A two-car accident with unknown injuries is reported at 6117 Main Road, Stafford. Fluids are leaking. Stafford Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. A deputy on scene tells first responders to come in non-emergency mode. One person needs medical evaluation; "possibly a sign-off."
A disabled tractor-trailer has partially blocked Route 77 by the Flying J.
Emergency responders are on scene.
UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: Roadway is clear.
Submitted photo.
A car vs. motorcycle accident with injuries is reported in Pavilion at Route 63 and Perry Road. Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.
The boys and girls track teams from Batavia High School competed in the Class B Sectional Championships on Friday night, both earning hard fought victories.
The girls had an impressive 101 points, with Livonia coming in second place with 62. Kiaya Franklin had an unbelievable meet by winning the 100m in 12.51, the 400m in 57.69, and the 200m in 25.97. The girls 4x800 relay of Sophia Dinehart, Briana Bromley, Claire Zickl and Maddi Murray won with a time of 10:02.31. Rachel Denise won the pole vault with a jump of 9-0.
The boys had a much closer meet, scoring 124 points over defending indoor and outdoor champion Greece Olympia, which finished with 120. Anthony Ray continued his dominance in the throwing events by winning the shot with a throw of 49-3.25 and the discus with a throw of 146-8. Adonis Davis helped to seal the win two late victories in the high jump with a height of 6-4 and in the triple jump with a leap of 44-7.75. The boys meet was very competitive with the title still up for grabs with only a few events remaining.
Full results from the meet can be viewed at:
http://live.yentiming.com/#/results/meet/270
These sectional championships are the 25th team championships for Batavia track and field, both indoors and outdoors, since 2003. Both the boys and girls teams represented their school and community with a great deal of determination and poise throughout the competition. Congrats to the 2016 Track and Field Sectional Champions, the Batavia Blue Devils!
Story submitted by: Batavia Boys Head Coach Nicholas Burk, who is also pictured below receiving the boys Section V trophy from a track official.
Photos by: Steve Ognibene Photography
A vehicle has reportedly crashed into a building at 858 Bloomingdale Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, the Two Eagles Smokeshop & Gas Mart.
A person is reportedly trapped in the vehicle.
Alabama fire and Mercy EMS requested to the scene. Pembroke and Indian Falls requested mutual aid. Heavy rescue equipment requested to the scene.
UPDATE 9:37 a.m.: The woman who was in the car is conscious and alert and out of the vehicle. The vehicle is completely inside the building.
UPDATE 9:38 a.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls asked to stage in quarters.
UPDATE 10:21 a.m.: Patient being transported to UMMC for evaluation.
The Swanson family was honored today by the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation at the foundation's annual Memorial Day Weekend tournament at MacArthur Park in Batavia.
In 2007, Anders Swanson -- in the blue shirt above with mother Amy, father Garth and brothers Beckett and Cooper -- was diagnosed with cancer deep in his brain when he was 18 months old.
"(The doctors were) brutally honest," Amy said. "This kind of cancer is rare, it’s aggressive and it doesn’t have a good outcome. Kids with this kind of cancer don’t survive."
He immediately underwent surgery, and then a long ordeal of treatment that included four rounds of chemo, 31 days of radiation, two high-dosage chemo treatments, two stem-cell transplants, and countless blood transfusions, spinal taps and CAT scans. He underwent a second major brain surgery in which 90 percent of the cancer was removed. Now considered cancer free, Amy said he still undergoes numerous regular tests and the fight isn't over, yet Anders remains positive and a team player.
"He has to work much harder, but he greets everything with a can-do attitude," Amy said.
The tournament, she said, was a great way to honor Micheal's memory, because his love of baseball is evident by every smile on the field.
"We know how important baseball is," Amy said. "It’s about accountability, character, courage, confidence, commitment, determination, ethics, honor, humility and humor, integrity, loyalty, leadership, obedience, self-discipline, sportsmanship and teamwork. These truly are the key components of baseball. Baseball is unique in that it can often mirror life itself. The great length of a baseball season, and the fact that failure is an innate part of the game, offers players, coaches and parents the opportunities to teach many more of life’s truths and skills."
The foundation regularly provides financial support to families with children battling cancer, and Laurie Napoleone presented the Swanson's with a $1,000 check, but the Swanson's asked that the money be donated to other charities.
Since Micheal's death, the foundation has provided more than $230,000 to 300 families in the region, donated more than $56,000 to pediatric cancer research, and assisted youth sports with $38,000 in donations, and provided another $50,000 to the Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester.
The Spirit of Michael Napoleone Award went to Ryan Carroll and Jacob Smith.
David Zuppelli, of Batavia, submitted this photo of his father, Chester Zuppelli, playing Taps on Memorial Day 1944 in New Caledonia, South Pacific.
Here's a schedule for Memorial Day Ceremonies and the Batavia parade:
7 a.m. -- Genesee County Park (11095 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany) -- Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVA #193)
8 a.m. -- Williams Park, City of Batavia-- WW I Memorial (wreath laying, rifle salute & Taps)
8:30 a.m. -- Batavia VA Medical Center
8:45 a.m. -- NYS Veterans Home
9:30 a.m. -- Upton Monument (routes 5 and 63) (wreath laying, rifle salute & Taps)
9:45 a.m. -- Batavia Cemetery, Harvester Avenue, City of Batavia (wreath laying, rifle salute & Taps)
10 a.m. -- Elmwood Cemetery, off Harvester Avenue and Webster Street in the city (AL #332)
10 a.m. -- CITY PARADE -- Begins at the Eastown Plaza traveling west along Main Street and ending at Jerome Center on Bank Street at 10:45 a.m.
10:45 a.m. -- UMMC -- Jerome Center:
Noon -- Hansen Brothers Grave -- Grandview Cemetery on Clinton Street Road, Batavia (MCL #951)
Participating organizations:
Hansen Borthers Marine Corps League Detachment #951
Glenn S. Loomis American Legion Post #332
Veness-Strollo Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1602
Disabled American Veterans Chapter #166
Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter #193
Sons of Union Veterans Abraham Lincoln Camp #6
Here are more local Memorial Day ceremonies/parades:
ALEXANDER: Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Alexander High School and travels to the cemetery on Railroad Avenue with a ceremony to take place at the cemetery following the parade.
CORFU: Parade at noon from Corfu Fire hall on Route 33 to the Intermediate School on Route 77. Ceremony immediately following the parade.
OAKFIELD: Parade at 11 a.m. from the Oakfield Fire Dept. to Triangle Park with ceremony to be held at Triangle Park.
PAVILION: Ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Town Park at intersection of routes 63 and 19. No parade.
No parades/ceremonies for the following:
Alabama
Bethany
Darien
Pembroke
Stafford
Press release:
This summer join the Genesee County Master Gardeners for our monthly series, “Garden Talk."
Taught by Master Gardeners, the programs will be held once month, during the “lunch hour” from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Bring your lunch to the CCE office (420 E. Main St, Batavia) and join us to learn more about gardening! This series is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
The next program will be held June 7 with the topic, “Introduction to Beneficial Insects." Most of the insects that live in your garden or landscape are beneficial. They do little or no harm to you or your plants. Some of these good guys even provide free pest control for you. So who are these allies? Come find out at our June session.
On July 12 learn about propagating perennials from cuttings. If you are looking for an easy way to create more plants for your garden, we’ll offer you some tips during this program.
Join us on Aug. 2 for a demonstration on using flowers from your garden to make beautiful arrangements.
Need a Garden Talk schedule? Contact Brandie at 585-343-3040, ext. 101. Future topics and other Master Gardener events will be posted on the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County Web site at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/
Press release:
Anyone who is dealing with the pain of a loved one’s passing, or other heartaches, is welcome to attend any of eight FREE grief and loss support groups to be held at Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR), starting June 7th.
They will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the next four months, at ILGR’s offices at 113 Main St., Suite 5, Batavia. The precise dates are: June 7th and 21st, July 5th and 19th, Aug. 2nd and 16th, and Sept. 6th and 20th.
Group facilitator David Dodge described its purpose and structure: “This group is an opportunity for members to discuss what they are currently experiencing, relating to grief and loss, in order to feel a sense of increased support. We will also be doing some activities in order to get participants to do self-reflection related to what they are thinking or feeling.”
Participants are requested to register, beforehand. To do so or get more information, please call David Dodge at (585) 815-8501, ext. 415.
"Expedition Norway" is the theme of a free summer program for children in grades K-6 sponsored by The Salvation Army.
It will be held every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 14 through Aug. 25 at the headquarters at 529 E. Main St. in the city.
Transportation to and from The Salvation Army is available to children in the city.
A morning snack and lunch is provide each week.
Participants can experience the unique food, fun games and activities of Norway. Make new firends and learn about an amazing culture. There will also be incredible music and surprising adventures!
Attend four out of the six sessions and get a free pass to the Niagara Falls Aquarium.
Phone 343-6284.
William S. Webster, 24, of Parsells Avenue, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, unlawfully dealing with a child, and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. At 12:04 a.m. this morning, Webster was stopped at a DWI checkpoint on Route 33 in the Town of Batavia. He was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana and consuming alcohol in the vehicle and providing alcohol to a minor. He was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Batavia Court on June 13. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Forsyth.
Seth Ryan Doster, 24, of Alleghany Road, Darien, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. At 8:40 p.m. on May 27, the defendent was arrested after he was searched following a traffic stop on Florence Avenue in the City of Batavia. He was allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance. The defendant was released on an appearance ticket for City Court at a later date. City police assisted in the investigation. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.
Press release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia), the ranking Minority member of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and a veteran of the Ohio Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves, on Friday remembered members of the United States Military who fought and gave their lives in service to our country and thanked those who still serve to defend our freedom.
“I would like to wish all the veterans and active military personnel in my district and throughout New York State a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend. Thank you for your courage and sacrifice which ensures our freedom and protects our way of life. I ask everyone, as you spend time with your family and friends this weekend, remember that freedom isn’t free and please take time to thank the veterans in your life,” Hawley said.
A pedestrian is conscious and alert after reportedly being struck by a car in the area of 317 E. Main St., Batavia.
The car has left the scene.
It's a maroon, newer sedan driving by a female, heading east on Main Street.
City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 10:27 p.m.: The vehicle has apparently been located.
UPDATE 10:28 p.m.: The vehicle stopped was not involved. A city patrol is checking the area.
A dog is locked inside a black Cadillac with the windows rolled up near 115 Washington Ave. in the City. Batavia PD is responding.
It's looking like Memorial Day Weekend is going to be a great weekend to make use of the spray park in Austin Park, as Darien Rhodes did this afternoon with Faith Rhodes.
Temperatures will reach as high as 92 degrees over the weekend with ample humidity.
Information provided by the Genesee County Department of Social Services is included in this story.
Sarah Wilson, 32, of Alexander Road in Alexander, was sentenced in Genesee County Court Thursday afternoon to four months intermittent jail time and five years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a felony.
In addition to this charge, she was originally facing a second felony, one count of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, and one count of petit larceny, a misdemeanor. Those charges were dismissed.
She was arrested last fall after a joint investigation by the Genesee County Department of Social Services and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department.
Wilson had submitted the forged medical statement to the Department of Social Services in October, which she claimed had been completed by a local doctor. An alert social welfare examiner at DSS reviewed the form and noticed the doctor’s name was spelled incorrectly on the medical form that had been submitted and the examiner submitted the case for investigation.
The investigation that followed revealed the medical statement allegedly had not been completed or signed by the doctor. Wilson was arrested by Sheriff's Investigator Joseph Graff and jailed on $1,000 bail.
Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini agreed that the recommendation of intermittent jail time and probation -- also called "shock probation" -- was appropriate in this case.
The prosecutor told Acting Genesee County Court Judge Michael F. Pietruszka that this "was not your typical welfare fraud case," because Wilson purposely forged the doctor's note -- to either avoid certain types of assets from being withheld or to get or maintain benefits -- and she told different stories about her involvement to different people and in a letter to the judge declared she did not intend to defraud DSS.
"She continues to minimize her involvement," Cianfrini said.
Wilson's attorney, Public Defender Jerry Ader, disagreed.
"I think my client is not trying to minimize her involvement," Ader said. "She's facing the first felony violation in her life. ... There are supreme consequences at this point."
One of them is the impact the consequences of her crime will have on parenting. She has several children, but only custody of a tot who must use a nebulizer (breathing apparatus). It was indicated that care for that child might be problematic while she's in custody.
Asked by the judge if she had anything to say on her behalf, a sniffling Wilson, who kept wiping tears away with her left hand, said "No."
She was also ordered to pay restitution, pursue a job and/or employable skills, and to get a mental health evaluation and a substance abuse evaluation.
She is due at the jail at 5 p.m. today and will spend most of Memorial Day weekend in custody -- through 5 p.m. Sunday, for her first go-round at shock probation.
Anyone wishing to report suspected cases of welfare fraud in Genesee County can contact the Genesee County Department of Social Services Fraud Investigation Unit at (585)344-2580, ext. 6417 or 6416. All calls are confidential.
An accident with unknown injuries, blocking traffic, is reported at Jackson and Ellicott streets. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.
UPDATE 12:49 p.m.: No injuries. Two pickup trucks involved, both moved out of way and clear of traffic.
Christopher Tyler Sprague (pictured left), 22, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief, and petit larceny. On May 25, Sprague was transferred from Genesee County Jail to Batavia City Court where he was arraigned on these charges following an investigation into a burglary which occurred at a business at 3 Treadeasy Ave. in the city between May 7 and May 9. Sprague allegedly broke into the building and stole money while inside. He also allegedly damaged several picnic tables and pavilions behind the building. Following his arraignment before City Court Judge Durin Rogers, he was released, but due to a pending parole violation for which he was being held, he was transported back to jail. He is to be in City Court to answer the charges at 1 p.m. on June 8. The case was handled by Batavia Police Det. Richard Schauf, assisted by Det. Eric Hill.
Chase Michael Putnam, 20, of Circle Drive, Williamson, is charged with driminal possession of a weapon, 4th, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and unlawful possession of marijuana. At 11:57 a.m. on May 26, Putnam was stopped on Route 77 in the Town of Pembroke The defendant was allegedly found in possession of a quantity of suspected cocaine and marijuana, as well as a doubled-edge knife. Putnam was arrested and issued an appearance ticket for June 21 in Town of Pembroke Court. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Patrick Reeves.
David Alan Ornt, 24, of Hall Road, Holley, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, speed in excess of 55 mph, and open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. He was arrested on the charges following a traffic stop at 6:52 p.m. on May 22 on South Holley Road in the Town of Byron. He was issued appearance tickets for June 20 in Town of Byron Court. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute, assisted by Deputy Kevin Forsyth.
Chet William Kenyon, 32, of Sandybrook Drive, Hamlin, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree and open container of alcohol in a a motor vehicle. He was arrested at 6:23 p.m. on May 22 on South Holley Road in Byron following a traffic stop. He was issued appearance tickets for June 20 in Town of Byron Court. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute, assisted by Deputy Kevin Forsyth.
Frank Grillo submitted these photos and story about the dog run being installed at the PTSD clinic at the Batavia VA.
I know how important the small things are.
I know when your scraping and clawing and fighting to regain your life that every advantage can mean the difference between life and death.
When I came home I never slept. I watched out the windows, I patrolled my home. I gained over 100 pounds and began to fail at school and life. What brought me back? My dog.
Reba watched out the windows. Reba listened for sounds so I didn't have to. Her hearing was better; she constantly stared out the window and when I said "Reba, Whats That?" she would barrel from window to window on high alert.
When I arrived at the PTSD clinic I was immediately greeted like a criminal. Breathalyzers and urinalysis as well as a search of my belongings. The windows would only open four inches because someone from Texas jumped out of his window and because it was early spring the heaters were still on bringing my room to a not so comfy 90+ degrees.
The program was being run by a woman who did not know how to balance what was best for the vet against the regulations.
This was a colossal mess but I did three tours in Iraq and I could handle all the above.
I lasted less than one day.
Why?
I didn't have my dog.
Fast forward three years. I've given up on almost all of my volunteering. Too many fake programs cashing in on veterans.
I did keep on, however, keep up with the VA Veterans Advisors Council for two reasons:
- because my friend Patrick brought me in;
- and because I believe in the Director Brian Stiller, who is himself a Navy veteran.
For almost a year we brought the fight to allow service dogs into the PTSD program and thanks to a language loophole and Brian's willingness to do the right thing, to act on principal FOR the veteran in spite of the ridiculous bureaucracy, and we prevailed.
A veteran who found it too tough to stay in the program without his service dog eventually returned to Batavia to complete the program, and to his credit he pioneered the possibility of service dogs at the residential treatment program.
Next we asked, "What can we do to make this permanent?" and Director Stiller responded, "We need a place to let the run off vest."
Immediately I reached out to my brothers at the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 19-6 in Batavia.
We raised the funding and created the fenced-in pen you see in this picture. Yesterday, we returned to build a shelter where the combat veteran can sit in case he or she cannot stand. A place the veteran can relax out of the elements while his or her most loyal companion can run and play and unwind.
These dogs are easing the burden and saving the lives of veterans every day just as my Reba did for me. It is my privlidge and our chapter's honor to make that kind of advantage a possibility for our fellow combat veterans.
God bless America.
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