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An Oakfield resident spent a couple of cold hours in his crashed car in a field off Maple Road in Alabama early Saturday morning when a friend who went looking for him couldn't find him.

It's unclear at what point he called 9-1-1, but at that point, emergency dispatchers were able to locate him based on his mobile phone signal.

The driver's friend and State Police were already on scene when Alabama fire and Mercy EMS arrived, said Chief Gary Patnode.

The driver is identified by State Police as Jerald E. Bliemeister, 46. He was driving a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser when he suffered a medical emergency. The accident was reported at 12:20 a.m.

His car was westbound on Townline Road and he drove through the T-intersection at Maple Road and came to rest about 300 feet in a farm field. State Police said the vehicle struck a mailbox, fence and snow fence.

The car apparently became airborne at some point, Patnode said.

The ground was frozen, which made rescue operations a little easier, Patnode said.

"It was frozen enough to support a pickup, so I drove my pickup out there with a Stokes basket, so we were able to get him out," Patnode said. "We thought about calling in East Pembroke's new gator, but the medics were eager to get him out because he had been out there so long. He might have suffered a little exposure."

Bliemeister apparently suffered broken ankles but was otherwise believed to be OK.

Press release:

The Genesee Community College’s Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) Program and Genesee County Youth Bureau are partnering to offer Genesee County sophomores, juniors and seniors the Genesee County Youth Lead Program. 

We are currently recruiting our fifth class and are looking for 15 youth representing our nine high schools who would like to improve their leadership skills and expand their knowledge of the community and resources therein. Genesee Youth Lead is designed to help our youth assess their strengths, weaknesses and potential for personal and intellectual growth. We provide the opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills by being a part of a team, the community and by hands-on learning within the county. This fall students were able to take field trips, speak directly with government officials, and so much more.

The Youth Lead Program will take place at Genesee Community College & Genesee County Youth Bureau beginning March 18th at GCC with a Meet & Greet and then class to follow. The class sessions are 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturdays; March 18, 25 and April 1, 8, 22, 29, and May 6 and 13. The program will cost $55 and the students will earn one college credit through Genesee Community College. The areas of the community to be explored during the fall program are Government & Law Enforcement, Health & Human Services, and Agriculture. If there is an economic hardship please contact the Genesee County Youth Bureau. 

Applications for the program will only be accepted until Feb. 24th and can be found at:http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/youthbureau/. Please contact Chelsea at the Genesee County Youth Bureau with questions at (585)344-3960 or at Chelsea.Elliott@co.genesee.ny.us.

The Business of the Year for Genesee County is Liberty Pumps, the Chamber of Commerce has announced.

Other award winners in the 45th annual slate of top local businesses and community members are:

• Foxprowl Collectables, Entrepreneurial Business of the Year
• Stein Farms, Agricultural Business of the Year
• Red Osier Restaurant, Special Service Recognition
• Steve and Lisa Grice, Geneseeans of the Year

The awards will be presented March 4 at a dinner and ceremony at Quality Inn & Suites on Park Road, Batavia. The evening begins at 4:30 with hors d'oeuvres, entree tables and a cash bar. The awards program starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person or $450 for a table of 10.

File photo

UPDATED 8:50 p.m.

A plane owned by Zeliff Aviation skidded off a runway while trying to land at an airport in Livingston County, Mich., today and according to news reports from the area, the pilot suffered only minor injuries.

The pilot was Pete Zeliff, owner of p.w. minor and a member of the Genesee County Economic Development Center Board of Directors. Zeliff is avid about aviation and owns planes and a helicopter, which are located at the Genesee County Airport. He annually sponsors an aviation summer camp at the airport for young people.

According to patient information at the University of Michigan Hospital, Zeliff is undergoing treatment but has not been admitted. A source said he was being kept for observation but is OK.

According to reports, Zeliff was attempting to land a Cessna 525C Citation at Howell-Livingston County Airport just before noon. The plane was unable to stop on the runway and it crashed through a barrier and across a roadway. The wings were torn off and the fuselage came to rest upside down.

One of the witnesses and first on the scene was a local mayor, Nick Proctor, who said he talked with the pilot and was told Zeliff had not been alerted to icy conditions on the runway before attempting to land.

Zeliff is active in the community on several fronts and rescued p.w. minor from almost certain closure a couple of years ago. He's invested heavily in the company since, created dozens of new jobs, returned manufacturing from China, and is helping to get a new retail shoe store open downtown. He also developed a subdivision of homes on the east end of Town of Batavia off of Route 5 called Oakmont.

Jennifer Lynn Greck, 47, of Seven Springs Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. Greck allegedly damaged a room door of a motel on West Main Street Road, Batavia, at 6:53 a.m. Saturday. The case was investigated by Deputy Jenna Ferrando.

Joshua Miguel Laureano, 26, of Cumberland Avenue, South Buffalo, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, driving while on a mobile phone, aggravated unlicensed operation and unsafe tires. Laureano was stopped at 7:07 p.m. Saturday on Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, by Deputy Eric Meyer.

Hannah Marie Zuppa, 19, of Main Road, Pembroke, is charged with two counts of petit larceny. Zuppa is accused of thefts from a location on Judge Road, Alabama.

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, groups all over are engaging in MLK Day of Service activities, and in Batavia, Americorps and Zonta Club of Batavia came together in the Senior Center this morning to work on a couple of charitable projects.

Volunteers created birthing kits to be shipped to women in Africa and they created book bundles to give to needy children.

Conditions were just right this afternoon for a group of young hockey players to get some practice time in at the outdoor skating rink at DeWitt Recreation Area.

Marc Marcello, Jay Beaumont and Jon Marcello, owners of the Smokin' Eagle BBQ & Brew in Le Roy were at the bridal show at Terry Hills today with their microbrew, Rogers Beer.

The story of Rogers Beer begins about seven years ago with Al Rogers, a brewer in Rochester who started his own brewery, eventually selling his beer in 12 Wegmans and 30 bars and restaurants in the region.

After the birth of a second child, he needed to give up his sideline business and he walked into 58 Main in Brockport and told Marc Marcello he was giving up the business.

"He delivered the news he was walking away from it and my brother wouldn’t take that for an answer," Jon Marcello said. "We got together and over a few lunch sessions with Jay and Marc, we put an offer in and he accepted. A few days later he called and asked if he could stay on a brewmaster and we told him, 'we don’t know how to make the beer, so that’s perfect.' "

Rogers Beer is now based in Le Roy, though the beer is currently brewed at a facility in Honeoye Falls, but Jon said the goal is to build up the business enough to open a brewery in Le Roy.

The beer is made with 20-percent New York ingredients with the goal of achieving 100-percent New York-grown ingredients within five years.

The five flavors of beer are all on tap on the Smokin' Eagle and at 58 Main and 22-ounce bottles can be purchased for carryout. 

The dog icons on the menu below were all drawn by a local artist featuring dogs from Le Roy.

There will be a kickoff party sometime in February at the Smokin' Eagle for the newly based in Le Roy Rogers Beer. Watch The Batavian for details.

We've received messages from several people wanting to know what it was they heard go boom last night in the Manhatten Avenue, Ross Street area of Batavia and we don't know.

One reader reported also seeing a flash.

We've checked with local officials and there was an investigation of the area after the booms were reported. The cause remains unknown.  

The booms were heard around 2 a.m.

It was a record turnout today for the annual bridal show at Terry Hills, with twice as many registered brides this year, according to Danielle Rontondo.

We actually got there after the peak crowd, but all of the booths were still pretty busy.

The Firefighter of the Year for the East Pembroke Fire Department is Andrew Martin, who received his award last night during the annual installation banquet for the department. He's pictured with the chiefs who selected Martin for the award, Chief Don Newton, 1st Assistant Chief Stephen Smelski and 2nd Assistant Chief Charles Chatley.

Sworn in as firematic officers for 2017 were Newton, Smelski, Chatley, William Torres as captain, Matthew Florian as fire police captain and James Gayton as training officer.

The administrative officers are Donald Newton Sr., president, Ken Marble, vice president, Joycelyn Perry, secretary, Dan Vania, treasurer, Ryan Worthington, sergeant of arms and parade marshall, Julie Waldron, assistant parade marshall and Pastor Bloom as chaplin.

Members of the board of directors are Steve Smelski, Don Newton, Jr., William Torres, Andrew Martin and Charles Chatley.

Auxiliary officers: Diane Winters, president; Shannon Ferguson, vice president; Steven Petty, secretary; Amber Winters, treasurer; Millie Marble, sergeant of arms; Gordie Petty, standard bearer; and Mary Dix, chaplin.

District representatives: Robert Yungfleisch, William Lawerance, William Joyce, Thomas Dix and Paul Fenton.

The department also received an award, presented by Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger, for most training hours -- at 1,180 -- of any department in the county.

The department responded to 330 calls in 2016.

William Torres responded to the most calls for the year, more than 200. He responded to 212 calls.

Chief Don Newton, who has been chief for eight years, received a gift certificate from the department to take his family on an all-expensed-paid trip to a theme park in Pennsylvania. 

It didn't take police long to locate a robbery suspect last night, with the help of tracking by a Sheriff's K-9, after a man went into the Subway on East Main Street, Batavia, and demanded money.

The suspect got away with an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot.

Deputy Chris Erion with K-9 Destro helped track the suspect and he was located a short time later at a nearby residence.

Taken into custody was Ricky L. Miller II.

At the time of his arrest, Miller was allegedly found in possession of a needle.

He was charged with robbery, 3rd, petit larceny, and possession of a hypodermic instrument.

He was jailed without bail.

Batavia PD is looking for the public's assistance in identifying and locating this man for questioning regarding an overnight burglary in the city. The burglary was sometime after midnight at Rancho Viejo on Ellicott Street. The police are not releasing further information at this time. People with information that may assist in the investigation are asked to call  Detective Sgt. Crossett at (585) 345-6353, or the Confidential Tip Line at (585) 345-6370.

A 27-year-old Pembroke resident is accused of entering a home on Read Road, Pembroke, last night with a 12-gauge shotgun and menacing a family inside the residence.

Alex Patrick Wells, of Read Road, is charged with burglary, 2nd, and menacing, 2nd.

The incident was reported at 11:52 p.m., Thursday.

Well was arraigned in Pembroke Town Court and jailed on $25,000 bail or $50,00 bond.

Members of the Pembroke Lady Dragons presented a check today for $19,085.12 to the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. The funds were proceeds from their annual fundraiser held last night at the school.

UPDATE: Tonight the team received an anonymous $685.05 donation, making the total raised this year $20,020.17.

Previously: Shooting for a Cure aims high and hits new record in fundraising for cancer research

Press release:

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) released the following after reintroducing three legislative items to help improve our nation’s Medicaid system. The legislative items include the Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable Americans Act (formerly H.R. 6462), Better Accounting for Medicaid Costs Act of 2017 (formerly H.R. 5021), and the Improving Oversight and Accountability in Medicaid Non-DSH Supplemental Payments Act (formerly H.R. 2151). These bills will lower costs, increase oversight, and give patients better access to Medicaid coverage.

“We need to improve Medicaid in order to expand coverage for those who need it most and lower costs that are increasing at an unsustainable rate,” Congressman Collins said. “These legislative items will raise accountability standards and ensure Medicaid supports the most vulnerable Americans, which is what it was designed to accomplish.”

Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable Americans Act (formerly H.R. 6462)

Requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in approving Medicaid demonstration projects to:

• Prioritize projects that have been proven effective in improving care and outcomes with respect to uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, or low-income individuals;
• Require participating states to make publicly available data regarding the health outcomes for individuals it serves;
• Ensure that projects are not duplicative of any federal program or funding opportunity;
• Require participating states to make publicly available an analysis of the degree to which such projects preclude private and charitable sector efforts to improve care and outcomes with respect to uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, or low-income individuals.

Better Accounting for Medicaid Costs Act of 2017 (formerly H.R. 5021)

• Requires CMS to follow regular notice and comment rulemaking procedures when issuing sub-regulatory guidance that is estimated to cost the federal government more than $100 million or states more than $50 million.

Improving Oversight and Accountability in Medicaid Non-DSH Supplemental Payments Act (formerly H.R. 2151)

Requires the Secretary of HHS to:

• Establish annual reporting requirements for non-DSH supplemental Medicaid payments to providers;
• Issue guidance to states that identifies permissible methods for calculation of non-DSH supplemental payments;
• Establish requirements for state making non-DSH supplemental payments to conduct an annual independent audit of these payments.

Each of these legislative items is cosponsored by members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Medicaid Task Force. The Task Force was established during the 114^th Congress by former Chairman Fred Upton and is led by Congressman Brett Guthrie. Members of the Task Force were charged with devising ways to strengthen and sustain Medicaid for the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

There was a bigger crowd and more money raised than ever before by the Pembroke community in the Pembroke Girls Basketball Team's annual fundraiser for Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Shooting for a Cure, last night.

The event generated $18,635.12 in donations, bringing the total raised since the annual event started in 2012 to more than $40,000. UPDATE: Officials have revised last night's figure to $19,085.12.

“These girls are the driving force behind this fundraiser and it’s become the identity of Pembroke Girls Basketball," said Coach Ron Funke.

The annual event was founded to support Funke's wife when she was diagnosed with cancer.

"(The event has) continued to grow each season," the coach said. "This season was one for the record books! We were able to raise over $18,000 and I’m speechless. The girls on this team are incredibly compassionate individuals and believe firmly in service over self.”  

The players this year have also volunteered at the Carly’s Club Christmas party and also helped with the “Check Out Hunger” campaign at Tops Markets in Batavia.

Funke and the team will deliver the latest check to Rosewell today at 3 p.m.

“I have to say that the most meaningful part of Shooting for a Cure is always visiting Roswell to donate what’s been raised," Funke said. "The girls put their pink jerseys back on and travel to Roswell to present a check to hospital officials. Being there at the hospital, surrounded by people who are actually fighting their own battle against cancer never fails to inspire the girls. It’s a tangible reminder of how their efforts off the court are saving lives.”

DJ Jickster, of 97 Rock, a former Genesee County resident, was part of the opening ceremonies to help get the fans charged up.

A tradition during the half-time program is for Pembroke players to present flowers to cancer survivors. Mackenzie Jurek present a flower to Ann Bennett.

Ray Stoldt receives a flower from Aaron Brown. Stoldt is just out of treatment for throat cancer.

Part of the hallway activities was face painting.

The team presented a plaque to the family of Scott Humel, a former district employee, who succumbed to cancer during this past year.

In the basketball game, Notre Dame beat Pembroke, 33-27. For Pembroke, freshman MacKenzie Johnson had 12 points and Olivia Kohurst had nine. Margaret Sutherland led Notre Dame in scoring with 16 points. Callie McCulley had seven.

At halftime, winning tickets were pulled for several prizes. John Molnar won a bike.

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

The two drivers involved in an accident yesterday afternoon on Route 33 in Bergen are both in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Strong lists all patients being cared for in the intensive care unit as "guarded."

The drivers are identified by State Police as Donald L. Bausch, 74, of Batavia, and Otavia M. Bell, 18, of Rochester.

Troopers believe Bell failed to yield the right of way to Bausch, causing a T-bone accident.

There was an engine fire in Bell's car and among the first people on scene were employees of Genesee Lumber. They used a forklift they were transporting to tilt Bell's car enough to get her out of the vehicle. Bell was in-and-out of consciousness and when she regained consciousness, she was incoherent and said she thought there was another person in the vehicle with her.

Since a second person wasn't found in the vehicle, the Genesee Lumber employees used the forklift to raise her vehicle so firefighters should check under it for another patient. There was no second person.

Bausch had to be extricated from his vehicle.

UPDATE: Don Bausch is the brother of Legislator Bob Bausch.

Previously: Accident reported on Route 33, Bergen

Mercy Flight is being dispatched to Pembroke for a serious injury accident on the Thruway Route 77 at the Thruway interchange.

Pembroke, Indian Falls, and East Pembroke fire all dispatched. Mercy EMS dispatched.

One vehicle involved in the accident.

UPDATE(S)(By Billie) 7:32 a.m.: East Pembroke is going to set up the landing zone at the Highway Department garage at routes 5 and 77. A second ambulance is requested.

UPDATE 7:51 a.m.: Mercy Flight #5 is on the ground. One patient is said to be in and out of consciousness and has right side pain.

UPDATE 8:04 a.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Erie County Medical Center.

UPDATE 8:05 a.m.: East Pembroke is returning to service. Mercy medics are transporting a patient to UMMC. The assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 8:18 a.m.: This accident involved two vehicles. It was not on the Thruway; it occurred on Route 77 at the Thruway toll booth intersection. A deputy at the scene said a northbound car turning left failed to yield to a southbound vehicle, causing the accident. The driver of the southbound vehicle was the one in and out of consciousness and air-lifted to ECMC with non-life-threatening injuries. The female driver of the northbound car has minor injuries, complains of left knee pain and is now arriving at UMMC.

UPDATE 10:53 a.m.: The drivers have been identified as Jennifer L. Say, 44, of Sliker Road, Corfu, and Susan L. Squires, 52, of West Avenue, Medina. Say allegedly failed to yield the right of way while making a left-hand turn to enter the tollbooths off Route 77 and was issued a citation. She was transported by Mercy EMS to UMMC. Squires was southbound on Route 77. She was transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC. The accident was investigated by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

Reader-submitted photos:

A $26.8-million plan for a wide range of improvements and upgrades within the Batavia City Schools is moving to the next phase of the approval process after getting a funding guarantee from the state and unanimous approval of the school board.

The next phase, a public hearing followed by a vote of district residents in March.

The public hearing will be at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the high school. The public vote will be Thursday, March 2.

The district will use $7.5 million saved in the capital reserve fund and the balance of the expenditure will be covered by the state.

This funding plan, said Scott Rozanski, business administrator, will mean the district can complete a number of projects without a local tax increase specifically for this project.

Rozanski compared the project to something a homeowner needs to do periodically, basic maintenance, replacing old and worn out parts of the house and making general improvements.

"It allows us to move into the 21st century in a lot of different ways," Rozanski said. "There will be technology upgrades and we can take care of our facilities for the long run. There are some things that need fixing and some things that needed fixing after our consolidation in 2012. After living in it for four or five years, things fit but they could be a better fit."

All of the schools will get fixes specific to those locations.

Batavia Middle School (floor plan above) will receive:

• a renovated building entrance and improved entrance security;
• expanded music area;
• upgraded finish on gym floor, stairway halls, auditorium and classrooms;
• improved indoor air quality;
• upgraded lighting and PA system;
• replacement of roof areas.

Batavia High School:

• auditorium upgrades, including lighting and sound system and improved orchestra pit;
• upgraded fire alarm system;
• expanded restrooms;
• roof replacements;
• improved parent drop-off configuration.

Jackson School:

• upgrade finishes in classroom;
• expanded restrooms;
• upgraded lighting system;
• exterior window replacements.

John Kennedy School:

• classroom addition;
• reconfigure interior spaces;
• window replacements, roof repairs;
• upgraded lighting system;
• improved parent drop-off;
• improved sound system.

Upgrades to Richmond Memorial Library, including ventilations and the fire alarm system, are also part of the scope of work.

A big part of the project is a proposal to demo the current Van Detta Stadium and reconfigure the location of the stadium (still to be called Van Detta) and Woodward Field.

Woodward Field would get artificial turf and the surrounding track would become an improved synthetic material. 

Without this rebuild, Rozanski said, the 70-year-old Van Detta will become a bigger and bigger money pit. The current estimated costs of repairs and upgrades to improve accessibility and safety are nearly as costly as what the district is proposing now.

An improved, all-purpose facility will also help Batavia become a destination location, being halfway between Rochester and Buffalo, for regional sports competitions.

Even now, he said, the district gets requests to host events but can't because they conflict the the high school's own use of the facilities.

"We could keep repairing it or we could fix it permanently for 30 or 40 years and have very little maintenance expense," Rozanski said. "(Given the location) we should be able to draw a lot of different activities and that should benefit all businesses in the community. We should have increased (numbers of) people coming into the area to hotels, restaurants, retail and whatever other types of business. That will have a long-term positive impact on the community."