WJTN's Community Spotlight

This program features our WJTN News Staff asking the questions of Government and Community officials that you want the answers to.  The program airs on WJTN Saturday's at 8:40 A.M., 12:15 P.M. and again on Sunday morning at 8:45 A.M..  You can listen to past shows in our Podcasting Section.  The Chautauqua County Executive appears the first week of each month, and the Mayor of The City of Jamestown appears the second week of each month.  Future guests will be posted the week prior to their scheduled interview.  If you have a question for an upcoming guest fill out this form

WJTN News headlines for Fri., Sept. 3, 2010 @ 1:15 p.m. - by Terry Frank

No Cape Cod evacuations...

So far, no evacuations have been ordered in or around Cape Cod in Massachusetts as Hurricane Earl aproaches. But some vacationers canceled their hotel reservations for the Labor Day weekend, and people have been pulling their boats out of the water. People are being warned to stay off the beach because of rough surf. Top winds from the storm are down to 85 miles an hour in advance of its expected arrival tonight.

Area police urging driving safety this Labor Day Holiday Weekend...

Vacationers won't be the only ones out on the roads this Labor Day weekend.  The police will also have a beefed-up presence too.  Trooper Rebecca Gibbons with the State Police in western New York says priority number one for them is your safety.  Gibbons says motorists should allow for extra time to reach their destinations... and, there will be road checks to look for drunk drivers, and, whether people are wearing their seatbelts.  She says police will also be looking for aggressive and distracted drivers.  She says if you're texting or talking on your cell phone... there's a pretty good chance you'll be pulled-over.  Gibbons says the Labor Day Weekend is one of the busiest weekends for travelers.... and for police.  The AAA is predicting a 10-percent jump in the number of people travelling over the holiday.  Nearly 35-million Americans are expected to travel by plane, train, or automobile.

Jamestown set for annual Labor Day Festival...

It'll be a day of fun... food... and, music again at Jamestown's annual Labor Day Festival.  This Sunday marks 31 years the city... with the help of various sponsors... have put on the event at Bergman Park.  The day actually beings at 9:30 a.m. with the annual Dan Feather Memorial 5-K run/walk on Baker Street... and, the Crafts Fair gets underway at 11 a.m.  The food items will be sold beginning at Noon.  Parks Coordinator Julia Ciesla-Hanley says the Harmony Express Barbershoppers get the music underway with the National Anthem at 1 p.m.  Among the other performers will be Razz and Friends, Willow Creek... and, the Porcelain Bus Drivers will take the program up to the fireworks display.  In between musical sets at 4 p.m., one of the day's highlights takes place with the presentation of the annual George Ritzer Memorial Labor Award. The day... as mentioned... will conclude with a huge fireworks display.  Teresi says Zambelli Fireworks from the Pittsburgh area is again putting on the pyrotechnics this year -- starting at 8:30 p.m.

City man found with BB pistol after police say he threatened several people...

A Jamestown man is in the city jail... accused of threatening to kill some people this morning.  Police say 20 year-old Joshua Cook made the threats at 222 McKinley Ave. early this morning with a gun... and, a bow and arrow.  Authorities say when they arrived on the scene this morning... they found Cook holding onto that bow and arrow outside the home.  Cook was arrested.  Police say they also found a B-B pistol in his front pocket.

Cattaraugus County man pleads guility to possessing child pornography...

A Gowanda teenager has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.  Authorities say 19 year-old Kenneth Fisher entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Buffalo Thursday.  Fisher faces a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars... and a $250,000 fine when he's sentenced in December.

City man arrested for gun possession while being a convicted Felon...

A convicted Felon has been arrested in Jamestown after being found in possession of a rifle during a call for a child with a gun.  City police say they were called to the area of Forest Avenue and Linden Street about 2:30 p.m. Thursday.  After a brief investigation... officers found there was no child involved.  But... they did find 45 year-old Donald Warren of Forest Ave. was keeping a rifle near the front door of his home.  Warren was further interviewed... and, arrested on a charge of criminal possession of a weapon.  He was taken to the city jail pending arraignment.

Opening day of school in Jamestown system goes "great..."

It was both an "exciting" and "safe" start to the new school year in Jamestown Thursday as classes got underway.  Superintendent Deke Kathman says about the only issues were some congestion around the doors of some of the elementary schools before classes... and, the heat of the day.  However... Kathman visited several schools... and, says it appears the year's off to a "great" start.  He says he saw an number of teachers introducing themselves to their students... adding that the first day of school is one of the most exciting of the year for "the whole district."  Kathman says crews were able to clean-up and get everything in order at the high school and Persell Middle school where construction projects are taking place.  He also expressed his appreciation to the Jamestown Police Department for helping to keep things orderly yesterday morning... as well as the city's streets crews -- who were busy re-painting school zone markings -- among other things.  Kathman says one pleasant surprise Thursday was that enrollment appears up at two of the schools... in particular -- Washington Middle School.

Falconer also reports smooth start to opening day of school...

Several other Jamestown-area schools opened for Class Thursday.  One of them was Falconer where this was the final opening day for Superintendent Jane Fosberg... who will be retiring this November.  Fosberg... who's in her eighth-year as head of the district... says she joined the staff in welcoming students at the Temple Elementary School Thursday morning.  Fosberg says they held a full-day of classes for everyone at Falconer... with the exception of students in the Universal Pre-K program.  She adds all schools in the Falconer District were ready to go for the opening.  As for enrollment... Fosberg says they won't have those numbers for a few days because they're checking on new students... and, those who may have left.  However... she says enrollment should be very close to last year's numbers.

GOP Gubernatorial poll shows Lazio holding "shaky" lead...

Nominee Rick Lazio is maintaining a lead over Carl Paladino in the race for the Republican endorsement for governor in New York -- but it could be shaky.  Lazio, a former Long Island congressman, has a 47-percent to 35-percent lead over Paladino, a millionaire Buffalo developer.  But... the Quinnipiac University poll shows a lot of unsure Republicans as the Sept. 14 primary approaches.  Eighteen percent are undecided and nearly half say they could change their mind.  Paladino's voters say they are more certain they will stick to their choice.  The winning Republican will face Democratic nominee Andrew Cuomo.