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News Headlines for Sat., Nov. 21, 2020

One person dies in fatal fire in Cattaraugus County...
One person has reportedly died in an overnight house fire in the Cattaraugus County town of Conewango.  The county's fire dispatch center confirms the call out to the location on Route 62 just before 1 a.m. Friday.  Officials tell the Post-Journal that firefighters from several surrounding departments -- including Ellington and Kennedy in Chautauqua County -- were called to the scene.  Crews remained at the scene until late Friday morning.  The victim's identity has not been released.  Officials say more information will be released at a later time.


Chautauqua County reports 16 new COVID-19 cases Friday...
Chautauqua County health officials report 16 new cases of the COVID-19 Virus Friday... but, the number of active cases has fallen to 141.  The Health Department says most of the cases --  nine -- were reported in the Fredonia area.  County Executive P-J Wendel says there was one each in seven other communities... including Jamestown, Bemus Point, and Frewsburg.  Wendel says 12 people remain hospitalized.  Officials say there are now 1,445 confirmed cases since the pandemic began... and, 1,288 cases have now recovered.


Borrello blasts Cuomo's comments about Western New York and COVID-19...
Area State Senator George Borrello is blasting Governor Andrew Cuomo for his comments this week about Western New York's COVID-19 positivity rate.  The Democratic governor said during a Wednesday press conference that the region "has not lived the full pain of COVID's wrath."  Cuomo says they read and knew about the New York City and downstate areas... but, the "numbers were never as bad in Western New York."  Borrello, a Sunset Bay Republican, called the comments insulting and insensitive... both in terms of people dying and getting sick, and the economic hardships.  Borrello says he has heard from his colleagues from both sides of the aisle who were also disappointed by the governor's comments.


Quattrone joins with several other Sheriff's saying he won't enforce the governor's executive orders on gatherings for Thanksgiving...
With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching... Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone says he is one of 10 law enforcement officials in the Western New York area that does not plan to enforce Governor Cuomo's recent executive order calling for no more than 10 people gathering inside a home.  Quattrone says he has two main concerns regarding the order... issued due to rising COVID-19 numbers.  He says it doesn't include an enforcement mechanism, and he says there's no way to enter a home and not violate individual rights.  Quattrone adds that he is "on the same page" with other law enforcement officials in the county, in that they prefer educating and encouraging people to comply with the governor's orders.  He encourages people to enjoy Thanksgiving, but not be reckless.  Cuomo issued the executive order in response to the rising number of COVID-19 cases across New York State.


BPU signs power agreement with ConnectGen...
A Texas-based based solar wind power company has signed a 10-year agreement with the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities to provide renewable energy from it's proposed South Ripley project to the BPU.  ConnectGen of Houston says, under the agreement, they will sell Tier-1 Renewable Energy Credits.  ConnectGen's Chief Executive Officer Caton Fenz says -- in a printed release -- that each credit represents the "environmental attributes" of one megawatt hour of electricity generated from a renewable resource, such as solar or wind.  He says the project is currently expected to start construction as early as 2022. 


Dunkirk Schools will keep options open on in-person learning after Thanksgiving... 
The Dunkirk City School District is keeping its options open, but Superintendent Mike Mansfield says they are leaning toward continuing as much in-person learning as possible following the Thanksgiving break.  Mansfield says there are a couple of factors they are looking at in making a determination.  The first is safety precautions, and every day they can do "in-person" is important to them and their students.  Mansfield says he is asking district residents to follow Governor Cuomo's advice regarding Thanksgiving gatherings... and limit family gatherings.  Some area school districts are going fully remote starting on Nov. 30, including Jamestown Public Schools and Gowanda Central.


Tight race coming down to absentees in Brindisi-Tenney Congressional race...
A rematch between a former Republican congressional member and the Democrat who ousted her from office two years ago has come down to a just a few dozen votes.  A judge is likely to play a role in the final outcome.  Republican Claudia Tenney is vying to reclaim her seat in Congress from Representative Anthony Brindisi in central New York.  Tenney had a lead of more than 28,000 votes on Nov. 3, but, absentee ballots cast in the race highly-favored Brindisi. 


"Santa Drive-Thru" to replace Santa Parade in Falconer...
The Village of Falconer and Falconer Rotary Club have announced this year's traditional Santa Claus parade is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  However, officials say that Santa Claus will be escorted by the Falconer Fire Department around the village on Saturday, Dec. 5.  Village Clerk Anna Fales says Santa will be passing through the neighborhoods beginning at 10 AM at SKF on Elmwood Avenue.  His complete route is available on the Village of Falconer facebook page.... and, updates will be posted the day of the ride around.  There will be no stay and greet for children at the Santa House this year.