BUSTI – Local authorities have yet to release the names of the five people who were involved in a two-vehicle accident yesterday afternoon in the town of Busti. According to Lakewood-Busti police, the five were rushed to WCA Hospital for treatment of severe injuries after one of the vehicle drove through a stop sign at the intersection of Lawson Road and Big Tree Road and collided with another vehicle. The vehicle that ran the stop sign was moving at a rate of 50 miles an hour and it did not appear there was any attempt to stop. The speed limit on Big Tree Road near that intersection is 55 miles an hour.

OBAMA TO DELIVER STATE OF THE UNION TONIGHT

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will pitch new initiatives on jobs, taxes and housing in an election-year State of the Union address tonight. It’s his biggest moment yet on the national stage to make a sweeping case for a second term.

When he stands before a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Obama is expected to push tax breaks for bringing manufacturing jobs home from overseas, ideas to help the troubled home-mortgage market and incentives for alternative energy development, people familiar with the speech say. He is also likely to call again for higher taxes on the wealthy – despite consistent Republican opposition – and speak of further pressure on China over its currency and trade practices.

Framed in what is expected to be a starkly populist speech, most of Obama’s proposals surely will face stiff Republican resistance, limiting any chance of headway in a divided Congress before the November 6 general election. But the White House hopes Obama can gain enough traction with voters to help restore faith in his economic leadership as the Democratic president defends himself against escalating attacks by Republican candidates vying to face him on the November ballot.

HIGGINS PROVIDES OUTLINE OF WHAT HE WANTS TO SEE ADDRESSED IN 2012

WASHINGTON – As Americans prepare to tune into tonight’s State of the Union Address, Congressman Brian Higgins has outlined some of the actions he would like to see addressed in tonight’s state of the union. The South Buffalo democrat, who also represents Chautauqua County, is calling on the president to address the need for infrastructure improvements. Higgins cites a recent study that says investing $1.2 trillion over five years in rebuilding our infrastructure would create 27 million jobs.

Higgins also said the president should call on the nation to simplify, extend and enhance tax incentives for research and development into the next generation of technological breakthroughs. And Higgins said the country must also refocus our national commitment to developing research toward the goal fighting serious diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Other issues Congressman Higgins would like to see addressed are alternative energy development, investment in worker training programs, and increased cooperation on both sides of the aisle in Congress.

FORMER LEON VFD TREASURER PLEADS GUILTY ON EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGES

LITTLE VALLEY – The former treasurer of the Leon Fire Department pleaded guilty Monday in Cattaraugus County Court to stealing more than $30,000 from the Fire Department over three years.

Frederick Weaver Jr., 75, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny.  According to Weaver’s attorney, he could face a sentence of one to four years in prison. Weaver has no previous criminal record.

Court records indicate that between January 2008 and last February, while serving as treasurer, Weaver falsified business records involving a savings account of the Leon Fire Department, stealing $33,442. Weaver said he took the money because he was having problems making ends meet and is unable to pay the money back. His sentencing date is set for April 23.

LEGISLATURE DEMS ANNOUNCE WHITNEY AS ASSISTANT MINORITY LEADER

MAYVILLE – The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting this morning that Chautauqua County Legislature Minority Leader Lori Cornell, D-Jamestown, announced Monday that the legislature’s Democratic caucus has selected Robert Whitney, D-Jamestown, to serve as assistant minority leader for the 2012-2013 term.  Whitney is a Jamestown High School and Jamestown Community College graduate. He is a member of IBEW Local 106, where he currently sits as union president.

JACKSON CENTER CALLS ON RESIDENTS TO DONATE WWII ITEMS

JAMESTOWN – The Robert H. Jackson Center is curating a new exhibit on Chautauqua County during World War II (1941-1945), scheduled to open in late May 2012. From now to  February 6, by appointment only, the Jackson Center is seeking local submissions of artifacts to potentially be used in this exhibit. Items may either be provided on loan or as a permanent donation to the Jackson Center’s archives.

Examples of sought after artifacts include WWII-era local newspapers, War Department signs or posters, ration books, collection drive posters, information on local victory gardens, war bonds, letters to and from soldiers, any information about women working during the war in local businesses, recruitment posters, original photographs and more.

If you have any materials you think would be appropriate for this exhibit, please contact Jenn Champ, Exhibit Manager, at 716-483-6646 (jchamp @ roberthjackson . org) to schedule an appointment for review.