Community Spotlight, the area's longest running local public affairs radio program, airs on all six Media One Radio Group stations each weekend and is also available to hear in our Podcast Section.  Each week we sit down with a community leader or another special guest to talk about issues within our community.  


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Connect with The National Weather Service's Buffalo Office or with WGRZ-TV for accurate weather information!

 

 

 


 

WJTN News Headlines

Jamestown Board of Public Utilities crews were busy fixing a water main break overnight. BPU Communications Cordinator Becky Robbins says that a ten inch water main break was discovered about 9pm Monday when several customers reported low water pressure.  Water was shut down on North Main Street between 1st and 3rd streets by 10pm.  Drivers are being asked to avoid that area this morning as crews work on repairs and road clean up. Once water is restored, water customers throughout the BPU water system may experience discolored water for 12-18 hours.

 

Five fire departments were called out to side-by-side house fires in Warren just after 2:30 Monday afternoon.  The Warren Times Observer reports that the fire began at 1121 Pennsylvania Avenue West and spread to the neighboring house.  North Warren, Pleasant, Starbrick, Youngsville, and Clarendon Volunteers fought the two fires alongside Warren Firefighters for hours.  The two homes were heavily damaged.  One firefighter suffered a minor injury when he stepped on a nail. The state police fire marshall says the attics of both homes were full of shingles which are highly flammable.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation

 

It reached 72-degrees at our Media One Studios yesterday afternoon... but, the weather has taken a decided turn in the other direction.  Progressively colder air will be moving into the area... some of the coldest of the season.  Forecaster Jim Mitchell of the National Weather Service in Buffalo says the first cold front began crossing the area overnight... but, adds it will get much cooler later in the week. The coolest day is forecasted for next Saturday... when the final system moves through... and there might be some "wet snowflakes over the higher terrain."  Mitchell says it's not that unusual to see some snow over the higher elevations this time of the year.  By the way... it was 9 years ago tonight that the "October Surprise" lake effect snowstorm hit portions of the Buffalo area. 

 

A Niagara County, New York man has died from injuries suffered in a crash involving a car and two motorcycles in the Cattaraugus County town of Machias.  State Police in Olean say one motorcycle... operated by 47 year-old Larry Choops of Lockport... was struck by the car... driven by Laura Howard-Raska of Snyder.  Troopers say the accident occured just before 5 PM Sunday when Howard-Raska failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of Route 242 and Bakerstand Road.  Officers say the second motorcycle, operated by 67 year-old James Fink of Gasport, also struck the car and he was ejected.  Fink was treated at a local hospital and released.  Howard-Radka was not hurt.  She was charged with speeding... failure to stop for a stop sign... and failure to yield the right of way.

 

Officials with the Lucy-Desi Comedy Center say they "couldn't be happier" with how the third-annual "Lucy-Town Half-Marathon and 5-K" weekend went.  That from Comedy Center Director Journey Gunderson... who says they were especially happy with how the second-annual "2-K Kids Run" went on Saturday.  Gunderson says it was a prelude to the 5-K Run... and, the Half-Marathon Sunday morning. Gunderson also says there was also a good crowd of several-hundred people for Saturday night's "Headliner" comedy show with Joy Behar... and, adds the Co-Host of ABC-TV's "The View" loved the "great audience."  She says they were again blessed with great weather for the main event yesterday morning... the half-marathon.  Gunderson says a lot of people were dressed up in costume... and, there were a lot of out-of-towners, and locals involved.  She says the Half-Marathon... which is sanctioned by U-S Track and Field... again drew about 700 runners from across the region and country.  She says they've been helped greatly by Dave Reinhardt with the Chautauqua Strider's organization to put on the early Fall event.

 

New York's lieutenant governor is leading a state delegation to Puerto Rico to help the U.S. territory as it struggles with a fiscal crisis.  New York Health Commissioner Howard Zucker and Secretary of State Cesar Perales joined Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul for the visit Monday.  The trip comes after Governor Andrew Cuomo traveled to the island last month to offer New York's assistance as it deals with billions in public debt... much of it related to it's Medicaid and Medicare programs.  Cuomo says the challenges facing Puerto Rico's public health system are similar to those New York dealt with in the past and that the state is ``proud'' to help.  The visit is expected to last through Wednesday.

 

A Seattle-bound flight from New Jersey had to make an emergency landing in Buffalo Monday morning after a small fire in the galley.  Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority spokesman Doug Hartmayer says Alaska Airlines Flight 17 was diverted to Buffalo-Niagara International Airport at about 8 AM.  He says a credit card reader caught fire and the crew put it out with a fire extinguisher.  There were no injuries among the 184 passengers and crew of five.  Hartmayer says firefighters boarded the Boeing 737 to make sure the fire was out.  He says passengers were taken to the terminal and offered medical assistance.  It wasn't initially known if they'll resume their flight on the same aircraft.  Flight 17 originates in Newark.  It's usually scheduled to land in Seattle at 12:55 PM.

 

The Chautauqua County Office for the Aging's "Dining Out" program will soon be adding a new, fifth restaurant to their line-up.  That from Office for the Aging Director Mary Ann Spanos... who says some details are still being finalized with a Mayville-area eatery.  Spanos says that means Seniors living in and near the "county seat" have a chance to get a good, nutritious meal at a very affordable cost. Spanos says adding "The Harbor House" gives them a variety of places for people to dine-out... aside from their Congregate Meal locations.  She says the "Dining Out" sites also include Meeder's in Ripley... the Cassadaga Shure-Fine... The Springs in Maple Springs... and, Green Arch in Brocton.  Spanos says they'll announce specifically when "The Harbor House" will become part of the program.  For more information on the Senior "Dining Out" program... contact the Office for the Aging in Mayville.  Spanos made her comments for this past weekend's "Community Spotlight" Program on the five Media One Group stations.

 

What used to be an unthinkable scenario... an active shooter on campus... is not only thought about at New York's public colleges but planned for the same way they prepare for weather disasters or fire.  All 29 four-year campuses in the State University of New York system have their own armed police forces and have to plan and practice for active shooters as part of emergency plans.  Even so, the October 1st shooting that left nine victims dead at Oregon's Umpqua Community College has campuses again contemplating if that's enough.  SUNY leaves specifics of planning up to individual campuses, drawing advice from authorities like the Justice Department.  United University Professions president Fred Kowal says it's hard to say whether the plans are enough because they vary among campuses.

 

U-S Senator Charles Schumer says the federal government should seek the maximum possible fine from Volkswagen... and, demand that the automaker give rebates to buyers following the recent scandal over emissions testing.  The New York Democrat calls the company's actions a ``deceptive and massive fraud'' among the worst in corporate history.  He says he wants the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Justice Department to seek an 18-billion dollar fine, the highest possible.  He added that drivers who purchased the affected cars should receive a portion of the settlement amount as a rebate.  Schumer says such a high fine amount would send a ``dramatic and strong'' message that corporate deception won't be tolerated.

 

Voters in the Southwestern Central School district will decide today on 15.9-million dollar capital project with two rounds of voting.  Superintendent Maureen Donahue says the first session of voting at the High School runs from 7 to 9 AM.  Donahue says the planned work is mainly at the high school and surrounding grounds.  Donahue says it includes 'instructional renovation...' a complete overhaul of the auditorium, and a new gymnasium.  The new gym would be added at the east end of Southwestern High School.  Donahue says plans call for the current gym space would be made into a wellness center and a large 'multi purpose' classroom.  New York state building aid would pay 81.3 cents for every dollar of the work.  As for the impact on the Southwestern budget over the 15 year pay-off, Donahue says it's about 30 cents per thousand assessed value.  A second voting session runs from 2 to 9 PM today.