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WJTN News Headlines

What was an "emergency" need for blood in the New York-Penn Region of the American Red Cross is now an "urgent" need.  That from Southwestern New York Chapter Account Manager Jason Carmen... who says the state put out the plea late last week when it revealed they needed 80-thousand units of blood to have a three-day supply on hand.  Carmen says -- locally -- they have added some new blood drives over the next week and a half... and, they need all types because of Summer vacations, and a lower number of donors than usual. Carmen says the first chance to give is at the Jamestown Chapter House this Thursday from Noon to 6:30 PM.  He says they'll be giving away some T-shirts and coffee to many of those who donate the "gift of life."  The next drive will be next Wednesday, August 6th, at the Chautauqua Fire Department.  The next one after that is Friday, August 8th from 1 to 6 PM at the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood.  For more information... or to schedule a donation time... call 1-800-RED CROSS.

 

Flames have destroyed an historic building in downtown Salamanca in Cattaraugus County.  Salamanca City fire crews were called to the old, vacant Train Depot on Atlantic Street just after 2:15 PM Tuesday.. and, found heavy flames coming from several windows.  Mutual aid was called in from the surrounding area to help at the scene.  No injuries were reported.  Fire crews were at the scene for several hours... but, no one was hurt.

 

A Ripley man has been accused of sexually abusing two young girls... and, a woman during a bingo function in the village last Thursday.  Sheriff's officers say they arrested 75 year-old Dale Reynolds of Burton Avenue late Monday on a warrant issued in Ripley Town Court.  Deputies say their investigation revealed that Reynolds allegedly gropped the two young females... and, another female during the bingo program.  Reynolds was arrested without incident on three counts of third-degree sexual abuse.  He was arraigned in town court... and, freed on 15-hundred dollars cash bail.

 

Some of the top cowboys and cowgirls in the country will be on hand for the 70th annual Gerry Rodeo... starting tonight and running through Saturday at the rodeo grounds off Route 60.  That from Rodeo Spokesman Paul Cooley... who says they have a record number of contestants... and, a record purse for this year's event.  Cooley says they have more than 50 additional cowboys and cowgirls for this year's performances than last year.
Cooley says five of the contestants are nationally ranked... including saddle bronc riders Jacobs and Sterling Crawley... who are brothers from Texas.  They also have 2012 World Champion Cody DeMoss.  National barrel racing record holder Taylor Jacobs will also be competing.  Tonight's first show begins at 8 PM... and, Cooley says one of the rodeo's founders -- Ward Tollman -- will be among those on hand for the program.  The Rodeo's famous beef barbecue dinners will be available each day starting at 5 PM.  Rodeo performances are at 8 PM each night through Saturday... and, there'll be a matinee at 2 PM Saturday.  For more information... call 985-4847... or go on-line to Gerryrodeo-dot-ORG.

 

A man who is the son of Brazilian diplomats is on a mission to improve the quality of life in his homeland... which has seen a vastly improved economy over the past seven to eight years.  International Business Consultant Lourenco Bustani (Boo-stanee) was yesterday's featured lecturer at Chautauqua Institution... and, says Brazil is now ranked seventh in the world for Gross Domestic Product.  However... Bustani tells our Dennis Webster that only a select few have enjoyed the fruits of that labor. Bustani heads a company called "Mandeleh.." which means "Magical Circle of Power" in Sanscrit.  Bustani says unless you help improve the quality of life for the workforce... success cannot be sustained.  He helped lure companies like Nike and Pepsico to the recent World Cup Soccer Tournament there.  He says everyone "wins" under this new mental model... which involves finding "the sweet spot between purpose and profit."  Bustani spoke as part of "Brazil: Rising Superpower" week at Chautauqua.

 

A Rochester man convicted of robbing six upstate New York banks... including one in Falconer... has been sentenced to more than a decade in federal prison.  U-S attorney William Hochul, Junior says 59 year-old Robert Stevenson received the 11-year sentence for bank robbery in U-S District Court Monday.  Assistant U-S Attorney Mary Baumgarten, who handled the case, says Stevenson robbed the banks in 2012, between April 25th... and, November 5th.  That November robbery was at the Northwest Savings Bank on West Main Street in Falconer.  The other banks were in Kenmore... Syracuse... Irondequoit... Utica... and New Hartford.  During the Kenmore robbery... Baumgarten says Stevenson suggested he had a weapon after handing the teller a note.  In addition to the jail time... she says Stevenson was also ordered to pay 16-thousand-425 dollars in restitution.

 

If you come across a plant that's as tall as a house and topped with umbrella-shaped white flower clusters, don't touch it.  It might be giant hogweed, which can cause blistering and blindness.  The state Department of Environmental Conservation is continuing its ongoing efforts to control invasive giant hogweed plants across the state. It's reminding residents to look out for the plant and report any new locations.  Giant hogweed resembles an enormous parsley plant, up to 14 feet tall with 5-foot-wide leaves and bristles on its purple-blotched hollow stems. Skin exposed to hogweed sap can be severely burned.  If you find one, DEC wants you to take photos and email them to Ghogweed-at-dec-dot-NY-dot-GOV.  More than 800 properties have had their giant hogweed plants controlled by DEC.