Tom Tharp
June 29, 2022 
The Primary results are in after voting took place on Tuesday. In the democratic primary for Governor, Hochul pulled in over 433 thousand votes for a 65 percent win. Suozzi only got 12 percent with 82 thousand votes and Williams came in with 21 percent, 140 thousand votes. In the Republican Primary for the governors seat Zeldin led the pack with just over 107 thousand votes which got him 42 percent. Wilson had 15 percent with 37.5 thousand and Astorino got 45 thousand for 17 percent. Giuliani had 63 thousand votes for nearly 25 percent. Antonio Delgado won the Lt Governor position with 57 percent of the votes. Democratic commentators were quick to point out that the democrats showed up in much larger numbers for the vote, over 650 thousand democrats voted vs just over 250 thousand for the republicans.
Batavia PD is looking for the public’s assistance in identifying a man who is suspected of stealing more than $350 of Allegra from the CVS pharmacy on East Main Street. The larceny took place today a little before noon. The suspect was last seen getting into the passenger seat of a white-colored SUV. It left the area heading westbound. If anyone recognizes the person pictured, please notify investigating Officer Nicole McGinnis by calling (585) 345-6350.
The Fix is in, Erik Fix that is. Batavia City Manager Rachel Tabelski announced that the President of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, Erik Fix has been appointed the new City of Batavia Assistant Manager. Some of his responsibilities will include creating and implementing a new Neighborhood and Housing Transformation initiative, community development, public relations and information technology. In a letter Fix submitted to Chamber members, he noted his last day as president of the Chamber would be July 22.
After 2 bidding cycles there is still no contractor for the work needing to be done to revitalize Jackson Square. The last low bidder, Mark Cerrone Inc. raised prices by almost 25 percent after winning the contract. Cerrone had bid 654 thousand dollars for the project and then delivered a bill of 847 thousand. The other bids were 870 thousand and over a million. The Revitalization Committee decided to rescind the offer to Cerrone.
If you are a senior and you like the farmers market then you are in luck. The Genesee County Office for the Aging will be giving out coupons at the farmers markets in Batavia and Leroy starting this Friday from 10 am to noon. Every Friday they will be at the Alva Place farmer’s Market and Saturday the 2nd, 23rd and 30th they will be at Trigon Park. They will also be handing them out at the Genesee County Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St., Batavia, every Tuesday in July from 10 a.m. to noon at the outside patio and in the Community Room if it is raining.
New Yorkers are heading to the polls today to decide who will be the nominees in the race for governor. For the Democrats, Governor Hochul, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Long Island Congressman Tom Suozzi are hoping they’ve earned enough support to win. For the Republicans, Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin, Andrew Giuliani, businessman Harry Wilson, and former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino are looking to be the GOP nominee. Primaries are also being held today for seats in the state Assembly and for lieutenant governor. Polls are open until 9:00pm.
37-year-old Marvin Barber, Jr. of Lackawanna, is charged with harassment, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and grand larceny….stemming from a reported disturbance on Lewis Place; Barber had left the scene but eventually turned himself in to police custody. He was arrested and arraigned in City Court and ordered held in the Genesee County Jail. Also, 52-year-old Daniel Yates of Batavia is charged with criminal tampering and criminal mischief. He is accused of damaging property inside Tops Market and was issued an appearance ticket.
A Rochester couple is in trouble with the law after being arrested in connection with recent catalytic converter thefts in Onondaga County. According to State Police, 25-year-old Brittany Hollaert and 31-year-old Vasiliy Maksimchuk took 17 of those devices from vehicles at the Drivers Village Auto Mall, which is located in Cicero. Troopers also claim the pair were involved in similar thefts in the Rochester area. Both suspects are facing multiple charges including grand larceny and criminal mischief.
By now you may have heard that the only independently owned pharmacy in Batavia, Alberty Drug Store, is in the process of closing. Beginning this week, they will only be open to fill prescriptions, which will be the case until sometime in July. The detailed story is available at the website of our news partner, The Batavian. A direct link to the story is available here: 
Western New York drivers woke up this morning to find a nearly 3% decrease in the per-gallon price at the pumps, that’s since a week ago today. According to Triple A this morning, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $4.86 in our region. The state average is now sitting at $4.96 a gallon and the national average is $4.90. In Batavia, the average price per gallon is $4.88. The average price for diesel here is the same as it was a week ago, $6.26 per gallon.
Early voting for tomorrow’s primary election has wrapped up, with election officials reporting an increase in voting over last year. The period lasted nine days and ended yesterday. According to a poll conducted by Survey USA, Lee Zeldin is leading the pack in the Republican primaries with Andrew Giuliani close behind. Both have nearly 25% of the vote each with Wilson and Astorino lagging behind in the teens and single digits. 31 percent of republican voters are still undecided. In the democrat primary Governor Hochul is far ahead of her challengers Suozzi and Williams. Tomorrow, polls will be open from 6:00am until 9:00pm tomorrow night.
30-year-old Jordan Reese of Elba has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and criminal mischief following a domestic incident. Reese allegedly physically injured an infant and destroyed property. Reese was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and will appear in Elba Town Court later next month. Also, 42-year-old David Choromanski of Byron, has been charged with criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child after a domestic incident. Choromanski allegedly damaged property belonging to another person in the presence of a child. Choromanski was arraigned in Le Roy Town Court and released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in Byron Town Court in July.
A bipartisan gun control package is now law. President Biden signed the legislation into law Saturday after receiving it from the Senate late Thursday. The act enhances background checks, provides funding for mental health services, prevents convicted domestic abusers from purchasing a weapon for five years, as well as creates penalties for gun trafficking, among other measures. It’s the first significant gun control legislation passed in 30 years, and follows devastating mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas.
The Genesee County Branch of the Democratic Socialists held a rally in front of Batavia City Hall Sunday afternoon to protest the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey. The decision sends the abortion debate back to the states to decide what to make legal and illegal. Previously the court decisions established a trimester system and stopped states from making any laws that prohibited abortion in the first 12 weeks and allowed regulation but not outright bans in the second trimester. In New York Aborotion is legal up to the birth of the baby as long as a medical professional deems it necessary. The protesters held signs saying slogans such as “my body my choice,” “Pro life is not pro birth,” and “abortion is healthcare” along with many signs accusing pro life people of racism among other things.
The Buffalo Police Department has released body camera footage of an officer-involved shooting that happened last week. Officials say the incident occurred after 27-year-old Nakeem Hayes allegedly shot and killed 63-year-old Atlas Johnson near Broadway and Sears Street last Friday night. When police approached Hayes, he jumped on the hood of their vehicle and opened fire but didn’t hit anyone. The officers ran after Hayes who was shot several times and is facing an attempted murder charge. Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said yesterday he believes video of the encounter between Hayes and police shows the actions the officers took were within the confines of the law and department policy.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lowered the Covid community level for both Genesee and Orleans counties from medium to low. The two counties were both put in the high community level about two months ago. But the confirmed Covid cases have steadily been dropping. Orleans reported 15 cases total from June 15 to 21, which was down from 36 the week before. Genesee reported 34 cases, down from 43 the previous week. To put this in perspective, Genesee County had 278 cases during the third week of April.
40-year-old Lauren Kay Pellegrino of West Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with assault and menacing. She is accused of assaulting another person on June 20 and has been arrested and arraigned in Le Roy Town Court. She was released on her own recognizance and an order of protection was issued for her alleged victim.
The U.S. Department of Education has announced that Genesee Community College’s TRiO Upward Bound Program will receive a 5-year, $3 million federal Upward Bound grant to be equally divided between Genesee and Wyoming counties. The funding will provide opportunities to assist more low-income students who would be the first members of their families to earn degrees, to prepare for and enroll in college. Upward Bound is an intensive intervention program that prepares students for higher education through various enrichment courses. At least two-thirds of the students in each local Upward Bound program are from low-income economic backgrounds and families in which neither parent has a bachelor’s degree. GCC’s Upward Bound program services seven schools in Genesee and Wyoming Counties.
The City of Henrietta has rejected a request for a permit by Planned Parenthood to operate a clinic in the city. Last week, New York State had expanded legal protections for people seeking and providing abortion. But at a packed meeting last night, the Henrietta Town Board narrowly voted down the request by Planned Parenthood. Last year, a proposal to build a Planned Parenthood clinic in Brighton won approval by the city’s Planning Board.
A heat advisory has been issued for this afternoon in the GLOW region. The advisory is in effect until 6:00pm, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo. Heat index values in the mid-to-upper 90s are expected. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to 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. Watch pets, small children and the elderly for signs of heat exhaustion. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. And if you work or spend time outside, take extra precautions…When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Call 911 in the event of heat stroke. The advisory also includes Niagara, Monroe, Ontario and Wayne counties.
A traffic alert for you…delays will occur during the second phase of paving work on Columbia, Seneca and Miller Avenues. The work is scheduled for this Friday from 7:00am to 3:00pm. Stretches of each avenue will be closed to all through traffic during times of roadwork. Local traffic will be permitted to and from their property but should plan accordingly for delays and there is no parking on the street when work is underway. The project is weather dependent. If work is postponed it shall progress the next workday. Call the Bureau of Maintenance at (585) 345-6400 Option 1 for more information.
According to Triple A this morning, the average national price of regular gas has slipped to under $5.00 per gallon; it’s the first time this closely watched number has decreased in nine weeks. Experts say it’s an indication that prices will be slightly lower before the July 4th holiday. The U.S. Energy Information Administration tells us that pump prices are declining in part because of a reduction in demand for fuel, as more drivers change daily routines and prioritize budgets for recreational travel. In Batavia, the average price per gallon is $4.88; the same as it was yesterday, but down 3 cents from a week ago.
With just days until the June 28th primary, four Republican candidates in the race for New York governor have held their third and final debate. Andrew Giuliani, Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin, businessman Harry Wilson, and former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino all gathered on stage in Rochester last night. There were a variety of topics discussed including crime, immigration, abortion and gun control. The candidates also criticized Governor Hochul, who is the frontrunner to be the Democratic Party’s nominee in November.
A new report says a 300-million-dollar Amazon regional distribution center in the Town of Niagara could be just weeks away from receiving its final approvals. According to Buffalo Business First, the planning board has already signed off on the facility, which will be located on Lockport Road near Niagara Falls International Airport. Now, the town board is going to begin an environmental review before the project advances to the zoning board. If the necessary approvals are in place soon, construction could start this fall.
The Muckdogs are number 1 in the league after their 5 to 0 win over the Niagara Power Monday night. Even with the Power getting 13 hits they could not score a run. The Muckdogs scored once in the second inning, three in the third, and one in the fifth. They are now 9 and 2, a half game ahead of the Utica Blue sox. They are home again tonight at 7 pm to face off against Watertown.
A pilot has been taken to the hospital following a single-engine plane crash in Canandaigua. The Ontario County Sheriff’s Department says the aircraft went down in a field yesterday. The pilot ejected moments before impact and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Both the FAA and sheriff’s office are looking into what caused the crash.
Delaware North is a food, beverage and retail partner with the Buffalo Bills is holding the first of two job fairs today. The company wants to fill positions at Highmark Stadium. The hiring event goes from 5:30pm until 7:30pm at the ADPRO Sports Training Center located on Abbott Road in Orchard Park. The second job fair will be July 16th from 11:00am until 1:00pm at the same location. Among the positions that are available include cashiers, servers, vendors and line cooks. More information can be found online at 
A food drive to help people affected by a mass shooting in Buffalo last month will continue to be up and running through this Saturday. Uniting and Healing through Hope says donations can be dropped off at any one of more than 20 locations across Monroe County such as police stations, churches and libraries. In addition to food, items that are still needed include toothpaste, shampoo, diapers and detergent. More information can be found online at 
Genesee County Sheriffs tell us that earlier this month, they responded to the parking lot of Dick’s Sporting Goods, following a complaint that a man was trying to sell a gold ring for cash. Following the investigation, it became evident that the man and a female passenger in his car were perpetrating a scam that has previously been identified by law enforcement. Genesee County Sheriff’s are asking any citizens who purchased jewelry from an individual in this area, including the Walmart and Batavia Downs parking lots, to contact them directly at 585-345-3000 (Investigator Ryan DuLong, ext. 3572; or Investigator Erik Andre, ext. 3574).
The Genesee County Board of Elections is seeking to hire poll workers for election days and early voting days. Individuals are required to attend a two-and-half-hour paid training session and are paid a competitive daily rate. Anyone interested in being a poll worker should call Genesee County Board of Elections at 585-815-7804.
53-year-old Paula Kingdollar of Covington was arrested for petit larceny. Troopers investigating the complaint from the owner of a produce stand on Bank Street Road in the Town of Batavia, determined Kingdollar had allegedly taken produce valued at $33.00 without paying for it. Kingdollar was arrested and released with an appearance ticket for Batavia Town Court and is due back in court next month.
Western New York drivers are seeing consistent prices at the gas pumps these days. According to Triple A this morning, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is $4.98 in our region. That’s the same as it was last week but 14 cents more than this time one month ago is and $1.89 higher than a year ago. The state average is now sitting at $5.01 a gallon and the national average is $4.98. In Batavia, the average price per gallon is $4.89; same as it was yesterday and down 3 cents from a week ago. By the way, average price for diesel here is $6.26 per gallon.
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that a total of $567 million is available to help low-income electric and gas utility customers pay off past-due utility bills. Under the bill credit program, all State help available for utility bill assistance will be coordinated to ensure maximum benefits to ratepayers and to avoid duplication of efforts. This includes relief available to low-income customers for rental assistance, directed to utilities to eliminate pandemic-related unpaid utility bills for low-income households. This one-time bill credit, which will be applied to affected customers’ bills by the utilities, requires no action by existing low-income customers enrolled in the EAP to receive the benefit. It is anticipated the bill credit will be applied to customers’ accounts by August 1, 2022.
With the number of New Yorkers testing positive for the coronavirus on the decline, the state Department of Health is closing down all of its mass COVID-19 vaccination sites. Last year, the vaccination sites were set up to distribute COVID-19 vaccine to the public quickly and efficiently. So far, over 90-percent of New Yorkers 18 and older have received at least one vaccine dose.
The Food and Drug Administration today has authorized the first COVID-19 shots for infants at least 6 months of age and preschoolers; vaccinations could begin as early as next week. That means kids under 5 — roughly 18 million youngsters — are eligible for the shots, about 1-1/2 years after the vaccines first became available in the United States for use with the most vulnerable adults, who had been hit the hardest during the pandemic. There’s one step left: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends how to use the vaccines and its vaccine advisers are set to discuss the shots for the youngest kids today and vote on in tomorrow.
People across Western New York will be gathering this weekend to celebrate Juneteenth. In Buffalo, an event is taking place both Saturday and Sunday at Martin Luther King Junior Park. The 47th annual gathering is going to feature historical tours and education programs, arts and cultural displays, food, and a health and wellness pavilion. Juneteenth, short for June Nineteenth, is a day, which commemorates the end of legalized slavery in the United States.
Rochester police are still looking into a shooting that sent a 33-year-old man to the hospital. The man told investigators that he was hit by gunfire on Epworth Street last night. The victim, whose name hasn’t been released, suffered a lower-body injury and is expected to be OK. Anyone with information on the case is asked to dial 911.
There is a heat advisory for Western NY in effect. From 10 this morning to 6 tonight the National Weather Service warns that the heat index will be in the upper 90s. High humidity and heat may cause heat illnesses to occur. Remember to drink plenty of water and get in the shade or air conditioning if you start feeling hot or light headed. Young children and pets are most susceptible for heat exhaustion as they may not know their limits or to protect themselves. 
The Rotary Club of Batavia is sponsoring their annual Father’s Day Breakfast this Sunday, June 19 at the Genesee County Airport. Breakfast will be served from 7 until 11 a.m. The menu including eggs, pancakes, sausage, omelets, juice, coffee, tea and milk. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 4-12. Children 3 and under eat free. Tickets are available from any Batavia Rotary Club member. All proceeds from the breakfast help fund the Batavia Rotary Club’s charitable projects.
It’s been about a month since prime contractors were told to proceed with work on the $57.27 million new jail for Genesee County. Foundation work is set to start June 27, which is about two weeks before the date listed on the project manager’s construction guideline. It is expected the new jail will be substantially completed by mid-January, 2024 with final completion set for about two months later, on March 15, 2024.
Following mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas that left dozens of people dead, changes may be coming to the country’s gun laws. The framework of a bipartisan deal was announced yesterday and if approved, legislation would limit the ability of people to quickly obtain assault rifles by establishing an enhanced background check process for gun buyers under age 21. Federal penalties would also be established for gun traffickers and funds would be used to address the country’s mental health crisis. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says once an agreement is finalized, he’ll bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote.
You may have recently started noticing a small fee on your receipt when you purchase paint. It’s a Paintcare fee; they are a non-profit organization that represents paint makers in states with similar programs. Think of them as a middleman. What they do is set up drop-off sites to handle paint waste and recycling. In New York, the fee runs anywhere from $0.45 to $1.95 depending on how much architectural paint you’re buying. The fee is not a deposit or a tax; the money doesn’t get returned to you when you drop off paint nor does go to the state. Instead, Paintcare uses the funds to self-sustain because they do not receive monetary support from the state. They currently offer more than 200 drop-off sites here in New York, with at least one in Batavia. You can look locations up online:
The New York State Department of Health reminds residents that COVID-19 booster vaccinations for kids between the ages of five and 11 years old are still available. Children in that age group should receive their booster shot five months after completing their initial two-dose Pfizer vaccine series. The vaccines are offered at no cost.
Genesee County officials and business leaders are already preparing for “Wings Over Batavia,” the first air show in our area since 1998. The show will feature aerobatic jet teams such as the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds or Snowbirds and patriotic displays of F16 and F22 fighter jets. The show is tentatively scheduled for September 15-17th, 2023 at the Genesee County Airport and is scheduled to take place in conjunction with the renewal of the Wing Ding event on Sept. 16 in the City of Batavia. Residents interested in volunteering in the planning of on-site operations should contact Tim Hens, the County Highway Superintendent (
A traffic alert to remind you about: If you’ll be driving on Columbia, Seneca and Miller Avenues in Batavia today until about 3pm, you should expect traffic delays. While work is being performed in this area, the roadway will be closed to all through traffic. Local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence or property but are asked not to park on the roadway during construction. Please contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 Option 1 if there are any questions.
With gas prices reaching a record high, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection has issued some tips to help people save money. The agency recommends drivers choose the lowest octane recommended for their vehicle and compare the price advertised on the gas station’s sign and on the pump to ensure they’re the same. It’s also recommended that drivers maintain their vehicles so they can get the best possible fuel mileage. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas in Batavia this morning is $4.92, up two cents from yesterday.
A traffic alert to call your attention to: If you’ll be driving on Columbia, Seneca and Miller Avenues in Batavia tomorrow between 7am and 3pm, you should expect traffic delays. All motorists please be aware that Columbia Avenue, Seneca Avenue, and Miller Avenue will experience traffic delays on Friday, June 10th from 7AM to 3PM for cold milling operations. While work is being performed in this area, the roadway will be closed to all through traffic. Local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence or property but should plan accordingly for delays. All residents and businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during construction. This is weather dependent work; if work is postponed it shall progress the next workday. Please contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 Option 1 if there are any questions.
The State University of New York schools are updating policies when it comes to a person’s chosen name and pronoun they wish to use. According to officials, the move is being made ensure that transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary students’ identities are fully reflected and represented. SUNY students will now be able to select ‘X’ when asked to provide gender by the college. The chosen names are going to appear on college diplomas, campus profiles and more.
37-year-old Danielle Tooley of Batavia has pleaded guilty to wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi stated that between July 9 and December 4, 2020, Tooley applied for and collected unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled, benefits that were connected to federal COVID-19 relief programs. The scheme came to the attention of law enforcement on November 24, 2020, when Tooley was arrested for criminal possession of a controlled substance during a vehicle traffic stop on Clinton Street in Bergen. Tooley admitted at the time that she had crack cocaine in the center console of the vehicle. As they prepared for Tooley’s vehicle to be towed, troopers recovered six New York State unemployment benefit cards issued to individuals other than Tooley, which they turned over to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Subsequent investigation determined that Tooley consistently withdrew money from bank accounts associated with the benefit cards. Sentencing is scheduled for August 17, 2022.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that $46 million is earmarked for investment into two pavement improvement projects on the New York State Thruway in both Erie and Genesee counties. The two projects include resurfacing of more than 100 lane miles of the Thruway between exit 47 (Rochester – Le Roy – I-490 – NY Route 19) to beyond exit 48A (Pembroke – Medina – NY Route 77). A $23.4 million pavement improvement project on the Thruway in Genesee County is underway on a 15.5-mile stretch between exit 47 (Rochester – Le Roy – I-490 – NY Route 19) and exit 48 (Batavia – NY Route 98). Approximately 39,000 motorists travel on this section of I-90 every day. The project includes full and partial depth repairs as well as full pavement resurfacing. Additionally, pavement-resurfacing work will take place at the on- and off-ramps at exit 47 and exit 48, as well as the exit 47 Commuter Park and Ride lot. Reflective line striping for enhanced safety will also be applied. Cold Spring Construction Company of Akron, NY is the contractor for the project. Work is expected to be complete in summer 2023.
After last year’s virtual run, the Kiwanis Club of Batavia is glad to be bringing back the Independence Day 5K run at Centennial Park on Monday, July 4th. Proceeds from the race will be distributed to the Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park, Batavia City School Foundation for the Community Schools Program, and the Kiwanis activity fund; the latter of which, supports community events such as the Thanksgiving Morning Skate and Annual Easter Egg Hunt.
Yesterday, the Muckdogs beat the Jamestown Tarp Skunks 12 to 6. They are now 4 and 1; their next game against the Capital City Reds is at home tonight at 7pm.
Officials in the Gananda Central School District say they’re looking into ways to improve school safety following a recent scare. On Friday, an eighth-grader said there was a person with a gun inside of Gananda Middle School but it turned out that was not the case. Last night, district leaders and police met with parents to discuss the incident, which led to the student being arrested. Law enforcement will continue to have an increased presence at Gananda schools.
There is an ongoing police investigation in Orleans County involving an altercation at the Holley Middle School last week. This is surrounding a student who identifies as transgender. The incident happened during school on June 2nd when a 7th grader, who goes by the name River, was wearing a rainbow pride flag at school. Another student reportedly pulled the flag, which River was wearing as a cape and had been fastened around his neck. In response, River pulled the other student’s backpack. The other student had then yanked on the flag, again, but this time harder, pulling River down. This led to a physical fight between the two students. The school district had contacted the students’ parents and both students were disciplined according to school protocol (both were suspended) and police report. River’s mom, Robayn Perrin, however, says her child had been subject to bullying for months. Police say this is an ongoing investigation.
After a two-year break, Batavia City Firefighters will once again be passing the boot for donations a week from Friday, June 17th. They will be standing in the street from 8:30 to 1:30 on Court and Main and Court and Ellicott. Donations collected during the Fill the Boot campaign support researching neuromuscular diseases such as ALS, muscular dystrophy, and other diseases. Donations will also provide support for families affected by these diseases and opportunities for children affected to go to camps with other children.
Western New York drivers are feeling a little bit of relief at the gas pumps these days as prices are finally starting to fall a bit. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $4.78. That’s down 10 cents from last week, but is still 55 cents more than a month ago and $1.75 cents higher than this time last year. The state average is $4.87 per gallon and nationally it’s $4.85. In Batavia, as of this morning, the average price per gallon is $4.75; up one cent from yesterday but down a dime since last Monday.
Some new data from the state Department of Health shows the adult cigarette-smoking rate is at an all-time low in New York State. In 2020, that rate was sitting at 12%, which is below the national average of 15.5%. Among people between the ages of 18 and 24, the smoking rate is 5.5%. However, diseases that are caused by smoking and secondhand smoke still cause over 22,000 deaths statewide each year. Anyone who needs help quitting smoking can call the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at 1-866-697-8487 or visit 
Wyoming County Sherriff’s deputies tell us a Batavia man now faces felony charges after he was found to be driving while high with two teenagers in the car, along with concentrated cannabis. Sheriffs stopped 21-year-old Memphis Chamberlain during the DWI crackdown over Memorial Day Weekend. He appeared high on drugs and the odor of marijuana was inside the car. Two teenagers, age 15 and 17, were passengers. The 17-year-old had more than 24 grams of concentrated cannabis in her possession and told police Chamberlain gave it to her. Chamberlain was charged with driving while impaired by drugs, felony aggravated DWI with a child in the car, felony criminal sale of cannabis, unlawful possession of cannabis, unlicensed operation, driver’s view obstructed, modified muffler and unauthorized stickers on windows. He is to appear at a later date in Town Court.
A Batavia man needed to be flown by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital. He suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns yesterday afternoon as he was getting a lawn mower from his shed. He believes he accidentally hit an igniter on a propane grill, which caused a spark and the vapors exploded. The man was reportedly burned across 60 percent of his body.
The Genesee Country Farmer’s Market is located at Alva and Bank Streets in Batavia and they opened today for the season. Vendors will be on hand Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am until 4pm through October 28th.
The Genesee County Economic Development Center Board of Directors approved an agreement supporting the O-AT-KA Milk Products 3,200 square foot facility expansion. O-AT-KA had proposed a $3.1 million investment that would be home to two new 18,000-gallon tanks. The goals of the project include increased capacities of cream-based liquor beverages and future expansions. The project is proposing to create two new jobs at a leading employer in Genesee County’s food and beverage manufacturing ecosystem.
The Kiwanis Club of Batavia Criminal Justice Award is presented to a member or members of the community, law enforcement, or a criminal justice agency serving the citizens of Genesee County whose exceptional career achievements and conscientiousness to citizenship have demonstrated a spirit of selfless public service or demonstrated an act of exceptional valor or heroism.
Genesee County is waiving fees for civil service exams. This is an effort to try to get more people interested in employment with Police, Sheriff, Fire, Probation and Dispatch service. Human Resources Director Anita Cleveland noted that since the 20 to 25 dollar exam fee was implemented the number of people signing up to take the exams has fallen. This led her to propose dropping the fees through December 31st a move that will cost the county approximately $3000. After passing the Ways and Means Committee, it goes to the county legislature for the final vote.
A popular fast-food chain is planning to add a fourth location in the Rochester area. According to WHEC, Chick-fil-A wants to build a new restaurant on Route 250 in Penfield that would seat 75 people and have a three-lane drive-thru. The other Chick-fil-A’s are located in Greece, Henrietta and Irondequoit. There’s no word yet on when the Penfield restaurant will open.
38-year-old Thomas Wolcott of Batavia is charged with criminal contempt. He is accused of violating an order of protection. Wolcott was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $10,000 bail.
After weeks of having to hand over a lot of money to fill up their vehicles, New York drivers are finally getting a little relief at the gas pumps today. That’s because a gas tax holiday that was approved as part of this year’s state budget is now in effect. The suspension of the state’s 16-cents-per gallon tax is going to remain in place through the end of December. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas in Batavia is $4.85, up two cents from yesterday.
Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel is donating 3300 concert tickets to the Genesee County Veterans Service Agency. The concert tickets are good for the June 10th ‘Bruce in the USA’ charity concert, and the 11 concerts in the Rockin’ The Downs series starting on June 17th.
United States and Canadian regulators are investigating a hepatitis outbreak that may be linked to fresh organic strawberries. In a joint weekend statement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Public Health Agency of Canada say at least 27 illnesses have occurred after people ate FreshKampo and H-E-B brand strawberries. The strawberries were purchased between March 5 and April 25 at various retailers, including Aldi, Kroger and Wal-Mart. Of course, the strawberries are past their shelf life, but consumers who froze them to eat later should throw them away. There have been 17 illnesses and 12 hospitalizations reported. Ten cases and four hospitalizations have been reported in Canada. In a statement on its website, Texas grocer H-E-B said it has not received or sold organic strawberries from the supplier in question since April 16. H-E-B said anyone who still has the strawberries should throw them away or return them to the store where they were purchased. Hepatitis A is a virus that can cause liver disease and, in rare cases, liver failure and death. Illness usually occurs within 15 to 50 days after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice. Consumers who ate the potentially affected berries in the last two weeks and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A should immediately consult with a physician, the FDA said.
Niagara County deputies are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to a body being discovered on the shore of Lake Ontario. They say the remains were spotted on Saturday off Maple Avenue, which is located in the Town of Wilson. The name of the individual hasn’t been released. Officials are now waiting for autopsy results to find out how the person died.
As part of Memorial Day Weekend, and for the first time since it opened, veterans, family members, and area residents gathered at the WNY National Cemetery in Pembroke to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their country. Several hundred people gathered for the ceremony yesterday, which included a 21-gun salute, honor guard flag presentation, and special remembrances.
Many people will be having a barbeque today and the State Division of Consumer Protection has issued some safety tips to keep in mind when grilling. The agency recommends making sure the grill is clean before use and checking the hoses on a gas grill for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks. Also, only use grills outside in a well-ventilated area and keep them away from surfaces that could burn. Finally, have an extinguisher nearby and easily accessible in case of a fire. I smell what you’re cooking and I’m on my way…
Memorial Day observances throughout Genesee County are scheduled for Monday.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued warnings to more than 30 online and brick-and-mortar retailers across the state to stop overcharging for baby formula after consumers reported unreasonably high prices. Due to recalls and supply chain disruptions, there has been a nationwide shortage of baby formula. New York’s price gouging statute prohibits merchants from charging excessive prices for essential goods or services during abnormal market disruptions. State residents are encouraged to report potential concerns about price gouging to James’s office by calling: 800-771-7755 or filing a complaint online. 
With a lot of people hitting the road for the holiday, 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 from today through May 31st. Folks who are planning to drink are urged to make sure they have a safe ride home. Anyone who sees suspicious or dangerous activity while they’re traveling should dial 911 immediately.
The Department of Environmental Conservation reminds boaters and anglers to clean, drain and dry boats and trailers, and also disinfect fishing gear before enjoying the water; this will help to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Watercraft inspection stewards, also known as boat stewards, will be stationed at more than 225 boat launches statewide this weekend to educate and help the public in cleaning their equipment. They can be identified by their blue vests and are there to provide a refresher on how to inspect boats and gear. 
Memorial Day events, May 29 and May 30:
It has taken almost 50 years of talking about a new Genesee County Jail to reach the start of construction.
The Batavia Development Corporation, the city’s economic development agency, has hired a new director.
New data from the state shows the spread of COVID-19 is on the decline in our region; this, after 8 straight weeks of increasing numbers. The area’s seven-day average infection rate is 10.5%, which is down from 12.8% percent at this time last week. Health officials are still urging residents to take the proper precautions to protect themselves and others from getting sick. They include receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot, wearing a mask while indoors and being tested for the virus if they have any symptoms of the illness.
The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning involving the sale of fake “Choose Love” shirts online. The shirts are being sold to help raise money for the Buffalo 5/14 Survivors Fund and Buffalo Together Community Response Fund. But the BBB says several misleading ads have been showing up on social media over the last few days and that people should keep a close eye out for them. Legitimate shirts can be purchased for $25.00 by visiting 
Cattaraugus County deputies say no charges are going to be filed in connection with the death of a retired police dog. According to investigators, the dog was shot shortly after it went missing last month. The sheriff’s office says the individual who killed the canine was a farmer who mistakenly thought the dog was a coyote. He told officials that he was trying to protect the other animals on his property.
Memorial Day is coming up on Monday and SPCA Serving Erie County is offering military members and veterans the chance to save money on the purchase of a new animal. As part of the “Vets and Pets” campaign, the SPCA is waiving adoption fees through May 30th on animals that are currently at its shelter on Harlem Road in West Seneca and at other off-site adoption locations. Anyone who wants to take advantage of this opportunity must show their military ID before being allowed to adopt. More information is available online at 
38-year-old Jamian Edwards of Rochester has been charged with the criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance – both class B felonies – after a 6-month investigation into the possession and sale of crack cocaine in and around Batavia. Edwards was taken into custody last week while checking in with Monroe County Probation. He was then turned over to Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies. Edwards allegedly sold crack cocaine to an agent of the Genesee County Drug Task force here in the city; he was arraigned in Genesee County Court and released under supervision.
The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is looking into what caused a crash that took the life of a two-year-old child. Deputies say the accident happened yesterday when two SUVs collided at the intersection of Niagara Falls Boulevard and Sy Road in Wheatfield. The two-year-old, who was in one of the vehicles, was taken to DeGraff Memorial Hospital but later died. No other serious injuries were reported and anyone who saw the crash is asked to contact the sheriff’s department.
The Seneca Gaming Corporation and FeedMoreWNY are working together today to hold a food drive to help people affected by the Tops supermarket shooting. Folks are being asked to donate things such as toiletries and infant and child care products. Organizers also say they need food items including cereal, soups, canned tuna , vegetables and peanut butter. Those items can be dropped off from 11 a-m until seven p-m at the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino at Michigan Avenue and Perry Street.
The Water Department will be doing line repair today at 9 Olyn Avenue. It is possible the water may need to be shut off on Olyn from Holland to Montclair Avenues. Traffic will be limited to local traffic only while work is being completed. Once water is restored, it may be discolored. Customers should refrain from doing any laundry until the water runs clear.
The State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation tells us that a revitalized Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit program is now available. The new program allows state taxpayers who rehabilitate their historic barns to earn a state income tax credit. The amount of the credit is equal to 25% of the expenditures incurred to rehabilitate the historic barn. To qualify, a barn must have been built before 1946, and the work must be approved by the Division for Historic Preservation. Taxpayers can begin to claim the credit on their 2022 New York state taxes. Program information and staff contact information can be found on the Division for Historic Preservation’s website 
Students across New York State won’t be taking the U.S. History and Government Regents next month. Education officials have decided to cancel the test following the mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo that left 10 people dead. Experts reviewed the exam and determined it had content with the potential to compound student trauma caused by the shooting. The education department didn’t reveal what was in the exam that students may find upsetting. However, officials did say it’s not possible to change the test because it’s already been printed and packaged for shipment to schools.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies were called to Dick’s Sporting Goods for a larceny in progress. They received the call yesterday afternoon and as they arrived saw the suspects driving away. Deputies located the vehicle on River Street, Batavia; following an investigation the suspects were identified as Angela Bennett and Shamya Brown. They allegedly stole $1,726.28 worth of merchandise and were subsequently arrested for grand larceny. Bennett and Brown were issued appearance tickets and are scheduled for June 16th at the Town of Batavia Court.
Students who want to pursue careers in fields such as information technology and advanced manufacturing now have a new place where they can go to receive training. Yesterday, a grand opening celebration was held at the Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center, located at Monroe County Community College’s downtown campus in Rochester. The 50,000 square foot facility cost over $11,000,000 to build. Officials say the center will provide people with the tools they need so they can be in line for good job opportunities.
Niagara Falls police are trying to track down witnesses to a crash that took the life of a 41-year-old man from Wheatfield. Investigators say Richard Fiori was riding his motorcycle on Niagara Falls Boulevard between 70th and 72nd streets Sunday when the motorcycle collided with a tow truck that was making a U-turn. Fiori died of his injuries while the tow truck driver wasn’t hurt. No charges have been filed and anyone who saw the accident is asked to call 716-286-4563.
A member of the WWE Hall of Fame will be holding a benefit next month to help out everyone affected by the mass shooting at the Tops store on Jefferson Avenue. Mick Foley says all proceeds from his June 5th “Love for Buffalo” event at Nietzsche’s will be donated to the Buffalo 5/14 Survivors Fund. Contributions to the fund will be given to families of the 10 people who died and those who were at the store and are suffering from psychological trauma. Tickets for the benefit are already on sale and cost 30 to 75 dollars each.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of the Prison Redevelopment Commission focused on re-imagining closed prisons for innovative redevelopment opportunities across New York State. The closures identified by Hochul last fall are in addition to the more than 20 that have been closed over the last 15 years. The closures provide an opportunity to transform these facilities in more creative and productive ways, paving the way for opportunities to spur investment, job creation and save taxpayers money.
There is another recall to tell you about…this time, it’s JIF peanut butter, both smooth and crunchy due to possible Salmonella contamination. Salmonella is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons may become ill as well, with symptoms that include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. The recalled peanut butter was distributed nationwide in retail stores and other outlets. Additional information, including a full list of the recalled products is available here:
A Hilton man is dead following a motorcycle accident. On Saturday afternoon Genesee County dispatchers received a report of a motorcycle accident on North Byron Road. 60-year-old Thomas Hankey was driving a 2013 Victory motorcycle eastbound with a group of 3 other riders when for some unknown reason; he crossed the centerline and continued off the north shoulder of the road. The motorcycle then hit a ditch before striking a farm fence and flipping end-over-end before coming to a rest on the north shoulder. Genesee County Coroners pronounced Mr. Hankey deceased at the scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Crash Management Team.
Starting today, police across the State will be taking part in the “Buckle Up New York, Click it Or Ticket” safety campaign. Through June 5th, members of law enforcement will be keeping a very close eye out for drivers who aren’t wearing their seat belt when behind the wheel. During last year’s crackdown, more than 12,000 tickets were handed out for seat belt and child restraint violations. Over 57,000 tickets were also given to people for other infractions such as speeding and distracted driving.
This afternoon, New York Attorney General Letitia James is warning New Yorkers of scams on vacation rentals and offered tips on how to avoid them as summer approaches. She suggests before making a payment, you verify your host and communicate only through the listing site before booking. You should never wire payments. James urges New Yorkers to report any summer scams to her office. Attorney General James recommends consumers take the following precautions before booking their summer getaway:
There’s another recall to tell you about: Ford will soon be asking the owners of 350,000 vehicles to take them to dealers for repairs due to three separate recalls, including about 39,000 that should be parked outdoors because the engines can catch fire in some 2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. But the company says fires can happen even while the engines are off. Ford has reports of 16 fires under the hood, 14 in rental company vehicles. One person was burned. It’s recommending that the SUVs be parked outdoors and away from buildings. The fires appear to start at the back of the engine compartment on the passenger side. Of the 16 fires, 12 happened while the SUV engines were turned off. Ford says they are treating the recalls urgently and will use apps and mail to notify customers as soon as it develops a list of vehicle owners and addresses. The problem will be fixed by dealers or by an online software update; the owners of the recalled vehicles will be notified by letter around May 30.
The deadline is still about a year away; however, The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is urging New Yorkers to apply for a REAL ID or Enhanced ID now to avoid the last-minute rush next year. Starting May 3rd, 2023, a standard license or non-driver ID will no longer be accepted to fly within the United States. The federal REAL ID Act requires customers applying for a REAL ID or Enhanced ID to visit a DMV office to prove who they are and to have a new photograph taken. Before going though, you’re encouraged to use the DMV’s document guide to help determine what you’ll need to bring with you. The guide takes just minutes to complete, with questions designed to help determine what proofs of identification and residency you’ll need to bring. Only original documents, or certified copies of certain documents, will be accepted. A passport is also acceptable as a REAL ID-compliant document. For additional information, visit:
About 300 volunteers went to nearly 30 sites in Genesee County yesterday to work on beautification projects. It was all a part of this year’s United Way’s Day of Caring. Projects included painting, raking, cleaning up parks, planting community gardens, and getting children’s outdoor play areas and summer camps ready for the warm weather. If you were unable to participate in the Day of Caring, there are other opportunities to get involved throughout the year. Find out more at 
The League of Women Voters has announced a lawsuit calling for upcoming primary contests to be held on the same date. The primaries for State Assembly and other statewide races are set for June 28th and the primaries for State Senate and Congressional contests will be August 23rd. The primaries were split up due to the battle over redistricting that’s gone on for months. The League of Women Voters claims holding separate primaries violates the Constitution’s right to freedom of association.
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee is urging riders to be careful while they’re out on the road. According to data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, the number of deadly motorcycle crashes were up 50-percent last year compared to 2019. This year alone, there have been several motorcycle fatalities and over 220 injuries reported. The state offers a motorcycle safety program and anyone who wants to take part can visit nysmsp.org to sign up.
The specific dining places that will each occupy a building in the parking lot of the vacant Kmart have not been announced publicly, but the nearly 11,000 (10,700-plus) square-foot project itself has site plan approval from town planners. The board also has approved a negative declaration on the State Environmental Quality Review, which just means there is no significant environmental impact anticipated although traffic continues to be a concern. One question in the Review asked whether the proposal would lead to a harmful change in the existing traffic or existing infrastructure for mass transit, biking or walking. The finding was, that there would be no change or that a small impact may occur. These findings are consistent with findings from a traffic study the town had completed. The town board remained open to future traffic studies, if needed or if circumstances change; for example, if something is done with the Kmart building.
Gerald Brinson Jr., 33, of Rochester, is charged with burglary 2nd, grand larceny 4th, criminal mischief 3rd, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, endangering the welfare of a child, falsely reporting an incident 3rd, and menacing 2nd. At 9:30 a.m., May 17, Emergency Dispatch received a call of a disturbance and burglary in progress at a residence on Oak Street. Brinson is accused of entering the residence of a woman he knew and attacking her. According to Batavia PD, he was wanted on a gun case in Monroe County. When patrols arrived, officers determined the victim and her year-old son had escaped from the residence but Brinson was still inside, refusing to exit. Officers from the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, NYS Police, and NYS Environmental Conservation arrived to assist. While Brinson Jr was inside the residence, he allegedly called in a fake report of gunfire on Ellicott Avenue. Eventually, Brinson Jr came out of the residence and was taken into custody. Brinson was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $25,0000 bail, $50,000 bond, or $100,000 partially secured bond.
Governor Hochul is taking a series of steps to try and prevent another deadly mass shooting like the one that happened in Buffalo. The governor issued an executive order yesterday calling on the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to establish a new unit that is dedicated solely to the prevention of domestic terrorism. Another executive order will require State Police to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order under the state’s Red Flag Law when they have probable cause to believe an individual is a threat to themselves or others. The governor is also urging lawmakers to tighten up some of the state’s gun laws before the end of this year’s legislative session in June.
The Niagara County District Attorney’s Office says a Newfane man is facing manslaughter and other charges in connection with the death of a pedestrian. Prosecutors say 20-year-old Sean Kelahan has been indicted following an incident that happened March 18th in Lockport. Police arrived at the intersection of Transit Road and High Street and found that 25-year-old Richard Howes the third had been struck by multiple vehicles and killed. Kelahan was ordered held on 100-thousand dollars bail.
The Buffalo Common Council has announced the appointment of 11 new members to the city’s Police Advisory Committee. The group will be responsible for working alongside people in the community and developing policy changes that will be presented to the Buffalo Police Department. The council disbanded the original board that was chosen due to resignations and arguments. The new version of the committee is planning to hold its first meeting in the coming weeks.
A bus monitor with the Greece Central School District is in trouble with the law after being accused of choking a student. According to police, the incident involving 70-year-old Alonzo Peritore and the seven-year-old child happened on Monday. The child’s parents notified police after their son claimed he was choked on his way home from school. The district put Peritore on leave Tuesday. He’s been arrested, released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to face a judge again June 14th.
A Batavia man is in jail this morning, awaiting his next appearance in court. 34-year-old Benito Gay attempted to rob the Subway store on East Main Street early last night. By the time police arrived at the scene, Gay had fled. However, he was taken into custody fairly quickly; police found him at a nearby apartment complex. Gay did not display any weapons during the robbery attempt and is charged with robbery as well as another unspecified charge. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held without bail and is scheduled to return to court tomorrow afternoon. Gay has other prior arrests in Batavia; most recently in March when he was accused of stealing three beers from the Kwik Fill at Jackson and Ellicott.
The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on a deadly helicopter crash in Elba. The Mercy Flight aircraft was on a training mission last month when it went down, killing 60-year-old James Sauer and 60-year-old Stewart Dietrick who were both onboard. The NTSB report didn’t reveal the cause of the accident but said fractures were found in the helicopter’s steering system consistent with overload. One witness reported hearing a loud bang from the helicopter before the crash while another said they heard a noise coming from the engine. A final report on the crash likely won’t be made public for several months.
All public schools in Genesee County are holding budget votes today…in Batavia, polling places are open until 9 this evening…For residents North of Route 5, go to Robert Morris School to vote, using the Union Street entrance across from Notre Dame; for residents who live south of Route 5, you’ll vote at the High School Library. The 2022-23 budget of $54.8 million, represents an increase of $2.7 million from the current year’s budget. A tax levy of just under $20 million will mean a 1 percent tax increase, which adds 19 cents to the current tax rate of $19.23 per $1,000 assessed property value. Additional information about the budget is available at the school district’s website, 
During the Bidens’ visit to Buffalo, they will meet with Governor Hochul and then pay their respects to those who lost their lives before meeting with families of the victims, law enforcement, community leaders, and first responders. Today is the first time a sitting president has come to Buffalo since Obama’s visit in 2013.
Governor Hochul announced that flags at state buildings will be lowered to half-staff today in honor of the 10 people who lost their lives during the mass shooting in Buffalo. In a statement, the governor said that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us and that we must confront white supremacy head on. She went on to say that her heart is with the victims and their families. The governor also says flags should remain lowered until everyone who was killed is laid to rest.
Governor Hochul says resources are being made available to the Buffalo community in the aftermath of TOPS Market tragedy. The governor says $2,800,000 in federal and state funds will be used to provide support to individuals and families affected by the shooting. Staff from the Office of Victim Services are going to be in Buffalo this week to help people start the process of getting that assistance. The National Action Network will also help cover the costs of the funerals for all 10 victims.
The Department of Environmental Conservation reminds us that if you see newborn fawns, it is best not to approach them or try to pick them up. Late spring is the birthing season for deer. Often mother does will give birth in shaded areas and then the fawn will wander a little and then lie down. They spend most of the first couple of days lying in grass, leaves, or sometimes in the open. They don’t have the instinct or strength to run away yet and the mother will leave them alone some of the time. They are usually ok but if a human comes near and stays the mother may be frightened away and not return to nurse. However, if you see a fawn that is obviously injured please call the Department of Environmental Conservation for assistance at (585) 948-5182.
The Darien Alexander Townline Rd bridge, south of Attica Rd in the Towns of Darien and Alexander, will be closed beginning Monday 5/23/2022 for a bridge replacement project. The project consists of replacing the original short span steel structure and abutments, which date back to 1939 with new pre-stressed concrete hollow slab units and new abutments. The current bridge is posted for 12 Tons and once replaced will be open to full legal loads. The project is expected to take 3 and a half months. During this time the road will not be passable to regular traffic or emergency vehicles.
Le Roy Central School is proposing a 0.06 percent tax levy increase for the 2022-2023 school year. The budget is $27,708,988 an amount increased by 3.1 percent, or $839,700. Superintendent Merritt Holly said in a newsletter a good portion of the increase is associated with the rising costs of programs and healthcare. The proposed tax levy is $10,663,025. It is below the tax levy limit. The budget vote is set for Tuesday, May 17th from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Library Media Center at Wolcott Street School. With the Capital Project construction going on the only doors for entry and exit will be the triple doors by Memorial Auditorium
The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic next Thursday, May 19th, 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.
State officials are letting parents know there are resources available to help them out during a nationwide baby formula shortage. They recommend contacting a local New York State Women, Infants and Children Office for assistance. Parents can also reach out to their child’s doctor to see if they have any samples of formula available. When trying to find formula, it’s recommended parents visit smaller stores and drug stores. Anyone who wants to buy formula online should only order from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies.
Fans of the Buffalo Bills now have some dates to mark on their calendars after the NFL released the team’s schedule for the upcoming season. The Bills are going to kick off their 2022 campaign on September 8th when they play the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams and that’ll be followed September 19th by their first home game against the Tennessee Titans. The Bills are also going to take the field on Thanksgiving Day against the Detroit Lions. In addition to their AFC East rivals, the Bills will play the Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings.
UR Medicine will open the doors Monday at its new Batavia campus. The new 21,455 square foot medical campus is located at 7995 Call Parkway and will centralize specialty clinics into one location, along with on-site lab services. It will also provide adult and pediatric allergy/immunology, neurosurgery, oncology and audiology, and among other services, Batavia-based primary care practice. Additional services will be added over the next 12 months.
The company that runs David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena has decided to close at the end of May. Firland Management took over running of the arena in 2006 but report May 31st will be their last day. The city of Batavia is looking for a new management company and will take proposals till May 20th. The Batavia Ice Rink opened in 1978. It consists of a single sheet of ice with a capacity for 480 fans to attend games and events. The ice rink has a warming room, locker rooms, and a refreshment stand. The City of Batavia anticipates that the prospective operator will be able to be profitable while running the rink and will enter into an operation and lease agreement.
The New York Lottery goofed. They report that human error resulted in the incorrect input of winning numbers from the May 10th drawing, which resulted in incorrect publishing of the Mega Ball number. They are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, the Lottery has temporarily suspended prize payments for all Mega Millions tickets and anyone with a ticket from last night’s drawing should hold on to it until the issue is resolved. The correct winning numbers for the May 10, 2022 drawing are: 15-19-20-61-70 and Mega Ball 9
Wegmans and the Buffalo Bills are teaming up to help out people who suffer from food allergies. From now until May 22nd, customers can donate gluten-free, lactose-free and allergen-friendly foods by placing them in collection bins located in the front of Wegmans stores. An official with the supermarket chain says more customers with allergies are looking for products that are safe for them to eat but that many people have a tough time paying for those items because they cost more than regular food. All of the food collected from this campaign will go to FoodLink.
According to the Red Cross, blood donations are down significantly and they are expecting them to drop off further over the summer months. They are asking for people to come out and donate and as an incentive, through May 19th, the Red Cross is offering people a $10 gift card to the merchant of the donor’s choice for each donation. There is also a drawing for a Travel Trailer Camper that sleeps 8. The next blood drive here will be at the First United Methodist Church in Batavia, on Tuesday, May 17th.
A barn on North Byron Road that had already been partly demolished caught fire yesterday afternoon following a controlled burn. This, according to Byron Fire Chief Bob Mruczek. The homeowner had started to burn a brush pile. However, because of strong winds, it quickly got out of hand and caught the barn on fire. Mruczek noted that the barn was in the process of being torn down and was already being demolished. There were no injuries, it’s unknown at this time if there was anything of value in the barn. The Department of Environmental Conservation and Byron Fire Department are investigating.
A single vehicle, a Dodge pickup truck, driven by a 64-year-old Town of Batavia man, was traveling on West Main Street Saturday afternoon, when it appears the male operator and sole occupant of the vehicle suffered a medical emergency causing him to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crossed over all lanes of traffic and left the roadway onto the property of 390 West Main Street, where it struck a fence, coming to rest in a ditch on the property. City Fire, along with Mercy EMS, attempted life-saving measures, however, the operator was pronounced deceased at the scene by the coroner. There were no other vehicles involved. The accident is still under investigation. An autopsy will be performed at the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.
Two people from Georgia were found with loaded handguns during traffic stop in Warsaw. Wyoming County Sheriffs saw the suspect vehicle on Route 20A with no rear license plate and pulled them over. The operator of the vehicle was identified as 39-year-old Renaco Drake and his passenger was 30-year-old Tajia White, both of Stratham, Georgia. After interviewing Drake, police conducted a search of the vehicle and found two, loaded 9mm handguns, which were both found to be possessed illegally. Both Drake and White were charged with criminal possession of a loaded firearm, with Drake also receiving a traffic ticket for no rear license plate. Both subjects were arraigned in the Town of Perry Court. Drake was remanded to the Wyoming County Jail; both driver and passenger are scheduled to appear in the Town of Warsaw court next Monday.
Western New York drivers are really feeling the pain at the pump these days following another big spike in gas prices. According to Triple A this morning, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is now $4.42. That’s up 11 cents in just the past week and is a dime more than this time one month ago. The state average is $4.51 a gallon while nationally it’s $4.38. In Batavia, the average price per gallon is $4.34; the same as it was yesterday but also up 11 cents since a week ago. One year ago, the average price per gallon here was $2.95. Also, once again according to AAA, the cost for a gallon of diesel gas has soared to an all-time high. On Friday, the average price nationally was $5.51 a gallon, up from $3.10 a year ago. In New York State, the average price was at $6.31 on Friday, up from $3.14 a year ago. By the way, New York has the second-highest diesel price in the country, behind only California at $6.50. As would be expected, the high diesel fuel prices impact businesses that need to transport goods and those that have commercial vehicles.
State Police have released the name of the Buffalo man who died in a wrong-way collision on the Thruway. On Saturday, Troopers saw a vehicle driven by 44-year-old Benjamin Wence going westbound in the eastbound lane in Hamburg and tried to pull it over, but Wence refused to stop. The pursuit continued for a few miles before Wence’s hit a tractor-trailer head-on in Evans. Wence passed away due to his injuries and the tractor-trailer driver wasn’t seriously hurt.
In Batavia and around New York state, gaming providers say they’re making an effort to address the issue of gambling addiction. A discussion group at Batavia Downs yesterday focused on just that – responsible gaming. The New York State Gaming Commission Executive Director Robert Williams, presented signs featuring the industry’s first-ever Quick Response (QR) Code to connect problem gamblers with trained counselors where they live. Once scanned, the QR Code automatically links users to the Council on Problem Gambling’s website (
The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors has accepted an initial resolution for La Fermière’s proposed $25 million project to construct a 50,000 square foot yogurt manufacturing facility in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park. The proposed project adds to Batavia’s Dairy Hub of the Northeast, which supports over 900 direct jobs, over $500 million of capital investment, and over 1 million square feet of dairy processing facilities. La Fermière has pledged to create up to 68 jobs over the first 3 years of operations in Genesee County. Founded in France, the company has been active in US markets since 2018.
Nearly 80 percent of voters approved the requested tax levy for the 2022-23 Richmond Memorial Library budget. A tax levy increase of nearly $22,000 ($21,865) — the first such increase in three years — fell under the allowable tax cap at a 1.6 percent increase. Yesterday, voters approved the proposition for the Batavia Board of Education to increase the annual appropriation from $1,359,604 to $1,381,469 to benefit the library. Rebecca McGee, who ran unopposed, was elected to a second term on the board of trustees. The school budget vote will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17 at one of two sites, depending on what side of the city you reside. For more information, go to: 
Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) introduced legislation aimed at blocking the development of industrial scale wind farms in the Great Lakes. Jacobs’ legislation would deny the ability for developers to receive federal tax credits to build offshore wind farms in the Great Lakes. Due to the massive capital needed for these projects, without federal tax credits, developing these projects would prove difficult. He noted that the Great Lakes are a regional economic resource and also provides fresh drinking water to millions of people. This legislation is in direct conflict with Governor Hochul’s budget allocation of $500 million for offshore turbine development.
Governor Hochul is anticipating women will come from out of state to get abortion care should the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade. Hochul says the state will need federal help financially if the state is a safe harbor place for abortions. Hochul added that abortion is on the ballot and believes this issue will energize the Democratic base for the upcoming midterm elections in November. New York requires insurance companies to cover abortions.
Efforts to prevent the USS The Sullivans from sinking appear to be working and hopes are increasing that the historic vessel can be saved. Officials say crews have spent time plugging dozens of holes and removing hundreds of thousands of gallons of water that spilled into the vessel following a massive hull breach last month. The repairs are temporary and permanent fixes will be needed in the future. The Naval Park, where the boat is located, is planning to be back open again for Memorial Day. But, guests will not be allowed inside the Sullivans.
People are already gathering at Highland Park in Rochester for the start of the 2022 Lilac Festival. The free event will goes until 8:30 this evening, and is open from 10:30am to 8:30pm tomorrow and also Sunday. It’ll feature food, vendors, art, live music and of course a close-up look at the city’s lilac gardens. The festival is also taking place this year from May 12th through the 15th, and May 19th through the 22nd. More information can be found online a 
Students who attend Elmwood Franklin School in Buffalo won’t be spending any time in their classrooms today. The school will remain closed due to a growing number of COVID-19 cases. Head of School Doctor Ryan Kimmet says over two dozen teachers and staff members are either isolating due to coronavirus, out sick with symptoms or in Washington, DC on a class trip. Kimmet says as a result, the school has a staffing shortage that can’t safely be covered. There will be no distance learning offered today so everyone who is sick can focus on their recovery.
State Attorney General Letitia James is calling on President Biden to fully cancel federal student loan debt. James and other attorneys general have sent Biden a letter, saying that immediate relief is needed for people struggling to make their payments. While James says she does commend the president’s consideration of forgiving 10-thousand dollars per borrower, she believes more decisive action is needed. Right now, student borrowers owe over $1.7 trillion dollars to the federal government.
Halley’s Comet won’t visit the inner solar system until 2061, but you can still catch the meteor shower it produced, the Eta Aquarids this week. The second and final meteor shower of spring is about to peak, and it will present a unique opportunity to enjoy a well-known comet that is billions of miles away from Earth. Most meteor showers are created when the Earth plows through a field of debris left behind by comets orbiting the sun. Most of the debris is small, generally the size of a small pebble or grain of sand, but when it hits Earth’s atmosphere, it burns up and emits a bright flash of light – in other words, a ‘shooting star’. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak in the early hours Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7; and according to the American Meteor Society, on a clear morning, you may count between 10 and 30 meteors per hour between 3 and 5am.
The 124th Lilac Festival in Rochester takes place on three consecutive weekends, starting tomorrow, May 6th through 8th, May 12th through 15th, and May 19th through the 22nd from 10:30am until 8:30pm each day. Visitors can expect to see food, exhibits, a kid’s zone and even a new health and wellness experience. More information can be found online at 
After a month-long investigation, two Rochester residents have been charged after being linked to a statewide series of thefts from Walmart. It began when an Asset Protection employee contacted Wyoming County Sheriffs, reporting that a male and female entered the store with fraudulent receipts, which they used to steal and then return merchandise for cash. The stolen items added up to more than $3600. Deputies charged 38-year-old Rodqrick McGowan on Sunday, as he attempted to return a stolen item at the Warsaw Walmart. Police then discovered a blank roll of Wal-Mart receipt paper, a paper cutter and a powered-up copier/printer in their rental car. McGowan also failed a sobriety test due to smoking cannabis while driving. Many charges were filed against him, including 3rd degree grand larceny; he was committed to Wyoming County Jail without bail due to previous felony convictions in many states. The woman that had been with him, 38-year-old LaShaunda Baker stopped by the Sherriff’s Office to ask about McGowan and was also arrested. Both will be appearing in court at a later date to answer the charges. The investigation continues and more charges are pending.
State Attorney General Letitia James announced this morning that a multi-state investigation has found that Intuit engaged in several deceptive and unfair trade practices that limited consumers’ participation in the IRS Free File Program. The company used confusingly similar names for both its IRS Free File product and its commercial “freemium” product. Intuit also purposefully blocked its IRS Free File landing page from search engine results during the 2019 tax filing season, effectively shutting out eligible taxpayers from filing their taxes for free. Additionally, TurboTax’s website included a “Products and Pricing” page that stated it would “recommend the right tax solution,” but never displayed or recommended the IRS Free File program. As a result, Intuit will now pay $141 million in restitution, of which roughly $2.5 million will be used for administrative fund costs.
A plan to remove a 3500 pound steel pontoon that’s near the brink of the American side of Niagara Falls will finally be put into effect today. The pontoon was one of several that broke off an ice boom in Lake Erie during a windstorm over three years ago. The pontoon will be lifted out of the water by a helicopter this afternoon. While the pontoon doesn’t pose a safety hazard, officials want to remove it so doesn’t cause any damage.
The start of summer is just a few weeks away, and organizers of the Taste of Buffalo festival have announced when it’ll be taking place this year. The event is scheduled for July 9th and 10th and will stretch down Delaware Avenue from Chippewa Street into Niagara Square. Admission will be free and both food and beverage tickets are going to be made available for purchase. A list of participating restaurants will be revealed soon and more details about the festival can be found online: 
Even though the Buffalo Sabres missed the playoffs for an 11th straight year, the team’s general manager and head coach are confident the franchise is heading in the right direction. Yesterday, Kevyn Adams and Don Granato held their end-of-the-season news conference and said a strong end to the year has them feeling optimistic. Granato says that everyone in the Sabres organization is on a mission to make fans proud. Buffalo finished this season in 5th place in the Atlantic Division with 75 points.
Two individuals face multiple charges following a month long investigation into organized retail theft from Wal-Mart Stores. An Asset Protection Associate at Warsaw Wal-Mart contacted the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office late in March. He reported multiple incidents where a male and female had entered the store, produced fraudulent receipts, and utilized the receipts to both steal merchandise and then to return stolen merchandise. The total amount of merchandise stolen by the suspects was over $3600 ($3,680.76). Through investigation, Wyoming County Deputies were able to identify the suspects as Rodqrick McGowan and LaShaunda Baker. Deputies, with the assistance of Asset Protection, also tied both suspects to thefts spanning across the State of New York. The investigation continues. Both individuals have been charged with felonies and will be back in court to answer the charges over the next couple of months.
A traffic alert for you…Traffic delays will be experienced from Monday, May 9th through Thursday, May 12th, from 7am until 6pm…Workers will be resurfacing Walnut Street (Rt 98), Law Street, and Chestnut Street (from the City Line to the Traffic Circle to Jackson Street). While work is being performed in this area, the roadway will be reduced to a single lane for all through traffic. Local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays. All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation. This is weather dependent work; if work is postponed it shall progress the next workday. Please contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 Option 1 if there are any questions.
Money is being made available to help New Yorkers who meet income-eligibility requirements stay cool this summer. Officials have announced expanded eligibility for $15,000,000 in cooling assistance through the state to help low-income residents who don’t have air-conditioning units. The expansion is expected to help thousands of people statewide, and eligibility criteria will vary by house size. The program covers the cost of an AC unit and installation for all New Yorkers who qualify and applications are already being accepted.
Organizers of the upcoming Bark in the Park in Clarence say they still need vendors and volunteers to help make sure the event is a successful one. The gathering is scheduled for Saturday, May 28th from 11 a-m until four p-m at Clarence Town Park. Tickets will cost six-dollars at the gate for adults and kids 12 and under are free. All proceeds go to local groups who help take care of animals. More information can be found online at 
After a US Supreme court draft of a decision in the Dobbs Vs Mississippi case by Justice Alito was leaked to the public and seemed to show the Supreme Court striking down Roe V Wade and Planned Parenthood V Casey, Governor Kathy Hochul sent out a press release saying she was “horrified.” She says “For anyone who needs access to care, our state will welcome you with open arms. New York will always be a place where abortion rights are protected and where abortion is safe and accessible.” Her sentiments were echoed by Kristen Gillibrand “with this fundamental right in jeopardy, it is incumbent upon states like New York, where abortion is safe and accessible, to open our doors to those seeking care.” And many bed and breakfast owners are doing just that by offering discounts to those seeking to come to New York to get an abortion. New York State allows abortions up to the moment of birth and performs roughly 1/8th of all abortions in the US.
The four-game winning streak of the Buffalo Sabres has been snapped following a disappointing loss on the road. The Sabres offense wasn’t able to generate any goals as they lost to the Boston Bruins 5-0 at TD Garden last night. Buffalo goalie Dustin Tokarski struggled and was only able to stop 27 of the 32 shots he faced in the contest. The Sabres finish up their regular season tonight when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at 7:00.
After New York’s highest court threw out new congressional district maps drawn by the state Legislature, the task of redrawing them has fallen to a rural judge and a researcher at Carnegie Mellon University. Democrats’ hopes of crafting an electoral map heavily favorable to their party suffered a big blow Wednesday when the state Court of Appeals ruled that the Legislature’s maps were unconstitutionally gerrymandered. The high court Judge Patrick McAllister has been asked to create a new set of maps— his name may be familiar; he was the lower-court jurist who had initially declared the maps unconstitutional. McAllister got out a little ahead of all this by choosing an independent expert to help him craft the maps, Jonathan Cervas, a postdoctoral fellow at Carnegie Mellon University’s Institute for Politics and Strategy. They now face a tight deadline to come up with new maps, while state officials try to figure out what to do about the state’s primary election, scheduled for June 28. The state may still to hold primaries in the contests for governor and state Assembly on that date, but primaries for congress and state Senate might be moved to August.
The National Transportation Safety Board has released more information on that deadly helicopter crash in Elba. The agency says a preliminary report on the accident will be completed in a few days but the final report on the tragedy won’t be available for months. The Mercy Flight aircraft was on a training mission Tuesday when it went down. Witnesses who were in the area at the time reported hearing a loud boom before the helicopter fell to the ground. Debris from the chopper was spread across an area about 2,000 feet long. The main portion of the wreckage is intact although demolished. The tail rotor and assembly were located about 300 feet from the main wreckage, but it’s not known at what point they broke off. The wreckage will be transported to a facility in Clayton, Delaware where it will be laid out to recreate the helicopter to assist with determining what caused the crash. The two people onboard, 60-year-old James Sauer and 60-year-old Stewart Dietrick, died at the scene.
Police across New York State will be doing their part today to make sure kids get on and off their school buses safely. Officers are going to keep an eye out for dangerous drivers as part of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee’s “Operation Safe Stop” campaign. Anyone who is caught passing a school bus that is stopped and has its red lights flashing is going to be ticketed. The financial penalty for breaking the law ranges from a minimum of $250 for a first violation to a maximum of $1000 for three violations in a three-year period.
The Buffalo Sabres will be taking the ice tonight to play in their final road contest of the season. The Sabres are set to battle the Boston Bruins at TD Garden as they look to extend their current winning streak to five. Buffalo hasn’t had a game since last Saturday when they beat the New York Islanders 5-3. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for 7:00.
Wahoo Wave is a 60-foot-tall thrill slide. It will be one of the tallest water rides in Hurricane Harbor. That’s the promise from 6 Flags, Darien Lake as a new ride gets installed just in time for the new season. First, riders will barrel down an enclosed tunnel slide, and then go through a hairpin turn, followed by a corkscrew, and then without warning, will plunge down a 30 foot drop. The thrill wave is scheduled to open when the park opens on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 28.
Le Roy Central School District is planning to increase the tax levy by $66,000 after calculating how much state aid the district can expect to help cover its $27,708,988 spending plan. The tax levy is the total amount of revenue raised through property taxes. The tax rate is the amount per thousand of assessed value that property owners are billed to pay into the levy. State law requires that all property owners in a district share the burden of education equally so a formula will be applied to Le Roy’s tax rate to make it equitable. As it turns out, property owners in the Town of Le Roy will pay the same rate they did this year, $24.14 per $1000 assessed value, because the district’s spending plan is covered by $16,135,963 in state aid, $10,663,025 the tax levy, and $910,000 in local revenues.
Despite the growing number of new COVID-19 cases statewide, Governor Hochul says she has no plans to issue another indoor mask mandate. The governor said yesterday that even though cases are rising, hospitalizations are still far below what they were during the winter surge. Health officials say this latest increase in illnesses is being caused by the spread of omicron sub-variants. The seven-day-average infection rate in the Western NY region is currently sitting at 13.8 percent.
The New York State Department of Health’s last day of COVID-19 contact tracing is this Friday, April 29. One thing that will change is that those who test positive for COVID-19 after April 29 will not receive a text message. State residents who test positive for COVID-19, either with an at-home test or lab-confirmed test, should report their case to the County. The person should isolate for at least five days, with day 0 starting on the day they tested positive. Those who were in close contact with the person who tested positive are not required to isolate, as long as they have no symptoms and they’re vaccinated and boosted. The state recommends wearing a mask around others for ten days following a close contact exposure. If a person is not vaccinated or boosted, they should isolate for five days if they come into contact with someone who is positive. After isolation, they should wear a mask for an additional five days around others. All positive at-home tests should be reported to the Genesee County Department of Health: 585-344-2580
The National Weather Service has confirmed a weak tornado passed through Alexander early in the evening during Monday’s brief-but-intense storms. The tornado touched down at 6:42 p.m. just north of the Alexander Fire Department and Recreational Hall. A pavilion’s roof was damaged, while a trailer on the property was rolled onto its side. The tornado then tore off shingles and shattered windows at residences along Alexander Road, before producing tree damage, just before crossing Tonawanda Creek. It ultimately crossed a field before snapping two very large trees at Alexander Cemetery and damaged historic gravestones. Alexander Cemetery would appreciate donations to support repairing the damaged stones, some of which date back to 1813. (Photo courtesy of our news partner, 
It’s been over two months since someone won Powerball, and that means there’s a big prize up for grabs tonight. The jackpot for this evening’s drawing will be at least 454-million dollars. The last Powerball winner was back on February 14th when a single ticket in Connecticut won more than 185-million-dollars. The cost to play the popular lottery game is just two dollars and tonight’s drawing will be streamed live online at powerball.com. Please play responsibly.
WBTA Breaking News…
The Batavia City School District will propose to voters a $54.8 million budget for 2022-23 at a public hearing May 5. It’s a proposal that includes a $19.7 million tax levy, raising the levy 1%. The district reduced the proposed levy increase from 5.5% to 1% as they put the proposed budget together. The public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 5 in the administrative conference room.
Governor Hochul says the Western New York region is going to receive hundreds of millions of dollars to help complete much-needed projects. During a visit to Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo yesterday, the governor said funds from the state budget will be used to make investments at several places such as the Buffalo Zoo and Albright-Knox Art Gallery and to help create a Hispanic Heritage Center in Buffalo. Money will also go towards improving the area’s infrastructure and to build a brand new stadium for the Buffalo Bills.
Recently released results from a Siena College Poll suggests 2 things: The first, that New Yorkers don’t want the state to spend tax dollars on the Buffalo Bills Stadium, and second, that they are liking Governor Hochul less and less. Researchers found the funding for the stadium is opposed by at least 55% of every demographic group, and upstate New Yorkers approve less than voters downstate. Hochul is down 10 points in approval since just last month and 19 points from the beginning of the year. 45 percent of respondents say they would vote for someone else if Hochul was on the ballot. Only 29 percent say she has fulfilled promises to make people trust the Albany government.
Another candidate has officially entered the race to become the next governor of New York State. Syracuse native Howie Hawkins, a national leader of the Green Party, has launched his fourth bid for that office. He’ll be joined on the campaign trail by his 2010 running mate Gloria Mattera. Hawkins says his message to voters will be focused on inclusive democracy and public policy that addresses climate change and economic insecurity. The 69-year-old Hawkins has run for public office multiple times but has never been elected.
A judge is holding former President Trump in contempt for failing to comply with subpoenas for business documents. It’s part of an investigation into the Trump Organization’s finances that’s being conducted by State Attorney General Letitia James. Trump has called the investigation politically motivated and his lawyers recently argued he doesn’t have documents relevant to the investigation. But until he complies with the AG’s office, Trump will be fined 10-thousand dollars per day. James says that this ruling clearly demonstrates no one is above the law.
Six Flags is still looking to hire workers ahead of the start of the 2022 season at Darien Lake. The company is holding a national hiring week event through May 1st in hopes of boosting the number of employees at the popular Western New York amusement park. There are several positions that need to be filled including ride operators, food service, games and lifeguards. For more information and to put in an application, visit 
The Batavia City Council Conference Meeting is scheduled for this evening. It starts at 7 in the Council Board Room on the second floor of Batavia City Centre. Following this meeting, the Council will conduct its first budget workshop.
Western New York drivers are paying a little bit less money when it comes time to fill up their vehicles. According to Triple A this morning, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is $4.28. That’s down a penny in the past week and is 10 cents cheaper than this time last month. Right now, the state average is $4.23 a gallon while nationally it’s $4.12. In Batavia, the average price per gallon is $4.21, up one cent from both yesterday and a week ago; down 14 cents from a month ago. Last year at this time, we were paying $2.88 a gallon.
They may be ‘magically delicious’; however, they’ve become the subject of an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA is looking into reports that Lucky Charms cereal is causing illness in customers. No recall has been issued at his point. However, an alert was issued by the Livingston County Department of Health advising people that if they or a family member becomes ill with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea after eating the cereal, they should contact their health care provider and local health department. The investigation was prompted after more than 100 calls were received by the FDA about people becoming sick after eating the cereal. General Mills makes Lucky Charms and said that an internal investigation failed to find evidence that the cereal was related to reported illnesses. They added that breakfast cereal rarely results in foodborne illness because the baking process typically kills bacteria. But acknowledged products can become contaminated after baking, such as when glazes are added or during packaging. Locally, anyone who becomes ill after eating Lucky Charms may contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have issued a health advisory; they are seeing an increase in the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19. This recent increase in Covid-19 cases is due to the new Omicron variant BA.2, which spreads more easily than other earlier variants. In light of the updated data, the CDC now places Orleans County at a high risk level for community spread; the risk in Genesee County is now at a moderate risk level. Both counties were previously in the low risk range.
Flu season is seeing a late-season uptick in cases this year. And in fact, for the third consecutive week, influenza cases in the GLOW region are up. Flu is a viral infection that attacks the respiratory system. It may seem like a common cold, with a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat, but while colds usually develop slowly, the flu tends to come on suddenly. People at higher risk of developing flu complications include young children, pregnant women and those two weeks postpartum, those over 65, those with weakened immune systems and some chronic illnesses, and those who are obese. Local public health officials recommend continuing to follow universal precautions, stay home when sick and get the flu vaccine. It is not too late to get a flu shot, but the earlier in the season, the better an individual is protected from serious illness.
Governor Hochul is applauding the newly announced federal program to help Ukrainian refugees. She praised the Biden Administration’s announcement to help 100,000 Ukrainian refugees enter the U.S., adding families of fleeing Ukrainians can now apply for expedited humanitarian parolee status for relatives to come and be sponsored by New York. The state is home to more Ukrainians than anywhere in the country, and the Governor says many communities are waiting with open arms to welcome refugees. For more information on how to provide assistance to refugees, visit 
Highly pathogenic avian flu has been confirmed in a wild bird in Livingston and Monroe counties, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The disease has been found in multiple wild bird species in several areas of the state. The DEC didn’t provide further details about these regional cases but listed a variety of species in which it has been confirmed statewide. Infected birds have included Canada geese, mallard and wood ducks, great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, turkey vultures, snowy owls, redhead and ring-necked ducks, snow geese, mute swans, great horned owls, tundra swans, sanderlings and cooper’s hawks. Small songbirds have not been affected, but many other species of waterfowl — including shorebirds, gulls, raptors, herons and cranes — are also vulnerable. DEC officials are offering advice for dealing with wild game birds. People can protect themselves by only harvesting game which appears to be healthy and properly cooking any game meat being eaten to an internal temperature of 165° Fahrenheit, which kills the virus. If handling wild birds — particularly waterfowl, gulls, and raptors — people should follow precautions such as using personal protective equipment including masks, gloves, and eye protection. They should also wash their hands thoroughly afterward. People are asked to report any suspicious deaths of infected wild bird species to their local DEC office.
Batavia City schools board members have quite a full agenda for tonight’s meeting, which includes a public hearing about spending district reserves to repair the roof at Batavia High. The meeting will begin with a presentation about that $140,000 proposal. The public will be given time to voice questions, comments and concerns before the board is scheduled to vote on the work later in the meeting. Other agenda items include a review of the tentative 2022-23 budget, followed later by a vote to adopt the $55 million financial plan. The most recent preliminary budget in March included a nearly $3 million increase, or 5.75 percent more than the current budget. The tax levy was at $20.57 million for a 5.5 percent increase, overriding the tax cap levy by $756,449. The meeting is set to begin at 6 this evening at the BHS library, 260 State Street. Business Administrator Scott Rozanski is expected to go over the proposed budget up for board vote during Thursday’s meeting. The preliminary plan included spending increases of $692,575 for teacher/administrative support salaries, $481,970 more for support salaries and nearly $1 million more for fringe benefits. Those total increased numbers are $19.9 million for teacher salaries, $6.5 million for support salaries and $12,306,449 for fringe benefits.
Law enforcement agencies across Genesee County are providing the public the opportunity to dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. On Saturday, April 30th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be three locations across the county where citizens can dispose of their medications. Sharps will only be accepted at the Batavia location. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. The Batavia Police Department, in conjunction with United Memorial Medical Center, will be accepting prescription drugs and sharps in the Alva Place parking lot across the street from Batavia Showtime. The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office will be accepting prescription drugs ONLY at the Pembroke Town Hall, 1145 Main Rd. Corfu. And the Le Roy Police Department will be accepting prescription drugs ONLY at their headquarters located at 3 West Main Street, LeRoy. The Batavia Police Department Headquarters has one for everyday collection of drugs and sharps located in the rear entrance at 10 West Main Street. Containers are also located at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office on Park Rd, Batavia, and at the Le Roy Police Department.
Three men who failed to stop at a checkpoint at the U.S. border with Canada were taken into custody after a chase that ended in a field off Route 20A late Tuesday afternoon. Wyoming County Sheriff Gregory Rudolph said his department was contacted after an SUV failed to stop at the checkpoint and led border patrol and agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a chase that went through Erie County and into Wyoming County. When the driver went off Route 20A near Snyder Road, the SUV ended up in a field about 75 feet from the road. All three men inside ran into nearby woods. K9 Units from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Genesee and Erie counties were called to assist in the search. All three were soon taken into custody without further incident and there was no indication as to why the men fled.
Customers of multiple cell phone companies reported outages across the country yesterday afternoon, an issue that appeared to be centered on problems with Verizon’s network. Reports of outages began to increase starting around 3:15 p.m. Outage spikes were reported by customers of multiple carriers. Apparently, this is often a case of somebody with one carrier not able to reach a phone number for someone with a different carrier. But they may report it as a problem with their own provider. According to a Verizon representative, a fiber issue in the core of their network caused some customers to experience intermittent call failures, but has now been resolved. But either way, the lines of communication all appear to be fine and open now.
Divers have finally been able to get into the waters of Lake Erie to get a close-up look at the damage to the USS The Sullivans. Last week, the ship suffered a massive hull breach, which caused it to fill up with thousands of gallons of water and partially submerge. It was announced yesterday the oil that had been leaking from the vessel is now contained. Officials haven’t said yet how long cleanup and repair efforts are going to take.
For the sixth straight month, Genesee County’s unemployment rate was lower than the pre-pandemic rate for the same month, according to the New York State Department of Labor. The rate of 3.7% for March of this year reflects a dip when compared to a 4.5% rate in March 2019. The rate in March 2021 was 5.6% and the rate in March 2020 was 5.7%. The current rate is the lowest it’s been from available state labor department records going back to 1990. By the way, the unemployment rate for all of New York State is 4.7%, which is higher than the March 2019 — pre-pandemic — rate of 4%.
County public health directors in the GLOW region today encourage all eligible residents to get their second COVID-19 booster shot. The BA.2 variant is being referred to as ‘stealth Omicron’, and currently represents 80.6% of COVID infections in the state. Those interested in getting a second booster need to wait at least four months since the time they received their first booster dose.
Governor Hochul has released her first campaign ads as she looks to win a full, four-year term in office this November. The television and digital ads highlight Hochul’s accomplishments since she became governor last year following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo. They include cracking down on illegal guns and investing more money in public schools so additional teachers can be hired. Hochul is being challenged in the June Democratic primary by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Congressman Tom Suozzi of Long Island.
Childhood lead poisoning is of course, a concern throughout the year, but cases of lead poisoning increase during the spring and summer months because children spend more time outdoors, on the porch or in the yard. Homes built before 1978 may have chipping and peeling lead paint on the porch or on siding, which could be more deteriorated than other parts of the house due to the effects of weather. Children playing on the porch can unknowingly pick up lead paint chips and dust on their hands and toys and then place hands or toys into their mouths. Lead dust can also be found in the soil outside where children are playing. And also, many home improvements begin in the spring and summer. Renovations to areas of the home containing lead-based paint can put lead dust into the air, both inside and outside of the area being worked on. Lead dust can also collect on windowsills and in window wells. On warm days when the windows are open, lead dust in these areas can blow into the house. For more information on Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs, visit 
Batavia Police have arrested Lorenzo Baker, for criminal possession of a weapon following a traffic stop where he was allegedly found to be in possession of a loaded revolver. Simultaneously, a search warrant was executed at his residence, the upper apartment at 36 Dellinger Avenue, upper Apt., as part of an ongoing investigation where additional evidence was found. Baker was arraigned before Judge Thomas Burns in Batavia City Court and held on $25,000.00 cash, $50,000.00 Insurance Company Bail Bond, or a $75,000.00 Partially Secured Appearance Bond. He is scheduled to re-appear in Batavia City Court on April 21, 2022, at 1:30 PM. Due to the ongoing nature of the case, further details were not released at this time.
A recall alert for you…The U.S. Product Safety Commission has announced that General Electric is recalling six types of its stainless steel refrigerators. The recall involves roughly 155,000 appliances manufactured between February 2020 and August 2021, sold at Best Buy and Home Depot. Free-Standing French Door Refrigerators in Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel, which have freezer door handles that are detaching. There have been reports of 37 injuries including what have been described as three serious falls. Affected model numbers, printed on a label found on the top of the left side inside of the refrigerator section, are:
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a nationwide scam has made its way to New York State. Individuals are being contacted by scammers posing as Border Patrol agents or Public Affairs Officers, and when people answer the call, they hear a pre-recorded message that says, “a box of drugs and money being shipped has your name on it and has been intercepted.” Some of the calls say that there is a warrant for the individual’s arrest or they are requesting information from them in exchange for Bitcoin. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection urge you not to give out any personal identifiable information, such as date of birth or social security numbers. They never solicit information by phone, nor do they use gift cards, Bitcoin or any other digital currency. If you get a call like this, make a note of the number and contact police and the Federal Trade Commission immediately.
News of an arrest from the Tonawanda Seneca Nation…a man who served a state prison term for setting fire to the Chiefs Council Office building in 2008 has been arrested again and charged with a vicious assault during a domestic dispute earlier this year. According to State Police, 41-year-old Rodney Willis, Jr. is charged with first-degree assault for causing serious injuries to another person back in February. The charge is a class B violent felony and punishable by up to 25 years in prison. He is committed to Genesee County Jail without bail. Willis had previously served 5 to 10 years for arson and was released from prison in 2017.
The Batavia City School District, along with the police department, and City Church have joined together to create a new recommended pickup route for the City Church Community Food Distribution program at St. Anthony’s. The City Church currently hosts a bi-monthly food distribution program for community residents at St. Anthony’s Church. Due to the program’s popularity, some traffic concerns have emerged around Jackson Primary, resulting in serious safety issues along with traffic backups during school arrival and dismissal periods. In response, a new route has been established to access the Food Distribution Program pickup line. The new route will be in effect starting with the April 27 distribution date. Those community members who wish to participate in the program must access Liberty Street via South Swan Street, Osterhout Avenue, or Otis Street. All food distribution traffic will be redirected to avoid Liberty Street between South Jackson and Sumner Streets and South Jackson between South Swan and Liberty Streets (the areas directly in front of and adjacent to Jackson Primary). The City Church Community Food Distribution program is scheduled every two weeks for the following dates: April 27, May 11, May 25, June 8, and June 22.
A dinosaur invasion will be happening at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo later this year as part of the Jurassic World Live Tour. Folks will get the chance to see animatronic replicas of several popular creatures including the velociraptor and tyrannosaurus rex from October 21st through the 23rd. Advance tickets go on sale today and seats will be made available to the general public April 26th. More information can be found on the arena website at 
U.S. Marshals are still searching for a missing 11-month-old child named Iris Chidester, and her fugitive mother, 35-year-old Adrienne Grace Marean. Marean is wanted by the Bridgeport Police Department in West Virginia for allegedly violating a Family Court Order. She was last seen in the Western Pennsylvania, Dunkirk and Fredonia areas and could possibly be in Webster near Rochester. Marshals say she could be elsewhere in Western NY, as well. Marean is believed to be driving a gray Toyota Prius with New York license plate JJR1907. She is a white female, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 165 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. The child has brown hair and brown eyes. Officials are urging the public to relay any information or sightings of Marean or the missing child to the U.S. Marshals Service at 1 (304) 623- 0486 or contact 911.
Le Roy Police have arrested 22-year-old Marco Hernandez of Le Roy, charging him with rape in the first degree, and first degree criminal sexual act, both class B felonies, following an investigation of an incident in Le Roy from July 2021. Hernandez was arraigned in Le Roy Town Court and was remanded to the Genesee County Jail on $5,000 bail.
Several inmate-on-inmate fights over a two-day period resulted in 13 officers getting injured; occurring while staff was attempting to stop fights at the Orleans Correctional Facility last week. One inmate attacked and kicked an officer in the head causing a two-inch laceration, concussion and fracture above the left eye that required treatment at an outside hospital. On the first day, inmates began to fight in a classroom and ignored orders from staff to stop fighting. Eventually all complied, but not before causing several injuries to staff; the following day, six officers were hurt in two separate incidents at the facility. The inmate that inflicted the more serious injuries was transferred to Attica Correctional Facility. Each of the inmates involved face disciplinary charges.
It’s Dyngus Day, and a parade to celebrate Buffalo’s Polish-American community is taking place in the city this afternoon. The parade is scheduled to step off at five p-m and head west on Broadway from Memorial Drive to Fillmore Avenue. Restaurants around the area will also be serving up popular Polish foods today such as pierogis and cabbage rolls.
In just a few hours, one lucky person could end up winning one of the biggest lottery prizes that’s been up for grabs this year. There was no winner in Saturday’s Powerball drawing, meaning this evening’s jackpot will be at least $348,000,000. As always, the cost of a ticket to play the popular game is just $2.00 and tonight’s drawing will be streamed online. Please play responsibly.
2 people have been charged with unlawfully owning an alligator. An Amherst man called the Department of Environmental Conservation, asking for help finding a new home for the 3 and a half-foot alligator he said he had rescued from a bad home and was looking to place it in a good home. This turned out not to be true; he was actually trying to sell it but was unsuccessful in finding a new owner. He finally admitted to buying it from another man in Dunkirk. Both the man who claimed he rescued the gator and the person who originally sold it to him were arrested and charged with unlawfully possessing the reptile. Additional charges may be pending. The gator was turned over to a licensed handler. There are 15 reptiles that are illegal to have as pets and for breeding in New York State. If you are caught breeding or owning any of the illegal reptiles, you could be facing a $500 fine for the first offense and $1,000 for any following offenses.
A man has multiple charges filed against him, the most serious of which is attempted murder. 29-year-old Jarrett Coniglio allegedly attacked a person early Tuesday morning. At that time, Genesee County sheriff’s deputies responded to a Sandhill Road residence for a reported assault involving a knife. Coniglio, of Bloomingdale Road in the Tonawanda Reservation, is accused of seriously injuring the victim. He was committed to Genesee County Jail without bail and is scheduled to appear in court next Tuesday.
RECALL ALERT: More than 1 million crafting glue guns are being recalled pursuant to complaints of malfunction, leading to fire or burns. The recall involves Crafter’s Square Glue Guns sold for about $1 nationwide at Dollar Tree stores from August 2020 through February 2022 and at Family Dollar stores in January and February of this year. The plastic guns are black with an orange trigger and tip. They have a silver UL label above the handle with “GLUE GUN” and “XY-15302” printed on it. The guns dispense hot glue when plugged in and the trigger is pulled. Dollar Tree says it has received seven reports of what it calls “electrical malfunctions” when using the gun. There were four reports of fires and one report of a “skin irritation.” The malfunction itself was not identified. Consumers are urged to stop using these glue guns and unplug them immediately. They can be returned to Dollar Tree or Family Dollar for a full refund. Those who bought the guns at 
Tax Day is on Monday and the state Department of Taxation and Finance is extending hours at its call center to answer any questions last-minute filers may have. Those folks can talk with a member of the agency today between the hours of 8:30am and 6:00pm, tomorrow from 8:30am until 4:30pm and Monday from 8:30am until 7:00pm. The number to call is 518-457-5181. Answers to a wide range of tax-related inquiries can also be found online at 
The Food and Drug Administration has issued an emergency use authorization for what it said is the first device that can detect COVID-19 in breath samples. The InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer is about the size of a piece of carry-on luggage, and can be used in doctor’s offices, hospitals and mobile testing sites. The test, which can provide results in less than three minutes, must be carried out under the supervision of a licensed health care provider. The FDA said the device was 91.2% accurate at identifying positive test samples and 99.3% accurate at identifying negative test samples.
New York State has initiated a pilot program with the goal of making roads safer for construction crews. Speed cameras will be installed by the end of the year to help catch drivers speeding through work zones on the Thruway. Offenders will be ticketed automatically and sent a letter and a fine. The program was part of legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.
Cost estimates for Phase 3 of Genesee County’s water project is going to be more costly than originally expected. County manager Matt Landers reported that he and Highway Superintendent Tim Hens received an estimate of projected cost from CPL, the firm involved in engineering the water project. In a few years when Phase 3 starts, the cost could be around $135,000,000. With Phase 3 still in design, Landers said the county would look for funding sources using lobbyists at the federal and state level.
One of the early signature rides at Six Flags Darien Lake is being dismantled this week nearly 40 years after its debut. The Giant Wheel has been a fixture at the center of the park since 1983, and it was retired last year. In recent days crews have begun removing the Ferris wheel in pieces. A spokesperson for Six Flags shared that the ride had reached the end of its useful life and they’re considering options to replace it. The Giant Wheel opened at Darien Lake in 1983, arriving one year after the debut of the park’s first roller coaster, The Viper. The attraction was a key piece of the park’s growth from its origins as a campground with rides and water slides into a full-fledge theme park and one of region’s most-visited attractions.
Brian Benjamin has resigned as Lieutenant Governor after pleading not guilty to fraud and bribery related charges. It’s alleged Benjamin used his influence while he was a state Senator to direct a state grant to a non-profit controlled by a real estate developer. That developer later donated money to Benjamin’s Senate Campaign Committee and his failed campaign to become New York City Comptroller. Benjamin is also accused of providing false information while he was being vetted to become the state’s Lieutenant Governor. Last year, Benjamin was picked to take the job by Governor Hochul. In a statement, the governor said that she and Benjamin agreed he couldn’t continue to serve while the legal process plays out.
And some good news, specific to Covid-19 treatment options, starting next week, the Erie County Department of Health will be offering a new treatment option to people who have contracted COVID-19. Beginning Monday, anyone who receives a positive result after being screened at a county testing site can get a prescription for Paxlovid. The antiviral drug is used to help people over the age of 12 with a mild or modera