Afternoon News Brief

Batavia residents are invited to share their thoughts at two public hearings about the school district’s conduct code and the addition of another school resource officer at about $100,000 a year. A prior hearing about the Code of Conduct brought out no one for comment. The school resource officer is obtained through the city of Batavia and its police department, with the school district picking up the cost. The hearings are part of combined re-organizational and regular meetings of the board this week. The session begins at 6:15pm tomorrow in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at Batavia High School. Superintendent Jason Smith will provide the review of each topic, and district residents will be invited to sign up prior to or during the review to voice comments or questions. Speakers are given a three-minute time limit each per topic. Additional information is available here: https://www.thebatavian.com/joanne-beck/batavia-district-residents-invited-to-public-hearings-about-code-and-second-100k

 

A road construction alert…Richmond Avenue will be closed for road construction between Redfield Parkway and Park Road tomorrow and Friday, from 7:00am – 5:00pm both days. The roadway will be re-opened overnight. Motorists looking to access Park Road are asked to approach from the North at the intersection of Park and Veteran’s Memorial Drive. If there are any questions concerning this work, please, contact The Town of Batavia – Highway Department at (585) 343-1729 Extension 218.

 

 

The 2022 Summer Food Service Program is kicking off and that means thousands of kids across the state are going to be able to receive free meals over the next several weeks. Data shows that access to healthy food during summer break benefits a child’s health and education. Locally, Batavia City Schools are offering two meals each day until August 26th. Families may pick up a free breakfast and lunch bundle from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays and Wednesdays at John Kennedy Intermediate School, and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at Genesee Country Farmers Market in the former JC Penney’s parking lot. The meals will also be available Monday through Friday 9-12 at Jackson Primary.

 

A Warsaw resident died this morning in a house fire at 24 Murray Street. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered smoke coming from the house’s second story with a victim reportedly inside. They were able to rescue him; however, he later succumbed to his injuries at Wyoming County Community Hospital. The fire’s cause remains under investigation.

 

37-year-old Tarrell Carter of Rochester was arrested by Le Roy Police and charged with strangulation (a felony) and two misdemeanors, assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Shortly before midnight Sunday evening, police responded to a domestic incident at a residence in the Village of Le Roy. Carter is accused of choking and punching the victim during an argument that turned physical. He was taken into custody and arraigned in Le Roy Town Court. Carter was remanded to the Genesee County Jail with no bail and is due in court again later this month.

 

State Attorney General Letitia James is taking aim at stopping human trafficking in the Empire State. She has provided the state’s hotel and tourism associations with cards containing human trafficking information and hotline numbers and is reminding lodging facilities of their obligation to post the cards in visible locations. Traffickers rely on the hospitality industry to move, control and deliver victims of commercial sex or forced labor. A recent federal human trafficking report revealed 57-percent of all trafficking victims last year were minors and 92-percent were sex trafficking cases.

 

Following a ruling from a State Supreme Court judge, demolition of the Great Northern Grain Elevator in Buffalo can now proceed. Preservationists have been trying for the last several months to prevent the structure from being torn down. The grain elevator, built back in 1897, was severely damaged during a windstorm last December during which a significant portion of its brick exterior walls was lost. It’s the last of its kind in North America. There’s no word yet when demolition is going to begin. However, the City of Buffalo announced it would grant an emergency demolition permit.

 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says efforts are being made to prevent future flooding in communities along the Lake Ontario shoreline. Schumer made the announcement yesterday during a visit to Sodus Point, which was devastated by flooding in both 2017 and 2019. Schumer says a bill called the Storm Act would provide $500,000,000 for flood control projects. Once that funding is made available, residents and businesses will have access to the money.

 

Two members of the Buffalo Police Department have been cleared of any wrongdoing in connection with an officer-involved shooting. The incident happened last month after 27-year-old Nakeem Haynes allegedly shot and killed 63-year-old Atlas Johnson near Broadway and Sears Street. When police approached Haynes, he jumped on the hood of their vehicle and opened fire but didn’t hit anyone. The officers then ran after Haynes who ended up being shot several times. Haynes is charged with murder and attempted murder and could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

 

Tops Friendly Markets is holding a hiring event over the next couple of days as the company looks to add employees at its distribution center. The supermarket chain is offering in-person interviews at its facility on Genesee Street in Lancaster from noon until 3:00pm tomorrow. Some of the positions that need to be filled include warehouse selectors, drivers and maintenance mechanics. For more information, visit topsmarkets.com/jobs.