Weekend News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on March 24, 2023
A high wind watch has been issued for Orleans, Wyoming and Genesee Counties from 5 p.m. Saturday through 8 a.m. Sunday with 60-mile-per-hour gusts expected; the strongest winds will move through our region Saturday night. Travel could be difficult at times, especially for high profile vehicles. Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines; scattered power outages are possible
The Firing Pin in Bergen almost went up completely in a blaze Friday night. Crews from several departments responded to the scene on Buffalo Road around 5 p.m., and found heavy smoke coming from the building. The Bergen Fire Department says due to the high volume of smoke, it was declared a second-alarm fire. Units say everyone was able to escape safely, and the building is not a total loss, but the shooting range did suffer some significant damage. Units were forced to battle the flames from outside, after deeming it too dangerous from inside due to the possibility of ammunition burning up. Crews believe the fire started in the range, but the exact cause is unknown at this time, as the investigation continues.
The United States and Canada have agreed to close a loophole that let asylum seekers take advantage of unofficial border crossings. President Joe Biden, addressing the Canadian Parliament on Friday during a state visit, said the two countries are committed to “humane policies” to secure borders while discouraging unlawful or irregular migration that feeds exploitation and human trafficking. Northern New York was one such loophole with thousands crossing the border and claiming asylum in Quebec after going up Roxham Road near Champlain.
A 21-year-old Batavia man accused of possessing a loaded firearm on school grounds turned over a short video — under court order — to the District Attorney on Wednesday that his attorney says will exonerate him. Delonta Rashid Sharif Curry was arrested in relation to an incident reported on Feb. 22, 2022, at 31 Washington Ave., the location of St. Paul Lutheran School. At 8:30 p.m., according to Baisley, two girls went to the school grounds to fight, and there was a group of people there observing. Two people, including his client, used their phones to video record the fight. During the fight, somebody fired a weapon toward a group of people. A person in that group, wearing a mask, returned fire. The video will show, Baisley said, along with a corroborating surveillance video from the school, that Curry was clearly not the person in the crowd with a gun.
The Buffalo Sabres broke their losing streak with a win over the New Jersey Devils 5 to 4. This is the Sabres first win in 5 games. Alex Tuch scored twice and Tage Thompson got his 100th career goal. Jack Quinn and Dylan Cozens scored 1 each. This win gives Buffalo 2 points toward the wild card but they are still a long way off getting into the playoffs.
