Weekend News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on July 1, 2023
The sale is final. Wbta has now passed from longtime owner Dan Fischer to Batavia native Jim Ernst. The company Ernst created to buy the radio station, MajicTones LLC, announced its purchase of the station for 425 thousand dollars several months ago and has been waiting on the FCC to approve the sale. 54 year old Ernst has worked as a Sales Representative for WBTA for 9 years before approaching Fischer about buying the station. Dan will be staying on as a consultant to help with the transition. Most of the programs will remain in place for now, with one major exception. Station staff member Nicole Johnson has been hired for the morning show, replacing Chris Kalen in the AM slot. Jim says that the station will expand its local sports coverage and perhaps spice up the music a bit but will remain the same station listeners love.
The South Lyons Street Bridge is back open again after a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday. Now able to accommodate 2 way traffic. Representatives from Genesee County and the City of Batavia were on hand along with representatives from Union Concrete who built the new two-lane bridge and Fisher Associates who designed the project. District 9 Legislator Gary Maha was the first to drive across the bridge as the bridge is located within his district. Total construction cost of the new bridge was $2.9 Million, made up of 80% federal aid, 15% State Aid and 5% local match. The contractor met the proposed project schedule. The hope is that the new construction will last 75 years.
Hurt in a field? Call Oak Orchard Health. The new Mobile Medical Unit was unveiled at the Oak Orchard Health location at 319 West Main St on Thursday. The unit is planned to be able to go into the areas of Genesee and Orleans Counties where workers, including migrant laborers who don’t speak English, are located. Bringing medical care to hard to reach places and people groups. The Mobile Unit is equipped to provide medical care in various situations away from a medical campus. Translators who are trained in medical translating will come along with it to make sure the doctors and nurses can understand and communicate with their patients.
The Strong National Museum of Play celebrated the grand opening of its 90,000-square-foot expansion Friday. The expansion gives visitors, near and far, more ways to have fun. A major part of the expansion on the second floor at the ESL Digital Worlds exhibit. Gamers of all abilities and ages can take a trip down memory lane or try their hand at any kind of interactive videogame. There’s even more to do once you step outside. The museum’s new Hasbro Game Park has life-sized Monopoly and Jenga games, along with a dragon that breathes fire.
