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News Headlines for Mon., Nov. 30, 2015

Silver convicted of corruption in federal court...

A lawmaker who was one of New York's most powerful politicians has been convicted by a federal jury of charges that he used the power of his office to earn 5-million dollars illegally.  Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver stepped down from the leadership post after his January arrest, though he has remained an assemblyman.  Jury deliberations had just resumed this afternoon after the panel was sent home for the Thanksgiving Holiday.


Merchandise bought at retail to be taxed .5-percent more in Chautauqua County, starting tomorrow...

Businesses across Chautauqua County are busy today, calibrating their cash registers to account for an added half-a-percent sales tax, which begins today.  County Executive Vince Horrigan says the increase... which was approved by the county legislature, then the state, takes effect Dec. 1.  Horrigan says it's mainly in place for 2016 and beyond, but, adds a complication in state law mandates the change be made -- starting Tuesday, which he says will help them lower property taxes, and eliminate a $6-million "structural deficit" in the county budget.  Horrigan says the added sales tax will bring another $8.3-million to the county to plug that deficit... and, rebuild the fund balance.  He says it also puts the county "on par" with neighboring counties as far as both property and sales tax.  Horrigan says it still recognizes the fact we border Pennsylvania... and there will be no sales tax on clothing and footwear up to $110 each.  The final 2016 county budget cuts the tax rate by 6.6-percent... or about 60-cents to $8.55 per $1,000 full value.      


MAST and CCCC leader attacks city lawmakers for using BPU Dividend payment to reduce projected 5.6-percent tax increase...

A pair of local business organizations say Jamestown lawmakers are wrong to again be asking the Board of Public Utilities for a dividend payment -- and, now to increase that payment.  The Manufacturer's of the Southern Tier and the county's Chamber of Commerce are blasting the City Council's request for an additional $232,000.  That would bring the dividend payment to the current year's level of $482,000.  The head of the Chamber, and, MAST -- Todd Tranum -- says city leaders should instead have a better plan in place for economic development.  Tranum says Jamestown needs to grow it's tax base... and, develop a plan to do that.  While the additional payment would lower the projected tax increase from 5.6 to about 4-percent... he says the increase remains over the state's 2-percent Property Tax Cap.  That means residents won't be getting a tax rebate check for the amount of the increase in 2016.  Tranum says there's also a problem because neither the Teresi Administration, nor City Council, have explained how the dividend payment is determined.


Two city men arrested for allegedly having loaded hand-gun in their possession...

New public safety cameras in downtown Jamestown have helped city police take two men off the street for allegedly having a loaded gun in their possession.  City police were called to the area of 708 East Second Street about 2:30 last Wednesday afternoon on a report of suspicious behavior.  But... on arrival police say the two men got out of the vehicle in an effort to elude officers.  However... police were able to track down 29 year-old Terrance Hubbard, and 32 year-old Christopher Jones.  Both were arrested after officers found a loaded 9-millimeter gun inside the vehicle.  They were arraigned on a charge of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and sent to the county jail.  An officer at the Jamestown Police station was able to view the suspects and the vehicle on the public safety cameras prior to officers arrival... providing them important information.


City fire investigators looking for cause of small blaze in condemned home...

Jamestown fire crews made quick work of a small fire on the second-floor of a condemned house on the city's westside last night.  City Fire Battalion Chief Matt Russo says an off-duty firefighter happened to drive by the location at 222 Steele St. about 5:15 p.m. and, spotted smoke coming from the upper part of the building.  Russo says they found smoke coming from the second-story, but, it only took about 5-minutes to get the blaze under control.  No one was in the building when crews arrived... and, there were no injuries.  Russo says there was minor damage done to the one room where the small blaze originated.  An off-duty shift was called in.  All services were disconnected from the home... which had been condemned last April 22.  Russo would not say if the fire was suspicious... but, said the cause is under investigation.


Boy wounded in Hunting accident last Friday in Falconer...

An unidentified boy is now in stable condition after being wounded in the village of Falconer last Friday morning during a hunting accident.  Ellicott Town Police say they received a 9-1-1 call just after 8:30 AM about a male victim being shot in a wooded area off East Elmwood Avenue.  Officers say the boy had been shot in the shoulder area while hunting with two other people.  Police say the victim was taken to Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo for treatment.  The incident remains under investigation.  Officers say no other information will be released until the investigation is completed.