04/24/20 Wellsville Community Shopper

Page 1

APRIL 24 - 30, 2020 •

FREE

CAR. TR. MKT MAIL US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 244 BRADFORD, PA

Community

19,526 USPS DELIVERED

SHOPPER ALFRED • ALLENTOWN • ALMA • ANDOVER • ANGELICA • BELFAST • BELMONT • BOLIVAR • CANEADEA • CERES • CUBA • FILMORE • FRIENDSHIP • GENESEE • HOUGHTON LITTLE GENESEE • PORTVILLE • RICHBURG • RUSHFORD • SCIO • SHINGLEHOUSE • ULYSSES • WELLSVILLE • WEST CLARKSVILLE • WHITESVILLE

Allegany County eyes 15% budget cut plan, spending freeze By BOB CLARK BELMONT — Facing lower revenues — and possibly the loss of a large chunk of state aid — Allegany County officials may have to scale back the 2020 budget over coronavirus. The Committee of the Whole of the Allegany County Board of Legislators forwarded a resolution asking the budget officer and deputy budget officer to work with department heads on reducing the 2020 budget by 15%, as well as putting a freeze on all nonessential purchases for the next three months. The full board will meet April 27, at which time it is believed the resolution will be brought up for vote. The request, by Legislator Brooke Harris, RAlfred, came after reports by county Treasurer Terri Ross on sales tax revenue and the potential for lost state assistance this year. Revenues received for the first three months of the year beat expectations, Ross said, up about $93,000. But that likely includes most of Christmas and through winter, she said, noting that the reduction in revenues from the closing of nonessential businesses is expected to show up for the first time in a sales tax check from the state near the end of the month.

“We’ll be seeing (checks) right along over the next three months,” she said. However, another major source of income — aid from the state — is potentially in jeopardy. With lost sales and income tax revenue considered, the state budget approved earlier this month allows for the governor’s office to make spending adjustments to balance state finances. State officials project revenues between $10 billion and $15 billion lower than what was projected at the beginning of the year — before the coronavirus pandemic claimed more than 10,000 lives in the state and virtually shut down commerce. In the budget, the State Legislature gave the governor the power to cut spending across the board if there are significant budget imbalances. Ross said that could affect the county greatly — estimating that the county has about $6.65 million in outstanding state aid and grants expected this year. “If he is not getting the cash flows he needs, it could be anywhere between 10% to 15%,” she said, with up to $1 million in lost aid for the county in the balance. “He’s going to check his cash flow on a monthly basis, and report to us See SPENDING FREEZE pg 2...

OLEAN TIMES HERALD 716-372-3121 • BRADFORD PUBLISHING COMPANY

Politicians, officials reflect on death of Allegany Co.'s Bill Heaney

By BOB CLARK

BELFAST — Local and state officials lamented the loss of educator, historian and politician Bill Heaney over the weekend. Passing away after a fall at home, he was 76. “The impact of Bill’s educational career is farreaching and will truly never be known,” said Curt Crandall, chairman of the Allegany County Board of Legislators. “Bill Heaney, Allegany County is forever grateful for your unending interest in our community.” Growing up in Angelica and later teaching high school English at Belfast for decades, Heaney served as the chairman of the county Republican committee for 20 years and worked on staff at virtually every level of government. Former Gov. George Pataki, who tapped Heaney in 2001 to be his representative in the region for six years, lamented the loss. “So sorry to hear. Bill was a great guy,” Pataki said in a statement. “And a tremendous help to me. Please extend my condolences to everyone.” Former state Sen. Catharine Young also spoke highly of Heaney. “Bill was a dear friend and mentor to me for more than 22 years,” she said. “He had that endearing Irish charm and quick wit, and knew how to bring people together to get important things accomplished. That’s

File photo Bill Heaney (left) listens to Ron Taylor, executive director of the Allegany County Historical Society, during the opening of the 2018 Allegany County History Awareness Week at the David A. Howe Public Library in Wellsville.

why political luminaries such as Congressman Amo Houghton, Gov. George Pataki, Senators Jess Present and Pat McGee, and former Assemblymen John Hasper and Dick Wesley worked so closely with him. “In 2002, when Gov. Pataki was running for re-election, he wanted to make sure he spent time in rural areas, especially traveling the Southern Tier counties,” Young said. “Bill helped put together a whistle stop tour on an antique train that traveled from Chautauqua County to Steuben. People were very excited, parked at train crossings and running across fields to wave and cheer. Large crowds greeted

us at stops in Olean and Belmont. It was a classic Bill Heaney-organized event — history, creativity and politics rolled up into one.” Young said the two met for the first time in 1999. “The first time I met him was when he was Allegany County Republican Chairman and I was running for the state Assembly,” she said. “Bill immediately put together a campaign team, helping me win the election even though we only had 11 weeks to put it together, and we have been personal friends and colleagues ever since.” Later on, Young said, Heaney was he was an “invaluable member of my staff, and did a phe-

nomenal job, representing me at many events when I was in Albany.” She said Heaney was a master of local history and an ardent advocate for Allegany County. “He loved his family and friends, and his passing is a great loss for our entire region,” she said. Crandall noted that Heaney served on the Belfast Town Board, later becoming the county’s Republican election commissioner. Two years after that he became the Allegany County Republican chairman. He later moved on to federal politics, working for then-Rep. Amo Houghton as the congresSee BILL HeANEY pg 2...

Cuba • Wellsville Special Orders Call:

Wellsville: 593-Deli (3354) Cuba: 968-Beef (2333)

Visit Us At: www.giantfoodmart.com

Sale Starts Sunday April 26, 2020

While Supplies Last. Sorry, No Rain Checks

WOW! Corn, Peas or Green Beans

Best Yet

Canned Vegetables 14.5-15.25 oz.

SAVE UP TO 51¢

48

¢

Assorted Varieties! Ore Ida

French Fries, Tater Tots or Onion Rings 16-32 oz.

SAVE UP TO $6.76 on 4

10

4/

SAVE UP TO $3.99 on 2

Assorted Varieties! Cabot

Shredded Cheese 8 oz.

SAVE UP TO $3.96 on 4

10

4/

Stroehmann’s

D’Italiano Bread 20 oz.

BUY ONE GET ONE

FREE


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.