Alexander

The Elba Lancers lost to Belfast at Mount Morris on Tuesday night in the Class D2 Section V semifinal 44-40.

Also on Tuesday, Alexander lost to Red Jacket 71-58 in the Class C2 Section V semifinal.

There are no boys teams from Genesee County who survived past the semifinal rounds of the sectional playoffs.

Photos by David Zuppelli.

Brian Andrew Simpson II, 38, no permanent address, is charged with: promoting prison contraband in the first degree, which is a felony; criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree; criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree; driving while ability impaired by drugs; unlawful possession of marijuana; and a window tint violation. At 11:04 a.m. on Feb. 12, Simpson was stopped on Ellicott Street in the City of Batavia following the alleged observation of a vehicle and traffic violation. After an investigation, the defendant was allegedly found to be driving while impaired by drugs. After Simpson's arrest, he was processed at the Genesee County Jail and allegedly found to possess drug paraphernalia and a white powdery substance identified as cocaine. Simpson was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and jailed without bail. In the same incident, his passenger was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana: Walter S. Bennett, 29, no address noted, of Rochester, was issued an appearance ticket for City of Batavia Court. The case was investigated by Deputy Ryan DeLong, assisted by Deputy Lonnie Nati, and other members of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, including Corrections officers.

Paul G. Avery, 41, of Indian Falls Road, Pembroke, is charged with: driving while intoxicated; aggravated DWI wwith a BAC of .18 percent or more; throwing trash on a highway; driving left of pavement marking; and failure to keep right on a highway with four lanes or more. Avery was arrested at 9:21 p.m. Feb. 23 on West Main Street Road in Batavia following a traffic stop. Avery is due in Batavia Town Court on March 21. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Mathew Clor, assisted by Dpeuty Lewis Henning.

Nathan S. Bowes, of Buffalo Street Road, Alexander, is charged with: driving while intoxicated; DWI with a BAC of .08 percent or more; and moving from lane unsafely. He was arrested at 6:41 p.m. on Feb. 23 following the investigation of a motor-vehicle accident in the Town of Alexander. He was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Alexander Town Court on March 19. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Mathew Clor, assisted by Deputy Travis DeMuth.

Joseph Dimitri Rivera, 36, of Cole Avenue, Gates, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Rivera was arrested on the charge at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24 on Lake Avenue in Bergen following a traffic stop. He is due in Bergen Town Court on March 13. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy James Stack.

Kelly Anne Vanbortle, 32, of Parkwood Lane, Hilton, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. It is alleged that she possessed a quantity of marijuana and a glass smoking pipe with burnt marijuana residue following a traffic stop at 5:14 p.m. Feb. 23 on Clinton Street Road, Bergen. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Bergen Town Court on March 13. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy McClellan.

From the Attica Police Department regarding an accident in the Town of Alexander:

The Attica Police Department responded to a reported car into a house accident at 63 Buffalo St., Attica, at about 6:38 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Upon arrival officers found a 2004 Honda had gone off the roadway and struck a house causing significant damage to the vehicle and structural damage to the residence. The operator of the vehicle, 33-year-old Nathan S. Bowes, sustained minor injuries and was evaluated by EMS staff at the scene, however refused any further medical aid.

Upon further investigation it was determined that alcohol was involved and the accident location was outside of the Village of Attica and in the Town of Alexander, Genesee County.

Genesee County Sheriff Office was contacted and the scene was turned over to deputies DeMuth and Glor for further investigation.

Town of Alexander Building Code was contact and responded. It was determined that the section of the residence was inhabitable due to the significant structural damage.

Attica Fire Department and EMS assisted at the scene along with Alexander Fire Department. The incident scene was on Buffalo Street east of Sokol Drive.

Unknown wires are down in the roadway at Colby Road and Genesee Street. Corfu Fire Department is responding.

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A tree is down on wires, which are smoking, at 2679 Galloway Road, Batavia. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding. National Grid has been informed.

*****

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: A broken tree branch is pulling wires from a house at 3104 Dodgeson Road, Alexander. Lines are in the roadway. The location is between Beaver and Seward roads. Alexander Fire Department is called.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: City of Batavia Fire Department is called for a tree and wires down at 66 Franklin St. between Davis Avenue and the dead end.

UPDATE 2:56 p.m.: A tree and wires are down, completely blocking the roadway, at 7116 Tripp Road, Byron. Byron and South Byron fire departments are called. National Grid crews are no longer on scene (after responding earlier when seven poles toppled into a field).

UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: A tree and wires are down at 2623 Brown Road, Corfu. The location is between Wilkinson Road and Ridge Road. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 3:02 p.m.: A tree and wires are down at 3650 Batavia Oakfield Townline Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department is called to respond.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: A fire alarm is sounding at city Public Works Department, 147 Walnut St. A power failure has occurred and the "supervisory alarm" has been tripped. City Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 3:15 p.m.: A tree is down in the roadway at 2879 Batavia Oakfield Townline Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department is called.

UPDATE 3:52 p.m.:  A tractor-trailer has tipped over on Bank Street Road at Cockram Road. Byron and South Byron fire departments are called to respond along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 3:53 p.m.: A tree is down and wires are on fire at 10498 W. Bethany Road. Alexander Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 3:57 p.m.: A tree and primary wires and secondary wires are down at 3073 Pearl Street Road, Batavia. East Pembroke Fire Department is called. The location is between Upton and Wortendyke roads.

UPDATE 4:08 p.m.: Wires are down on a house and arcing at 8885 Keeney Road in Le Roy. The home is being evacuated. Le Roy Fire Department is responding. The location is between West Main Street and Quinlan Road.

UPDATE 4:11 p.m.: A celler pump detail is requested at a house at 7509 Mechanic St. in Byron. The power is out there. Byron and South Byron fire departments are called.

UPDATE 4:53 p.m.: Power lines are down in the road and in water on Powers Road, Batavia. East Pembroke Fire Department is called.

UPDATE 4:58 p.m.: Town of Batavia Fire Department is called to 3658 Batavia Elba Townline Road for wires down in the roadway.

UPDATE 5:56 p.m.: A tree and wires are down at 8151 Kelsey Road, Batavia. East Pembroke is called to respond.

UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: A tree is down across the front steps of a residence at 7041 N. Pearl Street Road, Oakfield. Oakfield Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 6:07 p.m.: East Pembroke command requests mutual aid from Town of Batavia fire to shut down traffic at Kelsey and Galloway roads because of multiple trees and wires down in the roadway.

A one-vehicle rollover accident, believed to be with injuries, is reported in the area of 9224 Alexander Road, Alexander.

A caller says it appears an occupant or occupants are beginning to crawl out of the vehicle.

Alexander fire and ambulance dispatched. Mercy EMS is also responding.

UPDATE 9:48 a.m.: Both occupants are out of the car.

UPDATE 9:53 a.m.: Mercy EMS can disregard. Alexander's ambulance will handle sign-offs.

Charles Elias Cooper, 35, of West Seneca Street, Lodi, and Joshua Dennis Cooper, 32, of Dunlap Road, Ovid, are charged with: soliciting without a permit; a scheme to defraud in the second degree; and 6th-degree conspiracy. In addition, Joshua Dennis Cooper is also charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief. At about 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office received a report of individuals trying to scam residents for driveway repair work on Alleghany Road (Route 77) in Darien. The investigation revealed that the defendants were allegedly performing work at a residence without the property owner's permission and then tried to charge the property owner multiple sums of money. The defendants were arrested and arraigned in Darien Town Court. The investigation was handled by Deputy Kevin McCarthy, Deputy Kevin Forsyth, Deputy Kyle Krzemien, and the NYS Police Commerical Motor Vehicle Unit.

Emily Elizabeth Dale, 27, of Water Street, Attica, is charged with: driving while intoxicated; unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree; speed not reasonable and prudent; moving from lane unsafely; and unlicensed operator. Dale was arrested following an investigation into a motor vehicle accident on Maplewood Road in the Town of Alexander at 5:38 p.m on Feb. 1. Dale was allegedly operating her motor vehicle in an intoxicated state when she drove off the roadway. Her operating privileges were allegedly suspended at the time. She was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital for a mental health evaluation. She is due in Town of Alexander Court this afternoon (Feb. 5). The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute, assisted by Mathew Clor.

Attica dealt Alexander only its fourth loss on the season, only second in league play, knocking the Trojans out of a first-place tie with Lyndonville and Elba, with a 64-54 win at home.

Alexander's Chris McClinic was the game's top scorer with 25 points. Ryan Davis scored 11 points for the Trojans.

For the Blue Devils, Devon Henderson scored 15 points, Frankie Bisceglie, 12, Trevor Goll, 11. Dawson Nelson scored 10 points, added 16 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Ayden Goll scored nine points and had six assists, six rebounds, and two steals.

"I was very proud of the team tonight," said Attica Coach Rob Crowley. "This was two good teams going at it. It was a great game in December over there and I would not have expected anything less tonight. It's always nice to win at home versus your rivals. "

Attica is now 10-6. Alexander is 11-4.

Elba (15-3) was also lost its share of first place in the Genesee Region League on Friday night with a 52-41 loss to Lyndonville (15-1).

Oakfield-Alabama (8-7) beat Pembroke (7-9) 64-51.

Byron-Bergen (6-9) beat Holley 65-47.

Pavilion (7-9) (in the Livingston League) beat Geneseo 71-63. 

Batavia plays North Tonawanda this afternoon at North Tonawanda. Batavia, in the Monroe League, is 6-7.

For the seventh time in 13 games this season, the Alexander Trojans topped 60 points en route to their 10th win, beating Notre Dame at Notre Dame, 63-52.

Chris McClinic led the Trojans with 24 points, hitting a pair of three-point baskets along the way, and senior captain Ryan Davis scored 13 points.

"At the beginning, we were able to attack their two-three zone," said Trojan Coach Wayne Hanley. "We were able to get through it pretty quick and made them change things up. I thought Notre Dame did a good job shooting but we did a good job on the boards."

With eight wins against Genesee Region competition (10-3 overall), Alexander is tied for the league lead with Lyndonville and Elba. 

The Trojans lost a home game to Elba on Wednesday, 61-45, and have also lost to Greece-Odyssey, 91-54, and to Cal-Mum, 73-63.

"The kids are playing really well," Hanley said. "We faced some tough competition. Greece-Odyssey, then we played Cal-Mum, and that helped us prepare for the GR itself. The GR is very tough this year. We’ve played some tough games but we’ve been focused every game so I think that has really helped us out."

For Notre Dame, now 6-8, Spencer Misiti scored 16 points, Gabe Macdonald scored 12, and Zachary Cocking scored 11.

Thank you to Coach Hanley for participating in a video interview. Unfortunately, the audio did not come out well enought to use with this video.

Gerard J. Buckenmeyer, 89, of Alexander, was lain to rest today at St. Vincent’s Cemetery, Attica, escorted by members of the Alexander Volunteer Fire Department, which he served for much of his life.

Buckenmeyer, a lifelong Alexander resident, was a past president of the Alexander Volunteer Fire Department, Western New York Fire Association, and the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, more commonly known as FASNY.

He was past president and longtime member of Alexander Central School Board of Education. He was a postal carrier and a member of the Rural Letter Carrier Association. 

For his full obituary, click here.

Photos submitted by Barbara Eddy.

A motor-vehicle accident with no injuries is reported at 9481 Alexander Road, Alexander.

Alexander fire and ambulance dispatched.

An Alexander chief on scene requests fire police for traffic control.

The roads are slick and units should proceed non-emergency and with caution.

UPDATE 10:52 a.m.: Shortly after a chief mentions "we need to get people to slow down," he reports, "we've got another one in a ditch." The roads are slippery.

UPDATE 10:54 a.m.: A DOT salt truck is in route.

UPDATE 11:04 a.m.: One member of fire police warns the other to "be carefull -- these people are not listening or following directions."

Voters in Alexander yesterday rejected a $12.6 million capital improvement project that would have allowed the school district to build a new bus garage, upgrade some elementary school classrooms and install lights on the football field.

The ballot proposition failed by a 61 to 39 percent margin, or 183 no to 117 yes.

School officials said the current bus garage is beyond repair and its location and configuration is a traffic safety hazard. 

Critics accused the Alexander CSD of using the community's long-standing request for lights on the football field as a way to bribe voters into approving the expenditure.

The projects were going to be funded by $1.9 million from capital reserves (money designated for such projects), $705,000 from other reserves, and more than $10 million in state aid.

Passage of the measure would have required the district to take out $10 million in bonds, with state aid making the bond payments, over the 15- and 30-year life of the bonds.

Officials said the bus garage is in such bad condition that state officials will soon force its replacement.

Previously: Alexander needs new bus garage, classroom upgrades, football lights go along with it, residents told at forum

A 16-year-old male who lives in Bergen was arrested and charged with second-degree harassment at 12:40 p.m. on Nov. 14. He allegedly grabbed and shook a teacher's head during class at Byron-Bergen High School. He was arraigned in Bergen Town Court and an order of protection was issued for the teacher. The teenager is due in Bergen Town Court at 5 p.m. on Dec. 12. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Matthew Butler.

Rodney Scott Schwartz, 53, of Broadway Road, Alexander, is charged with: DWI -- second offense within 10 years; aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree; and open container of alcohol in a vehicle. Following an investigation into a domestic incident at 6:55 p.m. on Nov. 25, Schwartz was arrested on these charges and jailed on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 bond. He was due in Alexander Town Court on Nov. 29. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy James Stack.

Sara Rae Tombari, 21, of Roanoke Road, Pavilion, is charged with third-degree bail jumping. She was arrested after failing to appear for a scheduled court appearance. She was arraigned at 1 p.m. on Nov. 27 in Batavia City Court and jailed in lieu of $2,500 bail. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello, assisted by Sgt. Ronald Meides.

Joseph Michael Smith, 42, of Colonial Lane, Bath, is charged with third-degree bail jumping. He was arrested after failing to appear for a scheduled court appearance. He was arraigned at 12:50 a.m. on Nov. 28 in Batavia Town Court and jailed in lieu of $1,000 bail. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Erik Andre.

A $12.6 million capital improvement proposal for the Alexander Central School District truly is a collaborative effort by members of the local community, Superintendent Catherine Huber, Ed.D., told residents at a community forum Wednesday night.

"The committee worked tirelessly for several months and really came up with a plan that represents the voices of the community," Huber said. "The work was nothing but true collaboration and this plan really does represent the voices of our community."

The plan calls for a new bus garage, four upgraded classrooms in the elementary school building, and lights for the football field.

There are some in the community, including Toby Wade, who had a lot to say at the forum, who suspect the lights for football is a sort of bribe of the community to get approval for the bus garage.

"There is a perception out there by some people, and I admit, I'm one of them, who think you are just throwing them a bone so you can get the rest of the stuff you want," Wade said. 

Huber said the football lights were included because lights on the football field are a long-standing request of the community. She said it was one of the first things brought up to her by community members when she joined the district two years ago. The need for a new bus garage and dealing with the classroom situation is driving the need for a capital project, and that creates an opportunity to wrap in lights for the football field.

"We feel like this plan is not a matter of throwing a bone to anybody," Huber said. 

The state requires school districts to do a facilities review every five years and identify potential issues that need to be addressed. To comply with that requirement, Huber said, the district formed a committee -- any member of the community was able to participate -- and committee members toured the entire district property.

"When we came back from our site tour, almost everybody in that room knew what our priorities should be," Huber said. "When we toured the transportation facility, we realized what dire straits that transportation facility is in. We had no idea what condition the classrooms were in on the garden level but flooding was happening there regularly. The transportation facility and the elementary school building, we knew we had to do something about that. That was our jumping off point."

The current bus garage is beyond repair, Huber said. Bricks are deteriorating, there are other structural problems, and modern buses don't fit in it well.

There is also a persistent complaint about the safety of the current location. The current configuration means buses must back up into both car and pedestrian traffic areas.

Another long-standing request from the community, Huber said, is for a sidewalk connecting the high school with the elementary school in order to improve safety.

The proposed new transportation facility would eliminate indoor parking for buses (a configuration the state would not fund), create bays for bus maintenance, and a second floor for offices for transportation staff.

The transportation facility would be on a raised elevation, creating separation from pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk next to the football field.

Huber said the district decided to build a new transportation hub at the present location of the bus garage because there was no other available space on school district property and with declining enrollment, it made no sense for the district to acquire off-campus property for buses.

"We looked at several locations on campus and everywhere we ran into issues -- slops, water flows, traffic," Huber said. "It's a very complicated space."

Becky Cokelet, project consultant, from SEI Design Group, explained the situation with the elementary school classrooms.

There is a problem with flooding in the lower southwest area of the building because of soil conditions and that has caused damage to the building. 

The plan also calls for eliminating the bathrooms in each classroom and converting those to storage closets. Two new multi-stall bathrooms will be added where there is currently a classroom. 

The classrooms will be updated with modern fixtures and features and module desk units purchased. There will also be new lockers installed in the hallway.

Funding for the $12.6 million projects will come from a variety of sources:

• $1.9 million from capital reserves;
• $750,000 from other reserves;
• and, 79 percent funded by state aid.

There will be no tax increase in either the near-term nor the long-term related to the project, Financial Director Tim Batzel said.

The district will be required to take out a 15-year bond on the classroom renovations and a 30-year bond for the new building but there will be no increase in the tax levy as a result.

The bonds will be repaid over the years by reimbursements from the state, not out of district funds (after the allocated reserves are spent).

While the statutory language of the ballot measure voters are being asked to approve Monday discusses using tax levy funds to pay for the project, that is language required by state law. In reality, Batzel, future tax levy money will not be used for the project. The expense of the project is completely covered by existing reserves and state aid.

If voters approve the project, Cokelet and her SEI colleagues will need until June 2019 to draw up architectural plans, then state officials will need to approve those plans -- a process that takes several months -- so construction won't begin before 2020 and then will take 10 to 12 months to complete.

Toby Wade said it seemed like there were a lot of unanswered questions about project details, particularly around the design of a retaining wall that he and others thought could present a safety issue.

Huber assured the audience that there is no way the district would approve plans that didn't adequately address safety issues.

As for the lack of detailed design plans, Cokelet said the stages of development are driven by state regulation. First comes the assessment, then a preliminary plan, which requires state approval, and then that plan is presented to the school board for approval. After the board approves it, it is brought to district voters for consideration.

It's only after voters approve it that architects can begin to actually design the buildings and infrastructure of the project.

Wade said that process is a problem because the district voters have been burned before.

"The year 2000 building project was a complete failure," Wade said. "We had to go through lawsuits and it was a huge disservice to people. I can respect that you're trying to do what is needed, but a lot of people in the community aren't going to trust that you're doing your due diligence and trust that it's all going to turn out right."

Cokelet didn't deny the previous project had numerous problems but she said she wasn't involved in the 2000 project, nor was her company.

"I'm ashamed on a professional level, on behalf of my profession, how that firm represented (and) handled that project, but thankfully that firm is out of business," Cokelet said.

However, the district won't be able to maintain the garage much longer. Soon the state will require it be replaced.

"I understand this requires faith and trust but I hope you will look at our most recent projects and I hope you see the great work that was done on limited budgets," Cokelet said.

Voters in the Alexander Central School District can vote on the capital improvement project at the school on Monday (Dec. 3) from noon to 8 p.m.

For a time, the leaders of Tri-Town Youth Athletics Association considered skipping the basketball season because they knew they couldn't pay new fees imposed by the Alexander CSD on use of the school's gym.

Then they got an offer from St. Vincent's Church in Alexander -- low-cost use of the gym there.

"Someone was kind enough to reach out and asked if we knew the building was sitting there not being used a ton and they offered to let us use it," said Lisa Lyons, president of Tri-Town. "It's worked out good for us so far."

The school district announced last spring that it would start charging Tri-Town a fee for use of school facilities even though Tri-Town helps develop student-athletes for the Trojans and the community has already made a substantial investment in The Field of Dreams, which the school district uses.

Tri-Town was able to reconstruct its football field in the park behind the Alexander Fire Department rec hall over the summer, but Lyons said the board didn't think it had access to a low-cost gym for basketball for the winter, so there was talk of canceling the season since the district's new fees proved unaffordable.

The uncertainty of the season, Lyons said, meant that registration this year was lower than normal, a dropoff from about 100 participates, down to 70 or 75.

But practices are underway and there will be games played this Saturday at St. Vincent's.

There's no set fee for the association to use St. Vincent's, Lyons explained. The association will make a payment from available registration funds after paying for insurance, uniforms and equipment.

St. Vincent is the patron saint of charities. 

The season runs through the end of January.

Previously:

• Parents in Alexander express concern school district is double dipping with new use fees
• Tri-Town happy with decision to skip Alexander CSD fee and build new football field

The Alexander Central School District has proposed a $12.6 million capital improvement package that includes lights for the football field, a new transportation building and classroom improvements.

The district will host a public forum on the package at 7 o'clock tonight in the auditorium.

There is an election schedule Monday to ask district voters whether to approve the package.

The transportation building is the largest part of the package, with an estimated cost of $6.9 million.

The proposal calls for the demolition of the existing transportation facility and the construction of a new bus garage.

The cost of lighting the football field is expected to come in at more than $400,000.

The district is proposing borrowing more than $10 million and spending $1.9 million from the capital reserve fund.

The ballot proposition anticipates an increase in the tax levy to help pay for the project but doesn't specify how much the levy might increase, if at all.

Catherine Huber, Ed.D., who was named superintendent of the Alexander Central School district two years ago this month, is one of two finalists for the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES District superintendent position, according to the BOCES website.

Huber is scheduled for a daylong visit at the BOCES campus as part of the interview process Dec. 12.

The other finalist is Vicma Ramos, superintendent for the Greater Amsterdam School District.

Prior to accepting the position in Alexander, Huber was a principal in West Seneca, director of secondary education and assistant superintendent for human resources in the Kon-Ton School District. She's a member of the chief school officer group at Genesee Valley BOCES and chairs the instructional subcommittee.

The Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES includes 25 public school districts, 11 in Wayne County, nine in Ontario County, three in Seneca County and two in Yates County. The superintendent manages a $3.3 million budget.

The BOCES board anticipates appointing a new superintendent in January with a start date for the job in the spring.

Previously: Q&A with Catherine Huber, Ed.D., superintendent of Alexander CSD

Photo: File photo.