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Batavia finishes regular season 7-1 with win over Wilson Magnet 42-20

By Howard B. Owens

The Blue Devils offense once again proved too much for an opposing defense as Batavia beat Wilson Magnet at home on Friday 42-20.

Cam McClinic scored two touchdowns on six carries for 42 yards. Jesse Reinhart rushed for a touchdown and toss one while going 5-6 passing.

Javin McFollins had a TD reception on two catches for 32 yards. Vincent Arroyo caught a 46-yard TD pass and Aiden Anderson caught a 25-yard TD pass.

On defense, Kaden Marucci had eight tackles. 

Other Friday games:

Alexander 10 over Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen, 10-0.  Brayden Woods carried the ball 20 times for 51 yards.  Nick Kramer had 11 carries for 77 yards and a TD.  He was also 4-6 passing for 25 yards.  The Trojans finish the regular season 7-1.

Oakfield-Alabama beat Geneseo/Mount Morris, 58-14.

To view or purchase prints, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

OAE girls make 32 shots on goal but can't get the scores they need for win

By Howard B. Owens

The Oakfield-Alabama/Elba girls soccer team ran into a great goalie for Canisteo-Greenwood in their final game of the season leading to a 4-2 loss in a shootout.

The Hornets finish 9-7-1.

Goalie Lily Davis made three saves.

The CG goalie made 32.

Christina Bartholomew and Macy Altamirano made their kicks in the shootout.

Head Coach David Carpino said, "We dominated play and possession but ran into a solid goal keep and hit posts and just couldn't put one in."

Photos by Kristin Smith.

Two vehicles and deer involved in accident on Route 77

By Howard B. Owens

Two vehicles and a deer are reportedly involved in an accident in the area of 9888 Alleghany Road, Corfu.

No word on injuries.

Law enforcement dispatched.

UPDATE 10:41 p.m.: Five vehicles have now reportedly struck the deer.

 

Grand Jury Report: Man accused of strangling a person, attacking a child

By Howard B. Owens

Kaleb J. Bobzien is indicted on counts of strangulation in the second degree, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, two counts of harassment in the second degree, two counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, four counts of criminal contempt in the second degree, and three counts of tampering with a witness in the fourth degree. On June 24, in the Town of Batavia, Bobzien allegedly applied pressure to the throat of another person and caused that person to lose consciousness for a period of time. He's also accused of blocking the nose and mouth of another person, a person under age 17.  He also allegedly threatened a victim. He allegedly broke a vape pen that belonged to the victim. He also allegedly damaged the backpack of the underage victim. He allegedly violated an order of protection. He allegedly tried to stop a person from testifying in the case. 

Aaron M. Hatt is indicted on counts of burglary in the second degree, criminal contempt in the first degree, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and aggravated family offense, criminal contempt in the second degree. Hatt is accused of entering a building on Broadway in  Alexander on April 28 with the intent to commit a crime within the building. He is accused of violating an order of protection at that time by intentionally harassing, annoying,  or threatening a person in that residence. He is accused of applying pressure to the throat of a family member.  There was a  child present at the time of the alleged offense. 

Robin S. Brooks is indicted on a count of bail jumping in the first degree.  Brooks is accused of failing to appear for a court hearing on April 20  or within  30 days of the scheduled appearance.

Cesar G. Molina is indicted on a count of driving while ability impaired by drugs as a felony because of a prior DWI conviction.  Molina is accused of driving under the influence on 29 December in the Town of Byron.

Jarrett C.  Coniglio is indicted on two counts of assault in the second degree, a  count of resisting arrest, and a count of obstructing governmental administration. Coniglio is accused of causing injury to a  police officer while attempting to stop the officer from performing his official duties on  July 23 in the Town of Alabama. He's accused of causing injury to another person with a glass bottle. 

Mark L. Farley is indicted on a count of criminal contempt in the first degree, a  count of unlawful imprisonment, a  count of harassment in the second degree, a  count of burglary in the second degree, and a count of criminal contempt in the second degree, On Dec. 31, Farley allegedly violated an order of protection at a  residence on  Harvester Avenue by striking or threatening another person. He allegedly restrained another person. He allegedly went into the building with the intent to commit a crime. 

James D. Weathers is indicted on a count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.  Weathers is accused of knowingly possessing a loaded Glock 19  handgun while in the Town of Stafford on  Oct. 31, 2020.

Connor L.  Andrews is indicted on a count of criminal possession of a  controlled substance in the fifth degree, a count of driving while ability impaired by drugs, and three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th degree. Andrews was charged after being stopped in the Town of Le Roy on May 3. He was allegedly found in possession of cocaine, meth, Alprazolam, and Oxycodone.

Timothy J.  Passage is indicted on a count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree.  Passage is accused of trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill at the Tim Horton's in Pembroke on March 20.

Jamie A. Dutton is indicted on a  count of criminal mischief in the third degree, criminal trespass in the second degree, and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. Dutton is accused of damaging the property of another person valued at more than $250 on Feb. 27 at a location in the City of Batavia. He was allegedly unlawfully in a property with permission and in possession of cocaine.

Traffic being blocked on Townline Road in Byron due to wires down

By Howard B. Owens

There are electrical wires down in the roadway in the area of 6749 Townline Road,  Byron.

Fire police are requested for traffic control.  Traffic is being blocked at Ivison Road.

A pole is down.

We do not know the cause.

Byron and South Byron fire departments are handling the call.  Law enforcement is also on scene.

Law and Order: Driver found to have several outstanding warrants, alleged drug possession during traffic stop

By Howard B. Owens

Tommy Crawford, 32, of Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, criminal impersonation, unlicensed operation, aggravated unlicensed operation, and failure to stop at a stop sign. Crawford was arrested on Oct. 10 following a traffic stop at 1:09 a.m. on  Miller Avenue. He is accused of providing police with a false name. After Crawford was identified, officers determined he was the subject of multiple outstanding warrants issued by the City of Batavia along with several issued by other agencies. He was also allegedly in possession of crack cocaine. He was arraigned in City Court and bail was set at $100.

Devon A. Wright, 19, of Batavia, is charged with obstructing governmental administration and unlicensed operation  3rd. Wright was arrested on Oct. 9 for charges stemming from an incident on Sept. 29 on  Dellinger Avenue, Batavia. He is accused of fleeing from a vehicle and locking himself inside a residence following a traffic stop.  He was issued an appearance ticket.  For prior coverage of Wright,  click here.

Anthony Natrigo, 23, of Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and no or inoperable tail lamps. Natrigo was stopped at 2:17 a.m., Oct. 9, on East Main Street by a Batavia police officer. He was processed at police headquarters and released on tickets.

Katherin A. O’Brien, 28, of Pavilion, is charged with felony  DWI. O'Brien was stopped by State Police in  Warsaw on  Saturday. She allegedly had a BAC of .17. She was arraigned in Town of Warsaw Court and released on her own recognizance.

Stephanee Mae Surabian, 33, of State Street Road,  Batavia,  is charged with grand larceny 3rd and five counts of offering a false instrument for filing. Surabain allegedly failed to report to  DSS that the father of her children was residing in her home or that he was earning wages while receiving benefits. Surabain allegedly received $7,919 in  SNAP benefits she was not entitled to receive. She was arraigned in Batavia Town  Court and released on her own recognizance.

Sarita Gajmerkami, 28, of  Chestnut Ridge,  is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18  or greater, and failure to keep right. Gajmerkami was stopped at 7:26 p.m., Oct. 14, on  Route 33, Bergen, by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush. She was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Diana Marie Walworth, 33, of Town Pump  Circle, Spencerport, is charged with felony driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and driver view obstructed. Walworth was stopped at 5:29 a.m., Oct. 10, on  I-490 in  Le Roy by Deputy Trevor Sherwood. She was issued an appearance ticket.

 

Model railroad enthusiasts filled Call Arena on Sunday

By Howard B. Owens

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers Inc.'s Giant Train Show made a spectacular return Sunday to Call Arena at GCC growing 1,150 attendees and 100 vendors.

"The event was the first major train show in our area, post-pandemic, and attracted one of the largest number of patrons that we’ve seen in the past 5 years," said Mike Pyszczek, the show's chairman.

He praised GCC for providing a safe and supportive environment for the event.

The next train show, the organization's 100th, is scheduled for April 3, 2022.

The club was founded in Batavia and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019. 

"We have been holding spring and fall train shows since the early ’70s at various venues in the Batavia area," Pyszczek said. "We began using the Richard C. Call Arena at GCC when it first opened in 2018 and have grown the event to be one of the largest hobby shows in Upstate NY."

The Club's annual open house is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec. 4, at its clubhouse in the Village of Oakfield during the village holiday celebration.

Son suspected of killing his father in home they shared in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

A 37-year-old Oakfield man was arrested in Erie County yesterday and charged with the murder of his father at the home they shared in Oakfield.

Sixty-nine-year-old Martin Maher was found dead in his home at 32 Drake Street after deputies were dispatched to his house for a welfare check at 10:57 a.m. because family members had been unable to contact Maher.

Deputies found Maher deceased and that he was the apparent victim of a homicide.

Upon investigation, detectives identified Nicholas M. Martin as the suspect.  He was located in Erie County at 3:35 p.m.

He is charged with murder in the second degree. He was arraigned in Town of Oakfield Court and ordered held without bail.

The Genesee County Sheriff's Office believes this was an isolated incident and that there is no threat to public safety. 

Assisting in the investigation are State Police, the Erie County Sheriff's Office, the Coroner's Office, and the District Attorney's Office.  The investigation is ongoing.

OAE edges Bolivar 14-13

By Howard B. Owens

The Aggies played hard and came up an important win by just one point, beating Bolivar-Richburg 14-13 on Saturday.

For Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, Gaige Armbrewster rushed 15 times and gained 131 yards and scored once.  QB Bodie Hyde had 12 carries for 52 yards and a TD.

CJ Gottler had 10 tackles and a fumble recovery.  Ethan Cramer and Aiden Warner had ten tackles each.  Kameron Cusmano's six tackles including a game-winner when he pulled down the ball carrier on a two-point conversion with 45 seconds remaining in the game.

“This was the type of game we needed to find out if we could win or not," said Head Coach Tyler Winter. "Bolivar is a tough team and they played hard today.  Proud of our boys for being able to adjust and overcome some adversity.  It may not be pretty in the stat sheet, but a win is a win and this game is going to help us down the road.”

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.

 

 

Total team offense, stout defense give Trojans another big win

By Howard B. Owens

The Alexander Trojans were once again dominant on a Friday night, beating York/Pavilion 43-0.

Alexander used nine running backs amassing 219  yards rushing on 30 carries.  Clayton Bezon had four carries for 61 yards and a TD. Nick Kramer, six carries for 48 yards and two TDs, and Braydon Woods gained 36 yards on seven carries. He scored twice. 

As a QB, Kramer was 7-7 passing for 98 yards including a 23-yard TD pass to Jake Laney.  Laney had four catches for 54 yards.

On Deffense, Kramer had five tackles.  Mason Bump had an interception.

Eric Cline was 6-6 on PATs.

The Trojans are now 6-1 on the season and have recorded four shutouts.

Also on  Friday, Pembroke beat South Seneca 24-8 in a  game that was called with 10:50 left in the second quarter. Caleb Felski gained 64 yards,  scored twice, on four caries. Tyson Totten rushed six times for 47 yards and a TD.

Photos by Philip Casper

Top photo: Nick Kramer QB #3, Jacob Laney TE #7, Gavin Smith-Crandall OL #72, Matt Jasen OL #56, On their way to the coin toss

Eric Cline K #9 with the kickoff

Gavin Smith-Crandall DL #72, and Scott Marzolf LB #66 with the tag team tackle

Jacob Laney DB #7 breaking through the line putting an end to the run

Section V Varsity Gymnastics - Meet at MCA Gymnastics

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Team results:
1. Genesee: 116.9, 2. Corning: 115.55, 3. Penfield-Webster: 115.5
 
All Around results:
1. Anna Zahradka (Corning): 31.9, 3. Haylie Leitten (Genesee): 29.95, 4. Emily Salmonds (Genesee): 29.65, 8. Roan Finn (Genesee): 27.8, 10. Kori Radley (Genesee): 27.05, 13. Gianna Trigilio (Genesee): 26.3
 
Vault results:
1.Haylie Leitten (Genesee): 8.3, 5. Roan Finn (Genesee): 7.8, 9. Emily Salmonds (Genesee): 7.6, 11. Kori Radley (Genesee): 7.25, 13. Gianna Trigilio (Genesee): 7.0
 
Uneven Bar results:
1. Anna Zahradka (Corning): 6.6, 3. Emily Salmonds (Genesee): 6.1,  5. Haylie Leitten (Genesee): 6.0, 6. Roan Finn (Genesee): 5.8, 10. Gianna Trigilio (Genesee): 5.45, 14. Kori Radley (Genesee): 4.2, 15. Aleisha St Clair (Genesee): 4.0
 
Balance Beam results:
1. Anna Zahradka (Corning): 8.3, 2. Emily Salmonds (Genesee): 7.9,  3. Haylie Leitten (Genesee): 7.8, 5. Gianna Trigilio (Genesee): 7.5, 7Kori Radley (Genesee): 7.1,  11. Roan Finn (Genesee): 6.3, 12. Aleisha St Clair (Genesee): 6.25
 
Floor Exercise results:
1. Anna Zahradka (Corning) & Audrey Stout (Penfield-Webster): 8.8, 2. Kori Radley (Genesee): 8.5,  3. Emily Salmonds (Genesee): 8.05, 4. Roan Finn (Genesee): 7.9, 5. Haylie Leitten (Genesee): 7.85, 12. Gianna Trigilio (Genesee): 6.35,  14. Aleisha St. Clair (Genesee): 5.1
 
Next meet: 
Friday, October 22, 2021 - 6pm at MCA Gymnastics against:

Pittsford & Corning.

Stratosphere strikes again in Batavia feature pace

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

After scoring an eye-opening eight-length win last week, Stratosphere bounced right back and won again in the $13,500 Open I Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 16). 

Drew Monti sent Stratosphere off the car and got parked to the quarter in :26.4 before clearing the front. But after taking the lead, they backed off the half to :56.3 and from there had the upper hand. With McSpidey (Kyle Cummings) breathing down his back and Silver Beast (Jim McNeight Jr.) chasing on the rim, Stratosphere was unfazed while he stuck to his task, rounded the last turn, and cruised home to an easy 1-¼ length win in 1:54.1.

It was the second straight Open I win and fourth win in the last five starts for Stratosphere ($3.40) who now has seven wins and $50,978 in earnings for the year for his driver/owner Drew Monti. Darrin Monti trains the winner. 

Drew Monti also won with Apple Valley Art (1:56.3, $4.20) and Charmbo Orbit (1:55.1, $3.00) to end the night the leading driver with three wins. 

In the $12,100 Open II Handicap, Stranger Things (Shawn McDonough) sat second behind Mississippi Rabbit (Drew Monti) until the head of the lane where he dipped down, snuck up the passing lane, and brushed late to a ¼ length win in 1:54.3. 

Stranger Things ($6.70) is owned by Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel, and James Reuther and is trained by Angelo Nappo. 

McDonough ended the night with two driving wins as well as one training win.

Other horsemen having two wins were driver Kevin Cummings and trainer Jim Clouser Jr.

With no single unique winning ticket purchased in the Jackpot Pick-5 on Saturday night (Oct. 16), there will be a carryover of $9,927 for that bet in race nine when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 20). 

Free full past performance programs for the entire card -- that includes these races -- can be downloaded at bataviadownsgaming.com under the live racing tab, where they can be found for every live night of racing at Batavia Downs.

Post time for the first race is 5 p.m.

Lee Zeldin, running for governor visits Batavia, gets business perspective on state's needs

By Howard B. Owens

Gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin visited Chapin Manufacturing in Batavia to hear about some of the issues local manufacturers face in New York.  

CEO Jim Campbell spoke with Zeldin about burdensome regulations and a shrinking base of employable workers, which has forced the company to expand in other states instead of  New York.  

Zeldin was a receptive ear.

When asked how he,  as a  Republican,  could win in a state dominated by New York City Democrats, Zeldin said he and his team have looked at the numbers. If he can increase the turnout in the state's rural counties he needs to pick up only 29  percent of the vote of the Five Burroughs.

"That is not an intimidating number to me," he said. 

He also said surrounding himself with a strong campaign staff is also an advantage and he said his campaign's fundraising efforts have been strong.  

"We outraised everybody else combined, including Cuomo and Hochul," Zeldin said. "Kathy will be able to raise money because she's now the governor. But at that point when she ascended, we had millions of dollars more in the bank than she did."

Even he represents the most rural parts of Long Island, his media market takes in all of NYC,  so when he does a press conference, all of NYC hears about it.  When he runs a  campaign ad, it runs across that entire market.  He thinks positions him to pick up votes Downstate.

That strategy only works if rural counties increase turnout to help close the gap.

"When you have 15 or 20 counties like Genesee all trying to get those extra five points, extra six points, that ends up becoming about two, two and a half percent of the vote," Zeldin said. "That could be a difference between winning and losing. So this really is a 62 county campaign."

Top Photo: Zeldin speaking while Bill Campbell, Chapin's director of business listens.  Bottom: Bill Klegar, VP of operations, gives a tour to Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Zeldin.  CEO  Jim Campell is at the right in the background.

Billie Owens, editor of The Batavian, passes away at age 63

By Howard B. Owens

Billie Faye Owens, 63, editor of The Batavian from 2010 to 2021, died at Rochester General Hospital on Friday evening from complications from congestive heart failure.

She was taken to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia with health issues on July 26 and remained hospitalized for 81 days. At no time did she test positive for COVID-19.

She was born in 1958 in Charlotte, N.C., to Barbara Jean Carter and Billie Eugene McSwain. Her mother moved her when she was 5 to San Diego where she would eventually attend San Diego State University, earning a B.A. in Journalism.

She went to work for the Daily Californian in El Cajon, Calif. in 1989, where she met her second husband, Howard Owens, then a wire and copy editor at the Daily Californian, and currently publisher of The Batavian. They were married on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene College in 1993.

Her journalism career began with an internship at the Los Angeles Times and included stints at the San Diego Business Journal, the Ventura County Star, and the Canandaigua Daily Messenger.

She won numerous regional and statewide journalism awards in San Diego for her writing and reporting.

She was passionate about her craft and one thing Howard and Billie bonded over quickly was the fact they both had substantial collections of books about journalism, which has grown to more than 400 titles over the years.  They also both enjoyed old movies with main characters who were reporters and editors.

She loved animals and was upset by anybody who abused animals.  She made it a mission to publish reports of people leaving dogs in hot cars and made local animal abuse cases her beat in Genesee County.  She was also well-known for her colorful reports of lost and missing pets and shelter animals in need of adoption.

In 2015, Howard and Billie adopted Rocky, a mix-breed pit bull who had been abused by a previous owner.  Rocky succumbed to cancer on July 31.

Billie is survived by her husband and three grandchildren, whom she loved.  Her mother, Barbara France, passed away in December in San Diego. 

In lieu of flowers or condolences, donations can be made to Volunteers for Animals in the name of Billie and Rocky.  There will be no local service. Her wishes were that her ashes be deposited in the Pacific Ocean off the Ventura County Pier, where the ashes of her son, Charles Raymond Sutherland, were deposited in 2018.

Rollover accident reported on Redfield Parkway

By Howard B. Owens

A rollover accident is repoorted in the area of 46 Redfield Parkway, Batavia.

Unknown injuries.

City Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 9:10 a.m.: The accident was apparently the result of a medical issue, accrding to Asst. Chief Chris Camp.  The minivan drifted off the roadway and struck a small tree, pushing it out of the ground and as the minivan road up the trunk of the tree it tipped n its side.  The driver was being treated at the scene by Mercy EMS and is expected to not require transport to a hospital.

Photos: County Legislature issues proclamations to raise awareness of vital issues in October

By Howard B. Owens

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Fire Prevention Month and National Cybersecurity Month, the County Legislature presented proclamations to representatives of those causes at the start of its Wednesday meeting.

Top photo: Chairwoman Shelly Stein presents a proclamation to Lisa Franclemont, a health educator with UMMC. To read the full proclamation, click here (pdf).

Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger speaks after accepting a proclamation from Legislator John Deleo while Gary Patnode, assistant coordinator, looks on. To read the full proclamation, click here (pdf).

Legislator Chad Klotzbach presents a proclamation to Michael Burns, IT director for Genesee County. To read the full proclamation, click here.

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