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Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) tonight issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address.

“Tonight, President Biden once again tried to take a victory lap despite the endless crises caused by his administration,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “From the economy to national security, the President has continued to fail this country. The list is endless, but to start, inflation has risen over 13%, 4.5 million illegal aliens have flooded across our Southern Border, and homicides are up 13% since Joe Biden took office. 

“Despite Biden’s disastrous presidency, our Republican House Majority is committed to delivering real results for the American people. In the first month that Republicans have been in the Majority, we have fully reopened the Capitol to the American People, voted to defund Biden’s 87,000 new IRS Agents, established a bipartisan Select Committee to hold the Chinese Communist Party Accountable, stood up for the right to life and voted to end unconstitutional and overreaching vaccine mandates.

“Republicans will continue fighting to preserve our self-governing Constitutional Republic and defend our individual rights. We will keep our communities safe, make life more affordable, and make the government more transparent. And we will always hold Joe Biden and the federal bureaucracy accountable to the American people.”

Oakfield-Alabama is 16-2 on the season after beating Alexander on Tuesday in Boys Basketball, 75-53.

Scoring for the Hornets:

• Kyle Porter, 33 points, 4 rebounds 
• Noah Currier, 10 points
• Aiden Warner, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
• Brayden Smith, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 steals
• Colton Yasses, 5 rebounds, 2 steals

For Alexander:

• Dylan Pohl, 16 points
• Trent Woods, 14 points

"We started the game off slow," said Coach Ryan Stehlar. "Alexander did a good job of making early shots and coming out with good energy. Our defense picked up in the second quarter and into the second half. Our bench helped spark us, too, when we needed it the most."

In Boys Basketball:

• Pembroke is 17-1 after beating Holley 108-32. Tyson Totten, 29, Cayden Pfalzer, 23, Owen Hootman, 14, Avery Ferreira, 10, Chase Guzdek, 10. Jon Suro,10 assists
• Pavilion beat Cal-Mum, 60-53.
• Notre Dame beat Lyndonville, 86-43
• No game report for Le Roy vs. Geneseo.

In Girls Basketball:

• Mendon beat Batavia, 61-28

Photos by Kristin Smith

A two-vehicle accident is reported in the area of 6506 East Bethany Le Roy Road, Stafford.

Injuries are reported. 

Stafford Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 7:44 a.m.: A second ambulance requested to the scene. Bethany Fire's ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 7:49 a.m.: Traffic is blocked.  Extrication required.

UPDATE 8:03 a.m.: One person transported to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 8:21 a.m.: Road re-opened. Stafford back in service.

Frank P. Falleti is indicted on one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a Class D Felony, and one count of falsifying a business record in the first degree, a Class E felony. Falleti is accused of possessing on Aug. 9 a forged NYS registration document with the intent to defraud, deceive or injure another person.  He is accused of knowingly not entering a 2019 Mazda into the NYS online registry, Verify, with intent to defraud that included the intent to commit another crime or aid or conceal another crime.

Chad S. Williams is indicted on one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, a Class E felony, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a Class D felony, criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, and criminal impersonation in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Williams allegedly found in possession of a 2008 Honda Civic on Nov. 8, along with a forged Texas motor vehicle registration. He is accused of knowingly possessing narcotics packaging. He is also accused of assuming the identity of another person.

Joseph T. Martino is indicted on one count of burglary in the third degree, a Class D felony, and grand larceny in the fourth degree. Martino is accused of entering a building on East Main Street, Batavia, and stealing property with a value in excess of $1,000.

A rollover accident is reported on South Lake Road, Pavilion.

There is a single occupant in the vehicle.

Minor injuries. Wires down.

Pavilion Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:21 a.m.: Pavilion back in service.

Taylor M. Peyman, 31, of Washington Avenue, Batavia, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation 1st, failure to yield the right of way and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. A hit-and-run accident was reported on Jackson Street, Batavia, on Jan.28 at an unspecified time. Peyman allegedly struck another vehicle head-on and then drove away. The other motorist involved in the accident pursued Peyman on foot and gave his location to police when he parked in a parking lot on East Main Street.  Peyman was arrested by Officer John Gombos after reportedly failing a field sobriety test.  He was released on an appearance ticket.

Jason W Lebar, 37, of Bethany Center Road, Bethany, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd and petit larceny. Lebar is accused of prying a vehicle emblem from the rear of a pickup truck at a local dealership on Feb. 1.  There was reportedly significant damage to the vehicle. He is also accused of trying to remove another emblem, destroying it in the process. Lebar was arraigned in City Court and released.

Michael A. Shelter, 32, of Judge Road, Oakfield, is charged with criminal contempt, aggravated family offense, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.  Officer Joseph Weglarski investigated a 9-1-1 hang-up call in the City of Batavia and uncovered an apparent disturbance involving Shelter and a person protected by an order of protection. Shelter allegedly fled the scene in the victim's car. Shelter was jailed pending arraignment.

Jessica L Holtz, 39, of William Street, Batavia, was arrested on two warrants. Holtz was arrested following her release from the Monroe County Jail. One warrant stemmed from an alleged petit larceny in November 2021. The second warrant stemmed from an alleged petit larceny at a church in November 2021. Holtz was held pending arraignment.

Krista S Kiblin, 32, of Mason Avenue, Rochester, is charged with petit larceny. Kiblin allegedly stole merchandise from a business in Batavia at an unspecified location on Jan. 27. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Matthew J Brown, 38, of Chestnut Street, Batavia, is charged with owning/harboring an unlicensed dog. Brown is accused of failure to license a dog after being warned to license the dog. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Kyle J Schroeder, 26, of Clinton Street, Batavia, was arrested on four warrants out of City Court. The first warrant stems from an arrest on charges of criminal trespass and petit larceny on April 25.  The second warrant stems from an arrest for driving while ability impaired by combined influence of drugs and alcohol and criminal possession of a controlled substance on May 11. The third warrant stems from an arrest on a criminal possession of a controlled substance charge on Aug. 25.  The fourth bench warrant stems from an arrest for criminal mischief on Oct. 11.  Schroeder was held pending arraignment.

An 18-year-old male of Washington Avenue in Batavia is charged with criminal contempt 1st and assault 3rd. The youth was arrested Feb. 1 after an investigation into a physical altercation and a violation of an order of protection in the City of Batavia.  The youth was arraigned in City Court and jailed on $500 bail, $2,000 bond, or $5,000 partially secured bond.

An accident is reported at Route 5 and Route 77, Brickhouse Corners, with unknown injuries.

Pembroke Fire, Indian Falls Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 7:09 a.m.: One injury reported.

UPDATE 7:23 a.m.: One person transported to ECMC.

UPDATE 8:34 a.m.: One person being transported to UMMC.

Tyrone Monroe Jr., 19, of Main Street, Attica, is charged with grand larceny 4th and five counts of falsifying business records 1st. Monroe is accused of stealing money and falsifying business records to try and conceal the crime while employed at Flying-J in Pembroke. He was arrested on Jan. 31 and issued an appearance ticket.

Keilah Lynee Hart, 27, of Woodrow Avenue, Rochester, is charged with introducing prison contraband 1st and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Hart is accused of possessing a controlled substance while being booked into the Genesee County Jail on an arrest warrant at 2:36 p.m. on Jan. 31. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Baillie Marie Schwab, 23, of Alexander Road, Attica, is charged with felony DWI, driving with operator's view obstructed, and speeding. Schwab was stopped on Jan. 29 at 1:55 a.m. on Oak Street, Batavia, by Deputy Jonathan Dimming. She was issued an appearance ticket and released to a third party.

Diane Marie McKay, 57, of Lightwood Lane, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, and inadequate lights. McKay was stopped on Feb. 5 at 2:47 a.m. on Main Road, Stafford, by Deputy Zachary Hoy. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Jadyn Mullen, of Alexander, placed first on Saturday in the Pentathlon at the Ocean Breeze Invitational in Staten Island.

She won with 3,352 points.

The Pentathlon consists of five events: 55-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump, and 800-meter race. In the hurdles, she ran a 9.06, in the high jump, she jumped 1.55 meters, in the shot put, she threw 9.93 meters, in the long jump, she jumped 4.99 meters and finished it off with a 2:20 in the 800.

Submitted photo and information.

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported at Transit Road and Byron Elba Road in Byron.

Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched.

Genesee Snopackers held the group's annual Bikini Rally at its clubhouse in Oakfield on Saturday, raising $17,859 for the Pink Fund, to fight breast cancer.

More than a dozen young women, despite single-digit temperatures, participated.

Photos by Louis J Scafetta III, L3Photographs. For more photos, click here.

A man who stole Nintendo Switch game consoles from Walmart and told employees he had a gun managed to evade law enforcement before officers arrived on scene on Saturday night.

The man smashed the glass of a display case at about 10:26 p.m., according to the Sheriff's Office.

He did not display a weapon while in the store.

The store was evacuated until officers determined the area was safe for customers and employees.

The robber fled in a vehicle. No description was provided of the man or the vehicle.

Deputies, State Police, and Batavia PD conducted a search of the area to try and locate the suspect.  He was not apprehended.

Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is asked to call (585) 343-5000.

The Batavia Blue Devils clinched the Monroe County Division IV title with a come-from-behind win over Eastridge on Friday night.

With three games left in the season, the Blue Devils are 7-0 in the division, and 13-4 overall, good enough for third place in Section V Class B1.

Batavia trailed for most of the first three quarters on Friday, before taking a brief two-point lead late in the third quarter.

The Blue Devils scored 12 points, including a pair of three-point buckets from Ja'vin McFollins, in the fourth quarter to claim a 60-55 win.

McFollins finished with 30 points on the night.

Sawyer Siverling and Carter McFollins scored eight points each.

"We struggled to score most of the game," Coach Buddy Brasky said after the game. "Eastridge took a 12-point lead with 3:50 left. It stayed that way until the 1:45 mark. Ja'vin came up big with two straight threes to cut it to six. We upped the pressure and caused three straight turnovers. Ja'vin iced the game with 6 straight free throws."

Batavia’s next game is next Wednesday at Greece Athena

In Boys Basketball on Friday:

• Le Roy beats Letchworth 61-40
• Attica beat Alexander, 52-49
• Oakfield-Alabama beat Holly, 95-22
• Byron-Bergen beat Elba, 72-29.  Gianni Ferrara scored 20 points and had four assists, five rebounds and five steals. Braedyn Chambry scored 17 and had nine rebounds. David Brumstead scored 13 and had seven rebounds.

In Girls Basketball:

• Eastridge beat Batavia, 56-32
• Oakfield-Alabama beat Pembroke, 42-28. Caitlin Ryan scored 16 points and had six rebounds and five steals. Emma Ray scored eight.  For Pembroke, Isabel Breeden scored 11. Karli Housenecht scored nine and had five rebounds. Onolee Easterbrook scored five and had six steals.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

Batavia's JV team also won its Monroe County Division IV title.  Photo courtesy Coach Dave Pero.

Le Roy beat Letchworth in Boys Basketball on Friday night, 61-40.

Merritt Holly scored 22 points.  Jean Agusto scored 17.

Holly now has 440 points on the season and has averagedt 24.4 points per game.

Photo by Jason Coniber.

A car and tractor-trailer have reportedly collided a car and injuries are reported on Big Tree Road in Pavilion.

Pavilion Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 4:24 p.m.:  Law enforcement requested to shut down routes 246 and 63.  Perry Ambulance is responding. 

Lockport Road, Oakfield. 

Photo by Kristin Smith.

For the first time in more than a year, Genesee County's unemployment rate was higher than the same period a year earlier in December.

The December rate was 2.9 percent, according to Department of Labor statistics.  The prior December it was 2.7 percent.  It was 5.7 percent in December 2020.

In Genesee County in December, there were 29,300 local residents in the labor force, with 900 of those people looking for work, compared to 29,000 workers in December 2021, with 800 of them looking for work.

The number of non-farm jobs in Genesee County reported in December was 22,400, up 200 jobs from 2021 but 100 lower than in November, which was 400 lower than October.

The nation's job market remains strong, according to news reports. The economy grew by 517,000 jobs when economists projected more modest growth, about 188,000 jobs.

Genesee County's January numbers won't be available for at least another three weeks.

Meanwhile, economists remain concerned about the declining participation in the labor force of men of prime working age, a trend that started in the 1960s.