Tom Tharp
October 1, 2022 
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon has accepted the Farm Laborer’s Wage Board’s recommendation to lower the overtime threshold in New York state to 40 hours a week. This would mean that farmers have to pay overtime to anyone who works more than 40 hours a week. This is something that Farmers and workers both opposed for the last 2 years, sending videos and letters and social media posts to the board saying it was a bad idea and would destroy farming in New York and cause workers to leave to seek more hours outside the state. Reardon said that the Department of Labor had to do this to enforce equity. The Board’s report recommended that the reduction in overtime hours take place by reducing the overtime work limit by 4 hours every other year beginning in 2024 until reaching 40 hours in 2032, giving agriculture businesses proper time to adjust.
Police responded to shots fired near Evans Street in Batavia Friday night. Sergeant Coffey approached a suspect who took off running. Coffey gave chase and followed the man from Evans to Court street where he tackled him and placed him under arrest. Batavia Police and Firefighters then searched the area until they found a gun under a bush between KeyBank’s ATM and M&T Bank. The report is still under investigation and detectives are working on linking the man and gun and whatever charges should be filed.
A football player from Geneseo High School is now out of the hospital after being seriously injured during a game last week. Julian Huffman was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital last Friday for emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. Huffman’s mother said her son came home from the hospital Thursday night. She said he’s walking around and eating, and doctors expect him to make a full recovery.
The City of Batavia will be flushing and testing fire hydrants Monday and Tuesday in the area north of main street and east of bank street. These tests will monitor the health of the city’s water system and get rid of material that settles in the pipes. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until clear.
The Salvation Army has responded to Hurricane Ian with people on the ground and providing water, food, clean up supplies and mental and spiritual support. If you would like to support the efforts to help people in Florida through the Salvation Army you can send money to their church on East Main Street. They say that it is too early to send goods such as blankets and clothes as the infrastructure has not been set up yet. The best way to help is monetarily and all donations will go directly to the relief efforts. This is a part of the Salvation Army’s motto, “Doing The Most Good.”
Veterans have recently become the target of a scam to pay outlandish fees for copies of their military discharge papers. A company out of Phoenix, Arizona, named DD214 DIRECT, charges veterans $79 for a copy of their papers or $119 for an e-mail copy with a hard copy to follow. However, they should never have to pay anything. After leaving military service, veterans should file their discharge papers with the Clerk’s Office in the county where they reside. The original papers are always returned to the veteran. A FREE certified copy will be provided to the veteran, or parent, spouse, dependent or child of the veteran at any time. There is never any reason to pay fees for these records. NYS Military Law prohibits disclosure of information on the discharge papers to anyone else without the written authorization of the veteran. These papers are preserved permanently and will always be available when needed.
Gas prices continue their downward trend. According to Triple A this morning, the nationwide average price for a gallon of gas is $3.80; in New York State, it’s $3.62. In Batavia, we’re paying an average price of $3.81, which is only 56 cents higher than we paid one year ago today.
A Byron man has been sentenced to 5 years for raping a person under the age of 17 in the Target parking lot in January of last year. 21-year-old Shawn Myers is a volunteer firefighter and carries diagnoses of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, and depression. The victim suffered physical injury and still experiences emotional trauma from the event. The judge told Myers that he should spend the time in prison learning not to force people to do things against their will and to learn a trade.
When the new state firearms laws were passed in July, many people across the GLOW region expressed opposition. New restrictions The Concealed Carry Improvement Act established include strict new standards for the purchase, possession and carrying of firearms. The requirements to obtain a New York state concealed carry pistol permit were expanded to include mandatory training, in-person interviews, and a review of the person’s social media posts. Permit re-certification and renewals are also now required. Firearms have also been forbidden from “sensitive areas” such as bars, libraries, schools, government buildings, parks, and protests. Violating the new laws is a felony offense. Most believe that law-abiding citizens will be the only ones to follow the new laws. And in fact, many believe the new law that took effect on September 1st place unprecedented and overly restrictive conditions on the process of applying for, obtaining, utilizing, maintaining and then recertifying a conceal carry permit for personal protection and other legal uses. Many members of the County legislatures find the new laws to be a gross violation of the Constitution and plan to work with other counties across the state to repeal it.
Election Day is just a few weeks away, and the New York State Board of Elections says an electronic ballot system is going to help some residents vote. The system is designed to assist folks who are visually impaired. Voters will be able to do things such as increase font size, use a screen reader, and change the color contrast of a ballot before making their selections. Applications for these absentee ballots can be filled out online.
The New York State Department of Health has launched a new website to support Empire State residents who are dealing with the effects of long COVID. The website provides a variety of information such as how people can seek treatment from healthcare providers. Officials say anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, even kids, is at risk of getting long COVID and symptoms could last for months. It is recommended everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated against the coronavirus receive their shots and an updated booster to avoid getting seriously ill. Here is a direct link to their website: 
Unemployment insurance fraud has cost state taxpayers $11,000,000 every month so far this year…that totals $110 million. Governor Hochul explained that this means there are people who are working and also collecting unemployment. A new system will soon be in place to identify people who are scamming and get the money back. People found to have been working will be given a chance to explain and then, if their explanation doesn’t legitimately support also receiving unemployment benefits, their wages can be garnished or they can be turned over to law enforcement.
29-year-old Samantha Kent of LeRoy was arrested for aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, following too closely, failure to stop for a school bus and driving while ability was impaired. Her arrest followed the recent motor vehicle accident in the City involving a school bus. Kent was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released on her own recognizance. She returns to court on October 11th. Also from the Police Blotter, 33-year old Jessica Eschenlauer of Batavia has been arrested and charged with criminal contempt, assault and unlawful imprisonment. She allegedly restrained another person, who was the protected party of an order of protection; Eschenlauer also punched the same individual, causing physical injury. She was arraigned in Batavia City Court and is scheduled to return to Court at a later date.
The Canadian government announced today that as of October 1st, it would no longer require people to wear masks on planes. Government officials also confirmed Canada is dropping the vaccine requirement for people entering the country and plans to end random COVID-19 testing at airports. Filling out information in what became an unpopular ArriveCan app will also no longer be required, which some people blamed for delays at airports. The government will also no longer require passengers to have pre-board tests for cruise ships.
The latest data from Triple A shows the price of gas is still on the decline in our region. Right now, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel in Batavia is $3.85. That’s down 10 cents from a week ago, and 50 cents cheaper than this time last month. The state average is currently sitting at $3.68, which is also down a dime in the last seven days. The national average is $3.71.
The proposed Genesee County Airshow, Wings Over Batavia, is now on hold due to questions regarding how much it would end up costing the county. This week, Highway Superintendent Tim Hens presented a brief update about the air show and it’s progress towards a date next year. A Wings Over Batavia Committee established an LLC to accept and manage funds for the show. Each air act would have its own insurance policy, in addition to the LLC, which would protect the county’s liability. The last air show was 25 years ago and happened at the same time as the Batavia Wing Ding on Main Street. Most of the present cost concern focuses on how much law enforcement and security would be needed for the event. Hens said he expects to have more details available for the next air show meeting in early October. In the 90s, Wings Over Batavia would draw roughly 40,000 people.
We’ll soon find out just how true ‘if we build it, they will come’ really is; so far, it looks promising. There have now been three tenants signed to occupy a yet-to-be-built building. Leases have been signed by Starbucks, Jersey Mike’s (a sub sandwich shop) and Tropical Smoothie and they’ll set up shop in the parking lot area of the former Kmart on Lewiston road. The hope is to start building within weeks and the new businesses to be open and operating by the second quarter of next year; the building can accommodate 4 tenants. And then a second building will follow, sometime next year.
The Park Road construction project is nearing completion, which means it may once again be open to two-way traffic by mid-October. The repaving is 80 percent done and expected to be mostly completed by October 17th. The next steps will be the installation of streetlights and trees along the road. Photo by Doug Thompson, WBTA News.
There will be a walk-in Covid and flu vaccine clinic tomorrow morning from 8 until noon at the Batavia VA Medical Center, building four, in the lab area. The clinic is for veterans only; please be sure to bring your vaccine card.
Governor Hochul is urging New Yorkers to start preparing now for higher energy costs that will be affecting them as temperatures fall. The governor says residents who are worried about paying their bills can apply for money from the Home Energy Assistance Program. It’s recommended that people begin taking steps to become more energy efficient and to request a free energy audit of their residence. The governor has also directed state agencies to convene fuel providers to make sure they have enough of a supply available to last through the coldest months.
The jackpots of two popular lottery games are still growing and have now reached a combined total of over a half-billion dollars. The prize up for grabs for Mega Millions tonight is now at $301,000,000. And should someone win Powerball tomorrow night, they’ll receive at least $270,000,000. The price of a ticket for each of these games is $2. Both the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.
The unemployment rate for Orleans County was at 4.2 percent in August. That’s the lowest it’s been for an August in Orleans in at least the last decade. And more good news: The unemployment rate in Genesee County remains at an even 3%, presently the lowest in the entire GLOW region. Nationally the unemployment rate is down from 5.3 percent in August 2021 to 3.8 percent in August 2022. Statewide the rate dropped from 6.7 to 4.9 percent.
Anyone who is interested working in the cannabis industry might want to check out an event that’s taking place in Rochester this afternoon. A Cannabis Career Fair is happening from 2 until 4 today at the RochesterWorks Career Center. There will be several businesses in attendance and it’s possible people could be hired on the spot. A variety of positions are available including operations managers, bud technicians, sales associates and security.
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles says newly redesigned Rotary International custom plates are now available for order. The plate features the Rotary International logo and the motto of the organization, which is “Service Above Self.” Anyone who is interested in getting one of these plates can request one online, by mail or by calling 518-402-4838. But, people do have to provide proof of membership on an organization letterhead that’s signed by either a Rotary Club President or Rotary District Governor.
After being open for the last few months, donations to the Buffalo 5/14 Survivors Fund are no longer being accepted. The fund was set up in the aftermath of the mass shooting at the Jefferson Avenue Tops store in Buffalo that left 10 people dead and three others hurt. As of the latest update, more than five-and-a-half million dollars had been collected to help people affected by the tragedy. That money is expected to start being distributed in the next several weeks.
Your days of having to use the ArriveCAN app every time you want to go to Canada may be numbered. In June, the Canadian federal government extended many of its COVID-19 restrictions to go until at least September 30, but Congressman Brian Higgins, who has been critical of many of the COVID policies at the border for a long time now, is hopeful they will soon come to an end. Last week, Congressman Higgins met with some of his Canadian counterparts to talk about the need to remove barriers at border crossings to encourage travel and tourism. Members of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group encouraged the Canadian government to make ArriveCAN voluntary. Keep in mind these restrictions remain in place until at least next Friday, and there’s no official word yet from the Canadian government about them being dropped.
Some very good news…Buffalo Bills cornerback Dane Jackson was discharged from the hospital this morning. He walked out under his own power, with full movement in all of his extremities. His injury occurred in the final minute of the game’s first half. Jackson was covering Titans receiver Treylon Burks and tackled him low after a completed pass. As they fell to the ground, Tremaine Edmunds dove in appearing to anticipate hitting Burks before he went to the turf. Instead, Burks and Jackson were already on the ground, and Edmunds made headfirst contact with Jackson with the crown of his helmet, sending Jackson’s head and neck whipping violently backward. The 25-year-old Jackson is a third-year pro who played college football at Pittsburgh. The Bills selected him in the seventh round of the 2020 draft. He was a part-time starter last season before earning a starting job for 2022. Once again, Dane Jackson left the hospital this morning and has full movement in all extremities.
The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee has announced the results of the latest crackdown on impaired driving. From August 19th through September 5th, over 2800 tickets were handed out to people who were under the influence while behind the wheel. There were also over 100,000 tickets issued for vehicle and traffic violations including speeding and distracted driving. State DMV Commissioner at GTSC Chair Mark Schroeder applauded members of law enforcement for doing their part to get people who were driving dangerously off the road.
The Erie County Sheriff’s Department has announced the traffic plan that will be in place before and after tonight’s game between the Bills and Titans. A section of Abbott Road in front of Highmark Stadium is going to be shut down to northbound and southbound traffic starting at 2:15 and remain closed until the game is over. The parking lots at the stadium open at 3:15 and drivers are being asked not to park on the shoulder of any roads to ensure pedestrian safety. Go Bills!
Free car seat checks are being offered around the Empire State over the next few days as part of Child Passenger Safety Week. Trained technicians will be available to teach parents how to select a child restraint and how to make sure that it’s used correctly every time. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed of the 755 children who died in crashes in 2020, 42% were unrestrained. A list of car seat check events can be found online at 
Governor Hochul has signed legislation to make it easier for non-profit and public service workers to access loan forgiveness through the state’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. The new bill eliminates substantial barriers to applying for and accessing loan forgiveness. It’s a federal program that rewards and provides incentives for public service work by canceling portions of the borrowers’ federal student loans. The program requires borrowers to be full-time employees of an eligible public service employer and make 120 qualifying payments toward their student loan, after which the remainder of their federal student loan debt is forgiven. Currently, about 2.7 million people in the state work in the public or nonprofit sectors.
Governor Kathy Hochul today issued a warning to consumers about scammers taking advantage of the recent student debt relief plan to steal borrowers’ money and personal information. Scammers will try to create a sense of urgency by impersonating government agencies and promising immediate student loan relief. Borrowers are reminded that it’s important to stay vigilant, well informed and prepared for any fraud related to this new relief plan. Protect yourself by making sure websites end in .gov so you can trust the information. Don’t trust any person or program that promises you early or special access, or guaranteed eligibility. Don’t give out your personal information, including Federal Student Aid ID or social security number to anyone who contacts you. If you encounter a scam, report it. Contact the official Federal Student Aid website to file a complaint, or contact the Federal Trade Commission.
Lottery players hope luck is on their side as they take their shot at winning two big jackpots that are up for grabs. The prize ahead of tonight’s Mega Millions drawing has grown to at least $256,000,000. And, whoever picks the correct numbers for Powerball tomorrow night is going to be $225,000,000 richer. The cost of a ticket to play these games is $2. Both the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.
Wegmans shoppers are being urged to check their online accounts to see if they’ve received a $20 digital coupon. The supermarket chain says it’s giving that bonus to customers who have used the SCAN app at least three times over the past 13 weeks to thank them for their loyalty. The app, which launched in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, gives people the ability to scan their own groceries and then pay for them when they are done shopping. But, due to losses the company has experienced, the app is being discontinued on Sunday.
62-year-old Thomas Tacito of Batavia has been arrested and charged with criminal mischief after allegedly throwing a rock through a window at a location on West Main Street Road. Tacito will appear in Batavia Town Court to answer the charge.
Governor Hochul says Frederick Douglass-Greater Rochester International Airport is receiving millions of dollars in state funding to make some much-needed improvements. The $18,000,000 will go towards revitalizing the terminal area by installing energy efficient technologies and upgrading security doors. There will also be a new passenger information display system and better Wi-Fi service. Outside of the airport, a longer curbside drop-off and pick-up area will be created and the entrance canopy is going to be extended.
The latest data from the state shows that there’s been a slight increase in the spread of COVID-19 in Western New York. Right now, the 7-day average infection rate is sitting at 12.6%. At this time one week ago, the average infection rate was 12.2%. Officials say the best way for people to prevent themselves and others from getting sick is to be vaccinated, get an updated booster shot and wear a mask while indoors.
The New York State Department of Health says monkeypox vaccine is going to be made available to a wider range of Empire State residents. The agency announced yesterday that all individuals at risk of becoming infected with monkeypox could now get vaccinated. Before this expansion, eligibility was limited to people who were likely exposed to the virus. Plans are also in the works to distribute more than 3800 vials of monkeypox vaccine to counties statewide. The state says that 100 of those vials will go to Monroe County.
The New York State Thruway Authority reports there are over 64 million dollars in unpaid tolls from between 2018 and 2021. The Authority says drivers who owe toll money will receive 4 notices and then their registration will be suspended. Enforcement has been paused since 2018 due to confusion over how to pay because of the tolls going cashless and then the COVID pandemic set collection back even further. Over the past few years the Thruway Authority has taken some steps to clear up some of the confusion such as, putting up signs, simplifying billing statements, offering an amnesty program to help customers settle their past due accounts and increased staffing at call centers.
Public health departments in the four-county GLOW region want you to know that clinics start this week for the new COVID booster vaccine. The eligibility requirements for the Moderna booster include being 18 years of age or older, and at least two months have passed since completing the primary vaccine series or booster. Requirements are similar for the Pfizer booster, but also include children 5-11 years of age as long as it has been at least five months since they completed their primary vaccine. The Genesee County Health Department encourages residents to talk with their primary care provider and/or their pharmacist to discuss questions they have related to the COVID vaccine and boosters.
The Genesee County Health Department is hosting a free drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic tomorrow from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia). Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum. For more information on Health Department services, visit 
A 16-year-old girl is in custody in connection with a stabbing at the Buffalo School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. According to police, she attacked a 17-year-old girl inside of a classroom yesterday at the school which is located on West Huron Street. The victim was taken to Oishei Children’s Hospital where she was last listed in serious condition. Buffalo Public Schools says it takes any offenses that occur on school grounds seriously and that the Code of Conduct will be followed when coming up with disciplinary measures.
Students in the Orchard Park Central School District will be spending less time in their classrooms this coming Monday. District officials have announced a “Buffalo Bills Half-Day” ahead of the NFL team’s home opener against the Tennessee Titans. A lot of traffic is expected around Windom Elementary School and Orchard Park Middle School which both are near Highmark Stadium and an early dismissal will allow students to safely return home. Monday’s game between the Bills and Titans is set for 7:15pm.
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection is offering some tips to grandparents about how to avoid being scammed. The agency says older residents are often targeted by scammers who attempt to take advantage of the close relationship grandparents have with their grandchildren. In many cases, the scammer pretends to be a relative and says there’s an emergency in order to get money sent to them. They also often insist that no one be told about the financial transaction. Officials say people should try to verify if what the scammer is saying is true or not. Folks also should not reveal their address or other personal information over the phone to anyone they don’t know.
A mobile phone left charging on a bed is the suspected cause of a fire on Big Tree Road in Pavilion. It appears to have started in a second-floor bedroom and residents told investigators that a phone was left on the bed plugged into a charger. A 13-year-old resident smelled the smoke and found the fire. He alerted his father and they shoved the mattress out the window but the fire spread quickly anyway. All residents of the two-unit apartment building escaped safely, which included one adult and two children that lived in each of the apartments. The investigation continues today into whether or not the building is a total loss; however, it was heavily damaged on both floors with heavy flame damage in the front of the second floor. No injuries were reported.
Western New York drivers are still feeling less pain at the pump as the cost of gas continues to fall across our region. According to Triple A today, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $4.04. That’s down a dime from this time one week ago and is 45 cents less than what people were paying a month ago. The state average is now $3.89 and nationally it’s $3.72. In Batavia this morning, the average price per gallon was $4.05; closing the gap even more to what the cost was on this day one year ago, just an 80 cent difference now, $3.25.
The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a free drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic this Thursday, September 15th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia). Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum. For more information on Health Department services, visit 
The woman, who was arrested after her dog was found to be overdosed on narcotics has once again failed to show up for her court date. When she missed the first date, Judge Thomas Burns issued a warrant for Cassandra Elmore of Batavia, after a friend called and said she was in the hospital, which couldn’t be verified. The Batavia Police say they never received the warrant and she was never apprehended. She was to be arraigned yesterday but once again failed to show. Court clerks said someone claiming to be an attorney in Pennsylvania but not leaving a phone number, address or filing a motion to change Elmore’s court appointed attorney called her behalf, but again verification was not possible and the judge did not excuse Elmore from appearing. Elmore faces three counts of injuring an animal and multiple charges stemming from a traffic stop late last month. The Judge has issued an arrest warrant and 2 bench warrants for her arrest.
The holidays will be here before we know it and the United Parcel Service is planning to hire over one-thousand people in Buffalo ahead of the season. UPS is offering part-time and full-time seasonal jobs to fill positions such as drivers, driver helpers, and package handlers. Seasonal package car driver positions begin at 21-dollars an hour and seasonal tractor- trailer driver positions begin at 35-dollars an hour. More information can be found online by visiting jobs-ups.com.
Wyoming County Emergency Services tell us that the investigation continues today into a fire that destroyed a house on Maxon Road in Bennington. The fire was reported just after 5:30 yesterday afternoon in the basement of the home owned by Robert and Darcie Kozlowski. Firefighters worked for over five hours to control the blaze but the house was ultimately considered a total loss. No injuries were reported. The Red Cross is assisting the three adults who were living in the home.
According to the latest data from the state, the spread of COVID-19 has increased slightly in our region. Right now, the seven-day average infection rate is sitting at 7.3%. At this time last week, that infection rate was at 6.9%. To help prevent another spike in cases, New Yorkers are encouraged to get the new COVID-19 vaccine boosters that are now being made available. To find out where to get immunized, call 1-800-232-0233 or visit 
The City of Batavia Fire Department has released Community Connect, that’s an application focused on protecting residents and their property in the most effective way possible during an incident or major disaster. Community Connect is a safe, secure online platform. It’s easy to use and allows residents to share critical information about their household in order to aid first responders and emergency service personnel to respond more efficiently and effectively. Community Connect is completely voluntary and residents are individually able to decide which information they are comfortable sharing. Residents simply create a profile and enter critical property and occupant information, which is then made available to public safety agencies at the time of dispatch. To learn more about the program and to create your profile, click the following link. 
This Friday is the day that our local Valu store will begin the process of closing down; that’s the day their inventory liquidation sale starts. Out of 16 stores across the region, the chain decided to close the doors at three under-performing locations. Besides Batavia, the other stores closing are in Chataqua County (Fredonia and Lakewood).
It looks like National Grid customers are going to be handing over a lot more money if they want to stay warm this winter. That’s because the utility company today predicted the average household would pay $943 for natural gas heating during the season, an increase of 39% from last winter. National Grid says this jump is mostly due to record natural gas prices and higher gas delivery rates. The company says people who are worried about paying their bills should check and see if they’re eligible for its Energy Affordability Program or the federal Home Energy Assistance Program.
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has launched a brand new online service aimed at making it easier for customers to access important records. The Records Request Navigator allows people to both request and pay for records that they need rather than having to make a request to the DMV through the mail. In addition to requesting registration and title record abstracts, folks can also ask for other information such as traffic violation tickets, crash records, and license and registration suspension orders. The records navigator can be found online at 
With kids across the Empire State heading back to school over the next few days, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection has issued some tips parents should follow. The agency recommends parents protect any documents with their child’s personal information on it and to ask how after-school programs and sports clubs secure their records. Parents should also discuss Internet safety tips with their children. Anyone with questions or concerns can contact the Consumer Assistance Helpline at 1-800-697-1220.
24-year-old Jacob Bedard of Albion is charged with aggravated harassment (2nd degree), after allegedly harassing a victim via electronic communication with no legitimate purpose, causing alarm and annoyance after being specifically instructed to cease all communication with the victim. The incident occurred on September 3, 2022, at 11:00a.m. He was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and a stay away order of protection was issued. Bedard will re-appear in Batavia Town Court next month (on October 11, 2022). AND 41-year-old Courtney Hewitt of Oakfield is charged with harassment (2nd degree), after allegedly striking a person in the head with a lamp. Hewitt was released on an appearance ticket and will appear in the Town of Oakfield Court next week (on September 12, 2022, at 6:30p.m.).
Police across the state are warning drivers to be on the lookout for students crossing streets and getting on and off the bus. Drivers are urged to stay alert, put aside all distractions, and never try to pass a stopped school bus when the stop sign is out and lights are flashing. The safest option is to wait for the bus to turn off its lights and retract the stop sign. Failure to stop could lead to fines, jail time, injury or death.
Food poisoning incidents, thought to be caused by bad lettuce at Wendy’s restaurants, have now spread into New York State, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new cases raised the number of states where diners have fallen ill to six. A total of 97 people nationwide have been infected with an outbreak strain of E. coli after dining at Wendy’s. The agency has not confirmed the cause of the outbreak but said many sick people reported eating sandwiches with romaine lettuce before falling ill. Officials did not specify where in New York State the illnesses occurred.
The fun comes to an end today as the New York State Fair in Syracuse wraps up its run. The gates will shut down at 9:00 tonight. Today’s featured concerts are Night Ranger on the Chevy Court stage at 4:00 and Dire Straits Legacy 6:00. For a full list of today’s events, head to the official fair website at nysfair.ny.gov.
With a lot of people getting behind the wheel over the next couple of days, police across New York State are going to be keeping a very close eye out for drunk drivers. It’s part of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee’s STOP-DWI campaign that runs through September 5th. People who are planning to drink alcoholic beverages are being urged to make sure they have a safe ride home. Anyone who sees suspicious or dangerous activity on the road should dial 911 immediately.
People who have accounts at M&T Bank won’t be able to access their accounts for part of this weekend. Both mobile and online banking are going to be down for 36 hours starting tomorrow as the chain completes systems integrations of People’s United Bank and M&T. It’s important to note that customers can still use ATM services and their debit cards. Anyone with questions can contact M&T Bank at 1-800-724-2440.
No one has won the Mega Millions or Powerball in a while and that means both jackpots are still growing. The prize up for grabs in tonight’s Mega Millions drawing is at least $169,000,000. And whoever is lucky enough to pick the winning numbers for Powerball tomorrow night is going to be $148,000,000 richer. The cost of a ticket for each game is $2.00. Both the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.
The Erie County Department of Health says the presence of the West Nile Virus has been detected in the area. According to officials, mosquitoes with the illness were collected during recent surveillance pool testing. While most people who contract West Nile won’t exhibit any symptoms, there are others who experience health issues including a fever, headache, and vomiting. Residents should remove standing water in their yards to curb the mosquito population. They should also wear insect repellent while outdoors to prevent from potentially getting sick.
The Buffalo Sabres will be sporting a throwback look when they take the ice for 12 home games during the upcoming season. The NHL franchise announced that its alternate jersey is going to be black and red, which are the colors the team wore from 1996 to 2006. The actual jersey itself won’t be officially revealed until November 23rd when the Sabres take on the Saint Louis Blues.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for this afternoon, through 7pm this evening. The effected counties include Genesee, Orleans and Livingston, which could experience heat that feels like the mid-90’s. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity increases the chances that heat illnesses could occur. People are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Additional information: Muscle cramping is usually the first sign of heat-related illnesses (heat exhaustion or heat stroke). Symptoms of heat exhaustion include nausea, vomiting, cold/pale/clammy skin, heavy sweating, fast and weak pulse, weakness or fainting and fast and shallow breathing. Victims of this illness should be moved to a cool place, be cooled using any method available such as ice packs; cool, wet cloths, or by applying water to the body, and sip on water. If a victim is continuously vomiting or loses consciousness, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If heat exhaustion is not treated it may progress to heat stroke. Symptoms of heat stroke include hot body temperature, hot/red/dry/moist skin, rapid and strong pulse and possible unconsciousness. Victims of this illness should be treated in the same ways as those with heat exhaustion but do not give fluids. Also, 911 should be immediately called, as heat stroke is a medical emergency.
The Scribner Road homeowner whose property is uninhabitable due to damage that occurred starting August 7th, is hoping Pembroke will have an independent investigation completed as to why that damage happened. Gene Nati, spoke after the Town Board meeting last night; he noted that the contractor working at the local quarry, named One County Line Stone Company, Incorporated, was going to conduct an inquiry into the matter of why the damage to his home occurred; but Nati prefers someone independent of the quarry be brought in to investigate noting that unless someone independent does the investigation, he’s not sure how results will help local residents. The Town Board indicated they would look into the cost of an independent investigation.
No Kid Hungry New York is issuing an important reminder to parents ahead of the upcoming school year. The agency says parents have to submit an application so their kids can receive free or reduced-price meals at school. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, federal child nutrition waivers allowed schools to provide free meals for children but that provision has now expired. Application forms can be found both online and at schools.
Lotto players are hoping they’ll have money to burn after winning two big jackpots that are going to be up for grabs over the next couple of days. The prize for whoever picks all the winning Mega Millions numbers ahead of tonight’s drawing will be at least $135,000,000. Meanwhile, tomorrow night’s Powerball jackpot is sitting at $115,000,000. The cost of a ticket for each game is $2. The Mega Millions and Powerball drawings will both be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.
Following an investigation by police, 39-year-old Donald Cooper of LeRoy has been arrested and charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Cooper will return to the Town of LeRoy Court at a later date.
Rochester police are continuing their investigation into another shooting in their city that left one person dead. According to officials, the victim was hit by gunfire last night in the area of North Street. The name of the individual who was killed hasn’t been released. Anyone with information on this shooting is asked to dial 911 immediately.
A new poll from Siena College shows there are a lot of New Yorkers who aren’t happy with the way their lives are going. Just 27% of people said they are more satisfied with their life than they were a year ago while 33% are less satisfied. However, many folks say they are satisfied with things like their family and friends, spiritual life, health, and even where they live. But 75% of those surveyed are either not very or not at all satisfied with the world as a whole.
Governor Hochul announced Wednesday that there have been over 6000 illegal guns seized in New York State since January. She says that is 20 percent higher than last year. The state seized 76 ghost guns in July, which is more than what was seized in all of 2021. Hochul said the key to their success is collaboration with other state governments. She used the example of gun shows where people purchase guns in Pennsylvania and then traffic them to New York where they are illegal.
It appears New York State Republican Committee Chairman Nick Langworthy is one step closer to heading to Capitol Hill. Langworthy has declared victory over Carl Paladino in the Republican primary for the newly-redrawn 23rd District. But, Paladino’s campaign has released a statement saying its seeing statistical irregularities in a number of counties that will be looked into in the coming days. In the newly created 24th District, Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney defeated challengers Mario Fratto and George Phillips. Tenney is now going to face Steven Holden, who is the nominee of the Democratic Party.
The Carlton Fire Company tells us that a vehicle was found partially submerged in Lake Ontario early Tuesday morning. The car had driven over an embankment from the Lakeside Beach Park and landed upside down in Lake Ontario. A single occupant was found inside the vehicle by first responders. The occupant was quickly extricated from the car and transported to the hospital with only minor injuries.
ARC GLOW has announced Monday that they sold their waste collection business to Casella Waste Systems. Casella will continue using the same property and staff at the West Main Street waste transfer station. Arc GLOW will use the money from the acquisition to invest in programs and services to meet the needs of those they support. They said the reason for the sale was that they had been losing money on their trash collection services for years, the fleet of garbage trucks was old and would have been very expensive to replace. Casella promised to hire on anyone who wished to stay; however, the number of people being helped by employment with the trash collection and transfer station was shrinking. ARC GLOW anticipates the move out of the transfer station will take place over the next 6 months.
Police across the state will be taking part in the latest “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” STOP-DWI campaign. Police are going to be increasing patrols through September 5th in an effort to get drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol off the roads. According to data from the University at Albany the number of police-reported impaired driving crashes went up by 11% between 2020 and 2021.
In Attica, the Department of Public Works has shut down Exchange Street just south of the rodeo driveway entrance thru this Friday, August 19th. Residents and visitors can access Exchange from Main Street. Anyone with questions or concerns is encouraged to call the Village Office at 585-591-0898.
According to a preliminary report from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), an earthquake occurred Monday in Genesee County. It happened early in the morning today. The quake’s epicenter was located east of Batavia, north of the Stafford County Club, between Prentice Road and Randall Road. Overall, it wasn’t a powerful earthquake, only registering a magnitude of 1.2 on the Richter scale. USGS says it was five kilometers deep.
People who will be hitting the road this week are going to want to keep an extra close eye on their vehicle’s speedometer. That’s because police across the state will be increasing patrols through this Sunday in an effort to make sure everyone is following the correct speed limit. Preliminary data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research at the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College shows unsafe speed contributed to 353 deadly crashes last year, an 11-percent jump from 2020. During last year’s Speed Awareness Week, law enforcement gave out over 23-thousand speeding tickets.
Western New York drivers are still seeing lower prices at the pump when it comes time to fill up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $4.45. That’s down eight cents in the past week and is 34 cents less than this time last month. Currently, the state average is $4.34 a gallon while nationally it’s $3.96. In Batavia, the average price per gallon this morning was $4.40, down 28 cents from a month ago today.
With the number of drug overdoses rising across the Empire State each day, action is being taken to try and save people’s lives. Starting today, naloxone can be dispensed at pharmacies in New York without a prescription under an order issued by state Health Commissioner Doctor Mary Bassett. Naloxone is used to block the effects of opioids and helps a person regain consciousness and resume regular breathing if they’ve overdosed. New Yorkers who are struggling with addiction can get assistance by calling the state’s 24-hour hotline at 1-877-846-7369.
You may already have heard, at $3.98, the national average price for a gallon of gas has now dropped to under $4, for the first time since March. The New York State average is $4.38 (down 5 cents since Monday, and 11 cents since last week). Average prices for the four-county GLOW Region remain above the state average, and Orleans County – with an average price of $4.66 – is among the highest in New York State. Only New York County, at $4.80 per gallon, and Delaware County, at $4.67 per gallon, was higher than Orleans County. The lowest prices in New York were found in Suffolk County, $4.15 per gallon. In Batavia, Triple A tells us the average price per gallon this morning is $4.42, down a nickel since last week and 30 cents from a month ago.
The Buffalo Bills will continue their preparation for the upcoming season when they host a preseason game tomorrow afternoon. The Bills are going to be taking on the Indianapolis Colts at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The Bills are coming off of a season that saw them win another AFC East title but once again fall to the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. Kickoff for tomorrow afternoon’s contest is scheduled for 4:00.
Both the FAA and Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office are looking into a plane crash that left two people injured. According to WKBW, the individuals onboard the aircraft were conducting training exercises last night when the plane went down in a wooded area near Baker Street Extension in the town of Harmony. The victims were treated at the scene and taken to a hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania. There’s no word on their conditions.
The City of Batavia Water Department is shutting down water mains tomorrow in the area of Oak Street and Richmond Avenue (due to the Richmond Avenue Water Line Project). The streets with possible water interruptions will be from, North of Richmond Ave on Oak Street, Richmond Ave from Oak Street to State Street, Verona Ave from Richmond Ave to Hillcrest Street, all of Buxton Ave, Genesee Street, and New York Place. Additionally, new water main valves will be installed on Prospect Ave and State Street. During valve installations, water will be shut down on Prospect Ave from Richmond Ave to Oak Street and on the West side of Oak Street from Prospect Ave to the Ellicott Ave and Main Street intersection, along with an area on State Street from the Richmond Ave intersection to just South of Park Avenue. The length of time the water will be off is unknown. As is typically the case, when water service is restored it may be discolored. Please refrain from doing any laundry until the water runs clear.
Residents in the Town of Batavia may experience low water pressure through tomorrow as the town continues to make repairs and upgrades to the Ellicott Street Water Booster Station. Once the work is completed, the town says water pressure will be restored to normal.
The controversial ReAwaken America Tour is scheduled to come to Batavia Friday and Saturday, and protesters again made their feelings known about the upcoming event. Protesters were outside Cornerstone Church on Sunday, which is hosting the event after the original location in Rochester declined to host after public backlash. Protesters are concerned with the tour’s ideology and that nearly 3,500 people are expected for the event. Representatives of the Cornerstone Church have said they plan to move forward with the event, as scheduled.
Dive teams are expected to be back in the water at Canandaigua Lake today as the search for a missing man resumes. Officials say the man didn’t have a flotation device on when he jumped into the lake Friday in the area of LeTourneau Christian Camp in Rushville. The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office tells the Democrat and Chronicle the search couldn’t move forward until today because the department was waiting for special dive equipment to arrive. So far, the name of the man hasn’t been released.
The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors approved incentives for a $3.72 million financial investment by Ivy Village Corp. that would create 20 units of market-rate senior housing in the village of Le Roy. Ivy Village Corp. plans to build market rate residential units in three phases with each phase calling for the construction of 10 duplex residences. The development is located on 16 acres off Lake Street with easy access to village amenities and is a twenty-minute drive to downtown Rochester. The GCEDC board also granted mortgage, property and sales tax incentives totaling about $805,000.
A free household hazardous waste collection has been set for September 17. The collection is open to Genesee, Wyoming and Livingston County residents. It will take place 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Batavia and is by appointment only. Those interested may check 
Governor Hochul says progress is being made in the ongoing fight against gun violence. Since the start of the year, State Police have seized close to 800 firearms, which is an increase of 104-percent compared to the same time period in 2021. The governor says that statistic was boosted when a specialized Gun Trafficking Interdiction Unit carried out a months-long investigation that led to a large cache of firearms being seized and multiple arrests being made. Overall, more than 3100 gun seizures have been reported by all law enforcement agencies in the state.
A Buffalo man is in some serious legal trouble after he allegedly threatened to kill African American people at grocery stores around the city. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says days after the May 14th mass shooting at the Jefferson Avenue Tops that left 10 people dead and three others hurt, 24-year-old Rolik Walker created a Twitter account and posted messages claiming he and his associates were targeting four stores and were only looking to kill African Americans. Walker also tried to mask his online activity using a virtual private network. If convicted, he’s facing up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
A Genesee County Grand Jury has indicted 35-year-old Lakeisha Gibson of Albion, accusing her of the crime of criminal possession of weapon (third degree, a class D felony), menacing (second degree, a class A misdemeanor), and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child after allegedly threatening to stab a person with a pair of scissors while in the presence of three children under 17 on April 14, 2022 in the City of Batavia. Gibson was previously convicted of the crime of attempted criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor, on January 14, 2020. This conviction forms the basis for count one in the indictment.
Starting today, all in-person visits at both the Erie County Holding Center and Erie County Correctional facility are suspended. The sheriff’s office said last night that this change is due to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases. The suspension is temporary and is expected to only last through August 11th. Up until July 5th, in-person visits at both facilities weren’t allowed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Batavia Muckdogs started out strong in yesterday afternoon’s game against Amsterdam; they tied the series with a final score of 8-1, which forced game 3. In the end, the Amsterdam Mohawks were able to close out the series; they won, with a final score of 7-2.
State authorities have lifted a ban that had previously stopped state prison inmates from reading a book about the 1971 Attica Correctional Facility uprising; this, following a First Amendment lawsuit brought by its author. New York State officials, however, said they would continue to censor one small part of the Pulitzer-prize winning book for security reasons. A two-page map of Attica will be removed from copies sent into the prisons. {“Blood in the Water: The Attica Uprising of 1971”, by Heather Ann Thompson, a historian and professor at the University of Michigan – Published in 2016}
State Attorney General Letitia James says she’s doing her part to help crack down on those annoying robocalls many Empire State residents receive each day. She has joined a coalition of attorneys general to form a nationwide Anti-Robocall Litigation Taskforce, which will investigate and take legal action against the telecommunications companies who are responsible for enabling foreign robocalls. James believes that New Yorkers shouldn’t have to worry about being scammed every time they answer their phone. Scams can be reported by using a form that has been posted on the Office of the Attorney General’s website.
The Batavia Muckdogs lost the first game of the championship round series to Amsterdam 9-5 and travel back to Dwyer today. Game 2 is a must-win for Batavia to have a chance of winning the best of three. This afternoon players take the field at 4:30; if needed, game 3 starts at 7:30.
Amazon is offering to help its employees in the region pursue a higher education without them having to pay the large price of tuition. The retail giant says it’ll cover all the fees of hourly workers who decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Brockport. It’s part of Amazon’s more than one-billion-dollar investment towards upskilling 300-thousand of its workers by 2025. Anyone who is interested in applying can find out more information by visiting 
According to a state report, at 2.7%, Wyoming County had the lowest unemployment rate in the GLOW region, as of June 30. Genesee County’s unemployment rate was also low at 2.8 percent, with an estimated 900 people unemployed. That marked a 1.6 percent decrease compared to June 2021, when the rate was 4.4 percent with 1,300 people unemployed. Bronx County in the New York City area had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 8.4 percent.
The Genesee County Sheriffs Office tells us that reports of a massive brawl of up to 200 people at Six Flags Darien Lake were greatly exaggerated. While there were a few fights in the parking lot Sunday evening, it took no more than 45 minutes to clear out everyone involved and the Pitbull concert proceeded without any issue. Sheriffs from surrounding counties were called in for backup, which was noted to be typical under the circumstances. There were no injuries or major arrests.
The Muckdogs shutout the Utica Blue Sox for the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) West Division championship last night at Dwyer; the final score was 6-0. That means, the Muckdogs have advanced to the championship round of a three-game series and are on the road to Amsterdam for the first game tonight. They’re back at Dwyer tomorrow for a 4:30 start and if necessary, game 3 will start at 7:30.
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles says a civil service exam for people who are interested in working for the agency is now available online. Applicants for Motor Vehicle Representative positions have until 11:59pm on Wednesday, August 31st to take the test. Anyone who wants to be considered for a Motor Vehicle Representative job must meet the minimum qualifications, which include having a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma and a year of customer service experience or 30 semester credit hours of college level courses. The starting annual salary for these positions is more than $37,000.
Family members of the people who were killed when Continental Flight 3407 crashed in Clarence Center over a decade ago have been honored in Washington, DC. Yesterday, the FAA dedicated a plaque to those relatives for their hard work to prevent another airline tragedy from happening. Following the February 12th, 2009 tragedy, family members of the victims pushed for things such as the creation of a pilot records database and also additional crewmember training. Those efforts led to legislation being passed in Congress and signed by former President Barack Obama.
The Batavia Muckdogs strengthened their hold on first place in the West Division with a win last night against the Auburn DoubleDays; final score was 6-3. Tonight they host Niagara with the game starting at 7:00.
New Yorkers are hoping luck is on their side as they try to win the second-largest prize in the history of the Mega Millions lottery game. Whoever picks all six winning numbers ahead of tonight’s drawing will win at least one-point-one billion dollars. The biggest Mega Millions jackpot was more than one-point five billion dollars back in 2018. Tickets cost $2.00 each and the drawing will be streamed live online at 
The monkeypox virus that’s been spreading rapidly across New York State is now being called an imminent threat to public health. That declaration by the state Department of Health Commissioner Mary Bassett means that local health departments engaged in response and prevention activities, will be able to access additional state reimbursement after other funding sources are maximized. New York State is leading the nation with monkeypox infections, most of which are in New York City; at last count, Monroe County has six confirmed cases. Monkeypox is commonly spread through exposure to an infected person’s lesions or respiratory droplets. Governor Hochul says 110,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine will be arriving in the next few weeks. Roughly 80,000 doses will go to New York City and the remaining doses will be distributed around the state.
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection has issued a reminder warning to residents about an ongoing text phishing scheme. The agency says scammers are sending messages where they’re impersonating financial institutions and claiming that a customer’s account has been compromised due to unusual activity. But, the messages are actually an attempt to get people to share personal information such as their social security number, credit card information or bank account number. Anyone who gets a fraudulent text message should delete it immediately.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that the vast majority of $567 million dedicated to help low-income electric and gas utility customers pay off past due bills, would soon be reflected on their accounts. At the direction of the Governor, the Department of Public Service, worked with the state’s major utilities to credit customers’ accounts. The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant financial hardship for New Yorkers, particularly low-income consumers. Since March 2020, the number of customers more than 60 days behind in their electric and gas utility bills and the total dollar amount owed across all the customers statewide, had grown to unprecedented levels. It’s anticipated that low-income customer credits will be posted to accounts beginning August 1 and consumers can expect to see the credit on their next billing cycle.
The American Red Cross is experiencing a drop in blood and platelet donations this summer. Red Cross officials say donations are down nearly 20 percent. This could lead to a seasonal shortage—which can affect patients in hospitals all across the country. Type O negative blood donors are especially needed now. Locally, the next two blood drives will be held next week: On Tuesday, August 2nd at the New York State School for the Blind from 10am – 3pm, and on Thursday, August 4th at Northgate Free Methodist Church on Bank Street, from 1-6pm. Donors need to make an appointment ahead of time and by doing so, will be entered to win a $10 e-gift card. Donors can schedule an appointment to donate using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or by visiting 
At the city Planning and Development Committee meeting, the focus of much discussion was on farm animals – and how to enforce restrictions, and which animal species should or should not be allowed in the city. In the end last night, the group agreed to put forth a recommendation, to use City Manager Rachael Tabelski’s drafted resolution, with a few alterations. The changes included: limiting chickens to six, banning roosters from being kept in the city, and requiring city residents to register their animals by a certain date, to be determined by council if it adopts the recommendation, or not be allowed to keep the animal on their city properties. Registering the animals will allow folks that already have chickens, goats and the like to keep them, and should make it easier to track who has what and where. This will next go to City Council for review and eventually a vote. And a public hearing will be scheduled before a final decision is made. The resolution by Rachael Tabelski “restricts people from owning, bringing into, possessing, keeping, harboring or feeding farm animals, cloven-hoofed animals, equine or fowl, including but not limited to cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, swine, lamas, alpaca, ducks, turkey, geese, feral cats, ponies, donkeys, mules or any other farm or wild animal within city limits.”
Fifty-two organizations in Genesee, Wyoming and Livingston counties will benefit from $400,000 in impact grant investments by the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes. This will include over $100,000 for 19 programs for summer camp and after-school programming, giving children and youth a safe place to socialize and gain new skills in leadership, literacy, art, work; as well as over $50,000 for seven food pantries and Meals on Wheels, helping seniors get proper nutrition and ensuring families have enough food to put a balanced meal on the table.
A Genesee County Court jury has found a Corfu man guilty on all counts of sexually assaulting a child. 21-year-old Shawn Myers was found guilty Thursday of first-degree criminal sexual act, a Class B violent felony punishable by up to 25 years in state prison. He also was found guilty of misdemeanor counts of third-degree sexual abuse and sexual misconduct, both of which happened while at Target on Veteran’s Memorial Drive. Myers was found guilty of engaging in anal sexual conduct by forcible compulsion on Jan. 28, 2021 in Batavia. The victim was less than 17 years old. Myers is to be sentenced in September. The verdict came after a four-day trial that included the victim’s testimony.
State Police tell us that a passenger on a motorcycle died in a collision involving a deer. The accident occurred last night on Cockram Road in the Town of Byron. Investigation revealed that a 1998 Harley Davidson operated by 30-year-old Leland Fuller, IV of Byron was traveling east bound on Cockram Road with a passenger, 28-year-old Daylin Fagundo-Rodriguez, also of Byron. A deer entered the road and was struck by the motorcycle. Both occupants were ejected; Fuller was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Fagundo-Rodriguez was pronounced deceased at the scene. The deer also died at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.
According to Triple A this morning, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas dropped 16 cents nationally in the past week to $4.36 and 11 cents in New York State, to $4.58. A year ago, the state average was $3.19. In Batavia, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is $4.52, that’s down 36 cents since a month ago but still up $1.35 from one year ago today.
Rochester Regional Health has made the decision to close the Batavia Urgent Care at the Jerome Medical Center, which will take effective August 1. This is in preparation to offer what they are referring to as re-imagined urgent care services in the Batavia Medical Campus on Oak Orchard Road, opening in the spring of 2023. Every staff member from Batavia Urgent Care is moving into another position within their system while the organization works through the Urgent Care redesign. In the coming days and weeks, patients will receive letters with more information and there will be new signs at the Batavia Urgent Care site about the changes. Primary care offices remain open, and providers aware of the changes ahead are prepared to see any patients with urgent needs.
Public Works Director Brett Frank tells us that the second phase of the roof replacement is just the beginning of the revitalization of the City Centre Mall. The vision for the mall is to have the entrances completely redone and once they are made more attractive and the water buckets inside are gone they hope more people will want to come in and more stores will want to set up shop inside. Money for the entrance project is coming from a 1 million dollar downtown revitalization initiative grant.
Residents of Albion have expressed concern regarding the $236,000 over-payment that has been made to police officers during the previous five years. The village board room in Albion was packed last night with discussion focused on whether or not the money should be recouped. A CPA firm last week presented the results of an audit, looking at officers’ pay checks over five years, ever since the village changed from having officers work five 8-hour shifts a week to 12-hour shifts. The change was made to reduce overtime in the police department and to give officers more days off. However, the village made an error in determining the hourly pay rate. In the end, board members voted to have the officers continue to be paid at the rate they’ve been getting, at least for the time being, until all details of the overpayment are available.
The Town of Batavia Fire Department responded to a small fire in one of the rooms at the Red Roof Inn on Park Road. Last night around 9:30, they were called as the hotel was evacuated. The fire was contained to a small corner of one of the rooms, put out with an extinguisher. The hotel was ventilated and guests were allowed to return to their rooms a short time later. The cause of the fire was determined to be a lithium-ion battery from a remote control car that overheated while being charged.
33-year-old Roy Watson Jr. of Batavia has pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in the fourth degree. He admitted to entering a home in Medina without permission and damaging items. He may be required to pay $650 in restitution. That amount will be determined during sentencing in October. Watson faces a maximum of 60 days in jail or four months of weekends. He could also receive a conditional discharge and three years of probation.
According to data from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, the number of confirmed Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties is holding steady, with 86 confirmed cases in the two counties from July 13 to July 19, compared to 81 the previous seven days. In Orleans, the Covid cases increased from 28 to 36, while in Genesee they decreased from 53 to 50. In New York State, the seven-day positivity rate, ending on Monday, was at 8.93 percent statewide. Orleans and Genesee counties are in the nine-county Finger Lakes Region, where the seven-day positivity rate is at 6.87 percent. The percentage is the highest in Western New York at 10.39 percent and the lowest in the Southern Tier at 6.64 percent.
Genesee County Sheriff Report: 29-year-old Jamie McClurg of Batavia is charged with petit larceny after allegedly skip-scanning multiple items that had a cost of $76.84 and then passing all points of sale in a store on Veteran’s Memorial Drive. McClurg was transported to the Genesee County Jail for prints and photos and will appear next month in Batavia Town Court. ALSO, 51-year-old Scott McColl of Pavilion is charged with DWI/alcohol or drugs/2nd offense, moving from a lane unsafely and operating an unregistered motorcycle, after deputies responded to a motorcycle accident on Summit Street Road in the town of Pavilion last week. McColl was released on an appearance ticket and will appear in the Town of Pavilion Court next month.
Next week, 84 Lumber will be holding a hiring event as the company tries to add employees to its stores in the Buffalo area. The job fair is happening on Wednesday, July 27th from 7:00am until 5:00pm at the Depew store, which is located on Walden Avenue. Among the positions that are available include manager trainees, truck drivers, window and door service technicians and also forklift/yard associates. Anyone who is interested in attending can pre-register online and should be prepared to participate in an interview. 
There is a heat advisory in effect for our entire region today, with temperatures reaching the mid to upper 90’s in combination with high humidity. The National Weather Service encourages folks to drink plenty of fluids, avoid working or being outside in the sun if possible, stay in an air-conditioned room, and check up on relatives and neighbors. The elderly, young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances, as they are the most susceptible to health issues associated with the heat.
The Genesee County Office for the Aging reminds people to be aware of the danger signs for heat exhaustion. They include heavy sweating, tiredness, headache, a cool, moist feeling on the skin, paleness, weakness, nausea or vomiting, a fast or weak pulse rate, muscle cramps, dizziness, fainting or fast, shallow breathing. The danger signs for heat stroke include: extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees Fahrenheit), red, hot and dry skin (no sweating), a rapid, strong pulse, throbbing headache or dizziness and nausea. The following can help everyone to protect themselves from heat-related problems:
Amazon is now one step closer to building a brand new three-million-square foot facility in the Town of Niagara. Last night, the Town Board gave the green light to the retail giant’s plan to construct a new warehouse on more than 200 acres of land in the area of Niagara Falls International Airport and the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. The Buffalo News reports Amazon’s board of directors must sign off on the project before construction can begin. The distribution center is projected to create over 1000 jobs in the area.
The official opening of the Genesee County Fair is Saturday, July 23rd, but there will be horse shows and entertainment this Friday as well. The fair opens at 9am and rides and buildings close at 10pm but special ticketed entertainment will run later at night. Each day of the fair features a theme. Saturday is drive your tractor to the fair day and kids day. Sunday is Senior Citizens day. Monday is Veterans day. Tuesday is 4-H Day and Chapin manufacturing day. Wednesday is Emergency Responders Day and the second Kids Day. Thursday is HP Hood day and Friday is Chamber of Commerce Day. Kids Day for the last day of the fair. Admission is 10 dollars and an unlimited wristband for the midway can be had for 25 dollars or 15 on the first and last day of the fair, both of which are Kids Days. For more information visit the fair website at 
The New York State Fair is just a few weeks away, and today tickets and parking passes for the very popular event will be going on sale. Admission is $3.00 and parking is available for $5.00. People 65 and older and children 12 and under will still get in for free. This year’s fair begins Wednesday, August 24th and runs through Monday, September 5th; to buy tickets and for a full list of events, go to 
The Batavia Muckdogs played their rival Jamestown Tarp Skunks last night at Dwyer Stadium with the ‘Dogs coming out on top, 2-1; both the Muckdogs and Utica won their games last night so Batavia maintains the top spot in the West Division. The Muckdogs take on the Power tonight at Niagara…the next home game is tomorrow night against Elmira, starting at 7:00.
Rochester police are continuing their investigation into a shooting that left one person dead and two others hurt. According to 13 WHAM, officers were on patrol in the area of North Clinton Avenue and Rauber Street overnight when they heard gunshots and found the victims. A 19-year-old man was killed, a 25-year-old man suffered serious injuries and a 29-year-old man is expected to survive. Anyone with information on this case is asked to dial 911 immediately.
The city’s filtration plant stopped pumping out water this past weekend due to a problem with a controller, a part that sends a signal to the pumps to turn off. This resulted in the Control Panel defaulting to the off position, with no power going to the pump. So, in summary, for about a two-hours Sunday afternoon, there was no water coming out of the Batavia Water Plant; when this happens, county highway superintendent Tim Hens said that water storage tanks are used in lieu of working pumps. The detailed story is available on the website of our news partner, The Batavian; here is a direct link: 
Members of the Erie County Gun Violence Prevention Task Force have released their first report. The group is made up of agencies including the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo Police Department and Erie County District Attorney’s Office. The task force was created after more than 30 shooting incidents happened last July. Since then, the task force says it has accomplished several things including expanding the Summer Youth Employment Program which allows young people to take part in a 16-week program where they work 25 hours a week. The complete report can be found on the county’s website.
One of the oldest hotels in the area will be going up on the auction block later this year. A real estate firm has put the over 300 room Millennium Hotel Buffalo located on Walden Avenue in Cheektowaga up for sale and the minimum bid is two-million-dollars. The hotel is still open and operational and the auction is scheduled for September 6th through the 8th. The hotel was built back in 1973 and features 12-thousand square feet of event and meeting space and also a restaurant.
The Batavia Muckdogs remain on top in the West Division with 24 wins and 10 losses (the last 10 games: 8-2). The Utica Blue Sox remain a close second. Tonight the Muckdogs host the Jamestown Tarp Skunks; game time is 7:00.
The Richmond Memorial Library Tweens & Teens Staff will be sponsoring a Book Drive for Children’s and Young Adult books beginning later this month. The book drive starts July 27th; they welcome books for children or teens of all ages’ they must be in new or good condition, and can be dropped off anytime the library is open. The Library G.I.F.T. Program (Generate Imagination in Families Today) is dedicated to making new or gently used books available to children and their families in our area, and to raising awareness of the lifelong benefits of early childhood literacy. For information on the book drive and other library programs, visit the library website at 
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that SUNY and CUNY community colleges will receive $5 million in funding to support the creation or enhancement of short-term credential programs or course offerings that provide pathways to employment in the cannabis industry. The funding supports programs that will create or enhance non-degree and degree-eligible courses and programs, stackable credentials, and/or micro credentials that quickly address local employer skill needs within the cannabis sector, a projected multi-billion dollar industry with tens of thousands jobs. Selected campuses must also partner with local employers in the cannabis industry and receive their input on curriculum development. Additionally, the New York State Department of Labor and the Office of Cannabis Management will support efforts to expand learning opportunities by helping to connect businesses and job seekers to these essential training programs. Upon completion, the Department will help candidates complete resumes, prepare for job interviews and provide regional job leads.
Police are investigating after ten cars were stolen from a West Herr dealership in Orchard Park Saturday night. Five of the vehicles have since been found as of 11:00 yesterday morning, without any damage. Anyone with information is asked to contact local police.
Our region is getting much-needed rain today after very little precipitation the past month. All of Western New York and much of the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes Region are either abnormally dry or in moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Southern half of Genesee County is under moderate drought conditions, which have turned many lawns and fields yellow.
A Leicester man was killed when a car pulled in front of his motorcycle at Morgan Road and Union Street Friday night, Monroe County Sheriff’s investigators said. 49-year-old James E. Lee III was pronounced dead at the scene of the 9 p.m. crash. Deputies said Lee was traveling south on Union Street when a Pontiac Vibe that was going west on Morgan stopped and then pulled out in front of Lee.
Batavia City Police report the dog that overdosed on cocaine and an unknown narcotic is recovering at Genesee County Animal Shelter. The French bulldog was seized after police investigation revealed it had overdosed three times, over the course of approximately five weeks (on May 15, May 25 and again on June 21). Assistant Chief Christopher Camp said the dog was taken from its owner, 30-year-old Cassandra Elmore of Batavia. Elmore was charged with three counts of injuring an animal and one count of owning an unlicensed dog. She is to appear later this month in City Court. Elmore may have attempted to conceal the incidents by going to vets in another county. However, police tell us the veterinarian who treated the dog after the third overdose, will not face any repercussions since it was the first time the dog was brought to that vet.
The number of Finger Lakes residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus is continuing to rise. The latest data from the state shows the 7-day average infection rate is now over 6.7%. At this time last week, the infection rate was 5.4%. And the number of Western New York residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus is also continuing to rise. The latest data from the state shows the 7-day average infection rate is now over 9.8%. At this time last week, the infection rate was 9.1%. People are being urged to protect themselves and others from the illness by being vaccinated, getting their booster shots and wearing a mask indoors.
Hundreds of nurses who work at Rochester General Hospital have voted to form a union. Overall, more than 400 nurses said they wanted to join the Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals while nearly 300 of them voted against the move. The outcome of this vote still needs to be approved by the National Labor Relations Board and that process could take a few days to complete. In a statement, officials with Rochester Regional Health expressed disappointment with this vote, saying they believe a direct working relationship with employees is best for the hospital and team members.
Alexander’s Zoning Board has decided against putting up a windmill off Dry Bridge Road. The key issue was the height: The Town only allows 500 feet as the maximum for windmills and this one would have to be 650 feet tall. 500 feet was standard when the town approved its zoning code. However, changes in technology and industry standards now require 650 feet. The proposed 4.5-megawatt windmill would have been the only wind turbine on the 147-acre parcel as part of a community-based renewable energy project.
New York is giving grant money to abortion providers throughout the state following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Governor Hochul says $10,000,000 from a newly created Abortion Provider Support Fund is being sent to 13 organizations that have dozens of abortion clinics across the state. The money will be used to expand abortion clinic operations with out-of-state residents expected to come to New York seeking abortion services. New York will also soon give $15,000,000 to independent abortion clinics in phase two of the grant funding.
The Batavia Muckdogs shut out the Jamestown Tarp Skunks last night 4-0…the ‘Dogs record is now 19-10. They’re in second place in the West Division, behind the Utica Blue Sox (22-11). The Muckdogs saddled up the horse this morning to travel to Elmira; they’ll take on the Pioneers at 7:00 tonight.
Today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the successful implementation of 9-8-8 in New York State as the new three-digit number to call or text to be connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. All 62 counties in New York State will be covered for the launch of the new 9-8-8 Lifeline, which will ensure that anyone with a New York area code will be connected to one of New York’s 9-8-8 crisis centers. Calling 9-8-8 provides a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health or substance abuse related distress. A chat feature will also be available through the Lifeline’s website (988lifeline.org). There are currently 13 operating 9-8-8 crisis contact centers in New York State and two in the development stage. The 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will be able to:
Wegmans is holding a hiring event today as the supermarket chain looks to fill hundreds of positions at its Rochester area stores. It’s happening from 2:00 until 6:00pm at the Pittsford Wegmans located on Monroe Avenue in Rochester. Among the jobs that are available include food service workers, pharmacy techs, cooks and management opportunities. Anyone who wants to apply can do so by visiting jobs.wegmans.com.
The summer concert season is underway, and multiple state agencies are working together to prevent underage drinking at venues across the state. Under an initiative called Operation Prevent, there will be enforcement sweeps to stop the use of fake IDs to buy alcohol. Anyone under the age of 21 who’s caught using a phony ID or someone else’s ID can get a ticket and have their license revoked for up to a year. Police will also be keeping an eye out for drunk drivers during and after concerts.