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Two youths hurt in accidents still hospitalized

By Howard B. Owens

Two of Genesee County's young people seriously hurt in accidents this week remain hospitalized.

Cassandra Koepp, 17, injured in an accident on Wortendyke Road on Wednesday afternoon, remains in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital. Strong lists all patients in the intensive care unit as "guarded."

Jordan Paul Fleming, 22, who had his legs seriously injured when his car hit a tree on East Bethany-Le Roy Townline Road on Thursday is listed in satisfactory condition at Strong.

Wanted: 200 acres near Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

If you're a landowner with at least 200 acres in the Batavia area, here's your chance to sell it.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is trying to secure a plot of land that is central to Buffalo and Rochester for a new veteran's cemetery, according to a report in the Buffalo News.

When it was pointed out that most of the land east, west, north and south of Batavia is wide open, he said, “Apparently no one wants to sell.”

At present, the closest VA cemetery for those who have served in the armed forces is more than 100 miles away in Bath.

The parcel being sought by the VA needs to be within seven miles north or south of the Thruway and no farther than 20 miles east of the Thruway and Route 77 or 18 miles west of that rural crossing.

Prospective sellers -- even a mile outside the boundaries -- should call Gary Rothfeld, a VA real estate official at (202) 495-5534.

The deadline for proposals is Feb. 16.

Moderate snowfall predicted this afternoon and evening

By Howard B. Owens

From 3 to 5 inches of snow are expected to hit Genesee County some time after 1 p.m.

The National Weather Service issued an advisory for the expected storm, which is effect until 1 a.m., Sunday.

The forecast doesn't call for much in the way of winds, though visibility is expected to be reduced a half mile.

The NWS warns of hazardous driving conditions during the storm.

Helen Fuest, Warsaw

By Howard B. Owens

Helen Fuest, age 94, of North Maple Street, Warsaw, formerly of Wyoming, died February 3rd, 2011 at the Wyoming County Community Hospital in Warsaw.

She was born in Middlebury, July 12th, 1916, the daughter of the late John and Mabel Brown Herman. Hon was a dedicated homemaker and also worked for several years at the Haxton Canning Company.

She was a kind and loving person for which her family was her top priority. Hon will be most fondly remembered for her peanut butter fudge. She enjoyed bowling, playing bingo and cards.

Hon was predeceased by her husband, John Fuest who passed away November 6th, 1992; a son-in-law, Clayton Pierce; a sister, Bernice McNair, and 5 brothers, Jack, George, Fred, Chet and Ray Herman. Survivors include 2 daughters, Betty Pierce and Marge Dersam of Warsaw; a granddaughter and her husband, Mary Lou and Walt Strathearn; a great grandson, Christopher Strathearn; a great granddaughter and her husband, Carrie and Wayne Bartholomew; a great great grandson, Turner Bartholomew; 2 sisters, Mary (Harland) Page and Mabel Orman; a brother, Paul (Esther) Herman; and 3 sisters-in-law, Ruth Herman, Polly Stoffer and Helen Herman, and several nieces and nephews.

Friends of Hon may call Sunday, February 6th, 2011 from 12-3pm at the Weeks Funeral Home 123 N. Main Street, Warsaw. A funeral service will follow with Rev. Douglas Evans as celebrant.

Please visit www.weeksfuneral.com to offer online condolences. Memorial contributions may be made in Hon’s name to the Wyoming Free Public Library at 114 S. Academy St. Wyoming, NY 14591.

Third suspect arrested in alleged fight at Le Roy tavern

By Howard B. Owens

A third suspect in an alleged fight at the Eagle Hotel in Le Roy on Jan. 23 has been arrested and charged with harassment, 2nd.

Steven Hare, 37, of 9 Washington Ave., Le Roy, was arraigned and released following his arrest.

Hare is accused of shoving another person during the alleged altercation.

Previously charged with assault, 2nd were Thomas B. Streamer, 40, of 28 Grover St., Warsaw, and Thomas W. Sherman, 41, of 108 North St., Le Roy.

One alleged victim was taken to UMMC with with facial, head and shoulder injuries.

Law enforcement officials plan vigilance for DWI over Super Bowl weekend

By Howard B. Owens

If you plan to down a brew or two over Super Bowl weekend, local law enforcement officials hope you'll remember: Don't drink and drive.

To help emphasize the point, the State Police announced they will have extra patrols on roads throughout Western New York and troopers will also man check points at undisclosed locations.

The Sheriff's Office, according to Deputy Chief Gordon Dibble, will also have extra cruisers on the road, though no checkpoints are planned.

From the State Police announcement:

The State Police plan to provide increased patrols in hopes that increased visibility and enforcement efforts will ensure that this upcoming weekend will be a safe one for people in Western New York.

Troopers and investigators will also check on liquor stores and taverns to enforce age restrictions on alcohol consumption.

Pair of Batavia hotels get sales tax break for new windows and doors

By Howard B. Owens

A pair of Batavia hotels are getting some tax relief through the Genesee County Economic Development Center because they are installing new energy-efficient doors and windows.

A GCEDC news release says the project will mean 21 retained jobs.

The Days Inn and Super 8 at 200 Oak St., Batavia, are expected to spend more than $220,000 on the project.

The owners will save about $9,000 in sales tax on materials under terms of the GCEDC arrangement.

City holds first public informational meeting on proposed Cedar Street reconstruction

By Howard B. Owens

There are three primary reasons Cedar Street needs an extreme makeover according to consultant Marc D. Kenward.

First is the poor drainage that causes cracks and potholes; second, the low clearance of the bridge at the south end of Cedar (you know, the one the trucks hit a few times a year); third, a need for improved pedestrian mobility (sidewalks).

The reconstruction of Cedar has been a goal of the city for years, but the project is now in the pipeline because 80 percent of the $3.7 million price tag will be covered by the federal government and state grants will pay the rest.

An informational meeting at City Hall this evening, which about a dozen people attended, was an introduction of the plan and an opportunity for community members to provide feedback.

There will likely be one more such meeting as the planning progresses, Kenward said.

Photo: A murder of crows

By Howard B. Owens

A murder of crows -- that's what you call a group of them, not a flock -- were hanging out on Summit Street early this evening.

With their constant caw-caw-caw they were making quite a ruckus -- like something out of Hitchcock's "The Birds." 

At one point, they seemed to have every branch in this tree covered.

Driver hurt when van clipped by tractor-trailer on Main Street, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

A driver who was pulling out of the Arby's drive-thru exit on West Main Street apparently had her van roll in front of a westbound tractor-trailer.

The truck spun the van around, onto the sidewalk and into the front of an office building.

It's unknown at this point if the driver was unable to stop on ice or if she failed to yield the right-of-way.

The trucker drove on to the Tops Market parking lot where he reportedly felt it was safer to stop than on West Main Street.

Batavia Police and Fire responded along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE: The driver of the van was Patricia A. Tomaszewski, 74, of Dodgeson Road, Alexander. Sgt. John Peck said Tomaszewski allegedly failed to yield the right-of-way and was issued a citation. He said her van struck the right rear axle of the trailer. The truck driver was John L. Kinnaird, 58, of Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. Kinnaird was cited for allegedly driving on a suspended license.

Photo: C-130 over Bethany

By Howard B. Owens

While at the accident scene this afternoon, I noticed some people looking at something in the sky behind me. I turned around and it was a C-130 circling the area. One of the Mercy Flight pilots told me the C-130 pilots -- wherever they're from -- routinely make practice runs in the area.

Firefighters deal with 'tough' extrication following accident in East Bethany

By Howard B. Owens

UPDATED Feb. 4, 12:37 a.m.

Crews from Bethany and Stafford volunteer fire departments worked for more than an hour and 15 minutes to extricate an accident victim from his car on East Bethany-Le Roy Townline Road this afternoon.

The victim, Jordan Paul Fleming, 22, of East Bethany-Le Roy Townline Road, East Bethany, appears to have suffered leg injuries, according to Bethany's 2nd Assistant Chief John Szymkowiak. 

Fleming was taken by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital.

The 1996 Mercedes sedan passed through a slushy part of the roadway, slid off the pavement and struck a tree on the front driver's side, according to the accident investigation report. The force of the impact collapsed the front of the car, including steering wheel and column onto the driver's legs.

The car essentially had to be dismantled into order to extricate Fleming.

One veteran firefighter described the extrication as the toughest he's ever been involved in.

Szymkowiak requested mutual aid from Stafford to help with the extrication.

(Initial Report)

More pictures after the jump:

Photo: Downtown piles of snow

By Howard B. Owens

It's an annual complaint from downtown merchants -- piles of snow that mound up between roadside parking and the sidewalk on Main Street. The snow, merchants say, discourages foot traffic into their stores.

This morning, one merchant made an effort to open a little walk way through the snow after a loader closed it with a pile of ice. The merchant said he couldn't even budge the ice block that fell onto the sidewalk.

City Manager Jason Molino said it's cost prohibitive to remove the mounds after every snowstorm, but the city does schedule a time for removal as resources permit.

Molino said there was a full city crew on last night plowing and salting, so the city is down to about half staff for today.

"Everything will be removed," Molino said, "but it depends on when we have the manpower."

Because of the heavy traffic on Main Street and the equipment needed for the removal, it can only be done at night, Molino said.

Photo: Main St. in Sri Lanka

By Howard B. Owens

Vic Marchese, owner of Main St. Pizza Company, was excited to get an e-mail today of a Sri Lanka resident wearing one of his T-shirts in the country once known as Ceylon. He said a friend sent the Sri Lankan the T-shirt and arranged for the picture.

Police Beat: Youth accused of illegal entry into U.S.

By Howard B. Owens

Jorge Alberto Rojas Cazares, 16, of Gully Road, Le Roy, is charged with illegal entry. Cazares came to the attention of the Sheriff's Office while Deputy Joseph Graff investigated the complaint of a person receiving unwanted text messages. The youth was turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Mark H. Poole, 44, of 104 Oak St., Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment, 2nd. Poole is accused of being in a physical altercation with a person under 17 years old. Poole was jailed on $750 bail.

Barn fire reported on Randall Road, Stafford

By Howard B. Owens

 

A barn is reportedly fully engulfed in flames at 6476 Randall Road, Stafford.

The structure is about 50 feet from a house.

Stafford fire along with several other companies responding.

UPDATE 3:31 a.m.: It was more of a small outer structure than a barn. Stafford Fire responded quickly and had the fire knocked down shortly after arriving on scene. The Sheriff's Office will likely release more details in a few hours.

UPDATE: The homeowner is Douglas Frew. He believes a wood stove, which he last stoked at 9:30 p.m., caused the fire. The fire completely destroyed the detached garage. Vehicles parked next to the structure suffered minor heat damage. Frew's barking dog woke him and alerted him to the fire.


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