byron

Seven utility poles, possibly with power lines attached, are down in a field on Tripp Road near Townline Road in Byron. Byron and South Byron fire departments are called to investigate.

UPDATE 1:27 p.m.: National Grid crews are called to the scene.

The passenger of a van that struck a manure spreader Friday night on North Bergen Road in Byron remains in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Guarded condition at Strong means the patient is in the intensive care unit.

Paul W. Tuttle, of Bergen, was a passenger in a 2015 Dodge Pro Master van driven by Richard J. White, of Brockport, when it struck a Kuhn-Knight manure spreader attached to a John Deere tractor driven by Kip A. Keller, of Byron.

Keller was eastbound on North Bergen Road at 7:07 p.m. when the van struck the manure spreader, causing the manure spreader to separate from the tractor. 

Byron Chief Chief Robert Mruczek said after the accident that the manure spreader had placards and lights on.

As a result of the crash, the van suffered heavy front-end damage. Tuttle was transported to Strong by Mercy Flight.

Drivers White and Keller suffered minor injuries and were taken to Strong and UMMC by ground ambulance. 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The collision is being investigated by Chief Joseph Graff, Sgt. Andrew Hale, Investigator James Diehl, of the Crash Management Team. Deputy Travis DeMuth and Deputy Michael Lute assisted at the scene, as did members of the fire departments from Byron, South Byron, and Elba, along with Mercy EMS and Byron Auto Repair.

Photo by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Two people have been transported, including one by Mercy Flight, from the site of an accident involving a manure spreader and a van in the area of 6385 North Bergen Road, Byron.

The county's Crash Management Team is investigating the accident.

Byron and South Byron volunteer fire departments are on scene. Bergen's ambulance also responded.

One person was reportedly entrapped in a vehicle following the accident and extrication was required.

UPDATE Midnight: A work van with two male occupants rear-ended a manure spreader on North Bergen Road that was returning to the farm after working a nearby field.

The spreader was equipped with reflectors, said Byron Chief Robert Mruczek.

The driver and the passenger in the van were transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, one by Mercy Flight.

A short extrication was required for one of the patients, Mruczek said.

The driver of the farm equipment was transported to UMMC for evaluation.

The manure spreader was barely damaged.

"It's a strong piece of machinery," Mruczek said. "It's very solid."

The Sheriff's Office is investigating the accident and the names of those involved have not yet been released.

Information and photos via Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Nancy Clark shared these photos with us of an ice jam and ice overflow on Black Creek near Walkers Corner Road in Byron from this morning.

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported on Bank Street Road near Cockram Road, Byron.

No word on injuries.

Byron fire and South Byron fire dispatched.

UPDATE 11:51 a.m.: Road conditions are not good, according to a first responder. Elba fire requeted to the scene to assist.

UPDATE 11:53 a.m.: The vehicle is off the road. All responding units from Byron and South Byron are parked at the side of the road. The road is not blocked. Elba can stand down. Mercy EMS on scene.

A mother and her adult son lost their home at 6123 Cook Road, Byron, on Monday after a fire erupted inside the residence at 7:10 p.m.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Byron and South Byron responded to the fire with mutual aid from Bergen, Stafford, Elba, and departments in Orleans and Monroe counties. The City's Fast Team also responded.

Byron Chief Robert Mruczek said the house was fully involved when he arrived on scene and he immediately called for a second alarm.

The firefighting effort was hampered by the cold and the wind. With slick roads and fire hydrants buried in snow, it was difficult to get water to the scene, Mruczek said. A metal roof also prevented firefighters from opening vents.

"We were trying to go to the inside to knock it down as fast as we possibly could," Mruczek said. "That was hampered due to the weather conditions for our water supply, so we started to attack from the outside and then the wind kicked up. The wind did not help us."

The weather conditions made it tough on the volunteers who responded to the fire, Mruczek. A school bus was set up to provide a rehab station. Firefighters are rotated from fighting the fire to rehab about every 20 or 30 minutes so they stay fresh, stay hydrated, and don't risk hypothermia. 

"They work hard," Mruczek said. "You know, they do their thing. They're on the hose line. They're trying to get into the building and you've got to keep on rotating in and out because it's tiresome in the cold. You freeze up, the water freezes on you and you've got to exchange."

Both mother and son escaped the house and were physically unharmed. They are being cared for by the Salvation Army. They had no pets.

"It's unfortunate," Mruczek said. "It's sad. With the winter weather, these things happen and you try to do the best you can and you hope for the best. Fortunately, nobody got hurt. That's the good thing. Everybody's OK."

(Initial Report)

The fire at 6123 Cook Road in Byron, which was first reported shortly after 7 o'clock last night, has rekindled. Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding.

"It's going fairly good," says a first responder at the scene.

UPDATE 5:48 a.m.: A pumper and a tanker from Elba are called to provide mutual aid.

A house fire is reported at 6123 Cook Road, Byron.

It is apparently a chimney fire. 

Byron and South Byron dispatched. Bergen also dispatched.

UPDATE 7:16 p.m.: Flames showing. Second alarm requested.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) 7:19 p.m.: It has gone to a second alarm. Stafford is asked to send one engine and one tanker to the scene; the city's Fast Team is called to respond and its fourth platoon is to report to headquarters.

UPDATE 7:35 p.m.: Byron and South Byron auxiliaries are requested to the scene.

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: Bethany Fire Department is called to stand by in quarters.

UPDATE 11:31 p.m. (by Howard): All units back in service.

A two-car accident, with one car striking a utility pole, is reported at Transit Road and North Byron Road, Byron.

Power is reportedly out in the area.

No injuries are reported.

Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: Elba fire police requested to assist with traffic.

Press release:

Registration is now underway for the 2019-2020 school year for prekindergarten and kindergarten students in Byron-Bergen Central Schools.

Universal Prekindergarten
The Byron-Bergen School District hopes to once again offer a half day Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) program for the 2019-2020 school year. The class will be held at the Byron-Bergen Elementary School, located at 6971 W. Bergen Road, Bergen.

Students eligible for the program must turn 4 years of age by Dec. 1, 2019. If you have a child eligible and are interested in having him/her attend our UPK program, please send a letter of interest by Friday, April 5 with your child’s name, parents’ names, address, phone number, and date of birth to:

Brian Meister, Elementary School Principal, 6971 W. Bergen Road, Bergen, NY 14416.

Parents who have already contacted the Elementary School by phone will still need to send in a letter to be eligible for UPK. Please note that if we receive more than our allowed capacity, we will select students using a lottery system.

What are the Program Goals of the UPK at Byron-Bergen?

• To meet the NYS learning standards by using a curriculum that is thematically based and supported using literature, songs, and exploration;
• To foster an environment that promotes happy, confident children who are willing to take risks, make independent choices, and ask questions;
• To create an inclusive community that builds upon the student’s strengths and accommodates their needs.

Philosophy of UPK

The UPK program at Byron-Bergen is focused on socialization, learning through play, and self-exploration. Children learn through a hands-on learning environment that includes activities, learning centers, concrete materials, and manipulatives. Students learn through a nurturing environment that is enriching, challenging, and developmentally appropriate.

Kindergarten Registration Reminder

Children who will be five years of age, on or before Dec. 1, 2019, are eligible for entrance to kindergarten in September of 2019. New families in the school district should notify the school if they have a child that will enter kindergarten in September of 2019.

Parents may contact the Byron-Bergen Elementary School Office by calling 494-1220, ext. 1301. Information may also be sent to:

Byron-Bergen Elementary School, 6971 W. Bergen Road, Bergen, NY 14416.

All children registering for kindergarten will be scheduled for a screening appointment this summer. The results of this screening will be used to plan for the 2019-2020 Kindergarten Program.

The following items are necessary to complete the registration process:

1. Your child’s Birth Certificate
2. Certificate of Immunization – New York State law requires that every child entering school must have received a minimum of 5 doses of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine (DPT) and 4 doses of polio (IPV) vaccine, 2 doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), 3 doses of Hepatitis B, and 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox). Those children born on or after 1/1/2008 must have 4 doses of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV). Their immunizations must be completed prior to entering school.
3. Proof of Residency– If this is the first time you have a child entering Byron-Bergen Central School District, please bring proof of residency to your screening appointment. This can be a copy of your mortgage statement, rental/lease agreement or a copy of your tax bill.

For more information or to register your child, please contact:

Elementary School Office  -- (585) 494-1220, ext. 1301

Information may also be sent to:

Byron-Bergen Elementary School 

6971 W. Bergen Road 

Bergen, NY 14416

Byron-Bergen fifth-grader Allison Rimmerman, above, is elementary school's first female Geography Bee Champion. Photo courtesy of Gretchen Spittler.

Photo below and information from Byron Bergen Central Schools:

On Jan. 8, Byron-Bergen fifth-grade student Allison Rimmerman became the Elementary School's first female National Geographic Geography Bee School Champion. Sixth-grader Jackson Lundfelt finished in the Second Place Runner-Up position. Both students performed exceptionally well during the competition.

In December, almost 250 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students took the Geography Bee Qualifying Test. Twenty students qualified. Eighteen students competed on Jan. 8 (photo above); two were absent that day, with five competitors continuing to the Final Round.

“Every year the Byron-Bergen Elementary School Champion and Runner-Up have been boys,” said Bee coordinator and fifth-grade teacher Ken Rogoyski. “The last time a girl won the National Championship was 26 year ago, in 1993.

"New York State has never had a female State Championship since the Bee started in 1989. Perhaps that will change this year. I’m very excited for Allison.” 

Both Allison and Junior High Bee Champion Elizabeth Piper will be taking the New York State Bee Qualifying Test. The 100 top School Champions will head to Albany for the competition in March.

The Elementary School Bee is moderated and judged by enthusiastic volunteers. Retired Elementary School come back every year to volunteer their time.

This year’s esteemed judges panel included the retirees Judy Boyle (reading teacher), Melissa Chamberlain (kindergarten teacher), and Paula Wade (first-grade teacher). The Bee host and moderator was retired sixth-grade teacher Liz Findlay.

Congratulations to all the participating students for their hard work.

Below are the names of the 20 students who qualified to compete in the Geography Bee:

Fourth Grade:
Brandon Schuck
Gavin Kinkelaar
Ellie Tanner
Xander Rodriguez
Theodore Schelemanow

Fifth Grade:
Allison Rimmerman (in photo above, third from left, standing in back row)
Liam Boyle
Colin Rea
Tobias Zastrocky
GJ Donofrio
Evan Williams
Cole DiQuattro

Sixth Grade:
Ryan Benstead
Craig DiQuattro
Alexander Raccuia
Martin MacConnell
Owen Cuba
Eli Kupfer
Jackson Lundfelt
Landon Kent

A personal injury accident is reported in the area of 6994 Tripp Road, Byron.

One patient was reportedly in route to Strong for a medical issue at the time of the accident.

Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched along with Mercy EMS; however, once fire chiefs were on scene, an ambulance was told to respond non-emergency.

The roadway is blocked and traffic is being shut down.

UPDATE 9:39 a.m.: A patient is being transported to Strong by Mercy EMS.

Keep moving forward, that is what Adam Thorman said he has done since graduating from Byron-Bergen High School more than 10 years ago and joining the Navy.

He's moved forward in his Navy career, from E-2 out of basic training to E-6 after 10 years of service. He's been recognized by his superiors for his hard work and dedication as a military security specialist. He's gotten married and become a father to a 17-month old daughter. And he has overcome tragedy in his family, the deaths in separate accidents of his twin sister and his younger sister.

He said he's moved forward with the help of friends and family but meeting his wife a couple of years after the deaths of his sisters in 2011 "kind of opened up my eyes that I could still move on while unfortunately still missing two of my family members," he said during a presentation Monday at the Western New York Tech Acadamy.

Thorman was one of four speakers for "Motivational Monday" at the academy. The other speakers were Gina Lathan from Lathan Construction, Jakob Terranova from Six Flags Darien Lake, and Kelley Yates from Sedgwick Business Interiors.

Thorman fielded a variety of questions from the three dozen students who attended the talks, including questions about his deployments overseas, his career plans, life in the military, and how he overcame obstacles (such as bringing his reading skills up to the necessary level to complete college) to advance his career.

"I really enjoy reading books now," he said.

A 14-year-old Byron girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert earlier today has been located safe, according to Sheriff Bill Sheron.

He said more information will be released soon.

The 22-year-old man, Guillermo Torres-Acevedo, suspected of taking her away from a location on West Bergen Road, Byron, has also been located.

UPDATE: The girl and Torres-Acevedo were located in Mansfield, Pa., by Pennsylvania State Police. Torres-Acevedo was taken into custody on a warrant and is being held pending extradition. The girl is returning to Genesee County. 

Assisting in the investigation, the New York State Police and U.S. Secret Service. Additional charges are pending.