The Amherst Police Department announced an arrest has been made in connection to a criminal mischief complaint at CompassCare.  Police said the incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on March 23. CompassCare, a pregnancy services clinic located on Eggert Road, posted a link to surveillance video of the alleged incident on its website which shows its sign being vandalized with graffiti.  On Saturday, police announced that 39-year-old Hannah Kamke was arrested and charged with one count of third-degree criminal mischief.  The FBI still has a reward posted for information leading to the arrest of the firebombing of the center in June of last year.

The owner of Pharoahs Strip Club in Cheektowaga is behind bars on charges after federal prosecutors say he was paying bribes to a former federal agent to avoid criminal investigations and prosecution.  He has also just been charged with witness tampering and distributing cocaine.  The prosecutors say he intimidated, threatened and corruptly persuaded a witness by using facebook to send messages to them.  Gerace is set to stay in jail until June when his trial will be held.  The judge has refused to let him out on bail.

A five-planet alignment of Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Mars, and Mercury will be visible in the night sky tonight.  Here in Western New York skies are expected to be clear for viewing.  After sunset near the western horizon will be Mercury and Jupiter. The brighter of the two will be Jupiter.  Venus will be the brightest planet to spot while Uranus will look like a green star and will be hard to see. Mars will be on top of Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and the moon.  The best time to go outside is soon after sunset as Jupiter and Mercury will disappear about 45 minutes after sundown.  The next five-planet alignment won’t occur until 2040.

Tech wars winners announced. On Thursday, March 23, nearly 800 middle and high school students from 24 schools in the GLOW Region gathered for the Genesee Community College’s 14th Tech Wars. The event was a huge success, with students showcasing their skills and knowledge in technology and engineering.  In the middle school category, Warsaw took the top prize, followed by Wayland Cohocton in second place, and a tie for third place between Alexander and Kendall. In the high school category, Alexander took home first place, with Dansville in second place, and a tie for third place between Geneseo and Pioneer.  In addition to Tech Wars, GCC also hosted close to 200 students for the Genesee County Youth Bureau Youth Conference on Tuesday, March 21 and over 600 students from 28 school districts for the GLOW with Your Hands: Healthcare career exploration event on Friday, March 24.

According to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Buffalo Bills will sign former Los Angeles Rams safety Taylor Rapp to a one-year deal.  Rapp was drafted by the Rams in the second round, 61st overall, in the 2019 NFL Draft.  In four years with the Rams, he played in 57 games and had 330 total tackles, nine interceptions, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.

The Buffalo Sabres lost Monday night against the Montreal Canadiens at Keybank Center after a grueling game and then a 6 round shootout.  The final score was 4 to 3 for the Canadian team.  JJ Peterka, Riley Stillman and Lukas Rousek scored for Buffalo.  It was Rousek’s first game in the NHL.  Eric Comrie saved 38 shots in the goal. The Sabres will be back on the ice on Friday against the New York Rangers at the Keybank Center at 7pm.  Monday night’s game was pride night at the Keybank Center and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin refused to wear the rainbow uniform during the warmup because of anti LGBT laws in his home country of Russia and fears that if he was seen wearing the pride jersey that there would be retaliation against his family in Moscow.  Other players such as Captain Kyle Okposo came to his defense in his decision.

Jamie Broadbent

40-year-old Jamie Broadbent of West Main Street Batavia has been arrested on a bench warrant for failure to appear; she was arraigned and released. Broadbent was originally arrested for grand larceny after allegedly stealing an electric bicycle. She was issued an appearance ticket and released at that time.

Marquis Saddler

32-year-old Marquis Saddler of Rochester has been arrested in Batavia. He’s charged with tampering with evidence, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and traffic violations. It’s alleged that when police were attempting to pull over Saddler’s vehicle he failed to stop and then threw a quantity of narcotic out of the driver’s window. He was arrested, arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Part Court and held at the Genesee County Jail.

Alexander Schwartz

27-year-old Alexander Schwartz of Rochester was arrested in Niagara County on a bench warrant for failing to appear in Batavia and on bail jumping charges. He was transported to Batavia City Court where he was arraigned and custody remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of bail. The initial warrant was from an arrest for aggravated unlicensed operation and speeding. Schwartz was arraigned in City Court and released under the supervision of Genesee Justice after which he failed to appear.

OTHER ARRESTS FROM THE BATAVIA POLICE BLOTTER: 26-year-old Kyle Schroeder of Batavia has been arrested on four bench warrants, stemming from multiple charges including criminal possession of a controlled substance, failure to appear and criminal mischief. One of the charges is associated with his allegedly kicking and damaging an electrical lock box on the exterior of a business so that he could charge a cell phone. Schroeder was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Part Court. ALSO: 64-year-old Johnney Shannon of Creek Road, Batavia is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested during a traffic stop when the K9 found several bags of narcotic inside the vehicle. Shannon was arrested and issued appearance tickets for City Court on a later date. ALSO: 40-year-old Beth Jeffres of Batavia is accused of promoting prison contraband and unlawfully introducing dangerous contraband (cocaine and fentanyl) into the Genesee County Jail. An investigation indicated she was intending to sell the drugs. She faces multiple felony charges.

FROM THE GENESEE COUNTY SHERIFF: 41-year-old Mark Robbins of Bergen is charged with two counts of harassment after allegedly pushing a person and then allegedly slapping another person. He was issued an appearance ticket and has an April 12th date for Bergen Town Court. ALSO: 33-year-old Curtis Middlebrooks, Jr. of Alabama (NY) is charged with harassment after an incident on Bloomingdale Road in Alabama. He was arraigned in Genesee County CAP Court and released on his own recognizance. Middlebrooks will appear in Alabama Town Court at a later date.

FROM THE WYOMING COUNTY SHERIFF: 42-year-old Christopher Debuck of Kendall has been arrested following several petit larceny investigations at area Walmart stores. It was found that he was allegedly stealing sports trading cards from the stores and was allegedly found in possession of over $150 in stolen cards. It was already known by law enforcement that Debuck had just allegedly stolen over $400 worth of cards from the Geneseo Walmart. He was allegedly reselling and profiting from the stolen cards by selling them online. Debuck faces the felony charge of scheming to defraud, criminal possession of stolen property and three counts of petit larceny. He’s scheduled to appear in the Town of Warsaw Court on April 10th.

Daniel Ponder at arraignment – 032623

An arrest has been made in connection with the abduction of a child and his mother in Rochester over the weekend. Officials say the two were forcibly taken from a home on Fulton Avenue Saturday morning by 24-year-old Daniel Ponder. An AMBER Alert was issued but later canceled after the victims were found safe at a residence on Reynolds Street. Ponder ended up being caught on Wellington Avenue by members of a United States Marshal’s Task Force. He was arraigned yesterday on several charges. (Photo: 13WHAM)

Hilton High School – file photo

Police say that two recent bomb threats that were made against the Hilton Central School District have been determined to be hoaxes. The threats were received on Wednesday and Friday of last week and mentioned that explosives had been placed inside of multiple district buildings. But, an investigation has revealed that the safety of students and staff members was never at risk. There will still be additional security measures in place like making sure doors are locked after school hours.

Students walking outside of The Covenant School following school shooting – 3/27/23 – Photo: WRKN-TV

(As of 3:10pm, 3/27/23) A 28-year-old Nashville woman is confirmed to have been the deadly shooter at a Nashville private Christian school today, where she had previously been a student. Police say she accessed the school through a side entrance. Three students and three adults are dead, along with the shooter who was killed by police at The Covenant Presbyterian School. Upon their arrival at the school, Nashville Police say they heard gunshots on the second floor and “engaged the shooter” who was armed with two assault rifles and a handgun. The spokesperson added it was only about 14 minutes from the first call to when officers encountered the shooter. The Covenant is an elementary school for children in preschool through grade 6.

According to Triple A this morning, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.44. The statewide average is $3.42; in Batavia, we’re paying an average of $3.36 right now. That’s the same as it was a month ago and down $1.00 from a year ago today.

It is expected to be a very busy week at the State Capitol building as the deadline to pass a brand-new budget draws near. Leaders of the Senate, Assembly, and Governor Hochul have reportedly already started discussing a number of issues that need to be hammered out such as bail reform and increasing access to affordable housing. The deadline to reach an agreement is coming up on April 1st. Last year’s budget ended up being passed nine days late.

Eric Comrie – file photo

The Buffalo Sabres are returning home tonight as they look to extend their current winning streak to three games. The Sabres are hosting the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off of a 2-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday that kept the team in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Eric Comrie was a brick wall stopping all 26 shots on goal. Kyle Okposo and Jeff Skinner scored for the Sabres. Face-off this evening is set for 7:00.

Beaver Island Parkway Bridge – file photo of some of the deterioration

Work is scheduled to begin this week on a project that will replace the Beaver Island Parkway Bridge in Grand Island. The span carries traffic over Interstate 190 in the Erie County community and it is estimated 13-thousand vehicles travel over the bridge each day. The bridge was built back in 1954, and the price tag of this project is expected to be over eight-million-dollars. The hope is that construction will wrap up by the end of this year.

File photo of pothole

Pothole season has arrived, and automotive experts are providing some simple tips on how people can prevent their vehicle from being damaged. They recommend folks ensure their tires are properly inflated because hitting a pothole with an under inflated tire might lead to wheel or suspension issues. People should also drive cautiously when approaching puddles, since they may actually be potholes filled with water. There are also apps available that allow users to report potholes that have been spotted. Anyone who hits a pothole and thinks their vehicle has a problem should get it checked immediately.

An amber alert for a 4 year old boy and his mother who were abducted on Fulton Ave in Rochester on Saturday morning around 1:30 has been canceled after they were recovered by Rochester Police on Reynolds Street.  They had been abducted by force by 24 year old Daniel Ponder.  Ponder was taken into custody by US Marshals after a short foot chase.  Ponder is charged with 2nd degree kidnapping, 1st degree burglary, 2nd degree assault, 2nd and 3rd degree criminal possession of a weapon, 2nd degree reckless endangerment, and endangering the welfare of a child.  Police were originally alerted to the abduction because of reports of shots fired where a man was chased out of a home while being fired at.  Police then found the home empty with the mother and child missing.

Roughly 39,000 people in Western New York were without power from Saturday night into Sunday because of the high winds.  By Sunday night National Grid power crews had restored electricity to 94 percent of customers.  The windstorm had gusts up to 70 miles per hour in some areas.  In preparation for the storm, the company increased weekend staffing and work shifts, and pre-positioned crews and materials in areas anticipated to be hardest hit by incoming weather.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Girl Scouts, partnered with LeChase Construction, to teach the girls about Careers in Construction on Saturday.  Scouts from Kindergarten to the fifth grade were invited to tour the Strong Museum’s new expansion project and learn more about women in construction jobs.  Nearly 60 girls earned a Construction Fun Badge through interactive presentations and hands-on activities throughout the museum.

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit #576 of Le Roy has selected a local High School Junior girl to attend this year’s Empire Girls State the week of July 3rd at SUNY Brockport.  Victoria Rogoyski of Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School has been selected to attend. As part of the premier ALA program, citizens of the New York Girls State will study local, county, and state government processes during this five-day nonpartisan political learning experience.  Victoria was selected to attend Girls State based on selection criteria through the Auxiliary unit and/or high school, which includes being in the top 1/3 of her class, along with consideration given to scholastic achievements, leadership, character, honesty and physical fitness.

Families in the Batavia area are invited to attend the annual Kiwanis Club of Batavia Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 8 at 9 AM sharp.  The event will take place at Centennial Park with three age categories: birth-3, 4-7 and 8-10.  Along with the thousands of eggs hiding in the park, there will be nine golden eggs.  The nine lucky children who discover the golden eggs will be able to exchange them for a chocolate bunny from Oliver’s Candies.  There will also be one golden egg hidden each day in Centennial Park beginning on Saturday, April 1 through Thursday, April 6 to be found by kids 12 and under.  The winning golden eggs must be turned in at the Easter Egg Hunt on April 8th to receive an Oliver’s Candies chocolate bunny.

The Buffalo Sabres pulled out another surprise victory on Sunday afternoon less than 24 hours after beating the New Jersey Devils.  They won against the New York Islanders in a 2 to 0 shutout.  Eric Comrie was a brick wall stopping all 26 shots on goal.  Kyle Okposo and Jeff Skinner scored for the Sabres.  They’ll be back tonight to play the Montreal Canadiens at 7 at the Keybank Center.

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 Firing Pin in Bergen almost went up completely in a blaze Friday night.  Crews from several departments responded to the scene on Buffalo Road around 5 p.m., and found heavy smoke coming from the building.  The Bergen Fire Department says due to the high volume of smoke, it was declared a second-alarm fire.  Units say everyone was able to escape safely, and the building is not a total loss, but the shooting range did suffer some significant damage. Units were forced to battle the flames from outside, after deeming it too dangerous from inside due to the possibility of ammunition burning up.  Crews believe the fire started in the range, but the exact cause is unknown at this time, as the investigation continues.

The United States and Canada have agreed to close a loophole that let asylum seekers take advantage of unofficial border crossings.  President Joe Biden, addressing the Canadian Parliament on Friday during a state visit, said the two countries are committed to “humane policies” to secure borders while discouraging unlawful or irregular migration that feeds exploitation and human trafficking.  Northern New York was one such loophole with thousands crossing the border and claiming asylum in Quebec after going up Roxham Road near Champlain.  

A 21-year-old Batavia man accused of possessing a loaded firearm on school grounds turned over a short video — under court order — to the District Attorney on Wednesday that his attorney says will exonerate him.  Delonta Rashid Sharif Curry was arrested in relation to an incident reported on Feb. 22, 2022, at 31 Washington Ave., the location of St. Paul Lutheran School. At 8:30 p.m., according to Baisley, two girls went to the school grounds to fight, and there was a group of people there observing.  Two people, including his client, used their phones to video record the fight.  During the fight, somebody fired a weapon toward a group of people.  A person in that group, wearing a mask, returned fire.  The video will show, Baisley said, along with a corroborating surveillance video from the school, that Curry was clearly not the person in the crowd with a gun. 

The Buffalo Sabres broke their losing streak with a win over the New Jersey Devils 5 to 4.  This is the Sabres first win in 5 games.  Alex Tuch scored twice and Tage Thompson got his 100th career goal.  Jack Quinn and Dylan Cozens scored 1 each.  This win gives Buffalo 2 points toward the wild card but they are still a long way off getting into the playoffs.

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.