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A traffic controller has contacted Genesee County Emergency Dispatch to report the sighting of a drone flying at 3,000 feet over Pembroke, apparently in the flight path for the Buffalo Airport.

It's illegal to fly a drone above 400 feet unless flying over a tall structure. 

A deputy has been dispatched to the area of Gorton Road and Phelps Road.

The drone is described as about two feet by two feet and silver.

Interview with Dr. Ahmet Guler at the ribbon cutting last week for his new cardiology and wellness center at 34 Swan St., Suite 3, Batavia.

Sunset in Pavilion yesterday evening, submitted by Jeslene Beach.

The labor market in Genesee County continued to tighten in May the number of people in the job market without a job dropped by 200 from the previous month.

In May 2021 in Genesee County, there were 1,200 people in the labor force without jobs according to NYS Labor Department data.

The unemployment rate is 4.2 percent, or similar to May 2017, when it was 4.3 percent. In May 2019, the rate was 3.2 percent. Last year, three months into the coronavirus pandemic, it was 11.1 percent.

Meanwhile, there are 1,057 open job positions listed with the Job Bureau in Genesee County, according to Director Teresa VanSon.

Also according to the state, there are 21,000 non-farm jobs that are filled in Genesee County, up 1,700 from 19,300 May 2020. The total private-sector jobs jumped from 14,200 to 15,900 year-over-year. Government jobs remained unchanged at 5,100.

Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) has been gifted the largest donation in its history of more than 100 years. Marian Ransom, who lived in LeRoy, left her entire estate of more than $1.2 million to the hospital upon passing away last year. In honor of Marian Ransom and her generous contribution, the second-floor medical wing at UMMC has been renamed the “Marian Ransom Medical Unit.”

“Its contributions like Marian’s that make such a profound impact on the community,” said Dan Ireland, president of United Memorial Medical Center. “We are beyond grateful for Marian’s contributions and what it will mean for the hospital, our patients, and the community. With the support of her donation, we’ll be renovating the intensive care unit (ICU), which will also have a significant impact on the newly named Marian Ransom Medical Unit.”

The ICU project is still in the early stages of development, but when complete will improve patient, visitor access, and flow to both the ICU and the Marian Ransom Medical Unit. The ICU will get a new waiting area and greeting area and also, clinical support spaces for both units. 

“Marian desired to make a difference at the end of her life and so bequeathed her entire estate of more than $1.2 million to United Memorial Medical Center," said Michael T. Welsh, Marian’s attorney. “This humble and philosophical woman has left a legacy which will benefit so many of our citizens for years to come.”

Press release from AAA:

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.07, down 1 cent in the past week. One year ago, the price was $2.13. The New York State average is $3.13 – up 2 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.23.

AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $3.08 (no change since last Monday)
• Buffalo- - $3.07 (up 3 cents since last Monday)
• Ithaca -- $3.11 (up 6 cents since last Monday)
• Rochester -- $3.10 (up 3 cents since last Monday)
• Rome -- $3.20 (up 3 cents since last Monday)
• Syracuse- - $3.12 (up 6 cents since last Monday)
• Watertown -- $3.17 (up 2 cents since last Monday)

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has decreased by one cent to $3.07. In its latest report, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) noted growth in gasoline demand and stocks. The increase in total supply, even as gas demand increased, has helped to limit pump price fluctuations this week on the national level.

However, local motorists aren’t seeing much relief at the pump, and rising crude oil prices could mean higher prices later this month.

As of this morning, oil prices remain over $71 per barrel. Until two weeks ago, crude prices hadn’t crossed the $70/bbl threshold since mid-October 2018. 

From GasBuddy:

"The ferocious rise in gas prices has finally started to cool as gas prices have eased across a majority of the country for the first time in months," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "There have been some challenges in pockets across the country as demand remains very healthy, and stations in some areas where demand is very high struggle to keep up with demand thanks to the truck driver shortage.

"As we head toward the July 4 holiday, I'm optimistic that we'll continue to see prices slowly drift lower before possibly rising in later July or August should we see any disruptions from hurricane season. But for now it seems most Americans are simply happy to be getting outside and back to some sense of normal."

Oakfield-Alabama held its 2021 graduation ceremony on Friday.

Above, Karly Smith delivers her Valedictorian speech.

Zachary Hall, below, was the Salutatorian.

Photos by Kristen Smith.

Taylor Augello was crowned the 2020 Onion Queen in a ceremony in the Elba Village Park on Friday evening.

The 2021 Onion Queen will be crowned in September.

• Madison Harrington was first runner-up.
• Lily Thompson was second runner-up.
• Fanny Venegas was third runner-up.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

Sponsored by the Just Kings Social Club, Batavia's Juneteenth celebration is taking place in Williams Park today. The celebration of freedom continues until 7 p.m.

Chris Humel and Julio Morales busking this afternoon outside the Pok-A-Dot at Liberty and Ellicott. 

The Volunteers for Animals collected a dumpster full of scrap metal today, an annual fundraiser for the organization.  

You have plenty time yet to donate your old metal items. You can either drop it off this evening, placing it as close to the dumpster as possible, or tomorrow between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The annual Challenger Baseball game was held at Dwyer Stadium this afternoon with the Batavia Muckdogs hosting clients of Arc of Genesee Orleans.

The Muckdogs play a home game tonight at 7 o'clock against Jamestown.

Tractor pulls are back with a competition going on all day today in Alexander at the WNY Steam Show grounds.

The event started at 9 a.m. with the deadweight pull. This afternoon and evening include the Class 5500, 6500, 7500, and 8500 stock and enhanced pulls, then the 9500, 10500, 12500, 14500 stock and enhanced pulls, followed by the 4x4 wheel drive truck diesel pulls and then the gas trucks.

Admission: $10 adult; children 5-12 $5; 4 and under free. Food and beverages are available for purchase.

Eight of Oakfield-Alabama's school bus drivers worked their last shifts today. To celebrate their retirements, they were paraded through the traffic circle at the elementary school.

The retiring drivers are Peggy Casper, Nancy Richthammer, Kathy Diver, Leanne Cleveland, Wesley Waldron, Al Davis, Carlene Betters and Bob Reusch.

The children and staff at the Agri-Business Child Development Center on Brooklyn Avenue in Batavia celebrated Juneteenth today with a parade in the playground.

Students at Batavia Middle School who have been accepted in to the Honor Society were celebrated in a ceremony at Van Detta Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Two months ago Batavia's Jack Houseknecht was involved in a horrific accident in the Town of Middlebury that left him hospitalized and in a coma. Yesterday, he came home, led to his house by a parade of family, friends, supporters, and escorted by City fire and Batavia PD.

Jacob Minnick, the 18-year-old from Lockport who died yesterday in a drowning incident at Indian Falls, was a back-to-back to Section VI diving champion, according to the Lockport Journal.

In his senior year at Lockport High School, Minnick was undefeated.

He had just completed his freshman year on Clarion University where he was a member of the swim team. The athletic department issued the following press release (and photo above):

CLARION, Pa. – Jacob Minnick, a member of the Clarion men's swimming & diving team, tragically passed away on Thursday, June 17. He was 18 years old. A native of Lockport, N.Y., Minnick had just completed his first year of study at Clarion and was an active member of the Golden Eagle team.

Information regarding memorial services are not available at this time.

"Jacob was a very sincere, polite, happy, caring kid," said Diving Coach Dave Hrovat. "In the time I got to know him, it was easy to see that he loved training with his teammates and loved being part of the program. He had a bright future ahead of him, athletically and academically. I want to express my heartfelt condolences to all his family and loved ones, and let them know that we are there for them in this tremendously difficult time."

"Jacob had a smiling, bright-eyed face every day walking on the pool deck," said Head Swimming & Diving Coach Bree Kelley. "He enjoyed his teammates and Clarion and we were excited to see him progress through our program. We are surely going to miss that smiling face. We will be offering counseling services for our team if they should need it but in the meantime our team will stand together to support one another through this tough loss."

"We are extremely saddened to learn of the passing of Jacob," said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Wendy Snodgrass, Ed.D. "He was an important and valued member of our men's swimming and diving program, and quickly developed strong bonds with his teammates and coaches. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone who knew and loved him."

"I extend our deepest sympathy to Jacob's family, friends, teammates and the faculty and staff in the Clarion community who knew him," said Clarion President Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, Ed.D. "Any loss of life is a tragedy, but the grief cuts especially deep as we mourn a young man who had accomplished so much and had so much more to give."

Minnick recently completed his first year as a member of the Golden Eagle men's swimming & diving program, and was a Biology / Ecology major. A freshman from Lockport High School, he did not compete during the 2020-21 season but was an integral part of the team during their training schedule. One of the top divers in the history of Lockport, he was a three-time state meet qualifier in high school, with a number of section championships to his credit. He placed 14th at the state meet as a junior and 16th as a senior.

A volunteer dive team attached with the Alden Volunteer Fire Department located the body of 18-year-old Jacob C. Minnick, of Lockport, in the churning waters below Indian Falls at 5:51 p.m. on Thursday.

Minnick had apparently gone to the falls with a group of friends to jump off the rocks into the water and after one jump shortly before 4 p.m. he resurfaced briefly and wasn't seen again.

His friends tried searching for him themselves before first responders from Pembroke, Indian Falls, and the Sheriff's Office arrived.

The City of Batavia's Fast Water Team was dispatched to assist in the search and team members were in the water for about an hour before the dive team was able to deploy. It took a diver about 11 minutes to locate Minnick's body. Coroner Karen Lang declared him dead at the scene.

Also assisting at the scene were Emergency Management and Corfu fire.

Previously: Juvenile who jumped in Indian Falls has not been seen coming to the surface, rescue units responding