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GOP leaders vow to move quickly on picking candidate to run for NY-26

By Howard B. Owens

Regional GOP leaders expect to name a candidate to run in a special election for Chris Lee's former seat within eight or nine days, said Nick Langworthy, Erie County GOP chairman following a two-hour meeting of county chairs at Batavia's South Beach Restaurant.

"We need to nominate somebody in short order because we believe the election will be held some time in the next six to eight weeks," Langworthy said.

Added Monroe County Chairman Bill Reilich, "Governor Cuomo is not Governor Paterson. He knows we need representation in Washington."

Last year, residents of the 29th Congressional District went eight months without representation because Gov. Paterson refused to call a special election. In that case, Democrats feared losing the seat to Republicans. In this case, some Democrats think they have a fighting chance to take the 26th District.

The GOP county chairs said candidates for the Republican nomination will be interviewed in one week by 21 GOP leaders from throughout the region.  

Any candidate who wants to be considered, Langworthy said, should contact his or her county chair and provide a letter of intent and resume.

"All candidates will be considered," Langworthy said.

Also attending today's meeting were: Mike Norris, Niagara County; Ed Morgan, Orleans County; Gordon Brown, Wyoming County; and Don Read, representing Genesee County while chairman Dick Seibert is on medical leave.

Snowplow strikes natural gas line behind Kmart

By Billie Owens

A snowplow has accidently struck a natural gas pipeline meter behind the Kmart store at 8363 Lewiston Road. It's leaking fuel.

The Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding and will access the scene through the Batavia Downs' parking lot at the rear of the property.

Kmart and Batavia Downs' management have been notified and so has National Fuel Co., which is sending in a crew but no ETA is given.

Winds are reportedly 5 mph from the southwest.

UPDATE 11:39 p.m.: A City of Batavia fire engine is called to respond as mutual aid.

UPDATE 11:49 a.m.: A responder reports that the natural gas leak has been stopped. Crews are asked to check the store's warehouse again to ensure no natural gas fumes are inside.

Police Beat: Man accused of rape at College Village

By Howard B. Owens

Tomubari Godswill Gbaraba, 18, of 262 14th St., Buffalo, is charged with rape in the first degree. Gbaraba is accused of having forced sexual intercourse with an 18-year-old victim at College Village. Gbaraba was jailed on $50,000 bail.

Christine A. Woika, 37, of 82 Gilbert St., Le Roy, is charged with reckless endangerment of property and endangering the welfare of a child. Woika is accused of placing a jacket and other clothing in an oven in an apartment and leaving the oven on. The clothes started to burn and if they had caught fire, the fire could have spread causing at least more than $250 in damage. Woika is also accused of allowing herself to become incoherent to the point that she had to be transported to a hospital while she was caring for a 2-year-old child.

John Weston Boddy, 19, of Junction Road, Pavilion, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Boddy is accused of possessing marijuana while on Pavilion Central School property. He was issued an appearance ticket by Deputy Brian Thompson.

A 17-year-old, of Roanoke Road, Pavilion, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The youth is accused of possessing marijuana while on Pavilion Central School property. He was issued an appearance ticket by Deputy Brian Thompson.

Gary Frank Caccamise, 64, of Attica, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle. Caccamise was reportedly spotted by Deputy Brian Thompson allegedly drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle. Upon further investigation, Thompson allegedly found Caccamise in possession of marijuana.

Gerald George Ryder, 50, of Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, and harassment, 2nd. Ryder is accused of punching a woman in the head and then smashing her wooden bookcase during an incident at 2:30 a.m., Saturday.

Police Beat: Youth charged with sexual criminal act against child

By Howard B. Owens

Dylan Allen Barclay, 17, of Lewiston Road, Basom, is charged with criminal sexual act, 1st. Barclay is accused of a criminal sexual act with a child less than 11 years old. 

Robert Jackson, 62, of Robinson Road, Lockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and failure to keep right. Jackson was stopped at 7:21 a.m. Wednesday on Lewiston Road, Alabama, by Deputy Brad Mazur.

Robert Paul Leiser, 42, of Lockport Road, Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny and failure to pay a fine. Leiser was picked up on a bench warrant for the petit larceny. He is accused of not paying a fine out of Batavia City Court. Leiser was jailed on $500 bail.

Robert J. Macklem, 21, of 1 Prospect Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Macklem is accused of violating a "stay away" protection order. A probation officer allegedly found the protected person at Macklem's residence during a routine visit. Macklem was jailed without bail.

Brian D. Leavy, 32, of 10 Cedar St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and speeding. Leavy was stopped at 12:16 a.m. on West Main Street, Batavia, by Sgt. Steve Mullen, Batavia PD.

Speed too fast for conditions a likely factor in fatal accident

By Howard B. Owens

The Honda that crossed the center line and struck an SUV in a fatal accident yesterday may have been going too fast for conditions, according to Deputy Chief Gordon Dibble, Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

It was under 9 degrees and there was still ice and snow on West Main Street Road at 9:02 a.m. when the accident ocurred.

The investigation is ongoing and there is still much to be learned about what happened, according to Dibble.

"There may be other factors that our investigation will eventually uncover," Dibble said.

Nineteen-year-old Delores Opuku-Boateng, a Batavia resident and student at GCC, died at the scene after being ejected from the Honda.

The driver, 21-year-old Levert R. Kimble, of Batavia, was seriously injured and transported to ECMC. He's out of intensive care and listed in stable condition, according to ECMC patient information.

The other driver, Justin J. Jaszko, 31, suffered a leg injury and was treated at UMMC.

Car hits utility pole, diesel fuel tank on Batavia-Stafford Townline Road

By Howard B. Owens

A car has struck a utility pole and a 500-gallon diesel fuel tank on Batavia-Stafford Townline Road near R. Steven Hawley Drive.

The tank, on a farm at the location, was ruptured at a seam and was leaking fuel. The leak is now stopped.

The driver is out of the vehicle and walking around.

Both Stafford Fire Department (the accident is in the Stafford district) and Town of Batavia fire have responded.

UPDATE 4:56 a.m.: A fuel specialist from a local fuel company requested to the scene to help drain the remaining 200 to 300 gallons of fuel in the tank. Also, dispatch asked to contact the father of the driver. "Let him know (his son) is OK. He just needs a ride home."

The road is  being kept open.

Batavia Police looking for witnesses to incident at Billy Goats a week ago

By Howard B. Owens

Mercy Flight was used to transport an injured person to a hospital following an incident at Billy Goats at 2 a.m., Jan. 31 and Batavia Police would like to interview witnesses to determine what happened.

The investigation is pending and police have released no details.

Witnesses should contact Officer Eric Bolles at 345-6350 or leave a message at 345-6444.

Photos: Snow clean up on Main Street, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

City DPW workers were busy Monday night in Downtown Batavia. Crews hauled off a good deal of the snow that was blocking walkways between parking and the sidewalk along Main Street. Tim Walton supplied the picture below of the snow removal.

One killed, one seriously injured in head-on collision on West Main Street Road, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

UPDATE 3:50 p.m.: The Genesee County Sheriff's Department has released the victims' names in this morning's two-vehicle head-on collision in the vicinity of 3837 W. Main St. Road, Town of Batavia.

Killed at the scene was 19-year-old Delores Opuku-Boateng, who was a passenger in a 1999 Honda sedan driven by 21-year-old Levert R. Kimble. Both of them were ejected from the vehicle upon impact.

Kimble was taken to ECMC with serious injuries. Mercy Flight was not available for unknown reasons this morning.

The driver of the other vehicle, a 1995 Chevy SUV, was Justin J. Jaszko, 31. He suffered a leg injury and was taken to UMMC.

According to investigators, the accident occurred at 9:02 a.m. when Kimble apparently lost control of his eastbound Honda and crossed over the center of the road, striking Jaszko's westbound SUV.

Assisting at the scene were the volunteer fire departments of the Town of Batavia and East Pembroke and the Batavia City Police Department.

The investigation continues by the following individuals: Deputy John Duyssen, Deputy Lonnie Nati, Investigator Kristopher Kautz, Investigator Timothy Weis, Sgt. William Scott, Sgt. James Meier and Sgt. Steven Mullen.

At this point, no charges have been made.

Deputy Chief Gordon Dibble said it's too early in the investigation to say what factor weather or speed played in the accident.

"We just don't know about speed," Dibble said. "We have two or three eyewitnesses and they will help us. Obviously, the road conditions are what they are. We have winter road conditions."

(Initial Report)

At least two serious injuries in accident on West Main Street Road, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

A person has been ejected from a vehicle in an accident in the area of 3842 W. Main St. Road, Town of Batavia.

There are at least two serious injuries and possibly more.

Mercy Flight is unavailable.

Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Batavia Police requested to shut down all westbound traffic.

UPDATE 9:14 a.m.: All eastbound traffic is shut down at Route 5 and Wortendyke Road. A third ambulance is called for. East Pembroke Fire Department is called to assist. A flatbed tow truck and another tow are called for.

UPDATE 9:30 a.m.: A man with minor injuries is being transported to UMMC. His grandfather had just arrived at the scene and was advised of this.

UPDATE 9:34 a.m.: The city's police chaplain is called to the scene. He is closer than the Sheriff's chaplain.

UPDATE 9:40 a.m.: There is one fatality. A victim is being transported to Erie County Medical Center.

UPDATE: As of 11 a.m., West Main Street Road reopened in both directions.


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Van leaking gas on South Main, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

City Fire has been dispatched to 193 South Main St.,in front of apartment 25, for a report of a Pontiac minivan leaking gasoline.

Military veteran takes over Batavia's Edward Jones office

By Howard B. Owens

John Baldwin is getting settled in as the new financial adviser for Edward Jones Investments in Batavia.

Working out of the EJI office on Jackson Street, Baldwin said he's already picking up new clients as well as helping out those clients who were already with Edward Jones.

Baldwin is from Carthage, near Fort Drum. He attended Roberts Wesleyan College and has a B.S. in business management.

He met his wife Jillian in college.

He joined Edward Jones after six years in the Army National Guard.

"Finance has been my life-long passion," Baldwin said. "I love helping people truly understand their money and how to make it work for them."

He said he's excited to be in Batavia.

"Batavia has been very welcoming and I look forward to many great years of involvement, service, and friendship here with the community," he said.

Catholic Charities holds volunteer workshop in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Press Release:

Nearly 60 parish and leadership volunteers, clergy and staff of Catholic Charities gathered today for a volunteer training workshop and luncheon to start the 2011 Appeal for Catholic Charities in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. The event was held at Bohn’s Restaurant in Batavia in preparation for the Appeal, which carries a goal of $10.5 million this year.

The theme of the 87th annual campaign is again, “Whoever. Wherever. Whenever.” because Catholic Charities is always there, providing help for people of all faiths and walks of life when they need it most. Appeal Week 2011, celebrating those who already have donated and encouraging others to do so, will take place April 10-17, though the Appeal will continue through the end of the fiscal year (June 30).

At the luncheon, Bishop Kmiec remarked on the number of people assisted by Catholic Charities in the area and the importance of the Appeal to that assistance, especially in light of the continued challenges of the local economy.

“Last year, Catholic Charities helped just over 5,000 people in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties through its programs and services,” said Bishop Kmiec. “This far-reaching and vitally important support relies on the funds raised during the Appeal. We have already seen a loss of government funding for our programs and services at the federal, state and county levels, and expect more of the same in 2011.”

He added, “Despite the challenges we face, I am inspired by the incredible commitment of the Appeal leadership team, our volunteers in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties and our many supporters. I have found in our diocese a marvelous and extraordinary spirit of giving and service to others.”

The Bishop also talked about this year’s goal and Appeal patron.

“Our goal this year is $10.5 million, the same as last year,” he said. “Even though we fell a little short in 2010, I have confidence that we will meet or exceed this year’s goal and bring our Appeal to a successful conclusion.”

“The 2011 Appeal is under the patronage of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, a woman of our own era who gave herself to the needs of the poor, sick and disadvantaged because she so clearly saw in them the image of God. Like Blessed Teresa, we ask God for the strength and courage to reach out to the people of Western New York again this year, praying that they will continue to act as a community of hope to all in need in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties and throughout the diocese.”

Bishop Kmiec was joined by Sister Mary McCarrick, OSF, Catholic Charities diocesan director; Greg Maher, chair of the 2011 Appeal; members of the Appeal leadership team; and community volunteers, clergy and lay leaders from 13 parishes in the three counties.

Sister Mary McCarrick thanked the volunteers for their dedicated efforts.

“I am so grateful for all of your hard work each year that enables Catholic Charities to carry out our mission of help and hope to people here in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties and across the Diocese. Your efforts make all the difference in keeping the Appeal and its importance at the forefront of the minds of your friends and fellow parishioners – thank you!”

Appeal Chair Greg Maher praised the immense generosity of Western New Yorkers through the last few years of tough economic conditions. He also stressed the importance of both individual and corporate donations to the Appeal, citing that one in 10 Western New Yorkers receives assistance from Catholic Charities.

“Last year charitable donations nationwide were down 10 percent. At Catholic Charities of Buffalo we missed the 2009 mark by only one-half of one percent,” said Maher. “As another show of support by the community of good neighbors, corporate donations last year actually increased by more than two percent.”

“This year we again appeal to both individuals and our strong corporate base to continue their support of Catholic Charities and help spread the word about what Catholic Charities offers nearly 160,000 Western New Yorkers each year,” he continued.

Other members of the leadership team include David Nasca, vice chair; Stephen Ulrich, parish and large gifts chair, and Anthony Delmonte, corporate gifts chair.

In Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, Catholic Charities provides these services through its Batavia, Albion, Warsaw and Arcade offices: Domestic Violence Offenders Program, Home Visitation Program, Interfaith Caregivers of Eastern Wyoming County, Our Kids: Parent Education Groups and Preventive Services.

The Batavia office is located at 25 Liberty St., Suite 7; the Albion office at 243 South Main St.; the Warsaw office at 4 West Buffalo St., and the Arcade office is at 417 West Main St.

The Home Visitation Program is a recent addition to the Department of Clinical and Aging Services, offering weekly visits to homebound Genesee County seniors 60 years of age and older to provide socialization, companionship and assistance. There is no fee for the service, which can include non-medical assistance, light housekeeping, errands and crafts. For more information about the Home Visitation Program, call the Batavia office at 585-343-0614.

Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive direct human service provider serving all eight counties of Western New York, with 70 programs and 61 locations. Founded in 1923, Catholic Charities also provides, without regard to religious affiliation, comprehensive counseling services for children and families, anti-domestic violence programming and emergency services, among other social and mental health services.

The 2011 Appeal is under the patronage of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. For more information on the 2011 Appeal or to make a donation, contact Catholic Charities at (716) 218-1400 or go to www.ccwny.org.

Wanted: 200 acres near Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

If you're a landowner with at least 200 acres in the Batavia area, here's your chance to sell it.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is trying to secure a plot of land that is central to Buffalo and Rochester for a new veteran's cemetery, according to a report in the Buffalo News.

When it was pointed out that most of the land east, west, north and south of Batavia is wide open, he said, “Apparently no one wants to sell.”

At present, the closest VA cemetery for those who have served in the armed forces is more than 100 miles away in Bath.

The parcel being sought by the VA needs to be within seven miles north or south of the Thruway and no farther than 20 miles east of the Thruway and Route 77 or 18 miles west of that rural crossing.

Prospective sellers -- even a mile outside the boundaries -- should call Gary Rothfeld, a VA real estate official at (202) 495-5534.

The deadline for proposals is Feb. 16.

Pair of Batavia hotels get sales tax break for new windows and doors

By Howard B. Owens

A pair of Batavia hotels are getting some tax relief through the Genesee County Economic Development Center because they are installing new energy-efficient doors and windows.

A GCEDC news release says the project will mean 21 retained jobs.

The Days Inn and Super 8 at 200 Oak St., Batavia, are expected to spend more than $220,000 on the project.

The owners will save about $9,000 in sales tax on materials under terms of the GCEDC arrangement.

City holds first public informational meeting on proposed Cedar Street reconstruction

By Howard B. Owens

There are three primary reasons Cedar Street needs an extreme makeover according to consultant Marc D. Kenward.

First is the poor drainage that causes cracks and potholes; second, the low clearance of the bridge at the south end of Cedar (you know, the one the trucks hit a few times a year); third, a need for improved pedestrian mobility (sidewalks).

The reconstruction of Cedar has been a goal of the city for years, but the project is now in the pipeline because 80 percent of the $3.7 million price tag will be covered by the federal government and state grants will pay the rest.

An informational meeting at City Hall this evening, which about a dozen people attended, was an introduction of the plan and an opportunity for community members to provide feedback.

There will likely be one more such meeting as the planning progresses, Kenward said.

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