Morning News Brief
Written by WBTA STAFF on June 16, 2023
After more than a decade of leadership and service to the institution, Genesee Community College President, Dr. James Sunser, announced that he intends to retire at the conclusion of the 2023-24 academic year. In a personal message, Sunser informed the campus community and thanked colleagues for being partners in always holding student success as the highest priority. During his time leading GCC, Sunser oversaw the development of the Richard C. Call Arena and the Student Success Center, capital projects that represented the largest fundraising efforts ever undertaken by the College. He also provided leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic that drastically altered the delivery of services, never wavering from the commitment to putting students first.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans has announced the launch of a new initiative that will give out free money to residents. The Guaranteed Basic Income program will provide monthly payments of 500-dollars to 351 households for one year. There are no work requirements and no restrictions on what the money can be used for. Evans said that the program will allow families to thrive and create prosperity. Applicants must be age 18 or older, a city resident for at least year, must have a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, and must live in a qualified census tract. One individual per household can participate. The application period begins next Thursday and will be open through June 29th. Information about the program can be found on rocgbi.com. Funding for the program comes from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Failure to stop at a red light cause for collision on Ellicott Street. An HHR and a silver sedan collided on Ellicott Street Thursday afternoon at the intersection with Liberty street. It was determined from the street camera that the sedan ran the red light and struck the HHR. Early eye witness statements said it happened the other way around. The driver of the sedan, Edwin Perez of Holley, was cited for allegedly running a red light. It is unknown whether anyone was injured in the crash.
A driver from Warsaw was arrested in the Town of Wethersfield for DWI after he drove his pickup truck with no tires and then left it in the middle of the road. 41 year old Trevor Austin was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the 1st degree, driving with a blood alcohol of .18% or greater, failure to keep right, moving from a lane unsafely, stop stand or park on the pavement and unsafe tires. Officers responded to a report of a pickup truck parked in the middle of the road at around 5 in the morning on June 11th and a driver who was intoxicated. When they arrived the noted gouge marks on the pavement and flat rear tires and missing front tires. Austin was sitting on the side of the road. Upon investigating they found that Austin had a suspended license from a previous DWI incident. Police followed the gouge marks back up the road for 10 miles and located the missing tires.
Dozens of United State Flags were respectfully retired at a ceremony at VFW Post 1602 Veness-Strollo in Batavia on Flag Day. The flags were incinerated by veterans and firefighters. According to US Flag Code: a flag that is torn or faded should be disposed of in a dignified manner, the preferred manner is incineration. Flags that are no longer serviceable should no longer be displayed. The ceremony was carried out by Vice Commander William Frieday, Robert Kendall, treasurer, and member Ronald Gibson.
Saturday the Interactive Health Fair will be at 80 Union Street with art projects, information to improve wellness, a teddy bear clinic, free vision screening and vouchers for chicken bbq dinners. This fair is sponsored by the Batavia community Schools along with the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Genesee County and Madeline Bartz Mission Inc. Busses will be running from 8:45 to 12:30 from multiple locations around the city. For a complete bus schedule you can check wbtai.com.
