Weekend News Briefing
Written by WBTA STAFF on October 6, 2018
P.W. Minor ceases all operations.
The 150 year old footwear manufacturer in Batavia, P.W. Minor, has ceased operations and laid off all employees.
The announcement was made effective Friday morning around 10.
The news meant the remaining 40 shoemakers were losing their jobs after the workforce was cut in half for restructuring just last week.
All assets of P.W. Minor, have been transferred to their senior creditor Batavia Shoes LLC, per an agreement signed on Friday.
In a statement release P.W. Minor CEO Hundley Elliotte said “Our focus through this entire process has been on our employee’s well-being. We want to thank them for their dedication, loyalty and hard work.” He continued in the statement saying “We would also like to thank the NYS Dept. of Labor, the Genesee County Workforce Development Board and the local business community for their responsiveness and offers to help get our affected employees back to work as soon as possible.”
P.W. Minor which was founded in 1867 in Batavia is the second oldest footwear manufacturer in the US.
According to our news partner The Batavian former owner Peter Zeliff said there is some hope that investors may be found for the orthopedic line.
A Batavia man accused of menacing with a knife.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 45 year old Joseph Dispenza of Maple Street in the city on a count of Menacing with a dangerous instrument in the second degree.
Following investigation into an incident on Oak Orchard Road in Elba Friday night Dispenza was accused of threatening people in the woods with a knife.
He was given an appearance ticket for October 15th in Elba Town Court.
The sheriff’s office reporting a number of thefts from cars.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office has received several complaints over the past week of items being taken from parked cars.
Most of the thefts have occurred overnight and most have been made from un-locked vehicles.
Lawmen are reminding residents to always keep their vehicles locked to prevent theft.
Kenmore Police Chief busted for possessing opioids.
Peter Breitnauer, of Kenmore, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of hydrocodone.
Breitnauer admitted to federal agents that he is addicted to hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and had been taking hydrocodones from the Medication Drop Box located at the Kenmore Police Station for his personal use.
The defendant guided agents to a closet in his office, where he had stashed more than 100 hydrocodone pills.
Breitnauer made an initial appearance on Friday in a federal court and was released on conditions.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
For the second time this season, the Buffalo Bills will get to play in front of their home crowd.
They’ll be hosting the Tennessee Titans at New Era Field this weekend.
Kickoff Sunday is set for one o’clock.
