From the NYS Sheriff's Association:

Governor Andrew Cuomo has proclaimed Sept. 22 – 28 to be Sheriffs Week in New York State. Sheriffs Week celebrates the significant contributions made by the Office of Sheriff in county government and in the statewide criminal justice system.

Fifty-five of New York's 58 sheriffs are elected officials, accountable to the citizen voter every four years and responsible for the complex operations of a Sheriff’s Office, which can include criminal law enforcement, traffic patrol, emergency rescue operations, homeland security programs, SWAT operations, civil emergency response, jail operations, correctional alternative management, courtroom security, and civil litigation process, among others.

William A. Sheron Jr., who has worked for the Genesee County Sheriff's Office since age 18 and was elected Sheriff in 2017, currently serves as one of three trustees for the New York State Sheriff's Association.

To mark Sheriffs Week, the New York State Sheriffs’ Association is sharing the public service announcement above, designed to inform the public about all the public safety services provided by their Sheriff. 

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation formed in 1934 to assist all 58 of New York’s sheriffs in serving and protecting the citizenry through training programs, accreditation programs, governmental advocacy, and safety programs for the public. Visit www.nysheriffs.org.

A larceny of tomatoes from a stand at the Downtown Batavia Public Market is reported.

A caller to dispatch reports the alleged tomato nabber is driving a silver SUV that is now in the drive-thru at Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union, adjacent to the outdoor market on Alva Place. Batavia police responding.

UPDATE 11:52 a.m.: It is said that the complainant is "not interested in pursuing (charges); they just want him advised that he's not welcome back here."

For the 30th year in a row, the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, along with Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Genesee County Farm Bureau, and the Soil & Water Conservation District conducted the Decision Makers Ag Tour.

The tour started off at the fairgrounds with a talk by Bill Schreiber, CEO of O-AT-KA Milk Products Co-Operative Inc. Then the group visited Autumn Moon Farm Winery, Black Creek Cidery, and Sweet Life Country Store, which included representatives from Circle B Winery.

      Wesley Thigpen

While coming to terms with entering a guilty plea to a sexual abuse charge, Wesley Thigpen told his attorney the statements attributed to a young girl were "(expletive) lies" after hearing the evidence the people would present against Thigpen if the case went to trial.

Thigpen was entering his plea on an Alford basis, which means that he pleads guilty without admitting the accusations against him are true.

The defendant himself told Judge Charles Zambito, "it's a strategic decision."

By accepting a plea deal, Thigpen guarantees he will spend no more than four years in prison, instead of more than a decade if he were convicted at trial of sexual abuse in the first degree, two counts of burglary, and criminal contempt in the first degree.

As part of the Alford plea process, First Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini summarized the case that would be made against Thigpen if he turned down the plea offer and went to trial on the sexual abuse charge.

According to Cianfrini, Thigpen was alone with a girl less than 13 years old in her room when he engaged in a series of sexually related actions, including but not limited to showing her pictures on his phone of body parts.

Cianfrini said in a recorded interview later, Thigpen admitted that he had been alone with the girl and that she may have somehow gotten access to his mobile phone.

Throughout the legal process of this case, Thigpen has denied the sexual abuse allegations while admitting to the criminal contempt charge.

Today, Thigpen did plead guilty to criminal contempt after Zambito recited the specific actions of Thigpen's that led to the charge. Thigpen slapped food out of the hands of a person who was the subject of an order of protection and raised a fist as if threatening to hit that person.

Dressed in jail orange, Thigpen wasn't afraid to speak up for himself during the proceedings. Bright and articulate, Thigpen made it clear why he was pleading guilty and on key points asked Zambito to clarify the law and the terms of the deal.

He conferred more than once with his attorney Mark Lewis about the charges and the plea deal, most of the time speaking in hushed tones. But after Cianfrini recited the evidence against him, he spoke with Lewis in a more agitated manner, raising his voice slightly at one point to call the statements against him a lie.

At that point, Zambito explained very clearly that he understood that Thigpen wasn't admitting to the allegations but pleading guilty because he accepted the fact he was at substantial risk of being found guilty at trial and facing a potentially harsher prison term.

Thigpen also spoke up for himself when it came time to discuss his bail status while awaiting sentencing. He argued for lower bail because he has several financial matters to clear up, including taking care of penalities for use of his 401(K) during these proceedings to support his family, as well as collecting his final paycheck from his former employer.

Lewis said before his arrest, Thigpen, a lifelong Batavia resident, worked for five years at a major corporation in Genesee County.

Despite all this, Zambito kept his bail at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond while he awaits sentencing.

Volunteers for Animals (VFA) is preparing for the 16^th annual Fur Ball to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. The event has been moved to a larger venue this year – Slomba Hall at Ascension Parish (17 Sumner St., Batavia).

The Fur Ball is the largest fundraiser for the VFA with proceeds going toward spays/neuters, medicine and the health care of the animals.

In addition, a portion of this year’s proceeds will be donated to an animal rescue program in the Bahamas. Parts of the Bahamas were devastated by Hurricane Dorian earlier this month with animal care shelters also bearing significant damage and loss.

The Fur Ball will feature food catered by Main Street Pizza Co. There will be 200+ baskets along with a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle. Ticket are $25. each (children 12 and under $15).

The volunteers will give a review of the past year’s work and programs as well as an update on the canine "graduates" from the Path to Home prison-based dog-training program.

Tickets are available for purchase at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

The VFA is a nonprofit group that works in partnership with the Genesee County Animal Shelter. For more information about Volunteers for Animals and the work they do please go to: www.vol4animals.org/

This morning, for the 12th time in as many years, a group of veterans departed with Assemblyman Steve Hawley from the parking lot of Batavia Downs for Hawley's annual Patriot Trip to Washington, D.C.  

The veterans will visit historic monuments in Washington.

Pictured with Hawley are Jim Freas, of Medina, and George Bakeman, of Albion.

UPDATED Sept. 19, 1:23 p.m.: The following event is postponed. A new date will be announced once the parties' availablity is confirmed.

Ithaca Beer Co. and Batavia Downs announced today they will launch the sale of the new Thurmanator Beer at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19th at the 34 Rush Sports Bar.

“We’ve been looking forward to this special release for some time," said James Sapienza, head of Brand Development for Ithaca Beer Co. “The Thurmanator beer is an easy-drinking lager we hope will score big with hardcore Buffalo football fans, as well as those seeking a refreshing and crisp, light golden lager with a subtle sweetness and restrained hop character that lends a gentle floral quality and clean finish.”

The public event will include an appearance by the beer’s namesake, Buffalo Football Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas, and sampling from many of Ithaca’s line of products while attendees enjoy the Thursday Night Football game on the big screens.

Batavia Downs is located at 8315 Park Road in the City of Batavia.

About Ithaca Beer Co.

Begun in 1998 in a small renovated retail store just outside of Ithaca, the original space had a small seven barrel brewhouse, a modest tasting bar and sold full growlers to go as well as homebrew supplies.

Today, Ithaca Beer brews about 25,000 barrels of beer per year and features both 50 and five barrel pilot brew houses. In addition to a state-of-the-art brewing facility, Ithaca Beer has fully automated packaging capabilities for bottling, canning and kegging.

Ithaca Beer distributes beer to 54 wholesalers in 14 states in the Northeast from New England in the East to Ohio in the West and Virginia and North Carolina to the South.

Press release:

Upcoming events hosted by the Alexander Fire Department:

The Alexander Fire Department is hosting its Annual Fall Gun Raffle at their Recreation Hall, 10708 Alexander Road, Attica, from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2nd.

Tickets are $20 per person. Main ticket prizes include 11 rifles, seven shotguns, two pistols and three cash prizes. Door and floor raffles will include eight additional guns.

Food, beer and pop included. Also 50-50 and bell jar available. Only 975 tickets sold.

Guns supplied by Sugarbush Armory, of Attica. Tickets available at the Alexander Country Deli or call Barbara at 585-507-9930.

The Alexander Fire Department is hosting a Harvest Dinner Dance at their rec hall at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23.

A buffet meal will include stuffed pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, squash, seasonal breads, dessert, coffee, tea, pop and water. Cash bar will be available.

Live music by Highway 31 will be from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Tickets are $15 per person and are limited to 250 persons. Reserved tickets only by calling Heidi at 585-813-6598.

The Alexander Fire Department is hosting their Annual Christmas Crafts and Vendor Show at the rec hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1. More than 80 tables available.

Admission is free and refreshments will be available. For table rental contact Barbara at 585-507-9930.

Notice of Public Hearing

     David McClary

A Rochester resident has been arrested and accused of dealing crack cocaine in the City of Batavia.

David C. McClary, 29, of Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, was arrested in Monroe County after a warrant was issued for his arrest based on evidence developed through an investigation by the Local Drug Task Force.

He is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd.

McClary allegedly sold crack cocaine to an agent of the task force on two separate occasions. 

He was arraigned in Genesee County Court and jailed on $10,000 bail or $20,000 bond.

The task force was assisted by Batavia PD, uniformed deputies, and the District Attorney's Office.

    Scott Hodgins     Kara Sass   Heywood Wellington

Three people were arrested earlier this week after a drug raid on a Batavia residence West Main Street Road by the Batavia Emergency Response Team and the Local Drug Task Force.

The raid was the result of an investigation into narcotics trafficking in the area.

Arrested were:

• Scott E. Hodgins, 55, of West Main Street Road, Batavia. Hodgins is charged with: criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd; criminal possession of a weapon, 4th; criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th; criminal use of drug paraphernalia, 2nd; and unlawful possession of marijuana. Hodgins was ordered held without bail.
• Kara B. Sass, 25, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, criminal use of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of marijuana. She was jailed on $10,000 bail.
• Heywood E. Wellington, 23, of Winterroth Street, Rochester, is charged with: criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd; criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th; criminal use of drug paraphernalia, 2nd; and unlawful possession of marijuana. Wellington was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

The District Attorney's Office assisted in the investigation.

A 21-year-old Le Roy resident died Wednesday night after a dirt bike he was driving collided with a minivan on Linwood Road in Le Roy.

The accident occurred at about 7:30 p.m.

According to state police, the victim, whose name has not yet been released, was southbound on Linwood Road. The van was heading north when it turned left into a driveway. The motorbike T-boned the minivan.

The victim died in the ambulance in route to the hospital.

State Police are investigating the accident and will release more information when it becomes available.

Information gathered by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service. Photos by Alecia Kaus.

Press release from the State Police:

On Sept. 18 at 7:38 p.m., troopers out of SP Batavia responded to Linwood Road in the Town of Le Roy for a two-vehicle collision.

Further investigation revealed that a 2013 Kawasaki dirt bike operated by Michael T. Leubner, 21, of Le Roy, was traveling southbound on Linwood Road and struck a 2018 Toyota van traveling northbound as it was turning into a driveway.  

Leubner was transported to Erie County Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. Leubner was traveling without a headlight.

New York State Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in this investigation.

A car fire is reported at 11 Garfield Ave., Batavia.

The car is in a garage.

The garage is not attached to a house.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 8:39 p.m.: A second alarm is sounded. Alexander's Fast Team requested to the scene. Town of Batavia to stand by in headquarters.

UPDATE 8:42 p.m.: Town of Batavia now requested to the scene.

UPDATE 1:25 a.m.: Photo by Frank Capuano added. I shot video at the scene a little later. It's taking forever, for some reason, to upload to YouTube. I'm going to bed and will add the video in the morning.

Submitted photo and information:

This year the Lei-Ti Campground & Recreational Community's annual Labor Day Auction benefitted Genesee Cancer Assistance.

A total of $8,400 was raised and donated to the nonprofit Genesee Cancer Assistance Inc.

There were 110 gift cards donated by local businesses, and 239 baskets donated by campers. They also had eight large ticket items for the auction.

Lei-Ti is located at 9979 Francis Road in the Town of Bethany (its mailing address is in Batavia).

Press release:

On Saturday, Oct. 12, the sixth Annual Fall Harvest Dinner Dance to benefit Crossroads House will be held at Maximillian Kolbe Church hall, 8656 Church Street, East Pembroke.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Dinner will be provided by Penna’s Catering from 5:15 to 7 p.m. The menu is stuffed chicken, pasta, twice-baked potato, veggies, tossed salad, rolls and desserts.

There will be music to follow, by the Dark Horse Run Band from 7 to 11 p.m.

The famous pie auction will take place as well as basket raffles.

Tickets for this event are $20 cash, presale only, and are available at Crossroads House, 11 Liberty St. in Batavia, or by contacting Bob at (585) 762-8585 or Penny at (585) 356-3413.

Thank you for supporting the very best in comfort care in Genesee, Wyoming, and surrounding counties!

Open House Alert, Saturday 2 - 4 p.m.: 218 Grandview Terrace, Batavia! This charming home is located five minutes away from the City of Batavia and has been recently updated with a newer roof and mechanicals.

Located in a quiet cul de sac, you will find this endearing “Cape Cod” home that sits on a quarter of an acre lot. This home features four bedrooms, two baths and a finished basement.

It also offers plenty of storage space and includes a carport. This home has the potential to fit all of your needs so don’t miss out on this opportunity! Delayed negotiations until 09/23/2019, 12 p.m. Click here for more information.

Open House Alert, Sunday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.: 1 North Lyon St., Batavia! This home features all of your needs from a relaxing summer day on the deck in your pool or sitting by not one but two fire pits at night. It also showcases an enclosed front porch for you to watch the sunrise and sip your morning coffee.

With four bedrooms and two and a half baths, a fully updated kitchen with quartz countertop, along with your very own movie theater, this house delivers a welcoming aura to everyone that walks in.

Don'™t miss out on the opportunity to view this home and discover that it could be the right home for you! Call today to view it or click here for more information.

Submitted photos and press release:

The excitement and intrigue of the new 2019-2020 academic year is not only happening in classrooms, labs and studios across Genesee Community College's seven campus locations, but in the Board of Trustees Conference Room as well. The following new members of the College's Board of Trustees have begun to serve their terms. 

Phillip DiMartino, of Batavia. After attending Genesee Community College in 1980, he began a career with Brunswick Bowling and Billiards, a national firm that once managed more than 100 bowling centers around the world, as well as sold both commercial and personal bowling equipment and products.

During his tenure, he achieved the Ring of Excellence honor for top sales performance and was a member of the Bowling Hall Fame-Batavia.He then joined the John Deere/Sentry Insurance in 1996, earning President Club status for top sales.

Now, as an independent insurance broker for Moore Insurance Agency, he specializes in insuring equipment and auto dealerships. DiMartino served on the United Memorial Medical Center Foundation Board for six years. He is a lifelong resident of Batavia, where he and his wife, Susan, raised their two children and most recently welcomed their first grandchild.

Sarah Noble-Moag, is a co-owner and manager of Noblehurst Farms in Linwood, a multifamily, seven-generation farm corporation. Noblehurst manages a dairy herd, cultivates acreage for dairy forage, is a proud member of Craigs Station Ventures producing Craigs Creamery Cheese, and operates a methane digester and food-recycling business that generates electricity to run the farm and Creamery located in Livingston, Genesee and Wyoming counties. Noble-Moag oversees human resource and personnel management of the farm staff and the Linwood Management Group connecting personnel with key resources, professional development and training opportunities, as well as industry events.

She is the past president of the Board of Education for the Pavilion Central Schools and continues to serve on the audit committee. She also serves on the Agricultural Affiliates Board of Directors providing leadership to build a strong agriculture workforce in the Northeastern United States, as well as on the Northeast Agricultural Education Foundation and the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation. She is a strong advocate for affordable, quality public education in rural communities.

She is a graduate of Cornell University's College of Human Ecology with a BS degree in Consumer Economics and Public Policy and a graduate of Class VI of LEAD New York. Noble-Moag is an elder in the Covington Presbyterian Church and was honored in 2016 as a "Woman of Faith" by the Presbyterian Church USA for building bridges of reconciliation. She and her husband, Timothy Moag, CPA have three grown children and five young and very active grandchildren.

Mary Alice Panek began her education at Genesee Community College with a degree in Humanities in 1977, and continued on to SUNY Brockport for a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Science degree in Education. She retired from Pembroke Central School District where she began teaching secondary English and continued at the elementary level. During her career, she trained teachers in technology as well as mainstreaming students into regular classroom as well as launched the elementary level STEM program at Pembroke.

In addition, Panek has presented best practices in technology at conferences across the United States. She served on the board of the Genesee Region Teachers' Center, the Stafford Historical Society and participated in veterans outreach programs.

She is the chairman of the Town of Stafford Republican Committee and a member of the Genesee County Republican Committee. Panek resides in Stafford with her husband, Ron, and they own Stafford Nurseries, a Christmas tree farm. 

Student Trustee

Neil F. Gillotti is the new student representative on the Board of Trustees for the 2019-2020 academic year. He is majoring in Computer Information Systems and anticipates graduating with an associate degree in May 2020. He is a nontraditional student, enrolling in Genesee Community College after many dynamic life experiences.

He served in the Air Force from 2007-2011, where his military training allowed him to earn college credit.

As a GCC student, he is involved in many activities outside of the classroom including being an officer of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a member of the Student Government Association and the Campus Activities Board and Outdoor Adventure Club.

His work experience includes being a computer technician, a driver at Nut-tos Peanut Co., a Key Bank Call Center service specialist, and most recently a seasonal landscaper at Bergman Landscaping.

He resides in Middleport, and he says he is very passionate about extreme sports.