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Photos: Le Roy's win over Dansville

By Howard B. Owens

Photos submitted by David Boyce of Le Roy's game against Dansville on Saturday, which the Knights won 28-0.

Nick Egeling scored on a 43-yard run and a six-yard run. Josh Laurie had a 65-yard punt return and Dom Filio had a three-yard run. Mary Purdy knocked in four point after attempts.

Egeling rushed for 108 yards on 18 carries, Laurie 19 on 4 and Filio 16 on five. Laurie was two for nine passing for 38 yards. Catches by Reed Kacur for 40 yards and Ryan Boyce for two yards.

On defense, Luke Hogle, 12 tackles, Kacur, eight, Anthony Natrigo, seven, Filio, seven, and Nate Flint, five.

Photos: Red, white and blue and Darryl Worley at Frostridge

By Howard B. Owens

Darryl Worley, a multi-hit country music artist who topped the charts in 2003 with a 9-11 song, "Have You Forgotten?", played Frostridge Saturday night and a few hundred hearty fans braved the rain and waved flags and cheered Worley's pro-USA, positive-living message.

The show closes out the 2015 season for The Ridge.

Aldi's in Batavia closed for renovations

By Howard B. Owens

The local outlet of the discount food chain Aldi's is closed for remodeling and will remain closed until Oct. 1, according to a handwritten sign outside the store's main entrance on East Main Street in Eastown Plaza.

There was no prior announcement of the closing and no details of the renovations in the store have been released.

Aldi's is based in Germany. The company has 1,400 U.S. stores and is planning on investing $3 billion in the states, and creating 10,000 more jobs. It plans to open 600 more locations in the U.S., making it 44 percent the size of Walmart. Walmart is reportedly Aldi's competitive target.

The U.S. division of Aldi's is based in Batavia, Ill.

Photos: Notre Dame beats Alexander 34-14

By Howard B. Owens

In a key early season Genesee Region matchup, Notre Dame beat Alexander 34-14.

Alexander scored first on a 14-yard run by Jake Wozniak. Notre Dame scored twice in the second quarter, making it 12-8, on a two-yard run by Peter Daversa and a 44-yard run by Jack Sutherland.

Alexander tied the score early in the third quarter on a fumble recovery in the end zone by Josh Hylkema.

The rest of the game was all Notre Dame, as the Fighting Irish scored on a 51-yard run by Sutherland, a one-yard dive for a TD by Sutherland, and Deversa scored on a one-yard run.

Alexander finished with 172 yards of total offense to 307, all on the ground, for Notre Dame.

Sutherland gained 185 yards and Deversa had 104. For Alexander, Wozniak rushed for 120 yards on 20 carries.

C.J. Suozzi had nine tackles and Dane Meberlein, 12, and Hunter Marzolf had nine for Alexander.

Suozzi punted twice for 69 yards.

In other Genesee County football this weekend:

  • Attica beat Pembroke, 36-0
  • Geneseo beat York/Pavilion, 34-28
  • Elba/Byron-Bergen beat Holley, 60-14
  • Le Roy beat Dansville 28-0 (We should have photos from this game some time tomorrow.)
  • Previously: Photos: Batavia beats Cardinal O'Hara 32-8

To purchase prints of photos, click here

Photos: Funeral procession for William Hynes

By Howard B. Owens

Fire companies from throughout Western New York were represented in Batavia today for the funeral of William M. Hynes.

From his obituary:

Bill dedicated his life to the fire service in Genesee County. He served with the Le Roy Volunteer Fire Department from 1961-1968. From there he served with the Town of Batavia Fire Department from 1968-1980, serving as chief in 1978 and 1979. He is a current member of the Town of Elba Fire Department, joining in 1980 and served as chief from 1990-2003. He served as president of the Board of Directors of the Elba Fire Department from 2004-2013. He was also a life member of the Western New York Fireman’s Association and the New York State Fire Chief’s Association. Bill served on the Genesee County Mutual Aid Advisory Board, where he served as chairman for two years.

City did consider armory for police station location, but found it wasn't suitable

By Howard B. Owens

With news that the state is going to once again try to auction off its one-time armory on State Street, there's been some chatter around town about the city buying the building and converting it into the new police headquarters.

After all, it only costs $60,000.

First off, it's going up for auction, and $60K is just the ante. It will likely go for considerably more than $60,000. City Manager Jason Molino said judging by the number of calls the city has been getting with questions about zoning for the property, there is quite a bit of interest in it.

But even if the city could get it at a reasonable price, converting it into a police station would still cost millions.

"It's not a turnkey building by any means," Molino said.

To make it suitable for police needs there would need to be substantial modifications, a lot of demolition, environmental abatement and retrofitting.

"It's not just a matter of repainting a few walls and moving in," Molino said.

The building was considered for a possible location early in the process, Molino said. The original committee of city staff and consultants toured the building and the city even asked the state to hold off on selling it until the city could complete its study.

The state didn't wait. The building was sold at auction, but that deal eventually fell through.

Even with a potential private owner to deal with, the task force that eventually came up with the Swan Street recommendation gave brief consideration to the armory, but rejected the idea almost as quickly.

Besides the cost, the location is essentially a residential area and the property has only one point of entry and exit. With State Street being a main thoroughfare during the school year, the property would be hard to enter or exit quickly twice a day -- morning and afternoon -- for nearly 10 months out of the year.

The City Council will be asked to consider a plan to build a police station from the ground up on Swan Street. That public discussion among council members has yet to take place.

Rocky has a new home -- ours

By Howard B. Owens

Remember Rocky, the dog whom authorities say was scalded by hot water? The owner and her boyfriend where charged with crimes, and the owner surrendered Rocky to the county for adoption.

Rocky walked this week in the Oakfield Labor Day Parade and I was surprised to learn nobody had shown any interest in adopting him. On the spot, he kind of muzzled his way into my heart, so after much thought and conversation with Billie and a couple of visits to the animal shelter, Billie and I decided we would adopt him ourselves.

He's a real sweetheart, very gentle, loves people and other dogs and doesn't care much about cats. We had him with Pachuco in Kiwanis Park today to ensure they would get along, and they hit it off and have been doing well together this afternoon.

We think we can give Rocky a good home.

Previously:

Photos: 9-11 ceremony at VA

By Howard B. Owens

Veterans came together at the VA Center for a 9-11 remembrance ceremony.

GCC poised to celebrate 50th anniversary with campus expansion

By Howard B. Owens
Craig Yunker

By the time Genesee Community College celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017, the campus will have opened a new Student Success Center and an events center, President Jim Sunser told a gathering in the Stuart Steiner Forum yesterday evening.

These will help GCC continue to grow and serve students better, Sunser said.

"Colleges are constantly evolving and student success is at the core of the values that we have at Genesee," Sunser said.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring thanks in part to a successful fundraising campaign chaired by local farmer and businessman Craig Yunker.

The goal of the campaign was to raise $5 million. The committee did better than that. It was comprised of people from Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

"We're really proud that this community is a generous community and people stepped up with a smile," Yunker said. "I'm proud to be a member of this community, and I'm proud to report to you that as of 2 o'clock this afternoon, we raised $5,214,213."

The two buildings along with a new scholarship fund is a $42 million project. More than half of that money will come from state grants. The county will also back a bond to help close the gap in funding.

A total of 475 individuals, couples and businesses from throughout the GLOW Region contributed money to the campaign, called "Building Our Future Together."

The project is the largest undertaking by the college since its founding, Yunker said. 

"Fifty years ago, GCC was just talk," Yunker said. "I remember how the talk about how it would move the region forward. It took a lot of volunteer effort. It took a lot of effort to bring it about."

A big reason the campaign was successful, Yunker said, was the support of the effort by the Call family.

"It's hard to imagine how this campaign wouldn't have gotten off to a great start without the Call family, and I just want to acknowledge Dick Call's leadership, Dick Call's vision, but the whole Call family, it was really important the leadership that the Call family has shown," Yunker said.

GCC President Jim Sunser

Primary election results for Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

All primaries were Republican races. Results considered "unofficial."

City of Batavia, Ward 1:

  • Viele, 110
  • Doeringer, 25

City of Batavia, Ward 3:

  • Richmond, 20
  • Canale 41

Bergen, Town Clerk

  • Truax, 57
  • Smith, 213
  • VanHoute, 33

Byron, Supervisor

  • Heins, 114
  • Yasses, 157

Byron, Highway Superintendent

  • Forsyth, 173
  • Leaton, 99

Byron, Town Council (vote for two)

  • Cudney, 191
  • Sackett, 114
  • Klycek, 126

Bethany, Highway Superintendent

  • Fleming, 56
  • Merle, 75

Pavilion, Supervisor

  • Knepshield, 117
  • Howard, 130

Pavilion, Town Council, vote for two

  • Carney, 36
  • Clary, 109
  • Davis, 177
  • Rudgers, 123

Pavilion, Highway Superintendent

  • Offhaus, 118
  • Zarbo, 29
  • Thompson, 94

Photos: Former state armory on State Street headed to auction again

By Howard B. Owens

If your idea of a good bargain is a Mid-century Modern fixer-upper, has the State of New York got a deal for you.

The state is making a second attempt -- the first deal fell through -- to auction off its former armory at 235 State St., Batavia.

The minimum bid is $60,000.

Perhaps you need office space, space for your contracting business, or you think it could be apartments or offices or maybe even your home -- all contingent on zoning approvals, of course.

The auction is at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, in Buffalo.

There was an open house today and two more coming up -- from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5.

13WHAM hosting town hall discussion on Common Core tonight

By Howard B. Owens

I'll be in Rochester this evening to participate in the 13WHAM news department's town hall discussion on Common Core, the national education initiative focusing on state-by-state standards to "prepare America's children for college & career."

The event will be broadcast live from The Strong National Museum of Play in Downtown Rochester and available streaming on the station's mobile app and at 13WHAM.com.

The Batavian is an official news partner of 13WHAM, and like the other partners, will be asking questions and posting on Twitter about the discussion. You can follow my tweets at @howardowens.

The event starts at 7 p.m.

O-AT-KA Milk Products breaks ground on plant expansion

By Howard B. Owens

Officials with O-AT-KA Milk Products and Upstate Niagara Cooperative broke ground on a new warehouse expansion this morning at the company's plant off Ellicott Street, Batavia.

Participating in the top photo are Steve Hyde, Ray Cudney, Steve Golding, Bill Schreiber, Dan Wolf, John Gould, Dave Nutting and Mike Patterson. Second photo: Upstate's Board of Directors.

"This is an important day for the growth of the dairy industry in Western New York," said Wolf, a member of the cooperative's Board of Directors. "The 360 farms that I represent depend on this business and we're not going anywhere. This is our roots and we'll be here. We will continue to grow and develop here in Western New York, and (to) create jobs and so forth that go with that is critical to us."

Press release from Finger Lakes Economic Development:

Empire State Development today announced that O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative, Inc., a dairy cooperative based in Batavia, will be expanding their warehouse and material handling functions at their Batavia site. O-AT-KA is majority owned by Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc., headquartered in Buffalo and also by Dairy Farmers of America, a cooperative with a strong presence in Central NY.

O-AT-KA helps to ensure there is a market for milk produced by more than 400 farms in the Western, Finger Lakes and Central NY regions. A new warehousing facility and equipment room will allow the cooperative to continue to grow its production and create 24 new full-time positions within three years, raising total employment to more than 350 positions.

“We consider this project to be a game changer,” said Michael Patterson, O-AT-KA’s chief financial officer. “This not only enables us to meet our immediate needs but positions O-AT-KA for growth into the future. Three factors driving this initiative are worker safety, food quality and operational efficiencies. These three legs of the stool will be the backbone supporting O-AT-KA’s continuing growth here in New York State.”

The economic support and assistance from local and state agencies were critical factors in undertaking this project. New York State, through Empire State Development, will provide a $400,000 capital grant to assist in bringing off-site warehousing back on site by building a 195,000-square-foot warehouse and a 35,000-square-foot equipment room to their existing facility.

The company will also purchase new material handling equipment and repurpose existing equipment. The new space will afford the company more efficiency, provide safety for workers, and allow for cost savings, thereby boosting their competitive edge in the market place.

The growth of on-site warehousing also enables the company to grow its production of shelf-stable, dairy-based beverages. O-AT-KA has a goal of increasing its export business by 10 percent over the next several years, which will result in approximately 25 percent of the total production being exported.

As the No. 1 manufacturing employer in Batavia, O-AT-KA strives to foster productive, long-term relationships with their employees. The cooperative, which produces dry, condensed and evaporated dairy products, was established in 1959 with five employees and has grown to 332.

“Agricultural and food processing has been identified as one of the top Finger Lakes REDC strategies,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “The O-AT-KA project aligns with the council’s goal to optimize business retention and expansion, and support the growth of food-processing companies in the region.”

“This commitment by New York State to O-AT-KA demonstrates Governor Cuomo’s support of economic development in Upstate New York and in particular to the agribusiness industry in Genesee County,” said Paul Battaglia, chairman of the Genesee County Economic Development Center. “We look forward to continuing working with New York State on other economic development opportunities."

"O-AT-KA has played a major role in our local economy for decades. Now, expansion plans, along with 24 new jobs, will help to secure the cooperative's presence in Batavia for years to come. I commend O-AT-KA CEO Bill Schreiber for selecting Genesee County to invest and grow," said State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer.

“I am pleased to see the growth and expansion of an important Western New York agricultural staple such as O-AT-KA. As a small business and farm owner for over four decades, I realize the integral part O-AT-KA plays in New York’s dairy industry and Western New York’s economy. Having grown up in Batavia, I have seen the company grow from just a few employees to over 300 people – truly epitomizing the American dream of entrepreneurship. As lawmakers we must continue to protect small businesses such as these and take measures to grow New York’s economy,” said Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Primary elections today

By Howard B. Owens

There are primary elections in Genesee County today. All of the primaries are among Republicans.

City of Batavia:

  • City Council Ward 1: Paul Viele vs. Kris Doeringer
  • City Council Ward 2: Richard Richmond vs. John Canale

Bergen:

  • Town Clerk: Michele Smith, Vicky Truax and Connie VanHoute

Bethany:

  • Highway Superintendent: Norm Fleming vs. Joel Merle

Byron:

  • Town Supervisor: Gerald Heins vs. Peter Yasses
  • Town Council: John Sacket, James Cudney and Alfred Klycek (two seats)
  • Highway Superintendent: Brian Forsyth vs. Davi Leaton

Pavilion:

  • Town Supervisor: Theron Howard vs. Gary Knepshield
  • Town Council: Kevin Clary, Dean Davis, John Rudgers and Donald Carney (two seats)
  • Highway Superintendent: Steven Thompson, Joel Offhaus and Ronald Zarbo

If you're unsure of your polling place, the county elections office can be reached at (585) 815-7804.

Driver in fatal crash out of jail pending placement in new rehab program

By Howard B. Owens
  Hannah Dibble

The woman accused of driving drunk, leading to a fatal collision in Bethany in February, has successfully completed a round of alcohol dependence treatment, her attorney told Judge Robert C. Noonan in County Court this morning.

Attorney Benjamin Bonarigo asked Noonan to release Hannah Dibble under supervision of Genesee Justice for a couple of days while she awaits placement in another treatment program.

Assistant District Attorney William Zickl said the people were willing to go along with that request.

Noonan was less sanguine.

"I apparently have more misgivings than the people," Noonan said. "Given the short time she was on RUS when she had a very serious violation, at least given the circumstances of the case, I was inclined to keep her in jail for a couple of days until a bed-to-bed transfer to Horizon was available."

Dibble will be allowed to stay at her parents' house until admitted to Horizon, but Noonan warned her that it was a 24/7 house arrest.

"If you are even on your front lawn and you are seen, you will go back to jail," Noonan said.

He told the attorneys, "I hope this doesn't result in a violation because it would be an indication she is not a candidate for anything other than long-term incarceration (if convicted)."

Bonarigo said the other members of the Dibble household have agreed to have no alcohol in the home while Hannah Dibble is staying at the residence.

In July, a Genesee County Grand Jury handed down an 11-count indictment on Dibble, including counts of manslaughter in the second degree, vehicular assault in the first degree, three counts of assault in the second degree, three counts of vehicular assault in the second degree, and two counts of DWI.

Her friend, Alyson D. Krzanak, 18, of Corfu, died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Suffering serious physical injuries in the collision Feb. 21 were James Scherer, 21, Brandon Danser, 22, and Felecia J. Fazzio, 20.

The time in rehab has given Dibble great insights, Bonarigo said. He said she and her family wanted to see her continue in-patient treatment because she's made good progress.

"She's making significant strides in treatment and we hope to see her continue in that direction," Bonarigo said.

East Pembroke cancels public hearing scheduled for Sept. 16

By Howard B. Owens

Public Notice:

Please take notice that the Public Hearing that was scheduled to be conducted by the East Pembroke Fire District and to be held at the St. Maximillian Kolbe Hall, located at 8656 Church Street, East Pembroke, NY 14056 on Wednesday September 16, 2015, is cancelled until further notice.

ME finds no alcohol in driver involved in double fatal in Bergen

By Howard B. Owens

A preliminary report from the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office indicates the driver involved in a double fatal accident on Sackett Road, Bergen, on Aug. 23, was not intoxicated, said Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble.

The driver, Dylan Starkweather, 22, of South Fancher Road, Holley, and Tracy Manchester, 31, of Lomond Shore, Kendall, both died in the accident.

The accident remains under investigation. Typically, fatal accident reports can take months to complete, and it could be some months before a full toxicology report is available from the ME's office.

There was fog in the area at the time of the accident, which occured in the area of an S-curve. A passenger who survived the crash Joshua Deyager, 23, of Jerico Road, Bergen, reportedly told investigators that he saw a deer in the roadway prior to the accident. 

Starkweather's Mini Cooper exited the roadway along the south shoulder, flipped over and struck a tree. Both Startweather and Manchester were declared dead at the scene.

The three people were reportedly returning from the Livingston County Fair.

Previously: Car accident with three possible injuries reported on Sackett Road, Bergen

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