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Alabama

Police Beat: Tireless car struck by train, driver arrested

By Howard B. Owens

Shane Wheeler, 31, of Sackett Road, Bergen, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, failure to reduce speed for hazard and moving from lane unsafely. Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area of routes 33 and 19 area following a complaint of a car on the road driving only on tireless rims. Upon arrival, deputies located fresh scrape marks on the roadway and followed the marks. An accident scene was located at the intersection of Lyman and Coward roads in Byron. The scrape marks continued north on Coward and onto the CSX railroad right-of-way. While searching the right-of-way, deputies discovered the vehicle had become stuck and was struck by a passing train. Wheeler was located, uninjured, and deputies determined he was allegedly operating the vehicle while intoxicated. The incident was investigated by deputies Howard Carlson and John Weis.

Grant A. Sundown Jr., 46, of Skye Road, Basom, is charged with felony aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, DWI and aggravated DWI. Sundown was stopped at 8:25 a.m. Thursday on Lewiston Road, Oakfield, by Deputy Bradley Mazur.

Kevin Christopher Heschke, 25, of St. Marks Street, Le Roy, is charged with felony DWI and failure to keep right. Heschke was reportedly observed by a Le Roy Police officer swerving and driving left of the pavement markings on Church Street on Thursday night. Heschke reportedly fled his vehicle and was caught in a nearby backyard. He was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Jessica Marie Poodry, 22, of Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, reckless driving, and failure to notify DMV of address change. Poodry is accused of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident at 1:35 a.m. Friday on Gilmore Road, Pembroke. The accident was investigated by Deputy Jason Saile.

Koro Karanja Prince , 18, of Troy Avenue, Brooklyn, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd. Prince is accused of being in an apartment at College Village after being banned from the property.

Armekco Devanta Austin, 19, of Monica Street, Rochester, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, and criminal trespass, 2nd. Austin is accused of being inside a room at College Village after being banned from the property.

Joshua M. Gaudioso, 22, of 3232 Fillmore Ave., Caledonia, is charged with obstructing governmental administration, 2nd, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Le Roy Police assisted Sheriff's deputies in locating Gaudioso who was wanted on a warrant. Gaudioso allegedly struggled with officers when located. Following his arrest, a bag of marijuana and a pipe were allegedly found on him.

Dog bites jogger in Alabama, gets Tased

By Billie Owens

A jogger was reportedly bitten by a loose dog in the vicinity of Knowlesville and Ham roads in Alabama.

A law enforcement officer happened upon the scene and attempts to control the dog were unsuccessful. The officer used a Taser gun to subdue the dog. Then the owner came to the scene and secured the dog.

An ambulance was called for the bite victim and an Animal Control officer is en route to kennel the dog.

No word on the kind of dog involved. The dog had been on a leash, but managed to get free of it.

UPDATE 2:03 p.m.: Mercy medics have been cancelled.

Police Beat: Oakfield man accused of choking girlfriend

By Howard B. Owens

John Terry Boyce, 22, of Maple Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with unlawful imprisonment, 2nd, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment, 2nd. Boyce is accused of choking his girlfriend during an argument at 10:50 a.m., Thursday. He allegedly refused to let her leave the bedroom while holding their 1-year-old son in his arms.

Matthew L. Nagle, 22, of 34 Parkway Drive, North Chili, is charged with petit larceny. Nagle is accused of shoplifting from a supermarket in Le Roy.

Jason H. Freeman, 29, of Alden, is charged with petit larceny. The alleged crime took place in Alabama at 3:57 p.m., March 16. Freeman was arrested at the Genesee County Jail by State Police. No further details released.

Police Beat: Rochester resident accused of stealing cartons of cigarettes from smoke shops

By Howard B. Owens

 

Frank James Davis, 31, of East Rochester, is charged with petit larceny. Davis is accused of entering the Totem Pole Smoke Shop at 10:50 a.m., March 3, loading 15 cartons of cigarettes into a basket, then walking past cashiers and then running out of the store without paying for the cigarettes. The cigarettes are valued at $502 and the basket is valued at $10.

Davis is also accused of stealing $204 worth of Winston Lights on the same date from Arrow Hawk Smoke Shop. Davis was charged with petit larceny for that alleged crime.

Jennifer L. Coombs, 27, of 103 West Main St., Le Roy, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Coombs is accused of slashing three tires on a car in November.

Andrew Paul Dentinger, 20, of Broadway Road, Alexander, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Dentinger is accused of hosting an underage drinking party. Deputies responded to an address on Broadway Road, Alexander, at 12:58 a.m., Saturday to investigate the party.

David A. Burr, 23, of Elba, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. Burr is accused of intentionally damaging the front door of T.F. Brown's restaurant at 1:40 a.m., Sunday. Burr was jailed without bail.

Janie B. Burgess, 57, of 7 Maureen Drive, Rochester, is charged with DWI, unsafe turn. Burgess was stopped at 10:13 p.m., Saturday, on Oak Street by Officer Chris Camp. Burgess was jailed on $500 bail.

Daniel G. Crane, 34, of 9395 Upton Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and inadequate lights. Crane was stopped at 12:52 a.m., Sunday, on Main Street by Officer Dan Coffey.

Mark D. Hoerbelt , 42, of 152 State St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and inadequate headlights. Hoerbelt was stopped at 12:43 a.m., Friday, on West Main Street by Officer Matthew Fleming.

A 16-year-old resident of Wood Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of stealing an iPod in January while at Batavia High School. The youth was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Jennifer L. Stack, 25, of 12 Oak St., is accused of failing to pay a fine. Stack was convicted in May on an unnecessary noise charge. She was released on $100 bail but allegedly failed to appear at her next court appointment.

Scott C. Brown, 22, and Ashley M. Yunke, 31, of 11 1/2 Wood St., are charged with criminal nuisance. Brown and Yunke are accused of hosting a party where people under 21 were allowed to drink. They were arrested at 12:20 a.m., Sunday. They were jailed on $500 each bail.

Amanda A. Barclay, 23, of Oakfield, is charged with false report of an incident, 3rd. The alleged incident occurred at 4:27 a.m., March 18, in the City of Batavia. Barclay was arrested by State Police on Thursday. No further details were released.

Jared C. Reese, 31, of Stafford, is charged with controlled substance not in original container and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Reese was stopped by State Police at 6:09 p.m., Thursday, on Route 33, Stafford. No further details were released.

Photos: Three for Thursday

By Howard B. Owens

Along Maltby Road, Elba.

Bliss Road, Oakfield.

Gorton Road, Alabama.

Zonta Club honors Oakfield-Alabama student

By Billie Owens

Zonta Club of Batavia-Genesee County has named an Oakfield-Alabama High School student as a winner of the Young Women in Public Affairs Award.

Kasey Edgerton won and will be presented with a check for $500 to
encourage her to achieve her educational and career goals. Her application
will be entered in the Zonta International District #4 award competition.

The Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Award competition,
established in 1990, is open to young women who are seniors in high school.
The program is designed to encourage women to pursue decision-making
positions in their communities in order to impact the policies that affect the lives of women in the community and throughout the world.

Applicants are asked to reflect on their lives, their commitment to the communities in which they live, and the issues that the nations of the world must address to
improve the lives of their people.

The Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs program looks to the young women of today who will be the leaders of tomorrow.

Edgerton was selected for this honor because of her commitment to her school and her community. Throughout high school she has been a participant in Drama Club, Scholastic Bowl, Future Business Leaders of America, Batavia Player Youth Theater and volunteering as a Junior Counselor for HOBY.

In addition, she has been a member in Student Council, Elementary and Community School Organization (E.C.S.O.) and the Reach Out program.

She plans to continue to serve her community and aspires to study English and Japanese Studies at SUNY Albany to establish a career as an ESL teacher.

Zonta International, with headquarters in Chicago, is a worldwide service organization of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women.

Photos: Evening drive in Alabama

By Howard B. Owens

Here are four pictures from an evening drive in Alabama.

Above, an old farm wagon and rundown car on Roberts Road.

Combine on Roberts Road.

I took this picture on Sour Springs Road. If my online sleuthing is correct, this reed, which I see in Genesee County a lot, is commonly called a Burma Reed (Neyraudia reynaudiana) and is non-native in North America and highly invasive.

Telephone poles as the sun sets along Maple Street Road.

Police Beat: Multiple identify theft and forgery charges filed against Erie County inmate

By Howard B. Owens

Raymond Gandolfo, 38, of Massachusetts Street, Buffalo, is charged with three counts of identity theft, three counts of forgery, criminal possession of stolen property, 4th, and grand larceny, 4th. Gandolfo is accused of using a stolen credit card between 10:13 a.m. and 10:35 a.m., Sept. 25, to purchase merchandise at three separate stores on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia. The total value exceeded $1,000.Gandolfo was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and returned to the Erie County Holding Center without bail.

Francis N. Shiltz, 69, of Alleghany Road, Strykerville, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and unsafe backing. Shiltz was allegedly involved in a two-car property damage accident at 6:49 p.m., Thursday, at the Rez Smokeshop.

Arturo Vasquez-Armas, 41, of 2336 Judge Road, Oakfield, is charged with offering a false instrument for filing,1st, and criminal possession of a forged instrument, 3rd. Vasquez-Armas allegedly possessed a forged Social Security card while attempting to obtain a NYS non-driver ID at the Genesee County DMV office. Vasquez-Armas was jailed without bail.

Timothy Alan Duboy, 19, of Wethersfield Road, Warsaw, is charged with forcible touching. Duboy is accused of forcibly touching the intimate parts of another person. The alleged incident occurred at College Village on Jan. 25.

Possible cigarette thief being sought in Alabama area

By Howard B. Owens

Law enforcement units are in the area of the Tonawanda Indian Reservation searching for a black Sonoma pickup that may be driven by an alleged cigarette thief.

The driver is suspected of grabbing several cartons of cigarettes from a shop on the reservation and fleeing.

UPDATE 12:12 p.m.: A possible suspect stopped on Galloway Road.

Possible house fire on Wright Road, Alabama

By Billie Owens

A possible house fire is reported at 365 Wright Road in the Town of Alabama.

Pumpers from Alabama and Indian Falls' fire departments are called to respond.

A woman who lives there reported that she returned home to find her house full of smoke and the couch smoldering. She also said the hot-water heater appeared to be knocked over.

UPDATE 6:41 p.m.: A chief reports the house is charged with smoke, but the fire appears to be out. Pembroke Fire also dispatched.
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Photo: Sunset on Gabbey Road

By Howard B. Owens

Before all heck broke loose this evening, I was out in the western part of the county looking for a good sunset picture when I came across this scene.  Picture shot on Gabbey Road (just west of Route 77) in Pembroke/Indian Falls.

Police Beat: Criminal contempt charge filed

By Howard B. Owens

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.

Two rollover accidents in Alabama

By Billie Owens

Two rollover accidents, one with minor injuries, are reported in Alabama.

One of them is at 1564 Lewiston Road, near Church Street. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

The other is a 1790 Judge Road and the vehicle is on its side. Oakfield Fire Department is responding, although it's in Alabama's district. No injuries. Mercy medics are responding nonemergency-mode to evaluate those involved.

GCEDC gives latest STAMP project update to interested crowd in Alabama

By Howard B. Owens

More than 200 concerned residents -- not all from Alabama -- turned out Thursday night for a more than two-hour presentation on a proposed high-tech manufacturing park.

The park, known as WNY STAMP (WNY Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park) may be the Genesee County Economic Development Center's most ambitious project yet.

And while the handful of residents who spoke may have asked skeptical and probing questions, nobody at this meeting really spoke out against the proposal.

The 15-year-build-out plan calls for the creating of more than 9,000 new, permanent jobs in 6.1 million square feet of manufacturing space. There will also be 180,000 square feet of retail space and a new town hall and museum in the southeast corner.

GCEDC officials pitched the project as one that would create good-paying, 21st Century jobs (average annual wage, $58,000), reduce the brain-drain of youths leaving WNY, provide new revenue for community services, enhance the local infrastructure and potentially reduce property taxes.

Of course, these jobs and all of this new revenue in the community is only created if businesses decide to build new high-tech manufacturing plants -- such as flat screen monitors, computer chips and solar cells -- in STAMP.

Some residents wanted to know why GCEDC thinks -- especially with the seemingly slow adoption of Buffalo East by new companies coming to town -- that any manufacturers will set up shop in STAMP.

Mark Masse, project manager for GCEDC, explained that in the past couple of years, GCEDC has fielded a few inquiries about appropriate locations from the types of businesses that use STAMP, but because STAMP hadn't even completed the earliest of approval processes yet, the companies had to look else where.

"What they're interested in is 'speed to market,'"said Roger Pearson, lead consultant on the project.

He said they need to know that they can get their new plant open in 12 to 18 months, and right now, if a business committed to the park, it would take much longer than that before they could open.

That speed to market was a concern of John Hatch, too. He's a UB student from Amherst and he wants to work in the kinds of industries STAMP will hopefully attract.

"I'd like to see this happen so I can stay in the area," he said.

Macomber Road resident Mark Williams wanted to know if GCEDC had a guarantee from the New York Power Authority for the cheap hydro power these companies will want for their operations.

Masse said, "There's no guarantees in life. ...But, "if we had a significant client come in, the New York Power Authority is will to work with us to ensure power."

Others wanted to know who was going to pay for the infrastructure development that needs to take place to attract these businesses.

Pearson explained that a project like this is really "shovel ready lite." The goal is to get all of the permits and environmental review processes completed, decreasing the amount of time it takes to build a new manufacturing facility. Much of the infrastructure, he said, wouldn't be built until it was needed and those costs would be covered by developers.

Pearson warned that the project plan presented Thursday is still evolving and some aspects may change as it goes through the planning and permitting process, and some of the changes will be based on feedback from the community.

A draft environmental review is expected to be completed by the end of March, with the final review completed by the middle of July.

Another accident, same place, in Basom

By Billie Owens

More cars have crashed at the same location as an earlier incident in Basom. It's in front of the Alabama Tee Off driving range, 6655 Alleghany Road.

Callers are not sure if this is a four-car accident or two accidents each involving two cars. Injuries appear to be minor. One person is said to have back pain.

Alabama Fire Department and Fire Police are called along with Mercy medics.

Traffic is being shut down at Judge Road and Route 77 and Ham Road and Route 77.

UPDATE 2:47 p.m.: The roads are reopened. The scene is clear. Alabama units are back in service.

Head-on collision in Basom

By Billie Owens

A head-on motor vehicle-accident is reported at 6655 Alleghany Road in Basom. It involves two or three vehicles. There are minor injuries. Victims are walking around. One of the cars rolled over.

Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. It's in front of the Alabama Tee Off driving range.

UPDATE 12:47 p.m.: Fire police are shutting down traffic at Judge Road. They are also at Lewiston and Alleghany stopping southbound traffic on Alleghany, which is blocked. There are three victims, one of whom needs extrication.

UPDATE 12:50 p.m.: One person has suffered serious arm lacerations.

UPDATE 12:58 p.m.: A third ambulance is requested from Oakfield.

UPDATE 1:01 p.m.: The Oakfield assignment is cancelled.

UPDATE 1:08 p.m.: All traffic is shut down on Alleghany Road, between Judge and Ham roads. Two victims are being transported to Medina Hospital.

UPDATE 1:28 p.m.: The third victim was extricated and is en route to ECMC.

UPDATE 1:45 p.m.: All Alabama fire units back in service.

Police Beat: Man accused of rape at College Village

By Howard B. Owens

Tomubari Godswill Gbaraba, 18, of 262 14th St., Buffalo, is charged with rape in the first degree. Gbaraba is accused of having forced sexual intercourse with an 18-year-old victim at College Village. Gbaraba was jailed on $50,000 bail.

Christine A. Woika, 37, of 82 Gilbert St., Le Roy, is charged with reckless endangerment of property and endangering the welfare of a child. Woika is accused of placing a jacket and other clothing in an oven in an apartment and leaving the oven on. The clothes started to burn and if they had caught fire, the fire could have spread causing at least more than $250 in damage. Woika is also accused of allowing herself to become incoherent to the point that she had to be transported to a hospital while she was caring for a 2-year-old child.

John Weston Boddy, 19, of Junction Road, Pavilion, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Boddy is accused of possessing marijuana while on Pavilion Central School property. He was issued an appearance ticket by Deputy Brian Thompson.

A 17-year-old, of Roanoke Road, Pavilion, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The youth is accused of possessing marijuana while on Pavilion Central School property. He was issued an appearance ticket by Deputy Brian Thompson.

Gary Frank Caccamise, 64, of Attica, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle. Caccamise was reportedly spotted by Deputy Brian Thompson allegedly drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle. Upon further investigation, Thompson allegedly found Caccamise in possession of marijuana.

Gerald George Ryder, 50, of Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, and harassment, 2nd. Ryder is accused of punching a woman in the head and then smashing her wooden bookcase during an incident at 2:30 a.m., Saturday.

Police Beat: Youth charged with sexual criminal act against child

By Howard B. Owens

Dylan Allen Barclay, 17, of Lewiston Road, Basom, is charged with criminal sexual act, 1st. Barclay is accused of a criminal sexual act with a child less than 11 years old. 

Robert Jackson, 62, of Robinson Road, Lockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and failure to keep right. Jackson was stopped at 7:21 a.m. Wednesday on Lewiston Road, Alabama, by Deputy Brad Mazur.

Robert Paul Leiser, 42, of Lockport Road, Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny and failure to pay a fine. Leiser was picked up on a bench warrant for the petit larceny. He is accused of not paying a fine out of Batavia City Court. Leiser was jailed on $500 bail.

Robert J. Macklem, 21, of 1 Prospect Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Macklem is accused of violating a "stay away" protection order. A probation officer allegedly found the protected person at Macklem's residence during a routine visit. Macklem was jailed without bail.

Brian D. Leavy, 32, of 10 Cedar St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and speeding. Leavy was stopped at 12:16 a.m. on West Main Street, Batavia, by Sgt. Steve Mullen, Batavia PD.

Van rolls over on Lewiston Road, Alabama

By Billie Owens

A van rollover accident is reported at 751 Lewiston Road, Alabama.

Unknown injuries, but a caller says no one has exited the vehicle.

Alabama Fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 12:58 p.m.: The driver is uninjured and out of the van. The medics are cancelled. Alabama rescue is also cancelled. State Police are on scene.

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