Le Roy

Yesterday, 5 p.m., the sky was beautiful, the sun was setting and I had just left the office on a photo hunting expedition when Billie called me and said a structure fire was reported on York Road.

Driving out to Le Roy then, I passed up what seemed like several potentially marvelous photos.

This morning, heading home from doing a follow-up story on York Road, the sky was a flat gray, so photo opportunities were scarce. 

I did like the view of this bare tree by the side of Linwood Road. The red car passing at the right time was a bonus.

After that, I found the free love seat available in front of Steve Upson's house on Bernd Road, Le Roy. I took the picture and left the seat, in case anybody else wants it.

After losing nearly everything in a devastating fire Saturday, Bill Scheg was victimized again sometime early Sunday morning when thieves broke into what was left of his taxidermy and gun shop on York Road.

Compared to the destruction of the log-cabin type house he built himself in Le Roy, Scheg's adjacent shop was relatively untouched by the fire and still contained ammo, arrows, bows and other items.

Deputy John Duyssen said, however, that there was enough damage that it's hard to tell what was taken.

When firefighters arrived at 9616 York Road early this morning to deal with a hot spot in the basement that had rekindled, they found charred wood and shotgun shells strewn in front of the door for Scheg's business, Genesee Valley Taxidermy & Shooting Supplies.

Those items weren't there when they cleared the scene from the initial fire shortly after midnight.

Vandals also knocked over Scheg's mailbox.

"Talk about kicking a man when he's down," said Tim Yaeger, coordinator of Genesee County Emergency Management Services.

Duyssen expressed concerned that ammo from the shop had been heat and water damaged. It could misfire, and seriously injure whoever tries to use it.

Investigators were on scene this morning trying to determine the cause of the fire. 

Yaeger said the cause was apparently accidental and arson has been ruled out, but the exact cause may not be discovered until Monday or later, when investigators can gain access to the electrical panel in the basement.

The insurance company needs to pay for debris removal before investigators can get to the basement.

Meanwhile, friends of Scheg's, such as Richard Barnard pictured below, began the tedious task of recovering Scheg's decades of hunting photos, saving and preserving what they can.

All of Scheg's prized big-game trophies -- Scheg had traveled the world hunting -- were destroyed in the fire.

More pictures after the jump:

There two fire alarms overnight.

At 3:32 a.m., a garage fire was reported at 10780 Sandpit Road, Alexander. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. It caused an estimated $70,000 damage.

This morning, Le Roy Fire responded to the location of yesterday's fire on York Road for a rekindle.

UPDATED 11:01 p.m.

Thirty-five years ago, William Scheg built himself a dream home -- doing most of the work himself.

Out among the flat farm fields and game-rich woods of rural eastern Genesee County, Scheg build a log-cabin construction home where he would eventually open a business -- Genesee Valley Taxidermy & Shooting Supplies.

Late Saturday afternoon, Scheg was in the woods near his York Road home when a fire started in the garage.

"I heard some shots and I thought it was the neighbors target practicing," Scheg said. "Then I heard more shots and the whole woods filled up with smoke. I kind of got this empty feeling in me and thought what might be happening. I got the road and saw the inevitable. It was all on fire."

By that time, firefighters from several companies were on scene and the house was fully engulfed.

The fire was initially reported at 4:50 p.m. by Frank Capuano, a retired city firefighter who was driving down York Road and spotted smoke coming from the garage of 9616 York Road, Le Roy. Upon further investigation, he confirmed the fire and called 9-1-1.

Just five minutes earlier another man on his way to work as a clerk at a gas station on Route 5 drove by the same house -- which he knows because he's known Scheg since the clerk was a little boy -- and he didn't see a thing.

The fire was well advanced by the time crews from Le Roy Fire arrived on scene and it spread quickly as crews struggled to get a reliable source of water to fight the fire.

Tanker trucks were sent to the nearest fire hydrant, at Route 5 and York Road, two miles to the north, where they could fill up and shuttle water to the scene. Water was also drawn from the pond on the property.

Assistant Fire Chief Thomas "Woody" Woods said water supply was the biggest problem firefighters faced in battling the blaze.

There was some concern about the ammo in the gun shop when crews first arrived.

"You could hear the popping from the ammo going off, so we kept back," Woods said.

According to property tax records, the home was valued at $168,900, and was 2,070 square feet on 1.22 acres.

Scheg lived in the home with his wife Margaret. She was also out of the house at the time of the fire. Their dogs were able to get out of the house before the fire trapped them and were taken in by a neighbor. The Schegs also had some pet birds who perished in the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

As of 11 p.m., some fire crews were still on scene, though some crews were back in service.

Responding to the fire were Le Roy, Pavilion, Caledonia, York, Stafford, Bergen, and Le Roy Ambulance, Genesee County Emergency Management and the Sheriff's Office. The Town of Batavia Fire Department filled in at Le Roy's fire hall.

More pictures after the jump:

Here are two photos submitted by readers on the fire on York Road. We'll have more photos and full coverage later tonight.

UPDATE: More photos after the jump, submitted by retired city firefighter Frank Capuano, initially reported the fire after seeing smoke coming from the garage.

A fully involved structure fire is reported at 9616 York Road in Le Roy.

The property includes a house, garage and workshop.

Le Roy, Pavilion, Stafford, Bergen and York fire departments are called to respond.

There is said to be a lot of animals in the vicinity. A nearby natural pond may be used to help put out the flames.

Fire police have shut down traffic at Harris and York roads.

UPDATE (6:03 p.m.): A fire chief at the scene says "the family is staging at Kelly Harold's. If anyone's trying to reach the family, they will be there."

A forklift is reportedly on fire inside a building at 8741 Lake Road in Le Roy. It is at a business behind a mobile home park.

A ladder truck from Bergen and Le Roy Fire and Ambulance are responding.

UPDATE (5:28 p.m.): The fire is out.

UPDATE (6:17 p.m.): Although the fire was put out some time ago, the firefighters have continued working to vent the smoke from the building.

A new superintendent has been hired for the Le Roy Central School District and will take the helm Dec. 27.

Kimberly Cox, 26-year veteran of education, beat out 42 other candidates for the position.

She has spent her career in the Wayne Central School District, serving as classroom teacher, elementary school principal, and for the past five years, as the district's assistant superintendent of instruction.

Le Roy Board of Education President Donald Hobart said the applicants were outstanding, and the number who applied was double the state average. They narrowed the intial field to seven semifinalists, then three finalists.

Hobart said the search committee did a site visit at the Wayne Central School District and found Cox to be a proven leader in curriculum development and instruction.

She "will help Le Roy continue to move forward," Hobart said.

Le Roy's previous superintendent, Cindy Herzog, resigned in May after three years with the district. The search committee, including Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, and others, hoped to have a replacement by Dec. 1, so the timeline is slightly delayed.

Speaking of the job the interim superintendent did, Hobart said "David (DeLoria) has done an incredible job. He is well respected, well liked...and enthusiastic."

This information comes from an interview with Hobart conducted by WBTA.

We only recently received the October indictments from the Genesee County Grand Jury:

Charles J. Porreca is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 5th, criminal possession of marijuana, 4th, and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. On May 6, Porreca is accused of possessing marijuana while in a vehicle at 8123 Prole Road Extension. On the same date, he is accused of possessing psilocin and psilocybin contained in mushrooms with the intent to sell in a room at College Village. At the same address, he is accused of possessing more than two ounces of marijuana along with hydrocodone.

Robert Thigpen III, is charged with burglary, 1st, menacing, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Thigpen is accused of entering and remaining unlawfully in a dwelling at 111 State St., Apt. 3, Batavia, on Aug. 30, with intent to commit a crime. Allegedly, Thigpen used a knife to threaten another person. He is also accused of damaging a lock.

Amy L. Brown is charged with grand larceny, 3rd, and eight counts of offering a false instrument for filing, 1st. Brown is accused of stealing from the Department of Labor from Sept. 21 through Nov. 16, 2008. She is accused of filing false records with the Department of Labor.

Robert J. Van Pelt is charged with vehicular assault, 1st, DWI and aggravated DWI. Van Pelt is accused of driving a motor vehicle on May 2, Sandhill Road, Town of Alabama, and causing another person to be injured. His BAC was allegedly above .18.

Christopher J. Matusak is charged with DWI as a felony, aggravated DWI, three counts of criminal mischief, 3rd, and three counts of reckless endangerment, 2nd. Matusak is accused of driving drunk on May 31 with a BAC of .18 or greater, and in Town of Le Roy damaging the property of another person. The property is described as a 2007 Hyundai, a 1998 Lincoln and a 1996 Cadillac. He is accused of intentionally striking the Cadillac, which allegedly had three passengers at the time.

Shannon V. Albano is charged with a felony count of DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Albano is accused of driving drunk on April 19 in the Town of Darien.

Autumn M. Connolly is charged with grand larceny third. Connolly is accused of stealing about $4,200 from a family member between March 27 and April 13.

A garage fire was called in several minutes ago at a residence on Route 19 near Cole Road in the Pavilion/Le Roy area.

It sounds like both Pavilion and Le Roy fire departments have responded.

UPDATE 9:35 p.m.: Le Roy Fire back in service.

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Latoya D. Jackson, 25, no permanent address, is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Jackson was arrested after police responded to T.F. Brown's restaurant at 12:35 a.m., where she was reportedly causing a disturbance after being denied entry due to her apparent intoxication. Jackson allegedly yelled obscenities on Liberty Street and began to struggle with officer Darryl Streeter following her arrest. Jackson was jailed on $2,500 bail. For previous reports on Jackson, click here.

Manuel Larry Valdez, 32, of Shane Drive, North Syracuse, is charged with criminal mischief, petit larceny, harassment and disorderly conduct. Valdez was arrested following an investigation by Deputy Jason Saile into an alleged incident at 9:55 p.m., Friday, on Veterans Memorial Drive. Valdez is accused of yelling profanity in a public parking lot, allegedly pulling the hair of another person, biting her arm and punching her in the face.  Valdez also allegedly damaged the victim's car keys so she couldn't start her car. Valdez also allegedly stole merchandise from a store. He was jailed on $10,000 cash bail.

Mark R. Mack, 48, of 5 Chapel St., Mt. Morris, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Mack was reportedly found at 3:34 a.m., Friday, in his car with the motor running by Sgt. Michael J. Hare of the Le Roy Police Department, in a parking lot on Main Street, Le Roy.

Andrew Russell Desmond, 27, of Seaford Terrace, Hamburg, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Desmond was stopped at 8:20 p.m., Friday, for allegedly driving 100 mph on Route 5 in Pembroke by Deputy Patrick Reeves. Reeves reported he found Desmond allegedly in possession of marijuana.

Armekcl Devonte Austin, 19, of Terrace Park, Rochester, is charged with trespass. Austin allegedly trespassed on College Village property after being evicted and told to stay away.

Carla L. Spikes, 20, of Hutchins Place, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, unlicensed operation and speeding. Spikes was stopped at 3:13 a.m., Saturday, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Patrick Anthony Martone, 48, of Benedict Drive, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Martone was stopped by Deputy Brian Thompson at 10:45 p.m., Oct. 24, for allegedly running a red light on West Main Street, Batavia. Thompson reportedly could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the car.

John Richard Schumacher, 19, of Colonial Woods Drive, Alden, is charged with trespass. Schumacher was reportedly on College Village property after being banned from the property several months ago.

Gregory P. Drake, 20, of Phillips Road, Holley, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC. 08, driving left of pavement markings in a no-passing zone, consumption of alcohol in vehicle and failure to dim headlights. Drake was stopped at 12:32 a.m., Sunday, on Route 237, Byron, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Ronald A. Bialy II, 20, of 337 Bank St., Apt. 37, Batavia, is charged with DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle. Bialy was stopped at 2:33 a.m., Sunday, by Officer Eric Bolles.

Paul E. Bishop, 44, of Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Bishop is accused of striking the 13-year-old child of an acquaintance.

A 16-year-old resident of Killian Road, Pembroke, is charged with trespass. The youth is accused of being on private property after being advised not to.

Marie Nicole Wenzel, 19, of Melville Street, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Wenzel was stopped by at 2:46 p.m., Sunday, on Route 33 in Stafford, by Deputy Brian Thompson for allegedly tinted windows and illegal license plate cover. Wenzel was reportedly found in possession of a marijuana pipe with marijuana in it.

A tractor-trailer on the Thruway reportedly struck a deer and its brakes caught on fire.

The driver tried to extinguish the fire, but could not.

Le Roy Fire is being dispatched.

The truck is parked about 100 yards from the toll booth.

UPDATE 11:15 p.m.: Le Roy Fire went back in service about five minutes ago.

A 44-year-old Le Roy man is accused of video recording a naked developmentally disabled man while the group home resident was in a bathtub.

David C. Ewell was arraigned in Nunda Village Court on charges of second-degree unlawful surveillance, dissemination of an unlawful surveillance image, and endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person. 

Ewell was jailed on $25,000 bail or $50,000 bond. He's an employee of the New York State Developmental Disabilities Services Office, and works at the Walnut Intermediate Care Facility in Nunda.

Ewell is accused of using his cell phone, recording the man and then disseminating the 30-second recording to another person.

(Source: Democrat & Chronicle)

A motor-vehicle accident with minor injuries is reported at Cole and East Bethany-Le Roy roads. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.

Le Roy Fire Police are called to the scene.

Terrance D. Bauer, 48, of Church Street, Alabama, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, and criminal possession of marijuana, 5th. Bauer was taken into custody by the Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force following the execution of a search warrant at his residence on Oct.15. Bauer was allegedly found in possession of marijuana and a billy club, which he cannot legally possess. Bauer was released on his own recognizance following his arraignment in Town of Alabama Court.

Craig A. Tiberio, 21, of Lathrop Avenue, Le Roy, is charged with assault, 3rd. Tiberio is accused of getting into an argument at a residence on St. Mary's Street, Pavilion, and punching another person in the face causing physical injury.

Robert Adam Barnhart, 25, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd. Barnhart was arrested on a warrant out of Wyoming County.

Aaron John Gugel, 18, of Donahue Road, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. A K-9 handled by Deputy Brian Thompson reportedly alerted on Gugel's car, parked at 260 State Street.

Sharmice Shantell Gibson, 18, Wood Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. A K-9 handled by Deputy Brian Thompson reportedly alerted on Gibson's car, parked at 260 State Street.

At least two people, and maybe more, have contacted the Le Roy Police Department to report unauthorized transactions on their debit cards.

The individuals contacted police, according to Sgt. Tim Hayes, after trying to use their cards at area stores and having the transactions denied.

Upon further checking, the card holders discovered numerous debit card purchases for varying amounts on different dates at out-of-state stores, Hayes said.

Hayes said Officer Emily Clark is also handling the case and she may have the names of other victims, but Hayes did not immediately have that information available.

A reader who tipped The Batavian to the investigation said as many as 40 people in Le Roy have had unauthorized transactions on their debit cards and Hayes said that number could be accurate because not all of the victims are calling the police department -- many are only contacting their bank branches.

It's not clear how the debit card numbers of the victims were obtained, Hayes said. The victims still have physical custody of their cards.

Hayes asked that any victims of the scam contact law enforcement. The investigation is continuing.

Two weeks ago, media in Rochester reported that numerous area residents had suffered a similar scam. The victims may have been customers of Aldi's, which reportedly suffered a security breech. A perpetrator reportedly tampered with Aldi's credit card terminals in 11 states.

It's unknown if the Le Roy victims have been caught in the same scam.

In his e-mail to The Batavian, Hayes wrote, "It would be well advised as a matter of routine credit security for people to regularly check their debit card and credit card statements for incorrect/fraudulent charges and to notify the police as well as their financial institutions immediately upon discovery."

An elderly man's scooter accidentally accelerated while entering a handicapped-accessible elevator at the Jell-O Museum in Le Roy on Friday, causing the man to fall 34 inches.

It's not clear why the scooter accelerated.

The man's identity or medical condition is not available at this time.

The initial scanner call reported he went into cardiac arrest and was transported to UMMC.

Sgt. Tim Hayes of the Le Roy Police Department said the man was entering the motorized platform of the elevator, which provides access to three levels of the museum, when the electric mobility scooter accelerated. The scooter struck the top of the door from the lower level. The door opened and the victim and his scooter fell about 34 inches striking the pavement below.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.

An elderly man is reported to have fallen through a wall at the Jello-O Gallery Museum, landing six feet below, and is unconscious with a head laceration. He is in full cardiac arrest.

Le Roy ambulance is responding. The accident occurred at the rear of the building, located at 23 E. Main St. in Le Roy.

UPDATE (2:44 p.m.): The patient is on a stretcher, back-boarded and collared and en route to UMMC.

Foreclosure proceedings have begun against 68 county properties because of unpaid taxes, including the Le Roy Pontillo's location, according to County Treasurer Scott German.

Pontillo's owes for three years of back taxes, including school, town, village and county, totaling $24,261.

The delinquent property owners have until Jan. 14 to make final payment on their back taxes to avoid having the property sold at auction.

The auction will be scheduled for some time in March or April.

German said typically, 50 to 55 of the property owners will settle their tax issues prior to foreclosure.

All of the property owners have been sent letters, and notices have been published in two daily newspapers, with additional notifications pending.