Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on August 24, 2023
Rochester Police are investigating a homicide on the city’s west side Wednesday night. Officers responded to the mini-mart at 1218 Jay Street for the report of a fight inside the store. A man believed to be between the age of 50 and 60 was found dead inside the shop, according to RPD. Investigators determined the victim was assaulted by an unknown suspect outside the store, and the incident continued inside, where the victim was killed. The exact cause of death is under investigation, and police did not say whether there’s been any arrests in the case.
It appears there could be another transition of some of the 573 asylum seekers in Erie County from a Cheektowaga hotel to Amherst. The Cheektowaga town supervisor Diane Benczkowski said during a public meeting Tuesday night that Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz told her the Dingens Street hotel would be closing. That is where some of the more than 500 asylum seekers are being housed in Cheektowaga. The Cheektowaga town supervisor specifically stated that 226 of the migrants would be sent to a Red Roof in Amherst and 48 children would be attending the Sweet Home Central School District. The Sweet Home School superintendent issued a short statement simply saying that any school-age child, who resides in this district, is considered a “Panther” and is “absolutely welcome.”
Starting Tuesday, August 29 Batavia will have a legal place to purchase marijuana. A partnership with DANK in downtown Buffalo and six other local marijuana growers and processors will result in a temporary pop-up shop inside of Empire Hemp Co. on E Main street in Batavia. The pop-up shop will showcase local cannabis growers and will be open every Tuesday thru Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. throughout the end of 2023. Despite applications, Chris VanDusen’s CBD store, Empire Hemp Co., does not have government approval to sell the legal adult use marijuana products that his company makes. Their THC Gummies, flowers, pre-rolled joints and more can only be sold to the few stores in the state like DANK that have a license to sell marijuana. These pop up pot shops are a temporary solution.
Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret passed away on August 17 at the age of 81. The Sabres will honor Jeanneret’s life and career with a special tribute event “Remembering RJ: The Man Behind the Mic” on Sunday at the KeyBank Center. It will feature roundtable conversations with broadcasters and alumni. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. and the event will begin at 5 p.m. General admission tickets are free to the public and available online at the keybank center ticketmaster website on a first-come, first-served basis. The Sabres said the event will also air on MSG and stream live on Sabres.com and the team’s official social platforms. According to the Sabres, out of respect for Jeanneret and his family’s wishes, a full memorial service will not be held. In addition, the RJ display located in Alumni Plaza will remain in place through the weekend.
The Old Bethany Town Hall, the iconic white building sitting on Rt 15 with its bell tower and proud name displayed on the front, is no more. It was decided that 2 million dollars to bring the building up to code was too much for the town to bear. The Town Hall building was demolished Tuesday but the bell was preserved. Crews cut the top of the tower off and a crane lifted the bell and substructure out cleanly and securely. The project cost 119000 dollars. You can view pictures and video of the demolition on our news partner The Batavian’s site.
A popular Wegmans-brand item will be coming off the shelves soon. The company announced it’s discontinuing its brand soda, also known as “WPOP,” because of concerns over artificial ingredients in the products. The ingredients they say don’t fit with they’re brand are aspartame and high fructose corn syrup as well as colors and preservatives. In a statement released Wednesday, Wegmans said the soda fails to meet the requirements of its “Our Food You Feel Good About” banner, adding it will remain committed to “helping customers live healthier, better lives.” WPOP has been sold in Wegmans stores since the 1990s.
