new technology called "a raptor system" which looks for people on databases who have been convicted of sexual abuse, and other preditory crimes.  Under the proposed policy... which has been approved by the district's Policy Committee — visitors including parents and volunteers would be required to present a valid state- or government-issued photo identification.


City man sentenced to 7 years in prisonfor violating his probation...
A Jamestown man will now spend seven-years in state prison after violating his probation by committing a Felony crime.  Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 27 year-old Michael Bland was re-sentenced by County Court Judge David Foley Thursday morning on a violation of probation charge.  Schmidt says Bland was convicted of second-degree attempted burglary in Erie County... and, his probation supervision was transferred to Chautauqua County where he violated his probation.  In addition to the prison term... he says Bland will also spend three-years in post-release supervision.