Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on December 11, 2023
There is a wind advisory in effect for Genesee and Orleans Counties from 7am till 6pm today. The national weather service is expecting gusts of up to 50 miles per hour on top of winds from 20 to 30 miles per hour going southwest. Be careful especially when driving high profile vehicles and watch out for debris, tree limbs and unsecured items being blown around and into roadways. Power outages may occur.
A man from Tunisia is awaiting a deportation hearing after he allegedly asked a woman to “purchase” her 5-year-old child in Wyoming County. The woman told officers from the Perry Police Department that the man also attempted to entice the child into his vehicle. Police arrested 64 year old Monji Jelassi on Dec. 2nd and detained him. His only identification at the time was a foreign-issued international driver’s license. U.S. Border Patrol discovered Jelassi was in the U.S. on an expired visa. He was taken to a federal detention facility in Batavia.
A public safety officer at the University of Rochester was struck during an unauthorized event at the campus Monday. The U of R reported that a group called “Students for Justice in Palestine” held the unauthorized event, and were previously advised against gathering. Public safety officers asked them to disperse, when one of the students hit one of the officers, according to the school. That student was arrested, and charges are pending. In related news Police are looking for suspects after property near the Shema Yisrael Messianic Jewish synagogue on Edgewood Avenue was vandalized. Officers said someone painted a bush red some time last week.
A new trial date is now set for Timothy Williams, the man accused of raping and killing 14-year-old Wendy Jerome in Rochester on Thanksgiving 1984. Three days of testimony in Williams’ initial trial were complete when Judge Tom Moran declared a mistrial Wednesday morning, citing “juror misconduct.” Attorneys reconvened in court Monday morning, agreeing to start the new trial with jury selection Feb. 27. Multiple witnesses had traveled to Rochester from afar to testify in the trial. They will likely need to be brought back in. The new trial will come nearly 40 years after Jerome’s body was found in an alcove outside School No. 33.
A woman has been charged for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend during an incident in Orleans County Monday morning. Just before 8 a.m., the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Oak Orchard Road in the town of Barre for a domestic incident involving a knife. Deputies found 59 year old John Dunn suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he’s listed in stable condition, according to deputies. Dunn’s girlfriend, 57 year old Nathalie Ann Smith was arrested in connection to the incident. She’s charged with felony assault with intent to cause serious physical injury with a weapon and misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use.
Drivers in the Rochester area are being caught speeding in work zones at a staggering rate, based on data from a new New York state pilot program. The state launched a program in April that uses 30 automated monitoring devices to capture photographs of vehicles caught speeding in work zones. The cameras are stationed on highways across the state and can change locations from week to week. A device is currently stationed on State Route 104 near Portland Avenue. Notices of liability have been to issued to 32,758 drivers in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region so far. Long Island is the only region with more, at 41,709. The Buffalo region was among the lowest at 849. Fines are $50 for the first violation, $75 for the second, and $100 for further violations. The state said unpaid fines may result in a vehicle registration hold and drivers will not be able to renew their registrations without first paying their fines.
Batavia Downs has announced the lineup for their 7th annual Rockin The Downs Concert Series this coming summer. The kick off headliner is multi platinum record selling Smash Mouth on June 21st. They have a new frontman, Zach Goode after the death of Steve Hartwell earlier this year. Next up on Friday, June 28th is Barracuda – America’s Heart Tribute. Then on July 5th Canadian Rockers April Wine take the stage. July 12th is Country Music Star, Clay Walker. On July 19th, Batavia Downs welcomes Peace Frog – A Tribute to the Doors. The Bacon Brothers make their first appearance at Batavia Downs on Friday, July 26th with the Landsharks a Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band opening. On Friday, July 29th 38 Special will bring the music. A twin bill of tribute bands next as Rumours & Practically Petty will perform on Friday, August 2nd. Closing out the concert series will be a triple bill of Rock with Tommy DeCarlo, Jason Sheff and August Zadra.
