Morning News Brief
Written by Michael Baldwin on March 3, 2021
The Genesee County Economic Development Center board of directors will consider approving incentives for a $9.2 million project at its board meeting on Thursday. LandPro Equipment LLC is proposing to acquire and develop a 14-acre parcel to build a 50,000 square-foot facility for a full-service John Deere Agriculture and Turf Dealership. The facility would primarily be used for operations and training, with a portion of the facility used for retail. The project proposes to create 5 new jobs and retain approximately 60 jobs in Genesee County. The Development board also will consider initial applications for three community solar projects. Forefront Power LLC (Elba Solar) is proposing to invest $9.7 million in a community solar project on Norton Road in the town of Elba. Solar Liberty is proposing to invest $7.7 million in two community solar projects on Tesnow Road in the town of Pembroke.
State Police have leveled a felony charge against an Elba man. Troopers say they arrested 38-year-old Robert S. Douglas. He was charged with grand larceny involving property valued at more than $1,000. Police said the charge stems from a larceny from a building in the Town of Batavia. Douglas was initially detained.
Batavia Police filed multiple counts against two Rochester men following a traffic stop on Otis Street in which one man fled the scene on foot. Police charged 21-year-old Dejon Smith with felony counts of burglary, criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, tampering with physical evidence and resisting arrest. Police also arrested 27-year-old Germayne Session, charging him with driving with a suspended registration and unlicensed operation. Suspected crack cocaine and marijuana was recovered at the scene of the traffic stop and additional crack cocaine was located inside of a storage shed on Ellicott Street.
Genesee County reports 15 new positive cases of COVID-19. Twenty-six of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list. Three of the current positive individuals are hospitalized. Three of the new positive individuals are inmates at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center. Orleans County reports just four new cases with no hospitalizations. In Wyoming County, health officials report seven new cases.
A Grand Jury has indicted Jennifer D. Abrams and Tarus O. Fluitt for third-degree burglary, a Class D felony. It is alleged that on Sept. 16 in the Town of Le Roy, the pair unlawfully entered the Kwik Fill on West Main Street Road intending to commit a crime. They are also accused of felony third-degree criminal mischief for allegedly damaging the front glass door of the Kwik Fill. In count three, Abrams and Fluitt are accused of fifth-degree conspiracy.
Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt and his legislative colleagues in the Senate and Assembly will hold a news conference in Albany this morning to call for increased state funding for local roads, bridges, and culverts in the final New York State budget. The news conference coincides with the “Local Roads Are Essential” advocacy campaign getting underway this week and sponsored by the New York State Association of County Highway Superintendents and the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways, Inc. Numerous studies over the past decade have highlighted the decline of New York’s locally maintained transportation infrastructure and its impact on economic development, local property taxes, and motorist safety.
Roy A. Newton has been indicted for felony driving while intoxicated and having a blood alcohol content above .08%, also as a felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 30 in the Village of Le Roy Newton drove on Main Street while intoxicated.
