Morning News Briefing
Written by WBTA STAFF on December 31, 2018
Body of missing elderly man found near his home in Barre.
An alert for a missing vulnerable adult out of Orleans County has ended with the grim discovery.
State Police called off the alert yesterday morning at around 10:30 a.m. after report that the body of 71 year old Robert Arnett was found.
Arnett apparently fell into a nearby pond after walking out of his home in Barre Friday night.
The search for Arnett drew out around 150 people yesterday morning including multiple local and state law enforcement agencies.
Arnett suffered from Alzheimer’s and investigators are not suspecting any foul play.
Report of an erratic electric scooter driver in a department store leads to arrest for a Batavia man.
Deputies apprehended 29 year old Adam Thomas of South Main Street Batavia following a complaint from a department store in Batavia of an intoxicated male operating an electric scooter and causing a disturbance Friday morning.
Thomas was accused of being under the influence of a narcotic drug and was allegedly found in possession of a powdery substance later identified as fentanyl.
Thomas was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and making a Public Appearance Under the Influence of a Narcotic Drug.
He was released with appearance tickets for Batavia City Court at a later date.
An Oakfield man jailed following a domestic incident.
27 year old Matthew Pape of Lockport Road in Oakfield was arrested and charged with first degree Criminal Contempt following investigation into a domestic incident reported early Saturday morning.
Pape was accused of striking another individual in the head with a door causing injury while violating an order of protection.
He was remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail and is due back in Oakfield Town Court on January 4th.
The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Watch for much of the region including Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans Counties.
The Wind Watch goes into effect this evening and is expected to last through Tuesday morning.
Forecasters are calling for southwest winds from 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 60 to 65 mph.
They say residents should be aware of possible downed trees and power lines and to be alert for potential localized power outages.
Minimum wage rising today in New York State
Minimum wage workers in New York will see their paychecks increase beginning today.
The minimum wage upstate will now be eleven dollars and ten cents an hour.
Governor Cuomo says there will be a wage theft hotline for workers to call if they feel their employer is not complying.
Many restaurants and business owners say they’re against the increase because it hurts their bottom line.
Bills squish the fish in the season finale.
Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more as the Bills trampled the Dolphins 42 -17 at home.
It was the final game for defensive tackle Kyle Williams, who announced he is retiring after a 13 year career with Buffalo.
The Bills wind up with a 6 and 10 record.
