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WJTN Headlines for Thursday Dec. 14, 2017

Ten economic development regions in New York state are splitting $755-million in state funding. 
 
Governor Andrew Cuomo made the annoucement at an event in Albany on Wednesday.  The money will support hundreds of local economic development efforts, including job training, subsidies for expanding businesses and funding for community organizations. 
 
Cuomo says this latest round of funding, along with others in the past, will be a critical point in the history of the upstate region.
 
This year's big winners in the Regional Economic Development Council awards include central New York, the Mohawk Valley, and, the Albany region, which each received more than $80 million.  Western New York received $68.8-million for a total of 112 projects, just over 20 are in Chautauqua County. 
 
Under Governor Cuomo, the state has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to the 10 regions based on economic development proposals they submit to the state.
 
 
Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan says he's "very pleased" to see 23 local projects receiving about $9.5-million in Regional Economic Development Council funding. 
 
Horrigan was not in Albany for the announcement, but says he was pleased with the variety of projects awarded and, adds that twice as many projects received funding this year compared to 2016.
 
The bigger dollar awards are mainly for sewer projects around Chautauqua Lake.  Horrigan says $5-million will go towards extending service through the town of North Harmony the the westside of the lake.  However, he says the county will still have to raise some additional dollars for that. 
 
Horrigan adds that another $1-million will go towards providing closed sewer services in the Chautauqua Heights area near DeWittville.  He adds that Sinclairville is getting one-million dollars for water system improvements there.  Improvements to the Jamestown Chadakoin River Watershed for the riverwalk project will be receiving just over $313,000.   
 
 
One person has died in a house fire that occured in eastern Cattaraugus County about mid-afternoon Tuesday
 
State Police in Olean were called to the scene on Cooper Hill Road in the town of Humphrey about 2:45 p.m. and, once fire crews had the blaze under control, they discovered a body inside. 
 
The State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Cattaraugus County Fire Investigators say the fire appears accidental and, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene by the Cattaraugus County coroner.  The body will be examined by the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office in Buffalo for cause of death and identity. 
 
This is still an active investigation.
 
 
Gas prices in the Jamestown-area are holding steady this week, with the cost of regular, unleaded fuel at $2.75 a gallon.
 
That from the AAA's latest Gas Price Report, which says that's about $0.36 a gallon more at this time last year. However... compared to one month ago, motorists are paying less for a gallon of gasoline.
 
Triple-A says with a 2.4-million barrel build the region sits at 58.4-million barrels. It's the largest amount of inventory carried since the beginning of September for the region. Nationally, prices at the pump are down $0.02 on the week at $2.46. According to the Energy Information Administration, demand is just under 9-million barrels per day for the second week in a row.
 
Looking ahead, AAA says that drivers can expect prices to decrease as the fall demand for fuel tapers off. 
 
 
Three men face drug-related charges after authorities attempted to serve a New York State Parole arrest warrant on New Road in the town of Dunkirk earlier this week. 
 
Officers from State Parole, Dunkirk Police and the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office went to 3647 New Road to serve the warrant about 8 p.m. Monday
 
That from Dunkirk Police Chief David Ortolano, who says a search warrant was executed and that's when the illegal drugs were discovered and, two others Jonathan Linger, and Martin Wisniewski. 
 
Hawkins, who has a Fredonia address, has been charged with resisting arrest, second-degree obstructing governmental administration, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and, unlawful possession of marijuana along with the parole arrest warrant. 
 
Linger and Wisniewski have both been charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and, unlawful possession of marijuana. 
 
All three were arraigned in Sheridan Town Court and sent to the County Jail without bail. 
 
 
The commitment of Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Director Randy Sweeney to the Robert H. Jackson Center was honored during a special program Tuesday evening at the center. 
 
Sweeney will retire at the end of this year from the Community Foundation. But, Jackson Center co-founder Greg Peterson says Randy has played important roles at the Jackson Center, as well.
 
Sweeney says the Jackson Center, founded in 2001, showed him just how difficult it is to start and then sustain something new.  He says you "just can't snap your fingers." 
 
Tuesday's reception concluded with a Greg Peterson interview of Randy Sweeney, that will be posted on the Jackson Center's youtube page.