Doug King with one of his photos. Photo by Howard Owens.
Lovely golden-hued sunrises and flaming sunsets, wildlife caught momentarily frozen still in a field, and snow-capped villages are quite the contrast to Doug King’s early career as a Batavia police officer and crime scene photographer.
Yes, King, who lives with his wife Sherry in Elba, was that guy who snapped photos of homicides, suicides, burglaries, arsons, and severe auto accidents.
“Anything that could help to solve the crime,” he said, answering a question about how difficult the job was. “The ones that stuck in my mind were the homicides and suicides. It’d take about a month, and I could still see the victim. That goes with the territory."
He didn’t exactly set out on that career trail while studying at college in Maine. But it was when at college that his father, E. Douglas King, of Kentucky, had a heart attack. The junior King quit college to return home, get a job and help out his mom, who was from Batavia.
The Kings — E. Douglas and Lucille — had met during World War II when he became injured and was shipped to Oakfield as a military police soldier for a prisoner of war camp. They ended up living in Batavia.
Doug was the only child in the family and did what he could to help after his dad died. Meanwhile, the city police chief knew him through sports as an umpire for games.
“He knew my dad had passed and asked if I was interested in becoming a police officer,” King said. “He gave me three books to read overnight and said if I was interested, he needed a part-time officer and to let me know the next morning. I ended up with a 21-year career.”
Not only had that connection led him to a successful occupation, but King continued with photography, only moving away from the grim and gruesome scenes of his job onto nature and the outdoors — “Anything that can bring a smile on your face,” he said.
About 100 of his framed photos and 10 painted artworks from locals, including the late Pat Burr, MJ Thompson, and Jeffrey Crofts, will be up for purchase during this weekend’s Mother’s Day Craft Show and Basket Raffle. Doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Elba Fireman’s Recreation Hall in Elba, and the show runs until 3 p.m.
King enjoys hiking through the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge to serve as inspiration for his photos, and finds many picturesque scenes in the great outdoors, he said. Now that he and Sherry are considering downsizing, they are more eager to rid themselves of the overflow of artwork they’ve amassed over the years, he said.
“One thing about downsizing, you can’t take everything you have,” he said. “I do a lot of outdoor photography … a lot of wildlife … sunsets and sunrises. Anything that can be eye-catching. I gotta shoot turtles, tree frogs, turkeys, eagles, ospreys. I mean, foxes, every kind of animal you can think of that’s in this area, but there's a lot of scenic stuff that I've taken too.”
To the chagrin of his wife (he uses a lot of gas on his photo-seeking escapades), King gets up around 5:30 or 6 a.m. every day and spends a few hours driving around taking pictures.
“I’ve got about 100 framed. I know I will never sell that many, I hope to sell three or four, maybe,” he said. “But I thought it'd be nice to display them and let people see, you know, what's around the community in our area here that they most often don't think about or realize. They're here to enjoy.”
There are a few cherished paintings that will remain with the couple, and most everything else will be at this weekend’s event. One such painting was by Pat Burr, and is a feed sack with GLF Quality on it. The moment Doug saw it, he had to buy it: his dad, grandfather and an uncle had worked at GLF Quality, a grain mill and fertilizer plant in Batavia way back in the day.
Burr had confessed at the time that she never thought anyone would buy such a painting, King said, but as artwork goes, it found its home and sentimental value with the right owner.
One of the Elba Betterment Committee organizers, Pauli Miano is happy to have King’s participation and local art as part of this year’s event, she said. She believes that event visitors will find his pieces “quite interesting” as they illustrate various views from throughout the county and include pieces of nostalgia from late and local artists.
This event will also feature items from local artisans and farms. The first 50 mothers will receive a carnation, and refreshments will be available.
This project is made possible with grant funds from the NYS Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the NYS Legislature and administered by GO ART!
Top Photo of Doug King with one of his framed photographs; and a mix of his photos and artwork collections that are to be available for purchase at the craft show. Photos by Howard Owens.
Stafford Country Club played host on Monday to the Genesee Region League Individual Sectional Qualifier.
The sun shined just about as bright as the golfers on a near-perfect weather day.
Elba/OA senior Brayden Smith was able to capture medalist honors with a 7-over round of 79 (39-40).
After a close front-9 saw Byron Bergen's Ryan Muscarella just 2 strokes behind Smith, the defending Class C Individual Sectional Champion was able to pull away to finish 6 strokes ahead of the second-place Muscarella, who finished with an 85 (41-44).
Elba/OA senior Jake Walczak fired a consistent 43-44 to finish third place with a round of 87, while freshman teammate Eli Loysen was the only other golfer to break 90, firing a fourth-place round of 89 (45-44).
Rounding out the top 6 golfers, who will all qualify in their respective classifications for the Individual Section V Championship, were Attica's Ethan Harmon (51-42) and Byron-Bergen's Brendan Pimm (45-48), who tied for the final two spots with a round of 93.
The Genesee Region will be well represented in this Saturday's Individual Boys Section V Championship at Clifton Springs Country Club.
The Batavian reached out to Batavia City Schools Superintendent Jason Smith after a false threat by an eight-year-old was made regarding a bomb on a school bus Tuesday.
Smith was not able to immediately respond to The Batavian's questions later Tuesday night, however, he did provide a copy of the letter sent out to district families.
This afternoon, the Genesee County 911 Center received a call reporting there was a "bomb on a school bus" and placed the location of that bus in the City of Batavia.
The Batavia Police Department and New York State Troopers immediately responded to locate the bus (operated by Student Transportation of America). The bus was found on State Street, and there were no longer any students on the bus after completing the afternoon route.
Out of an abundance of caution, the New York State Police and their K9 unit performed a sweep of the bus in question and found no evidence of a credible threat.
The Batavia Police patrol officers and detectives investigated the call and determined it came from the home of a John Kennedy Intermediate student. The student confessed the call was a prank, and the BPD determined there was no additional threat to the district. The case has been turned over to the Batavia Police Department’s Juvenile Detective. BCSD will follow our Code of Conduct with respect to this incident as well.
All bus pickups will occur as usual tomorrow (Wednesday) without any disruption.
We thank the Batavia Police Department and New York State Police for their swift response.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 Batavia City School District Foundation, Inc. Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior from Batavia High School.
Nominated students have been successful in their educational programs and have sought out skills to further their careers. In addition, they exemplify our Batavia school culture and climate of “Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, Be Connected and Be Ambitious.”
Any member of the local community may nominate a Batavia High School Senior who meets the above criteria. Nomination forms are available on the Batavia City School District website. You may complete the Google Form or download and email the form to nominate a deserving senior. All nominations must be received by Thursday, May 25, 2023.
Progress on the South Lyon Street Bridge is moving at a good pace as today over 120 cubic yards of concrete were poured for the bridge’s new deck. Union Concrete, the contractor on-site, will have to “wet-cure” the new concrete with burlap sacks and sprinklers for the next 14 days. After that is completed, approach slabs can be formed and poured between the roadway and the bridge to keep the project on schedule for completion in June.
On May 9, the Genesee County 911 Center took a call from a local business that had received a call from what was believed to be a juvenile stating there was a "bomb on a school bus" at a location in the City of Batavia.
Through the investigation of patrol officers and detectives, it was determined that the call was false and that an eight-year-old child on a bus made the call, knowing it to be false.
Officers located the school bus in question, which was empty of students at the time. Out of an abundance of caution, the bus was cleared by an NYSP K9 that specializes in explosives detection, and none were found.
The case has been turned over to the Juvenile Detective for the Department, and no further info is available at this time.
The HP Hood dairy processing facility in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens
There just isn't enough room in the Genesee Valley Ag Park on the east side of the Town of Batavia for a project as large as the Fairlife plant announced today in Monroe County.
The 745,000-square-foot facility will be built by Coca-Cola and create an estimated 250 jobs in the Town of Webster. The company is expected to invest $650 million in the project.
Asked if the Genesee County Economic Development Center competed for the project, Jim Krencik, senior director of marketing and communications for GCEDC, said it is against agency policy to discuss what companies might have looked at Genesee County as a possible site location for a facility.
"The huge winners here are the dairy farmers," Krencik said. "Wherever it's located in our region, the dairy farmers are the biggest winners."
When asked a follow-up question, he said with HP Hood and Upstate Niagara Milk Cooperative operating in the park along with planned expansions, the Coca-Cola facility wouldn't fit in the park.
Asked about potential sites in Genesee County for such a facility, he said there could be, but that would depend on available infrastructure, and he reiterated the policy of not discussing negotiations with businesses.
HP Hood is the largest land owner in the Ag Park. Its current facility sits on 80 acres, and the company also owns a 22-acre parcel to the factory's north, and 30-acre and 17-acre parcels to the west. All three of those parcels are currently vacant.
The Coca-Cola project in Monroe County has echoes of another soda company's foray into the dairy business -- when Pepsi Co teamed up with the Theo Muller Group to build a Greek yogurt factory in the ag park. Pepsi and Muller invested $206 million into the project only to close the doors less than three years later.
Pepsi sold the 363,000-square-foot plant to the Dairy Farmers of America for $60 million.
The other failed Greek yogurt project, the plant built by Alpina, is now a dairy processing facility for Upstate Niagara Milk Cooperative.
The big difference, perhaps, between the Pepsi and Coke projects is that Pepsi was trying to start a new business line and enter the emerging and competitive market of Greek yogurt. And the product, some critics pointed out, wasn't really Greek yogurt. Pepsi Muller found it hard to get its products on grocery store shelves.
According to the company's website, Fairlife is an ultra-filtered, flavored dairy drink. The process reportedly removes the lactose and much of the sugar and leaves behind more protein and calcium.
Gov. Kathy Hochul praised Coca-Cola for selecting Monroe County as the location for its new plant.
"This decision by Fairlife to expand their operations in Monroe County marks the next chapter in New York's agricultural success story," Hochul said. "New York's dairy industry serves as a crucial economic engine for our state, and this $650 million investment from Fairlife will create jobs and drive economic impact, particularly in the Finger Lakes."
Senator George Borrello has introduced legislation that would prohibit the use of fossil fuels in the manufacture or distribution of renewable energy equipment or infrastructure, citing the ‘inherent environmental and ethical conflict’ that results from using an emission-producing energy source to manufacture ‘green’ energy sources like wind turbines, solar panels and electric cars.
“Currently, the products cited as the solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions are manufactured, distributed and installed using fossil fuels. Coal is burned to forge steel for the foundations, towers and blades of wind turbines. Diesel-powered heavy equipment transports components, clears sites, digs foundations and assembles the structures,” said Senator Borrello. “Solar panels require the extraction of rare earth minerals and depend on coal as the primary energy source for the manufacturing process.”
“In order to produce and install renewable energy sources at the scale that will be required to power our entire state, the environmental toll from coal-fired power, diesel fuel and the mining of rare earth metals will be extensive and exists at cross-purposes with the stated goals of those advancing the climate agenda,” said Sen. Borrello. “If they truly believe that fossil fuels must be eliminated, then the state should not be financing the proliferation of structures whose manufacture, transport and installation generates produces significant emissions.”
Senator Borrello noted that even scientists who support the transition to a lower-emissions future are raising the alarm about the ecological impact of manufacturing renewable sources of energy, particularly the mining of rare earth minerals. A 2019 article in the journal, Foreign Policy, cites the toll of just one silver mine in Mexico:
“Mexico is home to the Penasquito mine, one of the biggest silver mines in the world. Covering nearly 40 square miles, the operation is staggering in its scale: a sprawling open-pit complex ripped into the mountains, flanked by two waste dumps each a mile long, and a tailings dam full of toxic sludge held back by a wall that’s 7 miles around and as high as a 50-story skyscraper. This mine will produce 11,000 tons of silver in 10 years before its reserves, the biggest in the world, are gone.”
He also underscored the horrific human rights abuses that occur in the mining for minerals used in the manufacturing of renewables, including child and slave labor.
“As we look for cleaner and more sustainable ways of living, we should heed the bedrock rule of medicine which is ‘first, do no harm.’ New York State should not be allowing the installation of wind turbines or solar panels whose manufacture produces the greenhouse gas emissions our laws are trying to eradicate or that involves harmful child labor. We shouldn’t be promoting a cure that is worse than the disease,” said Sen. Borrello.
“Those who blindly call for New York to rapidly transition to renewable energy are perpetrating a shell game for political purposes, at great cost to our environment. This legislation would halt further damage as we wait for renewable technologies that can be produced sustainably, ethically and in cooperation with the goal of truly protecting our environment,” he concluded.
The Batavia High School Class of 1973 is observing its 50th reunion this summer and has invited graduates from earlier and later years to join the celebration.
The reunion schedule lists a meet-and-greet at 7 p.m. on July 7 at Ri-Dan’s on West Main Street Road and a dinner from 4-10 p.m. July 8 at the Batavia Downs Gaming grandstand on Park Road.
The cost of the buffet dinner, which features DJ Tommy B, is $50 per person if paid by June 1 ($60 per person after that date).
Both events are open not only to Class of 1973 graduates and guests, but also to those from the BHS classes of 1971-75.
Al those attending must complete a special form, which is available by contacting Debbie Best at 585-343-2548 or at debbest@rochester.rr.com.
Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming County Health Departments, in collaboration with Rochester Regional Health at United Memorial Medical Center, Orleans Community Health, and Wyoming County Community Health System, have announced the completion of the 2022-2024 GOW Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan.
Every three years, health departments, local hospitals and community partners come together to complete a comprehensive assessment of the community’s current health status and needs. This process includes collecting quantitative data, qualitative data, and community feedback related to health in our community. Much of the data looks beyond the traditional medical definition of health to examine the social determinants of health, such as housing, income, employment, education, and access to healthy food, all of which play an integral role in health outcomes.
“With the help from the public and our community partners, we were able to collect a total of 2,094 survey responses between March and June 2022,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “The Community Health Assessment compares the data trends in the GOW region and guides the selection of priority areas for the Community Health Improvement plan.”
The Community Health Improvement Plan is an interactive document that is continuously updated based on the needs of the community. It is a strategic plan for local health departments, hospitals and community partners to work on over a three-year period to address the priority areas identified in the Community Health Assessment, and to improve the community’s health.
In the 2022-2024 GOW Community Health Improvement Plan, the community survey and community conversations helped inform some of the public health initiatives that the local health departments and hospitals will focus on in the coming years. The 2022-2024 priority areas are:
Prevent Chronic Disease
Prevent initiation of tobacco use
Increase cancer screening rates
Improve self-management skills for individuals with chronic diseases
Promote Well-Being and Prevent Mental and Substance Use Disorders
Prevent opioid overdose deaths
Prevent and address adverse childhood experiences
"We look forward to collaborating with community partners throughout the GOW region to address these local public health issues and improve the health of the communities we serve,” stated Laura Paolucci, Wyoming County Health Department Public Health Administrator. “By working together to address these priority areas, we can increase access to public health programs and services to meet the needs of our residents.” To access the 2022-2024 GOW Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan, visit your respective health department website.
GO Health Website
Wyoming County Health Department
To provide comments on the GOW Community Health Assessment, complete this feedback form.
File photo from January of new Genesee County Jail construction. Photo by Howard Owens
Press Release:
Genesee County is participating in a new pilot program for the upcoming correction officer civil service exam. A new pilot program is being tested by New York State’s civil service is an online examination questionnaire that asks questions about an applicant’s education, training, and work experience instead of the usual multiple-choice written exam.
The new exam will be used to establish a list of candidates to fill future Correction Officer vacancies once the current eligibility list is either exhausted or expired in one year (2024). Submit an examination application to Human Resources on or before 5 p.m., May 12. Approved applicants will be sent a notice containing directions to a website address to complete the Training and Experience Questionnaire. The questionnaire must be completed between June 1 and June 30. The answers from the questionnaire will be used to rate and score your test against the general requirements of the position, which will be based on training and experience gained before the filing deadline of May 12.
Minimum qualifications of Correction Officers include graduation from high school or possession of an equivalency diploma. Applicants may file for this exam if they expect to complete the educational requirement by June 30. Proof of educational requirements must be submitted no later than two months after completion. Candidate must be at least 18 years of age at the time of appointment, not the time of application to take the exam.
“Currently, there are four full-time Correction Officer vacancies that we are looking to fill and six additional positions being added (three effective July 1, and three effective October 1),” stated Sheriff William A. Sheron, Jr. “Now is the time to begin a rewarding career in law enforcement. In order to be considered for the positions, applicants must take the civil service exam. Even if you took the previous civil service exam, you will want to apply to take the new exam.”
Flames and smoke are showing from a second floor at 39 Manhattan Ave., Batavia.
Unknown if occupied.
City Fire on scene.
UPDATE 10:12 a.m.: Fire is out. Visually, no apparent significant damage to the structure.
UPDATE 11:32 a.m.: The cause of the fire is under investigation, said Chief Josh Graham. Nobody was home at the time of the fire, and there were no animals present, Graham said. No injuries reported. "At approximately 9:46 this morning, we are alerted to a possible structure fire," Graham said. "Before we arrived on location, they called and updated us and said there was actual flame showing. Crews made entry and quickly extinguish it. It was a small room-and-contents fire on the second story. Right now, they're doing salvage and overhaul through the structure."
Graham praised the work of the firefighters. "We were actually given a tour at the fire station at the time. And so they were out ready to go and got here within a couple of minutes, and that speaks volumes to our ability to be able to go in there and knock these fires out before they get out of hand. They did a fantastic job today."
Batavia native Patric Donaghue, soon to be inducted into the New York State Bowling Hall of Fame, will be the guest speaker at the Genesee Region USBC Annual Banquet on May 20 at Batavia Downs Gaming on Park Road.
The banquet is set for 6 p.m. Tournament winners and association league leaders will be honored.
Donaghue, a longtime Rochester area resident, began his youth bowling career at the former Moose Lanes in Batavia, before participating in the junior program at Mancuso Lanes (now Mancuso Bowling Center). He went on to become a standout bowler in various leagues in Batavia, including the classic league.
He has won numerous tournaments, most notably as a member of the Morehead State University team in the 1977 Mountaineer Classic in West Virginia (finishing first in team, singles and all-events) and at the 1999 Empire State Games (placing first in the trio, team and mixed doubles divisions).
A member of the Professional Bowlers Association, Donaghue has achieved two top-four finishes on the PBA Senior Tour. One of his 14 300 games came in a PBA event. He also has four 800 series.
Inducted into the Rochester NY USBC Hall of Fame in 2008, Donaghue has three Rochester Senior Masters titles and is a former champion of the Brockmyre scratch singles tournament in Newark. He also placed first in a NYS USBC Senior tournament in 2018.
This season, he placed first in the Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour event at Mancuso Bowling Center and just competed in his 25th USBC National Tournament (where he holds a 201 average on the challenging lane conditions).
Donaghue is scheduled to be inducted into the NYS Hall of Fame on June 3 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona.
The reservation deadline for the banquet is May 12. For reservations, call 585-343-3736 or send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com.
The Batavia Housing Authority is seeking a positive, hardworking teammate to perform a variety of outdoor landscaping tasks, primarily mowing, with some trimming and cleanup work. The Groundskeeper is independently responsible for outdoor landscaping tasks on a weekly basis with some flexibility. This job may require some weekend hours when necessary. Part-time position Pay Range: $19.00/hr - $22.00/hr Anticipated start date: May 2024 Application deadline: April 29, 2024 See full job description at: https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/Groundskeeper.pdf Complete Civil Service Application at: https://cms1files.revize.com/geneseecountynew/CivilServiceApplication2022Revision-09.22.22.pdf Contact Information Nathan Varland Executive Director Batavia Housing Authority 400 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 (585) 344-1888 nvarland@bataviahousing.org Location: Batavia
