Tuesday News Brief

Two people have died as a result of an airplane crash in the Town of Yates. Just before 6:00pm on Sunday, the pilot 70-year-old Earl Luce Jr., of Brockport and his passenger, 72-year-old Morris Wortman, of Rochester, were pronounced dead at the scene. According to deputies, a mechanical failure appeared to have caused the hand-built, experimental aircraft to come down. The preliminary investigation suggests that the wings of the aircraft became detached from the fuselage and fell to the ground landing in an apple orchard. The fuselage of the aircraft then continued west for up to 1500 yards before crashing into a pasture behind a residence. The investigation continues with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. (Released photo)

 

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants today, tomorrow and Thursday, from approximately 9:00am to 3:00pm in the general area of north of Main Street and east of Bank Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. Do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until clear. This annual testing is essential to maintain the communities class III Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification and to assure that fire hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes. Along with maintaining the fire rating, the test monitors the health of the city’s water system, identifies weak areas in the system, and removes material that settles in the water lines. Checking each hydrant improves fire department personnel’s knowledge of the hydrant locations. If you have questions, or should notice a hydrant in need of repair, please contact the fire department at 585-345-6375.

 

31-year-old Nathaniel Beglinger of Alexander has been arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, as well as obstructed view. These charges stem from a traffic stop on East Main Street in Batavia where he was the vehicle operator and was alleged to have the controlled substance. Beglinger was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia City Court next week. ALSO, 23-year-old Chantel Holmes of Batavia is charged with assault and criminal mischief. She was arrested on these charges as she was appearing in court on another matter. It’s alleged Holmes was at a residence on Ellicott Street and struck an individual in the head with a shovel causing injury and also damaging property. She was arraigned and released to return to court on another date. ALSO, 24-year-old Teesean Ayala of Batavia is charged with trespass, obstruction of governmental administration and criminal impersonation. Batavia Police responded to a call about a male entering driveways and checking car door handles. They located and apprehended Ayala following a foot pursuit through back yards and the northeast section of the city. He is due to appear in Batavia City Court next week for arraignment. ALSO, 56-year-old Kevin McCoy of Batavia is charged with trespass and harassment. He was arrested following a physical altercation, which occurred at a local business on East Main Street. McCoy was arraigned and is scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court today.

 

 

Someone in the Village of LeRoy is getting a thousand dollars a week for the rest of their life. A CASH4LIFE lottery ticket sold at Crosby’s on West Main is worth the second highest amount of a thousand a week or a guaranteed payout of a million dollars. It was sold on Sunday. The winner’s identity has not been released.

 

 

 

The latest data from the New York State Flu Tracker shows that the spread of the illness continues to hold steady in our region. During the week ending May 20th, the area with the highest number of cases was Monroe County with 41; Erie County had 25. Ontario County had the next-highest total during that time period with nine infections; Wayne County had just three and Niagara County, 2. There were no flu cases reported in Genesee County. Since flu season began, nearly 337,000 New Yorkers have tested positive for the virus.

 

 

 

Rochester police are continuing to investigate two homicides that happened over the holiday weekend. A 42-year-old man was shot and killed during a bar fight at Flour City Station on East Avenue around 2:00am yesterday. About an hour later, a teenage girl was murdered after she was caught in the middle of gunfire between two groups that were shooting at each other. No arrests have been made in either case.

 

A body has been removed from the water following a possible drowning in the Genesee River in Irondequoit. Crews were called to the area yesterday after getting a report from the individual’s family that they hadn’t been seen since Sunday night and that their sandals were spotted floating in the river. A dive team was able to get the person’s remains out of the water and bring them to shore. The name of the person hasn’t been released but foul play isn’t suspected in their death.

 

 

Gas prices continue to hold steady. According to Triple A, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.58; the state average is $3.71. In Batavia, we’re paying $3.64. That’s down 3 cents from a month ago and $1.20 less than it was a year ago today.

 

The Buffalo Bandits still have some work to do if they want to win a National Lacrosse League championship. The Bandits fell short of securing the title yesterday after falling 16-to-10 to the Colorado Mammoth at Ball Arena in Denver. That means the best-of-three series is now tied at one game apiece. The series now shifts back to Buffalo for a decisive Game Three this Saturday night at the KeyBank Center. Tickets are available online.

 

The Rochester Americans are on the brink of elimination after suffering a loss in front of their home crowd. The Americans gave up three goals in just over five minutes as they fell to the Hershey Bears 4-2 at Blue Cross Arena last night. The Amerks now trail in the best-of-seven series three games to one. Game Five is set for tomorrow night in Pennsylvania.

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

You better sit down for this story:  Michael and Kristine Barnett and their family were at an Indiana dairy farm to celebrate the birthday of one of their sons. The family was walking near an electric fence on the property — but their adopted daughter Natalia Grace said she needed to stop. Kristine stayed back with Natalia while Michael and their three sons continued to walk ahead. A short time later Barnett and his sons heard sirens. “The second I heard the sirens, I thought, ‘Kristine is dead,’” Barnett said. He added: “Natalia had been trying to pull Kristine into the fence.” The couple claimed when they adopted Natalia in 2010 they believed they were adopting a 6-year-old girl. Soon after, they claimed they became suspicious of her age, leading to a bombshell claim: that Natalia, who has a form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal, was merely posing as a child — was really an adult woman with sinister intentions. The Barnett’s alleged Natalia tried to harm them and their biological children. The couple claimed that Natalia not only tried to electrocute Kristine but attempted to poison Kristine’s coffee and placed clear thumb tacks on the stairs face up so that they would step on them. In 2012, two years after Natalia was adopted by the Barnett’s, the couple petitioned Marion County Probate Court to have her age legally changed to 22, changing her birth year from 2003 to 1989. The following year, the couple moved with their three sons to Canada without her, leaving her alone in an apartment in Lafayette. The Barnett’s, who later divorced, were charged with neglect of a dependent. Prosecutors couldn’t charge the couple with neglect of a child because of Natalia’s court-ordered age change. Michael was found not guilty of three counts of neglect and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent in 2022. The Curious Case of Natalia Grace airs across three consecutive nights on Investigation Discovery (channel 138 if you have Spectrum TV Select). It began last night and airs tonight and tomorrow night from 7:00pm – 11:00pm.

 

The Powerball jackpot is rolling over. With no grand prizewinner in Monday night’s drawing, the jackpot jumps to $239,000,000 (million) If you take the cash option, they’ll write a check out to you for $121,000,000. The top prize for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing is $187,000,000. Please play responsibly.

 

 

Taking vitamins and going on walks can help slow cognitive decline in aging brains. Studies out last week found that a daily multivitamin can effectively take three years off your brain’s age when it comes to memory. Similarly, researchers say taking 30 minute walks three or four times a week can lead to better memory.

 

 

 

The FBI has released documents revealing a potential assassination attempt during a royal visit to California 40 years ago. About a month ahead of a 1983 West Coast visit by Queen Elizabeth the Second and Prince Philip, an unidentified man called authorities claiming his daughter had been killed in Northern Ireland. He said he planned to “harm” Queen Elizabeth either when her yacht crossed under the Golden Gate Bridge during the royal couple’s San Francisco visit or when they visited Yosemite National Park.

 

The next COVID vaccine booster shot will target one of the newest variants that is now dominant in the U.S. That’s according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited sources saying three Omicron sub-variants are under consideration for the updated shot. FDA vaccine advisers are set to meet next month to make their recommendation on which strain should be targeted.

 

 

May 30 in history…

 

…In 1783, “The Pennsylvania Evening Post” became the first daily newspaper in the United States.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1868, Memorial Day was observed for the first time in the United States. It was originally called Decoration Day because General John A Logan had seen women decorating graves of Civil War heroes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1896, the first-ever automobile accident occurred in New York City when Henry Wells struck cyclist Ebeling Thomas who suffered a fractured leg.

 

 

 

 

…In 1922, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., following 8 years of construction.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1967, daredevil Evel Knievel jumped a row of 16 automobiles in a motorcycle stunt at Ascot Speedway in Gardena, California.

 

 

 

…In 1985, ABC Television announced all World Series baseball games would be played at night in order to attract the biggest audience possible. The 1985 Kansas City Royals season was the 17th season in Royals franchise history. It ended with the Royals’ first World Series championship over their inter-state rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals.