Le Roy

A one-car rollover accident is reported on eastbound Route 490 at mile marker 490.1. There are two victims, one is unconscious in the back seat. Head and back injuries reported. Le Roy fire and ambulance are on scene, along with a second ambulance from Mercy and state Troopers. There is black ice in the area.

UPDATE 2:03 a.m.: The vehicle is on its roof in the median. Both patients are loaded into the ambulances; both are going to Strong Memorial Hospital. A flatbed tow is called in. Le Roy is back in service.

For the first time, Le Roy residents gathered at the former site of the Wiss Hotel for a Christmas tree lighting. The tree was donated by Andrew Lathan, owner of Lathan Tree Service and was decorated with ornaments from members of the community.

A working house fire is reported at 8261 Gully Road in Le Roy. Le Roy Fire Department and Ambulance Service are responding, along with mutual aid from Bergen, Stafford and Pavilion. The location is at the curve, between Oatka Trail and Hebbard Road. The house has been evacuated.

UPDATE 6:39 p.m.: The city's Fast Team is called to the scene. Command says the interior fire is pretty much knocked down except the second story.

UPDATE 6:44 p.m.: Oakfield is called to stand by in the city's fire hall. The Town of Batavia Fire Department is called to stand by in its own quarters. An extension ladder is needed at the scene to access the second story at the rear of the structure.

UPDATE 6:49 p.m.: Stafford "will be the standby crew for the district." National Grid is called in.

UPDATE 6:55 p.m.: They will be working to open up the roof line. South Byron is asked to stand by in its own quarters, at the request of Stafford.

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: Fire Police will be providing traffic control at Route 19 and North Road.

UPDATE 7:08 p.m.: Howard is at the scene and says it's not a big blaze. A small portion of the roof caught fire due to overheated wood around the stovepipe at the roofline.

UPDATE 9:10 p.m. (by Howard): Firefighters with a thermal imaging camera have checked the roof line and report no more hot spots.

Twelve-year-old Max McKenzie, a student at Le Roy Middle School, bested a field of 225 participants to win the Le Roy Winterfest 5K today.

The Meads, Donald and Elaina, will each serve six months in jail for their part in a confrontation with police June 17, 2012 at 21 Maple Ave., Le Roy.

Judge Robert C. Noonan said because of the dangers stemming from their actions he would have been inclined to send them both to prison save the outpouring of support from friends and family.

"The letters I've received (about three dozen), it's obvious to me you were not the person that day that you have been for the other 51 years of your life," Noonan told Donald. "You are the patriarch of a very tight-knit family. You've done a very good job of raising seven children, of whom five have challenges in life that many people do not have.

"Two of the hardest jobs in America," Noonan added, "are being a parent and being a police officer and those two things came squarely face to face at your house that day."

For all of their family values, Noonan told Elaina, there is another value the Meads should teach their children and 11 grandchildren: let police officers do their jobs.

"Teach them the value that if a police officer shows up and advises somebody he is under arrest, stay out of it," Noonan said. "Let the police officers do their job.

"I'm not naive enough to believe police officers are always right," Noonan added. "I know sometimes they are wrong, but those are issues that can be rectified at another time and not by disobeying orders and bring out knives and interfering with them while they're conducting their jobs."

After six months in jail, the spouses will spend five years on probation.

Donald and Elaina Mead were arrested on Father's Day after Deputy Matthew Butler went to their residence to talk to their son Micheal.

According to statements in court today by Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell, Butler had been trying to work with Michael to resolve a Family Court matter, giving, Finnell said, Michael every chance to clear up the matter. But after Butler spoke with Michael that day and found that Michael couldn't produce the paperwork necessary to prove he hadn't violated a court order, Butler told Michael he was under arrest.

At that point, according to Finnell, Donald Mead slammed the door against Butler and slammed it against him several times, causing Butler to suffer minor injuries.

The confrontation then spilled out of the house and, according to Finnell, Elaina emerged from the house with a kitchen knife and held it to the chest of Butler.

Officer Emily Clark knocked the knife from Elaina's hand, sustaining a minor cut, according to official accounts.

Elaina Mead has maintained that she dropped the knife when she came out of the house.

Both Elaina and Donald entered their guilty pleas -- Elaina to menacing a police officer and Donald to attempted assault -- on an Alford basis, meaning they have not admitted to the factual allegations just that a jury would likely find them guilty if their cases went to trial.

To Noonan, he said, Elaina has shown a lack of remorse for her actions. In September, Elaina entered a guilty plea but after reviewing the pre-sentencing report, Noonan said he couldn't go along with the plea arrangement that would have allowed for a six-month jail term and probation. He said at the time, he didn't think the sentence was appropriate given the seriousness of the allegations and Elaina's unwillingness, he said, to accept responsibility for her actions.

"When I read the pre-sentence report (in September), it's clear that you showed absolutely no remorse," Noonan told Elaina. "You were not at all apologetic for the very dangerous situation you created. Now I've read a whole lot more about you and I'm glad I have a better picture of who you are. You obviously have strong family values and strong family support. You have done an extraordinary job of keeping a family together in difficult circumstances."

The fact, however, that by interfering with police officers trying to make an arrest, the Meads created a situation, Noonan said, that could have led to serious, if not fatal, injuries either for the officers or the Meads themselves. For that reason, Noonan said, some jail time was appropriate for both defendants.

Finnell said both Butler and Clark, as victims in the case, asked that the Meads be given some jail time.

Elaina declined to speak in court, but her attorney, Thomas Burns, said she has expressed regret for the events of June 17.

"There's no doubt in my mind, at least, that she wishes if she could have one day for a do over, that would be the day," Burns said. "She did not intend to cause injury. I do believe she acted irrationally and she should not have endangered anybody or had any contact with police when they attempted to subdue her son and attempted to take him away under arrest."

Donald said he regretted what happened June 17.

"If I could go back to that day and live it all over again, I would do things differently," Donald said. "I didn't intend for anybody to get hurt, especially an officer. I wish I could live that day over again. I keep going over and over it in my head. If I could, I wouldn't have to come here and waste anybody's time. I keep thinking what I could have done differently."

Previously:

• Three members of Le Roy family jailed after scuffle with police
• Former Le Roy resident pleads guilty, but doesn't admit threatening deputy with knife
• Woman accused of threatening deputy with knife plans to proceed in case with new attorney
• Husband and wife involved in scuffle with police in Le Roy enter guilty pleas

Le Roy PD is trying to determine who stole a two-seat go-cart from inside the old Jell-O factory on North Street.

The go-cart was stolen some time during the last week of October, probably during nighttime hours.

Anybody with information to assist with the investigation are asked to contact Le Roy PD at (585) 345-6350.

The photo is a stock photo of a go-cart that is a similar make, model and color.

UPDATE. Press release from Le Roy PD:

The missing go-cart stolen from North Street in LeRoy has been identified as the go-cart found on October 10, 2013 by a golfer behind the LeRoy Country Club Golf Course. The go-cart is currently in the possession of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and arrangements are being made to return the go-cart to the owner.

The perpetrators of this crime are still outstanding.

Since 1971, the Genesee Chorale has been making beautiful music for the people of WNY. That tradition continues this month with two holiday concerts.

First, the Chorale performs a show entitled "Hail the Star" starting at 7 p.m., Friday, at Le Roy Jr./Sr. High School, 9300 South St.

Two days later, on Sunday at 3 p.m., the group performs in Albion at the First Presbyterian Church.

The 70 or so people who comprise the chorale have been traveling weekly to Batavia from the seven area counties of WNY to prepare for these concerts.

"We come from a lot of rural communities," said chorale president Maureen Degolyer. "Coming from a rural community, like I am from Castile, you have to be willing to travel a distance to do any quality music, and that's what we do here."

The Chorale is dedicated, she said, to providing audiences with the highest quality performance they could possibly hear.

"Our expectations are high and we don't do anything that isn't quality because nobody could stand it," Degolyer said. "We aim for quality and it is wonderful stuff."

The concert is a blend of traditional and contemporary songs.

A few of the selections are: “Jesus Loves Me,” which has a jazz influence and will be feature Dan Jones on the alto saxophone; “What Strangers Are These,” featuring Fran Woodworth on flute and Mike Teeling on acoustic guitar; and, a unique arrangement of “Jingle Bells” as made popular by Barbra Streisand.

For more information and tickets, visit www.GeneseeChorale.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Top photo, conductor Ric Jones.

Fran Woodworth

Maureen Degolyer

Mike Teeling

Bob Holley

Jones conducting, Woodworth on flute.

The chorale's rehearsal at St. James Episcopal Church in the community room.

Volunteer fire departments do so much for our community. Thomas Dix and his mother, Mary, owners of Jay E. Potter Lumber Co. in Corfu and Le Roy, thought it was time the family business gave back.

Last week, they announced a program that provides discounts to volunteer firefighters and rebates for designated purchases to local fire departments.

"We're looking to help the local fire departments with funding and give people incentive to join and move up the ranks," Thomas Dix said. "The volunteers have a lot of time invested. These guys are required to go through hours and hours of training and they've got to devote a lot time to it and there's no pay for it."

Here's how the program works:

• Basic firefighter, 7-percent discount on all purchases and 2 percent of the purchase price goes back to your fire department (checks get cut quarterly)
• Firefighters who have completed interior training or EMS training get a 10-percent discount and 2 percent goes back to the fire department.
• Line officers (chiefs, captains, lieutenants) get free delivery on supplies for projects, 10-percent off and 2 percent goes back to the fire department.
• Non-volunteers don't get a discount, but they can join the program and designate a fire department to receive 2 percent of their purchase.

Dix said he isn't aware of any other locally owned business offering a similar program, but he's hoping others will pick up the idea and implement it themselves.

Potter Lumber Co. is located on Maple Avenue in Corfu and on Mill Street in Le Roy.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer with your local department, visit ReadyGenesee.com.

A caller to dispatchers says he and another person are sitting in a car on Gulf Road, Le Roy, in front of the Sportsman's Club, and a wire has fallen on the car.

The caller reports it as a power line.

Le Roy fire is responding.

While the caller said he didn't know how the wire came down, a first responder reports that it's a motor-vehicle accident and a utility pole is down.

Gulf Road is being shut down.

UPDATE 6:37 p.m.: The accident is believed to be without injuries. Two vehicles involved. The pole is on one vehicle. Both are heavily damaged and need flatbed tows. Power is off at a neighborhing building. Caledonia ambulance requested to the scene for what are believed to be sign-offs.

UPDATE 6:51 p.m.: All victims out of the vehicles.

UPDATE 7:52 p.m.: Le Roy highway requested to the scene to salt the road. The road is no longer blocked.

UPDATE 7:26 p.m.: Le Roy back in service. Road is open.

Faced with multiple felony charges that could have sent him to prison for up to 25 years, a Le Roy resident arrested for a home-invasion sexual assault entered a guilty plea to rape in the first degree on condition that he serve no more than 18 years.

Charles D. Johnson, 29, of 82 Gilbert St., Building #14, Apt. #6, Le Roy, was offered the deal by Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell prior to a scheduled evidence hearing in County Court this afternoon.

Johnson was indicted on counts of predatory sexual abuse, a Class A-II violent felony, burglary in the first degree, a Class B violent felony, and criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D felony.

He entered a guilty plea to a Class B violent felony. If convicted at trial, he would have faced 10 to 25 years in prison.

The deal reduces his possible jail sentence to eight to 18 years.

A guilty plea involves Judge Robert C. Noonan asking the defendant a series of questions. First, Noonan must ensure the defendant understands his rights and what rights he's giving up with his guilty plea. He must also make sure the defendant understands the consequences of a guilty plea.

During this process, there were some wrinkles in the case with Johnson.

First, under questioning from Noonan, Johnson said he hadn't been given adequate time to think about the plea deal offered to him by the DA's office.

That lead to a 45-minute recess so Johnson -- who was representing himself rather than having an attorney at his side -- to confer with a member of his family.

After the recess, Noonan put Johnson under oath and began to ask him questions about the events of May 9.

Johnson said he couldn't remember raping the victim.

"I don't remember anything," Johnson said. "I was too high."

Finnell said the people were prepared to accept Johnson's plea on an Alford basis, which means the defendent doesn't admit to the specifics of a crime, just that a juy would probably convict the defendant based on the people's evidence.

Among the evidence that would be offered at trial is a DNA match for Johnson that has a 1.13 quintillion probability of matching a person other than Johnson. Johnson also matches the physical description provided by the victim.

When Noonan asked Johnson if he believed there was a reasonable probability that a jury would convict him, Johnson said, "No, I do not."

This started a several minute conversation where Noonan explained to Johnson how the law worked, explaining that Noonan could only accept Johnson's guilty plea if he admitted to the factual evidence or admitted that the evidence against him was strong enough that he believed a jury would convict him.

"I can't say what a jury would do," Johnson said.

Noonan said, of course not, but "that's why I asked if you believe there is a reasonable probability that a jury would find you guilty."

Noonan asked, "have you heard the evidence and do you have reason to believe a jury would convict you?"

Johnson replied, "I have heard the evidence and I believe a jury would convict me."

Prior to today's hearing, Johnson has also been provided with all of the police reports and evidence reports in the case, and as his own attorney had a chance to personally review the case against him, according to Noonan.

According to Finnell, Johnson has a prior felony conviction in Erie County that Johnson claims he received inadequate representation on.

Johnson, Finnell said, entered a guilty plea in 2003 of attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, 5th.

If Johnson can get that conviction vacated before his sentencing, the potential minimum term on the rape conviction would be five years.

Johnson admitted to breaking into the home of a woman in Le Roy and raping her in early May. He was captured two weeks later by Le Roy Police Department investigators.

As part of the plea, he is waiving all rights to an appeal.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 24.

For the second time in five years, a homeless man who travels between Syracuse and Ohio has been arrested in Genesee County and accused of stealing money from local churches.

Stephen W. Quigley, 59, is charged with petit larceny.

Det. Pat Corona said Quigley admitted to the thefts.

Batavia PD opened an investigation into money missing from local church collection receptacles in January 2012. 

Investigators had a description of a person using a device to remove cash from the receptacles, with the department receiving multiple reports of similar circumstances during the intervening months.

This morning, a witness to a prior alleged left spotted Quigley in Batavia.

Police located Quigley and questioned him. He allegedly admitted to larcenies from local churches on multiple occasions.

Le Roy PD arrested Quigley in June 2009 and accused him of stealing money from the candle prayer offerings of a church in Le Roy.

Quigley was jailed on $1,000 bail.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at 7818 E. Main Road in Le Roy. It's between Asbury and Circular Hill roads. One person is complaining of back pain and is inside the vehicle. Le Roy Fire Department and Ambulance Service are responding.

UPDATE 6:54 p.m.: A pickup truck involved has wires and cable wrapped around it. The state DOT rep is called because of the snarl of wires involved -- telephone, cable, phone, electrical, plus a damaged pole and the need to remove a damaged fire hydrant. Monroe County Water Authority is notified of the latter necessity. People in the vicinity are without power.

With a new head coach, the Le Roy boys basketball team is being put through its paces.

At a practice Thursday night, there was no slowing down, no waltzing through zone defenses, no stepping through an offensive playbook. The boys ran, they jumped, they weaved and they passed and they shot.

The fast-paced practice is designed to help prepare the team for what Rick Rapone hopes will be a quick-break offensive style during the regular season.

"We're going to try," Rapone said.

Rapid transitions, Rapone believes, equals more scoring opportunities.

"The faster you get down the court, the easier a shot you get, the percentages are you should make it," Rapone said.

He'll have to find out if his team can handle the fast pace in real time under game pressure.

He's certainly gotten the boys' attention. The players went through the practice with game faces on, not missing a beat.

"You've seen for yourself, they're hard workers," Rapone said. "They've responded well to all the new things we're trying to do. Even though we had a little bit of a short time frame because football was so successful this season, we're catching up pretty well. It's a great group of kids."

The boys should listen. Rapone has the coaching pedigree to command attention.

He's the brother of Notre Dame's Mike Rapone, and while Rick is 606 wins short of his brother's legendary accomplishments as a varsity coach, Rick was one of Mike's assistants in the 1980s.

This, however, is his first head coaching job.

"I've always wanted to coach basketball and the opportunity came up and I took a shot and was fortunate enough to get it," said Rapone, a Le Roy resident.

While Rapone is waiting to see how his team responds in game situations, he thinks he's got the athletes ready to have an impact in the Livingston County League.

There's Zach Moore and Steve Cappotelli. Cappotelli he said missed last season because of an injury but will provide a key leadership role on the team.

Kody Lamkin gives the Knights a big man under the boards who will surprise people with his athleticism.

"People are going to see how fast he is for such a big guy, and he has a great shooting touch for a big fellow," Rapone said.

Sophomores Nick Egling and Ethan Witkowski are also expected to be contributors this season.

"The key to the whole thing, though, is our point guard, Mike McMullen," Rapone said. "He's very smart. He's very tuned in to what we're trying to do."

With Notre Dame in the Genesee Region and Le Roy playing in Livington County, and Le Roy in Class B and Notre Dame in Class D, there's no chance -- at least this season -- that the Rapone brothers will see their teams meet in competition.

That may make it a little easier for Mike to share some of his ideas with Rick, which Rick said Mike is very willing to do.

"I'd be a fool not to have learned by watching him coach and win his 600 games," Rick Rapone said. "A lot of the successful things he does, I can guarantee you, that we're going to try our best to pick up on. He's a great man and obviously a very successful basketball guy. I'd be a fool not to get as much information as he's willing to share, and he's willing to share a lot."

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

The Moose Lodge in Le Roy honored local veterans Saturday night with a prime rib dinner.

Besides the volunteers (pictured below) who helped put it together and run it, the event was supported by Smokin' Eagle, T.F. Brown's, Le Roy Country Club, BW's, 58 Main and Red Osier. Volunteers included Justin Mattice, Bob Sovocoll, Judy Mills, Shane Burger and the staff at the Smokin' Eagle.

Photos by Shane Burger.

Where the Wiss Hotel once stood this holiday season will stand a huge amount of Christmas cheer thanks to Andrew Lathan, owner of Lathan Tree Service, and his family.

The Lathans are donating a 30-foot tall artificial Christmas tree to the community.

Businesses and families are asked to provide ornaments to the tree. The ornament should have a name or business logo on it.

Ornaments can be dropped off at Town Hall by the end of November.

Ornaments should be at least 6-inches tall. 

"This is a very large tree," the Lathans note. It will be as tall as the existing buildings on the west end of Main Street.

The tree will be lit Dec. 7 as part of the community's holiday celebration.

Pictured are Jack, Jay, Aubrey and Carrie Lathan with the unassembled tree.

A car fire is reported on the eastbound Route 90 at mile marker 379. Le Roy fire and medics are responding. State Troopers are on scene. Several people were seen running away from the vehicle. Responders are told to stage at the toll booth.

A Monroe County resident who was tied to a burglary at the former Jell-O Factory in Le Roy by DNA evidence, entered a guilty plea this morning in County Court to one count of fourth-degree grand larceny.

James M. Kavanagh is being released under supervision of Genesee Justice pending his sentencing Feb. 4.

He was arrested in September by Le Roy PD for the burglary in April 2012.

Also arrested was Kristen Brightenfield. Her case is still pending.

John O'Shea was arrested for the burglary shortly after it occurred and is currently serving a sentence in State Prison. Brightenfield and Kavanagh were accused of being accomplices.

In court this morning, Kavanagh's attorney said he has a fiance who is due to give birth and Kavanagh, who was being held in the Genesee County Jail until today, said he has a job waiting for him in Chili supervising a gas station at night.

Judge Robert C. Noonan placed a curfew on Kavanagh as a term of his release under supervision, but carved out exceptions for him to work and to be present at the birth of his child.

He's also on probation in Monroe County.

At sentencing, Kavanaugh could be facing the potential of a longer prison term because of a prior felony conviction in Ontario County for forgery.

Previously: Law and Order: DNA allegedly links two people to 2012 burglary in Le Roy

I couldn't make it to the marker dedication for the East Boundary of the Holland Land Purchase at Four Corners in Stafford on Friday. Sue Conklin sent along this photo and the press release below.

On Friday, November 8th 2013 a historical marker commemorating the Eastern Boundary of the Holland Land Purchase was dedicated in Stafford at the intersection of routes 5 and 237. More than 20 people attended the dedication ceremony, which included a brief reading of the history of the survey and a gun salute provided by the War of 1812 militia. 

Following the dedication the Stafford Historical Society served cider and donuts and several people toured their award-winning museum.

Prior to the dedication a survey using original links and transit was conducted by:

• Rochelle Stein, Genesee County legislator for District No. 5
• Lynne Belluscio, Le Roy House director and LeRoy Village historian
• Susan Conklin, Genesee County historian
• Phyllis Darling, Stafford Historical representative
• Jeffery Donahue, Holland Land Office Museum director

This survey revealed the location of the marker and the actual boundary line is over by 83 links. Had the marker been installed in the actual location, it would be in the center of the intersection of Route 237, something the Department of Transportation would have forbidden. The Town of Stafford graciously provided the Genesee County History Department with an alternative spot.

Welcoming Remarks / Mary Pat Hancock Genesee County Legislator:

"Genesee County included not only the Holland Land Purchase, but many other smaller land tracts. The County had six land companies with the Holland Land Purchase being the largest. It included two-thirds of the county lands and was located west of the Transit Line.  The other smaller companies were located east of the Transit Line and include one third of the county lands. The other land tract companies were the Connecticut, Triangle, Phelps & Gorham, Craigie and the 40,000 Acre.  

"When the Holland Purchase was made, the land was in Ontario County, with the county seat in Canandaigua. On March 30, 1802, Genesee County was formed with the county seat in Batavia. As populations grew, eight other Western New York counties were carved from the original Genesee County.

"The eastern boundary of the 3.3-million acre Holland Land Purchase bisects the old State Road, now known as Route 5, in the Town of Stafford. This boundary runs from the State of Pennsylvania north to Lake Ontario. The Holland Land Purchase extends west from this line to Lake Erie and the Niagara River.

"Today we honor the Holland Land Purchase and commemorate their Eastern Boundary."

A one-vote margin was all the difference needed to elect Michael Welsh town justice in Le Roy.

He beat Scott McCumskey 817-816, according to the Genesee County Elections Commission, which completed counting absentee ballots from last week's election.

In the other closely watched and tight race, incumbent Ed DeJanerio held onto his 21-vote margin over challenger Bob Bialkowski for a 405-372 victory.