Tuesday News Brief

42-year-old Jason Clark, a 20-year employee of St. Paul Lutheran School has pleaded guilty to one count of course of sexual conduct with a child in the second degree. According to District Attorney Kevin Finnell, Clark has admitted that he touched the chest of a female child two or more times in 2015 and 2016. As part of the plea deal, Clark agreed to surrender his teaching license and was placed on interim supervision by the Probation Department for one year. Clark started working at St. Paul Lutheran in Batavia as a teacher in 2002. He became principal in 2019. He was charged in January of this year and pursuant to his arrest, was released from his position.

 

 

A mulch fire next to the building caused a fire at Marley Funeral Home at 135 Main Street in Attica late Monday afternoon. According to Wyoming County Office of Emergency Services, quick actions by firefighters prevented the business from being totally destroyed. The attic area sustained significant fire damage, along with smoke and water damage to the habitable area of the first and second floor. No one was in the building at the time of the fire. The fire caused an estimated $125,000 in damage. Fire crews from 6 companies responded, Attica, Bennington, Cowlesville, Alexander, Town of Batavia and City of Batavia, and were at the scene for about 3.5 hours.

 

 

The worst fire season on record in Canada, according to news reports, is causing a decline in air quality throughout large parts of the United States, including Western New York. As a result, Batavia City Schools have cancelled all outdoor activities for the rest of the day, on the advice of the County Health Department. Superintendent Jason Smith added, there are no concerns with indoor air quality. The cancellation includes the annual color run at John Kennedy Intermediate School. Also, the Batavia Girls Flag Football sectional semifinal game scheduled for tonight has been postponed until 7 p.m. Wednesday at 7 p.m., at Van Detta Stadium. Tickets already purchased for the game can be used tomorrow.

 

An Air Quality Advisory is issued for today, for the entire Western and Central New York regions. It’s in effect through tonight (and is likely for tomorrow. as well). The pollutant of concern is particulate matter, due to high concentrations of soot, smoke, dust or dirt from the fires in Quebec. (Particulate matter, also known as particle pollution, is a complex mixture of small solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. Some particulate matter, like soot, smoke, dust, or dirt, is large enough to see. Fine particulate matter is so small that it can only be seen through an electron microscope.)  Background information: In Canada, more than 6.7 million acres have already burned in 2023. In Quebec, around 14,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes. More than 150 fires are still burning in the province, according to CBC News. In Nova Scotia, officials said Sunday one-wildfire covers nearly 100 square miles and at last report, was still burning out of control.

 

The Rotary Club of Batavia has awarded college scholarships of up to $6,000 to each of three local students. This year’s Rotary Scholarships were awarded to: Hannah Spencer, Genesee Valley
Educational Partnership (GVEP), LeRoy; Courtney Daniel, Notre Dame High School and Lauren Reimer, of Batavia High School. 25 applications were received for the 2023 rewards, according to Andrea Aldinger, co-chairperson of the Rotary Scholarship Committee.

 

This Thursday, June 8th, Dewey, Madison, and Orleans Avenues, along with Adams Street, will be closed to all through traffic, for pavement resurfacing. Residents are asked not to park on these streets on Thursday. All motorists that regularly drive them are asked to seek alternative routes while the closures are in place. Please contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 345-6400 (Option 1) with questions.

 

 

 

A member of the Tonawanda Police Department who was hurt in the line of duty has been released from the hospital. On May 29th, Officer David Piatek was involved in a traffic stop in the area of Sheridan-Parkside Drive and Plye Court. The driver of that vehicle, 19-year-old Darieus Akbar, allegedly sped off which caused Piatek to be dragged for several feet. Akbar was later taken into custody and is accused of attempted murder.

 

 

Buffalo police say they’ve been able to solve a homicide in the city that happened months ago. According to investigators, Ryan Crawford pulled the trigger in a shooting inside of a business on Bailey Avenue back on April 2nd. The victim, Duryll Anderson, ended up being hit in the head by a bullet. He was brought to Erie County Medical Center but couldn’t be saved.

 

 

 

 

A New York State Trooper is now on the other side of the law after being charged with manslaughter. Prosecutors say Trooper Anthony Nigro the fourth opened fire during an officer-involved shooting in Buffalo last year. The incident occurred following a high-speed chase and resulted in the death of 38-year-old James Huber. Nigro was in court yesterday to be arraigned and pleaded not guilty before being released on his own recognizance.

 

 

 

The Bills and linebacker Leonard Floyd have reached an agreement on a one-year deal to bring the versatile pass-rusher to Buffalo. The one year deal is worth up to $9 million dollars (With a base value of $7 million). Floyd spent the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Rams where he tallied nine sacks in 17 games played. Since his rookie season in 2016, Floyd has split his time with the Rams and the Chicago Bears. In the 2021-2022 season he played alongside his then and now teammate Von Miller when Los Angeles won Super Bowl LVI over the Cincinnati Bengals.

 

Their school may be shutting down in August, but it looks like members of the Medaille University bowling program are still going to be able to compete. It was confirmed to WIVB-TV yesterday the team is going to become part of Niagara University’s squad. The official announcement is going to be made today at Classic Lanes. Since 2013, the Medaille program has made the NCAA Tournament on four occasions. They’ve also won six consecutive league bowling titles.

 

 

The Buffalo Bills have revealed the name of their brand-new, more than one-billion-dollar facility in Orchard Park. A representative for the franchise says the building will be called Highmark Stadium, which of course, is the name of their current stadium – they’re just moving across the street. Among the attendees at a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday included Governor Hochul, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Bills owner Terry Pegula. The stadium will be owned by the state and is expected to open in 2026.

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

Americans may be paying more at the pump this summer. The Saudi Arabian government says it will cut oil production this summer, which will likely push gas prices higher in the U.S. The largest oil producer in OPEC will cut production by 1 million barrels a day from 10 to 9 million.

 

 

 

 

Apple is unveiling its new $3,500 Vision Pro virtual reality headset. The company made the announcement Monday at its Worldwide Developers Conference event in California. Built with five sensors, six microphones, and 12 cameras, the pair of goggles will be available in the U.S starting in early 2024.

 

 

 

The cheesiest roadside attraction has arrived in Joshua Tree, California. Cheez-It is inviting travelers to visit its unique rest stop and fuel up their car with the world’s first Cheez-It pump. It’s designed to pump bags of the cheesy snack inside the car. Travelers can also buy themed merchandise and find unique Cheez-It flavors at the connected shop.

 

 

 

A Queens, New York man is the winner of a record setting Mega Millions jackpot. The pot reached $476,000,000 (million) in April, but 71-year-old Howard Beach resident Johnnie Taylor chose to take the cash value, receiving a lump sum of more than $157,000,000 after taxes. Taylor recently retired from his job as a building handyman in Manhattan and plans to use the winnings to travel, buy a new home, and donate to his local church. The previous New York State record Mega Millions was a $437,000,000 jackpot sold in Huntington in 2019.

 

Spider-Man is swinging to the top of the box office. “Spider-Man — Across the Spider-Verse” earned $120.5 million in its first weekend in theaters across the U.S. and Canada. The latest installment in the Spidey franchise scored the second-biggest opening of this year behind only “The Super Mario Brothers Movie” which made $146,000,000 (million) in its debut weekend.

 

 

 

 

Today is Tuesday, June 6th, the 157th day of the year.

June 6 in history…

 

…In 1833, Andrew Jackson became the first U.S. president to ride in a railroad car. On June 6, 1833, Andrew Jackson took a ride on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This was the first time a United States President had ridden in a railway car. He rode from Ellicott’s Mill, MD to Baltimore (about 12 miles), and was reported pretty excited about the event.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1844, the Young Men’s Christian Association, later known as the YMCA, was founded in London. The first YMCA in America was founded in 1851.

 

 

 

…In 1850, Levi Strauss made his first pair of blue jeans.

 

 

 

 

…In 1932, the first federal gasoline tax was enacted. The tax was one-penny per gallon of gas.

 

 

 

 

…In 1933, the first drive-in theatre in the United States opened in Camden, New Jersey.

 

 

 

 

…In 1944, thousands of allied troops invaded the beaches of Normandy, France. The event, which later became known as D-Day, marked the beginning of the defeat of Nazi Germany by Allied Forces in World War Two. The invasion was a success and Germany surrendered less than a year later.

 

 

…In 1971, “The Ed Sullivan Show” aired for the last time on CBS Television. CBS announced the cancellation of the show on Tuesday, March 30, 1971. When Sullivan took to the stage the previous Sunday night, March 28th, he did not know that would be his last show, but it was. They did not allow him to do a farewell show. Unfortunately, this is typically “how it’s done” in television. Most employers that fire talent feel that another chance on the air to say goodbye also opens the door for possible threats or complaints against the station or network, so they do it this way. Sullivan was reportedly furious and very hurt by this and really never forgave CBS for not letting him hit the 25 year mark and for the shabby way they parted ways. After Ed Sullivan’s last live-to-tape show, reruns from that 23rd season ran until June 6th. The last original Sullivan show aired on March 28, 1971 with guests Melanie, Joanna Simon, Danny Davis & The Nashville Brass, and Sandler and Young. The last show to air as a rerun, on June 6, 1971, featured Gladys Knight & the Pips singing “If I Were Your Woman” & “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Jerry Vale sang “I Want To Make It With You”, Caterina Valente sang “The Girl from Ipanema” and Peter Nero played the theme from “Love Story” on his piano. Sid Caesar & Carol Channing performed a scene from the play “Four on a Garden”. For comic relief, there was Robert Klein and Pat Henry. The End. Literally.

 

…In 1978, ABC’s “20/20” debuted. The original host was Ted Koppel. He was replaced a week later by Hugh Downs.