Wednesday News Brief

A threat came into the 9-1-1 Center yesterday saying there was a bomb on a Batavia school bus. The Batavia Police and State troopers immediately responded and located the bus on State Street, after completion of the afternoon student drop-offs. Law enforcement found no evidence of a credible threat. It was later discovered from investigation that the call came from the home of a John Kennedy Intermediate School student. The student confessed the call was a prank and there was no threat to anyone’s safety. The case was turned over to the Batavia Police Department’s Juvenile Detective. Superintendent Jason Smith indicated the district would follow their Code of Conduct with respect to the incident, as well.

 

28-year-old Zachary Feeterman of Tonawanda has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography; as an individual with a prior sex offense conviction, there is a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison (maximum of 20) and a $250,000 fine. Feeterman’s first conviction followed an investigation into his attempted possession of a sexual performance by a child less than 16 years of age. In 2019, Probation Officers conducted a home inspection at Feeterman’s residence and found an unauthorized cell phone in his possession. Forensic analysis recovered approximately 375 images of child pornography on the cell phone and 4670 images and videos in a cloud storage account. Sentencing is scheduled for November.

 

 

A Medina man was killed in a motor vehicle accident in Barre. 56-year-old Timothy Sands of Medina was a passenger in a minivan driven by Todd Sands. The vehicle was traveling eastbound on 31A when it went off the south shoulder of the road then over-compensated back across both lanes of traffic and off the road, hitting a tree. Both were ejected from the vehicle. Todd Sands was transported by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital and Timothy Sands was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation and at last report, alcohol was being considered as a contributing factor.

 

Governor Kathy Hochul is declaring a state of emergency as the state prepares for an influx of asylum seekers. It comes just ahead of the expiration of Title 42, which allowed the federal government to stop people from entering the U.S to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. Hochul says her executive order will expand municipal capabilities and increase the capacity of the National Guard to provide logistical support.

 

 

The regional economy will be getting a big boost thanks to the Coca Cola Company. The beverage giant has announced plans to build a brand-new facility in Webster that’ll manufacture Fairlife’s lactose-free products. The facility is expected to be roughly 745,000 square feet and is going to be located on Tebor Road. It’s also going to create 250 new jobs for the region. Construction is set to begin this fall and be completed in 2025.

 

Multiple people have been injured following a police chase that ended with a crash in Ontario County. A sheriff’s deputy spotted a vehicle driving recklessly on Route 96 in Farmington yesterday, but the driver refused to pull over. That started a pursuit that ended in Victor when the vehicle collided with an SUV. The suspect, 34-year-old Kevin Cole, suffered life-threatening injuries, while the people in the SUV suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

 

 

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee has revealed the results of the recent “No Empty Chair” education and enforcement campaign. From April 24th through the 28th, police increased their patrols near schools in an effort to help keep students safe. During this year’s crackdown, there were nearly 38,000 tickets handed out for violations such as distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving. The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness of the dangers driving can pose so there aren’t any empty chairs during prom and graduation season.

 

 

Members of the May 14th Memorial Commission are asking for feedback from the public about a memorial that’ll be set up to remember the 10 people killed in a mass shooting at a supermarket. The 11-member panel is going to be responsible for helping design the memorial, and a meeting is now set for June 13th at the Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo. Last May 14th, Payton Gendron murdered 10 victims and injured three others in a racially motivated attack at the Tops location on Jefferson Avenue. He’s already been sentenced to life in prison.

 

 

Organizers of the Buffalo SkyRide have announced the date when this year’s event is going to take place. It will happen on Sunday, July 16th and participants will once again have the opportunity to ride their bikes over the Buffalo Skyway. Among the additions to the event this year are a bicycle race for competitive cyclists. For more details, visit https://gobikebuffalo.org/SkyRide/

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

The cast of “Taxi” is just as close as ever, 40 years after the show has come to an end. Christopher Lloyd posted a picture of himself, Carole Kane, Tony Danza and Judd Hirsch having lunch together. The foursome, who all starred on the hit show “Taxi” together, were all smiles as they posed for the photo. “What the hell is going on here?” Lloyd captioned the photo. “Taxi” aired on ABC from 1978 to 1982 and was then adopted by NBC for one season, from 1982 to 1983. The show also starred Jeff Conaway, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Andy Kaufman and John Burns. Pictured: Carole Kane, Judd Hirsch, Tony Danza and Christopher Lloyd. (Photo: Christopher Lloyd’s Twitter account)

 

 

Two Oklahoma police officers have a funny story to tell after responding to report about somebody heard yelling for help. Body cam video from the officers shows them arriving on the scene in a rural area in Enid, and soon discovering that the sound was actually a very upset goat. The owner explained the goat was mad about being separated from another goat.

 

 

A hound dog named Buddy Holly is this year’s winner of Best In Show at Westminster. The 147th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was held Monday and Tuesday in New York, and featured over 3000 dogs and over 200 breeds competing for the top prize. Buddy is the first Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen to snag the award.

 

 

Actor Robert DeNiro is a new dad for the seventh time. The 79-year-old has not revealed the mother of the child, but his girlfriend Tiffany Chen was showing off a baby bump last month. DeNiro’s eldest child is 51-years old. After 20 years of marriage, DeNiro and his now-ex wife Grace Hightower divorced in 2018.

 

 

Philip Morris is ordered to pay $37,000,000 (million) to a Massachusetts woman who developed brain cancer from smoking Marlboro Lights. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled Tuesday that Philip Morris falsely claimed the lights brand was safer than the stronger Marlboro Red cigarettes.

 

 

MTV News is shutting down after nearly 40 years. The shutdown is part of layoffs at Paramount that will be hitting a quarter of all employees across several television companies that are merging together. Employees for MTV, Showtime and Paramount will be affected.

 

May 10 in history…

 

In 1797, the United States Navy launched its first vessel, the SS United States.

 

 

 

 

In 1983, “Laverne and Shirley” aired for the final time on ABC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2004, new evidence discovered during the production of a documentary prompted federal prosecutors to reopen the investigation into the 1955 murder of Emmett Till. The black teenager from Chicago was beaten and killed in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a white woman. Two men were arrested and tried for Till’s murder, but were acquitted by an all-white jury. Investigators said they uncovered new evidence that suggested others may have been involved in Till’s murder.

 

 

In 2005, a hand grenade was thrown at President George W. Bush while giving a speech in Tbilisi, Georgia. It lands 65 feet from the president and does not detonate.

 

 

 

 

In 2009, entertainment icon Joan Rivers was named “The Celebrity Apprentice” on the second season finale of the NBC reality competition, hosted by Donald Trump.

 

 

 

 

In 2021, the FDA authorizes the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids age 12-to-15, furthering the vaccination effort against the virus.