Evening News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on May 26, 2021
Route 77 between Pembroke Town Park and the intersection of Indian Falls Road will be designated as the “Specialist Four Clarence ‘C. Jay’ Hall Memorial Highway.” This change was championed and passed by Senator Rath who said “Specialist Four Clarence “C. Jay” Hall served as a rifleman in the United States Army in Binh Duong, Vietnam. He was mortally wounded on October 7, 1969, during an intense attack by enemy forces. Specialist Hall earned the NYS Conspicuous Service Cross, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with One Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Silver Star, which is the nation’s third-highest award for valor.”
Governor Cuomo in a press conference today in New York City announced a new incentive program for getting people, especially young people to take the COVID vaccine. The state will be holding a weekly raffle Wednesdays, giving away full-time scholarships – covering room and board – for any public college or university for four years. Anyone between the ages of 12-17 who gets a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine between Thursday and July 7 will be entered into a pool for a weekly drawing. Demand for the vaccines has dropped 50 percent in the last few weeks.
COVID Update: Since Friday there have been 14 new cases in Genesee county and 24 people have recovered. In Orleans county there are 18 new cases and 16 people have recovered. There are 41 active cases in Genesee county and 50 in Orleans.
The Genesee Orleans Counties Health Department announced a new joint website this morning. Go Health Director Paul Pettit says, “This effort has been in the works for almost a year and a half in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe having a joint website will not only save time and resources, but be easier for our residents to access our forms, data and timely updates.” There are two ways to access the new website: www.GOHealthNY.org or by going to the respective county websites and choosing Public Health.”
Police Chief Shawn Heubusch issued a statement today on the problems with bail reform in the case of Devon Wright. Chief Heubusch writes: Bail reform, a measure recently passed into law by the state legislature and the Governor, is seriously flawed. In this particular case, we get a front-row seat of the unintended consequences of so-called bail reform playing out across our State. Bail reform is putting the safety of our officers and our citizens at risk. I, along with my colleagues in law enforcement, implore the State Legislature to examine the current bail reforms and restore protections for the citizens of New York against violent criminals who are brazenly flaunting the law, knowing they will be back out on the street in a matter of hours.
