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WJTN News Headlines for August 9, 2018

Republican U.S. Representative Chris Collins says he will remain on the ballot running for re-election in New York as he fights charges that he used inside information about a biotechnology company to make illicit stock trades...  
 
At a press conference Wednesday night, Collins called the charges "meritless" and said he looks forward to being exonerated.  He earlier pleaded not guilty to insider-trading charges.  Prosecutors say Collins got an email while attending a picnic last year at the White House that the company's medication had failed an important medical trial.  They say Collins told his son, who then dumped his stock in the company before the trial results were announced publicly.  Due to the indictment, Collins was removed from the House Energy Committee by Speaker Paul Ryan.
 
 
The Jamestown Jammers won the Perfect Game League Championship in Amsterdam...  
 
The final score of the final game in the three game series was 8 to 6.  Coach and manager, Anthony Barone, said is was a great, comeback game. Barone says they didn't take the lead until the 7th inning when Chase King hit a three-run homer, then closer Ryan Bowyer shut the door for the win.
 
Barone spoke from the bus as the team was returning early this morning.  The Jammers had to play the entire championship in the other team's ballpark because of the commitment to the Babe Ruth World Series at Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. park, their home field, in Jamestown. Barone says while they would have liked to play  home, being on the road was a bonding experience. This is the second year the Jamestown team has made it to the final series.  It is the first championship for the Jammers since collegiate league baseball came to the city in 2015.
 
 
Democrats in the New York state Assembly say any broadband provider picked to replace Charter Communications in the state should be required to observe net neutrality....  
 
Twenty-five Democratic lawmakers proposed the idea this week.  The state recently revoked its approval of Charter's merger with Time Warner Cable and, ordered the company to find a new provider for its more than two-million New York customers.  The lawmakers say whichever company replaces Charter should be prohibited from altering web speeds or traffic to favor certain sites or apps.  The federal government repealed its net neutrality policy earlier this year.
 
 
Members of the Northwest Arena's board of directors didn't think they would make a decision so soon about a new executive director...  
 
However, when retired Jamestown Community College Athletic Director Keith Martin expressed an interest, they decided to move forward on it.  That from board co-president Dave Leathers, who says Martin's 25 years of experience in sports management and coaching was what they were looking for.  He says they were initially going to look for marketing and operations, and then in finance.
 
Leathers says they initially thought they might promote from within once the two lower management positions were filled.  He says they decided to move on an executive director's right now because of the new junior hockey team (the Jamestown Rebels) coming here to play for the first time.  He says there's also a matter of an expansion project at the arena.  Martin just recently retired from JCC.  He also stepped down from the Arena's board of directors earlier this month after expressing interest in the post. 
 
 
Cynthia Nixon's economic development plan calls for investments in green jobs, minority communities and crumbling infrastructure...  
 
The former "Sex and the City" star and Democratic candidate for New York governor also wants greater transparency and accountability in state economic development spending.  The candidate's plan was first reported Tuesday by The Associated Press.  Nixon says she wants to spread the benefits of economic development funding broadly while strengthening protections for workers.  Nixon faces two-term incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo in next month's primary.  Cuomo has touted billions of dollars in investments in the upstate economy, but critics complained about the number of jobs created and note that two former top state officials have been convicted, along with several real estate developers, on corruption charges stemming from their involvement in Cuomo's economic development initiatives.
 
 
National Night Out is still a relatively new idea, but it's become a big part of the north county city of Dunkirk...  
 
Hundreds of people turned out for the 25th annual event in Dunkirk on Tuesday evening.  Dunkirk Police Chief Dave Ortolano, who introduced the event to the city 25 years ago, says he can't believe it's still going strong.  He adds that it continues to serve as a way for police to have positive interactions with the community.
 
Ortolano was recognized for his involvement with National Night Out and, he received commendations from Mayor Willie Rosas, County Executive George Borrello, and state Assemblyman Andy Goodell -- among others.  He also received recognition from Congressman Tom Reed and Governor Andrew Cuomo. 
 
 
Dunkirk city lawmakers have approved a new contract for a school resource officer with the Dunkirk City School District...  
 
The vote was unanimous.  Mayor Willie Rosas says the city will receive 100 percent reimbursement from the school district to pay for the new police officer.  He adds they'll be getting a more-experienced officer.  Rosas says the agreement is retroactive to August 1 and runs through July 2021. 
 
 
The Water Division of the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities is issuing alerts for water customers in two areas of their water territory today...  
 
BPU Spokeswoman Becky Robbins says a water main break near Sixth and Washington Streets in the city will be repaired, starting around 8:00 this morning.  At this time, discolored water is not expected but traffic patterns may be affected during the work.  Drivers may want to avoid the area.  In Lakewood, a valve replacement is scheduled to begin around 8 a.m. at the corner of Winchester and Terrace Avenues.  Water may be off in the vicinity while the repair takes place.  Once work is completed and the water restored, Lakewood customers and west towards BOCES will likely see discolored water for the next 12-24 hours.
 
 
Concert Announcement....
 
Last night's Jamestown Municipal Band concert at the Allen Park Bandshell was postponed due to a threat of inclement weather.  However, it's been rescheduled for tonight.  City Parks and Recreation Coordinator Julia Ciesla-Hanley says the concert will be held at 7 p.m. at Allen Park.