Afternoon News Brief

A 29-year-old Basom man has been indicted for attempting to murder a witness to a crime before they could testify. Jarrett Coniglio was indicted for attempted murder in the second degree, a class B violent felony, for the April 11th stabbing that took place on Sandhill Road in Alabama. He allegedly stabbed the other person to stop them from providing testimony to authorities in reference to a July 2021 assault during which Coniglio struck a neighbor over the head with a bottle. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison in June for that crime and is now also indicted on counts of assault in the first degree, a Class B violent felony, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, intimidating a victim or witness in the third degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, and menacing in the third degree.

 

The New York State Police today announced that Troopers issued 25,199 total traffic tickets during the special “Speed Week” enforcement campaign. “Speed Week,” which was conducted from Monday, August 15, 2022, to Sunday, August 21, 2022, targeted speeding, and other unsafe driving behaviors, including distracted driving and violations of the Move Over Law. Troopers issued 14,008 tickets for speeding, 531 for distracted driving, 476 for Move Over law violations, and arrested 214 people for drunk and impaired driving. 21 of the DWI arrests were in the Finger Lakes Region; 18 in Western New York. State Police also responded to 206 personal injury crashes, including five fatal crashes.

 

 

49-year-old Jay Michael Blatchley of Bank Street Road, Batavia, has been charged with petit larceny. Blatchley is accused of stealing $82.06 in merchandise from a retail store on Veterans Memorial Drive. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and returned to court today.

 

 

 

ARC GLOW has announced Monday that they sold their waste collection business to Casella Waste Systems. Casella will continue using the same property and staff at the West Main Street waste transfer station. Arc GLOW will use the money from the acquisition to invest in programs and services to meet the needs of those they support. They said the reason for the sale was that they had been losing money on their trash collection services for years, the fleet of garbage trucks was old and would have been very expensive to replace. Casella promised to hire on anyone who wished to stay; however, the number of people being helped by employment with the trash collection and transfer station was shrinking. ARC GLOW anticipates the move out of the transfer station will take place over the next 6 months.

 

Western New York residents will be heading to the polls today to cast their ballots in some important races. In the newly redrawn 23rd Congressional District, there will be a Republican primary involving Carl Paladino and New York State Republican Committee Chairman Nicholas Langworthy. And, Republicans in the brand-new 24th District will be choosing between Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, Mario Fratto and George Phillips. Polls will be open today until 9pm.

 

Governor Hochul isn’t reinstating COVID-19 restrictions this upcoming school year despite a potential rise in cases as the weather changes. She says there will be no more quarantining, test to stay, or sending an entire classroom home due to exposure. These changes align with recent suggestions from the CDC, which also does not require schools to randomly test people who don’t have symptoms. The governor says that being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way for residents to protect themselves against the illness.

An investigation is underway following the death of a pedestrian in Rochester. According to officials, the 37-year-old man was in the area of Lyell Avenue and Glide Street yesterday when a vehicle struck him. The man passed away at the scene and the driver involved in the incident is cooperating with police. Neither drugs nor alcohol are believed to be factors in the tragedy.

 

The average gas prices have dropped for the 10th week in a row but are still well above what they were a year ago. According to Triple A this morning, the national average price is $3.89, which is down 7 cents from last week. The New York State average is higher at 4.25 but that is 9 cents less than a week ago. The average price per gallon in Orleans County is $4.38 and in Genesee, $4.34. In Batavia it is 4.34, which is 6 cents cheaper than last week. A year ago the New York State average was 3.22. The main reason for falling gas prices is a decrease in demand as the vacation season is ending.

 

The Attica Lion’s Club presents the 11th Annual Germanfest featuring authentic German Food, German and domestic beer, wine, desserts and so much more! There will be a 50/50 raffle and great live music from the Genesee Valley Band. Saturday, August 27th, at Attica Village Park. The gates open at 3:30; $5 admission for anyone over 21; $3 for age 12-2; anyone under 12 is free. Credit cards will be accepted. You could win a pair of free tickets to Germanfest, courtesy of the Attica Lions Club! We’ll select the winners Thursday and tickets MUST be picked up at their office in Warsaw Friday by 4:30 PM.