This kitten was found by staff on school grounds at Alexander Elementary School. It appears to have had recent surgery because of the purple dye on its fur. If it's your cat, contact the school.
UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: The owner has been located.
Members of Genesee County's rope rescue team trained at Indian Falls -- the site of many such real-life rescues over the years -- with a new rope system, called a Vortex.
The $25,000 system (including LED lighting) features a more sophisticated, and more effective and efficient, pulley system, making it easier to keep the ropes clear of obstructions and requiring less exertion of force to raise a patient lifter, making it easier for a medic to accompany the patient up the side of the cliff.
Top photo: Christina Marinaccio and Jamie Call, the first team to descend and ascend with the new system. Marinaccio and Call are both city firefighters and volunteers (with Le Roy and Stafford, respectively).
To find out how you can do interesting things like this, help save lives and serve your community, visit ReadyGenesee.com.
Amanda Rose Hagedorn, 25, of West Hazeltine Avenue, Kenmore, is charged with criminal contempt, obstructing governmental administration and attempted assault, 3rd. Hagedorn allegedly bit a deputy during her arraignment on a previous arrest and then again while being removed from the courtroom and placed in a patrol car.
Roseann Cooper, 46, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny, harassment, 2nd, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2n,d and failure to stop at stop sign. Cooper is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General. She allegedly shoved a store employee when confronted about the suspected shoplifting. Cooper left the location and a customer called 9-1-1. Cooper was located allegedly driving on Walnut Street.
Melinda T. Andrews, 42, of Walnut Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Andrews was allegedly involved in a domestic incident on Holland Avenue at 1:05 a.m., Sunday.
Scott Edward Yocina, 58, of Phelps Road, Corfu, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana, 4th, and unlawful growing of marijuana. Yocina was charged related to the alleged discovery of a marijuana growing operation at 4:15 p.m., May 4.
Joseph Carl Jeffords, 24, of Ross Street, Batavia, is accused of a violation of probation. Jeffords was turned over to Batavia PD by authorities in Wayne County, where he was in custody on charges in their jurisdiction. He was jailed locally on $5,000 bail.
Lonnie J. Ford III, 44, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with open container. Ford is accused of possessing an open container of alcohol while in the pavilion at Austin Park.
Jeffery James Cervone, 47, no known address, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Cervone allegedly damaged and threw items around in a room at UMMC.
Stephen J. Konieczny, 37, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief. Konieczny allegedly threw a bottle of water at a vehicle causing damage.
Thomas Swineford, 61, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Swinford is accused of urinating on a tree in Austin Park. He was reported by a passerby.
Alex J. Ianita, 21, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful imprisonment, third-degree assault, petit larceny and second-degree robbery. Ianita was allegedly involved in a domestic incident at 11:25 a.m., Aug. 16.
Timothy A. Banks, 24, of Columbia Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant. Banks allegedly failed to appear on an open container charge. He was jailed on $100 bail or $200 bond.
Ellicott M. Hickman Jr., 24, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass in a city park (between dusk and sunrise). Hickman was allegedly in Williams Park at 5:08 a.m., Aug. 20.
It's easy to be optimistic in the preseason, Alexander's Head Coach Tim Sawyer notes during a recent practice at The Field of Dreams while the Trojans sprint and leap and twist and turn and bang into each other during a series of warm-up drills.
Sawyer likes what he sees of his squad, which is inheriting back-to-back successful seasons that gave Alexander shots at sectional titles.
His boys are tough, working hard, have some talent and, most importantly, coalescing as a team.
"We had a tremendous summer," Sawyer said. "We have a really tight team. They like football. They like each other. They care about each other and they want to be the best they can be, so it's exciting."
The squad of 27 includes 11 seniors and 15 juniors. Jared Browne returns as the starting QB, Derrick Busch is at tight end, Connor Roberts at wide receiver, Zach Jasen at fullback and Jake Wozniak at halfback. Sawyer also can stack his lines with Josh Hylkema, Riley Kusmierski, Rick Amico, Sean Bennett, Matt Grover and Brett Nichols, none of whom start the season under 190 pounds.
Hylkema, a junior at 235 pounds, is an interesting case. He only started playing football last season, and has, Sawyer said, fallen in love with the game.
"He's really changed," Sawyer said. "He's gotten bigger. He understands the game better."
But as Sawyer surveys the Genesee Region, he sees potential trouble every week. It will be a tough season.
"That's the neat thing," Sawyer said. "I think overall, the strength of the league this year means on any given week, you're going to get a challenge."
That said, Sawyer added, "We've got high expectations."
"We were in sectional finals two years ago and semi-finals last year and we want to get back and win a sectional title," Sawyer said. "You can do that without winning the GR, but we'd like to do both. That's our ultimate goal, be GR champs again and win a sectional title.
"The kids have been working hard for it," Sawyer added. "It's in our sights. I've had groups in the past that will, you know, that will rattle off these goals, but they haven't acted up to it by their work ethic, but this group has been working hard. If that's what they want to do, I think we've got a shot at it, but you better be prepared to play every week in the GR."
A former local small business owner appeared in county court to answer for a series of thefts in Genesee County that he said was spurred by his addiction to heroin.
Jason D. Lang, 33, of Liberty Street, entered guilty pleas in June to two counts of grand larceny, 4th, related to thefts from Walmart and Target. The guilty plea satisfied a whole raft of similar charges.
Already in state custody on convictions in neighboring counties, Lang was told today his sentence on the local charges would be one-and-a-half to four years.
The sentences are concurrent to his previous sentence. Lang's attorney told Noonan that a parole board had already told Lang he would be released Sept. 5.
The new sentence throws that release date into doubt. The board will need to take into consideration Noonan's new sentence. At this point, it's unclear when Lang might be released.
"Mr. Lang is eager to return to his community and be productive again," said attorney Jon Wilson.
Lang has been in drug and alcohol treatment and Wilson said he's doing very well.
"He's committed himself to turning around his world," Wilson said.
Once the successful owner of Batavia Cab, Lang opened a smoke shop and tattoo parlor known as The Laughing Buddha. It may have been the first local shop, just prior to the 420 Emporium opening, to sell bath salts and synthetic marijuana.
In the Summer of 2012, when local law enforcement and emergency personnel were dealing with a series of peculiar incidents that seemed to stem from bath salt use, Lang was often in the news. He was arrested after imagining and reporting gunfire at a local hotel. He was also accused of impersonating a police officer.
In the midst of his legal troubles, and after his store was shut down and the cab company sold, his family organized a protest outside the 420 Emporium over that store's continued sale of bath salts. (Owner Charles Fitzgerald who owned other locations as well, is currently serving a federal prison term related to his trade in synthetic drugs.)
Lang reportedly kicked the bath salt habit, but then turned to heroin. He was accused of shoplifting from Hamburg to Victor, including in Batavia, during this period.
Wilson said his client has been in treatment at Lakeview since March and has completed both the drug and alcohol portions of the program.
When asked to speak, Lang was contrite.
"I'm sorry for the crimes I committed," Lang said. "I never would have did them if not for my heroin addiction. The past three years have been hard. I put the community through hell, my parents through hell, my children through hell. I'm really regretful for what I did."
Noonan reminded Lang that he wasn't the victim in this case and was in no mood to fashion a sentence that would guarantee Lang could keep his Sept. 5 parole date.
"Let that be the last time you blame heroin for your crimes," Noonan said. "Heroin didn't commit your crimes. You committed your crimes."
The following people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office during the Van Halen Concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Tuesday.
Michael L. Mawk Jr., 22, of Stellane Drive, Angola, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly climbing over a fence and entering the concert venue.
James H. Munt, 37, of Robinson Street, North Tonawanda, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.
Codie J. Taylor, 21, of Greenwood Place, Angola, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly climbing over a fence and entering the concert venue.
Donald H. Gardener, 29, of Briggs Avenue, Bronx, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly reentering Darien Lake property after being ejected and told not to return.
Thomas J. Scheurlein, 25, of Chili Avenue, Rochester, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.
Genesee County's unemployment rate was reported at below 5 percent for the third straight month, with a July number of 4.7 percent.
The July rate is the lowest its been for the midsummer month since 2007, when the rate was 4.1 percent.
The 2015 figure is lower than a year ago when the rate was 5.0.
In all, the labor department currently lists 1,500 local residents without jobs and 17,800 with jobs.
The department also reports a total of 24,000 non-farm jobs in the county, up slightly from the previous July when there were 23,800 jobs reported. There were 24,400 jobs reported in the county in June.
The lowest recorded unemployment rate for July since 1990 is 3.4 percent. The highest jobs number for July since is 24,600 in 2008.
Press release:
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that special permits will be issued for the opening weekend of duck season to hunt waterfowl at two popular state-managed locations. The permit requirement applies to waterfowl hunting at the Oak Orchard and Tonawanda Wildlife Management areas located primarily in Genesee and Niagara counties (with small portions in Orleans and Erie counties). The intent of the special permits is to promote hunter safety and increase the quality of hunting on days when the areas receive the greatest use.
A special permit is required to hunt waterfowl at Oak Orchard and Tonawanda Wildlife Management areas on the duck season’s first Saturday and first Sunday. These days are the only times the special permits are needed. Waterfowl may be hunted without a special permit during the rest of the season. The permit system has been used successfully at both wildlife management areas in recent years. No special permits are required to hunt other game species at Oak Orchard or Tonawanda Wildlife Management areas.
DEC has announced tentative 2015-2016 duck hunting season dates. Western New York’s tentative opening day/weekend dates for duck hunting are Oct. 24 and 25. This year goose season will be open during the opening weekend of duck season, and goose hunters are also required to obtain the special permit. These dates will not be finalized until the federal regulations are adopted in late summer. Hunters are advised to confirm the final dates before hunting any waterfowl.
Opening weekend waterfowl hunting permits for the two wildlife management areas will be distributed by a random lottery. For each of the two days, DEC will issue 100 permits for Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area and 50 permits for Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area. Hunters must choose from four options: Oak Orchard first Saturday; Oak Orchard first Sunday; Tonawanda first Saturday; and Tonawanda first Sunday.
To apply for the lottery, hunters must send in a postcard with their name, address and their first three choices, in order of preference, clearly indicated. Applicants must also have completed a Waterfowl Identification Course, and their course certificate number must be indicated on the postcard.
Applications will be accepted through Sept. 15 and must be mailed to the New York State Bureau of Wildlife, 1101 Casey Road, Box B, Basom, NY 14013. Each permittee will be allowed to bring one companion over the age of 18 and an additional companion 18 years old or younger.
Duplicate permits will not be issued to hunters who have already been issued a permit to hunt on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Any cards submitted by hunters who have been selected to hunt on Iroquois on the first Saturday will be excluded from the lottery for that day at both Oak Orchard and Tonawanda.
Issued permits are nontransferable and are not valid for companion(s) unless the permittee is present and hunting within 50 yards. The permittee is responsible for completing and returning the questionnaire portion of the permit to the New York State Bureau of Wildlife by Nov. 15. If the completed questionnaire is not received by Nov. 15, the permittee will be ineligible for next year's (2016) lottery.
NYSDEC is also currently planning the annual Waterfowl Information meeting, which is held at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters on Casey Road in Alabama, Genesee County. This year the meeting will take place on the evening of Sept. 2 from 7 – 9 p.m. Wildlife biologists from Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and NYSDEC will discuss items of interest to waterfowl hunters in an informational and interactive forum.
Topics to be covered include:
-- Highlights of waterfowl management and research programs at Iroquois NWR, Tonawanda, Oak Orchard and Braddock Bay Wildlife Management areas, including drawdown schedules and hunt program news;
- Regional and statewide waterfowl news and updates, including waterfowl banding results;
- Atlantic Flyway news, including Avian Influenza update, and waterfowl population status surveys; and,
- Tentative NY 2015-16 duck and goose hunting seasons.
Directions:
From the NYS Thruway, take Exit 48A (Pembroke) and travel north on Route 77 to Alabama Center. Continue north on Route 63 for approximately 1 mile, turn left on Casey Road. The office is about a mile down the road on the right.
Richard D. Cohen, 46, of Ellicott Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Cohen is accused of stealing 13 framed pictures from the walls of Terry Hills Restaurant and Banquet Facility. Cohen allegedly entered a conference room at Terry Hills on Aug. 7 and removed the pictures from the walls and placed them in his vehicle. The next day, after management noticed the pictures were missing, they reviewed video footage of the conference room area and members of the staff recognized Cohen and identified him as the suspect. The pictures were subsequently located in his vehicle. The case was investigated by Kris Kautz.
Sherry Maryanna Steffans, 34, of Stony Point Road, Grand Island, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. Deputy Patrick Reeves attempted to make a traffic stop on Steffans' vehicle at 12:12 a.m. Saturday on Main Road, Pembroke, and Steffans allegedly failed to yield for more than a mile.
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Press release:
The City of Batavia has partnered with PathStone Corporation to provide homeowners and landlords access to services that will provide a greater ability to maintain and manage their properties and build a stronger a community. In addition, the City is taking a proactive step to provide landlords with additional tools to screen potential tenants and monitor their properties.
“We have caring residents and great neighborhoods. The partnership with PathStone and additional programs by the Police Department will help our residents add value to their homes,” said Council President Brooks Hawley. “These new initiatives are geared towards providing homeowners and landlords with greater resources and tools for improving and maintaining their properties. The programs are designed to help current owners add to the existing stability of the City’s housing stock.”
Stuart J. Mitchell, president and CEO PathStone Corporation said, "PathStone Corporation is very pleased to partner with the City of Batavia to provide comprehensive housing services to landlords, tenants and homeowners. Our years of hands-on experience and expertise combined with generous funding will make it possible for many families and businesses to improve living conditions for both owner-occupied and rental properties. The City of Batavia will benefit from an improved housing stock and a stabilized and expanded tax base."
The following initiatives are announced to help homeowners and quality rental properties continue to succeed.
In partnership with PathStone Corporation through a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) grant, PathStone will be providing free workshops to homeowners and landlords so they can receive free/reduced cost energy audits, income-based energy improvements grants of up to 50 percent, and help them access low interest NYSERDA loans to make their homes and rental units more comfortable and reduce utility bills.
Following these workshops, PathStone continues to assist landowners by selecting Energy Star contractors and identify alternative funding for their home improvements. The next free energy-saving workshop will be Oct. 20th from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Batavia PathStone office, 7 Batavia City Centre. For more information please call (585) 442-2030, ext. 213.
The City will be partnering with The Housing Council at PathStone to host the area's first Operating Rental Property Workshop. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. The workshop will cover topics such as Fair Housing Laws, Screening & Selection of Tenants, Leases & Security Deposit, and Overview of Eviction Process. Also, special guest and local attorney Thomas Williams, Esq., will present on neighborhood legal services and navigating the legal system as a landlord. The cost of this workshop is $45 per person. Pre-registration is required, for more information call (585) 546-3700, or register on-line at www.RocLandlord.com.
The City Police Department will be providing landlords with the ability to easily request tenant records checks for tenant selection. Records checks have to be submitted in person to the Police Department by potential tenants and the City Police Department will provide both the tenant and landlord with a search of all Batavia Police Department records and the Genesee County Sheriff’s records for any arrest and contact information about the tenant within the last five years. The cost of the records check is $10 and can be paid by the tenant. Forms can be downloaded from the City website at http://www.batavianewyork.com/Files.
The City Police Department will be providing landlords with the ability to receive Police Department contact reports for their respective properties. Similar to a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request, a property owner can request a report including police contact with their respective rental properties that will include the date, time, location and incident type. This will provide landlords with easy access to information pertaining to activity surrounding rental properties.
FOIL requests only have to be completed once by the landlord providing the property address(es) they would like to receive information regarding and on the second Monday of every month a PDF report, including all police contacts for their respective properties, will be e-mailed to the landlord. Paper reports can be requested at $.25 (cents) per page. Any unauthorized information will be redacted per FOIL and released. Forms can be downloaded from the City Web site at http://www.batavianewyork.com/Files.
"The police department tenant record check and contact reporting is another avenue for landlords to get tenants in their rentals that are beneficial and positive for the city's neighborhoods" said Council President Hawley.
The City’s 2012 Community Improvement Plan recommended the City take advantage of its existing residential stability and affordability by developing programs that will generate the greatest reinvestment in existing housing stock. The plan identified that the City’s stable and affordable housing market, both owner-occupied and rental, as a great value.
PathStone is a Rochester based not-for-profit community development and human services organization, that provides services to low-income families and economically distressed communities throughout New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, Vermont, and Puerto Rico. It is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
The Housing Council at PathStone is one of New York State’s largest HUD-approved comprehensive housing counseling agencies. A not-for-profit corporation founded in 1971, in Rochester, The Housing Council provides landlord education, foreclosure prevention, pre-purchase counseling, emergency housing services and fair housing education. The Housing Council provides property management tools and strategies to landlords in order to enhance their business skills and familiarize them with their rights and responsibilities.
When the two brothers appeared in Genesee County Court this afternoon with their mother, they did not appear as young men you would readily pick out as those accused of a violent gang assault.
Polite, well dressed and clean cut, Terrence D. Johnson and Leonard A. Johnson III, entered not guilty pleas to the charges of first-degree gang assault 1st and first-degree assault.
They were indicted by a grand jury, along with Terrance M. Schramm, for their alleged part in the assault of a man on Holland Avenue in the city on April 29.
Initially, charged with a misdemeanor of assault, 3rd, Schramm and the Johnsons, faced the more serious felony counts once the case was presented to the grand jury.
The gang assault statute really has nothing to do with whether the defendents are affiliated with a street gang -- in fact, there's no indication that's the case here -- but that a violent act was carried out with more than two people participating. The exact language of the penal code is:
A person is guilty of gang assault in the first degree when, with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person and when aided by two or more other persons actually present, he causes serious physical injury to such person or to a third person.
Schramm and the Johnson brothers were allegedly involved in an argument with the victim at 27 Holland Ave. and are accused of kicking the victim and using some hard object, such as brass knuckles, to hit him.
The victim's injuries were initially reported as minor, hence the initial misdemeanor charge, but District Attorney Lawrence Friedman sought the felony counts as the result of the victim apparenlty suffering "permanent impairment of health."
The exact nature of the victim's injuries are not available at this time.
Leonard, 22, appeared in court in a sharp gray suit, white shirt and tie. Terrence wore gray pants, a lighter gray shirt and a tie.
Friedman did not seek bail for either defendant. They were both released under supervision of Genesee Justice.
Noonan noted that given the serious nature of the charges, a no-bail release is unique.
"A gang assault charge would normally result in a sustantial bail," Noonan said. "It's a great concession to Mr. (Leonard) Johnson to release him under supervision."
There is no record of prior arrests for Terrence Johnson, which contributed to his ability to get a release under supervision.
Leonard Johnson, who lives with his brother on Hutchins Street, must be in his residence every day from 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. Terrence Johnson can only be out during those hours while at work or traveling directly to and from work.
They are to have no contact with the alleged victim.
The attorney for the 25-year-old Schramm is on vacation so his arraignment on the grand jury indictment won't be until next week.
The three men are facing from five to 25 years in state prison on the Class B violent felonies.
Workers outside the City Church building on East Main Street this afternoon. Pastor Marty Macdonald said the floodlights are being replaced with LEDs and crews also do some masonry maintenance.
Press release from Batavia Downs
The third time racing in the annual Batavia Downs Wiener Dog races sponsored by Genesee Feeds was the charm for Heidi Kaiser’s dachshund “Piglet." He cruised to a comfortable victory defeating nine other fleet-footed wiener dogs in the champion final.
Ten elimination heats were conducted to determine the final field.
Sarah Farley’s “Ruby” rallied on the far outside to out finish Adrienne Pender’s “Pablo” for second. "Pablo” was the most impressive heat winner and appeared to be the dachshund to beat.
The owners of top three finishers all received gaming free and Clubhouse buffets. All participants received a doggy bag from Genesee Feeds.
The beautiful day included a first time ever visit by harness ambassador Sydney Weaver. The 15-year-old, known to everyone in North American harness racing, and her parents Lisa and Don Weaver were special guests of Batavia Downs.
Attendance for the dog races, the final piece of Fun Family Day was estimated at 3,200.
Photos by Howard Owens.
In the fourth race, the wiener dog "Wienie," owned by Debbie Odrobina and who relied on a wheeled cart for its hindquarters, was attacked by another competitor. The dogs were separated and put back in the race, but the other dog turned on "Wienie" again. "Wienie" was allowed to run again in a subsequent race, and was a clear crowd favorite, but he got a slow start the second time around and ambled up the track.
Edwin David Young, 54, of Furnaceville Road, Ontario, Canada, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .25 or greater, failure to keep right, and moving from lane unsafely. Young was reportedly involved in an accident at 6:55 a.m. Friday on Route 77, Alabama, which was investigated by Deputy Lonnie Nati.
Horatio Coleman, 61, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Coleman was allegedly in Walmart after being banned from the store.
Scott D. Fairfield, 21, of Maple Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Fairfield was arrested following a report of a suspicious condition by Le Roy PD.
Stephen E. Couglar, 45, of Wayland, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Couglar was charged following a traffic stop by Le Roy PD.
Erin K Douglas, 39, of Lyell Ave, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, failure to change address and speeding in zone. Douglas was stopped by Le Roy PD on Aug. 15. He was jailed on $750 bail.
Dezarae P. Benedict, 22, of Bigelow Avenue, Silver Springs, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and inadequate muffler. Benedict was stopped Saturday by Le Roy PD.
Steven A. Miller, 25, of Clark Street, Spencerport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and speeding in zone. Miller was stopped Sunday by Le Roy PD.
Press release:
Eugene Jankowski Jr. finished the 2015 3 Gun Nation Semi Pro season ranked 18th in the country after a strong performance at the 2015 3 Gun Nation Eastern Regional held Aug. 1st at Peacemaker National Training Center, Gerrardstown, W.Va. Finishing in the top 25 nationally, earned Jankowski an invitation to the 3 Gun Nation 2015 National match & Pro Qualifier.
3 Gun Nation Nationals & Pro Qualifier is an invite-only, major national match, with slots earned based on 3 Gun Nation Member participation and merit. Presented by Remington Outdoor Company, the match will be held at the U.S. Shooting Academy in Tulsa, Okla., this October.
The 3 Gun Nation Nationals will be held in conjunction with the televised 3GN Pro and Lady Pro Series Championships. 3 Gun is a shooting sport requiring the use of a modern rifle, shotgun and pistol interchangeably during each stage of fire.
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