Morning News Briefing
Written by Michael Baldwin on May 31, 2021
New York State’s 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate dropped over the weekend to 0.73%. That’s the lowest since the pandemic began. 1,142 patients remained hospitalized.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested 30-year-old Marc C.J. Cook Sr. of Church Street in Alabama. He was charged with third-degree bail jumping. Cook was arraigned virtually and remanded to jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond. He is due back in city court on June 15.
A State Supreme Court, Appellant Division has ruled against a claim filed by the Batavia Fire Chief. Stephano Napolitano had challenged the City of Batavia and the Workers’ Compensation Board. The Chief filed a claim for benefits in April 2019 seeking to recover for an injury sustained as the result of a work-related slip and fall that occurred in December 2018. Upon administrative review, the Workers’ Compensation Board disallowed his claim, finding that he failed to give timely notice of his injury. In a four-page ruling, the court said it found the arguments from the chief lacked merit.
A Corfu man was ticketed after an ATV crash in the Town of Bennington. 29-year-old Brandon D. Forsyth was charged by Troopers with driving while intoxicated and failure to stop at stop sign. Forsyth was issued traffic tickets returnable to Town of Bennington Court in June.
After investigating a domestic dispute, sheriff’s deputies arrested 39-year-old Matthew Zon of Byron. He was charged with felony first-degree criminal contempt and criminal obstruction of breathing. He was arraigned and sent to jail in lieu of bail.
After waiting more than a year for substantial rent relief, struggling New Yorkers can soon apply for funds from the state’s $2.7 billion Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program will begin accepting applications starting tomorrow. The state Office of Temporary Disability and Assistance (OTDA) will open the application portal at 9 a.m.
Spots are still open for Environmental Science Camp at the Genesee County Park & Forest! This hands-on outdoor camp is for students entering seventh – 10th grades. Maximum 15 campers, registration deadline to register is Monday, June 28th. Camp meets Monday through Friday, July 12th – 16th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Interpretive Nature Center at the Genesee County Park & Forest.
As people across the United States observe Memorial Day, a Western New Yorker killed in action is being honored on the national stage. From WIVB…during the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s Kurt Busch drove with Marine Corporal Jason Dunham’s name on his windshield. Dunham, an Allegany County native, threw himself on a grenade while serving in Iraq in 2004. He died eight days later. Marine Cpl. Dunham’s actions saved the lives of his fellow marines. He posthumously received the medal of honor. Dunham, who was from Scio, was just 22-years-old when he died.
New York State Park Police were able to successfully rescue a dog at Letchworth State Park Sunday. In a Facebook post, they say a 3-year-old black lab fell nearly 200 feet into the gorge at around 5 p.m. The Genesee High Angle Rope Rescue team was able to find the dog and pull him from the gorge. The dog suffered a broken rear leg, but is otherwise healthy.
Court action is pending for an Alexander man who allegedly sent threatening text messages that caused another person to be in fear. Deputies charged 40-year-old Ernest Heineman of Old Creek Road with aggravated harassment. He’s due in county court July 13th.
