Community Spotlight, the area's longest running local public affairs radio program, airs on all six Media One Radio Group stations each weekend and is also available to hear in our Podcast Section.  Each week we sit down with a community leader or another special guest to talk about issues within our community.  


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WJTN News Headlines

Kenneth Wisniewski was riding his ATV along the side of the road when he lost control for an unknown reason.  Deputies say the vehicle went off the roadway... and, rolled over, with Wisniewski being ejected.  Officers say he was initially treated at the scene... and, was later flown by Starflight Helicopter to the Hamot Medical Center for further treatment.  The investigation is continuing and charges may be pending.

 

A Sherman woman has been arrested for alleged drunk driving after losing control of her car... and, it crashed into a number of items --including a tree -- in a cemetery.  Sheriff's Deputies were called to the scene of a single car crash about 11:30 PM last Friday on Route 430.  Officers say the driver... 24 year-old Samantha Griswold... lost control of her vehicle... and, it went into the cemetery... and, hitting several pieces of property before hitting the tree.  Neither she nor her passenger were hurt.  However... after further investigation... Deputies say Griswold was allegedly driving drunk... and, her driving privledges in New York State were revoked for a previous incident.  Griswold was issued several appearance tickets... but, more charges may be filed pending further investigation. 

 

State Senator Cathy Young says it's "very disappointing" to see that Lake Erie Regional Health System has decided to close the Lake Shore Health Care Center in January.  Young says the new came "out of the blue..." even though she had been in contact with the hospital administration.  In fact... she says she's held three forums on rural health care regarding Lake Shore... and, Tri-County in Gowanda. Young says her office has already begun working on setting up a meeting with the State Health Department... and, Lake Erie Health System officials.  The Olean Republican also says the decision to close the Irving-based hospital will have "a profound impact on the lives of those who are losing their jobs.  Many families will be affected and it is a huge blow to the local economy."  She adds the news is even more shocking because just a few months ago... they were "celebrating the opening of Lakeshore's new emergency room."

 

New York state Education Commissioner John King, Jr. has announced a series of 12 forums on the new Common Core learning standards and other reforms.  King announced the forums late Friday.  He's faced criticism since an earlier decision to cancel a slate of PTA-arranged appearances after one in Poughkeepsie last week devolved into a shouting match.  King says future forums will include Board of Regents members and will be moderated by state legislators in school districts around the state.  The first will be in Albany on October 24th.  King's been criticized all week by parents, teachers and lawmakers for canceling the first forums.  They were meant to address the state's implementation of the more difficult learning standards and the state's controversial decision to immediately use them as the basis for standardized tests.

 

The Democrat running for Chautauqua County Executive says he has a couple of immediate problems with the proposed 2014 budget -- the spending plan he will have to work with if he's elected.  Fredonia's Ron Johnson admits to being a bit "frustrated" with the process... because he has no input on what's ultimately done.  However... he adds there are good parts to 230.7-million dollar proposal.  The first part Johnson says he has a problem with is the political "gamesmanship" being played by county legislators in cutting 500-thousand dollars current Executive Greg Edwards' added for the Office for the Aging.  He says his GOP opponent -- Vince Horrigan -- initially proposed cutting that in half. Johnson says the other problem he has is the legislature cutting out the entire Inter-governmental Transfer for the County Home in Dunkirk.  That was included by Edwards in the 2014 spending plan.  In his mind... Johnson says keeping that just over one-million dollars in place is a 'no-brainer" because you leverage an equal amount of state and federal dollars for the operation.  He made his comments for this weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the five Media One Group stations.

 

New York's highest court says police can interrogate a suspect without reading their Miranda rights or providing a lawyer when they reasonably believe there's a serious, ongoing emergency.  The Court of Appeals says the exception to a defendant's rights applies even when authorities don't know for certain a crime happened.  The court last Thursday backed prosecutors' use of incriminating statements Scott Doll made after the February 2009 beating death of business partner Joseph Benaquist.  A Genesee County deputy responding to an evening 9-1-1 call about a suspicious person found him walking on a roadway.  Doll initially said wet blood on his clothes was from butchering deer.  He asked for a lawyer and declined to take authorities to the deer.  Doll, now 51, is serving 15 years to life in prison.

 

The FBI has assigned its Joint Terrorism Task Force to lead its probe of laser attacks on the cockpits of two planes approaching LaGuardia Airport this past week.  It's also inviting help from the public as well to fight a growing threat.  The FBI says a reward is available for anyone providing information leading to arrests in attacks last Tuesday.  The FBI said the first attack occurred when a Shuttle America cockpit was illuminated by a green laser on its final approach to LaGuardia just after 7:30 PM last Tuesday.