Scott Bischoping, interim superintendent of Batavia City School District, was welcomed by trustees at the Board of Education Reorganizational Meeting this morning.

Bischoping previously served as deputy superintendent at Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES. Bischoping will step into the interim role as former Superintendent of Schools Christopher Dailey becomes the superintendent of Gates Chili Central School District.

In the interim, consultants and Board of Education members will conduct a six-month search for the best candidate for the permanent superintendent appointment.

In other action, the board:

• Reappointed Pat Burk as board president for the 2019-20 academic year;
• Swore in Pete Cecere for his three-year board term and reappointed Cecere as vice president;
• Received their board committee and building assignments for the 2019-20 school year.

The next BCSD Board of Education meeting is at 6:30 p.m. July 16 in the BOE Conference Room.

At the Muckdogs' game, the Batavia Lions Club held their annual bike giveaway. This year's winners were Emerson Mager, of Batavia, and Charlie Pratt, of Ware Shoals, S.C.

Photo by Krysia Mager.

A two-vehicle accident with minor injuries is reported in front of 401 W. Main St., Batavia.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman called two rebuttal witnesses this afternoon, who are both accident reconstructionists, to provide insight about the precise location of 18-year-old Connor Lynskey when he was struck by alleged drunk driver Jennifer Serrano last August in Darien.

Expert James Orr testified in order to explain his findings based on police photographs and investigation measurements from the accident scene. Orr’s rationale for the absence of tire marks in the gravel along the edge of Sumner Road is that gravel will not be disturbed unless sudden maneuvering or braking occurs.

A photograph of what is purported to be Lynskey’s footprint was revisited numerous times today in court. The image, according to Orr, depicts a heel print in the gravel and the top of the foot pivoting out of the frame. Orr said this pivot represents Lynskey’s right foot as the left side of his body rotates in the direction of the vehicle upon impact. Orr said no debris of any kind could make that type of mark. 

"Using the debris field that was found primarily on the shoulder, gravel and grass, jurors will determine whether Lynskey was positioned in the traffic lane or if Serrano’s vehicle left the roadway.

Orr said that debris in accident scene photos may indicate that broken pieces from the vehicle's exterior made contact with Lynskey’s body at the point of impact.

Defense attorney Frank LoTempio asked Orr how he could know the exact collision location if he had relied on photos taken by Genesee County Sheriff's Office Investigator Chris Parker, who admitted he could not recall the precise location of gravel disturbance. Orr remained confident in his assertion that Lynskey was located on the shoulder at the time of impact. 

Jon Northrup, the second expert who testified today, reviewed police measurements and photos, and calculated pedestrian formulas when conducting his investigation. Northrup extended the angle of Lynskey’s slide path back to the shoulder and edge of the road to estimate Lynskey’s position.

Northrup testified that Lynksey flew 12 feet in the air upon collision and slid 18 feet through vegetation, a total distance of 30 feet from strike to resting place. Northrup predicts that Serrano’s vehicle was driving on the shoulder approximately 2.5 feet off the edge of the road.

Northrup said Lynskey’s footprint and contact with the vehicle’s windshield are not consistent with Lynskey tripping into the path of Serrano’s Jeep. He said that Lynskey was upright when he was struck.

Northrup disagreed with Thomas C. Onions, an accident reconstructionist called by defense counsel, about his findings related to vehicle speed and visibility. Northrup claims Serrano's vehicle was traveling faster than 37.5 miles per hour and its headlight visibility was over 150 feet.

Orr and Northrup agreed that photo evidence from the accident scene that was collected by investigators could have been more conclusive had they made better photographs of the alleged footprint and debris field. They said accident reconstruction experts are trained to observe evidence that officers may not look for. 

Orr and Northrup each conceded there is no way to determine the precise vehicle speed or location of Lynskey upon impact because pedestrian calculations are only accurate for full-body hits, not partial strikes. 

Serrano is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it, driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. 

Jurors will be informed of the legal specifications of each of the four counts tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Genesee County Court.

At the Arc of Genesee Orleans site on Walnut Street, Batavia, today, the Down Syndrome Parent Support Group of Genesee County Inc. presented a check for $10,000 to help fund the estimated $100,000 cost of remodeling a portion of the ARC's former production facility.

The remodeled facility will become the "GO TO Hub," a place for community prevocational and day habilitation services.

The change in the use of the building become because of changes to service delivery for ARC-type programs throughout the state.

The vision of the Arc’s GO TO Hub is to offer career development and lifelong learning, in a welcoming and inspiring space. When completed, stations will include a teaching kitchen, art and ceramics area, technology center, exercise area, simulated office and meeting rooms with mobile partitions.

Previously, ARC received a $25,000 donation from the Golisano Foundation and $10,000 from Howard Ouriel.

Donations are still being accepted. To find out more, contact Shelley Falitco at (585) 343-4203.

Top photo: Kelly Anstey; Donna Saskowski; front row -- Corinne Phelps, Colleen Fisher, Missy Cook, Lisa Losdon; back row – Gracia Leavy, Sharon White, Wanda Gilbert, Vinnie Tjhumg, Tammi Burbules, Kim Travale, Dawn Fisher, president of Down Syndrome Parent Support Group of Genesee.

Dispatchers have received a report of a fire in the woods in the area of Pearl Street and Drake Street that was supposedly started by juveniles who are now trying to put it out. 

Oakfield Fire Department responding.

UPDATE 5:40 p.m.: The location is 14 N. Pearl St. according to a first responder.

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: The fire appears to be a tractor tire. It will be out shortly, a chief reports.

UPDATE 5:50 p.m.: Oakfield command reports the fire is out.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman and defense attorney Frank LoTempio faced off during oral arguments this morning over the admission of rebuttal witness testimony during the trial of alleged drunk driver Jennifer Serrano. 

Friedman intends to call accident reconstructionists James Orr and Jon Northrup to testify to their perspectives of the location of a deadly impact between Serrano’s vehicle and 18-year-old pedestrian Connor Lynskey. Serrano and Lynskey were both traveling along Sumner Road after a concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center last August at the time of the collision.

Friedman argued that evidence introduced earlier in the trial will yield different interpretations from those offered by witnesses such as Sgt. Jason Saile and Thomas C. Onions, an accident reconstruction expert.

The three main topics of debate are the speed of Serrano’s vehicle, the visibility on Sumner Road, and the location of vehicle-pedestrian impact. The rebuttal witnesses are also expected to weigh in on a photograph of what is purported to be Lynksey’s footprint in the gravel shoulder of the road.

LoTempio said that the district attorney failed to present Orr and Northrup as witnesses in a timely manner when he filed a motion for demand of discovery months ago. The discovery demand allows the People and the defendant to get an idea of the evidence that will be used against them during the trial.

LoTempio also claimed that the People’s rebuttal witnesses would be prejudicial to Serrano because defense expert Onions may not have the opportunity to respond to the alternate interpretations since he is currently out of the area.

During banter between Friedman and LoTempio, LoTempio let out an incredulous laugh when Friedman countered his arguments about mistrial, discovery demand and rebuttal witnesses. 

LoTempio said that the location of the impact is an element of causation that jurors should consider in their deliberations since Serrano is charged with vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it, driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. 

Judge Charles Zambito said that knowing the exact location of Lynskey at the time he was struck is not necessary for the jury to reach its verdict. After a recess, Zambito rendered the decision that the defense’s motion for a mistrial is denied and that it will be appropriate for the People to rebut with expert testimony from Orr and Northrup. 

The fifth day of the Serrano trial continues this afternoon in Genesee County Court.

From Dan McComb:

The Batavia 24U Blue Devils Baseball Team remains undefeated (7-0) with a dramatic 5-4 win Friday night over the Gators of North Bufallo.

Casey Radka drove in Joey Burdick with a two-out, two-strike single in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win.

With Batavia down 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Josh Baptiste drew a walk. He went to second on a wild pitch, and Josh Bradley hit a single. Baptiste attempted to score on the play but was gunned down at home plate. 

Bradley, however, moved to third base on the play. Burdick then drove in Bradley for the tying run. Tristan Aldinger moved Burdick to second base with a single. Radka then delivered the hit which scored Burdick.

Radka went the distance on the mound, giving up five hits and three earned runs.

Batavia banged out nine hits with nine of the Batavia players getting exactly one hit each in the balanced attack.

Batavia scored three runs in the first inning essentially on walks and errors. Jerry Reinhardt, Casey Radka and Zeke Lynn all scored in that first inning.

Batavia’s next game is at home against the Clarence Red Raiders on Wednesday, July 10, at 6 p.m. at Genesee Community College.

By Frances McNulty, committee member Richmond Reads

Do you remember the former Tale for Three Counties community reading project? The program was extremely popular and after its conclusion in 2016 readers and library patrons expressed their disappointment and often asked whether it might revive sometime in the future.

Although not as far-reaching as the Tale project, the new Richmond Reads community reading project, hosted by Richmond Memorial Library, hopes to satisfy those requests.  

Readers are encouraged to read the featured book, "Southernmost" by Silas House, and after doing so to write and submit their review of the book.

Details of the review contest are available below and on the Library’s website and include suggestions of what to consider when preparing your review and comments.

One does not need to be a professional or creative writer to participate.

The suggestions provided should prove helpful for composing your review. Reviews will be judged anonymously by the Richmond Reads Committee, using the criteria of creativity, originality, and writing quality.

The reading project will include several opportunities for folks to join in discussions about the book. If you have never participated in a group book discussion, and choose to do so, you may be pleasantly surprised and find it to be a very satisfying and socially enjoyable experience.

There will be an occasion to hear the author during his visit and talk about the book.  

But consider the benefit of winning the review contest. Four winners, who are anonymous to the selection committee members, will be invited to a special event to meet the author one-on-one.

This is a wonderful chance to have a firsthand encounter, ask questions, and have a book signed. It will provide an unforgettable memory.

I know, because I was fortunate to have had such an opportunity in the past, and can attest to its worthiness. I encourage readers to consider reading the book, to participate in the programs, and submit a review. 

How to enter:

1. Read "Southernmost" by Silas House. Copies are available on audio, regular print, large print, and as and e-book and audiobook on Hoopla and OverDrive. Copies of the book are also available for purchase at the library compliments of Lift Bridge Bookstore in Brockport.
2. Write a review of the book in 200 words or fewer. Instead of simply summarizing the book, consider the following as you write your review:

How did this book impact you? Were you able to relate to any characters or situations?

What were the most significant moments in the plot?

What truths do you think were expressed through the ending?

How does the setting affect the story?

1. Submit your review by 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9. Reviews can be submitted at the library, via our online form at batavialibrary.org or mailed to: Richmond Reads Review Contest c/o Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia NY 14020

Contest rules:

• Reviews must be received by 5 p.m. Sept. 9. This is a firm deadline and postmarks cannot be considered.
• Review forms are available at the library or on our website batavialibray.org/richmond-reads. If not using a form, include your full name, town in which you reside and telephone number. Reviews will not be considered for selection without this information.
• Reviews must be written legibly or typewritten if possible.
• Reviews will be judged anonymously by the Richmond Reads committee. 
• Winners will be announced on Sept. 12.
• Any reviews submitted may be shared for marketing purposes by Richmond Memorial Library via printed materials, on our website and through social media.

 Richmond Reads is a program of Richmond Memorial Library. The program is sponsored by The Friends of the Library and through a grant from GO ART!

Richmond Memorial Library continually provides access to physical and virtual resources and services that meet the educational, informational and recreational needs of its diverse community in a safe and comfortable environment.

Learn more at www.batavialibrary.org

Richmond Memorial Library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

This project was made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO ART!

Press release:

The Original Red Osier Landmark Restaurant in Stafford presents GO ART!'s 41^st Annual Picnic in the Park on Thursday, July 4^th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Centennial Park in Batavia.

Event kicks off with a Kiddie Parade. Decorating bikes begins at 10:30 a.m. The parade takes off down Ellicott Avenue hill at 11 o'clock.

Food vendors include Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Abbott's Ice Cream, Kernel Cravin’ Kettle Corn, Lonsberry Concessions, and Over the Border! Mack Truck, and Ali's Concessions.

Musical performances by Batavia Concert Band at noon, Byrne Brothers Irish Band from 12-2 p.m., Grizzwoode at 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. and again from 4-5 p.m.

Don't miss Old Time family activities between acts, such as sack races, tug of war and a kids’ hula hoop contest.

Explore Arts Tent with kids’ art activities, face painting, bounce house. Mad Hatter performances at 12, 1:30 and 3 in Artisan Alley. Six Senses Escape Room will hold a scavenger hunt starting in Artisan Alley. 

More than 30 arts and crafts vendors on North Street and nonprofits in the lower park.

Uncle Sam wants you at GO ART!'s 41st Annual Picnic in the Park!

LE ROY -- The Gary Scott Scholarship has been awarded for 50 years in memory of alumnus Gary Scott, Class of 1963, at Le Roy High School. Lt. Scott was killed in 1968 while serving in Vietnam.

Scott’s friends and fellow classmates from Syracuse University, established the scholarship to recognize a Le Roy student who embodies the traits of Gary Scott: being able to overcome hardships, show leadership and encourage community participation.

This year, the $8,000 scholarship was awarded to new graduate Farryn Kennedy, whose grade-point average is 94.8 and who is preparing to major in Engineering at Clarkson University in the fall.

As part of the Emerging Knights Leadership Team, she created a student recognition program, which selects monthly winners of the Knowledgeable Knights award. 

Above is a photo of Scott’s friends who created the scholarship and manage donations, his family members with the winner.

Anyone interested in donating to the scholarship fund to assure its continuance can send contributions to: Gary Scott Scholarship Fund, ℅ Le Roy High School, 9300 South Street Road, Le Roy, NY 14482.

A truck driver with 40,000 pounds in beets in his trailer thought he could make it under a railroad overpass on Griswold Road at 8:30 this morning.

According to Deputy Chris Erion, the driver was following GPS but the address he was going to was the billing address on the manifest, not the shipping address, which is on Transit Road.

Griswold was closed for several hours as a result of the accident.

UPDATE 6:06 p.m.: Griswold Road has reopened.

(Initial Report)

Submitted photos and press release:

Genesee County Sheriff William A. Sheron Jr. and his staff were honored last Wednesday at a meeting of the Genesee County Legislature for having achieved re-accreditation of the Sheriff’s Civil Office and the County 9-1-1 Emergency Services Dispatch Center from the New York State Sheriffs’ Association.  

Peter Kehoe, executive director of the association, pointed out that only 25 of the state’s 62 counties have been able to achieve accreditation of their civil office, and only 15 counties maintain an accredited communications center.

“To earn accreditation,” Kehoe said, “the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office had to demonstrate that it adheres to a strict set of standards and best practices established by experts in the fields of both civil process and emergency communications.”

The Sheriff’s Office has also received accreditation of the Sheriff’s Road Patrol from the New York State Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Council.

“Each of these accreditations, standing alone, is a significant achievement, and taken together, they clearly demonstrate the commitment of the Sheriff and his staff to excellence in their profession,” Kehoe said.

“You have an outstanding Sheriff and Sheriff’s Office, which are very well respected locally, but also throughout the state. The citizens of Genesee County, and this Genesee County Legislature, should be very proud of their Sheriff’s Office.”

Sheriff Sheron thanked his deputies and staff for all their hard work for the citizens of the Genesee County, and for their efforts in achieving accreditation.

Special recognition was given to Deborah Shea, principal financial clerk in the Sheriff’s Civil Office, and to Robert Tripp, senior emergency services dispatcher, for their work in guiding the re-accreditation effort in their respective divisions.

Sheriff Sheron also acknowledged County Legislator Gary Maha, former Genesee County Sheriff, for his efforts in starting the original accreditation programs during his tenure as Sheriff.

Sheriff Sheron and his staff have worked diligently to continue meeting the accreditation standards, as they are periodically updated, in order to earn the reaccreditation which was awarded at the meeting Wednesday.

Accreditation is for a five-year period and may be renewed indefinitely, as long as the agency continues to meet the established standards.

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association, headquartered in Albany, is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1934, which assists the sheriffs of New York to effectively and efficiently deliver services to the public. Sheriff Sheron serves as a Trustee and member of the Association’s Executive Committee.

Top photo: 9-1-1 Emergency Services Dispatch Center (from left): Executive Director Peter Kehoe; NYS Sheriffs' Association Director of Emergency Communications Steven C. Sharpe; Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher Robert H. Tripp; Assistant Director of Emergency Communications Frank A. Riccobono; GC Sheriff William A. Sheron Jr.

Above photo -- Civil Division (from left): Executive Director Peter Kehoe; NYS Sheriffs' Association Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello; Principal Financial Clerk Deborah A. Shea; Financial/Records Clerk Tracy L. Ranney; and GC Sheriff William A. Sheron Jr.

George T. Sarkis, 58, of Chili Avenue, Rochester, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree harassment. He was arrested on June 26. It is alleged that at 6:16 p.m. on June 20 at Batavia Middle School on Ross Street that Sarkis grabbed a juvenile by the neck and pushed him and threatened physical harm to another juvenile. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court at 1 p.m. on July 2. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Victoria Anne Smith, 43, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with petit larceny. Following a larceny investigation, Smith was arrested on June 23 for allegedly stealing money from the mother's purse at 8 p.m. June 20 while on Main Road in Stafford. Following her arrest, she was released on an appearance ticket and she is due in Stafford Town Court at 9 a.m. on July 15 to answer the charge. The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy James Stack.

Clint Jeffery Towne, 38, of Alleghany Road, Alabama, is charged with: third-degree reckless assault; fourth-degree criminal mischief; and second-degree harassment. He was arrested on Phelps Road in Pembroke following a domestic incident at 7:46 p.m. on June 28. Towne allegedly broke a glass door, causing the glass to shatter and injure the victim. He also allegedly choked the victim. He was arraigned in Pembroke Town Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. He is to return to the court on July 9. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Krzemien.

Johnathan Nathaniel Taylor, 34, of Edgewood Drive, Medina, is charged with six counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of second-degree harassment. At 7:47 p.m. on June 26, Taylor was arrested on Pratt Road in Batavia after allegedly striking an adult female in the face, causing her to fall to the ground, while in the presence of six children under age 17. He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released on his own recognizance. He is due in the court again on July 22. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy David Moore, assisted by Deputy Mathew Clor.

Brandi Lynn Reuben, 23, of Sand Hill Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with second-degree harassment. Reuben was arrested following a domestic incident at 5:45 p.m. June 26 on Ledge Road in the reservation. She allegedly punched a person in the face multiple time. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Alabama Town Court on July 10. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Mathew Clor.

Bobby L. Mobley Jr., 34, no permanent address, Batavia, is charged with: disorderly conduct -- violent behavior; disorderly conduct -- obscene language; and disorderly conduct -- obstructing pedestrian traffic. Mobley was arrested following a domestic incident at 12:45 p.m. on June 19 on Maple Street in Batavia. He allegedly repeatedly used obscene language, blocked the freedom of movement of a pedestrian on the sidewalk and continued his threatening behavior after being repeatedly warned to stop his actions by police. He was due in Batavia City Court June 25 to answer the charges. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jason Davis, assisted by Officer Felicia DeGroot.

Maria I. Santiago, 34, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment. She was arrested after a physical altercation with another woman at 3:49 p.m. June 18 in a parking lot on North Spruce Street. She is due in Batavia City Court on July 2. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Felicia DeGroot, assisted by Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk.

Kathryn A. Phillips, 41, of North Street, Batavia, is charged with two Batavia Municipal Code violations -- having a dog running at large and having an unlicensed dog. It is alleged that at 5:15 p.m. on May 6 on North Street that Phillips' unlicensed, unleashed dog left her property and attacked another dog. She was issued at appearance ticket for June 18 in Batavia City Court. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

Josephine G. Erhardt, 80, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with a Batavia Municipal Code violation -- having a dog running at large. She was arrested at 4:30 p.m. on June 17 after an incident in which her dog allegedly ran loose after a person and around the grounds of an apartment complex. She was issued at appearance ticket for June 25 in Batavia City Court. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

Michael J. Mead Sr., 32, of State Route 19A, Portageville, is charged with falsely reporting an incident. Following an investigation, Mead was arrested for allegedly calling Child Protective Services and filing two false reports at 9 a.m. on June 12. He was arrested at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket. He is due in Batavia Town Court on July 15. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Krzemien.

Christine M. Jones, 32, of Hutchins Place, Batavia, is charged with a Batavia Municipal Code violation -- having a dog running at large. At 4 p.m. on June 19 on Hutchins Place, Jones's dog allegedly ran into the street and at the complainant. Jones was arrested and issued an appearance ticket. She is due in Batavia City Court on July 2. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Felicia DeGroot.

Steven M. Lindner, 46, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with: unlawful possession of marijuana; criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree; criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument; and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree. Lindner was arrested following an investigation into a noise complaint at 10:25 p.m. June 18 on West Main Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket for July 9 in Batavia City Court, then released. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Cronmiller, assisted by Officer Peter Post.

Christopher A. Ridgeway Jr., 27, of Bridgewood Road, Midlothian, Va., is charged with: criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree; criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell; unlawful possession of marijuana; aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree; and having an obstructed view. Ridgeway was arrested after a traffic stop at 3:41 p.m. on June 27 on Hyde Park in Batavia. He was the driver. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed without bail. He is due back in city court at a later date. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Quider, assisted by Sgt. Christopher Camp.

Shonje K. Jefferson, 20, of Empire Boulevard, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a narcotic drug with intent to sell, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Jefferson was arrested at 3:41 p.m. on June 27 after a quantity of drugs was allegedly located in a vehicle involved in a traffic stop where Jefferson was a passenger. He was jailed without bail and was due in Batavia City Court on June 27. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Quider, assisted by Sgt. Christopher Camp.

Joseph Lee Ruiz, 35, of North Clinton Street, Rochester, is charged with: criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree; criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree; and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree. He was arrested during an investigation at a residence on Bank Street in Batavia at 10:48 p.m. on June 21. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed without bail. He was due back in city court June 24. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Jose Fuentes, 39, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment. On June 7, Fuentes was arrested following an investigation into a complaint alleging that at 10:01 that night he rammed his wheelchair into another resident on Bank Street in Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket for June 11 in Batavia City Court. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins.

Ricardo Sampel, Sr., 50, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with first-degree criminal contempt. He was arrested for allegedly having contact with a protected party at 1 p.m. on June 25 at UMMC. He was jailed without bail and was due in Genesee County Court on June 26. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jason Davis, assisted by Officer Peter Post.

Laura J. Reed, 27, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with violating an order of protection. She was arrested following an investigation into a disturbance at 11:55 p.m. on June 21 on Bank Street, Batavia. It was determined that Reed was in violation of a court order barring her from the residence. She was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under supervision. She was due to return to court June 24. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Peter Flanagan, assisted by Sgt. Matthew Lutey.

Thomas M. Rossiter, 34, of South Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with: driving while intoxicated; aggravated DWI -- a BAC of .18 percent or more; aggravated unlicensed operator in the third degree; and failure to keep right. He was arrested at 3:20 p.m. June 15 on Otis Street in Batavia after he was involved in a motor vehicle accident. He was issued several appearance tickets and is due in Batavia City Court on July 10. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Quider, assisted by Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

Kay E. Dilcher, 28, of Sunset Drive, Holley, is charged with two counts of false personation. It is alleged that at 10 a.m. on June 25 on Lewiston Road in Batavia that Dilcher claimed to be another person while she was in town for methadone treatment. She was identified not to be the person she claimed to be and she had several warrants for her arrest in two other counties. She was released on appearance tickets and was transferred to Orleans County Sheriff's Office to answer charges there. The case has handled by Batavia Police Officer Jason Davis,, assisted by Officer Miah Stevens. At 9:14 a.m. on June 27 Dilcher was arrested and charged with false personation after being detained by Batavia PD for an unrelated incident and providing a false name to officers. She is due in Batavia City Court on July 9 for both cases. The second case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Miah Stevens, assisted by Officer Jason Davis.

Michelle L. Misiak, 53, of South Main Street, Batavia, was arrested after an investigation. It is alleged that she contacted the Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center at 9:07 a.m. on June 20 and reported a disturbance involving weapons on South Main Street resulting in a police response to the address. It was subsequently determined that Misiak's report was unfounded. He was issued a computer-generated appearance ticket and released. She was due in Batavia City Court on June 25. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Kevin DeFelice.

Jessica M. Horton, 28, of Telephone Road, Pavilion, is charged with theft of services. She was arraigned in Batavia City Court on June 7 on an arrest warrant and put in jail on $500 bail. It is alleged that on May 17 on Oak Street in Batavia that Horton failed to pay for a local hotel room that she stayed in. The case was handled by Batavia Police Sgt. Dan Coffey.

Malik I. Ayala, 27, Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. He was arrested at 8:52 p.m. on June 7 for allegedly stealing property from a store on East Main Street in Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket and was due in Batavia City Court June 18. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Quider.

Jesse D. Bowman, 26, of Vine Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. It is alleged at at 9:20 p.m. on June 20 on East Main Street in Batavia that Bowman stole items from a local business. He was processed, issued an appearance ticket and was due in Batavia City Court on June 25. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Sgt. Matthew Lutey.

Daniel S. Kuczka, 75, of Walden Creek Drive, Batavia, is charged with failure to appear. He was due in court after being issued an appearance ticket for trespass at 11:09 a.m. on June 25 on Walden Creek Drive. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. He is due in city court again on July 9. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jason Davis, assisted by Officer Jason Ivison.

A 16-year-old resident of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with failure to appear in court May 14 after being issued an appearance ticket. The youth was arrested on June 8 on a warrant out of Batavia City Court. He was released on his own recognizance and was due back in city court June 12. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Jacob John Sponaugle, 20, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. At 3:55 p.m. on June 24, Sponaugle allegedly brought a bag of marijuana into the Genesee County Probation Office. He was released on an appearance ticket in is due in Batavia City Court on July 2. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay.

TRAVEL ADVISORY

July 10 through Aug. 7 -- Road Work

NYS Route 5 between 665 E. Main St. and 5022 E. Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia will be reduced to one lane of traffic in the westbound direction to allow for the construction of a center pedestrian refuge island as part of the Ellicott Trail Project. 

For further information contact:

Tom Lichtenthal 

Town of Batavia

Asst. Town Engineer

3833 W. Main Street Road

585-343-1729, ext. 218

From the Le Roy Police Department:

The Le Roy Police Department has been receiving continuing complaints relating to thefts from unlocked vehicles in different locations throughout the Village of Le Roy. These thefts have now apparently evolved into actual thefts of the vehicle when the keys are left in the vehicle.

Multiple thefts from unlocked vehicles have been reported over the past couple of weeks in different locations throughout the village and two vehicles have actually been stolen but later recovered, both located in the Myrtle Street area.

The most recent thefts were reported on June 29 from the Hilltop Drive and Madison Avenue area, further a girl's bike was located on Wilson Street, which may or may not be involved. If you are missing such a bike please contact the Le Roy Police Department at 345-6350.

The LeRoy Police are reminding all citizens to please lock your vehicles when not in use, especially overnight and further if you do see something or someone suspicious please call 9-1-1 right away.

Press release from AAA: 

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.72, up 6 cents from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.85. The New York State average is $2.87 – up 2 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.02. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $2.82 (up 5 cents since last week)
• Buffalo -- $2.86 (up 2 cents since last week)
• Ithaca -- $2.80 (up 6 cents since last week)
• Rochester -- $2.85 (up 5 cents since last week)
• Rome -- $2.84 (up 1 cent since last week)
• Syracuse -- $2.79 (up 5 cents since last week)
• Watertown -- $2.80 (up 2 cents since last week)

Pump prices have increased as gasoline stocks decreased and demand remains robust. As gas stocks continue to dwindle, the busy summer driving season is now underway and American motorists are seeing pump prices increase as we approach the Fourth of July.

OPEC and its partners are meeting in Vienna and more market tightening may occur if the cartel decides to extend its current production reduction agreement through the end of the year. Additionally, China and the United States met at the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan to discuss trade negotiations between the world's two largest economies. There is growing global concern that an escalation of tensions could decrease demand for crude for the remainder of the year.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia Energy Solution’s (PES) refinery will shut down within the next month. This news follows an explosion and two fires within the last few weeks at the South Philadelphia complex. This is the oldest and largest refinery on the East Coast, producing 335,000 barrels of crude per day (42 U.S. gallons per barrel). That shutdown is also affecting regional gas prices.