Weekend News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on October 17, 2020
The Bergen C Store cigarette caper from the beginning of September is apparently part of a wider criminal enterprise says the Genesee county sheriffs department. 3 people arrested in victor on September 28th had allegedly participated in more than 30 smash and grab type burglaries across 6 counties including the Byron Crosby’s, the Leroy Kwik fill, the Batavia Crosby’s and pavilion farms. Back in September 2 of the 5 member crew were caught trying to rob the Batavia Crosby’s, Jennifer Abrams and Tarus Fluitt. The other 3, Kristina Marble, Eric Smith and Jose Cruz-Rosado were caught robbing a gas station in victor and chased down and arrested, one tried to swim the Erie canal to escape but started drowning when officers jumped in and saved them. All 5 are on multiple felony charges.
Police are looking for help with the identities of the people who broke into and stole property from the Batavia Bottle and can Retrieval Center on East Main street late Thursday night. Police have pictures of the white van used in the break in and you can check them out at our news partner The Batavian. If you have information call Detective Sergeant Matt Lutey at (585) 345-6311 or call the confidential tip line at (585) 345-6370.
COVID Update: As of Friday afternoon Genesee county had no new cases and 2 people had recovered. There are 25 new people on travel quarantine. Orleans county had 1 new case and 2 people had recovered. There are 3 new people on travel quarantine. Genesee county has 17 active cases and Orleans has 18. One student at Batavia BOCES has tested positive and is on quarantine and contact tracing is being done.
Local health departments are applauding the distribution of over 400,000 rapid testing kits for COVID 19 across the state but the ability to use them is in doubt. Paul Pettit, health director for Genesee Orleans county health departments, says that with new testing requirements they don’t have “a full understanding of the details of the new requirements and a lack of support and capacity to meet them.” The ramped up testing means more people doing the testing, people most counties don’t have available. “Who will provide the staff and resources necessary to administer the tests?” 2 State level Health Directors have asked Albany to send people and financial to the counties to help.
The Pavilion Central School District has chosen a new Superintendent. Mary Kate Hoffman, the principal of York Elementary School is the former director of curriculum and instruction at Pavilion central Schools and was a 2nd grade teacher in Pavilion as well. Hoffman says she is “honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve the Pavilion Central School District as Superintendent,”
