Skip to main content

batavia

Report of dog locked in car in front of Alberty's

By Howard B. Owens

A caller reports a dog locked in a white Ford Escape parked for at least 30 minutes in front of Alberty's Drug Store on Main Street in Batavia.

Batavia PD responding.

The current temperature is 84 degrees.  The south side of Main Street is in the shade this time of day.

Sponsored Post: Downtown Batavia Public Market kicks off June 8th

By Lisa Ace


Downtown Batavia Public Market Opens on Friday, June 8th!

The Public Market located at Bank Street and Alva Place parking lot will welcome back more than 20 vendors again this summer and fall, along with some brand-new vendors. Market hours will continue on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year’s market will host a special Kids Day on Aug 10th.

If you are interested in being a vendor at the Downtown Batavia Public Market please contact Mike Bakos at MBakos@rochester.rr.com or 716.866.4958. Follow “Genesee Country Farmer’s Market” on Facebook for updates on produce and specialty items available.

Batavia HS Drama Club's show presents a unique retelling of the Wizard of Oz

By Howard B. Owens

Batavia High School teacher Caryn Wood has woven together songs from three musicals, "Wicked," "The Wiz," and "The Wizard of Oz," to create a new production for the Drama Club that will serve as a fundraiser for the program.

Wood said the songs are pulled together in a single timeline to tell the Wizard of Oz story.

"All three are very different musical styles, but we took some of the most well-known songs from each," Wood said.

Wood described the story:

Wicked tells the story of Elphaba & Glinda and their unlikely friendship that gets turned upside down when the young girl, Dorothy drops from the sky into Munchkin Land. Unfortunately, during a cyclone, Dorothy's house lands on a kills the Wicked Witch of the East who in Wicked you learn is really Nessa, Elphaba's younger sister.

Both The Wiz and The Wizard of Oz pick up the story at that point and follow Dorothy and her band of three friends (Scarecrow, Tinman, & Lion) as they travel the yellow brick road through Oz. In the Emerald City, they meet the Wizard who sends them on a mission to free the land from the grips of The Wicked Witch of the West.

But in Wicked the question is also asked...who really is the "Wicked Witch?" Perhaps the answer isn't quite as simple as you might think.

"The music from these shows is amazing and memorable, and our students have loved bringing all three of them to life," Wood said.

The price of admission: Whatever you are willing to donate to the program.

The performance is tomorrow at 7 p.m.  

Seating is limited.

Featured cast includes:

  • Madison Hoerbelt (senior) -- Elphaba
  • Madeline Keenan (senior) -- Glinda
  • Eryn Dunn (junior) -- Dorothy
  • Evan Bellavia (senior) -- The Wizard
  • Kathryn Fitzpatrick (freshman) -- Addaperle
  • Parise Ricks (senior) -- Madame Morrible
  • AT Thatcher (junior) -- Boq/Tinman
  • Elise Hoerbelt (junior) -- Nessa 
  • Cameron Bontrager (junior) -- Fiyero/Scarecrow
  • Tanner Kolb (senior) -- The Lion
  • Kristen Glosgowski -- Aunt Em

There are also six returning alumni participating in the production.

Jeffrey Fischer is vocal director and accompanist, Jane E. Haggett is on keyboard/synthesizer and Wood is the director and producer.

Top Photo: Tanner Kolb, Eryn Dunn, AT Thatcher, and Cameron Bontrager.

Evan Bellavia

Madison Hoebelt and Madeline Keenan

Law and Order: Brother charged in Oakfield woman's overdose death

By Howard B. Owens
      Daniel Wells

Daniel E. Wells, 29, of Royalton, is charged with criminally negligent homicide. Wells was charged following an investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Niagara County Drug Task Force. Wells is accused being with his sister, Christyna Wells, 34, of Oakfield, in the City of Niagara Falls Nov. 10 when she overdosed on an unspecified drug. Wells then drove his sister to the 9400 block of Ridge Road in Royalton before summoning medical assistance. Wells is currently being held in the Niagara County Jail without bail on unrelated charges.

Edward Ryan Loper, 30, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with robbery, 2nd. Loper allegedly stole money from a victim while being aided by another person who caused physical injury to the victim. The incident was reported at 5:47 p.m. Sunday. Loper was jailed on $20,000 bail.

Brianna Renee Button, 22, of King Street, Albion, is charged with robbery, 2nd, and assault, 3rd. Button allegedly hurt a victim while working with another person to steal money from the victim. The incident was reported at 5:47 p.m. Sunday. Button was jailed on $10,000 bail.

William John Velky, 36, of Macomber Road, Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny. Velky is accused of stealing firewood from another person on Macomber Road, Oakfield.

Photos: Batavia FD rope rescue training at Oatka Milk Products

By Howard B. Owens

The height of the buildings at Oatka Milk Products at Cedar and Ellicott Streets, Batavia, proved to be the perfect place today for members of the Batavia Fire Department to train with NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

Car vs. pedestrian accident reported by Rancho Viejo Restaurant

By Billie Owens

A car vs. pedestrian accident near Rancho Viejo Mexican Restaurant is reported in the City of Batavia. A female is down in the roadway at 12 Ellicott St. City Fire Department Engine #11 is on scene and Mercy medics are responding. A first responder reports the pedestrian is complaining of leg pain.

UPDATE 7:37 p.m.: A teenage girl was running across Ellicott Street from the area of the Upton Monument when she was struck by a vehicle with the right of way. She suffered an ankle inury and is being transported to UMMC. The driver was not cited.

Four Batavia men team up to rescue fawn from storm drain

By Howard B. Owens

A fawn was rescued and reunited with its mother Saturday night after four local men heard the fawn's plaintive cries in a storm drain and decided to grab their rubber boots and flashlights and try to help it out of the storm drain.

Tyler Hale first became aware of the fawn's plight earlier in the day when he saw a doe hovering near a storm drain grate on Holmes Avenue. After a while, the doe went into the woods and Hale walked over to the grate and he could see the fawn. Hale spent a couple of hours trying to get the fawn out of the storm drain but the little guy just went further into the storm drain.

That night, his friends -- Joe Canzeroni, Kyle Maniace, and Chris Grammatico -- went over to Hale's house for a bonfire. When one of them went behind a shed to get more firewood, he could hear the fawn's cries.

The cries "sounded almost like a baby," Maniace said.

That's when the four men decided they should try again to rescue the fawn.

The four of them each went to different drains and storm drain openings to try and figure out where the animal was.  

Maniace went down into the storm drain and found the fawn about 150 to 200 yards down a pipe. 

"After I got a little further around the bend I could see its eyes flashing at me, pretty much like a deer in the headlights -- just standing there and not knowing what to do," Maniace said.

He grabbed the fawn.

"We heard Kyle say a few streets over -- 'I got him!' " said Canzeroni, who shot the video of Maniace bringing the fawn out of the storm drain.

Kyle used his shirt to wrap the fawn in and keep him warm.

The group then brought the fawn to the fire, warmed up him and dried him off. When the fawn regained its strength to walk on its own, they put him back where the mother had last been seen. About two hours later, mother returned and retrieved her baby.

The Batavian's news partner 13WHAM contributed to this story.

Speak Up Toastmasters held successful open house last week in Batavia

By Billie Owens

Submitted photos and press release:

Speak Up Toastmasters had a successful open house on May 22nd at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, located at 190 Oak St., Batavia.

They held a motivating meeting and took applications for new memberships.

Denise Hull's creative ice-breaker speech explained the acronyms that describe who she is. The audience was delighted by the unique way she introduce herself to the club.

Dave Licata's chosen speech was on the importance of taking kids fishing. He gave us some excellent pointers on how to make sure kids have fun and keep their interest in this timeless sport.

The table topics portion of the meeting gave everyone a chance to participate on something they know best, something unique that no one else knows about them. Everyone had fun with that.

The speech evaluators, tasked with finding the high points of the speeches, had glowing remarks for our speakers.

If you would like to participate in an uplifting and motivating meeting such as this and learn leadership skills, visit the website SpeakUpToastmasters.org, call 585-993-0515 or send an email to leslieagmarino@yahoo.com. It's free to visit a club meeting.

Another Batavia track star signs with Division I UB

By Howard B. Owens

The University at Buffalo Bulls are loading up on Batavia track stars with the signing yesterday of Kiaya Franklin to the Division I school.

Last month, Anthony "Butchie" Ray signed with UB.

Franklin has been a member of the varsity track team since eighth grade. She holds school records in the 200 meter, the 60 meter, the 300 meter, the 400-meter indoor, the 400-meter outdoor, the 4x4 relay indoor.

She won her first state medal in 2015 and won three more in 2016 and three more in 2017.

She's been first team Monroe County All-League each of the past four years and won the Section V Devin Snyder 2016 Outdoor Female Award.

She has 16 sectional title patches, including five for the indoor team, three for the outdoor team, and eight individual patches.

Photo by Frank Capuano.

Grand Jury: Man indicted for allegedly stealing 20-foot trailer in Alabama

By Billie Owens

Paul D. Rutherford is indicted for the crime of fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on April 14 in the Town of Alabama, that Rutherford stole property exceeding a value of $1,000 -- a 2017 Eagle American 20-foot trailer.

Timothy O. Lee is indicted for the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class B felony. It is alleged that on Nov. 28 in the Town of Le Roy that Lee knowingly and unlawfully possessed a narcotic drug, cocaine, with intent to sell it. In count two, he is accused of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, a Class C felony. It is alleged in count two that he knowingly and unlawfully possessed one or more preparation, compounds, mixtures or substances containing a narcotic drug and these had an aggregate weight of one-eighth of an ounce or more. In count three, the defendant is accused of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor. It is alleged in count three that on Nov. 28 in the Town of Le Roy that he knowingly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of a child under age 17. In count four, he is accused of the same crime as in count three, involving a second child less than 17 years of age.

Gary D. Burney is indicted for the crie of second-degree burglary, a Class C violent felony. It is alleged that in the late evening on April 20 or early morning on April 21 that he knowingly entered or remained unlawfully inside a dwelling on North Spruce Street in the City of Batavia with intent to commit a crime.

Edward J. White is accused of the crime of promoting prison contraband, a Class D felony. It is alleged that on Dec. 26 in the Genesee County Jail that he knowingly and unlawfully possessed dangerous contraband -- alcohol. In count two, he is accused of the same crime for allegedly possessing a Bic lighter on Dec. 29. In count three, he is accused of the same crime again on Dec. 29 for allegedly possessing alcohol, two Gabapentin pills, four Strattera pills and four bupropion hydrochloride pills.

Brian T. Resch is indicted for the crime of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, a Class C felony. It is alleged that on Jan. 10 in the Genesee County Jail that the defendant knowingly and unlawfully sold an unspecified narcotic preparation.

Rebecca S. Hensel is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated, as a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Dec. 29 in the Town of Batavia that she drove a 2010 Chevrolet on West Main Street Road while in an intoxicated condition. In count two, she is accused of DWI, per se, also a Class E felony, for allegedly having a BAC of .08 or greater at the time. In count three, Hensel is accused of speeding at the time, a violation of vehicle and traffic law. In Special Information filed by the District Attorney's Office, she is accused of having been convicted of misdemeanor DWI on June 15, 2011, in Batavia City Court and that conviction was within 10 years of the crimes allegd in the current indictment.

New Diesel Mechanics Program set to begin for high school students this fall

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Beginning in the fall of 2018, the Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center will offer a new career and technical education program, which will be available to high school juniors and seniors.

A Diesel Mechanics Program will help students on their path to becoming college or career ready. The program is made possible through a partnership with Daimler Trucks North America.

Once the facility is completed, there will be a classroom and service bay located at Daimler’s facility next to the Batavia CTE Center on State Street in Batavia.

The Diesel Mechanics Program is a two-year certified program for juniors and seniors who are interested in working with machines in the construction and agriculture industries. Prospective students could also have an interest in auto/diesel machining, trucking, the lawn and garden industry, welding, and the Armed Forces.

"The Diesel Mechanics Program is a welcome addition to the diverse career and technical program offerings available at the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center," said Jon Sanfratello, executive principal, Genesee Valley Educational Partnership Batavia Campus. "Our region has a rich agricultural presence which offers many opportunities for students to be successful upon graduation. By offering this new program, it’s one more way we are providing our students with college and career readiness." 

The program was first introduced at the Mount Morris CTE Center in September and is offered at Marquart Repair and Equipment Sales in Gainesville. Steve Jacoby is the instructor.

Students will work on trucks of varying sizes including, tractors, forklifts, backhoes, bulldozers, lawnmowers, and small engines.

Class work includes small group as well as individual instruction for engine and transmission teardown, and overhaul and failure analysis. The hands-on course work will require students to test and rebuild fuel system components and machine cylinder heads and blocks for rebuilding.

Additional program highlights include heavy-duty preventative maintenance, air and hydraulic brake systems, air conditioning and climate controls, and hydraulic hose and fitting identification.

For more information about the Diesel Mechanics Program contact: Sarah Luczak, Student Services coordinator, Batavia CTE Center at (585) 344-7716 or Jane Rahn, Student Services coordinator, Mount Morris CTE Center at (585) 658-7805.

About the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center

The Batavia Career and Technical Education Center is a program of the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. The Partnership operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services offering shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York state.

Caller says dog is barking inside van with windows up in Tops parking lot

By Billie Owens

A dog is barking inside a van in the Tops market that has its windows up, according to a caller to dispatch. The vehicle is said to be closer to Main Street in the parking lot. 

An animal control officer is responding. It's 90 degrees in Batavia.

UPDATE 1:25 p.m.: "I checked that white van; there's no dog in the vehicle," says the responding officer before clearing the scene.

GC Libertarian Party to hold convention at T.F. Brown's on Monday

By Billie Owens

From Dave Olsen, chairman of the Genesee County Libertarian Party:

The 2018 GCLP convention will be Monday June 4, at 6:30 p.m.; we will meet in the side room at T.F. Brown’s Restaurant, 214 Main St.

There are a couple things of note for you to think about between now and then. 

We will be electing a new Chairperson for sure. I shall be resigning as soon as the next chair is elected.

We will be electing or re-electing the Vice-Chair. The Secretary position is also up for election. Jim Rosenbeck has served in that capacity in addition to his duties as Vice-Chair of the LPNY for three years. He has now been elected as the LPNY Chair and would rather someone else take over the duties of Secretary. That is understandable as state chair is a time-consuming post. Many thanks to Jim for all his hard work and dedication to the GCLP and all the great things to come.

Please consider if you would be willing to serve the GCLP as Chair, Vice Chair or Secretary. In my five years with this party, the board has always worked together as a team and I expect that would continue. You will have lots of help. Please let me know if you are interested, so I can nominate you. 

LPNY chairman Jim Rosenbeck has asked that each county chapter designate a county coordinator for petitioning efforts which will begin on July 10 for statewide offices. Fifteen thousand signatures are the minimum required to get our Governor candidate on the ballot. We usually like to see at least 50-percent more to reduce the chance of a challenge knocking us off the ballot.

Mark Glogowski, the local NY Assembly candidate, will need a minimum of 3,000 signatures; he wants to double that. The more petition signatures gotten by volunteers reduces the amount of paid petitioners the LPNY will need to hire. Finances are slim and every opportunity for savings is important.

This also gives us all an opportunity to continue the outreach the GCLP has designated as our primary mission; you get to talk to registered voters about Larry Sharpe and Mark Glogowski along with the other statewide candidates and spread the message of liberty!

Serving as the GCLP coordinator will not be overly time consuming. You will be the liaison to volunteers who may need guidance or tips on how to petition.  We will provide the resources you need. The petitioners will submit their completed petitions to you for a quality review and then you would mail them to our master petitioning operation in Albany. Petitions will be electronically distributed by the LPNY communications division. If this interests you, please let me know.

Our convention speakers will be: Andrew Hollister, Libertarian for New York Lt. Governor, Mark Glogowski, Libertarian for NY Assembly, and James Rosenbeck, Libertarian Party of New York Chairman.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone again on Monday! Bring a friend, tell others.

Results of most recent tax lien auctions

By Howard B. Owens

Genesee County conducted an auction of properties with tax liens at Bontrager's in Batavia on May 20.  Here are the results of the auction.

Jurisdiction Address Sale Price Amount Owed Town of Batavia 3526 Galloway Road $15,000.00 $22,328.48 Town of Batavia Arena Parkway $4,800.00 $3,154.64 Town of Elba 4954 Barrville Road $59,000.00 $14,979.52 Town of Pavilion 11061 S. Lake Road $37,000.00 $7,682.82 Village of Alexander 3292 Buffalo St. $32,000.00 $15,980.95 Village of Le Roy 25 Lincoln Ave. $35,000.00 $10,432.54 Village of Le Roy 30 Lake St. $38,000.00 $6,028.49 Town of Bethany 10513 Bethany Center Road $76,000.00 $26,773.12 Village of Le Roy 20 1/2 Pleasant St.* $1,900.00 $3,780.63 Village of Le Roy 22 Pleasant St.* $4,000.00 $3,743.57 Village of Le Roy 23 Mill St.* $300.00 $212.24 Village of Le Roy 25 Mill St.* $300.00 $348.59

*The previous owner of these properties turned over title to these properties to the county voluntarialy. 

At the same auction, the City of Batavia auctioned off three properties:

  • 27 Central Ave., buyer Ryan Macdonald, $10,000
  • 327 Ellicott St., buyer Brakel LLC, $50,000 
  • 122 Ross St., buyer East West Property Ventures LLC, $36,000

Jackson Street resident accepts plea deal in drug case, will serve four years in prison

By Billie Owens

This morning Jonathan C. Hoges, 36, pled guilty to one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Deemed a two-time felony offender for upcoming sentencing purposes, he was in Genesee County Court because today was the cut-off date for a plea deal offered by the District Attorney's Office.

After a brief recess to discuss matters with his attorney, public defender Jamie Welch, Hoges agreed to serve a determinant sentence of four years in state prison, with two years of post-release supervision.

The Jackson Street resident was arrested on Aug. 11 last summer and charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd. The native of Buffalo, who has a GED, was accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force on two occasions. Following arraignment, he was jailed without bail and remains in custody.

He was previously convicted of attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree in Genesee County Court on Feb.19, 2015.

Judge Charles Zambito ordered a pre-sentencing investigation report to be completed and sentencing is set for 1:30 p.m. June 29.

Hoges must abide by the terms of the plea agreement or face the possibility that the judge could impose the maximum sentence -- a 12-year determinant sentence with three years of post-release supervision.

Asked if he had any difficulty understanding the proceedings and terms, the portly Hoges told the judge "No, I know exactly what's going on."

Restitution of $100 must be paid, too, and he waived his right to appeal.

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of assault, resisting arrest after Central Avenue incident

By Howard B. Owens
Woodrow Horseman

Woodrow C. Horseman, 42, no permanent address, Batavia, is charged with attempted assault, 2nd, obstructing governmental administration, 2nd, resisting arrest, and harassment, 2nd. Horseman was arrested after police responded to a report of a disturbance on Central Avenue at 11:38 p.m. May 23. Horseman was accused of punching another person in the back of the head with a closed fist while that person was assisting in the arrest of another person. Horseman was ordered held without bail.

Shaqueita L. Irvin, 26, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Irvin was charged after police responded to a complaint of a disturbance on Central Avenue at 11:38 p.m. May 23. She was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Ahdeosun R. Aiken, 20, of Ellicott Avenue, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Aiken was arrested after police responded to a report of a disturbance at 11:40 p.m., May 24, on Central Avenue. Aiken was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Lamont C. Crimes, 42, of North Street, Batavia, is charged with assault, 1st. Crimes is accused of stabbing another person with a knife during a fight at 4:30 p.m. Monday at a location on Church Street, Elba. 

Holly Marie Squires, 32, of West Bank Street, Albion, is charged with robbery, 2nd, and assault, 3rd. Squires allegedly stole money while being aided by another person and caused injury to the victim. Squires was jailed on $5,000 bail or $10,000 bond.

Jessica L. DeRidder, 30, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. DeRidder is accused of stealing the money of another tenant of a residence on State Street, by keeping rent money for herself instead of paying the landlord.

Jordan S. Thomas, 19, of East Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. Thomas was allegedly found in possession of a bicycle that had been reported stolen from outside Genesee County Probation on May 9. (Previously: Batavia man needs his bike back)

Walter B. Hale Jr., 40, of East Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, endangering the welfare of a child, and failure to stop at a stop sign. Hale was stopped at 8:33 p.m. May 15 on Summit Street, by officers Christopher Lindsay and Chad Richards. Hale is accused of having a passenger on his motorcycle less than 16 years old.

Trametrias L. Scott, 40, of Rochester, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, failure to stop at stop sign, driving without stop lamps, uninspected motor vehicle, and circumventing interlock device. Scott was stopped at 8:45 p.m. Sunday on Route 33, Begen, by State Police. A trooper reported detecting the odor of alcohol after a traffic stop at Route 33 and Apple Tree Road, Bergen. Scott is accused of failing a field sobriety test. Her breath sample was allegedly .24 BAC. She was jailed on $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond.

Alexis R. Chavez, 19, of Pearl Street, Medina, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, unlawful possession of marijuana, driving while using a mobile device, and blocking a highway. Chavez is accused of stopping his vehicle without moving at West Main and Oak streets, Batavia, through four cycles of the traffic light. He was allegedly on his mobile phone. Officers Jason Ivison and Kevin DeFelice responded to the complaint.

Alexander H. Koch, 23, of Buffalo, is charged with DWI, failure to yield at an intersection, and failure to notify DMV of an address change. Koch was stopped by State Police after he allegedly turned from Snipery Road onto Route 33 in the Town of Pembroke and failed to yield to a trooper's patrol car, which had the right of way at 12:38 a.m. Sunday. Troopers say Koch failed a field sobriety test.

Joshua R. Nanni, 24, of Oakfield, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs, unsafe turn, and driving left of pavement markings. State Police responded to the Town of Pembroke at 10:40 p.m. May 22 for a report of a vehicle unable to maintain its lane. A trooper stopped Nanni after observing his vehicle allegedly engage in several traffic violations. The trooper reportedly detected the odor of alcohol and observed the driver's eyes were glassy.  Nanni allegedly failed a field sobriety test. A drug recognition expert also assisted in the investigation and Nanni provided a blood sample.

Nasir C. Nathan, 22, of West Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Nathan was allegedly involved in an argument on Watson Street, Batavia, at 6:54 p.m. Saturday. Nathan is accused of throwing a styrofoam cup at another person.

Amber L. LaRock, 18, of Lewis Place, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. LaRock was arrested in connection with an incident on Lewis Place reported at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Travis L. Ettinger, 30, of West Avenue, Albion, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and speeding. Ettinger was stopped on Pearl Street, Batavia, at 11:19 a.m. Saturday by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Heather D. Wendt, 32, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Wendt was charged after a child was found unattended at 12:54 p.m. May 17 on Holland Avenue, Batavia.

Donna M. Fidanza, 48, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th, and conspiracy, 6th. Fidanza was charged following an investigation into the left of property from a residence on East Main Street at 11:45 a.m. March 26.

Jonathan D. Wilson Jr., 36, of Buell Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Wilson was reportedly involved in a minor motor-vehicle accident at 4:46 a.m. May 20 on East Main Street, Batavia. The accident was investigated by Officer Frank Klimjack.

Korbin R. Ground, 20, of Crittenden Road, Akron, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and criminal use of drug paraphernalia, 2nd. Ground was allegedly found in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia at 9:46 p.m. May 22 on North Street, Batavia, by officers Jason Davis and Christopher Lindsay.

Joseph A. Kliszak, 19, of Meadow Drive, Alden, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Kliszak was allegedly found in possession of marijuana at 11:27 p.m. May 22 at a location on North Street, Batavia, by Officer Jason Davis.

Eric J. Bratcher, 29, of Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with obstructing governmental administration, 2nd. Bratcher allegedly failed to obey an officer's commands during an investigation of a domestic incident on Pringle Avenue at 12:52 a.m. Wednesday.

James Michael Young, 54, of Thomas Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing and unauthorized use of a vehicle, 3rd. Young allegedly choked the victim after she confronted him about not returning a vehicle.

William Ransom Dieter Jr., 44, of Bennett Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding. Dieter was stopped at 2:55 a.m. Saturday on Main Road, Pembroke, by Deputy Mathew Clor.

Christopher M. Dilaura, 38, of Batavia, is charged with DWI, refusal to take breath test, moving from lane unsafely, and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle. Dilaura was stopped by State Police at 5:25 p.m. Saturday on West Main Street, Batavia.

An 18-year-old from Batavia and Tricia M. Martinez, 25, of Batavia, are charged with petit larceny. The two people are accused of stealing in the Town of Pembroke at 12:16 p.m. Friday. They were arrested by State Police. No further details released.

Stingers win Lions Club softball tournament

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia Stingers won the inaugural Lions Club softball tournament at Lions Park yesterday.

The team is coached by Stan Kaus, Matt Landers, and Chuck Richmond.

Submitted photo.

Photos: Inaugural Lions Club softball tournament

By Howard B. Owens

Batavia Girls Fastpitch Softball and the Batavia Lions Club hosted an inaugural four-team softball tournament today at Lions Park.

The Batavia Stingers fielded two teams to play against teams from Perry and Lyndonville.  Pictured is a game between Perry and Lyndonville.

Authentically Local