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Batavia Blue Devils finish two runs short of history

By Howard B. Owens

In a competitive sport, there can be only one winner, and in Brockport today, only one team would get to make history.

That team turned out to be Aquinas, which became only the third school (that we know of) in modern Section V history to win the boys' team-sport Triple Crown -- championships in football, basketball and baseball -- in a single school year.

It's the second time Aquinas has achieved the feat, first doing it in 2011-12.

Batavia has never done it, and with a 2-1 loss will have to wait for another opportunity somewhere down the road.

The records are incomplete, but John Moriello of the New York Sportswriters Association researched the question today, and as near as he can tell, the Triple Crown has only been achieved three times in Section V, though it's possible some smaller schools archived it.

"I suspect it's happened a few times over the years in the section, but there's not a database that would allow for pinning down specifics," Moriello said. "It's more likely in the smaller classifications with schools like Notre Dame, Clyde-Savannah, Hornell and Cal-Mum."

While Batavia notched Section V titles in football and basketball this year, Aquinas could go on to win the trifecta at the state level this year.

There were no Section V football championships before 1977.

Pittsford Mendon was the first Section V school to secure the Triple Crown with titles in 1982-83.

This year, 31 teams in the state had a chance at the Triple Crown when baseball season started, according to Moriello, and only Aquinas got that third critical win.

Batavia won its first baseball title in 1953, but hasn't taken a Section V crown since 1998 (it also had titles in 1980, 81 and 94).

The football program had great teams prior to 1977, but didn't get a Section V title until 1991 and then waited until the Brennan Briggs era to win again, getting titles in 2014 and this year.

Batavia became a powerhouse in basketball under Buddy Brasky, winning its first Section V title in 1998, and then in 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2016.

To purchase prints, click here (the slideshow includes BHS softball).

Hit-and-run accident involving pedestrian reported on East Main Street, Batvaia

By Howard B. Owens

A pedestrian is conscious and alert after reportedly being struck by a car in the area of 317 E. Main St., Batavia.

The car has left the scene.

It's a maroon, newer sedan driving by a female, heading east on Main Street.

City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 10:27 p.m.: The vehicle has apparently been located.

UPDATE 10:28 p.m.: The vehicle stopped was not involved. A city patrol is checking the area.

Photo: Cooling off in the spray park

By Howard B. Owens

It's looking like Memorial Day Weekend is going to be a great weekend to make use of the spray park in Austin Park, as Darien Rhodes did this afternoon with Faith Rhodes.

Temperatures will reach as high as 92 degrees over the weekend with ample humidity.

Photo: Win some wine from Bank of Castile

By Howard B. Owens

Mark Williams, with the Tompkins Bank of Castile, holds one of the baskets available in a charity raffle at the Batavia branch on East Main Street.

Funds from the raffle of the two baskets of wine and other gifts will benefit Relay for Life in Wyoming County.  

Raffle tickets are available through the drive-up or when you walk into the branch.

Alexander woman given four months in jail and five years probation in welfare fraud case

By Billie Owens

Information provided by the Genesee County Department of Social Services is included in this story.

Sarah Wilson, 32, of Alexander Road in Alexander, was sentenced in Genesee County Court Thursday afternoon to four months intermittent jail time and five years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a felony.

In addition to this charge, she was originally facing a second felony, one count of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, and one count of petit larceny, a misdemeanor. Those charges were dismissed.

She was arrested last fall after a joint investigation by the Genesee County Department of Social Services and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department.

Wilson had submitted the forged medical statement to the Department of Social Services in October, which she claimed had been completed by a local doctor. An alert social welfare examiner at DSS reviewed the form and noticed the doctor’s name was spelled incorrectly on the medical form that had been submitted and the examiner submitted the case for investigation.

The investigation that followed revealed the medical statement allegedly had not been completed or signed by the doctor. Wilson was arrested by Sheriff's Investigator Joseph Graff and jailed on $1,000 bail.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini agreed that the recommendation of intermittent jail time and probation -- also called "shock probation" -- was appropriate in this case.

The prosecutor told Acting Genesee County Court Judge Michael F. Pietruszka that this "was not your typical welfare fraud case," because Wilson purposely forged the doctor's note -- to either avoid certain types of assets from being withheld or to get or maintain benefits -- and she told different stories about her involvement to different people and in a letter to the judge declared she did not intend to defraud DSS.

"She continues to minimize her involvement," Cianfrini said.

Wilson's attorney, Public Defender Jerry Ader, disagreed.

"I think my client is not trying to minimize her involvement," Ader said. "She's facing the first felony violation in her life. ... There are supreme consequences at this point."

One of them is the impact the consequences of her crime will have on parenting. She has several children, but only custody of a tot who must use a nebulizer (breathing apparatus). It was indicated that care for that child might be problematic while she's in custody.

Asked by the judge if she had anything to say on her behalf, a sniffling Wilson, who kept wiping tears away with her left hand, said "No." 

She was also ordered to pay restitution, pursue a job and/or employable skills, and to get a mental health evaluation and a substance abuse evaluation.

She is due at the jail at 5 p.m. today and will spend most of Memorial Day weekend in custody -- through 5 p.m. Sunday, for her first go-round at shock probation.

Anyone wishing to report suspected cases of welfare fraud in Genesee County can contact the Genesee County Department of Social Services Fraud Investigation Unit at (585)344-2580, ext. 6417 or 6416. All calls are confidential.

Section V softball title is 80th for girls at Notre Dame

By Howard B. Owens

With a 7-6 win over Lyndonville in the Section V Class D2 championship softball game yesterday, the Fighting Irish became Notre Dame's 80th girls team across all sports to win a sectional title.

Notre Dame took a 6-1 lead into the sixth, but Lyndonville put together a rally to tie the game. The Irish won on a walk to Jessica Bukowski with the bases loaded, bringing Callie McCulley in to score.

Photo submitted by Kathy Antinore.

Crash blocking traffic reported at Jackson and Ellicott streets

By Billie Owens

An accident with unknown injuries, blocking traffic, is reported at Jackson and Ellicott streets. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 12:49 p.m.: No injuries. Two pickup trucks involved, both moved out of way and clear of traffic.

Debris in roundabout popping tires, causing delays

By Howard B. Owens

Debris from an accident in the Oak Street Roundabout is causing some havoc, with popped tires and slowed traffic.

Earlier, Batavia PD had responded to a fender-bender in the roundabout and after this current incident was reported, he confirmed there was very little debris from that accident and it was cleaned up, so this debris is apparently from a later, unreported accident.

A Sheriff's patrol came through and reported a good deal of debris in the roundabout and "people are popping their tires."

There's a disabled semi-truck and two passenger vehicles have pulled into a nearby parking lot, coincidentally, perhaps, a tire shop.

Law and Order: Dellinger Avenue man accused of burglarizing business and damaging picnic tables, pavilions

By Billie Owens

Christopher Tyler Sprague (pictured left), 22, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief, and petit larceny. On May 25, Sprague was transferred from Genesee County Jail to Batavia City Court where he was arraigned on these charges following an investigation into a burglary which occurred at a business at 3 Treadeasy Ave. in the city between May 7 and May 9. Sprague allegedly broke into the building and stole money while inside. He also allegedly damaged several picnic tables and pavilions behind the building. Following his arraignment before City Court Judge Durin Rogers, he was released, but due to a pending parole violation for which he was being held, he was transported back to jail. He is to be in City Court to answer the charges at 1 p.m. on June 8. The case was handled by Batavia Police Det. Richard Schauf, assisted by Det. Eric Hill.

Chase Michael Putnam, 20, of Circle Drive, Williamson, is charged with driminal possession of a weapon, 4th, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and unlawful possession of marijuana. At 11:57 a.m. on May 26, Putnam was stopped on Route 77 in the Town of Pembroke The defendant was allegedly found in possession of a quantity of suspected cocaine and marijuana, as well as a doubled-edge knife. Putnam was arrested and issued an appearance ticket for June 21 in Town of Pembroke Court. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Patrick Reeves.

David Alan Ornt, 24, of Hall Road, Holley, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, speed in excess of 55 mph, and open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. He was arrested on the charges following a traffic stop at 6:52 p.m. on May 22 on South Holley Road in the Town of Byron. He was issued appearance tickets for June 20 in Town of Byron Court. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute, assisted by Deputy Kevin Forsyth.

Chet William Kenyon, 32, of Sandybrook Drive, Hamlin, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree and open container of alcohol in a a motor vehicle. He was arrested at 6:23 p.m. on May 22 on South Holley Road in Byron following a traffic stop. He was issued appearance tickets for June 20 in Town of Byron Court. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute, assisted by Deputy Kevin Forsyth.

A veteran's story about why companion dogs are important at the PTSD clinic

By Howard B. Owens

Frank Grillo submitted these photos and story about the dog run being installed at the PTSD clinic at the Batavia VA.

I know how important the small things are.

I know when your scraping and clawing and fighting to regain your life that every advantage can mean the difference between life and death. 

When I came home I never slept. I watched out the windows, I patrolled my home. I gained over 100 pounds and began to fail at school and life. What brought me back? My dog.

Reba watched out the windows. Reba listened for sounds so I didn't have to. Her hearing was better; she constantly stared out the window and when I said "Reba, Whats That?" she would barrel from window to window on high alert. 

When I arrived at the PTSD clinic I was immediately greeted like a criminal. Breathalyzers and urinalysis as well as a search of my belongings. The windows would only open four inches because someone from Texas jumped out of his window and because it was early spring the heaters were still on bringing my room to a not so comfy 90+ degrees.

The program was being run by a woman who did not know how to balance what was best for the vet against the regulations.

This was a colossal mess but I did three tours in Iraq and I could handle all the above.

I lasted less than one day.

Why?

I didn't have my dog.

Fast forward three years. I've given up on almost all of my volunteering. Too many fake programs cashing in on veterans. 

I did keep on, however, keep up with the VA Veterans Advisors Council for two reasons:

  • because my friend Patrick brought me in;
  • and because I believe in the Director Brian Stiller, who is himself a Navy veteran. 

For almost a year we brought the fight to allow service dogs into the PTSD program and thanks to a language loophole and Brian's willingness to do the right thing, to act on principal FOR the veteran in spite of the ridiculous bureaucracy, and we prevailed. 

A veteran who found it too tough to stay in the program without his service dog eventually returned to Batavia to complete the program, and to his credit he pioneered the possibility of service dogs at the residential treatment program. 

Next we asked, "What can we do to make this permanent?" and Director Stiller responded, "We need a place to let the run off vest."

Immediately I reached out to my brothers at the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 19-6 in Batavia.

We raised the funding and created the fenced-in pen you see in this picture. Yesterday, we returned to build a shelter where the combat veteran can sit in case he or she cannot stand. A place the veteran can relax out of the elements while his or her most loyal companion can run and play and unwind.

These dogs are easing the burden and saving the lives of veterans every day just as my Reba did for me. It is my privlidge and our chapter's honor to make that kind of advantage a possibility for our fellow combat veterans.

God bless America.

Dog locked in red pickup truck behind City Slickers

By Billie Owens

A dog has reportedly been locked inside a red Chevy pickup truck in the Court Street plaza in the city for the last 30 minutes. Batavia PD is responding. The vehicle is in a handicapped parking space near City Slickers restaurant.

Oakfield woman sentenced in federal drug case

By Howard B. Owens

An Oakfield woman, whose husband was a leader in the Hells Angels motorcycle club, and who was convicted for her part in a meth distribution operation, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to three years probation and 12 months of home detention.

Donna Boon McAuley, 50, was among seven defendants in the case, which was also tied into a racketeering investigation stemming from a baseball attack on a patron of a bar in Rochester. 

The investigation revealed Boon, in conjunction with her husband, James Henry McAuley Jr., helped distribute methamphetamine obtained from a Hells Angel member in California from 2002 through July 9, 2010. Boon admitted to obtaining and distributing at least 30 grams of meth. Some of it was sold to a dealer in Genesee County who sold it to Genesee County residents.

James McAuley was convicted for his part in the ring and is scheduled to be sentenced July 12.

This case is part of a larger investigation that resulted in the indictment and arrest of members and associates of the Rochester and Monterey, Ca., Hell's Angels for drug trafficking and racketeering-related offenses in February 2012. Seven defendants were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. In addition to Boon and McAuley, Richard W. Mar, Jeffrey A. Tyler, Richard E. Riedman, Gordon Montgomery and Paul Griffin, have been convicted for their roles in the methamphetamine conspiracy.

Taking part in the investigation and prosecution of the case were the FBI, Sheriff's Office, DEA, State Police, Batavia PD and Le Roy PD.

Grand Jury: Man indicted for purposely causing nearly $2K in damage to Chevy on Robbins Road, Le Roy

By Billie Owens

Jeffrey W. Scott is indicted for the crime of criminal mischief in the second degree, a Class D felony. It is alleged that on Feb. 21 at 9280 Robbins Road in the Village of Le Roy, Scott, with intent to damage property of another person and having no right to do so, damaged the property of another person in an amount exceeding $1,000. He is accused of damaging the windshield, front passenger door, console, instrument panel and steering column of a 2004 Chevy Classic Malibu in the amount of about $1,874.48.

Michael J. Elmore is indicted for the crime of burglary in the second degree, a Class C violent felony. It is alleged that on Nov. 30 Elmore knowingly entered or remained unlawfully in a dwelling on Summit Street in the City of Batavia with the intent to commit a crime.

John K. Stone is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated, as a Class E felony. On Dec. 7 in the Town of Batavia, it is alleged that Stone drove a 2006 Honda Ridgeline on Route 5 and in the Batavia Mobile Home Park while intoxicated. In count two, he is accused of the crime of reckless driving, a misdemeanor, for allegedly operating the vehicle in a manner which unreasonably interfered with the free and proper use of a public highway. In this case, he allegedly drove at a high rate of speed, failed to yield to an emergency vehicle, operated with headlights, and nearly struck several pedestrians in the mobile home park. In Special Information filed by the District Attorney, Morris is accused of having been convicted of DWI, per se, on April 9, 2007, in County of Orleans Court and this conviction is within 10 years of the crimes alleged in the current indictment.

Adrian P. Morris is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated, as a Class E felony. On Feb. 5 in the Town of Le Roy, Morris allegedly drove a 2009 Ford on West Main Street while intoxicated. In count two, Morris is accused of driving while intoxicated per se, as a CLass E felony, for having a BAC of .08 percent or greater at the time. In Special Information filed by the District Attorney, Morris is accused of having been convicted of DWI, as a misdemeanor, on Feb. 2, 2010 in the Town of Greece, which is within 10 years of the crimes alleged in the current indictment.

'Career drug dealer' from Rochester sentenced to eight years in prison

By Billie Owens

Tylee Demetrius "Love" Gaines, 37, of Waverly Place, Rochester, was sentenced this afternoon to the maximum possible of eight years in prison after previously accepting a plea deal on a single felony charge of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He was arrested in January and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, unlawful possession of marijuana, two counts of aggravated unlicensed operation, obstructed view and unlicensed operator.

His arrest was the result of a traffic stop on Ross Street in the City of Batavia for having an obstructed view. He was found to be driving on a suspended license, then at BPD headquarters was found in possesssion of marijuana and several small bags of crack cocaine. He was jailed without bail.

As part of a plea agreement with the District Attorney's Office, the other charges were dropped. The range of his potential prison term was pared from two to 12 years, to one and a half to eight years. District Attorney Lawrence Friedman argued for the maximum under the agreed upon cap of eight years, citing the defendant's lengthy criminal history.

"This defendant is a career drug dealer," Friedman said, noting Gaines has served four prison terms already and has been released on parole seven times, violating parole every single time.

His propensity for drug dealing is "persistent," with six convictions for criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.

The attorney for Gaines, Thomas Burns, told Acting Genesee County Court Judge Michael F. Pietruszka that his client is the father of two 6-year-olds and admits he has a history of "substance abuse issues." "Piggy-backing" on that are crimes of providing drugs for others to buy and having a stash so he could support his own habit.

Burns asked the judge to consider sentencing his client to the "mid to minimum range."

When asked if he had anything to say, the orange-jumpsuited and shackled Gaines, who's a big guy -- about 6'4" and 250 pounds -- said softly: "My drug use and history's been going on a long time since I was young. I apologize to the court."

Burns said his client wanted it noted for the record that "he denies having contact with Officer Richards." According to a Batavia PD report, Batavia Police Officer Chad Richards is one who pulled Gaines over at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7, on Ross Street in the city for having an obstructed view.

The denial was duly noted.

Judge Pietruszka then said that Gaines is a second felony offender for sentencing purposes and handed down the maximum of eight years in prison, to be followed by three years of post-release supervision.

One arrest in latest NET detail

By Billie Owens

Press release:

On May 11, uniformed members of the City of Batavia Police Department along with members from the Genesee County Local Drug Task Force (comprised of members from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, Le Roy Police Department and City of Batavia Police Department), Genesee County Probation Officers and uniformed members of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office conducted a N.E.T. (Neighborhood Enforcement Team) detail in the City of Batavia.

The detail focused on quality-of-life issues, drug enforcement, warrant checks and probation checks in targeted neighborhoods. The following arrest was made;

Loretta L. Baer, age 44, of School Street in Batavia – was charged with criminally using drug paraphrenalia in the second degree (Class A misdemeanor) and criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument (Class A misdemeanor)

Officers conducted 11 probation checks and five probation violations were reported as a result of those checks. All probation violations are being handled by the Genesee County Probation Office.

Batavia octogenarian charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance

By Billie Owens

An 84-year-old woman who lives on West Main Street in Batavia is charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Laura M. Viehdeffer, pictured right, was arrested on the charges Wednesday, May 25, and arraigned in Genesee County Court, then released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court at 9:30 a.m. on June 2.

The charges stem from an incident at 12:51 p.m. on June 28 at 334 W. Main St., Apt. #4, Batavia, according to the Sheriff's Office report.

The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Loftus, assisted by Deputy Emily McNamara.

Le Roy PD warns of IRS phone scam

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Le Roy Police Department wishes to advise all citizens of a recent scam phone call being received by person(s) in the Le Roy/Genesee County area.

The caller states he is from the IRS and that a lawsuit is being filed against the victim for unpaid taxes. Further the scam caller then demands money and the Social Security number of the victim.

The Le Roy Police suggest that if you receive, or have already received, such a call please do not supply the scam caller with any information. Simply hang up. Furthermore, do not give or send the scam caller any money.

If you have questions about such a call, or have received one, please contact police.

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