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WJTN News Headlines

A Kennedy man has been arrested after allegedly being found in the basement of a home on Jamstown's northside early yesterday morning.  City police were called to the scene at 346 Crossman Street shortly before 1 AM.  On arrival... officers set up a perimeter around the house... and, brought in K-9 Mitchell to try and find the suspect.  Police say the K-9 searched... and, found 28 year-old James Tuttle hidding under the basement stairs.  Tuttle was arrested for second-degree burglary... third-degree criminal mischief... second-degree obstruction... and, being in possession of burglars tools.  He was arraigned and sent to the county jail without bail.

 

Work is to resume this morning on clearing the scene of the partial building collapse on Jamestown's eastside last Thursday night.  City Development Director Vince DeJoy says the three-story, commercial building at 10-to-12 East Second Street actually had a smaller collapse earlier this year.  However... DeJoy says Thursday's all-day rains were too much.  DeJoy says demolition crews are being "very cautious" because of the structure's proximity to the Fenton and Pintagro Buildings.  He says the building... which has been eyed by the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation for re-purposing and re-development... has suffered from a lot of neglect.  No one has reportedly occupied the structure for the past decade or so.  Part of the back roof collapsed... and, that pushed a large part of the east wall out.  DeJoy says his office, and the engineers have been working to get the building down as quickly as possible.

 

The "job is not done."  That's why three-term Southern Tier Congressman Tom Reed says he's running for another two-years in the U-S House of Representatives.  The Corning Republican says he appreciates the support he's received across the mammoth, 23rd District.  However... he says that's why he does town hall meetings for constituents across the district, and has now handled more than 10-thousand cases for the residents here.
Reed says he has worked on a number of issues in the House... and, has especially pushed the need for advanced manufacturing... saying it has the potential to "reinvigorate" the Southern Tier economy.  However... he has also thrown his support to other projects... including the National Comedy Center in Jamestown.  Reed says he's also worked to keep health care strong in the region.  He says he will "put his record of commitment and accessbility to the people up against anyone."  He made his comments for late weekend's "Community Spotlight" program.  His Democratic challenger, John Plumb of Lakewood, joins us next week.

 

The confidential law clerk to Chautauqua County Court Judge David Foley is running for State Supreme Court... and, she is the only candidate from Chautauqua County.  Grace Hanlon says one of the main reasons she is running is that the county hasn't had a state Supreme Court judge from the county since 2003. Hanlon is one of four candidates seeking two seats in the 8th Judicial District.  She tells us that having a judge from Chautauqua County can make a difference because they're familiar with the area.  Hanlon says... for example... there was a Supreme Court Judge from Buffalo that presided over the case involving the sale of the Sheldon House in Jamestown.  She says the judge, admittedly, didn't know what the Sheldon House was because he wasn't from here.  The last state Supreme Court Judge from the county was former County Executive, and state Agriculture and Markets Commissioner, Joseph Gerace.  The Eighth-Judicial District covers eight counties in Western New York.

 

A new report finds that schools play an important role in providing fresh fruits and vegetables but that creating successful farm-to-school programs can be a challenge for local education officials.  The analysis released Friday by the office of New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found that 43 percent of all school districts in the state participate in farm-to-school programs.  DiNapoli says that while the state has increased funding for such programs, officials can do more to help school officials team up with local farmers.

 

A debt-collection company specializing in student loan defaults says it's adding 200 jobs in western New York, nearly doubling its workforce.  The expansion of Coast Professional in Geneseo (jen-uh-SEE'-oh) comes after U-S Senator Charles Schumer stepped in to make sure the company didn't lose a federal Department of Education contract.  Schumer announced last week that the company will now hire more than 200 new employees in addition to rehiring 170 that were laid off when the Department of Education was considering ending its contract with Coast in June 2015.  With a new five-year contract secured... the company plans to start building a 15,000-square-foot expansion within the next 30 days and hire new workers over the next two years.

 

The out-going president of the Zonta Club of Jamestown has received the local organization's Zontian of the Year Award.  Bonnie DeJoy, a member of Zonta since 2006, headed up the group from 2013-to-2015.  She is a Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Trinity Biotech USA, has a daughter... Danielle DeJoy Moss.  Zonta's president-elect, Rosie Papalia, says -- Bonnie has "supported and advocated for women locally and internationally.  She was an organized and fantastic President.  She's a solid communicator.  She's a great representative to have from the U.S."  DeJoy says she was quite surprised by the honor... adding that "it's what we do as an organization both locally and worldwide that means the most to me.  We make a difference, sometimes in small ways and sometimes in some significant ways, but it all matters."  For more information on the Zonta Club... go on-line to Zontajamestown-dot-ORG.

 

Airbnb says it will file a lawsuit challenging a new law in New York authorizing fines of up to 75-hundred dollars for people who advertise short-term rentals of vacant apartments.  The company says the law signed last Friday by Governor Andrew Cuomo is unconstitutional and benefits "price gouging" hotels at the expense of everyday New Yorkers who rent out space.  The fines would be imposed on those who advertise a vacant apartment in a multiunit building for 30 or fewer days.  Residents who rent spare bedrooms or single-family homes won't be fined.  Supporters say the law targets illegal, unlicensed hotels that divert affordable apartment units from the residential market.  Enforcing the law, though, will be a challenge.  Despite a 2010 law prohibiting short-term rentals in multi-unit buildings... many are still listed.