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WJTN Headlines for Thursday Dec. 28, 2017

The eastern ends of Lakes Erie and Ontario in New York state have been getting pouned by lake effect snow the past three days and, have produced some impressive snowfall totals. 
 
Officials in communities near both lakes are asking residents to avoid driving on local roads so crews can remove 4 to 5 feet of snow that has fallen since Christmas Day.  Heavy, lake-effect snow is being blamed for causing crashes and stranding vehicles in Chautauqua and, Oswego Counties. 
 
Officials in the town of Boylston in the Tug Hill Plateau area say people should stay off local roads so plow drivers can make traveling safer. 
 
 
The lake effect snow continued to pile up late yesterday in communities across the Chautauqua Ridge. 
 
So far, there's been more than 40 inches of the white stuff in Perrysburg in Cattaraugus County.  But, there's even more snow on the ground in the village of Mayville.  That from Mayor Marty Bova, who tells us they had nearly four-feet on the ground yesterday morning but, we understand that's now about 5-feet of the white stuff. 
 
The village had problems with its sidewalk plow Tuesday.  Bova says they are renting one while repairs are being made.  He says their Bobcat broke down, and they had to get one from Southern Tier Trailer. 
 
Bova says they rented one from Southern Tier, and tried to play catch up yesterday.  Bova says it looks like a Winter wonderland, but the mayor hopes the current lake effect snow event ends soon.
 
 
Snow continued to fall late Wednesday in Erie, Pennsylvania, and surrounding areas that already have seen a record amount of snow over the past few days. 
 
The National Weather Service office in Cleveland says at least an additional 5 to 10 inches are expected through Wednesday
 
The storm brought 34 inches of snow on Christmas Day, an all-time daily snowfall record for Erie.  Another 24.5 inches fell by Tuesday night, bringing the total since December 23rd to more than 62.9 inches. 
 
 
A Connecticut woman is being treated for non-life threatening injuries after losing control of her car, and it crashed into a guard rail on Interstate 86 in the town of Sherman. 
 
Sheriff's officers say 20 year-old Alicia Cavazos of Hartfield was traveling on the highway just before 6 a.m. Wednesday, when she lost control on the snow-slicked road, and, the vehicle struck the guard rail.  She was taken to UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
 
 
A former corrections officer at a state prison facility in Brocton has been charged with raping an inmate. 
 
State police say 41-year-old James Beam, Junior of Silver Creek, was also charged with several counts of official misconduct.  Troopers say Beam was charged after an investigation into an unlawful personal relationship with an inmate while working at the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Facility. 
 
Police say Beam was issued an appearance ticket at the direction of the county district attorney's office.  He's scheduled to appear in Portland Town court next month. 
 
 
State financial leaders are projecting as much as a $4-billion budget deficit in New York state heading into next year. 
 
However, a local state legislator says it's still too soon to tell.  State Assemblyman Andy Goodell says the annual spending plan is based on a number of assumptions. 
 
Goodell says if the state keeps spending in line like it has in recent years, the deficit won't be that big.  However, he says a lot will be determined by what the state does if the Trump Adminstration decides to halt the Medicare Expansion in the Affordable Care Act.
 
Goodell says that one plus is the way the stock market has been going, with it now over the 24,000 level.  He adds that how bonuses are paid out will also be critical.  The state legislative session will begin next week with Governor Andrew Cuomo's state of the State Address.
 
 
Winter weather has hindered the Salvation Army of Jamestown from reaching their goal of $112,000 through the annual Red Kettle Campaign.
 
However, despite the $11,000 shortfall, Captain Kim Merchant says that there is still time to help.
 
Merchant says that they raised $101,000 through the campaign. She says they added almost 100 more families and children in need to help this year. 
 
Merchant hopes that those who "have" will realize there are many who do not. Additionally, Merchant says that those looking to donate can write checks to the Salvation Army through New Years' Day.
 
If they don't meet the goal this year, Merchant says that they may have to cut services such as rental assistance for families who need help paying their rent. 
 
Donations can be sent to the Salvation Army of Jamestown at their 83 South Main Street address or call 664-4108.
 
 
 

Gas prices in the Jamestown area have dropped by about four cents to $2.71 for a gallon of regular, unleaded fuel.

 

That from AAA's weekly gas price report which, says gas inventories in the East Central region have increased by 1.2-million barrels on the week despite an increase in driving demand.

 

AAA says that prices were 26-cents cheaper at this time last year with a gallon of gasoline priced at $2.47 On the national front gas prices jumped by 2-cents to $2.44.

 

AAA says the increase at the pump could reflect the increase in driving through the holiday season.