Wednesday News Brief

30-year-old Leonard Johnson of Batavia has been arrested following a six-month investigation into the possession, transportation, and sale of crack cocaine in and around the City of Batavia. He was subsequently charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a controlled substance; both are Class B felonies in New York State. It’s alleged that Johnson sold a quantity of crack cocaine to an agent of the Genesee County Drug Task Force while in Batavia, on two separate occasions. Genesee County Sheriff Deputies took Johnson into custody; he was arraigned in Genesee County Court and released.

 

The Genesee County Health Department is offering a free rabies vaccination clinic tomorrow afternoon from 4:00pm until 6:00pm at the Genesee County Fairgrounds. Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets. Animals must be at least 3 months old, be leashed or crated, and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. There is a limit of four pets per car, please. If you’d like more information, please call 344-2580, extension x5555.

 

And then there was one more…The Shelby Town Board has voted to join an Orleans County lawsuit that seeks to stop construction of a sewer main along Route 63 from the STAMP manufacturing site in Alabama to the Oak Orchard Creek in Shelby. If the main is completed, it’s estimated STAMP would send up to 6 million gallons daily at full capacity.

 

Nurses at Rochester General Hospital will vote today on whether to strike for a second time this year. Members of the Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals have been negotiating a contract with the hospital, and launched a two-day strike back in August, asking for better pay and improved staffing. The nurses claim the shortages make the hospital unsafe for patients, who are being deprived of proper medical care as a result. Hospital administrators say they’ve worked to address those concerns.

 

A showcase for cannabis growers may soon be coming to Buffalo. According to the city’s Department of Permit and Inspection Services, a local organization called Step Out Buffalo has requested approval to host a showcase from November 24th through the 26th. The city has approved the event and organizers now await approval from the state’s Office of Cannabis Management. While a location has not been announced, the showcase would be the first one within Buffalo city limits.

 

The judge is expected to charge the jury today to make their decision in the murder trial of Kelvin Vickers — the 22-year-old who faces nearly two dozen charges in the shooting and killing of Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz last year. Closing arguments were made yesterday. So far, the jury has heard from over 80 witnesses and seen roughly 1000 pieces of evidence. Vickers faces decades in prison if convicted.

 

There are new food offerings for Sabres season at the KeyBank Center. Unveiled yesterday were two-foot-long loaded nachos, as well as a prime rib sandwich topped with horseradish. There is also the “Hat Trick Footlong,” a hot dog topped with homemade Coney sauce, nacho cheese, and jalapeno peppers. There will also be a specialty hot dog that rotates each game with a theme based on the opposing team.

 

As the Sabres head into their home opener against the New York Rangers tomorrow at KeyBank Centre, they’ll have their new team dog to help cheer them on. Blue is the name of the 14-week-old Saint Bernard Mastiff mix who will accompany the team this season. She will be training to become a service dog for a local veteran — just like her predecessors, Rick and Nikki.

ELSEWHERE…

 

The 104-year-old Chicago woman who recently set a world record for the oldest person to skydive has died. Dorothy Hoffner passed away in her sleep on Monday. She set the record last week after landing on the ground at Skydive Chicago Airport. Hoffner topped the previous record held by a 103-year-old Swedish woman who jumped last year. Hoffner made her first skydive at 100 years old.

 

 

 

Some San Leandro students are recovering after eating candy-like sleep-aid gummies at school. Alameda County Fire officials say crews were called to John Muir Middle School Monday afternoon after nurses on campus reported at least one student acting strange. It was determined that a student had brought the sleep-aid gummies to school and handed them out to about six of their friends. No one was hospitalized but several students who ingested the gummies were sent home for the rest of the day.

 

Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton is fighting for her life in the ICU. That’s according to her daughter, who said on her Instagram story that her gold medalist mother is battling pneumonia. She also shared a SpotFund page she started for Retton’s medical costs. The 55-year-old made history as the first American woman to win the gold in the 1984 Olympics.

 

 

 

With no winners Monday night, the next Powerball drawing is for the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. Winning numbers this Wednesday would bring in a prize of $1.73 billion, or a lump cash payment of $756 million. The last jackpot, just over a billion dollars, was won back on July 19th. Please play responsibly.

Today is Wednesday, October 11th, the 284th day of the year.

October 11 in history…

 

…In 1890, the Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in Washington, D.C..

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1960, “The Bugs Bunny Show,” debuted on ABC.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1975, the phrase “Live From New York, It’s Saturday Night Live” ushered in the debut episode of “Saturday Night Live” on NBC. George Carlin hosted the premiere episode.

 

 

 

 

…In 1992, the first three-way presidential debate was held between Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, and Ross Perot.