A State Police investigation into the alleged misappropriation of STOP-DWI funds in Corfu has concluded there was no criminal wrongdoing in the case.

Allegations of malfeasance have been percolating in Corfu for months after Village Trustee Ralph Peterson first started looking into rumors that part-time police officers were being required to sign falsified time cards.

Investigator Ken Dubrinski concluded that there is no evidence any officers signed time cards that had notations on them claiming they were on DWI patrol when they were not.

STOP-DWI is a county program which uses funds from DWI fines to help pay for extra patrols by local law enforcement agencies -- either to operate DWI checkpoints or put DWI-specific patrols on the road.

Typically, the Village of Corfu Police Department has only one officer at a time on the road and that officer is engaged in general patrol duties. The only time two officers are on duty is during Darien Lake concerts, and one of those officers operates the intersection stop light at routes 33 and 77.

Even so, the village has been filing paperwork for STOP-DWI funding since at least 2009.

Dubrinski concluded that in the absence of falsified time cards, the filing of the STOP-DWI vouchers by the village clerk was the result of village officials misunderstanding how the program worked.

According to the investigator's report, obtained recently by The Batavian, the case started when Justice Robert Alexander (separately, a possible subject of an investigation into missing court funds) contacted Peterson and said that village police complained to him that they were being asked to sign time cards saying they were on DWI patrol when they were not.

Perterson told Dubrinski that he obtained copies of the program vouchers and interviewed police officers. He reportedly told Dubrinski that 39 out of 39 times, officers were reported to have worked DWI patrol but had only worked routine patrol.

Once officer told Dubrinski that he believed that the village was turning in STOP-DWI vouchers for any shift that resulted in a DWI arrest.

The officers interviewed by Dubrinski -- all seven or eight in the department are part-time -- said that as far back as a year ago, officers were asked to start signing time cards following a state audit. All said they had never been asked to sign a time card with additional notations on them.

A state audit of the East Pembroke Fire District's financial records found problems with accounting procedures, but did not uncover any missing funds or improper expenditures.

The NYS Comptroller's Office released the audit this past week and was critical of the district for:

• Not auditing treasurer's records and reports;
• The treasurer has not completed and filed annual financial reports with state since 2005;
• There's no evidence the board reviewed claims before they were paid;
• Bank statements were not reconciled monthly.

The apparent problems with the bookkeeping required auditors to go through expenses check-by-check -- 75 checks in all totaling $21,875 -- from May 1 through Oct. 30, as well as all bank account transfers, deposits and withdrawals.

The financial activity was properly recorded and disbursements appeared for district purposes, but claims lacked proper approvals.

The audit period was Jan. 1, 2010 through Nov. 29, 2011.

The district has an annual budget of $158,000.

Press release:

The 2nd Public Information Meeting for the reconstruction of Cedar Street will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, at Batavia City Hall in the Council Board Room (2nd Floor).

Erdman Anthony, the engineering firm retained by the city, will present the Draft Design Report and discuss different design alternatives under consideration. The design alternatives were developed after the current road conditions were assessed, input from the residents and businesses along the corridor was considered, traffic studies were analyzed and surveying and mapping was completed.

The reconstruction of Cedar Street from Main Street (Rt.5) to Ellicott Street (Rt. 63) is a Locally Administered Federal – Aid Project that is scheduled for construction in 2013-2014.

A copy of the Draft Design Report is available to review at city hall in the Department of Public Works; Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 pm.

For years, Jim Vo would see residents from Genesee County go to Rochester and Buffalo to sell their gold and silver and knew that while many retailers in the big cities were reputable, some of them were clearly a little shady.

After looking around Batavia a bit, he decided it would be a good place to start a business, which became Batavia Gold Rush, at 4152 W. Main St.

With a family background in jewelry -- his parents started in the business while still in Vietnam -- and some experience buying and selling gold and silver, he said he saw an opportunity.

"I love it in Batavia," said Vo, who will soon marry and is looking for a place to live in Batavia. It’s clean. It’s quiet. The people are very friendly."

Vo wants to be known as a precious metals buyer people can trust. A customer in his store is just as likely to get a lesson on how to value items as they are to get cash.

"You gave me respect to come into my store, so I'm going to show you respect," Vo said.

When he markets his business he doesn't advertise "the highest price paid." He said customers will figure that out after they get bids from other stores.

"Usually customers who don't sell to me come back later that same day because they found I did offer the highest bid," Vo said.

His personal motto is, "give me a chance to prove we pay the highest price and we will."

Vo said he's hoping to attract business that is currently being siphoned off from Genesee County and going to Buffalo and Rochester.

Some of his recent print advertising has even emphasized that fact.

"People should shop local," he said. "We want to keep the dollars in Batavia."

While some antique and coin dealers might buy items for resale, Vo said he doesn't want to hold inventory for resale. It just means he has to pay a lower price because the item will sit on a shelf for a while before he gets his investment back on it. By sending out all the gold and silver he buys to refineries, he can pay the best possible price, he said.

"My goal is to try and make money, and at the same time, get the customers the deal they deserve," Vo said.

An 18-year-old Byron resident who was reportedly driving a golf cart Nov. 26 on North Byron Road when the cart was struck from behind by a car, leading to the death of her passenger, was arrested today on two felony charges.

A blood sample taken by investigators that night allegedly tested positive for alcohol and a drug.

Cortney L. Greene, of North Byron Road, Byron, is charged with vehicular manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

The top felony, a Class D, carries a maximum prison term of seven years.

The Sheriff's Office did not release the type of drug allegedly in Green's system at the time of the accident.

Zachary J. Rusin, 18, of Holley, died as a result of his injuries after being thrown from the golf cart when it was struck.

The accident was reported at 12:07 a.m. and Green was arrested that morning and charged with DWI, at which time she agreed to provide a blood sample to law enforcement.

The driver of the car, Emmaleigh R. Odom, 19, of Pavilion, was not injured and not charged.

State Troopers are scouring the Genesee River for two brothers from Batavia who have been missing since Feb. 19. David King, 54, and his 46-year-old brother, Michael, were last seen on I-390 in Monroe County.

Today, Trooper Mark O'Donnell told WBTA that so far the search has turned up nothing criminal.

Police say the brothers were reported missing Feb. 21. But it was not until a few days ago that law enforcement learned from another brother, Daniel, that they were last seen on I-390 near Rochester and the Genesee River. The media wasn't involved sooner because, for undisclosed reasons, Daniel was not able to provide police with that information.

According to police, David and Michael were in a minor car accident on Feb. 19 on I-390 and were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital for evaluation. Afterward, Daniel picked them up.

He dropped them off on the opposite side of the highway from their damaged vehicle at about 9 p.m. Daniel says they hopped over the median to get to the car. According to O'Donnell, there's about a 12- to 15-foot gap between the northbound and southbound lanes at that location and the Genesee River lies 100 feet below.

No one has had contact with David and Michael since then, but police are not ruling out that they could be found safe. Authorities have not been able to pick up any mobile phone signals from the brothers' phones.

A scuba team and airboat are being used today in the search and, over the weekend, a helicopter was used. But O'Donnell does not characterize the efforts as a "search for bodies."

Anyone with information should call State Police at 398-4100.

In addition to WBTA, information used in this post came from TV's WHAM 13.

Representatives of Genesee ARC filled council chambers Monday night to see a proclamation presented that declared March as "Developmental Disabilities Month."

In the photo, from left, are John Brown, Donna Saskowski and Angie Maniaci representing Genesee ARC. Also pictured are City Councilman Kris Doeringer and Genesee County Legislator Marianne Clattenburg.

Photo by Sandy Konfederath.

Among the accomplishments of the Business Development Corp. in 2011 was hiring an economic development coordinator, Board President Ray Chaya told city council members Monday night.

Now the BDC is getting down to the business of growing business.

Chaya and Julie Pacette presented the BDC's action plan for 2012, which includes improving the real estate market, fostering an entrepreneurial spirit and becoming a friendlier city.

The second half of 2011 was pretty good for the BDC, Chaya said -- six loans for small businesses in Batavia were approved in 2011.

"It was quiet for some time, but has picked up," Chaya said. "Julie being on the street, talking to people, is something we’ve never been able to do before, so I really think it’s going to help drive some new business."

BDC Board Member Gregg Torrey is the group's champion for improving the real estate environment, which will include pushing forward with applications for $400,000 in Main Street grants from the state.

To qualify, property owners must cover at least 60 percent of the project costs.

Pacette said the BDC has already received grant applications totaling $700,000 in project costs and is looking for more applications to consider forwarding to the state for approval.

Pacette said the BDC hopes to get the applications through the process pretty quickly.

"We don't want to miss this construction season," Pacette said. "We hope to get the money on the street working this summer."

Chaya will spearhead efforts to foster a greater entrepreneurial spirit, which could include workshops for businesses on a variety of topics.

Brenda Richardson, manager at Coffee Culture, and City Manager Jason Molino, are champions of the action plan for making Batavia a friendlier city, which covers everything from ramping up customer service training for small businesses to streamlining government processes for small businesses.

Council members seemed to react favorably to the presentation.

"It validates the point we've been saying all along," Councilwoman Patti Pacino said. "We have all of the things to make our city a place where, when you drive through you say, 'I want to live here.' It's very exciting. It's happening."

Police requested to a business on Liberty Street for a loitering skunk near the front door, that's refusing to leave.

A possible chimney fire has been reported at 3491 Pearl Street, Town of Batavia.

Town of Batavia Fire Department responding.

UPDATE 8:20 a.m.: East Pembroke and Oakfield departments asked to standby in their halls. The fireplace has been cleaned out, according to a chief. Crews are rechecking the chimney. There appears to be no extension at the base.

UPDATE 9 a.m.: East Pembroke back in service.

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The New York Times: Junior Hockey on Cusp of a Revolution: Trying to Stop Fighting

After years and years of wrangling -- and police officers working without a contract since 2005 -- the Police Benevolent Association and the City of Batavia finally have a labor agreement both sides can accept.

The PBA approved the contract Feb. 15 and the city council approved it Monday night.

Under the agreement, union members will receive retroactive pay increases from 2007 on, except for the final year of the contract, in the amount of 2.25 percent annually.

The retroactive pay will cost the city $784,000, which will be paid for with money in the city's fund balance and current fund surpluses.

This April, the city council will be asked to approve a transfer of $268,000 from the constituency fund to the police budget to cover the current year's increase in personnel costs.

"One of our goals was to solve this impass this year and here we are in February and we already have a resolution," said Council President Tim Buckley. "I credit Jason Molino and the PBA for reaching a resolution."

The PBA has been without a contract since 2005. The union won an arbitration award in 2009.

The contract impasse went to arbitration again in July 2011. The following September, the city and PBA leadership thought they had a contract agreement, but the union membership rejected the plan.

The arbitrator was set to issue PBA members 2 percent annual pay raises for 2007/08 and 2008/09, but before the award was final, the city and PBA settled on a new contract offer.

The ratified contract supersedes previous arbitration agreements.

Other provisions include a $1,000 per-member bonus in lieu of a 2012/13 pay increase, an increase in employee contribution to health insurance from 10 percent to 30 percent and increased co-pays on prescription drugs.

Debbie Kerr-Rosenbeck, who served for 25 years as executive director Genesee County Youth Bureau, was honored by the Batavia City Council on Monday night for her service to local youth. Over the past year, Kerr-Rosenbeck supervised the county department taking over management the city's youth program. Pictured, from left, are Legislative Chair Mary Pat Hancock, Councilwoman Kathy Briggs, Kerr-Rosenbeck and Legislator Marianne Clattenburg.

In a manner of speaking, Rob Credi is back.

Credi was one of the owners of Main Street Coffee from 2004 to 2009, and by mid-March he'll be running Kashmir Cafe at the corner of Main and Jackson streets.

That's the location owned by Ken Mistler and currently known as Espresso Salads and Subs.

Mistler remains the owner of the shop but Credi said he'll get full control of the operations, overseeing every aspect of the business.

Credi plans to revamp the interior -- he hopes to give it a more casual feel, to revive some of the "hang out" atmosphere of Main Street Coffee.

The drink menu will remain the same, and Next Level Fitness customers won't see any change in what they can purchase from that side of the counter, but Credi is planning a new sandwich menu, which he said will be "new American."

While Credi will manage the cafe, he won't be behind the counter every day. He has a full-time job in Rochester now, but will open the cafe in the mornings and serve coffee on weekends.

The newest deputy the Sheriff's Office is no rookie. He has more than seven years experience in law enforcement, including about a year with the Batavia Police Department.

Matthew C. Fleming joined the force six days ago and said he's been readily accepted by everybody in the department.

"Ever since I decided I wanted to be a cop, I always looked at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office as the ideal place to end up," Fleming said. "When these opportunities come up, you want to take advantage of the opportunity."

The Fleming family goes back a few generations in Bethany, and as a lifelong county resident, Fleming said he thought it was natural to be out patrolling the county.

"Genesee County was a great place to grow up and I feel like growing up here gave me a great shot at life, just everything the area has to offer," Fleming said. "It means a lot ot patrol the same areas I grew up in and hopefully offer something back."

A 2003 high school regents graduate from Alexander Central School, Fleming studied criminal justice at SUNY Brockport. He completed his basic police training in 2007 and has worked as a public safety officer/dispatcher with the New York Park Police and New York State University Police in Oswego and Buffalo.  He is a certified general topics instructor, firearms instructor and OC spray instructor.

Fleming replaces a deputy who retired Dec. 31.

"Deputy Fleming will be a great asset to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office," Sheriff Gary Maha said. "He possesses all the qualities we look for in our deputies -- integrity, professionalism, dedication and dependability. We are pleased to have him as part of our team."

An attorney recently hired to represent Jacquetta Simmons, the 26-year-old Batavia resident accused of punching a 70-year-old Walmart employee on Christmas Eve, said after a court hearing today that he doesn't believe his client intended to hurt Grace Suozzi.

Based on his own interviews and statements he's read, Buffalo attorney Earl Key said there's a lot more to the story than has been reported so far.

"I don't believe my client intended to assault anyone," Key said. "The tape will tell me a lot. I've got to see the tape to see exactly what happened."

Key is concerned however, that the only tape available shows just the portion of the confrontation where Simmons allegedly hit Suozzi.

There's no indication that Simmons was suspected of stealing form the store. Key said she didn't steal anything and she had shown her receipt for the items in her bag.

He said Suozzi's own statement to police indicates she grabbed Simmons. Key said the information he has so far indicates Simmons was trying to push Suozzi away, not assault her.

The language of section 120.05 of the New York penal code states a person is guilty of assault in the second degree when "with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person he causes such injury to such person ..."

In court, Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini said unless a plea agreement is reached first, the DA's office intends to send the case to the Grand Jury for possible indictment.

Simmons is also charged with a provision of the assault in the second degree statute that is fairly new, making it a felony to assault a person 65 or older.

Key said he needs to study that statute further, but he believes the law is being misapplied in this case.

Among the evidence gathered by Key so far is a copy of Walmart's policy about demanding that customers show receipts.

He said typically store policy is that an employee never grab a customer. If they suspect a person of stealing, they're supposed to call the police.

Key acknowledged that the case has been contentious in comments on local and regional media sites, but said his client naturally regrets what happened.

"My client is an upstanding citizen," Key said. "She’s bright, she’s young, she’s a college student, she has no criminal history, of course she regrets it. I haven’t seen the medical records, but if the victim has the injuries alleged, then of course she’s truly, truly sorry."

Simmons is scheduled to next appear in Town of Batavia Court on March 26.

A man who admitted his assault cost another man his eye will serve 12 years in prision, Judge Robert Noonan ruled this morning.

Christopher Preedom was the apparent leader of a three-person group that broke into a Woodstock Gardens apartment and attacked a resident there.

The victim read a statement asking Noonan to show leniency for Preedom, but District Attorney Lawrence Friedman cast doubt upon that request indicting he had information to suggest the victim's plea was based on fear of retaliation.

"While it may be considered noble that the victim is asking for leniency here," Friedman said, "...this defendant (Preedom) has already received a substantial break, being allowed to plea down from a Class B felony, under which he faced 25 years in prison."

Preedom asked for the victim's forgiveness.

"I've committed a crime...I know I've messed up...I made a mistake," Preedom said tearfully. "I'm willing to face the consequences."

Noonan offered little sympathy.

"The problem is: even if (the victim) is appearing here as your very best friend," the judge said, "you have still committed a crime against society that is horrendous. You took out a person's eye in the most horrific way."

(Based on the report of Geoff Redick, WBTA)

United Memorial Medical Center will offer FREE important health screenings to uninsured Genesee County residents between the ages of 40 and 64 next week.

The screenings will take place from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 8, at the Jerome Center, 16 Bank St., Batavia.

Please call United Memorial’s Healthy Living Department to schedule an appointment at  344-5331.

Services will include blood-sugar testing, total cholesterol and take-home colorectal cancer screening kits. Healthcare providers will also give free mammograms, pap smears and clinical breast exams for women and prostate screening exams for men.

Light refreshments, health information and free giveaways will also be available.

This event is planned by the Cancer Services Partnership of Genesee and Orleans Counties, and made possible by a state grant administered by United Memorial.