Weekend News Brief

Batavia Police are investigating after reports of a gunshot on Vine Street Friday afternoon.  Witnesses reported to police that a person fired a shot down the driveway between two houses.  There were apparently people outside at the time of the incident, according to Det. Sgt. Matt Lutey, who managed to take cover or otherwise avoid the gunfire.  Nobody was injured in the incident.  Since no building was struck, Lutey said, there is no physical evidence at this time to confirm that shots were fired.  Lutey said police do not know at this time what type of weapon might have been involved. There is no suspect description available at this time.  There are multiple residents in the area, including small children.  The residents were discussing the incident among themselves, that it was “crazy” and that children and pets could have been hurt.

Sen. George Borrello announced that Route 63 in the town of Pavilion will be renamed the “SP4 George Harold Fry Memorial Highway.” Legislation marking the designation, sponsored by Senator Borrello and Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, has passed both houses of the Legislature and awaits Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature.  U.S. Army Specialist 4 George Harold Fry, a native of Pavilion, was killed in action on July 11, 1969, along with 20 other members of the 506th Infantry during combat on Hill 996 in the Shau Valley of Vietnam. Specialist Fry served with D Company, 1st Battalion, 506th infantry, 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. As an RTO (Radio-Telephone Operator), it was his duty to maintain radio contact between his unit, other platoons and Battalion Command. After two fellow RTO’s were killed early in the assault on July 11, Specialist Fry left the safety of cover to re-establish communication between platoons during the battle, placing himself in jeopardy.  Specialist Fry’s actions that day are credited with saving the lives of many other members of his unit.  He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star. 

Police in Rochester are looking for suspects in three shootings early Friday.  The first happened around 12:45 a.m. on Fernwood Avenue. Police said a 31-year-old man was shot in the lower body and was found lying on the sidewalk. There is no word on his condition.  Police said a 21-year-old man was shot around 1:30 a.m. on Lyell Avenue near Child Street. That victim is expected to survive.  The third shooting happened in the area of Eldorado Place near Lake Avenue. Police said the victim, a 62-year-old homeless man, walked into Rochester General Hospital around 3:30 a.m. and is in critical but stable condition. Police believe he was wounded during an attempted robbery.  No suspects are in custody in any of the cases.

The New York Farm Bureau is urging Governor Hochul to veto new legislation on seeds.  The legislature just passed the Birds and Bees Protection Act which bans seeds that have been treated with neonicotinoids, small amounts of pesticide that farmers use to avoid using spray pesticides since the plants grow up with the pesticide inside them.  The farm bureau argues that getting rid of these seeds would mean more tilling, more spraying, and a worse environmental and economic impact for farmers.  Proponents of the bill say that these kind of seeds can be eaten by birds and bees can come in contact with the pesticides.  The pesticides at the center of the debate, neonids, have been deemed some of the safest for widespread use.   Senator George Borrello also released a statement condemning the legislation and saying that neonics have been safely used with no impact on bees or birds for decades.