Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on August 11, 2023
Police are investigating a deadly crash that claimed the life of a Batavia woman. Around 4pm on Thursday two cars collided in the Town of Pembroke on rt 5. It was determined that a tan 2007 Ford Freestyle driven by 34 year old Nikki Stonebraker of Batavia had crossed the centerline at high speeds and struck a 2013 Dodge Caravan. The operator and passenger of the Dodge Caravan were transported to Erie County Medical Center with severe injuries. Genesee County Coroner Karen Lang pronounced Stonebraker dead at the scene. The cause of the collision is still under investigation by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
State Congresswoman Claudia Tenney cosponsored a bill that would help volunteer first responders with housing costs. Specifically, this bill would expand eligibility for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Division and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program. In introducing the bill, Tenney cited how rural communities depend on volunteers and how the state needs to provide assistance and incentives for those volunteers who sacrifice so much for their communities.
The Batavia Players Summer Youth Theater Program presents Cry Baby starting tonight at their location at Main St 56 Theatre. Based in 1954, when everyone likes Ike, nobody likes communism, and Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker is the coolest boy in Baltimore, this show features a bad boy with a good cause: truth, justice and the pursuit of rock and roll. Audiences will get to experience the new theatre which the company has been working on for the last year. They still have a long way to go in renovating the space. So far about 41 thousand of the 265 thousand dollar goal has been reached according to Director Patrick Burke. Most of those funds were raised before COVID and went to rent and utilities and insurance while they were unable to do productions or much work. Burke says now they need to work hard on raising money again but want people to see what they have been able to do so far. Shows start at 7:30 tonight and Saturday. Sunday has a 2pm matinee performance. Tickets are 18 dollars for adults and 16 for students and seniors.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley says the new insurance law is not well thought out. There’s a new law that went into effect on August 1 that automatically enrolls you in supplemental spousal liability coverage. Hawley said you’re maybe looking at roughly five dollars added to your monthly bill, depending on your insurance. This coverage is for when a married couple is involved in a car accident. Before August a spouse could not sue their husband or wife to recover money from the partner’s insurance company unless they chose to have this liability insurance on their policy. Under new state law, that exception has become the standard. Drivers will pay the fee whether they’re married or not. If you’re a driver in New York State and considered single, you can opt out of this.
Fisher-Price has unveiled the 2023 edition of its Buffalo Bills “Little People” figurine set. The toy maker is once again teaming up with Wegmans stores across Upstate New York to sell the toys. Starting Friday, fans can purchase their very own Buffalo Bills Little People Collector set at Wegmans stores throughout the Buffalo, Rochester, Southern Tier and Syracuse areas. This year’s set includes quarterback Josh Allen, tight end Dawson Knox, linebacker Von Miller and a Bills “Super Fan.” Fisher-Price will donate $10 of each set, up to $1 million, when purchased at Wegmans stores, to The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation providing philanthropic support to John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital.
Target is recalling over two-million scented candles that might shatter while burning. The recall issued Thursday affects five-and-a-half ounce one-wick candles and 20-ounce three-wick candles sold in glass jars. Target says it has received 19 reports of the jars shattering while the wick is burning. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says anyone who bought one of the candles should stop using it and return it to Target for a full refund.
