A three-vehicle accident is reported at Ellicott and Jackson, near Angotti Beverages. One driver is injured. City police and fire are on scene and Mercy medics are responding. Two flatbeds will be needed for tows.
UPDATE 12:13 p.m.: Two additional patients are reported. Mercy medics are on scene. Reports that a pedestrian was struck proved false.
UPDATE 12:39 p.m.: An 85-year-old female patient is transported to UMMC for evaluation.
Michele A. Case who, in her last court appearance, invited Judge Charles Zambito to put her in jail will get her wish.
Zambito issued a warrant for her this morning after she failed to appear in court on further proceedings regarding restitution she owes for stealing more than $14,000 from her former employer, HomeCare & Hospice.
District Attorney Lawrence Friedman requested the warrant after being informed that she also did not provide her attorney, Public Defender Jerry Ader, a financial statement nor did she make a restitution payment on Jan. 2, which Zambito previously ordered.
"(Considering the other factors and) her rant when she was in court last time where she invited the court to send her to jail because she's not going to make any more restitution payments, I request a warrant," Friedman said.
Ader didn't oppose the warrant but indicated he planned to file an appeal challenging the Genesee County Court's jurisdiction in the restitution case.
The PD has maintained that because Case's probation was served in other counties -- first Erie County than Niagara County, where she presently lives -- Ader maintains that now that she's off probation the local court doesn't have the authority to compel restitution and that the matter should be referred to Niagara County.
Zambito has ruled previously that he does have jurisdiction and he said the Genesee County Probation Department has indicated it will accept restitution payments from Case under these circumstances.
Case was employed by HomeCare & Hospice when she falsified documents about her patient visits that enabled her to collect more than $14,000 in unearned income. She was convicted at trial twice by a jury (her first conviction was overturned on appeal because of how some evidence was presented at that trial).
Results from Batavia Ski team’s first meet at Swain Ski Resort, Swain, from this past Saturday.
Slalom:
Boys Varsity Zach Wagner finished 16th overall -- time 44.22
Girls Varsity Aubrey Towner finished 15th overall 47.44, Lily Whiting finished 16th overall -- 47.65, Tessa Cerefin, DNF
Batavia Modified members Ethan Bradley (17) 1:08.34, Lily Wagner and Ben Stone both DSQ
Giant Slalom:
Batavia Girls finished fourth overall, team time 5:28.80
Lily Whiting (17) 1:45.90, Aubrey Towner 1:49.16 (18), Tessa Cerefin (19) 1:53.74
Batavia Boys individual finish Zach Wagner, 26th overall 1:42.83
Batavia Modified team – No team score
Individual results:
Lily Wagner 2:50.49, Ben Stone 3:07.22, Ethan Bradley first run 1:25.74, DSQ
If your interested to join Ski Team contact Coach Matt Holman at Batavia High School or email him at mholman@bataviacsd.org
To view or purchase photos, click here.
A structure fire is reported at 3899 Ridge Road, Elba.
A second alarm sounded.
First responders report a working structure fire.
Elba Fire, Oakfield and Barre dispatched.
UPDATE 1:53 a.m.: It's reportedly an abandoned house. Town of Batavia requested to the scene.
UPDATE 4:11 a.m.: Video and photos added. The structure was vacant. A neighbor called in the fire. It was difficult to fight because it was a dead-end road making it harder to get tankers in and out of the area.
UPDATE 4:14 a.m.: Elba command informs dispatch that the fire is pretty much out, "just working on some hot spots."
The County Line Stone Wednesday night league at Scopano's Lanes in Oakfield produced a pair of honor scores this week as right-handers Bruce Kraus and Dean Cadieux Jr. spun 300 and 299 games, respectively.
Kraus, a Corfu resident and longtime bowler, caught fire in the middle of his three game set -- finishing with 17 strikes in a row for a 687 series. His games were 202-185-300.
"I was struggling and then I hurt my forearm in the middle of the second game," said Kraus, who has seven other USBC-certified 300 games to his credit. "So I strapped a wrist support around my arm, changed my release to just a little flip, and the ball walked right into the pocket."
He used an old Brunswick Karma ball for his perfect game.
Kraus, 68, has fought his way through serious illness and injuries in recent years, including shoulder surgery two years ago and torn biceps muscle at the end of last season.
Cadieux, 49, just missed 300 as he was thwarted by a solid 10-pin on the 12th ball. The Oakfield resident finished with a 751 series, which took top honors for the night.
In the Toyota of Batavia Thursday night league at Mancuso Bowling Center, lefty Rich Wagner rolled 290-258-246--794 to raise his association-high average to 246.
Three others had 700-plus series -- Steve Krna (749), Mike Lambert (742) and Geoff Harloff (734).
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page. Mike Pettinella's next Pin Points column is scheduled for this Thursday.
Le Roy PD has been dispatched to a location on Lake Street, Le Roy, to check on a recreational vehicle that the caller claims is a residence for people who "have been starting fires."
A motor-vehicle accident is reported on the westbound Thruway near mile marker 389.7. One person is trapped inside. Road conditions are "possibly very icy." The location is just east of the State Street Road overpass. Town of Batavia Fire Department, Mercy medics and law enforcement are responding.
UPDATE 6:36 a.m.: "Town command you've got lots of debris in the roadway." There are actually two vehicles off the roadway; on the east and west side of the Thruway at the State Street Road overpass. There are two patients.
UPDATE 6:42 a.m.: Alexander's ambulance is also requested to the scene.
UPDATE 6:49 a.m.: The trapped patient is extricated.
UPDATE 6:52 a.m.: A second Mercy rig is heading to the scene; Alexander is canceled.
UPDATE 7:10 a.m.: A patient is being transported to Erie County Medical Center.
UPDATE 7:14 a.m.: A second patient is being transported to ECMC.
UPDATE 7:18 a.m.: A 22-year-old male has lacerations and a 25-year-old male is complaining of lower back pain; both are being transported to UMMC. The Town of Batavia assignment is back in service.
A fryer on fire is reported inside Burger King on West Main Street in Batavia. City fire just arrived on scene.
UPDATE 5:21 a.m.: "There was never any fire...we'll be clearing the scene," says city command.
Community tips, following news reports of larcenies in the Robbins Road area of Le Roy, as well as a tip from two of the suspects themselves, helped Le Roy PD officers piece together a case against four Le Roy residents in a scheme to allegedly steal personal property and sell the items for drug money.
Taken into custody were Tyler M. Powers, Robert J. Pragle, Shane C. Anthony, and Michelle A. Condidorio.
A series of larcenies was first reported Wednesday, with more than $20,000 in private property reportedly stolen. Le Roy PD provided a surveillance photo of a suspect and information about the crimes to local media.
On Thursday afternoon, police officers received a complaint of suspicious activity in the area of Robbins Road. Individuals were reportedly seen disposing of items near the property of the caller. The two people then left in a vehicle.
When police officers arrived, they identified many of the items as those reported as stolen.
A short time later, two subjects arrived at the Le Roy Police headquarters and offered to identify the suspect in the photo provided to news outlets.
Officers determined the person identified by the people at the police station matched the subject in the photo.
As it turned out, based on further investigation by the officers, the two people at the police station appeared to also be involved in the larcenies. Another person was also identified as a suspect in the thefts.
As a result of the investigations, officers obtained a search warrant at a residence shared by the suspects.
At the residences, officers say they found additional items that had been reported stolen along with crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and marijuana.
During the search, Anthony was also allegedly found in personal possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana.
Charges:
Tyler M. Powers was charged with one count of grand larceny, 3rd, a Class D felony, and one count of criminal possession of stolen property, 3rd, a Class D felony. Powers was jailed on $25,000 bail.
Robert J. Pragle was charged with one count of criminal possession of stolen property, 3rd, a Class D felony, one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, a Class A misdemeanor, and one count of criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd, a Class A misdemeanor. Pragle was jailed on $10,000 bail.
Shane C. Anthony was charged with one count of criminal possession of stolen property, 3rd, a Class D felony, and one count of criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd. Powers was jailed on $15,000 bail.
Michelle A. Condidorio was charged with one count of criminal possession of stolen property, 3rd, a class D felony, one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and one count of criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd. Condidorio was jailed on $10,000 bail.
A new season for Genesee Chorale is about to start. It is a nonprofit choral group drawing singers from Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans, Livingston, Erie and Monroe counties.
Genesee Chorale invites area singers to join in the new season, with Monday night rehearsals from 7 to 9 o'clock beginning Jan. 14 at St. James Episcopal Church in Batavia.
“Voices of the Earth” is the theme for April 5 and 7 concerts, and a May 19 concert will celebrate the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Ric Jones is director, and all skills and voices are welcome.
For further information contact Heather Lovelace at (716) 531-8986, e-mail Info@geneseechorale.com, or visit the chorale's website, geneseechorale.com.
A dedication to the community, to law enforcement, and his reputation among his peers as a person of good character, are among the reasons Sheriff William Sheron Jr. said he picked Sgt. Brad Mazur as his new undersheriff after Mazur took his oath of office yesterday.
Judge Charles Zambito administered the oath to Mazur at the Sheriff's Office on Park Road in Batavia, witnessed by Mazur's wife, Lisa, and their children Hunter, 18, Brady, 12, and Casey, 9.
"He's well recognized not only by the law enforcement community but the criminal justice system for being just an outstanding individual, a great human being, compassionate," Sheron said.
The undersheriff is the person who steps in when the sheriff isn't available. The undersheriff is also a key supervisor in day-to-day operations of the department with responsibilities that cross patrol, investigations, communications, and the jail. The undersheriff is also a point person on new hires, disciplinary procedures, ensuring compliance with rules and regulations, and handling grant applications.
"Brad is, the best way to put it, an outstanding individual, somebody that I know I can count on," Sheron said. "I've known Brad's family since I was a young child. They actually grew up on the same street as me. I just think he's a he's a person of great character, somebody I have no doubt I can rely on in any type of situation."
Mazur said he's been in love with law enforcement since he started his career in 1999 as a deputy in the Sheriff's Office. He's risen through the ranks, most recently being promoted to sergeant in 2017 and given command of the Local Drug Task Force. He's also been a field training officer, a drug recognition expert and a hostage negotiator. He was named Officer of the Year in 2002 and received the Kiwanis Criminal Justice Award.
After the retirement of Greg Walker at the end of the year, Sheron didn't announce a job opening. He waited for members of the department to come to him and express an interest in the job. Mazur was among those who spoke up.
"I wanted to rise to the leadership challenge and I wanted to give back to the department," Mazur said. "I've had excellent supervisors throughout the years and I've learned from them. Right now, I have a great team around me so I'm looking forward to this new challenge."
The current command staff: Jail Superintendent William Zipfel, Sheriff William Sheron Jr., Undersheriff Bradley Mazur, Chief Deputy - Investigations, Jerome Brewster, Chief Deputy - Road Patrol, Joseph Graff.
You made the promise -- 2019 is the year to do it all and do it right. And in Genesee County, we’re here to help. We’ve rounded up seven stellar New Year’s Resolutions and shared our solution – GC style.
Whether it’s a new food, new skill, or renewed commitment to kicking back, we wish you good vibes and great times all year long!
Also… it’s our resolution to keep the offerings coming – so visit https://visitgeneseeny.com/our-packages for the latest, all year-round.
A Pembroke farmer was killed Friday evening after his tractor, hauling round bales of hay, was struck from behind by a northbound SUV on a darkened South Lake Road.
The Sheriff's Office investigating the accident and has identified the farmer as Roger A. Sweet.
According to area residents, Sweet raised goats at his small farm on South Lake Road and had a hay field on Maple Road. He regularly drove his tractor, loaded with hay on spikes, from his field on Maple Road to his place on South Lake.
The crash was reported at 5:54 p.m., approximately 70 minutes after sunset.
Preliminary indications are, according to sources at the scene, that he had minimal lighting and reflectors on his Massey-Ferguson tractor.
His wife reportedly heard the crash and rushed outside.
The driver of the 2017 Equinox that struck the tractor, Janet I. Miller, of Rochester, was not injured. The spike holding the back bale of hay on the tractor did not hit the vehicle squarely and did not penetrate the driver's compartment.
Sweet was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Karen Lang.
The accident is being investigated by Chief Deputy Joseph Graff, Sgt. Andrew Hale, Investigator Chad Minuto, Investigator James Diehl, of the Crash Management Team, Deputy Kyle Krzemien, and Trooper Kelli Fitch.
Assisting at the scene were members of the Pembroke, Alabama, Indian Falls, East Pembroke and Corfu fire departments, along with Mercy EMS, Dickinson's Auto Services, and Ron and Newt's Towing.
ROTARY CLUB CHAMPIONS: The Batavia High School Varsity Girls Basketball Team with Rotary Club Tournament trophy, from left, Bella Houseknecht, Kennedy Kolb, Meghan Houseknecht, Ryann Stefaniak, Emma Krolczyk, Jenae Colkey, Bryn Wormley, Mackenzie Reigle, Tess Barone and Haylee Thornley.
It was only fitting that senior Meghan Houseknecht dropped in the winning basket in Batavia High’s exciting 59-57 victory over Wellsville in tonight’s championship game of 30th annual Rotary Club Tournament at Genesee Community College.
Houseknecht was a freshman in the Lady Devils’ basketball program in January of 2016 when her father, well-known Batavia businessman Michael Houseknecht, died at the much-too-young age of 38.
With her mother, sister, grandparents, relatives and friends looking on during the closing moments of a hard-fought battle, Houseknecht, a 6-foot center, gathered in a pass from tourney MVP sophomore guard Bryn Wormley and laid the ball over the rim and through the hoop with :06 on the clock.
When teammate Kennedy Kolb broke up Wellsville’s last attempt to tie the game, Batavia had escaped with its seventh win in eight outings this season.
Batavia Coach Marty Hein relished taking the Rotary Club trophy but said he was doubly proud of the way his squad handled the adversity of losing three starters, including their top scorer, senior guard Ryann Stefaniak, who departed with her fifth foul at the 5:12 mark of the final quarter.
“Looking on the bench, we had a lead, I’m thinking we need defense,” Hein said. “ 'OK, Tess (Barone) go in'; Tess plays hardnosed defense and she did a nice job for us to finish the game. And Kennedy Kolb came through.
“I would have rather had Ryann and Kenzie (Reigle) in the game but it turned out that it was a nice win where everyone contributed down the line.”
He also spoke of the way Wormley has stepped up her game this season – “she’s blossoming and it’s fun to watch,” he said – and called Houseknecht’s late heroics “just rewards.”
“Remembering three years ago, it (her father’s passing) was heartbreaking,” he said. “Meg’s an awesome girl; I love her to death and it’s kind of fitting that she makes the shot to win the game.”
The game was close throughout as the teams were never separated by more than seven points.
Wellsville, now 7-2, was up by seven with two minutes left in the third quarter before Batavia ended the period on an 11-1 run with key hoops by Wormley, Reigle and Stefaniak.
Batavia grabbed its biggest lead, 48-43, on a basket by Wormley to open the fourth-quarter scoring, but Wellsville, which kept Batavia off balance with accurate long-distance shooting, pulled ahead 51-50 with 3:45 to play on a three-point shot by senior guard Taylor Adams.
Wellsville made it 53-50 on a pair of free throws by senior guard Jana Whitehouse, but Wormley responded with a three-pointer at the 2:55 mark to tie it at 53-53.
After a free throw by Wellsville’s freshman guard Marley Adams, Batavia scored four straight on a driving layup by sophomore guard Reigle and two foul shots by Wormley to take a 57-54 edge with 1:06 to play.
A pair of free throws by Adams on separate trips down the floor pulled Wellsville within a point and a free throw by senior guard Quincy Buckley with 15 seconds left made it 57-57.
Batavia inbounded the ball, with senior forward Jenae Colkey managing to escape pressure to get the ball to Wormley, who drove down the left side of the lane before lobbing it in to Houseknecht for the decisive bucket.
“The play was to get the ball to Bryn because she was the facilitator at the point in the game – the person who could either make the right pass or get into position to score,” Hein said.
Houseknecht said she was able to get free underneath by virtue of a screen from Kolb and was able to complete the play.
“When I cut through I saw I had a mismatch as the girl was shorter, and Bryn made a good pass to me,” she said. “I knew when I got the ball that I had to shoot it (right away), and fortunately it went in.”
Ironically, the basket was Houseknecht’s only two points of the game and touched off a wild celebration from the Batavia fans.
“All week we were super-excited to play in the tournament and then after winning on Wednesday (against Caledonia-Mumford) to play in the championship game,” Houseknecht said.
Stefaniak led the Batavia scoring with 19 points – five of them in the closing seconds of the first half to pull her team within two at 29-27 at intermission.
Wormley tallied 16 while Reigle and junior forward Emma Krolczyk, who both fouled out in the game’s closing minute, added 13 and nine points, respectively.
For Wellsville, Buckley led the way with 17 – including four three-point baskets -- and junior center Regan Marsh added 13. All told, Wellsville sank eight three-pointers.
We knew that they were an outside shooting team, we were worried more about Winehouse – and Buckley was popping them,” Hein said. “We knew what we were up against … We didn’t close out soon enough – they were popping.”
Stefaniak, Adams and Buckley made the all-tournament team along with Notre Dame’s Callie McCulley (ND defeated Cal-Mum in the consolation game) while Reigle earned the Sportsmanship Award.
Photos by Thomas Ognibene. To view or purchase photos, click here.
A vehicle has hit a utility pole in the area of 7189 Road, Elba, and there is airbag deployment, but there is nobody in the car, according to the caller.
Elba fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
A trooper on scene reports wires down.
UPDATE 11:37 p.m.: The pole is snapped in half.
UPDATE 11:40 p.m.: Heavy front-end, driver-side damage.
UPDATE 11:48 p.m.: Mercy EMS back in service. No patient found.
City police are called to 46 Walnut St. for the report of a female with a dog bite. The dog is secured in a residence now.
Law enforcement is asked to be on the lookout for a 2016 gray Honda CR-V traveling southbound on Route 77. The SUV, registered to a female in Tonawanda born in 1933, is reportedly going 20 mph in a 55-mph zone.
An SUV and hay wagon have reportedly collided in the area of 9341 South Lake Road, Pembroke.
Unknown injuries.
Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 5:57 p.m.: Subject trapped under the hay wagon. Dispatchers checking the availability of Mercy Flight.
UPDATE 6 p.m.: Road being closed at Maple and at Cohocton. Corfu Fire Police requested to assist.
UPDATE 6:08 p.m.: Mercy Flight is canceled.
UPDATE 7:04 p.m.: This is a fatal accident. It appears the male driver of a Massey Ferguson tractor hauling a hay bale(s) was northbound on South Lake Road when he attempted to turn into his driveway and was rear-ended by a northbound SUV. The collision caused the tractor to snap in two and roll on top of the man. The SUV driver was not injured. The Crash Management Team is on site and preliminary indications are that the tractor had insufficient lighting and reflectors. The investigation continues.
Press release:
Cornell Cooperative extensions of Chautauqua and Erie counties are leading a regional initiative to increase awareness of tick-borne diseases and tick management in the Western New York Region. There will be several opportunities to participate in the WNY Tick Awareness Forum.
Lyme disease and several other devastating tick-borne diseases are on the rise in New York due to an increase in the prevalence of ticks and human and tick encounters.
Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature have deemed Lyme and other tick-borne diseases a public health priority and are working to raise awareness about ticks, tick avoidance and management.
Please consider joining us at either of our regional forums, featuring a presentation from Lynn Braband of NYSIPM, health department officials, and a panel of community leaders.
There are multiple ways to participate. The two main live events will be held in Erie County and Chautauqua County. There will also be satellite locations viewing the event via a live stream in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. Register for the live events online by visiting www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Contact the local Cooperative Extension office to register for the live stream event.
The fee to participate in a live stream event is $5/person.
Event details are as follows:
Genesee County: Satellite viewing on Jan. 24, 4 – 6 p.m., at CCE Genesee, 420 E. Main St., Batavia. Contact Jan Beglinger at 585-343-3040, ext. 132, or jmb374@cornell.edu. Register by Jan. 17 to get a tick removal kit.
Erie County: Live event on Jan. 24, 4 – 6 p.m., at West Seneca Community Center, 1300 Union Road, West Seneca. Contact Sharon Bachman, CCE Erie County, at sin2@cornell.edu or 716-652-5400, ext.150. Register by Jan. 17 to get a tick removal kit.
Wyoming County: Satellite viewing on Jan. 24, 4 – 6 p.m. at the Wyoming County Agriculture and Business Center, 36 Center St., Warsaw. Contact Don Gasiewicz at 585 786 2251 drg35@cornell.edu. Register by Jan. 17 to get a tick removal kit.
Chautauqua County: Live event on Feb. 16, 1 – 3 p.m., at the Frank W Bratt Agricultural Center, 3542 Turner Road, Jamestown. Contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll, CCE-Chautauqua County, at kaw249@cornell.edu or 716-664-9502, ext. 202. Register by Feb. 8 to get a tick removal kit.
Orleans County: Satellite viewing on Feb. 16, 1 – 3 p.m., at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County (Trolley Building), 12690 State Route 31, Albion. Contact Katie Oakes at 585-798-4265 or klo54@cornell.edu. Register by Feb. 8 to get a tick removal kit.
Attendees who register for one of these events, at least one week in advance, will receive a FREE tick removal kit. There will also be an opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session.
This event is brought to you by the New York State IPM Program and Cornell Cooperative extensions of Chautauqua, Erie, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming and Cattaraugus counties.
Public Health Colmun from the Genesee County Health Department:
January is Radon Action Month! Did you know that radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas? It has no smell, taste, or color. Radon forms from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and circulates into the air you breathe.
When radon is formed under homes and buildings, it can penetrate through cracks in the foundation, leading to high levels of radon, especially in enclosed areas.
Sarah Balduf, Environmental Health director of Genesee and Orleans counties, explains how easily radon can seep into your home.
“Radon can enter your home through cracks in the foundation, walls, joints, dirt floors, opening of sump pump, in well-water supply, and from gaps around suspended floors and pipes. Any home can have high radonlevels, whether it is old or new, has a basement or is built on a slab.”
It is understandable how this colorless, odorless gas can go unnoticed. If high levels of radon in your home are undetected for an extended period of time, the risk for developing lung cancer can occur. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. If you smoke and live in a home with high radon levels, your risk for developing lung cancer significantly increases.
Testing your home with a short term radon test kit is the quickest way to determine if there are high levels of radon present in your home. The Genesee County Health Department has an allotment of short-term test kits that are free of charge for Genesee County residents. These test kits are easy to use and contain basic instructions on how to receive the most accurate results when testing your home for radon.
“Testing your home for radon and taking action sooner rather than later could save the health of your family,” Balduf said. "Testing your home for radon is a simple process that is free of charge to Genesee County residents when you request a kit from the Genesee County Health Department."
If you do live outside of the county, inexpensive radon test kits can be purchased at hardware stores. If test results come back and the radon levels in your home are greater than 4 picocuries per liter of air [pCi/L], which is the “take action” level determined by the EPA, a certified radon mitigator can install a radon reduction system in your home. Take action against radon this January!
For more details about the program or to receive any of these services call the department at 585-344-2580.
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