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WJTN Headlines for Fri., Apr. 16, 2021

City parolee arrested after allegedly firing shot-gun inside apartment...     
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly firing off a gunshot inside his eastside apartment, and the round went through the floor into another apartment.  Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers were called to 509 East Fifth St. about 10:30 a.m.  Wednesday for a gunshot complaint.  Police say they called 37 year-old Anthony Camarata, a New York State Parolee, out of his apartment, and a search warrant was obtained by police, and the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force.  Police began searching for the shot-gun involved... and, used surveillance video in the area to locate the weapon on a neighbor's porch.  Camarata was arrested for first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and third-degree criminal mischief.  He was take to the city jail pending arraignment. 


Washington Middle School student being evaluated after "despondent student" incident...
No one was hurt during a "despondent student" situation at Jamestown's Washington Middle School yesterday morning.  City Police Captain Bob Samuelson confirms that officers were called to the scene on Buffalo Street just after 9 a.m., and, located the troubled student.  Samuelson says no one was hurt... and, officers were able to secure the student safely.  Jamestown School officials say the situation was under control by shortly before 10 a.m.  Samuelson says the student was taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital for a mental health evaluation.  He says the school district notified parents and staff about the incident.


Wendel addressed vaccine hesitancy in the wake of COVID case uptick...
There appears to still be come hesitancy about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in Chautauqua County.  County Executive P-J Wendel was recently asked about the issue... and, he confirmed there are some groups that are resistant to getting the vaccine.  With that, Wendel says they are stepping up their outreach into those communities.  He says some people may be waiting for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, but that version remains on pause.  The county official says Moderna has been in greater use in Chautauqua County than the other vaccines.  The county Health Department says there were 49 new, confirmed cases of the virus over the past day... with 19 of those in Jamestown.  That brings the local total number to 8,621.  Officials say 212 cases are now active... and, 13 are hospitalized.  The infection rate is now at 2.3-percent.


Cuomo says bars and restaurants will be able to stay open until Midnight, starting next Monday...
Governor Andrew Cuomo says New York will push back closing time at bars and restaurants an extra hour to midnight... starting next Monday.  It's the latest change as the state continues to relax coronavirus-related restrictions.  The governor also announced during a telephone briefing Wednesday that auto and horse racing events will be able to accommodate spectators at 20-percent capacity starting April 22.  Restaurants had pleaded for the 11 p.m. curfew to be lifted, saying that pandemic restrictions were hurting their business. 


JCC's Workforce Development Program gets $541,000 grant to boost advanced manufacturing training...
The Jamestown Community College Foundation is one of four not-for-profit organizations to receive funding from the third round of the Western New York Workforce Development Challenge.  Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office says the grant will be administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.  Cuomo says the $541,000 award will fund SUNY JCC's short-term advanced manufacturing training program to prepare individuals for jobs in advanced manufacturing.  The Vice-President of JCC's Workforce Readiness Program, Holgar Ekanger, says the focus will be on two programs.  The first is CNC Machining, and the other is Maintenance for middle-skill/technician.  Ekanger adds the program will also provide for transporation, and child care... if the students need it.  The programs are being offered in Chautauqua, Cattaragus and Allegany Counties.  Ekanger says the 8-to-10 week programs will being shortly... and, include immersive training and trainee supports, preparing individuals for immediate entry into the workforce.  Empire State Development and the Ralph Wilson Foundation are also involved in the workforce challenge.


Jamestown receiving additional $1.22-million in HOME Funding from HUD to help deal with affordable housing, and homeless issues... 
The city of Jamestown will be receiving $1.22-million dollars from the American Rescue Plan to help increase affordable housing... and, address homelessness.  The U-S Department of Housing and Urban Development announced late Thursday afternoon that the city would be getting that money from New York's allocation of $464-million.  HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge says this supplimental funding... known as HOME-ARP... will be provided through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program to 651 grantees, including states, insular areas, and local governments.  The largest entity in New York state receiving funding is New York City at just under $270-million.  Nationally... nearly $5-billion is being allocated.


Marvin House in Jamestown reopening...
Jamestown’s historic Marvin House is re-emerging from the pandemic shutdown.  For the first time in over a year, several dozen people gathered for a ‘COVID safe’ lunch at the house Thursday.  They heard about new, original research into the Marvin family, and their home done during the ‘hibernation’ period by architect Marlin Casker.  That information’s been digitally recorded and will be accessible by ‘QR code’ for self tours of the house.  Marvin House member Dottie Maitland… a tour professional… says that kind of event, in a small community, is what tour operators are looking for right now.  The Marvin House will preview the new experience on Saturdays, beginning May 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at $10 per person.