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Structure fire on North Byron Road, Elba

By Billie Owens

A structure fire is reported at 4635 N. Byron Road. The location is between Oak Orchard and Miller roads. Elba Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:12 p.m.: Law enforcement on location reports heavy smoke in the basement. The building is evacuated. "Sounds like wires are sizzling. I can't get in far enough to see." A second alarm is called.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: Equipment and manpower are called in from the Town of Batavia, Stafford, South Byron, Byron and Oakfield fire departments.

UPDATE 1:16 p.m.: All available manpower out of Elba is called in. National Grid called to respond. Fire police will shut down North Byron Road at Oak Orchard and at Miller. Mutual aid from Barre is requested for stand by.

UPDATE 1:22: The gas has been shut off. National grid is on scene. Mercy EMS is called to care for a person who is suffering from smoke inhalation.

UPDATE 1:25 p.m.: The interior crew reports the fire is under control. It is a dryer fire.

UPDATE 1:26 p.m.: The units on the road are told to continue, non-emergency, and those which have not yet responded are asked to stand down by fire command. Electricity is also shut off. A thermal imaging camera will be used on the structure.

UPDATE 1:35 p.m.: The Elba fire commander says he expects he will be releasing responders soon. They have enough water at the scene. The firefighters will begin to remove burnt debris now.

UPDATE 1:48 p.m.: A code enforcement officer is called to the scene. The homeowner is there now.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: Code enforcement has arrived.

GCC Spring 2012 Dean's List honorees

By Billie Owens

Genesee Community College named 633 students to Spring 2012 Dean's List. Students earned a quality point index of 3.50-3.74.

This year's honorees, with their hometowns, are listed below:

Basom

Staci Casper
Andrew Greene

Bergen

Ashley Spangenburg
Jason Birch
Luke Stacy
Amanda-Kay Sands
Jeanette Menzie
Garrett MacDonald

Byron

Reed Olmstead
Morgan Midwick
McKenna Downey
Charlotte Donahue

Corfu

Laura Holovics

Darien Center

Michelle Waldo
James Odell

Elba

Lauren Hughes

Le Roy

Corrie Doeller
Debra McKnight
Rachael Panepento

Oakfield

Alyssa Esola
Cady Glor
Zaneb Silmi
Katie Engle

Pavilion

Jamie Haentges
Taylor Lafferty
Sydney Case
Sarah Nugent



Genesee Community College offers more than 60 academic programs and certificates, including the brand new Veterinary Technology A.A.S. degree and Polysomnographic Technology A.A.S. degree, (the study of sleep disorders).

Genesee is accessible through seven campus locations throughout Western New York in Albion, Arcade, Batavia, Dansville, Lima, Medina, and Warsaw, as well as through online classes in the Distance Learning program.

College housing is available at College Village, just a three minute walk from the Batavia Campus. With small class sizes and state-of-the-art technology both inside and outside of the classroom, Genesee Community College is known for being 'high-tech' and 'high-touch'. Find out more at www.genesee.edu.

BARN DANCE at Torrey's Barn in Elba

By june rowcliffe

KELLY'S OLDTIMER'S WILL PROVIDE MUSIC FOR ROUND AND SQUARE DANCING, 6 p.m. at Torrey's Barn on Route 98, four miles north of Batavia. Hay bales for seating or bring your own chair, dress according to the weather (barn is heated/ inside bathroom). Door prizes, 50/50s, lottery basket, good food, FREE coffee, lots of country fun! Surprise extra, local band at 6:30. Adults $6 each, 18 and under $3. Non-alcoholic event. Plenty of parking. Fundraiser for the Historical Society of Elba. For information, call June at 757-2791.

Event Date and Time
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Law and Order: Assault suspect picked up in South Carolina and returned to Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

James Russell Kosiorek, 19, of Burgess Avenue, Greenville, S.C., was taken into custody on a bench warrant stemming from a second-degree assault charge. Kosiorek allegedly fled New York after being accused of assault, 2nd. The FBI contacted Sheriff's Investigator John Baiocco informing him Kosiorek had been located in South Carolina. Baiocco contacted the Greenville County Sheriff's Office. Kosiorek was taken into custody, waived extradition and was transported back to Genesee County. Kosiorek was arraigned in county court and ordered held without bail. Kosiorek was then arraigned in Batavia City Court on a charge of bail jumping.

Kenneth Damien Kowalik, 51, of Barrville Road, Elba, is charged with petit larceny. Kowalik is accused of shoplifting at Target.

Steven L. Fetterly, 28, of Elba, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, and harassment, 2nd. Fetterly was arrested in Elba by State Police for an incident reported at 7:44 p.m., Wednesday. No further details were released.

Big pine tree on fire on Oak Orchard Road, Elba

By Billie Owens

A large pine tree is on fire, and it's near a gas grill, just one house south of 6417 Oak Orchard Road, Elba. Elba Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:41 p.m.: "The fire's out. We're gonna hit a couple hot spots," says a firefighter.

UPDATE 1:57 p.m.: Elba is back in service.

Two tots playing on Pekin Road, Elba, unsupervised

By Billie Owens

Two children believed to 3- to 5-years old, described as hispanic, were found playing on Pekin Road in Elba unattended. Sheriff's deputies are responding to the complaint.

UPDATE 8:20 p.m.: The children are now safely back home.

UPDATE 9:15 p.m.: This is the same household as the one that made the news on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 12. Tonight, the parents went out and were expected back at about 9 p.m. and left the kids with the older brother. They arrived home early and a deputy spoke with them about the latest situation.

Trash can fire in Elba village park

By Billie Owens

A trash can is on fire under the pavilion at the Veterans Memorial Park on South Main Street. Elba Fire Department is responding

UPDATE 2:17 p.m. The fire was put out before Elba could respond. Elba is back in service.

Motorcycle and car crash, serious injuries, Elba

By Billie Owens

A rider is down in the road and not moving following a car and motorcycle crash at 4575 Barrville Road in Elba. Two ambulances -- a Mercy rig and one from Oakfield -- are called to respond and Mercy Flight as well. The accident is blocking traffic and injuries are serious.

UPDATE 6:33 p.m.: A second helicopter is requested. A portion of Barrville Road is being shut down.

UPDATE 6:38 p.m.: The location is between Bridge Road and Chapel Street. The second helicopter is directed to the scene, to land between two homes, for the more seriously injured patient.

UPDATE 6:43 p.m.: One bird has landed safely and the other one is going to land at the ARC facility's parking lot.

UPDATE 6:46 p.m.: Elba Fire Department is on scene as are fire police.

UPDATE 6:49 p.m.: The first helicopter is airborne to Strong Memorial Hospital with the most seriously injured patient -- the rider. The second bird is about 5 minutes out from the landing zone at the ARC parking lot and will be transporting a 20-year-old female who has an extremely severe slash at the joint on her right knee. She had no loss of consciousness.

UPDATE 6:58 p.m.: The second Mercy Flight ship has landed safely.

UPDATE 7:07 p.m.: The second helicopter is airborne and also headed to Strong.

UPDATE 7:15 p.m.: The Oakfield ambulance is inbound to UMMC with a 9-year-old girl who has cuts on her wrist, arm, knee and ankle as well as back and neck pain. She is accompanied by her mother, who was not injured in the accident. The child was a passenger in the backseat on the driver's side of the vehicle, which was struck from behind by the motorcycle.

UPDATE 7:42 p.m.: The motorcycle is still in the roadway and fire police are remaining on scene until it's removed. The bike is said to be a 1999 yellow Honda, registered to a man in Penn Yan.

UPDATE 8:03 p.m.: The road is reopened. Elba is back in service.

BHS runner sets new course record in Elba 5K

By Howard B. Owens

Ty Demmer of Batavia High School ran a new course record of 17:32 in the 3rd Annual Elba 5K this morning.

Jackie Moyer of Aquinas High School was the female winner with a time of 22:58.

Full results available by click here.

Photos provided by Dave Bateman.

Camelot is offering of 16th Annual Summer Youth Theater

By Billie Owens

Camelot -- one of Lerner and Loewe’s most popular musicals -- is the Batavia Players offering for their 16th Annual Summer Youth Theater.

Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16 through 18 at Elba Central School, 57 S. Main St. in Elba.

It's the timeless story of Arthur, the boy who became king when he removed an enchanted sword from the stone.

The story begins as Arthur learns that he is to be married to Guinevere in order to maintain peace for the idyllic kingdom of Camelot.

Event Date and Time
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Law and Order: Pair accused of possession of hydrocodone

By Howard B. Owens

Kimberly Dawn Moore, 45, of South Main Street, Warsaw, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Moore was stopped at 1:34 p.m., Saturday, on Ellicott Street, Batavia, by Deputy Brian Thompson and Officer Eric Hill. Moore was found to allegedly be in illegal possession of hydrocodone. Also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance was Jon Hoyt Bush, 29, of Oak Orchard Road, Batavia.

Kyle K. Shultz, 18, of Norton Road, Elba, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08, failure to keep right, open container, mobile phone use in a motor vehicle. Shultz was stopped at 6:14 a.m., Saturday, at Byron Road and Fotch Road, Stafford, by Deputy Brian Thompson. Shultz allegedly had a BAC of .16.

Missing 3-year-old located in Elba

By Howard B. Owens

At around 4:45 p.m., dispatchers received a report of a 3-year-old who had gone missing in the area of Pekin Road, Elba.

Law enforcement along with volunteer firefighters responded and initiated a search.

The child was located at about 5:15 p.m. and did not require medical attention.

All units going back in service.

UPDATE 5:41 p.m. (by Billie): I think the initial call came into dispatch around 4:15  p.m. The tot, clad in jeans and an orange T-shirt, was said to have left the house and could not be located. The caller was the child's older brother. The parents were both home but aren't fluent in English. Law enforcement asked that they scour the house once more to double-check for the child but that turned up nothing. The child was later heard yelling in the woods by officers.

Ambulance being dispatched for victim of fight in Elba

By Howard B. Owens

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.

Accident reported on Oak Orchard Road, Elba, with injuries

By Howard B. Owens

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.

Driver involved in Elba accident reportedly said she expected truck to stop

By Howard B. Owens

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.

Accident at routes 98 and 262, Elba

By Billie Owens

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.

Law and Order: Elba man accused of choking, pointing shotgun at victim

By Howard B. Owens

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.

GCC Spring 2012 President's List honorees

By Billie Owens

Genesee Community College proudly announces that the following students are among 540 students who were named to the President's List for the Spring 2012 semester. Students honored on the President's List have maintained full-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better. (The college also maintains a Dean's List comprised of students who earn a quality point index of 3.50 to 3.74. Genesee's Dean's List will be released in the next several weeks.)

This year's Genesee Community College Spring 2012 President's List honorees, with their hometowns, are listed below:
 

Basom

Danielle Hirtzel
Jessica Pfalzer
Theresa Rainey
Elias Seward
Leah Snyder

Batavia

Russell Jackson

Bergen

Elizabeth Jarnot
Charles Lee
Lindsay Stumpf

Byron

Tiffany Harrington
Richard Lucas
Stacy Maskell
Arlene Olmstead
Adrienne Payne
Danielle Thom

Corfu

Angel Alexander
Stacy Brockway
Rachel Doktor
Tracy Kearney
Michael Kraus
Kyle Maurer
Kayla Meyer
Alyssa Reeb
Dawn Roberto
Dawn Smith
Trevor Spiotta
Dana Wolbert

Darien Center

Shannon Bates
Kylynn Bank
James Erb
Matthew Herod
Hannah Zimmermann

East Bethany

Autumn Atkinson
Julliane Ingalls
Alec Kirch
Bryce Kirch
Sarah Lawson
Janet Gohlke

East Pembroke

Anthony Nati

Elba

Michael Anauo
Nicole Beardsley
Richard Dorf
Chapin Guthrie
Chelsie Pangrazio
Samantha Walker

Le Roy

Kevin Callahan
Andi DeBellis
Eric Hayes
Stephanie Heisler
Jeanice Howard
Gregory Humphrey
Donald Kahm
Mark McAvoy
Cody Niccloy
Willard Prevost
Michele Rast
Bethany Roth
Heather Schroeder
Brenda Sheflin
Denise Simcick
Michael Sullivan
Conor Tomaszewski

Linwood

Deena Hernandez

Oakfield

Della Balduf
Jonathon Cassiano
Lindsay Chatt
Benjamin Cherry
Angela Larmon
Laura Ostrowski
Sara Read
Joseph Sullivan

Meghan Vandersteur

Pavilion

Samantha Barclay
Patricia Brown
Wendy Edwards
Kaleigh Kingsley
Jonathan White

South Byron

Halle Davalos

Stafford

Michelle Jackson

 

Genesee Community College offers over 60 academic programs and certificates, including the new Veterinary Technology (Vet Tech) and Polysomnography (Sleep Tech) programs. Genesee is accessible through seven campus locations throughout Western New York, as well as through online classes in the Distance Learning program. College housing is available at College Village, just a three minute walk from the Batavia Campus. With small class sizes yet state-of-the-art technology both inside and out of the classroom, Genesee Community College is known for being "high-tech" and "high-touch."

Photos: Crowning of the 2012 Elba Onion Queen

By Howard B. Owens

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.

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of resisting arrest, threatening officers

By Howard B. Owens

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.

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