BATAVIA CITY POLICE REPORT: 42-year-old Enrique Pellot of Rochester is charged with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and coercion. He’s accused of using a knife to threaten a woman in the parking lot of the Batavia Police Department. Pellot was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court. ALSO: 42-year-old Christine Caplis of Batavia is accused of failing to appear in court to answer to a charge of theft of services. She was arrested earlier this month; her sixth arrest since December 2021. ALSO: 33-year-old Misty Schutt of Attica is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and failure to stop at a stop sign. She was arrested following a traffic stop in the City of Batavia and was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine. Schutt was issued an appearance ticket. ALSO: 22-year-old Evan Maynard of Batavia is charged with falsely reporting to a law enforcement officer. Upon investigation, it was reportedly found that Maynard made a false report and that he pawned several items at a pawnshop over the weekend. Maynard was issued an appearance ticket.

FROM THE SHERIFF: 37-year-old Brian Daggar of Elba is charged with petit larceny. It’s alleged he stole merchandise over the weekend from a location on Veteran’s Memorial Drive. Daggar is scheduled to return to Batavia Town Court on march 14th.

Members of the Buffalo Fire Department are mourning the death of colleague who was killed while battling a blaze in the city. The four-alarm fire happened on Main Street yesterday and Jason Arno, a 37-year-old firefighter, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials say the fire might have been caused by workers who were using torches on the exterior of a building. No other injuries were reported. (Released photo)

File photo of David Jakubonis being arrested after attack against Lee Zeldin

The man who is accused of attacking former Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin has made another appearance in court. Prosecutors say David Jakubonis assaulted Zeldin while he was making a campaign stop in Monroe County last year, but Zeldin wasn’t hurt. Following his court hearing yesterday, Jakubonis gave a statement where he said he’s grateful for the treatment he’s received for his alcohol addiction since the incident. His lawyer says Jakubonis did not apologize to Zeldin because he can’t make any admission of guilt while charges are pending.

Officer Blackchief

The family of a Cheektowaga police officer who was seriously hurt in the line of duty has provided an update about his condition. Troy Blackchief suffered multiple injuries including a skull fracture after being struck by a stolen vehicle in the area of Union Road and Genesee Street last month. Now, his family says that he’ll be going to a facility in Chicago to continue his rehabilitation for at least four weeks before returning to this area for a procedure to have a new skull bone surgically placed. Blackchief is a 17-year-veteran of the force and works with both the patrol division and SWAT team.

File photo of Payton Gendron during sentencing last month.

A federal trial is unlikely to be held this summer for the man who shot and killed 10 people and injured three others at a Tops store in Buffalo. The Buffalo News is reporting that’s because the defense lawyers for Payton Gendron say they need more time to review evidence in this case. Gendron has already pleaded guilty to state charges for opening fire at the Jefferson Avenue store last May and was recently sentenced to life in prison. Federal prosecutors have not said yet if they’ll seek the death penalty against him.

Sheriff David Cirencione

Ontario County Sheriff David Cirencione has released new information about what led up to a deadly officer-involved shooting. Cirencione says law enforcement began pursuing Brandon Zurkan Tuesday night after he was spotted driving recklessly in East Bloomfield. The chase ended when Zurkan crashed his vehicle in Canandaigua and raised a gun towards deputies, leading to them opening fire. Zurkan was taken to a hospital but later pronounced dead. The deputies who shot him are on administrative leave.

File photo of unidentified child having just received his COVID booster shot.

The New York State Department of Health is encouraging people who have underlying medical conditions to make sure they’re up-to-date on their COVID-19 booster shots. Underlying medical conditions that put people at risk of severe illness from the coronavirus include diabetes, heart or lung disease, and obesity. In December, the health department updated its guidance for booster shots, which are available for both adults and children. For more information go to covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov.

The 4% sales tax on clothing and shoes in Monroe County has been eliminated for purchases under $110. The change is permanent and is expected to save shoppers an estimated $12 million per year. Monroe County Executive Adam Bello reflected that other necessities such as groceries, medicine and diapers are not subject to sales tax. He believes since clothing and shoes are also necessities, there should be no tax on them. The sales tax exemption applies to purchases in stores located in Monroe County and includes online purchases. County leaders hope the move will help local retailers attract more customers.

Niagara River ice boom – 2022

Work began today on removing the Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom. Crews believe they’ll be able to get the boom out of the water without any trouble because there’s currently a minimal amount of ice on Lake Erie. Last year, the boom wasn’t able to be removed until the end of March. The boom has been put in place each year since 1964 to prevent ice buildup from Lake Erie from flowing into the lower part of the Niagara River.

Inside the Strong National Museum of Play (file photo)

For the first time ever, a job fair is going to be taking place at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester later this month. The event is happening on Monday, March 13th from 4:00pm until 7:00pm. There are a variety of positions available including maintenance, guest services and environmental services. Full-time and part-time jobs need to be filled and anyone 16 and older who is interested in finding out more information can visit museumofplay.org.

Rasmus Dahlin will not be playing tonight due to an unidentified injury.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on the road tonight as they hope and avoid a second straight defeat. The Sabres will be visiting the Boston Bruins, who currently have the highest point total in the National Hockey League with 99. Buffalo is coming off of a disappointing 5-3 loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday. Face-off tonight is scheduled for 7:00.

The Buffalo Fire Department announced a 37-year-old firefighter was killed in the four-alarm fire on Main Street Wednesday.  Crews responded to the 700 block of Main Street around 10 a.m. and around noon officials said there was a firefighter from Engine 2 that was unaccounted for.  A city spokesperson said there was a partial collapse of the building and there was no contact with the firefighter after the collapse.  Around 3:30 p.m. officials announced the 37-year-old firefighter was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is not being released at this time.  Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz expressed their condolences and directed flags in the county and city to be flown at half staff.

Shopping just got a little cheaper in Monroe County.  The 4% sales tax on clothing and shoes has been eliminated for purchases under $110.  The change is permanent and is expected to save shoppers an estimated $12 million per year.   Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said “Basic necessities like groceries, medicine, diapers, are not subject to sales tax, and other fundamental necessities like clothing and shoes are.  In our view, clothing and shoes are just as essential as food.”  The sales tax exemption applies to purchases in stores located in Monroe County and includes online purchases.  County leaders hope the move will help local retailers attract more customers.

For the third time in recent years, a bill is being pushed in the NYS general assembly to make prostitution legal in the empire state.  According to the Sex Trades Act, also known as SVSTA, the criminalization of consensual sex work drives it into an illegal environment where sex workers face increased violence, abuse, exploitation, and are more vulnerable to trafficking.  The bill would also give more rights for people in housing and health care and remove prior criminal records of sex workers or alleged sex workers.  The bill has only ever remained in the New York Senate’s code committee.  But if it makes it out of committee and signed into law, it would take effect within months.

Perry’s Ice Cream announced Wednesday three new retail flavors for the Spring 2023 season.  The newest family-size flavors, Banana Graham, Dark Chocolate Pretzel, and S’more Adventures will hit retail stores this spring.  Premium Three Gallon Tubs will also get new flavors, including Bourbon Caramel Pecan, Mallow-dramatic, Wafer Wonder, Peanut Butter & Cookies Oats Cream.  All flavors will arrive on shelves at retailers down the East Coast at Dash’s Market, Tops, Walmart, and Wegmans.

Alexander Gelo

Seized by law enforcement during Gelo’s arrest

Orleans County Sheriffs have charged 31-year-old Alexander Gelo of Albion following a traffic stop on Ridge Road in the Town of Gaines. A deputy pulled over a vehicle known to be operated by Gelo who has an active warrant, charging him with criminal tampering with a witness and aggravated harassment. Gelo was taken into custody without incident. Further investigation found that he was in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun with a defaced serial number and over six ounces of marijuana. Gelo is a previously convicted felon. He is currently being held at the Orleans County Jail pending an appearance in Orleans County Court.

A court has temporarily blocked a repeal of New York’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate for health care workers. The State Supreme Court Appellate Division granted the stay yesterday at the request of the state department. The state asked for the stay until the Appellate Division hears its appeal of a January 13th decision that struck down the vaccination mandate for nurses, doctors and other employees of hospitals and other health facilities. The health department contends it’s authorized under state Public Health Law to mandate vaccinations. In its appeal, the health department says it has required health care workers for decades to be immunized against contagious diseases such as measles and rubella.

Erik Fix

For reasons of timing — and a short window to work with — conflicts with other events and a busy holiday weekend, the Wing Ding Committee has decided to postpone the resurrected event to next year; this, according to Assistant City Manager Erik Fix. Fix made the announcement to committee members today, citing reasons of vendors and other entertainment acts being booked already, the potential for difficulty in recruiting volunteers for a busy Labor Day weekend to correlate with the Air Show, a clash in timing with the veteran September festival Labor Daze in Oakfield, and the city not being in a position to set up as event planner. He expects planning for 2024 to begin in the next few months. The resurrected Wing Ding was made possible with leftover funds from the city’s Centennial Celebration. City Council had approved a transfer of $9,188 for a Wing Ding event to happen in conjunction with the resurrected Air Show.

St. Joseph’s Church, Lyndonville; early morning fire, 2/28/23

A Catholic church in Lyndonville continues to pick up the pieces today. There was an early morning fire yesterday that started in a classroom of the Our Lady of the Lake – St. Joseph site. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire, but early suspicions point to a wall heater. While the amount of damage is still being calculated, the classroom is destroyed and the church suffered extensive heat and smoke damage. However, there is no damage to the roof and the Diocese says they intend to repair the church. (Provided photo)

Coyote – file photo

Although the weather might suggest otherwise, spring is fast approaching and coyote sightings will increase. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued guidance to help prevent conflicts between people and coyotes. They advise you should never feed them, don’t leave any food outside, feed pets indoors, enclose or fence off compost; if you see a coyote, be loud and aggressive towards it to scare it away and teach your kids to get away from it. And lastly, supervise pets and keep them indoors around sunset and at night.

Loaded, stolen gun brought to MCC by student

A student at Monroe County Community College is in some legal trouble after being accused of having a gun on campus. Brighton police say 21-year-old Giovanni Paige-Mota had the loaded, stolen weapon inside of a classroom yesterday, but did not display it or make a threat towards anyone. He ended up being escorted from the classroom and taken into custody. Paige-Mota has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon and is due in court March 6th.

Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester is getting $50,000,000 (million) from the state to help cover the cost of an expansion project. The money will go towards increasing the size of the current emergency room, which is often overcrowded due to a high number of patients. Right now, there’s a semi-permanent tent structure set up at the hospital to address this issue. Plans are also in the works to build a new tower that’ll increase the number of available patient beds at the facility.

Food banks across New York State may start getting a bit busier today because of cuts to a federal program. The federal government put extra money toward the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program because of the coronavirus pandemic, but that additional assistance ends today. Food assistance advocates expect longer lines at food banks in New York as a result. They are also concerned about Governor Hochul’s proposed budget that calls for cuts to a food bank related assistance program.

J.J. Peterka (file photo)

The Buffalo Sabres have had their three-game winning streak snapped after suffering a tough loss on home ice. Tage Thompson, JJ Peterka, and Jack Quinn each had a goal as the Sabres fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 at KeyBank Center last night. Buffalo goaltender Craig Anderson struggled in net and was only able to stop 31 of the 35 shots he faced in the contest. The next game for the Sabres tomorrow night against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden Arena; the puck drops at 7:00.

Leslie Frazier

Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is going to be taking a break from coaching during the 2023 season. No reason was given for the decision and so far, the person who is going to replace Frazier hasn’t been named. The 63-year-old Frazier joined the Bills back in 2017, which is the same year Sean McDermott was made the head coach. Frazier is planning to return to coaching in 2024.

Officials at Six Flags Darien Lake say they are looking to hire 1000 employees to work at the popular amusement park this year. Among the positions that are available include ride operator, maintenance, lifeguard and security. Each job offers an hourly rate of $14.25 and benefits include discounts and free park admission for team members and their friends. Anyone who wants to apply can do so online at sixflags.com.

A teenager who intentionally set a man on fire in Rochester has been convicted for murder.  Prosecutors said Adriel Riley and Zayvion Perry set Steven Amenhauser on fire March 12, 2021 inside Amenhauser’s apartment on Lyell Avenue. Amenhauser who was 53, died in the hospital four days later.  Monroe County Family Court Judge Stacey Romeo found Riley guilty of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon — though she found him not guilty of arson and a second count of second-degree murder.  Perry, 18, pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this month and will be sentenced March 27 to 25 years in prison.  Riley, 16, will be sentenced March 28.  He will face anywhere from 6 1/2 to 15 years to life in prison.

Former New York State Police Sgt. Thomas Loewke allegedly tipped off one of the men accused of running a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling ring in Rochester.  According to the complaint against Loewke, an unnamed state trooper performed computer maintenance for a senior New York State Police investigator in December 2020 and saw a document with Ferrari’s name on it in plain view. The unnamed trooper allegedly re-entered the office numerous times and placed multiple calls to Loewke.  Ferrari told investigators he was at his brother’s pizza bar in Chili when Loewke asked him to go outside and talk and informed him he was being investigated for gambling, according to the complaint.  Other federal court documents allege Ferrari and Amato took steps to protect the gambling operation from the investigation after they were tipped off.

With spring approaching and coyote sightings likely to increase, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued guidance to help prevent conflicts between people and coyotes.  Coyotes inhabit a variety of habitats throughout the state, from rural farmland and forests to populated suburban and urban areas. For the most part, coyotes will avoid human contact. However, conflicts with people and pets may occur, particularly during the spring denning and pupping period, when coyotes tend to be more territorial and protective of pups.  Some Advice they give includes:  Never feed coyotes, don’t leave any food outside, feed pets indoors, enclose or fence off compost, if you see a coyote, be loud and aggressive towards it to scare it away and teach your kids to get away from it.  And lastly, supervise pets and keep them indoors around sunset and at night. 

Six Flags Darien Lake Amusement Park is looking for roughly a thousand seasonal employees and applications are open online.  They are looking for ride operators, maintenance, lifeguards, hotel workers, food and beverage workers, admissions personnel, retail and entertainment workers, cleaners, paramedics, security and a variety of other positions.  Pay starts at 14.25 an hour and some positions pay more.  An in person hiring event will be held on March 25th or you can apply online by following the link at WBTAi.com.

Section V Athletics has a plan for getting more referees to want to work games, asking fans to sit down and shut up.  The division has put out psas and taken to social media to ask fans to “bench bad behavior” and be better sportsmen.  Athletics officials note that there has been an uptick in bad behavior since the pandemic and that refs don’t want to sign up if they think the crowd will be rowdy.  There is already a shortage of officials and this is making a bad situation worse. 

The Sabres failed to extend their win streak to 4 Tuesday night as they fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets 5 to 3.  Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka and Tage Thompson all put in a puck a piece and Craig Anderson stopped 31 shots but the Sabres just couldn’t keep up with their blue clad opponents.  The Sabres will be up against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at TD Garden Arena.  Puck drop is at 7pm.

Evan Vanskiver

Adam Montes

Two men who were arrested earlier in the day and then released, are back in custody. 31-year-old Evan Vanskiver of Brockport and 38-year-old Adam Montes of Hamlin were arrested earlier in the day yesterday following a larceny investigation in Elba and released; they were released from the Genesee County Jail under New York State Bail Reform legislation. Within a half hour of their release, City police received a call about a stolen vehicle near Northside Deli. The vehicle was located on Ellicott near Liberty Street and attempts by police to stop the vehicle were unsuccessful. Similarly, the driver of the stolen vehicle was able to avoid tire deflation devices (spike strips) on a few occasions as it traveled through Batavia, Alexander, Pembroke and Darien. The chase ended in Attica when Vanskiver, the driver of the car, turned into an apartment complex (on Sokol Drive) and hit a garbage dumpster. He attempted to flee on foot while Montes was apprehended. Both men were uninjured and are being held at the Genesee County Jail pending arraignment in Centralized Arraignment Court.

St. Joseph’s Church, Lyndonville

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyndonville has suffered extensive damage. A fire during the early morning hours started in the rear of the building. Fifteen to twenty local firefighters were on the scene within 20 minutes of the call with crews from medina, Shelby and Ridgeway assisting. Their quick response is credited for preventing the blaze from causing more damage; they had it under control in about 35 minutes. Fire investigators are working to determine the cause. But noted had it not been for fire fighters quick response, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church was built in 1917 as a mission church under St. Mary’s in Medina. (Provided photo)

State legislators in New York are calling for the lowering of the legal blood alcohol concentration from .08 to .05 to ensure safety of everyone on the roads. Drunk drivers cause more than 17,000 deaths per year in the Empire State, and more than 30 percent of deadly crashes are from alcohol. If this legislation passes New York State would join Utah as the only states with a .05 blood alcohol level.

The latest data from the New York State Flu Tracker shows that the spread of the virus is continuing to slow down in our region. During the week ending February 18th, the county with the highest number of infections was Monroe County with 68. Erie County had 24; Niagara County had 19 during that same time period; Wayne County had 18; Ontario County, 11 and Genesee County had three. People who still want to get their flu shot can sign up for an appointment online at vaccines.gov.

Clark Palen

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and state Attorney General’s Office have cleared a deputy of any wrongdoing following a crash that left a teenager dead. The deputy reported seeing a vehicle driven by 17-year Clark Palen speeding last November, and the deputy tried to follow the car. Palen ended up losing control of the vehicle on Bluff Drive in East Rochester and slammed into a tree, which then fell on the car. A caller reported seeing a deputy driving away from the scene, but it was later revealed the deputy never saw the vehicle because its lights were off and the tree covered it and that the deputy’s actions didn’t contribute to the tragedy.

Governor Hochul has revealed what her proposed 2024 budget would mean for the Western New York region if it is passed by the state legislature. During a stop in Buffalo yesterday, the governor said her fiscal plan would provide an investment to help the University at Buffalo significantly increase its research activity by 2030. Money would also be used for road repairs and to help the city of Buffalo improve planning for severe weather emergencies. In addition, tuition rates for SUNY and CUNY students could also be increased, by at least 3% next year. Lawmakers have until April 1st to approve the budget on time.

Example of steering wheel locks (file photo)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on Kia and Hyundai to take action to prevent people from having their vehicles stolen. The New York lawmaker said yesterday that over the past year, hundreds of those vehicle models have been taken in Buffalo. The vehicles have been targeted due to a viral social media challenge that shows how easy it is to steal them. Schumer wants the automakers to provide free, anti-theft kits such as steering wheel locks to owners.

Dylan Cozens celebrates a moment with Rasmus Dahlin, while a very excited young fan looks on (file photo)

The red-hot Buffalo Sabres are back on home ice tonight as the team looks to pick up its 4th straight victory. The Sabres will battle the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off of a 7-4 win Sunday over the Washington Capitals and currently sits in 4th place in the Atlantic Division with 66 points. Face-off for this evening’s contest is scheduled for 7:30.

Fred Costello

Officials with the Rochester Music Hall of Fame have announced who is going to be inducted as part of the Class of 2023. Among the people joining the Hall of Fame are Rochester Red Wings organist Fred Costello and also Garth Fagan, who is a Tony-award winning choreographer. This year’s induction ceremony is happening April 30th at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester. For more information about the event, go to rochestermusic.org. (Photo provided by the Rochester Red Wings)

A study by the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center recently found that vaping CBD can lead to more severe lung damage than vaping nicotine.  CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is an active ingredient found in cannabis, or marijuana. Roswell Park reported Monday that most research on the health effects of vaping has only focused on vaping nicotine and not CBD.  The study essentially tested the effects of inhaling CBD versus nicotine. Cultures of human cells were tested and exposed to filtered air, nicotine, or CBD aerosols for two weeks.  The findings were that inhaled aerosol CBD caused more tissue damage, higher inflammation, higher oxidation, and killed more white blood cells than nicotine aerosols.  

The State of New York could be getting tougher on Drunk Driving, by lowering the legal limit.  State legislators are calling for the lowering of the legal blood alcohol concentration from .08 to .05 to ensure safety of everyone on the roads.  Drunk drivers cause more than 17,000 deaths per year in the empire state, and more than 30 percent of deadly crashes are from alcohol.  If this legislation passes New York State would join Utah as the only states with a .05 BAC.

A Monday afternoon police chase that began in Batavia and ended in the village of Attica, resulted in the arrests of two men.  Just before 3 p.m. Monday, Batavia Police officers were dispatched to Northside Deli due to reports of a stolen vehicle.  One of the officers made contact with the vehicle on Ellicott Street and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle did not comply and failed to yield.  A chase soon began..  The vehicle collided with another car while in Batavia when officers attempted to spike the car to get it to a stop.  There were a number of attempts to spike the vehicle, according to Sergeant Mitchell Cowen. The driver of the vehicle was able to avoid all attempts.  Two male occupants, including the driver, were arrested and placed in police custody. Both men were uninjured following the pursuit.

A new Siena College Poll found Gov. Kathy Hochul’s favorability and job approval ratings both dropped in February, but still remain positive.  According to the poll, Hochul has a 46-43% favorability rating, from 48-42% in January. Her job approval rating stands at 56-40%, down from 56-36% last month.  Most of the survey respondents who disapprove of Hochul’s work said she is not doing enough to address crime or make New York more affordable.  92% of surveyed New Yorkers said crime continues to be a serious problem across the state and two-thirds said it’s a serious problem in their community. Though many oppose the plan, and the poll shows it’s unpopularity, Hochul says that she will continue with phasing out gas stoves and heaters.

After announcing his run and tweeting every day about how he was going to take Buffalo and fix the ills of the city, Nate McMurray announced Monday that he is dropping out of the race for Erie County Executive.  He said in a long tweet that he can’t compete with Mark Poloncarz and the Erie County political machine.  He also said that cronyism would have kept him from being effective if he did win.  On the republican front Chrissy Casilio announced her run for the position.  She said in her announcement that she is a small business owner, mother and lifelong Erie County resident.  

Richmond Memorial Library will host an author and book talk on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Reading Room. Dr. Miriam Thaggert will present her 2022 book, “Riding Jane Crow: African American Women on the American Railroad.”  Riding Jane Crow examines four instances of black female railroad travel: the travel narratives of black female intellectuals such as Anna Julia Cooper and Mary Church Terrell; black middle-class women who sued to ride in first class and ladies’ cars and black women railroad food vendors; and black maids on Pullman trains.  Thaggert is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Buffalo. She is the author of “Riding Jane Crow and Images of Black Modernism: Verbal and Visual Strategies of the Harlem Renaissance.”

BATAVIA CITY POLICE ARREST REPORT: 39-year-old Marya Cole of Batavia is charged with falsely reporting an incident and false written statement. Earlier this month, she allegedly called police to report her boyfriend was walking on Ross Street after displaying a handgun to her. Police detained the male subject; while completing a search for the gun throughout the area. Cole later admitted to police that she lied about the gun. She was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia City Court tomorrow. ALSO: 47-year-old Kelly Mungo of Batavia has been charged with petit larceny following a shoplifting complaint at a local convenience store. Mungo was issued a ticket to appear in Batavia City Court tomorrow.

FROM THE COUNTY SHERIFF: 23-year-old Christian Voigt Jr. of Batavia has been charged with criminal mischief and harassment. During a domestic incident yesterday morning, Voigt allegedly damaged property and placed his hands on one of the victims. He has been held at the Genesee County Jail to be arraigned in CAP Court. ALSO: 31-year-old Kevin Monell of Medina is charged with petit larceny after allegedly stealing a carton of cigarettes from a smoke shop on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Monell was released on an appearance ticket to return to Alabama Town Court early next month.

DWI arrest in Buffalo

Buffalo police say they’ve tracked down the driver who was involved in a hit-and-run in the city over the weekend. According to investigators, 47-year-old Rinaldo Pearson struck a pedestrian Saturday morning on Broadway and left the area. The victim was seriously injured and Pearson was later taken into custody. He is now facing charges including DWI.

According to Triple A, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is $3.37. The State average is $3.45. In Batavia, we’re paying $3.36, down a penny from a week ago and down 39 cents from a year ago today.

Dan Fisher, WBTA (Photo by Howard Owens, III)

WBTA is being sold to one of its own sales executives, Jim Ernst. Ernst heads up Majic Tones Communications LLC. Current owners Dan and Debbie Fischer have operated HPL Communications since 2004. The sale process will take 90 days and until then there will be no changes in programming. WBTA is the region’s only locally owned commercial radio station. It has been in operation for 82 years under various owners.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is asking Governor Hochul not to push through legislation banning gas stoves and heaters from new housing and construction. People who are in support of the legislation say it is needed to slow down climate change and also entice people to move to New York State. Hawley says it is a chance for the government to take more power over businesses and homeowners. Some people have responded to the legislation complaining that gas is far more reliable than electricity in times such as the Christmas Blizzard of last year, which knocked out electric power to thousands for more than a week in below-zero temperatures.

Dylan Cozens celebrates hat trick – 2/26/23

The Buffalo Sabres, in their black and red uniforms, skated to a 7 to 4 victory over the Washington Capitals Sunday afternoon. Dylan Cozens scored his first career hat trick, finding the net once in each period. Vinnie Hinostroza, Jeff Skinner and Zemgus Girgensons scored once each. Tage Thompson made his 40th goal of the season. The Sabres will be playing the Columbus Blue Jackets at Keybank Center on tomorrow night starting at 7:30.

No injuries have been reported following several fights that happened at the Boulevard Mall in Amherst. Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene Saturday night after receiving reports of brawls occurring in a parking lot. Police were able to get the crowds to leave that lot, and so far, no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call 716-689-1311.

NY State of Health and the state Department of Taxation and Finance are teaming up to help Empire State residents get access to affordable health insurance. Health department enrollment assistors will be at Taxpayer Assistance Program sites throughout the state over the next several weeks. Those assistors will meet with people to discuss health care options, answer questions, and make enrollment appointments. For more information, go to info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov.

This station, WBTA is getting sold to it’s own sales executive, Jim Ernst.  Ernst heads up Majic Tones Communications LLC which was started roughly 6 months ago.  Current owners Dan and Debbie Fischer have operated HPL Communications since 2004.  The sale process will take 90 days and until then there will be no changes in programming.  WBTA is the region’s only locally owned commercial radio station.  It has been in operation for 82 years under various owners.

Recreational Marijuana has only been legal in New York State for 16 months but already the administration in charge of it has far more resources than the administration in charge of handling Alcohol.  The Office of Cannabis Management has a 62 million dollar budget compared to the State Liquor Authorities 16.7 million dollars for the same number of employees.  The OCM has only processed 66 licenses so far compared to the SLA’s 50,000 licenses and 80,000 license and permit applications just last year.  A third of Marijuana Managers make over 100,000 dollars a year while only 19 people at the Liquor Authority get over 100 grand.  Why the big difference?  The head of OCM, Chris Alexander, who was formerly an executive with a multistate cannabis company, says it is all about creating equity. 

The City Council meeting has hot button issues like a tax cap increase and a 33.5 million dollar budget up for discussion.  Both of those issues are on the agenda for public hearings at 7 p.m. tonight, in the Council Board Room at City Hall.  In her memo to the council, City Manager Rachael Tabelski said that a general fund of $19.4 million balances revenues and expenses and includes considerations for increased costs of 8 percent inflation, double diesel fuel, $400,000 in employee wages, $300,000 in retirements, $475,000 in health care and 15 to 40 percent hikes in utilities and materials, including salt, gas and electric.  There are raises for some positions.  There are to be no new assessment raises this year. 

Assemblyman Steve Hawley put out a press release calling on Governor Hochul not to push through legislation banning gas stoves and heaters from new housing and construction.  People who are in support of the legislation say it is needed to slow down climate change and also entice people to move to New York State.  Hawley says it is a chance for the government to take more power over businesses and homeowners.  People in Buffalo have responded to the legislation complaining that gas is far more reliable than electricity in times such as the Christmas Blizzard of last year which knocked out electric power to thousands for more than a week in negative temperatures.  

The Buffalo Sabres, in their black and red uniforms, skated to a 7 to 4 victory over the Washington Capitals Sunday afternoon.  Dylan Cozens scored his first hat trick.  Vinnie Hinostroza, Jeff Skinner and Zemgus Girgensons scored once each.  Tage Thompson put in his 40th goal of the season.  The Sabres will be playing the Columbus Blue Jackets at Keybank Center on Tuesday night at 7:30.

Nearly 3 dozen pro sports stars were at the Legends sports memorabilia show at Batavia Downs over the weekend.  Players from the NFL, NHL, NBA, Pro Boxers and even Rudy of Notre Dame fame came out to take pictures and sign items for fans.  Akron’s Bobby McClaine and his team of family, friends and volunteers put on a super event that featured a host of former Buffalo Bills and Sabres on Saturday and a dozen or so greats from baseball, football, basketball, hockey and boxing who appeared Sunday.  The next show is scheduled for October or November on a date that doesn’t conflict with a Bills’ home game.

A man who shot a woman in the abdomen in Java and killed her preborn child has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.  30 year old Jared Wrazen was arrested after police were called to a home on Holland Road around 10:30pm on May 16th for reports of domestic violence and a woman shot.  A 29-year-old woman was found shot in the abdomen. She was taken to ECMC by Mercy Flight.  On November 30, Wrazen pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and admitted to being a second felony offender.  The victim recorded the fight and the gunshot as well as calling 911.  

Police found no credible evidence of a threat after an unknown person called in threats Friday morning toward an elementary school in Batavia.  The Batavia Police Department received a call just before 7:40 a.m. from an unknown person who made threats toward John Kennedy Intermediate School.  Multiple police agencies investigated and found no credible evidence of a threat.  The Batavia City School District is currently on February break.  Superintendent Jason Smith said sports and other activities in the district will continue as planned, with increased police presence as a precaution.  Police said similar threats have been reported in other districts in New York state and across the country.  Nichol’s School in Buffalo was cleared by police after a similar threat.  Another was in Steuben County and a third was in the downstate region.  The investigation is ongoing.

Are you ready to pay more for recyclable cans and bottles, even if you can get the money back?  Earlier this week, Sen. Rachel May announced her new “Bigger, Better Bottle Bill” which would include increasing the deposit for cans and bottles from 5 to 10 cents.  The bill also includes liquor and wine bottles.  Under the plan, bringing back cans and bottles would bring in double the value it previously would. But for people who don’t recycle, this bill would just serve as a price increase on their favorite drinks.  About 100 million dollars in unclaimed deposit money goes to the state each year.  139 million in 2021.  The bill has to pass through the State Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee first, then the legislature. Sen. May said she is willing to work with everyone to get this bill passed.

Have you been behind a car or truck when a sheet of ice peels off and flies into the air?  The Niagara County Sheriffs Office is reminding New Yorkers to remember to clean off their entire car and not just the windshield after ice storms.  The sheriff’s office said it has received multiple reports of property damage as a result of ice blowing off of moving vehicles.  The sheriff’s office said patrols and law enforcement partners will be vigilant for violators.

The Buffalo Sabres beat the Florida Panthers 3 to 1 Friday night to move to the second wild card spot.  Jeff Skinner his 23rd and 24th goal of the season which brings him up to 600 career points.  Alex Tuch put in his 28th goal of the season.  Craig Anderson blocked 52 shots to keep the Sabres in the game.  Buffalo will head back north to host the Washington Capitals on Sunday in another game between teams competing for wild card spots. Puck drop is at 1:00 p.m. at the KeyBank Center.

Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch – file photo

At approximately 7:39 a.m. on Friday, February 24th, officers from the Batavia City Police Department and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department responded to a phone call in which a threat was made against John Kennedy Intermediate School. Statement from Chief Shawn Heubusch: “Even though Batavia schools are on break for the week, officers from both departments and the New York State Police immediately responded on scene as any type of threat of this nature is taken very seriously. As a precaution, officers checked all the schools in the city school district and schools across Genesee County to ensure the safety of students and staff. It is still early in our investigation, but we have determined the threat to John Kennedy Elementary School not to be credible. It has been reported that similar threats have been at other school districts across New York and nationally. We appreciate the cooperation and assistance of the Batavia City School District on this matter as we continue our investigation with our law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal levels on our investigation. People making these types of threats should know they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” . Superintendent Jason Smith said that all sports practices, events and club activities will continue as planned throughout the weekend with an increased police presence as a safety precaution.

Joe Cortez

In Orleans County Court, 40-year-old Joe Cortez of Batavia pleaded guilty to criminal contempt for violating an order of protection. He could face up to nine months in county jail when he is sentenced. However, Cortez is also facing a more serious charge of rape in Genesee County for allegedly having forcible sexual contact with a juvenile victim under the age of 17.

FROM THE GENESEE COUNTY SHERIFF: 27-year-old Brian Stachewicz of Batavia has been charged with offering a false instrument for filing, after allegedly showing intent to defraud the state by providing false information on a pistol permit application. He was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court on March 7th. ALSO: 49-year-old Michael Vanbuskirk of LeRoy is now charged with bail jumping after failing to appear in County Court, after being released on a felony charge. He turned himself in voluntarily within 30 days thereafter and was arrested and issued an appearance ticket to appear in Batavia City Court on March 7th. ALSO: 36-year-old Justine Wood of Batavia is charged with two counts of bail jumping after failing to appear in Stafford Town Court following her release on a criminal matter. Wood was arraigned in CAP Court and remanded to jail in lieu of $2,000 bail.

Nakeem Haynes

The Buffalo man who carried out a deadly shooting before opening fire towards a police car has pleaded guilty to multiple charges. Prosecutors say 28-year-old Nakeem Haynes killed 63-year-old Atlas Johnson in the area of Broadway and Sears Street back in June. Officers happened to be on patrol at the time of the homicide and Haynes later fired a gunshot that struck the windshield of a police cruiser, but didn’t injure anyone. He’s now facing a sentence of 80 years to life in prison.

Rochester police are still looking into multiple shootings in their city that resulted in a teenager being killed and two others getting hurt. The first shooting was on Saint James Street around 1:30pm yesterday and a 17-year-old boy suffered non-life threatening injuries. About an hour later, a teen was shot on Alphonse Street and died at the scene. Roughly 10 minutes after that shooting, another teen was hit by gunfire in the area of Lang and Remington Streets and rushed to a hospital. There is no word if these shootings are connected.

East Palestine, Ohio – Train Derailment – 2/3/23

Governor Hochul is urging Congress, rail companies and federal regulators to take action to prevent future freight rail hazmat disasters. Following a derailment in Ohio earlier this month, the governor is calling for the expedited phasing in of safer tank cars for hazardous materials. She also wants braking regulations to be modernized and the use of electronically controlled pneumatic brakes to be increased so that derailments can be avoided. The governor is also pushing for additional funding for hazmat preparedness training and response.

New York taxpayers are being hit with a sky-high bill for Governor Kathy Hochul’s airplane and helicopter flights. Data dug up by the New York Post shows the governor took 210 flights operated by state police in her first year in office, costing taxpayers $271,000. The Post reports that many of those flights coincided with private events that appear to be fundraisers and campaign stops ahead of last November’s election. Hochul has previously said everything she does is cleared by ethics and follows state policies.

Buffalo-Niagara International Airport

Buffalo Niagara International Airport is getting $7,000,000 (million) in federal funds to help pay for a project at the facility. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand say the money is coming from a program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Law. The funds will go towards covering a portion of the cost of rehabilitating the terminal’s aging HVAC system. The hope is that the renovation will both enhance air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Niagara Falls – blue and yellow in support of Ukraine – 2/23/23

Niagara Falls is lit yellow and blue in recognition of the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the war between Ukraine and Russia. An estimated 75,000 people have come to the U.S. from Ukraine since Russians launched their attack, including approximately 14,000 in New York through the federal government’s Uniting for Ukraine program. Approximately 28,000 New York residents, more than any other state, have volunteered to sponsor an individual. Governor Hochul also directed the Ukrainian flag to be flown over the New York State Capitol building in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Steve Hawley (background) takes a closer look at farming machinery – file photo

Assemblyman Steve Hawley tells us he’s disappointed by Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon’s decision to move forward with the previously proposed reduction in the farm worker overtime threshold. The Department earlier this week approved the measure, which has been hotly debated for a number of years. Hawley is concerned about what this will mean for the future of New York farmers. He says that the burden of this mandate will cause many small family farms to fail. (2019 photo, from Steve Hawley’s website)

Tage Thompson celebrates his 4th hat trick of the season with a few teammates – 2/23/23

The Buffalo Sabres have avoided a 2nd straight loss after picking up a huge win on the road against one of the best teams in the NHL. Tage Thompson had three goals, his 4th hat trick of the season – while Jack Quinn, Ilya Lyubushkin and Zemgus Girgensons also scored as the Sabres beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-5 in overtime last night. With the win, Buffalo now has 62 points and sits in 6th place in the Atlantic Division. The next game for the Sabres is tonight against the Florida Panthers; the puck drops at 7:00.

Please play responsibly.

The Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots are on the rise again and have a combined total prize of $245,000,000 (million). The jackpot up for grabs in tonight’s Mega Millions drawing is $126,000,000 (million). And whoever chooses the winning numbers for Powerball tomorrow night will be depositing $119,000,000 (million) into their bank account. Both drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.