Calling the GOP's selection of Jane Corwin as its choice to replace Chris Lee in the 26th Congressional District, Democrats today issued a press release saying they were taking their time to evaluate candidates.

Genesee County Democratic Chairwoman Lorie Longhany sent along the press release signed by all of the county chairs in the district.

The press release invites interested potential candidates to contact their county chairs if they would like to be interviewed for a possible endorsement.

Full press release after the jump:

Today, the seven Democratic County Chairs of the 26th Congressional District of New York released the following statement outlining the selection process for the endorsement of a Democratic candidate for the 26th District special election:

“The people of this district deserve a representative that understands our issues -- whether it's in our farm communities or the suburbs of Buffalo and Rochester. We are looking for a candidate who will bring common-sense solutions to the table to work on the most important issue facing our district, improving our economy and bringing jobs to Western New York.

The process we have developed to identify the best possible candidate to serve the people of the 26th District is a deliberate, open and inclusive one. We want to ensure that all who are seriously interested in being the Democratic candidate have the opportunity to be heard and to share their vision for addressing the needs of our district.

Unlike our Republican counterparts who seem to have made a rush to judgment, we believe taking the time to find the best person is of utmost importance.  Democrats are energized and excited and we are moving forward with the process. We assure the people of the 26th Congressional District that we will be ready with an outstanding candidate to run in the Special Election."

In order to be eligible for further consideration, if they have not already done so, interested candidates must submit their resume and cover letter to any of the county chairs no later than COB March 3rd. Contact information for each county chair is below.

Erie County – Chairman Len Lenihan, len@ecdems.com

Genesee County – Chairwoman Lorie Longhany, lorie.longhany@gmail.com

Livingston County – Chairwoman Judith Hunter, judith.hunter@gmail.com

Monroe County – Chairman Joe Morelle, joe@monroedemocrats.com

Orleans County – Chairwoman Jeanne Crane, jeannecrane01@localnet.com

Niagara County – Chairman Dan Rivera, ntdemocrats@aol.com

Wyoming County – Chairman Hank Bush Jr., hbush3@rochester.rr.com

Proclaiming herself anti-tax and anti-deficit spending, Erie County's Jane Corwin stopped by Batavia's Old Courthouse today to let everybody know, yes, she's really running for Congress.

"America is at a crossroads," Corwin said. "You all know the numbers, a $1.5 trillion annual deficit. We borrow one dollar for every three that we spend. That’s simply unsustainable. Our nation’s debt tops out at over $14 trillion. That’s nearly $50,000 for every man, woman and child living in the United States today. With numbers like those, what kind of legacy are we leaving for our children?"

Flanked by some of Genesee County's leading Republicans, including Sheriff Gary Maha, County Clerk Don Read, Coroner Jack Taylor and Legislature Chair Mary Pat Hancock, Corwin, a second-term assemblywoman, received the endorsement of her colleague Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

"As you get to know her, as you get to speak with her, and more importantly, as she listens to you, you are going to see she is going to be the kind of Congress person we grew accustomed to back in the days of Barber Conable," Hawley said.

He said Corwin has the dignity and honesty and caring for people to give him confidence that she will do the same kind of job Conable did.

Asked by WBTA's Dan Fischer what she might tell a friend about Genesee County, Corwin replied, "First, I'd talk about downtown Batavia. I love to spend weekends here. My son plays hockey, so we’re over at the ice rink every few weeks or so. Genesee County is beautiful. It’s a rural area. It’s got a strong agriculture history. It’s something that I think is a shining part of Upstate New York. I believe this could be a thriving area if we could just get our national affairs in order."

As for the speculation and any issue around the idea that Corwin will fund her own campaign, Corwin said she will also engage in fund raising, but certainly, she will spend some of her own money as well on the campaign.

"I don’t believe a candidate can buy a race because a race isn’t about money, it’s about ideas," Corwin said. "The ideas that I put out there, do they make sense to the voters in the area? Is it something they can relate to? Do they agree with what my plan is in the future? That’s what wins elections."

Meanwhile, the Democrat & Chronicle reports that Corwin is close to winning the conservative endorsement in Monroe County.

Also, a bill introduced by Gov. Cuomo could delay any special election. Cuomo has said the bill is necessary to ensure the election conforms with federal regulations, and if passed, the election would take place 70 to 80 days after it's called instead of the past 30 to 40 days.

Accumulations of heavy, wet snow -- up to 10 inches -- are expected to hit the region within the next 24 hours by late Thursday night.

A winter weather watch is in place starting tonight late Thursday night through Friday afternoon.

Winds will be 10 to 20 mph from the northeast.

The storm will reach from all of Western New York into Central New York.

During heavy snowfall, visibility will be cut to quarter mile.

Temperatures will be around 32 at the start of the storm, dropping to the 20s, according to the weather service.

The forecaster confidence: High for the Southern Tier to the Finger Lakes, medium for Buffalo to Rochester and the North Country.

A former Batavia resident, already serving up to seven years for second-degree rape and sexual abuse, will spend five more years in prison for raping another young victim, Judge Robert C. Noonan ruled today.

Philip Kroft, 23, admitted to rape, 2nd, in November as part of a plea deal that would cap his possible sentence at five years.

Noonan gave Kroft the five years, but denied a request by defense attorney Fred Rarick that Kroft's sentence be consecutive concurrent with the time he's already serving.

Rarick said that Kroft has completed his GED while in prison and also earned a welding certificate.

"Adding an additional five years I don’t think is necessary, may be considered harsh and excessive punishment," Rarick said. "He regrets what he’s done in the past and he’s looking forward to his future."

Kroft's 14-year-old victim gave birth to a child and Kroft would like to be involved in the child's life, according to his attorney.

At the time of the rape, Kroft was 21.

The crime occurred around the time of his previous arrest in 2008, which resulted in a conviction for rape, 2nd, sexual abuse, 1st, criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, and conspiracy, 4th.

Kroft was eligible for parole on those convictions in 2015.

When asked for a statement, Kroft said he does know he made mistakes and he is trying to turn his life around. He said he has also enrolled for some college courses.

If the second rape had come to light during proceedings on the original charge, perhaps the crime would have been wrapped into the sentence with the first. That's what Rarick suggested to Noonan, who replied that the opposite could also be true.

"It would be an equally good argument that had both charges come before me, I would have given him four or five more years based on him victimizing yet another young girl," the judge said. 

Kroft is serving his sentence in Elmira Correctional Facility.

Darik Robert Michael Orbaker, 18, of Forest Edge Drive, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt. Orbaker is accused of violating an order of protection.

Frank G. Frainier, 47, of Lewiston Road, Royalton, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and improper right turn. Frainier was arrested after the Sheriff's Office received a report at 6:47 p.m., Monday, of a car off the road on Route 77, Alabama.

A wood shop fire has been reported at 9877 Simonds Road, Darien.

Darien Fire with mutual aid from Alexander and Corfu dispatched to the scene.

UPDATE 8:04 a.m.: Darien chief on scene reports, "working fire."

UPDATE 8:17 a.m.: Attica requested to fill in at Alexander Fire Hall.

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Tonight I went to the Le Roy Central School District board meeting to see if anything interesting happened. Nothing did, but as I was leaving, I saw this wonderfully shaped tree with the great mural in the well-lit hallway in background and thought it should make a good picture. As long as I had the tripod out, I took the picture below of the Woodward Memorial Library.

I had a little time to drive around a bit late this afternoon and headed out to Bethany. Driving down Francis Road, I came across a couple of picture opportunities.

Ken and Andrea Mistler have made some big changes to their former coffee and smoothie shop at the corner of Main and Jackson streets.

The former Daily Grind is now Espresso Salads and Subs.

Ken Mistler said it was time to expand what the shop offered. While a prep area has been added for food service, much of the food prep -- including baking fresh sub rolls daily -- takes place at Mistler's other food establishment downtown, South Beach Restaurant.

Andrea manages day-to-day operations for the  sub and salad shop.

Subs and salads are made to order with fresh ingredients.

For the coffee and smoothie crowd, the full selection of the Daily Grind remains on the menu.

Mistler has also added free wi-fi and there are now leather chairs and couches available for customers. In the summer, Ken said, he will add outdoor seating.

The local Girl Scouts have a new home, 5 Jackson St., Batavia.

After the location the Girl Scouts occupied in City Centre was sold, the local office and retail shop was relocated to vacant retail space just about a block away.

It took about a month to get settled in, but the retail shop is now set up and the staff is ready to help local scouts and leaders.

The scouts will host an open house at its new location from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 28.

The grand opening will include free drawings, prizes and discounts on scouting items as well as a food drive for the Salvation Army and Batavia Agri-Business Child Development.

The shop is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with the service center opening at 8:30 a.m.

Pictured above, from left, Stephanie Burgett, customer service, Marlene Worthington, membership manager, Kathie Waika, program manager and Robin Ettinger, membership manager.

A 29-year-old Pembroke man was arrested today on a sealed grand jury indictment for allegedly selling cocaine to an undercover agent on two separate occasions.

Arraigned before Judge Robert C. Noonan this afternoon was Brandon R. Brade, of Genesee Street, Pembroke.

Brade was taken into custody at his place of employment, where he has worked for two months, he told Noonan.

"I'd kind of like to keep my job," Brade said, asking for a bail lower than the $50,000 requested by Assistant District Attorney Will Zickl.

Noonan set bail at $10,000 and gave Brade a week to hire an attorney (Brade said he could afford to hire his own) before his next court appearance.

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

According to a Sheriff's Office press release, Brade allegedly sold quantities of cocaine to an agent of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Zickl asked for the high bail because of Brade's prior record, which includes convictions for DWI (2005), resisting arrest (2002) and stalking (2000).

Noonan said Brade will get another shot at a lower bail after Genesee Justice files a bail evaluation report, which would require Brade's cooperation.

A team of five firefighters from the City of Batavia Fire Department participated in the American Lung Association's Fight for Air Climb this month.

The climb was a race up 38 floors -- or 800 steps -- that took place at the HSBC tower in Buffalo to raise funds for the American Lung Association. The team from Batavia finished second in the open team division with an average time of 6 minutes 44 seconds.

Also, the team raised a total of $955 for the American Lung Association, which is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research.

These Batavia firefighters participated: Mark Sacheli, Greg Ireland, Mike Morris, Jeff Whitcombe and Jerry Yoder.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on the Thruway in the westbound lanes at mile marker 395.8.

East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 3:35 p.m.: Traffic is backed up all the way to Kelsey Road. One lane is blocked. A second ambulance is requested. State Troopers are on location.

UPDATE 3:47 p.m.: Mercy EMS is told to go back in service. Oakfield is continuing.

UPDATE 4:10 p.m.: Emergency responders are back in service.

UPDATED 2:34 p.m.

A former Batavia resident is expected to soon plead guilty in a Milwaukee county court to charges that he impersonated a lawyer and committed forgery.

According to investigators in Wisconsin, Thomas J. Lyon, 28, not only represented several "clients" in legal proceedings, but also forged checks, stole money, assumed the identity of a deceased notary public and operated a prostitution ring.

According to court documents, Lyon reportedly bragged to an associate at one time that he was like Frank Abagnale Jr., the former con artist depicted by Leonardo DiCaprio in the hit movie, "Catch Me If You Can."

Besides Batavia, a public records search shows that Lyon has also apparently lived in Warsaw, where he was born, Buffalo and Hamburg.

Wisconsin court documents state that Lyon was on probation in New York and had his probation transferred to Wisconsin. According to the documents, he was previously convicted in New York of grand larceny, stalking and false imprisonment.

Lyon was arrested for allegedly issuing a bad check in Genesee County in July 2008, according to the Sheriff's Office. According to the arrest report, Lyon lived on Saltvale Road in Middlebury at the time.

In Milwaukee, Lyon is accused of assuming the legal identity of Thomas J. Lyons, a Minnesota-based attorney -- also licensed to practice law in Wisconsin -- who told investigators he hadn't appeared in a Milwaukee court in years. 

Lyon allegedly used the bar identity number of attorney Lyons to pass himself off as the attorney.

Police searched the office space reportedly rented by Lyon at 5301 W. Hampton Ave., Milwaukee, which reportedly had a sign on it saying it was the offices of "Thomas J. Lyons & Associates, Inc.," and found documents indicating Lyon had at least nine legal clients.

On at least one occasion, Lyon allegedly kept a settlement check for $3,000 that was intended for one of his clients.

Lyon also apparently set up a Web site to advertise his alleged legal services.

The documents also include quotes from court transcripts where Lyon allegedly referred to himself as an attorney and questioned witnesses as if he were an attorney.

One of Lyon's employees is also quoted in the documents saying that besides being a secretary in his office, she worked as a prostitute for him.

Though not charged with any prostitution-related crimes, the court documents say that Lyon allegedly operated an escort service called "Lacuna Limited," and that it was really a front for prostitution.

According to the documents, Lyon booked rooms at a Comfort Suites Inn in Milwaukee and set rates at $200 to $250 per hour. Lyon also allegedly hired a guard for the prostitutes. 

He allegedly recruited prostitutes by advertising for lingerie models.

Lyon allegedly collected prostitution proceeds in cash and kept computer records of the proceeds.

In all, 11 charges were originally filed against Lyon.

He is charged with two misdemeanor counts of practicing law without a license, a felony count of theft, three felony counts of unauthorized use of personal identifying information or documents, and five felony counts of forgery.

Lyon was jailed on $20,000 bail and apparently remains in custody. His attorney last appeared in court for him Jan. 28 and a court appearance date of March 3 was set for Lyon, when he is expected to plead guilty to at least some of the charges.

The terms of the plea bargain have not been released.

The forgery charges carry a maximum sentence of a $10,000 fine for each charge and six years in jail.

Democrat & Chronicle reporter Jill Terreri, who is covering the NY-26 election, just tweeted that Assemblywoman Jane Corwin has won the GOP endorsement for the anticipated special election to replace Chris Lee.

Terreri's tweet says it's based on information she obtained from Bill Reilich, Monroe County Republican chairman.

For our previous report on the GOP bids for the nomination, click here.

UPDATED 5:52 p.m.

Members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force reportedly observed a Batavia man selling drugs on Wednesday, and when they moved in on the suspect, he reportedly threw some crack cocaine on the sidewalk.

Task force members then obtained a search warrant for a residence in Batavia where they allegedly found five more bags of crack cocaine.

Taken into custody was Ronnie "Ace" Allen, 23.

The search warrant was executed at 6 Vine St., upper, Batavia. Allen listed his address as 42 Mountbatten St., Henrietta.

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

Allen was jailed on $25,000 bail.

Assisting in the investigation were the Sheriff's deputies and the District Attorney's Office.

Eight congressional hopefuls filed into South Beach restaurant on Sunday to explain to 21 GOP leaders from the 26th Congressional District why he or she should get the endorsement of the Republican Party in any upcoming special election.

Though no election has been called yet by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, it's widely anticipated that Cuomo will set a date for a special election to fill the seat vacated by Chris Lee after a shirtless picture of him showed up on Gawker.com.

Don Read, representing Genesee County, said GOP officials will meet tonight in Geneseo to go over the list and decide whom the party should back.

"A lot depends on our discussion," Read said. "We have a good cross section (of candidates). There's certainly a good group of candidates."

Besides Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, who is the odds-on favorite of pundits, three-time loser Jack Davis showed up for an interview, as did Genesee County residents David Bellavia and Peter O'Brien.

O'Brien is a frequent commenter on The Batavian.

Also showing an interest in the seat for the GOP are: Dr. Barry Weinstein, a former Town of Amherst councilman; Brian Napoli, from Orleans County; Gary Wehate, of Avon; and Kathy Wepner, a radio talk-show host in Buffalo.

In the weighted vote system the GOP uses to pick candidates for the congressional seat, Erie County candidates have an edge in the selection process. It only takes one Erie County vote and one Niagara County vote to outweigh the votes of Orleans, Wyoming, Genesee and Monroe counties.

Story based on reporting by WBTA's Dan Fischer.

Scott C. Brown, 22, of 11 Wood St., Batavia, John C. Schurr Jr., 26, of 382 Garden Drive, Batavia, and Ashley M. Younke, 31, of 212 Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, are all charged with petit larceny and theft of services. The trio allegedly left Sport of Kings restaurant at 3:30 a.m., Sunday, without paying for food they ordered. They also allegedly left with several pieces of flatware. Officer Frank Klimjack reportedly observed the suspects' vehicle shortly after they left the restaurant. The flatware was recovered.

Ronald J. Scroger, 30, 52 Columbia Ave., Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. He is accused of stealing clothing from Olympia Sports on Wednesday.

Eugene C. Rose, 36, of 230 Keystone St., Buffalo, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Rose was taken into custody by Buffalo PD on a warrant issued by Batavia City Court for allegedly violating an order of protection. Buffalo PD turned Rose over to Batavia PD and Rose was jailed without bail. Rose reportedly has prior felony convictions.

Loralyn L. Bateman, 34, 5 Edwards St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd. Bateman was stopped on Union Street at 1:50 a.m., Friday, by Officer Kevin DeFelice.

Marsha Jones, 56, of Wade Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with disorderly conduct. Jones was allegedly involved in an altercation at 7 p.m., Thursday, in the Genesee Community College cafeteria with the assistant manager an employee there. Jones is accused of swearing at the assistant manager employee and then pushing a cart, causing items to fall off the cart and break.

Anthony C. Timberlake, 22, of North Street, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Timberlake is accused of being involved in an argument with a customer at the college cafe at 7 p.m., Thursday. Timberlake allegedly was swearing at the customer in front of witnesses.