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Batavia man arrested as part of Orleans County marijuana distribution investigation

By Howard B. Owens

A drug investigation that began five months ago in Orleans County led to a search of three Genesee County dwellings Tuesday and the arrest of a Batavia man.

Taken into custody was Edgar Perez, 25, of 110 Jackson St., upper. Perez was arraigned in the Town of Barre Court and jailed in Orleans County on $100,000 bail.

In all, four search warrants were executed by law enforcement Tuesday, including one on a car stopped in Barre where investigators reportedly uncovered eight pounds of marijuana.

Perez was reportedly driving the car.

Search warrants were also executed at 110 Jackson St., Batavia and 32 and 33 Sunset Parkway, Oakfield.

Additional suspects from Genesee County are still being sought according to Orleans County investigator Joe Sacco.

Sacco said Tuesday's arrest and searches were unrelated to another recent drug investigation in Orleans County that grabbed regional media attention.

In the raids, investigators reportedly seized some quantity of marijuana, scales, packaging material and other drug paraphenalia at each search location.

Assisting Orleans County's Major Felony Crime Task Force was the Genesee County Local Drug Task Force and the City of Batavia's Emergency Response Team.

For the record, while we expected to receive a copy of a press release from Orleans County on this matter, we have not. This report combines our interview with Joe Sacco this afternoon and the press release published on WIVB's web site (click through for a picture, apparently, of the marijuana seized).

Cause of Monday's fire still undetermined

By Howard B. Owens

Investigators have yet to determine what sparked a fire that destroyed a rooming house Monday at 433 E. Main St., Batavia.

With no cause uncovered at this point, it's hard to say when investigators will be able to determine how the fire started, according to Lt. Jay Steinbrenner of the Batavia Fire Department.

The investigation remains ongoing.

There's no further information available on the investigation at this time.

14th Annual Batavia Reads John Gardner

By Howard B. Owens

Members of the John Gardner Society and other fans of the late author who was born and raised in Batavia and often made Batavia the subject of his literary work will gather at the Pok-A-Dot, Liberty and Ellicott streets, Batavia. Admission is free. All are welcome.  For more information or to be added to the reading list, call Bill at (585) 757-2455.

Event Date and Time
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Photo: Make a Difference Day

By Howard B. Owens

It's "Make a Difference Day," and as part of the effort, four Batavia High School students were in downtown this morning picking up trash on the sidewalks and flower beds. Above, Donald Fagan, a senior at BHS, patrols for litter in a flower bed on East Main Street.

Drug Task Force raids, searches apartment on Jackson Street

By Howard B. Owens

The Local Drug Enforcement Task Force raided the upper apartment at 110 Jackson St., Batavia, at around 6:15 p.m.

All we know at this point is that the raid was not the only one conducted in Genesee County today.

Investigators were still on scene about two hours later conducting a search of the apartment.

Above, Lt. Chris Bourke of the Orleans County Sheriff's Office and his K-9 "Cliff."

Four cars in accident at Daws Corners

By Billie Owens

A four-vehicle accident, with one of them possibly on fire, is reported on Batavia-Elba Townline Road at the intersection of Route 98 (Daws Corners).

Two people are reportedly injured, one of them a woman who is seven-months pregnant.

Elba fire is responding along with Mercy EMS.

The accident is blocking the roadway.

UPDATE (5:30 p.m.): Two women with minor injuries were taken to UMMC, including the pregnant female.

CLARIFICATION (6:10 p.m.): From reader Shannon Laurer: "Actually they took the pregnant female and two males to the hospital! She was a passenger in one vehicle, her mother the driver accompanied her and each of the two males was a driver in the other vehicles involved, the third male driver involved did not need medical assistance."

Thanks, Shannon. Most helpful!

Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union invites everyone to 'Pay It Forward'

By Daniel Crofts

How would you like to get free money just for entering a contest for more free money?

That's exactly the invitation the Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union, at 10 Jefferson Ave. in Batavia, is inviting you to do from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15.

Here's the deal: Each participant is to go to the bank during the specified hours on Friday to get the word out about a charity or worthy cause that is important to him/her. All participants will win $10 just for doing that.

Bank staff members will videotape all contest entries, and judges will pick the 10 best videos and post them online. After that, the public will decide on the winner.

The winner will be awarded $1,000 to be spent on the charity or cause of his/her choice.

Members and non-members of the TVFCU are invited to take part in the contest. For more information, please contact the bank at 343-5627.

Covington man faces new charge for allegedly impersonating federal agent

By Howard B. Owens

A 41-year-old Covington man already facing charges out of the Town of Batavia for allegedly trying to pass himself off as a federal law enforcement agent was arrested by Le Roy Police on Monday on a similar charge.

Nikko C. Gambino, of Morrow Road, Convington, was arraigned in Le Roy Town Court and jailed on $750 on a charge of criminal impersonation, 2nd.

Gambino is accused of entering a Le Roy business some time in September allegedly dressed as a federal agent and directing an employee of that business to make a phone call under his pretend authority.

Three weeks ago, Gambino was arrested by the Sheriff's Office for allegedly attempting the same ruse in Walmart. A search of his residence reportedly found articles of clothing with law enforcement markings and a metal badge.

Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said it isn't really clear why Gambino has allegedly attempted to enter retail outlets and pass himself off as a federal agent.

"He's refusing to talk, but we we think it is some sort of diversion," Brewster said. "He wants to draw attention to himself while his accomplice attempts to steal something. We haven't been able to confirm that with surveillance tapes and nothing has been reported stolen. At this point, it's just a guess."

On the arrest out of the Town of Batavia, Gambino was charged with two counts of criminal impersonation, 2nd, and one count of falsely reporting an incident.

He was initially jailed on $5,000 bail.

Police Beat: Alleged attempt to heist of 50-inch plasma TV foiled

By Howard B. Owens

Brett Myers Blair, 26, of South Lyon Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass and petit larceny. Blair is accused of attemping to steal a 50" plasma television from Kmart. Blair was allegedly observed by Kmart personnel wandering around the back stock room of the store without authorization. (Initial Report)

Matthew S. Flannery, 20, of Lymn Road, Byron, is charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident. James C. Wilcox, 41, of South Lake Street, Bergen, is charged with obstructing governmental administration, 2nd. Flannery and Wilcox were arrested following an investigation into a property damage accident at 6:04 p.m., Sept. 25 in the area of 10 Munger St., Bergen. Wilcox is accused of interfering with Bergen Fire Department personnel prior to the arrival of law enforcement and helping Flannery allegedly flee the scene of the accident. Flannery's 2005 Saturn reportedly struck a utility pole. (Initial Report)

Barry Lamont Posey, 18, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny.  Posey is accused of removing items from packaging and hiding the items on his body with the intent of leaving Target without paying for the merchandise.

Gordy Abiola Akinpeia, 18, of Lincoln Avenue, Brooklyn, is charged with petit larceny. Akinpeia is accused of stealing merchandise from Target.

Cassandra Kay Dembik, 18, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Dembik is accused of getting into a fight with another person at 3221 Pratt Road, Batavia, at 6:15 p.m., Monday.

Douglas D. Sprague, 19, of Bergen, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th. Sprague was arrested at 11:57 p.m., Sunday, by State Police in Bergen Park. The State Police blotter item lists the type of weapon only as "gun." No further details were released.

Investigators prepare to sift through rubble to determine cause of rooming house fire

By Howard B. Owens

Today investigators are expected to return to the scene of last night's rooming house fire at 433 E. Main St., Batavia.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

Eleven people lost their living space and all of their belongings in the fire.

The interior was completely gutted. On the west side, the second and third floors are completely gone.

Previous coverage:

 

One-car rollover accident reported on Bank Street Road

By Howard B. Owens

A one-car rollover accident with entrapment has been reported on Bank Street Road just south of the five corners.

Mercy Flight is on standby.

Town of Batavia and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 9:06 a.m.: The driver, a GCC student, suffered only minor injuries if she was injured at all. After being freed from the wreckage, the young lady walked away from the accident. She was transported to UMMC by ground ambulance as a precaution. The preliminary cause is believed to be speed too fast for conditions. The road was wet and the driver, driving south, apparently lost control.

Rooming house on Main Street, Batavia, destroyed by late afternoon fire

By Howard B. Owens

A smoke detector helped alert residents that a fire was smoldering inside a rooming house at 433 E. Main St., Batavia.

"My wife heard a beeping noise and she smelled smoke," said resident Joe Allegue. "We opened the door, we’re in apartment 11, and the black smoke just billowed right into the room and covered us."

Allegue said he started yelling, "Fire," and got his wife out then called 9-1-1.

The basement fire was reported to Genesee County Dispatch at 4:16 p.m., and the first city crews were on scene within minutes. Smoke was already billowing from the basement and working its way up to the second and third floors.

Firefighters faced some significant structural obstacles in fighting the fire, according to Chief James Maxwell, which eventually forced firefighters to withdraw from the interior of the complex.

"We made several attempts at the basement, but by that time, it was already on the first and second floors," Maxwell said. "The way the interior structure was portioned with the different apartments, we were just chasing it around from room to room. Eventually it got in the attic, so at that point, the safest option was to go to a defensive operation."

The city already had Ladder Truck 15 on scene, pouring water on the roof from the southwest corner of the building. Town of Batavia's Ladder Truck 25 was brought to the scene to attack the fire from the rear roof area.

According to tax records, the structure was built in 1950. That was near the end of the use of balloon-framing construction in the United States, according to Wikipedia.

In balloon framing, the walls of a building are continuously open from the basement to the attic, making it easier for a fire to climb quickly up the interior of the walls.

The building is a total loss. Fire crews were still on scene at midnight, with active firefighting lasting at least five hours.

At 11 p.m., investigators were calling for water to be pumped from the basement so they could begin the work of trying to determine the cause of the fire.

Eleven people living in eight boarding rooms and two apartments were displaced by the fire.

That's the hardest part said property owner Terry Platt. While the nature of insurance on this type of rental property means he may never fully recover the financial loss, it's sad, he said, seeing his tenants go through something like this.

"They’re the type of residents who really can’t afford the insurance to be able to cover all of their contents and of course they’re going to lose everything now," said Platt, who acquired the property in 1990. "That’s the worst part. It’s just sad. The rest of it is just a big headache, but it’s worse for all the tenants. They’re walking out with no shoes on their feet. It’s just sad to see that happen."

Platt said the loan on the property was nearly paid off and once it was, he was going to be able to invest in upgrades to the apartments.

Within hours of the fire being reported, Red Cross officials were beginning to assist residents in finding temporary housing, but Platt said there's a shortage of rooming houses available at the rate his tenants could afford to pay -- he was charging from $75 to $85 per week -- so finding long-term housing for many of the residents could prove difficult.

All 11 residents were safely accounted for within two hours of the fire being reported. At one point, one resident was thought to possibly still be in an apartment. The inset picture is of Platt trying to recall, so he could tell a firefighter, the best way to get to the apartment.

Doug Yeomans also submitted a series of photos from the fire.

Disclosure: Terry Platt is my landlord.

More pictures after the jump:

Batavia Recovery Center to celebrate third anniversary, expansion

By Billie Owens

Horizon Health Services Batavia Recovery Center is celebrating its third anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15.

It is located at 314 Ellicott St. in Batavia and has expanded its services and operating space.

“When we opened our doors in September 2007 we had one counselor and a program director,” said David Payne, CASAC program director, in a news release. “As it became obvious that our services were critical to individuals and families in the community, we added staff and just added our fourth full-time counselor, a consulting psychiatrist, and have reconfigured and expanded our footprint to include additional space for group and individual therapy, offices and a lunch room.”

Facts regarding young adult alcohol and drug use are startling:
•    Young adults comprise the largest group of alcoholics in the U.S.;
•    5.4 million young adults (age 12-25) abuse prescription drugs;
•    1 in 5 young adults (age 18-25) is substance dependent or involved in substance abuse.

The Batavia Recovery Center (BRC) now works with Anthony Rancaniello, M.D., who has been instrumental with providing psychiatric assessments for client who suffer with symptoms of “dual diagnosis."

Dual diagnosis clients are those individuals with alcohol and drug dependency issues who also are challenged by mental health disorders such as depression, ADHD and anxiety. More than half of adolescents struggling with chemical dependency have a dual diagnosis.

BRC is one of the few providers of concurrent psychiatric services in Western New York.

“We understand that an addiction to alcohol or other drugs is often misunderstood, not only by the person who is addicted, but also by his or her family and the general public,” said Anne Constantino, president and CEO of Horizon.

“Addiction is a disease that affects the entire family. It is treatable and recovery is possible. We provide a fresh start for those who seek treatment or may have sought treatment from other service providers.”

The Batavia Recovery Center is recognized for its:
•    Individualized assessment and treatment plans;
•    Minimal waiting time for an appointment (always less than 48 hours);
•    Gender-specific and dual-diagnosis treatments.

The Batavia Recovery Center can be reached at 585-815-0247 to schedule an appointment. Its hours of operation are:

  • 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
  • 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
  • 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday

Horizon Health Service is the largest and most comprehensive provider of fully integrated mental health and chemical dependency treatment and recovery services, with 12 outpatient clinics serving Erie, Niagara and Genesee counties.

In addition, Horizon Village, a 50-bed intensive residential facility, operates in Niagara County, where a Veterans treatment Facility and Wellness Center are under construction on the same campus.

This year marks the second consecutive year Horizon has been named one of the 40 Best Companies to work for in New York by Business First. For more information about Horizon visit www.horizon-health.org.

Fire at house on East Main Street in Batavia

By Billie Owens

A fire is reported at a house at 433 E. Main St. in Batavia, between Harvester and Vine. City firefighters on scene say smoke is showing.

The fire is believed to have begun in the basement. Streets in the vicinity are being shut down to traffic.

Smoke rapidly began pouring from all three stories of the building soon after firefighters arrived.

UPDATE (5:07 p.m.): Until about 10 minutes ago, fire crews believed someone was still inside the building, now that is being re-evaluated.

The building is owned by Terry Platt of Platt Properties in Batavia. It is a rooming house with eight rooms and two apartments.

UPDATE (5:11 p.m.): No one was found inside during the initial search of the building. The landlord is providing the residents' names and contact information so fire personnel can account for all the occupants. Then the premises will be searched again.

UPDATE (5:26 p.m.): The fire is not yet under control. Smoke is still coming from the building. Elba Fire Department responded as mutual aid to the scene and Mercy EMS is also there. Oakfield Fire Department is asked to fill in at the station for the Town of Batavia, which also responded to the fire.

American Red Cross is called to stage at Wilson Farms on Main Street to provide aid to seven people. There seems to be some trouble getting water for one of the hoses.

UPDATE (5:49 p.m.): There is still fire on the first and second stories. All interior firefighters are ordered out and to muster in front for an accountability roll call. A cop on scene said they are going to "flood the building." All occupants are out and accounted for.

UPDATE (5:56 p.m.): Flames six feet high are now shooting out of the roof. National Grid is called to the scene.

UPDATE (6:05 p.m.): A plume of black and gray smoke is visible for at least a hundred feet above the house.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m. (by Howard) Town of Batavia's ladder, Engine 25, is on scene. It looks like the plan is to bring it around to the back of the house and pour as much water on the roof as possible. The construction of the house, built around the turn of the century or before, has "balloon" walls, making it possible for flames to shoot up from the basement all the way to the attic. Once the fire got into the walls, it became very difficult to fight from the inside.

11:04 p.m.:  City Engine 12 is back in service. Town of Batavia Engine 18 is back in service. Genesee County Emergency Management is going back in service. A pump has been requested in the basement to start pumping out water so that the investigation can be started.

11:17 p.m.: All Town of Batavia units back in service. City personnel who responded to the second and third alarms being released.

1:17 a.m.: Ladder 15 back in quarters.

Man runs after allegedly trying to steal TV from Kmart

By Howard B. Owens

A man who reportedly tried to steal a television from Kmart has fled on foot and was last spotted running behind Jerry Arena's Pizzaria.

The subject is described as white male, wearing a brown and white hat, brown sweater and blue jeans.

The suspect fled Kmart, leaving the TV on Kmart's property.

Multiple law enforcement units are responding to the area.

UPDATE: Before we could even get this published, the suspect was caught on West Main Street.

Man with prior DWI convictions now faces Leandra's Law charge

By Howard B. Owens

An Attica man with two prior DWI convictions was allegedly found driving drunk with children in his car on East Main Street in Batavia last night.

Taken into custody on $25,000 bail and charged with a felony under Leandra's Law was 40-year-old Roland J. Reed, of Exchange Street, Attica.

Reed reportedly had a 2-year-old and an 8-month-old in the car when he was stopped at 11:24 p.m. in the area of 505 East Main St., Batavia, by Deputy Christopher Parker.

Besides a felony DWI and the Leandra's Law felony charge, Reed is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, unlawful possession of marijuana, unlicensed operation, moving from lane unsafely and refusal to take a breath test.

The children's mother was reportedly a passenger in the vehicle.

Local surgeon named Fellow of the American College of Surgeons

By Billie Owens

At the 96th annual Clinical Congress in Washington, D.C., earlier this month, Dr. Richard King was initiated as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

The Oct. 3 ceremony was attended by dignitaries of the college, families of initiates and surgeons from around the globe.

Dr. King joined the staff of United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia in 2008.

He graduated from Cornell and New York Medical College in 1995. After service with the Army in Europe, he completed his surgical and fellowship training at Penn State/Hershey Medical Center in 2006 and then joined the faculty of the University of Rochester Medical Center before working at UMMC.

By meeting the American College of Surgeon's stringent membership requirements, Fellows of the American College of Surgeons have earned the distinguished right to use the designation of “FACS” (Fellow, American College of Surgeons).

“This is the culmination of many years of training as well as sacrifice on the part of my family” says Dr. King. “I owe this accomplishment to their support, as well as to those who have mentored and guided me through the years.”

King currently resides in Brockport with his wife, who is a marriage and family therapist, and their four children.

An applicant for the fellowship must: be a graduate of an approved medical school; have completed advanced training in one of the 14 surgical specialties recognized by the college; possess certification by an American surgical specialty board; present a surgical case from their own practice to a panel comprised of surgeons in their geographic area; and have been in practice in the same geographic location for at least one year at the time of application.

Before admission into fellowship, the surgeon must further demonstrate ethical fitness and professional proficiency, and his or her acceptance as a fellow of the college must be approved by three-fourths of its Board of Regents.

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The college is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery.

Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The college has more than 77,000 members and it is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

GCEDC announces grants and tax exemptions for local projects

By Howard B. Owens

Here are four recent news items from the Genesee County Economic Development Center:

  • Gov. David Paterson awarded GCEDC a $3.9-million grant to upgrade the short rail line in and around the new Genesee County Agri-Business Park off of Route 5 in the Town of Batavia. The grant money comes from a 2005 bond act for transportation infrastructure in New York. The 202-acre park offers shovel ready industrial land for food processors. Business Facilities Magazine recently named Genesee and Livingston counties as the second-best food processing area in the nation, citing both the Oakta Milk Products facility and the new agri-park in its article.
  • National Grid has awarded GCEDC with $275,000 in grants to further the development of the Buffalo East Tech Park in Pembroke. The 300-acre site is adjacent the Pembroke exit of the Thruway, giving the development area easy access to Buffalo and Rochester. Sixty-seven acres of the park are shovel ready for business development.
  • Sale-tax exemptions totaling $12,000 were awarded to Bruce Scofield, LLC, for reopening a transfer station and recycling center at 8620 Sanders Road, Stafford. The location will serve area residents and businesses with a facility to dispose of waste and recyclables. The facility has been approved by the DEC to receive 150 tons of solid waste per day and 75 tons of recyclables per day. For every $1 of tax exemption, the project is expected to return $141 in public benefit over the next 10 years. Scofield will invest $150,000 in the project.
  • Pineyard Acres, LLC, of 6256 Clinton St. Road, Stafford, is receiving a $29,500 property-tax exemption, a $14,600 sales-tax exemption and a $4,000 mortgage-tax exemption for expansion of its business from 1,400 square feet to 5,600 square feet. For every $1 of tax exemption, the local economy should receive $210 in public benefit over the next 10 years, according to the GCEDC.  Pineyard Acres is expected to invest $335,000 in the expansion.

Police Beat: Driver charged with DWI following accident in Elba

By Howard B. Owens

Austin W. Smith, 24, of Batavia, is charged with DWI and aggravated DWI. Smith was reportedly involved in an accident at 8:24 p.m., Saturday, on Route 262, Town of Elba. The accident was investigated by State Police. (initial report)

Steven M. Keaton, 38, of 50 Gilbert St., Le Roy, is charged with three counts of criminal contempt, 2nd. Keaton is accused of violating an order of protection by being with the protected person on three different occasions.

Cassandra Kay Dembik, 18, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with unlawfully dealing with a child. Dembik is accused of hosting an underage drinking party.

Lawrence Joseph Owczarczak, 55, of West Point Drive, East Amherst, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Owczarczak is accused of grabbing a young man by the arm on Friday evening.

David N. Taplin, 33, of 16 Skyline Circle, Brockport, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Taplin reportedly turned himself in at Batavia Police headquarters in regard to a bench warrant.

Jerry T. Saddler Jr., of 112 State St., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Saddler is accused of violating an order of protection by allegedly contacting a woman he was barred from contacting.

Gregory Seppe, 52, with no permanent address, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd. Seppe is accused of entering a dwelling on Columbia Avenue without permission. Seppe was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Nicholas A. Antonucci, 23, of 4192 Broadway Road, Alexander, is charged with disorderly conduct and unlawful possession of marijuana. Antonucci is accused of repeatedly shouting obscenities at 10:45 p.m., Friday, while in a parking lot at 214 E. Main St., Batavia.

Jodi L. Reed, 38, of 7428 Pearl St. Road, Oakfield, is charged with possession of a forged instrucment, 2nd, and petit larceny. Reed is accused of passing a forged check at a local bank on Aug. 3.

Accident reported in westbound lane on the Thruway

By Howard B. Owens

A car accident has been reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 385 in the westbound lane.

There is air bag deployment.

No reports on injuries yet.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:27 p.m: A vehicle is blocking a lane. No word yet on injuries.

UPDATE 11:36 p.m.:  No definitive word on injuries, but this is not sounding serious.

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