Thursday News Brief

A Ridgeway volunteer firefighter who collapsed and needed CPR at the scene of a fire last Thursday has made a full recovery, Medina and Ridgeway fire officials announced in a press release. As crews were finishing active firefighting operations at 515 North Academy Street in Medina on April 4, the Ridgeway firefighter suddenly collapsed in the street without warning. The firefighter, whose name is not being released, did not have a pulse and wasn’t breathing. CPR was initiated, and the firefighter was defibrillated five times over the course of the next 14 minutes while simultaneously receiving advanced airway control and multiple Advanced Cardiac Life Support medications. The firefighter was initially going to be transported directly to Buffalo General but was too unstable at that point and was taken to Medina Memorial Hospital Emergency Department. Once stabilized by team members at Medina Hospital but still critical, the firefighter was transferred by a team of Medina firefighters to Buffalo General.

 

What appeared to be a gun threat led to customers and employees being evacuated at Batavia Walmart. It was yesterday afternoon when law enforcement got a call about a person loading a shotgun in the Walmart parking lot and going into the store. Turns out, it was not a shotgun. Instead, it was a pellet gun that the person was returning to the store because it didn’t work properly. And according to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, no criminal charges were filed.

 

 

State lawmakers are expected to vote today on another budget extension. New York State Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt says it’s the second consecutive year a budget has been late. He’s blaming Governor Kathy Hochul for her lack of urgency, saying she should be driving both parties towards an agreement. Ortt says the April 1st deadline should mean something. If the extension is approved, the spending plan would be due April 16th.

 

A former student at Cornell University and Pittsford native has admitted to making online threats targeted towards Jewish people on campus. Back in October, 21-year-old Patrick Dai was arrested for calling for the deaths of Jewish individuals and claiming he was going to shoot up a kosher dining hall. Dai’s lawyer said in court yesterday that he’s been diagnosed with autism and also has mental health issues. Just how much, if any, time Dai will be in prison is up to the judge.

 

 

State Police are continuing their investigation into what caused a small plane to crash at the Clarence Aerodrome. Authorities say the aircraft went down yesterday during takeoff. It’s believed the front tire of the plane got stuck in some mud, which caused it to flip upside down before coming to rest near the runway. The 82-year-old pilot was the only person on board and was treated for minor injuries.

 

We have a follow up to tell you about regarding the resolution that is now in the Senate that calls for the release of Dansville man Ryan Corbett. The Taliban has wrongfully detained him for nearly two years. His wife says she’s thankful for the new effort on Capitol Hill to bring her husband home. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell jointly introduced a resolution Tuesday calling for Ryan’s immediate release and condemning the wrongful detention of him and other Americans by the Taliban. Ryan was imprisoned in August 2022; there have been five phone calls between him and his wife since then.

 

United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes is hosting its annual Day of Caring on May 23. Day of Caring is the largest single day of volunteering in the region. Six counties, including Genesee, Ontario, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, and Wyoming will mobilize over 6,000 volunteers who will work together to meet the needs of dozens of local agencies and non-profits. For more information, please call 585-242-6517.

 

A registered sex offender accused of exposing himself to children several times was supposed to be sentenced Wednesday, but the proceedings came to a sudden halt. In February, Paul Goodrell pleaded guilty to burglary as a sexually motivated felony, public lewdness and endangering the welfare of a child after police said he exposed himself to children at multiple stores in Ontario County late last year. District Attorney James Ritts said he’s frustrated after a transportation error delayed Goodrell’s sentencing; it’s anticipated Goodrell will be sentenced to serve seven years in prison. After his release, Ritts said he would like the parole board to consider having him involuntarily hospitalized for mental health reasons.

 

The Buffalo Bills are offering fans a unique chance to grab their clubs and do a little bit of golfing at Highmark Stadium. Upper Deck Golf is coming to the facility in Orchard Park this summer. Golfers will be able to tee off from the stadium’s 300 level and aim for greens that are located on the field. Tee times are available between July 26th and the 28th. Registration opens in June but people can try and get early access to those spots by heading to upperdeckgolfing.com.

 

The Buffalo Sabres are going to be taking to their home ice for the final time this season tonight. The Sabres will host the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars Tuesday that officially eliminated them from playoff contention. Face-off tonight is at 7:00.

 

The Rochester Amerks have won their last six games and they hope to keep that momentum going tomorrow night. They’re hosting the Belleville Senators; the puck drops at 7:05.