Local News

37-year-old Cassandra Smith of Batavia has been arrested by Sheriff deputies following a shoplifting complaint at Tops Market in Warsaw. She was also found to have allegedly shoplifted from two adjacent stores, Zaza Smoke Shop and Walmart. Smith was charged with petit larceny and released with appearance tickets to return to court at a later date. But then during a traffic stop later the same day, Smith was found to have new clothes in her vehicle that she did not have earlier; it turns out that Smith went back to Walmart and shoplifted again. This time, she was arrested and remanded to Wyoming County Jail and held on $5000 bail. Smith is scheduled to appear in Town Court at a later date.

A high wind watch has been issued for Orleans, Wyoming and Genesee Counties from 5 p.m. Saturday through 8 a.m. Sunday with 60-mile-per-hour gusts expected; the strongest winds will move through our region Saturday night. Travel could be difficult at times, especially for high profile vehicles. Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines; scattered power outages are possible.

The first Agriculture Week at Notre Dame High School wrapped up today. Land Pro, Monroe Tractor, Helena Agri, Upstate Niagara Co-op, and Wyoming Country Cooperative Extension assisted with the project, which provided opportunities for student to check out farm equipment up close. School administrators hope it will become an annual event. Photo by Doug Thompson, WBTA News.

FROM THE WYOMING COUNTY SHERIFF: 53-year-old James Jacobs of Attica was arrested and charged with petit larceny. It’s alleged he stole a GPS from the Warsaw Walmart. He was issued a ticket for Town of Warsaw Court to appear early in April. ALSO: 37-year-old Katy Day of Warsaw is charged with felony criminal mischief. She’s accused of intentionally damaging a computer tablet while she was incarcerated at the County Jail on an unrelated matter. Damages totaled $250. Day was arraigned in Warsaw Justice Court and returned to the County Jail where she’s being held on other charges.

Starpoint High School, Lockport (file photo)

Two Starpoint High School students are in some legal trouble after being arrested for harassment. The Niagara County Sheriff’s Department says the arrests are connected to an incident centered on the high school’s varsity wrestling team. The 17-year-olds from Lockport were both allegedly involved in an incident that happened at a home in Wheatfield, but details about what occurred haven’t been made public. The school district released a statement saying it would have no comment on the investigation.

Victims of murder, by Deandre Wilson

A Buffalo man has been sentenced for his role in the murders of three people during a drug robbery. Yesterday, a judge ordered Deandre Wilson to spend the rest of his life in prison for being involved in the deaths of (pictured, from left-to-right) 31-year-old Miguel Anthony Valentin-Colin, 24-year-old Nicole Marie Merced-Plaud and 29-year-old Dhamyl Roman-Audiffred. The remains of Merced-Plaud and Valentin-Colon were spotted in a burned out van on Tonawanda Street in September 2019. Roman-Audiffred’s remains were later found in a fire pit in the back of a home on Box Avenue.

Genesee County deputies have released the name of the pedestrian who lost his life after being struck by a vehicle. On Wednesday night, 44-year-old Richard Jones Junior was walking on Route 63 in the Town of Alabama when he was hit by a car. Jones was pronounced dead shortly after first responders got to the scene. So far, there have been no charges filed against the driver who struck Jones.

According to the State Department of Labor, the unemployment rate in New York stayed flat in February, holding at 4.2%. The addition of 21,200 jobs in the private sector amounted to a 0.3% increase, but was not enough to change the state’s jobless rate, which remains higher than the national average of 3.6%. New York’s labor force participation rate increased slightly from 60.5% to 60.6%, but is still below pre-pandemic levels. The state lost about 2 million jobs in the immediate wake of the closure of public gathering spaces and business three years ago. The hospitality and tourism sectors of the state’s economy were hit especially hard by the initial closure. State officials have estimated jobs will not fully return to pre-pandemic employment for another several years this decade.

Superintendent Jason Smith

School taxes in Batavia are expected to go up by 1 percent in the coming year. Superintendent Jason Smith said the increase is smaller than it was going to be. Originally, a 3% increase was anticipated. The cost is due to the need for 3 new school busses. Also, a contract for transportation expires at the end of the year, which means a renegotiation, and subsequent price increases. The Superintendent expects a mandate coming from the state to buy electric only school busses in the near future as well. And finally, teacher salaries and other personnel expenses are set to increase by 1 million dollars across the school district. (Photo: LinkedIn)

Dot RU at the end of an online website or email indicates a Russian domain

New information has been released about a bomb threat that led to schools in the Hilton Central School District being evacuated. The threat that claimed there were bombs in multiple district buildings came from an e-mail address that used a Russian domain. Monroe County deputies are still trying to find out who sent the message. A search of the buildings didn’t result in any explosives being found.

Example of a Kia tow hitch harness. This one may not be included in the recall. The dealer will contact impacted customers.

Hyundai and Kia are telling the owners of more than 571,000 SUVs and minivans in the U.S. to park them outdoors because the tow hitch harnesses can catch fire while they are parked or being driven. Owners affected by the recall will be notified starting May 16th. (Hyundai vehicles include the 2019 to 2023 Santa Fe, the 2021 to 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid, the 2022 and 2023 Santa Fe Plug-in hybrid and the 2022 and 2023 Santa Cruz. The only Kia affected is the Carnival minivan from 2022 and 2023. All have Hyundai or Kia tow hitch harnesses that came as original equipment or were installed by dealers. Dealers at first will remove the fuse and tow hitch computer module until a fix is available. Later they will install a new fuse and wire extension with an improved connector that’s waterproof.)

Unidentified child waiting for maple syrup

New Yorkers are being encouraged to get out and support their local maple producers this weekend. Maple Weekend kicks off tomorrow and will run through Sunday. Maple producers will be opening up their doors to people and giving them a chance to taste their products. There will also be tours and pancake breakfasts at some locations. To find a full list of events, go to mapleweekend.nysmaple.com.

File photo of the Buffalo Sabres

With their hopes of making the postseason nearly dashed, the Buffalo Sabres will be taking on one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference tonight. The Sabres are hosting the New Jersey Devils at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is on a 4-game losing streak after being beaten by the Nashville Predators 7-3 Tuesday. Face-off for this evening’s contest is scheduled for 7:00.

Please play responsibly.

The Mega Millions jackpot just keeps going up. Whoever is lucky enough to correctly choose all six winning numbers ahead of tonight’s drawing will receive a prize of at least $302,000,000. The drawing will be streamed live online at megamillions.com. Please play responsibly.

Hyundai and Kia owners have had to deal with the huge numbers of thefts lately and now they aren’t even supposed to keep their cars safely inside in their garage as they might suddenly burst into flames.  Hyundai and Kia are telling the owners of more than 571,000 SUVs and minivans in the U.S. to park them outdoors because the tow hitch harnesses can catch fire while they are parked or being driven.  Affected Hyundai vehicles include the 2019 to 2023 Santa Fe, the 2021 to 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid, the 2022 and 2023 Santa Fe Plug-in hybrid and the 2022 and 2023 Santa Cruz. The only Kia affected is the Carnival minivan from 2022 and 2023. All have Hyundai or Kia tow hitch harnesses that came as original equipment or were installed by dealers.  Dealers at first will remove the fuse and tow hitch computer module until a fix is available. Later they will install a new fuse and wire extension with an improved connector that’s waterproof. Owners will be notified starting May 16.

51 year old Deandre Wilson was sentenced for a triple murder committed in 2019.  He was sentenced to 3 consecutive sentences plus 30 years.  The victims in the murder were married couple Miguel Anthony Valentin-Colon and Nicole Merced-Plaud, and their friend, Dhamyl Roman-Audiffred.  The 3-year-old son of Valentin-Colon and Merced-Plaud witnessed the murders of his parents and was later found on the porch of a home near the victim’s bodies.  Also involved in the murders were Wilson’s co-conspirators, Jariel Cobb and James Reed, who were previously convicted and still await sentencing.

School taxes in Batavia are expected to go up by 1 percent in the coming year.  Superintendent Jason Smith said the increase is smaller than it was going to be.  Originally they were projecting a 3 percent increase.  The cost is due to the need for 3 new school buses and the contract for transportation is up at the end of the year which means a renegotiation and price increases.  Smith expects a mandate coming from the state to buy electric only school buses in the near future as well.  Also teacher salaries and other personnel expenses are set to increase by 1 million dollars across the school district.  

Western New York Off Track Betting Corp is looking into expanding the hotel attached to their casino.  Members of the operation committee said that the hotel is constantly sold out and traffic has increased to the casino in the last year.  The hotel would most likely expand northward.  Other suggested work at the Casino is an outdoor smoking area as the 2 year exemption that allows people to smoke at the machines may be taken away at any time.  Work on the 34 Rush restaurant and Bar, and a recreational trailer for performers during the Rockin’ the Downs Concert series. 

The unemployment rate in New York stayed flat in February, holding at 4.2%, the state Department of Labor on Thursday announced.  The addition of 21,200 jobs in the private sector was a 0.3% increase, but was not enough to budge the state’s jobless rate, which remains higher than the national average of 3.6%.  New York’s labor force participation rate increased slightly from 60.5% to 60.6%, but is still below pre-pandemic levels.  The state lost about 2 million jobs in the immediate wake of the closure of public gathering spaces and business three years ago. The hospitality and tourism sectors of the state’s economy were hit especially hard by the initial closure.  State officials have estimated jobs will not fully return to pre-pandemic employment for another several years this decade.

Niagara Falls in Ontario has a new mayor.  Pal the German Shepherd.  He is getting sworn in at 1pm.  Pal has over a million followers on social media.  You can follow pal online at his owner Lalicich’s facebook, instagram or tiktok.  

12 members of the GLOW YMCA Riptide Swim Team competed in the New York State YMCA Swimming Championships at the Burt Flickinger Aquatic Center in Buffalo on March 18 and 19.  Reilly Davis took home the NYS Championship in the 8u 25 Breast.  She also placed 2nd in the 100 IM, 3rd in the 100 Free, 3rd in the 50 Free, and 3rd in the 25 Free.  The 10u relay team of Sarah Pritchett, Reilly Davis, Lily Bellamy, and Matilda Nevinger took home 5th place in the 200 Free Relay and 6th place in the 200 Free Relay.  All of these members were new to the YMCA swim team this season.

Delonta Curry

GENESEE COUNTY INDICTMENTS: 21-year-old Delonta Curry of Batavia has been indicted on counts of criminal possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon on school grounds. Both are considered felonies.

James Santiago, Jr.

43-year-old James Santiago Jr. of Batavia is now indicted on one count of failure to register a change of address as a sex offender. Santiago is accused of not notifying the New York State Division of Criminal Justice of a change of address within the required 10 days for a registered sex offender in July.

Isaac King

35-year-old Isaac King of Batavia has been indicted on counts of criminal contempt and aggravated family offense; both are felony charges. King is accused of making repeated phone calls to a victim in the Town of Pembroke in violation of a court order.

Jarrod Fotiathis

28-year-old Jarrod Fotiathis of LeRoy is indicted on many charges, including grand larceny, conspiracy, criminal possession of stolen property, petit larceny and unlawful possession of personal identification; he’s accused of stealing a credit card in the City of Batavia and stealing cash from the same victim and then later attempting identify theft of a second victim. Fotiathis allegedly used a person’s identify to make purchases of $670.77 using that person’s debit card. He also allegedly stole an Amazon Fire Stick.

29-year-old Rufus Johnson of North Chili has been indicted on a count of burglary and two counts of petit larceny. Johnson is accused of entering Walmart in Batavia with the intent to commit a crime inside the building. He is accused of stealing property while inside the store.  ALSO:  28-year-old Jason Neth of Corfu is indicted on counts of unlawful imprisonment and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting. Both are felony charges. He’s accused of restraining a person under circumstances that exposed the person to risk of serious physical injury and also of operating a motor vehicle, causing serious physical injury to another person and leaving the scene.

BATAVIA POLICE and SHERIFF REPORT: 39-year-old Steven Wasielewski of Pembroke has been charged with criminal contempt and assault. He’s accused of violating an order of protection and hitting another person causing injury at a location on Phelps Road in Pembroke. Wasielewski’s release status was not provided. ALSO: 39-year-old Jessica Holtz of Rochester has been arrested in Batavia on two bench warrants. The first stemmed from a petit larceny charge at Kwik Fill on Jackson Street; she failed to appear in court to answer that charge. The second warrant was also associated with petit larceny from a South Swan Street church, for which she also failed to appear in court on the scheduled date. Holtz was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court; her release status is not known at this time. ALSO: 41-year-old Mark Robbins of Bergen is charged with two counts of harassment. He’s accused of shoving one person and striking another during a disturbance at a location on South Lake Avenue, Bergen. Robbins was issued an appearance ticket.

Hilton High School (file photo)

All schools in the Hilton Central School District opened today after they were evacuated following a bomb threat. Officials say an e-mail was received yesterday claiming that pipe bombs had been placed in every building. Police responded to the scene and said the threat was not credible. There will be an increased police presence at the schools for the rest of this week as a precaution.

The investigation continues today into an accident that resulted in a pedestrian being struck. Last night around 8:30 on Route 63 in Alabama, a vehicle driven by 67-year-old Vidal Chavez of Elba struck 44-year-old Richard Alan Jones, Jr. as he crossed the road into the path of the vehicle. Jones was struck and pronounced deceased at the scene.

Ervin Stubbs

34-year-old Ervin Stubbs of Ocala, Florida has been arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon and for being a fugitive from justice; this followed a road rage incident during which Stubbs allegedly shot a 42-year-old man from Detroit, while traveling on the Thruway in Pennsylvania. The victim was shot in the knee but still managed to drive to the Fredonia/Dunkirk exit, where he met with New York State Police. He was treated at Erie County Medical Center and released. An investigation found that Stubbs was allegedly operating a truck on the Thruway when he allegedly shot the victim. He was located at the Flying J Truck Stop in Pembroke and found in possession of a Ruger 9mm handgun. Stubbs was arraigned in Batavia and transported to Pennsylvania to face additional charges on a warrant extradition.

Aftermath of fatal crash on Main Street, Buffalo

New information has been released about a crash that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old man. The person who died in Monday’s accident on Main Street in Buffalo has been identified as Jerel Buchanan. He and several other people were in a vehicle that struck a pole and then rolled over. Buchanan passed away at the scene and the other victims are still recovering. The cause of the crash is still being looked into.

Adam Broadwell

A member of the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division is in some legal trouble after being charged with a felony. An investigation was opened earlier this year after a report was received about inappropriate conduct at the county courthouse. It was later determined that 44-year-old Deputy Adam Broadwell used an electronic device to eavesdrop on conversations he wasn’t involved in. Broadwell was released on an appearance ticket and is suspended without pay. (Provided photo)

File photo

Buffalo police have made two arrests in connection with a shooting that left a teenager hurt. They say 20-year-old Isaiah Hicks and a 16-year-old boy were involved in Tuesday’s shooting on Mary B Talbert Boulevard. When officers got to the scene, they found a 14-year-old boy had been struck in the back by gunfire. There has been no information made public about just how badly the boy was injured. Both Hicks and the 16-year-old are facing charges.

With less than two weeks until the April 1st deadline, Governor Hochul says that she’s hopeful a state budget can be passed on time. But, the governor said yesterday that a final agreement will depend on several key issues such as changes to the state’s current bail-reform laws. The governor believes the budget plan that she’s proposing will help reduce gun violence and other crime. She says her number one priority is protecting New Yorkers and that people deserve a criminal justice system that prioritizes safety and justice.

Tax season is in full swing, and people are being encouraged to know their rights when it comes time to hire someone to do their taxes. The state Department of Taxation and Finance says all tax preparers must tell you immediately if they’ll represent you if your return is audited and have to ask you the correct questions so they can do your return accurately. Preparers are also required to allow you to review your completed return before you sign it. Any complaints can be filed online at tax.ny.gov.

Logo from the 1970’s

Officials with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority have announced when an information session will be held about the upcoming police transit exam. It is scheduled for this Saturday from 12:30pm to 1:30pm at the Frank E. Merriweather Junior Library on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo. Attendees will be able to find out just what goes into being a member of the transit police on a daily basis and also how to apply for April 29th exam. For more information, go to nfta.com/police.

The Hilton Central School District evacuated all students and staff on Wednesday after someone emailed local media outlets that there were pipe bombs at all school buildings and the Superintendent’s house.  The threat came in at around 8:30 in the morning.  The emails said that the perpetrator was angry about a book called “This Book is Gay” by James Dawson, that is at the school library that contains sexual lgbt content.  The emails accuse the school staff of being groomers and collapsing civilization.  Students in all 5 Hilton Schools were evacuated to buses and parents were notified to come pick up their children.  Many report it took hours to get their children because of the traffic being gridlocked around the school.  No bombs were found.  A meeting was held as had been previously scheduled Wednesday night to discuss the book and whether it was appropriate for the school.  Students spoke about not feeling safe after the bomb threats.  The incident is under investigation.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s office is mourning the loss of one of its dispatchers who passed away suddenly on Tuesday.  Emergency Services Dispatcher Andrew  Merkel was 38 years old and had been with the sheriff’s office since October of 2011.  In addition to his regular duties as an Emergency Services Dispatcher, he was a Communications Training Officer and a board member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Employee Association.  Andy, as he was more popularly known, was also a former employee of Mercy EMS from 2009 to 2015 as an EMT, an Oakfield baseball coach and mentor and a longstanding member of the Alabama Fire Department.  Outside of serving his community, he spent his time operating Wings Cupped Retriever Services, his dog training company, which specialized in obedience, retriever and gun dog training. He also enjoyed duck hunting and the outdoors.  A GoFundMe has been organized by members of the Genesee County Sheriffs Association. All money raised will be given directly to Andrew Merkel’s family.

The Batavia Daily News has been sold.  Sample News Group has bought the Batavia Daily News and its sister publication, Livingston County News along with Oswego County News and Oswego Shopper from their parent company based in Watertown, Johnson Newspaper Corporation.  The official transfer of ownership will take place on May 1st.  Sample News is a privately held publishing company based in Huntington Pennsylvania.  They own 17 daily newspapers and more than 35 weeklies and specialty magazines.  

Genesee County Sheriffs are investigating after a car struck a pedestrian on rt 63 in the town of Alabama around 8:30 Wednesday night.  Sheriff’s say that 63 year old Vidal Chavez of Elba was driving west on rt 63 when 44 year old Richard Alan Jones Jr walked across the road in front of him and was hit.  Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.  The investigation is ongoing.

The Batavia Development Corporation is purchasing a 4.26 acre parcel of land from the Town for 1 dollar.  The area, which is located between Evans st and Tonawanda Creek behind the Ice Arena, will be opened up for land development following the model of the Ellicott Station Project.  They say they have to first get the land sampled for pollutants and then see if the land can be marketed as a greenfield or brownfield.  They expect the sale to close after April 18th.

Six Flags Darien Lake is holding a hiring event for more than 1000 open positions on Saturday. The positions range from part time to full time season spots.  They need lifeguards, ride operators, food service, entertainment, security, admissions, retail, and camping workers. Applications are open to anyone 14 and up.  Park workers get free park admission and bring a friend passes, discounts on food and retail items and employee exclusive events.  The event goes from 9am to 1pm at the Six Flags Hotel. 

Brendon Burns

The name of the man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Rochester has been released. According to officials, 35-year-old Brendon Burns was shot Monday in the city’s Park Avenue neighborhood after he threatened police with a weapon. Burns was allegedly involved in multiple crimes before his death, including a pair of shooting incidents. The state Attorney General’s Office is also involved in the investigation.

Juul Pod System Starter Kit

Batavia City School board members unanimously approved nearly $36,000 in settlement funds Monday from a lawsuit in which the district claimed injury, malice, oppression and fraud against Juul Labs. Batavia was one of 143 districts involved in the lawsuit against the makers of the popular vaping products, alleging that the company “fraudulently and intentionally marketed” its products to children and that those products caused numerous health, financial and structural damages to the district and students. Superintendent Jason Smith said that the expected proceeds were going to be invested into the city district’s “preventative and restorative” program called Vape University.

Senator George Borello

Senator George Borrello will be in Batavia for a Town Hall Meeting early on Tuesday evening, April 11th, from 6 until 7. Everyone in the community is welcome to hear the latest updates on state and local issues, ask questions and offer comments. The event will be held at City Hall, One Batavia City Centre.

Sniper rifle on the roof

An internal investigation is underway after a sniper rifle fell from the roof of a building during Buffalo’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Photos show the rifle, which was the responsibility of a member of the city’s police department, dropped from the top of the building in the area of Delaware Avenue and Allen Street on Sunday and hit the sidewalk. Another officer grabbed the weapon and brought it to safety. There’s no word yet if the officer who originally had the rifle will be punished.

File photo of brush fire

The spring burning ban is in effect statewide, through May 14th. Included in the exceptions are campfires less than 3 feet in height and 4 feet in width, small cooking fires, and ceremonial or celebratory bonfires. Fires cannot be left unattended and must be fully extinguished. Burning trash is illegal statewide in all cases. The annual burn ban has been enforced since 2009, and is estimated to have decreased the number of wildfires by more than 40%.

The latest data from the New York State Flu Tracker shows the spread of the flu virus is still slowing down in our region. During the week ending March 11th, the area with the highest number of cases was Erie County with 19; Ontario County with 12. Monroe County had the second-highest total with 11; Niagara County, 6; Genesee County had 3 and Livingston and Wayne counties had one each. County Health departments continue to advocate getting vaccinated against the illness, as it is never too late to get the flu shot.

Reginald Johnson

A Buffalo father is facing a long prison sentence for his role in the death of his infant son. Prosecutors say that 39-year-old Reginald Jordan shook the child violently back in 2019, and an autopsy revealed the baby died of blunt force trauma to his head and neck. Jordan has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and could be ordered to spend up to 25 years in prison. He’s currently being held in custody without bail.

“We’ve moved to Wyoming!”

A recently published study places New York State next to last when it comes to affordability for seniors on a budget. The study was done by networking company Seniorly and looked at eight financial metrics impacting seniors, including health care, retirement income and taxes, as well as the relationship between retirement income and cost of living. The study found that more than 31 percent of retirees in New York spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing. It’s also reportedly one of the least tax-friendly states for seniors. New York came in 49th, with Massachusetts in 50th place; by the way, Wyoming landed in first place as the state most affordable for seniors, followed by Utah, Montana, Idaho, Virginia and Colorado.

File photo of Jeff Skinner

The losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres has now hit four games after the team suffers a blowout defeat on home ice. Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, and Dylan Cozens had a goal each, but the Sabres were still beaten by the Nashville Predators seven-to-three at KeyBank Center last night. Buffalo goaltender Craig Anderson was able to stop just 14 of the 20 shots he faced before being replaced in net by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The next game for the Sabres is Friday against the New Jersey Devils.

Peter Gabriel in concert – file photo

A multi-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter will be bringing his latest tour to Western New York this year. Former Genesis member Peter Gabriel is going to be at KeyBank Center on Friday, September 22nd. Gabriel has sold millions of albums and is known for songs including “Sledgehammer,” “Solsbury Hill,” and “In Your Eyes.” Tickets for the show go on sale to the general public this Friday morning at 10:00am through Live Nation.

Is the job that sounds too good to be true actually a scam?

A lot of people are looking for work these days, and the Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is offering job seekers some tips to avoid employment scams. The agency says people should be weary of employers who ask for personal information before an interview or who only communicate through text message or a messaging app. It’s also recommended that folks do research on organizations before applying since scammers promote non-existent job opportunities. If you’re trying to find a job, some reputable places to look include the state Department of Labor’s website.

Unidentified child and adult watching the night sky

An asteroid the size of a skyscraper will fly between the Earth and the moon this weekend. Astronomers say the asteroid is twice the size of the one that blew out windows in Russia ten years ago. It will buzz past Earth at half the distance of the moon on Saturday. People in the Northern Hemisphere with telescopes six inches or larger will have a chance to see the space rock over the southeastern horizon Friday evening. And, the Virtual Telescope Project will show a live stream of the asteroid at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday.

Today is Red Cross Giving Day. The non-profit is urging people to donate blood, time or money to the cause. Information on local blood drives and volunteer opportunities is available at RedCross.org.

Batavia City School board members unanimously approved nearly $36,000 in settlement funds Monday from a lawsuit in which the district claimed injury, malice, oppression and fraud against Juul Labs.  The city school district was one of 143 districts involved in the lawsuit against the makers of the popular vaping products, alleging that the company “fraudulently and intentionally marketed” its products to children and that those products caused numerous health, financial and structural damages to the district and students.  Superintendent Jason Smith said that the expected proceeds were going to be invested into the city district’s “preventative and restorative” program called Vape University.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney invited High School students from New York’s 24th district to participate in the 2023 Congressional Art Competition. Started in 1982 by members of the U.S. House of Representatives, High School students across the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories are invited to participate in a nationwide annual art competition. Since its creation, over 650,000 high school students have submitted their artwork to the contest.  The contest winner will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year.  

A new study ranks New York state next to last when it comes to affordability for seniors on a budget.  The study was done by networking company Seniorly and looked at eight financial metrics impacting seniors, including health care, retirement income and taxes.  The study looked into the relationship between retirement income and cost of living.  Out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., the study ranked New York only in front of Massachusetts.  The study found that more than 31 percent of retirees in New York spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing.  It’s also reportedly one of the least tax-friendly states for seniors.

The lineup has been finalized for the 20th annual CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival.  Headliners performing ticketed shows at Eastman Theatre’s Kodak Hall include Pat Metheny, Keb’ Mo’, Omara Portuondo and Bonnie Raitt.  St. Paul and The Broken Bones will perform a free show June 24 at 9 p.m. at the corner of East Avenue and Chestnut Street.  Four other free headliner shows will take place at Parcel 5, including Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, Southside Johnny, Artimus Pyle Band and Trombone Shorty. The festival runs June 23-July 1 at venues throughout the city.

The Sabres playoff hopes are more of a distant dream as they dropped their fourth straight game Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators 7 to 3.  Skinner, Cozens and Thompson scored for Buffalo.  Anderson let in 6 goals and Luukonen let in one out of the 26 shots on the goal from Nashville. The Sabres face off with the New Jersey Devils on Friday at 7 at the Keybank Center.

Anthony Armstrong

Batavia Police have arrested 34-year-old Anthony Armstrong of Rochester following the five-hour standoff at 64 Walnut Street that started with a hang-up call to 9-1-1. Late yesterday afternoon, an argument had broken out between Armstrong and a tenant in one of the apartments; Armstrong entered the apartment unlawfully and barricaded himself inside and held the tenant against their will. Armstrong had a knife and threatened to harm himself; the victim was in fear of their own safety. State Police along with a Monroe County SWAT team assisted local law enforcement. The victim was able to escape through an upstairs window. Eventually, Armstrong surrendered, was taken to the hospital for evaluation and then turned over to the police. He was arraigned in Genesee County Court and is being held in County Jail. The long list of charges against him includes burglary, felony unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a weapon, which is considered a felony because Armstrong has a prior conviction. The detailed story by Howard B. Owens is available on the website of our news partner, The Batavian: https://www.thebatavian.com/howard-b-owens/after-five-hour-standoff-suspect-charged-with-felonies-held-in-jail/628877

31-year-old Joseph Martino of Windsor, New York has been charged with criminal contempt following an investigation into an incident in Attica, last month. Martino was arraigned in Attica Court and transported back to the Genesee County Jail where he is currently being held on unrelated charges.

39-year-old Jaquln Dueppengiesser and 33-year-old Shawnna Lamont, both of Perry, have been arrested. They’re each charged with grand larceny after it was reported they used another person’s credit card information to transfer money to themselves via Cash App, without the car owner’s permission. Both were issued appearance tickets returnable to the Town of Perry Court at a later date.

Police in Rochester are continuing their investigation into a fatal officer-involved shooting. The department says officers were pursuing a suspect who they believe was involved in several recent crimes yesterday when he showed a gun and opened fire towards police in the Park Avenue neighborhood. At least one of the officers fired back and killed the man. The names of the people involved in the shooting haven’t been released.

Xylazine

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has unveiled his plan to get an extremely dangerous drug of the streets. The drug is called xylazine, and it’s been linked to overdose deaths across Upstate New York. Schumer said he’s calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to speed up efforts to track down the sources of xylazine. He’s also pushing for a more than $530,000,000 (million) funding boost to the Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Program to help stop drug trafficking. People who are struggling with addiction can get help 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-877-8-HOPENY.

Aftermath of fatal crash

An investigation is underway into what caused a crash in Buffalo that left one person dead and several others injured. According to police, a vehicle was traveling on Main Street yesterday when it struck a pole and rolled over. An 18-year-old man was killed due to the impact and the other victims were taken to a hospital for treatment. Their names haven’t been released yet and anyone who saw the accident is asked to give police a call immediately.

A school in Lockport is going to be closed for a second straight day today following a fire there over the weekend. The fire at Emmet Belknap Intermediate School happened on Sunday and led to four classrooms being damaged. It is believed the flames were sparked when a stack of tablets that were being charged overheated. No one was hurt and the hope is that classes can resume tomorrow.

Damien Harris

Trent Sherfield

The Buffalo Bills have made some changes. Damien Harris is joining the team from New England. The 26-year-old started with the Patriots in 2019 and battled a few different injuries. In his most recent season, Harris ran for 462 yards and three touchdowns. The Bills also signed Dolphins Wide Receiver Trent Sherfield to a 1-year deal. Devin Singletary is headed to the Texans.

Aerial file photo of Keybank Center

With their playoff hopes dwindling, the Buffalo Sabres will be back on home ice tonight as they try to snap a 3-game losing streak. The Sabres are hosting the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off of seven-to-nothing shutout at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Face-off this evening is set for 7:00.

Please play responsibly, puppy!

Another Mega Millions drawing has come and gone without a winner; that means, the prize up for grabs ahead of tonight’s drawing will be $272,000,000 (million) after no one correctly picked the winning numbers for last Friday’s drawing. The odds of getting the grand prize are one in 302 million. To watch the drawing live, go to megamillions.com. Please play responsibly.

One of the shirt styles available – “Buffalo Night”

A local business is doing its part to support the family of fallen Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno. 26 Shirts is selling a shirt this week called “Buffalo Night” and it’ll cost $26.99 before shipping. Arno’s family will get $8 from every sale and the shirts can be purchased online at 26shirts.com. Arno passed away back on March 1st while battling a blaze on Main Street. The cause of the fire hasn’t been revealed yet.

File photo – Donald Trump

It’s looking like former President Trump will not face a possible indictment today. The New York City grand jury hearing his alleged hush money payment case involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels is expected to reconvene tomorrow. Reports say the Democratic Manhattan DA appears ready to elevate the false paperwork case from a misdemeanor to a felony.

3 Armored Response Vehicles and a Swat team from Monroe County converged on 46 Walnut St in Batavia Monday night as a 911 hang up call turned into a barricaded suspect and an evacuated home.  Shortly after 5pm police responded to a hang up call to 911 and determined a crime was in progress.  They tried to talk to an individual at the door but the person retreated into a second floor apartment and barricaded themselves inside with a weapon.  The apartments were evacuated and the police said there was no threat to the general public.  The Emergency Response Team was dispatched. Batavia PD also deployed its MRAP. Eventually, the Monroe County SWAT unit also arrived on scene with two armored vehicles. Genesee County Emergency Management responded with its command unit. Emergency Management deployed its drone over the scene. A K-9 was also observed at the scene. Negotiators from Batavia PD and the Sheriff’s Officer were on scene. At about 10 p.m., the subject was taken into custody.  After the subject was in custody, he was placed in a Mercy EMS ambulance for evaluation.  It’s unknown if the subject was taken to a hospital.

United Memorial Medical Center has received a prestigious award.  Just 595 U.S. healthcare organizations out of over 6,000 U.S. hospitals have achieved Magnet recognition.  UMMC now joins other RRH hospitals that have a proud history of Magnet achievement, including Rochester General, Unity, Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic and Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, and Primary Care and Ambulatory Specialty Institute, which was the first primary care organization in the nation to achieve this designation.  Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges healthcare organizations. U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney is sponsoring 3 bills to defund the World Health Organization alleging that during the beginnings of the COVID pandemic the WHO refused to listen to scientists and health officials who were warning them of the dangers of COVID 19 and instead acted as a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party in insisting that COVID wasn’t transmissible by humans and covered up the origins of the virus.  The bills withdraw any US money from the WHO and also change the relationship between the US and the WHO to a treaty so that it would fall under the purview of the Senate instead of the President.  

On March 31st at the Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union you can drop off necessities for the Genesee Area Retired Educators association benefit drive for children involved with Court appointed Special Advocates.  These kids often need everyday items like socks, underwear, and shampoos, body washes, deodorants and other personal hygiene items for boys and girls 0 to 18 years old.  The drive will go from 10 to 4:30.

Independent Living of Genesee Region and the Office For the Aging are holding workshops on the topic of Chronic Disease Self Care every Wednesday from April 5th to May 17th.  Participants will learn how to manage ongoing health conditions such as: Arthritis, Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis, COPD, Other Eating Disorders, and Asthma.  Those who attend will be shown practical steps to gain control of their daily health concerns.  Participants will learn about healthy eating, problem-solving, action plans, medications, weight management, physical activity, sleep and relationship communication skills. Classes will take place at the GCOFA, at 2 Bank Street in Batavia, NY 14020, and Snacks will be provided.  People who complete the series will get a gift card and resource book.  Pre-registration is required; please call Cathy DeMare at 585-815-8501, ext. 400, by April 5th.

Genesee County 4-H Dairy Club represented their county well at the Finger Lakes Regional Dairy Bowl Contest.  Dairy Bowl is a Jeopardy-style competition that tests participants’ knowledge of dairy cattle facts, including breeds, equipment, nutrition and more. Top placing participants will have the opportunity to represent the region at the state level contest later this year.  Gia Zuber, Lilia Buckenmeyer, Veronica Wolcott and Lucy Kimball came in 3rd place as a Beginner Team.  In the 3rd Place scoring Junior team were Owen Kimball, Tate Zuber and Annalise Sybertz.  Veronica Wolcott came in 2nd place as an individual beginner.

The Buffalo Bills have some news about players moving on and off the team.  Damien Harris is moving from the Patriots to Buffalo.  The 26-year-old joined the Patriots in 2019 and battled a few different injuries. In his most recent season, Harris ran for 462 yards and three touchdowns.  The Bills also signed Dolphins Wide Receiver Trent Sherfield to a 1 year deal.  Devin Singletary is headed to the Texans.  Singletary accounted for over half of the Bills rushing yards last season.

GENESEE COUNTY INDICTMENTS: Jeffrey Hewitt of LeRoy has been indicted by a Genesee County Grand Jury. He’s accused of criminal possession of a weapon after knowingly possessing a metal knuckle knife in the City of Batavia. Other charges include unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Hewitt also is accused of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the City of Batavia. ALSO: Rufus Johnson of Chili has been indicted and accused of the crimes of petit larceny and burglary. It’s alleged he knowingly and unlawfully entered Walmart in Batavia with intent to commit a crime and steal property. ALSO: Johnnie Waston of Batavia has been indicted, accused of the crime of criminal mischief. It’s alleged he damaged the property of another person, a car windshield. Damages exceeded $250.

Alexandro Rodriguez

FROM THE BATAVIA CITY POLICE BLOTTER: 26-year-old Alexandro Rodriguez of Batavia has been arrested and charged with criminal contempt. This followed an investigation into a domestic incident at a local address, where it’s alleged he violated an order of protection. Rodriguez was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released on his own recognizance. He’s scheduled to return to City Court next month. ALSO: 80-year-old Carolyn Kurek of Batavia is charged with harassment. Earlier this month, she was arrested after it was alleged that she shoved another woman while at a State Street address. Kurek was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia City Court.

Erik Fix

Assistant City Manager Erik Fix has announced, the City Centre entrance project plans have changed due to increased costs. The proposed construction estimate was $2.6 million, which is more than twice the Downtown Revitalization Initiative award of a million dollars. The project will now be streamlined and alternate designs discussed, as well as alternate grant funding. At this time, the City is waiting for a quote on the new proposed entryway plans. (File photo)

47-year-old Roger Yencer of Mt. Morris is charged with criminal contempt after allegedly violating a full stay away order of protection while being a passenger in a vehicle that the victim was driving on Route 63 in Batavia. Yencer was held at the Genesee County Jail for CAP Court.

The reporting of COVID-19 cases will be scaled back this month and state officials also plan to assess how the data is collected from local officials. COVID data was closely watched for much of the pandemic but a major spike in cases has not occurred in more than a year after the onset of the omicron variant. The data reporting is one of several changes New York is making as federal emergency rules are set to lapse May 11. For example, last Friday the state Department of Health announced visitors at nursing homes would no longer be required to show proof of a negative COVID test to gain entry. Public health officials are still urging New Yorkers to take precautions, including monitoring symptoms and personal hygiene as well as staying up-to-date with vaccines. COVID data will still also be available on the State Department of Health’s website.

Shane Lake

At approximately 6 pm last Tuesday, Albion Police were dispatched to a location on West State Street. A call had come in reporting a male covered in blood and threatening people while holding a knife. He was identified as 31-year-old Shane Lake of Albion. As responding officers arrived, Lake was driving away. Police conducted a traffic stop and charged him with criminal possession of a narcotic drug (cocaine) with intent to sell. Lake was issued an appearance ticket and released under New York State Bail Reform guidelines. He’s scheduled to appear in the Town of Albion Court at a later date.

McKinley Parkway accident aftermath – 3/18/23

One person is dead and another injured following a single-car crash over the weekend in Buffalo. Investigators say a vehicle was traveling northbound on McKinley Parkway when it left the road and hit several trees, just before 9 p.m. Saturday. The 44-year-old passenger was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The 38-year-old driver is in the hospital with multiple injuries. Officials say high speed appears to be involved and the driver will be facing charges. (Provided photo)

Gas prices are holding steady these days. Triple A tells us this morning that the average price of gas in Batavia is currently 3.38 for a gallon of regular; it’s only fluctuated by a penny one way or the other, over the last month but is down nearly $1 from a year ago today. The state and national average is 3.44.

Isaiah Williams

A man charged with the attempted murder of a Rochester police officer is due in court today as his jury trial is scheduled to begin. Monroe County authorities say 27-year-old Isaiah Williams is charged with firing at officers last May while he was fleeing police. No officer was hurt. The district attorney’s office says Williams has an extensive criminal history. (Provided photo)

Eastern Niagara Hospital – Lockport – Set to close June 17, 2023

One Niagara hospital is shutting down permanently in the next few months. Lockport’s Eastern Niagara Hospital has been struggling for years and will close its doors on June 17th. The struggling hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019. Hospital leaders said with the high number of Medicaid, Medicare, and uninsured patients, the hospital could not rely on insurance and patient billing to keep the lights on.

Sabres vs. Bruins – 3/19/23

The Buffalo Sabres were completely shut out against the Boston Bruins in their game on Sunday. They lost 7 to 0 against the frontrunner for the President’s Trophy. Boston scored their first goal within 15 seconds of puck drop. The loss marks Buffalo’s third in a row and the second straight time giving up seven goals in a back-to-back contest against Boston. Buffalo plays again at Keybank for their next game, a showdown with Nashville tomorrow night. Puck drop is at 7:00.

Canisius team celebrates win

Canisius College in Buffalo has won their second Atlantic Hockey title. They defeated Holy Cross 3-0 on Saturday, sending them to their first NCAA Tournament in 10 years. The Griffins will enter the tournament as the 16th seed out of 16 and face off against Minnesota, the nation’s top team, in the regional semifinal in Fargo, North Dakota on March 23rd.

Buffalo Record Riot – 3/18/23

The next Buffalo Record Riot will be in July. Vinyl collectors descended upon the Knights of Columbus in Cheektowaga on Saturday to buy and sell classic and modern records. The event is part of the biggest chain of record shows, running 18 shows across eight states.

Yianni Diakomihalis

Cornell’s Yianni Diakomihalis has made history as he became only the fifth wrestler in NCAA history to win four individual Division One national titles this weekend. Diakomihalis won his fourth title at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Tulsa by beating Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso. He says his next goal is to win a gold medal at the world championships.

Please play responsibly.

The Powerball jackpot is growing. Lottery officials say no one picked all six numbers in Saturday’s drawing. That means tonight’s jackpot will be worth $86,000,000 (million). Tomorrow’s Mega Millions jackpot will be worth $272,000,000 (million). Please play responsibly.

The New York State Democratic Senators are attempting to push out 500 Million Dollars to child care providers across the Empire State.  The $500 million workforce retention grant program would provide up to $12,000 in salary enhancements to child care workers employed at a facility that serves families who receive assistance for care. The Senate’s proposal also raises eligibility for assistance up to 103% of the state median income, or 42% of the federal poverty level.  Providers are pushing for the Senate’s proposal, though it’s less than the $1 billion they say is needed. New York has about 17,000 child care providers statewide.  Senators also included a provision to provide money to expand child care assistance to immigrant families and undocumented children.

Fire Crews responded to 10 and a half South Spruce Street for a report of a house fire at around 3am this morning.  When they arrived they found that the fire had spread from a single room into the attic.  Crews were able to put the blaze out within an hour.  All occupants were able to escape the house safely.  The cause of the fire is under investigation but it is believed it started outside the house.

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg slammed New York’s marijuana law as a disaster — blaming state legislators for a roll out of cannabis that has helped criminals and hurt kids by making it as “easy to buy an ounce of pot as it is a slice of pizza.”  Bloomberg, who has rarely weighed in on New York issues since leaving City Hall a decade ago, said the law has failed to address enforcement of criminal activity and allowed illegal pot shops to flourish as a result before legal cannabis shops were licensed to open.  He cited data that drug and alcohol incidents in public schools spiked 29% over the past year.  Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo approved marijuana legalization in 2021. His successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, has since overseen the slow rollout, with only a handful of licensed pot shots opening amid a massive black pot market.

Gas prices aren’t moving.  AAA says that the average price of Gas in Batavia is currently 3.37 for a gallon of regular.  This is even with what it was a week ago and a month ago.  It is down 98 cents from last year.  The New York State Average is 3.44 and the National is the same.

Lots of people came out for a taste of the sweet life on the first day of the 28th annual Maple Weekend. Over 50 maple producers opened their doors to the public to learn how maple syrup is made, sample delicious products, and experience the history behind this powerhouse crop.  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, New York maple producers produced a whopping 845,000 gallons of maple syrup in 2022, which is a 31% increase from the previous year.  Over at Genesee Country Village and Museum, they were offering demonstrations on the history of maple syrup production.  Governor Hochul declared the weekends open to the public on Saturday in a ceremony at Moore’s Maple Shack and Pancake House in Freedom.  

The Buffalo Sabres were completely shut out against the Boston Bruins in their game on Sunday.  They lost 7 to 0 against the frontrunner for the President’s Trophy.  Boston scored their first goal within 15 seconds of puck drop.  The loss marks Buffalo’s third in a row and the second straight time giving up seven goals in back-to-back contest against Boston.  Buffalo will stay at the KeyBank Center for their next game. A Tuesday night showdown with Nashville. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. est.