Stories from

Charles H. Wroten, 53, of Buell Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation, second-degree robbery, and second-degree assault. Wroten was arrested on the charges following a domestic incident Aug. 4 on Hutchins Street. He is accused of slamming a person to the ground, causing injury, and taking the phone from the victim. He was jailed without bail. The case was investigated by Batavia PD officers Jason Ivison and James DeFreze.

Mark Walter Grabowski, 56, of Chestnut Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment following his arrest this afternoon for a monetary dispute that initially arose on July 10 on Margaret Place. He was issued an appearance ticket. The case was investigated by Batavia PD officers Peter Flanagan and Devon Pahuta.

Kelly J. Stone, 40, of Le Roy, no other address provided, was ticketed for failure to keep right following a one-vehicle accident in Warsaw on Aug. 3. State Police reported that the accident occurred at the CSX railroad crossing on Saltvale Road, just entering the Town of Middlebury. Stone was northbound on Saltvale when she allegedly failed to reduce her speed at the crossing in time to avoid entering the southbound lane. Then her vehicle struck a sign on the west shoulder before it came to a stop. Neither Stone nor her two passengers were injured in the collision. She is to return at a later date to the Middlebury Town Court.

Sara E. Schimley, 24, a Le Roy native now living in Buffalo without a permanent address, was arrested July 28 by Le Roy police on a bench warrant out of Le Roy Town Court for failure to appear on two charges: first-degree felony burglary; and criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd. In addition, Le Roy police charged her with bail jumping, 2nd, a Class E felony, for allegedly failing to appear in court within 30 days of her last scheduled appearance on the original burglary and weapons charges. Buffalo PD located her and turned her over to Le Roy PD. She was jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail. Le Roy PD officer John Condidorio handled the case.

Nicole Lyn Kulzer, 33, of Swamp Road, Byron, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree harassment. On July, 30, Kulzer was arrested following an investigation into an incident wherein she allegedly disciplined a child by striking the child with a plastic golf club, causing swelling and redness in the area where hit. The case was investigated by Sheriff's deputy Joseph Graff.

Jennifer Ann Stiles, 31, of Sheppard Road, Pavilion, is charged with reckless endangerment, 1st, menacing, 2nd, and conspiracy, 5th, following an incident July 25 in Byron. It is alleged that she was involved in a dispute and discharged a firearm during the conflict. The case was investigated by Sheriff's deputy Joseph Corona.

Brandon Marshall Weig, 26, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with first-degree criminal contempt, with a prior conviction within the previous five years. He allegedly violated a court order barring him from having any contact whatsoever with the protected party. Weig is currently in county jail on a similar offense and was issued an appearance ticket on the new charge. He is scheduled to appear in City Court on Aug. 5. The case was investigated by officer Chad Richards.

Nicholas Alexander Verhoef, 18, of Spencer Road, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of alcohol by a person under age 21. Sheriff's deputies made the arrest after he was stopped for alleged violations of vehicle and traffic law. Verhauf was also alleged to have been drinking alcohol inside his vehicle when he was stopped. The case was investigated by Sheriff's deputy Joseph Corona.

Joseph William McNamara, 19, of Sand Pebble Drive, Rochester, is charged with criminal impersonation, 2nd, and unlawful possession of alcohol by a person under age 21. It is alleged that on Aug. 2 in Pavilion he used the NY ID of another person to unlawfully buy alcohol and to possess it while being under age. Also, McNamara was cited for no front license place and open alcoholic beverage inside a motor vehicle. The case was investigated by Sheriff's deputy Joseph Corona.

Amanda Marie Webb, 25, of Colby Road, Darien, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and failure to stop at stop sign. It is alleged that on July 29 she failed to stop at a stop sign and a traffic stop was made, whereupon a Sheriff's deputy allegedly found her in possession of marijuana and a suspended driver's license. The case was investigated by deputy Joseph Corona.

Thomas J. Mitchell, 25, of West Center Street, Medina, is charged with petit larceny and criminal mischief, 4th. He was arrested in Erie County by Batavia PD on warrants issued by City Court. He was jailed in lieu of $250 bail. He is set to appear back in court Aug. 7. The case was investigated by officer Jason Davis.

Scott Alexander Lawrence, 23, of Griswold Road, Darien, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Lawrence was a passenger in a vehicle on July 29 when the vehicle was stopped by Sheriff's deputies for vehicle and traffic violations and at that time he allegedly possessed marijuana. The case was investigated by Joseph Corona.

Please! Please! Please! Ella Grace and her two sisters are very sad. Their new cat Syler is missing and was picked up near their home on Raymond Road, across from the Genesee County Park in mid to late July.

Syler just had three kittens, who now have no mother. Syler wants to come home.

Please find it in your heart to return her, no questions asked. You stopped at our neighbor's home but he did not realize that she was ours. Our whole family misses her dearly.

UPDATE 11:20 a.m., Tuesday: Syler has just arrived home. Syler was found July 27 on Lovers Lane by Jack Mirrione. Mirrione, a Byron resident, said the cat was in "pretty bad shape" he found her. Somebody had taped all four of her legs together and two of her legs were still taped when he found her. A skunk had sprayed her. He took the cat home and cleaned her up and fed her and was taking care of her when he saw this post and called Syler's family.

A two-car accident is reported at Route 20 and Transit Road, Bethany. It is blocking traffic. There are injuries. Bethany Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Mercy medics are en route from Byron.

UPDATE: Photo submitted by Doug Yeomans.

Press release:

This summer has meant ups and downs for YWCA of Genesee County, and the latest is a downer.

Two valuable signs were apparently mistaken as trash Monday morning and have disappeared from the YW's North Street property.

If you have seen or taken an A-board sign with information about a kickball tournament and/or a sign for My Sister's Closet, please call YWCA at (585) 343-5808.

These materials were an investment that cannot quickly be replaced by the nonprofit agency.
 

A two-car accident with four people injured is reported at Warboys and Byron Holley roads. Two ambulances are responding along with Byron Fire Department.

UPDATE 11:40 a.m.: Another ambulance is called to the scene.

UPDATE 12:06 p.m.: At least one person has been transported to Strong Memorial Hospital.

A four-car pile-up, with injuries, is reported at Alleghany and McVean roads. Darien Fire Department and medics are responding.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m.: Darien assignment back in service. One person transported to an area hospital.

Press release:

The Ridge NY (formally Frost Ridge Campground) is hosting its first Community Fun Day on Saturday, Aug. 2, from noon to 10 p.m.

It's FREE!

There will be activities for all ages with the following events scheduled:

• Noon until 3 p.m. -- NAZCAR -- Decorate a racing car made from cardboard and see who wins the big race
• 3 to 5:30 p.m. -- Slippery Slope -- Big fun on the 300-foot-long slippery slide. All ages love this event. Bring your swimsuit and a towel.
• 6 p.m. -- Dinner. Bring a dish to pass. Hamburgers and hot dogs available, too.
• 7 p.m. -- Open Air Dancing. Dance until the stars come out!
• 9:30 p.m. -- Nighttime Glow Stick Wagon Rides

Come out and have some fun with your neighbors and friends!

A two-car accident with injuries, partially blocking traffic, is reported at Route 77 and Ledge Road. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

A one-vehicle rollover accident with entrapment is reported at Sweetland and Transit roads. Stafford fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 9:19 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene. It will be landing in the roadway.

UPDATE 9:23 p.m.: Traffic Police are requested to shut down eastbound traffic and Clipnock at Sweetland roads.

UPDATE 9:28 p.m.: Mercy Flight #5 out of Batavia has landed on the north side of Sweetland Road.

UPDATE 9:34 p.m.: Two more helicopters were requested. The second one is responding. The third is cancelled because it is in Syracuse with a 45-minute ETA. A ground ambulance will be employed instead.

UPDATE 9:45 p.m.: Mercy medic #2 is inbound to Strong with two patients onboard. Mercy Flight #5 is airborne with a patient; we do not as yet know the destination. Mercy Flight #9 has landed in the roadway west of the accident scene.

UPDATE 10 p.m.: Two patients are being taken to Strong via two Mercy Flight helicopters. Another four are being tranported there by two ambulances.

UPDATE 10:06 p.m.: A firefighter at the scene told Howard "If they hadn't been seated and belted, it would've been a different story."

UPDATE 10:52 p.m.: The Stafford assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 11:45 p.m. (by Howard): The initial investigation, according to Sgt. Ron Meides, is that a Chevy Suburban was northbound on Transit Road and a Chrysler minivan pulled into the intersection. "The driver of the Suburban did try to stop, but was unable to," Meides said. There is a hill on Transit south of the intersection, but a crossing car at night should be able to see the headlights of an approaching vehicle, Meides said. It's unknown if the driver of the minivan simply didn't see the SUV, was distracted, or thought the SUV driver had a stop sign, too (there is no stop sign for Transit Road traffic at that intersection). It's believed the minivan stopped and then proceeded into the intersection. The driver will likely be cited for failure to yield right of way, Meides said. Three adult women and three children were in the minivan. All were transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, one via Mercy Flight with a possible head injury. The passenger of the SUV -- the only person involved in the accident not wearing a seat belt -- suffered a possible head injury and was transported to Strong by another Mercy Flight unit. The driver of the SUV was not injured. None of the injuries are considered life threatening, Meides said.

FINAL UPDATE (by Billie): The names of those involved in the accident have been released. The driver of the Chevy Suburban was 27-year-old Jared Fleming of Genesee Street, Corfu. He is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .08 or more. He was arraigned in Stafford Town Court and released. Additional charges are pending. His front seat passenger, Ashley Cornett, same age and location as Fleming, was not wearing a seat belt and sustained a head injury. Mercy Flight took her to Strong. A rear seat passenger, Katlyn Hahn, 26, of Alden, was not injured, nor was the driver. All occupants of the other car involved, a Chrysler minivan, were transported to Strong for injuries or evaluation. They were driver, 26-year-old Latoya Stanley, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, front seat passenger Markeda Starks, 23, of Rochester, who went via Mercy Flight; rear seat passengers Kristina Drake, 24, of Rochester, Nakai Williams, 6, Jah-Mel Roman, 3, and Antonio Roman, 5, all of Batavia. All were reported in stable condition. Charges are pending against the Chrysler also.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at Route 98 and Batavia Elba Town Line Road. Elba Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE: One person was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital. The accident involved two vehicles, one of which was a pickup truck.

About 15 to 20 people are reportedly fighting, armed with baseball bats, at Lewis Place and State Street. City police are responding.

UPDATE 8:54 p.m.: Howard at the scene reports that there are six cop cars at the scene, including units from the Sheriff's Department. In addition, he said dozens of people "are milling about," some of whom are being interviewed by law enforcement. One witness told Howard that no baseball bats were involved.