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WJTN News Headlines for Tues., Mar. 14, 2023

Sundquist updates homeless situation following meeting with leaders of "Code Blue" shelters...
The city of Jamestown and the two entities providing "Code Blue" shelters for the homeless this Winter are working on ways to help the homeless during the warmer months that'll be here soon.  That from Mayor Eddie Sundquist... who recently met with the people heading up the two temporary shelters... which are primarily used when the temperature drops below 32-degrees.  Sundquist says the shelters have been "consistantly full."  He says the temporary shelters will be open through at least part of April.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development last year provided a $194,000 grant to help set up the two shelters in the city.  He says they are working with Chautauqua Opportunities, Incorporated to find enough housing for the homeless heading into the Summer months.  Sundquist says they're looking for private landlords... who would be paid by COI... who would be willing to provide housing for them.  He says one of the temporary shelters, at the Gateway Center, has endeavored to help connect the homeless to the services they need.  In addition to the Gateway Center on Water Street... the city has a second "Code Blue" shelter at the Joy Fellowship Free Methodist Church. 


Mental Health program at Ross Grange sounds alert on issues in rural areas...
Mental health in rural areas is in an ‘emergency situation.’  That’s what Jeff Winton, founder of the organization Rural Minds, told the Ross Grange at a meeting in Falconer Monday afternoon.  Winton believes it’s important to get past the ‘just get over it’ mindset, and speak out loud about emotional issues.  He says, by putting a personal face on this, we can reach a lot of people we wouldn't be able to otherwise."  Winton, who’s from Chautauqua County, lost an apparently healthy nephew to suicide several years ago.  Teresa McMahon of Cornell University’s FarmNet program believes farmers need to care for themselves in the same way they care for others.  McMahon says farmers will give a stranger the "shirt off their backs..." but, need to do things for themselves, too.  Both speakers emphasized that help is available, even in rural areas… through RuralMinds.org or by calling 988.


North County man sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years for violating probation...
A Fredonia man has been sentenced to 2-and-a-third to seven years in state prison for violating conditions of his probation on a third-degree robbery conviction.  Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 30 year-old Philip Whitfield was sentenced by Judge David Foley Monday to the indeterminate state prison term after receiving a five-year probation term on the robbery charges in August of 2021.  Schmidt thanked the county's Probation Department for it's help in the case, and for their diligent supervision of probationers.


Rolison jailed again after being indicted for allegedly causing second, fatal crash...
The city man accused in a fatal hit-and-run accident in Jamestown on New Year's Eve of 2021... has now been formally indicted on charges in connection with another fatal accident in late 2022.  Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt announced Monday that 59 year-old Randall Rolison was indicted by the Grand Jury on charges of Felony aggravated vehicular homicide... and, second-degree manslaughter in connection with the Dec. 3, 2022 fatal, two-car crash in Arkwright that took the life of Linda Kraemer of South Dayton.  Rolison was arraigned... and, remanded to the county jail without bail.  Rolison was out on bail last December in connection with the hit-and-run accident that took the life of 15 year-old Lexy Hughan of Jamestown in late 2021.  He was hospitalized for a time in Erie after last December's accident.  Once released... his bail was revoked... and, he was returned to the county jail.


Borrello says one-house budgets from Assembly and Senate to be released this week...
New York State's 2023-24 budget deadline is less than a month away... and, lawmakers in the Senate and Assembly will be releasing their one-house budgets this week.  That from State Senator George Borrello, who gave a recent update on where budget talks are heading.  The Sunset Bay Republican says those proposals will likely increase the spending in Governor Kathy Hochul's $227-billion budget proposal.  In fact... he's heard the final number could be as high as $270-billion, which he calls "ridiculous."  Borrello says Hochul has been getting "pushed around" by far-left Democratic lawmakers, and he believes the budget process will be no different.  He says the best example is the Western New York Democrat getting nothing in return for signing legislation making state legislators the highest paid in the nation.  A final budget is due by Apr. 1.


Langworthy announces dredging of Barcelona Harbor will start three months early... 
The U-S Army Corps of Engineers is now planning to begin dredging work in Barcelona Harbor on Lake Erie this coming May... three months ahead of schedule.  That from local Congressman Nick Langworthy... who says the action comes on the heels of his meeting with Chautauqua County and town of Westfield officials at the harbor last month.  Langworthy says the visit allowed him to see first-hand the safety risks and shoaling that have formed after severe weather storms that have pummeled the county in recent years.  As a result of the visit, Langworthy pledged to bring County Executive P.J. Wendel, Westfield Town Supervisor Martha Bills, and the Army Corp together to expedite the process for a critical dredging project.