Morning News Briefing
Written by Michael Baldwin on October 2, 2020
A Batavia man faces an attempted murder charge stemming from a stabbing episode last month on Lehigh Avenue. 28-year-old Jamie Dutton is also charged with felony first-degree assault and felony criminal possession of a weapon. Police say the victim sustained a life-threatening injury to his chest. The alleged crime happened outside the water plant on Lehigh Avenue. The Batavia resident is currently being held in the Orleans County Jail on unrelated charges. His bail on the current charges is $100,000 cash bail.
Two more cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Genesee County. The new infections involve people who live in Batavia and Elba. The individuals are in their 40s and 50s. Health officials say four new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
The Genesee County Health Department will host a free drive thru anti-rabies immunization clinic Oct. 15. Last month, Orleans County had two exposures from feral cats that tested positive for rabies and resulted in unnecessary and costly post exposure treatments. It is an important reminder that all dogs, cats and ferrets are to be updated on their rabies vaccines. The Genesee County clinic will be on Thursday, Oct. 15th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 E. Main Street Road, Batavia). The Genesee clinic will only be for Genesee County residents.
The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Monday and Tuesday from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the areas north of Main Street and west of Bank Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, all you need to do is run cold water for about five minutes or until clear.
A Western New York school is among the recipients of a nationwide grant from the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge has awarded $3,500 to Oak Orchard Elementary School in Medina for a socially distant fitness trail. Awarded to schools across the country, the grants continue the American Heart Association’s commitment to help educators make whole-body wellness a priority. Grant recipients are now able to implement a variety of wellness activities with additions such as physical activity equipment, CPR training resources, water bottle filling stations and educator training opportunities on their campuses. Julie Webber, Principal at Oak Orchard Elementary, says their hope is to install a fitness trail that can be used by the students during the day and also the community after school hours.
Tomorrow (10/3) there will be a fun motorcycle ride for a good local cause — raising money for Genesee Cancer Assistance and supporting breast cancer victims. Called “Save the Headlights,” it will be hosted at Stan’s Harley Davidson in Batavia and the run is hosted by Genesee County NY ABATE, or “American Bikers Aimed Toward Education.” Registration is from 10 to 11:45 a.m. and kickstands go up at noon. Cost is $20 per rider and $10 per passenger. According to The Batavian, there will be 50/50 raffles, basket raffles, door prizes and special item raffles, plus food trucks and more. Stan’s is located at 4425 W. Saile Drive, Batavia.
New York is introducing a new tool in the fight against COVID-19, and it can be downloaded directly to your phone. State leaders announced the creation of the COVID Alert NY app. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the app will be able to tell a person whether they have been within close contact for an extended period of time with someone who is COVID-positive. The app is free and available on Apple and Android devices.
With cold weather just around the corner, customers will be firing up furnaces and other appliances for the first time this season. NYSEG and RG&E urge the public to recognize the potential signs of a natural gas leak and review safety about what do if a leak is suspected. It’s important that customers know the warning signs to protect themselves, their families, homes and businesses. Knowing how to detect and respond to natural gas leaks can help protect both individuals and property. A natural gas leak is usually recognized by smell, sight, or sound.
