Alexander

It smarted, Esther Leadley, when she didn't get the GOP's endorsement for the District 6 seat on the Genesee County Legislature.

The incumbent legislator vowed not to run a primary against the endorsed candidate, Greg Torrey, but that doesn't mean she will give up her seat without a fight.

Leadley announced today that she is running in November's general election.

"I am challenging the endorsed candidate for the District 6 seat on the Genesee County Legislature," Leadley said. "District 6 consists of the towns of Alexander (which includes the Village of Alexander), Bethany and Pavilion. I believe my experience on the Legislature and knowledge of the district and county are of considerable value to District 6 and all residents of the county."

It's been a challenge, Leadley said, to learn the ins-and-outs of running as an independent candidate.

"It smarted when I wasn't endorsed but I never lost my footing and my integrity is intact," Leadley said. "It took several weeks to decide what to do with what had been handed to me.  The outcome of this challenge will be decided at the polls in November."

Leadley also said running primary elections add to county expense and so it's better to run in the general election if she wants to retain her seat.

The new voting machines create an enormous cost because they have to be moved from and back to the controlled storage space," Leadley said. "Staffing at the polls and paper ballots add to the costs. District 6 taxpayers should not have to pay for a political disagreement. The County Board of Elections also sustains large expenses for a primary. Indirectly, those costs come out of taxpayers' pockets at the County level as well. In effect, District 6 taxpayers would pay twice for a primary. I would be irresponsible if I were to force a primary."

Alexander Elementary School hosted a community "Picnic in the Outdoor Classroom" this afternoon, which featured a chance for parents and children to explore the park together.

The state police also provided a bycicle helmet fitting booth for children. Above, Trooper John Szymkowiak fits 4-year-old Anna, of Darien, with a helmet.

Brodes J. Gibson, 52, of 13 Thorpe St., Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd (unlawfully entering a dwelling), and criminal contempt, 2nd. Gibson is accused of entering a dwelling on Thorpe Street at 12:24 a.m., Tuesday, and allegedly violating a complete stay away order.

Alicia Ann Burgess, 22, of Sharrick Road, Darien, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unlawful possession of marijuana, failure to keep right, moving from lane unsafely. Burgess was stopped at 1:14 a.m. on Buffalo Street, Alexander, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

A piece of farm equipment has become entangled in utility lines on Dodgeson Road, Alexander.

Three poles are down, but the lines appear to be telephone lines not power lines.

Alexander fire is on scene.

Dodgeson is being closed on Beaver Road.

UPDATE 10:24 a.m.: One pole is in the road. One secondary line going to a house is down. The rest is phone line.

UPDATE 11:39 p.m.: The Alexander assignment is in service and the road is reopened.

The 22-year-old man who got Tased by a deputy Saturday after a high-speed chase in the Darien area is identified as Nicholas Christian Doell , according to a press release today from the Sheriff's Office.

A possible house fire is reported at 3728 W. Main St. Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding along with Alexander's Fast Team.

UPDATE 8:28 p.m. Alexander is cancelled, along with East Pembroke fire.

Sean M. Vickers is indicted by the Grand Jury and accused of a course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, a Class B felony. He is an adult accused of engaging in two or more acts of sexual conduct, which allegedly included at least one act of deviate sexual intercourse with a child less than 13 years old. The alleged incidents occurred between Nov. 2, 2001 and April 16, 2002.

Joseph E. Marr is indicted by the Grand Jury and accused of driving while intoxicated, as a misdemeanor, and for allegedly driving a motor vehicle on Dec. 14 on Route 5 and/or Keeney Road in Le Roy while under the influence of alcohol. In count two of the indictment, he is accused of having a BAC of .08 or more at the time of the alleged incident. In count three, he is accused of knowingly and unlawfully introducing dangerous contraband into a detention facility or, being a person in jail, knowingly and unlawfully made, obtained or possessed dangerous contraband. In count four, he is accused of driving while impaired by drugs, as a misdemeanor, for allegedly driving a 2001 GMC on Jan. 1 on Route 5 in the Town of Pembroke while impaired by drugs. In counts five and six, respectively, Marr is accused of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, Class D felonies, for allegedly possessing a "black large capacity ammunition feeding device" as well as another such device that was clear/gray, also on Jan. 1 in the Town of Pembroke.

Carrie A. Stewart is indicted by the Grand Jury and accused of tampering with evidence, a Class E felony, on Nov. 15 in the Town of Alexander. It is alleged that Stewart "believing that certain evidence was about to be produced or used in an official proceeding or a propective official proceeding and intending to prevent such production or use, suppressed it by any act of concealment, alteration or destruction, or by employing force, intimidation or deception against any person." This count stems from Stewart allegedly stealing merchandise from Dollar General and then when confronted by management, "threw the merchandise in the Tonawanda Creek where it was carried away by the current." In count two, the defendant is accused of petit larceny for allegedly stealing five pairs of underwear, a hat, socks, gloves, a wallet, and thermal underwear.

Shannon G. Cook is indicted by the Grand Jury and accused of driving while intoxicated, a Class E felony, for allegedly driving a 2002 Dodge pickup on Jan. 20 on Route 262 while under the influence of alcohol. In count two of the indictment, Cook is accused of having a BAC of .08 or greater at the time of the alleged incident.

If I'm out in the county driving around on a beautiful spring day, as I was to hit some of the spots on the GO ART! trail, then you know I'm going to make some photos.

Above, dandelions off Jericho Road, Bethany.

This GMC truck is always parked off Route 20 in Alexander, across the street at Ivy Lane Pottery.

At Ivy Lane Pottery.

In the field next to Sticks and Stones on Broadway, Darien Center.

I've published a photo of this barn on Route 20, Darien, before, but from the other side.

Barn at Route 20 and Smithley Road, Darien.

Spring trees off Walker Road, Darien.

Yellow magnolia in front of the Doty Mansion, Jackson Street, Batavia.

This afternoon, I made the rounds on a portion of GO ART! 2013 Artists Road Show.

Above, Bernice Yunker and Marilynn Palotti at the studio of artist Terry Weber, 5769 Ellicott Street Road, Bethany (the former East Bethany General Store).

Below, Heather Burroughs, of Alexander, gives a pottery demonstration at Ivy Lane Pottery, 3384 Broadway Road, Alexander. Burroughs is a student of Jean Grinnell and started pottery lessons a year ago when she received the lessons as a birthday present from her parents. Grinnell said Heather has picked up the craft quickly.

Bottom photo, Anita Haefner at Sticks and Stones, 2339 Broadway, Darien Center. Our photos of Michael Haefner, unfortunately, did not turn out. He makes rock sculptures.

Russell L. Penepent, 50, of 218 State St., Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, 2nd, and resisting arrest. Penepent is accused of yelling obscenities at passing traffic while in the area of 19 Oak St., Batavia, and causing a disturbance. Penepent then allegedly fought with police when officers attempted to take him into custody. Penepent was jailed on $10,000 bail or $20,000 bond. The incident was handled by officers Eric Dibble, Kevin DeFelice, Marc Lawrence and Sgt. Chris Camp.

Jamie L. Ayala, 33, of 10 Wood St., Batavia, is charged with trespass. The alleged incident was reported April 16 at 412 E. Main St., Batavia, and Ayala turned herself in on a warrant Thursday. No further details released.

Robert L. Stanley, 53, of 26 Ganson Ave., lower, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Stanley is accused of violating a stay away order of protection at 7:24 p.m., Friday. Stanley was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Matthew A. Poole, 21, of 5 Warren St., Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Poole was charged following an alleged incident reported at 2:16 a.m. Sunday at 262 East Ave. in Batavia.  No further details were released.

Jeremy R. Eaton, 36, of 129 State St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, criminal mischief, 4th, and endangering the welfare of a child. Eaton turned himself in on a warrant related to an alleged incident at 12:40 a.m., Friday. Eaton was jailed on $1,000 bail. No further details were released.

Danny J. Torok Jr., 25, of 34 Maple St., upper, is charged with harassment ,2nd, criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation and endangering the welfare of child. Torok was arrested in connection with an alleged incident at 11:45 a.m. Friday at 34 Maple St., Batavia. Torok was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Jordan Matthew Brown, 20, of Ellicott Street, upper, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Brown is accused of shoplifting at Kmart on Friday.

Michael Foster Brandt, 22, of Montclair Avenue, Batavia, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, tinted windows, no front plant and loud exhaust. Brandt was stopped at 4:01 p.m. on Feb. 2 by Deputy Kevin McCarthy. Further investigation revealed Brandt was allegedly under the influence of drugs at the time of the stop.

Michael Foster Brandt, 22, of Montclair Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, for allegedly kicking and damaging the car of another person at a location on Route 5, Stafford, at 4:24 p.m. Jan. 26.

Destiny Mikel London, 22, of Hanlon Road, Albion, is charged with two counts of felony aggravated DWI, driving while ability impaired by drugs, driving on a suspended registration, aggravated unlicensed operation and no insurance. London was stopped at 6:33 p.m., Friday, on Main Street, Oakfield, by Deputy Howard Carlson. She allegedly had two children in the vehicle at the time, ages 2 and 3.

Minnie Henry, 25, Pearl Street Road, Batavia, is charged with resisting arrest, DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Henry's vehicle was stopped for allegedly driving 69 in a 66 mph zone on Hartshorn Road at 2:10 a.m. Saturday by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Jared Shaun McDonald, 19, of Lake Street Road, Pavilion, is charged with assault, 3rd. McDonald allegedly pushed another person causing a back injury at 3:57 a.m., Sunday. McDonald was jailed on $1,000 bail or $2,000 bond.

A 17-year-old from Darien Center, is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Summer R. Prentice, 19, of Knowlesville Road, Alabama, is charged with obstructing governmental administration, 2nd, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment, 2nd. Prentice was arrested and held on bail related to alleged events reported at 12:46 p.m., April 5, in the Town of Oakfield.

Stephanie A. Wixson, 36, of North Street, Batavia, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and driving while impaired by drugs. Wixson was stopped at 10:31 p.m. April 16 in the Town of Alexander by State Police. No further details released.

The Genesee County Emergency Dispatcher Center announced that the following roads in Alexander are closed or partially closed due to flooding:

• Dorman
• Creek
• Peaviner
• Old Creek Road

Photo of flood waters on Peaviner Road, Alexander, by Leslie Crittenden.

A house fire is reported in the Village of Attica at 34 Meadow Lane. Alexander and Darien fire departments are called to provide mutual aid.

The attorney for Nicholas Antonucci, accused of multiple counts of burglary, would like a little more information from the prosecution on one burglary charge.

In November, Antonucci allegedly entered the home of a person he was ordered not to contact. The fact that he entered the house and stayed earned him a charges of burglary, 2nd, and criminal contempt, 2nd.

Defense attorney Thomas Burns requested a "bill of particulars" from the District Attorney's Office -- a document outlining exactly what Antonucci did to get saddled with a burglary charge.

To be charged with burglary, you must enter a dwelling unlawfully with the intent to commit a crime.

Burns said in court that recent case law would indicate the criminal contempt allegation alone wouldn't sustain the burglary charge.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Zickl told Judge Robert C. Noonan that the people had turned over to Burns everything they had on the charges.

Noonan is considering that and other motions filed in the multiple cases pending against the 25-year-old fromer Alexander resident, who is currently in state prison on felony convictions in Wyoming County.

Earlier this year, Antonucci was indicted on charges stemming from the alleged attempted theft two snowmobiles. He entered a not guilty plea to counts of attempted grand larceny, 3rd, petit larceny and two counts of criminal mischief, 4th.

Antonucci is scheduled to appear in Genesee County Court again on April 22.

A rollover accident is reported in the area of 3341 Stroh Road, Alexander.

No word on injuries. Alexander fire and Mercy EMS being dispatched "as a precaution."

UPDATE 7:31 a.m.: A chief on scene reports no or very minor injuries.

View Larger Map