Monday News Brief

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Department is mourning the death of a deputy. Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello was working on a special assignment at Batavia Downs early yesterday morning when the tragedy happened. There was an altercation involving 33-year-old Michael Elmore and 39-year-old Lyndsey Wilcox; as Sanfratello was in the process of arresting Wilcox, Elmore became physically combative and the use of a taser did not subdue Elmore. Sanfratello was eventually able to arrest Wilcox, but then became unresponsive. CPR was started; however, despite the life-saving efforts, Sanfratello passed away. Both Elmore and Wilcox are facing multiple felony charges. Elmore is charged with aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault upon a police officer and burglary. Wilcox faces burglary and attempted assault charges.

 

44-year-old Jacqueline Garrett of Batavia has been arrested and charged with petit larceny. It’s alleged she stole merchandise from Walmart. Garrett was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Batavia Court for tomorrow.

 

It’s expected to be a big day at the State Capitol as each chamber of the legislature introduces their one-house budget proposals. Governor Hochul is calling for over 230-billion-dollars to be spent in the next fiscal year, and these proposals will provide an outline of what needs be debated ahead of the budget deadline. Some of the big issues will likely be things like housing, health care, and school aid. In order to be on time, the budget must be passed by April 1st.

 

Construction of a new memorial to honor those killed in a mass shooting in Buffalo is currently underway. The Tops Honor Space pays tribute to the 10 people who were murdered at the supermarket chain’s store on Jefferson Avenue back in May 2022. A spokesperson says work should be done by early spring, and that the memorial is different than the one that’s being created by the City of Buffalo. The man who carried out the shooting, Payton Gendron, is facing the death penalty.

 

Prices at the gas pumps appear to be holding steady. According to Triple A this morning, the national average price for a gallon of regular fuel is $3.40. The state average is $3.34. In Batavia, the average figures out to $3.25, that’s down a penny from a month ago and down 11 cents from a year ago today.

 

Testimony is expected to resume today in the wrongful death civil trial of Richard Metcalf Jr. Metcalf was an inmate at the Erie County Holding Center when he passed away days after being restrained following an encounter involving staff members at the jail in 2012. In court last week, a sheriff’s department representative testified the office’s original file on the investigation into Metcalf’s death was likely destroyed. Metcalf’s estate has filed a lawsuit against the county and multiple deputies.

 

A Jamestown father is now in trouble with the law after being arrested for child endangerment. Officers were called UPMC on Friday night and an investigation revealed that 21-year-old Elijah McBride allegedly allowed his one-year-old son to consume marijuana. While the child was being treated, McBride took the boy from the hospital, but returned a short time later. After being taken into custody, McBride was sent to the Jamestown City Jail.

 

Governor Kathy Hochul says New York State is back, and she’s touting the state’s full economic recovery from the pandemic. Newly released State Labor Department data shows a total statewide private-sector job count of over 8.3 million jobs, the highest level on record. The Labor Department reported 100% recovery of private sector jobs in New York, gaining 47,000 jobs in January 2024 within key sectors like Private Education, Health Services, Leisure and Hospitality, and Professional. Overall, the state has recovered 1.9 million private-sector jobs since April 2020 when statewide jobs reached a 30-year low of just 6.4 million jobs.

 

Daylight saving time has arrived, the Department of Motor Vehicles is warning motorists about the risks of drowsy driving. Drowsiness and fatigue have been known to affect a driver’s reaction time and judgment, which could trigger a crash. In New York alone last year, there were over 2900 accidents where a driver reported that they fell asleep behind the wheel. Tips to stay safe include avoiding alcohol before driving, taking a break about every two hours and bringing a passenger if you’re taking a long trip.

 

ELSEWHERE…

It’s now less than a month to go before a total solar eclipse will cross North America. On April 8th, people in 15 states will be able to see the moon almost totally cover the sun, casting a shadow over it and creating the effect of a fiery ring in the sky. Some of the states in the path are Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Ohio, New York and Maine. Skies will temporarily darken in the path of totality, but in all other states in the U.S., viewers will be able to see a partial solar eclipse with the moon appearing to take a bite out of the sun.

 

The son of the late Eddie Van Halen is all-in when it comes to music education. Wolfgang Van Halen not only made a $100,000 donation to the Mister Holland’s Opus Foundation, he’s helping the organization kick off its “Adopt-a-School” campaign. Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation provides funding for schools to purchase musical instruments. According to its website, the Adopt-a-School campaign helps connect qualifying schools with interested donors in their community. In a video, Wolfgang announced the foundation will donate $100,000 each to the first 100 schools.

 

 

When most people in America move the clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time, hospitals report a 24% spike in heart attack visits on the ensuing Monday, which is today. The exact reason isn’t clear, but experts think the lost hour of sleep plays a big role, disrupting the body’s natural rhythm. While a bit late for this year, one way to combat the change is to start going to bed and waking up 15 minutes earlier, two to three days before the change.

 

Tuesday marks equal payday. It’s the date that symbolizes how far into the year that women have to work to earn what men earned in the previous year. The Labor Department says women in the U.S. earned about 20% less than men on average last year.