Morning News Brief

The New York State Comptroller has released a report on the number of people who died from COVID 19 in nursing homes.  The handling of COVID in nursing homes has been a fraught subject with former governor Cuomo accused of causing deaths by sending COVID positive people to the nursing homes and then hiding the numbers of dead.  The Comptroller’s office found that the public had been misled about the number of people who died “by those at the highest level of state government through distortion and suppression of the facts”.  The DOH would not provide auditors with a breakdown by name of the nursing home residents who died from Covid-19 and the actual number of nursing home residents who died is still uncertain. The audit estimates nursing home deaths are undercounted by as much as 50 percent.  The DOH hid the deaths of at least 4100 people.

Mercy Flight transported a farm worker to ECMC Tuesday morning after he was trampled by cows that were being inseminated on a farm at 8569 Oatka Trail Road.  His condition is guarded.  Le Roy Fire with UTV 61 and Le Roy Ambulance responded to the scene shortly before 10 a.m.  The man was unconscious when rescuers were dispatched to the scene.  His name has not been released.

Bird Flu is back and Cornell Cooperative Extension says take down your bird feeders.  Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been identified in over 350 wild birds in the US including in NY.  There have been 3 cases of it in backyard poultry flocks leading to the deaths of 268 birds.  Bird feeders can cause birds to congregate and spread the disease so it is recommended you take yours down at least during the spring migration period.   The CCE said scientists believe caseloads should decrease over the summer months and at that point it may be safe to put feeders back out.

The online portal is now open for New York Hemp farmers who are looking for a license to apply to grow adult-use cannabis.  Conditionally licensed cannabis farmers must meet the following requirements:  Safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation practices, participation in a social equity mentorship program, enter into a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization.  With a conditional adult-use cannabis cultivation license, farmers can grow outdoors or in a greenhouse for up to two years from the issuance of the license and it allows them to manufacture and distribute cannabis flower products without holding an adult-use processor or distributor license until June 1, 2023.  The cost is 2000 dollars.

The City of Batavia needs a new little red wagon.  Fire truck number 12 is 20 years old and is ready to be retired from service, according to City Manager Rachel Tabelski.  The cost of getting a new truck, 700,000 dollars. Fire Chief Dan Herberger said that the new truck would be similar to Engine 11 which is a Rescue Truck.  It will be paid for by a grant of 200K and 400K that is in reserve.  

We have some winners at the horse show!  Genesee County 4-H members participated in the Finger Lakes Region 4-H Horse Bowl Contest Saturday and many of them placed.  Brynlee Amend, Wyatt Witmer, Leah Amend, Taylor Fancher, Lexi Witmer, Eva Rhoads and Tori Kruppenbacher were all recognized for their knowledge of equine facts, including breeds, equipment, nutrition and more.  The Novice team placed 2nd, The senior team placed 2nd, and the Junior team placed 1st.  Everyone who placed will have an opportunity to compete at the state competition held at Cornell University on April 8th.