Morning New Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on November 22, 2022
The Batavia Police Department is asking the public for help in the search for a missing 13-year-old girl. The missing teenager, Jaylynn Alvord, was last seen on Thursday, Nov. 17 at approximately 7 p.m. in Batavia. Jaylynn was last seen wearing black jeans, a tie-dye sweatshirt, and a nose ring. She is approximately 5-foot-4-inches and 145 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on Jaylynn’s whereabouts is asked to call the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350 or the NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 1-800-346-3543.
Genesee County has a new budget. The 162.5 million dollar budget passed Monday night and thanks to an amendment there will be a tax hike of 1 penny compared to the proposed budget. Overall homeowners will see a 73 cent drop per 1000 dollars assessed value. The amount being raised by property taxes has not changed since the last budget at 32,080,762. Property assessments have gone up over the past year though so homeowners may see increases because the value of their property is higher.
President Biden has approved Governor Hochul’s request for an Emergency Declaration for Western New York counties that were affected by a major snowstorm. Several feet of snow fell across the area during a period of a few days and the governor says this declaration allows FEMA to provide emergency protective measures like search and rescue operations and help with roads, bridges, water control facilities, utilities, and mass transit hubs. In a statement, Governor Hochul thanked President Biden for granting the request. The last time New York submitted an Emergency Declaration request for a similar winter storm was back in 2014.
College athletes can now make money off sponsorships and advertising. Governor Hochul signed legislation Monday that allows college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness without risking scholarships. Student athletes would also be allowed to hire attorneys and agents to represent them under the new law fully taking effect Jan. 1, 2023. Supporters of the new law say student athletes deserve a cut of the billions raked in each year by American colleges and their athletic department, especially considering the hard work they put into their sports.
There has been an increase in the number of respiratory syncytial virus infections and flu cases over the past few weeks. For the third consecutive week, flu cases are on the rise across the GLOW region. This is according to the most recent data collected by the state Department of Health. According to the report, there were 80 total active cases across the four counties. It’s recommended that residents get themselves vaccinated against the flu if they haven’t done so already. They should also practice good hygiene such as washing their hands and also covering up coughs to prevent the spread of germs.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball led the Department’s annual tree-cutting tradition today at New York State Grown & Certified Stokoe Farms in Scottsville, cutting down a 9-foot-tall Fraser Fir that will be displayed at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center. The annual event highlights New York’s Christmas tree industry and encourages New Yorkers to shop local at farms— as they pick out trees this season— and at local agricultural businesses—as they check items off of gift lists for loved ones and set their tables for the holidays. New York State ranks number 4 in acres dedicated to Christmas tree growing.
In Local Sports the championships games have been played and we have the results. The Batavia Blue Devils are Far West regional Champions! They defeated Iroquois 20 to 8 on Monday night to win the big game. The Alexander Trojans lost to Cambridge Salem 12 to 7 in the State Class D quarterfinal. The previously undefeated Oakfield Alabama Elba Aggies lost their Regional Final match up against the Randolph Cardinals on Monday night 42 to 26.
Wreaths Across America is doing its annual Wreath laying ceremony at the Western NY National Cemetery on December 17th. And while Wreaths Across America is, as it implies, a national effort, Moscato’s Veterans Outreach Club at Pembroke Junior-Senior High School is selling the wreaths locally to also benefit the WNY National Cemetery Memorial Council, a non-profit entity that runs many of the events at the National Cemetery. They have so far collected enough for 450 wreaths, with a total need of about 1,300 this year. For every $15 wreath sold, $5 goes to the Council to offset expenses related to the cemetery, such as maintaining U.S. flags for the Avenue of Flags and providing uniforms for the Honor Guard. Deadline for ordering is Nov. 29.
The tarp is off and underneath are…Tesla chargers. Tesla has installed 12 electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot of Batavia Towne Center off Veterans Memorial Drive. The Tesla website lists Batavia as a future location for electric vehicle charging stations but says the stations won’t open until the second quarter of 2023.
The Buffalo Sabres will be back on the ice in Canada tonight as they try and snap their current eight-game losing streak. The Sabres are set to battle the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Buffalo hasn’t played since Saturday when they were beaten by the Toronto Maple Leafs five-to-two. Face-off for tonight’s contest is scheduled for seven p-m.
