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A 40-year-old Attica man who was stopped on East Main Street, Batavia, just 12 days ago, admitted in Genesee County Court this morning that he was driving drunk at the time.

Roland J. Reed admitted to a felony count of driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation. He was charged under Leandra's Law because he reportedly had a 2-year-old and an 8-month-old in his car when he was stopped by police.

He was also charged at the time with unlawful possession of marijuana, refusal to take a breath test and moving from lane unsafely.

Reed also admitted to DWI convictions, one in Le Roy in 2009 and another in Monroe County in 2008.

He faces from one to four years in state prison.

Originally jailed on $25,000 bail, Reed will be released under supervision of Genesee County Justice as a condition of his plea.

In addition to prison time, Reed will be required to have an ignition interlock device for at least six months upon his release.

While out of jail awaiting sentencing, Reed will be undergoing treatment, according to his attorney, and looking for work. Judge Robert C. Noonan imposed a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Larry's Steakhouse, 60 Main St., Batavia, NY: The name says it all -- Larry's is a great place for steak. Larry's has a fine dining atmosphere with a great menu and outstanding service. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Matty's Pizzeria, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Matty's is another Batavia favorite for pizza and wings. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Red Osier, Route 5, Stafford, NY: Truly, one of the landmark restaurants of the area. Red Osier features prime rib carved table side. We have $25 gift certificates for $12.50.

Kravings, Valu Plaza, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Kraving's offers soups, salads and sandwiches, fresh and flavorful; Monday through Saturday. We have $10 gift certificates for $5.

South Beach, 59 Main St., Batavia, NY: Try the new lunch buffet. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50 (must be used by Nov. 30, 2010).

Center Street Smoke House, 20 Center St., Batavia, NY: Authentic Southern BBQ, from ribs to brisket with all the fixin's. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern, 107 Evans St., Batavia, NY: To me, Delavan's is one of those restaurants where you want to eat frequently until you try everything on the menu. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

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Shane M. Bartlett, 21, of Drake Road, Brockport, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs, unlawful possession of marijuana and operating without a front bumper/plate. Bartlett's vehicle was stopped at 5:03 p.m., Thursday, on North Byron Road, Elba, by Deputy Bradley Mazur.

Cory J. Zeiner, 21, of Lake Road South, Brockport, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana, 5th.

A car accident with injuries has been reported at Main and Court streets, downtown Batavia.

City Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

6:24 a.m.: Two flatbeds requested to the scene to move the vehicles. No word on how serious the injuries are.

6:50 a.m.: Accident scene is clear.

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I was asked to speak to residents of The Manor House this evening about The Batavian and the state of news media. The residents were a great audience, full of great questions. I promised them their picture on The Batavian.

About 50 GCC students were in the Forum Thursday afternoon to have their voices heard as they spoke out against bullying.

Bullying has become a national issue in recent weeks after five teens in separate cases took their own lives after suffering insults and embarrassment at the hands of people who ridiculed them.

"It's so hard to constantly hear about 13-14 year olds ending their lives, partly for not having an outlet, but more for not feeling safe," said Candice S. Faulring, an instructor of psychology and adviser to GCC's Gay-Straight Alliance, who organized the rally.

Several students took turns at the mic, either because they had been a victim of bullying -- whether over weight issues, shyness or being gay. Some students spoke about friends who had been bullying, and Maggie Rapp, 19, above with Faulring, told the story of a lesbian friend who took her own life.

"A lot of the pictures we have up are pictures of kids from around the country, but to hear the stories of bullying that's happening right in our own community, in Genesee County, in Batavia, in Oakfield, in Alabama, and from kids who are still relatively young and have the courage to get up and tell their stories, that means a lot to me," Faulring said.

Students said they want people to understand that being mean to people just because they're different isn't acceptable behavior.

"I just feel it's wrong because all people are different," said Megan Matthews, 19, from Alexander. "We should just all get along. There's nothing wrong with being different."

Sarah Tuttle, 23, of Albion, and a representative of the Gay-Straight Alliance, said she's most concerned about bullying of gays and that bullying of lesbians hasn't gotten much media attention in recent weeks, but it should.

"There is no norm," Tuttle said. "Everything is normal. If you're gay, if you're male, if you're female, African-American, Asian, white, whatever, you're all the same."

According to Faulring, bullying has gotten worse in recent years because it is no longer limited to just the schoolyard boundaries.

"When I was a kid, I knew when I got home I didn't have to worry about getting a text message or what people might say on Facebook," Faulring said.

Faulring said she plans to continue to push the anti-bullying message, including making a documentary of the stories of Genesee County residents who have been victims of bullies and how they overcame it.

Reader Amanda Bisig sent in this photo with this note:

My dad (John Bisig) sent me these photos that he took around 4:30 p.m. today, and asked me to send them in. They were taken on East Road in Batavia, where he was combining corn today. The photo you uploaded a few days ago of the Reinke irrigation system from the corner of Transit and Chapel roads in Byron is  also owned by the same farm (My-T-Acres) -- and we live in the farmhouse across the street from that one you photographed. Thought you might enjoy the photo!

An 18-year-old driver was shaken up and taken to the hospital Wednesday after losing control of her car on R. Stephen Hawley Drive and having it overturn.

Alexandra N. Vanburen, of Batavia, was transported by ground ambulance to UMMC.

No other people where in Vanburen's car and no other vehicles were involved.

The reason is not contained in the Sheriff's Office report, but Vanburen's 1999 Saturn traveled off the roadway and onto the gravel shoulder. She reportedly over corrected and lost control of the car. The car traveled off the north shoulder, hit an embankment and landed on its roof.

No citations were issues.

Deputy Chad Minuto handled the investigation.

(initial report)

John Christian Finkney, 22, of Galloway Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal impersonation, driving out of class, unregistered motor vehicle, switched plates, uninsured motor vehicle. Finkney was allegedly involved in a road rage incident on Oct. 15. As part of the investigation, a deputy asked Finkney for his name and date of birth. It was later discovered that he allegedly provided the name and birth date of his brother. He was arrested Wednesday by Deputy Eric Seppela.

Reader Amanda sent this in -- a picture of a rainbow over downtown Batavia at about 9:45 a.m.

To me, 36 degrees is not "extreme cold," but it's worth noting that we've received our first "extreme cold alert" of the season.

It's supposed to get down to 36 tonight with a wind chill factor -- the "feels like" temperature -- dropping to 30 degrees.

There will be a 16 mph wind from the northwest.

There is a 20 percent chance of precipitation.

Poll question suggested by a reader, and if doesn't make sense, watch this video.

This morning, Suzanne Corona met South Beach owner Ken Mistler at a downtown bank and signed a contract agreeing to carry a sign in front of his restaurant for four hours that reads, "I Stole from South Beach."

The contract, Mistler said, is an admission of guilt. In it, Mistler agrees to drop criminal charges against Corona and she holds harmless Mistler, South Beach and all employees from any possible damages.

On Sept. 30, Corona was reportedly caught stuffing food from South Beach's buffet into baggies. When confronted, Corona, according to Mistler, dumped the food back onto the buffet. All of the items on the buffet had to be trashed right at the height of lunch hour.

According to Mistler, the resulting damage was more than $1,000, so Corona was facing a possible felony charge.

The 41-year-old Corona was in City Court briefly this afternoon on her other notorious legal case -- the public lewdness charge she admitted to in August.

Corona, who was initially charged with adultery for having sexual contact with a man not her husband in Farrall Park in June, was scheduled to be sentenced today.

The sentencing was continued until Nov. 24.

Judge Michael Del Plato only said that the proposed sentence "is something not available to me." He also instructed the attorneys on both sides that "what is confidential remains confidential."

The Byron-Bergen education community is dealing with an unexpected loss after the Central School Board of Education Vice Presdient Lori Nelson passed away yesterday.

The school district announced the passing of Nelson, 49, today.

She served on the Byron-Bergen board since her election in 2000.

“Our community suffered a great loss yesterday with the sudden passing of Lori Nelson,” said Scott Martzloff, Ed.D, Byron-Bergen CSD superintendent of schools. “Lori served our board with distinction for 11 years, eight of which were in the role of vice president.”

The Byron-Bergen CSD community sends its deepest condolences and sympathy to Lori’s family and friends during this difficult time, including Robert, her husband, and their three children Mitchel, Bobbi Gayle and Regina, and all Byron-Bergen CSD graduates. “Lori was a passionate advocate for Byron-Bergen students and staff,” Martzloff said.  “She was well liked and respected by her board colleagues and will be sorely missed here as a leader.”

Nelson was a voting delegate on the New York State School Boards Association, a member of the Executive Board of Genesee Valley School Boards Association and active in the Boy Scouts.

(via WBTA)

UPDATE: Lori Nelson's obituary has been published.

The driver is out of the car and reportedly only shaken up following a reported roll over accident on College Drive near Bank Street Road.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

People -- including gay teens -- shouldn't be bullied.

That's the message Batavia High student Kelly Jones wanted to get out today.

After reading about Oct. 20 being a "wear purple" day in remembrance of five gay teens who reportedly committed suicide recently after being bullied, Kelly wanted to get as many students at BHS as possible to wear purple today.

Many did.

"I feel bad for people," Kelly said. "I see it every day. I've bullied and I feel horrible about it. I just think it's a horrible thing and I just don't want people to be bullied anymore."

Kelly found out about the day through a Facebook group, so she sent messages to all of her friends yesterday -- three times -- and asked them to make sure all of their friends at BHS knew about the plan.

Principle Chris Daily said Kelly's initiative and so many students participating is typical of BHS.

"We have an extremely caring and giving bunch of kids at Batavia," Daily said.

"We're lucky here," he added. "We have such a diverse population in this high school -- the haves and the have nots, all sorts, that people are used to people being a little different."

Though students said the school isn't without its bullies, and they want it to stop.

"It's not right for here," said Kelly, who is on the far left in the picture above. "This is a small town and everybody knows everybody."

Cassie Warren said she wore purple today not because she's seen a lot of bullying this year, but she has in the past.

"(I wore purple) because people who are like gay and lesbian, they don't have maybe the right to speak out because everyone teases them," Cassie said. "It's not right, so I wanted to show them that people care."

Rebecca Truesell said it was moving to see so many of her classmates in purple today.

"I kind of related to (the gays who were bullied) because I've been picked on my whole life," Rebecca said. "It means a lot to me (that her classmates are wearing purple). When I saw all of the people, I almost started crying. All of these people care and it didn't seem like they cared, but they really do."

A teenage girl suffered minor injuries in a one-car accident on Maltby Road last night.

Natalie N. Buczek, 14, a passenger in a car driven by a 19-year-old Oakfield resident, was taken to UMMC for treatment of minor facial cuts and bleeding.

The driver, Raymond J. Litteer Jr., of 28 S. Main St., Oakfield, received a citation for allegedly speeding.

Neither Litteer nor another passenger, Justin D. Smith, 15, were injured in the crash.

According to investigator Deputy Chad Minuto, Litteer was driving too fast, heading east, on Maltby Road at 8:28 p.m. The driver reported hitting a dip and then losing control of a 2000 Chevy sedan owned by Danielle Buczek, of 26 S. Main St., Oakfield. 

The car hit an embankment and then a utility pole, which was damaged.