elba

A subject may have a broken nose following a fight on North Main Street, near Chapel Street, in the Village of Elba.

An ambulance is being requested to the scene.

A witness notified dispatchers of a fight less than five minutes ago and a deputy responded.

The suspect, described as a 25-year-old Mexican, is wearing black shorts and shirt and flip-flops, and is believed to be on foot in the area.

UPDATE 11:39 p.m.: The suspect lost a flip-flop. A deputy found it. The suspect may be heading south on Route 98 on foot.

UPDATE 11:40 p.m.: Suspect may actually have left in a red Mazda.

UPDATE 11:42 p.m.: The ambulance is responding to the area of 42 Chapel St., the apparent location of the victim.

UPDATE 11:45 p.m.: There are apparently multiple suspects.  A couple are with deputies now.

UPDATE 12:21 a.m.: The flip-flop wearing suspect, who is now completely flip-flopless, seems to be in custody. Also, I heard something earlier about a knife being recovered, and it sounded like a deputy involved in this call, but not certain.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at 6508 Oak Orchard Road, near Lockport Road, in Elba.

Elba Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

State Police on scene.

UPDATE 6:17 p.m.: Mercy is transporting one person to Strong Memorial Hospital. Elba is back in service.

The driver of a car that reportedly pulled in front of a truck on Route 98 in Elba on Tuesday told the deputy investigating the accident, "the truck just kept coming and didn't stop and he struck me," according to the accident report released by the Sheriff's Office.

The driver, 22-year-old Brandi-Lyn Heidenreich, of Garibaldi Avenue, Oakfield, was cited for alleged failure to yield the right of way at an intersection.

Neither Heidenreich nor the truck driver, Robert J. Hippert, 62, of East Stenzil Street, North Tonawanda, were injured.

Hippert, who was trapped in his vehicle by building debris, was transported to UMMC for observation.

After hitting Heidenreich's white 1996 Mazda sedan, Hippert's truck slammed into an antique store, The Mill, in a large, old red barn at the intersection of Route 98 and Route 262. A beam pierced the trailer of his truck just a foot or so above his head and several other beams crumbled against his windshield.

The truck wiped out six supporting beams in the barn and the barn structure had to be braced before the truck was moved late yesterday.

According to Deputy Brian Thompson's report, Heidenreich was eastbound on Route 262 and stopped at the intersection before pulling out onto Route 98 to make a left-hand turn.

Heidenreich apparently expected the southbound truck to stop for her, but there is no stop sign for either north nor southbound traffic on Route 98 at that intersection.

A two-vehicle accident is reported at routes 98 and 262. One vehicle is blocking the intersection. The other has struck The Mill Co-op Gifts & Antiques or a building by that location and there's "a lot of structural damage as a result." The vehicle that struck it is a 10-wheel box truck and the driver is not injured, but is trapped inside. Elba Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding along with law enforcement.

UPDATE 1:43 p.m.: A unit from Oakfield is asked to stand by in its quarters. A code enforcement officer is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 1:45 p.m.: The truck has a possible fuel leak.

UPDATE 2 p.m.: National Grid is called to the scene.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: According to Deputy Jon Szumigala at the scene, the box truck swerved to avoid a sedan which had turned in front of him. As a result, the truck hit a storage building owned by The Mill. The trucker got lucky. His vehicle was struck by large pieces of wood and beams in the crash and although no beam pierced the cab, one went through his trailer like a spear, about a foot above his head. The 60-year-old had to be extricated by firefighters and was taken to UMMC with no complaints of pain. The sedan is totaled and the front end is completely mangled, the driver unhurt. "The building appears to be weakened tremendously," Szumigala said, adding that they can't remove the vehicle until code enforcement says it's OK to do so. The roadway is reopened.

Todd Allan Betts, 35, of Transit Road, Elba, is charged with reckless endangerment, 1st, endangering the welfare of a child, menacing, 2nd, criminal obstruction of breathing and harassment, 2nd. Betts was charged following the report of a domestic incident. Betts allegedly grabbed a woman by the throat and threw her to the ground. He allegedly pointed a shotgun in the direction of the woman and a child. Betts was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Tametha A. Wentland, 40, of Harlow Road, Darien, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Wentland is accused of physically contacting a victim. The incident was reported at 11:59 p.m., Saturday. Wentland was arrested by State Police.

Levi Winnie, 26, of 590 Council House Road, Basom, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. The alleged incident was reported at 4:15 a.m., Saturday. Winnie was arrested by State Police on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. No further details were released.

Elba crowned its 2012 Onion Queen on Saturday evening and she is Jamie Marshall (blue dress). First runner-up is Makenzie Bezon, left, and second runner-up is Paige Pangrazio.

If you're unable to view the slide show below, click here. To purchase prints of these photos, click here.

Stephen A. Lewis, 32, of 130 W. Main St., Apt. A, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and harassment, 2nd. Lewis was arrested following a report at 3:45 p.m., Friday, of two men arguing, with one of them possibly carrying a baseball bat, at East Main and Summit streets. According to Batavia PD, when a patrol officer attempted to interview Lewis, Lewis became irate and yelled obscenities. He continued, according to police, even after being warned to stop yelling and clean up his language. Lewis was placed under arrest and charged with disorderly conduct. Lewis struggled with officers. Once taken into custody by officers Eric Hill and Kevin DeFelice, Lewis was arraigned at city court and jailed on $1,000 bail. On the way to jail, Lewis allegedly threatened to kill Batavia PD officers, leading to the harassment, 2nd, charge. (Initial Report)

George M. Hodges, 22, of 9 Pringle Ave., lower, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Batavia PD officers responded to 9 Pringle Ave. at 11:46 p.m., Saturday, to investigate the report of a property dispute. While Officer Frank Klimjack was on scene, Hodges was allegedly irate and yelled obscenities. Klimjack reportedly warned Hodges to calm down, but Hodges allegedly continued yelling obscenities.

Brodes J. Gibson, 51, of 13 Thorpe St., Batavia, is charged with two counts of petit larceny. Gibson is accused of entering the Kwik Fill at 99 Jackson St. on two occasions and stealing two 18 packs of beer.

Joel S. Shelhorse, 24, of 23 West Ave., Elba, is charged with DWI, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle, operating in violation of a restricted use license, aggravated unlicensed operation and opening a vehicle door interfering with traffic. Shelhorse was taken into custody following a report at 8:46 a.m., Sunday, of a male and female arguing on South Main Street.

David A. Kendall, 40, of 215 Bank St., Batavia, is charged with trespass. Kendall is accused of entering a neighbor's property at 4:45 p.m., July 21, without permission.

David M. Smith, 26, of Pavilion, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th. Smith was arrested by State Police following an incident reported at 10:20 p.m., Sunday, in Darien. No further details released.

A possible farming accident has been reported in the area of Transit Road and North Byron Road.

A person may have fallen off a tractor, or a box may have fallen somebody in a cabbage field.

It's unknown yet whether the location is in the Elba Fire District or Byron Fire District. Personnel from both departments are responding.

State Police are responding.

The call came through Orleans County and the caller doesn't speak good English.

UPDATE 12:03 p.m.: A thousand pound object fell on the victim. The patient is conscious and alert; however, Mercy Flight is being put on in-air standby is responding (Mercy Flight 5 out of Batavia). The accident is in Elba's district.  Byron and South Byron are cancelled.

UPDATE 1:47 p.m.: The patient was taken to Strong via Mercy Flight. His name is Ferando Jereonro, age 29.  ccording to Sgt. Greg Walker, Jereonro was working on a platform with three crates of cabbage. The welds on a chain apparently gave out and the platform fell and a 1,000-pound crate of cabbage fell on Jereonro. Workers quickly removed the cabbage and the crate. Jereonro was conscious and alert when we was transported.

Also, just as I arrived on scene for this (too late to get any pictures), there was a call for a motor vehicle accident on Route 5 in Le Roy, in front of the Le Roy Country Club. By the time I arrived on scene there, the accident was clear and the roadway was reopened. Minor injuries.

This year Elba's 76^th annual Onion Festival will be held outside the Firemen’s Recreation Hall on the edge of town rather than in its usual location in the village park.

Fire Department President Bill Hynes said the decision to move the festival stemmed from the aging demographics of members of the department.

“We don’t have as many firemen as we used to, and some of them are getting older,” Hynes said. “It just got to be too much to move everything from the rec hall down to the village park.”

Festival coordinator Barbie Starowitz says that though the location will be different, many of the same traditions will remain, such as the Ladies Auxiliary’s roast beef dinner and the ever-popular bingo game “Dart-O.” Both will be held inside the rec hall.

The crowning of the 2012 Onion Queen, which would normally take place in the park gazebo, will “tentatively” be held inside the hall as well, according to Hynes.

The relocation has received mixed reviews, according to Starowitz: “There’s good and there’s bad.”

One of the less-favorable reactions was voiced by Leon Watson, a retired longtime member of the fire department who believes that these changes are “driving people away.”

“I think they’re going to lose a bundle on this,” Watson said. “There’s no place to park, and it’s a hazard with two roads coming together right there. I’d like to see them move it back to the park."

Watson, who belonged to the fire department for “about 60 years,” has been attending Onion festivals since he was a small boy and the festival was held at the Four Corners in Elba. Shortly after the birth of “Field Day” in 1937, it was moved to the village park due to a lack of space at the Four Corners, and has been there ever since.

“We get a lot of graduates who come back just for the Onion Festival,” he said. “They like it at the park. There’s space and there’s shade.”

So has the Onion Festival found a new permanent home at the rec hall, or will it return to the park in 2013? Hynes says it’s too early to tell:

“There will be a vote of the department. We’ll just see what happens.”

A one-car rollover with possibly minor injuries is reported at 4857 N. Byron Road. The occupants are out of the vehicle. Elba Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 11:44 a.m.: Fire police are responding to the scene for traffic control.

UPDATE 11:46 a.m.: Mercy medics are now available and will be responding.

Daniel Clarence Merrell, 45, of Rose Road, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd. Merrell is accused of stealing scrap metal form his employer in June. Merrell was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Daniel W. Brown, 26, of Oneida, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .13 and speeding. Brown was stopped by State Police on Monday, on Route 77 in Darien as part of an enforcement detail in the area. During the detail, troopers issued 16 tickets to motorists for various alleged violations.

Danielle M. Stevens, 35, of Elba, is charged with possession of a forged instrument. Stevens was arrested by State Police on Friday for an alleged incident reported July 10. No further details were released.

Brittany B. Simmons, 19, of Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Simmons was cited in Bergen on Friday by State Police.

A subject was reportedly struck by a 4-wheeler at 3999 Ridge Road in Elba. Mercy EMS is responding along with Elba Fire Department.

UPDATE 7:18 p.m.: A responder on scene reports there are two patients.

UPDATE 7:39 p.m.: Turns out, no need for an ambulance. Elba is back in service.

Andrew J. Ashley, 25, of 91 W. Main St., Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and using a mobile phone while driving. According to Le Roy PD, Ashley was driving on Route 19 and allegedly texting while driving when he failed to negotiate a curve at Route 19 and Wolcott Street. Ashley's vehicle struck a curb and the vehicle's axle broke.

Danielle Marie Stevens, 35, of Ford Road, Elba, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd. Stevens was arrested on a warrant by State Police following a traffic stop. Stevens was turned over to the Sheriff's Office, arraigned and jailed on $1,250 bail.

Rebecca Louise Batt, 31, of East Bethany Le Roy Road, Bethany, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Batt was arrested following a trespassing complaint at 1:48 a.m., Thursday, when Batt allegedly drove her vehicle into the back yard of a residence on East Bethany Le Roy Road and parked without permission of the homeowner.

Wendy L. Mucher, 42, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and criminal mischief. Mucher is accused of stealing $29.34 worth of merchandise that she removed from its packaging from a business on Veterans Memorial Drive.

Joseph Daniel Barone, 30, of Woodbriar Drive, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Barone was stopped at 8:38 p.m. Thursday on Route 77 in Pembroke by Deputy Patrick Reeves. A search of the vehicle allegedly found alcohol, crack cocaine and marijuana.

Melissa Ann Neely, 42, of Lincoln Mills Road, East Rochester, is charged with controlled substance not its original container. Neely was charged following a traffic stop at 9:09 p.m. Thursday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Jacob D. Waite, 20, of 3661 Pike Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and driving left of pavement markings. Waite was arrested by Attica PD following a traffic stop at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday on Market Street, Attica.

A field fire is reported at 4271 Drake St. Road in Elba. Elba Fire Department is responding. The location is between South Main Street and Weatherwax Road. Fire equipment from the towns of Oakfield, Batavia and Byron are also requested.

UPDATE 4:11 p.m.: Drake Street Road and Weatherwax are being shut down.

UPDATE 4:16 p.m.: Fire police are stationed at routes 262 and 98. A Bergen tanker is requested to fill in at Byron's hall. The wind is 10 mph out of the east.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m.: Batavia and Oakfield are back in service.

UPDATE 5:06 p.m.: The fire is out. Elba, Byron and Bergen are back in service. The roadway is reopened.

Joseph M. Dispenza, 18, of 36 Church St., Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, unlawful possession of marijuana and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Dispenza was taken into custody after Batavia PD received numerous reports of a vehicle operating erratically at 6:48 a.m., Monday, in the Valu Plaza parking lot. Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed in the parking lot and squealing its tires. The vehicle struck a light utility pole causing a significant amount of damage and rendering it inoperable. Dispenza and two passengers allegedly fled the scene but were located by patrols in the Batavia Commons Plaza. (Initial Report)

Bradley J. Broadbent, 32, no permanent address, is charged with burglary, 2nd, and petit larceny. Broadbent is accused of forcibly entering a residence on Tracy Avenue, causing damage to the door, and once inside, allegedly stealing clothing. Broadbent was arrested on these charges Monday while appearing in Batavia City Court stemming from his arrest Friday for alleged incidents on Hutchins Street. Broadbent is being held in Genesee County Jail without bail.

Kelly J. Rhim, 33, of 30 Bell St., Cheektowaga, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Rhim was allegedly involved in an argument with a female acquaintance. Rhim is accused of throwing a bowl of food at the friend, striking her with the object. There were allegedly two children in the room at the time.

Jernie Edward Kuhns, 44, of Ridge Road, Elba, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Kuhns allegedly sent text messages to another person threatening to come to the residence of that person and physically harm another person. Kuhns allegedly went to the residence but left when the occupants did not answer the door. Kuhns was jailed on $350 bail.

Jason A. Klinkbeil, 24, of Le Roy, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Klinkbeil was taken into custody by State Police at 8:15 p.m., Saturday, at 80 South St., Village of Le Roy. No further details released.

Will Greek yogurt mean a boom for local dairy farmers? Marwa Eltagouri takes a look at that question for the Buffalo News.

Local dairy farmers Gordon Offhaus and Dale Stein are featured.

In order to keep up with the Greek yogurt demand, it is estimated that milk produced by Western New York farmers must increase by 15 percent over the next four to five years, said Dave Dean Norton, president of the New York State Farm Bureau.

Since there isn't enough milk in the state right now to feed the Alpina Foods and PepsiCo plants, the plants will have to pay additional costs to freight the milk in from another state, likely Michigan, said Stein, the farmer from Le Roy.

The article is full of useful information to know if this segment of the local economy is important to you.

Elba's Maureen Torrey is featured in a story by McClatchy News Service on the shortage of farm labor:

With the peak harvest season at hand, Torrey’s concerns about a labor shortage are growing. A crackdown on illegal immigration, more job opportunities in Mexico and rising fees charged by smugglers are reducing the number of workers who cross the U.S. border illegally each year to help make up more than 60 percent of U.S. farmworkers.

The American Farm Bureau Federation projects $5 billion to $9 billion in annual produce-industry losses because of the labor shortages, which have become commonplace for farmers such as Torrey, who said there were 10 applicants for every job five years ago.

“In the last year that wasn’t the case,” she said. “We hired anybody that showed up for field work. It’ll be interesting to see how many people we have knocking on the door this year.”

A caller on Pekin Road, Elba, reports that a man is shooting at her house.

The man is described as wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. He has a ponytail.

The caller says she may know the subject and that he appears to have a long gun and a pistol in his possession.

He is approximately 150 yards from the house.

Law enforcement is responding.