Thursday News Brief

On 11/7/2023, Jennifer M Shaffer (age 41) of Batavia, was arrested for Aggravated Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs (Leandra’s Law). The arrest is the result of an investigation into a traffic stop on 10/10/2023, where it’s alleged that Shaffer was operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs, with a child in the car. She was issued several traffic tickets and is due in court on 11/29/2023.

 

 

 

 

 

On 11/1/2023, Nicole M Trapp (age 21) of Buffalo was arrested for Grand Larceny 4th. Trapp was arrested as part of an investigation into an assault that took place on 5/30/2022, on Law St. It’s alleged that she stole property from another person, during the incident. She was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under the supervision of Genesee Justice. She is due back in court on 11/21/2023.

 

 

 

On 11/7/2023, Kathleen M Zemke (age 58) of Perry, was arrested for DWI. Zemke was arrested after officers responded to a complaint from Zemke’s employer that she had shown up to work intoxicated. She was issued several traffic tickets and is due in court on 11/29/2023.

On 11/6/2023, Phillip P Heale (age 45) of Batavia, was arrested for Harassment 2nd. It’s alleged that Heale struck another person in the face, during an altercation on East Main St. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in court on 11/21/2023.

On 10/18/2023, Dean D Root (age 42) of Batavia, was arrested for Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol. Root was arrested during a traffic stop on East Main St where he was allegedly found to be operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol. He was issued traffic tickets and was additionally charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th. He is due in court on 11/8/2023.

On 11/3/2023, Aaron R Hatfield (age 39) of Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant. Hatfield was initially arrested on 8/14/2023, for Petit Larceny and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th, after allegedly stealing merchandise from Tops. He was issued an appearance ticket, but failed to appear in court. A warrant was issued on 9/26/2023. He was arrested on the warrant on 10/6/2023. He was arraigned in CAP Court and released. He again failed to appear in court and another warrant was issued on 10/19/2023. He was arrested on 11/3 and arraigned in CAP Court. He was released and is due back in court at a later date.

On 11/2/2023, Caitlyn A Heidenreich (age 26) of Batavia, was arrested for DWI. Heidenreich was arrested after officers responded to a motor vehicle accident on Harvester Ave, shortly after 7:30pm on 11/2. It’s alleged that Heidenreich was operating a vehicle, while intoxicated, and crashed into a parked car. She was issued several traffic tickets and released. She is due back in court on 11/14/2023.

On 10/28/2023, Zachary D Kaczor (age 29) of Buffalo, was arrested for Aggravated DWI. Kaczor was arrested following a traffic stop on Ellicott St, where he was allegedly found to be operating a vehicle, while intoxicated. He was issued traffic tickets and is due in court on 11/15/2023.

On 10/30/2023, Patricia M Anderson (age 38) of Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant. Anderson was initially arrested on 4/9/2023, for Petit Larceny, after allegedly stealing merchandise from Seven-Eleven. She was issued an appearance ticket, but allegedly failed to appear. A warrant was issued on 5/16/2023. She was arrested on the warrant on 8/9/2023. She was arraigned and released. She again failed to appear and another warrant was issued on 10/10/2023. Anderson was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail on $2,500 cash bail, $5,000 bond, and $10,000 partially secured bond. She is due back in court on 11/15/2023.

IN OTHER NEWS TODAY…

Kamela Lockhart, the teenager from Batavia who had been missing since November 6th, has been located in Rochester and is safe. The Batavia Police thank the Rochester Police Department and the public for their assistance.

 

 

 

 

 

According to frustrated employees, the Tesla Gigafactory in the south of Buffalo is infested with bedbugs. One Tesla employee shared a video on X – which is also owned by Tesla owner Elon Musk – of a bedbug she says was crawling on the floor near her workspace. Workers say the outbreak began last Thursday. An OSHA spokesperson shared that the agency has actually received dozens of calls regarding bedbugs inside the South Buffalo factory. OSHA says that it’s investigating all of this but doesn’t have any specific workplace standards for bedbugs. Tesla says they sprayed for the bedbugs but the complaints continue along with new complaints of chemical exposures.

 

 

The Niagara County Health Department says a child is being treated after testing positive for lead poisoning. The child ate a pouch of cinnamon applesauce that’s part of a nationwide recall due to concerns it could contain lead. Lead poisoning has been known to trigger serious medical problems like brain damage that can lead to behavioral and developmental issues. Anyone with concerns can call 716-439-7430.

 

New information has been released about a sexual assault at a high school in Wayne County. Officials say four people who were involved in the incident are members of the Clyde-Savannah High School varsity football team. The victim was assaulted in a locker room last month and video of what happened was shared on social media. Two of the defendants were in court yesterday and the other two will face a judge today.

 

PepsiCo Incorporated is now facing a lawsuit that’s been filed by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. The lawsuit claims single-use plastic packaging that is produced by the company is causing environmental problems along the Buffalo River. As a result, pollution is leading to the contamination of drinking water and putting the safety of wildlife at risk. James wants the company to pay restitution for the damage caused and to end its environmentally unsafe practices.

 

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested after police say he allegedly crashed a stolen Kia in Rochester. According to authorities, the teen was trapped inside the vehicle when crews got to the scene on Tremont Street yesterday. The boy was taken to a hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He was later charged, and the teen’s name is not being released due to his age.

 

 

Roswell Park is offering men the opportunity to get themselves screened for prostate cancer later today. An event is taking place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo from 3:00pm to 7:00pm. Data shows one in eight men will have to battle prostate cancer at some point in their lives. To sign up for an appointment, head to roswellpark.org/onegoal.

 

 

One of the best players on the Buffalo Sabres is going to be missing some games after suffering an upper-body injury. Head coach Don Granato said yesterday Tage Thompson is week-to-week after getting hurt while blocking a shot in his team’s loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. So far this season, Thompson has 12 points in the 16 games he’s played. Buffalo will be back on the ice tomorrow to take on the Winnipeg Jets.

 

 

Thanksgiving is just a week away, and a new report shows the cost of a holiday meal will be higher for New Yorkers this year. According to the New York Farm Bureau, the average total price of a 16-pound turkey and other common food items will be $70.70. That’s a roughly six percent jump from last year. Data also revealed that the Northeast was the highest region in the country for food prices.

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is coming up next week, and organizers say it is going to feature six new floats. They include a Willie Wonka-inspired chocolate float and also a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed creation. A new Snoopy float will also debut that’ll show Woodstock and friends looking out for wild turkeys.

 

 

A new poll is suggesting that over half of all American voters want other candidates to join the 2024 presidential race. Over a dozen candidates have joined the race to the White House, but a new Quinnipiac poll says 52% of voters would like more options, including 72-percent of independents and 58-percent of Democrats.

 

The former Minneapolis police officer that killed George Floyd is trying to get his conviction overturned. Derek Chauvin filed a motion earlier this week claiming he never would have pleaded guilty if he knew about the theories of a forensic pathologist from Kansas. That pathologist does not believe Chauvin killed Floyd in 2020.

 

 

The U.S. Postal Service is down $6.5 billion this year. The service had hoped for a financial turnaround and predicted it would actually break even in the fiscal year ending September 30th. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy blamed it on inflation upping operations costs and skyrocketing printing prices.

 

 

Today is Thursday, November 16th, the 320th day of the year.

November 16 in history…

…In 1966, Dr. Sam Sheppard was acquitted in his second trial of charges he murdered his pregnant wife. His story was the subject of the television show and the film “The Fugitive.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1974, “Whatever Gets You Through The Night” lands John Lennon a number one spot on the U.S. singles chart.

 

 

 

 

…In 1982, a 57-day-old NFL strike came to an end after an agreement was reached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1988 Former Beach Boys manager Stephen Love was sentenced to five years in probation for stealing almost one million dollars from the group’s account.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1999, 13-year-old Nathaniel Abraham, the youngest murder defendant in U.S. history, was convicted of second-degree murder in Michigan for shooting a man with a rifle when he was eleven.

 

 

…In 2014 U2 singer Bono was involved in a bicycle accident in New York. He had to undergo five-hours of surgery.

 

 

 

 

…In 2020, Moderna releases its early data on its COVID-19 vaccine, saying the shot is nearly 95% effective.