Stories from

In a rare match between local teams for a Section V championship, Notre Dame and Alexander clashed in Brockport on Friday night with the Fighting Irish holding on for a 14-7 victory to become the new Class D champions.

The Trojans were trying to defend their 2018 crown.

Jed Reese was named the game's MVP after gaining 57 yards on the ground and scoring a rushing TD in addition to returning a flubbed punt for a touchdown.

Irish QB Gabe Macdonald rushed for 108 yards.

On defense, Chad Henry had 12 tackles, Anthony Zambito, eight, plus two pass deflections, Dakota Sica had nine tackles and a sack.

The game was a defensive battle with Alexander holding ND to 197 total yards and the Irish throttling the Trojans at 189 yards.

For Alexander, Ty Woods carried the ball 24 times for 104 yards and completed 2-4 passes, including TD pass to Kam Lyons, who had six catches for 65 yards. Dylan Busch was 8-15 passing for 55 yards.

Wayne Walker, now a Batavia resident after spending much of his life in Bethany, is an Army and Air Force veteran, a volunteer firefighter, a member of the American Legion, and, most proudly, a member of the Genesee County Honor Guard.

He's also alive today because of modern medical care. A heart pump now does about 80 percent of the work of circulating the blood through his body because his heart was no longer up to the task.

Walker received his heart pump at Rochester General Hospital on March 5 and received follow-up care at Unity and at United Memorial Medical Center.

Yesterday, Walker received a surprise reception at RGH to honor his commitment to recovery and to his community.

We got a bit of snow today. In this photo, you can see the flakes cutting across the tree in a cornfield off of Route 33 near Route 237 in Batavia. We may get a little more snow tonight, with an anticipated low tonight of 28 degrees.

A farm truck is on fire in the area of 6697 Quaker Hill Road, Byron.

The initial call was for smoke coming from a dashboard. A few minutes later, the dispatcher informed first responders that the truck is now on fire.

Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched. Fire police requested to shut down the road.

Batavia resident Justin Warren has opened his own barbershop in Attica called Invictus Barber & Brand.

Jazmyn Fredo captured this picture today of a bald eagle in Elba, off Pekin Road.

Submitted by Jessica Fredo.

A 36-year-old resident of Lodi, Charles E. Cooper, is accused of forcing his way into a home at 6735 Clinton Street Road, Stafford, at 9 p.m., Tuesday, and demanding cash before he was shot by one of the residents of the home.

Cooper is in critical condition at Strong Memorial Hospital. He has not yet been charged with a crime. The investigation remains active.

The Sheriff's Office reports that the suspect appears to have targeted the specific residence.

"This was not a random act," the Genesee County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. "(There) is no reason to believe there is further concern for public safety of residents in the area."

It's believed that Cooper acted alone.

According to the Sheriff's Office, it appeared that Cooper held a pistol when he entered the home.

One of the two residents of the home managed to grab his long gun and shot Cooper with a single round of ammunition and incapacitated him.

A short time later, deputies and troopers arrived on the scene and took Cooper into custody without incident. He was treated at the scene by medics from Mercy EMS and then transported to Strong by Mercy EMS.

The Sheriff's Office says charges are pending.

Cooper, 35, was arrested in February along with Joshua Cooper, 32, of Ovid, in Darien for allegedly doing unauthorized repair work on a driveway of a residence and then demanding money. They were charged with soliciting without a permit, fraud and conspiracy. 

The mug shot is from an arrest in February in Darien.

In a rare contested race for the full-time City Court judge's seat, Durin Rogers holds a lead over Ben Bonarigo and will likely be the winner once all of the absentee ballots are counted.

Rogers has 1,662 votes in the unofficial tally by the county elections office to 1,447 for Bonarigo, for a 215 vote difference.

There were 288 absentee ballots requested and 170 have been returned so far. Bonarigo would need to pick up nearly all of the absentee ballots to be declared the winner.

The other notable election result from Tuesday was in the City of Batavia's 3rd Ward, which incumbent John Canale won but a Libertarian Party candidate came in second. Canale, on the Republican line, received 260 votes. Deborah Kerr Rosenbeck received 166. Democratic candidate Nicholas Russo received 123. It might very well be the first time in City history that a third-party candidate outpolled a major party candidate.

In the other contested City Council race, in Ward 5, incumbent Kathy Briggs garnered 210 votes to 148 for challenger Sam DiSalvo.

In the one contested County Legislature race, in District 8, incumbent Marianne Clattenburg won with 684 votes to 159 for Colin McAllister.

In other contested races around the county:

• Town clerk, Alexander: Lisa L. Lyons, 205, Shannon E. Tiede, 171
• Town clerk, Bergen: Michele M. Smith, 467, Connie VanHoute, 146
• Town council, Bethany (vote for 2): Jeffrey R. Fluker, 287, Timothy D. Embt, 265, Josiah Berkemeier, 141
• Supervisor, Byron: Peter N. Yasses, 275, Gerald L. Heins, 270
• Town justice, Darien (vote for 2): Gary A. Graber, 505, Jennifer R.  Nunnery, 459, Michelle M. Krzemien, 440
• Highway superintendent, Pavilion: Joel M. Offhaus, 267, Doug Elliott, 71
• Town justice, Pembroke: Donald M. O'Connor, 612, Joseph P. Iannello, 217

Check this post later for a video from the evening.

A car vs. deer accident with injuries is reported at Lyman Road and Clinton Street Road, Bergen.

Bergen fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

A car and manure spreader have reportedly collided at Transit Road and Tower Hill Road in Byron.

Injuries are reported and the roadway is blocked.

Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched.

Local Author Rob Thompson, whose 16 books include "Linden Murders: Solved," has a new book out on the 10 murder committed in Genesee County and the men who committed them and were eventually executed (seven hung in Genesee County).

The book, "Swinging in the Rain," will soon be available at the Holland Land Office Museum, at book signings Thompson attends, and on Amazon.

Kylie Lutey, a kindergartner at St. Joe's in Batavia got to ride a fire truck to school today as an award for winning City fire's annual fire safety poster coloring contest.

Press release from AAA:

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.61, up a penny since last week. One year ago, the price was $2.76. The New York State average is $2.69 – no change from last week.

A year ago, the NYS average was $2.94. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia - $2.66 (no change since last week)
• Buffalo - $2.65 (down 1 cent since last week)
• Ithaca - $2.67 (no change since last week)
• Rochester - $2.67 (up 1 cent since last week)
• Rome - $2.67 (no change since last week)
• Syracuse - $2.60 (up 3 cents since last week)
• Watertown - $2.66 (up 1 cent since last week)

Domestic demand for gasoline remains high as stocks continue to decline, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Growing demand, amid tight gasoline supplies, has contributed to a nominal increase in the national average – 1 cent since in the past week.

The Le Roy volleyball team has a shot at a sectional championship this week after beating Holley in a semifinal match on Saturday.

The Knights are now 17-2 and will face Wellsville at 5 p.m., Wednesday, at East Rochester High School.

Photos and info from Tim McArdle.

The Oatkan Knights are heading to a Class C championship game after beating East Rochester/Gananda 35-14 on Saturday.

Kyler LaCarte was 7-12 passing for 170 yards and three TDs, with one interception.  He also rushed for 54 yards on six attempts and scored a TD.

Andrew Englerth rushed 10 times for 21 yards and a TD. Jake Hill, Chase Bordonaro, and Nate Andrews each had a TD reception.

Cole Rauscher led the defense with 12 tackles. Alex Panepento and Zach Vanderhoof each had nine and Jake Hill had seven.

Both of the Bombers' TDs came late in the game after the Knights had pulled many of their starters.

Le Roy will face Warsaw in for the Class C championship at 5 p.m., Saturday, at the College at Brockport.

Photos by Jim Burns

The Alexander Trojan defense shut down Red Jacket in a Class D Section V semifinal at Cal-Mum on Friday for a 8-0 win.

Ethan Heineman led the defense by keeping pressure on Red Jacket's QB and recorded seven tackles and a sack.   Devin Dean had six tackles. Hayden Walton, 5, and Kam Lyons and Ty Woods each had an interception.

Alexander's lone score came on a quarterback sneak in the first quarter. It was the first TD of the year for Dylan Busch.  The Trojans lined up for a point-after-attemp but a Red Jacket offsides moved the ball closer to the endzone so Head Coach Tim Sawyer decided to go for two.  

Ty Woods ran for 120 yards on 22 carries and Busch had 45 yards on five carries. He was 4-13 passing for 65 yards.  Woods had two receptions for 42 yards.

Next week: Alexander faces Notre Dame for the Class D championship.  

The Fighting Irish advanced to the finals of the Class D sections on Friday with a 52-6 win over Bolivar-Richburg at Cal-Mum.

Jed Reese set a new single-season school record for yards rushed at 1,723 with 232 yards on 21 attempts. He scored three touchdowns.

QB Gabe Macdonald rushed for 37 yards on nine carries and scored a TD while passing for 52 yards and a TD. He was 6-10 and had two 2-point conversions.

Mark Sanders rushed for 96 yards on two carries and scored a TD. He had four receptions for 46 yards and a TD.

Cody Henry carried the ball nine times for 72 yards and a TD.

On defense, Henry had 10 tackles and a pass deflection. Macdonald had eight tackles. Reese and Connor McWilliams had five tackles each, one sack. Mason Randall had six tackles and a sack.

In all, Notre Dame notched five sacks and held B-R to 74 total yards.

Next, Alexander at Brockport for the Class D championship.

The two cannons that have sat on the front porch of the Holland Land Office Museum for more than a century have been removed and transported to Altoona, Pa., for a $20,000 period-accurate restoration.

The Museum is paying $10,000 for the restoration and is seeking public donations of $10,000 in a campaign called, "Ready, Aim, Donate."

Colin McAllister is a candidate for County Legislature, District 8. His opponent is Marianne Clattenburg.

If elected, what will you recommend to your fellow legislators for county priorities over the next five years?
While I look forward to working with fellow legislators to address the routine needs of the county, a major priority would be getting the county out of corporate welfare. Taking wealth from businesses and individuals to fuel the projects of the few is not morally right. I would also like to focus on challenging NYS mandates and their overreach into county affairs. Legal challenges are one avenue to actively resist the state’s control of our county budget and dictating how our elected government can operate. Together with the citizens of Genesee county and local governments in the region, I hope to come up with solutions to get power back to the local level.

What can or should the County government do to help foster business growth in Genesee County?
We need to work on getting the best tax rates for everybody year in year out, with no hoops to jump through. The county should focus on existing infrastructure needs and not projects we hope will happen. Mainly, the county should get out of the way for business wherever possible. I have faith that the business leaders in this county will excel with less government involvement.  

Should the County build a new jail?
The consensus seems to be that we need a new jail to come into compliance with current regulations and, without more in-depth knowledge, I cannot refute that. Given bail reforms’ impact, the previous estimates need to be reevaluated with a fresh perspective. The focus of jail discussion needs to be a realistic look at the county’s needs and coming into compliance with state regulations, not potential revenue from housing overflow from other sources.

Are you satisfied with the way the County has been run for the past decade or so?
To a large extent, I think the Legislature has done its very best for the residents and businesses in Genesee County. The county could stand up to state mandates and overreach in some more substantial ways. As a county, we have been too absorbed in the race to beg a business to come to us when we should actually make an environment that all businesses and residents can prosper in. 

What book first published in English since the Enlightenment has influenced your outlook on life the most?
That is a hard question. At this moment running as a third-party candidate, I would have to go with Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ’72. With as much absurdity and excess as Hunter S. Thompson’s writing contains, it managed to challenge my thoughts on the two-party political paradigm and my understanding of politics in general. His writings provide insight into Nixon that I have yet to find elsewhere. To cover such a complicated time involving such complex people in an insightful way is impressive. Mainly, I have found in his writings, and in life, that conventional wisdom is worth challenging especially if you want meaningful change.

Marianne Clattenburg is a candidate for County Legislature in District 8. Her opponent is Colin McAllister.

If elected, what will you recommend to your fellow legislators for county priorities over the next five years?
First and foremost the main priority will remain the same, to serve the citizens of Genesee County by providing them with the services that are important to them. The second priority will be to provide those services while maintaining the fiscal stability of the county. Part of those services will be to address the growing need in the county for an increased supply of clean water. Another priority is the safety of our citizens. This includes investments in law enforcement and the construction of a new county jail. This construction has been mandated by the state, but must be implemented with the taxpayer in mind.

What can or should the County government do to help foster business growth in Genesee County?
The County has a responsibility to provide the foundational needs that businesses require to expand their existing operations and to attract new investment in the county. The primary reason to foster business is to provide for employment opportunities for our citizens and to expand our tax base. Foundational needs include investment in public works projects. It also means investing in the education and training of our workforce. Whenever possible this is done through private/public partnerships coordinated by the county’s economic development agency. Through this agency, new and existing large companies and small businesses can apply for assistance in reaching their goals of expanding their businesses and job opportunities in Genesee County.

Should the County build a new jail?
The current building that houses our jail is over 100 years old and does not meet the Department of Corrections' operational standards. It also does not allow for the housing of female inmates. The state commission has notified Genesee County that we must bring our jail up to state standards. Due to the age and structure of our existing jail, it was determined that investing in our current jail was not an option. With pressure from the state, we began to look at the options for building a new jail. The members of the legislature spent time touring existing jails to see what size and configuration would work for Genesee County. The process we are currently undergoing is determining the size of our new jail and the operational costs that will be associated with it. We are also very concerned with the financing requirements associated with a major project such as this. All the work done thus far can be found on the county’s website. I will be seeking public input on this decision and I look forward to hearing the views of my constituents. We need to build a new county jail that meets the requirements of the state, but we should build a jail that is financially acceptable to the taxpayer.

Are you satisfied with the way the County has been run for the past decade or so?
The employees who are responsible for the day to day operations of our county work extremely hard to serve our citizens. We have been fortunate to have our County Manager, Jay Gsell leading this effort. Jay and all our employees have given us a county that we can be proud of. From our senior center, veteran’s service office, public works, county parks, youth services, health, and human service providers, law enforcement and emergency services as well as our county clerk’s office, these departments exist to serve the taxpayer. The legislature has worked with our manager and his staff to implement policies that provide for the safety and well-being of our citizens. We have had our challenges and sometimes disagreements. It is challenging at times to satisfy all the required state mandates, but still maintain the service level that our county citizens expect. I believe the county has done a good job during the past decade meeting these needs.

What book first published in English since the Enlightenment has influenced your outlook on life the most?
As a Christian, the book that has influenced my life the most do not meet the language or timeframe requirement of your question. A book that I did enjoy and was thought-provoking was “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” by Mitch Albom. It explores the idea that our lives are connected to the lives of others in ways that we may not know. For those who have not read it, I strongly recommend it!