corfu

A Corfu police officer stopped a truck late this afternoon for having an obstructed license plate and found two alleged illegal immigrants inside.

The truck was impounded pending proof of ownership and the U.S. Border Patrol took the two suspected illegal immigrants into custody.

Officer Gene Nati said the truck's plate looked like it had been intentionally obstructed with black tar or a similar substance.

When Nati approached the truck immediately after he stopped it at 4:50 p.m., he found three male occupants. Two couldn't speak English and had foreign documents he didn't recognize, so he requested the Border Patrol to the scene for assistance.

The truck was hauling a storage shed purchased from a Batavia business by a Corfu resident, but the delivery originated with a company in North Carolina, Nati said.

"That company (from North Carolina) employed the illegal immigrants," Nati said.

The third man was in the country on a visa. He was taken to the Flying J and released.

The shed was also impounded and Nati said once the local company and the local resident who made the purchase produce proper documentation for the purchase, he will release the shed.

A head-on collision has been reported on Route 77 in front of the Pembroke Town Park, but the injuries are reportedly minor.

One person has elbow pain and the other person is refusing EMS.

A Corfu fire chief was on scene immediately and a Corfu unit is dispatched along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 7:10 p.m.:  The initial report to dispatch was wrong. This was not  a head-on accident. It is a rear-end accident.

UPDATE 7:34 p.m.: One patient taken to UMMC with complaint of back pain.

UPDATE 7:37 p.m.: Corfu back in service. Road reopened.

Stephen A. Lewis, 31, of Corfu, is charged with disorderly conduct. Lewis is accused of fighting and violent behavior. The alleged incident was reported at 5:59 p.m., Tuesday, at 8132 Buffalo Road, Bergen. Lewis was held without bail.

Robert Lee Ealey, 26, of Phelps Avenue, Rochester, was arrested on a county court bench warrant. Ealey was released from the Monroe County Jail and turned over to the Sheriff's Office. Ealey was jailed pending arraignment.

Cody L. Amrhein, 20, of Alexander, is charged with assault, 3rd, and menacing, 2nd. Amrhein was arrested by State Police stemming from an alleged incident at 9:02 p.m., Tuesday. Amrhein was released on his own recognizance. No further details were released.

Regarding yesterday's accident on Route 98, the drivers involved where Daniel J. Dragon, 26, of Albion, and Wanda A. Pangrazio, 47, of Albion. The State Police Web site lists no citations issued nor arrests made. The Trooper who handled the investigation is out of the office today, so no further details are available.

A 4-year-old child suffered possible whiplash in a two-car accident at routes 33 and 77, in Corfu.

Corfu Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 9:07 p.m.: Corfu back in service.

A 31-year-old male has reportedly fallen into a campfire at a location on Snipery Road, Corfu.

The victim suffered burns on his arms and legs.

Darien fire and ambulance are responding.

UPDATE 10:46 p.m.: Mercy Flight 7 out of Buffalo being put on in-air standby.

UPDATE 10:56 p.m.: Mercy Flight is cancelled.

UPDATE 11:12 p.m.: Darien is back in service.

For 17 years, Hal Kreter has served the veterans of Genesee County, and been a stalwart representative of those who served at Veterans Day and Memorial Day events.

Monday, Kreter will make the rounds for the last time of the various prayers, flag raisings, taps playing and flag saluting memorials in Genesee County.

As the day goes by, Kreter said, he'll reflect on how much things have changed over the past 17 years and the veterans, both living and dead, he has helped.

"I've had the privilege of meeting all of these veterans and listening ot their stories, helping them out, helping them get their compensation and lead better lives and seeing them and their families turn their lives around," Kreter said. "Doing all of the things we do to help veterans is really what I enjoy doing, helping veterans and their families."

When Kreter retires in August, it will be a new chapter in a four-decades long career of service, first through 24 years of service in the Marine Corps, then in veteran services in Genesee County. Kreter expects he'll still be involved in veterans affairs as a retiree in the California desert.

This week Kreter was honored by the New York State Senate when he was named to the Senate's Veterans' Hall of Fame.

Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer nominated Kreter and in a news release called Kreter a "one-man army" on behalf of veterans.

"Hal has helped hundreds and hundreds of Genesee County veterans every year," Ranzenhofer said. "His diligence to serve as a staunch advocate for veterans is equivalent to the strength of an entire army. Clearly, Hal is a distinguished veteran deserving of a special place among elite veterans of New York State.”

In 1996, the Corfu resident received the NYS Conspicuous Service Cross. He's also been VP of WNY Veterans Services Officers Association and been a member of the Marine Corps League, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans of America.

Kreter, a retired master sergeant, said the hall of fame award was an honor, but also said there are so many veterans in the area who deserve recognition, he couldn't help but wonder, "why me?"

The privilege, Kreter said, has been in serving Genesee County's veterans.

"We have a very proactive veterans community, a very good veterans community," Kreter said. "We've seen the benefits increase throughout the years, with the Veterans ID card and the tax exemptions, the Cold War exemption. It's just a great community and the veterans here are very, very good at what they do. They all stick together and work together."

A 24-year-old Corfu resident was charged with drunken driving following an accident on Indian Falls Road, Pembroke, this afternoon that sent both himself and the other driver to the hospital.

Timothy D. Largey, of Phelps Road, Corfu, was reportedly on Cleveland Road when he stopped his 2000 Dodge SUV at the intersection of Cleveland and Indian Falls roads.

Largey then allegedly proceeded into the intersection and his car was struck by a 2002 pickup driven by Jeffrey C. McGiveron, 49, of Phelps Road, Basom.

Both drivers were transported to UMMC by Mercy EMS.

Largey was also cited for alleged failure to yield.

The accident was investigated by Sgt. Greg Walker. Deputy Howard Carlson made the DWI arrest.

(Intial report)

A Springville man accused of stealing copper from a business in Corfu has a chance of getting out of jail today after his bail was reduced to $10,000 cash or bond.

Scott J. Taylor, 45, was originally jailed without bail after being arrested late Monday night on the property of Ed Arnold Scrap Processors on Angling Road.

Taylor was originally held without bail when he was arraigned in Pembroke Town Court because lower courts are required to hold suspects with prior felony convictions.

His attorney, Keith Perla, of Buffalo, asked for the bail review hearing and argued that Taylor should be released under supervision because Taylor has a history of making his court dates and lives on a farm where he cares for his elderly mother.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Zickl argued that bail for Taylor should be set at $50,000 because of his four prior felonies in four different counties -- all for similar crimes and wrapped into a single one-year prison sentence more than seven years ago -- and because Taylor faces being labled a persistent felony offender (meaning a longer jail term).

Zickl also said Taylor allegedly made statements indicating he has a compulsion to steal.

According to Perla, a report by Genesee Justice on Taylor said Taylor was eligible for release under supervision.

Zickl said the current grading system doesn't give sufficient weight to the multiple prior felonies.

Judge Robert C. Noonan said he helped draft the bail review point system and agreed it didn't put multiple prior felony convictions in proper context, but because for larceny type of crimes, he isn't likely to find a defendant a persistent felony offender, he didn't think a high bail was required.

Taylor is accused of entering the scrap yard five times in April and May. He is charged with four counts of grand larceny, 4th, one count of attempted grand larceny and five counts of criminal trespass, 3rd.

A 45-year-old Springville man is accused of stealing scrap from a Corfu business at least four times in the past month and was caught on his alleged fifth attempt late Monday night.

Taken into custody was Scott J. Taylor, of Sharp Street, Springville.

Management and employees of Ed Arnold Scrap Processors were reportedly monitoring the secured scrap yard late Monday night when Taylor allegedly entered the yard.

The Sheriff's Office was called and uniformed deputies and plain clothes detectives, along with the Village of Corfu PD, responded.

Employees detained Taylor when he allegedly tried to flee.

Taylor was taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident.

He is accused of entering the scrap yard four previous times in April and May and he was charged with four counts of grand larceny, 4th, one count of attempted grand larceny and five counts of criminal trespass, 3rd.

Taylor was arraigned and jailed without bail.

A grass fire is reported at 9286 Colby Road. It is near a structure and there's an abandoned car nearby as well. This is the Reed's residence. Corfu Fire Department is responding and a person on scene says there's some smoke showing but the problem "doesn't look too big."

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Apparently, they've extinguished the fire because they told a firefighter calling to check on their status that they were "packing up the hose now."

UPDATE 3:16 p.m.: Corfu is back in service.

As we posted previously, southbound Route 77 is closed for culvert repair. FYI: The detour is rather lengthy, taking you west on Cohocton Road, south on Lake Road and then back east on Route 33.

The Local Drug Enforcement Task Force announced the arrest of 11 people on various drug-related charges stemming from three different enforcment actions by task force members.

Curtis M. Gallagher, 27, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Gallagher was arrested following the execution of a search warrant March 30 on his vehicle and residence. Gallagher was allegedly found in possession of a quantity of marijuana and a quantity of hydrocodone along with some drug paraphernalia. Gallagher was issued an appearance ticket.

On Saturday, the task force arrested five people who were allegedly using a hotel room "for the purpose of abusing crack cocaine," according to the press release. Upon raiding the room, investigators allegedly found a quantity of crack cocaine and buprenorphine hydrochloride. Taken into custody and jailed on $1,000 bail each were Pamela A. Adamski, 28, of Walnut Street, Batavia; Jodi L. Reed, 40, of South Pearl Street Road, Oakfield; Heather J. Nadolny, 28, of East Main Street, Batavia; Nicholas J. Volpe, 40, of Edwards Street, Batavia; and, Timothy J. Walsh, 44, of Redfield Parkway, Batavia.

Over a two-day period, March 21 and March 22, members of the task force along with uniformed deputies and police officers from Batavia and Le Roy, conducted a number of traffic stops. Along with citations issued, the following people were charged with drug-related offenses:

• Nick Hawkins, 28, of Market Street, Brockport, and Seth Fisher, 24, of Asbury Road, Le Roy, were charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.
• Alex Cordero, 24, of Avenue D, Rochester, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.
• Phillip Ayala, 27, of Melville Street, Rochester, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.
• Douglas Brown, 29, of East Main Street, Corfu, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.
• Pamela A. Adamski, 28, of Walnut Street, Batavia, and Dajuandrick Gardner, 35, of East Avenue, Batavia, are both charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th.  Adamski and Gardner were allegedly found in possession of cocaine. Gardner was also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.