Friday News Brief

53-year-old Joseph Johnson of Mumford has been arrested for robbery and harassment following an incident on Park Road in Batavia. It’s alleged he forcibly took property from an elderly victim at the Batavia Downs Casino. Johnson was charged and held pending an arraignment in CAP Court.

 

 

A Batavia woman has died in a crash and the investigation continues. Around 4:00 yesterday afternoon, two cars collided on Route 5 in Pembroke. Police determined that the 2007 Ford Freestyle driven by 34-year-old Nikki Stonebraker had crossed the centerline at a high rate of speed and struck a 2013 Dodge Caravan. The driver and passenger of the Dodge were transported to Erie County Medical Center with severe injuries. Nikki Stonebraker was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Monroe County Deputies are looking for help finding a missing teen. Ayden Cuvelier was last seen this past Tuesday night, around 10 p.m., in Hilton. The 15-year-old is described as five-foot-six, roughly 120-pounds, with brown hair, and was last seen wearing a gray hoodie with light-colored skinny jeans. Anyone with any information is asked to call the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

 

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 is on the rise in New York State. Nearly 800 people tested positive last month, the highest number since July. The newest COVID-19 variant is a member of the Omicron family. While not too different from other variants, experts say it is more contagious. With both the fall and school season approaching, experts say to expect a rise in respiratory illnesses.

 

Fisher-Price has unveiled the 2023 edition of its Buffalo Bills “Little People” figurine set. The toy maker is once again teaming up with Wegmans stores across Upstate New York to sell the toys. Starting today, fans can purchase the Buffalo Bills Little People Collector set at Wegmans stores throughout our region. This year’s set includes quarterback Josh Allen, tight end Dawson Knox, linebacker Von Miller and a Bills “Super Fan.” Fisher-Price will donate $10 of each set, up to $1 million, when purchased at Wegmans stores, to The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation providing philanthropic support to John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital.

 

Target is recalling over 2 million scented candles that might shatter while burning. The recall issued Thursday affects 5.5 ounce one-wick candles and 20 ounce 3-wick candles sold in glass jars. Target says it has received 19 reports of the jars shattering while the wick is burning. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says anyone who bought one of the candles should stop using it and return it to Target for a full refund.

 

 

 

 

Two Buffalo Bills star players are out for the preseason opener tomorrow. Coach Sean McDermott said yesterday that quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs have been ruled out. Safety Damar Hamlin’s status also remains uncertain. The Bills’ second preseason game will be August 19th against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

ELSEWHERE…

He may be retired, but that didn’t stop a local firefighter from helping a neighbor in trouble early yesterday morning. East Rochester Fire Chief James Diego says the retiree was walking down Fairport Road around 8:30 a.m., noticed smoke coming from the garage and notified the homeowner. Together, the two closed the garage door and were able to stop the fire from spreading to the home. The department says they are still looking into the cause of the fire.

 

 

 

Researchers say a skull dating back 300,000 years might point to a new branch on the human family tree. The skull found in eastern China in 2015 is unlike another other pre-modern human fossil ever found. The researchers from China, Spain, and the United Kingdom say the jaw in the skull doesn’t fit any existing groups. They say it has features of both pre-modern and modern humans. More details are available by scrolling to the bottom of today’s News Brief page.

 

A new book says golfer Phil Mickelson bet more than a billion dollars on sports over three decades, and lost a $100 million. CNBC says a new book from gambler Billy Waters claims he had a sports betting partnership with Mickelson, and at one point the golfer asked to bet $400,000 on the U.S. to win the 2012 Ryder Cup that he was playing in, though he was talked out of it. Waters was convicted of insider trading in 2017, but former President Trump commuted his prison sentence. Additional details are available at the bottom of today’s News Brief page.

President Biden is calling on Congress for $24 billion for Ukraine. But some Congressional Republicans have been hesitant about putting any more money toward Ukraine’s efforts as the war continues with no signs of stopping soon. A CNN poll released last week found 55% of Americans believed Congress should not authorize additional funding.

 

The actor who voiced one of Hank Hill’s buddies on the animated series “King of the Hill” has died. Johnny Hardwick provided the voice of Dale Gribble, who was known for his obsession with conspiracy theories. The show was set in the fictional town of Arlen, Texas, and Hardwick was a native Texan. Hardwick died Tuesday at his home in Austin. He was 64.

 

 

Today is Friday, August 11th, the 223rd day of the year.

August 11 in history…

…In 1909, the “Arapahoe” became one of the first ships to use the S-O-S distress signal. S-O-S remains the standard international distress signal for ships and airplanes.

 

 

 

…In 1934, the first federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

… In 1951, WCBS Television in New York City broadcast the first baseball doubleheader in color. Here are the details: The Boston Braves and Brooklyn Dodgers became the first two teams to play a baseball game that was broadcast in color. The second game of the Braves-Dodgers doubleheader at Ebbetts Field was broadcast in color on WCBS in New York City with the Braves winning, 8-4. The Braves lost the first game of the doubleheader 8-1. In the Braves win, second baseman Sibby Sisti and left fielder Sid Gordon both hit home runs. Braves pitcher Max Surkont pitched nine innings and allowed nine hits and two home runs with five walks and five strikeouts. The Braves played in Boston from 1871-1952 before the team moved to Milwaukee to become the Milwaukee Braves. (Associated Press photo, with this caption: “Brooklyn Dodgers Jackie Robinson steals home plate successfully as Boston Braves’ catcher Bill Salkeld is thrown off-balance on pitcher Bill Voiselle’s throw to the plate during the fifth inning of a Boston-Brooklyn game at Ebbets Field in New York on August 22, 1948. Third baseman Billy Cox, who was at bat, watches Jackie slide. The umpire is Jocko Conlan. The Braves won 4-3.”

 

…In 1964, The Beatles’ film “A Hard Day’s Night” opened in the United States.

 

 

 

 

…In 1968, The Beatles launched their new record label, Apple Records.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1989, the Voyager 2 Spacecraft discovered two partial rings of the planet Neptune.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1991, the cartoons “Doug,” “Ren and Stimpy,” and “Rugrats” debuted on the Nickelodeon cable television channel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 2014, actor Robin Williams committed suicide at the age of 63. If you’re experiencing ideation of self-harm, please call 9-8-8 immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORE ABOUT THE SKULL FOUND IN CHINA:

The discovery of a huge fossilized skull that was wrapped up and hidden in a Chinese well nearly 90 years ago has forced scientists to rewrite the story of human evolution. Analysis of the remains has revealed a new branch of the human family tree that points to a previously unknown sister group more closely related to modern humans than the Neanderthals, Sample says in his story published on June 25.

(Neanderthals or Neandertals are an extinct species or subspecies of archaic humans who lived in Eurasia until about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals are known from numerous fossils, especially from after 130,000 years ago).

The extraordinary fossil has been named a new human species, Homo Longi or “Dragon man”, by Chinese researchers, although other experts are more cautious about the designation. “I think this is one of the most important finds of the past 50 years,” said Professor Chris Stringer, research leader at the Natural History Museum in London, who worked on the project. “It’s a wonderfully preserved fossil.”
The skull appears to have a remarkable back story. According to the researchers, it was originally found in 1933 by Chinese laborers building a bridge over the Songhua River in Harbin, in China’s northernmost province, Heilongjiang, during the Japanese occupation. To keep the skull from falling into Japanese hands it was wrapped and hidden in an abandoned well, resurfacing only in 2018 after the man who hid it told his grandson about it shortly before he died. An international team led by Prof Qiang Ji at the Hebei Geo University in China drew on geochemical techniques to narrow down when the skull came to rest in Harbin, dating the bones to at least 146,000 years old. The skull has a unique combination of primitive and more modern features, with the face, in particular, more closely resembling Homo sapiens. One huge molar remains.

 

MORE ABOUT THE PHIL MICKELSON GAMBLING STORY:

Phil Mickelson has denied an allegation made by Billy Walters that Lefty attempted to place a $400,000 wager on the U.S. team to win the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medina Country Club. An excerpt published by Golf Digest from Walters’ “Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk” outlines Mickelson’s betting habits and includes the allegation that Mickelson made a wager on the team event of which he was a participant.
After first choosing to avoid reporters at LIV Golf’s event at Trump National Bedminster, Mickelson broke his silence and pleaded his innocence in the matter.

“I never bet on the Ryder Cup,” Mickelson wrote in a statement. “While it is well known that I always enjoy a friendly wager on the course, I would never undermine the integrity of the game. I have also been very open about my gambling addiction. I have previously conveyed my remorse, took responsibility, have gotten help, have been fully committed to therapy that has positively impacted me and I feel good about where I am now.”
The excerpt claims Walters and Mickelson entered a sports wagering partnership in May 2008 with Mickelson placing bets through various offshore accounts. The six-time major champion would wager on baseball, football and basketball at both the professional and college levels. However, Walters alleges Mickelson wanted to place a hefty sum in September 2012 for the Ryder Cup while Mickelson was a member of the U.S. team:
In late September 2012, Phil called me from Medina Country Club just outside Chicago, site of the 39th Ryder Cup matches between the United States and Europe. He was feeling supremely confident that the American squad led by Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, and Phil himself was about to reclaim the Cup from the Euros. He was so confident that he asked me to place a $400,000 wager for him on the U.S. team to win. I could not believe what I was hearing.
“Have you lost your f—ing mind?” I told him. “Don’t you remember what happened to Pete Rose?” The former Cincinnati Reds manager was banned from baseball for betting on his own team. “You’re seen as a modern-day Arnold Palmer” I added. “You’d risk all that for this? I want no part of it.”
“Alright, alright,” he replied.

The U.S. team ultimately lost the 2012 Ryder Cup 14.5 to 13.5 after taking a substantial 10 to 6 lead into Sunday singles. Mickelson was among those players to lose his singles match as Justin Rose overcame a late deficit by winning the last two holes to flip the match and defeat Mickelson 1 UP.
Whether Mickelson actually placed this wager remains unknown, and his partnership with Walters came to an end just two years later in 2014.
“My gambling got to a point of being reckless and embarrassing. I had to address it,” Mickelson told Sports Illustrated last summer. “And I’ve been addressing it for a number of years. And for hundreds of hours of therapy. I feel good where I’m at there. My family and I are and have been financially secure for some time.”