The 17th birthday of Madison Fix was celebrated with a parade of Jeep Wranglers on River Street in Batavia yesterday followed by a visit by the Wrangler Club to Premier Genesee to wave hello to residents of the facility.
Photos submitted by Renee Wapniewski.
David Penepent, a Mortuary Dcience professor, has been volunteering his time, along with two of his students, in New York City since April to assist with handling the remains of COVID-19 victims.
The 57-year-old Batavia native started "Hands with a Heart" to transport the bodies of those who have died from overwhelmed funeral homes to other states in behalf of grieving families.
Penepent was featured today in a story in The New York Times.
“It’s a godsend,” said Joe Neufeld Sr., the owner of the Gerard J. Neufeld Funeral Home in Queens, which is just blocks from Elmhurst Hospital Center in one of the hardest hit areas in the country. “He came out of nowhere to save us.”
This Saturday, staff from H.E. Turner, including Steve Johnson, who teaches with Penepent at SUNY Canton in the Mortuary Science Program, will join Penepent's team to help with the effort.
"We will be doing so voluntarily and without charge to the state, funeral homes, or families affected," Johnson said.
New Cases
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For the Class of 2020, the traditional rites of spring, such as prom, and commencement ceremonies jeopardized, parents and teachers have been looking for other ways to celebrate the accomplishments of this year's graduates.
Yesterday, staff and teachers at Batavia High School drove to the homes of seniors and installed law signs to help recognize those on the cusp of receiving diplomas.
The effort was initiated by Kristen Fix.
Dan Street shared this photo of an eagle he spotted off of Transit Road in Stafford.
Batavia PD detectives are looking for the public's assistance in locating Nasir Nathan in relation to an alleged gang assault that occurred on Highland Park on Oct. 4.
The Oct. 4 incident lead to the arrest of Riley B. Mayer, who pled guilty to assault in December, and the arrest of Terrance Falk in December.
There is a warrant out for Nathan's arrest.
Det. Eric Hill said there is no apparent direct connection to the April 9 hit-and-run that led to the arrest of Devon Wright last night, but that the individuals involved in both incidents know each other and there have been ongoing disputes.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6350, the confidential tip line at (585) 345-6370, or online here.
Devon Wright, 18, of Batavia, has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run accident on Highland Park the night of April 8 that sent one person to the hospital.
Wright allegedly resisted arrest and damaged property at Batavia PD headquarters after being taken into custody following a traffic stop last night.
Investigators say that Wright intentionally drove a silver sedan into the victim and then fled the scene leaving the car in the front yard of a residence on Highland Park.
He is charged with: attempted assault, 1st; resisting arrest; obstructing governmental administration, 2nd; criminal mischief, 4th; criminal nuisance, 2nd; and harassment, 2nd.
Judge David Saleh in an electronic arraignment to maintain social distancing ordered Wright held on $10,000 cash bail, $20,000 bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond. His return date to Batavia City Court is May 18 at 1 p.m.
Batavia PD thanks the public for tips leading to the arrest of Wright.
Previous stories about Wright:
Photos submitted by Jason Smith, taken in his back yard in Batavia.
Minor League Baseball appears to be ready to accept a deal with MLB, Baseball America reports, that would eliminate 42 franchises and wipe out short-season Single-A baseball, ending an 81-year history of the New York Penn League that began in Batavia.
With a pandemic threatening the 2020 baseball season, Dwyer Stadium may have hosted its last professional baseball game on Sept. 6, 2019.
We don't know yet, of course. If there is 2020 baseball, the new deal -- which BA indicates isn't final yet -- wouldn't take effect until 2021.
There's no indication in the article how team owners would be compensated for the loss of their properties. The Batavia Muckdogs are owned by the NYPL but the Genesee County Baseball Club, a community group, and the Rochester Red Wings still have a financial stake in the team.
Richard Beatty recites "Highlands" by Bob Dylan.
Statement from UMMC:
Following the Governor’s elective outpatient treatment announcement, United Memorial Medical Center is carefully evaluating regional data and COVID-19 preparedness plans to ensure patients can have elective surgeries as soon as safely possible.
We will, in accordance with the State Department of Health guidelines, make every effort to resume elective surgeries for patients meeting criteria as the COVID-19 curve flattens in our community.
Press release:
- Announces state will take a regional approach to reopening.
- Governor will meet with President Trump at the White House today to discuss testing.
- Confirms 4,178 additional coronavirus cases in New York State -- bringing statewide total to 251,690; new cases in 41 counties.
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced elective outpatient treatments can resume in counties and hospitals without significant risk of COVID-19 surge in the near term.
Hospitals will be able to resume performing elective outpatient treatments on April 28 if the hospital capacity is over 25 percent for the county and if there have been fewer than 10 new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in the county over the past 10 days.
If a hospital is located in a county eligible to resume elective outpatient treatments, but that hospital has a capacity under 25 percent or has had more than 10 new hospitalizations in the past 10 days, that hospital is not eligible to resume elective surgeries.
If a county or hospital that has resumed elective surgery experiences a decrease in hospital capacity below the 25 percent threshold or an increase of 10 or more new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients, elective surgeries must cease.
Further, patients must test negative for COVID-19 prior to any elective outpatient treatment. The State Department of Health will issue guidance on resuming elective surgeries.
Restrictions on elective surgery will remain in place in Bronx, Queens, Rockland, Nassau, Clinton, Yates, Westchester, Albany, Richmond, Schuyler, Kings, Suffolk, New York, Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster, Erie, Orange and Rensselaer counties as the state continues to monitor the rate of new COVID-19 infections in the region.
Governor Cuomo also announced the state will take a regional approach to reopening and will make decisions on which counties and regions to open and when to open them based on the facts and data specific to that area.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will coordinate Western New York's public health and reopening strategy, and former Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy will volunteer as a special advisor to coordinate the Finger Lakes' public health and reopening strategy.
The Governor also announced he will be meeting with President Trump at the White House today to discuss testing.
"As New York continues to flatten the curve of new COVID-19 infections, we are now ready to lift the restrictions on elective surgeries in regions where hospital capacity and the rate of new infections do not present a significant risk of a surge in new positive cases," Governor Cuomo said.
"It is essential that we continue to support hospitals and health care workers in all regions to ensure they have both capacity and supplies to treat COVID patients because this virus is by no means defeated."
Statement from Ed Rath, candidate for the 61st State Senate District:
The New York State economy, and particularly the economy of Upstate, has taken a very big hit as a result of coronavirus. Small businesses, farmers, restaurant owners and many others are encountering some of the hardest times they’ve ever faced.
The infection rates and risk factors of each individual region greatly vary throughout the state.
With this in mind, I have called on the Governor to take a regional perspective to reopening and listen to our local medical professionals and those who know the community best.
I am glad that after his stop in Buffalo today, it appears that a regional reopening approach will be pursued.
In what may be the last snapshot of the employment picture in Genesee County before pandemic shutdowns hit local businesses, the local unemployment rate had already ticked up year-over-year for March from 4.7 percent to 5.2 percent.
The Department of Labor released statewide statistics today with a note indicating the household census of employment was taken at the beginning of March before most "nonessential" businesses were ordered to close or modify operations.
In that survey, 27,500 residents of Genesee County had jobs in a labor force of 29,000 people, with 1,500 residents seeking employment.
Through the rest of March, the Department of Labor reported a record number of jobless claims. It will be another month before we receive revised employment stats. Economists are estimating the national unemployment rate may now be as high as 32 percent.
In response to the high jobless claims, Congress passed legislation that: authorized $1,200 payments to most Americans; increased unemployment payments by $600 a week; and authorized $350 million in loans to small businesses that have suffered losses due to the pandemic primarily for payroll purposes.
The loans, if standards are met, could be converted into grants. The Senate is expected to vote today on a new stimulus package that would add nearly $500 million to the Payroll Protection Program.
There were three new positive tests for COVID-19 reported in Genesee County since yesterday and six people who previously tested positive have been moved out of mandatory isolation, making the current total of active cases 69 and the total recovered cases 59.
There have been 130 positive tests in Genesee County since the pandemic reached our community.
The Veterans Administration also reported today two additional positive cases among staff at the VA Hospital in Batavia but there have been no new positive patients since the first two were reported last week.
There is no change in the count of positive cases, 45, at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center since yesterday.
The Health Department reports administering 710 tests so far, with 580 coming back negative.
Health Department Daily COVID-19 Briefing:
New Cases
Click here to view the Genesee and Orleans County online map of confirmed cases.
Two people were injured in an accident at about 10:30 p.m., Monday, in the area of 5875 Ellicott Street Road, Bethany.
One of the people injured was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight.
One person was transported to UMMC by ground ambulance.
The names of the drivers, according to an NYSP blotter entry, were Harold P. Gage, 77, of Le Roy, and William W. Berkemeier, 51, of Pavilion.
We don't know the name of the person transported by Mercy Flight. The State Police have not released further information about the accident.
Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.
Press release:
Today, New York U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her endorsement of Nate McMurray for the Special Election in NY-27.
"I'm proud to endorse Nate McMurray for New York's 27th Congressional District," Senator Gillibrand said. "Now more than ever, we need independent leaders in Washington who will fight for everyday Americans over corporate special interests. Nate's extensive domestic and international business experience and record of expanding economic opportunities to create jobs will be critical to rebuilding Upstate New York in the difficult months ahead."
“I’m incredibly honored to have Senator Gillibrand’s support for our campaign,” McMurray said. “She has paved the way in the fight for working families on everything from pay equity to advocating for critical support for rural communities in Western New York. I Iook forward to working with the Senator to improve the lives of all New Yorkers and all Americans once we win the Special Election on June 23rd.”
An injury accident is reported in the area of 5875 Ellicott Street Road, Bethany.
One person may be unconscious.
The road is blocked.
Bethany fire, Stafford fire, and Mercy EMS dispatched.
Of the 45 detainees in the Buffalo Federal Detention Center who have tested positive for COVID-19 so far, only three are symptomatic, according to a source familiar with the situation.
The source, who asked we not use his name because he's not an authorized spokesperson for ICE, said all 45 detainees who are positive were living in the same pod when three detainees -- two from New York City and one from the NYS prison system -- were transferred into the facility.
The facility staff, he said, suspected the new arrivals were positive for COVID-19.
Given the close proximity of living arrangements detainees are considered vulnerable; ICE was able to get all detainees in the affected pod tested.
A pod can hold as many as 72 detainees.
The original pod now has 29 people in it who tested positive, and 20 more are alone in another POD. There are four people included in the two pods whose tests were inconclusive so they're being kept in isolation for the 14-day quarantine period.
The spike in positives at the facility had more to do with the testing lab releasing a batch of results on the same day than a sudden outbreak of the disease.
Currently, there are 319 detainees in the facility. The peak capacity of the facility is 650 detainees.
Many members of the staff are not ICE employees but work for contractors. The source said only two staff members have tested positive and both are, last he heard, asymptomatic.
Only a limited number of new transfers are entering the facility.
According to the source, at the start of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the director of the facility, Thomas Feeley, ordered regular, thorough cleaning, including wiping down door handles with bleach every hour.
"Every time you turn around," the source said, "you smell bleach."
There is medical staff on duty inside the facility 24/7 and posters have been placed in the facility to inform detainees about COVID-19 and how to protect themselves.
So far, about 20 percent of the detainees have been tested, the source said.
At the start of the coronavirus outbreak, detainees who were over age 60, had underlying medical conditions that made them vulnerable, but were not convicted of a serious crime such as murder or rape, were released from custody, the source said.
"Nobody was released who was a threat to society," he said.
Macayla Burke reciting "Oh me! Oh life!" by Walt Whitman. Burke is a student at Batavia High School.
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