Thursday News Brief

THREE INMATES INDICTED IN DEADLY ATTICA PRISON ATTACK

Three inmates have been indicted in connection with a July incident at Attica Correctional Facility that left one inmate dead and another injured.
Twenty-five-year-old Brian Johnson is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree gang assault, first-degree promoting prison contraband and second-degree assault in the death of Joaquin Bullock.
Thirty-year-old Jacob Blakney faces first-degree gang assault and second-degree assault charges.
Twenty-six-year-old Caleb Casteline is charged with first-degree gang assault, second-degree assault and first-degree promoting prison contraband.
All three were arraigned Wednesday in Wyoming County Court and pleaded not guilty.
The indictments follow an investigation by State Police and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Johnson is currently being held at Five Points Correctional Facility, Blakney at Orleans Correctional Facility, and Casteline at Coxsackie Correctional Facility.
The case has been adjourned until January 15th for motions.
The three remain in state custody and would be held without bail on the new charges if otherwise released.
All charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

BATAVIA DENTIST PLANS MOVE TO NEW WEST MAIN STREET LOCATION

A Batavia dentist is planning to relocate his practice and open under a new name.
Dr. Adam Gregor wants to move from Washington Avenue to 3711 West Main Street Road, where the practice would become Honey Dental Care.
Plans call for a roughly 3-thousand-700-square-foot building with four hygiene rooms and five treatment rooms.
Project officials originally hoped to reuse much of the existing structure, but engineers determined portions of the foundation and exterior walls were not suitable for the new design. The project will keep the same building footprint, parking lot and property access.
The site’s septic system would also be abandoned in favor of a connection to public sewer.
The Town of Batavia Planning Board voted Tuesday to serve as lead agency for the project’s environmental review and expects to examine the site plan with Town Engineer Jon Long at its next meeting.
Gregor currently sees about 30 to 35 patients per day.
Construction is already underway, with the goal of making the building weather-tight before the end of the year and opening sometime during the second quarter of next year.

ELBA TOWN JUSTICE RACE TO BE DECIDED BY WRITE-IN VOTES

Elba will have to wait a little longer to find out who will serve as its next Town Justice.
No Republican or Democratic candidate appeared on Tuesday’s ballot for the four-year position, so all 21 votes cast were write-ins.
Genesee County Republican Election Commissioner Scott German says the seat had previously been held by Doug King, who resigned.
The Board of Elections is expected to recanvass the write-in votes around November 18th to determine who received the most support.
The winner can decline the position, which would allow the Town Board to appoint someone until the next general election.

BENEFIT CONCERT TODAY IN LE ROY FOR INJURED LOCAL MUSICIAN

A benefit show for local musician James Draudt is being held today at Smokin’ Eagle BBQ in Le Roy.
Draudt has been recovering from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident in May.
Musicians Josh and Phil stepped in to cover one of Draudt’s previously scheduled performances and are turning the night into a fundraiser for his recovery.
The show runs from 6 until 9 tonight at Smokin’ Eagle on Main Street.
The performers will donate both their pay from the venue and all tips collected during the show to Draudt’s recovery fund.

DEMOCRATS WIN CONTROL OF HOUSE AND SENATE IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Democrats have won control of both chambers of Congress following sweeping gains in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
The party captured Senate seats in several states carried by President Donald Trump two years ago, including Texas, Iowa and Kansas, while also making gains in the House.
Democrats also scored major gubernatorial victories. Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor of Georgia, while Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Greg Abbott to become Texas’ first Latina governor.
An Associated Press voter survey found roughly six in ten voters disapproved of Trump’s job performance, while about seven in ten said they wanted Congress to provide more checks on presidential power.
The results will end Republican control of Congress when the new session begins.

TWO DEAD AFTER SHOOTING AT CITIBANK COMPLEX NEAR TAMPA

Two people are dead, including the suspected shooter, following gunfire Wednesday at a large Citibank office complex near Tampa, Florida.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says more than 360 deputies responded to the campus after reports of an active threat.
Authorities searched the complex building-by-building while workers were evacuated, including some who had sheltered in locked rooms and closets.
Sheriff Chad Chronister says investigators believe the shooting was targeted.
The second person killed has not yet been identified, and officials have not confirmed whether anyone else was injured.
Citigroup says it is cooperating with investigators as authorities continue working to determine what led to the shooting.

LE ROY VOLLEYBALL WINS THIRD STRAIGHT CLASS C1 TITLE

Le Roy girls volleyball captured its third straight Section V Class C1 championship Tuesday with a five-set win over East Rochester.
The top-seeded Oatkan Knights won the deciding set 15-13 after the teams split the first four.
Shea Williams powered Le Roy with 32 kills and 18 digs, earning Class C1 MVP honors for the third consecutive season.
Kylie Wilson added 30 digs, while Bryar Biracree finished with 45 assists.
Le Roy improves to 22-and-1 and will face Class C2 champion Perry Friday at 6 p.m. in the Class C crossover at Avon High School.