Stories from

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported at 5743 Clinton Street Road in Stafford. An elderly female driver complains of neck and severe back pain and difficulties moving extremities. There was no air bag deployment.

A first responder says the driver may have had a medical issue. Mercy Flight is called to the scene. Mercy medics and Stafford fire have arrived.

UPDATE 5:02 p.m.: Genesee County Sheriff's deputies are on scene.

UPDATE 5:14 p.m.: Mercy Flight was cancelled. A resident of the road who witnessed the accident, Darrell Wright, said the vehicle left the roadway at the site of the former Oderkirk Farm property at a high rate of speed. It went through the field where many sunflowers used to grow, became airborne a couple of times, went through a grassy area, and landed on its wheels between two trees in front of a house (but did not strike the trees). The patient has just been extricated and is being stabilized for ground transport to a hospital. A flatbed tow truck is called to respond.

UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: First responders say they believe the accident stemmed from a medical issue. They confirmed there indeed was no air bag deployment. The patient will be taken to Strong Memorial Hospital.

A mixed Labrador retreiver apparently did not have a happy Thanksgiving. A caller to dispatch reports the dog has been locked inside a crate since Thursday. Batavia police are responding to a lower apartment in the first block of Oak Street.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported in Darien at 2198 Walker Road. A black mini van is in a ditch. Darien fire and ambulance are responding. 

A Mercy rig is also called in non-emergency mode. A first responder reports occupants are out; minor injuries.

The location is between Smithley and Simonds roads.

UPDATE 5:16 p.m.: A flatbed tow is called for the Chrysler mini van.

UPDATE 5:19 p.m.: Mercy's response is cancelled by command.

From James Call, president of the Stafford Volunteer Fire Department:

We are having a BBQ with the finest premium chicken on Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Stafford Fire Hall, 6153 Main Road. Starts at 11 a.m. until sold out.

The BBQ meal is $12 and includes a half chicken, salt potatoes, applesauce, cookie and roll.

Presales tickets are available. Email:  bbq@staffordvfd.org

Masks must be worn at all times and social distancing guidleiness must be followed.

We are having an empty can & bottle collection to benefit the Madison Grace Memorial Fund, too. (The empties are being redeemed at Mickel's Nickels.)

The American Red Cross will be doing a blood drive at the fire hall also.

The flea market we had planned is postponed due to COVID-19.

Ridge A. Bono, 29, of Williams Street, Batavia, is charged with: second-degree strangulation; endangering the welfare of a child; second-degree harassment; and resisting arrest. Bono was arrested after an investigation of a domestic incident on Williams Street at noon on Nov. 12. The defendant allegedly resisted arrest when officers tried to take him into custody. Bono was arraigned in Batavia City Court and put in Genesee County Jail. The defendant was due back in city court on Nov. 24. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer John Gombos, assisted by Officer Sean Wilson.

Daniel J. Christie, 31, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with third-degree criminal mischief. Christie was arrested after an incident at noon on Nov. 18 in which he is accused of breaking a door on Dellinger Avenue that did not belong to him. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on Feb. 9. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Adam Tucker, assisted by Officer Peter Post.

Danny D. Williams Sr., 32, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment. Williams was arrested after an incident at 1 p.m. on Sept. 29 during which he allegedly threatened physical violence against another person. He was issued an appearance ticket for Jan. 5 in Batavia City Court. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at 5488 Ellicott Street Road, Bethany. The location is between Main Road and Clapsaddle Road. Stafford Fire Department and Mercy medics are also responding.

UPDATE 4:23 p.m.: Fire police are responding for traffic control.

UPDATE 4:31 p.m.: Injuries do not appear to be serious according to a first responder.

UPDATE 5:05 p.m.: A sedan was pulling out of a driveway onto northbound Route 63 and it pulled into the path of a southbound Chevrolet. No one in the sedan was injured. The two occupants of the Chevrolet were sitting up and talking with medics and were going to be transported to a hospital for evaluation. The investigation is ongoing. It is unknown at this time whether citatations will be issued.

A chimney fire that is possibly extending into the house is reported at 6821 Cole Road. Le Roy Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Bergen, Byron and the city's FAST team.

Le Roy ambulance is also responding.

A first responder says the residence is evacuated and there's heavy smoke inside the residence. It's gone to a second alarm.

The location is between Sweetland Road and East Bethany Le Roy Road.

UPDATE 3:46 p.m.: Engines from Stafford and Pavilion called to the scene. Town of Batavia is to fill in for Le Roy. The city's first platoon is called to city fire headquarters.

UPDATE 4:06 p.m.: Caledonia is asked to stand by with Batavia at Le Roy's fire hall. Thermal cameras are deployed at the scene.

UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: City FAST team went back in service at least 15 minutes ago. And Caledonia was released from service as well.

UPDATE 4:33 p.m.: Pavilion is put back in service.

UPDATE 4:37 p.m.: Stafford is back in service.

UPDATE 4:40 p.m.: Bergen is back in service.

Alonzo C. Williams, 44, of Watson Street, Batavia, is charged with: criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class B felony; and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, also a Class B felony. He was arrested after an investigation by the Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of officers from the Sheriff's Office, Batavia Police Department and Le Roy Village Police Department. It is alleged that Williams sold a quantity of crack cocaine to an agent of the drug task force. Williams, who had an active arrest warrant, was located driving on North Street in the City of Batavia and he was taken into custody. Williams was arraigned in Genesee County Court, then released on his own recognizance. The drug task force was assisted by uniformed deputies, Batavia police and the District Attorney's Office.

Michael Eugene Weichman, 25, Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, third-degree assault, and criminal obstruction of breathing. On Nov. 22, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office received a report of a domestic incident that occurred at 5 p.m. on Nov. 19 on Pratt Road. Weichman was identified as the suspect, then arrested and arraigned virtually at Genesee County Jail. A NYS parole detainer was put in place for Weichman and he remains in jail. The case was handled by Deputy Ryan DeLong, assisted by Deputy Howard Wilson. Sgt. Andrew Hale also assisted in the case.

Shawn Phillip Wolcott, 38, of South Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt and obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree. Following a complaint of a violation of a court order, Wolcott was arrested at 4:49 p.m. on Nov. 22 on South Main Street Road. During his arrest he allegedly obstructed deputies by barricading himself in his home. Wolcott was released with an appearance ticket and is due in Town of Batavia Court on Dec. 10. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Krzemien, assisted by Deputy Jacob Gauthier.

Richard David Trykowski III, 39, Tinkham Road, Darien, is charged with: aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree; aggravated driving while intoxicated -- BAC of .18 percent or more; DWI -- first offense; moving from lane unsafely; unreasonable speed; and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Trykowski was arrested after an investigation of a one-car accident that occurred at 10:07 p.m. on Nov. 22 on South Lake Road in Pembroke. He was issued appearance tickets and is due in Pembroke Town Court on Jan. 7. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Krzemien, assisted by Deputy Jacob Gauthier.

A car vs. bicyclist accident is reported in the city at West Main Street and Montclair Avenue. City fire, police and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 2 p.m.: The bicyclist was standing up next to the bicycle when first responders arrived. The person has minor injuries and was taken to UMMC for evaluation. A female driver was southbound on Montclair Avenue and went to make a right-hand turn into West Main Street when the accident occurred. She says she looked both ways and it was clear, then the bicyclist suddenly appeared in front of her. The driver was not injured.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, money raised locally from selling homemade face masks along with donations and some matching funds were presented to Jeff Allen, executive director of Crossroads House.

Donations totaling $716 from patients at Licata Chiropractic and Wellness Center and their families and friends, plus some matching funds from chiropractor Sandra A. Licata were given to the nonprofit hospice house in Batavia -- $1,000 all together.

The fundraising effort began after Licata purchased the property at 542 E. Main St. in Batavia and she and business partner Michael Grasso LMT moved there in February.

The chiropractor and licensed massage therapist have both been in practice for 22 years, working together since 2001.

The new location's private parking and a bright new cheery office helped seal the deal.

They made the move in March, then COVID-19 struck.

The Wellness Center staff fixed up the “542” and worked seeing patients on an emergency basis through the end of spring. Unfortunately, massage therapy was closed for three months.

At the same time, Benay Chamberlain was trying to find a way to help others. She was among the vulnerable population and feeling helpless. Her daughter sent a pattern of masks and a video to Anna Fenton, who printed it and showed Chamberlain, who took it from there.  

Material, thread and elastic were hard to come by at first. Through connections and donations the two women came up with enough to make some masks. Initially, Chamberlain made 37 masks and said “that’s enough.” But now they're at 245 and counting!

They decided to ask Licata if she would make them available in her office to help raise money for Crossroads House and Licata happily agreed.  

The team at the wellness center has been able to see patients normally and safely with some new COVID-19 protocols in place and they've been steadily busy since.

Allen of Crossroads House said the donation will go to operational needs. He is thankful to all who donated and says he's truly amazed how people can come up with wonderful fundraising ways to help Crossroads House.  

Chamberlain says she will continue to make masks until they are no longer needed. Masks are on display at the “542.”

Anyone wishing to make donations to Crossroad House can do so at : P.O. Box 403, Batavia, NY 14020.

Licata and staff thank all who helped make that donation last week possible and hope to raise more money to donate by spring.

To inquire about a mask call Licata Chiropractic and Wellness Center at 343-5311 or email:  licatachiropractic@gmail.com

Top photo: Crossroads House Executive Director of Crossroads House, left, receives $1,000 check from chiropractor Sandra Licata. Her business partner Michael Grasso LMT is in the middle.

An Oakfield man is extremely fortunate that he was not seriously injured or worse after getting stuck inside a massive silo filled with corn silage on Lockport Road in Oakfield today.

Quick thinking and fast action by the property owner's wife and farmworkers helped to stabilize the man until rescuers and their equipment arrived.

According to Oakfield Second Assistant Fire Chief Pete Scheiber, the man was inside the silo trying to unplug an area, when he became trapped up to his knees. While trying to get free from what amounts to quicksand, he soon found himself waist deep in kernals.

Seven people went inside the bin and put their training for this kind of scenario to the test. In addition to the homeowner's wife, they included Gary Patnode, Christine Marinaccio, Mark Holley, Michael Pfendler, Ryan Hart and Mark Mikolajczyk.

They used a rope and other tools to stabilize him and keep him from sinking down further then called 9-1-1 at 11:52 a.m.

Town of Batavia fire brought its ladder truck to facilitate "a high point of entry"; Elba's crew brought in special grain bin rescue equipment and a (sweep) auger. The grain bin rescue tools were bought over the last couple of years by area farms for situations just like today's. (Pavilion is the other Genesee County fire company that has the same capability.)

Also responding were: Genesee County Sheriff's deputies; NYS Police; county Office of Emergency Management coordinators; and Mercy EMS; Alabama stood by for Oakfield fire and Barre stood by for Elba.

A bulky four-panel "rescue tube" was assembled and placed around the person trapped. The corn inside it is removed, making an air space so the victim can be raised up and out.

It's time-consuming and the equipment is cumbersome, said Elba Fire Chief Michael Heale, but you try to work as quickly as possible. Dangers include hypothermia if it's cold outside, loss of blood circulation to limbs and paralysis, and death by suffocation.

"If you see us cutting into metal and removing grain below, that's not a good sign," said Tim Yaeger, county Emergency Management coordinator. "It means we need to recover a body. There are a number fatalities nationwide from this every year."

The farm employee in this case, after being extricated from the dry corn, was able to climb down a ladder on his own power, still with his cowboy hat on, and walk to a waiting ambulance for evaluation.

Scheiber said. "I'm very, very happy. ... These guys did an awesome, awesome job."

They also heaped praised on neighboring communities, even outside the county, and their willingness to pitch in.

"In this day and age, especially daytime, they're always there for us," Heale said. "Like they say, 'There's no i in team.' We do a very good job around here."

Above, volunteer firemen Michael Pfendler and Ryan Hart in Elba's trailer containing the grain bin rescue panels and equipment.

Photo by Howard Owens, who also contributed to the story.

At about 1:40 this afternoon a man who had been trapped in a gigantic grain bin at 3162 Lockport Road in Oakfield was able to climb down a ladder to safety.

Mercy medics on scene are evaluating him.

His ordeal was first relayed to the Genesee County Dispatch Center around noon and Oakfield Fire Department responded to the location, a farm between Albion and Fisher roads.

Elba fire responded with a grain bin tool to help with extrication. Alabama fire is standing by in Oakfield's hall; Barre is standing by for Elba.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: The Oakfield assignment is back in service.

More T/K