Monday News Brief

35-year-old James Hooten of Batavia has been arrested. It’s alleged he stole and used another person’s debit card without their permission. Hooten was transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing; he was arraigned in CAP Court and a Refrain from Order of Protection was set in place against Hooten. 34-year-old Brittanee Hooten of Batavia faces similar charges. She was released on her own recognizance and was issued appearance tickets for Oakfield Town Court on November 6th. ALSO: 19-year-old Michael White of Albion has been arrested following an incident on Freeman Road, Byron. He’s charged with criminal mischief and criminal trespass after sheriff’s investigated a disturbance complaint. White allegedly made entry into a residence in which he did not have permission to be in, causing damage in excess of $250. He was arraigned in Genesee County CAP Court.

 

As reported by Tom Tharp this morning: Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation allowing for the retail sale of beer on Sundays and permits liquor and wine stores in New York to open from 10:00am until 10:00pm on Sundays. It also extends the duration of a brewer’s valid license from one year to three years, allows businesses to prepare and keep drinks containing alcohol in pressurized dispensing machines and lets retail stores sell complimentary gifts and promotional items related to wine and spirit sales. The state Assembly passed the measure to expand Sunday liquor sales in June after it was approved by the state Senate. It was delivered to Hochul last week.

 

 

An anti-abortion center in Amherst has filed a lawsuit following vandalism and an arson at their facility. The Buffalo News reports CompassCare is taking legal action against the alleged arsonists and also two women accused of committing other crimes at the Eggert Road location. However, no one has been formally charged yet with setting the fire back in June 2022. The FBI is still offering an up to 25-thousand-dollar reward in hopes of getting an arrest and conviction.

 

Early voting in the general election is starting soon. From Saturday October 28th to Sunday November 5th voters can go to the ARC Community center at 38 Woodrow Road in Batavia for early voting from 9 to 5. Election Day is November 7th. October 23rd is the last day for absentee ballot applications and changes of address. November 6th is the last day for applying for an absentee ballot in person. November 7th is the last day to postmark a ballot. The last day to register to vote is October 28th.

 

 

The New York State Department of Health is urging Empire State residents to get both their COVID-19 and flu shots. The agency says people six months and older are able to get those shots during the same appointment. There are concerns about the spread of both viruses due to colder weather and children being back in school. Folks who have chronic medical conditions have a higher risk of complications if they contract the coronavirus or flu.

 

According to AAA this morning, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.60. The state average is at $3.81. In Batavia, we’re paying $3.81 as well; that’s the same as it was a month ago but 6 cents higher than a year ago today.

 

The Buffalo Bills have picked up another victory after winning a close contest on their home field. Josh Allen completed 19 of 30 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns as his team defeated the New York Giants 14-to-9 at Highmark Stadium last night. Deonte Harty and Quintin Morris each had a receiving score for the Bills whose record this season is now four wins and two losses. Up next for Buffalo is a trip to Foxborough on Sunday to face the 1 and 5 Patriots. Kickoff is at 1:00.

 

Bills running back Damien Harris is recovering after having had to taken off the field in an ambulance in the second quarter of Buffalo’s game against the New York Giants. He suffered a hit that caused a neck injury. The Bills say Harris has movement and feeling in his arms and legs and was taken to an area hospital.

 

City-Wide Leaf Collection in Batavia will begin October 30th, 2023 and will continue until December 1st, 2023.

Residents are asked to rake leaves into piles and leave them in the parkway (un-bagged). Please, place close to curb line/edge of roadway without placing in the street. Do not pile around fire hydrants, trees, utility poles or signposts. Leaf piles should only contain leaves and no branches, grass clippings or other materials.

Leaf operations typically have one crew on the Northside working from Grandview Terrace moving West, North of Main Street, and a second crew on the Southside beginning on River Street moving East in areas South of Main Street. A third crew will work using a vacuum along main roads and numbered routes. It takes about 2 weeks to go through the entire city and fluctuates from there depending on size of leaf loads.

Any resident with leaves can also bring them to the Yard Waste Station until it closes for the season on December 9th, 2023. The Yard Waste hours are 12 PM to 6PM Monday through Saturday through November 4th, and then 11am-5pm from November 6th through December 9th due to the hours of daylight. The Yard Waste Station will be closed November 23rd for Thanksgiving Day and will officially close for the season after December 9th, 2023.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAF COLLECTION:

• Leaf piles must be clear of sticks and all animal waste – if animal waste or other debris is found in the piles, they will not be picked up
• Grass clippings, flower pottings, branches, and pumpkins cannot be picked up and residents may bring those items to the Yard Waste Station on Law Street (which will be open through December 9th, 2023)
• Leaves should not block traffic or be piled near intersection corners. This causes sight issues for motorists/bicyclists/pedestrians.
• Keep leaf piles clear of drainage ways and catch basins. Blocked drainage leads to localized flooding.
• Leaves should not be piled around mailboxes, power poles, fences, fire hydrants or other obstacles.
• Do not park on leaf piles. The heat from a vehicle exhaust system could start a fire.
• Do not wait to get your leaves out. We will normally collect leaves twice within the month of leaf collection.
• If it is snowing, we plow first. If it continues to snow, then leaf operations will be suspended.
• There is no leaf pickup in the spring.

Contact the Bureau of Maintenance @ 585-345-6400 option 1 if you have any questions.

ELSEWHERE…

 

A Chatham County, Georgia man got the surprise of his life when he received a speeding ticket for more than a million dollars. Connor Cato tells WSAV-TV that he was pulled over by a state trooper for going 90 in a 50-mile-an-hour zone in Savannah, and expected to get a ticket with a hefty penalty, not the $1.4 million citation. Cato says when he called about the amount he was told it was correct, and that he’d either need to pay the ticket or come to court. Officials say it’s “common practice” to add the exorbitant number to ensure speeding drivers come to court, adding that it’s not what Cato will actually have to pay.

 

It may come as little or no surprise to Beatles fans that Paul, George and Ringo weren’t thrilled with Yoko Ono in the studio with them. In an episode of his podcast “McCartney: A Life in Lyrics,” Paul McCartney said Yoko’s presence during the recording of “Let It Be” was at best, a distraction and at worst, “disturbing.” McCartney said nobody objected when John Lennon started bringing Yoko to the studio, but he also said that none of them besides Lennon wanted her there. McCartney added that he and the other Beatles weren’t very confrontational, so they “just bottled it up” and let it be.

 

Mary Lou Retton’s daughter says the Olympic legend is making “remarkable” progress. Retton has been hospitalized in intensive care battling pneumonia for nearly a week. On Saturday, Retton’s daughter released a statement saying there’s been “remarkable” improvement and her “path to recovery is steadily progressing.” Retton made history as the first American woman to win all-around gymnastics gold in the 1984 Olympics.

 

 

Rite Aid is filing for bankruptcy. The pharmacy chain filed for Chapter 11 protection Sunday, facing declining sales, billions of dollars in debt and more than a thousand lawsuits linked to the opioid crisis. The company has hired a new CEO to navigate its restructuring and expects stores to stay open for the time being.

 

Actress Suzanne Somers has died after a long battle with breast cancer. Somers gained instant fame in the mid-70s as Chrissy Snow on the hit comedy “Three’s Company.” Somers died on Sunday, just one day shy of her 77th birthday.

 

 

Today is Monday, October 16th, the 289th day of the year.

October 16 in history…

 

…In 1793, Marie Antoinette Queen of France who allegedly uttered the phrase “let them eat cake,” was beheaded at the age of 37. She was the last queen of France before the French Revolution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1908, Samuel Cody flew in the first airplane flight in England.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1972, the legendary rock group Creedence Clearwater Revival disbanded. Singer John Fogerty would go on to have a successful solo career.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1987, 18-month-old Jessica McClure was rescued after falling 22 feet in to an abandoned well shaft in Midland, Texas. McClure spent nearly three days trapped.

 

 

 

 

…In 2010, actress Barbara Billingsley, best known for her role as June Cleaver on TV’s “Leave It To Beaver,” died on this date at the age of 94.