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WJTN News Headlines

Lawmakers and New Yorkers molested as children are pushing state lawmakers to lift New York's statute of limitations on suing abusers, saying the law closing the window at age 23 guarantees repeated victims.  Their effort has faced years of opposition from the Catholic Church and other institutions.  Lawmakers say the prospects are improving with a recent change in legislative leadership in Albany.  They also credit Massachusetts' passage two years ago of a similar measure and the recent Academy Award-winning film ``Spotlight'' about priest abuse of boys in Boston.  The film is being shown in a state building near the Capitol.  A dozen victims who spoke at a forum Wednesday recounted sex abuse by sports coaches, clergy and older family members.  Most said it took years into their adulthood to begin to process what happened.

 

Methamphetime has become more and more of a problem in the past couple of years in the Jamestown-area... and, a recent fire is being blamed on someone allegedly making the drug.  That from City Police Captain Bob Samuelson... who says officers and members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force were called to the scene of an apartment fire at 136 Maple Street shortly after Noon last April 18th.  Samuelson says they arrested 36 year-old Richard Brown late Tuesday for manufacturing Meth... and, for sparking the blaze. Samuelson says fire investigators indicated that they had found several items in the fire debris that appeared to be used to make Meth.  He says police and drug agents later confirmed that... and, a warrant was issued for Brown's arrest.  Samuelson says they're still looking into whether he was making Meth at the time of the blaze... which heavily damaged the apartment.  Brown was located by police... and, arraigned on one count of Felony Unlawful Manufacture of Methamphetime.  He was then sent to the county jail without bail.  Police say more charges are expected... including a possible arson count.  If  you have any information on the production and trafficking of any illegal drugs... call the JPD confidential tip-line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477.

 

A preliminary meeting to introduce local officials to the leaders of a new, pharmacutical company that'll be locating a major manufacturing plant in the north county has been set for later this month.  The session with representatives of Athenex was to be held back on April 22nd... but, County Executive Vince Horrigan says some state officials wanted to be at the meeting... but, had a scheduling conflict.  Horrigan says that meeting has now been rescheduled for Thursday, May 19th at the SUNY College at Fredonia's Science Center. Horrigan says the 1.5-billion dollar project is so large... that it has a lot of areas that need to be carefully coordinated.  With that... he says Governor Andrew Cuomo and state economic development officials want to be involved each step of the way.  Athenex is headquartered in Buffalo... and, the new plant was to be built in the town of Dunkirk -- pending approval of a 200-million dollar incentive package in the state budget.  The 300-thousand square foot facility is expected to employ about 900 people.  Ground-breaking should take place later this year. Horrigan made his comments for this weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the five Media One Group stations.

 

A Jamestown woman has been arrested for allegedly bilking nearly 3-thousand dollars from public assistance in Chautauqua County.  Sheriff's officers say they charged 31 year-old Joathylet (Jo-ah-Thilet) Ruedas with several Felony counts related to welfare fraud.  Deputies conducted a joint investigation with the Department of Health and Human Service's Program Integrity Unit.  Police also accuse Ruedas of failing to report earned income to social workers.  They say she allegedly filed five separate false applications from September of 2014 to late May of 2015 which did not report her income.  As a result... officers say Ruedas received unentitled benefits totalling 29-hundred-72 dollars.  She is charged with five counts of first-degree Offering a False Instrument for Filing... Welfare Fraud... Grand Larceny... and, Misuse of Food Stamps.  She was issued appearance tickets for  Jamestown City Court. Deputies say instances of suspected welfare fraud may be reported by calling the hotline 1-800-288-5365.

 

The first term mayor of Fredonia says she was "very worried" as the weekend long event that was formerly known as 'Fred Fest' un-folded... and, vows to follow up on the situation.  Athanasia Landis says she can't prevent the event from happening... but, wonders if an alternative can be found. Police officials say they responded to 171 calls and made 44 arrests during the event on Friday and Saturday.  Fredonia Fire and Alstar ambulance were also kept busy throughout the weekend.  Landis says they have to find a way to contain it... because what happened was "unacceptable."  She has been the village mayor since New Year's Day and says it's the first time she has had to directly deal with the unsanctioned event. 

 

Aeropostale, once the vibrant epicenter of the U.S. mall scene, is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The New York company said late Wednesday that it is closing 113 of its 739 U.S. stores and all 41 locations in Canada.  Going-out-of-business sales at those U.S. stores will begin this weekend.  The store in the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood closed some time ago.  Aeropostale expects to emerge from bankruptcy protection within six months as a smaller company after renegotiating contracts and resolving an ongoing dispute with the investment firm Sycamore Partners, a major shareholder that pushed through changes in company leadership.  The company's shares traded for more than 30-dollars about six years ago, when annual sales exceeded $2 billion.  Two weeks ago, it was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange with shares having failed to break the $1 barrier since last year.

 

Wealthy Buffalo developer Carl Paladino has been re-elected to the city school board by narrowly defeating his 18-year-old student challenger.  Unofficial results show Paladino beating high school student Austin Harig by a little more than 100 votes out of about 3-thousand cast in the Park District Tuesday.  Harig took on Paladino despite Paladino's experience as a former candidate for New York governor... and, current campaign co-chair for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in New York.  Paladino won his first three-year term on the nine-member school board in a landslide in 2013... becoming part of a new voting majority.  Two other members of that majority were defeated on Tuesday.

 

Finally... there's another state Broadcasting Hall of Famer in Chautauqua County.  Long-time north county Sportscaster Dan Palmer has received the ultimate honor for broadcasters around the state.  He will be inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame... where he joins our own Jim Roselle.  Dan called play-by play in more than 2,000 games he has covered in his 45 years in broadcasting. Dan will be part of the class of 2016 which includes; Liz Bishop, Janice Huff, CNN's Chris Jansing, and Yankees broadcasters John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.  The induction ceremony will take place on June 10th in New York City.  Dan joins the late Jim Roselle and Van Miller as Chautauqua County representatives in "the Hall."  He's also a member of the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.