Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on December 4, 2023
On the heels of an armed carjacking on Oliver Street late Sunday, police say carjackings are on the rise in the city. Police say that the carjackings are mostly the same. Someone approaches the car and menaces the driver with a handgun and then steals the car when they get out. Some 20-25 carjackings have happened on the city’s east side since late October. Police said that there have been 7 arrests and 6 of those people have been released and then went on to steal cars again. They say the public should be aware of their surroundings and only park in well lit areas.
9 agencies in Genesee county including police, fire and emergency medical services will be participating in a simulated active threat situation on Liberty Street on Thursday. They will be at 114 Liberty Street and want the public to know that this activity is not a real emergency, but a carefully planned simulation designed to enhance the preparedness and coordination of emergency response teams. They plan on being there from 8am to 3pm.
Funnyman Jim Gaffigan has announced dates for his Barely Alive tour and one of the stops is in Buffalo at Sheas Performing Arts Center. The show in Buffalo is one of five additional dates that were announced on Monday, it is scheduled for February 10 at 5 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. This show is in addition to the three shows the comedian already had scheduled at Shea’s. The other shows are: February 8th and 9th at 7 p.m. and February 10th at 8 p.m.
Crossroads House raised 2500 dollars selling Christmas Ornaments for a tree at Eli Fish. Supporters of Crossroads House were invited to hang an ornament on a Christmas tree to display at Eli Fish for the holiday season, with the tree being lit in a ceremony at the tavern in Batavia on Saturday. Pinecone ornaments cost $25 each. This is a first-year event for Crossroads House, which provides hospice care at no cost to people in their final stages of life in Genesee County.
USS The Sullivans, a decommissioned United States Navy Fletcher-class destroyer, began sinking at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park on Buffalo’s waterfront in April 2022. Naval park leadership reported a major breach in the hull caused the ship to take on water. Within days senate majority leader Chuck Schumer was in Buffalo pledging federal money. He said he got 7.5 million to fix up the ships. That money has not been released by the city yet. According to a spokesperson the city has yet to file the proper paperwork to send the money to the historic park. Also, after a survey of the ships it is estimated that another 13 million dollars is needed to restore them.
The 9th annual Genesee County Sheriffs, Batavia and Leroy Pd shop with a cop is coming up Saturday December 9th at Walmart in Batavia. School Resource Officers and School Officials from each school in Genesee County select children from local schools. The Children will be provided funds and their own personal Police Officer / Deputy to accompany them on a Christmas shopping trip at our local Walmart. Grant money from Walmart, donations The City of Batavia Police Benevolent Association, City of Batavia Civil Employee’s Association (CSEA), the City’s “Jeans for Friday” program, and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Employee Association make this event possible. People can donate to make it so more children can participate. Donations can be brought to 10 W. Main St. Batavia N.Y. (Attn Detective DeFreze) or 165 Park Rd. Batavia N.Y. (Attn Sgt. Sanfratello).
The Muckdogs announced that there is a change in coaching staff for the upcoming season. A new assistant manager has been hired on. Cooper French who comes to Batavia from Kentucky where He found a great deal of success in the Commonwealth Collegiate Baseball League of Kentucky, leading his team to an 18 & 2 record, league championship, as well as winning the Coach of the Year Award. He works pitchers and outfields as assistant manager for the Hanover College Panthers in Indiana during the regular season & has learned a great deal from the entire Hanover staff. While coaching he plans on studying to achieve his MBA.
Buffalo Bills Tight End Dawson Knox announced big news during the Bills bye week. He popped the question to his girlfriend and she said yes. Knox made the announcement via instagram on Sunday night. He said in the post that he knew just a couple of months in that she was the one. The engagement happened November 30th.
