Morning News Brief

The proposed Genesee County Airshow, Wings Over Batavia, is on hold after being tabled during the public service meeting on Wednesday.  The question is, how much will it cost?  County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens presented a brief update about the air show, and it has been progressing towards a 2023 date. A Wings Over Batavia Committee has established an LLC to accept and manage funds for the show, Hens said. Each air act would have its own insurance policy, in addition to the LLC, which would protect the county’s liability, he said.  The last airshow was 25 years ago and happened at the same time as the Batavia Wing Ding on Main street.  Most of the cost concern was about how much law enforcement would be needed for the event.  In the 90s, the show would draw roughly 40,000 people.

The 2 hotels on Noonan street just off the highway are closed by order of the City.  The signs on the doors say the Wyndham Resorts Super 8 and Days Inn hotels which are right off the highway across from Emmanuel Baptist Church and the new Quicklees Service Station and Tim Hortons have both been condemned due to lack of working fire alarms, no water, heat or electricity in areas of the hotels.  The hotels had been being used to house homeless members of the community since the beginning of the COVID pandemic and were also the site of many emergency service calls over the last 2 years including at least one shooting.

She has had her day in court, finally, and says that when “you get the real case. You’ll be embarrassed.”  Cassandra Elmore, the woman accused of allowing her French Bulldog Oddey to overdose on narcotics twice, along with weapons and other charges, had a short hearing Thursday after failing to appear for her court dates twice and being arrested to force her to appear.  She posted bail and is free once more and will be returning October 20th.  Outside of the courthouse she told a reporter that they aren’t getting the real case.  Assistant Public Defender Jamie Welch is representing Elmore.  Oddey is staying at the Genesee County Animal Shelter until the court case concludes.

Press Release from the Bureau of Maintenance:  All motorists please be aware that Bank Street, Chandler Avenue and Ross Street will experience traffic delays on Sep. 26 and 27 and Oct. 3 and 4 between the hours of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for resurfacing operations.  While work is being performed in this area, local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays.  All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation.  This is weather dependent work; if work is postponed it shall progress the next workday.

Genesee County Legislators unanimously signed a resolution to go to state representatives vehemently opposing the new Concealed Carry Improvement Act.  Members of the Public Service Committee said not only will the Legislature “vehemently, adamantly and with full resolve” oppose what members believe are “ill-advised provisions,” of the act, but they will also work with other counties to demand its full repeal based on being “unjust, ineffective, vague and unconstitutional.”  They underscored the prominence of the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms, and how the Concealed Carry is no improvement act. The Second Amendment states that “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”  Copies of the county’s resolution will be sent to Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State Assemblyman Stephen Hawley and state Senators George Borrello and Edward Rath III among others.

Genesee County STOP DWI is holding a poster contest for 6th through 12th graders to show the risks of drinking and driving.  The theme for the 2022 poster contest is, “Don’t risk it, drunk driving is always a losing game.”  Contestants should make a poster no larger than 9 by 12, and include the theme on it.  Posters should be in landscape format and have the artist’s name, address and phone number along with their grade, age and what school they attend on the back.  Posters can be handmade or computer generated as long as it is original work.  The grand prize winner will have their poster on a billboard in Genesee county and will get a gift card, poster, and sweet treat and be honored at a banquet in December.  1st-3rd place winners will get a gift card, commendation, poster and sweet treat and also be recognized at the luncheon.  Entries must be received by October 7th.

The Park Road construction is almost completed.  According to Western Region Off Track Betting Corp President Henry Wojtaszek, the repaving is 80 percent done and expected to be “substantially completed” by October 17th.  Next steps will be the installation of streetlights and trees along the road.  He also said that parking at the former Kmart parking lot is at owner risk as their lease with  Benderson Development has expired.

Attorney General Letitia James is being criticized for her lawsuit against the Trump family and businesses by former US Attorney General Bill Barr.  Barr says that the civil lawsuit shows that James is overreaching and suffering from Trump derangement Syndrome.  James is seeking a minimum of 250 million dollars and barring Trump or any of his family from operating in New York State.  James promised during her 2018 election campaign that she would spend every day suing Trump.