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WJTN News Headlines

There's been a driver fatality during a race for the first time in the 57-year history of Stateline Speedway in Busti.  Lakewood Busti Police report that 50 year old John M Kelsey of Jamestown apparently suffered from a pre-existing medical condition while racing in the E-Mod Feature last Saturday night at the Busti racing facility.  One source says the race car slowed going into turn-three... and, struck the wall between the third and fourth turns after the driver was striken.  However... sources say the race car did not hit the wall hard... and, did not cause the death.  Up until this point... while there have been serious crashes... there had not been a fatality among drivers actually racing on the track.  We did place a call to Stateline Owner Jennifer Seamens last night for further detail... but, were unable to reach her.

 

The 69th Gerry Rodeo was "a very successfull" one.  Rodeo Spokesman Paul Cooley says it was highlighted by a near capacity crowd for the fifth and final performance last Saturday night.  Cooley says the four-day event drew a record number of contestants from 26 states.  He says the weather was "near perfect... " with about three-minutes of rain one night.  Cooley says that lended to solid attendance -- about 14-hundred -- per show for the four days.  He says it was pretty good... considering all the activities going on over the weekend. Cooley adds Rodeo officials were also pleased to have a record, 172 entrants.  Those included Saddle Bronc Winner Jacobs Crawley from Stephenville, Texas... who is ranked number-four in the world.  Cooley says Crawley took home the most purse money... 2-thousand-986 dollars of the record 48-thousand dollar purse.  Justin Thigpen of Waycross, Georgia won Best All-Around Cowboy at the event.  Cooley adds they sold 34-hundred of the Gerry Fire Department's famous beef barbecues during the four-days of the Rodeo.  The 70th Annual Gerry Rodeo will be held next July 30th through August 2nd.

 

The directors of county and city veteran service agencies in New York will have to get federal accreditation within three years under a new law.  The measure signed last week by Governor Andrew Cuomo says those directors, who are appointed by county executives and mayors, will have to take all necessary steps to be accredited as a veterans' service organization representative.  That gives them authority from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help veterans and their families pursue benefit claims.  The law requires new appointees to get accreditation within 18 months.  The state Division of Veterans' Affairs says it can train and accredit them at no cost.

 

New York is following the federal government's lead in dropping the requirement that automated teller machines have posted signs disclosing their potential fees.  The measure was signed last week by Governor Andrew Cuomo... and, takes effect immediately.  Sponsors say ATM operators are also required to disclose fees on their computer screens or else on a paper notice once the transaction has been initiated.  Congress recently passed legislation to eliminate the ``outdated requirement'' for notices on machines, and they say the New York measure conforms to that.

 

A Buffalo-area man is accused of stealing a canister being used to collect donations for a cancer patient at a gas station in the town of Irving.  Sheriff's officers say they arrested 44 year-old Kevin Henningan of Elma for allegedly grabbing... and, running off with the canister from the Routes 5 and 20 Kwik Fill late this past week.  Henningan was found to not be connected with the donation effort.  He was charged with petty larceny... and, issued an appearance ticket for Hanover Town Court.

 

A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly harassing and shoving an employee of a Bemus Point hotel last weekend.  Sheriff's Deputies say they were called to a harassment complaint at the Hotel Lenhart last Saturday afternoon.  After interviewing the people involved... officers say they arrested 26 year-old Andrew Hodges.  In addition to allegedly harassing the employee... Hodges is also accused of breaking a lamp inside the Lakeside Drive hotel.  He's charged with second-degree harassment... and, criminal mischief.  Hodges was issued appearance tickets... and, will appear in Ellery Town Court at a later date.

 

A group opposed to abortion is protesting special treatment for an abortion rights group by New York's Democrat-dominated ethics and lobbying commission.  New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedom is asking for the same protection from having to identify its donors that the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics granted to NARAL Pro-Choice New York.

 

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli... once the target of headline-grabbing criticism from Eliot Spitzer... says current Spitzer foe Scott Stringer has the temperament, vision and qualifications to be New York City's comptroller.  DiNapoli tells The Associated Press he'll leave it to voters to decide if Spitzer is qualified for the job.  DiNapoli continues to endorse Stringer, the Manhattan borough president, in the Democratic primary.  In 2007... then-Governor Spitzer called him ``thoroughly and totally unqualified'' for the job when the Legislature appointed DiNapoli to succeed disgraced Comptroller Alan Hevesi.