Afternoon News Brief

28-year-old Brandon Fuller of Medina has been arrested and charged with 16 vehicle and traffic violations, along with unlawful fleeing an officer, criminal possession of stolen property and criminal mischief. This followed a high-speed chase that started in Orleans County and ended at the Brockport Wegmans. Fuller was arraigned and bail was set at $10,000. Additionally, he is currently on probation for criminal contempt and was also arraigned for violating conditions; bail was set at $100,000 on that charge. A passenger with Fuller was also taken into custody but released pending further investigation. Additional charges are expected. In September of 2022, Fuller was arrested in Monroe County for an incident related to the theft of catalytic converters. Also in September 2022, Fuller was arrested in Orleans County after being apprehended during the burglary of a barn. The charges from September 2022 are still pending in court in both counties.

 

 

The investigation continues today into a theft from Walmart. Late in the evening on Saturday, a man smashed a glass display and stole several Nintendo Switch video game consoles. He told employees he had a gun but did not display a weapon. The store was evacuated and the robber fled in a vehicle. Shortly after midnight, police determined it was safe for customers and employees to once again enter the store. No description of the man or vehicle is available at this time. Anyone with information that could assist police in this investigation is asked to call 585-343-5000.

 

 

An earthquake this morning was felt throughout Western New York. It started around 6:15am and lasted a few seconds; the U.S. Geological Survey reports it was a 3.8 magnitude quake. The epicenter was 1.3 miles east-northeast of West Seneca and occurred at a depth of 1.9 miles. According to the Earthquake Magnitude Scale, a tremor between 2.5 to 5.4 magnitude can often be felt, but only causes minor, if any damage. The earthquake was felt as far away as Rochester, including Alexander, Batavia, Attica, and St. Catharines, Ontario.

 

 

Genesee Sno-Packers in Oakfield held their Annual Bikini Rally on Saturday. They raised $17,859 for the Pink Fund. The fundraiser helps patients undergoing breast cancer treatment to pay household bills. The Pink Fund is a non-profit organization that pays 90 days of medical expenses for those in active breast cancer treatment. Although it was very cold on Saturday, more than a dozen women participated. Pledging to the Pink Fund will remain open for another few weeks: (https://www.facebook.com/bikinirally) Photo credit: James Elmore. Pictured from left to right, Samantha Hilchey, Dawn Clark, Jen Ryan and Jane Chaddock.

 

The City of Batavia Water Department is planning to repair a service line on Maple Street tomorrow. There is a possibility the water may need to be shut off on Maple, from Evans to Thorpe Streets, and traffic will be closed down in this area. The length of time required for this service is unknown. When the water is restored, it’s possible it may be discolored. Please refrain from doing any laundry until the water runs clear.

 

 

An employee in the Rush-Henrietta Central School District is in some legal trouble after being arrested for child endangerment. Officials say Jimmy Buntley, who has worked on and off for the district since 2018, allegedly sent inappropriate messages to a student online. Buntley was arrested last month and is facing a misdemeanor charge. The district says he hasn’t been back to work since his arrest and that termination proceedings against him have already started.

 

 

The New York State Department of Health is encouraging African American and Hispanic men to get tested for pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition where an individual’s blood sugar level is higher than normal, but it’s not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. According to officials, pre-diabetes is more common in African American and Hispanic men as a result of the effects of racism and poverty on health and healthcare. Anyone who wants to get tested can reach out to his or her doctor.

 

 

There may be only a few weeks of winter left, but National Grid reminds customers they can still sign up for home heating assistance. The primary program that income-eligible individuals use is the Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides financial help for home heating costs and also funds that can be used in case of a heat-related emergency. Both regular and emergency HEAP will be available through March 15th. For more information, go to mybenefits.ny.gov.

 

 

There has been a slight drop in gas prices. According to Triple A, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.47. The state average is currently $3.56. In Batavia, we’re paying $3.43 a gallon, which is down 1 cent from a week ago and 9 cents from this time last month..

 

 

The top Powerball prize has risen once again and is now the 5th-largest jackpot in the history of the game. The jackpot for tonight’s drawing will be at least $747,000,000 (million) since there was no big winner on Saturday. There have been more than 30 drawings since the jackpot was won back on November 19th. This evening’s drawing will be streamed at powerball.com. Please play responsibly.