Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on May 30, 2023
Two people died after an airplane crash Sunday evening in Orleans County around 6pm in the Town of Yates. The pilot was 70 year old Earl Luce Jr, of Brockport and passenger was 72 year old Morris Wortman, of Rochester. According to deputies, a mechanical failure appeared to have caused the self-made plane single engine fixed wing experimental craft to come down. The preliminary investigation indicates that the wings of the aircraft became detached from the fuselage and fell to the ground landing in an orchard. The fuselage of the aircraft continued west approximately 1000 to 1500 yards before crashing into a pasture behind a residence. The Federal Aviation Administration is assisting with the investigation.
Rochester’s Memorial Day weekend was marred with tragedy as 2 separate shootings resulted in 2 deaths and one injured. The first shooting was at 2 am Monday outside Flour City Station on East Ave. Rochester police said a fight at the bar led to a man pulling out a gun, shooting a security guard and a 42-year-old man, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The security guard is expected to survive. An hour later, on Holland Street, police said a teenage girl was shot and killed after being caught in the crossfire of two groups. Investigators reported a large group was gathered in a parking lot behind the Anthony Jordan Health Center, before the gunfire erupted.
Someone in the Village of LeRoy is getting a thousand dollars a week for the rest of their life. A CASH4LIFE lottery ticket sold at Crosbys on West Main is worth the second highest amount of 1000 a week or a guaranteed payout of a million dollars. It was sold on Sunday. The winner’s identity has not been released.
Investigators are looking into the cause of a three alarm fire in Buffalo that injured three firefighters, and left more than a dozen people homeless. Smoke from the massive blaze on Hagen Street could be seen for miles. Crews say a car caught on fire, with the flames quickly spreading to a pair of nearby homes. The call came out around 11:30 Sunday morning. Crews spent several hours at the scene. Combined damage to the two homes and the car is estimated at nearly $500,000. The 3 firefighters injuries are non life threatening and the Red Cross is helping the 16 people with temporary housing.
Local teams are racking up the wins. Notre Dame Lady Irish won the Class D1 Sectional Finals in Softball with a 5 to 2 victory over Lyndonville Saturday afternoon. Notre Dame now moves on to face the D2 champion tonight in Fillmore. The Fighting Irish beat Bolivar Richburg 3 to 0 in the Class C2 Title Game. They will face Sodus tonight in Canandaigua. Batavia High School girls track took first in the Class B1 Sectional Competition with 172 points. The Oakfield-Alabama/Elba Boys Track team picked up a sectional title in Class B3. OAE scored 186 points, well ahead of second-place Rochester Academy Charter, with 72 points.
There’s lots of fun to be had as we celebrate the unofficial start of summer here in Western New York. Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World opened for the season on Grand Island Saturday. The operators of the theme park say right now the water park, Kiddie Land and Western Town are open, but more rides and attractions will be added over the next several weeks. This is where the old Fantasy Island theme park used to be. Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World will be open weekends only through mid-June, and open daily after that.
