Weekend News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on February 27, 2021
Hotel Workers are now eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine under 1B status. Governor Cuomo announced Friday that they were to be added to the list and that it will be up to local health departments to determine how hotel workers will be included in vaccine distributions, as well as where and when. So far just over 4 million people have had at least 1 dose of the vaccine in New York State and about 7.4 percent of New Yorkers have had both shots.
2 sheriffs department staff said their farewells Friday afternoon. Corrections Officer Kelly Creegan retired after 19 years and Catherine Uhly retired from a 20 year career at Genesee Justice. Uhly began her career on July 8, 2002, as a Principal Clerk at Genesee Justice, then Case Manager in 2014, and in 2016 was appointed to her current position as Program Coordinator. She has received two Meritorious Service awards for continuous excellence and the 2020 Distinguished Service Award. Uhly was pictured with Sheriff Sheron and Undersheriff Mazur for her last day. Deputies and staff lined the walk in front of the Genesee county jail and saluted Creegan. During his career, Creegan has been the recipient of a Commendation, Certificate of Appreciation, and Meritorious Service for continuous excellence.
COVID Update from Friday Evening: Genesee county has 18 new cases and 18 people have recovered. 4 and a half thousand people have gotten both doses of the vaccine in Genesee county and 2100 people have had both doses in Orleans. Orleans county has 4 new cases and 4 people have recovered. There are 95 active cases in Genesee county and 53 in Orleans.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley is sponsoring a blood drive on Monday the 1st at Batavia Downs from 2 to 7 pm. Paula’s Donuts will be providing free donut coupons to those who give blood. The drive is being done by Connect Life and you can register if you are over 18 years old at their website connectlifegiveblood.org
The 3 National Guard killed in the helicopter crash in Mendon were remembered in a service on Friday. Christian Koch, Daniel Prial, and Steven Skoda – all chief warrant officers – died when their UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter went down in a field. Friends and family members spoke about them. A permanent Memorial is planned near the crash site. An Army Safety Investigation team with the National Guard and Federal Aviation Administration are both conducting investigations into the cause of the crash. Both of those are expected to take several months to complete, though no definitive timeline has been set. Senator Schumer is calling on a mass investigation of all National Guard Helicopters and vertical lift vehicles after a this and another crash on February 3rd in Idaho both claimed 3 lives each.
