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Oakfield

Police Beat: Oakfield man accused of exposing himself at drive-thru window of coffee shop

By Howard B. Owens

Richard Wolfe, 33, of 36 Garibaldi Ave., Oakfield, is charged with public lewdness. Wolfe is accused of exposing his genitals to a female employee of a West Main Street coffee shop in Batavia while he was sitting in his car at the drive-thru window.

Nathan D. Stephens, 43, of 6258 North Lake Road, Bergen, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, unlicensed operation and speeding. Stephens was stopped by Deputy Colin Reagan of the Wyoming Sheriff's Office at 6:22 a.m., Thursday, on South Main Street in the Village of Warsaw.

Justin William Bird, 22, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unlawful possession of marijuana, inadequate headlights and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Bird is accused of being involved in a property damage accident at 2:26 a.m. in the area of 43 S. Main St., Elba. Allegedly, Bird left the scene without proper notifications and was later located driving in the Village of Elba.

Police Beat: Oakfield resident accused of drowning cat

By Howard B. Owens

Adam M. Kreutz, 22, of Fisher Road, Oakfield, is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, and criminal mischief, 4th. At 4:40 a.m.,Tuesday, while in the Village of Oakfield, Kreutz allegedly drowned a family cat. He was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Jeffery Leonard Wheeler, 18, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Wheeler is accused of visiting a residence he is barred from visiting by court order. Wheeler was jailed on $2,000 bail.

Elba gets dinged in state audit for use of cash from scrap sales

By Howard B. Owens

As soon as the Elba Town Board found out about cash from scrap metal sales being used to buy a flat-screen TV, popcorn popper and coffeemaker for the highway department, the board instituted new accounting controls to better track funds from the sales, according to Town Supervisor Lucine Kauffman.

Disclosure of the sales and purchases were part of an audit report on nine Western New York governments and the Batavia School District by the NYS Comptroller's Office.

Investigators specifically looked into how procedures for scrap material sales were handled. The finding: Of the $132,000 in scrap sales, there was inadequate tracking and accounting of more than $27,000 in cash.

Elba had the distinction of the only flat-screen TV purchased with the cash.

"It was not a practice we (the board) knew about and we put a stop to it immediately," Kauffman said.

According to the report, the highway superintendent for Elba at the time, Allan Totten, made $5,605 in scrap sales from June 2006 to July 2009. The scrap buyer paid with a check for $1,119 in purchases and paid cash on 18 occasions, totalling $4,486.

When he got checks, Totten reportedly turned the checks over to the town and the money went into the general fund.

Kauffman says the Town of Elba contracts with a vendor to pick up scrap metal from its transfer station and it rents a receptacle from the vendor. Proceeds from the sale of this scrap metal has been in the form of a check mailed directly to her.

The scrap metal sold by the highway department employees for cash consisted of items they transported to the vendor. When he got cash, Totten treated it as a "coffee fund" -- petty cash to use within his department.

After auditors questioned this practice, Totten reportedly turned over $1,113 to the town. He didn't have receipts for the purchase of the TV and small appliances, but auditors said they visually confirmed those items were in the highway offices.

Kauffman said in response, that the town notified the scrap buyer that all purchases must be paid for by check from now on, that specific accounting of each transaction must take place. Furthermore, there is no "coffee fund" now.

Purchases for refreshments are reimbursable only under specific conditions, one of which is that the refreshments are for highway department employees from other municipalities assisting with Town of Elba projects.

These purchases will be specifically regulated as to how much money can be spent on authorized items. The town also adopted a code of ethics and wrote a scrap metal policy.

And writing the policy was made a bit harder, Kauffman said, because she couldn't find another jurisdiction that could provide an example of their own (written) scrap sales policies. They just didn't exist, Kauffman said.

That was one of the issues the comptroller's office apparently was trying to address in its audit of government agencies.

In the Batavia School District, auditors identified nearly $4,700 in cash sale proceeds for the period September 2006 through November 2008 that were not recorded or documented.

Some of the sales were recorded in the names of district employees and employees included personal scrap in the pile.

The City of Batavia and Town of Oakfield were found to have informal procedures for accounting for scrap sales and the audit report suggests that formal procedures be adopted.

Car lands upside down in icy water

By Billie Owens

A rollover car accident is reported at Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road and Macomber Road.

The vehicle landed upside down in icy water. The driver is out but cold and being cared for. Oakfield fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE (by Howard): The Sheriff's Office just released the accident report on this incident. John J. Smalley, 48, of South Main Street, Oakfield, was driving his 1997 Chevy SUV westbound on Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road. Deputy Chris Parker reports that Smalley was driving too fast for conditions and lost control of his vehicle. Smalley was cited. Smalley reportedly complained of back pain, possibly related to a previous injury, and was transported to UMMC.

Police Beat: Two teens in Oakfield accused of stealing from Allen Foods

By Howard B. Owens

(name redacted upon request -- case sealed), 16, of Cary Avenue, Oakfield, and (name redacted upon request -- case sealed), 17, of North Pearl Street, Oakfield, are charged with grand larceny, 4th, criminal mischief, 3rd, both felonies, and trespass. xxxx and xxxx are accused of trespassing on the Allen Food's property in Oakfield and causing $250 damage to property there, as well as stealing more than $1,000 in property. The alleged incident occurred at 2 a.m., Sunday. The case was investigated by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Phylicia L. Carey, 18, of Le Roy, is charged with attempted assault, 3rd. Carey is accused of attempting to assault a man who was in the custody of State troopers in Warsaw on Dec. 20. Carey was jailed on $5,000 bail. (Source: D&C)

Rollover accident with minor injuries in Oakfield

By Billie Owens

A rollover motor-vehicle accident with minor injuries is reported at Lewiston and Macomber roads in Oakfield.

Oakfield fire and Mercy EMS are responding and a State Trooper is also on scene. Medics are called for evaluation of the injuries.

UPDATE 1:34 p.m.: The responders are told to use caution and slow down on approach because the roads are iced over.

UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: All units are back in service.

Cars hit head on while trying to make left-hand turns

By Howard B. Owens

Two cars attempting to make left-hand turns at Lewiston Road and Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road collided head on at 11:55 a.m., Saturday.

Both drivers were taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

The first driver, Carol M. Beeby, 67, of Lyndonville, was cited for alleged failure to yield.

The other driver was Michael L. Kickes, 46, of Broadway Street, Oakfield.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Chris Parker.

(Initial Report)

Police Beat: Man who argued with cabbie and cops arrested

By Howard B. Owens

Dorsie M. McGill Jr., 26, of 21 Buell St., Batavia, is charged with theft of services and resisting arrest. McGill allegedly got into an argument with a taxi driver over the amount of fare due, then struggled with police officers Frank Klimjack and James DeFreze when they attempted to take him into custody. McGill was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Vincent D. Henning, 33, of 610 Ellicott St., Batavia, is charged with two counts of petit larceny. Henning is accused of renting two laptop computers at two different rent-to-own stores and then selling the laptops to a pawn shop.

Veronica Garcia, 30, of 2414 Walker Road, Alexander, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle and speeding. Garcia was stopped at 10:59 p.m., Friday, on Pearl Street Road by Officer Dan Coffey.

Melissa Courtney Kent, 19, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and consumption of alcohol inside a motor vehicle. Kent was charged following a call at 1:56 a.m., Saturday, of a car off the road on Route 5 in Pembroke.

Ricky Dean Newbould, 52, of Oak Orchard Road, Elba, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, failure to keep right and improper right turn. Newbould was arrested following the investigation of a motor-vehicle accident at 5:01 a.m., Sunday, on Hundredmark Road, Elba.

Troy Damien Schimley, 17, of Clifton Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and operating a vehicle in violation of a restricted license. Schimley was stopped at 2:39 a.m., Sunday, by Deputy Kevin McCarthy on Wortendyke Road, Batavia.

Vidis E. Malejs, 73, of Buffalo, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to yield right-of-way. Malejs was charged following a report of a property damage accident at 6:20 p.m., Saturday, on Park Road.

Tammy J. Green, 40, of Attica, is charged with DWI, aggravated driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, unsafe start. Green was reportedly involved in a property damage accident at 9 p.m., Saturday, in the parking lot of Alabama Tee Off, on Route 77 in Alabama.

Adam Lee Leaton, 20, of Caswell Road, Byron, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Leaton is accused of hosting an underage drinking party.

Jamie L. Broadbent, 27, of 60 Swan St., Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Broadbent is accused of shoplifting a six-pack of soft drinks and over-the-counter medication from Tops Market.

Tyler P. Schroeder, 18, of Oak Street, Oakfield, is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Schroeder is accused of allowing a 14-year-old to drive the car of another person. A 17-year-old was also in the vehicle. The car was stopped by Deputy James Diehl at 6:36 p.m., Saturday, at the intersection of Pratt and Kelsey roads, Batavia. The 14-year-old was referred to Genesee County Family Court.

Two-car collision on Route 63, Oakfield

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident is reported on Route 63, in front of the John Deere tractor dealership, at Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road.

It is blocking the roadway. Both drivers are injured, but Mercy Flight is not needed. One victim needs to be extricated.

Oakfield Fire Department is responding. Route 63 and Fisher Road are going to be shut down. The Town of Batavia is handling fire police duties. Mercy EMS is responding.

UPDATE 12:10 p.m.: The victim needing extrication is out of the vehicle.

UPDATE 12:23 p.m.: Apparently, both drivers needed to be extricated and now the second victim is out of his or her vehicle.

UPDATE 12:34 p.m.: Both victims have been transported to the hospital. The roads are re-opened. Responders are clearing the scene.

House on fire on Angling Road

By Billie Owens

A structure fire is reported at 2583 Angling Road. It's between Read Road and Church Street. There is black smoke billowing from the corner of the house.

A firefighter on scene says there is heavy smoke coming from the rear of the residence.

Another says "Occupants and dog are out. It is involved."

East Pembroke and Town of Batavia fire departments are responding. An engine from Corfu is also requested.

UPDATE 12:24 p.m.: This East Pembroke fire has gone to a second alarm. Mercy medics are on scene. Corfu has called for an engine from Darien to stand in at Corfu's hall. A tanker from Indian Falls is requested. "It's starting to go fast -- everybody be careful because of the ice." But a bit later "The floor is gone. All interior firefighters are ordered out of the structure."

UPDATE 12:29 p.m.: Town of Batavia calls for an engine from Corfu to fill in at its station. Some units on scene are working to try and protect the garage.

UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: Oakfield is called to fill in at Town of Batavia's fire hall. Despite the prior directive, and the collapse of the floor, firefighters are now on the second floor of the house working to put out the fire. National Grid is notified, no ETA given. A chief asks "Do we have a crew for the roof?"

UPDATE 12:50 p.m.: The chief says "The fire's out. We're just trying to clean up in here. There aren't any hot spots." Also, a badly injured cat was found at the scene (presumably it has suffered burns). It is not known whose cat it is, if anyone's. It has been placed inside the garage and people from the animal shelter are on their way to get it and treat it. According to Sheriff's Deputy Brian Thompson, the fire started outside in a stairwell from unknown causes. A man and woman were asleep in their bedroom when the woman awoke and smelled something burning. By then, the fire had starting climbing the walls of the residence.

UPDATE 1:13 p.m.: The rescued cat did not apparently suffer from burns. Rather it experienced severe smoke inhalation and was heavily doused with water. It is one of three of the family's cats and is being taken to Batavia Animal Hospital on West Main Street Road. The other two cats remain unaccounted for.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m. (by Howard): Red Cross requested to the scene. Also, photo above of the red tabby that was rescued from the house. It was covered in water that had frozen and probably suffered from smoke inhalation, but was crying loudly as it was being carried here. The firefighter is taking the cat to a garage where it might be warmer. An Animal Control officer picked up the cat a short time later and took it to Batavia Animal Hospital.


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LOST & FOUND

By Janet Foppes

FOUND: Child's stuff animal at Oakfield Wilson Farms on Friday, Dec. 10. Identify to claim. 948-5631 or odyssey7@rochester.rr.com

Police Beat: Depew girl accused of attacking person with a baseball bat

By Howard B. Owens

Leandra Marie Kutas, 17, of Gould Avenue, Depew, is charged with attempted assault, 2nd, criminal mischief, 3rd, and menacing, 2nd. Kutas is accused of punching, biting and hitting another person with a baseball bat during an incident in Darien on Nov. 10. Kutas allegedly left the residence after the attack and then returned a short time later and keyed the victim's car. Kutas was arraigned and released under supervision.

Tyler M. Schroder, 18, of Oak Street, Oakfield, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Schroder was allegedly found in possession of pills and marijuana while being arrested on a warrant. He was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Photo: Clearing snow from hydrants in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

Tom Monnier clears snow from around a fire hydrant on Drake Street in Oakfield. Monnier is a volunteer firefighter. He said it helps firefighters and other emergency response personnel a whole bunch when people shovel the walks of their homes and businesses.

Monnier said that if any elderly residents in Oakfield see him out and about today, to flag him down and he'll gladly shovel their walks.

Vehicle reported on its side on Batavia-Elba Townline Road

By Howard B. Owens

A car is reportedly on its side following a one-car accident on Batavia-Elba Townline Road near Hutton Road, Oakfield.

Reported minor injuries.

A  deputy warns other responders, "Be careful, the roads are icing over."

Oakfield Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.


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Woman charged under Leandra's Law following alleged hit-and-run in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

A Batavia woman faces a Leandra's Law felony drunken driving charge following a reported hit-and-run accident on Farnsworth Street in Oakfield last night.

Tonya Marie Weber, 26, a School Street resident, was allegedly driving a 1992 Dodge Shadow on Farnsworth when she struck at least one parked car.

The front license plate reportedly fell off the car at the scene and the car reportedly suffered heavy front-end damage.

Within 10 minutes of the 6:44 p.m. accident, Weber's car was reportedly found at another residence in the Village of Oakfield.

Upon investigation, Deputy Joseph Graff concluded that Weber was allegedly driving the vehicle in an intoxicated condition at the time of the accident and a child under 15 years old was in the car.

Weber is charged under Leandra's Law and with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, endangering the welfare of a child, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and moving from lane unsafely.

An arraignment date was set for Dec. 20.

(Initial Report)

Small car allegedly involved in hit-and-run on Farnsworth in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

Batavia Police have been alerted to look for a 1992 Dodge Shadow that was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident in the area of 20 Farnsworth St., Oakfield.

The small sedan reportedly lost its front license plate after striking at least one car at that address.

The maroon vehicle is registered to a Batavia resident and reportedly has heavy front-end damage.

Sheriff's deputies are responding to the scene in Oakfield.

UPDATE 7:02 p.m.: Car may have been located in Oakfield.

UPDATE 7:38 p.m.: It sounds like there has been arrest.

 


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Photo: Oakfield Majestic Lights in the Park

By Howard B. Owens

The Town of Oakfield held a Majestic Lights in the Park on Sunday with 42 families lighting trees in memory of loved ones who have passed.

Town of Oakfield celebrates 'Majestic Lights in the Park'

By Melissa Haacke

The Town of Oakfield will celebrate the Majestic Lights in the Park on Sunday, November 28, 2010 at 5 pm at the Elroy D. Parkins Park (Little League Park). There are 42 trees that will be decorated in loving memory of loved ones passed, businesses and family themes. Please join us on Sunday for the lighting ceremony, Caroling and hot chocolate. Happy Holidays to all!!!

Event Date and Time
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Police Beat: Alleged shoplifter drives off in car, found by police

By Howard B. Owens

Meagan Victoria Finzer, 21, of Clarendon Street, Albion, is charged with petit larceny. Finzer was allegedly confronted by loss prevention officers at Kmart shortly after 6 p.m., Tuesday, and she reportedly did not cooperate, and instead got into her car and drove off. A description of the vehicle, with license plate, was provided to local law enforcement and her car was stopped a short time later on West Main Street by Batavia Police. Following further investigation, she was taken into custody by a Sheriff's Deputy.

Michael John Coffta, 18, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Coffta is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Joshua A. Kitanik, 22, of Oakfield, is charged with trespass. Kitanik was arrested at 4:48 p.m., Monday, by State Police on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. No further details released.

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