Weekend News Brief

An investigation is still underway into what caused a fire that took the life of a 10-year-old boy. Crews were called to battle the blaze at an apartment building in the area of East Main Street and Vine Street in Batavia yesterday and arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from that structure. Firefighters spotted the 10-year-old as well as his four-year-old and 12-year-old siblings who were critically injured. Two police officers and a firefighter also ended up getting hurt but are going to be OK.

 

The Genesee County Sheriffs have arrested a man on multiple bench warrants, stemming back to 2021. 34-year-old Marc Christopher James Cook, Sr. of Alabama was arrested for criminal possession of a weapon, bail jumping and criminal possession of a controlled substance from the Alabama Town Court; similar warrants were filed against Cook in Batavia City Court, and Genesee County also issued an arrest warrant for violation of the family court act. Cook was arraigned at Genesee County CAP Court and is now held without bail at the Genesee County Jail. He will reappear at the respective courts at a later date.

 

53-year-old Gregory Brooks of Rochester has been convicted of receipt of child pornography. Brooks had secretly placed a video camera in a bathroom where he knew a minor victim showered. He positioned the camera to capture naked videos of the youngster entering and exiting the shower. Brooks received and stored the videos on his cell phone. He was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison. ALSO: 39-year-old Timothy Taylor of Rochester has pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Between July 2020 and August 2021, Taylor, who owned Brilliance Software, LLC in Greece, filed fraudulent applications for Payroll Protection Program loans, which were designed to help small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Taylor stated that he had 87 employees and a monthly payroll of $607,000 when, in fact, he had one employee who was paid $10,000 for the entire year.   Taylor faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on June 11, 2025.

 

The Kendall Central School District is mourning the death of a student following a tragic accident. On Wednesday, 16-year-old Josh Peters was driving on Roosevelt Highway in Hamlin when he went off the road and struck a utility pole. Peters was the only person in the vehicle at the time and passed away at the scene. The district is offering its support to fellow students and staff during this difficult time. Police are looking into whether speed played a role in the crash.

 

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney says she’s made the decision to temporarily close down her offices in the 24th Congressional District. The Republican says there have been three separate incidents lately where her staff were targeted by intimidation or threats of violence. Tenney says she’s appalled by what’s happened and is asking folks to express their First Amendment rights in a compassionate and peaceful way.

 

A Lackawanna judge is being forced to resign again. Louis Violanti first resigned in 2013 after he presided over a phony judicial proceeding to get a friend’s traffic ticket dismissed. Last March, Lackawanna’s mayor reappointed him as judge for a new six-year term. Violanti resigned again on January 23rd, agreeing with state officials to never return to the bench.

 

Organizers of the New York State Blues Festival have released the lineup for this year’s event. The headline act for that festival, which runs June 12th through 14th at the New York State Fairgrounds’ Chevy Court, is the Warren Haynes Band. Other artists that’ll take the stage include Kat Riggins and Her Blues Revival, The Ripcords and Ruthie Foster. Additional details on the free event can be found at nysbluesfest.com.

 

The Buffalo Bills are doing their part to help fund modified girls flag football programs in the region. Several schools have received money from the NFL franchise including Canisteo-Greenwood, Loretta Johnson Middle School, Our Lady of Mercy and also Rochester Prep.   The Buffalo Bills Foundation and Ralph C. Wilson Junior Foundation are committed to spending $260,000 over the next three years on these programs. Games could begin as early as this spring.

 

The Down Syndrome Parent Support Group has scheduled their dine-out fundraiser for Wednesday, February 19^th at the Miss Batavia Diner. Mark you calendar, and join them from 4pm until 9pm to show your support.

 

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) will offer free rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets. To receive the vaccination, all animals must be at least 3 months old. It is important for all animals to be leashed, crated, and kept under control during the clinics. So you can plan ahead, the next drive-thru clinic is scheduled for Thursday, May 15^th from 4pm to 6:30pm at the Genesee County Fairgrounds. If you’d like additional information, please call 585-344-2580 (ext. 5555).