Alabama

Todd Allan Betts, 35, of Transit Road, Elba, is charged with reckless endangerment, 1st, endangering the welfare of a child, menacing, 2nd, criminal obstruction of breathing and harassment, 2nd. Betts was charged following the report of a domestic incident. Betts allegedly grabbed a woman by the throat and threw her to the ground. He allegedly pointed a shotgun in the direction of the woman and a child. Betts was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Tametha A. Wentland, 40, of Harlow Road, Darien, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Wentland is accused of physically contacting a victim. The incident was reported at 11:59 p.m., Saturday. Wentland was arrested by State Police.

Levi Winnie, 26, of 590 Council House Road, Basom, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. The alleged incident was reported at 4:15 a.m., Saturday. Winnie was arrested by State Police on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. No further details were released.

A two-car accident is reported at 7202 Meadville Road at the corner with Parker Road. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding. There is air bag deployment, extrication is needed. A responder on scene says one victim is "pretty well pinned in. He believes his leg is broken." Another victim says "she hurts all over." Mercy Flight 6 out of Batavia is on standby. Sheriff's deputies are also heading to the scene.

UPDATE 8:24 p.m.: Mercy Flight is dispatched to the scene along with a second Mercy rig.

UPDATE 8:25 p.m.: A rescue unit out of Akron is requested to respond, mutual-aid.

UPDATE 8:55 p.m.: About three minutes ago, the man with the injured leg was extricated.

UPDATE 9:17 p.m.: I think a 32-year-old female was transported to UMMC and a younger female was taken to ECMC. The transmission has been patchy.

A field fire is reported at Maple and Ledge roads. Alabama Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 4:53 p.m.: A responder on scene says the fire is near the gravel pit on hill or berm.

UPDATE 4:58 p.m.: The fire is out.

A two-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Bloomingdale and Sand Hill roads, on the border of the Town of Alabama and the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. One person is said to have a mouth and arm injury, another is complaining of chest pain due to the seat belt restraint. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: The patients are both children.

UPDATE 3:19 p.m.: A second ambulance is requested.

UPDATE 3:54 p.m.: The patients are being transported to Women's and Children's Hospital in Buffalo.

UPDATE 4:11 p.m.: Alabama is back in service.

Submitted by Scott Gayton:

Oakfield-Alabama defeats the Batavia Yankees to win the Junior/Senior Championship Title. The final score was 4-3. Front row from left: Coach Joel D'Alba, Jordan D'Alba, Andrew McIntyre, Tristian Korzelius, Cole Phelps, Cameron Dayka. Back row: Coach Scott Gayton, Zach Gayton, Allen Chatt, Danny Dinsmore, Austin Fisher, Chris Nanni, Hunter Spiotta, Josiah Yantz, Manager Bruce Chatt.

An injury accident is reported at 7056 Griffen Road. A car struck a tree and the tree is in the roadway, blocking traffic. The driver is pinned inside, conscious and alert, and will require extrication. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. A deputy on scene reports "The subject is noncompliant, but it's not an issue because he's pinned in the vehicle."

UPDATE 12:48 p.m.: Law enforcement on scene is requesting fire police to shut down traffic at Bloomingdale and Judge roads. The driver is uncooperative with medics and officers and some sort of "medication," as opposed to alcohol, may be an issue. Mercy Flight is called and they are also requesting an engine to respond mutual aid from Pembroke / Indian Falls.

UPDATE 1:05 p.m.: State DOT workers will bring chainsaws to cut up the tree and remove it.

UPDATE 1:28 p.m.: It was decided that the patient would be transported via ground ambulance, with a Mercy Flight crew person onboard, to the Erie County Medical Center.

UPDATE 1:58 p.m.: Alabama is back in service.

A brush fire is reported to be 20 feet away from a residence at 7012 Maple Road. Alabama Fire Department is responding. The location is between Knowlesville and Ledge roads. The fire chief on scene reports it is currently confined to a hedgerow and "as long as the wind is cooperating" it should remain there while they proceed to put it out.

UPDATE 1:07 p.m.: The fire is under control.

UPDATE 1:36 p.m.: The fire is out. Alabama is back in service.

A power line is reported arcing in the trees on Ham Road between Gorton and Knowlesville roads, and there are reportedly power outages in the area.

Alabama Fire is responding.

UPDATE 7:19 a.m.: National Grid requested to the scene. Two tree limbs have fallen on the line.

UPDATE 7:31 a.m.: National Grid reports 38 customers without power. Full restoration expected by 9:15 a.m.

A 7-year-old girl is reportedly stuck in a tree 15 feet off the ground outside a church building at 1392 Lewiston Road, Alabama.

Alabama Fire Department is responding.

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An Alabama resident is accused of driving drunk and randomly firing a rifle at homes and cars on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation on Tuesday night.

Eric A. Easton, 28, of Ham Road, Alabama, is charged with two counts of reckless endangerment, 1st, a Class D felony.

He was jailed on $100,000 bail.

On Tuesday in the late evening, deputies responded to Basom for reports of shots being fired at homes and cars.

The alleged victims appeared to be randomly selected and no injuries were reported, though property was damaged.

Easton was taken into custody late Tuesday night by Erie County deputies and was arraigned in the Town of Newstead on Thursday. Following his arraignment, he was released from Erie County custody and immediately arrested by a Genesee County deputy.

The investigation is continuing in Erie, Niagara and Genesee counties and additional charged are likely, according to the Sheriff's Office.

A report Tuesday night of a drive-by trucker firing shots out his window in Basom is still under investigation, but a possible suspect has been identified, Sheriff Gary Maha said today.

The subject deputies believe may have been involved may also have been arrested for DWI in Erie County.

Maha said it will take a little time to put the whole case together because law enforcement agencies in Genesee, Erie and Niagara counties are all involved.

A person in the area of Crosby and Judge roads in Alabama reports being shot at with a .22-caliber rifle by someone driving a pickup truck registered to a driver on Ham Road in Basom. Law enforcement is investigating.

UPDATE: 11:45 p.m.: A deputy reports recovering a bullet. No further details available at this time.

A cornfield is reportedly on fire at 1534 Lewiston Road, near Church Street, in Alabama. Alabama Fire Department is en route.

UPDATE 12:26 p.m.: Fire police and an engine from Oakfield are requested. Smoke is blowing across the roadway.

UPDATE 12:37 p.m.: A tanker from Oakfield is called to the scene. Some firefighters are working at the back of the property to protect a barn. There's a brush fire nearby. Although the fire is not approaching the structure, there are strong winds blowing.

UPDATE 12:47 p.m.: Alabama command reports the fire is under control.

UPDATE 12:59 p.m.: The fire is out. The Alabama assignment is back in service.

On my way back from Indian Falls, I stopped on Townline Road near Maple Avenue, Alabama, to snap this picture.

Timothy P. Brown, 37, of 10 Hutchins Place, rear, is charged with stalking, 4th. Brown is accused of repeatedly contacting a former friend after being told to stop contacting that person. Brown was allegedly texting the former friend after the former friend asked him to stop and after he was warned by police to have no further contact.

Maxwell Raymond Pfendler, 20, of South Lake Road, Pavilion, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and unlawful possession of marijuana. Pfendler was stopped at 7:55 p.m. Saturday on Route 63, Batavia, for allegedly speeding by Deputy Matthew Butler.

Wayne H. Austin, 37, of Ivison Road, Byron, is charged with reckless endangerment, 2nd. Austin is accused of purposefully swerving his vehicle in the roadway at another vehicle.

Linda K. Garrettson, 55, of Wynanskill, is charged with possession or sale of unstamped cigarettes and possession and transport of 10,000 or more unstamped cigarettes; James A. Lapi, 60, of Palatine Bridge, is charged with possession and transport of 10,000 or more unstamped cigarettes. Garrettson and Lapi were arrested by State Police. Garrettson was taken into custody at the State Police Barracks in Batavia at 1:21 p.m. Friday, and Lapi was arrested on Bloomingdale Road at 10:15 a.m., Friday. Lapi was jailed on $700 bail.

A driver involved in a rollover accident on Route 77, Alabama, on Friday said he fell asleep at the wheel.

Matthew R. Killburn, 22, of 1379 Bray Road, Arcade, was not seriously injured in the crash and did not require ambulance transport.

According to Deputy Tim Wescott's report, Killburn was northbound on Route 77 near Ledge Road at 6:15 p.m. when he fell asleep and his car traveled off the east shoulder and overturned.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

Killburn was driving a 2005 Chevy sedan.

No citations were issued.

When the owner of an old farmhouse at 1493 Judge Road, Alabama, offered the building up to the Alabama Fire Department to use in training, Rob Crossen's thought, "I hate to see another old house go to heck."

Instead of letting the house get destroyed in training -- which would eventually include burning it down -- Crossen stepped in and bought the property.

Since last October, Rob and his son Dan, along with some local carpenters, have been working on restoring the home with the goal of eventually selling it to a family that will appreciate the old house.

It's an all-out restoration project, too. 

One hundred years ago, at least, horse-drawn tools dug a hole for a foundation and workers manually placed heavy stones around the perimeter. Crossen and his crew refurbished the masonry and dug the basement two feet deeper.

The house never had a proper sump pump, which led to a lot of water damage, so Crossen fixed installed a new one.

The back of the house -- the kitchen, primarily, was so badly damaged that Crossen just tore it away. The house will have entirely new kitchen.

Crossen's workers have completely gutted the interior of the house and each room, upstairs and down, will have new electrical works, new walls and new floors.

"It will be all new on the inside but look like an old house on the outside," Crossen said.

Below is a picture I took of the house this past October (taken with black and white film). I've photographed the old farmhouse a few times before this shot, but this is the only one I saved. It's a classic, turn-of-the-century (the last century) farmhouse and it's great to see it getting a second life.

A one-car rollover accident is reported at 7691 Alleghany Road. There is "one very minor injury." Alabama Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

Clifford Leo Regimbal, 33, of Oakfield, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana and unlawful growing of marijuana. Regimbal was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped at 6:57 p.m. Monday on Route 77, Basom, and allegedly found in possession of a bag containing more than 25 grams of marijuana and a 2-foot tall marijuana plant. Also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana was Ashley Nicole Janikowski, 28, of Oakfield. The traffic stop was initiated by Depty Patrick Reeves.

Jamie R. Bachorski, 18, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Bachorski is accused of smoking marijuana with a child May 29.

Amber Michelle Hufsizer, 21, of Newark, is charged with petit larceny. Hufsizer is accused of stealing merchandise valued at $90.89 at Darien Lake Theme Park.

Brad C. Doward, 22, of 10 Hall St., Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd, criminal mischief, 4th, harassment, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Doward allegedly unlawfully entered the residence of a friend, damaged property, had physical contact with the resident, all while in close proximity to a child. The incident was reported at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, and Doward appeared at police HQ at 12:30 p.m. Monday.

Mark W. Nassivera, 21, of Rochester, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. Nassivera was taken into custody by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 10:03 p.m. Sunday in Alabama. Nassivera was jailed on an unspecified amount of bail. No further details available.

David L. O'Neil, 22, of 101 Elmwood Parkway, Tonawanda, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. O'Neil was stopped by State Police at 12:29 a.m. Saturday in the Town of Pembroke.