Local News

Tyshon Taylor – 2020 file photo

A Genesee County grand jury has filed a three-count indictment against 25-year-old Tyshon Taylor of Batavia. He is accused of stabbing another man in the stomach in October. Charges include attempted second-degree murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. The victim suffered serious injuries and was taken to Erie County Medical Center for treatment. Taylor has a history of trouble with the law and was most recently released from state prison March 30, 2021, after serving a term for armed robbery.

Santa checking his ‘good’ list – file photo

From 1 – 5pm this Saturday stop by the mall in Batavia to visit Santa’s Workshop and Village, and have pictures taken with jolly old Saint Nick himself. Many local shops and organizations will be offering holiday specials and activities, including horse and buggy rides. And then afterward, there will be a Holiday Parade down Main Street, starting at 6 that evening.

Positive COVID test result

Some new data shows an increase in our region of the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus. According to the state, the seven-day average infection rate in our area is 6.44%. At this time one week ago the average infection rate was 5.12%. People who want to be vaccinated against the illness or get a booster shot can schedule an appointment at vaccines.gov.

33-year-old Giuseppe Flannaca of Batavia is charged with grand larceny. He’s accused of stealing more than $3000 in merchandise from The Home Depot. Flannaca was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released on his own recognizance.

The National Weather Service is placing the GLOW region (except for Livingston County) under a high wind watch, which will be in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening. Southwest winds at 25 to 35 mph are expected with occasional gusts up to 60 mph. Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe location prior to the onset of winds.

Sheriff William Sheron, Jr.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office has a reminder for us during this charitable, giving season regarding scams and scammers. Please be suspicious concerning anyone who pressures you to act quickly by threatening that a problem will only get worse if you don’t do something now or that you will be arrested if the issue is not immediately addressed. Never give out personal or financial information. If you suspect something may not be legitimate, tell someone you trust what the situation is before you act and potentially suffer a financial loss. If you fall victim to a scam, please report it to your local law enforcement agency.

Officials with the New York Independent System Operator say there’s enough of an electricity supply in the Empire State to meet demand during the winter months. There are over 43-thousand megawatts of supply available and the agency is forecasting that peak demand will reach close to 24-thousand megawatts based on expected winter temperatures. That’d be an increase of 685 megawatts from last winter’s peak demand. Consumers are likely going to see higher bills in the coming months due to factors that continue to impact the cost of natural gas used in the production of electricity.

No injuries have been reported after a fire caused extensive damage to multiple businesses in Lewiston. Crews were called to the scene on Center Street yesterday and arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from a building. While they were trying to contain the blaze, firefighters were forced to evacuate because the building became unstable and there were concerns it could collapse. According to reports, an issue with a transformer may have been responsible for sparking the fire.

Josh Allen

The Buffalo Bills are in the Bay State tonight as they take on a longtime AFC East rival. The Bills will be at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts to battle the New England Patriots. Buffalo has not played since Thanksgiving Day when they beat the Detroit Lions 28 to 25 to improve their record this season to 8 and 3; kickoff for tonight’s game is 8:15.

Dylan Cozens talks with Rasmus Dahlin – file photo

The two-game losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres is over after the team picked up a much-needed victory on the road. They defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 in a shoot-out last night. Dylan Cozens scored twice while Jeff Skinner and Mattias Samuelsson also had a goal each as the Sabres. Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson stopped 41 of the 45 shots that he faced. The Sabres will host the defending Stanley Cup champions the Colorado Avalanche at KeyBank Center tonight at 7:00.

2 Teens are accused of bringing a gun into Dr. Alice Holloway Young School of Excellence on Tuesday Morning.  School security “safely secured a loaded revolver from a 13-year-old male,” according to Rochester Police.  The investigation found another 13-year-old boy was also involved in bringing the gun into the school.  The Rochester City School District released a statement saying the students “circumvented security screening” and brought the weapon inside. The district said the gun was “immediately retrieved and turned over to the Rochester Police Department.”  Both boys were referred to Monroe County Family Court on charges of criminal possession of a weapon.  It is unknown how they came to be in possession of the gun or why.

Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams is under fire from the Buffalo Teachers Federation over a contract dispute.  They are asking teachers to vote that they have no confidence in her and the school board.  The district and teachers union have been negotiating a new contract, but the district’s general counsel said there’s not much negotiating getting done at meetings. He said the union is refusing to discuss bell time adjustments to resolve transportation issues, hiring coaches for sports, and health insurance.  BPS said it’s increased its offer to the union twice, which includes a 20% increase in teacher pay over the course of the contract, an 8% increase in the first year, and close to a $6,000 bonus for every teacher.  The district said its current proposal has a price tag of $215 million. The union’s proposal would cost the district $2 billion.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney was unanimously elected to serve Genesee county as part of the NY 24 region on the Republican Policy Committee.  The Committee was created in 1949 as a forum for debate and to develop legislative proposals that promote common sense conservative solutions. It also produces informational background materials for use by the House Republican Conference.

About 400 National Grid customers in Genesee County were without power due to the wind storm wednesday.  The largest outage was in Darien with 310 customers without power.  There was an outage along Beckwith Road in Batavia, one in Basom and one in East Oakfield, along with outages that affected five or fewer customers in East Bethany, and Batavia.  East Pembroke fire was dispatched to Beckwith Road with wires down.  Earlier, Alexander Fire was dispatched to Halstead Road for a wire down and a field on fire.  National Grid reports that all power has been restored.

LeRoy’s Winterfest is set to be a big event Saturday.  Starting off the day the Jinglin All The Way Festive 5k is starting at 10 am.  There is a horse and carriage ride from 1 to 5pm leaving from St Mark’s Episcopal Church. Santa Claus will be visiting at The Moose Club from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by 3 to 5 p.m. at the former Sweet Betty’s location, and then leading a parade at 5 p.m. from the old Bank of America parking lot to the Christmas tree, which is scheduled for lighting at 5:30 p.m.  There will be caroling around the tree with Le Roy Jr/Sr High School’s choir, s’more cones, Santa story time, hot chocolate from Dave Ehrhart and cookies from Le Roy Presbyterian Church.  Maddie Masters second annual one-mile walk,  begins at 3:30 p.m. at Sweet Betty’s. Other activities include a kids obstacle course by BeyonDriven, crafts from noon to 5 p.m. and face painting from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Art of Mandy, and Woodward Memorial Library, from noon to 4 p.m., and Save-a-lot from 1 to 3 p.m., will also have face painting and kids’ crafts; and a store scavenger hunt and free hot chocolate and cookies.  The Hope Center is also doing a slew of activities from 11 to 3.  Another new offering will be a poker run, set to run from 6 to 9 p.m. at five establishments: American Legion, The Moose, Capish! Brick Oven Pizza Ristorante, Sweet Betty’s, Smokin’ Eagle BBQ & Brew. Wristbands are $10 each, and participants will get a cocktail and poker card at each stop before turning in their final hands for a 50/50 jackpot.  A three-piece acoustic band, Nate Coffey, will be performing at Smokin’ Eagle to cap off the night.

The Batavia BOCES Auto Body program has a non auto contribution they’ve been working on for the Batavia Middle School.  The 2 bells that used to hang at the middle school, one bronze and one cast iron, have been restored and will be unveiled and rung at the Centennial celebration on December 8th at 7pm.  One bell is 150 years old, made in McNeeley Foundry in Troy Ny in 1873.  The other comes from West Seneca and is roughly 100 years old.

The two-game losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres is over after the team picks up a much-needed victory on the road. Dylan Cozens scored twice while Jeff Skinner and Mattias Samuelsson also had a goal each as the Sabres defeated the Detroit Red Wings five-to-four in a shootout last night. Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson stopped 41 of the shots that he faced. The Sabres will host the defending Stanley Cup champions the Colorado Avalanche at KeyBank Center tonight at seven p-m.

The Batavia United won their first game of the season on Tuesday against the Geneva Panthers 6 to 1.  Ronin Hofmaster and Jameson Motyka scored twice each.  Brady Johnson and Cooper Hamilton scored once.  Goalie Thys Tanner blocked 15 shots.  United plays Starpoint at the Northtowne Center in Buffalo on Friday at 5:30pm.  The team faces Hamburg at home at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Albion Correctional Facility – file photo

Over 750 former prison and jail inmates will file a series of civil lawsuits against the state of New York over the next year. The state has opened a window for past survivors of sexual assaults. New York State’s Adult Survivor’s Act went into effect last week and people now have until November 23, 2023 to file lawsuits, even if the statute of limitations has expired. Of the 750 inmates, at least 164 were confined at the Albion Correctional Facility, which for years has been under scrutiny for repeated sexual assaults of female inmates. Under state law, a person in correctional custody is legally incapable of providing consent.

Deputies have charged 40-year-old Michael Schultz of Attica with aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle. This followed police checking on a suspicious vehicle that was reportedly parked on Tooley Road and flashing its headlights on and off. Schultz allegedly has one active suspension on his New York state license for a failure to answer a citation for an out-of-state violation. For the current charge, he was processed roadside and issued an appearance ticket. Schultz is scheduled to appear in the Town of Bennington Court in December.

Genesee County Jail – file photo

A homeless woman has been arrested for entering the Genesee County Jail with the intent to sell drugs. 40-year-old Beth Ann Jeffres of Batavia is accused of going into the jail with narcotics on her person hoping to sell them to the inmates. She is charged with criminal possession of a narcotic drug, intent to sell, promoting prison contraband, and criminal possession of a controlled substance. She is being held on bail until her mid-December court date.

The New York State Thruway Board of directors is meeting next month to discuss the current tolls. The difference between EZPass and toll by mail is anticipated to increase by 75 percent, meaning that EZPass customers will pay 75 percent less than those who don’t have it. The price across the board on tolls will go up by 5 percent. Commuters who get the reduction in cost will keep seeing a 60 percent. The $2 administrative fee for non-EZPass drivers and anyone who gets their tolls processed by license plate image will stay in place. All changes go into effect January of 2024.

A wind advisory is now in effect for the entire GLOW region and remains in place until 1am early tomorrow morning. Winds 25-35 miles per hour are expected with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour going from west to east. Gusts could blow around unsecured objects and possibly blow tree limbs onto power lines causing outages. Travel in high profile vehicles could be dangerous.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for Warsaw and south-western towns in Wyoming County, and will be in place until 1:00 tomorrow afternoon. Lake effect snow is expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches in the most persistent lake snows could accumulate across higher terrain. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph will produce extensive blowing and drifting snow. Plan for snow covered and slippery road conditions if you’ll be driving through the western part of Wyoming County during the timeframe of the advisory. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility with hazardous conditions possibly impacting the evening commute Wednesday and the morning commute Thursday. Lake effect snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing visibility and road conditions.

File photo

New York State Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against a nursing home located in Orleans County. The AG claims the owners of Comprehensive at Orleans LLC doing business as The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion were involved in fraud. It’s alleged that they took advantage of the state’s Medicare system for their own personal profit and didn’t use the money for staffing and treatment of residents at the facility. James is urging anyone who’s concerned about conditions they see at nursing homes or resident abuse to call 833-249-8499.

George Moses

The former chairman of the Rochester Housing Authority is going to spend the next 6-1/2 years in prison. Yesterday, a judge sentenced 53-year-old George Moses for committing crimes including defrauding three nonprofits, lying to the FBI, and filing false tax returns. Moses used money from the housing authority and also community grant funds to buy things such as a new car, a time share in Florida, and trips to Canada. Once he’s released from custody, Moses will be on probation for three years.

The Buffalo Sabres are on a road trip tonight as they look to snap their current two-game losing streak. The Sabres are taking on the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in the Motor City. Buffalo is coming off of a 6-5 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday night. Face-off for tonight’s contest is scheduled for 7:00.

Promotional Photo – November 2022

One of the most popular basketball teams on the planet is going to be taking the court in Western New York next year. The Harlem Globetrotters are going to be playing against the Washington Generals at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday, February 3rd. Since being founded in 1926, the Globetrotters have played in over 120 countries and been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Tickets are available at the box office and through Ticketmaster.

What is the leading cause of death for people 18-45.  Guns? Car accidents? COVID?  None of the above.  Fentanyl kills more people every year than the rest.  58 people have died in Genesee county from overdosing on fentanyl since 2018 with 10 more still under investigation.  There is something people can do about it.  While it is very difficult to stop the drug, the public can combat overdose deaths by learning how to use and administer Naloxone, an anti-overdose drug.  If someone is unresponsive and you think they are overdosing, giving them naloxone can save their life.  To learn more, visit healtogetherny.gov/genesee or the gowopiodtaskforce.org. 

A homeless woman has been arrested for entering the Genesee county Jail with the intent to sell drugs.  40 year old Beth Ann Jeffres of Batavia is accused of going into the Genesee County Jail with narcotics on her person hoping to sell them to the inmates.  She is charged with criminal possession of a narcotic drug, 2 counts of criminal possession with intent to sell, promoting prison contraband in the first degree, and criminal possession of a controlled substance.  She is being held on bail till her court date of December 15th. 

The New York State Thruway Board of directors is meeting next month to discuss the toll prices and here is what they are going to vote on.   The difference between EZPass and toll by mail is going to increase to 75 percent, meaning that ezpass customers will pay 75 percent less than those who don’t have it.  The price across the board on tolls will go up by 5 percent.  Commuters who get the discount will keep seeing a 60 percent discount on their tolls.  The 2 dollar administrative fee for non ezpass drivers and anyone who gets their tolls processed by license plate image will stay in place.  Any changes go into effect January of 2024.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center claiming years of fraud and resident neglect.  This comes after gathering enough evidence of the alleged horrific neglect several loved ones have faced.  James says the owners of the nursing homes misused more than $18 million in government funds.  The Nursing home is also facing a lawsuit from families of those who died during the COVID outbreak of 2020 who allege that the facility did not take precautions to prevent the deaths and also neglected people who were in their care.  

Batavia High School is putting on the Trial of Robin Hood play Friday through Sunday this weekend.  25 students and a crew of six are putting on the play for Director Caryn Leigh Wood’s 20th season at the High School.  The self referential comedy has Robin Hood defending his actions of robbing from the rich to feed the poor in a trial.  And the twist is, the play can finish in 3 different ways and the audience gets to decide the ending.  Come see the hero, Maid Marian, the sheriff of Nottingham and others Friday and Saturday at 7pm, and Sunday at 2.

One of the most popular basketball teams on the planet is going to be taking the court in Western New York next year. The Harlem Globetrotters are going to be playing against the Washington Generals at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday, February 3rd. Since being founded in 1926, the Globetrotters have played in over 120 countries and been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Tickets are available at the box office and through Ticketmaster.

Melvin Huntley

The trial for 40-year-old Melvin Huntley of Batavia has begun this week in Genesee County Court with jury selection. He rejected a plea deal that was offered in October. Huntley was first arrested in July 2021 following a sheriff’s investigation that allegedly revealed he sexually assaulted a child under 11 over the course of five years. Further investigation revealed three more victims, all under the age of 17 that involved repeated acts of sexual assault. In March, a Genesee County grand jury filed a 25-count indictment against Huntley including, among other multiple felony charges, predatory sexual assault, which is punishable by 25 years to life. Huntley remains in Genesee County Jail pending the outcome of the trial.

44-year-old Tara Lyn Hall-Dilaura of Batavia has been charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence and having an insufficient turn signal. Hall-Dilaura is accused of hiding a controlled substance on her person while deputies conducted a traffic stop. She was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

25-year-old Nicholas Goodell of LeRoy is charged with petit larceny after being accused of stealing in the Town of Batavia. He was arrested by State Police and released on an appearance ticket.

State residents are expected to see higher electric bills this winter compared to last year due to various national and geopolitical factors that combined, keep the cost of natural gas and electricity elevated. Inflation, ongoing supply issues from the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine continue to keep energy costs significantly higher. However, New York’s power grid has a sufficient supply of energy and won’t be strained to carry the state through the winter season; this, according to an assessment made by the New York Independent System Operator. The higher prices however, with increases between 30 and 40%, aren’t expected to turn around before the spring thaw. The price of fuel and natural gas directly impact the cost of electricity. Last week, National Grid announced it would donate $6 million to customers struggling to pay their bills with the higher costs this season. The utility’s one-time program is separate from available federal and state assistance, and is expected to help an additional 31,500 New York households that do not qualify for the Home Energy Assistance Program or other aid. National Grid estimates a 39% increase for its natural gas customers this winter compared to last, and an overall 22% increase for customers across upstate New York.

Kristofor O’Rourke

A former member of the Geneseo Police Department is on the other side of the law after being arrested by State Police. Troopers say 29-year-old Kristofor O’Rourke arrested a woman for DWI back in July. He then allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with her without her consent. O’Rourke was arraigned last night and pleaded not guilty before being released. He has been ordered to stay away from the victim and is facing up to four years in prison if convicted.

A wind advisory will be in effect starting tomorrow morning at 10:00am and remain in place until 4:00am Thursday morning. Westerly winds at 25-35 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 mph can be expected. The effected areas include all but Livingston County in the GLOW region (Niagara County and Northern Erie County is also effected). Gusty winds could blow unsecured objects around. Tree limbs could come down and a few isolated power outages may result. Travel will be difficult at times in high profile vehicles.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for western Wyoming County and areas a little south, starting at 4:00 tomorrow afternoon; it will be in place until 1:00 Thursday afternoon. Lake effect snow is expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches in the most persistent lake snows could accumulate across higher terrain. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph will produce extensive blowing and drifting snow. Plan for snow covered and slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility with hazardous conditions possibly impacting the evening commute Wednesday and the morning commute Thursday. Lake effect snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing visibility and road conditions.

Tage Thompson

The Buffalo Sabres are now on a two-game losing streak after suffering a tough defeat at home. Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn, Jeff Skinner, Tyson Jost and Tage Thompson each scored but the Sabres were still beaten by the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-5 in overtime at KeyBank Center last night. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen surrendered all six Lightning goals in the contest. Buffalo’s next game is tomorrow night on the road against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Mega Millions jackpot has risen again. The prize up for grabs tonight is now $305,000,000 after no one correctly chose the winning numbers in Friday’s drawing. The odds of hitting the jackpot are one in more than 302,000,000. The drawing will be streamed online at megamillions.com. Please play responsibly.

Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties are going to be under a wind advisory for a storm coming Wednesday morning starting at 10am and lasting till 4pm on Thursday.  Winds 25-35 miles per hour are expected with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour going from west to east.  Gusts could blow around unsecured objects and possibly blow tree limbs onto power lines causing outages.  Travel in high profile vehicles could be dangerous.

Wyoming County is under a winter weather advisory Wednesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon.  From 4pm Wednesday to 1 pm Thursday lake effect snow of 4 to 7 inches are expected in conjunction with high winds blowing the snow around.  Lake effect snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities.

More than a year after entering a guilty plea, trying to withdraw it, disappearing after being released to attend the birth of his child and then being recaptured months later, and asking for a new attorney, Devon Wright has been sentenced.  He was sentenced to 24 years in prison for attempted assault, criminal sexual act, attempted criminal possession of a weapon, and assault.  He had made a plea deal to run his sentences concurrently but lost the deal when he failed to appear for his sentencing date in 2021.  Wright could have faced up to 29 years for his crimes.

29 year old former Geneseo Police Officer Kristofor O’Rourke plead not guilty Monday evening for threatening a woman with jail time if she didn’t perform sex acts on him at a traffic stop.  O’Rourke is being charged with third-degree felony criminal sexual act and misdemeanor official misconduct in connection to the July 1st incident. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 18 months to 4 years in the state’s Department of Corrections if he’s convicted.  O’Rourke left the Geneseo Police to join the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department.  After an investigation into the incident he was fired on November 21st.  He also worked for Mount Morris Police Part time and Watkins Glen Police.

A 72 year old Wyoming County man was killed in a bulldozer accident in the Town of Leicester on Saturday.  According to the sheriff’s office, around 5:50 p.m. on Saturday sheriff’s deputies responded to Dunkley Road in the Town of Leicester for the report of a male that was run over by a bulldozer.  The sheriff’s office said it learned that Thomas Swyers of Perry had gone to the property earlier in the day and was using a bulldozer to clear a portion of a wooded area. When he did not return home his family requested assistance from friends to check his welfare. Swyers was found dead in the woods.  According to the sheriff’s office, Swyers was either working on the bulldozer or fell off while it was in gear and he was drug under the tracks.

Buffalo Sabres lost their match up with the Tampa Bay Lightning in a close game 6 to 5 in overtime.  Jeff Skinner, Jack Quinn, Dylan Cozens, Tage Thompson and for his first time, Tyson Jost scored for Buffalo.  The Sabres next game is in Detroit against the Red Wings Thursday at 7pm.  

Kenneth Campbell

Joanna Larnder

Andrew Taylor

The Genesee County Drug Task Force has arrested three people following a raid at 126 State Street. The charges filed against Kenneth Campbell of Batavia include criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was committed to Genesee County Jail without bail due to his extensive criminal history. 35-year-old Andrew Taylor of Albion and 29-year-old Joanna Larnder of Batavia were both charged with misdemeanor drug possession. They were released with appearance tickets.

50-year-old Jamie Schlonski of Batavia is charged with grand larceny, possession of stolen property and falsifying business records. He is accused of stealing more than $1000 in merchandise from Dick’s Sporting Goods and pawning it at Pawn Kings, which required completing paperwork for the transaction. Schlonski was issued an appearance ticket.

Peyton Gendron pleads guilty

Buffalo supermarket shooter Peyton Gendron pleaded guilty this morning to state charges stemming from the Tops supermarket shooting in East Buffalo. He pleaded guilty to 15 charges in all, including domestic terrorism motivated by hate, murder and attempted murder. He still faces more than two-dozen federal charges, some of which carry the possibility of the death penalty. Domestic terrorism motivated by hate carries a mandatory life sentence. His sentencing is scheduled for February 15, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.

51-year-old Michael Rech of North Chili was found guilty in U.S. District Court of trying to collect $900,000 in federal Payroll Protection Program funds. He was convicted by a federal jury of 37 counts of bank fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Rech has a long history of problems with the law as well as filing lawsuits, including one suit he filed in 2015 against the City of Batavia accusing city police of using excessive force. The suit claimed that officers smashed a window on his car, pulled him out of the car and arrested him on fake charges, violating his civil rights.

While still higher than they were last year at this time, gas prices continued their slow decline for still another week. According to Triple A this morning, the national average cost per gallon is $3.55. In New York, it’s $3.79. And in Batavia, we’re paying an average of $3.62, down 9 cents from a month ago today.

Jim Kelly – file photo

Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly is going to be making an appearance at a holiday tree lighting event this week. Kelly will be at the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino in Niagara Falls on Wednesday night. In addition to a visit by the NFL Hall of Famer, Santa Claus is also scheduled to greet folks in attendance. The event begins at five p-m and for more information, go to senecacasinos.com.

Cozens during New Jersey Devils game – 11/25/22

The Buffalo Sabres take the ice tonight as they try and avoid a second straight loss. The Sabres are hosting the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center. The Sabres last played on Friday when they fell to the New Jersey Devils 3-1. Face-off for tonight’s game is 7:00.  (Sabres photo)

Entrance to Woodward Memorial Library – LeRoy

The elevator at the Woodward Memorial Library in LeRoy is out of service. It was installed in 1995 and gets inspected annually but has never before been fully serviced. Although repairs are anticipated to be costly, if not completed, they will be out of compliance with the American’s With Disabilities Act.

Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty tells us that a fatal bulldozer accident occurred on Saturday afternoon in the Town of Leicester. 72-year-old Thomas Swyers of Perry had been using a bulldozer to clear a portion of a wooded area. When he failed to return home after dark, his family asked the sheriff to check on him. Swyers was found deceased in the woods. The scene suggested that he might have fallen off the bulldozer while it was still in gear and was dragged under the tracks. While the investigation continues, the incident is believed to be a tragic accident.

The Mega Millions jackpot continues to climb. No one picked all six numbers in the last drawing. That means tomorrow’s jackpot in the multi-state lottery game will be worth at least $305,000,000. Please play responsibly.

It’s that time of year when people are out looking for that perfect gift or the perfect tree to place in their homes for the holiday season.  But just like the prices in the stores, prices on the tree lots have had to increase too.  A study shows across the country people are expected to pay on average $86 for a real Christmas tree this holiday season, that’s an increase of nearly 13 percent from 2021.  According to the latest data from the National Christmas Tree Association, over a quarter of Americans say they got their hands dirty last year by choosing and cutting down a real Christmas tree to celebrate the holiday season, down from 32% the previous year.

Thanks to a drop in gas prices, Batavia drivers are handing over less of their hard-earned money when it comes time to fill up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now three-76. That’s down four cents in the past week but is also five cents higher than this time one month ago. Currently, the state average is three-79 a gallon and nationally it’s three-55.

Stop into GO ART! after the Christmas parade to get a drink made by one of the new publishers of Batavia!  Tom Turnbull, former publisher of the Batavia Daily News and Howard Owens, Publisher/Executive Editor of the Batavian, will be making drinks at GO ART!s Tavern 2.o.1 from 6:30 to 9:30 on Saturday December 3rd.  The contenders have plenty of experience in journalism, but how will they fare behind a bar?  Serving a selection of locally made or sourced beer, wines, meads, and ciders, the pair will be in competition to earn the most tips, bragging rights and title of Ultimate Celebrity Bartender. All proceeds go to support GO ART!’s many public programs.  The event is open to the public.

The Pembroke Dragons are State Champions after beating Groton on Friday 38 to 18 at the Union Ellicott High School.  The Dragons 8 man team made history for the school being the first team to make states and now proving that they are the best in the state.  Coach Brandon Ricci had lots of gratitude for the superintendent, the Board of Education, Administration, Teachers, fire and police and fans and families for all the support through the season.  

First Presbyterian Church is hosting their 26th annual Service of Remembrance on December 7th at 7pm in collaboration with HE Turner, Bohm-Calarco-Smith and Burdett and Sanford Funeral homes.  The ecumenical service will combine music, prayer, scripture reading, reading of the names of loved ones, the tolling of the bell in remembrance, and a message of hope by Reverend Dr. Roula Alkhouri.  Anyone who has registered as having lost a loved one in the past year will receive a candle.  If you haven’t registered you can call HE Turner Funeral Home at 585 344 4295 or visit bataviafuneralhomes.com.  The service will also be livestreamed. 

3 Churches right near each other are tackling downtown Batavia’s hunger problems by providing food.  First Presbyterian and St James Episcopal church have little free pantries and blessing boxes located outside the church that people can walk up to at any time in the day and get food to make at home.  First Presbyterian also has a refrigerator with fresh produce, homemade dishes and frozen foods outside the church.  First Baptist Church has free home cooked meals provided through Lydia’s Kitchen.  Pastor Tim Young and his wife Lydia of Living Waters Apostolic Ministries host, cook and serve hot meals 5 days a week from 10 to noon.  To help keep these three important services available to our neighbors, there is going to be a big food drive on Sunday, Dec. 4, from noon to 3 p.m at Resurrection Parish and St Paul’s Episcopal in Stafford. 

Genesee Society of Model Engineers are having their 20th annual Holiday Open House on the 3rd at 50 Main Street in LeRoy from 10 am to 3 pm.  The event is free and features operating O, HO and N gauge sets with club members on hand to answer any model railway questions.  This year’s Open House will be one of the many events featured as part of Oakfield’s Christmas in the Village celebration.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on their home ice as they try and avoid a second straight loss. The Sabres are hosting the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center tonight. The Sabres last played on Friday when they fell to the New Jersey Devils three-to-one. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for seven p-m.

The Greece Police department has released the names of the people involved in the shooting on Mosely Road Wednesday night.  51 year old Muharem Serhatlic apparently shot his wife, 46 year old Raza Knaji before turning the gun on himself.  Raza survived and was taken to Strong Memorial.  Serhatlic died at the scene.  

Medina Police working collaboratively with the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force during an investigation and then the execution of search warrants, resulted in four arrests and felony charges against 20-year-old Nasir Shine, 19-year-old Emmanuel Taylor and 37-year-old Darrell Shine, each of Medina and 36-year-old Ebony Shine of Rochester. Investigators recovered firearms including an assault rifle and tactical shotgun, ammunition, a half-pound of cocaine, a pound of fentanyl, drug packaging materials, and $29,000 cash ($20,000 of which was for one sale of over ¼ kilogram of fentanyl). In addition, charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute controlled substances, could result in a maximum penalty of life in prison, for each of the four except for Darrell Shine.

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino announced its annual holiday tree lighting will take place November 30.  The event will include refreshments and special appearances by Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and Santa Claus. In addition, Cami Clune and Joshua Vacanti will perform throughout the celebration.

Online Black Friday sales are expected to break records.  According to Adobe, sales are projected to top nine-billion dollars, which would be a new record.  The numbers come on the heels of a big day of Thanksgiving shopping online, with the numbers up three-percent year-over-year.  Small Business Saturday is expected to be more popular than Black Friday and local retailers are gearing up with sales and inflation busters.

The Buffalo Sabres lost to the New Jersey Devils Friday night 3 to 1 on their home ice.  This is the Devils 9th straight win on the road and the Sabres 1st loss in 3 games.  Victor Oloffson made 1 goal and Craig Anderson made 41 saves vs the Devils goalie Akira Schmid making 33 saves.  Next the Sabres are home at Keybank Center to face the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday at 7pm.

Eric Alcantara

A search is underway for a Rochester Institute of Technology student who has been reported missing. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says that 19-year-old Eric Alcantara is just over five-feet tall, weighs about 150 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing black pants, a red jacket, black knit cap, dark shoes and that he speaks both English and Spanish. It’s believed that Alcantara might be traveling to Great Neck, which is in Nassau County. Anyone who sees him or knows where he is should dial 911.

Police are still searching for the driver of a minivan that struck a utility pole on Law Street. The Wednesday afternoon accident caused a significant power surge in the area. Law enforcement believes they know who the driver was, that he’s not from the area, the vehicle was not stolen and they would like to question him about the accident. Witnesses saw a man running from the accident and provided a description to police. The crash caused roughly 300 homes on Chestnut and South Jackson to lose power. National Grid often attempts to recover damages from the driver’s insurance company (and indications are that this driver was insured) when an accident damages a utility pole. The damages, in this case, could include the pole and all of the subsequent residential repair work and any damages sustained by residents.

Drug and gun bust in Medina

Medina Police working collaboratively with the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force during an investigation and then the execution of search warrants, resulted in four arrests and felony charges against 20-year-old Nasir Shine, 19-year-old Emmanuel Taylor and 37-year-old Darrell Shine, each of Medina and 36-year-old Ebony Shine of Rochester. Investigators recovered firearms including an assault rifle and tactical shotgun, ammunition, a half-pound of cocaine, a pound of fentanyl, drug packaging materials, and $29,000 cash ($20,000 of which was for one sale of over ¼ kilogram of fentanyl). In addition, charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute controlled substances, could result in a maximum penalty of life in prison, for each of the four except for Darrell Shine.  (Photo provided by law enforcement)

Unemployment rates across the GLOW region for October have improved. In fact, in the 32 years the state has been tracking this data, Orleans County’s 2.5% is the lowest it’s ever been. Genesee County’s unemployment rate improved from 2.5% in September to 2.1%, the same as it is in Wyoming County. Livingston County’s jobless rate is at 2.2%. Statewide for October, the 4.4% rate represents an increase of a tenth of a percent. The Bronx had the highest jobless rate at 7.4%.

The holiday shopping season is underway, and the New York Department of State’s Consumer Protection Division is offering some simple tips. The agency recommends that people be careful when shopping online where there are often both fake retailers and phony consumer reviews. Also, make sure to shop on a trusted site and beware of third-party vendors. Finally, designate just one credit card and one email address for online shopping to ensure an easy review of purchases and protection in case of a dispute.

People who are looking for some extra holiday cash might want to take a shot at winning tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot. There was no winner during the last drawing on Tuesday and that means the prize up for grabs this evening will be at least $284,000,000. The drawing is going to be streamed online at megamillions.com. Please play responsibly.

Lucky dog!

If you purchased a Powerball lottery ticket in Arcade for the November 23 drawing, you may be a little richer today. A third prize-winning ticket worth $50,000 was sold at the Arcade Market Place on Main Street. The winning ticket had four matching numbers, as well as the Powerball. The winning numbers for the Powerball drawing held on November 23 are: 1-2-31-39-66 and the Powerball is 25. By the way, no one won the jackpot, so the next drawing will be held Saturday, November 26 and will be worth $48 million.

Tyler Bass – file photo

The Buffalo Bills are now on a two-game winning streak after picking up another victory on the road. Buffalo kicker Tyler Bass hit a 45-yard field goal with just seconds left as the Bills defeated the Detroit Lions 28 to 25 at Ford Field yesterday. Quarterback Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes for the Bills who now have a record this season of eight wins and three losses. Up next for Buffalo is a road game against the New England Patriots on Thursday night, December 1st, with kickoff time at 8:15.

Greece Police are investigating a Wednesday night shooting that left one person dead, and one other in grave condition.  Police arrived to a home Mosely Road Wednesday night, just before 10 p.m.  Upon arrival, police say they found the dead victim, with an apparent gunshot wound.  In the same home, police found the second victim, and they were taken to Strong Hospital.

The driver of a minivan that struck a utility pole Wednesday afternoon on Law Street, causing a significant power surge in the area, has not been located.  Sgt. Mitch Cowen said Thursday morning that police are pretty confident they know who the driver was, that he’s not from the area and that the vehicle was not stolen.  Cowen said police are looking for him in order to question him about the accident.  Witnesses saw a man running from the accident and provided a description to police.  A K-9 was deployed shortly after the accident in an attempt to find his trail, but that effort failed to find the driver.  The crash caused roughly 300 homes on Chestnut and South Jackson to lose power.

Rochester tried the fast ferry with less than stellar results.  Now Buffalo wants to give hosting cruises a shot.  Steve Ranalli, President of Erie Canal Harbor Development Group says he can imagine cruise ships lined up with 200 to 300 passengers each.  Cruises from across the five great lakes are becoming more popular, breaking records in 2022 with nearly 150,000 passenger visits to Great Lakes ports like Cleveland, Milwaukee, Erie and Toronto, according to Cruise the Great Lakes.  Buffalo would need to build a Cruise Terminal, a welcome center and expand the port to make space for cruise ships if it wanted a piece of the more than 125 million dollar a year market.  

3 people were charged after the Batavia Emergency Response Team, working with the Genesee County Local Drug Task Force, raided a home at 126 State Street Tuesday night and found an illegal drug operation.  35 year old Andrew Taylor of Main St in Albion, 34 year old Kenneth Campbell of Oak St in Batavia and 29 year old Joanna Larnder of Summit St in Batavia were all charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.  Campbell was hit with a weapons charge on top of that.  Campbell was held without bail and the other 2 were released with appearance tickets for December 13th.

Snow removal operations are scheduled to resume in Buffalo today after being temporarily put on hold. Crews stopped cleaning up from the recent snowstorm Wednesday following the death of a city employee. The individual lost their life on the McKinley Parkway after they were struck by a high lift. The investigation into the tragedy is ongoing.

The holiday shopping season is underway, and the New York Department of State’s Consumer Protection Division is offering some simple tips. The agency recommends that people be careful when shopping online where there are often both fake retailers and phony consumer reviews. Also, make sure to shop on a trusted site and beware of third-party vendors. Finally, designate just one credit card and one email address for online shopping to ensure an easy review of purchases and protection in case of a dispute.

The Buffalo Bills are now on a two-game winning streak after picking up another victory on the road. Buffalo kicker Tyler Bass hit a 45-yard field goal with just seconds left as the Bills defeated the Detroit Lions 28 to 25 at Ford Field on Thanksgiving day. Quarterback Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes for the Bills who now have a record this season of eight wins and three losses. Up next for Buffalo is a road game against the New England Patriots on December 1st.

The Buffalo Sabres are back in action tonight vs the New Jersey Devils at 8 o clock at the Keybank Arena.  The Sabres are 9 and 11 and the Devils are 16 and 4.  Buffalo is coming of a win Wednesday night against the St Louis Blues where they debuted their red and black goathead jerseys.

A 13-year-old Batavia girl – missing for nearly a week – has been located and she is safe.
Batavia Police tell WBTA that Jaylynn Alvord was last seen a week ago today and police had considered her a runaway.
In a statement issued late yesterday police said the girl had been located safely.
Police thanked the public for their help in locating the girl.

A one-vehicle crash on Law Street in the city caused a power outage affecting almost 300 customers of National Grid.
The crash was reported late yesterday afternoon. Police responded to find an SUV on its side and wrapped around a utility pole.
The driver had apparently fled the scene. Police used a K-9 and searched an area on Ganson Street but failed to locate the driver.

Devon Wright of Batavia will now spend the next 24 years in state prison. The 22-year-old wright had pleaded guilty in last November to a number of violent sex-related crimes, committed over the course of two years.
At one point during his legal case, while free pending the birth of his child, Wright fled, later located in Lockport, brought back here for sentencing.
In court Wright tried again to avoid sentencing by asking for a new lawyer. That was denied. His next stop is prison.

Devon Wright

The Buffalo Bills will be spending their Thanksgiving in the Motor City as they look to pick up their second win in a row. The Bills are taking on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Buffalo is coming off of a 31 to 23 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in a game that was also played in Detroit due to the snowstorm in Western New York. Kickoff for today’s contest is set for 12-30 p-m.

After snapping an eight-game losing streak, the Buffalo Sabres have now earned back-to-back victories.
The Sabres beat the Saint Louis Blues six-to-two at KeyBank Center last night. The Sabres have today off before another home game tomorrow night against the New Jersey Devils.

It is a Thanksgiving tradition in Batavia.
The Kiwanis Club is again holding its free Thanksgiving ice skate at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena.
The skate, along with free ice skate rental and hot chocolate, runs from 9 to 11 this morning.

Devon Wright

22-year-old Devon Wright of Batavia has now been sentenced to 24 years in state prison. He had pleaded guilty in November 2021 to a number of violent sex-related crimes, committed over the course of two years. Wright had been scheduled to be sentenced a year ago after accepting a plea deal before his trial was to begin in County Court; he remained free pending sentencing to be available for the birth of his child. However, he fled and a $2500 reward was offered for his capture. Wright was eventually found in Lockport and returned to Genesee County. After previously engaging in what seemed to be legal maneuvers that stalled the sentencing process, this month he appeared in court now asking for a new attorney and also wanting to withdraw his guilty pleas. The next day, the judge denied his request and proceeded with sentencing.

Nicholas Perry, Sr.

74-year-old Nicholas Perry Sr. of Strykersville, the man who had been missing since the height of last week’s snowstorm following a one-car accident, was found deceased yesterday. His body was found in a field covered with snow about several hundred yards from the scene of the accident. An autopsy will be conducted to determine cause of death.

Genesee County Sheriffs along with state and local police will be working together as part of the STOP-DWI program through Sunday. The campaign is intended to bring awareness of impaired driving and the potential for more crashes during the most highly traveled time of the year. If you are driving, stay within the speed limits, don’t drink and drive, and have a safe holiday.

Kirk Ashton entering court last month – file photo

The former Northwood Elementary School principal who was found guilty of sexually abusing 21 students has been sentenced to 63 years in prison. Kirk Ashton was convicted last month on dozens of the charges that were filed against him for inappropriately touching multiple male students. During his trial, those victims and staff members at the school testified about Ashton’s actions but he didn’t take the stand in his own defense. While being sentenced, the judge said to Ashton that he preyed on the boys at a time when they were most vulnerable. Ashton did not speak following sentencing; however, his attorney asked for protective custody for Ashton once he enters prison. Ashton was principal at the Hilton school from 2004 until 2021.

Fatal crash aftermath – 10/24/22

The teenager arrested in connection with a deadly crash in Buffalo last month has been indicted on multiple charges including manslaughter. According to prosecutors, the 16-year-old was driving the vehicle before it crashed on the inbound Kensington Expressway near the entrance to the westbound Scajaquada Expressway. Four people ended up being killed and another passenger was seriously injured. The teen is now in his grandmother’s custody but must wear an ankle monitor.

Steven Gasiorek

A former substitute teacher and coach will be spending 20 years in prison after admitting to receiving child pornography. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Steven Gasiorek worked at both John F. Kennedy Middle School and John F. Kennedy High School in Cheektowaga from March 2014 until April 2019. An investigation revealed he used a fake social media account to receive child porn from minors and that he knew some of the victims. Once Gasiorek is released, he’ll be under post-release supervision for 10 years.

The Buffalo Bills said thank you to the Detroit Lions for letting them use their field on Sunday. The Bills donated 20,000 dollars to the Lions Foundation and also sent Tim Hortons Coffee and donuts to the Lions Facility and Ford Field. The Bills will be back there to play the Lions tomorrow, with a 12:30 kickoff.

Jeff Skinner – file photo

The Buffalo Sabres have snapped their eight game losing streak in big way with a blowout victory on the road. Jeff Skinner scored twice and Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, JJ Peterka, Rasmus Dahlin, and Henri Jokiharju also had a goal as The Sabres beat the Montreal Canadiens 7-2 last night. The Sabres also benefited from solid goaltending from Craig Anderson who stopped 29 of 31 shots. Buffalo is back home to take on the Saint Louis Blues; it’s 90’s night at KeyBank and they’ll be wearing their black and red goat head jerseys. Puck drop is at 7:00.

Officials with the New York State lottery are making a request of Empire State residents this holiday season. They’re asking people not to buy scratch-off lottery tickets for children as gifts, saying that lottery games should only be gifted by adults to adults. The National Council on Problem Gambling says youth gambling has become a significant and growing issue. People who are struggling with a gambling addiction can get help by calling 1-877-8-HOPENY.

Around 7pm Monday night police in Rochester responded to multiple ShotSpotter activations on Reynolds and Atkinson Streets and found a 12 year old boy shot dead and a 16 year old wounded.  The 12 year old was identified as Juan Lopez a student at Benjamin Franklin Educational Campus.  According to the Rochester Police Department’s Open Data Portal, Lopez is the seventh person under age 18 to be killed in the city this year.  Mayor Evans said that the violence against children is not normal or natural.  No suspects have been apprehended in the shooting.  There was a candlelight vigil for Lopez Tuesday night.

Amber Beyer, Buffalo City Police captain overseeing the Buffalo Police Behavioral Health team, is being sued for allegedly launching into a racist rant against black police officers and black men after watching a viral video of a black officer being pulled over by a white officer.  3 African American officers are bringing the suit after leaving their jobs or going on leave.  They are being represented by Nate McMurray.  Beyer, the department and the City of Buffalo are being sued for retaliation, a hostile work environment and race discrimination.  They’re seeking $15 million in damages.

Gov. Kathy Hochul was in New York City to make an announcement on combating hate crimes.  This comes two weeks after the governor set aside millions of dollars to help nonprofit, community-based organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks.  At that time, Hochul announced $46 million in federal funding for 240 nonprofit organizations across the state facing an increased risk of terrorist attack.  In Tuesday’s announcement, Hochul announced she is signing new legislation to require those convicted of hate crimes to be required to attend hate crime prevention training, which was previously optional.  The other legislation signed is an amendment calling for a statewide campaign calling for the coordination of state and local government along with community groups, schools and places of worship to ensure inclusion, tolerance and understanding diversity.

Genesee County Sheriffs Office and the Village of Leroy Police will be working together in the STOP-DWI program over the thanksgiving holiday and weekend to prevent accidents by putting police in high traffic areas.  The high visibility campaign brings awareness of impaired driving and the potential form more crashes in the most highly traveled time of the year.  The police will be out in force today through Sunday.  If you are driving, stay within the speed limits, don’t drink and drive, and be safe for the holiday.

Batavia Downs has several events coming up over the winter.  On the 15th of December Marsha McWilson will be performing a MoTown Christmas.  On the 22nd the Uncle Louie Variety show,  two hilarious Italian American comedians, Carlo Russo and Lou Greco, will return to the Downs.  On Friday, Feb. 3, the BBQ and Bourbon Dinner Buffet and bourbon tasting presented by Beam Suntory is back for its 2nd annual event.  Other events scheduled for January and February at Batavia Downs include the Polka Buzz, Experience Psychic Fair, the Legends & Stars Sports Expo, and a Fundraiser for local animal shelters.   Information on these events and the Summer Concert Series will be found in the coming weeks on the Batavia Downs Facebook page.

Fire officials are reminding folks that Thanksgiving is the biggest day of the year for cooking fires.  That’s why they’re offering tips to help keep families safe this week.  Officials say “keep your eyes on your cooking equipment” and keep young children out of the kitchen.  Turkey fryers should be placed on a level surface and at least ten-to-15 feet away from any structures. 

The Buffalo Bills said thank you to the Detroit Lions for letting them use their field on Sunday as their field had a dusting of snow.  Roughly 7 feet fell on Highmark Stadium between Friday and Sunday.  The Bills donated 20,000 dollars to the Lions Foundation and also sent Tim Hortons Coffee and donuts to the Lions Facility and Ford Field.  The Bills will be back at Ford field to play the Lions in the Thanksgiving game tomorrow at 12:30.

The Buffalo Sabres ended their 8 game losing streak with a 7 to 2 win over the Montreal Canadiens.  JJ Peterka, Henry Jokiharju, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Alex Tuch had one goal each.  Jeff Skinner had 2.  Craig Anderson made 29 saves.  Next up, the Sabres host the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday. It’s 90s night for the fans, as the team unveils their black and red jerseys.

Leonard Hahn IV

For the second time, a state appellate court has rejected 23-year-old Leonard Hahn IV’s efforts to obtain youthful offender status. He was convicted as a 17-year-old of raping two children, one in Alabama and the other in Attica. However, his appeal was declined because it was determined Hahn acted alone and his involvement with both children was major. He was sentenced to concurrent 10-year terms in both Wyoming and Genesee Counties, along with 20 years of post-release supervision. While in prison, Hahn also was convicted of promoting contraband, which added 18 months to his sentence. He’s eligible for parole in 2025.

The Batavia Blue Devils are the Far West Regional champs; they defeated the Elma Iroquois last night 20-8 and will now play in the state semi-finals against Maine-Endwell. In other high school football action, the previously undefeated (OAE) Oakfield Alabama Elba Aggies lost their Regional Final match up against the Randolph Cardinals, 42-26. The Alexander Trojans lost to Cambridge Salem 12 to 7.

The 162.5 million dollar County budget has been passed. A minor amendment increased the tax rate by 1 cent from the proposed amount, of $8.44 to $8.45. Still, this means homeowners will see a 73-cent drop per 1000 dollars assessed value from the current tax rate of $9.18. The amount being raised by property taxes has not changed since the last budget at $32,080,762. However, the reason the tax rate can go down and the County is still able to receive the necessary amount of money, is because property values have gone up so some homeowners could see increases in the taxes they pay.

Peyton Gendron – file photo

A court appearance for the man accused of carrying out a mass shooting at the Buffalo Tops store has been rescheduled. Payton Gendron was reportedly planning to plead guilty yesterday to state charges for his role in the May 14th shooting, but the Erie County District Attorney’s Office adjourned that proceeding because of the weather. Gendron is now scheduled to return to court next Monday, November 28th. He’s also facing federal charges that could result in him receiving the death penalty if convicted.

Child with oxygen mask – file photo

Governor Hochul is urging New Yorkers to take precautions to protect themselves against multiple illnesses that are spreading rapidly. There has been an increase in the number of respiratory syncytial virus infections and flu cases over the past few weeks, and COVID-19 is still a very serious health threat. It’s recommended that residents get themselves vaccinated against the coronavirus and flu if they haven’t done so already. They should also practice good hygiene such as washing their hands and also covering up coughs to prevent the spread of germs.

It snowed a little… (file photo)

President Biden has approved Governor Hochul’s request for an Emergency Declaration for Western New York counties that were affected by the major snowstorm. The governor says this declaration allows FEMA to provide emergency protective measures like search and rescue operations and help with roads, bridges, water control facilities, utilities, and mass transit hubs. In a statement, Governor Hochul thanked President Biden for granting the request. The last time New York submitted an Emergency Declaration request for a similar winter storm was back in 2014.

The American Red Cross is urging donors to give over the holiday season. Blood and platelet donations tend to drop more than 20% during the holidays at a time when seasonal illness concerns increase. The next two opportunities to donate in Genesee County will be on December 1st from 1-6 at the Northgate Free Methodist Church in Batavia (350 Bank Street) and in LeRoy, on December 22nd from noon to 5 at the American Legion (53 West Main Street).

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on the ice in Canada tonight as they try and snap their current eight-game losing streak. The Sabres are set to battle the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Buffalo hasn’t played since Saturday when they were beaten by the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2. Face-off for tonight’s contest is set for 7:00.

Lottery players are hoping luck is on their side as they try and win tonight’s large Mega Millions jackpot. Because no one won Friday, whoever picks the correct numbers for this evening’s drawing will win at least $259,000,000. The drawing is going to be streamed online at megamillions.com. Please play responsibly.

The Batavia Police Department is asking the public for help in the search for a missing 13-year-old girl.  The missing teenager, Jaylynn Alvord, was last seen on Thursday, Nov. 17 at approximately 7 p.m. in Batavia.  Jaylynn was last seen wearing black jeans, a tie-dye sweatshirt, and a nose ring.  She is approximately 5-foot-4-inches and 145 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.  Anyone with information on Jaylynn’s whereabouts is asked to call the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350 or the NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 1-800-346-3543.

Genesee County has a new budget.  The 162.5 million dollar budget passed Monday night and thanks to an amendment there will be a tax hike of 1 penny compared to the proposed budget.  Overall homeowners will see a 73 cent drop per 1000 dollars assessed value.  The amount being raised by property taxes has not changed since the last budget at 32,080,762.  Property assessments have gone up over the past year though so homeowners may see increases because the value of their property is higher.  

President Biden has approved Governor Hochul’s request for an Emergency Declaration for Western New York counties that were affected by a major snowstorm. Several feet of snow fell across the area during a period of a few days and the governor says this declaration allows FEMA to provide emergency protective measures like search and rescue operations and help with roads, bridges, water control facilities, utilities, and mass transit hubs. In a statement, Governor Hochul thanked President Biden for granting the request. The last time New York submitted an Emergency Declaration request for a similar winter storm was back in 2014.

College athletes can now make money off sponsorships and advertising.  Governor Hochul signed legislation Monday that allows college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness without risking scholarships.  Student athletes would also be allowed to hire attorneys and agents to represent them under the new law fully taking effect Jan. 1, 2023.  Supporters of the new law say student athletes deserve a cut of the billions raked in each year by American colleges and their athletic department, especially considering the hard work they put into their sports.

There has been an increase in the number of respiratory syncytial virus infections and flu cases over the past few weeks.  For the third consecutive week, flu cases are on the rise across the GLOW region. This is according to the most recent data collected by the state Department of Health. According to the report, there were 80 total active cases across the four counties.  It’s recommended that residents get themselves vaccinated against the flu if they haven’t done so already.  They should also practice good hygiene such as washing their hands and also covering up coughs to prevent the spread of germs.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball led the Department’s annual tree-cutting tradition today at New York State Grown & Certified Stokoe Farms in Scottsville, cutting down a 9-foot-tall Fraser Fir that will be displayed at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center. The annual event highlights New York’s Christmas tree industry and encourages New Yorkers to shop local at farms— as they pick out trees this season— and at local agricultural businesses—as they check items off of gift lists for loved ones and set their tables for the holidays.  New York State ranks number 4 in acres dedicated to Christmas tree growing.  

In Local Sports the championships games have been played and we have the results.  The Batavia Blue Devils are Far West regional Champions!  They defeated Iroquois 20 to 8 on Monday night to win the big game. The Alexander Trojans lost to Cambridge Salem 12 to 7 in the State Class D quarterfinal.  The previously undefeated Oakfield Alabama Elba Aggies lost their Regional Final match up against the Randolph Cardinals on Monday night 42 to 26.

Wreaths Across America is doing its annual Wreath laying ceremony at the Western NY National Cemetery on December 17th.  And while Wreaths Across America is, as it implies, a national effort, Moscato’s Veterans Outreach Club at Pembroke Junior-Senior High School is selling the wreaths locally to also benefit the WNY National Cemetery Memorial Council, a non-profit entity that runs many of the events at the National Cemetery.  They have so far collected enough for 450 wreaths, with a total need of about 1,300 this year.  For every $15 wreath sold, $5 goes to the Council to offset expenses related to the cemetery, such as maintaining U.S. flags for the Avenue of Flags and providing uniforms for the Honor Guard.  Deadline for ordering is Nov. 29.

The tarp is off and underneath are…Tesla chargers.  Tesla has installed 12 electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot of Batavia Towne Center off Veterans Memorial Drive.  The Tesla website lists Batavia as a future location for electric vehicle charging stations but says the stations won’t open until the second quarter of 2023.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on the ice in Canada tonight as they try and snap their current eight-game losing streak. The Sabres are set to battle the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Buffalo hasn’t played since Saturday when they were beaten by the Toronto Maple Leafs five-to-two. Face-off for tonight’s contest is scheduled for seven p-m.

Ahhhh-choooooooo…..

For the third consecutive week, flu cases are on the rise across the GLOW region. This is according to the most recent data collected by the state Department of Health. According to the report, there were 80 total active cases across the four counties. People at higher risk of developing flu complications include young children, pregnant women and those two weeks postpartum, anyone over 65, those with weakened immune systems and some chronic illnesses, and those who are obese. The CDC and other health experts recommend a yearly flu vaccination for everyone age 6 months and older with rare exceptions. The vaccination is the best defense against flu. And while the flu vaccine does not provide complete protection against getting the virus, the goal to avoid severe reactions to the flu or hospitalizations.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has issued a reminder to make sure your snowmobile is registered. Registrations must be renewed annually, which you can do by mail, at the DMV office, or online: https://transact3.dmv.ny.gov/registrationrenew/index.cfm/

Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties are under a wind advisory today until 7pm. Sustained southwest winds at 25-35 miles per hour are expected; gusts can reach 50 mph. Combined with the blowing snow this could result in reduced visibility and whiteouts on the road. Outdoor objects should be secured and tree limbs may fall on power lines causing outages.

BATAVIA INDICTMENTS: Stacey King has been indicted on counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree and falsifying business records in the first degree. King is accused of presenting a forged COVID-19 vaccination record to her employer in the City of Batavia on Oct. 1, 2021. ALSO: Katherine Briggs has been indicted on one count of criminal contempt in the first degree. Briggs is accused of violating an order of protection on July 27 at a location on South Main Street, Batavia.

Gas prices are continuing their slow decline this week. According to Triple A, the state average is currently $3.85 and nationally it’s $3.66. In Batavia, we’re also paying $3.85 per gallon, down a nickel from a week ago but 28 cents higher than this time last year.

Peyton Gendron – file photo

A scheduled court appearance for the man accused of carrying out a mass shooting at a Buffalo Tops store has been postponed. Peyton Gendron was reportedly going to plead guilty to state charges for his role in the May 14th shooting; however, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office says that proceeding has been adjourned because of the weather. There is no word yet when Gendron will return to court. He’s also facing federal charges that could result in him receiving the death penalty if convicted.

Governor Hochul – file photo

Governor Hochul has directed State Police to increase their efforts to protect communities that might be targeted by hate crimes. The governor made the announcement yesterday after a shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado and the arrest of two men who are accused of traveling to New York City with plans to cause violence towards the Jewish community. State Police will be boosting their surveillance of potential targets and also keeping a close eye on social media to find out if any threats are being made. Anyone who sees suspicious activity is asked to dial 911.

An example of a lithium-ion battery – file photo

A lithium ion battery is being blamed for causing a fire at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Crews were called to the scene yesterday and arrived to find a small fire in a work area at Nathaniel Rochester Hall. They were able to contain the flames in about 30 minutes. Lithium ion batteries are used to charge devices like e-bikes and have been responsible for several deadly fires.

Josh Allen

The Buffalo Bills are back on the winning track after snapping a two-game losing streak against a conference opponent. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen threw for 197 yards and tossed a touchdown as the Bills defeated the Cleveland Browns 31 to 23 at Ford Field in Detroit yesterday. The game was moved to the Motor City because of the snow that blanketed large parts of Western New York. Devin Singletary also had a rushing touchdown for the Bills whose record this season is now seven wins and three losses. Buffalo’s next game is on Thursday in Detroit when they take on the Lions.

Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties are under a wind advisory till 9pm.  Winds are expected to blow out of the southwest at 25-35 miles per hour.  Gusts can be up to 50 miles per hour.  Combined with the blowing snow this could result in reduced visibility, whiteouts on the roads and objects being blown around.  Tree limbs may fall on power lines causing outages.  

11 counties were in a state of emergency over the weekend for a snowstorm that had very different effects on different areas.  Rochester got less than an inch in places while areas of Buffalo got over 6 feet.  Orchard Park near the Bills stadium got 77 inches.  Batavia got over 2 feet in places.  LeRoy got 9 inches.  Warsaw got walloped with over 5 feet.  First responders went to the Buffalo area from several counties to help with the storm.  Batavia town and city fire, oakfield fire, east pembroke fire and corfu fire all traveled into the city to work 12 hour shifts. 

Batavia drivers are handing over just a little bit less of their money to fill up their vehicles these days. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now sitting at three-76. That is down two cents from last week but is still eight cents higher than this time one month ago. The state average is currently three-86 and nationally it’s three-67.

Governor Hochul is seeking resources from the federal government to help with the winter storm that hit over the weekend.  Once approved, the Emergency Declaration will provide immediate federal funding to impacted counties to support ongoing response and rescue operations. Governor Hochul will also ask the federal Small Business Administration to evaluate how it can help small businesses impacted by the storm in the 11 counties and contiguous counties.  Prior to the arrival of lake effect snow on Thursday, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency for 11 counties and contiguous counties, which remains in place.

Go ART! Is filled with soft art that you can look at but can’t touch.  The painted wool exhibit features bright and vibrant art that looks traditional until you get close enough to see the texture and the elements that lend it a 3d look.  East Bethany Arts owner Terry Webber made the 44 pieces on display.  See this unique display till December 3rd.

The Bills staved off a late comeback effort from the Browns and snapped their two-game losing streak with a 31-23 victory in Detroit.  The Browns scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to set up an onside kick attempt, which they failed to recover.  The Bills improved to 7-and-3 and are now tied with the Dolphins for first place in the division.   The game was moved to Ford Field as Buffalo dealt with a major snowstorm.  The Bills go back to Detroit for the Thanksgiving game on Thursday.

The Sabres were handed their 8th straight loss on Saturday night by the Maple Leafs 5 to 2.  Alex Tuch and Casey Middlestadt scored and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 18 saves for Buffalo.  Buffalo is now number 7 in the Eastern Atlantic Division with only Ottawa below them.  They have 7 wins and 11 losses as they go next to face the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal.  Puck drop is 7pm on Tuesday.

Genesee county remains under a Lake Effect Snow Warning until afternoon on Sunday.  Heavy lake effect snow is expected. Additional snow accumulations of 10 to 20 inches in the most persistent lake snows. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.  Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the evening commute. Gusty winds and heavy snow could bring down tree branches and result in isolated power outages.

At least 2 people are dead in Erie County after the snowstorm dumped up to 5 feet on Buffalo and western NY Friday.  The 2 died from heart attacks while shoveling the heavy pack.  Upwards of 6 million people are under snow alerts till Sunday.  70 percent of outgoing flights were canceled at the Buffalo Airport which had at least a foot of snow.  

All schools in New York State that have a Native American themed mascot are being ordered to retire them or lose state funding.  According to a memo that went out Thursday the State education Department is telling all schools that their mascot, logo and team names cannot be discriminatory.  They say that a name, logo or mascot that has a Native American theme stops the school from being a “safe and supportive environment for all students.”  From the memo: “Should a district fail to affirmatively commit to replacing its Native American team name, logo, and imagery by the end of the 2022-23 school year, it may be in willful violation of the Dignity Act. The penalties for such a violation include the removal of school officers and the withholding of State Aid.”

A local sauce canning business has hit it big with a 500,000 dollar prize.  Paul Guglielmo went to the Grow NY competition hoping that the panel of judges would want to support his business in Bergen on Appletree Road and they went for it.  He plans to add an expansion, buy new equipment, and hire additional workers at the Craft Cannery.  390 companies from 52 countries applied at the competition.  The requirement for the applications was they had to be operating a business in Central NY, the Finger Lakes, or the Southern Tier, no matter where the business was centered.  The top prize of a million dollars went to an Australian company.

The Genesee Valley BOCES School of Practical Nursing proudly graduated a new class of LPN Nurses.  The class was made up of 23 students, and they were celebrated at a pinning ceremony on Friday, November 18th.  This program is a 1200-clock-hour program, certified by the New York State Education Department, and is designed to prepare graduates for the NCLEX-PN Examination for licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Graduates of the program receive a certificate of completion of licensed practical nursing. The LPN Program has a 98 percent job placement rate after passing the NCLEX exam. 

After bringing home their schools one and only sectional championship win the Pembroke Dragons went and did it again by beating the Morrisville Eaton Warriors 54 to 38 on Thursday.  They will go on to represent Section 5 at the final 8 man football game in New York State this Season for the State Championship at Union Endicott High School on November 25th at noon.

Deborah Gorton

25-year-old Deborah Gorton of Overlook Drive, Batavia has been arrested and charged with sexual abuse of a child, assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Investigators said the series of offenses occurred in September and that all the charges are related to the same victim. Gorton was arraigned in the Town of Batavia Court on all charges and released on her own recognizance. She’ll be back in court at a later date.

It snowed a little – file photo

The lake effect snow warning remains in place for several counties across the state, including Erie, Livingston, Wyoming and Genesee. The National Weather Service suggests using extra caution if you must travel into or through this lake effect snow band. Conditions include rapidly reduced visibility and snow or ice covered roads, both of which could lead to accidents. Slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory in Orleans County starting at 7pm this evening and will be in place until 7am Sunday morning. About 4 to 7 inches of snow is expected with winds gusts as high as 35mph. The snowfall could cause hazardous travel conditions and power outages. Lightning and thunder may also occur in the heavier, more intense snow bands.

CLOSINGS:
The City of Batavia’s Mall Market will be closed tomorrow due to the threat of hazardous driving conditions. The Mall Market will reopen Saturday, November 26 from 8am until 11:30am.

The City Yard Waste Station will be closed this weekend.

Stuff The Cruiser is postponed until December 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Target and Kohls at Batavia Towne Center.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County and Leadership Genesee offices will be closed today. The offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

Triple-A is encouraging drivers to be prepared as they weather the storm. A spokesperson for the organization is hoping drivers will “dust off” their winter driving skills, with the number one thing being to control your speed. While staying home is recommended, if drivers do need to hit the road, they should have flashlights, blankets, warm clothes, snacks, and water in their car, in case of emergency. Triple-A also says that, if you do break down or get stuck, staying in the car is safer than leaving it and walking on the road.

Peyton Gendron – file photo

The accused Buffalo mass shooter is slated to plead guilty on Monday. Payton Gendron, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, is accused of killing 10 people and injuring three others at the Tops supermarket last May. A grand jury indicted Gendron on 25 charges in June, including a domestic terrorism charge. He is scheduled to appear in Erie County Court at 2 p.m. Monday. The state case is separate from the federal case against Gendron.

A Gates man is dead after he was struck and killed by a school bus that then fled the scene in northwest Rochester yesterday morning. The victim is identified as 73-year-old Michael Rivoly. He was an employee of the Ontario Bus Company. Police say he was struck as he was leaving the bus company’s parking lot, walking across Fisher Street. A school bus leaving the parking lot struck Rivoly and left the scene; there were no children on the bus at the time. The driver was located later and is cooperating with investigators. His name is not being released as the case will be referred to the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office to be presented to a Grand Jury.

Highmark Stadium – 11/18/22

The snow was just too much for the game between Buffalo and Cleveland on Sunday but instead of postponing it, the game has been moved to Detroit. Kickoff will remain at 1 p.m. but will be played at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. Buffalo will now play in Detroit twice in five days. The Bills were already scheduled to play the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. If you bought tickets for the game in Buffalo from the team or Ticketmaster you will get an automatic refund starting on December 2nd. If you bought them from somewhere else you need to contact your seller for the refund. By the way, the last time a Bills home game had to be moved due to weather – you guessed it – during the ‘Snovember’ storm, this week in 2014. Photo released by the Buffalo Bills.

Genesee county is under a Lake Effect Snow Warning till Sunday at 1pm.  2 to 4 feet of snow are expected over the next 2 days.  The heaviest snow is expected through Friday night when snowfall rates could exceed 3 inches per hour. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph will produce patchy blowing snow.  Travel will be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions will impact the Friday morning and evening commutes. The heavy snow could also bring down some tree limbs and cause scattered power outages.  Snow could fall in scattered places on the road so be ready for changing conditions while you drive.  Don’t follow too close, leave room and time to stop.  

There are a few cancellations due to the snowstorm.  Alexander, Attica, Batavia, Byron Bergen, Elba, LeRoy, Notre Dame, Oakfield-Alabama, Pavilion, Pembroke St Josephs, St Paul Lutheran, and Wyoming Schools are canceled for Friday.  GCC and BOCES classes are also canceled.  The City Center Mall Market is closed Saturday.  The Yard Waste Station is closed Friday and Saturday.  St James Basket Raffle has been moved to Saturday from 10 to 2.  GCASA outpatient clinic and offices are closed today.  Residential, detox and methadone programs will remain open.  All staff should report.  Stuff The Cruiser which was going to be in front of Target has been moved to December 3rd from 11am to 3pm.  And Independent Living is closed. 

Western New York Catholics have received a special dispensation from Bishop of Buffalo Michael Fisher.  He urges Catholics to celebrate mass via livestream instead of traveling in the dangerous snow conditions.  The dispensation releases Catholics from the obligation to attend Sunday mass.  This Sunday is the celebration of the feast of Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe. 

A Batavia woman was arrested on one count of assault in the second degree, one count of aggravated sex abuse in the second degree, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.  25-year-old Deborah Gorton was arrested after an investigation into a series of September offenses that occurred at home in Batavia.  Gorton was arraigned in the Town of Batavia Court on all charges and released on her own recognizance. She will be due back in court at a later date.

A man is dead in Rochester after being struck by a school bus.  73 year old Michael Rivoly was crossing the road in front of the Ontario Bus Company bus depot on Lexington Ave where he worked when a bus leaving the parking lot hit him.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.  No children were on the bus that hit him.  The driver of the striking bus has been identified and is cooperating with the investigation. His name is being withheld as the case will be referred to the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office for a Grand Jury Presentation.

Byron Bergen has a new principal for the Elementary School.  Kristin Loftus  was appointed at the November 17th School Board Meeting and will start her job effective January 3rd.  Loftus comes to Byron-Bergen from the Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts where she began as a Math Specialist/Coach in 2018 and worked her way up to Building Principal. Prior to the Renaissance Academy, she served as an Elementary School Classroom Teacher for more than a decade in the Warsaw Central School District.  Loftus holds a master’s degree in Reading and Literacy and a Bachelor of Science in Childhood and Special Education from SUNY Geneseo. She received an Educational Leadership Certificate from the University of Rochester and the National Principals Academy Fellowship from Relay Graduate School of Education.

Another cancellation and move.  The snow was just too much for the game between Buffalo and Cleveland on Sunday but instead of postponing it, the game has been moved to Detroit.  Kickoff will remain at 1 p.m. but will be played at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions.  Buffalo will now play in Detroit twice in five days. The Bills were already scheduled to play the Lions on Thanksgiving Day.  If you bought tickets for the game in Buffalo from the team or Ticketmaster you will get an automatic refund starting on December 2nd.  If you bought them from somewhere else you need to contact your seller for the refund.  

Sheriff William Sheron

The Genesee County’s Sheriff’s Office along with other emergency officials are asking residents to be prepared to stay home a few days if travel becomes restrictive during the snowstorm expected to hit tonight. Many times, vehicles become stranded on roadways during a snowstorm, making travel for emergency personnel and other drivers difficult and very dangerous. According to the Sheriff’s advisory, home is the safest place to be during a storm and people are encouraged to make sure they have basic emergency necessities such as food and water. In Genesee County, a lake effect snow warning is in effect starting at 4:00 this afternoon and will be in place until 1:00 Sunday. Heavy lake effect snow is expected with total accumulations of 2 to 3 feet in the most persistent bands. In Wyoming County, a lake effect snow warning is in effect through 10:00 tonight; accumulations of 9 inches are possible with wind gusts as high as 35 mph. A winter storm watch will be in effect tomorrow evening through Sunday morning in both Orleans and Niagara Counties. Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm.

The lake-effect snowfall that’s forecast for Western New York has led to the scheduled closure of the New York State Thruway to commercial traffic later this afternoon. The Thruway will be closed beginning at 4:00 from Exit 46 in Henrietta to the Pennsylvania state line. The snowfall is expected to become heavier as it nears Buffalo with little effect as it nears Rochester and the Finger Lakes area.

43-year-old Jacqueline Garret of LeRoy was sentenced in Orleans County Court to 1 to 3 years in state prison for 3rd degree burglary and petit larceny. She had been on a judicial diversion program but didn’t make it through without committing more crimes. Garrett’s most recent offense was taking aerosol cans from a hardware store in Albion so she could use them for huffing. Her attorney, public defender Joanne Best, said Garrett has been struggling with drug addiction; was doing well, until she had a relapse. Garrett said she will use the time while she is incarcerated to “better myself.” The judge noted that a treatment court with supervision was tried before but was unsuccessful; incarceration will keep her away from drugs.

Orleans County Courthouse – Albion

53-year-old David Snyder of Albion has been sentenced to 7 years in prison, by an Orleans County judge. This was the maximum he could have received as part of a plea deal for attempted sexual conduct against a child, over the course of six years. The victim spoke in court telling Snyder, “you’re sick; I’m the one crying every day. I hate what you did. You took away my ability to be a child. Snyder replied with “I’m sorry.” Snyder left Orleans County shortly after his arrest last year but was soon extradited from North Carolina. In addition to time in prison, he will be on post-release supervision for 15 years.

39-year-old Johnnie Waston of Rochester is charged with endangering the welfare of a child as well as harassment. He was arrested in connection with a disturbance reported last month on Shady Lane, in the Town of Batavia.

A Buffalo man faces charges of stabbing his girlfriend to death at a home on Cambridge Avenue earlier this month. The suspect is identified as 67-year-old James Allen. He allegedly stabbed his 44-year-old girlfriend November 4th during a domestic violence incident. She died a week later. A teenaged male also suffered a minor injury in the attack. Allen has been arraigned on charges that include second-degree murder and second-degree assault. He’s being held without bail.

 Eric Comrie

The Buffalo Sabres continue to try to find a way out of their current losing streak, which has reached seven with a 4-to-1 defeat at the hands of the Senators in Ottawa last night. It was a double loss as the team lost starting goalie Eric Comrie to injury after he collided with Rasmus Dahlin in the second period. The Sabres are now 7-and-10. They play the Maple Leafs Saturday night in Toronto. Face-off is at 7:00.

Injuries and illness are impacting the Buffalo Bills’ practice schedule. Five players are out sick with non-Covid illnesses, while quarterback Josh Allen, safety Jordan Poyer, and cornerback Kaiir Elam had limited practice. Three additional players did not practice all due to lingering injuries.

Governor Hochul is planning on announcing a state of emergency ahead of the winter storm coming across the great lakes.  Several Feet of Snow are expected in Buffalo and areas continuing through Sunday.  The storm is expected to cause hazardous travel conditions and potential power outages resulting from snow, freezing rain and gusty winds. New Yorkers are urged to avoid unnecessary travel Thursday evening through Friday in Western and northern NY area due to dangerous conditions.

I-90 is closing to commercial traffic due to the incoming snowstorm.  From the Henrietta exit to the Pennsylvania line, starting at 4pm all commercial traffic will have to use other roads.  Near Rochester, the latest snow projections have around 1 inch of snow through midday Friday, with the chance for a few more inches heading into the weekend.  Also closed to commercial traffic are 190 from rt 62 to I90, 290, 990, 33, 219, 400, and the Buffalo Skyway.  On I 81 from exit 33 to Canada trucks are only to use the right lane.

Notre Dame honored some of its former players Saturday at the annual Hall of Fame Dinner.  Kevin Smith who played from 1984 to 1987, Christi Moskal who played from 2000 to 2003, Aaron Fix who played from 1989 to 1992 and Jack Wagoner who played from 1986 to 1989 were all inducted and honored for their achievements playing for the school.  Biographies can be read for each of the players on our news partner the Batavian.

A new study suggests that smoking marijuana may have additional ill effects on lung health beyond smoking cigarettes alone.  Many of the marijuana smokers in the study developed emphysema, a disease that causes difficulty breathing, said Dr. Luke Murtha.  Researchers with the radiology department at Ottawa Hospital in Canada studied CT scans of marijuana smokers, people who only smoked cigarettes, and nonsmokers.  While overall rates of emphysema were about the same between the marijuana smokers (75%) and the cigarette-only smokers (67%), the “age-matched” subgroup of marijuana smokers had higher rates of emphysema – 93% compared to 67% of those who only smoked tobacco.  Marijuana smokers also had more airway inflammation than tobacco-only smokers, Murtha said.

On Monday, Dec. 5, the Genesee County STOP-DWI Advisory Board will sponsor its 6th annual STOP-DWI Awards Luncheon at Terry Hills Restaurant & Banquet Facility.  Seven young people from districts in the county will be honored for their commitment to the community for entering the Board’s STOP-DWI Poster Contest. 6-8th grade winners; Elliott Dayton, Abbigale Russell and Alyssa Adair. The Computer Generated Art winners are Anna Holt, Sydney Konieczny and Kaelee Kelso. The Grand Prize Winner whose artwork will appear on a billboard in Genesee County in November and December is Zoey Shepard, a 12th grader from Byron Bergen Central School.  Batavia Police Officer John Gombos, Genesee County Sheriff Deputy David Moore and Village of LeRoy Police officer Jordan Wolcott are receiving the Top Cop Award for going above and beyond with DWI arrests during a twelve-month time period.  They are also being honored for their dedication to keeping our community safe.

Community Action of Orleans and Genesee has opened registration for the Harvest Dinner program.  Income-eligible Genesee County residents who qualify will receive a food box and Aldi’s gift card.  To reserve a registration appointment, please call (585) 343-7798. ID for all household members and current proof of income is required at the time of your visit. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The streak now stands at 7 losses straight for the Sabres after they dropped their game against the Ottawa Senators Wednesday night 4 to 1.  Tage Thompson scored the lone goal for Buffalo.  Craig Anderson made 14 saves vs Anton Forsberg who made 29 for Ottawa.  The Sabres next game is in Toronto against the Maple Leafs at 7 on Saturday.

Injuries and illness are impacting the Buffalo Bills’ practice schedule. Five players are out sick with non-Covid illnesses, while quarterback Josh Allen, safety Jordan Poyer, and cornerback Kaiir Elam had limited practice. Three additional players did not practice all due to lingering injuries.

Ronnie Johnson

52-year-old Ronnie Johnson has been charged with burglary and grand larceny for a theft last summer on East Main Street. He was also charged on a warrant with grand larceny and conspiracy in reference to another theft. Johnson is already in jail, charged with forcibly raping a woman. He was arraigned on the new charges and returned to Genesee County Jail.

All local high school sports originally scheduled for Friday night are postponed and rescheduled to be played Monday night, November 21st at 6:00. The Batavia Blue Devils will meet The Iroquois (from Elma) in their Regional Final at Van Detta Stadium. The OAE playoff game against Randolph will be contested at SUNY Brockport and Lackawanna will travel to Attica for their 6:00, Far West Regional game.

The GRC-GLOW chili and chowder fest at the Community Center at 38 Woodrow Road, originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, has been postponed due to the storm. It’s been rescheduled for Friday and Saturday, December 16th and 17th..

A lake-effect snow warning is in effect starting at 7 tomorrow evening and will be in place until 1:00 Sunday afternoon. Heavy snow is expected in Northern Erie and Genesee Counties, with accumulations of 2 to 3 feet in the most persistent lake snows. The heaviest snow is expected through Friday night with snowfall rates up to two inches per hour. Travel will be very difficult to impossible. Some major roadways could temporarily close; the hazardous conditions will impact the commute on Friday. If you’ll be on the road, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities.

You’ll have six months to find a new home for certain farm animals, if you own them within City limits. The City Council has passed the revised law, which means sheep, horses, pigs, cows, geese and other animals most commonly seen on a farm, will no longer be allowed. The exception is up to six chickens, as long as they are penned and maintained appropriately, with no odors or mess. The measure will be enforced based on complaints received about alleged offenders. Certified service animals are not affected by the new law.

The man accused of opening fire inside of a methadone clinic in Buffalo has been ordered by a judge to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Prosecutors say Jeremy Griffin entered the clinic on Virginia Street with an AR-15 style weapon last week, but he was tackled by security officers before anyone was injured. Griffin is also charged with shooting a woman on Pennsylvania Street before going to the clinic. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 12th.

Negative COVID test result

According to new data from the state, the spread of the coronavirus is still on the decline in our region. Currently, the 7-day average infection rate is 4.55%. At this time last week the average infection rate was at 5.52%. Anyone who has yet to be immunized against the virus or wants to receive a COVID-19 booster shot can set up an appointment by going to vaccines.gov.

Jeff Skinner – file photo

The losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres has now reached six straight games after the team suffers another defeat on home ice. Jeff Skinner had two goals and Casey Mittelstadt and Alex Tuch also scored but the Sabres were beaten by the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 at KeyBank Center last night. Buffalo goaltender Craig Anderson was only able to stop 27 of the 32 shots he faced in the contest. Up next for Buffalo is a road game tonight against the Ottawa Senators; face-off is at 7:00.

If you own farm animals within the Batavia City limits you have 6 months to find them a new home according to a revised law passed by the City Council on Monday night.  Cows, pigs, horses, llamas, geese, and other animals typically found in a barnyard with the exception of up to 6 chickens if they are penned and don’t make a mess are not allowed in the city limits.  The measure will be enforced by complaint as there aren’t enough staff to go house to house to make sure animals have been removed.  Anyone with a certified service animal who is protected by federal Americans with Disabilities Act stipulations will not be affected by the local law, City Attorney George Van Nest said during the meeting.

Police say a triple shooting Monday night in rochester was a murder-suicide and the woman responsible was a law enforcement officer.  The 29-year-old woman accused of shooting the other two before turning the gun on herself is identified as Tiffani Gatson, a member of the Greece Police Department.  At around 7:20pm on Costar Street just north of High Falls, officers responded to reports of someone being shot.  Upon arrival police found three women shot, one dead at the scene.  The New York State Attorney General’s Office is investigating.

The Cheektowaga Police Department is joining other law enforcement agencies in the area in handing out wheel locks to Kia drivers. The owners of those vehicles are at risk of getting them stolen after a video went viral showing how easy it is to take vehicles that were made during certain model years. Anyone who wants to get a wheel lock can go to the front desk of police department headquarters and request the device. However, they’re only available on a first come, first served basis.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee are offering tips to drivers to help them travel safely if they have to deal with wintry weather conditions. The agencies recommend that before hitting the road, drivers check the tread on their tires, make sure their gas tank is full, and to remove all snow and ice from their vehicle. Drivers should also follow the posted speed limit and turn on their headlights whenever their windshield wipers are on, which is mandatory under state law. The National Highway Safety Administration also suggests that people keep items such as a shovel, flashlight, jumper cables, and blanket in their vehicles in case of an emergency.

Rent a chair, make a wish!  This past summer, concert attendees at Batavia Downs could rent a chair for their show — with proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish.  Batavia Downs presented Make-A-Wish with a $7,500 check Monday.  The money will be used to grant wishes for children dealing with critical illnesses.

The Buffalo Sabres suffered their 6th straight loss against the Canucks 5 to 4 at the Keybank Center.  Jeff Skinner scored twice and Alex Tuch and Casey Mittelstadt scored once.  Craig Anderson stopped 27 shots on goal.  The Sabres turn right around and head to Ottawa tonight to face the Senators who they beat in October.  Puck drop is at 7pm.

Plenty of smiles on Tuesday at the annual Thanksgiving Blitz. The Buffalo Bills teamed up with Feedmore WNY to distribute 600 holiday meals to families.  Meal totes included not only turkey but all of the fixings giving families some peace of mind in the face of rising prices and stress during the holiday season.  The meal giveaway was completely funded by the Buffalo Bills.

Last week it was 70 degrees with sunshine. This week, starting Thursday evening through Sunday we have a winter storm watch in effect. According to the National Weather Service, we can expect heavy lake effect snow with accumulations in the multiples of feet in Erie, Genesee and Wyoming counties. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Make plans to stay in if snow closes roads. The Weather Service acknowledges there remains considerable uncertainty in exact band placement and amounts, but multiple periods of heavy snow are possible. They also predicted snow in Orleans and Livingston counties but noted the totals would not match the remainder of the GLOW region. Stay with WBTA; 13WHAM meteorologists will keep us up to date.

The Medina Police Department tells us that several suspects are in custody after search warrants there were executed this morning. The Police worked cooperatively with local, county and federal agencies; at this time, no additional details and no names have been released, as this is an ongoing investigation.

Superintendent Smith

City school board members have approved more than $89,000 in change orders to cover additional costs for work being done at Jackson Primary and Batavia High School. Much of the approved increases are for work at the high school, including emergency replacement of two water boilers. Work at Jackson includes installation and curb work along Liberty Street and Blakely Place and removing the unforeseen underground storage tank discovered during excavation.

The Monroe County Department of Health is reporting two deaths due to the respiratory syncytial virus that’s been spreading rapidly around the region. Both of the individuals who lost their lives were over the age of 65. Most of the illnesses have been among children who can end up getting seriously sick if they’re not treated quickly. Symptoms of RSV include headache, cough, fever and sore throat and in some cases difficulty breathing.

Attorney General James

State Attorney General Letitia James is cracking down on online retailers illegally selling firearm ammunition. Her office identified 39 sellers that have been violating state law and shipping ammunition directly to addresses in New York. James has ordered these retailers to immediately stop shipments or risk serious legal consequences. These sellers are also required to take every necessary step to preserve all records related to ammunition sales. Under New York’s SAFE Act, all sales of ammunition have to be conducted in-person between a licensed firearms dealer or registered seller of ammunition and a customer.

Governor Hochul in Buffalo – file photo

Governor Hochul is traveling today; her latest visit to Buffalo included commemorating the six-month anniversary of the mass shooting at the Tops store on Jefferson Avenue. Yesterday, the governor said people in the area will come together and forge a path forward, as they did after the May 14th attack. In her efforts to help Buffalo recover, the governor announced a multi-million-dollar investment to fund several projects across the city’s downtown area. She previously joined local officials to outline plans for a permanent memorial that will honor the victims and serve as a place of reflection.

Buffalo Sabres – file photo from 2021

The Buffalo Sabres will once again take the ice in front of their home crowd tonight as they try and put an end to their current five-game losing streak. The Sabres are hosting the Vancouver Canucks at KeyBank Center. Buffalo last played Saturday when they were beaten by the Boston Bruins 3-1. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for 7:00.

Catholic Health will be holding a series of “On The Spot” hiring events for the rest of this week in an attempt to fill vacant positions. Today’s event goes until 6pm at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo on Abbott Road and tomorrow’s is taking place 9 until 4 at Sisters of Charity Hospital on Main Street. And on Friday, job seekers can go to Kenmore Mercy Hospital on Elmwood Avenue between 10am and 3pm. For more information and to set up an interview, go to chsbuffalo.org.

Foreigner – file photo

Members of a popular rock band that’s sold millions of albums are bringing their farewell tour to Western New York next summer. Foreigner is going to perform at the Darien Lake Amphitheater on Friday, July 28th. The group is known for several smash hits including “Feels Like The First Time” “Hot Blooded” “Cold as Ice” and “I Want to Know What Love Is” Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday.

A house fire in Gainesville claims a life.  Around 7am Monday the fire department in Gainesville was called to Dutton Rd.  When they arrived they found the house fully engulfed.  The house was structurally unsound and firefighters set up a defensive firefight to put it out.  At one point the second floor collapsed through the first. Fire chief Horton says that they were informed someone might be inside but there was no way to enter the building to check.  After the fire was knocked down they found an individual dead inside.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

FBI Buffalo is offering a $25,000 reward for information in connection to an arson investigation at CompassCare.  In June, Amherst police announced a fire at CompassCare, a pregnancy services clinic located at 1230 Eggert Road, was being investigated as an act of arson.  According to the FBI, an individual or individuals threw Molotov cocktails which started the fire and caused significant damage. The FBI said one of the individuals spray-painted the words “Jane was here” on the building.  The FBI believes the individuals drove a 2013-2016 red or orange Dodge Dart sedan. and one suspect is approximately 5’11” tall.  Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

A man in Buffalo is charged with conspiracy to smuggle machine guns.  Near the end of October 34 year old Angel Flores was found to be receiving parts for Machine Gun Conversion Devices in parcels from China where the parts were hidden among drawstring bags and plastic spring buckles.  On November 9th the parcel was delivered by an investigator and Flores was taken into custody.  He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

There is a winter storm watch coming over in 2 days.  Thursday evening through Sunday expect heavy lake effect snow with accumulations in the multiples of feet in Erie, Genesee and Wyoming counties according to the National Weather Service.  Travel could be very difficult to impossible.  Make plans to stay in if snow closes roads.

The New York State DEC is celebrating a day all about recycling.  New York Recycles Day is November 15th every year and is all about raising awareness for recycling efforts in the Empire State.  Across the state, individuals, community groups, businesses, schools, and government agencies celebrate New York Recycles Day in a variety of ways, from encouraging others to reduce their waste by pledging to start an office or school recycling program, participating in the New York Recycles poster contest, hosting a reuse exchange, and improving awareness of local recycling requirements. These efforts help educate and inform New Yorkers about the advantages of waste reduction and recycling.

GO Art has some new art installations for the public to see, right out in front.  The art is meant to be an invitation for the public to come and look and come inside and see what is going on in the Art council Go Art building.  Bill Schutt of Basom intends the art to be about “our shared humanity.”  One is about equity and the other about unity.  Come and get a look and then take a look inside.  

A group called “moms for Josh Allen” has started a petition on change.org to tell the Bills Quarterback that “It’s going to be ok” after the Bills second consecutive loss this past weekend.  The Bills lost due to an interception thrown by Allen in overtime which was brought back for a field goal.  Over 7200 people have signed the petition which reads in part “We know it is not easy to be a quarterback for any NFL team, but Josh Allen has taken on the weight of a city’s hopes and dreams, in addition to the regular pressures of the game. We have a history unlike any city and the pain and loss we felt in the past makes watching this Bills team a joy unlike any other…Western New York moms love you to the moon and back!”

Brian Cousins

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors announced that Brian Cousins has been selected as their new President. Cousins will succeed Erik Fix, who left to take a position with the City of Batavia. Cousins is currently the Director of Accommodations at Six Flags Darien Lake. He has over 25 years of experience there and has held various roles in marketing, operations, entertainment and accommodations.

Michael Salamone

25-year-old Michael Salamone of Perry has been sentenced to a five-year prison term in Wyoming County Court. He broke an infant’s leg and earlier this year was seen on video throwing a puppy. Salamone will also be on 3-years post-release supervision.

Katelyn Kubala

33-year-old Katelyn Kubala of Attica has been sentenced to 364 days in jail for offering a false instrument for filing and felony failing to register as a sex offender; this is her second conviction on the latter charge. Kubala is a Level 1 offender, considered the lowest. She had a sexual relationship with a teenage boy and was convicted of attempted rape in 2013 while she was serving a state prison term for burglary. The relationship happened before she was sent to prison.

State Police tell us that a former Pavilion man now faces 42 charges after holding police at bay for 8 hours in a house loaded with guns and possible explosive devices. 39-year-old Jacob McCowen, now of Centerville, was eventually taken into custody without incident after he exited the house and tried to leave in his car. He was arraigned in Town Court and committed to Allegany County Jail, with bail set at $25,000.

39-year-old Nicholas Mruczek of Batavia has been arrested and charged with harassment. He allegedly harassed a person during a domestic incident. Mruczek was issued an appearance ticket and is due back in Batavia City Court tomorrow.

According to a regional appellate Judge, police have to make disciplinary records public, even if the charges aren’t substantiated. The ruling came down that the public has a right to know about accusations against police departments and their officers irrespective of whether or not internal reviews found the accusations true. The New York Civil Liberties Union had been pursuing the suit against New York’s law enforcement since 2020 and this ruling overturns lower court’s rulings.

Tops Market, Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo

Tributes are being held throughout the day to remember the ten victims who lost their lives in that mass shooting at Tops in Buffalo six months ago today. One of those events will be at the Jefferson Avenue location at 2:30 p.m., which is where the attack happened May 14th. The top of Buffalo City Hall will be lit orange, the color associated with the gun violence prevention movement, until dawn tomorrow. The suspect who allegedly carried out the shooting, Payton Gendron, remains behind bars without bail.

Friday night, the Batavia Blue Devils football team scored against Monroe with just one second remaining in the game… that gave the defending champions a come-from-behind win; the tournament final score at SUNY Brockport was 14-8 that made them the Section 5 Class B champions again. Congratulations guys on the incredible comeback.

After a couple of weeks of dealing with increases, regional drivers are finally starting to see some consistent prices at the gas pump. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel in our region is now sitting at $3.82. That’s the same as it was one week ago but still 12 cents higher from this time last month. Right now, the state average is $3.90 per gallon and nationally it’s $3.77. In Batavia this morning, we were paying an average of $3.78 per gallon, the same as it was a week ago and 4 cents higher than it was last month.

Devin Singletary

The Buffalo Bills are now on a two game losing streak after suffering a tough loss at home. Quarterback Josh Allen threw for 330 yards and a touchdown but also tossed two interceptions as the Bills were beaten in overtime 33 to 30 by the Minnesota Vikings at Highmark Stadium yesterday. Devin Singletary had a pair of rushing scores for Buffalo whose record this season is now 6 and 3. Up next for the Bills is a home game against the Cleveland Browns this Sunday with another 1:00 kickoff.

The public can see police disciplinary records.  According to a regional appellate Judge, police have to make public any disciplinary records, even if they aren’t substantiated.  The ruling came down Thursday that the public has a right to know about accusations against police departments and their officers whether or not internal reviews found the accusations true.  The New York Civil Liberties Union had been pursuing the suit against New York’s law enforcement since 2020 and this ruling overturns lower court’s rulings.

The cost of gas keeps going up and that means Western New York drivers are paying more these days to keep their vehicles running.  According to Triple A, the average price for a gallon of regular fuel in the area is now three-82.  That’s up one cent in the last week and is 12 cents more than this time last month. The state average is three-90 per gallon and nationally it’s three-77.

School trips are on the schedule for the Batavia City School Board meeting.  At 6pm tonight Coaches Staley and Kirkwood want to pitch a trip to Albany Academy Holiday tournament for the Batavia Notre Dame Hockey Team.  A Washington DC trip for March is being proposed to give kids a close up look at government and the modern day issues facing it.  And the Mixed And Treble Chorus wants to take a 2 day trip to the Big Apple for a Broadway Musical and sightseeing tour.

In local sports the Oakfield Alabama Elba Aggies overcame the only other undefeated team in Genesee County, the Alexander Trojans in the sectional final, 35 to 7 earning the Section 5 Class D title.  Alexander will go on to the Section 5 Class D Quarter Finals in Albany and the Aggies are facing off against Randolph in the Far West Regional game.  The Pembroke Dragons won their 10th game of the season against the Canisteo-Greenwood Redskins 40 to 20 for the first Sectional Title in the school’s history.  They were escorted back by the fire departments from East Pembroke, Pembroke, Indian Falls and Corfu.  The Dragons will go on to play the Regional Crossover game against Morrisville Eaton on friday.  Batavia won against Monroe making them the Section 5 Class B champions.  

The Buffalo Bills are now 3rd in the AFC East after dropping their second game this season.  They lost to the Vikings on Sunday 33 to 30.  Josh Allen was back in the game after an elbow injury kept him out of practices most of last week.  He threw an interception in the second half, tackled the runner himself, and ended the game with another interception leading to a field goal by the Vikings ending the game.  The Bills play next against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at 1 in Orchard Park.

The Buffalo Sabres dropped their 5th straight game against the Boston Bruins at the Keybank Center Saturday night 3 to 1.  The lone goal for Buffalo was scored by Tage Thompson in the first period.  Buffalo is back in action at home Tuesday night against Vancouver. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.

Over 12000 kindergarten through 8th grade students took an assessment in Rochester City Schools and it turned up a negative trend.  Over 4800 of the students are 3 grades or more behind in reading, and math according to the iReady assessment.  Rochester Central School District Academic Officer Shanie Keelan  says “this didn’t just happen in the past year because of COVID.”  The district is currently working on a plan to address the issue.  

A man is suing House of Mercy homeless shelter in Rochester after he was stabbed by another resident there in August.  20 year old Cameron Schuler says that the House of Mercy didn’t have adequate security when a man suffering a mental health episode came into his cubicle room and slashed at him with a machete like blade.  Schuler says that the homeless shelter knew the man had violent outbursts and a history of mental illness.  His attorney says the House of Mercy lacked security and failed to follow Department of Human Services rules meant to keep staff and residents safe.  The shelter closed following the attack and reopened last week.

The location of the Former Sweet Betty’s restaurant in LeRoy is in the process of being purchased by a commercial contractor who already owns an apartment building in Brockport and his out of state business partner.  Dustin Beardsley lives in Stafford and presented a plan to buy the Sweet Betty’s location and put in a restaurant and apartments.  Sweet Betty’s closed last month and the sale of the property by Gabrielle Keister to Beardsley and Dean is contingent on the partners obtaining the special use permit for the apartments.  Beardsley said they will seek a qualified operator for the restaurant space but are open to operating the restaurant themselves if necessary.

The White House is temporarily not accepting any more student loan forgiveness applications.  The announcement comes one day after a Texas judge ruled against the debt relief program.  The government website that used to lead to the student loan applications now shows a message that says a temporary pause is being put in place due to the ruling. 

Beginning on Veteran’s Day, veterans now have a lifetime pass to national parks, wildlife refuges and other public land. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement from her department that this is part of a “sacred obligation” to Americans who have served in the military. Each free pass will cover entrance fees for all passengers in a personal vehicle and amenity fees at national forests and grasslands.

The Buffalo Bills released the team’s injury report Friday afternoon and quarterback Josh Allen is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.  Allen suffered an elbow injury late in Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. He was listed as a limited participant in Friday’s practice.

John Sumlin, III

A Batavia man in jail for assaulting a woman twice in a four-hour period last month now faces additional charges. 43-year-old John Sumlin III violated an order of protection. He is in Genesee County Jail and attempted to call the same woman five times. Telephone calls from jail are monitored. Initial felony charges against Sumlin include burglary, contempt of court and criminal mischief after breaking into the woman’s house, holding a knife to her neck and threatening to kill her and her children. This, within an hour of her having an order of protection put in place against him. The new charges include five counts of felony criminal contempt of court.

The County Planning Board has recommended approval for an expanded Tractor Supply Company retail store at 8727 Lewiston Road; two stipulations came along with it, including state Department of Transportation approval for a proposed access road/intersection and that the company complete a storm water pollution prevention plan. Project representatives are scheduled to meet with the Town Planning Board next Tuesday night and later in the month with the Town Zoning Board of Appeals. The Tractor Supply on East Main Street would move to the new site.

A former Greece police recruit and Spencerport school security guard has been arrested for child porn in Greece. 27-year-old Jason Lane allegedly had files containing an image of a partially nude preschool-age child at a local childcare facility, along with sexually explicit images of two minor victims that appeared to be taken by Lane. A search of Lane’s Yahoo account recovered non-explicit images of Spencerport High School students that appear to have been taken secretly by Lane while he worked there, according to prosecutors. The searches stemmed from a tip from Yahoo that a user uploaded approximately 260 files of child pornography. New York State Police traced the IP address back to Lane. Lane is the third person with ties to a regional school district to be arrested for child pornography in the last month. According to 13WHAM, investigators said Lane’s girlfriend discovered child porn on his laptop last year and said he told her it was a mistake.

Quack, quack

Governor Hochul is directing state agencies to be prepared to respond to emergencies as the remnants of Tropical Depression Nicole arrive in New York. The governor’s office says heavy rainfall and flooding is possible in multiple regions, including the Finger Lakes, as are strong wind gusts. New Yorkers are being urged to keep a close eye on the forecast over the next couple of days and to follow any emergency orders that are issued. For safety tips, go to the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services website.

Two security guards are being called heroes after helping take a man who is suspected of being involved in two separate shooting incidents into custody. Officials say that the man entered a substance abuse clinic on Virginia Street in Buffalo yesterday with an AR-15 style rifle and opened fire. The guards ended up tackling him before anyone inside of the facility could get hurt. The man is also suspected of shooting a woman at a nearby residence before going to the clinic. The name of the gunman has not been released.

43-year-old Octavio Smith of Buffalo has been arrested and charged with destruction of government property. He’s the man who threw a brick at the window of the FBI Buffalo Field Office. Smith was detained by on-site security personnel; he reportedly said he did this to get the FBI’s attention. Investigation of the damage indicated a severely cracked window that needed to be replaced at an estimated cost of $5000. If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Inductees – 2022 Toy Hall of Fame

Some of the most popular toys of all time have been officially inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at the Strong museum in Rochester. The Class of 2022 includes the spinning top, the Lite-Brite and Masters of the Universe action figures. The toys were picked by a committee of experts and by using the results of an online vote. Some of the nominees this year were bingo, Pound Puppies, Nerf toys, the piñata, and Breyer horses. By the way, last year’s inductees were Literal Sand, like what you’d find at the beach, the board game Risk and American Girl Dolls.

Thomas Rhett

Country singer Thomas Rhett is bringing his latest tour to Western New York next year. He’ll be taking the stage at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Thursday night, July 6th, 2023 at 7:30. The Grammy Award nominee is known for several popular songs including “Country Again,” “Get Me Some of That,” and “It Goes Like This. Tickets for the show went on sale today.

BOOOOOOOOO!!!!

The struggles of the Buffalo Sabres are continuing as the team drops its fourth consecutive game. Tage Thompson scored twice while Rasmus Asplund and Casey Mittelstadt also had a goal as Buffalo was beaten by the Vegas Golden Knights 7-4 at KeyBank Center last night. Former Sabres star Jack Eichel had a hat trick against his old team. You know that generated a few boos from fans. Up next for the Sabres is a home game against the Boston Bruins tomorrow night.

The Buffalo Bills will be back in action in front of the home crowd this weekend as they try and avoid a second straight loss. The AFC East leaders are hosting the Minnesota Vikings at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The playing status of Josh Allen remains unknown after he missed another day of practice yesterday due to an elbow injury. The Bills are coming off a defeat last week at the hands of the New York Jets. Kickoff for Sunday’s contest is 1:00.

Veterans Day activities continue after a recognition at Batavia High School Thursday.  At 9am today there will be a service at Genesee County Park.  At 10 an event at the Batavia Veterans Administration Medical Center on the side patio near building 4.  At 11 a service at the Upton Monument on Main and Ellicott Streets and LeRoy Post 576 will have a service at Trigon Park.  At 11:30 a ceremony at Jerome Center Monument on Bank Street.  And at 1pm there will be a service at GCC in the William Stuart Forum.  Richmond Library is closed today.

A former Greece police recruit and Spencerport school security guard has been arrested for child porn in Greece.  27 year old Jason Lane allegedly had files containing an image of a partially nude preschool-age child at a local child care facility, along with sexually explicit images of two minor victims that appeared to be taken by Lane.  A search of Lane’s Yahoo account recovered images of Spencerport High School students that appear to have been taken “surreptitiously” by Lane while he worked there, according to prosecutors. The searches stemmed from a tip from Yahoo that a user uploaded approximately 260 files of child pornography. New York State Police traced the IP address back to Lane.

In Rochester the Police Accountability Board is calling on the city to recognize their union and support it.  They say after announcing their intentions to unionize three weeks ago, working conditions worsened, resulting in intimidation and retaliation from PAB board members and management.  Several City Council members say they are in support of the union.  The PAB has had several firing and hiring issues, sexual and workplace harrassment accusations, and been criticized by the people of Rochester for costing the city several million dollars without doing any work.  

Two security guards are being called heroes after helping take a man who is suspected of being involved in two separate shooting incidents into custody. Officials say that the man entered a substance abuse clinic on Virginia Street yesterday with an AR-15 style rifle and opened fire. The guards ended up tackling him before anyone inside of the facility could get hurt. The man is also suspected of shooting a woman at a nearby residence before going to the clinic. The name of the gunman has not been released.

There will be a police cruiser parked in front of Target and Kohls with officers collecting items for the Stuff the Cruiser event on November 19th.  Representatives from the Genesee County Probation Department, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Batavia Police Department, the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Genesee County Department of Social Services have come together to collect gifts for underprivileged children up to age eighteen across Genesee County, NY.  They will be there from 11 to 3 accepting new toys, new clothing, small denomination gift cards, personal care gift sets, hats/gloves and accessories, and non-perishable food items. All items collected will stay in Genesee County and will be distributed to children and families in need this holiday season.

Another little firefighter got to ride to school as a reward for winning the Fire Prevention coloring contest.  2nd grader Madelyn Alford got to ride in Ladder 15 to John Kennedy School Thursday morning.  Alford won 2nd place and the first place winner, Kylie Lutey of St Josephs school, decided to give up her ride because she had already won last year.

Amherst police are handing out free wheel locks to Kia owners in an attempt to stop the vehicles from being stolen. Thieves are targeting Kia’s after a video went viral online showing steps on how to easily take vehicles that were made during certain model years. Anyone who owns an affected model is asked to bring their vehicle and proof that they live in Amherst to the police station to get their wheel lock. The devices are available on a first come, first served basis.

Former Sabres captain Jack Eichel scored a hat trick as the Buffalo team lost to the Vegas Golden Knights 7 to 4.  Tage Thompson led the way for the Sabres, scoring his ninth and tenth goals of the year. Buffalo’s other goals came from Casey Mittelstadt and Rasmus Asplund.  Eric Comrie stopped 29 of the 35 shots he faced, while Logan Thompson made 30 saves. With the loss, the Sabres fall to 7-7 on the season and drop their fourth straight game.  Next up the Sabres play the Boston Bruins on home ice at 7pm on Saturday.

The Buffalo Bills will be back in action in front of their home crowd this weekend as they try and avoid a second straight loss. The AFC East leaders are hosting the Minnesota Vikings at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The playing status of Buffalo’s quarterback Josh Allen remains unknown after he missed another day of practice yesterday due to an elbow injury. The Bills are coming off a defeat last week at the hands of the New York Jets. Kickoff for Sunday’s contest is one p-m.

Louis Coleman

A Batavia man with an extensive history of drug and burglary-related arrests, including two arrests during the past year in Livingston and Wyoming counties, now faces new charges after an indictment was unsealed in County Court. 50-year-old Louis Coleman was arrested on a grand jury indictment warrant charging him with third-degree criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance. He is accused of selling methamphetamine in the village of Attica to an undercover Wyoming County Drug Task Force agent earlier this year. Coleman had been scheduled to be sentenced on previous drug charges and is still facing numerous, similar charges in Livingston County.

Wesley Thigpen

The sentence 42-year-old Wesley Thigpen of Batavia received is what he had accepted as a plea deal. He was in court yesterday for sentencing, during which time he made two attempts to speak. However, because his message addressed victims directly, the District Attorney objected. Thigpen then refused to sign an order of protection and the judge told him it would go into his file for parole boards to see. Thigpen once again tried to address the court. But the judge stopped him because he had already had the opportunity to speak, and the sentence of 10 years to life had been imposed.

23-year-old Cameron Federico of Batavia now faces felony conspiracy charges. He’s been indicted by a Wyoming County Grand Jury accused of conspiring to sell methamphetamine in the Village of Attica to the Wyoming County Drug Task Force earlier this year. ALSO: 45-year-old Stephen Thompson of Attica is charged with the sale and possession for dealing methamphetamine to drug task force agents in Attica. Thompson has served two state prison terms for dealing drugs in Wyoming County: He served one year and four months in 2012 and a year later was again convicted of dealing drugs. He was sentenced to a determinate term of four years and six months.

Delmus Tanner

Anthony Paradise

44-year-old Anthony Paradise, a convicted Albany Region bank robber, has pleaded guilty during jury selection to the murder of his cellmate, an Albion native who graduated from Medina High School. 38-year-old Delmus Tanner was killed in November 2018 when Paradise choked him with a torn bed sheet. Tanner was the father of three children, had been in prison on drug charges, and was reportedly looking forward to being a good citizen once released.

Robert Manley

A now-former bus driver in the Brockport Central School District is in some legal trouble after being accused of driving drunk. According to investigators, 47-year-old Robert Manley was transporting students during an out-of-district run earlier this week when a random alcohol-screening test revealed his blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit. Manley has been fired from his job with the district and is expected to appear in court later this month.

Congressman Zeldin with running mate Alison Esposito

Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin has officially conceded to Kathy Hochul in the race for New York governor. Hochul declared victory after the polls closed, but Zeldin initially refused to concede, saying there were votes that still needed to be counted. He released a statement yesterday congratulating the governor on her win and thanked his supporters for making such a close race possible. Hochul has been governor since the resignation of ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo last year and will begin her full four-year term in January.

One person has been detained following vandalism that happened at the FBI office in Buffalo. Officials say the individual threw a brick multiple times at the lobby window of the building located on Niagara Street yesterday. Interior screens stopped the person from getting inside the building and no injuries were reported. The name of the individual hasn’t been released.

Goo Goo Dolls 2022-23 Publicity Photo

Music fans across Western New York will get the chance to celebrate New Year’s Eve by attending a free concert being performed by a popular band. That’s because the Goo Goo Dolls are going to take the stage at Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino in Niagara Falls on Saturday, December 31st. The show is scheduled to set to begin at 11:00pm. All concertgoers must be at least 21-years-old and VIP packages for the event go on sale tomorrow at senecaniagaracasino.com

Josh Allen at the moment of injury last Sunday afternoon

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott says the playing status of quarterback Josh Allen for this Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings still hasn’t been decided. Allen didn’t take part in practice yesterday and McDermott said he is listed as day-to-day with an elbow injury. Allen was hurt during Buffalo’s loss to the New York Jets last Sunday. If he can’t play this weekend, Case Keenum will be the starting QB for the Bills.

Sabres logo history, from left to right: 1970, 1996, 2006, 2010

The Buffalo Sabres will try once again tonight to snap their current losing streak, which is now at three games. But, standing in their way will be former Sabres star Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights. When Buffalo last played on Tuesday, they were defeated by the Arizona Coyotes 4-1. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for 7:00.

A man who sexually assaulted a child has been sentenced ten years to life.  42 year old Wesley Thigpen, was called a poison by judge Melissa Cianfrini as she handed down the sentence.  The day in court was fraught with warnings and outbursts and capped off with Thigpen refusing to sign an order of protection.  Cianfrini told him it would go into his file and that parole boards would see what kind of person he was.  She left the court before corrections officers removed him. 

Veterans Day in Batavia is actually Veterans 3 day.  Starting today at 8:15 there is a ceremony at the Batavia High School which includes music and remarks in honor of local veterans.  GCASA is hosting the Mission 22 Walk at 2:30 at Dewitt Park following the Ellicott Trail and ending at Recovery Station.  Friday there is a lineup of events from 9am to 1 pm.  You can check out the whole list on our news partner the Batavian.  Saturday Recovery Station will host a Veteran Connection gathering from 5 to 7pm on Nov 16. 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced deer and bear hunting seasons in New York’s Southern Zone begin November 19.  According to the DEC, approximately 85% of New York’s 550,000 licensed hunters will participate in regular firearms season for deer and bear in the southern zone which begins November 19 and continues through December 11. The DEC said harvest during this season accounts for around 60% of the total statewide deer harvest and a substantial part of the statewide bear harvest.  That is followed by late bowhunting and muzzle-loading seasons which will begin on December 12 and continue through December 20. It takes place again from December 26 through January 1.

One person has been detained following vandalism that happened at the FBI office in Buffalo. Officials say the individual threw a brick multiple times at the lobby window of the building located on Niagara Street yesterday. Interior screens stopped the person from getting inside the building and no injuries were reported. The name of the individual hasn’t been released.

A now-former bus driver in the Brockport Central School District is in some legal trouble after being accused of driving drunk. According to investigators, 47-year-old Robert Manley was transporting students during an out-of-district run earlier this week when a random alcohol screening test revealed his blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit. Manley has been fired from his job with the district and is expected to appear in court later this month.

Rochester police say they’ve made an arrest in connection with a recent fire at the old Rochester Riverside Hotel. They say 39-year-old Isaac Lynch set the blaze on East Main Street last Wednesday and is now facing multiple charges including arson. It is believed Lynch was also responsible for causing another fire on Mortimer Street and setting two dumpsters on fire behind a business on Dewey Avenue. After being taken into custody, Lynch was sent to the Monroe County Jail.

The 37th Health and Humanitarian Award of Genesee County will be presented to Peter Zeliff of Batavia on Friday, December 2, at an awards luncheon at noon at Terry Hills Restaurant.  In naming Mr. Zeliff for this year’s award, the Jerome Foundation will recognize him for his many volunteer efforts.  He developed the WNY Aviation Adventure Camp for high school students interested in the field of aviation. He is spearheading an effort to bring back in 2023 the Wings Over Batavia airshow. Pete also has served on the Board of Directors of many local organizations.  Currently he is Chairman of the GCEDC Board and serves on the UMMC Board of Directors. He also volunteers for Wings Flights of Hope, Veteran’s Air Lift Command and the Special Olympics Airlift.  

Sheriff William A. Sheron, Jr. announces the promotion of Francis A. Riccobono to Director of Emergency Communications of the Genesee County Emergency Services Dispatch Center.  Director Riccobono assumed his new duties on October 29.  Director Riccobono has over 31 years of experience in Genesee County emergency dispatching services, having begun his dispatching career with the City of Batavia Police Department in 1991, and transitioning to the Genesee County consolidated dispatch center in 2008.  In 2019, he was appointed Assistant Director of Emergency Communications/Operations.  During his tenure, he has been awarded two Commendations.

The Elba FFA Chapter brought home big awards competing in the National FFA Dairy Evaluation and Management Competition in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The competition consisted of an online multiple-choice assessment that tested their dairy knowledge at the end of September, then at the end of October, they traveled to the National FFA Convention to compete in multiple days of events which included a team activity as well as judging multiple classes of dairy cattle.  They was awarded the National Silver Award for Dairy Evaluation and Management. Ian Keberle and Bing Zuber were awarded national gold individually, and Amelia and Jillian Brewer were awarded national silver individually.

Richard Castillo, Jr.

39-year-old Ricardo Castillo, Jr. of Oakfield has been charged with rape after an investigation into an incident in Sheldon. He was arrested as the result of a joint investigation by Wyoming & Genesee County Sheriffs. Castillo was arraigned in the Town of Warsaw Court and ordered held on $100,000 bail.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer with Governor Kathy Hochul – file photo

Governor Kathy Hochul has defeated her Republican challenger, Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin. It’s the first time a woman has been elected governor in the state. In other election news, both Attorney General Letitia James and State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli earned re-election as did Senator Chuck Schumer. Proposition 1 the Clean Air and Water Bill passed. George Borello won the newly created 57th district and Stephen Hawley won in the 139th. It’s still unknown which party controls Congress the day after the Midterms. NBC News declared the House a toss-up for the time being, while the Senate is seeing what they’re referring to as a razor-thin margin between Democrats and Republicans.

30-year-old Tyler Thomas of Batavia is charged with petit larceny. State Police in Lockport arrested him; no further information is available at this time.

35-year-old Andrew Searight of Batavia is one of two people charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. It’s alleged he abandoned a pair of dogs in an apartment on Bank Street. Searight entered a not-guilty plea today in his first appearance in County Court. He and co-defendant 24-year-old Jerrtonia Scarbrough were both indicted on the two felony counts and will be prosecuted separately. They are accused of abandoning two Pitbulls in an apartment and were later found malnourished and covered in feces in their cages. The male Pitbull recovered while the female Pitbull had to be euthanized. Searight will return to court early in January for a preliminary conference in his case, with oral arguments on any motions in the case scheduled for later in the month.

If you happened to purchase Powerball tickets for the most recent draw in Buffalo or Cheektowaga, check them carefully. There are three third-place winners in Western New York, each worth $50,000. One winning ticket for the record-breaking $2.04 billion jackpot was sold in Altadena, California.

Fairport High School

A former substitute teacher who worked in the Fairport Central School District has been arrested for having child pornography. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says that 25-year-old Marc Hoffman communicated online with several victims and exchanged sexually explicit photos. When police seized his phone, they found evidence of those discussions and also images of child porn. Hoffman has already been fired from his position with the school district and could spend up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The Seneca Nation of Indians has announced plans to open its first legal marijuana dispensary in Niagara Falls. The 25-hundred square foot shop will be located in the area of John Daly Boulevard and Niagara Street near the Seneca One Stop gas station and convenience store. There will be a variety of products available to be purchased and there’s also going to be a drive-thru window. Construction has already started and the shop is expected to open early next year.

Tage Thompson

The losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres is now at three games following a disappointing defeat on home ice. Tage Thompson had the lone goal for Buffalo last night. They were beaten by Arizona 4-1 at KeyBank Center. Sabres goaltender Eric Comrie was only able to stop 20 of the 23 shots he faced in the contest. Up next for Buffalo is another home game Thursday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Puck drop is 7:00.

Car warming up

Police in our region are warning drivers not to warm up their cars once the weather turns cold. They say that even if you can remote start the car and keep the key fob with you, the doors should be locked, valuables removed and perhaps even use a steering wheel lock. This is in response to numerous car thefts in recent months and if your vehicle is left unattended it’s an easy target.

In the New York State Elections Governor Hochul managed to pull out a win against challenger Lee Zeldin 53 to 47 percent.  Hochul can now start her first officially elected term as Governor.  Down ballot Letitia James, Thomas Dinapoli and Charles Schumer stayed in their positions.  Proposition 1 the Clean Air and Water Bill passed with 69 percent of the vote.  George Borello won the newly created 57th district and Stephen Hawley won in the 139th district.  Nationally the control of the house and senate are still up in the air as key races have yet to be called.

A federal judge has blocked parts of the concealed carry law that prohibits licensed gun owners from carrying on certain properties.  District Court Judge Glenn Suddaby said the law invoked “unprecedented constitutional violations” and granted a partial preliminary injunction in favor of Gun Owners of America, forcing the state to immediately cease enforcement of parts of the law, which was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in July.  Suddaby ruled the state can still prevent people from carrying guns in Times Square, public playgrounds, libraries, nurseries and preschools. But he ruled that mental hospitals, places of worship, public parks, zoos, theaters, conference centers, protests and bars are no longer off limits for people with a concealed carry permit. Another section of the law that required concealed carry applicants to disclose social media accounts for review and be subject to assessment of “good moral character” was also blocked.

Incumbent Democrat and Congressman Joe Morelle has declared victory in the 25th Congressional District. Morelle was taking on Republican and former Rochester police chief La’Ron Singletary. However, Singletary is refusing to concede and his campaign put out a statement calling for an investigation into what it claims are unprecedented irregularities in the election process. The 25th District covers portions of both Monroe and Wayne counties.

39 year old Oakfield man, Ricardo Castillo was charged with 1st and 3rd degree rape after an investigation into the incident in Sheldon on October 26th.  He was arrested as the result of a joint investigation by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. Castillo was arraigned in the Town of Warsaw Court and ordered held on $100,000 bail.

3 third place prizes in the powerball lottery were won in Western NY.  Each of them worth 50 thousand dollars.  The tickets were bought at 2 7-11s in Buffalo and a Kwik Fill in Cheektowaga.  The historically high 2 billion dollar winning ticket was sold in Altadena California.  You can check your numbers on the New York Lotto App, 22 other 1 million dollar prizes are still up for grabs.

Western NY police departments are warning drivers not to warm up their cars once the weather turns cold.  They say that even if you can remote start the car and keep the key fob with you you should lock your doors and remove valuables and perhaps get a steering wheel lock.  There have been a rash of car thefts in recent months and people leaving their vehicles unattended are prime targets.  Cheektowaga and Tonawanda police are starting stop thefts campaigns and trying to get the word out to residents.  

The losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres is now at three games following a disappointing defeat on home ice. Tage Thompson had the lone goal for Buffalo as they were beaten by the Arizona Coyotes four-to-one at KeyBank Center last night. Sabres goaltender Eric Comrie was only able to stop 20 of the 23 shots he faced in the contest. Up next for Buffalo is another home game Thursday night against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Ericc Doleman

A Batavia man in jail for violating parole has been charged with conspiring with another man to smuggle contraband into jail…a $20 bill. 52-year-old Ericc Doleman has spent most of the past 20 years in prison and is presently in jail on a parole detainer following theft charges over the summer; he, along with 56-year-old Curtis Williams of Batavia were charged with promoting prison contraband and conspiracy, both considered misdemeanors. Deputies report the two conspired to have Williams smuggle a $20 bill into jail to pass along to Doleman. Williams was released on an appearance ticket.

Two men from Rochester have been arrested on drug charges. 27-year-old Tyshon McCullough and 31-year-old Stevonne Jones were arrested after a 6-month investigation by the Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force into the possession, sale and transportation of crack cocaine in Batavia. Both are being charged with possession and sale of a controlled substance. Jones was already in custody in Monroe County when he was charged; McCullough was in court on another matter when he was arrested.

It’s Election Day and the polls are open until 9pm. Local polling places include the Batavia Town Hall, Genesee Community College, County Building 2, the Salvation Army, Richmond Memorial Library, the Senior Center On Bank Street, the ARC Community Center on Woodrow Road, Ascension Parish on Sumner St and the 400 Towers on East Main. If you aren’t sure where to vote, you can go to voterlookup.elections.ny.gov to find out.

Governor Hochul – Congressman Zeldin

Empire State voters will be deciding who leads New York for the next four years. Democrat and incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul, who took over for ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo last year, is trying to win a full four-year term in office. But to do that, she’ll have to defeat Republican and Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin. Early polls showed Hochul with a clear lead in the contest but Zeldin has closed the gap lately. Other statewide contests being held today are the race for Attorney General, State Comptroller, and the United States Senate seat held by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

James Schlick is the Republican Election Commissioner in Wyoming County. This afternoon he told 7 News (WKBW-TV) that the county is experiencing ballot scanning issues in approximately six of its 40 districts. According to Schlick, it is not clear what is causing the issue but new ballots are being printed and delivered. He said the machines are brand new and they were recently certified by the state. Schlick noted that the county has been printing its own ballots for about 10 years and has never had a problem. If anyone is concerned about having to leave their ballot in the emergency slot, they are welcome to be present at every stage of the process at the end of the night and tomorrow morning when the board of elections attempts to use a different machine. “Whatever we can do to make them feel comfortable that’s what we’re going to do,” said Schlick.

James Krauseneck (right) at sentencing

The man who brutally murdered his wife with an ax four decades ago has found out the punishment for his crime. Yesterday, a judge sentenced James Krauseneck to a term of 25 years to life behind bars for killing Cathy Krauseneck at the couple’s Brighton home in February 1982. James Krauseneck had the chance to address the court and proclaimed his innocence and also called his wife the love of his life. Krauseneck’s lawyer is already planning to appeal his client’s conviction.

The Powerball jackpot got up to over two billion dollars for last night’s draw. Here are the winning numbers: 10, 33, 41, 47, and 56. The Powerball is 10. One winning ticket was sold at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California.

Lunar eclipse at 6:00am

Path of totality – April 8, 2024

The moon put on quite a show this morning, with a full lunar eclipse visible around 6:00am. Another sky show is coming in less than 18 months: A total solar eclipse, which happens when the moon passes between the sun and the earth. These are visible from someplace on earth every 18 months or so, and on April 8, 2024, it will be our turn. I’ve already marked my calendar. Lunar eclipse photo by Doug Thompson, WBTA News; the Path of Totality image is from the AccuWeather website.

Spectrum is going to be holding a hiring event today to fill up to 40 positions at its new video repair call center in Cheektowaga. Anyone who is interested in applying should go to the call center located on Union Road between the hours of 3 and 7 today. Hourly wages for these jobs begin at $20 per hour with an additional 75 cents an hour for people who work certain shifts. Benefits include discounted pricing on Spectrum services and comprehensive health benefits.

Veterans Day is coming up on Friday, and Governor Hochul has announced a free fishing day statewide to honor those who have served our country. That means anglers won’t need a license to fish in the state’s fresh waters. However, all other fishing rules and regulations will remain in effect. Friday is going to be the final free fishing day of the year and to find a place to fish near you, visit dec.ny.gov

Josh Allen – the moment following his elbow injury

The head coach of the Buffalo Bills say the elbow injury of star quarterback Josh Allen is still under evaluation. Allen was hurt on Sunday when the Bills were defeated by the New York Jets 20 to 17 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Sean McDermott said that he would have more information about Allen’s prognosis when he meets again with the media tomorrow. The Bills are taking on the Minnesota Vikings at Highmark Stadium Sunday.

Sabres red and black jersey design

The Buffalo Sabres will be kicking off their latest homestand tonight as they try and put an end to their current two-game losing streak. The Sabres are hosting the Arizona Coyotes at TD Garden. Buffalo hasn’t been in action since Saturday when they lost on the road 5-3 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for 7:00.

Volunteers are needed

Organizers of the Wings Over Batavia Air Show scheduled for Labor Day weekend in 2023 are in the process of putting together a team of volunteers to ensure a successful event. There are numerous air show volunteer positions available intended to complement the paid show employees and municipal leaders during the event, which is set for Sept. 1-3, 2023, at the Genesee County Airport. If you’d like to help out, email the air show chairman, Dennis Dunbar, at dennisjdunbar@rocketmail.com

It’s Election Day and the polls will be open from 6am to 9pm for everyone who didn’t go to early voting.  Polling places in Batavia are the Batavia Town Hall on West Main Rd, The Richard Call Arena at GCC, County Building 2 On West Main St Rd, Salvation Army on East Main Street, Richmond Memorial Library, Senior Center On Bank Street, ARC Community center on Woodrow Rd, Ascension Parish on Sumner St and the 400 Towers on East Main.  If you aren’t sure which one is your voting place you can go to voterlookup.elections.ny.gov to find out.  

The Villages of Orleans nursing home is facing a class action lawsuit by the families of people who died of COVID in 2020 and 2021 at the facility.  Families are alleging that mistakes made during the Covid-19 pandemic led to their loved one’s deaths.  This care home has a history of violations with the New York State Health Department. In February 2021 it was handed one of the largest Covid-19 related fines in New York, totaling more than $86,000.  38 people had died of COVID at the facility by July of 2021.  The lawsuit alleges that the VIllages didn’t provide personal protective equipment, didn’t do droplet control, left residents alone without assistance eating and cleaning themselves for long periods of time and did not control for infections.  

Rochester police say an arrest has been made following the weekend shooting of a four-year-old girl but it isn’t the shooter. Officers found an illegal gun in the trunk of the vehicle the child was in when she was struck by gunfire on Selye Terrace Sunday. A relative of the girl is charged with criminal possession of a weapon and was issued an appearance ticket. So far, the person who shot the child isn’t in custody.

Sixth Grade students at Pembroke Intermediate School participated in the Korman Challenge Reading Contest during the month of October.  Students were challenged to read a book written by author Gordon Korman during the month to be invited to the Korman Party, which was held on Nov. 4.  By the end of the month, 24 students completed the challenge!  Students were invited to a special party where they watched a special video message from Gordon Korman himself! Students then received a special certificate recognizing their achievement.  To wrap up the special day, students enjoyed pizza generously donated by Homeslice Pizzeria 33!

November is Lung Cancer awareness month.  Lung Cancer kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, and pancreatic cancers combine.  It is most often caused by smoking but can occur in people who never smoked.  Other risk factors include being exposed to secondhand smoke, having a family history of lung cancer, exposure to asbestos, and exposure to radon gas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 21,000 Americans die from radon-related lung cancer every year.

Two men from Rochester have been arrested for drugs.  27 year old Tyshon McCullough and 31 year old Stevonne Jones were arrested after a 6 month investigation by the Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force into the possession, sale and transportation of Crack Cocaine in Batavia.  Both are being charged with possession and sale of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree.  Jones was already in custody in Monroe County when he was charged, McCullough was in court on another matter when he was arrested.

Tops Friendly Markets are giving military personnel, active duty and veteran, and their immediate families an 11 percent discount off of their grocery bill this Veterans Day.  Customers should present proof of service that they or an immediate family member are a U.S. Veteran, active duty, reserve or retired military personnel to automatically receive an 11 percent discount off of their total purchase that day.  Tops has been holding this discount day for the past 10 years.

Veterans Day is coming up on Friday, and Governor Hochul has announced a free fishing day statewide to honor those who have served our country. That means anglers won’t need a license to fish in the state’s fresh waters. However, all other fishing rules and regulations will remain in effect. Friday is going to be the final free fishing day of the year and to find a place to fish near you, visit dec.ny.gov

The Buffalo Bills announced that they are monitoring Josh Allen after an elbow injury that he sustained in the game on Sunday against the Jets.  A report from the NFL Network indicated Allen would be limited in practice this week but would likely play on Sunday.  McDermott said the team hasn’t made any decision yet and the team will take it “one day at a time,” awaiting an evaluation from doctors.  The injury happened when Allen had his right arm hit and was stripped of the ball as he was trying to throw a pass.  Allen appeared to be wincing in pain, but then threw the ball 50 yards downfield two plays later.  The Bills return home to host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. If Allen can’t play, backup Case Keenum, who led the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game in 2017, would step in.

The Buffalo Sabres unveiled their new red and black jersey design on Monday.  It’s a throwback to their uniforms that were worn from 1996 through 2006 and will be their third jersey design and will be worn for 12 games from November 23rd through April 13th.  The Sabres play tonight at 7pm against the Arizona Coyotes at Keybank center.

Jacqueese Wapniewski

19-year-old Jacqueese Wapnieski of Batavia was arrested and charged with burglary, criminal mischief, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. This, after he allegedly broke into a house causing damage and stealing various household items. Wapnieski was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under the supervision of Genesee Justice. He is due back in Batavia City Court next week.

Stephen Pike

26-year-old Stephen Pike of Pavilion has been arrested following an investigation into an alleged domestic incident. He had just been released from prison a few months ago after serving a two-year sentence for domestic violence. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court on the charges of strangulation and criminal mischief. Pike has had numerous arrests for domestic violence and was ordered held without bail and remanded to the Genesee County Jail. He’s scheduled to return to court next week.

60-year-old Ronald Longhini of Warsaw has pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for January 27, 2023.

The polling place for the Town of Batavia District 12-03 will be changed to a different location within Genesee Community College. Originally it was planned for the Richard C. Call Arena; it will now be held in the William W. Stuart Forum on the 1st Floor of the Main Building at GCC. There will be signs and guidance at GCC to help guide voters to the right location. The parking lot in front of the Main Building will be reserved for voters. This polling location and all others across the county will be open from 6am-9pm on November 8th, 2022. For more information, please visit https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/elections/index.php

Tomorrow is Election Day, and free rides to the polls are being offered to people in the region with disabilities. The service is available to folks who live in Genesee, Erie and Niagara counties courtesy of Western New York Independent Living. Rides will be offered on a first-come, first served basis and seating is limited. To schedule a ride, call 716-836-0822.

Fred doesn’t seem to mind

Western New York drivers are not feeling any financial relief at the gas pumps these days thanks to yet another increase in prices. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel in our region is now $3.82. That is up four cents in the last week and is 12 cents higher than this time one month ago. The state average is $3.87 a gallon while nationally it’s $3.80. In Batavia, the average price as of this morning was $3.78; same as it was yesterday and up 3 cents from a week ago.

Governor Hochul has released the results of the recent Halloween weekend crackdown on dangerous drivers. From Friday, October 28th through Tuesday, November 1st, State Police arrested 189 people for impaired driving, which was an increase of 56 from last year. This year’s campaign also led to police handing out more than 11,000 tickets. Many of those offenses were for things like speeding, distracted driving, and seatbelt violations.

Lottery players are lining up once again to take their shot at winning the largest Powerball jackpot in history. After no one won the $1.6 billion prize on Saturday, tonight’s jackpot will be at least $1.9 billion. In order to claim the top prize, players must match all six numbers, something that hasn’t been done since back in August. Good luck! The drawing will be streamed online at powerball.com. Please play responsibly.

The four game winning streak of the Buffalo Bills is over following that disappointing loss on the road yesterday. Bills quarterback Josh Allen ran for a pair of touchdowns but also threw two interceptions as the Bills were beaten by the New York Jets 20 to 17 in New Jersey. Allen was also sacked five times as Buffalo’s record this season fell to six wins and two losses. Up next for the Bills is a home game against the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday, with another 1:00 kickoff.

Not only is Tuesday Election Day, if you’re up early enough, you can check out the total lunar eclipse from 5:17-6:42am; peak totality is at 5:59.

Bethany Fire responded to an incident on Rt 20 and Transit rd for a woman who fell off a motorcycle on Sunday.  It appears she was a passenger and slipped off on a turn.  A chief on scene reports back pain and possible extremity injuries. The chief says he didn’t see anything too traumatic.  She was transported to Strong Memorial by ambulance.

The investigation continues into a weekend shooting in Buffalo that resulted in four people being injured. Police say two women and two men were hit by gunfire at an entertainment complex on East Amherst Street Saturday night. All four victims were taken to Erie County Medical Center and one of the women is in critical condition. One of the men who was hurt ended up being arrested for criminal possession of a weapon.

Tomorrow is Election Day, and free rides to the polls are being offered to people in the region with disabilities. The service is available to folks who live in Erie, Niagara and Genesee counties courtesy of Western New York Independent Living. Rides will be offered on a first-come, first served basis and seating is limited. To schedule a ride, call 716-836-0822.

Western New York drivers are not feeling any financial relief at the gas pumps these days thanks to yet another increase in prices. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now three-78. That is up six cents in the last week and is 19 cents higher than this time one month ago. The state average is three-87 a gallon while nationally it’s three-80.

Governor Hochul has released the results of the recent Halloween weekend crackdown on dangerous drivers. From Friday, October 28th through Tuesday, November 1st, State Police arrested 189 people for impaired driving which was an increase of 56 from last year. This year’s campaign also led to police handing out more than 11-thousand tickets. Many of those offenses were for things like speeding, distracted driving, and seatbelt violations

A new display in the window of the former Next Level Fitness building is hoped to spur interest in the military.  Al Kurek wants to open a military museum in the GLOW region to honor veterans.  Kurek and some volunteers have set up a display of some of their memorabilia for everyone going down East Main Street to see.  The display features uniforms worn by the men and women from the GLOW region who served.  The donations were solicited through the Veteran’s Services Office.  On Friday, about 20 volunteers helped install the display at the vacant gym.  The uniforms will be on display until Nov. 15.

Lottery players are lining up once again to take their shot at winning the largest Powerball jackpot in history. After no one won the one-point-six billion dollar prize on Saturday, tonight’s jackpot will be at least one-point-nine billion dollars. In order to claim the top prize, players must match all six numbers, something that hasn’t been done since back in August. The cost of a ticket is just two bucks and the drawing will be streamed online at powerball.com.

In local sports the Pembroke Dragons beat Bolivar-Richburg and will advance to the Section 5 title game against Canisteo-Greenwood.  The Oakfield, Alabama, Elba Aggies beat York-Pavilion and are moving on to face the other undefeated Genesee County team, the Alexander Trojans for the Class D championship.  The Trojans beat Avon to advance to this next round.  The Blue devils won against Livonia on Friday night to advance past the Section 5 semifinals.  And the Byron Bergen Bees are still undefeated in girls soccer with a win against Frewsburg.  They move to the state semifinal on saturday.

The four game winning streak of the Buffalo Bills is over following a disappointing loss on the road. Bills quarterback Josh Allen ran for a pair of touchdowns but also threw two interceptions as the Bills were beaten by the New York Jets 20 to 17 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey yesterday. Allen was also sacked five times as Buffalo’s record this season fell to six wins and two losses. Up next for the Bills is a home game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday.

The Sabres lost against the Lightning 5 to 3 in their matchup on Saturday despite leading at the end of the second period.  Buffalo’s goals came from Zemgus Girgensons, Casey Mittelstadt, and Jeff Skinner. Eric Comrie turned away 26 of the 30 shots he faced.  With the loss, the Sabres fall to 7-5 on the season. The Sabres return to KeyBank Center for a game against the Arizona Coyotes Tuesday.

A Buffalo man was arrested Friday morning after an alleged reckless motorcycle operation caused the death of his 17-year-old passenger.  Just before noon police responded to reports of an accident involving a motorcycle at the Roundabout on Oak St.  They arrived to find a woman on the ground and a man remounting his motorcycle to ride away.  Police chased down the fleeing cyclist and returned to the scene of the accident where he tried to attack the EMS workers who were trying to assist the woman.  Police took him into custody again and transported him to the Batavia Police HQ where he broke a window and tried to escape.  He was apprehended again.  The man has been identified as 27 year old Christopher Scinta.  The woman was taken to UMMC where she was pronounced dead. She was identified as 17 year old Jasmyne Rubel.  Police have been able to ascertain that Scinta was driving and Rubel was riding when he hit the curb and the bike went over.  He is being charged with many crimes including manslaughter and obstructing medical services.

After a St Paul student was driven to school in the red school bus, Batavia Fire Engine Number 11, a Jackson School student got a ride Friday morning.  Joseph Schafer won the city’s Fire Prevention coloring contest in the K-1 group.  He had been sick and unable to go to school so the ride was a surprise as his parents didn’t tell him he won till he was better and the fire engine showed up at his home.

Turnbull Heating and Air Conditioning is under new ownership.  The new President and Owner, Jake Koch, says he’s been in the industry since he was a kid.  Koch, a resident of Hilton, has owned Triton Mechanical in Monroe County with his father Jeff and friend Kevin O’Connell for more than six years.  He met former Turnbull owner Bill Hayes a couple of years ago, and was introduced to the company at 50 Franklin St., Batavia, more thoroughly after Hayes decided to put it up for sale. One selling point was that Koch wanted to become as fully involved with the community as Hayes has been, the new owner said.  Hayes will go into retirement but stay around to ease the transition.

Richmond Memorial Library is holding a food drive with the RML Teen and Tween Programming Group until November 18th.  The bin for thanksgiving food items will be in the foyer of the library.  Donations will be delivered to the Salvation Army.  

The Aquarium of Niagara harbor seal, Stryker, has predicted this will be a frigid winter.  Stryker makes his prediction annually by jumping up and hitting a balloon labeled either frigid or cold.  He has predicted the weather for 2 years and been right both times.

Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets as he deals with an elbow injury.  The Bills released their injury report Friday afternoon and there were only two other players with an injury designation, linebacker Matt Milano and offensive lineman Spencer Brown were both listed as questionable.  Milano is dealing with an oblique injury, he did not practice Wednesday or Thursday but did practice in a limited capacity on Friday.  Brown is dealing with an ankle injury, he practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Tyshon Taylor

A 25-year-old man is charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon after allegedly stabbing a person in the City of Batavia. Tyshon Taylor was arrested after the stabbing was reported to police (on October 18th around 9:30pm). The victim was stabbed in the abdomen while walking on Jackson Street and rushed to ECMC for treatment. Taylor was arraigned in City Court and ordered held without bail. He’ll be back in City Court at 1:30 p.m., November 10.

A Genesee County Grand Jury has indicted 35-year-old Andrew Searight and 24-year-old Jerrtonia Scarbrough, both of Batavia, accusing each of the felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals (two counts), a felony charge under Agriculture and Markets law, after allegedly abandoning an animal in a cage for an extended period of time, intentionally causing serious physical injury to a companion animal. (in the City of Batavia on May 10, 2022)

Snail jungle gym – Medina – 11/04/22

There are some unhappy people in Medina now that the snail jungle gyms from their local parks are up for auction. They’d been playground pieces for at least 50 years. However, the village’s insurance company would no longer cover claims filed by people injured on the equipment. And that’s why the snails are now listed for sale through an online auction by Government Deals. Bidding started at $10 for the snail that was in the better shape; at last check, the current bid was $525, which means if you’re interested, the minimum bid is now to $550. The auction continues until November 14. A direct link to their website is provided on today’s Afternoon News Brief page; click the Local News tab at WBTAi.com to take a look. at 7:15 p.m. for the Pine Street Park snail and 7:30 p.m. for the Butts Park snail.

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=14&acctid=21516

Andrew Draper

A Genesee County Grand Jury has indicted Andrew Draper, accusing him of the felony of criminal contempt and harassment. He allegedly subjected a person with an order of protection against him, to physical contact while at a residence in the City of Batavia on June 17, 2022. Draper was also indicted on charges of falsifying business records after he made a false entry on a Bill of Sale at Pawn King, 4140 Veteran’s Memorial Drive.

Artist rendering of the new Bills stadium

Officials with Pegula Sports and Entertainment have chosen the contractors who will be building a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. New York City-based Turner Construction, the Buffalo-based 34 Group and the Gilbane Building Company in Rhode Island are going to be responsible for constructing the over one-billion dollar stadium. The facility is going to be built near Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The new stadium is expected to open in 2026. (Image obtained from the Buffalo Bills website)

…that is, Wimpy will pay you back, if he wins Powerball tomorrow night…

The Powerball jackpot just keeps getting bigger and that means there’s going to be a huge prize up for grabs this weekend. The jackpot for tomorrow night’s drawing is going to be at least one-point-five billion dollars. That is just short of the record $1.586 billion-dollar Powerball jackpot that was claimed in 2016. The drawing will be streamed live online at Powerball.com. Please play responsibly.

Congressman Lee Zeldin

Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin will be bringing his campaign for governor to Western New York this weekend. According to the Amherst New York Republican Committee, Zeldin is going to appear at 9:30 Sunday morning at the West Seneca Community Center. Zeldin is hoping to be the first Republican to be elected New York governor since George Pataki. Polls show incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul is leading the race but that Zeldin has closed the gap.

The Buffalo Bills are taking a trip to the Garden State as they try and extend their current winning streak to five games. Josh Allen and the defending AFC East champions are set to visit the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Buffalo is coming off of a 27 to 17 victory over the Green Bay Packers and has a record of 6 and 1 this season. Kickoff for Sunday afternoon’s game is 1:00.

The Town of Batavia is seeking a part-time and/or full-time Deputy Town Clerk. The Deputy position assists the Town Clerk in all phases of administrative functions in the Town Clerk’s Office, including the duties associated with Tax Collector. A complete job description and employment application is available on their website at www.townofbatavia.com or at the Batavia Town Hall. Applicant must be a Town of Batavia resident and must possess a valid NYS Driver’s License. The salary for this position will be based on experience. Please send completed employment application and resume with references to Heidi Librock, Town of Batavia, 3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia, New York 14020.

The start of the holiday season is just around the corner, and UPS is looking to add to its number of employees in the area. A hiring event that begins a ten a-m is taking place today and tomorrow at the UPS Customer Center on Bailey Avenue in Buffalo. UPS is searching for seasonal drivers, driver helpers and warehouse workers. For more information, visit jobs-ups.com.

A 25 year old man is charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon after allegedly stabbing a person on Jackson Street in Batavia.  Tyshon Taylor was arrested after the stabbing was reported on October 18th around 9:30pm.  The victim was stabbed in the abdomen while walking on Jackson st and rushed to ECMC for treatment.  Taylor is being held without bail.

A Buffalo man has been convicted for his role in the murders of three people from Florida during a drug-related robbery over three years ago. Thursday, a jury found Deandre Wilson guilty in connection with the deaths of Nicole Marie Merced-Plaud, Miguel Anthony Valentin-Colon, and Dhamyl Roman-Audiffred. The bodies of Merced-Plaud  and Valentin-Colon were spotted in a burned out van on Tonawanda Street in September 2019. Roman-Audiffred’s remains were found in a fire pit in the back of a home on Box Avenue.

ALDI has announced that because of inflation and high prices of thanksgiving related items it will be matching its prices from 3 years ago on thanksgiving appetizers, sides, desserts and beverages.  They are calling it the Thanksgiving Rewind.  You can look for a red sticker that says thanksgiving price rewind on it for the discounts. 

The Powerball jackpot just keeps getting bigger and that means there’s going to be a huge prize up for grabs this weekend. The jackpot for tomorrow night’s drawing is going to be at least one-point-five billion dollars. That is just short of the record one-point-five-eight-six billion dollar Powerball jackpot that was claimed in 2016. As always, the cost of a ticket to play the game is just two dollars. The drawing will be streamed live online at powerball.com.

Gerald Maley, otherwise known as “Mr Baseball,” a veteran, major league and minor league baseball player and avid supporter of baseball in Batavia, passed away on Wednesday at 92 years old.  Maley played ball for the Cleveland Indians in 1949 and went 2 seasons in the PONY league.  He went on to coach Little League and Babe Ruth League in Batavia and was a director with Genesee County Baseball Club, the community organization that owned the Batavia Clippers/Batavia Muckdogs.  He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. When he returned to civilian life, he worked as a lineman and switchman for Niagara Mohawk for 37 years. He was active in the American Legion, Batavia Lion’s Club, Niagara Mohawk Pensioners Club, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and was a long-time usher at St. Mary’s Church.

A Batavia Fire truck rushed to the scene with sirens blaring and lights flashing but there was no fire.  Instead it was delivering one of the winners of the Fire Prevention Coloring Contest to St Paul Lutheran School Wednesday morning.  Abigail Varland was dropped off amid cheers and whistles of her classmates and teachers.  Then the students all got a chance to take pictures in front of fire engine 11 with the firefighters.  

The Genesee County Master Gardeners announced they will be collecting NEW, unwrapped BOOKS for the annual Toys for Tots campaign.  The books that are collected will go to children and youth aged preschool through high school.  A gift of a new book delivers a message of hope and instills self-confidence to children in need.  You can drop off books at the Genesee County Cooperative Extension office, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  They will have a collection bin set up near the reception area.  Donations of new books can be made at the CCE office through Dec. 5.

Officials with Pegula Sports and Entertainment have chosen the contractors who will be building a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. New York City-based Turner Construction, the Buffalo-based 34 Group and the Gilbane Building Company in Rhode Island are going to be responsible for constructing the over one-billion dollar stadium. The facility is going to be built near Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park which is where the Bills currently play their home games. The new stadium is expected to open in 2026.

Organizers announced the Buffalo/Niagara Holiday Light Show is set to return to the Niagara County Fairgrounds.  Scheduled to open on November 18 organizers say the drive-thru show features “a mile of towering displays, with hundreds of thousands of lights, synchronized to holiday music broadcast right to each car’s radio!”  Those who attend can expect to spend about 20 to 25 minutes driving through the show. It will run at the Niagara County Fairgrounds on select dates through December 31.  Advance tickets are $25 per carload with a reservation or $62.50 for unlimited visits which do not require a reservation. Organizers say tickets can be purchased at the gate, but availability is not guaranteed.

Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend as we ‘fall back’ by one hour early Sunday morning. Several states are encouraging the federal government to make daylight saving permanent through a bill called the Sunshine Protection Act. In March, the Senate voted in favor of the Act, which would make Daylight Saving Time permanent, year-round. But the bill has stalled in the House. While some argue that if passed, crime and car accidents would be reduced. However, sleep experts support a permanent switch to standard time (which starts Sunday) because our brain and bodies function best with more sunlight in the morning. They further point out that the sun should reach its highest point at noon, known as solar time. During standard time (starting this weekend) people in the central time zone are perfectly aligned with the sun’s clock; whereas daylight saving pushes the country further from solar time. Most sleep experts favor permanent standard time; however, most would opt for switching back and forth over permanent daylight saving time. Either way, we ‘fall back’ by one hour to standard time this weekend.

A jury has convicted Robert Williams of Batavia of two counts of animal cruelty for pouring some sort of corrosive agent on two dogs. He was arrested during the winter of 2021, following a month-long investigation. The convictions mean a maximum sentence of two years local confinement in the Genesee County Jail. The crimes were not witnessed; however, the evidence supported the prosecution, and included one dog with burned fur and skin and the other had sustained burns to the eyes. Both dogs show no ill effects. The dogs belonged to the girlfriend of a person Williams was living with at the time of the incidents.

COVID-19 negative test result

According to the newest data from the state, the spread of the coronavirus is still declining in our region. Right now, the seven-day average infection rate is 6.15%. At this time one week ago, the infection rate was 6.59%. As a reminder, anyone who wants to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or receive a booster shot can find a clinic in our area by going to vaccines.gov.

The area’s economy is going to be getting a massive boost thanks to an announcement by Edwards Vacuum. The British company is planning to build a new dry pump-manufacturing site in Genesee County. The more than 300-million-dollar facility will be located at the Western New York Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park – STAMP for short. The first phase of building is expected to be completed in two years and once construction is finished in about five years, the facility expects to create about 600 jobs.

Sabres retro blue and gold ‘goathead’ jersey

The Buffalo Sabres debuted their new Reverse-Retro Blue and Gold Goathead jerseys and scored five goals in the third period to extend their current winning streak to three games. Last night, Victor Olofsson scored twice and Tage Thompson, Kyle Okposo, JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch also had a goal each as the Sabres defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 at KeyBank Center. The Sabres also received solid goaltending from Eric Comrie who stopped 18 of the 21 shots he faced. Up next for Buffalo is a road game with the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow night; face-off time, 7:00.

The State Department of Motor Vehicles wants you to know that answers to some commonly asked questions are just a few clicks of a keyboard away. The DMV has expanded its live chat service, which means customers can find out information about things like traffic tickets, their license, permit, or registration and get details about REAL ID’s and enhanced licenses. All you need to do is visit dmv.ny.gov and find the live chat feature. The number of topics representatives will respond to will increase in the coming months.

Not only is Tuesday Election Day, if you’re up early enough, you can check out the total lunar eclipse from 5:17-6:42am; peak totality is at 5:59.

From the Notre Dame parking lot, you’ll find the building entrance for voting.

Early voting continues through November 6 at the ARC Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road; here is the schedule of open hours:

Thursday, November 3 9:00 AM—5:00 PM
Friday, November 4 9:00 AM—5:00 PM
Saturday, November 5 9:00 AM—5:00 PM
Sunday, November 6 9:00 AM—5:00 PM
Poll site is accessible.
Call the Genesee County Board of Elections with any questions: 815-7804.

There is a dense fog advisory for Orleans county till 11am this morning.  Fog will cause low visibility driving conditions.  Visibility will be a quarter mile or less.  The National weather service says to slow down and be prepared for sudden stops.  Leave lots of distance between vehicles.

Semi Pro Football is set to return to Genesee County.  Elba resident Harry Roscoe announced he is serving as head coach and offensive coordinator for the Genesee Spartans Football Club and is negotiating for the team to play in the Empire Football League or the Gridiron Developmental Football League.  He said the plan is for the Spartans to play an eight-game schedule, with four or five of them at a location to be determined in Batavia.  Craig Tiberio of Le Roy, who played at Buffalo State College, will be the assistant coach/defensive coordinator; Otis Thomas, football coach at Notre Dame High, will assist on defense, and Jerry Smith Jr. will assist on the offensive side of the ball. Macy Paradise of Elba has been signed on as the team trainer.  They are looking for sponsors and inviting former semi pro players to get involved.

A Batavia man has been convicted of cruelty to animals after he burned 2 dogs with acid in January of 2021.  One dog sustained burned fur and skin. The other dog’s eyes were burned.  Both dogs have made a full recovery.  The dog with the burned eyes shows no ill effects.  Robert Williams was convicted on 2 counts of animal cruelty and 2 counts of criminal mischief.  The maximum sentence is 2 years in jail. 

Livingston County deputies have released the name of the man who was found dead in Lakeville. They say the remains of 73-year-old Daniel Wnuk were spotted last week floating in several inches of water in the area of Big Tree Road and Stone Hill Road. Wnuk had been reported missing last Monday after a family member wasn’t able to get in contact with him. Police are still waiting for autopsy results to find out how he died

The College Board National Recognition Programs recognized 3 Byron Bergen students for academic honors.  Ava Wagoner was awarded the National African American Recognition Award.  Zoey Shepard was awarded the National Rural and Small Town Award.  Dayanara Caballero was awarded the National Hispanic Recognition Award, National Rural and Small Town Award, and the National Indigenous Award.  To qualify for recognition, students have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association says that ⅕ of all deaths in people ages 20-49 are traceable directly to alcohol use.  The study examined 694,660 mean deaths per year between 2015 and 2019.  The leading causes of alcohol-related deaths in both men and women were alcohol liver disease, other poisonings, and motor vehicle crashes. Experts said this study should be taken seriously by anyone consuming alcohol.  Although the study only went till 2019, it is estimated that alcohol abuse increased by 25 percent since the COVID Pandemic.  There are many resources for people who need help with problem drinking and don’t want to be part of this statistic.  The Genesee County Office for the Aging website keeps a list of organizations.  To take a look, follow the link at wbtai.com.

https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/office_for_the_aging/substance_abuse.php

A new study shows that ending daylight saving time could save more than daylight.  Daylight Saving Time ends on this weekend. However, several states are pushing the federal government to make daylight saving permanent through a bill called the Sunshine Protection Act. This act would take effect next March if President Biden signs it into law.  A new study from Current Biology was published and found that the number of crashes involving deer jumps 16% the week after daylight saving time ends.  The DMV and DEC say that 40 percent of deer/car crashes happen between October and December.  The study suggests if daylight saving was kept year-round it would prevent dozens of human deaths, save drivers nationwide almost $1.2 billion every year and save more than 36,000 deer from being hit and killed.

The Buffalo Sabres debuted their new Reverse-Retro Blue and Gold Goathead jerseys and gave fans another come from behind win Wednesday night at the KeyBank Center. Defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3.  Thanks to scoring five goals in the third period, the Buffalo Sabres were able to extend their current winning streak to three games. Victor Olofsson scored twice and Tage Thompson, Kyle Okposo, JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch also had a goal each as the Sabres defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins six-to-three at KeyBank Center last night. The Sabres also received solid goaltending from Eric Comrie who stopped 18 of the 21 shots he faced. Up next for Buffalo is a road game with the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow night.  Puck drop is 7pm.

Holland Land Office Museum announced their annual Wonderland of Trees with the opening night Gala on Friday the 18th of November.  Opening night will run from 6-8:30 pm.  Come to the museum to marvel at all of the wonderfully decorated trees from local organizations and businesses from around Genesee County. Live holiday music will be performed by members of the Genesee Symphony Orchestra, and hors d’oeuvres will be provided by the D&R Depot.  There will also be a basket raffle of dozens of exciting gift baskets.  Tickets are $15 per person or $10 for museum members. Children under 12 are $5.  The display will run through the end of December.  

Sign at entrance of Days Inn, Batavia

Super 8 and Days Inn – Batavia

Batavia City Code Enforcement Officer Doug Randall has condemned two local hotels on Oak Street due to inoperable fire alarm systems, as well as no electrical, gas or water service. Both the Days Inn by Wyndham and Super 8 by Wyndham have signs posted that say ‘this property is closed’ along with notices from the City. Public Works Director Brett Frank said that the property owners have left the country and the City has been unable to contact them. He added there is not much that can be done unless they don’t pay taxes and the City could then foreclose. Photos by Doug Thompson, WBTA News.

Lance Mercado, Sr.

32-year-old Lance Mercado, Sr. of Batavia is charged with aggravated harassment. He is accused of repeatedly calling another person, threatening physical harm and causing the victim to fear for his or her own safety. Mercado was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and ordered to return at a later date. He is also charged with criminal possession of a weapon following his arrest in Alexander, when it was allegedly found that he was in possession of knife knuckles.

25-year-old Kyle Schroeder of Batavia is charged with criminal mischief. Schroeder is accused of damaging property at a business on Jackson Street. He was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.

20-year-old Nickolas Adam Figlow of Batavia is charged with criminal mischief and harassment. He is accused of damaging a victim’s vehicle and of following the victim to Walmart late one evening last week. Figlow was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and ordered to return later this month.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer with Governor Kathy Hochul – file photo

Governor Kathy Hochul and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer announced this morning that Edwards Vacuum, a British-based world leader in vacuum and abatement equipment in the semiconductor industry and part of the Atlas Copco Group, has chosen the Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) in Genesee County, as the location for their new $319 million, U.S. dry pump manufacturing facility. The dry pump technology that will be produced at the new facility is a vital component to controlling the highly sensitive environment of semiconductor manufacturing processes. Phase One of Edwards Vacuum’s 240,000 square-foot campus include manufacturing, warehouse and administration. The company is expected to employ 600 people and the state and federal financial incentives tied to the deal require Edwards to meet that employment goal. Edwards will also negotiate a PILOT agreement (a reduction in property taxes on the increased value of the property in exchange for payments to local governments), along with sales tax, and mortgage tax abatements with Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC).

Solar energy farm – file photo

The Genesee County Economic Development Center board of directors advanced 5 projects totaling approximately $582.5 million of investments at its board meeting last night. (Tuesday, November 1, 2022) The board accepted initial applications from Hecate Energy Cider Solar LLC for a proposed $550 million utility scale solar project in the towns Elba and Oakfield and for community solar projects in the town of Batavia and LeRoy totaling $20 million. The board also approved final incentives for a $12 million tourism hospitality project as well as a final resolution for 8250 Park Road LLC. The project proposes to invest $12 million for extensive renovations to the Quality Inn & Suites and Palm Island Indoor Water Park.

The State Department of Civil Service is offering state residents, the opportunity to take the Professional Career Opportunities exam online for the first time. Results of the test will be used to help agencies across the state fill a variety of positions. Qualified candidates who have or will have a Bachelor’s degree by June 30th, 2023 have until midnight on November 30th to apply. All candidates have until midnight Eastern time on December 15th to finish the exam. For more information, go to cs.ny.gov/pco.

Buffalo police say reports that have been circulating on social media involving tainted candy that was handed out for Halloween aren’t true. Claims were made that kids died due to fentanyl-laced candy, but neither the police nor fire department have responded to any reported incidents. Adults should still check all candy to make sure that it’s safe for children to eat. Any candy that looks like it may have been contaminated should be thrown out immediately.

This is the weekend we “fall back”. It officially happens at 2:00am early on Sunday morning; however, most people turn the clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday. This means it’s a little lighter in the morning with sunrise before 7AM, but then the sun sets before 5PM. On a positive note, at least for one night, we’ll get an extra hour’s sleep.

Walden Galleria Mall

Customers who choose to do their holiday shopping at Walden Galleria are going to have plenty of time to get it done. The shopping center will be closed on Thanksgiving, but the mall is going to be open for extended hours from Friday, November 25th through New Year’s Day which is Sunday, January 1st. Santa Claus is also set to arrive November 18th and will be there until Christmas Eve. The complete list of shopping hours can be found at waldengalleria.com.

Rasmus Dahlin

The Buffalo Sabres will be finishing up their current homestand tonight and they’re hoping to end it with a third straight win. The Sabres are hosting Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off of a dominating eight-to-three victory over the Detroit Red Wings Monday night and have 12 points already to start the season. Face-off for this evening’s contest is scheduled for 7:30.

Nyheim Hines

The Buffalo Bills did not let having the best record in the AFC stop them from making moves at the NFL trade deadline. Buffalo acquired running back Nyheim Hines from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for running back Zack Moss and a conditional sixth-round draft pick. Hines adds some veteran depth to the running backs room and also presents Buffalo with a potential punt returner. The Bills also traded for Dean Marlowe in a deal with the Falcons. Buffalo sent Atlanta a 2023 seventh-rounder for the safety.

If you ask nicely, maybe I’ll share.

The 4th largest jackpot in United States lottery history is going to be up for grabs tonight as the Powerball jackpot keeps growing. The prize for whoever picks the winning numbers is going to be at least $1.2 billion, which is the second highest jackpot in the history of the popular lottery game. The record Powerball jackpot of more than $1.5 billion was claimed back in 2016. The drawing will be streamed online at powerball.com. Please play responsibly.

The national weather service has issued a warning for Genesee and Orleans Counties for dense fog in the area.  Visibility will be limited to less than a quarter mile.  Motorists are urged to drive slowly and not overtake how far they can see.  Be ready to make sudden stops and for visibility to change rapidly.  The fog should lift by 7am. 

The race to be New York’s next governor could be turning into a toss-up.  Republican Lee Zeldin is closing in on incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul and pollsters say this election is going to come down to voter turnout.  Now two polls show Zeldin slightly ahead of Hochul while another has him slightly trailing her, though most polls still show Hochul with a wider lead, yet much slimmer than weeks ago.  The candidates have been bringing political heavyweights on the campaign trail as Election Day nears.

The city of Rochester is letting people on North Clinton Ave know that they are being watched.  Bright pink enveloped are being sent to people who have been observed buying drugs.  They aren’t being charged, they are being told they have been seen and the envelopes contain an account of where they were observed buying the drugs, a list of safety risks and possible criminal activities.  The city is hoping this will scare people into seeking help or make them wary knowing their deeds aren’t going unnoticed.

A man already facing charges of domestic violence has been arrested again for 2 new warrants.  43 year old James Santiago Jr. was arrested Monday for kidnapping, strangulation and assault.  Batavia Police say Santiago was involved in a domestic assault in a car involving a woman, he wouldn’t let her out of the car and then drove her to a residence in Rochester where she got away.  Santiago has already served 3 sentences for kidnapping, sex with a minor, and robbery and assault.  He is in Genesee county jail without bail.

And he would have gotten away with it too if it weren’t for those darn police.  33 year old Shawn Wisniewski, a man with no permanent address, is accused of stealing a vehicle from a parking lot on Bank Street and then fleeing from police when they tried to stop him.  Around 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 25, police received a report of a suspicious person in a parking lot on Bank Street. A male was reportedly trying to get into vehicles. A short time later, police received a report of a vehicle being stolen from the parking lot. A vehicle matching the description of the stolen vehicle was spotted traveling westbound on West Main Street in the area of Denny’s. The vehicle failed to stop for patrols.  He was caught in East Pembroke.  He was also accused of breaking into an office on Washington Ave.  Wisniewski is being held on bail.

Gov. Hochul and Congressman Brian Higgins announced Tuesday federal funding to further the state’s efforts in combatting targeted violence and domestic terrorism.  The funding, $500,000, was awarded from the U.S Department of Homeland Security’s Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant program.  The funding will help support threat assessment and management teams in Buffalo, Troy, Niagara County, and Monroe County.  The creation of the threat assessment and management teams was a part of Hochul’s Executive Order 18, issued in the wake of the May 14 Tops shooting.

The city has asked Zoom Buffalo to take down their tribute to Josh Allen’s leap over Kansas City’s defensive line that was posted above the Hertle Ave sign.  Instead the image of Allen hurtling will be attached to the outside of Fairy Cake Cupcakery.  The cakery is holding a photo competition to celebrate, take a picture with Allen and tag the bakery in it to get entered to win a cookie cake and Josh Allen Earrings. 

Buffalo police say reports that have been circulating on social media involving tainted candy that was handed out for Halloween aren’t true. Claims were made that kids died due to fentanyl-laced candy, but neither the police or fire department have responded to any reported incidents. Adults should still check all candy to make sure that it’s safe for children to eat. Any candy that looks like it may have been contaminated should be thrown out immediately.

The former United Methodist Church in Alexander has a new name and is no longer part of the Methodist denomination.  It will now be known as The Church in Alexander.  7 other UMC churches in the area announced they would become independent at the October 6th Upper NY UMC Annual Conference.  The church is looking for a full time pastor.  Their mission is to connect with others, lead them to Christ, and prepare God’s people for works of service that the Body of Christ may be built up.

The Buffalo Sabres will be finishing up their current homestand tonight and they’re hoping to end it with a third straight win. The Sabres are hosting Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off of a dominating eight-to-three victory over the Detroit Red Wings Monday night and have 12 points already to start the season. Face-off for this evening’s contest is scheduled for seven-30 p-m.

The Buffalo Bills did not let having the best record in the AFC stop them from making moves at the NFL trade deadline. Buffalo acquired running back Nyheim Hines from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for running back Zack Moss and a conditional sixth-round draft pick. Hines adds some veteran depth to the running backs room and also presents Buffalo with a potential punt returner. The Bills also traded for Dean Marlowe in a deal with the Falcons. Buffalo sent Atlanta a 2023 seventh-rounder for the safety.

James Santiago, Jr.

43-year-old James Santiago, Jr. of Batavia is in trouble again. He’d been awaiting sentencing on domestic violence charges from last year. Over the weekend, Santiago was involved in another domestic dispute, during which he allegedly attacked a woman while in a car and refused to let her leave.  He then allegedly took the vehicle without the owner’s consent. New charges now include kidnapping, strangulation and assault. Santiago was committed to Genesee County Jail without bail. He is a Level 2 offender on the NYS Sex Offender Registry and has served three previous state prison terms: For having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl, for robbery and also for assault.

Governor Hochul has announced that New York’s ConnectAll office has now identified over 31,000 addresses across the state that are unserved or underserved by broadband. This data allows for informed federal funding decisions to ensure high-speed Internet is available in every home across the country. According to the information that was collected, Genesee County has 5-1/4% of its population unserved, which represents 1237 households. In Orleans County, 5-1/3% are unserved, or 980 households. If this data were unavailable, it would not be possible for the Federal Communications Commission to recognize locations as lacking broadband service and the state would miss out on much-needed funding. GLOW region data reported:

Orleans: unserved at 5.36% (980), 0% as underserved (0), 94.94% as served (17,305)
Genesee: unserved at 5.26% (1,237), with another 0.14% as underserved (32), 94.6% as served (22,247)
Wyoming: unserved at 12.72% (2,138), with another 0.41% as underserved (69) and 86.87% as served (14,604)
Livingston: unserved at 10.14% (2,676), with another 0.70% as underserved (186) and 89.16% as served (23,538)

Following the fatal crash of a Kia in Buffalo that killed four teenagers, and with the ‘Kia Challenge’ seen by millions on social media, drivers across the country are saying the company is not doing enough to make their cars secure and attorneys have filed a class-action lawsuit against the company. People who participate in the challenge break into Kia and Hyundai model vehicles, damage wires under the steering wheel and use USB cords to start them. The lawsuit demands that Kia do a national recall to correct the flaw that makes their cars vulnerable to theft. Lawyers estimate the cost involved would be around $5 billion to fix the 10 million vehicles on the road. This would be the third largest recall in the country and would be listed after the 1982 Tylenol recall after seven people in the Chicago area died from cyanide-laced Extra Strength Tylenol and the 2008 salmonella outbreak linked to products distributed by the Peanut Corporation of America.

With the upcoming holiday season fast approaching, The American Red Cross is asking people to donate now to help make sure there’s a large enough blood supply to last through the end of the year. The agency is offering a $10 e-gift card to individuals who donate through Tuesday, November 22nd. All blood types are needed and donations are used to help people recover from things such as serious illnesses and medical procedures. To schedule an appointment, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-733-2767. The next blood drive in Batavia is this Friday at the Social Services Building on East Main Street Road. Click here to make an appointment: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time

Jeff Skinner

Tage Thompson scores

The Buffalo Sabres have extended their winning streak to two games following a blowout victory on home ice. Among the players who found the net, Jeff Skinner; he got his 300th career goal last night and Tage Thompson had a hat trick. Other players who scored were Jack Quinn, Rasmus Asplund, Dylan Cozens and Rasmus Dahlin as the Sabres beat the Detroit Red Wings 8-3 at KeyBank Center. Eric Comrie helped Buffalo secure the victory by stopping 15 of the 18 shots he faced in goal. By the way, Dahlin has further secured his place in the record books…he’s now the first defenseman to have six goals in the first nine games of the season since Hall of Famer Al MacInnis in 1998. Up next for the Sabres is a home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow night at 7:30.

Ahhh….chooo!

Flu season is off to a fast start with hospitalizations at 10-year highs for this time of year and a wave of infections setting in well before the annual outbreak typically begins. Adults who are 65 and older are the most likely to be hospitalized by the flu so far this year, followed by children aged 4 and younger; this, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalizations due to the flu had been down for the past two years as people wore masks, practiced social distancing and stayed home more often to combat the coronavirus. Now that people have returned to pre-pandemic activity doctors are seeing a surge in severe influenza cases. Immunity from being exposed to the flu has also waned during the pandemic, which has helped flu season set in earlier and effect younger children more severely. Flu season typically runs from October to May with a peak in December and January. But this year, it has arrived over a month early. The timing of its onset means fewer people are vaccinated and have full protection from the shot as the flu makes its way through the country.

Someone has been targeting Crosby’s convenience store for robberies, State Police say.  Around midnight on Saturday someone broke into the Crosby’s on Clinton St Rd in Batavia.  It isn’t clear what was taken but the store was left in disarray.  There was also another burglary at the Crosby’s in Elba a week ago on October 23rd and in Albion on the 22nd.  Chief deputy Sheriff Joseph Graff said they all look like the same MO.  All stores were closed at the time of the break in.

After the crash that took the lives of 4 teenagers and a rash of thefts across the country the car company Kia is facing a class action lawsuit.  Drivers are saying the company hasn’t done enough to make secure cars.  The Kia challenge on Tiktok has been blamed for teens stealing Kia and Hyundais.  People taking part in the challenge break into Kia modeled cars, damage wires under the steering wheel and use USB cords to start them up and take off.  The lawsuit demands that Kia do a national recall to address the security flaw that the cars have which allows them to be stolen so easily.  Lawyers estimate that the cost would be a round 5 billion dollars to fix the 10 million Kias on the road and would be the 3rd largest recall the country has ever seen. 

Governor Hochul announced Monday that New York’s ConnectAll office has identified over 31,000 addresses across the state that are unserved or underserved by broadband.  This data was submitted to the Federal Communications Commission’s broadband mapping project.  This project allows for informed federal funding decisions to ensure high-speed internet is available in every home across the country.  According to the Governor’s office, the Commerce Department is expected to distribute money to states in late 2023 based on the FCC’s broadband maps.

The American Red Cross is asking people to roll up their sleeves to help make sure there’s a large enough blood supply to last through the holiday season. The agency is offering a 10-dollar e-gift card to individuals who donate between today and Tuesday, November 22nd. All blood types are needed and donations are used to help people recover from things such as serious illnesses and medical procedures.

The billion-dollar Powerball jackpot keeps getting bigger.  There wasn’t a winner in Monday’s drawing which means Wednesday’s jackpot will be an estimated one-point-two-billion-dollars.  That marks the largest Powerball prize in over six years.

A very popular show is going to be returning to the KeyBank Center next year. The cast of “Disney on Ice” will be performing in Buffalo from Thursday, January 26th through Sunday, January 29th. The theme of the show this time is “Into The Magic” and it will feature appearances by several characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Moana and Belle. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to disneyonice.com.

The Buffalo Urban League has received a significant financial boost thanks to philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Scott, who is the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has donated six-million-dollars to the organization. This is the largest donation in the 96-year history of the Buffalo Urban League and the money will be used to help expand and enhance its programs. The Buffalo Urban League serves roughly 60-thousand people in the area each year.

Tre’Davious White has been reactivated by the Buffalo Bills which doesn’t mean he will play this week but does mean he doesn’t have to go back on the injured reserve list for the next year.  He was injured last thanksgiving, tearing his ACL and hurting his knee.  The starting cornerback has a 4 year, 69 million dollar contract including a 10.5 million dollar signing bonus with the Bills and hasn’t played for a year.

The Sabres topped the Red Wings Halloween night in a game at Keybank Center.  The final score was 8 to 3.  Tage Thompson put in 3 goals, Rasmus Dhalin, Rasmus Asplund, and Dylan Cozens all dropped 1 in.  Jack Quinn got his first goal of the season and Jack Skinner got his 300th career goal.  Eric Comrie saved 15 shots. This puts the Sabres to 6 and 3 and 0.  Buffalo will be home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night at 7:30. 

Ronnie Johnson

52-year-old Ronnie Johnson of Batavia is now in custody, arrested on an outstanding warrant for a felony rape charge. While being taken into custody, he allegedly possessed narcotics with intent to sell. Additional charges include unlawful imprisonment and criminal obstruction of breathing and blood circulation. He was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and is being held without bail. Johnson is scheduled to return to court on November 15th.

Reflective tape on Halloween costume

Your doorbell could get a good workout starting at 4:00 through 9:00 this evening. Children are out and about and in their excitement, may not be as careful as they usually are. So please watch out for them. Parents can help keep kids stay safe by putting reflective tape or bright colors on candy buckets. That will help to increase their visibility. By the way, if you aren’t handing out treats, please leave your porch lights off.

59-year-old Linda Betties of Batavia has been arrested and charged following a trespass complaint. It was later discovered that she trespassed on a property that she had previously been told to stay off of. She was arrested and issued an appearance ticket. Betties is to return to Batavia City Court a week from tomorrow.

Example of a knuckle knife – file photo

32-year-old Lance Mercado, Sr. of Batavia has been arrested following a complaint to the police of a man threatening a woman in the Town of Alexander. It’s alleged Mercado was in possession of a knuckle knife. He was arrested for criminal possession of a weapon and with a previous conviction is being held in Genesee County Jail until he reappears before the judge in Alexander Town Court a week from tomorrow.

Governor Hochul announced this afternoon that New Yorkers needing assistance to help pay heating bills this season, can apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program starting tomorrow. HEAP can provide up to $976 this winter to help low and middle income households as well as senior citizens keep their homes warm. If you’d like more information, contact the Genesee County Department of Social Services.

Department of Social Services
Genesee County Department of Social Services
5130 East Main Street
Batavia, NY 14020
Phone: (585) 344-2580 Ext. 6524
Days Open: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
General Email address for HEAP Clients: genesee.heap@dfa.state.ny.us

M & T Bank entrance, Jefferson Avenue

This morning Buffalo police say they’ve arrested a 12-year-old boy in connection with a bank robbery. The boy entered the M&T Bank branch office on Jefferson Avenue Friday morning and gave the teller a note demanding money. He was able to get away with a small amount of cash but was taken into custody a short time later on East Utica Street. He is now facing a felony charge.

Here we go again?

Gas prices are once again on the rise. According to Triple A this morning, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel in our region is now $3.78. That’s up nine cents since this time last week and is four cents higher than a month ago. The state average is $3.81 and nationally it is $3.76. In Batavia, we’re paying on average $3.75, that’s up 2 cents from a week ago but down 6 cents from a month ago. Earlier this month, President Biden released 15 million barrels of oil from the strategic reserve for this winter in order to help keep gas prices down. AAA officials said that, because the barrels are part of an earlier planned release, the market is likely to have already priced in the impact on per gallon costs. The Biden administration plans to restock the reserves as soon as oil prices fall between $67 and $72 per barrel, AAA representatives said.

A town in Maine is telling its residents that they cannot vote Buffalo Bills Quarterback Josh Allen into the mayor’s office. Bills fans are everywhere, including Westbrook, just a few miles northwest of Portland in Maine, and they’ve been showing their support of the quarterback using yard signs. Those signs, promoting Allen for mayor, confused some other residents into going to city hall to ask why Allen was not on their ballots. The city put out a press release and updated their Facebook page to say Allen was not a candidate for mayor.

Attorney General James

State Attorney General Letitia James has issued guidance to police and local Boards of Elections on how they can prevent voter intimidation at the polls. The AG some things they should look out for include individuals or groups of people who gather outside of polling places and attempt to scare voters out of line and individuals who make false statements claiming there are negative consequences to voting. James says it is against the law to interfere with a person’s right to vote. As a reminder, the Election Protection Hotline can be reached at 866-390-2992.

It’s Halloween and a lucky lottery player could end up with quite a treat if they win tonight’s Powerball jackpot. No one won on Saturday, and that means whoever picks the winning numbers before this evening’s drawing will win one-billion-dollars. There have been 37 drawings in a row since last time the Powerball grand prize was claimed back in August. Please play responsibly.

Isiah McKenzie

The winning streak of the Buffalo Bills is now at four games following another victory at home. Quarterback Josh Allen completed 13 of 25 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns as the Bills beat the Green Bay Packers 27 to 17 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park last night. Isaiah McKenzie also scored a touchdown for Buffalo whose record this season is now 6 and 1. On their way to the ‘W’, the Bills drew several penalties. The good news, by then the Bills were on the right side of that 27-17 win. Up next for the Bills is a road contest against the New York Jets this Sunday; kickoff is 1:00.

The Buffalo Sabres are continuing their current homestand tonight as they try and win their second game in a row. The Sabres are hosting the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off of a 4-3 win in overtime on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for 7:00.

There will be 9 days of early voting beginning October 29 – November 6 at the ARC Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road; here is the schedule of open hours:

Saturday, October 29 9:00 AM—5:00 PM
Sunday, October 30 9:00 AM—5:00 PM
Monday, October 31 9:00 AM—5:00 PM
Tuesday, November 1 12:00 PM—8:00 PM
Wednesday, November 2 12:00 PM—8:00 PM
Thursday, November 3 9:00 AM—5:00 PM
Friday, November 4 9:00 AM—5:00 PM
Saturday, November 5 9:00 AM—5:00 PM
Sunday, November 6 9:00 AM—5:00 PM

Poll site is accessible.

Call the Genesee County Board of Elections with any questions:  815-7804.

The ghosts and ghouls and superheroes will be out to get their candy or maybe a trick or two.  Halloween trick r treating is tonight from 4 to 9pm in Batavia.  If you are driving anywhere make sure to slow down and look for trick or treaters in the road, especially because wearing all black as a costume is popular.  If you are going to any Halloween parties, have a plan to get home safely.  Parents, make sure your kids know not to eat any unwrapped candies and to look before crossing streets and driveways.  Putting reflective tape or bright colors on candy buckets is a great way to increase visibility without sacrificing the costume.  And lastly, if you aren’t handing out candy, leave your porch light off.

Two 16-year-olds are expected to survive after being shot in Buffalo over the weekend. The boy and girl were hit by gunfire Saturday night on Weston Avenue near the Mount Calvary Cemetery and were taken to Erie County Medical Center where they were last listed in stable condition. The names of the victims haven’t been released yet.

Buffalo police say they’ve arrested a 12-year-old boy in connection with a bank robbery. The boy entered the M&T Bank branch office on Jefferson Avenue Friday morning and gave the teller a note demanding money. He was able to get away with a small amount of cash but was taken into custody a short time later on East Utica Street. He is now facing a felony charge.

We knew the drop in gas prices wouldn’t last.  Drivers are definitely feeling the pain at the pump due to a rise in gas prices over the past seven days. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now three-75. That’s up eight cents since this time last week and is two cents higher than a month ago. The state average is three-81 and nationally it is three-76.  Prices are on the rise thanks  to OPEC decreasing the amount of oil being produced after President Biden’s failed attempt to convince them to keep the amount up at least through the midterm elections.

Witches are casting a spell on Google’s list of most popular Halloween costumes this year.  With Halloween upon us, Google Trends is out with its 2022 FrightGeist list that takes a look at the most searched for costumes in the U.S.  For the second straight year witch comes in at number one.  Rounding out the top five are Spider-Man, dinosaur, “Stranger Things” and fairy. 

Need a little pocket change?  Someone out there could become a billionaire when the lotto is announced tonight.  As the Powerball jackpot once again reaches the ten-figure level.  No one’s hit the multi-state lottery since August 3rd, so tonight’s jackpot will climb past one-billion-dollars for just the second time ever.  A top prize of more than one-point-five-billion dollars was awarded back in 2016.  The cash value for today’s upcoming jackpot will be at least 497-million-dollars. 

Labor unions, the Rochester City School District and several local organizations partnered up to give away more than 20,000 free children’s books to Rochester students, families, and educators at Abraham Lincoln School No. 22 on Saturday.  The event included free books, food, games, face painting, bounce houses and more.  Parents and guardians were able to choose books for home libraries and educators and school staff were able to choose books for their classrooms or programs.  Governor Kathy Hochul also stopped by the book drive during her visit to Rochester.

A town in Maine is telling its residents that they cannot vote Buffalo Bills Quarterback Josh Allen into the mayor’s office.  Bills fans are everywhere, including the city of 20,000-plus residents, Westbrook, Maine, and they’ve been showing their support of the quarterback using yard signs. Those signs, promoting Allen for mayor, confused some other residents into going to city hall to ask why Allen was not on their ballots.  The city put out a press release and updated their Facebook page to say Allen was not a candidate for mayor

The Buffalo Bills beat the Green Bay Packers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday night.  But their 27 to 17 win wasn’t all wings and snowflakes.  Allen threw 2 interceptions in the second half.  The Bills drew several penalties.  The good news, the Bills were on the right side of that 27-17 win. They’ll take their 6-1 overall record and head to the Meadowlands to take on the New York Jets on Sunday.

The Buffalo Sabres beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4 to 3 Saturday with come from behind goals in the last 20 minutes of the game and an overtime goal from Victor Olofsson.  Tage Thompson scored both the late game goals after Buffalo started the 3rd period down 3 to 1.  The Sabres will miss trick r treating tonight as they are playing against the Detroit Red wings at 7 at the Keybank Arena.

Early voting starts this weekend and runs up through November 8th and State Attorney General Letitia James is warning New Yorkers about voter intimidation.  She says that voters shouldn’t be harassed by individuals dressed in fatigues and body armor or poll watchers who get too close to the voting booths.  It is illegal for people to attempt to intimidate or coerce someone who is in line to vote to try to get them to leave or change their vote.  It is also illegal to be required to show a photo ID to vote.  If you have a disability the poll workers are also instructed that they are required to make sure you are accommodated and able to vote. 

Next Sunday is the end of daylight saving time as the clock gets held back for an hour from November 5 to November 6th.  There has been much speculation about a proposal to eliminate Daylight Saving Time but it hasn’t gone through yet.  So far, only Hawaii is spared from the clock change twice a year.  While some may not like the resulting early sunset, Daylight Saving Time can serve as a reminder to take care of seasonal maintenance on your home. It’s always a good time to check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure the batteries are working.

The New York State Department of Health is looking for applications for the 41 million dollars that has been set aside for helping women get access to breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings in their community.  The state is attempting to serve women who may not be getting screened because of being low income or not having health insurance.  To address health equity and improve cancer screening rates among populations less likely to be screened, the funding opportunity prioritizes reaching individuals who are Black, who identify as LGBTQIA2S+, or who live in rural areas.  The funding will help provide cancer screening, diagnostic follow-up, and treatment referral services for every county and borough in New York State, with a focus on helping individuals who lack health insurance.   

Pavilion Future Farmers gained a high rank in the national FFA agricultural science research competition.  Evan Sidhu and Evelyn Northrup presented a project that they had been working on since last winter.  They placed first in New York’s convention in May which allowed them to progress to the top 10 in the nation.  This fall the team competed in an intense interview regarding their research and conclusions. This earned them the seventh spot in the nation.

The Buffalo Bills will be playing the Packers in Sunday Night Football and they’ll be doing it without Spencer Brown as starting right tackle.  Brown started all 6 games for the Bills so far this season.  Tre’Davious White is also out for the game and Jake Kumerow and Taiwan Jones are questionable. 

Ricardo Castillo, Jr.

The Oakfield man charged earlier this month in Genesee County with repeatedly raping a child now faces similar charges in Wyoming County. 39-year-old Ricardo Castillo Jr. was charged after a joint investigation by Wyoming and Genesee county sheriff’s departments. Castillo is accused of forcibly raping a person and also raping a child under 15 while in the town of Sheldon. He was arraigned and committed to Wyoming County Jail with bail set at $100,000. Castillo earlier in October was charged in Genesee with 13 counts each of first-degree rape and first degree criminal sexual act; and 10 counts each of second-degree rape and second-degree criminal sexual act involving a victim less than 15 years old. The assaults happened in Oakfield and Elba from November 2019 to August 2021, investigators said. At that time, he was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

County Manager Matt Landers has released his recommended budget for the legislature to consider. It totals $162,567,180; $3,593,714 more than the budget for 2022. Highlights include $70 million for the new County Jail; as well as earmarked money for phase three of the County Water System project. The 2023 recommended budget does raise the tax levy by 2.00% in 2023, but adheres to the New York State property tax cap.

Wesley Thigpen

41-year-old Wesley Thigpen of Batavia is currently in Groveland Correctional Facility, serving a prison term for sexually assaulting a child who was less than 13 years old. His expected release could have come as early as January. He has now pleaded guilty to predatory sexual assault against a child, the most severe sex-related crime under New York penal law. Thigpen at first rejected any notion of a plea and instead made a motion to have Genesee County Court recuse itself from the proceedings. That motion was denied and Thigpen ultimately accepted a plea deal to the felony charges with the promise of a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. The maximum sentence for that charge is 25 years to life. Thigpen will be sentenced November 9. The sentence will be consecutive to the 3 1/2 to four-year term he is currently serving.

Oct 24, 2022

The teenage driver arrested in connection with a deadly rollover crash that happened in Buffalo earlier this week is scheduled to be in court today. Police say the 16-year-old was behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle Monday when it was involved in the accident on the westbound entrance to the Scajaquada Expressway from the inbound Kensington Expressway. At the time of the crash, there were six people in the vehicle and four of them ended up being killed. A 14-year-old girl was also injured but is expected to survive. The suspect, whose name hasn’t been made public due to his age, is facing multiple charges.

Louis Carasone

A Brighton High School physics teacher is in some serious trouble with the law after being accused of having child pornography. Investigators say a search of 44-year-old Louis Carusone’s home in Webster led to the discovery of over two-thousand disturbing images and more than 20 videos. Carusone made an appearance in court yesterday and was released but will be under electronic monitoring. In a statement, the Brighton Central School District said Carusone won’t be returning in any capacity. The charges carry a penalty of 5-20 years in prison.  (Released photo)

The latest data released by the state shows there’s been a decline in the spread of COVID-19 in our region. Right now, the seven-day average infection rate is 6.44%. At this time one week ago, the infection rate was at 7.65%. As a reminder, anyone who wants to get a COVID-19 vaccine or receive the latest booster shot can find an immunization clinic in our area by going to vaccines.gov.

Congressman Lee Zeldin

Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin has brought his campaign for New York governor to Rochester as he looks to continue building support. The main issue that Zeldin addressed during yesterday’s visit was his ongoing criticism of the state’s bail laws. Zeldin claims Governor Hochul isn’t doing enough to hold criminals accountable for their actions. Recent polls show that while Governor Hochul is leading the race, the Republican Zeldin has closed the gap in the last few weeks.

The early voting period gets underway in New York tomorrow and the state Attorney General’s Office says the Election Protection Hotline will be up and running. The hotline be reached by calling 866-390-2992 and it’ll be available from 9:am until 6:00pm through November 6th and from 6:00am until 9:00pm on Election Day. Written requests for election-related help can also be submitted using an online form. The AG’s office also is reminding New Yorkers that they have to right to vote free of intimidation and coercion.

Jeff Skinner

The Buffalo Sabres have dropped their second straight game after falling to a longtime rival on home ice. Jeff Skinner and Dylan Cozens had the goals for the Sabres as they were beaten by the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 at KeyBank Center last night. Buffalo goaltender Eric Comrie gave up three goals on the 34 shots he faced in the contest. Up next for the Sabres is a home game against the Chicago Blackhawks tomorrow night at 7:00.

Josh Allen playing leapfrog

After having last week off, the Buffalo Bills are going to be back in action Sunday as they try and extend their winning streak to four games. The Bills are hosting Aaron Rodgers and the struggling Green Bay Packers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Buffalo last played a game October 16th when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs 24 to 20 and improved their record this season to five wins and one loss. Kickoff for Sunday evening’s contest is set for 8:20.

Fine, I’ll share…

Lottery players across the Empire State are hoping that luck will be on their side as they try and win the 2nd largest Powerball jackpot in the history of the game. Because no one matched all six winning numbers Wednesday, the prize up for grabs tomorrow night will be at least at least $800,000,000. The biggest jackpot in Powerball history was over one-point-five billion dollars back in 2016. The drawing will be streamed online at powerball.com. Good luck! Please play responsibly.

Starting in 2023 anyone committing a crime who is 12 or under will no longer face arrest and prosecution for nearly all crimes, except homicide.  While some are calling the new law a victory, others say it just opens doors to more crime.  Under the new law, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this year, local social services departments will set up what’s known as a differential response program with children who commit crimes.  State Sen. Jeremy Cooney of Rochester, a co-sponsor of the bill, said that this will help make sure kids don’t get entrenched in the criminal justice system.

A Brighton High School teacher was arrested last week for charges of possession and transmission of child porn.  According to a criminal complaint, Louis Carusone, 44, of Webster, shared a video and images containing child pornography Oct. 10 through an online file-sharing network.  An undercover officer downloaded the files, and then downloaded more that were shared Oct. 14-15 from Carusone’s IP address.  Investigators executed a search warrant at Carusone’s home Oct. 21 and seized multiple devices, uncovering 11 videos that Carusone appeared to have recorded himself between Aug. 16-Oct. 13.  According to prosecutors, Carusone appeared to have recorded minors and adults in public places, including at a waterpark while they were wearing bathing suits.  Investigators said they also recovered more than 2,000 images and 21 videos of child pornography.  The charges carry a penalty of 5-20 years in prison. Carusone appeared in federal court Thursday and was released on conditions, including electronic monitoring.

Batavia Downs is doing its part to help women dealing with deadly cancers.  Western Regional Off Track Betting President and CEO Henry Wojtaszek presented representatives from the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester with a check for $23,605.70 to help those who have been affected by breast or gynecologic cancer.  The money was raised during a dinner benefit held on September 16th.  Racers, trainers and owners donated, there were raffles and auctions and harness races through the event. 

I90 westbound was shut down for several hours Thursday afternoon after a tractor trailer hauling soup crashed into another tractor trailer and then caught fire near Pembroke. The tractor trailer that was hit was traveling slowly on the right shoulder of the highway.  Both drivers were able to get out safely with one being transported to the hospital for evaluation.  The soup truck quickly became fully involved and burned to a pile of metal as its fuel caught.  The fire took several hours to get out.  Pembroke and Indian Falls responded. 

Batavia Police are looking to the public for help identifying the operator of a dirt bike who was riding in an unsafe manner throughout the city.  The individual is pictured in several security photos on the Batavian website and rode their dirt bike on the sidewalks.  The bike is bright orange and the rider was wearing a green and purple and white coat and a black backpack.  Anyone with information can call Officer Pete Post at 585 345 6350 or the department’s confidential tip line at 585 345 6370.

The Sabres lost their second straight game Thursday night against the Canadiens 3 to 2.  In their first home game after a week on the road featuring several victories and a defeat by the Krakens Alex Tuch and Dylan Cozens scored for the Sabres but Montreal got 1 in the last minutes of the game to take the win.  The Sabres will be back in action tomorrow night against the Chicago Blackhawks.  The Puck drops at 7 p.m.

The Buffalo Bills have unveiled renderings of their new stadium for the first time.  From their description: “The exterior stadium image highlights the team’s desire for a visual identity that reflects some of the historical architecture of Buffalo, while also delivering a modern appearance.  Featured in the inside bowl rendering is a stacked seating design, which will help to rain crowd noise down onto the playing field. In addition to the stacked seating that will provide protection from the elements, extensive radiant heating will be in place to enhance fan comfort. The Bills are committed to creating an intimate yet intimidating football-first seating bowl that harnesses the energy of the fans.”  The renderings are subject to change.

John Sumlin III

43-year-old John Sumlin the 3rd of Batavia has been arraigned on charges of burglary and assault after he allegedly broke into a home on West Main Street. He is accused of holding a knife to a woman’s neck, hitting her and threatening to kill her and her children and then breaking her television. Sumlin was arraigned and is being held without bail. Charges include Burglary, Criminal Contempt, Criminal Mischief, Assault and Menacing. He will be back in court November 1st.

26-year-old Aaron Hendershot of Batavia has been indicted by a Genesee County Grand Jury and charged with second-degree criminal mischief for damaging a city police car, for damaging property belonging to a woman and obstruction of governmental administration.

Marcella Greene

A former Batavia woman convicted of driving while high on drugs has been indicted and charged a second time, just three weeks after her conviction. 38-year-old Marcella Greene is charged with felony driving while impaired by drugs, reckless driving and misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance. The indictment accuses Greene, who has had multiple arrests for drug-related charges, of driving while high in the city of Batavia last spring. She was convicted on March 31 of misdemeanor driving while high on drugs, also in the city. Greene most recently was arrested on warrants charging her with failure to appear in court for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. She also was arrested in December at a local hotel, where she was found with crack cocaine with intent to sell. She served a four-year prison term for a drug-dealing conviction in Genesee County in 2014.

Bear shaped fentanyl

The Batavia Police Department tells us that “rainbow fentanyl” pills have recently been located in the City of Batavia. The drugs were found in a local gas station bathroom and turned over to officers. The tablets are blue in color and stamped into the shape of a bear. There hasn’t been any association between these pills and Halloween, but the department wants to remind parents to check their children’s candy before consumption. If any candy is opened, appears to have been tampered with, or looks suspicious, throw it out. If any illegal drugs are located in Halloween candy, please contact the police department at 585-345-6350. Have a safe and Happy Halloween! Photo provided by Batavia Police.

The latest data from the State Department of Labor puts the unemployment rate in Genesee County at 2.5%, down a third of a percent from a month ago and the same as it is in Wyoming County; the two counties have the lowest rates in the GLOW region. Nationally the unemployment rate is down from 4.6% last month to 3.8%, while New York State’s overall rate dropped a full percentage from 4.9 to 3.9. Bronx County in New York City continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the state at 7.2%, although that’s down from 8.4% from a month ago. There are only a few counties in the state, one of which is Yates, with unemployment rates of 2.4%.

The City of Batavia invites residents to attend the opening of the forthcoming Mall Market. Visit the Batavia City Centre Mall on Saturday, October 29th for the first Mall Market day. And then mark your calendars for future Mall Market Days: November 12, November 19, November 26, December 10, and December 17. The Mall Market will be open from 8:00am to 11:30am. Porter Farms, Garner Farms, and Tastefully Simple are among the vendors who will be on hand. Applications are still being accepted! Anyone interested in endorsing their business or promoting their products is encouraged to apply at .

Senator Sue Serino

State Senator Sue Serino wants to close what she calls a loophole in the law when it comes to mandated reporters of suspected child abuse. She is advocating an amendment to the law, which would spell out that teachers, doctors and others who are mandated reporters must “report any suspected abuse directly to law enforcement” irrespective of the relationship the abuser has with the child. This follows the conviction earlier this week of Kirk Ashton. He’s the former principal of a Hilton elementary school who abused 21 students over the course of four years; parents there believe if more people had reported the abuse, it could have been stopped sooner.

Governor Hochul receiving flu shot

Governor Hochul has joined the large number of New Yorkers who have already received their flu shot as the state tracks three respiratory illnesses. She is encouraging everyone to get the flu shot now since this year’s flu season has started earlier than usual. She adds the state is still monitoring COVID-19 and urges residents to get an updated booster shot. The governor’s office is also checking local data to see if there’s a spike in the Respiratory Syncytial Virus which typically affects young children.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has a timely reminder for us to keep a close eye out for moose and deer while we’re traveling. Data from the University at Albany’s Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research showed that last year; 41-percent of the crashes involving deer and vehicles happened in October, November and December. Officials say that deer and moose are very difficult to spot during dawn and dusk when visibility is already low. Drivers should slow down if they see an animal and try to avoid swerving so they don’t collide with another vehicle or objects like trees and utility poles.

The Buffalo Police Department has released brand new information on the upcoming launch of its threat management unit. The unit will be made up of four detectives and a detective sergeant who will be in charge of investigating threats made towards the public that could lead to a large number of casualties. Members will also be responsible for handling extreme risk protection orders and racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism cases. The unit is expected to begin its work next month.

Buffalo Sabres Logo History – left to right, 1970, 1996, 2006, 2010

After a long road trip, the Buffalo Sabres are going to have the support of their home crowd when they take the ice tonight. The Sabres are set to host the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off of a tough five-to-one defeat at the hands of the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for 7:00.

43 year old John Sumlin the 3rd was arraigned on charges of burglary and assault after he allegedly broke into a home on West Main Street and attacked the residents.  He is accused of breaking into the home, holding a knife to a woman’s neck, hitting her and threatening to kill her and her children and then breaking her tv.  Sumlin was arraigned Tuesday and is being held without bail.  He is charged with Burglary in the 1st degree, Criminal Contempt in the 1st, Criminal Mischief in the 3rd, Assault in the 3rd and Menacing in the 2nd.  He will be back in court November 15th.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Environmental Conservation are reminding drivers to keep a close eye out for moose and deer while they’re traveling. Data from the University at Albany’s Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research showed that last year, 41-percent of the crashes involving deer and vehicles happened in October, November and December. Officials say that deer and moose are very difficult to spot during dawn and dusk when visibility is already low. Drivers should slow down if they see an animal and try to avoid swerving so they don’t collide with another vehicle or objects like trees and utility poles.

A bill working its way through the state senate would clarify mandated reporters responsibilities when it comes to suspected child abuse.  State Sen. Sue Serino wants to close what she calls a loophole in the law, saying the current law on mandated reporting is too vague.  She wants an amendment to the law, spelling out that mandated reporters like teachers and doctors are required to “report any suspected abuse directly to law enforcement” regardless of whether the abuser is a family member of the child.  After the conviction of Kirk Ashton, former Principal in Hilton, of abusing 21 students.  Parents are saying more could have been done and that others knew of the abuse and did nothing. 

If you’ve driven through Rochester you’ve seen them, on almost every street corner and on the medians between roads, panhandlers.  The city is now trying to get them off the streets with a campaign called Be the Change, Keep the Change.  The campaign encourages the community to donate directly to nonprofit organizations providing services to the homeless — rather than paying panhandlers directly.  Some business owners say panhandlers are a disruption.  Others say it’s inhumane to not support those in need.  Others argue that once money is given to a panhandler, they keep coming back for more.

The Town of Bergen is asking Genesee County for more money as they say they are facing running out completely and having to suspend snowplowing and reduce their workforce.  Bergen has a budget of 2.3 million dollars.  They have cut funding to the library, closed the transfer station, and raised taxes.  Bergen Supervisor Ernie Hayward said the county has not been keeping up its end of the bargain in how much it provides to towns.  County Chairwoman Shelley Stein said that the towns had a chance to share concerns before agreements were put in place and at some point in the future the county will be in a position to help, but not now.

A meeting will be held where Rochester lawmakers and customers are planning to call for a public takeover of Rochester Gas and Electric.  Customers have been upset with the utility company, which is currently owned by AVANGRID Incorporated, after it announced a proposed increase of its gas and electric rates. The meeting is happening from six p-m until eight p-m at the Thomas P. Ryan Recreation Center on Webster Avenue in Rochester.  People who want to attend can register online in advance by going to metrojustice.org.

The Volunteers for Animals are holding a FurRaiser to raise money for their furry friends this Saturday from 10 to 3 at Pudgies Lawn and garden on West Main Street.  There will be a giant basket raffle and a raffle for 2 Buffalo Bills tickets for the game on December 11th against the Jets.  The nonprofit helps animals at Genesee County Animal Shelter, from providing much-needed medical care, vaccinations, fostering, walking, assisting with adoptions, to, of course, showering them with lots of TLC.  Pudgies will also be offering 10 percent off on all pet friendly plants.

Buffalo is facing Green Bay this weekend and Tre’Davious White is not playing.  He practiced with the Bills on Wednesday wearing a red no contact jersey.  He was not on the injury report.  Buffalo will have to make a decision on White in the very near future. The team has until next Wednesday, November 2nd by 4:00 p.m. est. to either activate White to the roster. Or he will go back on the Injured Reserve list for the rest of the year.  

After a long road trip, the Buffalo Sabres are going to have the support of their home crowd when they take the ice tonight. The Sabres are set to host the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off of a five-to-one defeat at the hands of the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for seven p-m.

Scott Campagnola

A Long Island man who was part of a nationwide theft scheme that targeted Wal-Mart stores has pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a forged instrument. 56-year-old Scott Campagnola waived indictment on burglary, criminal possession of stolen property and theft charges before making the plea deal. He’ll be sentenced in January. Campagnola was arrested in July after a report of shoplifting at Wal-Mart in Warsaw. Police found more than $8,500 worth of items in his car, along with stolen gift cards and ledgers detailing thefts across the country. Campagnola is now a five-time convicted felon with criminal histories in five states.

37-year-old Robert Williams of Le Roy has been accused of spraying bleach into the eyes of two dogs. And today he is in Genesee County Court as his trial began with jury selection. Williams was charged with two counts of felony-aggravated cruelty to animals and two counts of misdemeanor criminal mischief. Williams was living at a friend’s house in Batavia when the alleged abuse happened. The dogs were treated and have recovered. Williams faces up to two years for each count of cruelty to animals and up to a year for the criminal mischief charges.

Genesee county Sheriffs and LeRoy police will be engaging in a high visibility campaign as part of the STOP DWI initiative from Saturday the 29th through Halloween Monday, the 31st. The goals include stopping people from driving impaired by drugs or alcohol. Law enforcement will be out in high traffic areas so slow down, drive safe and drive sober. If you are going to a party that involves drinking, have a plan in place and don’t get behind the wheel.

City police are warning about an apparent text scam targeting area residents. The text claims to offer $10 off “City of Batavia Police Department” hoodies if the recipient clicks a link. Batavia Police say they do not sell clothing and never text people randomly under any circumstances. Their advice is to not click on the link and delete the message.

 Trick or treat! – File photo

The City of Batavia will recognize Halloween on Monday, Oct. 31 from 4 to 9 p.m. Trick-or-treaters should be off the streets by 9 p.m. on Halloween night.

The Diocese of Buffalo and New York State Attorney General’s Office have reached a deal to settle a lawsuit that was filed nearly two years ago. In November 2020, the AG’s office took legal action claiming the Diocese didn’t help protect young people from being sexually abused. The Diocese was also accused of covering up that abuse for years. As part of this agreement, a Child Protection Policy Coordinator has been appointed to make sure all of the proper guidelines are followed.

The ARC Center – 38 Woodrow Road

Early voting for the November 8th election, including the Governor’s race begins this Saturday at the ARC Center at 38 Woodrow Road. Hours of operation are from 9 to 5 the 29th through the 6th with the exception of Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd being noon to 8. November 8th all polling places will be open from 6am to 9pm.  Photo by Doug Thompson, WBTA News.

Cozens talks with Dahlin – file photo (2021)

The three-game winning streak of the Buffalo Sabres has been snapped after the team wraps up its road trip with a loss. Dylan Cozens scored the lone goal for Buffalo as they were beaten by the Seattle Kraken 5-1 at Climate Pledge Arena last night. Sabres goaltender Eric Comrie had a very tough game, giving up five goals on the 24 shots he faced in the contest. Buffalo will be back home tomorrow night to take on the Montreal Canadiens. Puck drop at the Keybank Center is at 7:00.

This Saturday from 10am to 2pm, law enforcement agencies across the County are providing you the opportunity to turn in your expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous. Stop by the Batavia Police Department in the Alva Place parking lot; or The Genesee County Sheriff’s office at the Pembroke Town Hall, 1145 Main Road, Corfu; or The Le Roy Police Department headquarters at 3 West Main Street. Sharps will only be accepted at the Batavia location.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
· The Batavia Police Department, in conjunction with United Memorial Medical Center, will be accepting prescription drugs and sharps in the Alva Place parking lot across the street from Batavia Showtime (located in the Genesee County Mall), Batavia.
· The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office will be accepting prescription drugs ONLY at the Pembroke Town Hall, 1145 Main Road, Corfu.
· The Le Roy Police Department will be accepting prescription drugs ONLY at their headquarters located at 3 West Main Street, Le Roy.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, there are many other ways to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs every day, including the 11,000 authorized collectors that are available all year long. The Batavia Police Department Headquarters has one for everyday collection of drugs located in the rear vestibule at 10 West Main St., Batavia, NY. Containers are also located at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office on Park Rd, Batavia, and at the Le Roy Police Department. Sharps are accepted at United Memorial Medical Center, 127 North Street, Batavia. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 29th Take Back Day event , go to www.DEATakeBack.com.

The Powerball jackpot keeps growing and that means there is going to be at least $700,000,000 up for grabs tonight. That prize is the fifth largest in the history of the lottery game. All someone has to do to win is correctly choose all six winning numbers, but the odds of doing that are one in 292,000,000. This evening’s drawing will be streamed live online at Powerball.com. Please play responsibly.

Investigators are saying a Tiktok challenge may be the cause of the crash that killed 4 teens and left 1 in the hospital and another in police custody in Buffalo Monday morning.  Police said the vehicle was stolen and it is believed excessive speed played a significant factor in the crash.  Police believe the stolen Kia involved in the crash may have been motivated by a social media challenge.  The viral challenge can be found on TikTok, showing how to steal Kias and Hyundais in a matter of seconds.  The amount of thefts of Hyundais and Kias in the last year has more than quadrupled compared to previous years.  Police say to never leave your keys in the car or leave your car running unattended. 

Governor Hochul and Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin have taken part in their only scheduled debate and there were a variety of topics discussed. During last night’s debate at Pace University, the governor spoke about her ongoing commitment to putting an end to gun violence and her efforts to improve the state’s economy. But Zeldin, her Republican opponent, claimed Hochul is not doing enough to crack down on crime or keep dangerous criminals in custody. Early voting begins in New York State this Saturday and Election Day is Tuesday, November 8th.

GO Health’s director of public health, Paul Petit is calling the opioid situation in Orleans County an epidemic.  Pettit said the health department works in collaboration with substance use agencies, such as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, along with mental health clinics and law enforcement to prevent overdoses. And, that work is becoming more and more challenging.  Last year, more than 100,000 Americans lost their lives due to fentanyl, which, on average, is about 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.  Orleans county has a much higher rate of opioid deaths per capita than the state or national average.  In a move to increase awareness and community action, the health department helped institute the GOW Opioid Task Force, a three-county initiative to inform the public of the dangers of opioids and to develop strategies to deter use of opioids.  Right now they are trying to get Naloxone into the hands of as many people as possible and show them how to use the overdose stopping drug.  They may place boxes with it in public areas.

Genesee county Sheriffs and LeRoy police will be engaging in a high visibility campaign as part of the STOP DWI initiative on the 29th through 31st to stop people from driving impaired by drugs or alcohol.  Halloween is meant to be scary, but not when it comes to driving. When it comes to drunk driving Halloween can turn the roads into a horror fest. While families spend time trick or treating and hosting parties with loved ones, law enforcement officers and STOP-DWI programs across New York State will participate in special efforts to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives.  Law enforcement will be out in high traffic areas so slow down, drive safe and drive sober.  If you are going to a party that involves drinking, have a plan, don’t drive.

The Ice we skate is getting pretty thin at David M McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena because of leaks in the chiller.  As Carrier Services took over the management of the arena they say they’ve uncovered issues that had gone unrepaired and unreported until now.  A leak in the chiller being the biggest one and costing nearly 22 thousand dollars to deal with.  Also they discovered a compressor that had never been turned on.  The city council says there is a lot that needs improving at the arena but that the new company is making progress.  The emergency spending for keeping the chiller going with more refrigerant is coming out of the ice rink reserve fund which has 357 thousand dollars in it.

GO Health is holding a Trauma and Resiliency conference at Batavia Downs Casino November 9th from 8:30am to 3pm to help people understand how these issues influence our communities.  The conference will look at Adverse Childhood Experiences data in Genesee Orleans and Wyoming Counties.  If you are in education, behavioral health, mental health, department of social services, law enforcement, the court system, probation, human services, etc. you are invited to register to attend.  To register follow the link at WBTAi.com.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/genesee-orleans-wyoming-trauma-resiliency-conference-tickets-440332495347

Batavia’s City Council needs new phones.  Assistant City Manager Eric Fix says that the phones they’ve been using are antiquated and in need of a boost and are no longer being serviced by Cisco Systems.  Fix and a committee got applications from 4 vendors and recommended a cloud based phone service provider Ring Central.  Not to be confused with the Ring doorbells, Ring Central is based in California and would cost roughly 23 thousand dollars a year for 5 years.  This would include the phones, installation and training.  The proposal will be voted on November 8th.

The three-game winning streak of the Buffalo Sabres has been snapped after the team wraps up its road trip with a loss. Dylan Cozens scored the lone goal for Buffalo as they were beaten by the Seattle Kraken five-to-one at Climate Pledge Arena last night. Sabres goaltender Eric Comrie had a very tough game, giving up five goals on the 24 shots he faced in the contest. Buffalo will be back home tomorrow night to take on the Montreal Canadiens. Puck drop at the Keybank Center is at 7pm.

Firefighters at the Baskin Livestock fire on Sunday

Fire investigators know where the Baskin Livestock fire on Sunday started but have not yet determined what caused it. The fire appears to have ignited in a bay area of the facility where paper that contained waste food items is stored prior to shipment to a landfill. The company converts waste food into cattle feed. Since they are self insured, it’s unlikely fire investigators will return to the scene unless requested to by the company. A representative of Baskin Livestock said they plan to investigate a fire suppression system that was installed in the building but seems to have malfunctioned. Photo courtesy of Howard Owens and The Batavian.

Tonight at 5:30pm on FOX and 7:00pm on the CW you’ll be able to watch local Deputy and School Resource Officer, Jordan Alejandro and his family compete on Family Feud! He would not share whether or not they won. (Photos included with the press release)

Sample of bulletproof vest

The Batavia Police Department has received a grant of $5,667.30 that it can use toward the purchase of bulletproof vests. The City Council approved updating the department’s budget to include receiving the money. The award comes from the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program of the Bureau of Justice Assistance and will cover half the cost of each vest, which helps to offset the total cost of approximately $900 for each vest.

40-year-old Justin Cowell of Batavia is charged with four counts of criminal contempt of court for violating orders of protection. He is also charged with endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful dealing with a child for providing alcohol and selling tobacco to a minor.

With just two weeks left until Election Day, the two candidates in the race for New York governor will be holding their first and only scheduled debate tonight. It will be carried live on Spectrum News starting at 7:00. Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul and her Republican challenger, Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin, are going to discuss issues important to voters. Recent polls have shown that while the governor is leading the race, Zeldin has gained some ground in the contest. Hochul is hoping to win a full four-year term in office while Zeldin wants to become the first Republican since George Pataki to be elected governor.

Kirk Ashton (front) after hearing guilty verdicts

Following hours of deliberations, a jury has handed down its verdict in the trial of former Northwood Elementary School principal Kirk Ashton. Yesterday, Ashton was convicted on 46 of the 50 counts that were filed against him for inappropriately touching multiple students. During the trial, those victims and staff members at the school testified about Ashton’s actions, but he didn’t take the stand in his own defense. Ashton, who was principal at the school for 17 years will be sentenced late next month.

Fatal crash in Buffalo

Buffalo police are continuing their investigation into a crash that resulted in the deaths of four teenagers. According to officials, there were a total of six people inside of the stolen vehicle when yesterday’s accident happened at the entrance to the westbound Scajaquada Expressway from the westbound Kensington Expressway. Three of the victims died at the scene and the fourth passed away at a nearby hospital. The two people who survived, including the 16-year-old driver, were also hurt. The driver was taken into custody but there’s no word what charges they’ll face. The theft may have been associated with a social media challenge, involving videotaping the theft of a Hyundai or Kia model vehicle. Following a joyride, the vehicle is abandoned.

The Buffalo Sabres will be looking to extend their current winning streak to four games tonight. The Sabres are finishing up their road trip with a contest against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Buffalo is coming off of a dominating five-to-one victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night and have only lost one game so far this season. Face-off for tonight’s contest is set for 10:00.

Snail Jungle Gym in a Medina park – file photo

The snail jungle gyms at two parks in Medina will soon to be sold through an online auction site. The Village Board declared them to be surplus items after their insurance company recommended they be taken out because they don’t meet requirements for modern day safety of playground equipment. The snail at Pine Street Park is in better shape; the eyes had fallen off the one at Butts Park. The board also voted to declare the merry-go-round at one of their parks as surplus because it was in what they described as ‘rough shape’.

Governor Hochul announced Monday that New York is sending out 28 million dollars to cities such as Buffalo and Rochester to combat gun violence.  Each city can get up to 4 million dollars to be used as part of project RISE.  RISE, which stands for Respond, Invest, Sustain and Empower is a community center based program meant to help youth and families in areas where there is more gun violence.  Community centers can each receive up to 500K dollars.  Hochul is saying that these community centers and initiatives will combat the root causes of gun violence and create safer neighborhoods.

A man claiming to be a police officer was detained by actual police Tuesday night behind TOPs Friendly Market in Batavia.  The police responded to a call of someone who may have a gun chasing people in the area of Rite Aid on west Main and Lewiston Rd at around 9pm.  The suspect is described as a thin white male wearing jeans and a red windbreaker with a black and blue baseball cap.  No further details about him are available at this time.

Buffalo police are continuing their investigation into a crash that resulted in the deaths of four teenagers. According to officials, there were a total of six people inside of the stolen vehicle when yesterday’s accident happened at the entrance to the westbound Scajaquada Expressway from the westbound Kensington Expressway. Three of the victims died at the scene and the fourth passed away at a nearby hospital. The two people who survived, including the 16-year-old driver, were also hurt. The driver was taken into custody but there’s no word what charges they’ll face.

The “Nation’s Report Card” is painting a grim picture of the state of schools in the U.S.  The National Assessment of Education Progress found that math scores for both fourth and eighth graders declined by record levels.  Between 2019 and 2022, math scores fell by five points for fourth graders and eight points for eighth graders.  46.6% of students tested statewide were proficient in English, while 38.6% were proficient in math, the data show.  Reading scores also fell, but the declines weren’t as steep. 

Multiple Upstate New York school districts are among those with the slowest internet speeds in the state, according to a recent list from Stacker.  Nearly 28 million students nationwide lack the internet speeds they need for digital learning, Stacker said. A total of 275 school districts in New York fail to meet minimum thresholds measured by megabytes per second.  In the lowest 10 are districts like Victor and Canandaigua.  

Last week the Centers for Disease Control voted to include the Covid-19 vaccine in the recommended vaccine schedule for 2023.  The vote does not mandate the vaccine for anyone, including children attending public school. That decision is left up to individual states.  Governor Hochul, when asked if kids in schools would have to get the shot to attend school, didn’t give a clear answer.  Instead she said if it was to be made mandatory the decision would have to go up through the legislature in consultation with the Commissioner of Health.  Zeldin has released a statement saying he is against mandating the vaccine for school children.  Parents are on both sides of the issue, some saying they would feel safer if all kids had to be vaccinated against COVID and some pointing to children and teens suddenly developing heart problems and several athletes suddenly dying due to heart issues in recent months are reasons they are not vaccinating their kids.

If you go to buy beer this week you might see a sticker you hadn’t seen before on the box.  It will read “Warning! It is illegal for any person 21 or older to purchase or provide alcohol to minors. Fines up to $1,000 and/or 1 year in jail.”  This sticker is placed by Batavia High and Notre Dame students for Operation Project Sticker Shock as part of Red Ribbon Week.  The week is sponsored by the DEA in honor of special agent Enrique Camarena who was tortured and killed by a cartel in Mexico in 1985.  The red ribbon is a pledge to live drug free.  Students will also be participating in activities at Recovery Station.

With just two weeks left until Election Day, the two candidates in the race for New York governor will be holding their first and only scheduled debate tonight. Incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul and her Republican challenger, Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin, are going to discuss issues that are important to voters at Pace University. Recent polls have shown that while the governor is leading the race, Zeldin has gained some ground in the contest. Hochul is hoping to win a full four-year term in office while Zeldin wants to become the first Republican since George Pataki to be elected governor.

Frontier Field in Rochester may be getting a new moniker.  Monroe County Executive Adam Bello is recommending county legislators authorize an amendment to the contract with Frontier Communications regarding naming rights for the stadium used by the Rochester Red Wings.  Under the amendment, Innovative Data Processing Solutions, a Henrietta-based company that specializes in cloud services and consulting, would take over the stadium’s naming rights.  If the amendment is passed, the stadium’s name would change to Innovative Field.  The stadium has been known as Frontier Field since its inception. Frontier purchased naming rights in 1994, with the stadium opening in 1996. Frontier’s current contract runs through 2025.