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WJTN News Headlines for Jun. 24, 2019

The investigation is continuing into the cause of a fire that heavily-damaged a vacant home on Jamestown's northside and, damaged a neighboring home....  

City firefighters were called to the scene at 719 Cherry Street about 10:30 last Friday night and found the building fully-engulfed in flames.  Fire Battalion Chief Don Mowry says crews immediately started pouring water on that and, one side of the home at 717 Cherry.
  
Mowry says the family living at 717 Cherry was able to get out of their home safely.  He says the vacant home sustained serious damage to the entire structure, while 717 Cherry has some moderate damage.  Mowry says one firefighter was treated for minor injuries at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital, and later released.  Three fire investigators were called to the scene and, the cause remains under investigation.  Mowry says crews were at the scene until about 5:30 AM Saturday.


Water and emergency rescue teams were called to a location on Lake Erie near Westfield after a small sail boat became disabled early last Saturday afternoon....

Sheriff's officers say their Navigation Division was called to the scene, and found two people on the boat, which had a broken mast.  Deputies say the county's Water Emergency Team, and Westfield Fire Department were dispatched to assist.  Members of the Navigation, and county WET Team made contact with the boaters, and helped them get back to Barcelona harbor.  The two individuals were evaluated by Westfield fire rescuers, and released.  The Westfield Police Department, and the county's Emergency Services Department also assisted in the rescue.


Members of the Jamestown High School Class of 2019 were told that whether they know what's next in life, or they don't, someone is betting on them to make it....  

That someone was Graduation Speaker Bryan Hodgso, who was a 2005 JHS graduate and, is now assistant basketball coach at the University of Alabama.  They were also told they've come a long way since they were Kindergarteners 13 years ago.  That from School Superintendent Bret Apthorpe, who rattled off statistics on what their parents -- and they themselves -- have done over those 13 years.

Some 340 members of the JHS Class of 2019 received diplomas and, heard several words of live by as they leave high school.  It was the final commencement for Principal Mike McElrath, who will move on to the district's new Success Academy next Fall,but said the Class of 2019 would be one he would remember for a long time.  


Three roads have been shut-down in the Cattaraugus County town of South Valley due to flood waters from last Thursday morning's heavy rains....  

Town Clerk Mary Ruth says the cross-culvert on Burch Drive near the intersection of Sawmill Run Road was washed away making the road impassible.  Ruth says Burch Drive is a dead-end roadway that has 3 other dead end roads that feed off of it.  She says Town Highway workers responded immediately but, were unable to perform any actions to prevent the damage from occurring.  The Town reached out to Cattaraugus County Emergency Services for helpand Town Supervisor Heather Lamberson has declared a State of Emergency.  Lamberson has also ordered the closure of Burch Drive, Janet Drive, and Robert Lane to all vehicular traffic until further notice.  She and other officials are working on getting a temporary bridge-type structure to make the roadway passible.  Repairs will be completed as soon as possible.  If you have any questions on the matter, you are asked to call the South Valley Town offices at 354-2090.


The ribbon has been cut on the latest project along the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk, as the new "Breakwater Play-sculpture" has opened along the Eighth Street bike path....  

Mayor Sam Teresi and City Parks Coordinator Julia Ciela-Hanley say the breakwater was one of 23 projects selected through a two-stage competition through KaBOOM's "Play Everywhere Challenge."  Teresi called it another "special day" for the riverwalk.

The Breakwater uses four concrete "dolosses..." or Breakwaters, along with a rubber surface to create an artistic play-area that includes fall-protection for kids.  It was created by Julia Jamrozik and Coryn Kempster of Buffalo... who have produced several such permanent artworks across the region.  Kempster says each dolosses weighs 6-and-a-half tons, and, are typcially used to protect shoreline areas.  The city provided in-kind services for the $50,000 project to paint it a "teal blue" color.  The grant from KaBOOM through the Ralph C. Wilson, Junior Foundation’s “Built to Play” initiative totaled $33,000.


In New York state government news... 

Lawmakers ended their 2019 session on Friday with a long list of progressive accomplishments but several high-profile bills didn't get a vote.  The list includes proposals to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana sales, permit paid surrogacy, eliminate criminal penalties for sex work and allow the terminally ill to request life-ending drugs from a physician.  Advocates for those issues say they'll spend the summer and fall building support for another attempt next year.  The session's biggest disappointment for many lawmakers was the failure of marijuana legalization.