Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on July 15, 2022
Another major accident in front of Dave’s Ice Cream. A 2019 Ford Transit van being driven by 80 year old Bruce Chilson of Spring Hill in Florida was making a left turn into Dave’s at around 5:20 when 34 year old Gilberto Natal riding a motorcycle slammed into the passenger side of the van. Natal was ejected and hit the van. The van was knocked onto its side by the force of the crash. Natal sustained life threatening injuries and was airlifted by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital. Bruce Chilson and Mary Chilson were treated at the scene for minor injuries and taken to UMMC. The accident is under investigation.
Brown grass getting you down? You aren’t alone. According to the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NOAA, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, parts of Western New York are now in a “moderate drought”. Right now, a region from Niagara Falls south to Buffalo and east into Genesee and Wyoming County has been upgraded to “moderate drought” status, from “abnormally dry”. Scientists use soil moisture readings, river level gauges and groundwater levels to determine water conditions. The city of Batavia has issued several water use warnings over the past month asking residents to conserve their water.
Multiple departments responded to a fire in a field in East Pembroke Thursday afternoon. Around 2pm a fire was reported in the back of a wheat field at 2281 Brown Rd. East Pembroke Fire responded and requested Elba’s utility transport vehicle and Alexander’s UTV because they are equipped with pumps. Alexander Fire, Indian Falls, Alabama, and Darien Fire also dispatched. Alden Fire, which was on scene at a Darien accident, volunteered to bring their UTV to the fire and was dispatched. Crittenden Fire was also dispatched. The fire was reported out by 3:10.
Genesee County is seeing a changing of the guard for school boards. In Batavia John Marucci is taking the reigns moving from VP to President and John Reigle is moving into the VP spot. Korinne Anderson was newly elected to the board. In Elba Michael Riner was elected president and Travis Torrey as VP. Mercy Caparco was elected new this year. In Leroy Superintendent Merritt Holly reported that Jackie Whiting was elected as president and Rich Lawrence for vice president. In Oakfield for the first time a student representative was elected to the board in an ex-officio position. Aiden Warner, a senior this year, is filling the position.
O-At-Ka Milk has announced a donation of 2500 dollars to the Annual Police Community Night in Batavia. Community Night Out is part of a community-building campaign that promotes strong police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make safer neighborhoods. Various organizations and groups once again will be participating in the annual event which will include free food and a bounce house and games for kids and more. The 2022 Batavia Police Community Night is in partnership with The City Church. The event will be held Tuesday, August 9th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at City Church at St. Anthony’s on Liberty St.
