corfu

Members of the Rupracht family enjoy each other's company so much, they decided to go into business together.

Jim and Lori Rupracht owned and operated the J&L Feed Store in Corfu for 20 years. But as the number of hobby farmers in the area declined, they decided to change locations, build a larger store, add more products and focus on a larger customer base.

That's when son Ryan, who worked at the feed store from the time he was 8 years old, decided to become a partner in the business.

Ryan put up his own money and did the electrical and other work on the new building at 47 W. Main St., Corfu.

"We just really enjoy working working together," Lori said. "None of us can imagine going out and working for someone else. We’re all independent and we like being independent. It’s really important to just have us all together."

The 3,400-square-foot store sits on an eight-acre parcel and cost $250,000 to get up and running. It includes a greenhouse where the Rupracht will eventually grow greens in the winter and hold workshops on gardening.

Jim completed a master gardner course at the Cornell Extension in prepration for the new business.

The store still carries feed and other agricultural and home gardening supplies, but also a line of groceries -- from soft drinks to locally grown fruits and vegetables.

M&M Meats of Batavia are featured in the store and Jennifer Worthington moved her florist shop, Heaven’s Gate, to the new location.

Ryan said he decided to get involved in the retail business not just because he enjoys working with his family, he simply likes living in Corfu.

"We’re all people people," Ryan said. 'We’ve been here 20 years and we’ve gotten to know a lot of people here."

A state audit of the Corfu Fire Department was a good thing for the department, members were told Monday evening at their first regular meeting since the audit was released by the NYS Comptroller's Office.

While the audit uncovered some missing documentation for expenses, it found "no material deficiencies."

"Like I said, it's a very good audit for us and she (the auditor from the state) explained everything to us very well," said Greg Lang, president of the department. "The audit showed incorrect procedures, but no misappropriation of funds."

Treasurer Bruce Fauth reviewed the report for members and then Lang and Fauth discussed what the auditor said during the process.

One of the auditor's findings was that for 26 financial payments totaling $4,779 the department failed to maintain proper documentation. However, as Fauth discussed with members, the expenses were authorized and accounted for.

The audit also nicked the department for not completing an annual report that by state law needs to be provided to members and filed with Genesee County.

Lang told members that the auditor said until she attended a seminar a few days before the audit she herself didn't know about the state law. It applies to all nonprofits in New York, and Fauth said he's never seen the requirement appear in a state audit report before.

"She said you're going to send this (the annual report) to Genesee County and you're going to get a phone call saying, ‘What is this?’ because they're never going to have seen it before," Lang said.

Fauth and Lang said that on every recommendation made by the auditor, the department's executive officers have already put corrective measures in place.

"She told us the reason we do these audits is so that you can correct these issues," Lang said. "As I said, we believe this audit was a good thing for us."

Press release:

Breast cancer is a life-threatening opponent that has significantly impacted the rural community of Pembroke. As a result, a group of Pembroke High School athletes has decided to challenge the invasive disease by doing what it does best -- play basketball.

Tonight at 7, the Pembroke High School Girls' Varsity Basketball Team will take to the court for a “Shooting for a Cure" benefit basketball game against Attica High School to raise money for breast cancer research.

The high school is located at 8750 Alleghany Road (Route 77) in Corfu.

Local country music talent Maddie Larkin will perform the national anthem and Buster Bison will be on hand to lead the cheerleading fun.

The Pembroke team is also partnering with a number of area businesses to make this event possible including:

• Impressive Marks -- creating custom-designed apparel for Pembroke teams and fans
• D & D Printing -- providing game fliers, posters and programs
• Next Generation Vending -- donating food to sell
• Pizza Pantry -- donating discounted pizzas for sale
• Great Erie Federal Credit Union -- donating popcorn for sale
• SUBWAY® -- donating drinks for sale
• The Walt Disney Company, donating Disney Theme Park passes as a fund-raising giveaway

According to Coach Mike Wilson, all proceeds from the fund-raising portion of the game will be presented to Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI).

“We are a small school in a rural district and our team has to consistently work to raise money for most everything we need, including our warm-ups and team sneakers,” Wilson said. “But this time, the girls wanted to do something different, something they felt was truly helpful for our school and those affiliated with our Pembroke community who have been so widely impacted by breast cancer diagnoses.

"To their credit they are putting together an amazing fundraiser in partnership with some very generous businesses and organizations.”

RPCI has officially sanctioned “Shooting For A Cure,” and Cindy Eller, executive director of the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, acknowledges the significance of the grassroots fundraiser.

“It’s wonderful when young people, such as these Pembroke students, come together to make a difference in the lives of those facing cancer,” Eller said. “And for the girls to go out and enlist the support of businesses for donations to help raise money, truly speaks to the character of the team, their families, the school and the Pembroke community at large.

"We are honored by their efforts in the name of critically needed breast cancer research.”

To help the Pembroke team with their Shooting for the Cure fundraiser, The Walt Disney Company has donated a family 4-pack of 3-day tickets to their Disney Orlando Parks (value of $1,000.) Chances for the tickets will be sold at the game with the winning ticket drawn at halftime. Winner must be present to claim the prize.

The Pembroke High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team is comprised of 12 outstanding girls, ages 15 to 18. Their 2011-12 captains are Breanna Johnson and Randi Dellapenta. Team colors are green and black and their nickname is "The Dragons."

The team’s motto is "Family-Hustle-Winning." The team has undertaken Shooting for a Cure as a unified family and they are committed to hard work and winning, not only in the games they play, but in the battle against breast cancer.

Statement from Bruce Fauth, outgoing treasurer of the Corfu Fire Department:

It is very unfortunate that there are certain people in town that because of their own actions find it necessary to try to tear down all the good that your fire dept. has done for the people they protect. The latest is the unfair reporting on the recent audit of the fire dept. 

The first statement of the results of the audit reads; “We found that the Trustees provide adequate oversight of the Department’s financial activities and the Treasurer maintained suitable records to account for the financial activity."

The auditor stated verbally to us that we are doing a very good job with our funds. Further, the state will always find ways to better the controls of the finances. The claims not included on the lists approved by the trustees were items brought up at meetings and were indeed voted on and approved by the membership. Some bills were paid that didn’t have supporting statements attached but I want you to know that they were all legitimate fire dept. approved expenditures backed by our recorded minutes.

I feel we had a very good audit report, but it’s too bad that certain people have an axe to grind, again because of their own actions. They find it necessary to try and destroy a vital asset of the community and I urge citizens to not put up with this.   

Previously: State audit nicks Corfu Fire Department for undocumented expenditures

Now it's the Corfu Fire Department's turn for a little financial scrutiny.

In August, the NYS Comptroller's Office released a report on the Corfu Fire District that eventually led to the one-year suspension of two department members over alleged irregularities involving district credit cards.

This week the comptroller's office released audit finding on the fire department (the district and department are intertwined, but separate agencies) and while declaring there were no "material discrepancies," the audit states there are at least $7,000 in insufficiently documented expenses over a 20 month period.

Auditors said the checked 115 paid claims totaling $30,398 from January 2010 through August 2011 and 26 payments totaling $4,779 were not supported by any documentation. Additionally, 14 claims totaling $3,096 were not included on the list of approved bills prepared by the trustees.

"As a result, Trustees were unable to verify that these payments were for legitimate Department purposes and that the correct amounts were approved for payment," auditors said.

The audit also found that the department's treasurer did not reconcile the bank account in 2010, and though the account was reconciled monthly in 2011, the trustees did not review and approve the reconciliations.

The department meets Jan. 9 and will likely discuss the audit.

The department was first incorporated in 1882 as “Rescue Hook & Ladder Co. #1.” It currently has 35 members and an annual budget of $20,600.

Department revenue is generated through various fundraisers and donations. 

The fire district, which helps fund firefighting in Corfu, is taxpayer supported.

Previously:

• Comptroller's office finds alleged improprieties in Corfu Fire District finances
• Corfu Fire District appoints ethics panel to investigate credit card use
• Corfu Fire District trustees vote to discipline three members for alleged misuse of credit cards
• Corfu Fire District commissioner objects to media reports that he was 'disciplined'

The Corfu-based artisan cheese maker Yancey's Fancy is planning a $296,000 expansion and will receive $20,000 in tax abatement, the Genesee Economic Development Center announced today.

The tax exemptions were ratified by the GCEDC board on Tuesday on the promise from Yancey's Fancy of 100 jobs retained.

No new jobs are expected to be created by the expansion.

The 60 percent PILOT will save Yancy's Fancy $13,000 in property taxes over 10 years.

The company also gets a $6,900 sales tax exemption on construction materials.

Information on the nature of the expansion was not released by the GCEDC.

Yancey's Fancy is located at 856 Main Road.

Craig Daniel Martin, 27, of Morton Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, unlawful possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance not in its original container, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, and unlicensed operation. Martin was stopped on Jackson Street, Batavia, at 1:09 a.m. Saturday by Deputy Patrick Reeves for alleged traffic violations. Martin was allegedly found in possession of two types of controlled substances and a quantity of marijuana concealed in his vehicle.

Brittany Megan Hart, 24, of Warsaw Road, Le Roy, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a hypodermic instrument. Hart was charged following a traffic stop for alleged violations at 11 p.m. Sunday on Jackson Street, Batavia, by Deputy Brad Mazur.

Daniel John Hickey, 33, of Sherwood Drive, Brockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Hickey was stopped at 1:22 a.m., Saturday on Route 262 in Elba by Deputy James Diehl.

Nicholas Keith Thorne, 23, of Osborne Road, Mt. Sterling, is charged with criminal mischief, 2nd. Thorne allegedly smashed a glass door and window at the Econo Lodge on Route 77, Corfu. Thorne was jailed on an unspecified amount of bail.

Dennis P. Schroeder, 54, of Cotton Hill Road, Attica, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and inadequate exhaust. Schroeder was stopped at 7:40 p.m. Dec. 15 on Tinkhem Road, Darien, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Nicholas M. Worrells, 24, of 10253 Roosevelt Highway, Lyndonville, is charged with criminal contempt. Worrells was allegedly found hiding under the rear deck of a residence on East Main Street, Le Roy, after police responded to a report of a disturbance. Worrells was allegedly with a person at the residence in violation of a complete stay-away order. Worrells was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Dayton G. Schultz, 52, Maltby Road, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of. 08 or greater and driving left of pavement markings. Schultz was stopped at 10:35 p.m. Friday on Route 262, Elba, by Sgt. Greg Walker.

Eric Matthew Kingsley, 24, of Perry Road, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and illegal parking on a highway. Kingsley was arrested by Deputy Jason Saile following a report of a vehicle fire at 4:48 a.m., Saturday, on Ellicott Street Road, Bethany.

Jeremy John Haynes, 35, of Church Street, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and speeding. Haynes was stopped at 11:27 p.m. Friday on East Main Street, Le Roy, by Deputy Eric Seppala.

Brent Michael Semmier, 36, of Cypress Street, Rochester, is charged with felony DWI, speeding (90 in 55 mph zone), alcohol consumption in a motor vehicle and improper right turn. Semmier was stopped at 4:29 p.m. Sunday on Route 19, Le Roy, by Deputy Brad Mazur.

Nedal Abdul Mansour, 48, of Jay Street, Rochester, is charged with possession and transport of more than 10,000 untaxed cigarettes, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, unlicensed operator, failure to keep right and moving from lane unsafely. Mansour was stopped for alleged traffic infractions at 10:51 p.m. Tuesday on Route 77 in Pembroke by Deputy Patrick Reeves. Mansour was allegedly found in possession of 15,650 untaxed cigarettes.

Ajayc Kweese George, 18, of St. Marks Avenue, New York City, is charged with trespass. George was reportedly told on Dec. 10 not to return to College Village property and allegedly did return at 10:03 p.m., Tuesday.

Marion G. DeFelice, 55, of Bernd Road, Pavilion, is charged with DWI, refusal to take breath test, unlicensed operation and failure to keep right. DeFelice was stopped at 7 p.m. Tuesday on Route 33, Town of Batavia, by Deputy Tim Wescott.

Earl Shateek-Anthony Lockhart, 19, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and harassment, 2nd. Lockhart is accused of shoplifting $85.86 from Walmart. Lockhart allegedly pushed a loss prevention officer who attempted to apprehend him and then ran out of the store. Lockhart was located a short time later by a Sheriff's deputy.

Jessica Lynn Barber, 26, of 647 Lapp Road, Alden, is charged with DWI, driving left of pavement markings in a no-passing zone and unlawful possession of marijuana. Barber was stopped at 12:36 a.m. Tuesday on County Line Road, Darien, by Deputy Patrick Reeve.

Jonathan Robert Hyman, 39, of Rose Road, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Hyman was allegedly found on a property on Rose Road without permission at 11:04 p.m., Dec. 9, looking in a window to a residence.

Brandon Cody McCoy, 20, of Angling Road, Corfu, is charged with harassment, 2nd. McCoy is accused of pushing another male during a domestic incident at 8:28 p.m., Monday.

Bob Ammon wants his name cleared.

The longtime Corfu Fire District board member objected Tuesday night to media reports a month ago that he was disciplined by his fellow commissioners.

"I think my name was really disgraced and it really sucks," Ammon said. "I wanted to stay in my house and hide but I’m not because I did nothing wrong."

The fire district's attorney, Mark Boylan, said it was not the intention of the commissioners to "discipline" Ammon when they voted to seek his resignation from the board Nov. 16.

Commissioner Linda Tucker read the minutes from the previous meeting and the word "discipline" was not used in the resolution asking Ammon to resign, nor was it used in the section calling for the suspension from the fire department of Jeff Ammon and Shari Salim.

Jeff Ammon and Shari Salim are accused of inappropriately using district credit cards for personal purchases. The money was repaid to the district, though some question remains about late fees accumulated related to the charges.

The use of the cards was first publicly addressed in a NYC comptroller's report and then further researched by a fire district ethics committee.

Both the recommendation that Jeff Ammon and Shari Salim be suspended and the request for Bob Ammon to resign came from the committee.

Tuesday, Bob Ammon said he won't resign.

"I've lived in this community my whole life," Ammon said. "I thought many of you were my friends at one time. I wish I could get this back to being sensible again and move on."

Following the Nov. 16 meeting, both The Batavian and the Batavia Daily News reported that Bob Ammon, Jeff Ammon and Shari Salim were "disciplined" by the commissioners.

Boylan told Ammon that nobody with the district told either publication Ammon was being disciplined. It was, he said, "a misunderstanding" of the board's action.

The ethic committee's report did mention Bob Ammon in connection with one use of a district credit card where there were no receipts for the purchase. It was a charge at Dick's Sporting Goods. Ammon said he purchased equipment, with board authorization, for the fire department's exercise room.

Tuesday's meeting was often emotional with years-old issues being argued and some tears from Sandy Ammon, whose Bob's wife and the mother of Jeff and Shari.

"We've had three phone calls in the last month from other departments asking us to join," Sandy said. "The other departments are sticking behind them (Jeff and Shari). Go to these other departments and see what they're saying. We've been getting phone calls and my son and daughter have been getting phone calls.

"Most of you have had a grudge against the Ammon family for years," Sandy later added, "and now they’re out of the fire department."

Bob Ammon said the turn of events have been painful for his son, a former chief and former firefighter of the year.

When Jeff took his lights off his car, there were some tears, Ammon said.

"He told me, 'Dad, I did wrong, but I didn't do nothing to those people.'"

One fact related to the credit cards not previously reported and mentioned by Sandy, is that when the district applied for the credit cards, the district used Jeff's and Shari's credit history to get approval for the cards.

Boylan told Bob Ammon that pending a final CPA audit, the case is pretty much over and nothing has been referred to the District Attorney's Office nor the Sheriff's Office for a possible criminal investigation. There is no criminal investigation, he said.

Before adjourning, the board voted 4-0 (Ammon recused himself) to reduce Shari's suspension from the department from two years to one year. Under NYS law, the board doesn't have authority to suspended somebody for more than one year.

Also on Tuesday, district voters elected a new commissioner to a five-year term.  Bruce Fauth, the only name on the ballot, received 36 votes. Jeff Ammon received 14 votes as a write-in candidate.

A Corfu resident is among four correctional officers from Attica who are accused of assaulting an inmate and then conspiring to cover up the alleged crime.

Keith Swack, 27, of Corfu, was indicted by a Wyoming County Grand Jury on charges of gang asault, 1st, conspiracy, 4th, tampering with physical evidence and official miscounduct.

The inmate allegedly assaulted suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, including broken bones.

Also charged with Sean Warner, 27, of Belfast, Matthew Rademacher, 29, of Wyoming and Erik Hibsch, 28, of Gainsville.

All four men were arraigned in a Wyoming County Court and jailed on $25,000 bail each.

The four officers are accused of concocting a plan to assault an inmate and carrying out the assault on Aug. 9. The men are accused of then preparing false physical evidence to help conceal the crime. 

Warner is also accused of submitting false statements concerning the events to his superiors. Warner is also charged with offering a false instrument for filing.

The indictments followed a four-month investigation by State Police, the Inspector General's Office, and Department of Corrections.

George Franklin Culp, 24, of Fargo Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI, unlicensed operation, moving from lane unsafely and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Culp was reportedly involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 12:03 a.m. Sunday on Fargo Road, Corfu. The investigation was conducted by Deputy Eric Seppala.

Jessie Marie Cramer, 26, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Cramer is accused of shoplifting $54.06 worth of merchandise from Target.

Brian Robert Beach, 40, of West Part Street, Albion, is charged with assault, 3rd, and criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation. Beach is accused of striking another person in the face causing physical injury and obstructing the alleged victim's breathing. The incident was reported at 12:53 a.m. Friday, at 8204 Park Road, Batavia.

Joseph Beszczynski, 26, of Darien-Alexander Townline Road, Darien, is charged with criminal mischief. Beszczynski is accused of punching a light switch box causing damage. Beszczynski was jailed on $500 bail.

Patrick Leslie Gugliuzza, 32, of Meadowbrook Terrace, Corfu, is charged with assault, 3rd. Gugliuzza is accused of punching another person in the face several times breaking his tooth and causing other injuries.

Austin L. Wester, 17, of 3373 Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, escape, 3rd, and obstructing governmental administration. Wester turned himself in to Batavia PD on the above charges and was jailed on $250 bail.

Julious Murphy, 59, of 319 Ellicott St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Murphy is accused of striking a child multiple times with a belt causing bruising.

A 17-year-old, of East Bethany Le Roy Townline Road, is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of stealing a half dozen eggs from Tops Market in Le Roy.

Guadalupe Hernandez, 35, of Bank Street Road, Elba, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to signal turn, speeding and unlicensed operation. Hernandez was stopped at 2:39 p.m., Saturday on Bank Street Road, Batavia, by Sgt. Brian Frieday.

A Corfu resident, William Smith, is among 10 people arrested statewide following an investigation into allegedly illegal gun sales at gun shows throughout the state.

Among the shows investigators visited during the investigation was one in Alexander on June 19.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman initiated the sting operation to look for people willing to sell guns without the required background check.

According to officials, investigators explicity stated they needed a gun but could not pass a background check.

From the press release:

"The illegal sale of guns at gun shows endangers the public by giving felons, terrorists and the dangerously mentally ill an open and anonymous marketplace to buy guns without a background check. Our investigators found a blatant disregard for the law where sellers made the conscious decision to sell deadly weapons to individuals who admitted they would not pass a background check," said Attorney General Schneiderman.

"Operation Background Bust not only exposed major flaws in the gun show laws but also proved how ‘off the books’ operations jeopardize public safety by making it easy for guns to fall into the wrong hands. In addition to filing criminal charges against the sellers, and demanding that the gun show operators cease and desist from engaging in illegal practices, my office plans to work with the legislature to hold gun show operators liable when guns are sold at their gun shows without the required background check."

Click here for the full press release from the AG's office.