Bergen

Two men from Batavia who are accused of stealing 10 windows with casings and a screen door from a residence on Clinton Street Road, Bergen, on July 26 entered not guilty pleas in county court on Monday morning.

Jamie Scott Scholonski, 39, of Vine Street, and Joseph Allen Hogan, 42, of Bank Street, appeared separately before Judge Robert C. Noonan.

Both men were indicted by the Grand Jury last week on counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree and criminal mischief in the third degree.

Following motions, both are scheduled to reappear in court in mid-January.

Previously: Police Beat: Two Batavia men accused of overnight burglary in Bergen

An Oakfield resident accused of multiple burglaries and other crimes in several Genesee County jurisdictions was ordered held in jail without bail by Judge Robert C. Noonan on Monday morning.

Benjamin W. Muntz appeared in county court to be arraigned on charges of burglary, 3rd, possession of stolen property and petit larceny.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini asked that Muntz, who was already in jail, continue to be held without bail because he faces possible felony and misdemeanor charges out of Oakfield, Elba, Alabama and Bergen.

Thomas Burns, the attorney assigned Muntz, asked for a bail review once all of the other cases are brought before Noonan.

Muntz pled not guilty this morning.

In the current indictment, Muntz is accused of breaking into a garage on Judge Road, Alabama on Aug. 26 and stealing a Honda dirt bike.

A brush fire behind a house in Bergen is burning a path to the woods. A large column of black smoke can reportedly be seen from the location, which is 7338 North Bergen Road. Bergen Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 2:14 p.m.: The fire is far from the roadway and will not be easy to reach. Brush trucks from Byron and Brockport are called to the scene.

UPDATE 2:17 p.m.: The homeowner says he is burning six to eight rows of hay. He says the location is remote. The mutual aid trucks from Byron and Brockport are cancelled. The fire chief is talking with the homeowner and the fire does not appear to be moving toward the woods.

UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: Firefighters are at the scene working to extinguish what remains of the controlled burn.

UPDATE 2:41 p.m.: The responders are back in service.

A 55-year-old woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle accident Sept. 30 has died.

Patty Ireland, of Bergen, succumbed to her injuries last night, WBTA reported this morning.

The mother of three adult children was driving on Route 19 when a truck carrying gravel was involved in a collision with another vehicle. The truck overturned in her path, spilling stone and gravel on the roadway, pushing Ireland's Chevy Impala 150 feet back down the roadway. 

Services have not yet been announced.

Annette Joy Waleski, 45, of South Pearl Street Road, Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny, possession of burglar tools and criminal mischief, 4th. Waleski is accused of trying to stealing $399.77 worth of merchandise from Kmart. Waleski allegedly used a cutting tool in the process of the attempted thefts.

Lindsay Ann Skivington, 24, of Cook Road, Byron, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Skivington is accused of allowing her infant child into contact with the infant's father, Michael Jamil, in violation of an order of protection. Skivington allegedly brought the child to Jamil's residence.

Philip R. Ayala, 25, of Melville Street, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Ayala was allegedly observed by members of the Local Drug Task Force smoking marijuana while in a vehicle on Clinton Street Road, Bergen. Following a traffic stop, Ayala was allegedly found in possession of marijuana. Uniformed deputies assisted in the arrest.

Aaron J. Wood, 20, of Iroquois Road, Caledonia, is charged with petit larceny. Wood is accused of unwrapping and eating a $3 pizza while in the Tops Market in Le Roy. Wood allegedly tried to leave the store without paying for the pizza.

Joseph Dennis Vendetta, 30, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, tinted windows and driver's view obstructed. Vendetta was stopped at 2:21 a.m., Saturday, on Richmond Avenue by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Billy Joe Budziszewski, 20, of Alleghany Road, Corfu, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Budziszewski is accused of getting into a dispute with his father Friday morning. During the dispute, Budziszewski allegedly became verbally abusive and punched the kitchen wall and front door, causing some damage during the argument. Budziszewski also allegedly had a pair of metal knuckles in his bedroom dresser.

Luis Geraldo Pacheco, 49, of Webster Avenue, Rochester, is charged with three counts of criminal contempt, 2nd. Pacheco is accused of violating a stay away order on three separate occasions.

Melvin Gaylord Draper, 30, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated DWI (BAC of .18 or greater), aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, and improper signal. Draper was stopped at 12:47 a.m., Saturday, on Bank Street Road, Batavia, by Sgt. Brian Frieday.

Gene Robert Schmidt, 44, of Dodgeson Road, Alexander, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and failure to keep right. Schmidt was stopped at 1:33 a.m., Saturday, on Bowen Road, Alexander, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Trent H. Burgess, 39, of West Avenue Brockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and speeding (89 mph in a 55 mph zone). Burgess was stopped at 12:26 a.m., Sunday, on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Brian James Nelson, 24, of Grove Street, Painted Post, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and driving left of pavement markings in a no-passing zone. Nelson was arrested following the investigation by Deputy Jason Saile into a one-car accident at 6:04 a.m., Sunday, on Route 77 in Darien. 

Daniel L. Cone, 51, of 6380 Clinton St. Road, Bergen, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speed not reasonable and prudent, following too closely and moving unsafely from lane. Cone was stopped at 5:55 p.m., Saturday, on East Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Dan Coffey.

Lawrence D. Williams, 51, of 148 Hutchins St., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Williams was allegedly found in possession of a small quantity of cocaine following a traffic stop.

Scott G. Tooley, 26, of 199 S. Main St., Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Tooley is accused of leaving a young child at home without adequate supervision.

A Le Roy elementary school principal is among the three finalists vying to become superintendent of the Byron-Bergen Central School District.

The school district announced the three finalists -- from a field of eight candidates -- who will go through a series of meetings, tours and interviews at the school this week.

The finalists are Edmund "Casey" Kosiorek, elementary principal in Le Roy; David J. Glover, superintendent, Morristown Central School District; and, Michael J. Davis, elementary principal, Webster Central School District.

In all, 27 people applied for the job.

The school board anticipates making an appointment by mid-November.

Before heading to Rochester for the Elba/Byron-Bergen playoff game, I was able to take advantage of a beautiful morning sky and what's left of fall colors.

The photo above actually began with an idea yesterday. Not satisfied with the shots from yesterday (which I didn't publish), I went back this morning with a different idea of how to get the shot I originally imagined. That involved standing across the street and using a telephoto lens. The funny part was the group of youths who walked by clearly puzzled by what I might be photographing.

The back of the old fire house on Main Street.

This is on Clinton Street Road in Bergen, taken on my way to Rochester. I've driven by this tree many times thinking it could make a great shot in the right circumstances. This is almost it.

A 55-year-old Bergen woman who was seriously injured Sept. 30 when a car she was driving was struck by a semi-trailer carrying gravel may need long-term care and rehabilitation, according to her daughter.

Patty Ireland is out of intensive care at Strong Memorial Hospital, but does not recognize people or things, according to Katie Ireland.

"She's improved immensely," Katie said. "We'll have to wait and see how her brain heals itself."

The mother of three children, all now in their 20s, worked at Geneseo College.

Besides the head trauma, Patty suffered other relatively minor injuries -- fractured ribs and some cuts, but the brain injury is the big unknown for the Ireland family.

Katie said they are unsure how long and to what degree Patty will need care and rehabilitation.

From Strong, Patty will be moved to Monroe Community Hospital, then St. Mary's for further rehabilitation and eventually home. The family doesn't yet know if Patty will need 24/7 in-home care or not, or if she does, for how long.

"It's such a long road, it's hard to say exactly what we will need," Katie said.

Friends and neighbors in Bergen have organized a fundraiser for the Ireland family to help with whatever needs may yet arise. 

The fundraiser is a spaghetti dinner and raffles from 6 to 9 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 29, at St. Brigid Church Hall in Bergen. For more information, click here.

Photo: Jimmy, Beth and Katie with their mother Patty. Submitted by Katie. Katie wanted us to include how grateful the entire family is for the outpouring of community support.

John M. Forte, 23, of 4898 Ridge Road, Williamson, is charged with burglary, 3rd. Forte is accused of forceably entering a business in the Village of Le Roy on or about Nov. 8 and stealing copper from the basement of the building.

Eric Bratcher, 22, of 7 ½ North St., Le Roy, is charged with burglary, 2nd, and petit larceny. Bratcher is accused of entering the residence of a friend over the weekend and stealing a game system and games. Bratcher was arraigned and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Marianne Dawson, 50, 20 N. Spruce St., Batavia, is charged with DWI. Dawson was charged with DWI. Dawson was arrested at 5:18 p.m. Monday on Seneca Avenue by Officer Kevin DeFelice.

A 16-year-old resident of Snipery Road, Darien, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. The youth got into an argument with her parents about getting ready and going to school. She allegedly became verbally abusive and threw an item at her father. Family Court had issued an order of protection requiring her not to engage in offensive conduct toward her parents. The youth was released after arraignment and transported to school.

Darleen Angie McComb, 53, of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. McComb is accused of stealing a $30 pair of boots from R and D Outlet Center on Clinton Street Road, Stafford.

Basillo Martinez, 48, of Clinton Street Road, Bergen, was arrested on a bench warrant for alleged criminal possession of stolen property and criminal possession of a weapon.

Jeffrey Allen Good, 36, of Route 98, Alexander, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, criminal use/possession of a hypodermic instrument and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Good was allegedly found by his probation officer in possession of heroin in packaging along with hypodermic needles while in his home. Good was taken into custody by Deputy Brian Thompson. Good was jailed on $5,000 bail.

John Cheston Townley, 36, of Liberty Street, Bliss, was arrested on a bench warrant for DWI. Townley had been incarcerated on unrelated charges in Wyoming County.

From Jake's father, Jeff Maurer:

My 17-year-old son, Jake Hunter Maurer, took this 17 pointer on opening day of this year's archery season, Saturday October 15, 2011.

He was hunting alone on the evening of the first day of this year's bow season and though the weather was not ideal, a little windy and cool, this buck meandered through and was the only deer that he saw that afternoon. It presented a 20-yard shot and Jake was able to make it a successful one.

He found his arrow and returned home for an hour then went back out with his friend and father to track it. It had only traveled about 80 yards where they found out just how big he really was. With 17 scoreable points, it may have to be recorded as a non-typical due to the abnormal points on the antlers. But it appears to be big enough for the NYS record book, whether it is recorded as a typical or non-typical.

Jake photographed this same buck with a trail camera a few weeks before season and figured out his travel habits between his bedding area and feeding areas. He found a tree to put a stand in and went there the first day even though other hunters may have stayed out of the woods due to the high winds and cold rain. We took it to a local taxidermist to be mounted and look forward to several meals from all the meat as it weighed about 200 pounds.

The Maurers live in Bergen and Jake was hunting in Bergen when he shot the buck.

Theodore Murphy, 51, of 29 Central Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd. Murphy is accused of possessing an electronic stun gun on Sept. 25 while on Central Avenue. Murphy was jailed without bail.

Reginald J. Hawker, 56, of 220 W. Main St., #4, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Hawker is accused of entering Wilson Farms on West Main Street after previously being barred from the store.

Jerome S. Dennis, 25, of 15 Thorpe St., Upper, Batavia, is charged with harassment. 2nd. Dennis is accused of spitting on another person.

Phillip Michael Busch, 19, of Bowen Road, Attica, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to signal and moving from lane unsafely. Busch was stopped at 3:06 a.m., Sunday, on Bowen Road in Alexander by Deputy Jason Saile.

Jennifer Lynn Hoehn, 38, of Dublin Road, Bergen, is charged with criminal mischief. Hoehn is accused of damaging a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado belonging to another person.

Ryan Donal Spencer, 22, of Sumner Road, Darien, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and inadequate exhaust. Spencer was stopped at 12:51 a.m. Saturday by Deputy Jason Saile.

Michael Victor Blackcloud, 66, of Sackett Road, Bergen, is charged with forcible touching. Blackcloud is accused of touching the intimate part of a woman's body without her consent.

Cody A. Bush Jr., 25, of 7614 Oak Orchard Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Bush is accused of going to Jackson Elementary School and contacting a child he is ordered by Family Court not to contact.

Andrew A. Crimes, 39, of 649 E. Main St., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. In violation of a court order, Crimes allegedly sent text messages and made phone calls to a woman he is ordered not to contact.

Eric James Harter, 36, of Beaver Meadow Road, Bergen, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI, failure to stop for stop sign, no seat belt and speed not reasonable or prudent. Harter was charged following an investigation into a motor-vehicle accident at 6:04 p.m., Sept. 3, at the intersection of Cockram and Transit roads. Harter's vehicle hit a tree.

Eddie Lee Miles, 39, of Ellicott Street, is charged with assault, 3rd. At 5:40 p.m., Sept. 17, Miles allegedly punched another person in the face. The alleged victim suffered cuts that required stitches. 

A serious motor-vehicle accident with multiple injuries is reported at 7863 Griswold Road in Le Roy. Le Roy Fire and Ambulance Service and Bergen Fire Department are responding. One person required extrication. Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is called in. A second Mercy Flight helicopter is requested. Multiple Mercy EMS units are called to the scene. Pavilion Fire Department is called to standby in Le Roy's hall.

UPDATE 9:12 a.m.: During the period that our site was down: Second Mercy Flight is cancelled. Bergen stands down. Caledonia Fire dispatched to the scene.

A two-car accident is reported at the junction of Jericho and Town Line roads in Bergen. One person is said to have a head laceration. Mercy medics and Bergen Fire Department are responding.

Four people were arrested Thursday for allegedly possessing various drugs following a "traffic drug interdiction" detail by the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force.

A traffic interdiction detail uses the probable cause of a traffic stop to detect possible drug activity.

Arrested where:

Jonathan B. Marvin, 35, of Hall Street, Batavia. Marvin is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd. Marvin was allegedly found in possession of heroin along with a hypodermic needle. Marvin was jailed on $1,000 bail.

David A. Showler, 43, of West Main Street, Batavia. Showler is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd. Showler was allegedly found in possession of heroin along with a hypodermic needle. Showler was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Ryan M. Bobzin, 22, of West Bergen Road, Bergen, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Bobzin was allegedly found in possession of marijuana and issued an appearance ticket.

Warner Lee Love Jr., 18, of Chandler Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Love was allegedly found in possession of marijuana and issued an appearance ticket.

Assisting in the interdiction detail were uniformed members of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office and K-9 "Pharaoh."

A tree worker fell approximately 30 feet to the ground, but is conscious, at 8100 Creamery Road in Bergen. Bergen Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 10:54 a.m.: Mercy Flight is called and a landing zone will be set up at Bergen's fire hall.

UPDATE 11:10 a.m.: Mercy Flight landed a couple of minutes ago.

UPDATE 11:14 a.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne. We didn't catch its destination. Bergen responders are back in service.

Kathryn Balbick-Bellamy won the Democratic primary for the Third Ward City Council seat Tuesday.

She beat Dan Jones 46-19.

Balbick-Bellamy was the party-backed candidate, with Jones deciding to run after party leaders made their nomination choice.

In Darien, winning the Republican primary for town board were Kathryn Phelps and Michael Fix. Phelps had 74 votes, Fix 70, with David Riker picking up 13.

In Bergen, Michael Johnson won the Republican primary for highway superintendent with 108 votes over Chad Roggow, 52.

In Alexander, William Schmieder picked up 108 votes while Roy Haller had 111, giving them both wins in the town board Republican primary over Eric Wagner, who had 93 votes.