Morning News Briefing
Written by Michael Baldwin on March 11, 2021
Court action is pending for a Holley man following a violent incident in the Town of Batavia. State Troopers say they arrested 27-year-old William A. Nichols. He has been charged with felony assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon. He also faces lesser counts of menacing with a weapon, criminal obstruction of breathing and preventing an emergency call. The incident was reported at 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Genesee County deputies have leveled multiple felony counts against a West Seneca man. 19-year-old Thomas Hofmeier is charged with burglary, two counts of grand larceny, criminal mischief and conspiracy. He was arraigned and released to return to court April 5th.
Officials have announced the award of up to $50.7 million to providers throughout New York State to expand access to addiction services. The majority of this funding will go towards regional networks designed to support a continuum of care that includes prevention, treatment and recovery. $3.1 million is earmarked for Value Network Behavioral Health Care Collaborative Network. It serves Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming and five other counties.
Police in New York make impaired driving arrests everyday…but sometimes, there are more coordinated efforts. The next crackdown focuses on St. Patrick’s Day, which is next Wednesday. State Police, county and local police plan to have a full-court press beginning March 16th and continuing thru the 21st. There will be increased patrols…some you’ll see and others you won’t. There will also be STOP-DWI checkpoints.
New York State still has nearly 4,800 people hospitalized for COVID…with another 999 patients in an intensive Care Unit. As of Wednesday, the statewide positivity rate was 3.16%. 58 COVID-19 deaths were reported in NY on Wednesday. The Finger Lakes Region reports 158 COVID patients in area hospitals and 397 patients in the ICU.
Following what has been arguably one of the most challenging years for athletics departments across the nation, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) has recognized Genesee Community College’s Assistant Vice President of Student Engagement & Inclusion and Director of Athletics, Kristen Schuth as the Junior/Community College Athletics Director of the Year. In addition to the countless impacts the coronavirus pandemic has had on collegiate communities, the Association has also had to reinvent its recognition ceremony and will present Schuth with the Director of the Year honor at its 56th Annual Convention virtually in July. This prestigious award has earned Schuth a place in GCC’s Recognition Matters series which highlights the accomplishments of the College’s faculty, staff and students.
Genesee County reports 18 new cases of COVID-19. 17 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list. 4 of the current positive individuals are hospitalized. 11 of the new positive individuals are inmates at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center. Orleans County has confirmed six new cases and Wyoming County reports four new cases.
The Genesee County Highway Department has created a website to help keep the public informed during the reconstruction of the South Lyon Street Bridge. The project is being paid for by a $498,000 federal grant and $124,600 from county funds. Construction is expected to begin in the spring. Considering the importance of this bridge to the traveling public in our community, a website was created to keep residents and businesses apprised of the project’s progress.
New York Senate Republicans have announced a resolution to repeal Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s requirement that bars serve food with alcoholic beverages. Cuomo issued the order in July, and some restaurants created small snacks to satisfy the requirement. Senate Republicans say the order caused “mass confusion” for restaurants and bars, an industry that was already struggling to comply with pandemic regulations.
