Morning News Briefing
Written by WBTA STAFF on April 10, 2018
The City has been directed to increase their oversight of BID.
City Council has been mandated to assume a greater control of the Batavia Improvement District’s finances following an audit by a New York State Comptroller into the relationship between the BID and the City.
Interim Manager Matt Worth said the audit addresses several procedural issues, particularly in the areas of budget oversight and retention of the BID’s funds.
Council President Eugene Jankowski said the state is now supporting what Council members have previously pushed for which is more City oversight of the BID.
Contentions arose towards the end of 2016 between the City and the BID over the size of the agencies budget and how it was being disclosed publically.
Worth said that more specific ground rules such as how the funds should be monitored more carefully and who will take possession of the funds will be established in a formal contract between the city and the BID.
Possible Life in Prison for a Greece couple accused of producing child porn.
Following a complaint earlier this year, Bonnie Hughes and John Kohlmeier, Jr. both of Greece, were arrested for allegedly engaging in sexual conduct with the a 10 year old female victim.
It was alleged that Kohlmeier was having sexually explicit cellphone conversations with the 10 year old and that at his request, Hughes had allegedly taken two sexually explicit photographs of the minor victim.
The couple was arrested and charged with production, receipt, and possession of child pornography, along with coercing and enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
Both Hughes and Kohlmeier are currently being held in state custody and are facing a possible 15 years to life in prison if found guilty on the charges.
An Altercation in Aldi’s parking lot in Clarence leads to charges for an Amherst man.
Troopers responded to a report of a fight in the Aldi’s parking lot in Clarence on Saturday.
A verbal altercation arose between defendant Raed Saleh and a couple who were walking in front of the store when Saleh allegedly approached in a vehicle and drove to close to the pedestrian.
Saleh then allegedly bumped the pedestrian with his vehicle and as the altercation came to a head he was accused of exiting his vehicle and striking the pedestrian with a baseball bat.
Saleh was arrested and charged with a felony count of Assault, Criminal Mischief, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Criminal Possession of a Weapon.
He was released with a return court date to Clarence Town Court.
Governor Cuomo is warning medical centers throughout the state about a serious concern with synthetic marijuana going around.
Some states are reporting synthetic marijuana users having severe and life-threatening bleeding.
The drug is usually sold in colorful packets with names like K2, Spice and AK-47.
They think it could be cut with rat poison.
Health care professionals are urged to watch for unexplained bleeding, especially if they suspect the use of synthetic marijuana.
