Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on February 7, 2022
Stay off the ice. That’s the lesson several snowmobilers had to learn this weekend in Gates. 7 people were rescued out of the Erie Canal Sunday afternoon when the ice broke up and stranded them in the middle of the water. One person’s snowmobile went under and they were able to swim to shore with a fractured arm. Gates Fire Department set up a rope rescue operation and pulled the rest of the stranded adventurers out 1 by one. Charges are pending as it is illegal to snowmobile on the canal.
Grand Island, Marilla, Wales and Hollard are all looking to leave Erie County and join Wyoming County. The town supervisor of Marilla, Earl Gingerich Jr, says the reasons they want out are varied. He says the COVID 19 mandates violate their constitutional rights. Marilla has been left out of road repairs and infrastructure improvements. And that Erie county wastes money. Gingerich the values of the towns that are seeking separation are more closely aligned with Wyoming County. At this stage nothing is happening but they plan to do a study and then put a petition before town residents.
The water main repair that was scheduled for last Thursday has been rescheduled for today on Oak Street from Union Street to the city line. Oak and Noonan will be effected with the water possibly needing to be shut off for an unknown amount of time. Traffic will also be impacted in the area of Oak Street and Noonan Drive in the form of lane closures or lane shifts while the repairs are being made.
The 8th Annual Sno Packers Bikini Rally raised over 19 thousand dollars for the Pink Fund breast cancer financial assistance program Saturday. Snowmobile riders both men and women, braved low temperatures in skimpy bikinis for the cause in Oakfield. About 450 people attended the rally.
The Buffalo Museum of Science has a new exhibit that will be on display for the next 6 months that will chill you. Dinosaurs of the Antarctic have taken up residence at the museum. At the exhibit you can see and handle real fossils, see life size replicas of the dinosaurs, and learn about how paleontologists traveled to the southern pole to gather the artifacts on display. Two new dinosaur specimens that are awaiting scientific naming will also be on display as part of the experience. Antarctic Dinosaurs comes from the Field Museum in Chicago. This first weekend of the exhibit sold out quickly.
