Afternoon News Brief

At the city Planning and Development Committee meeting, the focus of much discussion was on farm animals – and how to enforce restrictions, and which animal species should or should not be allowed in the city. In the end last night, the group agreed to put forth a recommendation, to use City Manager Rachael Tabelski’s drafted resolution, with a few alterations. The changes included: limiting chickens to six, banning roosters from being kept in the city, and requiring city residents to register their animals by a certain date, to be determined by council if it adopts the recommendation, or not be allowed to keep the animal on their city properties. Registering the animals will allow folks that already have chickens, goats and the like to keep them, and should make it easier to track who has what and where. This will next go to City Council for review and eventually a vote. And a public hearing will be scheduled before a final decision is made. The resolution by Rachael Tabelski “restricts people from owning, bringing into, possessing, keeping, harboring or feeding farm animals, cloven-hoofed animals, equine or fowl, including but not limited to cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, swine, lamas, alpaca, ducks, turkey, geese, feral cats, ponies, donkeys, mules or any other farm or wild animal within city limits.”

Exceptions include:

Chickens, as long as they are penned appropriately, do not accumulate feces or cause odor or an unsightly or unsafe condition. The addition, if approved, would limit them to six.
Harborage, including transport to and from race tracks and all associated grounds.
Special events with the approval of an event application.
Animals in transit through the city.

Transport to and from veterinary hospitals/clinics, including short-term boarding for medical procedures/conditions.
No person shall permit an accumulation of animal and/or fowl feces on any property resulting in a foul odor or unsightly condition that makes travel or residence in the vicinity uncomfortable, or which attracts flies or other insects of animals, thereby creating an unsanitary condition and may facilitate the spread of disease of which endangers the public comfort and repose.

The registration requirement would be for people already with farm animals on their properties. If they don’t register an animal by the deadline, it would have to go.

(The comprehensive story is available at the website of our news partner, The Batavian: https://www.thebatavian.com/joanne-beck/got-farm-animals-in-the-city-a-mandatory-registry-may-be-for-you/612665 )

 

A Shirley, NY couple has been arrested. Wyoming County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the Wal-Mart Store in Warsaw after receiving a call that a larceny was in progress. It was during a traffic stop shortly after on Route 19 in the Town of Warsaw where sheriffs pulled over: 56-year-old Scott Campagnola was the driver of the vehicle; 55-year-old Diane Mankowski was his passenger. The sheriffs found over $3500 ($3,513.20) worth of stolen merchandise in the vehicle and a total of 104 stolen gift cards with a value of over $3600 ($3,615). They also recovered Wal-mart gift cards with over $1400 ($1,437.84) remaining on them. Additional investigation revealed that the pair was involved with a detailed nationwide fraud scheme involving Wal-mart stores. (Wal-Mart Stores from as far west as California and Oregon, and as far east as Florida and Maine, were documented as having been affected by the couple’s fraud scheme.) Campagnola is a four-time convicted felon and was committed to the Wyoming County Jail without bail and is scheduled to return to Warsaw Town Court in August. Mankowski, a one-time convicted felon, was issued an appearance ticket to answer the charge early next month in Warsaw Town Court.

 

Fifty-two organizations in Genesee, Wyoming and Livingston counties will benefit from $400,000 in impact grant investments by the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes. This will include over $100,000 for 19 programs for summer camp and after-school programming, giving children and youth a safe place to socialize and gain new skills in leadership, literacy, art, work; as well as over $50,000 for seven food pantries and Meals on Wheels, helping seniors get proper nutrition and ensuring families have enough food to put a balanced meal on the table.

 

Some new bills have been signed into law that will expand the rights of New Yorkers who have disabilities. Officials say the goal of these measures is to help disabled individuals thrive. One piece of legislation protects, the decision-making process for people living with these challenges, by creating a formal legal process once they turn 18. Other laws call for a public awareness campaign to combat stigmas surrounding the disabled community while also changing how people with disabilities are referred to in previous legislation.

 

Governor Hochul announced the state’s approval of the largest solar facility in New York State and it will be built in Oakfield and Elba. The new facility is expected to bring in around $30 million to the county, town, and school district and is additionally expected to bring in 495 jobs. Once the solar facility is completed, it is expected to generate enough energy to power over 125,000 homes and reduce nearly 462,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. The facility will be designed, constructed, and operated by Hecate Energy Cider Solar, LLC.

 

The eligibility requirements have been set for people who want to claim benefits from the Buffalo 5/14 Survivors Fund. Money will be distributed to individuals who are legal heirs of the 10 people killed in the shooting, those who were struck by a gunshot or suffered some sort of physical injury, people who were present at the time of the shooting and are dealing with mental trauma and Tops employees of the Jefferson Avenue store who were not present at the time of the May 14th shooting. An online application will be available in the coming weeks and that document will need to be completed and returned by September 14th. The hope is the first payments from the fund will be sent out in the coming months.

 

The Batavia Muckdogs won their game against the Elmira Pioneers last night, 9-1. They continue to lead the West Division with their record of 27-14 over the Utica Blue Sox (26-16). Batavia continues their road trip to Jamestown for a game against the Tarp Skunks tonight. They’re back home tomorrow to host Auburn, game time 7:00.

 

 

For the third time since the beginning of July, the Niagara County Department of Health has issued an advisory involving Olcott Beach. Officials are telling people not to swim there due to concerns over the water quality. They say a high bacteria count was detected earlier this week and that the beach is only going to reopen for swimming once it’s safe. Anyone with questions can contact the principal public health engineer at 716-439-7451.

 

Sometimes all you need is a billion dollars. Well, as it turns out, you’re in luck. There was no winner in the Mega Millions drawing last night, and that means an already massive jackpot will grow even larger. No one correctly picked all six numbers, so on Friday there will be at least one-point-zero-two billion dollars up for grabs. The largest prize in the history of the game was over one-point-five billion dollars in 2018. Just four Mega Millions jackpots have been won since the beginning of 2022. The odds of correctly choosing all 6 winning numbers are 1 in 302,000,000. Please play responsibly.

 

There were several delays in the production and shipping, but now they’re ready: The Office for the Aging has received the remainder of the Farmer’s Market Coupons. The delays were caused by problems that have impacted many businesses across the country and the Office for the Aging expressed thanks for the patience that has been shown while they waited to get the coupons in a press release. They also released when they are giving the coupons out. Office for the Aging staff will be handing them out at their office on Bank St from 8 to 4:30 and also at The Goose in Oakfield, Wednesday, the 27th from 9 to 10 a.m., 400 Towers, Thursday, July 28 from 9 to 11 a.m., Washington Towers, Thursday, July 28 from 2 to 4 p.m., the Genesee Country Farmers Market on Friday, July 29 from 10 a.m. to noon and the Le Roy Farmers Market on Saturday, July 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 pm.