Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on February 22, 2023
There is a winter weather Advisory for Orleans, Wyoming and Genesee counties from 4pm this afternoon through 6 pm Thursday. Mixed precipitation is expected. Total snow accumulations of up to 2 inches and ice accumulations of around three tenths of an inch. Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. Travel could be extremely difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. Periods of snow, sleet or freezing rain will result in slippery roads and limited visibilities. Slow down and use caution while driving.
A stinky situation developed in Darien. Tuesday afternoon around 2pm police responded to reports of a manure truck roll over on Simonds Rd. The report that reached mercy flight was heavy entrapment. The DEC responded to the incident and found that the manure was flowing into the field and not into the waterways. The owner of the rig said at the scene that they could right the truck and tow it. The driver was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight.
City leaders in Batavia are upset that the new apartments at Ellicott Station are being rented out to low income and section 8 instead of to what was billed as mixed income or workforce renters. The 55 unit apartment complex was sold to the City Council and received grants based on the plan that it would be for people who make 18-20 dollars an hour and were not on government assistance. Once the advertising went up Friday it was revealed that that was no longer the plan. City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr and councilman Bob Bialkowski both said they were “very disappointed.” They also expressed doubt that the proposed restaurant and brewery supposed to be included in the new structure would ever come to be. City Manager Rachel Tabelksi said that she wouldn’t be just letting the issue go.
First responders pulled a man’s body from the Genesee River Tuesday morning. Crews responded downtown around 9 a.m. and pulled the body from the water between the Court Street and Broad Street bridges. Police said RG&E helped lower the water level so crews could retrieve the body. Investigators are working to determine the man’s identity and cause of death.
Strong Memorial Hospital has received a major dose of financial help to expand critical services. Rep. Joe Morelle was on hand Tuesday to announce lawmakers secured $1 million to enhance Strong’s emergency department. The funding comes at a critical time for hospitals, which are dealing with a shortage of space.The expansion will more than triple the general and pediatric emergency departments. It will also add more than 200 treatment and observation stations at Strong, along with 40 new private inpatient rooms.
A man from Rochester is the 5th person in the world to be cured of HIV. According to an announcement on Monday, Brian Bartlett of Rochester, who acquired HIV in 2010 but didn’t get diagnosed till 2014. Bartlett;s HIV is now undetectable. Bartlett, a community health specialist at Trillium Health, said he’s excited about what the latest HIV research breakthrough means. Doctors say while the research is significant, the treatment involves wiping out a person’s entire immune system — making it too risky to be widely accepted or available as a cure for HIV. but researchers, and Bartlett, believe the disease epidemic will be wiped out in his, much longer now, lifetime.
The Buffalo Sabres were beaten by the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night 6 to 3. Alex Tuch scored the 100th goal of his career. Jack Quinn and Jeff Skinner also put a goal in each. The Sabres have been outscored 18-6 in losing their past three home games. Buffalo is 17-8-2 on the road, but fell to 11-15-2 at home. The Sabres will be going to Florida to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. Puck drop is 7pm.
Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced that former Buffalo football legend and Hall of Famer, Thurman Thomas, will be attending the upcoming Fur Ball Gala Fundraiser set to take place at Batavia Downs on Saturday, March 4. The Fur Ball Gala is a benefit to raise money for the Animal Shelter of Genesee County & SPCA of Wyoming County. The event runs from 5-9 p.m. on Saturday, March 4. Tickets are $75, and attendees receive a buffet dinner, open bar, tastings, $50 in free play and access to a basket raffle with more than 40 items from Batavia Downs and other local businesses. Thurman will be on hand to take photos with all event attendees, and a DJ will be on-site as well.
