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WJTN News Headlines for Apr. 5, 2018

A  Cattaraugus County man has been arrested on several charges -- including vehicular manslaughter, and driving while intoxicated -- following a two-vehicle accident in the town of Carrollton...  
 
Sheriff's deputies in Little Valley responded to the collison on Route 417 Wednesday night.  Following an investigation, officers determined that a vehicle operated by 47 year-old John McStraw attempted to pass a semi-trailer and struck an oncoming vehicle driven by an unidentified 48 year-old Killbuck resident.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.  McStraw was arraigned in Carrollton Town Court and is being held in Cattaraugus County Jail on $15,000 bail. 
 
 
Tips from the public have been a major help to Jamestown police in their investigation into the death of an adult American Pitbull found hanging from a tree on the city's westside...  
 
City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says a passerby found the dog hanging on a red leash and blue nylon rope shortly before 8 p.m. this past Monday on Hallock Street near Palmer.  Samuelson tells us that they have now developed information on a suspect, and they expect to announced an arrest in the case later today.  He tells us that information on the supect will be released early this afternoon once the person has officially been charged and arraigned.  In addition to the "dozens of tips" they have received from the public, he says they have also received several requests for monetary donations towards a reward or donation for the animal's cause.  You can do so through the local Humane Society, or the Pick of the Litter Animal Shelter in Falconer. 
 
 
A Jamestown woman is accused of driving while intoxicated on the city's westside Tuesday morning... 
 
Officers say a vehicle with a loud, inadequate muffler made an improper left turn onto Washington Street from West 4th Street and was stopped. During the investigation, the operator-- 37 year-old Melissa Morrod-- was determined to be intoxicated. Norrod was also found to have cocaine in her possession and was arrested. She was taken to city jail pending arraignment on traffic violations, DWI and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. 
 
 
It didn't take 100 days, but Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello has been able to officially visit 100 businesses at the beginning of his four-year term in office... 
 
Borrello visited the Grape Growers Cooperative in Westfield Wednesday as his 100th business.  However, he's been able to do it in 94 days. The Silver Creek area Republican says he's proud to have done it and adds it's been well worth doing.
 
In fact, Borrello says he's going to keep doing the visits during the remainder of his term because they've been so helpful.  He adds that each meeting has been special, and while they weren't scheduled to go long, many have lasted between 1.5 and three hours.  He says it's been a learning experience that's taught him that if local businesses are willing to spend that much time talking about their business needs, then it's "critically important."  He made his comments for this coming weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the five Media One Group stations.
 
 
The head of New York's School Boards Association says they'll take the nearly $860-million state aid increase in the just-approved state budget... 
 
However, there is a lot of concern about a new mandate to report on where each and every dollar goes in each district and in each of their buildings.  That from Association Executive Director Tim Kreamer, who says the "School Building -- per Pupil" Reports are part of a new federal mandate.  Kreamer says this year -- 75 school districts -- will have to issue reports by July 1.
 
Kreamer says each of New York's nearly 700 public school districts will have to do the reports in the "proper form" and submit them to ensure each gets their fair share of aid.  As for this year, Kreamer says the increase in state aid is not enough to meet current needs, which include health care and pension costs.  He says the legislature included aid for private and charter schools in the one-billion dollars in total, additional aid in the 2018-19 budget. 
 
 
The state of New York has announced a $66-million plan to repair and upgrade a stretch of the Thruway near Buffalo...  
 
Governor Andrew Cuomo said late Tuesday that the work will entail the rehabilitation and reconstruction of three miles of roadway between exit 54 and the Lackawanna toll barrier. New signs, wider shoulders and better guardrails will be installed.  In addition, three Thruway bridges will be repaired and renovated and a fifth span will be totally rebuilt.  Cuomo's office says the stretch of Thruway is one of the busiest, with more than 130,000 motorists using the highway every day.  The work will require some nightly lane closures on the Thruway's eastbound lanes.  The work is expected to be completed next year.
 
 
A non-profit center in the Jamestown community is dedicated to empowering students through their creativity in music, art, dancing, and singing... 
 
That from Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Center's Executive Director Shane Hawkins, who says their programs help students express themselves through a healthy outlet.  She says the proof is in the art form.
 
While speaking with our Noel Blackhall, Hawkins adds that teachers serve as mentors for students, which she calls just as important to students as the teaching itself.  Infinity will be holding a "New Student Orientation" on April 19th for anyone interested in enrolling in public and private group sessions.  To find out more information on Infinity's programs,  visit their website at InfinityPerformingArts.org or call, 664-0991.
 
 
The death of a Vermont skier was ruled accidental by the Essex County Coroner's office... 
 
New York State Police in Ray Brook say 22 year-old Lukas Harvey was skiing with friends at Whiteface Mountain last Saturday morning. At 11 a.m., Harvey was passing through the lower Northway Trail when he fell and collided with a small group of hardwood trees. Troopers say life-saving measures were attempted without success and his body was taken to Adirondak Medical Center in Saranac Lake. Following an autopsy on Tuesday, Harvey's death was determined to be blunt force injuries due to a skiing accident. 
 
 
Road Closure Announcement for Jamestown Motorists...
 
The City of Jamestown Public Works Department has announced that Buffalo Street from Blackstone Avenue to Allen Street will be closed to traffic beginning on Monday, April 9. Director of Public Works Jeff Lehman says the portion of roadway will be closed to facilitate reconstruction of the railroad bridge. He says motorist will have to use alternate routes of travel through the beginning of July.