Midday News Brief
Written by Dan Fischer on December 9, 2021
A High Wind Watch has been posted for this Saturday.
The National Weather Service says we can expect Southwest winds of 35 to 45 miles per hour with gusts to 65. The Watch is in effect for Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening.
The Watch area includes Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties.
The Weather Service says the winds could be stro9ng enough to bring down numerous trees and power lines and some property damage is possible.
A woman’s body has been recovered from a car that was submerged in the Niagara River near the edge of Niagara Falls. The car was just 50 yards from the falls on Wednesday when a rescuer dangling from a Coast Guard helicopter was able to open the car door and pull the woman out. When the woman was brought to shore, rescuers determined she was already dead. It’s not clear if the woman, reported to be in her 60s, drove into the river on purpose or by accident, or exactly how she died.
Beginning today, several hospitals in the region are going to have to limit their number of non-essential surgeries.
The state Department of Health says restrictions will be in place at Highland Hospital, Rochester General Hospital, Strong Memorial Hospital, and Unity Hospital of Rochester.
Not on the list, at least not yet, is United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.
UMMC is part of Rochester Regional Health but is not impacted by the limits of elective surgeries.
Hospitals have been filling up in recent weeks with patients needing treatment for COVID-19, which has limited the number of available beds.
The Buffalo Bills are mourning the death of former player Mark Pike. The team says Pike passed away at the age of 57 following a battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Pike was drafted by the Bills and played his entire career with the franchise, which included appearances in four consecutive Super Bowls. Pike still holds the Bills record for special teams tackles with 255, which is second all-time in NFL history. He is survived by his wife and children.
