Local News

Governor Hochul is going to be making an announcement on the future of the state’s indoor mask mandate tomorrow. The mandate was put in place back in December in an effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and is set to expire on Thursday. The mandate has been controversial and at one point was declared unconstitutional by a State Supreme court judge before that decision was overruled by an appellate court, which allowed it to remain in effect. The governor is meeting with education leaders today and is expected to discuss how much longer students will have to wear masks in school. Oakfield-Alabama has set an emergency Board of Education meeting for this week to vote on whether to keep their own resolution on masking in place. Batavia City Schools Superintendent Jason Smith says the Board of Education’s meeting on February 17th may also be a venue for this same discussion. It seems there are advocates on both sides of the issue with the vast majority wanting it to be up to parents and the personal choice of the child.

City of Batavia Republican Committee Chairman Richard Richmond invites qualified individuals seeking to serve in the role of council-at-large representative to submit a letter of interest to him by February 17, a week from Thursday. To be qualified for the position, the prospective representative must be a resident of the City of Batavia and a member of the same political party as the representative who most recently served in the seat—in this case, a Republican. The City Republican Committee expects to recommend an individual to the City Council, which has the appointment power to fill the vacancy temporarily.

An emergency Road Closure is in place; Manhattan Avenue from Ellsworth Ave. to North St. is closed off for sanitary sewer repair. The roadway will be closed to all through traffic until sometime early this afternoon. All motorists that regularly use Manhattan Avenue are asked to seek alternative routes while the closures are in place.

A Buffalo woman has pleaded guilty to pepper-spraying someone following a dispute over a face mask requirement. Prosecutors say 27-year-old Deshawna Taylor refused to have a facial covering on while she was inside a medical office back in August. When a female employee asked Taylor to put on a mask, she refused and pepper-sprayed the woman in the face, causing the victim to suffer minor injuries. Taylor is facing up to one year behind bars when she’s sentenced in April.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo says he’s not ruling out a run for public office in the future. But in an interview with Bloomberg News, Cuomo said it’s too early to think about what position he’d seek. Cuomo stepped down back in August after a report from State Attorney General Letitia James alleged that he sexually harassed several women, claims that Cuomo has repeatedly denied. Cuomo says that if he had to do it again, he wouldn’t have resigned and that he feels vindicated because several district attorneys have decided not to prosecute him. He also called the AG’s report politically motivated.

The Buffalo Bills have hired Aaron Kromer as their new Offensive Line Coach. Kromer was with the Bills for the 2015-16 season. He most recently served as the Los Angeles Rams Offensive Line coach and Run Game Coordinator from 2017 to 2020. He replaces Bobby Johnson who served as the Bills Offensive Line Coach from 2019 to 2021 but is joining Brian Daboll to serve in the same role with the New York Giants.

The beginning of president’s week is also the official expiration date of the NY Schools and indoor business Mask Mandate and it hasn’t been renewed, yet.  Governor Hochuls office said they would be renewing or doing away with the mandate on a week by week basis and at least on area school wants to be ready.  Oakfield Alabama has set an emergency Board of Education meeting for this week to vote on whether to keep their own resolution on masking in place.  There are advocates on both sides with the vast majority wanting it to be up to parents and the personal choice of the child.  Batavia City Schools new Superintendent Jason Smith  says the BOE’s meeting on February 17th may also be a venue for this same discussion. 

County Executive Mark Poloncarz is embattled in a scandal over misuse of County funds to do with overtime paid to Dr Gail Burstein and Personnel Commissioner Timothy Hogues and now Poloncarz is facing new allegations.  A process server for Empire State Process Service, Jodi Williams, said she was serving a lawsuit to the County Executive and he threatened to shoot her.  She says she had attempted to serve him 3 times between January 22nd and 29th and on the 4th attempt he yelled through a closed window that she was trespassing and he would shoot her if she didn’t get off his property.  Poloncarzs’ representative says he didn’t threaten to shoot her.  The overtime controversy has been cited as one of the reason several towns want to leave Erie County.

Western NY Independent Living is handing out free COVID home test kits to the people they serve.  They have more than 7000 kits and they will take some time to distribute.  Independent Living says that those with disabilities are often forgotten or underserved and especially during the pandemic and they are trying to reverse that.  Customers can pick up the kits from an Independent Living location or request delivery.

The Buffalo Bills have hired Aaron Kromer as their new Offensive Line Coach.  Kromer was with the Bills for the 2015-16 season.  He most recently served as the Los Angeles Rams Offensive Line coach and Run Game Coordinator from 2017 to 2020.  He replaces Bobby Johnson who served as the Bills Offensive Line Coach from 2019 to 2021 but is joining Brian Daboll to serve in the same role with the New York Giants.

For the second week in a row, Western New York drivers have to dig a little bit deeper into their wallets to fill up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is now $3.58. That’s up four cents in the past week and is eight cents higher than this time one month ago. The state average is now $3.59 a gallon and nationally it’s $3.44. In Batavia, the average price is $3.52, up one cent since a week ago. The tension between Russia and Ukraine continues to contribute to rising oil prices. Russia is a member of OPEC+, and any sanctions based on their actions toward Ukraine may cause it to withhold crude oil from the global market.

LeRoy Police have arrested 52-year-old Virginia Steen of LeRoy. It is alleged she deliberately tampered with another individual’s property in a common area of the residence. In doing so, she violated an order of protection. Charges include 2nd degree harassment and 2nd degree criminal contempt. She is due to appear in court later this month.

A Caledonia teenager who stole cars in three counties, even after he was arrested, was sentenced to local jail and probation late last week in Wyoming County Court. 18-year-old Joshua Sumeriski had been free, despite numerous charges against him for the string of car thefts, with judges citing the state’s bail reform laws as a reason for his freedom. Sumeriski was first charged on Sept. 13 in connection with thefts in Livingston, Genesee and Wyoming counties. He is also accused of stealing a car from a business in Batavia, last summer. Sumeriski has pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny.

State University of New York community colleges have experienced a trend in enrollment drop since 2011, which has led to faculty and staff losing jobs. An analysis of demographic data suggests steeper competition and the ongoing economic and social implications from the Covid pandemic have contributed to their challenges. Rising wages have also lured some potential community college applicants away from school and into the work force. Statewide, the SUNY system will try to combat declining enrollment by making it easier for students to apply for financial aid, increase support around child care, mental health, food insecurity, and offer more flexibility in course types and schedules.

Seven snowmobilers have been rescued after finding themselves trapped on the ice in the Erie Canal. Crews responded to the scene near Brooks Avenue in Gates yesterday after getting a call saying the group was stranded and couldn’t get out. It took first responders about two hours to bring everyone to safety. One snowmobiler went to Strong Memorial Hospital to be treated for cuts suffered after falling through the ice. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reported that snowmobiling isn’t allowed on the canal and that the people involved in the incident may face charges.

Some new data released by Governor Hochul’s office shows the spread of COVID-19 is still on the decline in Western New York. The region’s seven-day average COVID-19 positivity rate is now eight-point-seven percent. At this time last week, the positivity rate was 12-point-nine percent. Governor Hochul claims New Yorkers can keep doing their part to end the winter surge in infections by wearing a mask indoors and receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots.

Buffalo has a new distinction…they have found themselves on a newly released list of cities that have the biggest pothole problems in the country. The study, conducted by insurance comparison website Quote Wizard, ranked Buffalo 20th on its list of 50 locations nationwide. Potholes are a common issue in the spring and winter and Triple A reports they cost drivers about three-billion-dollars a year in repairs. In case you’re wondering, Yakima, Washington took the top spot.

A Warsaw man who served three years in prison for beating his girlfriend with a baseball bat will likely be returning to prison after he pleaded guilty to strangling a woman to unconsciousness. 27-year-old Cory Goodenow pled guilty late last week to second-degree strangulation, a class D felony punishable by up to seven years in state prison.

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!) invites artists of all to submit work to GO Art! for their 5th Annual Art of the Rural Juried Show. Entries of any media, no larger than 36” by 48” will be accepted from Feb. 23 through March 4 at 201 E Main St in Batavia (Seymour Place) during gallery hours. All works must be original and created by the submitting artist. No previous submissions are permitted. Entries must be accompanied by an entry form as well as an entry fee of $30 that will cover the submission of 5 pieces for members and 3 for non-members. Additional submissions will cost $5 each. Entry forms can be found at goart.org/upcoming-exhibitions.

26-year-old Braden Foley of Medina has been sentenced to six months in jail and five years probation for two counts of second-degree vehicular assault. He could have faced up to four years in state prison. Foley pleaded guilty and admitted being high on drugs when he crashed into another car in Newfane in July, 2020. The driver and a passenger in the other car suffered serious injuries. Foley suffered minor injuries.

The Buffalo Museum of Science has a new exhibit that will be on display for the next 6 months called Dinosaurs of the Antarctic. At the exhibit you can see and handle real fossils, see life size replicas of the dinosaurs, and learn about how paleontologists traveled to the South Pole to gather the artifacts on display. Two new dinosaur specimens that are awaiting scientific naming will also be on display as part of the experience. Antarctic Dinosaurs comes from the Field Museum in Chicago. Don’t wait to get your tickets…the first weekend of the exhibit sold out quickly.

Over the weekend, the 8th Annual Sno Packers Bikini Rally was held in Oakfield and raised over $19,000 for the Pink Fund breast cancer financial assistance program. Snowmobile riders both men and women, braved low temperatures in bikinis for the cause; about 450 people attended the rally.

The Town of Alexander Republican Committee is seeking interested candidates for the four-year position of Town Justice. Interested Town of Alexander registered republicans should call 585-507-9930 for additional information; and need to submit a letter of interest by February 16th to: Barbara Eddy, Chairwoman 11054 Alexander Road., Attica NY 14011 or may call (585) 507-9930.

Stay off the ice.  That’s the lesson several snowmobilers had to learn this weekend in Gates.  7 people were rescued out of the Erie Canal Sunday afternoon when the ice broke up and stranded them in the middle of the water.  One person’s snowmobile went under and they were able to swim to shore with a fractured arm.  Gates Fire Department set up a rope rescue operation and pulled the rest of the stranded adventurers out 1 by one.  Charges are pending as it is illegal to snowmobile on the canal.  

Grand Island, Marilla, Wales and Hollard are all looking to leave Erie County and join Wyoming County.  The town supervisor of Marilla, Earl Gingerich Jr, says the reasons they want out are varied.   He says the COVID 19 mandates violate their constitutional rights.  Marilla has been left out of road repairs and infrastructure improvements.  And that Erie county wastes money.  Gingerich the values of the towns that are seeking separation are more closely aligned with Wyoming County.  At this stage nothing is happening but they plan to do a study and then put a petition before town residents.  

The water main repair that was scheduled for last Thursday has been rescheduled for today on Oak Street from Union Street to the city line.  Oak and Noonan will be effected with the water possibly needing to be shut off for an unknown amount of time.  Traffic will also be impacted in the area of Oak Street and Noonan Drive in the form of lane closures or lane shifts while the repairs are being made. 

The 8th Annual Sno Packers Bikini Rally raised over 19 thousand dollars for the Pink Fund breast cancer financial assistance program Saturday.  Snowmobile riders both men and women, braved low temperatures in skimpy bikinis for the cause in Oakfield.  About 450 people attended the rally.

The Buffalo Museum of Science has a new exhibit that will be on display for the next 6 months that will chill you.  Dinosaurs of the Antarctic have taken up residence at the museum.  At the exhibit you can see and handle real fossils, see life size replicas of the dinosaurs, and learn about how paleontologists traveled to the southern pole to gather the artifacts on display.  Two new dinosaur specimens that are awaiting scientific naming will also be on display as part of the experience.  Antarctic Dinosaurs comes from the Field Museum in Chicago. This first weekend of the exhibit sold out quickly.

Our state congressional district is going away.  The 27th district which includes Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties as well as parts of Erie, Monroe, Niagara, and Ontario Counties will be eliminated.  The district in the new map will be absorbed into district 24 which extends from Niagara Falls all the way to Watertown in Jefferson county.  District lines will remain the same until the end of this year when new or re-elected officials take office, that’s when they will officially change for the next ten years.

41 Year old Brooke Tubbins plead guilty Monday to petit larceny for failing to report income on 2 different SNAP benefits forms.  Tubbins received 6215 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to.  Full restitution has been made.  Sentencing was adjourned to a later date.

GO! Art is inviting artists to submit their work for the 5th annual Art of the Rural Juried Show.  Any media no larger than 36 by 48 will be accepted from February 23rd through March 4th.  They will be displayed at the Bank of Castile Main, Olivers, and Batavia Club galleries.  All must be original work by the person who submits the work.  An entry form and fee must be submitted with the art.  

2022 is shaping up to be the best year for snowmobilers in the past 10 years says the treasurer of the Northern Erie Sno-Seekers Rich McNamara.  The fresh snow on Martin Luther King Jr Day and over Thursday and Friday of this past week have opened up hundreds of trails.  Snowmobiles are sold out in many locations across Western and Northern NY.  Stores are taking orders to get sleds for next years season.  

The Buffalo Bills have hired former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady to replace Ken Dorsey at the position of Quarterbacks Coach.  32 year old Brady was offensive assistant under Sean Peyton with the New Orleans Saints in 2017 and 18.  He was LSU passing game coordinator and wide receiver Coach in 2019. 

The weather seemed to remain calm during the snowstorm yesterday; however, highways and travel gradually became increasingly more treacherous throughout the GLOW region, especially as the snowfall intensified during the evening commute. Contrary to our previous major storm, when we experienced an intense and focused winter blast, this snow began to accumulate and cause increasingly more problems as it continued. As of this morning, most everyone received between 8 and 14 inches of snow, as predicted by 13 WHAM meteorologists. This has resulted in many closures and slick roads. Before heading out, it would be best to call ahead to your destination to ensure they are open.

A little after 3:00 early this morning, the City of Batavia Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 31 Walnut Street. Upon arrival, firefighters saw smoke coming from the two and a half story, two-family home. Fire crews entered the home to find a fire in the kitchen that was quickly extinguished. Three occupants were home at the time of the fire and escaped unharmed prior to arrival of the firemen. The residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross. Investigators determined the cause of the fire was accidental.

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors approved a final resolution for a proposed $1.74 million housing project by Franklin Real Estate and Development at its board meeting on Thursday. The approval will support two 8-unit market-rate apartment buildings located south of Buffalo East Tech Park in the town of Pembroke. The multi-unit buildings will include one 1-bedroom apartment in each building and seven 2-bedroom apartments in each building. Franklin Real Estate and Development is receiving $243,402 in sales, mortgage, and property tax incentives.

A Batavia woman, who ran out of gas on the Thruway early Wednesday morning, has been charged with a felony after it was found the car was stolen. 38-year-old Jessica Holtz was identified of the driver of the black 2007 Chevy Tahoe. State Police were contacted about a suspicious person going door to door in a neighborhood in Henrietta, telling people she ran out of gas on the Thruway. Holtz had outstanding warrants from the City of Batavia and was brought to Genesee County for processing. Previous charges included failure to appear in court and petit larceny. Presently, she faces 3rd degree criminal possession of stolen property (a felony) and misdemeanor 5th degree criminal possession of stolen property. She is to appear in Town Court at a later date.

A female corrections officer was injured during what union officials called a ‘disgusting’ sexual attack; this happened Wednesday at Attica Correctional Facility. The attack happened as inmates were leaving a COVID testing site in the prison chapel. As the 38-year-old inmate left the chapel, he grabbed the officer in the groin. She and two other officers forced him against a wall as the inmate continued to struggle. He then grabbed the woman again as officers tackled the inmate to the floor, where he fell on top of the female officer. The inmate continued to grope her while officers struggled for control. The inmate was cuffed and escorted to another unit. The inmate was serving a 19-year sentence for robbery in Queens County in 2011. He was placed in special housing pending disciplinary charges.

In an effort to keep people safe from COVID-19, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra has announced a change to its masking policy. Cloth masks are no longer acceptable and only surgical masks, KN95 masks and N95 masks will be allowed. Also, people must have a facial covering on the entire time that the orchestra is performing. The change is effective immediately and will be in place until further notice.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation adopted by lawmakers earlier Thursday to create new congressional, Senate and Assembly district lines for the next decade’s elections; this resulted from the Legislature’s recently drawn plans. Assembly members voted to pass the legislative bill 118-29 with scant Republican support. Republicans both in the state and across the country have voiced opposition to the redistricting and plan to legally challenge the plans in State Supreme Court; Governor Hochul has made no comment.

Governor Hochul announced this morning that New York State has been more aggressive than any other state in the nation in terms of acquiring and distributing at-home, Covid-19 test kits. Toward that end, now more than 23 million kits have been provided to families in the state since December 30th, which she believes has helped keep schools open and also help people identify when they are positive for the virus so in turn, they stay at home and not spread illness.

Steve Hawley

You’ll recall earlier this week that 13 superintendents from school districts in both Genesee and Orleans counties, composed and sent a letter to Governor Hochul, asking for an “exit strategy” from universal masking in schools. They also asked Hochul to get away from “one-size-fits-all mandates” with regard to universal masking and Covid testing. The school leaders said those mandates from the state caused unnecessary challenges for them. State Assemblyman Steve Hawley has now written a letter to Governor Hochul in agreement with the school superintendents, requesting that she put forward guidance to school districts that would provide a “path to normalcy” by ending all state-mandated Covid-19 mitigation measures and returning control of such policies to local school districts.

Several short-line and regional railroads in the GLOW region are among the recipients of more than $76.4 million in state infrastructure funding. The funding was announced Thursday by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office. The investments were described as essential for maintaining and enhancing market access for manufacturing and agricultural businesses statewide.

The Ellicott Town Supervisor is in trouble with the law after being arrested by State Police on public lewdness charges. Troopers say the alleged incidents involving 72-year-old Patrick McLaughlin and two young people happened on or about January 31st and February 1st. Police haven’t revealed many details about McLaughlin’s alleged crimes but do say no physical contact was involved. He was issued an appearance ticket after being taken into custody and is due back in court later this month.

Car enthusiasts will be heading to the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center throughout the weekend for the Buffalo Auto Show. The event was canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and because of the ongoing threat of the illness, all guests 12 and older will need to prove they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19. The auto show will continue today from 1pm until 9pm, tomorrow from 10am to 9pm, and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. More information is available online at buffaloautoshow.com.

The Buffalo Bills are expected to hire Phil Rauscher as their next offensive line coach from the Minnesota Vikings. Rauscher was promoted to the same position for the Vikings last season and previously served as an assistant offensive line coach with the Vikings and Washington, and as a coaching assistant for Denver. The Bills offensive line coach Bobby Johnson has reportedly been hired by the New York Giants.

The winter storm warning continues till 1pm this afternoon with another 1 to 3 inches expected across all of the GLOW region.  Most area schools are closed for a snow day today.  The roads are slick and accumulation may make travel difficult.  Remember to give yourself extra time to come to a stop and extra time to get started from a stop when entering traffic.

An Attica Corrections Officer is in Buffalo General after a male inmate knocked her to the ground and she hit her head during an altercation that started with the inmate grabbing her crotch.  When she and other officers tried to get him off her he fought back, knocking her down and then falling on top of her and grabbing at her chest and crotch several more times.  According to the NYS Corrections Officers and Police Benevolent Association the officer suffered a head injury and the inmate was placed in special housing.  2 other officers and a civilian instructor were treated at Attica.  The inmate has been in prison for 11 years and the NYSCOPBA is asking for charges of sexual assault to be filed against him.

Joining the 13 Superintendents from Genesee and Orleans counties 38 school districts Superintendents from Erie and Niagara Counties are sending a letter to Governor Hochul asking for an end to the Mask mandates for schools.  They ask for a timeline for when the power to make masking and health policy decisions will be back in the hands of the school districts.  

There was a fire at a home in the early morning on Walnut street today.  Around 3:20 Batavia City Fire responded to 331 Walnut for a report of light smoke coming out of the second story window.  Police report the fire may have begun in the downstairs kitchen.  All occupants were out of the residence safely by 3:45 and the fire was knocked down and put out.  The cause is under investigation.

On Sunday, the American Legion Post #576,  will host the 78th Annual Commemoration Ceremony of 4 Chaplains day at Trigon Park, in Le Roy at 1 p.m.  Four Chaplains Day is celebrated every year in recognition of four military chaplains who acted in the spirit of heroic sacrifice and humanitarianism onboard a sinking ship.  Due to COVID considerations, this year’s program will consist of an outside remembrance program and placement of the wreath at the Monument of the “Four Chaplains” in Trigon Park.  There will be refreshments after the Ceremony.

The Buffalo Bills are expected to hire Phil Rauscher as their next offensive line coach from the Minnesota Vikings.  Rauscher was promoted to Vikings offensive line coach last season and previously served as an assistant offensive line coach with the Vikings and Washington, and as a coaching assistant for Denver.  The Bills offensive line coach Bobby Johnson was reportedly hired by the New York Giants.

The Winter Storm Warning is on through today and into tomorrow.  Predictions have not changed much; heavy, wet snow up to 12 inches is expected through Friday at 1pm, across most of Western NY.  Most of the accumulation is expected to come late this afternoon and into the night.  Travel may be affected by snow building up on the roads and slick conditions.  With bad weather moving into the region, both air and train travel will likely be impacted.  Anyone planning to travel should be aware that delays and cancellations are possible.  Travelers are urged to check on the status of their flight or train departures prior to heading out.

The American Red Cross has issued some tips to help people stay safe during the storm. The agency says if you do have to drive, make sure your vehicle is winterized and that you have a windshield scraper and brush available to remove snow and ice. Officials also say to try and limit the amount of time spent outdoors and to be careful when shoveling so you don’t suffer an injury. And, have an evacuation plan in place in case you need to leave your home due to an emergency. More safety tips are available online at redcross.org.

State lawmakers have voted to approve brand new Congressional districts that are just a signature from Governor Hochul away from going into effect. The adjusted maps are projected to give Democrats an advantage in nearly all of the state’s House of Representative districts over the next decade. Good-government groups wanted public hearings to be held before the vote happened, but lawmakers say there wasn’t enough time because the new districts need to be in place by the beginning of March. Republicans in NY and across the country are critical of the re-districting and have already promised that they’ll challenge the new maps in court.

A military veteran will be going to the Super Bowl later this month thanks to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Through a partnership with USAA and The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Allen has gifted a trip to the February 13th game in Inglewood, California to Cory Geisler. He served our country from 2005 until 2012 and achieved the rank of staff sergeant in the U.S. Army. Allen will also meet with Geisler before the contest between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.

It was hard decision to make; however, the traditional Wyomoco 4-H season has been canceled for a third consecutive year. The 4-H camp is a decades-long tradition for youth from the GLOW region, offering horseback riding, swimming and a week of fun summer activities. But a variety of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and staffing issues caused this summer’s season to be cancelled.

The Genesee County Health Department has scheduled a free anti-rabies immunization clinic for next week. The clinic will be held next Thursday, February 10, from 4 until 7 at the Town of Batavia Highway Garage. Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets but donations are appreciated.

The number of new Covid cases continues to trend downward in Genesee and Orleans counties, from their peak about a month ago. The two counties reported 616 new cases from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, with 361 in Genesee and 255 in Orleans. That is down from a high of a little over 2,700 cases in the two counties from Jan. 5-11. Statewide, there were about five hundred fewer people in the hospitals with Covid. The percentage of people testing positive keeps heading lower and is now a little over five percent.

A school safety officer is recovering after being injured while fights were happening at Wilson Magnet High School in Rochester. Police were called to the school on Genesee Street yesterday and had to break up several skirmishes that were happening throughout the building. The safety officer wasn’t seriously hurt, and two students were evaluated but didn’t need any medical care. No arrests have been made, and there’s no word what started the violence.

The Winter Storm Warning is on through today and into Friday.  Heavy snow up to 12 inches is expected tonight through Friday at 1pm across most of Western NY.  Most of the accumulation is expected to be this afternoon and into the night.  Travel may be affected by snow building up on the roads and slick conditions.  

13 School Superintendents in Genesee and Orleans Counties have signed a letter to Governor Hochul asking for control of health policy in their schools to be returned to them.  They say they want a return to guidance but not mandates as far as COVID mitigation measures are concerned.  The letter reads in part “Our schools successfully provided in-person learning throughout the 2020-21 school year, supplemented by online learning as needed. A number of our schools remained open full-time. Our plans worked.”  When Hochul took office following the resignation of Governor Cuomo she immediately instituted a mask mandate across New York State, changing Cuomo’s policy of sending guidance to the schools but leaving the decision making in their hands.  The superintendents are from the Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Byron-Bergen, Elba, Holley, Kendall, LeRoy, Lyndonville, Medina, Oakfield-Alabama, Pavilion, and Pembroke districts.

The New York State Legislature has approved a new redistricting map for the states 26 congressional districts.  The new map splits up congressional districts and massively changes which district western New Yorkers fall into.  Ahead of the next election.  It has already drawn sharp criticism from Republicans across the country and in NY State.  Analysts at FiveThirtyEight a NY ABC statistics reporting agency, “say that the new map severely tilts the playing field toward democrats.”  Senator Ed Rath said in a press release that “this is the least transparent redistricting the state has ever seen.  Plain and simple, too many communities in Western New York and the state are losing a voice.”  New York City gains 2 new senate seats under the new map and an upstate district currently held by republican Claudia Tenney is erased.

The Water main repair that was supposed to take place on Oak street yesterday has been delayed due to another water main break on Elm street.  The Water Department will now be focusing its attention on a water leak on Elm Street, between East Main Street and Fisher Park.  There is the potential that the water may need to be shut off on Elm Street from East Main Street to Fisher Park.  The water would also have to be shut off on Fisher Park from Elm Street to Vine Street.  The length of time the water will be off is unknown.  Traffic will be shut down on Elm Street between East Main and Fisher Park.  The Oak Street repair will be done at a later date.

After the first annual vendor fair was canceled in 2020, Volunteers for Animals was a bit put out.  But then Batavia Downs employee Mary Bucceri stepped up to host a new fair this year. The Puppy Paws Craft & Vendor Market is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Batavia Downs.  Monetary donations and pet supplies and food will be accepted at the door. Admission to the event is free. Anyone that makes a donation to VFA at the door will be entered into a drawing for a Stay & Play gift certificate valued at $225 at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel. All attendees age 18 and older will receive Free Play for the gaming floor. Lunch will be available for purchase.  All proceeds will go to the Volunteers For Animals direct animal care.

Western New York, and a good chuck of the nation, bracing for another bout of winter weather.
A Winter Storm Warning has been posted for Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties from 10pm this evening through 1pm on Friday.
The National Weather Service is predicting heavy, wet snow accumulating 8 to 12 inches during the warning period. The greatest accumulation is expected tomorrow and tomorrow night.

City firemen raced to Tully’s Restaurant on East Main Street this afternoon. Smoke was seen coming from the rear of the building. Turns out repairs were in progress and caused the facia to catch fire. Workers used a hand extinguisher to put of the fire before Batavia Firemen arrived. There was no damage to the inside of the restaurant.

Another water leak in the city. This one is on Elm Street between East Main and Fisher Park. This leak interrupted work to repair a leak on Oak Street. Water department officials tell WBTA that freeze – thaw – freeze conditions contribute significantly to the numbers of leaks they are dealing with.

The Genesee County Health Department has scheduled a free anti-rabies immunization clinic for next week. The clinic will be held next Thursday from 4 until 7 at the Town of Batavia Highway Garage. Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets but donations are appreciated.

Coronavirus numbers keep declining in New York State. Latest daily figures show total COVID hospitalizations are now under seven-thousand. There were about five hundred fewer people in the hospitals than the previous day’s report. The percentage of people testing positive keeps heading lower and is now a little over five percent.

Pennsylvania’s official weather-predicting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, says there will be six more weeks of winter. For the second year in a row, Phil saw his shadow. That traditionally means there will be almost two more months of winter-like weather.

Winter storm warnings will begin at 10 tonight across a wide swath of upstate New York, including the four-county GLOW region, as our stretch of fair weather and thaw gradually ends through this afternoon and evening. A cold front will slowly push into our region, bringing with it widespread accumulating snow. Although the storm warning is in place for 30 hours, the main round of snow is expected tomorrow afternoon and night with lingering lighter snows on Friday. As always, stay with WBTA; 13 WHAM meteorologists will keep us up to date with the latest weather information.

School districts in both Genesee and Orleans counties are seeking local control with masking and pandemic response. Thirteen superintendents across the two counties have signed and sent a letter to Governor Hochul asking her to get away from the one-size-fits-all mandates presently in place; they noted that the mandates from the state have caused unnecessary challenges for school administrators. They are asking Hochul and the Department of Health to develop guidance for ‘mitigation measures, but not mandates,’ with local control fully restored so that superintendents are able to make decisions appropriate for individual communities.

Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley has also sent a letter to Governor Hochul and his was cc’ed to Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. In his letter, he urged the Commission to stop the implementation of a reduction in the farm labor overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours. Last Friday, the Farm Laborers Wage Board voted 2-1 to lower the threshold. Assemblyman Hawley’s key concern is that most farmers simply cannot afford to pay workers overtime pay and would have to reduce their labor force. Hawley said that with the consequences clearly laid out, it is hoped the Labor Commission recognizes how disastrous this decision would be for farming.

After being canceled the last two years due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Buffalo will return next month. The event is set to take place March 20th and the parade route will once again be traveling down Delaware Avenue. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Hail to St. Patrick! God Bless America & Support Our Troops. Honor Our Frontline Workers.” The parade will start at 2:00 and everyone who attends is asked to follow health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of germs.

The Buffalo Bills have wasted very little time filling their offensive coordinator vacancy. Yesterday, the team said it was promoting quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey to replace Brian Daboll who is now the head coach of the New York Giants. Dorsey became the most winning quarterback in University of Miami history. In the NFL, he played quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns and served as a quarterback coach for the Carolina Panthers and the Buffalo Bills. Dorsey has spent the past three seasons with the team and worked closely alongside quarterback Josh Allen, who reportedly advocated for Dorsey to get the job. Buffalo is now looking to fill their quarterback coach position.

The Buffalo Sabres have wrapped up their latest road trip and are heading into the All-Star break with a loss. They fell to the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 at T-Mobile Arena last night. The Sabres have dropped two straight games and are still in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. Their next contest is set for February 10th when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The winter storm watch for Wednesday through Friday for Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties goes into effect tonight and is forecasted to last until Friday at 1pm.  Heavy snow is possible with more than 9 inches predicted.  

A former employee of the Wyoming County chamber of commerce has been accused of stealing over 100,000 dollars from the agency.  Kelly Ashcroft, 2019 citizen of the year, has been charged with felony second-degree grand larceny, fellow third-degree grand larceny, felony first-degree falsify business records, and felony second-degree forgery.  She is accused of stealing from the chamber of commerce going back to 2018.  She is also accused of creating a fake COVID vaccination card and filing it with the Warsaw Central School District.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is sending a letter to Governor Hochul and Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon protesting the change in Overtime Hours for farm workers from 60 to 40.  The Farm Laborers Wage Board voted 2-1 to lower the threshold when overtime would start last Friday.  Most farmers simply cannot pay workers overtime pay and would have to reduce their labor force.  Hawley says: “As the consequences of this decision have been clearly laid out for them, I sincerely hope they’ll recognize how disastrous this decision would be for farming as we know it.”

A water main break on Oak street will be worked on today and may require the water to be shut off from Union street to the Town line including Noonan Drive.  Traffic will also be impacted in the area of Oak Street and Noonan Drive in the form of lane closures or lane shifts while the repairs are being made.  Whether the water will have to be turned off and the length of time the water will be off is unknown.  As always, when the water is restored it may be discolored.  Please refrain from doing any laundry until the water runs clear.  We apologize for any inconvenience and the public’s patience is greatly appreciated.

A landlord in Albion went to the media in Buffalo about how she was out thousands of dollars because tenants hadn’t paid rent for 20 months and then destroyed the apartment before being evicted.  And she is getting a lot of help from good Samaritans.  Vickie Golisano was interviewed for Good Morning Buffalo and within minutes of the interview they started getting requests to help her.  Some called saying they could come clean, or do work on the apartment to fix it back up.  People are contacting 7 Problem Solvers with money and help from as far away as Georgia.  If you saw the interview and want to help contact 7problemsolvers@wkbw.com

Quarterbacks Coach and Passing Game Coordinator Ken Dorsey is being promoted to Offensive Coordinator for the Buffalo Bills to replace Brian Daboll as he left for the Giants.  Dorsey, 40, is the winningest quarterback in University of Miami history. He played for the Hurricanes from 1999-2002 and finished with a 38-2 record, leading the team to a National Championship in 2001. In the NFL, he played quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns and served as a quarterbacks coach for the Carolina Panthers and the Buffalo Bills.  Josh Allen reportedly advocated for Dorsey to get the job.  The Bills now have an opening for their quarterbacks coach position.  

Total activity for the City of Batavia Fire Department was up 5-percent over the previous year.
City Fire reports they answered 2,390 alarms in 2021. The vast majority were Emergency Medical Calls. There were also 66 fires and 63 motor vehicle accidents. The department rescued four people from elevators.
The busiest month was December, the slowest month: January.
The department answered 90-percent of their calls in six minutes or less.

The City of Batavia has extended Christmas tree pick-up through February 18th.
Crews have been busy with snow removal.
The city says they only pick-up real trees that have been stripped of all decorations, lights and stands.
Residents are asked to place their trees in the parkway, between the sidewalk and the curb.

There has been a water main leak on Oak Street in Batavia in the area of Noonan Drive. The water boys say there is a possibility water may have to be shut off on Oak Street from Union Street to the city line.
The leak was detected around 2pm this afternoon. No estimate available as to how long repairs may take.

More snow is on the way and a winter storm watch has been issued from tomorrow starting at 10pm through Friday afternoon at 1:00pm. Heavy snow is possible throughout much of Western NY with accumulations of 9 inches or more possible.

Congressman Chris Jacobs says he’s planning to run for re-election in a newly proposed Congressional district. Currently the Republican serves the people of the 27th District, but under a redistricting plan, he’d run for office in the 24th District. That district covers an area that stretches from the northernmost shores of the Niagara River to the Thousand Islands region.

Photo: Rep Chris Jacobs (R-NY)

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on the ice tonight as they try and finish up their current road trip on a winning note. The Sabres are set to take on the Vegas Golden Knights in Sin City. Face-off for this evening’s contest is scheduled for ten pm our time.

More snow is on the way and a winter storm watch has been issued from tomorrow starting at 10pm through Friday afternoon at 1:00pm. Heavy snow is possible throughout much of Western NY with accumulations of 9 inches or more possible. Travel could be difficult to impossible; with hazardous conditions especially expected to impact both morning and evening commutes tomorrow. Stay with WBTA; 13 WHAM meteorologists will keep us up to date.

Another upstate New York DA has refused to bring charges against former Governor Andrew Cuomo for sexual harassment. A woman in Oswego claimed Cuomo ran his hands across her chest at a public event and pressed charges. Gregory Oaks is the Oswego County DA. He noted the witness was credible in her reporting but said there wasn’t significant legal basis for the charges. Oaks became the 4th prosecutor to publicly decline to pursue a criminal case against Cuomo.

A court has ruled that New York State’s indoor mask mandate is going to remain in effect for schools and businesses until the appeals process is finished. Last week, a State Supreme court judge said the mandate was unconstitutional because Governor Hochul and the state health commissioner didn’t have the authority to issue it without the approval of the state Legislature. But that decision was later overruled after an appeal was filed by the state Attorney General’s Office. Governor Hochul was pleased with this ruling, noting that mask regulations keep our schools safe and open, protect vulnerable New Yorkers, and are critical tools to get through this winter surge. The masking policy will remain in place until at least February 10th.

Staff members at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester are about to get some much-needed assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A medical team will be arriving at the facility in the coming days to help doctors and nurses treat a large number of patients. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are still high in the region due to the spread of the omicron variant. Right now, there are hundreds of regional residents being treated for the illness with dozens of them in intensive care.

There will be a public hearing at 3:00 this afternoon at Pembroke Town Hall on the proposal by Franklin Real Estate and Development. At the top of the agenda is the request for over $240,000 in sales, mortgage and property tax incentives. The project is estimated to generate $7 of economic benefit for every dollar of the proposed assistance. Franklin is proposing two 8-unit market-rate apartment buildings, each of which will include 1 one-bedroom apartment and 7 two-bedroom apartments.

WBTA News has followed the story of Kelly Ashcraft, the 45 year old Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism employee who now faces multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from the organization since 2018. This morning it was learned that she was 2019’s ‘Citizen of the Year’ in Warsaw. Ashcraft is charged with second-degree grand larceny, three counts of third-degree grand larceny, one count of falsifying business records, four counts of second degree forgery, and that includes one count for a fake vaccination card. She will appear in Village Court March 7th.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on the ice tonight as they try and finish up their current road trip on a winning note. The Sabres are set to take on the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Sin City. Buffalo is coming off of a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night and the team is sitting in 6th place in the Atlantic Division with 35 points. Face-off for this evening’s contest is scheduled for 10:00pm.

And finally, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Tom Brady has made it official. He has announced his retirement from the NFL after 22 years; this, coming days after reports first surfaced about his intention to step away from the game. He wrote on Instagram, “I have always believed the sport of football is an ‘all-in’ proposition – if a 100% competitive commitment isn’t there you won’t succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game.” Brady added that his family played a large role in his decision.

A winter storm watch is in effect from Wednesday at 10pm through Friday at 1pm because of heavy snows that the national weather service says will blanket nearly all of Western NY.  9 inches or more are expected.  Travel could be very difficult to impossible.

A New York Appellate Court has granted a full stay to the mask mandate for schools and businesses in NY.  This stay overturned the ruling of the State Supreme court which last week ruled that the mask mandate was unconstitutional.  Governor Hochul celebrated this ruling by issuing a statement saying that “Mask regulations keep our schools and businesses safe and open, protect vulnerable New Yorkers, and are critical tools as we work to get through this winter surge.”

Help is coming to upstate hospitals, from the military.  2 units from the US Department of Defense Military Medical Teams are en route to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester and SUNY Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse to help offset the staffing shortage in the wake of the healthcare workers vaccine mandate.  Each team will have 20 members comprised of physicians, nurses, respiratory techs, and command staff.  They will arrive early this month and be assigned there for 30 days.  

Another upstate New York DA has refused to bring charges against former Governor Andrew Cuomo for sexual harassment.  A woman in Oswego claimed Cuomo ran his hands across her chest at a public event and pressed charges.  The Oswego County DA Gregory Oaks became the 4th prosecutor to publicly decline to pursue a criminal case against Cuomo saying there wasn’t a significant legal basis for charges.  

The Buffalo Bills are apparently in the market for a new offensive line coach as Bobby Johnson is reported to be leaving to take the same position for the Giants.  Johnson has been with the Bills as offensive line coach since 2019.  He was assistant offensive line coach starting in 2010.  The Bills are reportedly interviewing the Ravens wide receiver coach Tee Martin for the offensive coordinator position.

Gasoline prices have jumped 8-cents a gallon over the past week.
The average price of a gallon of regular is now $3.51.
A week ago, it was $3.43.
Gas Buddy.com reports the crude oil prices of $88 has not been that high in more than seven years.

An iconic downtown Batavia building will soon have a new tenant.
The Batavian reports today that Hun Real Estate will occupy 97 Main Street, the site of the original Bank of Genesee.
Hunt is a major player in Buffalo and Rochester Real Estate.
They plan to have a staff of 16 working out of the building.
The company has been in Batavia for the past year working out of a temporary location on Jackson.

A Winter Storm Watch has been posted for Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans Counties for Wednesday evening through Friday afternoon.
Heavy snow accumulating up to nine-inches are possible.

A former employee of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce is accused of stealing more than $100,000 from the organization.
45-year-old Kelly Ashcraft is charged with grand larceny, forgery and falsifying business records.
Authorities said the bilking of chamber funds had been going on since 2018.

High speed was likely the cause of a crash that took the life of a 32-year-old Corfu man.
Deputies say a car driven by Jordan Terkel ran off of Route 77 in the Town of Pembroke around 3 am Saturday.
The vehicle then crashed into a utility police. Terkel was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Buffalo Sabres have come up short in their efforts to win a second straight game following a loss on the road.
Buffalo remains in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 35 points, 32 fewer than the Florida Panthers who are on top of the division.
Up next for Buffalo is another road game against the Vegas Golden Knights tomorrow night.

New data from Governor Hochul’s office shows that the spread of COVID-19 has slowed down statewide in the last few weeks. There were just over 8,700 additional infections reported yesterday, which is a 90% decline from when the number of cases peaked in the Empire State back on January 7th. The governor praised New Yorkers for doing their part to slow the winter surge by wearing masks, getting vaccinated against the virus, and staying home when they’re sick. Currently, the seven-day average COVID-19 positivity rate in the Finger Lakes is 10.8%, down from 14.7% last week.

Genesee County deputies say speed was likely a factor in a crash that took the life of a 32-year-old man. They say Jordan Terkel was driving on Route 77 in the Town of Pembroke Saturday when his vehicle went off the road and struck a utility pole. Terkel was the only person in the vehicle, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone who saw the accident can reach the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office at 585-343-5000.

The work to replace the Route 19 bridge over Oatka Creek north of the village of Warsaw is set to begin late in February. The highway will be closed for about 6 months at that location, with reopening set for Labor Day. Local traffic will have access to Route 19 on both sides of the bridge; most vehicles will be detoured over Saltvale Road. The old-style truss bridge was built in 1937 and was reaching the end of its useful life.

Kelly Ashcraft was a longtime employee of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. She now faces multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from the organization. The criminal complaint was filed by the Chamber earlier this month, alleging that she had stolen funds and forged business records. The investigation that followed found that Ashcraft had falsified documents as far back as 2018.

Western New York drivers are going to be handing over a bit more of their money the next time they want to fill up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is $3.55. That’s up seven cents in the past week and is also six cents higher than this time one month ago. The state average is currently $3.53 a gallon while nationally it’s $3.36. In Batavia, the average price is $3.51 per gallon, up 8 cents over the past week. One year ago, the state average was $2.51.

The Buffalo Sabres have come up short in their efforts to win a second straight game following a loss on the road. Dylan Cozens had the lone goal for Buffalo as they fell to the Colorado Avalanche four-to-one at Ball Arena last night. Buffalo remains in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 35 points, 32 fewer than the Florida Panthers who are on top of the division. Up next for Buffalo is another road game against the Vegas Golden Knights tomorrow night.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says starting today, inmates will once again be able to receive visitors at the Monroe County Jail. Inmates who have finished up their 14-day quarantine are being allowed one 30-minute visit each week. Each visitor will have to have their temperature checked and must wear a mask inside the jail at all times.

The investigation continues into what started a blaze in Rochester that left a firefighter injured and forced several people from their homes. Crews arrived at the scene on West Main Street yesterday after getting a call saying a mini-mart was on fire. The flames spread to apartments above the store before moving to a space between the ceiling and the roof. The firefighter who was hurt went to Strong Memorial Hospital, but there’s no word on their condition. The American Red Cross is helping the nine people displaced by the fire find a temporary place to stay.

The investigation continues into what sparked a weekend fire in Buffalo that sent two firefighters to the hospital. The blaze happened at a home on Armin Place Saturday and officials say the flames started on the first floor of the residence. The firefighters went to Erie County Medical Center for treatment but were later released. No other injuries were reported.

A Corfu man is dead following a single vehicle accident.  32 year old Jordan Terkel of Corfu was killed early Saturday morning when his vehicle struck a utility pole on rt 77 in Pembroke.  Terkel was traveling south on rt 77 when his vehicle traveled off the east shoulder of the roadway and struck the pole.  Terkel was dead by the time deputies arrived according to the sheriff’s office.  The county coroner said he died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Looking for a new car or just hoping to catch a glimpse of some concepts?  The Buffalo Auto show is coming back into town Thursday February 3rd and running through Sunday the 6th.  Tickets are 10 dollars a piece for the show that was canceled due to COVID in 2021.  It is being held at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center and is vaccinated only.  Organizers say the show will be smaller this year due to the lack of inventory at most dealers because of the microchip shortage.  Usually there are over 250 cars and this year there will be less than 200.

Mercy Flight was dispatched to the Stafford Fire hall at around 7pm Sunday for a snowmobile accident  in the area of 5660 Horseshoe Lake rd.  The accident occurred about a half mile off the road and the patient was initially unconscious but breathing.  Mercy flight arrived around 7:45 and the person was roused to consciousness.  No word on what injuries were sustained.

The Buffalo Bills former Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll is now the NY Giants Head Coach.  The announcement came late Friday night and Giants fans have been responding by donating money to Oishei Children’s Hospital.  Fans are donating in 17 dollar increments and so far over 442 thousand dollars have been donated since the last Bills game by over 20,000 donors.  

The Buffalo Sabres lost to the Colorado Avalanche 4 to 1 Sunday night.  Dylan Cozens scored the lone goal for Buffalo.  Dustin Tokarski saved 32 shots.  Buffalo has lost the last 6 games against the Avalanche and Colorado is on the 5th longest home winning streak in NHL history.  Buffalo also had 8 players on the COVID protocol list.  Their next game is against the Vegas Golden Knights in Vegas on Tuesday at 10pm.

The mask mandate for New York State was set to expire on Tuesday the 1st of February.  Governor Hochul has elected to extend it to February 10th.  Hochul says that they will reassess the mandate every two weeks.  The mandate applies to schools and businesses.  On Monday last week a State Supreme Court judge ruled the mandate unconstitutional but an appeal put it back in place.  

After a bridge collapsed in Pittsburg Friday morning there were questions about the state of bridges in Western NY, especially since many of them appear to be somewhat worse for wear.  About 10 percent of bridges surveyed in Erie County were found to be in poor condition.  But the New York State Highway Authority says that the bridges, even the ones in poor condition, are still safe.  All highway bridges are inspected every 2 years.  

Grow NY Farms has put out a press release condemning the Farm Laborers Wage Board voting to lower the Overtime Threshold to 40 hours a week instead of 60.  They say that over 70 percent of testimonies from farmers and laborers demanded the OT stay at 60 and all data, research and commentary from experienced farmers and agriculture experts point to this being a bad decision for both farmers and their workers who will now not be able to earn as much.  The Grow group says workers are already leaving New York for states without the OT cap and that farming in NY is collapsing.

Governor Hochul has stated that she wants a deal on the new Bills stadium by the end of March.  Mark Poloncarz, Erie County Executive, says he is unsure if a new stadium deal could be reached on such a short timeline.  In response to Poloncarz’s comments, a spokesperson for Gov. Hochul’s office says, “negotiations are ongoing.”

The Buffalo Sabres are playing 3 games this weekend and early in the week but they have no goalie as Michael Houser has been put on COVID protocol and Aaron Dell is serving a 3 game suspension for an interference call against the Senators.  Dustin Tokarski and Craig Anderson have practiced as goaltenders but it is unknown if they are ready to play.  Anderson had an injury that took him off the ice in November and Tokarski had COVID and hasn’t played since the beginning of December.

The fate of a statewide mask mandate aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 is expected to be discussed in court today. On Monday, a State Supreme court judge in Nassau County said Governor Hochul and State Health Commissioner Doctor Mary Bassett didn’t have the authority to issue such a mandate without approval from the State Legislature. But on Tuesday, an Appellate Division judge granted a request from the State Attorney General’s office to keep the mandate in place for now. There’s no word how long it may take for a ruling to be issued following today’s hearing. Locally, Genesee County manager Matt Landers has said that County employees and visitors to County buildings will continue to be required to wear masks. He noted that the policy had been in effect since before the Governor’s mandate was put in place and will still be in effect irrespective of the court’s position. Landers said that any change to their mask requirement is contingent upon the level of community spread of Covid-19 in Genesee County.

A former Oakfield man, already in state prison serving a sentence for a series of crimes committed in Genesee County, has been sentenced to a state prison term for burglarizing a business in Shelby. 29-year-old Judd Farwell stole copper from the building on Maple Ridge Road in February 2020 and was sentenced in Orleans County court yesterday for third degree burglary and grand larceny.

Batavia City Councilman at-large Jeremy Karas has confirmed his decision to resign from the city council. He had just started his first full 4-year term the first of this month. Karas had missed the first three meetings of council this year noting that his work commitments have increased significantly over the last couple of months and that was the reason for his absence; he is employed as service manager at Temp-Press. Since Karas has resigned, city council will appoint a republican to serve until November when a new candidate would run to fill the un-expired term. City republican chair Richard Richmond says they will be looking for someone to replace him and they are inviting people to be interviewed for the job.

45 years ago today the weather was calm and visibility fine…until it wasn’t anymore. Today was the day in our history when what became known as the Blizzard of ’77 moved through, with strong winds and blowing snow, the combination of which dropped visibility to near zero. The main part of the storm lasted for nearly a day. The wind chill dropped to as low as minus 68 degrees and drifts of snow piled as high as two-story houses. In some instances, roads could not be reopened for many days and thousands of people were marooned where ever they were when the storm hit. It was a storm that gave the region its reputation for having major snowfalls; however, just as noteworthy is considering the event another example of how Western New Yorkers came together to help each other amidst a major crisis.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen says he’s going to skip the upcoming NFL Pro Bowl. Allen was voted as a first alternate to the team and would’ve likely replaced Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson who is recovering from injury. Allen told an ESPN reporter that he won’t play in the league’s All-Star game on February 6th because he wants to allow his body to rest and recover. Buffalo’s season ended last Sunday night in a 42 to 36 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

At least 525-million-dollars will be up for grabs over the next two days as the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots continue to grow. Tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot is 421-million-dollars, while 104-million bucks will go to whoever wins Powerball tomorrow night. Tickets for each game cost two-dollars apiece. Both the Powerball and Mega Millions drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.

The state office of Cannabis Management says that regulations that will allow pot to be legally sold for recreational purposes are incoming.  They are planning on releasing regulations in late winter or early spring and then there will be 60 days for comments from the public.  After that period businesses can begin to apply for a license to sell marijuana.  About 34% of towns and villages representing about 118,000 people officially opted out of allowing the sale of Marijuana in their municipalities.  The OCM says it is actively training more police officers to be DREs, or Drug Recognition Experts. They added they are continuously searching for a device that could be used to detect if someone is under the influence of marijuana.

A Wyoming county optician has been sentenced in connection to Medicaid fraud.  The Office of the Attorney General announced optician Thomas Foote, 59 of Wyoming County, previously pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree. Thursday he was sentenced to 90 days in state prison, followed by five years probation and he is ordered to pay $74,000 in restitution.  The fraud was committed by billing Medicaid for services that were never provided between 2016 and 2019.  An investigation revealed many of the patients he claimed to have fitted eyeglasses for were deceased. Nursing home visitor logs and records also revealed he never visited nursing homes on dates he claimed to have provided services.

Batavia City Councilman at-large Jeremy Karas has confirmed his decision to resign from the city council.  Karas had just started his first full 4-term the first of this month.  He has missed the first three meetings of council this year and says his work commitments have increased significantly over the last couple of months and that is the reason for his absence.  Karas is employed as service manager at Temp-Press.  Since Karas has resigned, city council will appoint a republican to serve until November when a new candidate would run to fill the un-expired term.  City republican chair Richard Richmond says they will be looking for someone to replace him and they are inviting people to be interviewed for the job.

Oishei Children’s Hospital is benefitting from the good plays made by Gabriel Davis during the Bills Chiefs game last Sunday.  The Sports Betting and Fantasy Sports company Fanduel is donating 52000 dollars to the western NY children’s hospital, 13 thousand for every touchdown scored by Gabriel Davis.  

Jeremy Karas

Batavia City Councilman at-large Jeremy Karas has apparently resigned.
Karas had just started his first full 4-term the first of this month.
Karas has been unavailable for comment. He has missed the first three meetings of council this year and has reportedly blamed work commitments for his absence.
If Karas has resigned, city council would appoint a republican to serve until November when a new candidate would run to fill the un-expired term.

Now it is Elba’s turn to distribute COVID-19 test kits.
The distribution will be held this Saturday from 11am until Noon at the Elba Village Office on South Main Street in Elba.
You must be a Genesee County Resident. You are limited to two test kits per household – each kit contains two tests.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office has named its officer of the year.
He is Deputy David Moore, a 7-year member of the Sheriff’s Office with half of his time spent on road patrol.
Distinguished service awards were given to: Senior Corrections Officer Mathew Burgett and Investigator Chad Minuto.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley has announced he will conduct mobile office hours next month.
Hawley will be available to the public on February 3rd and the 24th at Genesee Community College Batavia Campus.
Hours are Noon until 2pm in room in Room T124.

A Suffolk County police officer who delivered a baby on Christmas Eve is being reunited with Mom and baby. Chelsea Anderson went into labor on Christmas Eve, but had to call for help on her way to the hospital. Responding Officer Kyle Negrin says he delivered the baby in the couple’s car on the side of the road. Negrin had to untangle the umbilical cord that had wrapped around the baby’s neck three times.

The Village of Elba will be handing out free COVID-19 test kits this Saturday from 11-12; the end time may change due to availability. You must be a Genesee County resident and they are not taking pre-orders. Kits will be handed out at Village Office, 4 South Main Street, Elba. There is a two-test kit limit and proof of county residency is required

Some encouraging news on the Covid-19 front…while there were a total of 1200 more confirmed cases in Genesee and Orleans Counties, and this was the third most during a week over the course of the pandemic; on positive notes, the number is down from the previous two weeks. This downward trend is also observed in both Erie and Monroe Counties.

Buffalo police say they’ve made an arrest in connection with the murder of a teenage girl. According to investigators, 19-year-old Vincent Manirakiza shot the 17-year-old victim inside of a home on Koons Avenue Tuesday. A 19-year-old man in the residence was also hit by gunfire but is expected to survive. Police haven’t released the names of the victims but say they do believe this was a targeted shooting. They’re asking anyone with information on the case to call them at 716-847-2255.

The man accused of stabbing a Rochester police officer has turned down a plea deal and will be going on trial. Prosecutors say Keith Williams brutally attacked officer Denny Wright after he responded to a domestic call on Peck Street in 2019. Wright was seriously hurt and ended up losing his eyesight. Williams is charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault of a police officer among other crimes. His trial is scheduled to begin in April and if convicted he faces 40 years to life behind bars.

A West Seneca couple is in trouble with the law after being accused of using fake COVID-19 vaccine cards to watch a Buffalo Bills playoff game in-person. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says 34-year-old Michael Naab and 37-year-old Amber Naab used the phony cards on January 15th when the Bills played the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. The Naab’s were eventually removed from their seats and later kicked out of the stadium. They’ve been arraigned and are due back in court next month.

The Empire State Games Olympic torch will be stopping in Batavia at the Batavia Ice rink Saturday at 8 am.  The torch bearer will arrive through the front doors and go to the Rink and pass the torch to an awaiting Genesee Amateur Hockey Rampart player who will proceed to skate around the rink and pass the torch off to other Rampart players.  There will be a photo shoot in front of the trophy case before their departure.

Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley has announced he will conduct mobile office hours next month. He will be available at Genesee Community College in Room T124 from Noon to 2, on both February 3 and the 24th.

The Orleans County unemployment rate has fallen to 3.1%, which is the lowest in at least 30 years. The State Department of Labor reports about 500 people in the county are on unemployment, the lowest since 1990. By comparison, there were 1,100 individuals unemployed in December 2020.

The general manager of the Buffalo Bills has shared his thoughts on the disappointing end to the team’s season. Yesterday, Brandon Beane said that he still hasn’t re-watched the end of Sunday’s game between the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs that saw Buffalo fall 42 to 36 in overtime. Beane went on to thank the players, coaches and staff for all their efforts this year. Beane says the team will eventually review what happened in the closing moments of Sunday’s contest and learn from it. He also praised Bills fans for supporting the franchise all season long.

Buffalo Sabres goalie Aaron Dell has been charged with interference and suspended for three games, pursuant to his elbowing Ottawa Senators Drake Batherson; causing him to slide feet first into the boards behind the goal. Batherson hurt his ankle during the play.

The College Board SAT test will be fully digital for 2024.  According to the College Board, the switch to digital will help create more dates and times for testing. They also noted, over the past 23 years, the percentage of ‘A’ average high school students has increased from 39% to 55%.  The test will now be two hours instead of three; and will provide students more time per question. Although the test will be digital, it cannot be taken at home. The College Board said 80% of students who participated in the pilot said the new test seemed less stressful to them.

Members of a newly formed task force say they’re going to focus on stopping illegal guns from entering the Empire State. The task force, which is made up of law enforcement representatives from several northeastern states and also the NYPD and State Police, held its first meeting yesterday in East Greenbush which is located near Albany. Officials say they’ll work together to share resources, set up crime analysis centers and create strategies that will help lower the number of shootings statewide. Governor Hochul says any data collected by the task force will be released to the public.

The College Board SAT test is going fully digital for 2024.  According to the College Board, the switch to digital will help create more dates and times for testing adding the percentage of ‘A’ average high school students has increased from 39% to 55% over the past 23 years.  The test will now be two hours instead of three hours and will give students more time per question. And even though the test will be digital, it cannot be taken at home. The College Board said 80% of students who participated in the pilot said the new test is less stressful.

The Empire State Games Olympic torch will be stopping in Batavia at the Batavia Ice rink Saturday at 8 am.  The torch bearer will arrive through the front doors and go to the Rink and pass the torch to an awaiting Genesee Amateur Hockey Rampart player who will proceed to skate around the rink and pass the torch off to other Rampart players.  There will be a photo shoot in front of the trophy case before their departure.

The City of Batavia will be repairing another water line today.  This will close Lehigh Avenue at Ellicott Street to the city line beginning at 8 this morning.  Work is expected to be completed by and the road re-opened by 3 in the afternoon.

The Village of Elba will be handing out free COVID- 19 test kits on Saturday, January 29, 2022, from 11 a.m. to Noon based on availability.  There is a limit of two test kits per individual, four tests per household. You must be a Genesee County resident and there are no pre-orders.  This event will take place at the Village Office, 4 South Main St. in Elba.

The Genesee County sheriff’s office has announced their picks for the officer of the year and distinguished service awards for 2021.  Officer of the year is Deputy David Moore.  Investigator Chad Minuto and Senior Correction Officer Matthew Burgett received the Distinguished service award.  

Buffalo Sabres Goalie Aaron Dell has been suspended for 3 games after elbowing Ottawa Senators Drake Batherson causing him to slide feet first into the boards behind the goal.  The charge is interference.  Batherson hurt his ankle during the play.  

The Village of Attica has announced they have a small supply of CIVID-19 rapid test kits.
They are available today and again tomorrow and Friday from 8 to 4:30 or while supplies last.
The kits are being distributed at the Village office on Water Street.

You must be a resident of the Village of Attica and show proof of residency.
Officials say they have 90 test kits available.

The City of Batavia will be repairing another water line tomorrow.
This will close Lehigh Avenue at Ellicott Street to the city line beginning at 8 tomorrow morning.
Work is expected to be completed by and the road re-opened by 3 in the afternoon.

New York State is warning of scammers trying to steal your personal information with fake At home COVID testing kit offers.
They say that scammers may send fake text messages or emails offering test kits in exchange for personal information such as social security numbers, credit or bank card information, or health insurance info.
The ONLY website for the free at-home test kits is from the government with a dot-gov address.
It is always best to never click on any links from people you don’t know, hang up on robocallers, and don’t answer any email asking for personal information.

Beth Patton has been named interim principal for Le Roy Jr./Sr. High. Patton was most recently completed an interim position at Bloomfield Central School District in Ontario County.
She takes over on February 7th following Tim McArdle’s resignation who left LeRoy for a new job at Cal-mum Schools.

Latest coronavirus data in New York State shows a decent drop in hospitalizations. There were 500 fewer people in the hospital than the previous days report, bringing the total now to a little more than 9,300. The percentage of people testing positive remains a little over seven percent. The number of cases continues to decline in all regions of the state.

Governor Hochul’s office has announced that SUNY will stop withholding transcripts from students who owe money to the college. Each year, about 50 percent of SUNY students graduate from college debt-free. However, other students graduate with an outstanding balance of about $3,500, on average, and as of 2020 about 19,000 students still owed their SUNY campus. With this change, those who are in debt to the college may receive their transcript, thereby enabling them to re-enroll in a campus, transfer credits, complete their degree, and obtain jobs that could help pay down their unpaid balance.

Wyoming County Sheriffs report that 30-year-old Anthony Taylor, a level-two sex offender, is back in jail pursuant to his failure to report a change of address. The charge is a Class D felony and punishable by up to 7 years in prison, due to his previous conviction on similar charges.

City Council has set a date for a public hearing on next year’s city budget. The hearing is tentatively set for February 28 in the council chambers at city hall. The proposed budget – which is now being reviewed by council – would decrease the city property tax rate by 78-cents per thousand.

State Attorney General Letitia James says an Appellate Division judge has granted a motion filed by her office to keep the state’s mask mandate in place for now. On Monday, a State Supreme Court judge in Nassau County ruled that the mandate was unconstitutional, saying Governor Hochul and State Health Commissioner Doctor Mary Bassett didn’t have the authority to impose it without approval from the State Legislature. The mandate was issued last month in an attempt to slow down the spread of COVID-19. In a statement, Governor Hochul thanked the Attorney General for her defense of the health and safety of New Yorkers. Another court hearing on the mandate is set for Friday.

The New York Department of State is warning of scammers trying to steal your personal information with fake At home COVID testing kit offers. They say that scammers may send fake text messages or emails offering test kits in exchange for personal information such as social security numbers, credit or bank card information, or health insurance info. Consumers should also be aware that the ONLY website for the free at-home test kits is www.covidtests.gov. It is always best to never click on any links from people you don’t know, hang up on robocallers, ignore offers for at home tests, and don’t answer any email asking for personal information.

The latest road trip for the Buffalo Sabres has gotten off to a tough start following a loss at the hands of a division rival. No Sabres were able to score a goal last night as Buffalo fell to the Ottawa Senators five-to-nothing at Canadian Tire Centre. Sabres goaltender Aaron Dell was only able to stop 42 of the 47 shots he faced in the contest. Up next for Buffalo is another road game against the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night.

Batavia City Council President Gene Jankowski wants to start a conversation, about farm animals living in the city, noting that he’s received a couple of complaints from city residents about their neighbor’s goats. He says they are concerned about noise and the natural by-products goats can leave behind. In addition to goats, Jankowski will also focus on geese, ducks and roosters. He has asked City Manager Rachel Tabelski to look into the city’s options – if any – to deal with farm animals.

Congressman Chris Jacobs is calling for full funding of the Save our Seas Act 2.0. He noted the Great Lakes regional treasures that provide clean drinking water, boost the economy, communities, agriculture and recreation. Jacobs points out that every year, 10,000 metric tons of plastic enter the Great Lakes, roughly 2,500 into Lake Erie and 1,400 into Lake Ontario. Because this pollution eventually breaks down into microplastics, it harms everything from drinking water to the aquatic life in the Lakes.

Weather forecasters in New England are keeping a close watch on a major storm expected to take shape along the Eastern Seaboard this weekend. At this time, it does not appear to reach us in WNY. However, New England states are most likely to bear the brunt of the storm, with parts of the Eastern Carolinas and major cities in the mid-Atlantic also at the very, experiencing some of the effects.

For the third day in a row, there have been fewer than one-thousand new coronavirus cases reported in Monroe County. The Department of Public Health announced 967 additional cases yesterday and said that total included 601 new positive at-home tests and 366 laboratory-confirmed cases. The county is now averaging one-thousand 90 cases per day over the past week. There are currently 741 Finger Lakes residents hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19 with 113 of them in intensive care.

For the second week in a row, the number of Erie County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 has declined. County Executive Mark Poloncarz said yesterday that there were 8431 cases reported during the week ending January 22nd, a 47-percent drop from the week before. Poloncarz says even though the positivity rate is falling, people still need to protect themselves and others from getting sick. Since the pandemic started, nearly 202,000 residents have contracted the coronavirus and more than 2,500 of them later died.

The start of the Erie County Fair is still a few months away, but officials have already announced the return of a very popular promotion. After not being offered for the last two years due to the COVID-19 crisis, 12-day passes for the fair will go on sale again February 8th. The passes will cost $45 and can only be purchased online, but there’s a limit of four passes per household. The 2022 Erie County Fair will run from August 10th through the 21st at the fairgrounds in Hamburg

More than two months after they closed, the doors of Mercy Ambulatory Care Center emergency department in Orchard Park will reopen this weekend. Catholic Health says the facility will start treating patients again beginning at 7 a.m. Sunday. The department was shut down back in November as part of a plan to restore more services to Mercy Hospital following a strike that lasted several weeks. Catholic Health also announced that cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services will resume on Monday at the care center.

Although a NYS Supreme court judge struck down governor Hochul’s mandate on masks in schools and businesses another judge has issued a stay meaning the masks stay on.  At least for now.  While the appeals process is underway the mandate will remain in effect.  Many parents sent their children to school without masks or told their kids they didn’t have to wear them in school after hearing of the State Supreme Court decision and were frustrated when they were told their child still had to mask up.  As of now masks are still required for in school education across the state.  The mask mandate was supposed to expire on January 15th but has been extended to February 1st.

Even with a healthcare staffing shortage another mandate deadline is looming that could mean more healthcare worker layoffs.  The COVID booster mandate requiring all healthcare workers to have taken a full series of COVID vaccination shots and then the booster shot or be fired from their job is coming up February 21st.  Employees, if they are eligible for the booster, have to take it by then or, if they aren’t eligible, have to take the shot within 30 days of becoming eligible.  

The NYS Department of state is warning of scammers trying to steal your personal invitation with fake At home COVID testing kit offers.  They say that scammers may send fake text messages or emails offering test kits in exchange for personal information such as social security numbers, credit or bank card information, or health insurance info.  Consumers should also be aware that the ONLY website for the free at-home test kits is www.covidtests.gov.  The state department offers this advice, don’t click on any links from people you don’t know, hang up on robocallers, ignore offers for at home tests, and don’t answer any email asking for personal information.  

GO Art wants to give away 2 dream weddings in a contest that starts on Valentines day.  In order to enter you have to be over 21, fill out an application and send a video to Goart.org/wedding explaining why you are the couple that deserves to win.  Stories will be shared on social media and then voted on.  Weddings will take place at Seymour Place with a reception for up to 35 people plus a wedding party of six.. Contact GoArt for complete details.

The Buffalo Sabres were shut out 5 to 0 last night against the Ottawa Senators.  The loss dropped the Sabres to 13-22-7 overall.  Former Sabres 1st round draft pick Tyler Ennis [2009-2017] had himself a night against his former team. He scored two of the team’s three goals in the 1st period as well as the team’s final goal of the night, recording a hat trick.  The Sabres are back in action on Saturday when they visit the Arizona Coyotes.

Gene Jankowski

Batavia City Council President Gene Jankowski wants to start a conversation, as he puts it, about farm animals living in the city.
Jankowski told his colleagues last night he’s received a couple of complaints from city residents about their neighbor’s goats.
He says they are concerned about noise and the natural by-products goats can leave behind.
Jankowski says he’s focused on goats, geese, ducks and roosters.
He asked City Manager Rachel Tabelski to look into the city’s options – if any – to deal with farm animals.

City Council has set a date for a public hearing on next year’s city budget. The hearing is tentatively set for February 28 in the council chambers at city hall. The proposed budget – which is now being reviewed by council – would decrease the city property tax rate by 78-cents per thousand.

The Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse – known as GCASA – will soon be receiving nearly $40,000 in state grant money.
The cash intended to help the agency restore services negatively impacted by COVID 19.
GCASA was one of 77 similar agencies across the state to receive the money.

Former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has died at the age of 77. The Manhattan Democrat, who had been battling health problems in recent years, died yesterday while he was in federal custody in Massachusetts. Silver was sentenced to spend over six years behind bars after being convicted for a second time on corruption charges.
He spent more than two decades as the Assembly Speaker but left office in disgrace after being arrested in 2015.

The Buffalo Sabres will be kicking off a four-game road trip tonight against a longtime division rival. The Sabres are taking on the Ottawa Senators.
The Sabres are currently in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 33 points while the Senators are in seventh place with 27 points.

Livingston County deputies say they’ve made an arrest in connection with a deadly shooting that happened over the weekend. According to investigators, 56-year-old Steven Adams admitted to shooting 64-year-old Dale Ryerse in the trailer they shared at the Iroquois Lane Trailer Park on Alpine Lane in Caledonia Sunday. Officials say the men argued with each other most of the day before the shooting and that several weapons were found inside the residence. The investigation into motive is ongoing. However, Ryerse owned the trailer and Adams was his tenant; police believe the relationship between landlord and tenant was somewhat tumultuous. Adams was arraigned yesterday and charged with second degree murder and tampering with evidence. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse will soon be receiving nearly $40,000, thanks to an award announced over the weekend by Governor Kathy Hochul. The Council is one of 87 agencies state-wide that had their services negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They plan to use the money, in part, to fund law enforcement compliance checks in Genesee and Orleans Counties, and also to purchase programming for school prevention education.

Crime Stoppers Western New York is offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest of a human trafficking suspect. Officials say Demetrice McKinney is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service on human trafficking charges in Alabama and that he has known ties to the Buffalo area. Anyone who helps track him down will be eligible to receive up to $2500. Anonymous tips can be sent using the mobile Crime Stoppers app or by calling 716-867-6161.

The FBI office in Buffalo is looking for victims of a nude photo extortion scam involving the popular app Snapchat. Back in November, Kaung Myat Kyaw was arrested in Pennsylvania after an investigation revealed he allegedly enticed underage girls to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. From there, the girls would be told they have one week to follow Kyaw’s instructions and if they didn’t, the photos and videos would be sent to their family members and friends. The FBI says anyone who was victimized by this scam should contact them immediately.

Rochester police have released the name of their city’s latest homicide victim. They say 32-year-old Charlotte Thomas was in the area of Lyell Avenue and Child Street on Sunday when she was hit by gunfire. Thomas was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital where she died several hours later. Police are still looking for the person who shot Thomas and are asking anyone with information to dial 911.

A state Supreme Court judge in Nassau County says a mask mandate that’s been in effect for weeks across New York State is unconstitutional. The mandate was put in place last month in an effort to slow down the rapid spread of COVID-19. But the judge ruled yesterday that Governor Hochul and State Health Commissioner Doctor Mary Bassett don’t have the authority to impose such a mandate without approval from the State Legislature. In a statement, the governor said her job is to protect New Yorkers throughout this health crisis and that every option to reverse this decision will be pursued.

The Buffalo Sabres will be kicking off a four-game road trip tonight against a longtime division rival. The Sabres are taking on the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. When these two teams played back on January 18th, Buffalo earned a three-to-one victory. The Sabres are currently in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 33 points while the Senators are in seventh place with 27 points. Face-off for tonight’s contest is set for 7:00.

New York State Senate Republicans have called for an ‘end to the exodus’. They have presented a plan highlighting the need to reduce the cost of living for state residents, and believe more focus should be on what can be done about increased food and transportation costs, as well as home heating costs and New York’s highest-in-the-nation tax burden. Among the suggestions they have made to help reduce the impact on residents are additional middle class tax cuts.

The Wyoming County Community Health System has announced this morning that their CEO Joseph McTernan has passed following a brief illness. They noted his contributions to their health system and leadership vision included providing a firm and guiding hand with unwavering commitment to staff and patient safety throughout the pandemic health crisis.

Tax season is underway, and the state Department of Taxation and Finance says a lot of New Yorkers will be able to file their returns for free. Anyone whose 2021 income was $73,000 or less can submit their state and federal returns by using software available on the Tax Department website. Last year, nearly 255,000 taxpayers used the program which saved them a combined $51,000,000 in tax preparation fees. The IRS says the deadline to file taxes this year is April 18th.

The Mega Millions jackpot keeps growing and someone could be just hours away from winning nears $400,000,000. The prize up for grabs tonight is currently 396,000,000 bucks which is the 15th largest jackpot in the 20-year history of the game. As always, a ticket to play will cost just $2.00. Tonight’s drawing will be streamed live online at megamillions.com. Please play responsibly.

Steven J Adams

News Release
Livingston County Sheriff Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of a Caledonia NY man on murder and tampering with
physical evidence charges after an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.
On January 23, 2022 at approximately 3:37 pm, Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Alpine Lane in the
Town of Caledonia for the report of a person who had been shot. The caller stated he had shot his roommate and that
his roommate was deceased.
Deputies arrived on scene and found a male in the living room of the residence who had been shot multiple times and
was obviously deceased. Deputies also found the caller who was identified as Steven J. Adams, age 56, of the residence
in question. The deceased was identified as Dale S. Ryerse, age 64, who also resided at the residence. Deputies secured
the scene and began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The investigation revealed that Adams and Ryerse had argued throughout the day culminating in Adams shooting Ryerse
multiple times inside the residence.
Sheriff’s Office members have worked throughout the past 24 hours piecing together the events that led to the
shooting.
On January 24, 2022 Sheriff’s Investigators arrested and charged Adams with felony Murder in the Second Degree and
felony Tampering With Physical Evidence.
Adams was turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for processing and pre-arraignment
detention. The District Attorney’s Office was contacted in regards to bail due to the felony level charges. It was
recommended that Adams be remanded without the chance of bail.
Adams is set to be arraigned at the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part (LC-CAP) at the Livingston County
Jail.
The investigation into the incident continues.
Sheriff’s Investigators did locate and secure weapons believed to be involved.

Gasoline prices in Batavia are down just a bit since last week.
Triple A reports the average cost of a gallon of regular in Batavia is $3.43.
One year ago this week a gallon of regular would run you $2.34.

It’s only been up and running for a few weeks, but the State Gaming Commission says mobile sports betting has already been a big success. Over 600-million dollars has already been wagered and officials say New York could soon become the top sports betting market in the country.The Ricky Palermo Foundation announces a fund-raising charity concert at Batavia Downs in June.
The show is headlined by “Bruce in the USA” a tribute to Bruce Springsteen and his E-Street Band.
The show is scheduled for Friday June 10th.
$15 General admission, $30 VIP and $50 for Premium.
The Ricky Palermo Foundation has raised more than $1.6-million dollars over its 25 years.
The money supports research into spinal cord injuries.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today announced the start of the income tax filing season. It’s begun processing income tax returns, including those submitted using the Free File software available on the Tax Department website. If your 2021 income is $73,000 or less, you can file both your federal and New York State returns at no cost through the Tax Department website using Free File.

The Town of Batavia is handing out free COVID test kits later today. The distribution will take place from 5 until 7 pm at the Batavia Town Hall drive-up window on West Main St. Road. There are 110 test kits available with two tests per kit. You must be a resident of Genesee County and may take up to two kits per household while supplies last. Proof of residency is required.

Wyoming County Treasurer, Cheryl Mayer, has announced her early retirement citing health reasons. Mayer began her employment with Wyoming County in 1993 serving in various positions at Wyoming County Community Hospital before moving to the County Administrator’s Office. Mayer noted that the time she has served in the elected office of Wyoming County Treasurer has been some of the most rewarding years of her life and she strongly recommends that the position of County Treasurer continue to be an elected position, as it offers the best true opportunity to provide the checks and balances that all governments should aspire to provide to their constitutes providing an independent advocate for the taxpayers.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today announced the start of the income tax filing season. It’s begun processing income tax returns, including those submitted using the Free File software available on the Tax Department website. If your 2021 income is $73,000 or less, you can file both your federal and New York State returns at no cost through the Tax Department website using Free File.

It’s only been up and running for a few weeks, but the State Gaming Commission says mobile sports betting has already been a big success. Over 600-million dollars has already been wagered and officials say New York could soon become the top sports betting market in the country. People can currently use FanDuel, DraftKings, BetRivers, Caesar’s, and BetMGM to place their wagers. More sportsbooks are expected to launch soon.

The battle over the fate of the Great Northern grain elevator in Buffalo will return to the courtroom today. Local preservationists will try and argue that the grain elevator isn’t in danger of collapsing because of its design. The building was damaged by the windstorm last month and a State Supreme court judge already ruled that it can be demolished. Today’s hearing will be in front of an Appellate Court and preservationists hope a temporary restraining order that’s keeping the structure from being torn down will be extended. The grain elevator was built in 1897 and is the last of its kind in North America.

Livingston County deputies are continuing their investigation into a shooting that left a man dead. They say the body of a man in his 60s was found on Alpine Lane at the Iroquois Road Trailer Park in Caledonia yesterday. The name of the victim hasn’t been released. Police report that the shooter is in custody and cooperating with the investigation and that there’s no threat to anyone living in the area.

Rochester police are asking for help from the public as they try and find the suspect involved in an armed carjacking. The victim told officers that he was approached by a man with a gun in the area of Lake Avenue and Stonewood Avenue last night. The man then got in the vehicle and told the victim to drive to Sheppler Street before stealing the car. No injuries were reported and anyone with information on the case is asked to dial 911 immediately.

Western New York drivers are still seeing consistent prices at the pump when it comes time to fill up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is now $3.50. That’s the same as it was last week and is a penny less than this time one month ago. The state average is also sitting at $3.50 a gallon and the national average is $3.33.

The Buffalo Bills have fallen short of making it to the AFC Championship game for the second straight year after losing in heartbreaking fashion. It was a great game; they came from behind with 12 seconds left to score a touchdown; and then the Chiefs tied the game with a fast drive and field goal. Mahomes won the coin flip and the Bills were unable to stop the Chiefs’ offense as they scored a touchdown on the only possession in overtime. Bills QB Josh Allen did all he could to lead his team to victory, throwing for 329 yards; Gabriel Davis scored 4 touchdowns. And in a repeat of the challenge last year, Buffalo mayor Byron Brown is sending Buffalo wings to the mayor of Kansas City. The Chiefs now host the Bengals this coming Sunday; on the line, a team ticket to Super Bowl 56.

The Sabres beat the Flyers over the weekend, 6-3 at Keybank Arena. Krebs, Thompson and Skinner all scored twice for the team and Michael Houser blocked 30 shots on goal. They play next tomorrow in Ottawa against the Senators.

The New York State Eviction Moratorium has expired leaving many residents to wonder and worry about what they can do if they owe their landlords money.  Attorney General Letitia James issued guidance for New Yorkers who are struggling.  She advises residents to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program which will both stay any eviction proceeding and can help pay back rent.  James also advises that landlords have to go through a court process to evict tenants and cannot charge late fees for overdue rent from March 2020 to January 2022.  Find more information about ERAP by following the link at wbtai.com. 

https://otda.ny.gov/programs/emergency-rental-assistance/

Governor Hochul signed legislation over the weekend extending New York’s absentee mail in ballot program through the end of 2022.  She said that no one should have to choose between their health and being able to exercise their right to vote.  You can follow the link at wbtai.com to register for an absentee ballot.

https://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingAbsentee.html

Genesee county has received 2580 free COVID testing kits and is giving them away this week to residents.  The kits will be available at town, village and city municipal buildings during regular business hours until they are all given away.  Only 2 kits with 2 tests per kit can be given to each family.  You must show proof of residency to receive a kit.  

The Bills hopes for a long awaited shot at the Super Bowl were dashed Sunday night as the Chiefs came away with a win in overtime of 42 to 36.  It was definitely a nailbiter of a game with the Bills coming from behind to score a touchdown with 12 seconds left to go and then the Chiefs tying the game up with a fast drive and field goal.  25 points were scored in the last 2 minutes of the game.  Mahomes won the coin flip and the Bills were unable to stop the Chiefs offense as they scored a touchdown on the only possession in overtime.  Gabriel Davis scored 4 touchdowns for the Bills.  And in a repeat of the challenge last year, Buffalo City Mayor Byron Brown now has to send Buffalo wings to the Mayor of Kansas City.

The Buffalo Sabres had a win over the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday afternoon 6 to 3 at Keybank Arena.  Peyton Krebs, Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner all scored twice for the Sabres and Michael Houser blocked 30 shots on goal.  The Sabres next game is Tuesday in Ottawa against the Senators.

A new name is proposed the Evan Street Ice Arena.
With approval by City Council, the rink will become known as the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena.
A foundation formed in David’s honor, will pay the city 31-hundred dollars annually for a 10-year naming rights deal.
McCarthy died in a car crash in 2006 at the age of 29. He was 1995 graduate of Batavia High School and a standout in baseball and hockey.
The foundation supports youth sports throughout the area.
Pellegrino Auto Sales and the McCarthy foundation submitted the most competitive bid to name the rink that had been known as the Faletti Ice Arena for many years.

The Town of Batavia will hand out free COVID test kits on Monday. The distribution will take place this Monday from 5 until 7 pm at the Batavia Town Hall drive-up window on West Main St.
There are only 110 test kits available with two tests per kit. You must be a resident of Genesee County and may take up to two kits per household while supplies last.

Three Genesee County residents – all over 65 – have died from Corona virus over the last one-week period.
Since the pandemic began 172 residents have died from COVID.

The Batavia Police Department has closed out the annual Mo-Vember/Don’t Shave campaign for 2021.
The Batavia boys in blue raised over $1700. The money will benefit Genesee Cancer Assistance.

Popular LeRoy Junior-Senior High School principal Tim McArdle has resigned.
McArdle has accepted a job as Assistant Principal at Caledonia-Mumford High School. He says he is looking forward to working in his home district.

In case you haven’t heard the Buffalo Bills meet the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. 6:30pm, Channel 4 in Buffalo, Channel 8 in Rochester.

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce is celebrating their 50th birthday. John Dwyer was one of the original county chamber leaders and noted the basic role of the chamber has remained the same since its inception 50 years ago. In attendance of the ribbon cutting ceremony at their Park Road office were chamber leaders past and present. Chamber leaders have had about 30 business ribbon-cuttings over the last year.

The Batavia Police Department has closed out the Mo-Vember/Don’t Shave December campaigns for 2021. They were able to raise over $1700 for Genesee Cancer Assistance. Members of the department want to thank the community for their support and donations.

A body found in West Seneca is believed to be that of a man reported missing earlier this week. Police say the discovery was made yesterday in a wooded area near Mayer Brothers off of Transit Road. Police had been searching for 53-year-old Milton Monnin who was last seen on Tuesday in the area of Transit Road. Police say the body of the male victim is consistent with the description of Monnin. The cause of death and determining the identity of the victim could take several days, according to investigators.

Tim McArdle has resigned his principal position at LeRoy Junior-Senior High School and accepted the assistant principal position at Caledonia-Mumford. He acknowledged it was a difficult decision to make but is looking forward to working in his home school district.

A Buffalo Bills Fan Appreciation Skate will be held at Canalside today. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is hosting the event, where one dollar from each admission will be donated to the Patricia Allen Fund benefiting Oishei Children’s Hospital. Fans will also have a chance to win a 90-minute reservation in the Bills Igloo at the Ice. The event is being held from four this afternoon until eight in the evening.

Buffalo is once again showing its pride for the Bills. The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority is lighting the Peace Bridge in Buffalo Bills
colors ahead of Sunday’s divisional round game with the Kansas City Chiefs. In addition, whenever the Bills score a touchdown, there will be a brief light show on the bridge.

The owner of a Kansas City bar and grill is throwing his support behind the Bills in Sunday’s divisional round game. Al Burns, a South Buffalo native
and owner of Al’s Bar and Grill, says his establishment is a home base for Buffalo Bills’ fans. He is preparing two-thousand pounds of chicken wings
for Sunday’s game.

The Town of Batavia will be distributing free COVID test kits on Monday, January 24 from 5-7 pm at the Batavia Town Hall Window. There are 110 available kits, with two tests per kit. Individuals seeking free kits must be a Genesee County resident and may take up to two kits per household, while supplies last. Proof of residency is required.

New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued guidance to remind New Yorkers of the various rights and protections for residents following the expiration of New York’s eviction moratorium on January 15. Though landlords are now able to start new eviction cases, proceed with existing cases, and issue eviction warrants against some tenants, New Yorkers still have some protections under state laws and access to rental assistance programs. All of which are designed to help keep them from losing their homes as the COVID pandemic continues. State residents should apply to have their rent arrears paid by the state under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Some good news on the local job front…there were 200 more private-sector jobs in Genesee County last month, than there were in December 2020. This, according to the NYS Department of Labor. Analysis of the data, shows that the county added goods-producing and business service jobs. Meanwhile, the total number of government jobs dropped by 100, to 5,200. The entire state added more than 45,000 new jobs in December.

Cody Bush of Batavia, who has been on post-release supervision from his third state prison term, is now facing a new felony indictment. He had been charged last Valentine’s Day for beating a woman and now faces charges of second degree burglary, criminal contempt of court, resisting arrest, and two counts of misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance.

An Albion man has been sentenced to 5 years in prison in the Orleans County Court. 62-year-old Isaiah Alexander pleaded guilty to stabbing his 17 year old stepson in the chest, during an altercation last May. The boy’s 20 year old sister was also cut in the altercation when she intervened in an attempt to stop the fight. The initial charge against Alexander was attempted murder, but was reduced to first degree assault. Upon release from prison, he has also been ordered to serve 5-years post-release supervision.

Mayor Malik Evans says a consolidation of Rochester’s anti-violence programs will help tackle the rise of gun violence in the city. The mayor’s advisor on violence prevention programs — Victor Saunders — will lead the coalition of programs that previously reported to the Department of Human Services. At a news conference yesterday, Mayor Evans said while more officers are needed, the community can help by becoming involved in such programs as Pathways to Peace. On Wednesday, one man was killed in a triple shooting, another man was stabbed, and a teenager was arrested for allegedly shooting at police investigators.

The city of Rochester is going to ask the public who it thinks the next police chief should be. Mayor Malik Evans announced an online survey will ask residents for the qualities they think the city should look for in its search. The survey is available at the city’s website. Mayor Evans says community focus groups will also gather the public’s thoughts on the search. The city has hired a national search firm and Mayor Evans says he hopes to have someone hired by the spring.

Rochester police say they’ve arrested a teenager in an incident in which they say someone shot at investigators while they sat in their unmarked car. The shooting happened Wednesday night on Glenwood Avenue. Police say a suspect with a long gun fired at least one shot at investigators in their car. The shooting was unprovoked. No one was hurt. The suspect is identified as 18-year-old Kenneth Nixon. He’s to be arraigned today.

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 50th birthday.
Instead of cutting a cake, they cut a ceremonial ribbon at their Park Road office.

John Dwyer was one of the original county chamber leaders. He told WBTA last night the basic role of the chamber has remained the same for the past half-century

PHOTO: John Dwyer, Courtesy: GCC

Attending the ceremony were chamber leaders past and present.
Chamber leaders say they have had about 30 business “ribbon cuttings” over the past year.

Mercy Flight, the medical helicopter service, says they are not conducting a door-to-door fundraising campaign. Someone has been going around trying to solicit donations.
If you have been approached, call Batavia Police.

Devon Wright

Devon Wright of Batavia is a wanted man. So much so, that Western New York Crime Stoppers has put up $2,500 for information leading to his arrest.
Wright is wanted for a slew of charges including Attempted Assault and Criminal Sexual Act.

Contact WNY Crime Stoppers at: 716-867-6161

(https://crimewatch.net/us/ny/genesee/batavia-pd/submit-tip)

The region is once again showing its pride in the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority is lighting the Peace Bridge in Bills colors ahead of Sunday’s divisional round game with the Kansas City Chiefs.
In addition, whenever the Bills score a touchdown, there will be a brief light show on the bridge.

Single digit cold is greeting us this morning.
Expect bitter cold today and tonight with light and variable winds.
The low could drop below zero.

The Batavia Police Department has partnered with Crime Stoppers Buffalo, which is offering a $2500 reward for information leading to the arrest of Devon Wright. Wright is wanted for violating his release terms on a recent plea pertaining to a long list of charges, including Attempted Assault, Criminal Sexual Act, Harassment and Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Citizens are urged to come forward with information on where to locate Wright.

Call Crime stoppers at:  716-867-6161] or log on to: this website

The furnace is now repaired and the Richmond Memorial Library has reopened. Although temporarily fixed while waiting for parts that have been ordered, the library has resumed their normal hours and is now once again open to the public. [9am – 9pm Monday through Thursday; 9am – 5pm Friday and Saturday]

Mercy Flight has issued a scam alert. An individual has been going door-to-door in Batavia soliciting donations; however, none of the money is going to Mercy Flight, and they do not seek donations in this manner. Anyone who receives this type of solicitation should notify Batavia police immediately, at 345-6350.

Low and moderate income homeowners should soon be able to make critical repairs and accessibility modifications. Governor Hochul announced this morning that $25 million in grants will be available to aid seniors, veterans, and disabled households, as well as assistance for first-time homebuyers. Monies will go directly to nonprofit organizations and municipalities to be distributed locally.

Genesee County is considering a nearly $23,000 adjustment to the budget to move forward with the replacement of the South Lyon Street bridge. The County has federal aid funding for the design and right-of-way portions of the bridge. The amendment to the budget would allow moving forward with what remains of the right-of-way portion of the project. The total cost of both phases of the project is a little over $650,000, with 80% of the total covered by federal aid and the remaining 20% matched from 1% local sales tax.

Every household in the United States is now eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free and orders usually ship within 7-12 days. It’s recommended you order the tests now so that your family will have them, when needed.

There are some things to keep in mind about the antigen tests so that they are used correctly and will yield accurate results. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University, explains that most people using the tests get the timing wrong by using the test too soon in the disease process. Schaffner noted if the individual is fully vaccinated, it is best to wait until day 5 following exposure to obtain an accurate result.

Police in Rochester are searching for suspects after two shootings and one stabbing leave one person dead and four injured. It all happened yesterday morning. Police say a shooting on North Clinton Avenue near Rialto Street left one person dead and two others injured. Not long afterward, police were called to a stabbing on Pardee Street and Joseph Avenue where a man was stabbed in his chest. He’s being treated for potentially life-threatening injuries at Strong Memorial Hospital. In the third incident, a man in his 30s was shot on South Plymouth Avenue on the West Side. He’s expected to recover from his injuries.

Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Addison is being limited in practice due to a shoulder injury. Addison suffered the injury during the Bills’ 47-17 win over the New England Patriots. All other healthy Bills participated in practice yesterday.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported 1,659 new Covid cases in the two counties the past week. That is the second most during the nearly two-year Covid-19 pandemic, but is down from the 2,703 the previous week.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo’s Annual Appeal is underway. Catholic Charities launched its fundraiser yesterday with the goal of raising $9.5 million by June 30th. Money raised provides services to those in need throughout the region. This year’s theme is “Hope.”

The man known as the “Bubble Man” of Buffalo’s Allentown neighborhood has passed away at the age of 75 after a long illness. Chuck Incorvaia would blow bubbles out of the window of his home above Jim’s Steakout. The restaurant posted a message on Facebook, which reads in part “We are saddened to share the news of the recent passing of our family member and good friend to all of Allentown: Mr. Charles “Chuck” Incorvaia.” The post went on to say, “For decades, he would make everyone smile by blowing bubbles out of his window.” Jim’s Steakout is planning to hold a celebration of life for Incorvaia in the spring.

Wesley Thigpen

A Genesee County Grand Jury has handed up an indictment against a former Batavia man serving time for raping children.
40-year-old Wesley Thigpen is now charged with four counts of predatory sexual assault against a child.
Thigpen is already behind bars in Greene County serving a four-year term for the 2019 rape of a girl under the age of 13.
This latest indictment accuses Thigpen of sexually assaulting children under 13 dating back to 2014.
With these latest charges, Thigpen could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The Richmond Memorial Library is closed again today. Officials there tell us there is still no heat in the library. They are working on the problem.

The family of 7-year-old Brittany Spaniel Bentley is so distraught over their missing fur baby they have posted a $250 reward for his safe return.
Bentley has been missing since Sunday from his home on Vine Street.
He is described as cream and brown, freckled, wearing a red e-collar.
If you have any information about Bentley, call his frantic humans at 861-0013.

PHOTO: Bentley

A new poll is providing some very good news for Governor Hochul as she looks to win a full four-year term this November. According to the Siena College poll she has a large lead over her fellow competitors in the race to secure the Democratic party’s nomination.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 28,

Tickets are still available for this weekend’s big showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, but they’re not cheap. According to VIP-TIX, there are thousands of seats up for grabs at Arrowhead Stadium with prices ranging from $124 to more than $1,250 each.

Governor Hochul has revealed a budget plan that she says will help improve the state’s finances while also making investments in several important programs. The 216-billion-dollar proposal sets funds aside for coronavirus pandemic recovery initiatives and includes a record high 31-billion-dollars in school aid. Money from the budget would also go towards gun violence prevention, healthcare, pothole repair and a middle-class tax credit. Hochul and lawmakers in the state Senate and Assembly have until April 1st to pass the budget on time.
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This morning, Governor Hochul announced that more than $12 million has been added to the Drive Clean Rebate Program. The program helps consumers save between $500 and $2000 when purchasing or leasing electric vehicles. This is available at car dealerships throughout the state of New York.
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A new poll is providing some very good news for Governor Hochul as she looks to win a full four-year term this November. According to the Siena College poll she has a large lead over her fellow competitors in the race to secure the Democratic party’s nomination. The poll shows Hochul with a 34-point edge over former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said yesterday he isn’t running for governor. New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams was in third place with 11% and Long Island Congressman Tom Suozzi was in fourth place with 6%. The Democratic primary is scheduled for June.

The Richmond Library remains closed today, once again due to the mechanical failure of their heating system. They hope to reopen tomorrow.

Security is being increased at a parking garage in Rochester after a man was assaulted over the weekend. Police say the 52-year-old victim was walking with his family to the Civic Center Garage from Blue Cross Arena on Saturday when he was attacked. Officers later arrested 24-year-old Tyrone Oliver in connection with the case. Officials say there will now be 24/7 security at the parking garage to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

Here’s a timely reminder from The American Heart Association: Shoveling heavy snow may put you at an increased risk for a heart attack, even if there is no history of heart disease. The risk extends to the use of snow blowers as well; the energy required to move the machinery may also quickly raise blood pressure and heart rate. The Association recommends you take it slow at first; move only fresh, powdery snow, only partially fill your shovel and then lift with your legs (not your back), and preferably push the snow rather than lifting; and do not work to the point of exhaustion.
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Full list of suggestions for staying safe during snow removal:
• Do not shovel after eating or while smoking
• Take it slow and stretch out before you begin
• Shovel only fresh, powdery snow; it’s lighter
• Push the snow rather than lifting it
• If you do lift it, use a small shovel or only partially fill the shovel
• Lift with your legs, not your back
• Do not work to the point of exhaustion

A garbage truck and semi collided yesterday on Rte 63 in Bethany. The semi-truck driver said he looked down for a moment and then looked back up and rear-ending the waste management truck was unavoidable. The accident caused something in the semi truck’s engine to catch fire, which crews were able to get under control. Estimates of 50-100 gallons of diesel fuel spilled. The semi-truck driver was taken to Rochester Regional Health/United Memorial Medical Center for evaluation of minor injuries. The accident remains under investigation.

The Buffalo Sabres have put an end to their two-game winless streak, and they have their goaltender to thank for it. Michael Houser stopped 43 of the 44 shots he faced as the Sabres beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 at the Canadian Tire Centre last night. Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens, and Mark Jankowski each had a goal for Buffalo in the win. Up next for the Sabres is a home game against the Dallas Stars tomorrow night.

Tickets are still available for this weekend’s big showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, but they’re definitely not cheap. According to VIPTIX, there are thousands of seats up for grabs at Arrowhead Stadium with prices ranging from $124 to more than 250 bucks each. VIPTIX says there is a high demand for tickets and recommends anyone who wants to see the game in-person should secure their seat soon. Kickoff for Sunday’s contest in Kansas City is set for 6:30pm.

Every household in the United States is now eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free and orders usually ship within 7-12 days. It’s recommended you order the tests now so that your family will have them, when needed: covidtests.gov

The Erie County District Attorney’s Office has announced an arrest in connection with a homicide in Buffalo last year. Officials say 30-year-old Steven Tyler shot 30-year-old Bashir Ingram outside of a home on Keppel Street November 2nd. Ingram was taken to a nearby hospital but died from his injuries. Tyler was arraigned on a murder charge yesterday and sent to jail without bail. He faces a sentence of 25-years to life behind bars if convicted.

The Monroe County Department of Public Health has announced another double digit increase in the number of residents who have died due to COVID-19. The agency says 30 people passed away between December 15th and January 12th, pushing the overall death toll since the health crisis began to 1644. There have also been nearly 5800 new coronavirus cases reported since Friday. Right now, 741 people in the Finger Lakes are hospitalized for treatment of the illness with 125 of them in intensive care.
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Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says there are signs that the COVID-19 surge is past its peak in the area. Poloncarz says the number of new cases has dropped steadily over the past couple of weeks and he’s hopeful the trend will continue. Infections skyrocketed recently due to the extremely contagious omicron COVID-19 variant. So far, 193,758 have tested positive for the illness since the start of the pandemic. The countywide death toll is now sitting at 2425

A Garbage Truck and a Semi collided in a fiery wreck on route 63 in Bethany Tuesday night.  Garbage was strewn across the road and the semi truck became fully involved before Stafford Firefighters were able to put it out.  Traffic was stopped at Batavia Stafford Townline Rd and Ellicott Street.  Minor injuries were reported and the crash is under investigation.  

The City of Batavia Water Department is repairing a water main break at the intersection of Liberty Street and Ellicott Street.  Expect the water to be shut off on Ellicott Street, from Liberty Street to Jackson Street.  There is the potential that the water may need to be shut off on Liberty Street, from Ellicott Street heading north to Main Street.  Traffic will not be able to pass through the Ellicott Street intersection coming off of Liberty Street in both directions while the repairs are being made.  The length of time the water will be off is unknown.

A vine street family is searching for any information about their lost dog.  Bentley, a Brittany Spaniel, escaped from his electric fenced in yard Sunday night around 6pm.  He is a brown and cream speckled, 7 year old friendly dog.  He was spotted on State street and Richmond Ave but fled.  If you see Bentley, please call 585-861-0013 as soon as possible. Treats may help to lure him to someone, but it’s best to call first, she said.

The Buffalo Sabres emerged victorious in their matchup against the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night.  The final score was 3-1 Sabres.  The Sabres are now at 12 and 20 and 7.  Dylan Cozens, Mark Jankowski and Alex Tuch scored for Buffalo.  Michael Houser blocked 43 of 44 shots against him.  The Sabres will be back on the ice Thursday when they host the Dallas Stars at 7 p.m.

Batavia and Genesee County continues to dig out today from snow accumulation measuring at least a foot and a half…some places, considerably more.
For today partly sunny with a high of 23, tomorrow we could reach 38.
But then, much colder air moves in the region on Thursday through the weekend. Wind chills may drop to 15-below zero or colder Thursday night through Friday.
If you haven’t done so already, city firemen ask that you clear snow from fire hydrants in your area.

City Manager Rachel Tabelski issued a snow removal statement Tuesday afternoon:

Due to the volume of snow that fell in the last 24 hours, approximately two feet, the cleanup process will take time to complete for City staff and for residents alike. While this was not the worst snow event that the community has seen, it was certainly significant.

“I would like to take the time to remind residents and business owners that we will continue to make our best efforts to clear the City streets and remove snow from City owned parking lots. These are the primary target areas that our Public Works staff focuses on, and then sidewalk clearing as time allows,” said Rachael J. Tabelski, City Manager, City of Batavia.

“In terms of students who walk to school, there are many sidewalks that have been cleaned and snow removed, however there still remains some sidewalks that are not passable. This presents a hazard that could force students to have to walk in the street. I ask that parents and guardians take this under advisement if they have children that walk, and we urge drivers to be more alert and understand the difficult conditions in the City at this time,” said Jason Smith, Superintendent, Batavia City School District.

”If pedestrians are forced to walk in the streets due to sidewalks being unpassable, pedestrians should walk facing traffic and wear bright colored and reflective clothing. Pedestrians should also be sure to cross at intersections using crosswalks whenever they are visible.” said Shawn Heubusch, Police Chief, City of Batavia, “Drivers should always be more cautious after snow events and keep an eye out for pedestrians in the streets.”

Snow operations by the City of Batavia have run continuously from 10 PM on Sunday January 16th until 8 AM Tuesday January 25th with the primary objective of fighting the snow to allow for safe vehicular traffic. Now that the snow event is over, snow removal will begin.

“For the most part the snowfall was uniformed within the City. The City ran a full plow run, 14 pieces of equipment and personal, for over 36 hours during the snow event. The long duration events are the most taxing on staff and equipment,” said Ray Tourt, Superintendent Bureau of Maintenance.

The city has fielded a few complaints regarding clearing sidewalks in the last 24 hours. The Batavia Municipal Code (BMC) Chapter 159-8 explains that, property owners have the responsibility to clear snow and ice from sidewalks, however as staffing allows, the City will remove snow from sidewalks. The cleanup process will take time for City staff and for residents alike.

The Richmond Memorial Library will be closed today while they try to restore heat to the building. The heat stopped functioning overnight for unknown reasons.

BPD has arrested a Batavia resident on arson and several other charges in connection with a weekend fire at Washington Towers.
Officers accuse 42-year-old Matthew Zakrzewski of setting fire to a chair in the common area of the building. Zakrzewski is now in county jail.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is unveiling a fiscal year 2023 budget plan that covers everything from coronavirus to schools to clean energy.
The $216-billion budget includes $2-billion for coronavirus recovery, $4.5-billion for clean energy including offshore wind and $1-billion for fixing potholes.
As expected, the budget plan does not include an appropriation for a possible new stadium for the Buffalo Bills.
A Hochul spokesperson said those talks are on going and if a deal is reached before April 1st, an appropriation could be inserted into a final budget deal.

The Mega Millions jackpot is still growing, and someone could end up winning a massive sum of money. There will be at least $347-million up for grabs tonight which is the highest jackpot since September.

Batavia police have arrested a city resident and current parolee, on arson and several other charges in connection with a fire on Sunday at Washington Towers. Fire crews were called to the scene after getting a report that a chair was on fire in a common area of the building. They were able to quickly put the flames out and a short time later, officers took 42-year-old Matthew Zakrzewski into custody. Additional charges include breaking into multiple vehicles, breaking windows, and stealing a bicycle. He was identified on security camera footage. Zakrewski was arraigned yesterday morning and sent to Genesee County Jail. The investigation continues. Police are asking anyone with information on the case to call them at 345-6350.

The Rochester Institute of Technology is making it easier for faculty, staff and students to get their COVID-19 booster shots. On-campus clinics have been scheduled for January 28th, February 23rd, March 9th and March 21st. Registration is required in advance, and anyone interested in attending can sign up online. All students and staff are required to get their booster shot by January 31st or within 14 days of becoming eligible.

49-year-old Cindy Frank of Jamestown has been arraigned in Wyoming County Court on charges of fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She has an extensive history involving drugs; the most recent indictment is on charges that she tried to smuggle drugs into the Attica Correctional Facility. She entered a not-guilty plea and will return to court in March.

Batavia received about 16 inches of snow through late last night. City residents are encouraged to clear snow from fire hydrants. When seconds count, this makes it easier for the fire department, to both find and access them in emergencies.

The Mega Millions jackpot is still growing, and someone could end up winning a massive sum of money in just a few hours. There will be at least 347-million dollars up for grabs tonight which is the highest jackpot since September. Tickets to play the game are just two dollars each. The drawing will be streamed live online at megamillions.com. Please play responsibly.

The Buffalo Sabres are now on a two-game winless streak after falling to a division rival on home ice; they lost to the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in overtime at KeyBank Center yesterday. The Sabres have earned 29 points this season and are currently in 6th place in the Atlantic Division, far behind the first-place Florida Panthers who have 57 points. Up next for Buffalo is a road game against the Ottawa Senators tonight at 7:00.

A 42 year old man from Batavia is in custody after police were called to a fire in the communal area of the Washington Towers Sunday.  Matthew Zakrzewski allegedly set a chair on fire and then left the building.  He is also accused of breaking into multiple vehicles in the area by breaking windows and setting one on fire.  Police say they can identify him on security camera footage.  He is also accused of stealing a bicycle on Bank Street.  A current parolee, Zakrzewski was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on 50,000 bail. 

Batavia got roughly 16 inches of snow from Sunday into Monday.  The weather advisory that was supposed to be in effect through mid to late morning today was canceled late Monday.  There may still be some blowing snow and continue to watch out for drifts and whiteouts.

Local politicians are gonna try to shake things up.  On January 21st Go Art is sponsoring a bartender challenge between City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. and City Manager Rachael Tabelski as a fundraiser for arts programs in Genesee and Orleans counties.  In these challenges, amateur bartenders compete at GO ART!’s Tavern 2.o.1 to see who can wow the crowds and earn the most tips for our donation jars.  If you have not been to Go Art! Or have not been in a while, this is an open event to explore the space and connect with the community and the art that makes it special. This event is 21+, bring cash to tip, and may the best bartender win!

A reminder with the snow piling up.  City residents are encouraged to clear snow from fire hydrants to make it easier for the fire department to both find and access them in emergencies.  Every second counts so help out by clearing your fire hydrants of snow and debris today.

The Buffalo Sabres couldn’t sink the last puck against the Detroit Red Wings Monday afternoon as they lost in overtime 3 to 2.  The Sabres are at 11-20 and 7 in the season and have lost 8 of their last 9 games.  The Sabres had 3 points but lost one to an offside call.  Aaron Dell Stopped 32 of 35 shots on goal.  The Sabres are on the road to visit the Ottawa Senators at 7pm tonight.

Messy conditions are expected on roads throughout Western NY today as the winter storm moves through. The winter storm warning remains in effect through 7pm this evening. Strong winds are also possible, with gusts as high as 40mph, which will create even more hazardous, if not impossible driving conditions, as deep snow covers roads, coupled with poor visibility. Power outages are also a possibility. Many businesses closed today so if you must be out on the roads, it would be best to first click on the Cancellations tab at WBTAi.com and also call ahead to your destination to make sure they are open.

Governor Hochul has signed a bill that allows government agencies to hold meetings and other public business remotely, until the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. Recordings of the meetings do not necessarily need to be posted on line. And public comment sessions at public meetings are not required. The bill allows remote meetings until the state of emergency ends.

The Elba Fire Department and Town of Batavia responded over the weekend to Norton Road in Elba for what started out as a garage fire but spread to the house. According to Elba fire Chief Mike Heale, it appeared there may have been something by the wood stove in the garage that exploded, which started the fire and ultimately destroyed the garage. More will be known after the investigation is completed. The two adults and one dog that occupy the residence are being assisted by the Red Cross.

The City of Batavia Police Department, along with City Fire Investigators, has conducted an investigation into the fire of a chair in the communal area of Washington Towers. While doing so, it was discovered that Matthew Zakrzewski of Batavia, had been described by witnesses to have engaged in the larceny of a bicycle in the area of Bank Street. He also matched the description of the suspect in the arson investigation. Zakrezewski, who was also on parole, was arraigned in Batavia City Court today and remanded to the Genesee County Jail. The investigation into these incidents is ongoing

There is a Covid-19 list for homebound residents in Genesee and Orleans Counties. And so far, 85 individuals who were unable to leave their homes have received the vaccine of their choice. The health departments for each county are closed today but will reopen tomorrow.

Parents of students in Batavia City Schools will soon be contacted by the district seeking permission to administer COVID-19 Rapid Tests to their child. The goal is to keep children in school. Superintendent Jason Smith also announced that the district is working toward enhancing their communication strategies, efforts which include website updates and improvements.

Starting today, New Yorkers will have another option available if they want to participate in mobile sports betting. BetMGM is joining Rush Street Interactive, DraftKings, Caesars and FanDuel as a sportsbook that people may use to place wagers. Mobile sports betting launched earlier this month and officials say it has been a big success. More sportsbooks are expected to be added in the future.

Following their blowout win against the New England Patriots, the Bills are now packing their bags for the trip to Kansas City. They’ll be taking on the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium this Sunday evening, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30, for the next round of the NFL playoffs. When Buffalo and Kansas City met back in October, the Bills ended up on top, 38-20. Buffalo has yet to win a playoff game on the road; if they come away with the W on Sunday, they’ll be one step closer to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1994.

Rochester police have made an arrest in connection with a triple shooting late last week. They say 33-year-old Richard Burchard-Lopez was taken into custody following a police pursuit on Saturday night. Burchard-Lopez is accused of shooting a three-year-old child and two adults at a home on Glendale Park Thursday. All of the victims were taken to the hospital and are expected to survive. Burchard-Lopez is facing several charges including assault.

Western New York drivers are still seeing consistent prices at the pump when filling up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is still $3.49. That’s the same as it was last week and is two cents less than this time a month ago. The state average is $3.48 a gallon while nationally is $3.31.

No injuries have been reported following a three-alarm fire at a vacant building in Buffalo. Crews were called to the scene on Hampshire Street yesterday and spotted smoke and flames coming from the building when they arrived. Officials believe the fire started on the first floor and quickly spread. Just what sparked the blaze is still under investigation.

Some Closures Today:

Advanced Podiatry Associates, Dr. Carzoneri Closed Monday

Alberty Drugs Batavia Closing at 1pm Monday

ARC GLOW Programs Closed In All 4 Counties Monday

ARC Trash Pickup Canceled Monday

Bens Appliances Closed Today

Casella Waste Management No Garbage Pickup Monday. 1 day delay

Foxprowl Collectibles Closed Monday

Golden Coin Closed Monday

Mental Health Associations of Batavia and Albion closed Monday

Optique Optical Closed Monday

Premiere Genesee Adult DayCare Closed Monday

Reed Eye Associates Closed Monday

Dr. Suwarna Naik Closed Monday

Dr. Thomas Mazurkiewicz Closed Monday

The winter storm warning continues until 7pm tonight with heavy snow expected.  1-3 inches an hour is predicted by the National Weather Service in Orleans and Genesee Counties.  Winds could gust up to 40 miles per hour which may produce drifts and whiteouts.  Travel will be very difficult or even nearly impossible with deep snow cover on roads and very poor visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the morning and evening commute Monday

There were 2 fires over the weekend with the first being a garage fire in Elba at 7504 Norton Rd early Saturday morning.  Firefighters had a difficult time because of the extreme cold temperatures making the water freeze and causing firefighters to work in shifts.  2 people and a dog were displaced as the fire spread to the house attached to the garage.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.  The second fire was in Batavia at 142 Hutchins Street Sunday evening at around 5pm.  The fire was in the basement and was related to the washer and dryer.  Firefighters were able to defeat the flames and the home was ventilated.  

The Buffalo Bills trounced the New England Patriots Saturday late at night in near sub-zero weather 47-17.  Jeff Allen scored more touchdowns than had incomplete passes during the game.  The Bills made NFL history by having the first game where a team played the whole game without a single punt, field goal or turnover.  The Bills will be headed to Arrowhead Stadium next week after the Chiefs win over the Steelers.  The Bills team has yet to win a playoff game on the road.

Cheerleaders, known for creating words out of shouted letters, want 3 letters gone.  Specifically R, I and T.  The NYSPHAA Competitive Cheerleading Championships are to be held at the Rochester Institute of Technology but over 11 thousand people have signed a petition to have them moved.  The reason?  RIT has a COVID vaccine policy in place for all events held on campus and dozens if not hundreds of cheerleaders across the state would not be able to compete as they are not vaccinated.  The NYSPHAA and RIT have stated they have no intention of changing the policy or moving the event.

UPDATE: Winter Storm Warning upgraded at 12:45pm on Saturday. Warning begins at 9pm Sunday and continues until 7pm Monday. Snow accumulation of 12 to 18 inches, winds gusts to 40 mph

 Take extra care when driving north or south as wind blowing the snow across the roadway could result in low visibility.

A Rochester man is going to jail for 18 years after being part of a Ponzi scheme which defrauded over 1000 people over 11 years.  41 year old Perry Santillo was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering.  Santillo bilked his victims out of over 100 million dollars from 2008 to 2019.  

A judge in Buffalo has granted another temporary restraining order against the demolition of the Great Northern Grain Elevator.  The temporary restraining order is the result of an appeal by preservationists of a ruling that allowed for the demolition of the damaged grain elevator by its owner Archer Daniels Midland.  The city issued a demolition permit during the week but the order puts a stop to it for now. The matter is due back in court on the 24th.

The Leroy Ambulance Service is asking for donations in order to buy a new ambulance.  The ambulance responds to over 1300 calls every year.  According to a press release: Due to continuous repairs and anticipated maintenance costs, there is a need to replace our older ambulance. We are hoping that you value LAS as much as we do and will consider making a tax-deductible donation to Le Roy Ambulance Service, Inc.  100% of all donations will be applied directly toward the fund for a new ambulance.

The Genesee County Economic Development Center has approved an investment by Mega Properties incorporated to spend 8.5 million to buy a vacant building on Federal Drive in Batavia.  They hope that the new warehouse distribution facility will bring add 11 new full time employee positions.  The project will be given 600K in sales, mortgage and property tax exemptions.  

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory for Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties from tonight at 6pm till Saturday at 1pm. This means extremely low temperatures and wind chills of 20 degrees below zero. Exposed skin could turn to frostbite within 30 minutes. They advise us to stay indoors if possible and when traveling, cover up and limit time outside.

In addition, a winter storm watch is also in effect from 6pm Sunday through 6pm Monday. Travel could be very difficult to impossible, with hazardous conditions that will likely impact the morning or evening commute.

Governor Hochul says New York State is getting additional help from the federal government in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus. The governor said yesterday National Ambulance Contract Teams will be arriving in the Empire State in the coming days. Members will be going to hospitals all across Upstate region to help out workers who are struggling to treat a growing number of patients. In a statement, the governor thanked President Biden for sending the necessary resources to help fight the winter surge of new COVID-19 cases that are being fueled by the omicron variant.

This from Dan Ireland, Rochester Regional Health and United Memorial Medical Center president, 75% of COVID admissions to UMMC, are for unvaccinated people. As of yesterday, the Center’s occupancy rate was 86% and all COVID patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit have not had the vaccine. Ireland encourages everyone qualified for the shots and the booster, to get vaccinated. This will not only protect individuals and families, it will also free up space in the hospital.

Confer Plastics in North Tonawanda is providing a $10,000 grant to the Friends of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. The money will be used to expand a trail near the visitor’s center. It will also help to make the trail more handicap accessible, including interpretive signage, trail markers and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant benches.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says he’s not going to get in the way of the Great Northern grain elevator being demolished. Local preservationists had asked the mayor to step in and save the structure which was damaged in a windstorm last month. Brown says city officials don’t believe the building can be salvaged. A ruling from a State Supreme Court judge last week cleared the way for the building to be knocked down, but there’s no word yet on when that’s going to happen. The grain elevator has stood in the city since 1897 and is the last of its kind in North America.

Rochester police are asking for help from the public in tracking down the person who pulled the trigger in a triple-shooting. They say a three-year-old child and two adults were shot yesterday at a home on Glendale Park. The child initially had life-threatening injuries but their condition has improved while the adults suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police say the shooting appears to have been the result of a domestic incident. They’re asking anyone with information on the case to dial 911 immediately.

The investigation continues into what sparked a fire at an apartment building in Rochester that displaced 12 people and left a firefighter hurt. Crews arrived at the scene on Rowley Street yesterday and found flames in the basement and smoke spreading throughout the building. They were able to contain the blaze in about 40 minutes and all of the residents made it out safely. The firefighter was taken to nearby hospital for treatment of a minor upper body injury. The residents affected by the blaze are being helped by the American Red Cross.

The Buffalo Bills will begin a journey this weekend that they hope brings them one step closer to winning a Super Bowl. The Bills are taking on the New England Patriots in an AFC Wild Card game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. These teams played twice this season with the Bills and Patriots winning one game each. Weather could be a major factor in the game as both cold temperatures and gusty winds are expected. Kickoff for Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 8:15pm.

The Buffalo Sabres have finally snapped their six-game winless streak and picked up their first victory in nearly a month. Jeff Skinner scored twice; Mark Jankowski scored first for Buffalo, which was his first as a Sabre. He’s now made 41 goals in his NHL career. Final score was Sabres 4 and the Nashville Predators 1. Buffalo got a strong performance from goaltender Aaron Dell who stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced. The Sabres will be back in action tomorrow when they take on the Detroit Red Wings.

There is a Wind Chill Advisory for Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties from tonight at 6pm till Saturday at 1pm.  The National weather service is warning of low temperatures and a wind chill of down to negative 20 degrees.  Exposed skin could turn to frostbite within minutes at those temperatures.  Stay indoors if possible.  If you are traveling, cover up and limit time outside.

Unvaccinated employees at companies with over 100 workers are breathing a sigh of relief after the Supreme Court blocked the Biden Administration’s COVID vaccine or testing mandate Thursday afternoon saying it overstepped government and OSHA authority.  This means that companies do not have to fire or incur costs in testing any unvaccinated employees they have.  The White House said after the ruling that they still hope companies will fire their employees who aren’t vaccinated.  The Supreme court did allow a second, similar mandate which applied to healthcare workers to go into effect.

The ice rink is ready to go when cold weather hits this weekend in Leroy.  A rectangular-shaped ice skating rink will be available at Bunnel Park as soon as the temperatures drop low enough for the water to freeze.  Funding for the rink came from COVID relief funds.

The Buffalo Sabres beat the Nashville Predators Thursday night 4 to 1 in the first victory in almost a month.  Jeff Skinner’s scored twice for the Sabres with his second goal, scored in the third period, marking the 500th point of his NHL career. Buffalo’s first goal was Mark Jankowski’s first as a Sabre. He has 41 in his NHL career.  Buffalo’s road trip continues on Saturday night when the Sabres visit Detroit. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m.

Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch

City of Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch is collaborating with the community to reform and reinvent the department, as mandated by an executive order in 2020 from former Governor, Andrew Cuomo. In addition to more foot and bicycle patrols, Chief Heubusch is proposing enhanced training through a partnership with Genesee County Mental Health, enhanced crisis intervention training, and the department maintaining a de-escalation trainer.

Governor Hochul announced today plans to prioritize additional rental relief funding for states that have exhausted their initial federal allocation. Under the Governor’s direction, the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance had requested $996 million in funds from the Treasury, which would potentially assist tens of thousands of tenant applicants. However, late last month, the Treasury indicated New York would receive only $27 million from the initial reallocation.

Both Genesee and Orleans Counties are reporting major increases in the past week in the number of Covid cases, with nearly 3000 between the counties. The increase is being attributed, in part, to a combination of factors, including the post-holiday surge, delay in case investigations, and recent changes in the investigation protocol.

Nearly 5% of the KN95 face masks distributed by the state over the last month are potentially defective, and may not provide quality protection against Covid-19. Some of the bad ones went to Monroe County. However, counties in the GLOW region have reported no issues. At this time, the state Health Department did not respond as of yesterday about the number of masks sent to each county, along with what officials should look for to detect defective face coverings, or if the masks should continue to be distributed.

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has announced the recipients of the 50th Annual Chamber of Commerce awards. This year’s honorees are: Business of the Year: Valle Jewelers, Agricultural Business of the Year: Alleghany Farm Services, Entrepreneurial Business of the Year: Batavia Muckdogs Baseball, and Geneseean of the Year: Jay Lazarony. The awards will be given out at the 2021 awards ceremony to be held at Batavia Downs on March 12th. Tickets to the ceremony are 50 dollars per person or 360 for a table of 8.

Genesee Community College will hold a symposium on climate change and sustainability in Western New York. The focus for the panel discussion is to inform community members of global issues and encourage action to improve local economy and environment. The symposium will be held on Thursday, April 21 in The Richard C. Call Arena.

The American Red Cross reports the current blood supply is at its lowers level in over 10 years. They are urging blood donors to schedule and appointment to help ensure blood is available to support patients’ ongoing needs, including emergency situations like car crashes and household accidents. The next local donor opportunity will be Tuesday, January 18 from 2 – 7 at the First United Methodist Church, Lewiston Road.

If your child plays sports after school the New York State Department of Health has released guidance on whether they can play after being exposed to COVID. If they are vaccinated they have to quarantine from after school programs for 5 days but can go back to school for instruction and ride the bus. The guidance says that this is regardless of booster shot status but if the child is unvaccinated against COVID they have to stay home from school at least 5 days and can’t play.

Governor Hochul has a plan to get more bus and truck drivers. The plan is to expand how many road tests are available and also open up road testing to third parties. The idea is to get as many people as possible CDL licenses. Schools in Buffalo and Rochester have suffered from not having enough drivers to get kids to school each day, causing some students to miss school or have to do remote education. The third parties will be overseen by the state and the governor promises a strict system of oversight to make sure the state’s standards are upheld. 

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has announced the recipients of the 50th Annual Chamber of Commerce awards.  This year’s honorees are:  Business of the Year: Valle Jewelers, Agricultural Business of the Year: Alleghany Farm Services, Entrepreneurial Business of the Year: Batavia Muckdogs Baseball, and Geneseean of the Year: Jay Lazarony.  The awards will be given out at the 2021 awards ceremony to be held at Batavia Downs on March 12th.  Tickets to the ceremony are 50 dollars per person or 360 for a table of 8.  

As the snow falls you may not be thinking about gardening but spring and planting season will be here before we know it and the Genesee County Master Gardeners are here to help.  Starting February 3rd the monthly Garden Talks series will begin with “Monarchs, their flight, their plight and what you can do.”  Each month there will be a new discussion, the February talk will be via zoom but following months will return to in person talks.  The series is free and each talk is 45 minutes starting at noon.  To register, visit the events page at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee.

Batavia’s Board of Education unanimously approved many items last night, including the over $400,000 bid from Enviro-mist for disinfecting equipment. The devices also provide air purification, intended to help combat the increasing cases reported of Covid-19. Funding will come from the federal American Relief Act, which provides school districts money for various virus-related solutions.

Also during last night’s meeting, Superintendent Smith announced the district will be receiving more COVID test kits, as part of their test-to-stay policy.

The New York State Department of Health reports there are some issues regarding the quality of KN95 masks that were sent to the Monroe County area. Noteworthy is that the masks may not provide the expected level of protection from COVID but that people should continue to use them if they do not have another mask available. The Department of Health is working to distribute new masks and is also conducting an internal review of masks that are currently in storage.

In other Covid news, the state is experiencing a pattern that experts are finding hard to explain: Downstate hospitals are dealing with a majority of COVID patients; yet upstate hospitals are running out of beds. This contrast was noted yesterday when Governor Hochul ordered a halt to elective procedures in the Finger Lakes, Central New York and Mohawk Valley regions. The differences also raise questions about the usefulness and accuracy of the metrics the state has historically used to track the pandemic in hospitals. One possible reason for the regional differences could be the state-imposed vaccine mandate for health-care workers, which might have been less popular in our part of the state than downstate.

Governor Hochul reports that this most recent wave of Covid may have peaked in our state. This, in light of the fact that last week New York averaged about 75,000 cases daily; this week, 48,000 cases were reported Monday. The health department in both Genesee and Orleans Counties announced changes to contract tracing, now leaving it up to the individual to call friends and families after receiving word of a positive test, if they fall within the age of 19 and 65. The governor also urged people not to go to emergency rooms to get tested for Covid.

Governor Hochul has announced a new initiative aimed at getting more children vaccinated against COVID-19. The hashtag ‘Vax for Kids’ campaign is urging doctors, parents and guardians to do their part to prevent kids from contracting the illness. This effort will include TV, radio, and digital advertising and additional PSA’s will be released in the coming weeks. Over 1,500,000 New York children between the ages of 5 and 17 have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

County health departments are no longer being required by New York State to conduct contact tracing of people who test positive for coronavirus. State Health Commissioner Doctor Mary Bassett says this change will allow local agencies to shift resources they were using for contact tracing towards vaccination and testing efforts. The state will be issuing specific guidance today about isolation and quarantine for infected individuals. That information can be found online at ny.gov/isolation and ny.gov/quarantine.

Fans who will be watching the Buffalo Bills battle the New England Patriots in-person this weekend are going to want to wear a few extra layers. Forecasters say the temperature is expected to be in the single digits and the wind chill will make it feel even colder. When the Bills and Patriots played in Orchard Park back in December both teams had to deal with very strong wind gusts. Kickoff for Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 8:15pm.

The winless streak of the Buffalo Sabres has reached six games following a defeat at the hands of the defending Stanley Cup champions. Vinnie Hinostroza had the lone goal for Buffalo as they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning six-to-one at KeyBank Center last night. The last time the Sabres won a game was back on December 16th; their record is now 10-19-6. Up next for Buffalo is a road contest against the Nashville Predators tomorrow night.

The Main Street lift bridge in Albion will close for about two years as part of an estimated $21,000,000 project that includes major repairs to the lift bridge on Route 19 in Brockport. The Albion bridge was build in 1914. it is one of 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal, and one of 7 in Orleans County. It typically closes a few days annually for short-term repairs. The state Department of Transportation is currently reviewing bids. At this time, no schedule has been set for when the lift bridges will close and construction will start.

Steve Hawley

In 2020, an overtime threshold for farms in New York State was set at 60 hours a week. They are now again facing the prospect of another change. Assemblyman Steve Hawley, a former cash crop and livestock farmer in Batavia, expressed concern about this. He noted these days, farmer’s very existence is jeopardized unlike ever before. Hawley added, individuals pushing for lowering the overtime threshold have good intentions but miss the reality that the change will result in smaller paychecks for workers, who may end up pursuing farm jobs in other states where they can make more money. Additional virtual hearings on the subject are scheduled for January 18th and 20th. [https://dol.ny.gov/farm-laborers-wage-board-hearings]

Niagara County deputies are still trying to find the suspect involved in a deadly stabbing. Officers were called to a home on Niagara Road in Wheatfield last night after receiving a report that someone had been stabbed. They arrived to find a man had been attacked and he later passed away due to his injuries. Police believe the stabbing was the result of a dispute and say the case is being treated as a homicide.

Batavia City schools are spending more than 400 thousand dollars on classroom disinfecting devices after the Board of Education unanimously approved a slate of proposals Tuesday night.  The funding for these devices will come from the federal American Relief Act, which was doled out to school districts for various virus-related solutions. The board agreed that Enviro-mist came in with the best bid for air purification and disinfection devices, at $1,665 each for 250 disinfection units, or $416,250. 

Governor Hochul took to the airwaves in New York City to say that COVID may have peaked in the Empire State.  Over the last week the state averaged about 75 thousand cases daily with a high of 90 thousand new cases on Saturday.  Monday saw far less with 48 thousand.  The state is ending its contract tracing program. Hochul said the decision on whether to contract trace will be left up to individual counties.  In Genesee and Orleans counties, the health department has already announced the changes to contact tracing, making it up to the individual to call friends and families after a positive test if they fall within the 19-65 age group.  The governor also urged people not to go to emergency rooms to get tested for COVID.

In weird news: According to Oregon State University there is a strange benefit to using hemp products.  They apparently stop COVID from entering human cells.  Not to be confused with THC, the hallucinogenic ingredient in recreational marijuana, CBD appears to bind to the spike protein of the COVID virus so it can’t bind to cells in the body.  The researchers also said that they have found CBD helps with HIV and Hepatitis and another odd product, Black Licorice, also appears to bind to COVID spike proteins.  

The Sabres were thunderstruck as they lost to the Lightning 6 to 1 Tuesday night.  Vinnie Hinostroza scored the lone goal for the Buffalo team and Lukkonen left the game with a lower body injury after stopping 7 of the 9 shots sent his way.  With the loss, the Sabres fall to 10-19-6. They’re back on the ice Thursday in Nashville.

Batavia City Firemen remain on the scene of a working house fire on Porter Avenue. The house is located between Washington and West Main.
That blaze broke out shortly before Noon.
Two alarms have been sounded.
Initial reports said all occupants had escaped.
Upon arrival, firefighters were greeted by flames from the second floor that quickly spready to the attic.
National Grid and National Fuel have been called to the scene to shut off utility service to the house.
The fire was declared nearly out by 12:15pm.

The City of Batavia’s is proposing a 78-cent decrease in the property tax rate. City Manager Rachel Tabelski unveiled her proposed budget last night. It totals $17.7-million.
The proposed tax rate for the coming fiscal year stands at $8.94 per thousand. The City Council now reviews the financial plan and can either increase or decrease the proposed budget.

With the State’s eviction moratorium, expiring on January 15th, landlords may start the legal process of evicting tenants who have not paid rents. Although both democrats and republicans have expressed concern about the moratorium and what it does to landlords in business who are receiving reduced or no income, advocacy groups are expecting Governor Hochul to extend the moratorium again. The same advocacy groups believe housing should be a right and if tenants cannot pay landlords, then the state should.

Genesee Community College is preparing to launch a new program of study, Solar Electric Technician. The courses will provide students hands-on learning opportunities, as well as theoretical foundations in tools, safety and testing equipment. Students will be able to register for the program beginning on April 1.

The Buffalo Sabres will try and avoid another loss tonight, but they’ll have a tough task in front of them. The Sabres are hosting the defending Stanley Cup champions the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center. Buffalo hasn’t played since last Thursday when they fell to the San Jose Sharks. The Sabres are in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 26 points while the Lightning are in second place with 51 points. Face-off for tonight’s game is set for 7pm.

Wyoming and Livingston Counties are under a Wind Chill advisory till 10am today.  Wind chill may reach down to -15 degrees Fahrenheit.  Frostbite may appear on uncovered skin within 30 minutes at those temperatures.  Make sure to cover up, stay inside if possible and limit time outside if you have to go out.

A NewsRelease from the Department of Public Works:  The City Water Department is making repairs to a water line on the corner of Liberty and Ellicott Street today.  Expect the water to be turned off on Liberty from Main to Ellicott Streets. Due to the uncertainty of the repair water may also be turned off or experience low pressure in adjacent areas.  Traffic will not be allowed through the southern side of the intersection of Ellicott and Liberty, while repairs are being made.

Former Corfu Fire Chief and a police officer save man from fiery building.  Brian Schollard saw heavy smoke coming from a home at 13 East Main St in Corfu at about 2:30 Monday, and also a man hanging from a window.  He describes jumping into action.  The fire was knocked down by Corfu Firefighters quickly.  The man, who has not been identified, was taken to the hospital for treatment for cuts on his feet and smoke inhalation.

Starting January 15th the New York State eviction moratorium will expire.  If you haven’t paid your rent landlords will be able to evict you legally.  Advocacy groups such as PUSH in Buffalo are expecting Governor Hochul to extend the moratorium again.  She already extended it in September.  Democrats and Republicans in the State assembly and Senate have complained about the moratorium and what it does to landlords who are forced to house people for no pay.  Advocates for renters say housing should be a right and they shouldn’t have to pay landlords or the state should pay.

The registration is open for the Parks and Trails annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour which will run form July 10th through the 17th.  In 2020 the tour was moved online due to COVID but this year, starting at Buffalo and ending in Albany, cyclers will have the chance to go the full 750 mile distance in a group.  The cost for 8 days of meals, lodging, entertainment, historical presentations and baggage transportation is 975 for adults and 535 for ages 6-17.

Starting tomorrow, a new visitation policy is going to be in effect at facilities that are operated by Rochester Regional Health. Due to the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the area, no visitors will be allowed to see emergency room patients, cancer infusion center patients or patients who are in enhanced isolation and being treated for coronavirus. There will be exceptions made for pediatric patients or people receiving end-of-life care. Also, all patients and visitors must wear medical masks in the hospital.
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Researchers from the Center for Disease Control reports that children who have recovered from COVID-19 appear to be at significantly increased risk of developing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The heightened risk has already been observed in adults who recover from COVID. The CDC study is among the first to examine insurance claim databases in the United States to estimate the prevalence of new diabetes diagnoses among children under the age of 18.
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The number of Erie County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 is continuing to grow at a rapid rate. The Department of Health says in the past week, more than 19,000 people have contracted the virus. That number includes over 2200 infections the agency reported yesterday. Overall, there have been 175,405 confirmed cases of the coronavirus confirmed in Erie County since the pandemic started.
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Over the weekend, New York State reported a record of over 90,000 new cases of COVID-19. The state has now had over 4,000,000 infections since the start of the pandemic. Another 154 individuals died, one of the highest daily totals since the pandemic started over a year ago. The already-strained health-care system in the state saw an increase of over 11,800 new hospitalizations. Only three other states have reported a total of over 4-million cases of COVID; they are Texas, Florida and California.

A week after his 14-year-old son was shot dead near the family’s Rochester home, the boy’s father, Julius Greer, Sr., is asking anyone who knows anything about the killing to come forward. Julius, Jr. died last Sunday evening, becoming the first homicide victim in Rochester in 2022. Anyone with information about the case should call 9-1-1. [or Crime Stoppers at 585-423-9300]

When the Batavia City School board meets tomorrow evening at 6pm, one agenda item for consideration is a contract with Enviro-Mist to use medical grade disinfectant devices in the schools. The goal is to kill pathogens on surfaces and in the air. Also on the agenda are repairs to the High School’s roof, which was damaged in last month’s wind storm. The two phase repair being considered will cost a total of $43,000.

Parts of Orleans and Monroe counties have the best chance of accumulating snow tonight, with 3 – 5 inches predicted. Snow showers could leave up to 3” of snow in Genesee County by early morning.

Two people have been taken into custody after robbing an elderly woman and leading officers on a chase through Rochester. The 84-year-old victim told investigators she was carjacked in the area of the Sunoco station on West Ridge Road in Greece last night moments before the pursuit began. Police haven’t released the names of the suspects or said what charges they could be facing. The woman wasn’t seriously hurt during the robbery.

While a judge has approved its demolition, local historical preservation groups are still trying to stop the Great Northern grain elevator in Buffalo from being torn down. State Senator Sean Ryan, Assemblyman Jonathan Rivera and a representative of Preservation Buffalo Niagara held a news conference yesterday where they said the building can still be saved and repaired. It was damaged by a windstorm in December and has been the subject of a weeks long legal battle. The grain elevator was built in 1897 and is the last of its kind in North America.

For the second year in a row, the Buffalo Bills have been crowned as the kings of the AFC East. Quarterback Josh Allen threw for 239 yards and tossed a pair of touchdowns as the Bills beat the New York Jets 27 to 10 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park yesterday. Devin Singletary also had a rushing score for Buffalo who finished the regular season with a record of 11 wins and six losses. Up next for the Bills is a home playoff game on Saturday against the New England Patriots.

Western New York drivers still aren’t noticing much of a change in prices when filling up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is now $3.49. That’s the same as it was last week and is two cents cheaper than this time one month ago. The state average is the same – $3.49 a gallon – while nationally it’s $3.30.

After having a few days off, Buffalo Public School students will be heading back to their classrooms today. They haven’t been in school since last week due to winter weather and some staffing shortages. Superintendent Doctor Kriner Cash also says 300,000 KN95 masks are going to be available to kids and teachers and that 500,000 more have been ordered. The district is holding a COVID-19 vaccination clinic from 3:30pm until 7:00pm Thursday at the International School on Hoyt Street.

Daily Cancellations: Attica central schools are closed today because of a water main break

As part of her State of the State address last week, Governor Hochul proposed a measure that would ban new buildings built in New York State from having natural gas hookups.  Hochul said that “New construction in the state will be zero-emission by 2027, and we will build climate-friendly electric homes and promote electric cars, trucks and buses.”  The plan would also require energy analyses of every new building’s energy usage, known as ‘benchmarking.’ Hochul’s climate change agenda also sets a goal of 2 million electrified homes by 2030.”  Green Energy think tank Rocky Mountain Institute estimates that this may have the carbon reduction equal to taking 450,000 cars off the road by 2040.

UMMC suspended elective surgeries on the 23rd of December and it was supposed to go for 2 weeks.  The New York State Health Department just extended that for another 2 weeks.  The directive came down Saturday that, because of a limitation on staffed patient bed capacity, 40 hospitals across NY have to cease these operations.  Also in our area are Wyoming County Community Hospital and Medina Memorial Hospital.

Gas Price Update:  The average price of a gallon of regular dropped in Batavia by 2 cents to 3.44 according to AAA.  In NY the average price stayed at 3.49.  Prices across the country are more than a dollar up from last year at this time.  New York’s difference is 1.16.  Prices are expected to drop through January.

Batavia City Schools is considering a contract with the company Enviro-Mist to deploy medical grade disinfectant devices in the schools to help combat COVID.  Enviro-Mist uses a Ionized Hydrogen Peroxide technology to kill pathogens on surfaces and in the air.  The Board is set to review the bid on Tuesday at 6pm.  Also on the agenda are repairs to the Batavia High School Roof after the wind storm in December damaged it.  The board is looking at a 2 phase repair that costs a total of 43 thousand dollars.

The Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets 27 to 10 Sunday afternoon, clinching the AFC East for the first time since 1995.  The Bills are at 11 and 6 and are the number 3 seed going into the playoffs.  They are playing the Patriots in a wild card round on January 15th.  This is the first time the Bills and Patriots will play against each other in the playoffs since 1966.  In other Bills related news, Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Matt Ryan has been fined 10 thousand dollars for taunting Bills Safety Jordan Poyer during last week’s game.  Ryan thought he scored a touchdown to cut the Bills lead late in the fourth quarter and got up while throwing the ball down at Poyers feet and saying something to him before pulling away quickly.  The touchdown was overturned and the Falcons had to move back 15 yards.

Governor Hochul announced Friday that a new mandate is going into place for healthcare workers across New York State.  That mandate will make it so healthcare workers must get the COVID booster shot.  She talked about how this is the first state wide booster mandate in the US.  Hochul did not say when this would go into effect but that when it does all eligible healthcare workers must comply within 2 weeks.  Hochul also announced new rules for visiting nursing homes.  Starting Wednesday all visitors must show proof of a negative COVID test within 24 hours of their visit.  

UMMC has new visitation policies going into effect on Tuesday the 11th due to the increase in Omicron Cases.  No visitation will be allowed for Emergency Room patients, Cancer infusion patients, or patients on enhanced Isolation Precautions.  Patients may designate 2 people to visit.  A maximum of 4 hours of visitation daily.  The exceptions to these rules are pediatric patients, labor and delivery patients and patients in end of life or with cognitive disabilities.  They have also changed their masking policy, cloth masks are no longer allowed.  Only surgical masks will be allowed.  The hospital will provide one if you don’t have one.

GO Health is changing its COVID policies because of the number of cases exceeding the number that can be contact traced.  Starting Monday they are ending contact tracing for those between 19 and 64.  Those who take a COVID test and get a positive result should self isolate for 5 days and contact those they might have been around.  If they are asymptomatic at the end of 5 days they can stop isolating.  If they have symptoms isolate 5 days from the first day of symptoms.

The Buffalo Bills announced they will be without defensive end Efe Obada for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets due to an ankle injury.  Obada played in ten of the Bills 16 games this season.  The Bills also announced wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is questionable with a knee injury.

Wyoming County residents will now be able to go online to report positive results from at-home Covid tests. Residents may now visit www.wyomingco.net and follow the instructions provided. They will then be provided instructions, and advised as to how long they will need to isolate.

As of yesterday, the total positive Covid-19 tests is now at 10,440 in Genesee County. Approximately 9500 individuals have recovered and no longer need to be in isolation. According to the State’s Department of Health, a total of 164 deaths have been recorded due to the coronavirus. Just over 64% of Genesee County’s population five years of age and older have received at least one COVID vaccination; nearly 59% have completed the series of shots.

A 24 year old woman is dead after falling into the Warsaw Falls Wednesday morning. The woman’s car was found at the Warsaw Village Park around 11:30 a.m. Footprints found in the snow from the car led to the nearby waterfall. Police say they believe she was headed home when she slipped into the gorge. Investigators are conducting an autopsy and the woman’s name is not being released at the request of her family.

Monroe County deputies have arrested a Rochester man for his involvement in a stabbing that left a person seriously hurt. Police say 31-year-old Dante Hills broke into an apartment at the Pines of Perinton complex on Balsam Lane last Sunday and attacked the victim. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital but is expected to survive. Hills is facing several charges including assault and burglary.

New Yorkers will soon be able to place bets on their favorite teams without having to head to a casino. The State Gaming Commission says that mobile sports betting can begin tomorrow. Anyone who wants to gamble can do so once proof of age has been verified, using Rush Street Interactive, FanDuel, DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook. Officials say online betting may generate up to 500-million-dollars in revenue for the state each year.

Well, as you have undoubtedly heard by now, Buffalo got slammed with record-breaking amounts of snow yesterday. The lake effect snow band, which was approximately 12 miles wide, was persistent in the metro area of Buffalo and south town areas but tapered off as it approached Genesee and Wyoming Counties. On a positive note, there were no major accidents or weather-related difficulties in the GLOW regions; at this time, it appears that Attica, Alexander and Bennington received the most accumulations, amounting to a few inches of snow.

The Buffalo Sabres got close but couldn’t clinch a win against the San Jose Sharks Thursday night. The Sabres lost 3 to 2 for their fifth straight loss since they exited the NHL Covid protocol. Jeff Skinner and Zemgus Girgensons scored for the Buffalo team. Buffalo made almost twice as many shots on goal as San Jose with Adin Hill saving 35 vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen saving 18. However, the ‘W’ remains elusive. The Sabres face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday at 7pm at KeyBank Arena.

The Buffalo Bills are just one victory away from winning the AFC East for the second year in a row. The Bills are set to battle their longtime division rival the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Should Buffalo lose and the New England Patriots defeat the Miami Dolphins, New England will win the division. Kickoff for the Bills game with Jets is set for 4:25  Sunday afternoon. Go Bills!

Four applications will be available for sports bettors who want to use their mobile devices for gambling.  The New York State Gaming Commission announced that  Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Rush Street Interactive can accept wagers beginning Saturday, Jan. 8 at 9 a.m.  There are 5 more applications working toward being approved and will be available as soon as they finish the process.  

A 24 year old woman is dead after falling into the Warsaw Falls Wednesday morning.  Investigators say they found the woman’s car at the Warsaw Village Park around 11:30 a.m. and followed footprints in the snow from the car to the nearby waterfall.  Police say they believe she was headed home when she slipped into the gorge, and her body was recovered by the Wyoming County Rope Rescue Team.  Investigators are conducting an autopsy and the woman’s name is not being released at the request of her family.

After the Chief of police of Greece resigned in disgrace following a drunk driving incident and attempted coverup the new acting police chief was just in an accident wednesday afternoon.  A statement from Greece Police says Acting Chief Jason Helfer was traveling east on Kuhn rd when a westbound vehicle turned in front of him. It goes on to say Helfer tried to avoid a collision but was struck by the other vehicle, losing control and hitting a telephone pole.  State Police say Helfer was taken to Unity Hospital with minor injuries. The other driver was not injured.  Helfer was driving his department-issued Chevy Tahoe.

Christmas may come but once a year but there is something else that only comes once every 5 years.  Perry’s Zero Visibility Ice Cream is being brought out and put back onto store shelves.  The coconut rum ice cream commemorates the Blizzard of 77.  It was first available in 1997.  It will be on shelves for a limited time and then disappear till 2027.

The Buffalo Sabres got close but couldn’t clinch a win against the San Jose Sharks Thursday night.  The Sabres lost 3 to 2 for their fifth straight loss.  Jeff Skinner and Zemgus Girgensons scored for the Buffalo team.  Buffalo made almost twice as many shots on goal as San Jose with Adin Hill saving 35 vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen saving 18.  The Sabres face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday at 7pm at KeyBank Arena.

A Lake Effect snow band can still impact Genesee and Orleans Counties.
A Lake Effect Snow Warning is remains posted until 7 tomorrow morning.
But, so far at least, Genesee County had dodged the dangerous snows.
In the city it has been plenty cold with crisp winds but snow accumulation has been only between 1 and two inches.
The forecast for tonight has a precipitation chance of 60% with less than 3 inches accumulation.
Just the threat of bad weather was enough to close virtually all public schools in Genesee County today.
You didn’t have to go far to find deep snow today. Up to a foot of snow fell on Buffalo into Alden – 13 inches was recorded at the Buffalo Airport.
The potential for more snow is still with us tonight and into early tomorrow.

Governor Hochul has laid out her agenda for the year to come during her first State of the State speech. The Governor addressed several issues such as restoring the public’s trust in the government by using ethics reforms and term limits, combating gun violence, and improving the health care industry.

Genesee County is holding a COVID-19 rapid testing kit distribution this Saturday, January 8th at the Genesee County Fire Training Center, on State Street Rd. The distribution will take place between Noon and 2pm.
There are 2,580 available test kits, with two tests per kit.
Those attending may take up to two kits per household, while the supplies last.
You will have to show proof of residence in Genesee County.

Wyoming County residents are encouraged to pick up KN95 masks weekdays during regular business hours, at the County Health Department on Mungers Hill Road. The masks are also available to residents at public libraries in the county. Local businesses in need of a supply of masks to have on hand should contact the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce.

Many schools and businesses closed today due to the predicted lake effect snow. If you are planning to go out this afternoon, it may be best to call ahead to make sure your destination is open. Stay with WBTA for the latest information on the storm and impact on our area.

Governor Hochul has laid out her agenda for the year to come during her first State of the State address. During her speech in Albany yesterday, the governor addressed several issues such as restoring the public’s trust in the government by using ethics reforms and term limits, combating gun violence, and improving the health care industry. The governor also promised New Yorkers she’ll do her best to make sure their basic needs are met. Governor Hochul is also offering every full-time healthcare worker in the state $3000 if they remain in their positions for one year. Part-time healthcare workers will be eligible for a prorated amount.

After weeks of debate and multiple court hearings, a judge has finally decided the future of the Great Northern grain elevator in Buffalo. The judge said yesterday that the building can be taken down after it was damaged in a severe windstorm last month. Local preservation groups have tried to stop the demolition, saying parts of the structure could still be restored. The grain elevator was built in 1897 and is the last of its kind in North America.

Wyoming County residents are encouraged to pick up KN95 masks weekdays during regular business hours, at the County Health Department on Mungers Hill Road. The masks are also available to residents at public libraries in the county. Local businesses in need of a supply of masks to have on hand should contact the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce. 585-786-0307

Starting today, students in the Rochester City School District are going to be taking their classes remotely. The district says the ongoing coronavirus crisis has caused staff members to call out sick and there aren’t enough substitute teachers available. Online classes are scheduled to continue through at least January 10th with in-person learning set to resume on the 11th. Teachers will still have to report to their buildings even though students won’t be there. // The latest data from the Erie County Department of Health continues to show how bad the COVID-19 crisis is in the area right now. There were 2439 new cases reported yesterday which brings the overall total since the start of the pandemic to 162,480. Nearly 16,000 of those cases were uncovered in just the last 7 days and that number doesn’t include the results of at-home tests. // Today, Niagara County businesses are going to have the chance to get some free masks that’ll help protect both employees and customers from COVID-19. A drive-thru giveaway is happening at the Public Safety Training Facility on Niagara Street Extension Lockport from 11 a-m until six p-m. The masks will be handed out on a first come, first served basis and supplies are limited. Officials say today’s event is part of plan to distribute thousands of masks to people around the county.

The number of Monroe County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 has seen yet another massive increase. The Department of Public Health announced 4094 new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the pandemic started to 126,364. The county is averaging 2059 cases per day over the past week and the seven-day rolling average positivity rate is 18.5%.

Rochester police say they’ve made an arrest in connection with a stabbing that sent an 18-year-old man to the hospital. A 19-year-old woman is facing an assault charge after attacking the victim on Webster Avenue yesterday. The man was stabbed in the lower body and is expected to make a full recovery. Anyone with information on the incident can contact police.

From last night’s 32nd Annual Batavia Rotary Club Girls’ Basketball Tournament, which you heard on WBTA, the following results. In the consolation game, Pembroke beat Batavia, 46-42; and the Championship Game found Notre Dame victorious over LeRoy, 42-33.

After having the last few days off, the Buffalo Sabres will return to the ice in front of their home crowd. The Sabres are hosting the San Jose Sharks at KeyBank Center. Buffalo hasn’t had a game since January 1st when they fell on the road to the Boston Bruins 4-3 in overtime. The Sabres have earned 26 points this season and are currently in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. Face-off for tonight’s game is set for7:00pm.