Local News

Going apple picking this week?  Check where you are going to see if you need reservations.  Many apple growers are requiring pre registration in order to go pick apples at their orchards to cut down on crowds and obey capacity limit rules that are an attempt to slow the spread of COVID 19.  Some have you pay in advance which will cover the price of entry and a bag of apples.  Locally both Watts Farms and Roanoke Orchard say on their websites or social media that they are not doing u-pick this year.

Are you having issues with your Excelsior Pass?  The New York State Health department launched the electronic Excelsior Pass 6 months ago and some people are reporting that they no longer show as vaccinated.  Sometimes the state database seems to have lost their name or changes the spelling of it and declares them not vaccinated.  Some have reported it showing their status as expired.  The passes are supposed to be good for at least a year but the NYS Health department says some passes are only good for 180 days.  They say if you are having trouble to call the location you received your vaccine.  Also deleting and reinstalling the app may fix the problem.

All Rochester City School students not currently on a bus route should be by the end of September according to Superintendent Dr. Lesi Myers-Small.  Myers-Small said in her weekly email newsletter that affected families will be getting a call and a letter from the transportation department early next week with the details.  The superintendent also says school bus driver absences are still causing problems. The district averages about 20 per day with no substitute drivers available.

The snow leopard cub at the Seneca Park Zoo may have a name soon but they continue to need the public’s help to choose between 3 names that were submitted.  Out of 750 public submitted names the 3 are Tashi which means “Good Luck,” Sabu which means “Snow Leopard,” and Kenji which means “Strong.”  They all reflect the strides he’s made since his start. He was born hypothermic and dehydrated and has been hand raised by zookeepers since.  His mom is Timila, the zoo’s four-year-old snow leopard.  To vote follow the link on Seneca Park Zoo’s Facebook Page.

The University of Rochester Medical Centers will be pausing elective surgeries starting Monday due to staffing shortages.  This pause will last 2 weeks.  The medical centers say 99 percent of their professional medical staff are vaccinated but only 90 percent of all employees are fully vaccinated.  The healthcare system is also temporarily closing UR Medicine Urgent Cares in Spencerport and Farmington.  The system says patients should expect lengthier wait times for routine appointments, potential temporary bed closures and some workers being asked to take on other duties. Emergency and critical care, it says, will continue.

The kids who painted the rocks for the peace garden have received some recognition for their donation.  The children of St Josephs school Summer Camp worked to paint 30 stones to decorate the Peace Garden on East Main Street in Batavia to replace the ones stolen in August.  The students, including four who served as leaders from Notre Dame High School, were honored with Certificates of Appreciation Thursday at the Summit Street elementary school.

A Batavia man is facing new felony charges of rape and sexual assault in a case that goes back seven years. 40-year-old Melvin Huntley of Wilkinson Road has now been charged with Rape in the 1st Degree, 1st Degree sexual abuse and predatory sexual assault.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies said the on-going investigation found that Huntley had subjected a total of four victims to various incidents of sexual assault over the course of seven years. Deputies say Huntley was previously charged in relation to the initial three victims but these new charges relate to a recently discovered fourth victim. Huntley remains in the Genesee County Jail.

State health officials say Western New York has the second-lowest vaccination rate among home nursing staff of any region in New York. They say 22 percent of nursing home staff remain unvaccinated. This Monday, the vaccination deadline for health care workers takes effect. Governor Hochul has said the state will find replacements for those employees who are not yet vaccinated by the deadline.

Legendary Notre Dame High School Basketball Coach Mike Rapone says the upcoming season will be his last.
His last season will be his 42nd at the helm of one of Section 5’s most successful boys basketball programs.
The school says Rapone’s replacement will be announced before the start of the upcoming season.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) says today he’s happy to see State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker go.
Hawley has been a frequent critic of Zucker and demanded his resignation on many occasions. Hawley questioned the role Zucker may have played in the potential cover-up of the true number of fatalities that occurred in nursing homes during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bills Mafia probably won’t find this news surprising but a website has ranked Bills’ fans among the most loyal fans in the NFL.
The website called Lineups-dot-com surveyed pro football fans about fan behavior when they move away from their hometown. Bills fans are ranked third most loyal, right behind a couple of other diehard fanbases — Green Bay and Dallas. The survey also found that people who moved to the Buffalo area often switch to supporting the Bills.

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker will be stepping down from his position after nearly seven-and-a-half years on the job. Governor Kathy Hochul says she agrees with his decision and went on to thank him for his service on behalf of the state. Hochul noted Dr. Zucker’s hard work throughout the pandemic and says he now has other opportunities he plans to pursue. The governor reports that Dr. Zucker will remain in his position until his replacement can be found.
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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced Thursday that bowhunting seasons for deer and bear will begin in the Southern Zone, where our area is located, on Oct. 1.

There are some changes to big game seasons this year. Bowhunters may only use crossbows during the last 14 days of the Southern Zone bow season, which is Nov. 6-19. To hunt with a crossbow during this time, you must possess a muzzleloader privilege and a crossbow qualifications certificate.
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The Genesee County STOP-DWI Board is inviting all sixth- through 12th-grade students to submit a poster design that reflects the dangers of drinking and driving. Designs should focus on the effects drinking and driving have on an individual, their family and the community.
The theme for the 2021 poster contest is, “If you drink it’s your business, if you drink and drive it’s ours.”

Complete details are located here.
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Rochester police say one of their officers involved in the handcuffing of Daniel Prude in March of last year will face departmental charges in the incident. Prude died when he was taken off life support a week after Rochester police restrained and handcuffed him while he was in a mental health crisis and was resisting officers. The police department says Officer Mark Vaughn was served with departmental charges last night, though the statement did not specify the nature of those charges. Vaughn is one of seven officers who have been suspended in the incident but he’s the only officer the department has charged.

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New York’s three NFL teams are partnering with the state in an effort to boost COVID-19 vaccination numbers. Gov. Kathy Hochul says this is rooted in her belief that people need to hear from trusted voices in order to overcome vaccine hesitancy. The campaign includes weekly drawings for five-straight weeks in which entrants can win game tickets, signed memorabilia, and even FaceTime calls with alumni players. In order to be eligible, you must have received your first dose of the coronavirus vaccine between Aug. 9 and Oct. 25.
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“He’s listening.” For the past two days, some lucky shoppers in the Buffalo area had the chance to get up close and personal with Seattle’s most famous fictional radio psychiatrist. Actor Kelsey Grammer, who played the character of Dr. Frasier Crane on both “Cheers” and the popular spinoff “Frasier,” was on hand at a couple of local grocery stores to promote his new Faith American beer line. He chatted with customers at Dash’s Market on Wednesday, and then on Thursday at Tops on Elmwood Avenue. The Rochester-area gets its chance today, as Grammer will be at the Tops in Penfield today.

In a COVID-19 briefing on Thursday morning, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state’s health commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker, had resigned.  As commissioner of the state health department, Zucker’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic came under fire in 2020 and into 2021. Following a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James in January of this year on the deaths of COVID-19 patients in nursing homes, several elected leaders in Western New York called for Zucker’s resignation.  Governor Kathy Hochul will appoint the next commissioner and Zucker will stay in his position until that replacement is appointed.

The New York State Comptrollers office has released a report saying they found lax oversight of operations at Western Region Off Track Betting.  Western Regional Off-Track Betting spent thousands on tickets to events, food and alcohol for board members, employees and other individuals without state oversight, according to an audit released Thursday.  A second audit found that CEO Henry Wojtaszek did not reimburse the organization for his personal use of a company vehicle in a timely manner.

New York State announced the “Vax and Win” COVID-19 vaccine incentive partnership today.  The program is a partnership between NYS and the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and New York Jets. It offers New Yorkers a chance to win tickets, signed merchandise and more.  It is open to New Yorkers 12 and older who received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose between September 9, 2021 and October 24, 2021.  For more information follow the link at wbtai.com.  https://www.governor.ny.gov/programs/new-york-state-vax-and-win-football-sweepstakes

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the Public’s assistance in locating Marc C. J. Cook.  Mr. Cook is wanted on multiple Warrants including Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd and Bail Jumping 2nd, all Felonies in Alabama Town Court.  He is also wanted by Batavia City Court for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th, Criminal Use of Drug  Paraphernalia 2nd, Possession of a Hypodermic Needle, and three counts of Bail Jumping 3rd, all Misdemeanor charges.  If anyone knows his whereabouts, please contact the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office at 585-343-5000.

Jack Eichel is no longer the captain of the Buffalo Sabres.  The Sabres and Eichel have been at odds lately as Eichel, following a neck injury, accused the team of not supporting him during his recovery and making bad medical decisions that could have ended his career.  General Manager Kevyn Adams said that the decisions was made because “the captain should be the heartbeat of his team.”

Two people are dead following a collision between a car and a tractor-trailer in Pembroke.
The crash occurred yesterday afternoon. Deputies say the driver of a 2009 Chevrolet Sedan, 69-year-old Arnold Herdendorf of Lockport, failed to stop at a stop sign on Route 77 while westbound on Indian Falls Road. He crashed into the tractor trailer in the intersection. Herdendorf and a passenger, 70-year-old Christopher Rowell also of Lockport, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The truckdriver and a passenger in the big rig were not injured.

The Batavia City School Board of Education is working with the superintendent of Genesee Valley BOCES in the district’s search for a new superintendent.
Kevin MacDonald will hold virtual sessions with stakeholders including staff and the community next week.
The district hopes to announce a new superintendent in early November, and have the person start Jan. 1 or sooner.

Governor Kathy Hochul says the results of the study of Buffalo Bills Stadium will be released soon. She says all options for the future of the stadium are being studied. Officials with Pegula Sports and Entertainment say they prefer a location in Orchard Park close to the current stadium. They estimate the stadium would cost about one-point-four-billion dollars and seat up to 62,000 fans.

Batavia Downs continues to give back to the community.
The Downs and Western Region OTB presented a check today to the Alzheimer’s for $2,000 in support of Western New York patients and their families. The money was collected this summer at the Rockin’ the Downs Concert Series.

The Genesee County STOP-DWI Board is inviting all sixth- through 12th-grade students to submit a poster design that reflects the dangers of drinking and driving. Designs should focus on the effects drinking and driving have on an individual, their family and the community.
The theme for the 2021 poster contest is, “If you drink it’s your business, if you drink and drive it’s ours.”
Details on the contest HERE

In support of the Genesee County STOP-DWI program, the STOP-DWI Board invites all sixth- through 12th-grade students to submit a poster design that reflects the dangers of drinking and driving.
Designs should focus on the effects drinking and driving have on an individual, their family and the community.
The theme for the 2021 poster contest is, “If you drink it’s your business, if you drink and drive it’s ours.”

Guidelines:

Contestants must be enrolled as a sixth- through 12th-grader in a Genesee County School;
Poster should be no larger than 9’’ x 12” and must include the theme of: “If you drink it’s your business, if you drink and drive it’s ours”;
Please submit your artwork in landscape (horizontal) orientation;
Each submission should be the original student’s work. Submissions should be mailed or dropped off to the address below;
Each entry must include the artist’s full name, address, phone number, grade, age and school on the back of the poster (no personal information should be on the illustration).
Designs can be in any medium, including computer-generated. However, we strongly recommend that students create strong, simple and colorful designs that will deliver the most visual impact for their message.

Grand Prize Winner — gift card, T-shirt with their artwork on it and their artwork on a billboard in Genesee County. They will also be honored at the STOP DWI luncheon banquet in November.

First- through third-place winners from each category (sixth – eighth grade; ninth – 12th grade; and graphic art) will receive a gift card, commendation and T-shirt with the overall winner’s design. They will also be recognized at the STOP-DWI luncheon banquet in November.

DEADLINE: Entries must be received in person or by mail by 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8th.

Send submissions to:

Genesee County Youth Bureau

ATTN: STOP DWI Poster Contest

2 Bank St.

Batavia, NY 14020

Two people are dead following yesterday’s vehicle collision in Pembroke.  Local deputies say it happened shortly before 1:45 p.m. when a passenger vehicle headed west on Indian Falls Road blew through a stop sign at the intersection of Rt. 77 and was T-boned by a semi tractor-trailer.  Both vehicles reportedly came to rest in a nearby field.  Two people in the car were declared dead at the scene.  No other injuries were reported

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The Batavia Board of Education is working with the superintendent of Genesee Valley BOCES in the district’s search for a new superintendent.

Kevin MacDonald will help the board during the process. Virtual sessions with stakeholders including staff and the community will be held next week.

The district hopes to announce a new superintendent in early November, and have the person start Jan. 1 or sooner.

Here is the schedule of the informational sessions, along with the link to register:

Tue., Sept. 28 @ 3:30pm – Staff/employee stakeholders (must have bataviacsd.org domain to register)
Tue., Sept. 28 @ 6:00pm – Community stakeholders
Wed., Sept. 29 @ 5:30pm – Staff/community

Register for a virtual information session here.

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A man from York is facing felony charges after he threatened to shoot employees from the county’s family court.

Livingston County Sheriffs say Chad Curtis, 38, sent threatening emails to family court employees after he was upset about pending matters with the court.

Curtis faces felony charges for making a terroristic threat and aggravated harassment.

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Beginning Sept. 29, proof of vaccination will be required for anyone who wants to go to any event at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.  For the first month, from Sept. 29 through Nov. 2, guests will be allowed to enter the arena with just one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.  Beginning Nov. 3, guests must be fully vaccinated.  Anyone younger than 12 years of age will not have to show proof of vaccination.

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Governor Kathy Hochul calls work to upgrade the Niagara Power Project part of New York’s effort to fight the apocalypse of climate change.  The governor visited the power plant yesterday upon the completion of the latest upgrade to the facility.  The $460 million upgrade replaced all 12 power-generating turbines at the Lewiston Pump Generating Station and took ten years to complete.  The station is one of the two power plants at the complex.  It’s part of a $1.1 billion project called Next Generation Niagara, which is key to the state’s goal of no carbon emissions by the year 2040.

The Governors traffic Safety Committee released the impact the STOP DWI campaign had earlier this year.  Over 2500 tickets were issued to impaired drivers, and over 94 thousand tickets were issued for other violations.

Blue Cross Arena in Rochester is going to start requiring anyone attending an event to be fully COVID vaccinated starting November 3^rd.  From September 29^th through November 2^nd one dose will be ok for entry.  This is for anyone 12 and over.  All those 12 and under must wear masks.

ECMC has announced it will be suspending inpatient elective surgeries due to staffing shortages.  They say the COVID Vaccine requirements for healthcare workers is to blame.  ECMC’s suspension of elective surgeries is part of a contingency plan as it prepares for staffing shortages due to the vaccine requirement. ECMC said the plan also includes not allowing ICU transfers from other facilities, reducing the number of units at the Terrace View long term care facility, and cutting hours at the outpatient clinics. A spokesperson for the hospital says over 400 staff are unvaccinated and will not be able to work under the mandate.

Governor Hochul announced Tuesday that the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Energy research and Development Authority will be working to monitor air quality in minority communities.  The readings would be used to develop strategies to reduce pollution.  According to the governor’s office, NYSERDA will work within its Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative process to allocate funding to the effort. The DEC’s Environmental Justice Program will also provide up to $500,000 in Community Air Monitoring Capacity Building Grants to ensure community participation.

Police are asking for community help in finding the suspects in the August 28^th shooting on South Main street.  There is a video of the people they are looking for on our news partner the Batavian.  Shots were fired at a home in what police say was a targeted incident.

Because of rain this morning, Allenview Drive and Garden Drive in the City of Batavia won’t be closed today for roadwork.  Bureau of Maintenance Superintendent Raymond Tourt said the planned work has been rescheduled for tomorrow.

The Buffalo Sabres and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin have agreed to terms on a three-year contract.  The team made the announcement Wednesday, the average annual value of the contract is $6 million. Dahlin was selected first overall by the Sabres in the 2018 NHL Draft and was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2018-19. He has played 197 games in his NHL career tallying 18 goals and 89 assists for 107 points.

The Buffalo Bisons wrap up the 2021 season with a five-game homestand against Lehigh Valley beginning tonight.  Since returning to Sahlen Field on August 10, the Bisons have averaged 4,030 fans per game. Total attendance across the 18 home games played between August 10 and the beginning of this final homestand has reached 72,533.  Attendance for Bisons games at Sahlen Field is down 49.5% from 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City of Batavia Planning & Development Committee approved a site plan for the Healthy Living campus. It’s a joint venture between United Memorial Medical Center and the GLOW YMCA.

According to The Batavian, the committee approved the $30 million project by a 3-1 vote. The approved project eliminates a proposed traffic exit onto Summit Street, and eliminates 30 parking spaces between the existing YMCA and GO ART!

The Healthy Living Campus is slated to replace the current YMCA.

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The State Department of Labor last week said the state’s unemployment rate dipped slightly in August from 7.6% to 7.4%.

The latest unemployment figures for August showed that Genesee County’s unemployment rate was 4.5%, a full 3% drop from the rate in August 2020. It’s also one of the lowest county unemployment rate in the state.

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The Rochester man arrested in connection with violent protests at the United States Capitol is due back in court today. Prosecutors have charged Dominic Pezzola with multiple crimes for his alleged role in the January 6 protests including conspiracy and assaulting police. Pezzola was among a group of protesters who were trying to prevent Congress from certifying President Biden’s win over former President Donald Trump. Pezzola is currently behind bars and awaiting trial.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced yet another effort to get teenagers vaccinated against the coronavirus. The governor said yesterday that 120 new pop-up vaccination sites will be opening statewide over the next 12 weeks. The hope is to boost the immunization rate among people in the 12 to 17-year-old age group. So far, only 54 percent of New Yorkers in that category have been vaccinated which is the lowest of any demographic that’s currently eligible to get their shots. Hochul also says there are no plans to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for students.

The Governor is making a trip to Rochester today, to announce that Constellation Brands will move its headquarters from Victor to downtown Rochester. The company, which distributes beer, wine and spirits like Modelo beer and Svedka vodka, is expected to bring 300 jobs to downtown Rochester.

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A federal judge has issued a new ruling involving a mandate that health care workers in New York State get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19. The judge says the state can’t enforce the rule on people who seek or obtain a religious exemption until October 12. The order is being challenged by health professionals who are claiming the mandate is a violation of their Constitutional rights because it doesn’t allow exemptions for religious reasons. Any health care worker who hasn’t received an exemption must still get vaccinated by September 27.

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If you feel like you’ve been bitten by more mosquitos this year, you’re not alone. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is requesting more federal dollars – a 61% increase, to be exact – for the CDC’s Vector-Borne Diseases programs which helps fend off the increasing mosquito population and curb the spread of disease spread by mosquitos like West Nile.

Schumer said a wet summer and climate change could keep the mosquitos around during the fall months. A recent article by the Syracuse Post-Standard said Syracuse is experiencing 25 times more mosquitos this year than last. local departments of health to ensure research findings and information are getting out into the community more rapidly, support surveillance efforts, and promote outreach and education.

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Yesterday, we reported at the Biden Administration would keep the land border between the U.S. and Canada closed to Canadians until October 21. Now U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wants President Biden to open up the border sooner and allow Canadians in.

Gillibrand said the border closure strained supply chains of New York businesses, hospitals, and medical equipment providers that rely on travel across the border to stay afloat. She said it’s also affecting cross-border families, including service members at Fort Drum.

Gillibrand said the closure and loss of Canadian business is costing the U.S. economy $1.5 billion each month and $665-855 million annually in Erie County alone.

Police want to correct a story that went out about a stop and manhunt on Rt 33.  It was originally reported that the man fired off at least a dozen shots while the police were searching for him.  In actuality there was a propane fueled wildlife scare cannon in use nearby that sounded like gunshots.  The man, 44 year old Arthur Brown of LeRoy, is facing three felony charges including weapons possession, menacing a police officer, and evidence tampering. Brown is also facing three misdemeanor charges and two traffic violations. He is being held in the Genesee County Jail without bail and will be in court October 5.  The passenger in the car, 29-year-old Brianna Smith of Rochester, who says she only met Brown earlier that day, has a warrant in the state of Florida for violating probation, but the state of Florida would not extradite Smith. She faces one charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance and will back in Stafford Town Court at a later date.

Senator Chuck Schumer is calling upon the federal government to combat rising Mosquito populations in New York State.  Schumer says that this year has had record numbers of the tiny blood sucking insects and thousands of West Nile Virus carriers have been identified.  Onondaga county has reported a 25 times increase in the numbers of mosquitos from last year.  Schumer is calling on the CDC to increase vector borne disease funding and the EPA to work harder to control mosquito populations.

The 45^th annual Letchworth Arts and Crafts show and sale is coming to Perry Park on Columbus Day weekend.  October 9-11^th go see over 200 artisans, food vendors, live entertainments and family fun activities.  The show is moving from Letchworth park to Perry park over covid concerns and restrictions.  Follow the link on WBTAi.com for more details.  http://artswyco.org/

Over 700 season ticket holders have requested a refund for the Buffalo Bills over the vaccine mandate.  Friday is the deadline to request a refund. All those who do will lose their ticket seniority and seat.  Under the mandate Fans 12 and over must have proof of at least one vaccine by Sunday’s home game and must be fully vaccinated by October 31.  Anyone under the age of 12 must wear a mask at all times.  Sabres season ticket holders have until Tuesday at 5 p.m. to request a refund for their tickets.

The man who fled a traffic stop Sunday night in Stafford is facing a slew of charges. Police say 44-year-old Arthur Brown of LeRoy was seen driving erratically on Rt. 33 in Stafford, and when his vehicle was pulled over, Brown fled into a wooded area. That’s when police heard what sounded like gunshots, but was actually a wildlife scare cannon that’s used to scare off birds and other animals that might damage crops.

A nearly five-hour search by police finally ended around just before 11:30 p.m. when Brown was taken into custody by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team.

Brown is facing three felony charges including weapons possession, menacing a police officer, and evidence tampering. Brown is also facing three misdemeanor charges and two traffic violations. He is being held in the Genesee County Jail without bail and will be in court October 5.

A passenger in the car, 29-year-old Brianna Smith of Rochester, has a warrant in the state of Florida for violating probation, but the state of Florida would not extradite Smith. She faces one charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance and will back in Stafford Town Court at a later date.
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The city of Batavia will be closing some roads tomorrow for resurfacing. Parts of Allenview Drive and Garden Drive will be close tomorrow between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. The city will also resurface the parking lot at Lion’s Park and the Canale Lot off Ellicott Street.

The work should be completed in a day as long as the weather doesn’t postpone the work.
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The Biden Administration says the land border between the United States and Canada is going to be closed for another month. That means Canadians won’t be able to drive into the U.S. for nonessential reasons until October 21. But a White House official revealed yesterday foreign visitors can fly into the U.S. in November if they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19. In August, Canada began allowing Americans who are protected from the virus to enter their country for the first time in months. U.S. officials say Canadians can cross the border for essential reasons such as business or to receive medical care.
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A federal lawsuit has been filed to challenge a mandate that children statewide are required to wear masks in school and on the bus. The legal action is being taken by parents who claim the rights of their kids are being violated because the facial covering order causes them harm. The attorneys for the plaintiffs say some children have complained of health issues such as headaches, anxiety, and depression due to having a mask on. Governor Kathy Hochul said last month she was putting the masking guideline in place because she believes it’s the best way to keep everyone safe from COVID-19.
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Governor Kathy Hochul is announcing a new series of environmental goals as Climate Week gets underway in the state. Hochul is calling on the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and New York State Department of Public Service to develop a solar roadmap that would expanded the state’s current solar program to at least 10 gigawatts by 2030. Hochul is also aiming to have over one-million zero emissions vehicles on the road by 2035, which is on par with California’s goals.

More details are expected later today from the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office about last night’s traffic stop where the driver fled on foot and shot at police.

It started on near Mill Road on Rt. 33 in Stafford just after 6 p.m. yesterday when Howard Owens, from our news partner The Batavian, called police about a car driving erratically. He said a sheriff’s deputy pulled the car over and the driver burst out of the car, fled on foot into a corn field, pulled out a weapon and started shooting. For the next five hours, a search for the man included Batavia police, a K-9 unit, a State Police helicopter, and the Monroe County SWAT team. The man was taken into custody just before midnight. A female passenger in the suspect’s car was also taken into custody.

Owens gives the whole timeline of last night’s incident at TheBatavian.com.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a plan to address the shortage of bus drivers that is plaguing many school districts across the state. In the short-term, the state will expand testing opportunities for interested drivers to get their CDL license, and the DMV is removing the 2-week waiting period between the permit and road tests – an effort to get more drivers into school buses.

Hochul is also directing state agencies to come up with a plan to recruit more drivers – including reaching out to the more than 550,000 CDL license holders in New York state to gauge interest in becoming a school bus driver.

This past weekend, Rep. Lee Zeldin, the leading Republican candidate for next year’s governor’s race, said he was diagnosed with leukemia last year. The Long Island lawmaker issued a statement Saturday saying he was diagnosed in November with early-stage chronic myeloid leukemia and began immediate treatment. The 41-year-old said he’s achieved complete remission and expects to lead a normal life.

Today is the kickoff of Sheriffs’ Week in the state which celebrates the contributions of Sheriff Offices across the state. Here in Genesee County, the Sheriff’s Office was established in 1802. The Sheriff’s Office says its duties go beyond just keeping the peace, the Sheriff’s Office also maintains the county jail, provides security to courts and schools, runs animal control, and dispatches emergency services, among other duties.

With Governor Hochul and Genesee Orleans County Health Commissioner Paul Petit both saying that booster shots for fully vaccinated individuals will be coming soon and with a possibility of mandates to follow the FDA has put its foot down and said no.  On Friday the FDA overwhelmingly rejected recommending booster shots for most people who were fully vaccinated.  The committee voted 16 to 2 to only recommend giving boosters to people who had compromised immune systems or were at specifically high risk due to age or special health circumstances.  The Federal Government had been asking for approval of boosters for the general population 16 years old and up.

A motorcycle accident on Walnut Street at Law Street Friday afternoon left the rider seriously injured.  The collision occurred at about 12:22 when the bike slammed into the side of a pickup truck at the intersection.  The 30-year-old male, whose name has not yet been released was taken ECMC by Mercy Flight.  According to Sgt. Mitchell Cowen, Batavia PD, the motorcycle was traveling west on Law Street at a high rate of speed and passing other vehicles and collided with a pick-up truck that was headed north on Route 98.

Western New Yorkers donated over 4350 pounds of food to FeedMore WNY during Thursdays Buffalo Strong Back To School Food Drive.  You can help raise money to feed people in Western NY by joining FeedMore WNY for Walk Off Hunger on Friday, October 1 through Sunday, October 3.  You can sign up for one of seven walks in Western New York on Friday and Saturday for Walk Off Weekend, or creating your own route.  Registration is $25 for anyone over 12 and free for anyone under 12.  To register follow the link on wbtai.com.  https://www.feedmorewny.org/walk-off-hunger/

Highmark Stadium and Keybank Arena are not allowing refunds for tickets to events that ticketholders cannot attend due to the vaccine rules.  Ticketmaster says that the venues are still planning to hold the events and their policy does not allow refunds if the organizer doesn’t specifically allow it.  People who bought tickets are upset, many people have medical exemptions to taking the COVID vaccine and say they bought tickets before the rules changed and it is unfair that they cant get refunds to events they can’t attend.

For the first time since 2005 the Buffalo Bisons are champions.  They won the division title for only the 10^th time on Thursday with a loss to the Rochester Red Wings.  But because of the loss by Wilkes Barre to Lehigh Valley and the Bisons 70 to 44 record it made the Bisons the winners of the championship.  This is the bison’s best season since 2001.  Following their series with Rochester, the Bisons will compete in Triple-A’s 10-game “Final Stretch” playoff. Five of those games will be played at Sahlen Field from September 22-26.

Governor Hochul signed a law today which largely eliminates New York’s practice of incarcerating people for technical parole violations that include being late to an appointment with a parole officer, missing curfew, changing a residence without approval, and failing to attend a mandated program.  Proponents of the bill said that jailing people for these violations was unfair and caused recidivism.

The President and the Governor have both stated they will be pushing COVID booster shots as soon as they are approved or the general populace.  Pfizer and Moderna have assured the government that there will be no shortage of shots for those who want them.  The reason for a booster shot is that antibodies begin to decline over time.  Critics of the need for boosters, which include many health professionals from around the country, say that by focusing on antibodies we would need boosters every year but t-cell immunity, which controls antibody production, has been shown to last long after the antibodies decline.  Excelsior passes expire after a year and officials say there shouldn’t be a need to get booster shots to renew it.

As part of a statewide Day of Service project, employees of National Grid volunteered at Arc of Genesee Orleans in Batavia to dismantle obsolete machines, boxes, and pallets.  These had been used to recycle cans, cardboard, plastic, and newspapers. National Grid employees broke down and made ready for removal old equipment that wasn’t being used anymore.

Genesee county had 2 ribbon winners at the Cortland Fairgrounds on September 11^th.  Eva Rhoads and Alexandria Tarbell competed at the New York State 4-H Hippology and Horse Judging Contest and came in 2^nd overall in the state.  Individually in the Senior Division of the Hippology contest, Alexandria Tarbell placed 4th and Eva Rhoads placed 9th.  The 4-H Hippology Contest is an opportunity for youth to demonstrate their knowledge of equine science.  The contest consisted of written questions, identification stations, horse judging and a team problem.  Youth qualified to participate in the event by scoring well in their 4-H regional competition.

Fisher Price is making Buffalo Bills toys for tots.  The infant and small children’s toy company is now producing Lets Go Buffalo Little People figures such as Josh Allen, Sean McDermott, as well as 2 Bills Mafia Fans wearing team apparel and one has a chicken wing hat on.  100% of the proceeds from the set will be donated to the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation, which supports Oishei Children’s Hospital.

Governor Hochul says Afghan refugees will be resettling in cities across New York over the next few months. The U.S. Department of State’s Afghan Placement Program says there are going to be up to more than 1,100 who left that country recently arriving in the Empire State.
They’ll be placed in their new homes by March 31st and 335 of them will be living in Buffalo and elsewhere in Western New York.

Batavia Police are looking to identify two women who forced their way into Go Art. The pair was caught on surveillance video wondering through the building with flashlights. The tape was released by police yesterday.
If you have any information, call Batavia Police.

View the surveillance video HERE

PHOTO: Taken from surveillance video

The superintendent of the Rochester City School District has been accused of harassing an employee.
The school board president says that an outside law firm will investigate the claims made against Lesli Myers-Small.
No further information has been revealed about this case including the details of the alleged harassment. There’s also no word when the law firm will issue its report.

There is a serious shortage of school bus drivers.
The Buffalo Schools superintendent has suggested calling in the National Guard to deal with the shortage.
The Governor of Massachusetts recently used the National Guard to help drive children to school.
Other ideas that were floated included paying parents and teachers to drive kids to school.

The Holland Land Office Museum in Batavia is looking for a few good men or women. The museum is reaching out to anyone with an interest in local history for help in staffing the facility. You could volunteer in the gift shop, document artifacts or serve as a docent. Contact the museum office.

Buffalo Schools superintendent has suggested calling in the National Guard to deal with the bus driver shortage.  Dr Kriner Cash said that because many National Guard have army training they can drive busses.  The Governor of Massachusetts recently used the National Guard to help drive children to school.  Other ideas that were floated included paying parents and teachers to drive kids to school.

A Law designed to enhance reporting at nursing homes has been struck down.  Ruthies Law, which makes it so nursing homes have to report any incident involving a resident to their family as well as disclose any injuries that may have been suffered, was struck down by a judge citing that only the NYS Dept of Health and the State Legislature were the only ones that could make a law that effected the whole state.  The law was put in place by Erie county.

The Buffalo Sabres and The Toronto Maple Leafs will be playing the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic.  The game will take place at the Tim Hortons Field, in Hamilton, Ontario, March 13 2022 at 3pm to be specific.  NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says “by inviting the first U.S.-based team to a Heritage Classic, we will celebrate the greater Golden Horseshoe region as the home of so many fans of both the Leafs and Sabres.”  This will be the sixth Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic, the first took place in November 2003.

The Batavia Town Board has taken several procedurals steps toward the eventual re-construction of Park Rd.
The $4.3-million dollar will rebuild Park Road from Lewiston Road, Route 63 to Oak Street, Route 98.
The Town board approved borrowing $3-million to cover the town’s portion of the project cost.

Retired City of Batavia Chief of Police Mark L. Robinson has passed away unexpectedly.
Mr. Robinson died last week in his hometown of LeRoy. He was with the Batavia Police Department for 30-years.

Governor Hochul’s mandated COVID vaccinations for health care workers has brought local opponents to the streets.
About two dozen sign carrying health care workers protested the order at Ellicott and Main during yesterday’s afternoon commute.
Hochul’s mandate requires unvaccinated health care workers to get at least one shot of the COVID vaccine by September 27th or risk losing their jobs.

Governor Hochul has issued another COVID order. The governor says that children over the age of two and employees at day care centers will have to wear masks.
Hochul says kids are at high risk of contracting the virus since there currently isn’t a vaccine available for anyone under the age of 12.

Visitors are again allowed at the Genesee County Jail.
Visitation of inmates had been halted as COVID cases went on the rise.

The Arc of Genesee-Orleans and the Arc of Livingston-Wyoming are holding job fairs next Thursday, a week from today. The two agencies will soon be merged into one called GLOW-Arc. The job fair will be held in Mount Morris and Batavia They are looking for direct support professionals to work in the day programs and residential settings.

Some legendary toys and games have been announced as finalists for enshrinement into the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester. The list includes American Girl Dolls, Battleship, billiards, Cabbage Patch Kids and the Fisher-Price Corn Popper.
The inductees will be announced on November 4th.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s mandated COVID vaccinations for health care workers is approaching a deadline.
The order requires unvaccinated health care workers to get at least one shot by September 27th.

About two dozen people gathered at the Main and Ellicott in downtown Batavia last night protesting what they proclaimed is a loss of freedom.
The protestors found support for their cause by passers-by honking horns and giving thumbs up.

Denise Adamski if a registered nurse at UMMC

Governor Hochul has issued another COVID order. The governor says that children over the age of two and employees at day care centers will have to wear masks. Hochul says kids are at high risk of contracting the virus since there currently isn’t a vaccine available for anyone under the age of 12.

The Genesee County Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee has stepped into mandate mayhem. The committee went on record yesterday opposed to the governor’s order requiring vaccinations for all health care workers.
The full legislature takes up the issue next week.

The Arc of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties is having a hiring fair before the merger of the four counties into one organization. This hiring fair is September 23rd and will be in both Mt Morris and Batavia. They are looking for direct support professionals to work in the day programs and residential settings.

Racing fans around the region will once again get to see the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series up close next year.
The series will return to Watkins Glen International on Sunday, August 21st, 2022.
NASCAR has run races at the road course since 1986 with the lone exception being 2020 when the event was canceled due to COVID-19.

Some legendary toys and games have been announced as finalists for enshrinement into the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester. The list includes American Girl Dolls, Battleship, billiards, Cabbage Patch Kids and the Fisher-Price Corn Popper. Also eligible are Mahjong, Masters of the Universe, the pinata, Risk, sand, The Settlers of Catan and the toy fire engine. The inductees will be announced on November 4th.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a universal mask requirement for child care and daycare centers in the state, effective today.  And this isn’t just for kids either, new masking requirements will also apply to congregate programs and facilities licensed, registered, operated, certified or approved by the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. This includes but is not limited to certified residential and day programs, inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, substance abuse programs, juvenile detention programs, juvenile residential facilities, congregate foster care programs, runaway and homeless youth, domestic violence and other shelter programs.  The mandate is that everyone must wear a mask if they are able to medically tolerate it, regardless of age or vaccination status.

Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro says he will veto any public money going to the new Buffalo Bills stadium as long as a COVID vaccine is required to go to the stadium.  He says “I will not support tax dollars to build a stadium if rules remain in place that only certain people can use it.  If everyone is paying for it, everyone should be able to use it.”  This followed the announcement that Highmark stadium and the Keybank arena will require that everyone 12 and over who attends an event must be vaccinated.

The ARC of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties is having a hiring fair before the merger of the counties into one organization.  This hiring fair is September 23^rd and will be in both Mt Morris and Batavia.  They are looking for direct support professionals to work in the day programs and residential settings.

Bills players Cole Beasley and Reid Ferguson are offering to buy the tickets of anyone who purchased them and is now unable to go to a Buffalo Bills game at Highmark stadium because they are unvaccinated.  They are asking on twitter that fans who bought tickets for games and cant attend send them a direct message on Twitter and they will happily buy back the tickets.  Pegula Sports and Erie county officials announced the vaccine requirement yesterday after many people decried the lack of masks at the first Buffalo Bills game of the regular season.  Season ticket holders have till Friday to ask for a refund from the team if they won’t get a vaccine but they will lose ticket seniority and seat location.  Individual tickets are not refundable.

Police identify the victim of an apparent accident at Western New York Concrete.
64-year-old Randy Ridd of Batavia died yesterday afternoon when he became stuck in a stone bin at the East Main Street facility.
City of Batavia firemen were able to extricate Ridd but it was too late. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation continues. Police say the incident appears to be accidental.

A Wyoming County man is staring at a rape allegation. Deputies based in Warsaw say they arrested 52-year-old Kevin Gordon of Wyoming, NY. He was taken into custody following a sex offense investigation involving a person under the age of 17 years old. Kevin P. Gordon was charged with Rape in the Third Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He was arraigned and was committed to the Wyoming County Jail on $5,000 bail. -0-

A new poll shows there are plenty of Empire State residents who have a favorable opinion of Governor Hochul. According to the Siena College survey, 42-percent of people polled say they have positive view of the governor compared to 17-percent who don’t. However, 41-percent said they don’t know enough about Hochul yet to form an opinion of her. Hochul took office last month following the resignation of ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo in the aftermath of sexual harassment allegations made against him. Previously, Hochul had served as the Lieutenant Governor since 2015.

-A federal judge has issued a ruling involving a mandate that all health care workers in New York State get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19. The judge said that the requirement can’t be enforced on people who seek or obtain a religious exemption. Last month, health care workers were ordered to be immunized by September 27th, but several health professionals filed a lawsuit claiming the mandate was a violation of their Constitutional rights because it disallowed exemptions for religious reasons.

A new requirement is being put in place for fans who attend Buffalo Bills games at Highmark Stadium and Buffalo Sabres contests at KeyBank Center. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announces that anyone 12 and older who goes to a game at those facilities must be vaccinated against COVID-19. One dose of vaccine will be required for the Bills’ next home game September 26th against the Washington Football Team and full immunization needs to be completed by the end of October.

A man working at Western New York Concrete Corp. at 638 East Main Street in Batavia died after becoming stuck in a stone bin. The cause of death is under investigation. Batavia fire and police responded to the scene.

A federal judge in New York has issued a temporary restraining order that stops the state from enforcing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate if a health care worker claims a religious exemption. The decision is a win – at least temporarily – for a group of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who challenged a state regulation mandating the COVID-19 vaccination of health care workers with no exemption for religious beliefs that compel the refusal of such vaccination. The lawsuit accused former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of running a “nearly 18-month-long medical dictatorship” and is laden with grievances about pandemic policies.

Siena College released data on a new poll they did about Governor Kathy Hochul with registered New York State voters. The poll focuses on the opinion voters have about Governor Hochul, and how voters view New York State. 42% of voters are in favor of Kathy Hochul. 74% of voters sat it’s exciting to have New York’s first woman governor and 27% say Cuomo left New York a worse place to live and work then when he was first elected.

He’s a name-protected boy from LeRoy, but he’s in hot water with the law. Troopers arrested the 18-year-old youth, charging him with felony grand larceny after Troopers received a stolen vehicle complaint. The teen was released on an appearance ticket for court.

NY Congresswoman Claudia Tenney has introduced legislation to expand access to headstones and burial plaques for US military veterans who passed away on or after December 30, 1960. Under current law, any veteran who passed away on or after November 1, 1990, is eligible for a headstone or burial plaque through the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, anyone who served prior to that date is only eligible to receive a small medallion to commemorate their life and service to this country. Tenney’s bill would amend current law to expand burial benefits for American veterans who died prior to November 1990.

The state has made progress in making high-speed connections available to New Yorkers, ranking second in the U.S. in the percentage of the population with broadband available in their neighborhood, but more than one million, or 13.8%, of households do not have access or a subscription to home broadband services, according to a report released by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. DiNapoli’s analysis finds many predominantly rural areas remain underserved by broadband infrastructure. In addition, approximately 1 in 3 New York households with income less than $20,000 lacked access to broadband at home.

The Pembroke Classic Car Show returns to Pembroke Town Park on Sunday with another large turnout of cherry classic cars and car fans expected. The event, sponsored by the Pembroke/Corfu/Darien Kiwanis Club runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 60 vendors are expected along with several food trucks. The Kids Car Cruise will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Pembroke Community Band will play from noon to 1:00 pm and a magician show will be held from 1:30 – 2:30 pm. Right now, the weather looks fairly decent…and warm.

A Wyoming County man is staring at a rape allegation. Deputies based in Warsaw say they arrested 52-year-old Kevin Gordon of Wyoming, NY. He was taken into custody following a sex offense investigation involving a person under the age of 17 years old.  Kevin P. Gordon was charged with Rape in the Third Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  He was arraigned and was committed to the Wyoming County Jail on $5,000 bail.  He is scheduled to appear in the Town of Middlebury Court at a later date.

Hundreds showed up in front of Strong Hospital today for a ‘Freedom Rally.’  They say they are rallying for the “freedom of choice, and mutual respect regardless of vaccination status.”  Worried about the looming vaccine mandates, healthcare workers could face losing their jobs because of choosing not the receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  Many nurses are frustrated after being on the frontlines during the pandemic.  Protesters say they will be out in front of Strong Hospital every Monday for the foreseeable future, rallying for the freedom to choose.

The US Department of Education has awarded GCC 2.2 million dollars to help unemployed workers, low wage workers, and returning high school and college students get a higher education.  This grant will help support programming and outreach efforts from the 2021-2022 through the 2025-2026 academic years.  The national Educational Opportunity Center program began in 1972 and is part of a set of federal educational opportunity outreach programs known as “TRIO,” which is authorized by the Higher Education Act to help low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities succeed in higher education

There was a tornado in Livingston county Monday morning.  The 110 mile per hour EF1 tornado touched down near Conesus and Springwater and uprooted some trees and ripped the tops off others.  The tornado was only on the ground for 1 mile and traveled East to Webster Crossing before dissipating.

Two Genesee county youth have placed in the 4-H Dairy Bowl held at Cornell University on September 11^th.  Bing Zuber and Ian Keberle Both placed 8^th in the State, Zuber in the Junior division and Keberle in the Senior division.  The contest was held in a quiz bowl format and tested youth’s knowledge of dairy cattle, environmental stewardship, nutrition and the dairy industry.  Youth qualified to participate in the event by scoring well in their 4-H regional competition.

There is a new book out about the Attica Prison Riots of 50 years ago written by the daughter of one of the guards killed in the riots and police response.  Deanne Quinn Miller, who was in the first grade when the riots happened, titled the book The Prison Guards Daughter, My Journey Through the Ashes of Attica.  Her father, Billy Quinn, worked in the Times Square area of the prison and was beaten by prisoners, it was also prisoners who tried to save him.  He was 28 when he died.

The Trans Siberian Orchestra will be playing at KeyBank Center on December 21^st.  They will be celebrating the 25^th anniversary of their album “Christmas Eve and Other Stories.”  Tickets go on sale Friday at 10am.  A portion of sales go to benefit the Oishei Children’s Hospital.

Batavia police continue to investigate a three-vehicle crash that shut down parts of E. Main Street. Police said one of the vehicles was on its side. During the investigation, it was discovered that the operator of a minivan was traveling northbound on Harvester Ave. while a small SUV was traveling westbound on E. Main St. The minivan failed to stop for the red light, and “T-Boned” the SUV, pushing the SUV to the NW corner of the intersection, and causing the SUV to tip on to its side. After striking the SUV, the minivan rolled back striking a third vehicle. No serious injuries were reported. Police said the operator of the minivan was issued tickets.

Genesee County deputies report the arrest of 25-year-old Brock Doberstein of Cattaraugus. He was charged with criminal mischief and petit larceny. Deputies said the charges stem from an incident last month at Darien Lake when Doberstein is accused of damaging a vehicle and stealing the license plates. He was arraigned in court and released. He’ll return to court Thursday.

National Grid customers and local law enforcement are reporting utility billing and payment scams across upstate New York. The company is asking its customers to beware and know the signs of a scam. Imposters claiming to be from National Grid may tell customers that they have past due balances on their utility bills, even promising a savings on their next bill. Customers who reported the scams, say they were contacted by telephone and email, and in some cases automated recordings.

This past weekend marked the start of big game hunting in New York, and with that, some major changes have been put into effect as hunters make their way into the woods. Look for hunters to start earlier and finish later, and everyone wearing orange or pink. Historically, hunters had to wait to start until sunrise and had to end their day at sunset.  Now, sunrise and sunset don’t exactly correspond to the period when daylight is, and so now, officials have changed the rules to allow hunters to begin deer and bear hunting 30 minutes before sunrise and extend 30 minutes until after sunset.”

By tomorrow, New York State will release its first draft of its redistricting map, which is updated every 10 years after the Census to show potential new district lines for State Senate, Assembly and Congress. The Census results were delayed because of the pandemic, giving the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission less time to create the maps. Whatever the end result of the maps may be, New York State is set to lose one Congressional seat. According to local leaders, the seat may be lost in the Southern Tier.

The governor’s office Monday updated New Yorkers on the state’s progress combating COVID-19. The Southern Tier has the second-lowest positivity rate, behind only New York City. The statewide positivity rate is 3.38% with 24 new hospitalizations and 25 people admitted to Intensive Care. Another 29 deaths were also reported.

The decision to invest approximately $10 million to build a 50,000-square foot headquarters at the intersection of West Saile Drive and Call Parkway in the Town of Batavia not only serves to showcase the growth of John Deere-authorized dealer LandPro Equipment but also will provide numerous career opportunities for students in the Genesee Region. That message was communicated clearly as representatives of LandPro, which has 20 locations, gathered with local government and economic development officials, for an on-location groundbreaking ceremony.

Governor Hochul and Senator Gillibrand made a statement today about the anti-Abortion regulations that went into effect last week in Texas.  They stated that abortions will always be available to women seeking them in New York State and that Lady Liberty will welcome the women of Texas.  As of 2018 New York State provided one eighth of all abortions in the US.  New York State Reproductive Health Act, signed into law in 2019, allows all abortions up to 24 weeks and allows abortions after 24 weeks if the mother’s health is at risk or if the pregnancy is not viable.  Critics of the law point out that the RHA does not define “at risk” or “viable” and leaves the defining of terms up to non physician medical practitioners and so functionally allows abortion up to the day of delivery.

The flag thief who took US flags from Assemblyman Hawley’s home and another home on Bank street has allegedly been caught and it’s a visitor from across the pond.  18 year old Spike Pope of Haywards Heath in the country of England has been arrested and charged with petty larceny and criminal trespass.  State police assisted in the investigation.

National Grid is issuing a warning to its customers about a scam.  The company said people claiming to be from National Grid may contact you via telephone and email, and in some cases automated recordings, and say you have past due balances and even promise a savings on your next bill. The scammers may also threaten to shut service off unless you purchase a prepaid debit card in a specific amount and ask for a Social Security number and a National Grid account number.  National Grid said the calls are not officially from National Grid. Although the company does contact customers with past due balances by phone to offer payment options, it will never demand direct payment through prepaid debit cards.

Frightworld which bills itself as America’s Screampark, is opening for the season after last year they were forced to remain closed due to COVID.  It will be in a new location this year at 1001 Hertel Ave in Buffalo.  A former KMart has been converted into a huge haunted house.  Frightworld is hiring scare actors, ticket takers concessions workers and more and is having an open audition September 17^th, 18th and 19^th.

After weeks of increases Western New York drivers are finding consistent prices at the gas pump.
According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular is now three-25 in Batavia. That’s the same as it was last week and only 2-cents higher than a month ago.
The average price for a gallon of regular at this time one year ago was $2.22.

A motorcycle accident in Cattaraugus County kills a Warsaw man and critically injures his passenger.
72-year-old William Schumaker of Warsaw was pronounced dead at the scene Saturday in the Cattaraugus County Town of Machias.
His passenger, 77-year-old Judith Schumaker was taken to ECMC with severe head trauma.

Despite trailing 10-0 at halftime, the Steelers came back in the second half to beat the Bills 23-16 in Orchard Park.
Josh Allen completed 30-of-51 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown for Buffalo.
Buffalo will now be on the road for their second game of the season next Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

The Batavia City Council meets tonight.
Council is holding both a conference meeting and a business meeting.
The conference meeting begins tonight 7 in the council board room on the second floor of city hall. This is the first meeting of council in five weeks.

Nearly $800-million will be up for grabs over the next two days thanks to the growing Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots.
The next Powerball drawing is set for tonight and the winner will take home at least $416-million.
Tomorrow, a $383-million prize awaits whoever picks the winning numbers for the Mega Millions drawing.
Tickets to play either game cost two-dollars apiece.

An Orleans County man will appear in court to answer a felony complaint. State Police say they arrested 21-year-old William E, Reamsnyder of Albion. He was charged with possession of a sexual performance by a child. He will appear in Town of Carlton court at a later date.

A traffic stop in Bergen has landed a motorist in some hot water. Genesee County deputies arrested 33-year-old Katie Preedom of Alabama. She was charged with DWI, having a BAC above .08%, speeding and unlicensed operation. She was stopped on Clinton Street Road and will appear in Bergen Town Court October 6^th.

The historic surge in unemployment claims at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly depleted the New York State Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund, resulting in the state borrowing from the federal government to pay claims. State UI tax rates have already risen to the highest level permissible under law in 2021. Unless the state or federal government takes significant action, federal UI tax rates on employers will also increase in 2022 and beyond, according to a report issued by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. The pandemic had a crippling effect on some state businesses and their workforce, causing a historic surge in layoffs and claims for benefits. From the fourth quarter of 2019 to the second quarter of 2020, regular state UI benefits paid increased from $530 million to $6.5 billion – a staggering increase of 1,124%.

New York state’s COVID positivity rate is currently at 2.84%. The 7-day average rate is 3.22%. Twenty-four more residents were hospitalized over the weekend. 34 more people died from virus-related complications. State officials say the fight against COVID-19 is not over, adding that it is crucial that New Yorkers continue to wear a mask, wash their hands and get vaccinated if they haven’t.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recognized the New York National Guard on Saturday afternoon, 20 years after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Hochul announced that she signed three pieces of legislation to support 9/11 and communications first responders. The bills make it easier for WTC first responders to apply for WTC benefits, by both expanding the criteria for defining WTC first responders and allowing online submissions of notice that members of a retirement system participated in WTC rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. This legislation also defines a first responder in communications as a person who is a public safety dispatcher.

Genesee County deputies arrested 33-year-old Jonathan Kent of Batavia. He was charged after allegedly pushing a victim into a door frame. He was arrested in Batavia Town Court and released. He’ll return to court October 19^th.

A Genesee County Grand Jury has indicted Dean M. Conboy, Sr. on two counts of attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer, two counts of menacing a police officer, attempted assault in the second degree, unlawful imprisonment in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, resisting arrest, and menacing in the second degree.  On June 11, 2021, Conboy allegedly threatened police officers and intended to cause serious injury to officers using a dangerous instrument. He also allegedly restrained another person and exposed that person to the risk of serious physical injury. He allegedly possessed a knife during these incidents.

Disappointment for Buffalo Bills fans. In the season opener, they fell to the Pittsburgh Steeles 23-16 at Highmark Stadium. The Bills take on the Dolphins in Miami next Sunday.

Batavia police say they arrested 30-year-old NiAsia S. Jiggets of Batavia, charging her with two counts of Criminal Contempt 1st Degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, following a child abuse investigation conducted by Detectives in conjunction with Child Protective Services. She is accused of violating an order of protection by causing injury to the protected party, a seven-year-old child, during visitation. Jiggets was previously convicted of violating an order of protection with the same child in March which elevates the new charge to Criminal Contempt 1st Degree.

Several doctors in Western New York are pushing the State Health department to make a vaccine mandate for kids 12-17 to slow the spread of COVID 19.  They cite an increase in hospitalizations among unvaccinated individuals and a fourth wave of COVID cases in Erie County.  Dr. Gale Burstein, the Erie County Health commissioner says that 40 percent of new cases are vaccinated but don’t present serious illness or need to go to the hospital.  Dr. Winkelstein of Jacobs School of Medicine at University at Buffalo says that as winter approaches if you combine the Delta variant with colder temperatures, Western New York could see a dramatic increase in cases and hospitalizations.  The State Health Department said they are waiting for a mandate from Governor Hochul who has said she is considering it.

Congressman Chris Jacobs is protesting President Biden’s Vaccine Mandate.  Jacobs wrote in a press release: I am opposed to the President’s mandates and believe he has overstepped his authority in announcing them. In addition, I disagree with the President pitting vaccinated Americans against their unvaccinated peers. This serves no public health interest and only further divides an already fractured nation.   Jacobs also stated that he believes the vaccines work and are safe and credits Operation Warp Speed with getting the vaccine to 75 percent of Americans.

If you need to go to the hospital in Buffalo steer clear of Mercy Hospital.  The nurses are going on strike.  The nurses union at Mercy hospital have declared they intent to strike with 97 percent of the union voting to strike to protest low wages and understaffing starting within 10 days.  The hospital administration says this is unconscionable and will take care workers away from patients who need them in order to walk a picket line.  The nurses say this is for the greater good of the community and not just better pay.

The GCEDC Board of Directors accepted an initial application for a $4.5 million project proposed by Valiant Real Estate USA, Inc. known as New York Bus Company. The company plans to build a new 20,000 square-foot facility at the corner of Saile Drive and Call Parkway in the Town of Batavia.  They are expecting to create 24 full time jobs and are requesting 430 thousand dollars in exemptions.  Also Liberty Pumps is expanding their company in Bergen to the tune of 13.7 million dollars and wants to get 1.5 million in exemptions while creating 30 new jobs.

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, September 16th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds.  Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

The Batavia VA Medical Center is decked out to remember the tragedy of 9/11.  They placed 2977 US Flags on the lawn in front of the main medical center buildings to honor those who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and those who perished trying to save lives.  The flags were put up by employees and volunteers.

The VFW Post 1602 will be sponsoring a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at their facility, located at 25 Edwards St here in Batavia from 8 to 10:30 am. There will be  civic leaders, first responders, veterans, and others speaking as they pay respect to those who gave all to on September 11^th 2001.  The VFW Post is also sponsoring an appreciation jamboree to honor first responders starting at 11 am and going till 4 pm, with music provided by Bill Pitcher, Julio Morales, Jr., The Front Porch Pickers, and Old State Road House.

The lack of drivers is affecting Rochester’s school children’s ability to get to the classroom and more drivers have resigned.  Right now the main reason for the lack of drivers is the fear of the COVID virus, lack of pay compared to other driving opportunities, and lack of people trained to drive.  Bussing companies have raised their wages to 17-20 dollars per hour to start and bonuses for those who stay on the job for longer periods of time.  In Rochester more than 100 people have applied to become drivers in the past week but there are concerns that these people will just get cdl licenses and then leave to become truckers.  To make driving busses more appealing, Representative Joe Morelle is pushing the state to waive the cdl requirement for bus drivers.

Erie County has joined most of the rest of the state in allowing 12 and 13 years old’s to hunt big game with a crossbow or firearms as long as they are supervised by a person 21 years or older.  Until this vote, Erie County was one of only two counties in the state that did not adopt New York’s youth hunting pilot program.

 Steve Hawley (R-Batavia)

Batavia Republican Assemblyman Steve Hawley wants the state to reverse its COVID vaccination mandate for health care workers. Hawley tells WBTA today that the mandate could have unintended consequences

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo put the mandate in place. It requires health care workers to have at least the first dose of vaccine by September 27th.

A school bus maintenance facility gets the acceptance of the Genseee County Economic Development Center. The project would create 24 full time employee positions with an average salary range of $30,000 – $75,000 annually plus benefits. The project is requesting approximately $430,000 in sales, mortgage and property tax exemptions. The project is estimated to generate $50 into the Genesee County economy for every $1 of requested incentives. Construction for the project is expected to begin next month on West Saile Dr. in the Town of Batavia.

VFW Post 1602 in Batavia is holding a 9-11 remembrance ceremony tomorrow morning. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8am at the post at 25 Edwards Street. Civic leaders, first responders and veterans pay respects to those who gave all 20 years ago. The post is also sponsoring an appreciation jamboree to honor first responders. This will run from 11am to 4pm.

The Buffalo Bills will kick off their 2021 season this weekend as one of the favored teams to make it to the Super Bowl in February. The defending AFC East champions are taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Last season, the Bills made it all the way to the AFC Championship game before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs. Due to staffing shortages, Bills fans are urged to arrive at the stadium early so they don’t miss the start of the game. Kickoff for Sunday’s contest is set for one p-m.

The inability to get an accurate count of residents in the Genesee County portion of the Tonawanda Indian Reservation contributed to New York State losing a congressional seat following the 2022 election…that from the county’s planning director.  The Directors said he learned recently that the Census Bureau’s report of population in the Genesee County segment of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation reservation was not correct because the bureau’s enumerator was not allowed to enter the tribal grounds. According to the Census Bureau, the population dropped from 483 in 2010 to 241 in 2020 – a stunning 50 percent decline.

With a large contingent of family and friends present in the court room, 50-year-old Colleen L. Nelson of Alabama was sentenced to a determinate sentence of 3 1/2 years in state prison and 5 years post release supervision during her sentencing this week in Genesee County Court. The maximum sentence Nelson could have received was 7 1/2 years. Nelson stabbed a male co-worker during an attack at a candy production facility on S. Main Street in Elba last year. Nelson came up behind her co-worker and started stabbing him with a large knife. The 59-year-old victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the incident. Nelson pleaded guilty to attempted assault first degree, a class C felony, in July, waiving her right to a defense of mental defect.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has proposed regulations to implement the ban on expanded polystyrene foam containers and loose fill packaging or “packing peanuts” in New York State. The ban would go into effect on January 1, 2022. The ban was originally proposed in 2020 and several counties in New York have already adopted it. These include Albany, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties. The DEC has now fully released the regulations to fully enact the ban. The DEC will be holding a virtual public hearing on the proposed regulations on November 15, at 1 p.m. and are accepting comments until Nov. 22, 2021.

Brian Benjamin is officially New York’s lieutenant governor.  Benjamin, a Democrat, was sworn in at Gov. Kathy Hochul’s New York City office Thursday, just more than two weeks after Hochul unveiled the state senator from Harlem as her choice to serve in the post.

Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel is gearing up to host its annual fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester today in the track’s historic clubhouse. The fundraiser includes a $30 clubhouse buffet package deal, a silent auction with a wide variety of items up for bid, sponsorship of races and private donations. The clubhouse opens at 4 p.m. and the first race post time is 5 p.m. The Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester is the only full-scope, independently-operated organization focused on serving breast and gynecologic cancer survivors in the Central and Western New York regions and each year they benefit from over 100 fundraising events like this.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is joining his colleagues in the Assembly Minority calling on Governor Hochul and Health Commissioner Zucker to reverse the decision to mandate vaccination of healthcare workers. They argue that any public health benefit a mandate would provide would be outweighed by the detriment such a requirement would have on staffing levels within hospitals and health centers. Hawley is also concerned about how the mandate will affect people who either cannot be vaccinated due to their medical circumstances, and those who work remotely like coders and transcriptionists who do not come into contact with patients.

Another well known car dealer from Upstate New York has passed away.  84 year old Bob Johnson died last week at his home in Florida.  He founded 3 dealerships near Rochester including one in LeRoy.  Johnson retired to Florida about 20 years ago. The Bob Johnson Auto Group still bears his name.  Another big name in car dealerships, Billy Fucillo passed away in June.

UPS is hiring over 1000 workers for the holidays in Western New York.  These seasonal workers can be part or full time positions.  They are currently looking for warehouse workers, package deliver drivers and tractor trailer drivers.  Seasonal employees who work for three continuous months are eligible for up to $1,300 towards college expenses as part of the company’s “Earn and Learn” program.  UPS also says that about a third of seasonal workers are later hired to permanent positions.

If you are a fan of the Buffalo Bills you can now officially display your Bills pride on you license plate.  New York DMV is offering custom Bills, Giants and Jets plates for 60 dollars with an annual renewal of 31.25.  You can even have them personalized for a bit more.  For details go to the dmv website.

Bills tickets are a bit more expensive this year but they are still well below the national average for NFL tickets.  Regular seasons tickets average 414 for the Bills but 40 dollars more for other teams.  Bills prices were 159 dollars cheaper in 2019 and that’s not factoring in parking which will run you 40 at the stadium or 5-10 on someone’s lawn nearby.  Most Bills fans say its worth it.

50-year-old Colleen Nelson sentenced to 3 and a half years in prison for stabbing a male co-worker at Oliver’s Candies production facility in Elba.
The 59-year-old victim suffered several knife wounds in his back but none were life-threatening.
Nelson was allowed to plead guilty to a charge of attempted first degree assault.
She was also sentenced to five years post release supervision.

State Senator Brian Benjamin is expected to be sworn-in today and become New York’s next Lieutenant Governor. Benjamin will take the position that was held by Governor Hochul until just a few weeks ago. Hochul left that office after becoming governor following the resignation of ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo. Benjamin is an African-American lawmaker from New York City and is going to help fulfill Governor Hochul’s promise that she’ll have a diverse administration.

Governor Hochul has announced a new campaign that she hopes encourages students and educators to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19. As part of the “vax to school” initiative, a digital marketing campaign will be launched to try and convince those who are unsure about getting vaccinated to do so. There’s also going to be a new website where parents and guardians can get the latest information about vaccines and how to schedule an appointment for their child. Currently, only kids 12 and older are eligible to receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.

The Holland Land Office Museum announces its first indoor West Side Ghost Stories program on Friday, October 8th. Connie Boyd shares the spooky, sinister, and weird documented stories from the West Side of Batavia’s past. The program will be presented at the museum at 7pm. You’ll hear tales of murder, ghosts, body snatching hangings, and abandoned cemeteries. This presentation is the same as museum’s outdoor Ghost Walk on October 15th, 22nd and 29th. Complete information is available on the museum’s website.

Parents are showing up to school board meetings and demanding that their children be allowed to attend without masks.  In Hamburg parents stood up and demanded masks be optional saying that the masks do more harm than good.  A Williamsville School, The Christian Central Academy, has filed a lawsuit against the State and against Erie County, for a rescinding of the mask mandate.  Superintendents fielding these complaints across the state say that their hands are tied by the state mandate.

The Buffalo Bills will play their first game on Sunday, and fans are being urged to make sure they’re at Highmark Stadium early. Due to staffing shortages, stadium officials say people should arrive at the gates no later than noon if they want to avoid a long wait to get to their seats. The gates will open at 11 a-m which is half an hour earlier than usual and, as a reminder, masks will have to be worn by everyone in indoor areas of the stadium, even if they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Kickoff for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers is scheduled for 1pm.

Splash World on Grand Island announced it will remain open on weekends for the rest of September.  Officials say guests can continue to enjoy limited water park attractions, weather permitting.  Splash World says as a thank you it will extend the preview ticket price of $9.99 and those 36″ and under are free when accompanied by an adult.

Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County was given almost 4000 dollars thanks to a fundraising golf tournament and basket fundraiser by smartDesign Architecture.  The tournament raised 3,420 and the baskets sold for 390.  Habitat for Humanity provides housing to those in need by partnering with families to provide a hand up, not a handout. The mission of Habitat cannot be fulfilled without the support and generosity of local community members.

Three development projects, totaling 20-million dollars, will be taken up this week by the Genesee County Economic Development Center.
The board meets tomorrow and will consider a $13.7-million expansion at Liberty Pumps in Bergen. That project is expected to create 30 new jobs.
Valiant Real Estate, a property developer, is proposing to build a 20,000 sq. ft.square foot facility in the Town of Batavia creating 24 jobs.
J and R Fancher proposes a two-story mixed-use building in the Town of Pembroke. The $1.7-million project would include six market rate apartments on the second floor with commercial space on the first floor.
All three projects are seeking some form of tax incentives from the county.

City Police revealed today they are investigating gunshots fired late last month on South Main. The incident occurred in the early morning of August 28. No one was hit. Police said it was not a random act. Anyone with information is asked to call Batavia Police.

The 18-day long 2021 Great New York State Fair has wrapped up and even with the fair being an extra five days long, attendance numbers were much lower than years past. This year’s opening day of the fair saw just over 37,000 guests, where the first day in 2019 had over 74,000.

The Buffalo Bills will begin their regular season Sunday, and fans are being urged to make sure they’re at Highmark Stadium early. Due to staffing shortages, stadium officials say people should arrive at the gates no later than noon if they want to avoid a long wait to get to their seats. The gates will open at 11 a-m and as a reminder, masks will have to be worn by everyone in indoor areas of the stadium, even if they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Kickoff for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers is scheduled for 1pm.

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.19, up four cents from last week. The New York State average is $3.28 – up five cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.30. The price at the pump in Batavia according to AAA is up a penny. Buffalo has climbed 7 cents while Rochester is up 8 cents.  AAA says it expected a jump in gas prices following the storm and taking into account the demand surrounding the holiday weekend; motorists are expected to pay the most expensive gas prices since 2014.

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors will consider resolutions advancing projects with a combined capital investment of approximately $19.9 million at its board meeting tomorrow. The Board will consider a final application for incentives from Liberty Pumps for its proposed $13.7 million expansion at its operations in the town of Bergen at the Apple Tree Acres industrial park. The company plans on constructing a materials center, creating 30 new jobs. The Board also will consider accepting an initial application from Valiant Real Estate USA, Inc. (New York Bus Sales.)  Valiant is proposing a $4.5 million capital investment to construct a 20,000 sq. ft. facility in the town of Batavia. The project would create 24 new jobs. Finally, the Board will consider accepting an initial application from J & R Fancher Property Holdings LLC which is proposing to construct a two-story mixed-use building on 2.6 acres at Buffalo East Tech Park in the town of Pembroke. This is the first of three phases of development that Fancher is proposing at the Tech Park. The $1.7 million investment would include six market-rate 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments on the second floor and a first floor comprised of a 7,000 sq. ft. interior intended to attract commercial tenants.

Thousands of people enjoy the annual butter sculpture at the New York State Fair every year. But after the fair ends, there comes a time where that artwork must be deconstructed. That’s where Noblehurst Farms comes in. The Pavilion farm has made it a tradition to help recycle the butter used in the sculpture. The butter will be converted into renewable energy for the community, and to help develop liquid fertilizer. The 800 pounds of butter that came to the farm in plastic bags will be put into a digestor that creates what Chris Noble calls a “bio-gas” from organic materials.

The 18-day long 2021 Great New York State Fair has wrapped up and even with the fair being an extra five days long, attendance numbers were much lower than years past. Over half a million more people attended The Fair in 2019 than this year’s extra-long event. This year’s opening day of the fair saw just over 37,000 guests, where the first day in 2019 had over 74,000.

NY Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $6 million is now available over three years to support 150 Climate Justice Fellowship opportunities for individuals across the state currently residing in historically disadvantaged communities or from priority populations. This announcement, in advance of New York’s upcoming celebration of Climate Week from September 20 to September 26, helps support New York State’s commitment to ensure an equitable clean energy transition for all New Yorkers as required by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

New York State has pushed back the date that employees working from home have to be back in the office and the date some state employees have to get vaccinated. Both dates have been moved to October 12. Face masks must also be worn by state employees, except when they are in a room or office by themselves, at their desk or workstation, and while eating or drinking. State healthcare workers have until September 27 to get their first shot of coronavirus vaccine.

On Labor Day Governor Hochul signed the Hero act among several other legislations.  All New York State employers, now need to have plans in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.  If a problem is reported with the plan employers have 30 days to fix the problem, if no action is taken, they could be looking at a law suit.

A reminder: school is back in session across most of New York States school districts.  This means kids crossing the street and busses stopping to pick kids up.  Remember to pay attention to the road while driving, do not pass busses when the stop sign is out, and slow down in school zones.  Failure to do any of these things could lead to fines and even arrests.

A vehicle rolled over the retaining wall at the Crosby’s in Corfu on Saturday early in the morning.  First responders were called to assist a person in a car who had driven the car over the retaining wall and was in the passenger seat.  When Mercy EMS and Corfu Fire arrived the man ran off but was caught by sheriffs deputies.  They had an active warrant in Montgomery County.

A rash of flag thefts?  Assemblyman Steve Hawley reported that his US flag had been stolen sometime around August 28^th.  He replaced it and put out a call for the original to be returned.  Around the same time another flag was stolen on Bank Street Road in Batavia.  Then Hawley’s new flag was stolen on or around September 3^rd or 4^th.  The state police are looking into the incidents and have leads.  If you have any information about the flag thefts you can call NYS Police Troop A at 585 344 6200.

The Aquarium of Niagara is shifting to its fall hours on September 7th. The new hours are 9am to 5pm.  They’re also dropping the price of admission for children to $10 for the rest of September. The aquarium recommends buying tickets online ahead of time so you don’t have to wait at the door.  Admission is always free for Aquarium members, and members do not need to reserve timed tickets online ahead of their visit.

Today marks the first day of school for most Genesee County Districts.
In Batavia City Schools all grades, Pre-K to 12th, returned to class in-person.
Batavia is requiring all students, faculty and staff to wear masks and social distancing will be required where possible.

Interim Batavia School Superintendent Scott Bischoping there’s been some parental push-back to the masking protocol

PHOTO: Interim Batavia Superintendent Scott Bischoping

Pavilion Central starts tomorrow, Sept 8th.
Notre Dame Batavia of Batavia resumes classes on Thursday.
All other area school districts started class today.

There is an effort underway to educate children about 9-11 with the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City on Saturday. The 9-11 Memorial and Museum launched a fund at NeverForget.org to support its educational programs. A national PSA will be released to emphasize the importance of teaching 9-11 in schools. The museum has a website called 911Memorial.org that has 9-11 lesson plans and webinars to give teachers a guide on teaching it in the classroom. The webinar is being put in thousands of libraries across the U.S.

An expected rise in Gasoline prices didn’t have much of an impact in Batavia.
The current average price of a gallon of regular in the city is $3.24, up only a penny from last week – but a dollar-2 from a year ago.

New York, Governor Hochul is now making it mandatory for businesses to ensure their employees are protected from the virus. Under New York State’s HERO Act, workplaces must have a plan in place to keep coronavirus from spreading.
Some of the steps they can take include employee health screenings, putting a written mask policy in place, and making sure social distancing is possible.

Students in then Batavia City School District head back to class today.

All students in Pre-K to 12^th grade are beginning the school year with in-person classes five-days a week.

Masks will be worn by all students, faculty and staff regardless of vaccination status. This also applies to students while riding school buses.

Masks will not be required while outside of school buildings. Social distancing will be implemented where possible.

With the spread of COVID-19 continuing across New York, Governor Hochul is now making it mandatory for businesses to ensure their employees are protected from the virus.

Under New York State’s HERO Act, workplaces must have a plan in place to keep coronavirus and other airborne infectious diseases from spreading.

The HERO Act also protects workers from any potential retaliation they may receive from employers or co-workers for following safety guidelines.

Hundreds turn out for the Oakfield Labor Daze Parade.

Heavy rain let up just in the for the parade down Main Street in Oakfield.

The hour-long Holiday parade returned this year following a one-year absence due to COVID-19.

The parade this year paid tribute to first responders throughout the region.

COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of this year’s Patriots Trip to Washington.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley says anyone who signed up for this years trip will receive a full refund for any monies put down.

The trip was scheduled for September 16 to the 19th.

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As drivers across Western New York have likely noticed, there’s been quite an increase in gas prices over the past month.

According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular in Batavia is now $3.26 – up 6-cents from a month ago.

25-year-old Destiny Green of Batavia facing charges of burglary and criminal contempt this Labor Day weekend.
Batavia Police say Destiny was collared inside the residence of a person described as a protected party. She was arraigned on the charges in city court and released under supervision.

As drivers across Western New York have likely noticed, there’s been quite an increase in gas prices over the past week.
According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular in Batavia is now $3.26 – up 6-cents from a month ago.

COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of this year’s Patriots Trip to Washington.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley says anyone who signed up for this years trip will receive a full refund for any monies put down.
The trip was scheduled for September 16 to the 19th.

The Labor Daze continues today in Oakfield. The parade steps off at 10 this morning, the Craft Show runs until six tonight. There will be music all day. All presented by the Oakfield Betterment Committee.

The New York State Fair in Syracuse will be wrapping up its 18-day run today which is the longest in the history of the event. A ticket to get in costs $3, however children 12 and under and people 65 and older can get in for free. get et in for free.

Notes from the opening weekend of the fall high school football season:
The Oakfield-Alabama /Elba Aggies crushed Cuba-Rushford on Saturday 64 to 6.
Pembroke beat Wellsville 55 – 26.
On Friday night, the big rivalry between LeRoy and Cal-mum went to the Knights, 21 to 6.
Batavia beat Bishop-Kearney 41-0,
Notre Dame pounded Pavilion 15-0, Alexander beat Bolivar-Richburg 7-0.

The Powerball jackpot is continuing to grow and has now reached 375-million-dollars ahead of tonight’s drawing. No one has taken home the top prize in several weeks and officials say the odds of winning the whole amount this evening are one in 292-million.

Although He lost the primary to India Walton, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown worked to get his name on the ballot with a petition and a lawsuit and a federal judge has ordered that his name be placed on the ballot for the November election as an independent.  Brown filed a lawsuit against the Erie County Board of Elections last Monday alleging that the changing of the primary election date from September to June stripped voters of the necessary time to consider who to vote for.  Several voters also filed lawsuits.  The judge ruled on the case saying that the change constituted an undue burden on the voters.

Part of Seneca Park Zoo was evacuated Friday morning as a Lion escaped from her den.  During routine care duties with the African lions, one of the lions wandered into a hallway in the holding building, according to the zoo.  The zoo superintendent released a statement, saying the public was not in danger. Still, visitors were asked to leave a section of the zoo during the incident in accordance with Zoo protocols.  Staff were able to get the lion back out into her den and seal off the hallway.

Oakfield hosts Labor Daze this weekend and into Monday with a full schedule of events.  A parade boasting marching bands and newcomer Buffalo Ghostbusters will line up at the fire hall and begin at Seneca and Main streets 10 am Monday. Spectators should plan to be there about 30 minutes early before road closures prevent them from getting a good spot on the parade route between Seneca and Drake streets/Route 262.  There will also be a craft fest from 10-6.  For a full schedule of events check out our news partner the Batavian.

The Town of Alexander Republican Committee is looking for interested registered republicans who want to fill open positions.  Open slots are Town Republican Committee Member for districts 1 and 2 and town justice.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is saddened to announce that his annual Patriot Trip in which he brings veterans to landmarks and historical sites throughout the Washington, D.C. area will be canceled this year due to concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, especially as new variant cases in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals continue to increase. All participants who have signed up for the trip will be fully refunded for anything paid toward it.

The Batavia Improvement District has announced a Wine Walk for October 2^nd downtown.  There are only 600 tickets available and are sold at Adam Miller’s Toy and Bicycle, the Yngodess Shop and downtownbataviany.com.  This year’s theme is Prom. Participants are encouraged to dress for any prom genre they wish. Prizes will be given for the best-dressed individuals and couples.

We had warning that it was coming and Thursday Governor Hochul announced a mandate for all teachers, administrators and other school employees to submit to weekly COVID-19 testing unless they show proof of vaccination, with either a CDC vaccine card or the Excelsior Pass.  The Governor also announced that the New York State Department of Health has finalized and released official guidance for classroom instruction.  The emergency regulation will apply to all schools in New York State until the government decides that it is no longer necessary.

A lawsuit in Monroe County was filed under the Child Victims Act names Buffalo Bills Linebacker Cornelius Bennett in a sexual assault in 1992.  According to the lawsuit, “repeated acts of sexual abuse, harassment and violence” allegedly occurred in the summer of 1992 when the plaintiff was 17-years-old.  It is alleged that Bennett attempted to rape the plaintiff in a phone booth in the basement of the Otter Lodge and was stopped when other people were heard coming down the stairs.  The Bills and the NFL are named in the lawsuit as the plaintiff says they knew what happened and did nothing.

Will the Bills stay at Highmark Stadium if they don’t get a new one?  Absolutely not according to Ron Raccuia, executive vice president of Pegula Sports and Entertainment.  Raccuia said that the Bills are ready to build a new stadium in Orchard Park across Abbot Road from Highmark Stadium. He says, a deal just needs to be finalized with the state and county. Sources said the Bills are looking at $1.4 billion stadium funded with a private public partnership.  But if they don’t get a deal before the lease is up in 2023 they won’t be playing.

A 25-year-old Steuben County man has been charged with a felony count of reckless endangerment following a two-county police chase.
Anthony Drake of Hornell is accused failing to pull over when troopers attempted a traffic stop in the Erie County Town of Newstead.
Drake then took off in his 2011 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up heading east on Route 5. The chase continued into Genesee County and through downtown Batavia.
Batavia Police deployed spike strips, blowing out all four tires of the truck, before the vehicle stopped just east of the city line. Troopers said speeds reached about 70-miles an hour during the pursuit.
Drake was arrested at gunpoint along with a passenger, identified as 27-year-old Brittany Howland, also of Hornell. She was arrested for drug possession wile on probation.
Troopers say at one point during the chase Drake swerved toward a Genesee County Sheriff’s patrol car. State Police said Drake was found in possession of brass knuckles and crystal meth.
There were no injuries. An almost two-mile section of Route 5 was closed during the investigation.

Lawmen across New York State will be keeping an extra eye out for dangerous drivers this Labor Day holiday weekend.
Travelers can expect to see additional patrols as officers look to get people driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol off the road.
The STOP-DWI enforcement campaign is already underway and runs through September 6th.

Elba drivers: this one is for you.
The Hundredmark Road Bridge, at the intersection of Spoil Bank Road, will be closing on Tuesday for replacement.
This project is expected to take three months.
During construction the road will not be passable to regular traffic or emergency vehicles. A detour will be posted.

Chicken Wing lovers will be in their glory this weekend when the National Buffalo Wing Festival gets underway. The event runs tomorrow and Sunday Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Admission is 20-dollars and then you must buy tickets for your wings.
More information is available online at buffalowing.com.

The second season of high school football for 2021 begins this weekend.
The Batavia Blue Devils take on Bishop Kearney tonight at VanDetta Stadium.
One of the biggest rivalries in Section Five pits Leroy at Cal-mum – that game will air on WBTA tonight at 7.
On Saturday our coverage continues with Oakfield-Alabama/Ebla meets Cuba-Rushford 1pm at Elba High School.

News Release

On September 2, 2021, Troopers out of SP Newstead arrested Anthony T. Drake, 25 of Hornell, NY for Reckless Endangerment 1st degree (D Felony), Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree and multiple traffic tickets. The passenger in the vehicle, Brittany N. Howland, 27 of Hornell, NY was arrested for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree and Violation of Probation.

On September 2, 2021 at 6:42 P.M., Troopers out of SP Newstead attempted to make a vehicle and traffic stop on a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado at the intersection of Crittenden Road and Main Street in the town of Newstead. The Chevrolet failed to comply once the Trooper activated emergency lights. The pursuit initiated and the suspect vehicle continued east bound on State Route 5 (Main Street) into Genesee County. During the pursuit the suspect vehicle swerved toward a Genesee County Sheriffs Department patrol traveling west bound on State Route 5. The pursuit was picked up by Batavia Police Department and they deployed a tire deflating device, disabled the suspect’s vehicle. Troopers arrested Drake and Howland. Drake was in possession of brass knuckles and crystal meth and other drugs.

Police agencies across Genesee County chase a pick-up truck at high speeds along Route 5 through downtown Batavia.
The chase began last evening in the town of Batavia when State Police began their pursuit of a black Chevrolet Silverado.
Before long Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies and city of Batavia Police joined in. Witness said at one point as many as 10 patrol cars with sirens blaring chased the pick-up along Main Street through the City.

Spike strips were deployed blowing out all four tires of the truck, but the vehicle did not stop. It raced through Main Street on rims.

Laura Pedro, owner of Blondies Ice Cream, watched the end of the chase directly in front of her store:

Two occupants of the truck – a man and a young woman – were taken into custody. No one was injured.

Police across New York will be keeping an extra eye out for dangerous drivers this Labor Day holiday weekend. Travelers can expect to see additional patrols as officers look to get people who are driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol off the road. The STOP-DWI enforcement campaign is already underway and runs through September 6th. Last year, police statewide issued over 116-thousand traffic tickets during their Labor Day crackdown including more than 32-hundred arrests for impaired driving.

The Hundredmark Road Bridge in Elba , at the intersection of Spoil Bank Road, will be closing on Tuesday for a bridge replacement project.
This project is expected to take three months.
During this time the road will not be passable to regular traffic or emergency vehicles. A detour will be posted.

General Motors has announced the temporary layoffs of hundreds of employees at its plant in the Erie County Town of Tonawanda. Officials with the automaker say the company is currently scaling back vehicle production due to an ongoing microchip shortage.

Chicken Wing lovers are going to be in their glory this weekend when the National Buffalo Wing Festival gets underway. The event runs tomorrow from noon until nine and Sunday from noon until seven at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Admission is 20 bucks. at provides several services to people in need. More information is available online at buffalowing.com.

High School Football begins its second season of the year tonight. WBTA will broadcast the traditional rivalry between LeRoy and Cal-mum beginning at 7 tonight from Cal-mum High School. Tomorrow, the station will broadcast the Oakfield-Alabama/Elba Aggies game against Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale. Kickoff for this contest is 1pm.

The Hundredmark Road Bridge, at the intersection of Spoil Bank Road in Elba will be closing on Sep. 7 for a bridge replacement project. This project is expected to take three months. During this time the road will not be passable to regular traffic or emergency vehicles. A detour will be posted.

Earlier today a building in Batavia was damaged when a vehicle left the road and hit it.  The USDA building at 29 Liberty Street has mostly cosmetic damage and one person was treated at the scene.  No word yet on the vehicle and its occupants.

The New York State DEC has released new rules for hunting deer and bear this year.  The rules include changing the hours when hunters can hunt by extending the time frame by 30 minutes before down and after sunset.  A change to the uniform required to hunt.  Making the Bear hunting season longer in the Adirondacks and more.  To read all the changes follow the link on WBTAi.com.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/34113.html#Parts_1_11

A former POW in World War 2, air medal, purple heart, bronze star and POW medal recipient was honored at the Batavia VA on Wednesday for his 107^th birthday.  Sydney Cole was a forward observer for the 776^th Field Artillery Battalion when he was shot down behind enemy lines by German anti air fire.  As a prisoner, Capt. Cole commanded 150 enlisted prisoners.  Despite his ill-treated wounds and diminished body weight of only 95 pounds, Cole was instrumental in maintaining high levels of discipline and morale among the enlisted men and served as an inspiration and an example of American military conduct while in enemy custody.

The Buffalo Bisons announced today that First Responders and members of the armed forces, both active and veteran, will be given 2 free tickets for the game on September 11^th.  The Bisons say If you are a first responder or active duty/veteran armed forces member you can claim your two free tickets by presenting a valid ID at the Sahlen Field Box Office starting at 12:00 p.m. on September 11.  The team also announced on Military & First Responder Appreciation Night 20% of net proceeds from eligible Bisons.com and in-park merchandise sales will be donated to WNY Heroes, Inc. First responders and active duty/veteran armed forces members will also receive 20% off their purchase at the Bisons Team Shop in Sahlen Field.

36-year-old Danielle Tooley of Batavia is under arrest for applying and collecting nearly 100-thousand dollars in federal un-employment benefits.
Tooley is accused of knowingly using personal identifying information of other people to apply for and collect unemployment benefits connected with the federal COVID-19 relief programs.
Her scheme was discovered when Tooley was stopped by state police in Bergen last fall on suspicion of drug possession. During the search of her car, troopers found six New York State unemployment benefit cards. They were turned over to federal agents.
Tooley faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in jail and a $1-million fine.

The New York State Assembly and Senate approved the extension of the eviction moratorium until January 15, 2022 to protect struggling renters. The bill was passed by the State Legislature late last night and will head to Governor Kathy Hochul to sign. The vote was 80 to 60.

Steve Hawley

Assembly Steve Hawley of Batavia remains firm in his opposition to the extension.
Hawley telling WBTA News Today:

State Attorney General Letitia James says transcripts from the investigation her office conducted into former governor Andrew Cuomo will be made public. James said that she believed all of the women who came forward with allegations of harassment. She did not reveal a timetable on when the report is going to be released.

Have someone in mind for LeRoyan of the year?
The deadline for nominations is this Saturday.
The award is presented by American Legion Post 53 in LeRoy and recognizes an individual for True Americanism, good citizenship and community service.
The email address for nominations is: gdiskin@rochester.rr.com

Federal prosecutors have announced that 36-year-old Danielle Tooley of Batavia was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud and theft of government funds. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, between July and December 4, 2020, Tooley and others knowingly used the personal identifying information of other individuals unlawfully to apply for and collect unemployment benefits connected to federal COVID-19 relief programs. In total, the scheme resulted in a loss of at least $99,141.39 to the United States.  Tooley was released on conditions.

The New York state Legislature voted Wednesday to extend an eviction moratorium for tenants who fell behind on their rent because of hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. New York’s previous eviction moratorium expired Tuesday. In an Aug. 12 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court nixed part of the moratorium that allowed tenants to pause eviction proceedings simply by filing a form declaring they’d had a pandemic-related hardship. The bill would let landlords challenge hardship declarations. Hochul said the legislation will stand up to legal scrutiny. But the leader of the Rent Stabilization Association, the largest organization of landlords in New York, vowed Wednesday to sue to block the moratorium in federal court.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is standing firmly opposed to legislation that would extend the moratorium on evictions in the state. Hawley has expressed frustration that this moratorium has been extended multiple times, even as the state government sits on the vast majority of $2.6 billion in federal funding meant to address the issue, having distributed only 10 percent of those funds to tenants and landlords in need. According to Hawley, “If we do not do something to help our small landlords in this crucial moment, they may well go extinct within the housing market if forced to sell their property to large conglomerates to escape crushing debts which they cannot collect rent to pay.”

After investigating a complaint on Bethany Center Road, deputies arrested 18-year-old Hannah Roberts of Fulton. She was charged with trespass and will appear in Bethany Town Court on September 14^th.

Representatives of Samsung have visited the Western New York Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park in recent days…that from Sen. Charles Schumer, renewing optimism that the international semiconductor manufacturer may join Plug Power, the Latham-based leader in the development of hydrogen fuel cell systems, in placing a production plant at the 1,250-acre site in the Town of Alabama. Announcing what he called a “two-pronged approach” at a press conference at the STAMP site off Route 77, Schumer said that he has been communicating on a regular basis with the president of Samsung, based in South Korea, and the head of the company’s United States operations — promoting STAMP as the ideal location for the semiconductor facility it is looking to build.

The National Weather Service issued two historic flash flood emergencies for New York and New Jersey Wednesday night as heavy rains from remnants of Ida slammed the area; they were the first two the agency’s New York operation have ever issued. A flash flood emergency is issued in exceedingly rare situations when extremely heavy rain creates a severe threat to human life, and catastrophic damage from a flash flood is currently happening or will happen soon.

Sen Charles Schumer

New York Senior Senator and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in Genesee County today.
Schumer made his second personal visit to the county’s Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park – known simply as STAMP.
Schumer saying today that he is still in contact with electronics giant Samsung corporation trying to convince them that STAMP is an idea location for a major semi-conductor manufacturing facility.

Genesee County Public Health Director Paul Pettit says don’t be surprised if the next state mandate will require teachers and school staff to be vaccinated. That has not happened yet, but Pettit said in broadcast remarks yesterday that it could be next.
Pettit also revealed that 20 to 30-percent of new COVID cases in Genesee County are so-called breakthrough cases infections in people already vaccinated.
Pettit credits the vaccine for lessening the severity of brearkthrough cases.
The Delta variant is the likely cause of new infections which Pettit said are still in an upward trend in the county.

State Troopers have announced that applications are now open for the next State Police Entrance Exam.
The exam, which will be administered from January through April of 2022, will be given online at authorized testing centers for the first time in State Police history. This is all part of an effort to reportedly make the exam more accessible to the general public.

The Rotary Club of Batavia has issued a BOLO for a Bovine named Butterscotch.
Now, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office has entered the search.
Butterscotch is a life-size decorative cow used in the past by the Rotary Club to promote Rotary Activities.
Butterscotch will also answer to the name, Rotary Annie” as she was dubbed when promoting Rotary musicals.
The faux animal was apparently stolen from the home of a Rotary Member in Elba. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office.

Plans continue to evolve for the projected new Bills stadium.
The Associated Press reports the team is proposing Buffalo’s new stadium to hold about 60,000 seats, which is more than 10,000 seats less than what’s currently in Highmark Stadium. The team’s current lease is set to expire during the Summer of 2023, but pending approval for a new stadium the state and county are expected to extend that timeline.

Now that a statewide universal masking mandate is in place for all persons in school buildings, a requirement that all teachers and staff be fully vaccinated could be next. Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee and Orleans counties, said he has heard that Gov. Kathy Hochul is advocating for that to happen, just as she did in instructing the New York State Department of Health to issue the mask mandate — even after many school districts had developed their own reopening plans based on information that there would be no state guidance. To prepare for this situation, Pettit said the local health department is working with schools on testing. He admitted that the changing directives pertaining to masks in schools over the past three weeks “has been confusing.”

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the theft of “Butterscotch” the decorative cow from a residence in the Town of Elba.  Anyone with information regarding the theft or knowledge of “Butterscotch’s” location is being asked to contact the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

New York’s health benefit costs increased faster than the national average in 2020, leaving it with the second-least affordable coverage in the U.S. The state’s average total cost for employee-sponsored individual coverage was $8,177 and for family coverage was $23,381, according to an annual survey by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that Adrienne Harris has been nominated to lead the New York State Department of Financial Services as its next Superintendent. Formerly a top economic advisor to President Obama, Ms. Harris will become the state’s top financial regulator tasked with overseeing the banking and insurance industries and their compliance with state laws as New York works to rebuild its economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, if confirmed by the Senate.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday she will work with localities, the state health department, and other health agencies to put in place a mandatory weekly COVID-19 testing program for unvaccinated public and charter school employees. The governor made the announcement from University of Buffalo Tuesday where she hosted a COVID-19 briefing to discuss the state’s ongoing coronavirus response efforts. Gov. Hochul said she won’t be micro-managing from the governor’s office, but will be giving guidance.

State officials have announced that applications are now open for the next New York State Police Trooper Entrance Exam. The exam, which will be administered from January through April of 2022, will be given online at authorized testing centers for the first time in State Police history, part of an effort to reportedly make the exam more accessible to the general public.

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that Adrienne Harris has been nominated to lead the New York State Department of Financial Services as its next Superintendent. Formerly a top economic advisor to President Obama, Ms. Harris will become the state’s top financial regulator tasked with overseeing the banking and insurance industries and their compliance with state laws as New York works to rebuild its economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, if confirmed by the Senate.

***The State Legislature will be back in session today, looking to extend New York’s eviction moratorium to Jan. 15. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an extraordinary session for the Legislature Tuesday, aimed at also addressing the state’s cannabis program and the Open Meetings Law.

Plans continue to evolve for the projected new Bills stadium. On Tuesday, John Wawrow of the Associated Press reported the team is proposing Buffalo’s new stadium to hold about 60,000 seats, which is more than 10,000 seats less than what’s currently in Highmark Stadium. The team’s current lease is set to expire during the Summer of 2023, but pending approval for a new stadium the state and county are expected to extend that timeline.

Governor Hochul has announced that she will be making 65 million dollars available to local governments to administer booster shots of the COVID 19 Vaccine.  The White House has started saying that all adults should get a third dose of the COVID vaccine 8 months after their last shot.  The FDA has yet to approve the boosters for anyone other than those who have had organ transplants or have compromised immune systems.  Researchers have found that a booster would increase the number of COVID antibodies which start to decrease after 6 months from vaccination.  Detractors of the booster shots point out that antibodies decrease over time with any vaccine but T-Cell immunity has been showing to be constant in vaccinated and in people who have recovered from COVID.  The vaccines have so far been shown to be equally effective against all strains of the COVID virus.

Governor Hochul also said her office is in the process of getting legal clearance for the Department of Health to put a “vax or test” policy in place for teachers, staff and anyone else entering a school this fall.  It would require proof of vaccination or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.  She said the state is not doing a good enough job getting everyone to take the vaccine and she is willing to quote “make the tough decisions if I think it’ll protect the people of this state.”

The Sharrick Road Bridge between Colby Road and Harper Road will be closing on Sept. 7 for a bridge replacement project. This project is expected to take 3 months. During this time the road will not be passable to regular traffic or emergency vehicles. A detour will be posted.

Batavia Downs wants you to know their new schedule for horse racing.  Wednesday racing will be off for 2 weeks from September 1^st through the 15^th.  Racing will shift back to Fridays starting on the 3^rd.  September 4^th Saturday times will move to 5pm except for the November 6^th Breeders Cup which will be at 3:15.  The Clubhouse will be from 4-8pm.

Batavia’s South Lyon Street bridge over the Tonawanda Creek is now closed to all traffic.
The bridge failed a recent inspection.
The bridge had a posted load of 5-ton for some time but the latest inspection shows it cannot handle the minimum 3-ton load.
The bridge is slated for replacement with a new two lane structure. The new span should be open by September of next year.

It’s official now, all students in public and private schools in New York State will be required to wear masks when in class. Interim Batavia Schools Superintend Scott Bischoping was not surprised by the announcement but held off issuing a local mandate.
Oakfield Alabama was caught a bit surprise. They had been working on a local plan based on CDC guidelines. Oakfield Superintendent John Fisgus calls the situation frustrating.

Genesee County stands to receive more than $400,000 via a settlement between New York State and the pharmaceutical companies comprising the Johnson & Johnson brand for their role in contributing to the nation’s opioid epidemic. The county’s Human Services Committee, on the advice of County Attorney Kevin Earl, recommended adoption of a resolution that would enable Genesee to participate in the New York Opioid Sharing Agreement. The settlement, negotiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James, would provide Genesee County with between $177,000 and $413,000, with half of the money paid initially – possibly as soon as February 2022 – and the remainder paid incrementally over a 10-year period.

The Genesee County Health Department is planning a media briefing on various COVID-19 topics.
The briefing will be issued by county public health director Paul Petit.
WBTA plans to broadcasts Pettit’s remarks live at 2pm this afternoon.

Members of the State Legislature will be coming back to Albany this week to take action on the eviction moratorium that expires today. Lawmakers are set to return tomorrow or Thursday to discuss the next steps they can take to protect both tenants and landlords.

Due to a recent bridge inspection, the South Lyon Street bridge over the Tonawanda Creek in the City of Batavia will be closed to all traffic effective today until further notice.  The bridge is located between Main St (Rt 5) and South Main Street. The bridge had been load posted for 5 ton loads for some time, but a very recent inspection has determined that the bridge can no longer handle the minimum allowable loads of 3 tons.  A bridge replacement is under design and it is scheduled to be replaced completely with a new 2-lane structure.  It is expected that the design will be completed in November and that advertising of construction bids can be completed at that time. The new bridge should be open to the public by the end of September 2022.

Genesee County stands to receive more than $400,000 via a settlement between New York State and the pharmaceutical companies comprising the Johnson & Johnson brand for their role in contributing to the nation’s opioid epidemic. The county’s Human Services Committee, on the advice of County Attorney Kevin Earl, recommended adoption of a resolution that would enable Genesee to participate in the New York Opioid Sharing Agreement. The settlement, negotiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James, would provide Genesee County with between $177,000 and $413,000, with half of the money paid initially – possibly as soon as February 2022 – and the remainder paid incrementally over a 10-year period.

The Sharrick Road Bridge between Colby Road and Harper Road will be closing on Sept. 7 for a bridge replacement project. This project is expected to take 3 months. During this time the road will not be passable to regular traffic or emergency vehicles. A detour will be posted.

This weekend’s announcement by the New York State Department of Health requiring mask wearing for everyone inside all school buildings essentially nullifies any school district reopening plans that recommended, but did not require, face coverings in the classrooms. Oakfield-Alabama was one of those districts that decided to not require masks while teachers and students were in class – basing its decision on an Aug. 4 directive from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office that the state was leaving reopening guidelines up to local school districts in conjunction with local health departments. Friday’s emergency regulation by the NYSDOH — taking its lead from the new governor, Kathy Hochul — is both frustrating and upsetting according to the O-A Superintendent. He said the state should be able to have confidence in local school boards, administrators and teachers to do what is right in the face of a prolonged COVID-19 situation.

Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled a new memorial honoring New York’s fallen highway workers at the Great New York State Fair. The memorial is located near the midway entrance and west of the Horticulture Building on the fairgrounds. It honors all transportation workers killed while doing their job duties on or near New York’s thousands of miles of highways, including State Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority employees, municipal highway workers, contractors, consultants, and towing service employees.

The Sharrick Road Bridge between Colby Road and Harper Road will be closing on Sept. 7 for a bridge replacement project. This project is expected to take 3 months. During this time the road will not be passable to regular traffic or emergency vehicles. A detour will be posted.

Just in case you missed it…Following a call from Gov. Kathy Hochul for a mask mandate in schools, the New York State Department of Health has filed an emergency regulation mandating masks inside all school buildings. According to the report, all students, faculty and staff of public and private schools, pre-K through 12th grade, will be required to wear masks inside school buildings. Visitors will also be required to wear masks inside school buildings.

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the removal of the final toll booths on the New York State Thruway, a historic and significant milestone in the $355 million Cashless Tolling Design-Build Project. Monday, Cashless Tolling Constructors, LLC began removing the last standing toll plaza at Exit 60 (Westfield), the final of 52 toll plazas, including 230 individual toll booths, that have been removed since cashless tolling went live in November 2020. Exit realignment and road reconstruction continues at interchanges across the Thruway system and is on schedule to be completed by the end of October, weather permitting.

The Batavia Cemetery Association has announced that the annual Halloween Candlelight Ghostwalk…is back! Join them to meet the famous and infamous movers and shakers who shaped and influenced the City of Batavia on Saturday, October 23rd on a ghost walk through the Historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue in Batavia. Tours begin at 7:00 p.m. and run every fifteen minutes until 8:30 p.m. Admission is $10 and includes refreshments. Reservations are required. Proceeds benefit the upkeep and restoration of the cemetery.

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.15, down one cent from last week. The New York State average is $3.23 – up one cent from last week. In Batavia, the price at the pump is $3.24. Gas prices began to fluctuate over the weekend due to Hurricane Ida impacting the Gulf Coast, though mostly in states in the storm’s path. A storm like this typically causes an increase in fuel purchases in the market and a slowdown in production due to oil refinery shutdowns. Spikes in pump price due to the effects of the storm tend to be brief but dramatic. Furthermore, the upcoming Labor Day weekend holiday travel could push prices up based on demand.

From the Genesee County Highway Department: Sandpit Road between Spring and Dry Bridge Road is now reopened.  It has been closed since June 7th

The happy and unhappy haunts of Batavia will return on October 23^rd with the Ghost Walk through the historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue.  This candlelit guided tour will allow guests to meet men and women of Batavia who held great power and influence while they were alive, or experienced tragic events.  Among the notaries buried here are revolutionary war soldier James Holden, conspiracy theorist William Morgan who disappeared under mysterious circumstances while investigating the masons, and Military governor of DC John Martindale.  15 minute tours run from 7 to 8:30 and cost 10 dollars with refreshments included. Reservations are required.

The Buffalo Bills have said goodbye to Defensive End Darryl Johnson but will see him on the field when they play against the Carolina Panthers.  Johnson was traded to the Panthers for a 6^th round draft pick in 2022.  Johnson, 24, has played 31 games with the Bills over two seasons after being drafted in the 7th round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

The New York State Department of Health has issued a mask mandate for all schools in New York State.
According to the directive, all students, faculty and staff of public and private schools, pre-K through 12th grade, will be required to wear masks inside school buildings. Visitors will also be required to wear masks when inside school buildings. State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker says the increasing transmission of the Delta COVID variant is the driving factor for the mandate.

Two people were rescued after a car fell down an embankment in Wyoming County.
Deputies from the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident on Bank Road in the Town of Middlebury just before 1a.m Saturday morning. Deputies say two people were inside the car, which was at the bottom of a 25-foot embankment. The occupants suffered only minor injuries. One was treated at UMMC in Batavia.

Hurricane Ida can be blamed for an increase in gasoline prices.
The storm has caused disruptions to oil production and transportation.
The average prices of a gallon of regular in Batavia is up to 2-cents since last week to $3.24.

A pick-up truck with four young passengers inside drove into a ditch on Alleghany Road in Pembroke. Deputies arrested of 46-year-old Nathan Stringer of Rochester. He was charged with four counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated under Leandra’s Law, The children, all under the age of 15, were not injured. Stringer was released and will appear in Pembroke Town Court at a later date.

The Supreme Court’s decision last week to allow evictions to resume during the pandemic is expected to affect 3 million Americans. The court found the CDC did not have the authority to re-impose a moratorium earlier this month without Congressional authorization. New York’s eviction ban is set to expire tomorrow, but lawmakers have discussed extending it to the end of October. Gov. Hochul said she is in talks with the Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker to call a special session to address the impending eviction crisis, given the Supreme Court’s decision.

No injuries were reported when a pick-up truck loaded with four young children went into a ditch on Alleghany Road in Pembroke. An investigation by deputies led to the arrest of 46-year-old Nathan Stringer of Rochester. He was arrested and charged with four counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated under Leandra’s Law, DWI, DWI refusal, moving from a lane unsafely and unlicensed operation. The children, all under the age of 15, were not injured. Stringer was released and will appear in Pembroke Town Court at a later date.

Acting on a warrant, State Police arrested 36-year-old Danielle Tooley of Batavia. She was charged with bail jumping. She was released on her own recognizance.

An ambulance fire was reported early Sunday on East Main Street in Batavia, the Genesee County Fairgrounds. A chief on scene said the ambulance was fully involved. Town of Batavia Fire responded.

Charges have now been filed stemming from a vehicle crash in Pembroke on July 19^th. Deputies arrested 62-year-old Norman Humel of Darien. He was charged with DWI, aggravated DWI, unreasonable speed, moving from a lane unsafely, failure to keep right and refusing to take a breath test. He’ll be arraigned in court Thursday afternoon.

A confrontation in the Town of Batavia resulted in criminal charges. Troopers say they arrested 26-year-old Abigail Button of Charlotte, North Carolina. She was charged with assault causing physical injury and criminal mischief. She was issued an appearance ticket for court and released.

By the end of October, dozens of insurance companies in New York will again require copays for Coronavirus hospital stays and testing. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, early on in the pandemic, insurers limited out-of-pocket expenses for anyone diagnosed and hospitalized with COVID through cost-sharing waivers. However, more than a year in, that has changed. Currently, federal law requires COVID testing to be free, as long as it’s deemed medically appropriate. However, tests are not covered if you’re getting them as an alternative to the vaccine.

The Supreme Court’s decision last week to allow evictions to resume during the pandemic is expected to affect 3 million Americans. The court found the CDC did not have the authority to re-impose a moratorium earlier this month without Congressional authorization. New York’s eviction ban is set to expire tomorrow, but lawmakers have discussed extending it to the end of October. Gov. Hochul said she is in talks with the Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker to call a special session to address the impending eviction crisis, given the Supreme Court’s decision.

Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday unveiled a Workers Memorial at the New York State Fair in Syracuse. The memorial honors all transportation workers killed while performing their job duties on or near New York’s thousands of miles of highways.

Batavia police say they arrested 40-year-old Wesley Thigpen on two counts of Thigpen is accused of a continuous course of conduct where he sexually abused two children while they were under the age of thirteen. The abuse occurred at multiple locations in the City of Batavia between 2007 and 2016. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and held with no set bail.

Batavia police arrested 51-yar-old Eric P. Doleman of Pembroke after an investigation into the use of counterfeit money at a local business, where he allegedly knowingly used a counterfeit $100 bill. Doleman was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to jail without bail.

Batavia city officials hope to clear the air around the Waste Water Treatment Plant. A $1-million project to replace the air header system at the plant is nearly complete. The treatment plant is located in the southwest corner of the city.
For some time now, residents near the plant have complained about foul orders coming from the site.
The new air header system should substantially reduce the odor from the plant and the surrounding ponds.

The owner of the former Carr’s building on Monday vows a five-million-dollar project to renovate the former department store will move ahead.
Owner Ken Mistler has already been allocated a million dollars for the project under the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant.
There are no outward signs that anything has been done with the project. City Manager Rachel Tabelski said her understanding is that Mistler will keep the ground floor for commercial space and upper floors for residential.
Mistler was quoted this week by our news partner, The Batavian, as saying any information about what the building will ultimately look like is, “speculation.”

The New York State Department of Health has filed an emergency regulation that will require all students, faculty, and staff for all public and private schools in New York State to wear masks inside school buildings.
This comes after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the health department to implement a universal mask mandate in all schools.
The governor also announced earlier this week that school personnel will be required to be vaccinated with the option to test out weekly.

State Senator Liz Krueger is calling for disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to return campaign contributions. Pointing out the fact that over 18 million dollars were gathered by Cuomo for his now canceled 2022 re-election campaign, the senator spoke about its purpose no longer existing. Krueger is calling on big donors to demand their money back. Politico reports that Cuomo plans to use the money in order to launch a retribution campaign against his enemies.

Authorities in Rochester are investigating the discovery of a body in the Genesee River.
The grim find was made late Friday afternoon near the Seneca Park Zoo.
The body was that of a man, but no further information is available.

Things to do this weekend:
On Saturday: Women of the Moose present Spirits Drive Thru Chicken BBQ, today starting at 1pm until sold out, 21 Bank Street, LeRoy. Pre-sale tickets available from the LeRoy Moose Club. Proceeds benefit the Jell-O sign on the Thruway and various Moose Charities. Also on Saturday the Attica Lions Club presents, Germanfest, Saturday, August 28, starting at 3:30pm in Attica Park, Exchange Street. Food, Music, and more. Take outs available.

On Sunday:
United Way presents the 5th annual Summer Serenade, ” A Night in Vienna”, Sunday, August 29th, at The LeRoyan, Rt. 5, LeRoy. Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Genesee Symphony Orchestra. You can get tickets for this garden party on-line or from any United Way or GSO member.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott says the situation regarding players outspoken against the COVID-19 vaccine is “frustrating.”
McDermott has addressed two players in particular who were both recently fined for violating the league’s mask policy and who have been outspoken against vaccines.
Bills wide receivers Isaiah McKenzie and Cole Beasley took to social media to complain about being fined 14-thousand dollars for the violations. Beasley has been perhaps the most outspoken player in the NFL regarding vaccinations and other COVID-19 guidelines.

Two Genesee County woman plead guilty to welfare fraud.
50-year-old Trina Grimmer of Byron was allowed to plea to a reduced charge and given a conditional discharge. She was originally accused of collecting $8,104 in SNAP benefits.
42-year-old Valerie Marucci of Attica pled guilty to one count of Disorderly Conduct. Social Services investigators say Marucci collected $2,725 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to.
Both Grimmer and Marucci have been banned from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.

The owner of Ken Barrett Chevrolet throws a big bone to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit.
Ken Barret donated 25-hundred dollars for K-9 Frankie.
Frankie’s care fund was drained after the dog spent a week in the hospital for an illness.
The Barrett donation will help restore funding for the care and feeding of the police dog.

Governor Kathy Hochul has selected Brian Benjamin for Lieutenant Governor. Senator Benjamin and Governor Hochul have previously worked together on several key issues.
Senator Benjamin previously served as the New York State Senator for District 30 – which encompasses Harlem, East Harlem, and the Upper West Side of New York City.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the selection of Brian Benjamin for Lieutenant Governor. Senator Benjamin and Governor Hochul have previously worked together on several key issues, including fighting the opioid epidemic and boosting addiction recovery programs and making it easier for New Yorkers to vote. Senator Benjamin previously served as the New York State Senator for District 30 – which encompasses Harlem, East Harlem, and the Upper West Side – Chairman of the Senate Committee on Revenue and Budget and Senior Assistant Majority Leader, where he distinguished himself as a leader in criminal justice reform and affordable housing. Senator Benjamin remains heavily involved in his community in Harlem.

Governor Hochul said she wants to impose a school mask mandate in New York State. Many parents in the area have voiced their concerns, both in favor and against masking, and even local officials seem to have differing opinions. Since New York is no longer in a state of emergency, Governor Hochul cannot officially impose a school mask mandate herself. But, in her recent address this week, she said she is directing the health department to instate a mask requirement. This would make it mandatory for all New York Schools to comply. The New York Department of Health was supposed to issue guidance to schools but they decided to leave that responsibility to local officials when there was only one month until school started.

New York is having a successful recovery from new unemployment claims, with last week’s claims lower than in the same week in 2019, according to WalletHub’s updated rankings for the States Whose Unemployment Claims Are Recovering the Quickest. Weekly unemployment claims in New York decreased by 11.49% compared to the same week in 2019. This was the 8th biggest decrease in the U.S.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund voted against board directors at companies that failed to meet the Fund’s expectations for board diversity and filed shareholder proposals calling on companies to address investors’ concerns about diversity, equity and inclusion during the 2021 proxy season. The Fund’s ongoing efforts to hold publicly traded corporations and their top executives accountable received strong support.

Ken Barrett, owner of Ken Barrett Chevrolet/Cadillac in Batavia, surprised the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office with a $2,500 donation to the K-9 Fund. Barrett says he heard though a long-time employee, salesman Bob Mullen, that Mullen’s grandson, Deputy Andrew Mullen, advised that his K-9 partner Frankie just returned home from a weeklong stay in the hospital after an illness. The unexpected stay will deplete the K-9 fund, with only a few thousand dollars remaining. Barrett says his business has always tried to support local law enforcement and has made prior donations. He says the dealership plans to continue to support the K-9 fund in the future.

Following an investigation into a physical domestic at Six Flags Darien Lake Theme Park, deputies arrested 43-year-old Antonia Santiago Jr. of Rochester. He was charged with second-degree harassment. Santiago allegedly punched and pushed the victim. He was arraigned and will return to Town of Darien court on September 30^th.