batavia

A Batavia teen has been charged with rape in the first degree, according to a report by Batavia Police.

Oliver Thomas, 17, is accused of forcibly raping a 15-year-old girl at his home on Feb. 16.

Thomas, who was taken into custody at 9:15 a.m. today,  was jailed without bail.

Sheriff's deputies are searching the area around Tops on West Main after a suspected shoplifter allegedly fled the area. The suspect was last scene scaling a fence near the store. 

The suspect is believed to be a thin, tall black male, possibly wearing a checkered jacket or vest. Police declined to provide any further description at this time.

Tanya L. Captain, 21, of Batavia, is accused of repeatedly hitting another woman in the face and breaking her nose.  Captain reportedly showed up at the other woman's home Sunday afternoon around 3 p.m. and assaulted the other woman. Captain is charged with assault in the third degree, a misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Carla L. Southwell-Wood, 52, of Batavia, was charged Sunday night with DWI and endangering the welfare of a child. Southell-Wood was stopped by deputies on Rose Road after the Sheriff's office received a report that Southwell-Wood was allegedly driving while intoxicated in a white mini-van. After a traffic stop was initiated, deputies also report they found a child under 17 in the vehicle.

Three people were charged Thursday with under-age alcohol violations following an undercover operation involving Sheriff's Office personnel, with the assistance of Genesee Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse. Arrested were Andrew J. Cutcliffe, 20, Pavilion, charged with unlawful possession of alcohol by a person under 21 with intent to consume; Carly H. Kelch, 23, of Linwood, charged with one count of sale of alcohol to a person under 21; and Timothy R. Andrews, 21, of Wyoming, charged with DWI, with a BAC of .08 or higher, failure to keep right and unlawful possession of marijuana.

God was so good today to Care-A-Van as we visited at Central Avenue. Even with the cool crisp spring air, the sun was shining bright. It was so nice to set up outside without having to battle that white cold stuff! It was wonderful to look around and see many flowers and buds on the trees starting to come out.

The street was busy with lots of activity. One young boy came to the bus. His mom had recently had surgery. As I walked back home with him, we were talking about this special week-end and how Jesus died on the cross and then how he rose from the dead on Easter Day.

Just as we learned how he rose, we also see the needs rising here in our City. Today was one of our busiest days at Central Avenue. The Lord fed 104 people today! We were so busy that we ran out of milk. The Lord also  provided clothing for many families today. A young girl came to the bus to see if she could find an outfit for her father to wear to church. Another young girl was trying to find something for her grandmother to wear.

The word continues to get out that Care-A-Van is here to help. We thank all of you for sharing the word. Many people had stopped at the Salvation Army this morning and the folks there shared about the ministry.  We talked with many people that did not have a church family or a support system. As we look into their eyes, hearts and souls we see and feel the pain. We have all gone through our own struggles and still do. But there is hope for all of us. In God’s word it says “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you not harm you”.

In Luke 24:

46He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things.

We thank all of you for helping us share with the city of the wonderful news and miracles that our Lord has done and continues to do so. It is an honor for all of us to serve our Lord.   As Paul prayed this morning before we headed out, Lord help us keep it simple.  Special personal invitations were given to all to join Care-A-Van for Easter Dinner. Paul and Bridget will be doing all the cooking. It is going to be held at the Assembly of God Church on North Spruce Street from 2:00-4:00 PM. We invite all of you to stop by, grab a bite to eat and share in awesome fellowship. I hear that the Chocolate fountain is going to be the best treat of all. Oops, let me take that back, the best treat of all is that Jesus died so we may all have life!

May you have a blessed Easter

Robin Walters, Public Relations Director

Care-A-Van Ministries

The Batavia City Council will consider asking the state a second time for Restore NY funding to help launch the Massee Gateway redevelopment project.

Should the city go forward with the application, Restore NY could provide up to $2.5 million of the estimated $3.15 million cost of the project, which could potentially lift the assessed property tax value of the area from $800,000 to anywhere from $3 million to $5 million.

The remaining $650,000 of funds needed for the project would come from in-kind and cash matches from the City of Batavia and Mancuso Business Development Group (the property owner).

The match comes, according to a memo released by the City Manager's Office, from $400,000 of prior work on the project by Mancuso, a $50,000 in-kind match from the city (meaning inspection time, site plan review and grant oversight) and $200,000 available from a 1982 Urban Development Action Grant.

"The City's contributions to this project will not effect the general fund expenses or require any financial burden or support from the tax levy," City Manager Jason Molino writes in his memo.

The council meets in special session Monday at 7 p.m. to consider the application.

The goal of the project is to demolition and refurbish buildings near Masse Place, between Swan Street and Harvester Avenue. About 40,000 square feet of building would be demolished and another 200,000 120,000 square feet restored.

In using $200,000 from the UDAG fund, the city will draw down the grant money, which has been used for a revolving loan and grant program to help establish small businesses in Batavia. Molino's memo says current economic conditions has made issuing small business loans and assisting economic development difficult.

A memo from consultant Stu Brown about the application states, "Recent discussions with the owner of the complex indicates that he is proceeding with the plans for the project. The approval of a major state grant would enable the project to move forward much more quickly and permit the owner and the city to achieve the goals for the redevelopment of this important site."

The city applied for Restore NY funding for the Massee project once before and the application was denied.

The Restore NY application is due by May 4. Should the council pass the appropriate resolution Monday, there would be a public hearing on the application Aprill 22 at 5 p.m.

Download: Part 1 of Council Packet (PDF) for Monday's meeting, which includes Jason Molino's memo.

Previously:

• Can a revitalized Harvester Center spark a Batavia renaissance?
• Batavia has significant assets to spur an economic renaissance
• Entrepreneurs will lead Western New York's renaissance
• Could Batavia learn about downtown development from Rochester?
• Buffalo attorney's lawsuit aims to halt government funds used in economic development

Barb Falker of the Lazy Redneck Ranch in Oakfield suffered a fractured vertabrae to her spine when she was kicked by her own horse Thursday night.

She was flown by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester were she remains in stable condition. She is expected to be released Saturday.

Her daughter Nina Regan said the incident happened when Barb's niece's horse, Chief, got out of his inclosure. Barb rounded up the horse and put it in her pasture with her horse, Sheba.

When Barb went to retrieve Chief at about 7:30 p.m., Sheba tried to kick Chief. The commotion resulted in the lead getting twisted around Barb and she got a couple of hard kicks from Sheba.

"It was kind of a weird accident," Regan said.

Her family called Oakfield Fire/EMS who had to cut the lead of Barb before she could be taken for medical treatment.

"She was awake and talking when I saw her in the hospital," Regan said. "The doctor said she's going to be fine but she'll be pretty bruised up."

Previously: Out on Lazy Redneck Ranch.

Tracylee Cayea, 39, of Lakeville, reportedly entered the home of a person in Pavilion on Tuesday and then refused to leave after numerous requests that she depart.She is charged with criminal trespass in the second degree.

Michael P. Johnson, 23, of Batavia, reportedly failed to stop for a stop sign, which led to police pulling him over early this morning. On further investigate, officers concluded he may have been drinking, He is charged with DWI with a BAC of .08 or more.

Jovoun Webb, 23, of Brockport, was arrested early yesterday morning and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the second degree. Webb reportedly came to the attention of a Sheriff's deputy after allegedly failing to yield the right of way and unlawful tint on his windows. The deputy reports he smelled marijuana while talking with Webb. A search, the deputy reports, led to the discover of marijuana on Webb and in the center console of his vehicle. Webb allegedly has 8 suspensions on his license in four different states.

William A. Henderson, 34, of Rochester, was arrested for DWI yesterday in Corfu.  Henderson was identified after State Police received a tip from Wende Correctional Facility in Alden that an intoxicated individual had driven away from the facility.  A short time later, a state trooper spotted the suspected vehicle at Routes 33 and 77.  The trooper reported that Henderson failed several field sobriety tests. A small amount of marijuana was reportedly found in Henderson's vehicle. Henderson reportedly has two previous DWI convictions. Henderson was charged with DWI, operating a vehicle without a seat belt and possession of marijuana. He is being held on $10,000 bail.

We've just received a copy of a press release from the governor's office which says the City of Batavia will receive $700,000 to repave Route 98 between Main St. and Noonan Drive. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

From the press release:

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the Rochester area is expected to receive at least $74 million in transportation and infrastructure funding through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This critical funding will go toward much-needed highway and road repair, bridge span work and other long-term improvements to the region’s infrastructure and will create an estimated 1,776 jobs. The Governor was joined by Senator Charles E. Schumer at a New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) Maintenance Facility in Canandaigua.

“I want to thank President Obama and New York’s Congressional Delegation for their work to secure these funds, which will provide Rochester-area projects with the financing they need to move forward,” Governor Paterson said. “These investments update aging infrastructure, making our roads, highways and bridges safer, while also creating jobs, bolstering economic development and ensuring a brighter future for our State.”

In addition to these funds, the DOT will also award $82 million in traditional highway and bridge contracts next year to the Rochester area. This region will also receive approximately $29 million in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program funding, which the recovery funds enabled us to restore to the State budget. In total, the Rochester area will receive more than $185 million in highway and bridge funding in State Fiscal Year 2009-10.

UPDATE: Shortly after originally posting this, I interviewed Charlie Mallow about the funding, then before I could post it, I ran out to cover the fire in Corfu. Here's a few minutes of Charlie talking about stimulus money, other grants and ongoing improvement projects.