batavia

One person was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital following a two-vehicle T-bone accident at about 10:20 a.m. on Bank Street Road at Batavia Elba Town Line Road, Town of Batavia.

According to Trooper Mark Catanzaro, the initial investigation indicates that an eastbound white van failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection and was struck in the side by a southbound pickup truck.

Two other people sustained minor injuries in the accident and were taken by Mercy EMS to area hospitals. A fourth person was treated and released at the scene.

Names have not yet been released.

(Initial Report)

A Montclair Avenue resident is in custody and charged with attempted murder following a shooting at about 9:30 p.m. last night outside the Days Inn in Batavia.

Jacob Sponaugle, 21, is also charged with assault, 1st, criminal use of a firearm, aggravated criminal possession of a weapon, 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon, 2nd, and criminal sale of a firearm, 3rd.

Police believe Sponaugle was at 200 Oak St., Batavia, to sell another individual a gun.

The victim of the shooting and Spongaugle are said to be acquaintances. 

The name of the victim is not being released by Batavia PD at this time.

After the victim was shot, he walked into the lobby of the Days Inn and a person there called 9-1-1. A police officer who was first on scene provided aid to the victim, who was awake and alert. A short time later, Mercy EMS arrived on scene and transported the victim to the Genesee County Airport. The victim was then flown by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Chief Shawn Heubusch said this afternoon that he is listed in stable condition. His injuries are not considered life-threatening. 

During the initial investigation, police officers determined the suspect had fled the scene in a four-door sedan with a female passenger. They searched the area with the assistance of a K-9 patrol.

Officers interviewed witnesses and obtain video surveillance footage.

"With the assistance of key witnesses and the community, the suspect, Jacob J. Sponaugle, was taken into custody at approximately 2:15 a.m. without incident outside of a residence on Montclair Avenue in the City," Batavia PD said in a release this afternoon.

Assisting Batavia in the incident were the Sheriff’s Office, City Fire, State Police, a DEC K-9 patrol, Mercy EMS, the Genesee County Local Drug Task Force, the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center, and the District Attorney’s Office

The investigation is ongoing and Batavia PD encourages anyone with any further information to contact the police department at (585) 345-6350, or the confidential tip line at (585) 345-6370.

A van and a pickup have collided at Bank Street Road and Batavia Elba Townline Road in the Town of Batavia.

There are possibly no serious injuries but as a precaution, a responding chief asked dispatchers to check the availability of Mercy Flight.

One person is trapped in a vehicle but is conscious and alert.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS responding. Elba requested to provide fire police to assist with traffic control.

UPDATE 10:30 a.m.: Mercy Flight requested to the scene.

UPDATE 11:50 a.m.: One person was transported to an area hospital by Mercy Flight; two were taken by ground ambulances to hospitals. One person at the scene was a sign-off. Town of Batavia has cleared the scene. They are opening up the roadway. State Police are investigating the accident.

A person has been possibly shot in the chest at 200 Oak St., the Days Inn in Batavia. Mercy Flight out of Batavia is on a ground standby. Batavia police and Mercy medics are responding. The victim is reportedly in the lobby of the hotel.

UPDATE 9:40 p.m.: Mercy medics communicate they will transport the victim to the Mercy Flight hangar and the helicopter will transport from there.

UPDATE 9:48 p.m.: The victim is a 22-year-old male, shot in the left side of the chest with a 22-caliber firearm.

UPDATE 10:11 p.m.: The victim is being taken to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, whether by ambulance or Mercy Flight is not clear.

UPDATE 10:36 pm.: City fire Engine #11 has arrived on scene; why is not clear. The person suspected of shooting the victim remains at large.

UPDATE 10:44 p.m.: Police believe the suspect is still in the vicinity. Lights in the hotel parking lots and the former Bob Evans Restaurant, have been shut off.

UPDATE 11:30 p.m. (by Howard): Chief Shawn Heubusch briefed the media. Police believe the victim and suspect know each other and that the shooting involved something between the two individuals. While the suspect is still at large, police have identified a person of interest and a related vehicle. Heubusch indicated investigators are confident enough in the information that they are not releasing further descriptive information. The victim was conscious and alert at the time of transport by Mercy Flight, from the airport to Strong Memorial Hospital. Heubusch said he was shot "in the area" of the Days Inn and walked into the lobby and a person there called 9-1-1. Heubusch said the investigators do not believe the suspect is a threat to the general public.

UPDATE 7:13 a.m.: Chief Heubusch reports the suspect is in custody as of 3:45 a.m. More information will be released later this morning.

From Crossroads House:

This is the 13^th year that Alex’s Place will be hosting their annual Golf Scramble. It will be on Sunday, Aug. 23^rd at the Batavia Country Club, and the deadline to register is Aug. 14^th.

The money raised from this fundraiser will be donated to Crossroads House and for a scholarship in memory of Chef Russell Bugbee.

This scholarship will be awarded to an area high school graduate who is pursuing education in the culinary field and who demonstrates the drive and passion that are a part of Chef Russell’s legacy.

Registration and festivities will begin at noon, and the shotgun start will be at 1 p.m.

The price of $95 per golfer includes 18 holes of golf with cart, grilled lunch, beverages at registration and throughout the day, a buffet dinner, prizes, skins, 50/50, and giveaways.

The grand prize is a three-night stay at Captain Pip’s Marina & Hideaway in Marathon, Fla. The package includes a one-day boat rental and snorkeling for two from Spirit Snorkeling.

Come on out for a day of golfing 18 of the finest holes in Western New York!

By Samantha Stryker, Community and Adult Services librarian, Richmond Memorial Library:

At a small gathering last Thursday, the Richmond Reads committee and Richmond Memorial Library revealed the 2020 Richmond Reads title -- "Nothing More Dangerous," a 2019 mystery by Minnesota author Allen Eskens.

The Richmond Reads committee, comprised of six community members and Community and Adult Services Librarian Samantha Stryker, met for months to find the perfect book to select.

Of the dozens of titles read this year, "Nothing More Dangerous" stood out for a number of reasons.

“It’s a mystery, which appeals to many readers,” Stryker said. “It also has strong themes of coming of age, racial justice and family that will strike a chord with those who read it.”  

"Tale for Three Counties" author Thomas Mullen described the book as "both heartwarming and hard-nosed” and “a coming-of-age page-turner that probes the dark heart of small towns and the resilient strength that keeps families together.”

The book was a “Best Crime Fiction of 2019” selection by Library Journal and a Finalist in the 2020 Minnesota Book Awards. It appeared on many lists of “best crime fiction” for 2019.

"Nothing More Dangerous" centers on 15-year-old Boady Sanden, who wants nothing more than to escape the small town of Jessup, Mo., where he lives with his widowed mother. His life changes in unexpected ways when the Elgins – a black family – move in across the street and cause Boady to reexamine his understanding of the world as he knows it.

The town has also been unsettled by the sudden and ominous disappearance of Lida Poe, a black woman who kept the books at the local plastics factory. As Boady delves into this mystery and navigates the racial tensions around him, he uncovers more than he expected about his family, his neighbors and himself.

“The small-town rural theme resonated with us; it felt like we could be reading about any small town in Genesee County,” Stryker said. “The messages are universal and especially essential now, as our nation is so divided and issues of racial inequality are at the forefront.” 

Author Allen Eskens is the bestselling author of "The Life We Bury," "The Guise of Another," "The Heavens May Fall," "The Deep Dark Descending," "The Shadows We Hide, and "Nothing More Dangerous." After practicing criminal law for 25 years, Eskens published his first book in 2014 and his work has been translated into 26 languages.  

In a short video recorded for the event, Eskens said that "Nothing More Dangerous" is “the novel I became a writer to write,” noting that he began writing it in the early '90s. Eskens worked on other projects for nearly 20 years before completing it. The video can be viewed at the library’s YouTube page here.

Richmond Memorial Library will host Eskens for an author visit at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. With the ongoing conditions regarding the COVID19 pandemic, the visit may be virtual or in person, but more announcements will be made as the date gets closer.

The library will also host book discussions in the fall, with dates and format to be announced.

A community one-book program that began in 2019, Richmond Reads is sponsored by The Friends of Richmond Memorial Library.

Copies of the book in hardcopy and audio are available to check out at the library and audiobook and eBook copies are available via OverDrive. Limited copies are available to purchase for $24 at the library. Contributions to the Friends of the Library to support this and other programs are always welcome.

Richmond Memorial Library is now open regular hours for limited services, including browsing for materials, checking out materials, limited computer use, photocopying and faxing. Anyone entering the library must wear an appropriate face covering.

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.

Stacey Foose shared this photo of geese roaming around DeWitt Recreation Area yesterday. She said they were getting close to the playground. She said, "I thought maybe they wanted to go for a slide or try to climb the monkey bars. LOL."

William A. "Billy" Sheron III, of Buffalo, died two days ago at Strong Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.

Sheron was born in Batavia on April 24, 1984, and graduated from Batavia High School in 2002. He became a certified public accountant after earning a bachelor's and master's degree from SUNY Oswego.

According to his obituary, Billy was a compassionate and kind-hearted man who loved his family and friends to no end.

He was an avid golfer, a valued member of The Genny and enjoyed grilling, fantasy football, and the Buffalo Bills. Steaks and chicken wings were his specialties. The animated TV classic "The Simpsons" always kept him laughing, and we can’t forget his love for Kendrick and Ophelia.

Sheriff Sheron declined to comment this morning.

For his full obituary, click here.

CORRECTION: In a previous version, we misstated the name of Billy Sheron's mother. It has been corrected. We regret the error and apologize to Karen M. Maskell and the Sheron family.

Above: Christina Brown, a student from Batavia City School District, created a design called "Covid-19" and placed third in The DIGIES Graphic Arts division -- Grades 7-9.

Submitted image and press release:

Despite cancellation due to COVID-19 of the annual media awards event called "The DIGIES" put on by the School Library System, there were more entries than ever this year and a total of 14 third-place winners from Genesee County.

The system's media conference, festival and awards is a program of the Genesee Valley Board of Cooperative Educational Services -- BOCES.

The mission of The DIGIES is to strengthen the digital media continuum between PreK-12 schools, higher education and professional institutions. The DIGIES recognizes student potential in an annual festival format and students compete from all throughout the region and the Upstate New York area.

The year’s festival awards event was scheduled to be held last month at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester. 

Emilee Hillman and Andrea Fetterly, Library Technologies’ specialists coordinate this conference. Fetterly said that school building closures due to COVID-19 did not dampen enthusiasm for this year’s festival, which drew a number of entries.

“We are excited to celebrate the amazing creativity and skill demonstrated by the participants in this year's DIGIES festival," Fetterly said. "Despite a shortened in-person school year and extraordinary circumstances, students continue to achieve great success."

Below is a listing of categories, grades, winners and school districts from Genesee County. (Other categories were Audio and Interactive Media, but there were no winners from Genesee County.)

Congratulations to these imaginative students!

GRAPHIC ARTS

Grades 7-9

1st:                   The Stranger by Zac Hakes -- Hilton CSD

2nd:                  Fatoma by Cornelia Adakah -- Pittsford CSD

3rd:                  Covid-19 by Christina Brown -- Batavia CSD

3rd:                   En Pointe by Cammi Eccleston -- Hilton CSD

VIDEO

Grades 7-9

1st:                   The Silk Road by Jonathan Popper -- Pittsford CSD (Submitted by Animatus Studio)

2nd:                  Land Rover Series III Pickup: Desert Joyride by Zachary Heiman -- Dansville CSD

3rd:                  Things to do in Quarantine by Matthew Covert -- Le Roy CSD

Grades 10-12

1st:                  Doors by Jacob French -- Geneseo CSD

2nd:                 Michi by Ashlyn Kreiss -- Pittsford CSD

3rd (tie):           A Quest to Learn Part I by Devon Deuel -- Dansville CSD

3rd (tie):          Quarantine Catch by Mikayla Hickey, Makenna Boyce, Kayla Yax, Adeline Kautz, Kelsey Kautz, Samantha Sawyer, Neva Saile, Emma Raines, Courtney Schum, Emily Balduf, Sydney Smith and Taylor Fletcher (Alexander Softball) -- Alexander CSD

(Editor's note: we asked, but entries from the Le Roy and Alexander winners were not available from GV BOCES' School Library System, which runs The DIGIES event.)

Paul Grazioplene, owner of Extreme Streetwear in Batavia, was among the vendors Sunday in the Batavia Downs parking lot for a craft show and flea market. A couple of dozen vendors set up booths for the event.

A female caller to dispatch reports she was punched by a male motorcyclist in the parking lot of BJ's Wholesale Club. The male took off, unknown direction of travel. She's waiting in a parking lot of a nearby business to talk to a State trooper.

City police are on scene of a child "hanging from a window" in the first block of Lyon Street. A non-emergency response is requested by City of Batavia Fire Department, which just arrived, and Mercy medics.

Submitted photo and press release:

In an effort to brighten the day for local frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tompkins Bank of Castile, Tompkins Insurance Agencies and Tompkins Financial Advisors donated 3,400 Oliver’s Candy Bars to the Rochester Regional Health Staff.

The sweet treat will be handed out to all employees as a way to say "Thank You!"

Pictured from left are: Steve Beardsley, senior vice president, Commercial Banking regional manager, presents Jim Creighton and Gina Burden-Rambert of Rochester Regional Health with 3,400 candy bars to distribute to their staff.

Press release:

Spots are still available for guided kayak tours of DeWitt Pond in Saturday, July 25. Deadline for preregistration has been extended until Wednesday, July 22.

Seize the day with a guided kayak tour of DeWitt Pond on Saturday, July 25th and discover a new world.

• Session 1 takes place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Session 2 takes place from 1 to 3 p.m.

​Meet at the boat launch at DeWitt Recreation Area of Cedar Street in Batavia. No experience needed, a beginner kayaking lesson is provided!

Rent a kayak or bring your own. Kayak rentals with life vests are provided by Adventures in Fitness Inc. Solo kayak rentals are available for ages 12 and up, tandem kayak rentals are available for kids under 12 and must be piloted by an adult.

Masks are required when unable to maintain six feet of social distance. Participants are encouraged to wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; or use hand sanitizer with at least 60-percent alcohol and rub hands together until dry if soap and water are not available.

Guided tour fee is:

• $20/person without rental per session;
• $25/person with kayak rental per session;
• Fee for children under age 12 is $12 per session (must be piloted by an adult).

Preregister by Wednesday July 22nd by calling (585) 344-1122.

For more information visit our website.

Or contact Shannon Lyaski via email.

Lyndsey Jean Wilcox, 36, of Washington Avenue, Batavia, is charged with: operating a motor vehicle while having a BAC of .08 percent or more; driving while intoxicated; unlicensed operator; failure to keep right; and moving from lane unsafely. Wilcox was arrested at 3:03 a.m. July 17 after a motor-vehicle accident on Clinton Street Road in Bergen. The defendant was released with appearance tickets for Sept. 2 in Bergen Town Court. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Dimmig, assisted by Deputy Ryan Young.

Athena M. Hanley, 33, Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. On July 16 at 4:45 p.m. on Main Road in the Town of Pembroke, Hanley was arrested after the investigation of a motor-vehicle accident. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Town of Pembroke Court on Aug. 12. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Brabon, assisted by Sgt. Andrew Hale.

The YWCA in Batavia held a vigil on Wednesday at its North Street location to rally against racism. Featured speakers included Rev. Shiela Campbell McCullough and local businessman Brandon Armstrong.

People have been using the Ellicott Trail -- especially since COVID-19 hit -- for months but yesterday was the official opening of the 9.7-mile bike and walking route that snakes through the city and down from Williams Park to Seven Springs Road.

The project cost $1.7 million, mostly funded by grants, with the city and town picking up 10 percent of the cost.

Thank you to Dean Brooks for the drone footage used in the video.

Click here to a PDF map of the trail.

Danny D. Williams, 31, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child. Williams was arrested after a domestic incident on Ellicott Street at 1:30 p.m. on July 6. It is alleged he destroyed a cell phone and was in a physical altercation with a minor. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and is due back there on Aug. 27. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Adam Tucker, assisted by Officer Marc Lawrence.

Donald J. McClary, 25, of Indiana Street, Rochester, is charged with: driving while intoxicated -- with a prior conviction; failure to stop from a driveway; unsafe turn; moving from lane unsafely; and unregistered motor vehicle. At about 1 p.m. on July 14, Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins responded to 573 E. Main St. in Batavia for a report of a male slumped over the wheel in the McDonald's parking lot. After a subsequent traffic stop and investigation, McClary was released with traffic tickets and is due in Batavia City Court on Sept. 16. Perkins was assisted by Officer Joshua Girvin.

Shawn P. Thomas, 37, of Pine Ridge Road, Cheektowaga, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. Thomas was arrested on July 9, after he was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on East Main Street in Batavia on May 7. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on Oct. 6. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer John Gombos, assisted by Officer Kevin DeFelice.

Press release:

As part of its summer reading program, the Richmond Memorial Library is offering the following craft programs to children and teens.

Registration for craft pick up as well as our reading challenge can be completed online.

Children Ages 3-12

The craft bag will include crafts and supplies. The crafts in each bag will change every week!

TEENS Ages 13-18

The craft bag will include materials and written instructions. 
Video instructions will also be posted on our Facebook page Mondays at 9 a.m. and can be found under the videos tab.

TWEENS & TEENS

Crafter noon Zoom with Miss Sue -- Thursdays Weekly at 2 p.m.
A Zoom gathering for crafters who would like to socialize while they craft, or may need minor guidance or trouble shooting.

Crafters of all crafts and abilities are welcome to come share projects, show off finished objects, be cheered on working through a work in progress, or share stories to help each other conquer challenging craft steps.

*Younger crafters may join with their trusted grown-up.