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WJTN Headlines for Sat., Dec. 7, 2019

Thousands line streets of Jamestown to see annual Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration...
Thousands of people lined West and East Third Street in downtown Jamestown last night for the annual Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration.  It included the lighting of the city's, 50-foot tall Christmas tree -- adorned with more than 3,000 lights.  Mayor Sam Teresi led the count-down... and pulled the switch with the help of several people -- mainly children.  The annual parade was again put on by the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation... and, the JRC's Kristy Kathman welcomed the crowd.  Kathman says they get "very excited" about the annual event, and thanked their several sponsors, and city departments that help put on a safe, fun and exciting event.  The Resource Center was again the main sponsor for the parade... and, accepted donations for their annual drive to collect toys for the Toys for Tots campaign.  The local agency organizes the annual drive in Chautauqua County.  About 90 units took part in this year's parade.


One person reportedly suffers minor injuries in two car crash in town of Busti...
One person reportedly suffered minor injuries in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Southwestern Drive and Baker Street Extension in the town of Busti Friday afternoon.  County Dispatchers say Lakewood-Busti Police and fire rescue crews were called to the scene about 3:15 p.m.  No other injuries were reported.  Efforts to reach Lakewood-Busti Police late this afternoon were unsuccessful.


Wendel says he's honored and humbled by GOP Committee's nomination to become county's new executive...
The Chairman of the Chautauqua County Legislature is the County Republican Committee's choice to be the next County Executive.  Paul "P-J" Wendel of Lakewood gave this reaction to the committee's decision to back him the post held previously by now-State Senator George Borrello.  He says he's humbled and privledged to receive the nod.  Wendel says it will now be up to the full legislature to vote on the committee's recommendation... but, he says the GOP Caucus will make the final determination on whether to vote at the panel's Dec. 18 meeting.  Once he is seated... A replacement will have to be found for Wendel's District 10 legislature seat.  That will be decided when the Busti and Jamestown GOP committees met.


Gunderson thanks Chautauqua County Chamber for support of Comedy Center, reports much momentum heading into second-year of existance...
The National Comedy Center is still in it's infancy... but, has a lot of momentum built over the course of a very successful 2019.  Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson was today's featured speaker at the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce's Annual Meeting at the Doubletree Hotel in Jamestown.  Gunderson says more than 95-thousand people visited both the comedy center, and the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Museam and Center through last October.  However... she says they have now added in figures from this year's Comedy Festival.  Those numbers include four sold-out comedy shows with John Mulany, and Sebastian Maniscalco.  Gunderson spoke about the impact on both hotel occupancy and sales tax revenues.  While there is a lot of good news from the Comedy Center's first 15 months of operation... she says "none of this is a guarantee..."  and, asked chamber members for their ongoing support.  But, she says they need Center members, donors, "ambassadors," and volunteers to help carry out their vision.  Just recently... Gunderson says the National Comedy Center received probably it's biggest accolade yet by being named to TIME Magazine's list of the World's 100 Greatest Places." 


Betsy Wright receives Chamber's Pam Lydic Award...
During today's annual Chamber meeting... the business organization handed out it's annual Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award.  It's named after the county Chamber's first President, Pam Lydic, who worked to bring all the smaller Chambers of Commerce in the county together to improve the area.  This year's recipient is retired UPMC Chautauqua Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer, Betsy Wright, who was credited for ushering the former WCA Hospital through it's integration with UPMC.  However... Wright thanked her team of health care executives, doctors and others who helped carry out that process.  Wright was presented a $500 check to go to a non-profit of her choice.  She decided on the WCA Foundation... which supports the local hospital.  About 120 people attended the chamber's annual meeting at the Doubletree.


State officials say flu is "prevalent" in NYS...
New York officials have declared that the flu is "prevalent" in the state.  This declaration initiates a state regulation that will require healthcare professionals who are not vaccinated for influenza to wear masks in areas where patients are present.  The state Department of Health reports that as of Nov. 30 there have been 3,158 laboratory-confirmed cases, 691 hospitalizations and one child death.  Heath officials say anyone older than 6 months old should be vaccinated, particularly the elderly and children younger than 2 years old.  The Albany Times Union reports that vaccines change each year based on predictions on what strains of the virus will be prevalent.