Morning News Briefing
Written by Michael Baldwin on November 11, 2020
An investigation is underway into a barn fire on East Road in Batavia. Flames Tuesday afternoon brought the building down while firefighters worked to protect a nearby home. At least one firefighter suffered from smoke inhalation. Multiple departments responded to the scene. A nearby propane tank was also monitored. Fire crews remained at the scene well into the evening.
A Batavia High School staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. The employee was not in school with any symptoms and was considered asymptomatic prior to getting tested. As a result of contact tracing, one additional staff member and five students were deemed as “close contact” and will quarantine for 14 days. Any student and staff member that was identified as a “close contact” has already been contacted by the Batavia High School administration. The Genesee County Health Department will also follow up with identified students and staff. Batavia High School will remain open for in-person hybrid learning model.
The Genesee County Health Department reports seven new COVID cases. Since Friday, there have been 43 new cases. Those newly infected live in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Bethany, Darien, Elba, Le Roy, Oakfield, Pavilion, and Stafford. Two of the positive individuals are hospitalized. Orleans County reports 13 news cases and Wyoming County reports 12 additional cases.
It’s Veterans Day and ceremonies and services are scheduled across the area. There will be a 10 a.m. event at the VA Hospital in Batavia while the New York State Vets home will hold a service at 10:15. At 11:30, there will be a ceremony at the Jerome Center monument. Organizations participating include the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Genesee County, Genesee County American Legions Disabled American Veterans – Chapter #166 Marine Corps League – Hansen Brothers Detachment.
Jamie A. Dutton has been indicted for attempted murder. It is alleged that on Aug. 25 Dutton attempted to stab a person while outside the city water filtration plant at 480 Lehigh Avenue. He was also indicted for first-degree assault for allegedly causing serious physical injury to a person by means of a dangerous instrument.
Governor Andrew Cuomo is once again disputing the rumors that he’s interested in being President-Elect Joe Biden’s Attorney General. Cuomo, who previously rejected the idea after an Axios report last month, publicly rejected interest on the Howard Stern Show. Cuomo served as Attorney General in New York from 2007-10 and was the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton.
The Genesee County Health Department has received a positive COVID-19 test from an individual who attended Trivia Night at T.F. Brown’s Restaurant on Tuesday, Nov. 3, between 6 and 9 p.m. Contact tracing is in progress; however unidentified individuals may have unknowingly been in contact with the positive case. Officials say anyone who attended the Trivia Night on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd should monitor their symptoms until Nov. 17th. If symptoms of COVID-19 develop, contact your primary care provider to seek testing immediately and self-isolate until you receive your test results.
A fire broke out Tuesday afternoon at a trailer on Telephone Road in Pavilion. A propane tank was also near the trailer. It started after a pile of leaves was ignited. Pavilion and Le Roy fire departments were first to respond. Additional firefighters were called in from Bethany, Stafford, Caledonia and York. The American Red Cross was called for the displacement of at least three residents.
