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Stafford

Stafford FD Retro Jam & Musician's Reunion

By Lisa Ace

4th Annual Stafford Firemen's Father's Day Retro Jam & Musician's Reunion
Sunday 16, 2019 • Live Music 1-7pm
Located behind the Stafford Fire Department, Route 5, Stafford NY.

Food Trucks, BYO Lawn Chair/Cooler.
Bands Appearing: Ryan & Scott, Front Porch Pickers, Ghost Riders, Howe's That, TONK (RET.), Rock-a-Bully's, KW Does Country, Guests and Friends. 
Band schedule subject to change.

Good Fan's, Good Families, Good Food, Good Music, Good Friends, Good Times!

Event Date and Time
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Video: House fire on Horseshoe Lake Road, Stafford

By Howard B. Owens
Video Sponsor
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For our initial post about the fire, click here.

UPDATE: Video code corrected. It works now.

House fire reported on Horseshoe Lake Road, Stafford

By Howard B. Owens

A house fire is reported at 6000 Horseshoe Lake Road, Stafford.

All occupants are out of the house. There are animals in the house. 

The fire is at the rear of the residence and into the roofline.

Stafford fire and Town of Batavia fire dispatched.

Bergen, Byron, South Byron, and City of Batavia Fast Team also dispatched.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) 9:03 a.m.: Flames seen in rear of structure according to callers to dispatch. Stafford's second alarm called. 

UPDATE 9:05 a.m.: Command on scene reports smoke showing from eaves, but no flames, of a single-story ranch house that's close to the road. Le Roy is called to Stafford's fire hall.

UPDATE 9:06 a.m.: Mercy medics are called to respond because of "slight smoke inhalation" by the homeowner.

UPDATE 9:08 a.m.: Elba is asked to fill in at Byron's fire hall.

UPDATE 9:09 a.m.: National Grid is called to the scene.

UPDATE 9:14 a.m.: Stafford command reports fire knocked down; checking for extensions. Stafford Fire Police are called in for traffic control.

UPDATE 9:17 a.m.: Le Roy, standing by in Stafford's quarters, is called to the scene. Oakfield is asked to stand by in Town of Batavia fire's station #1; Pavilion is called to Stafford's hall. The homeowner signed off, declining medical treatment.

UPDATE 9:34 a.m.: Caledonia, which was standing by in quarters, is moved to Le Roy's fire hall.

UPDATE 11:15 a.m.: The fire appears to have started in the kitchen. The homeowner believes a space heater was plugged in and in use at the site where the fire broke out, but it remains unknown if that is indeed what started the fire, according to scene commander Mark Dougherty, 4th assistant chief of Le Roy Fire Department. The house is heavily damaged, but it is unknown at this point if it's considered to be a total loss. Two cats lived there and one of them perished in the blaze; the other is missing. The family that lives in the house plans to stay with family. Video T/K.

Punctured natural gas pipeline in Stafford is 'hissing and blowing'

By Billie Owens

An auger has struck and punctured a natural gas pipeline in the area of Route 237 and Britt Road in Stafford. The gas can be heard "hissing and blowing" out of the ground.

RG&E is the caller to the Emergency Dispatch Center. An RG&E crew has an hour ETA to the scene.

Stafford Fire Department is responding.

Video: American Warrior Appreciation BBQ at Red Osier

By Howard B. Owens

 

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Red Osier Landmark Restaurant is the biggest sponsor of the American Warrior Festival series of concerts and so Dan Clor has held an annual party at Red Osier to thank Steve Foster and Tim Adams for their support.

This year, the party was a BBQ using the new smoker acquired by Red Osier.

The appreciation is mutual. The dinner was Friday evening.

Discover the 'fabulous architecture' of Stafford in rain-or-shine walking tour on Sunday

By Billie Owens
Press release:
 
At 2:30 p.m. this Sunday, May 19, the Stafford Historical Society will be entertaining an event called "The Stafford Hamlet Historical Architecture Walking Tour."
 
It will be led by Cynthia Howk, Architectural Research coordinator, WNY Landmark Society, Rochester.
 
We will meet at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 6188 Main Road, Stafford.
 
Come to discover the fabulous architecture in Downtown Stafford.
 
We will walk, rain or shine, but do remember to wear comfortable walking shoes.
 
There is extra parking at the Town Hall located at 8903 Route 237.

Pole and wires in the roadway on Byron Road, Stafford

By Billie Owens

A pole and wires are down in the roadway at 7982 Byron Road, Stafford. Stafford Fire Department is responding. The location is between School and Fotch roads.

UPDATE 12:38 p.m.: South Byron Fire Police are requested, mutual aid, to shut down the road at Fotch and Byron roads.

Serious injury accident closes part of Fargo Road, Stafford

By Billie Owens

A serious injury accident about an hour ago prompted the closure of Fargo Road between Route 5 and Sweetland Road. The accident address is 9123 Fargo Road. Stafford Fire Department, Stafford Fire Police, Mercy medics and law enforcement are on scene.

UPDATE 8:53 p.m.: This was a fatal accident. More information T/K.

UPDATE 9:08 p.m.: From Alecia Kaus, Video News Service, at the scene:

"Genesee County 9-1-1 Dispatch received a call of a vehicle off the road in the 9100 block of Fargo road late Monday afternoon. A deputy responding to another call in the area arrived on scene and noticed a single male occupant was deceased in his vehicle.

"According to Genesee County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Brian Frieday, a passerby noticed the vehicle off the road and it is unknown how long it had been there.

"Frieday says the car was headed south on Fargo Road when it left the west shoulder of the road, then corrected, and left the east shoulder of the road and struck a tree on the driver's side and ended up spinning counterclockwise. The car then came to rest on the west shoulder, partially in the ditch.

"The Genesee County Sheriff's Crash Investigation Team was on scene looking into the cause of the accident."

UPDATE: The driver of the vehicle was Arthur D. Mase, 66, of East Bethany. Mase was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu southbound on Fargo Road. According to the Sheriff's Office, it appears that Mase's vehicle crossed over the center line and went off the east shoulder of the road. The vehicle struck a tree on the driver's side before coming to rest in a ditch. Mase was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation. The investigation is being conducted by Chief Deputy Brian Frieday, Sgt. Jason Saile, Sgt. Andrew Hale, Sgt. James Diehl, Deputy Kyle Krzemien, and Deputy David Moore. Assisting at the scene were Mercy EMS, Stafford fire, and Stella's Collision.

Photos courtesy of Alecia Kaus, Video News Service.

UPDATE: Reader-submitted photo.

Two-car accident with injuries reported in Stafford

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with injuries is reported in Stafford at 5955 Main Road. Stafford Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The location is between Sanders and Clipnock roads.

UPDATE 5:32 p.m.: Two flatbed tows are called for a Toyota and a Mazda sedan. A second ambulance is called to the scene.

Rollover accident in Stafford is blocking traffic on Route 237

By Billie Owens

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported in the area of 8810 Morganville Road (Route 237) in Stafford. It is blocking traffic. Stafford Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics. A first responder on scene says the occupant is conscious and alert and has facial injuries.

Mercy Flight in Batavia is on ground standby. The vehicle is said to have rolled over several times.

Fiona O'Connor of Stafford spent fall 2018 semester learning off campus from Baldwin Wallace University

By Billie Owens

Fiona O'Connor, of Stafford, was among 31 Baldwin Wallace University students who spent the fall 2018 semester learning off campus.

With support from the BW Study Abroad Center's Independent Study program, students created individualized immersion experiences in Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Washington, D.C., and on the high seas. 

O'Connor, a graduate of Le Roy Central School, traveled to Washington, D.C., for an individualized immersion experience at The Washington Center (TWC). As the largest independent, nonprofit academic internship program in the country, TWC brings together exceptional and dedicated college students; civic, governmental and business leaders; hundreds of colleges and universities; scores of public and private internships; and more than 50,000 alumni. Founded in 1975, TWC is a unique educational center based on a fully integrated mix of professional experience, academic coursework and real-life challenges. TWC works to arrange the very best internship opportunities in Washington by coordinating with highly regarded companies, international organizations, nonprofits, and key government agencies and offices.

The BW Study Abroad Center engages students through global exploration and off-campus study that enhances personal growth, educational enrichment and career development as part of the university's liberal arts effort to cultivate contributing and compassionate citizens. Through faculty-led and independent study abroad opportunities, students can build strong communication skills, enhanced critical thinking and personal confidence from trekking the unknown.

Baldwin Wallace University, founded in 1845, was one of the first colleges to admit students without regard to race or gender. An independent, coeducational university of 4,000 students, BW offers coursework in the liberal arts tradition in more than 80 academic areas. Located in Berea, 12 miles from downtown Cleveland, BW offers students the cultural, educational and business advantages of a major metropolitan area.

Grass fire reported on East Bethany-Le Roy Road, Stafford

By Howard B. Owens

Stafford Fire Department is dispatched to the area of 6305 East Bethany-Le Roy Road, Stafford, for a report of a grass fire.

UPDATE 11:30 a.m.: A tanker from South Byron requested to the scene.

Corfu and Stafford students named to dean's list at St. Lawrence University

By Billie Owens

The following students have been selected for inclusion on the dean's list for academic achievement during the Fall 2018 semester at St. Lawrence University.

Quinn D. Audsley, of Corfu, is a member of the Class of 2020 and is majoring in Sociology.

Margaret M. Graney, of Stafford, is a member of the Class of 2022.

To be eligible for the dean's list, a student must have completed at least four courses and have an academic average of 3.6 based on a 4.0 scale for the semester.

About St. Lawrence University

Founded in 1856, St. Lawrence University is a private, independent liberal arts institution of about 2,500 students located in Canton, New York. The educational opportunities at St. Lawrence inspire students and prepare them to be critical and creative thinkers, to find a compass for their lives and careers, and to pursue knowledge and understanding for the benefit of themselves, humanity and the planet.

Through its focus on active engagement with ideas in and beyond the classroom, a St. Lawrence education leads students to make connections that transform lives and communities, from the local to the global. Visit www.stlawu.edu.

Three-vehicle collision with injuries reported on Route 5 in Stafford

By Billie Owens

A three-vehicle collision with injuries is reported at Route 5 and Batavia Stafford Townline Road. Stafford Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 5:42 p.m.: Mercy medic #1 and Le Roy ambulance are called -- second and third ambulances to the scene.

Law and Order: Irving Parkway man accused of unlawfully tapping into Oakfield village water line

By Billie Owens

Brian Carl Falk, 36, of 12 Irving Parkway, Oakfield, is charged with second-degree criminal tampering. On Feb. 26, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office was contacted by the Village of Oakfield Department of Public Works for the report of a larceny. It was alleged that a resident in the village unlawfully made a connection with the main water line to his residence after being advised that the connection was terminated. Following an investigation, it is alleged that Falk, without having any right to do so, nor any reasonable ground to believe he had such right, made a connection with the Village of Oakfield's water line. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Town of Oakfield Court at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 4, to answer the charge. The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Ronald G. Besemer-McLean, 37, of Portland Parkway, Rochester, was arrested on Saturday, March 2, by the Le Roy Police Department and charged with: one count of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, a Class E felony; one count of tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony; and one count of resisting arrest, a class A misdemeanor. On Saturday at approximately 8:12 a.m. the on-duty patrol was requested to respond to the area of Route 19 and the onramp to the Thruway entrance for the report of a subject passed out at the wheel of a vehicle in that area. Upon arrival, the officer found Besemer-McLean asleep in the driver’s seat. During the investigation, it is alleged that he drove there after leaving an unknown location in Greece. Besemer-McLean has a revoked NYS driver’s license. When attempting execute the arrest, Besemer-McLean allegely failed to comply with the officer’s orders and a struggle ensued. Besemer-McLean allegedly took an item that was evidence pertaining to the investigation, placed it in his mouth and swallowed it. A portion of the investigation was conducted by members of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Officer and NYS Police also assisted. Additional charges are pending. After arraignment in Le Roy Town Court, Besemer-McLean was jailed in lieu of $15,000 bail. He is to return to the Le Roy Town Court on March 5 to answer to the charges. The report says: "The Le Roy Police Department would like to say a special thank you to the citizens that took the time to stop and assist the officer."

Philip Joseph Severino, 42, of Pratt Road, Pembroke, is charged with second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child less than 17 years old. Severino was arrested March 1 after an investigation into a domestic incident involving an assault victim and two children that occurred at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 on Pratt Road in Pembroke. After his arraignment in Town of Batavia Court, the defendant was jailed in lieu of $2,000 cash or $4,000 bond. He is due Town of Pembroke Court on March 12. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute, assisted by Deputy Mathew Clor.

Lawrence John Isaac, 66, of Brant Reservation Road, Irving, is charged with second-degree harassment -- physical contact. Following an incident that occurred on Bloomingdale Road on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation on Feb. 16, Isaac was arrested on Feb. 28. It is alleged that he shoved a person while at the Community Center. He was arraigned in Town of Alabama Court and is due to return there on March 7. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy McClellan.

Eric J. Bratcher, 30, of Fargo Road, Stafford, was arrested on March 1, by the Le Roy Police Department and charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor, and one count of harassment in the second degree, a violation. The Le Roy Police Department investigated a complaint alleging that Bratcher made threats to harm another individual, at the time the incident occurred Bratcher was holding an 18-month-old child. After a brief investigation, Bratcher was located and taken into custody without incident. Bratcher was arraigned in the Le Roy Town and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. He is to return to the Le Roy Town Court on March 14 to answer to the charges.

Jessica R. Sylvester, 26, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, was arrested on Feb. 28 by the Le Roy Police Department and charged with three counts of criminal contempt in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. The Le Roy Police Department investigated a complaint alleging that on three occasions Sylvester violated a court order restricting her contact with the victim. Sylvester was arraigned in the Le Roy Town Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. She is to return to the Le Roy Town Court on March 14 to answer to the charges.

Derrick E. Pickard, 59, of Genesee Street, Le Roy, was arrested on March 1 by the Le Roy Police Department and charged with: one count of driving while impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor; one count of consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle, a violation; and one count of failure to keep right, a violation. On March 1 at about 11:24 a.m. the Le Roy Police Department was notified by an off-duty patrol that they had almost been struck head on and had the operator of the vehicle detained. It is alleged that Pickard failed to maintain his lane while operating his motor vehicle, almost causing an accident. Following a brief investigation, it was determined that Pickard was allegedly operating the motor vehicle under the influence of drugs. He was taken into custody without incident. He was issued several tickets and turned over to a family member. Pickard is to appear in the Le Roy Town Court on March 14 to answer the charges.

Jason Jonathan Forte, 47, of Trelawne Drive, Irondequiot, is charged with: driving while intoxicated with a BAC of .08 percent or more; DWI; and failure to yield the right of way when entering the roadway. Forte was arrested following the investigation of a motor-vehicle accident which occurred at 7:48 p.m. on Feb. 28 on West Main Street Road in Batavia. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy James Stack, assisted by Deputy Mathew Clor.

Elizabeth Mary Johnson, 39, of Batavia, no address noted, is charged with: driving while intoxicated with a BAC of .08 percent or more and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle on a highway. Johnson was arrested at 1:24 a.m. on March 2 on Indian Falls Road in Pembroke after she was allegedly found by law enforcement while she was asleep in a motor vehicle with its engine still running. Johnson is due in Town of Pembroke Court on March 21 to answer the charges. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Austin Heberlein.

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