Stories from

A driver who spun out after hitting a patch of snow on Route 98 in Alexander yesterday was transported to UMMC complaining of neck pain.

Thomas R. Hakes, 17, of 2680 Merkle Road, Attica, was northbound on Route 98 near Cookson Road in a 1996 Ford pickup when he hit a snowdrift on the roadway. His car spun out and hit an embankment.

The accident occurred at 12:08 p.m.

No other vehicles were involved.

No citations were issued.

Deputy Brian Thompson investigated the accident.

(Initial Report)

A 40-year-old woman from Wyoming suffered a concussion in an automobile accident yesterday on Route 20 in Alexander.

Her infant was uninjured.

Eleen M. Campbell, of 11005 East Road, Wyoming, was taken by ground ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital following the 9:24 a.m. accident.

Campbell reportedly lost control of her vehicle and it spun around several times before entering the eastbound lane of Route 20 where it was struck by a tractor-trailer. Her estimated speed prior to losing control was 45 mph. She was cited for unsafe speed for conditions.

The driver of the truck was Donald E. Patton of Willis, Texas. He was not injured in the accident.

Deputy Brian Thompson investigated the accident.

(Initial Report)

Elba Fire is on scene of a two-car accident at the intersection of Norton and Ford roads.

Four minor injuries, including an infant's, are reported.

Mercy EMS is in route.

UPDATE 3:12 p.m.: More manpower requested. An extrication will be required. A first responder warned others coming to scene to be careful coming over the hill on Route 262. "Complete white-out conditions," he said.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: All victims extricated.

View Larger Map

The work of artists Len Rusin (pictured above) and George Graham are now on display in the Lobby Art Gallery at Genesee Community College.

Rusin, from North Tonawanda, and Graham, from Oakfield, were at a reception this afternoon for the opening of their show, which runs through Feb. 22.

Rusin (Web site) specializes in paintings from America's national parks and Graham (Web site) is a sculptor working in glacial stones.

Expect blowing snow the rest of the day, making travel conditions difficult.

The National Weather Service has kept the lake effect snow warning in place through 6 p.m., but said the bands may drop only about an inch of accumulation.

Winds, however, of up to 35 mph will hamper visibility and cause drifts, potentially into roadways. Temperatures will drop into the teens by tonight, with a windchill factor of zero or colder.

More pictures from late this morning after the jump:

A Jeep has struck a tree at Meadville and Council House roads in Alabama.

A woman in the Jeep was reported unconscious. She has been extracted from the Jeep and is in a passerby's car. She is semi-unconscious but responsive to stimulus.

Mercy Flight is grounded due to weather.

Alabama Fire has been dispatched.

UPDATE 8:15 a.m.: There are reportedly three children who were in the Jeep and have minor injuries.

View Larger Map

"Fulge and Giesy" doesn't quite have the poetic ring of "Bonnie and Clyde," but the Rochester couple are allegedly partners in crime.

The duo was reportedly caught in the act this afternoon of allegedly burglarizing a home on Griswold Circle in Le Roy.

Operating on a tip from the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, members of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, the Le Roy Police Department and the Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force were quickly on scene at 2:50 p.m. after Benjimin Giesy, 31, allegedly entered the a home at 7878 Griswald Circle.

Lindsey M. Fulge, 27, reportedly sat in the getaway car waiting for Giesy.

Giesy had allegedly broken down the front door of the house to gain entry and had already allegedly stolen jewelry, silver and coins from the residence.

When law enforcement officers arrived, they took Fulge in custody first and then entered the house to apprehend Giesy.

Giesy reportedly tried escaping by jumping from a first-floor window. He was quickly apprehended without further incident.

Fulge and GIesy were also allegedly found in possession of a small amount of heroin, hypodermic needles and marijuana.

Both were charged with burglary 2nd, grand larceny 4th, criminal mischief 3rd, possession of a hypodermic instrument, criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Monroe investigators have been working on a string of burglaries involving Rochester residents hitting Genesee, Ontario and Wyoming counties.

All items allegedly taken from today's burglary were recovered.

Fulge's bail was set at $50,000 and bail for Giesy is $100,000.

From the county's perspective, the Sno-Packers have the A-OK to reinstall their bridge on Sour Springs Road, but the agreement to make it happen is far from a done deal.

The Town of Alabama atttorney is recommending to town board members that they not approve an agreement that passed the County Legislature 9-0 tonight.

According to Councilman Max Maerten, who attended the Legislature meeting, Alabama's attorney doesn't believe the agreement has language allowing the town to assign its duties to a third party. Maerten said he's voting for the agreement anyway.

"Our insurance company that's going to carry the policy for the town does not have an issue with it," Maerten said. "I'm not one to wear the liability of everything every day on his sleeve. If our insurance company is willing to back us and the snowmobile club insurance is going to back us, I would probably vote yes."

Kevin Fischer (pictured), president of the Genesee Sno-Packers said he's not concerned about the situation with the Alabama Town Board.

"I believe that they all know and understand what we're all about," Fisher said. "They know what our intentions have been all along. They were the people who who said a year ago the issue isn't with the Town of Alabama it's with the county. I believe we'll be able to work something out."

County officials say that although there's nothing explicitly allowing it, there is nothing in the agreement that prevents the Town of Alabama from reaching a separate agreement with the Sno-Packers.

Congressman Chris Lee attended an auction yesterday.

He wasn't there to buy an old Queen Anne sideboard. He wanted to get a firsthand look at the nation's debt getting sold to overseas concerns.

The auction was held at the Bureau of Public Debt, and it featured $10 billion of our national debt being auctioned off as four-week treasury bills.

“As our national debt has risen to a record high, I wanted to get a firsthand look at the process by which our debt is auctioned off to China and other foreign countries,” said Congressman Lee. “We need to get serious about reining in government spending and decreasing our debt. We cannot afford to be beholden these foreign counties any longer.”

Lee then met with Commissioner of the Public Debt Van Zeck.

I wonder if he asked how much it costs to administer a Bureau of Public Debt?

Full press release after the jump:

Press release:

Congressman Lee Attends Auction Of Our Nation’s Debt
Lawmaker Attends Public Auction to Witness the Result of Borrow and Spend Policies

WASHINGTON – Congressman Chris Lee (NY-26) today attended an auction at the Bureau of the Public Debt to witness exactly how our $12.3 trillion debt is being auctioned off to foreign countries and individuals. The auction featured $10 billion of our national debt being auctioned off as a 4-week Treasury bill. According to records held by the Bureau of Public Debt, Asian countries hold nearly 50 percent of our nation’s debt.
 
“As our national debt has risen to a record high, I wanted to get a firsthand look at the process by which our debt is auctioned off to China and other foreign countries,” said Congressman Lee. “We need to get serious about reining in government spending and decreasing our debt. We cannot afford to be beholden these foreign counties any longer.”
 
While at the debt auction, Congressman Lee met with Commissioner of the Public Debt Van Zeck and other officials within the Department to discuss the process and concerns he has with our record-high national debt. Purchasers of the debt participate through an online interface managed by the Bureau and the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, and the sale of $10 billion in Treasury securities was completed in mere minutes. Bureau officials commented that the frequency of auctions has risen in recent years to accommodate the need to borrow more money.
 
“The longer we continue to borrow and spend the more future generations will be forced to pay,” added Congressman Lee. “The time to reduce spending and pay down our debt is now.”

The governor is out of line, according to Assemblyman Steve Hawley, in planning to shift $1 million from New York's snowmobile program to the state's general fund.

Hawley today issued a statement asking Gov. David Paterson to strike that provision from his proposed 2010-2011 executive budget.

“This proposal to take $1 million away from the Snowmobile Fund is unacceptable and serves as just another example of the State trying to take every penny it can to cover its own fiscal mismanagement,” said Hawley. “This fund is entirely financed and supported by the fees New Yorkers pay to register their snowmobiles. For this reason, the fund should be used solely to maintain and develop snowmobile trails throughout the state.”

Full press release after the jump:

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, I, C – Batavia) today called on Governor David Paterson to remove a proposal from his 2010-2011 Executive Budget aimed at removing $1 million from the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund and transferring it into the State’s General Fund.

“This proposal to take $1 million away from the Snowmobile Fund is unacceptable and serves as just another example of the State trying to take every penny it can to cover its own fiscal mismanagement,” said Hawley.“This fund is entirely financed and supported by the fees New Yorkers pay to register their snowmobiles.  For this reason, the fund should be used solely to maintain and develop snowmobile trails throughout the state.”

The 2010-2011 Executive Budget contains a proposal to sweep $1 million from the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund and transfer it into the State’s General Fund. In addition, the proposal would allow the General Fund to have access to 30% of the remaining Snowmobile Fund balance and expand the use of that money to include all recreational activities on State lands. When a similar proposal was raised in 2008, Assemblyman Hawley authored and introduced legislation, Assembly Bill 10732, which would prevent any transfer of funds from accounts that are specifically supported with a dedicated fee, such as the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund. 

According to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Snowmobile industry contributes more than $875 million to the state economy each year. The removal of $1 million from the snowmobile fund, and the potential access to an additional 30% of that fund, could severely impact the Upstate economy. 

“Many small upstate communities rely heavily on the snowmobiling industry to generate local revenue and would be negatively impacted by this money grab by Albany. If Albany is serious about helping rebuild New York’s ailing economy, then this proposal should be taken out. I will continue to fight against this proposal to seize dedicated funds for some other use just as I did in 2008.”

Lake effect snow is expected to hit Western New York about 10 p.m. and intensify overnight.

The National Weather Service had issued an advisory, but has now downgraded its bulletin to a warning.

The warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. tomorrow.

Officials warn of treacherous driving conditions in the morning with three to six inches of fresh snow having fallen overnight.

An Arctic front may disrupt the snow band Thursday morning, but the wind will also bring its own snowfall across all of Western New York.

The Arctic front could drop from six to 10 inches of snow.

The driver of a truck involved in a fatal accident on the Thruway the morning of Dec. 12 was allegedly operating on little sleep and viewing porn on a laptop computer at the time of the accident.

Thomas Wallace, 45, of Brook Park, Ohio, has been charged with manslaughter 2nd and jailed on $50,000 bail or $200,000 bond.

Julie Stratton, 33, of Synder, was driving in the passing lane of the Thruway in Pembroke when her car struck a deer and became disabled. She managed to call 9-1-1 before a tractor trailer plowed into her car. Several cars and trucks reportedly managed to avoid hitting her vehicle, which immediately raised questions about how Wallace was apparently unable to avoid striking the car.

Wallace is accused by the State Police of keeping a falsified log book and working a 27-hour shift at the time of the accident. He allegedly had slept only four hours in the previous 24.

State Police also say he had a computer in his lap that was streaming pornography at the time of the accident.

Wallace was reportedly driving for Millis Transfer out of Blackriver Falls, Wis.

Stratton was the mother of two young children.

An alleged would-be burglar has just been busted on Griswold Road.

Law enforcement (probably Sheriff's Deputies and State Troopers) officers on scene were setting up to take the suspect while he was still in the house.

A female was reportedly waiting in a car outside the house.

It's unclear how law enforcement became aware of the burglary in progress. Several units responded to the scene.

The owner was not apparently home and officials did not have contact information for him.

UPDATE: While the initial call said "Griswold Road," it was actually Griswold Circle in Le Roy. You can read the arrest report here.

One lane of Ledge Road in Basom is closed after a gas truck carrying 8,500 gallons of fuel jackknifed.

The truck remained upright and no gas was spilled.

No injuries are reported and there are apparently no other vehicles involved.

View Larger Map

An injury accident has been reported in the area of Alexander and Cookson roads, Alexander.

Alexander Fire and Mercy EMS have been dispatched.

View Larger Map

There are reportedly no injuries, but a person is trapped in a car that has turned on its side on Sumner Road, just outside the employee entrance of Darien Lake.

Darien Fire has been dispatched.

UPDATE 11:14 a.m.: Both occupants are out of the car. No injuries.

View Larger Map

Wendy Lynn Mucher, 40, 27 Valle Drive, Batavia, is charged with insurance fraud 3rd. Mucher allegedly presented a State Farm agent a receipt containing materially false information related to her claim for payment.

Kyle Davis Faron, 26, of 8133 Remsen Road, Pembroke, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and unsafe lane change. Faron was stopped at 1:23 a.m. by Deputy Jason Saile in front of Faron's residence.

There was initially a report of a three-car accident with injuries at mile marker 395 of the Thruway.

Then there was a report of an accident at marker 392, but the first responder could not locate that accident.  He did proceed to the accident at 395.

East Pembroke Fire and Mercy EMS have been dispatched.

UPDATE 10:26 p.m.: East Pembroke back in service.

An accident on Route 20 involving a car and truck on Route 20 in Alexander has been reported.

A woman is reportedly in and out of consciousness and there was a child in the car.

As a precaution, dispatch checked on the availability of Mercy Flight, but Mercy Flight is grounded due to weather.

Extrication will be required.

UPDATE 9:34 a.m.: First responder reports no serious injuries.