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WJTN New Headlines for Aug. 15, 2018

A second person has lost their life from  injuries sustained in a Sunday evening collision involving a farm tractor in Sugar Grove Township... 
 
The Warren Times-Observor says Bonnie Lucia, of Russell, was a passenger in a car that crossed the center line on Route 957 and struck the tractor. Lucia was intially taken to Warren General Hospital for treatment, but later flown to UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie, where she later died. WJTN-News reported Tuesday morning that 78 year-old Anne Wolf of North Warren-- who was also a passenger in the car-- died as a result of the crash. State police have still yet to identify the male passenger taken to the hospital, the driver of the tractor was not injuried. 
 
 
A sweeping Grand Jury report released Tuesday names about 300 Roman Catholic Priests in the Pennsylvania Dioceses accused of molesting more than 1,000 children over the course of 70 years, including a Warren County pastor... 
 
The Times-Observor newspaper reports Reverend Salvatore Luzzi was accused by eight adolescent and adult male victims of inappropriate touching. The paper also says Luzzi faces allegations of responsibility for the suicide of one victim. In a separate article, Erie County Bishop Lawrence Persico expressed his apologies to the victims in the diocese and "will not shroud abusers in secrecy".
 
 
A lawsuit has been filed by Chautauqua Institution against the town of Ellery and state Department of Environmental Conservation from any future use of herbicides without more rigorous environmental review...  
 
Chautauqua's lawyers recently filed the suit in State Supreme Court... arguing the process of granting the permit to Ellery did not fully address concerns about herbicide use.  Vice-President for Comprehensive Planning and Operations at Chautauqua: John Shedd, says they feel several concerns and questions were not addressed.
 
The town, along with the town of Busti and others, applied the Herbicide early this Summer between 90 and 100-acres of Chautauqua Lake's southern basin to deal with the weed issue.  Shedd says scientists they've consulted with say dealing with stormwater run-off is the best way to stop the phosphorus that feeds the weed and algal blooms.  At the same time, he says they do not oppose limited use of herbicide as part of a long-range strategy.  A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for October 4th.
 
 
A Sinclairville woman was arrested for allegedly using her car to run a person over in the town of Gerry Monday...  
 
State Police in Jamestown responded to an undisclosed home in the town for a previous domestic incident.  During an argument, Troopers say 36 year-old Stephanie Frank knocked the male victim down with the open car door as she accelerated her vehicle in reverse. The victim was able to move to avoid being struck a second time.  Frank was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment.  Officers say she was additionally charged with endangering the welfare of a child because a juvenile under the age of 17 was inside the vehicle at the time.  She was issued an appearance ticket for town court.
 
 
More than a dozen potential candidates have come forward to Republican officials in the 27th Congressional District to replace Chris Collins on the ballot in November...  
 
At least a couple of possible candidates are familiar to local Congressman Tom Reed, who spoke highly of one them.  Former Erie County Sheriff and, current State Senator Patrick Gallivan, is considered a potential front-runner for the nomination.
 
Gallivan currently lives in Elma in Erie County, which is part of the 27th District.  He is not the only high-profile Republican seeking the nod of the eight county Republican chairmen.  But, Reed says no matter who is named, there will be a clear distinction between them and what appears to be a "far-left" candidate.  He says it's a strongly Republican district.  Reed wasn't as complimentary towards former gubernatorial candidate, Carl Paladino.  However, he says the controversial Buffalo-area developer has his heart in the right place for the people of western New York. 
 
 
The Chautauqua County Farmer Neighbor Dinner presented its first ever 'legacy' award Tuesday night...  
 
The honor went to 94-year-old Frank Walker, who's lived and farmed... on Sprague Hill Road in Falconer most of his life.  Walker was a progressive 20th century farmer, being the first in the county to install a field crop conservation ditch in 1945.  Former Cornell Cooperative Extension Executive Director, Andy Dufresne was honored as a 'friend of agriculture.'  Dufresne was instrumental in developing the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt Association, and the Grape Discovery Center.  The 2018 'agricultural producer' award went to the Ormond Farm on Miller Valley Road in Kennedy.  Three generations of the Ormond family have farmed at that location.  This year's Farmer-Neighbor Dinner, the third since its inception, was held at the outdoor area of the Grandview in Ellington.  
 
 
The new president at Jamestown Community College, Dr. Daniel DeMarte, says it's the highest honor of his career to be chosen to lead JCC...  
 
Originally from Angelica in Allegany County, DeMarte has extensive expericence as an administrator... all at the community college level.  He believes two-year schools are on the cusp of major changes with technology, demographics and the political environment impacting what such institutions are capable of doing. DeMarte says he plans to spend the fall semester getting to know the people at JCC, and in the community.  In addition, he wants to see how JCC is meeting the area's needs in some key sectors including manufacturing, health and hospitality.  DeMarte comes to Jamestown from a post at Tidewater Community College in Virginia.  His wife, Desiree, is a math teacher, and will join the faculty at Jamestown High School starting in September.  
 
 
Village trustees in the north county village of Fredonia appear to be a step closer to filling two positions that would help fill the void left by last month's resignation of the village administrator...  
 
Richard St. George stepped down due to health concerns.  Mayor Athanasia Landis says lawmakers are ready to return to what their charter had originally, including a checks and balance system the way it's intended.  Mayor Landis says they have three people who have applied for treasurer and, six for village clerk.  Landis says she hopes to have the positions filled next week.
 
 
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Democratic primary challenger Cynthia Nixon are set to debate late this month after a back-and-forth over the faceoff...  
 
Both campaigns said Monday their candidates agreed to debate August 29 at Hofstra University, with WCBS-TV hosting.  The two-term incumbent governor refused to debate his Democratic primary opponent four years ago.  Nixon has urged Cuomo for months to debate her and recently said he didn't "want to have an honest debate."  He pledged months ago to debate, but declined earlier invitations that she accepted.  With only a month to go before the primary, Cuomo's campaign said last week it was still reviewing options and looked forward to "a robust debate."
 
 
The Village of Celoron has re-scheduled the concert by Rustic Ramblers for tonight...  
 
Rustic Ramblers will be performing in the Desi Arnaz Bandshell in Lucille Ball Memorial Park, in the village Celoron from 6-8PM.  The concert series is sponsored in part by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.  All are invited to attend the free concert.  Again, the Rustin Ramblers concert in the park is re-schedule for tonight beginning at 6:00.
 
 
A New York town official says most of the dozens of people reported trapped in their Finger Lakes homes when flash floods hit the area early Tuesday are now able to move about their damaged properties...  
 
Highway Superintendent Rick Jacot  in the Seneca County town of Lodi (LOH'-deye) said that local waterfront residents along Seneca Lake are safe and starting to clean up damage caused by the flooding.  Governor Andrew Cuomo had said earlier Tuesday that about 50 people were trapped in their homes because of high water and trees and other debris dislodged by the flooding.  The Jamestown-area missed those torrentional rains and flash flooding.