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Lisa M. Fox, 53, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd and criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd. Fox allegedly caused an injury during a fight with another person on Feb. 6. While being processed at the Genesee County Jail, Fox was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. She was arraigned and held at the Genesee County Jail.
Donnie Armstrong, 52, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Armstrong was stopped on Feb. 5 on Law Street by members of the Batavia Police NET Unit. A K-9 was deployed. Narcotics were allegedly located in the vehicle. Armstrong was arraigned in City Court and held.
Charles P. Stevens, 36, of Batavia, and Eric J. Flowers, 37, of Batavia, are charged with criminal mischief 3rd. Stevens and Flowers are accused of intentionally damaging another person's vehicle on an unspecified date. They were issued appearance tickets.
Eric J. Flowers, 37, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, possession of stolen property 3rd, and aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd. Flowers was arrested on Feb. 5 following an investigation into a stolen utility trailer. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed without bail.
Mark W. McWethy, 57, of Batavia, is charged with DWAI Drugs, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 4th, and aggravated unlicensed operation 1st. McWethy was charged following a welfare check on Jan. 29 at a location on Ellicott Street, Batavia. He was arraigned and jailed.
Martin J. Rodgers, 40, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Rodgers allegedly violated an order of protection on Jan. 28. He was arraigned and released.
Tammy J. Lord, 48, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 3rd and grand larceny 3rd. Lord allegedly illegally entered a business on Liberty Street on Dec. 22 and stole properly. She was arrested on Jan. 21, arraigned in City Court, and released.
Carissa J. Visalli, 35, of Batavia, was arrested on Feb. 23 on a warrant. She allegedly failed to appear in court on a traffic ticket. She was arraigned and released.
Inge A. Stack, 55, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Stack is accused of hitting another person in the face during a fight on Pringle Avenue. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Julie L. Dutton, 29, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Dutton was arrested on Feb. 2, accused of stealing merchandise from Dollar General. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Brandie M. Sumeriski, 29, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Sumeriski is accused of slapping another person during an argument on Feb. 17 on State Street, Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Jamesha N. Wilson, 30, of Rochester, was arrested on Feb. 18 on a warrant. Wilson allegedly failed to appear in court on a traffic ticket. She was arraigned in City Court and released.
Guillermo Dediego-Reyes, 55, of Batavia, was arrested on Feb. 14 as a fugitive from justice. Dediego-Reyes was wanted on warrants out of Ohio. He was arraigned and held for extradition.
Curt A. Buchinger, 32, of Batavia, is charged with theft of services. Buchinger was arrested on Feb. 15, accused of running an extension cord from another property into his home. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Colleen M. Hutchinson, 50, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of controlled substance 7th. Hutchinson was stopped on Dec. 9 by a Batavia patrol officer and allegedly found in possession of narcotics. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Alicia M. Lyons, 45, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st and menacing 3rd. Lyons is accused of violating an order of protection on Feb. 3 by physically menacing another person. She was issued an appearance ticket. She was arrested again on Feb. 7 and charged with criminal contempt 1st and harassment 2nd.
Kim M Mobley, 62, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Mobley is accused of shoplifting on Feb. 11 from Aldi. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Richard J Burdick, 46, and Charles P. Stevens, 36, (no communities provided) are charged with assault 3rd. Burdick and Stevens are accused of injuring another person during a fight on South Main Street, Batavia. They were both issued appearance tickets.
Jena A. Defazio, 27, of Batavia, was arrested on Feb. 4 on a warrant. Defazio was issued a traffic ticket on Jan. 8 and allegedly failed to appear in court. Defazio was arraigned and released.
Courtney H. Kelley, 37, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Kelley is accused of shoplifting on Feb. 2 from Aldi. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Shawn M. Twardowski, 42, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Twardowski allegedly punched another person in the head on Feb. 2 during a fight on Highland Park. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Erin M. Klein, 38, of Cheektowaga, is charged with DWI. Klein was allegedly involved in a motor vehicle accident on Jan. 31 and an undisclosed location. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Roseann Cooper, 55, of Stafford, was arrested on Jan. 31 on a warrant. Cooper allegedly failed to appear on a traffic ticket issued on Jan. 4. She was arraigned and released.
Julie A. Earle, 50, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Earle is accused of shoplifting from Tops on Jan. 29. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Takari C. Blue, 23, of Batavia, is charged with DWI. Blue was stopped by a Batavia patrol officer on Jan. 31 at an undisclosed location. She was issued traffic tickets and released.
Tammy J. Dean, 54, of Alexander, is charged with DWAI drugs. Dean was reportedly involved in a single-vehicle accident on Sept. 20. He was arrested on Jan. 27, arraigned in City Court, and released.
Jaequele M. Tomlin, 30, of Batavia, turned himself in on a warrant issued following an investigation into an incident on March 26. Tomlin was allegedly found in possession of cocaine. He was arraigned and released.
Douglas G. Goodwin, Jr., 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Goodwin is accused of violating an order of protection. He was arrested on Jan. 7, issued an appearance ticket and released.
Brittany L. Froman, 34, of Rochester, was arrested on a warrant on Jan. 23. Froman allegedly failed to appear on narcotics charge stemming from a traffic stop on June 12. She was arraigned in City Court and released.
Kimberly S. Snyder, 48, of Geneseo, was arrested on a warrant and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Snyder was allegedly found in possession of narcotics on Oct. 29. She was arraigned in City Court and released.
John W. Clack, 66, of Batavia, is charged with criminal tampering 3rd. Clack is accused of overturning another person's motorized scooter. He was arrested on Jan. 22. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Troy W. Horton, 60, of Le Roy, is charged with DWI. Horton was stopped after employees at Taco Bell called police and reported a possible intoxicated driver. Horton was issued an appearance ticket.
Catherine R. Bater, 44, of Batavia, is charged with attempted petit larceny. Bater was arrested on Jan. 25, accused of attempting to transfer money from another person's account into her Cash App. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Ronnie J. Sumeriski, 42, of Batavia, is charged with criminal tampering 3rd. Sumeriski is accused of taking the license plate off of another person's vehicle and throwing it under another car. He was also arrested on two open warrants. He was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.
David R. Bowen, 83, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Bowen is accused of hitting another person during a fight on Mill Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Bill A. Thomas, 65, of Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd. Thomas was found inside the City Centre Mall on Feb. 27 after previously being barred from the property. He was issued an appearance ticket. He was arrested again the next day and charged with trespass after allegedly being found in the mall again.
Shannon H. Dick, 43, and John W. Biaselli, 56, both of Batavia, are charged with petit larceny. Dick and Biaselli are accused of stealing merchandise from Dollar General. They were issued appearance tickets.
Kimberly S. Snyder, 48, of Warsaw, was arrested on Feb. 27 on a warrant. Snyder allegedly failed to appear on a charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. She was arraigned in City Court and released.
Tonisia R. Longhini, 32, of Alexander, is charged with DWI. Longhini was charged following a traffic stop on Feb. 22 on Walnut Street, Batavia, by a Batavia patrol officer. She was arraigned and released.
Rebecca Lee Harrington, 31, of Sweetland Road, Stafford, is charged with falsely reporting an incident. Harrington was arrested on March 11. She was released on an appearance ticket. No further details released.
Charles Phillp Stevens, 36, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of narcotics with intent to sell and criminal possession of a narcotic drug. Stevens was allegedly found in possession of cocaine during a traffic stop at 12:02 a.m. on March 7 on Lake Street Road, Le Roy. He was transported to the Genesee County Jail and held pending arraignment.
Clint Jeffery Towne, 44, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon 3rd. Towne was arrested at 9:15 p.m. on Feb. 28 on these charges following a prior on Feb. 21 on a separate incident. During a search of his property at a location on Phelps Road, Pembroke, he was allegedly found in possession of an assault weapon and multiple large-capacity magazines. He was incarcerated at the time and released back into the custody of the Genesee County Jail.
Justin A. Reisman, 36, of Water-Port Carlton Road, Carlton, is charged with tampering with physical evidence and obstructing governmental administration. Following a fatal motor vehicle accident on Tesnow Road at 8:04 p.m. on Feb. 23, Reisman allegedly entered the crime scene and remained unlawfully after being told to leave several times by sheriff's deputies. Reisman was transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and released.
Jarad Michael Stalker, 40, of Indian Falls Road, Pembroke, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Stalker was arrested on Feb. 19 at 10:06 p.m. on a warrant and allegedly found with narcotics in a pocket of his clothing. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
Tammy M. O'Shea, 53, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and improper or unsafe turn. O'Shea was stopped at 2:35 a.m. on Feb. 22 on East Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Ryan Mullen. O'Shea was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
Thomas Cody Schell, 38, of South Pearl Street, Oakfield, is charged with DWI and speeding. Schell was stopped at 2:34 a.m. on March 8 on Clinton Street Road, Bergen, by Deputy Jacob Kipler. Schell was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
Bonnie Jane Moser, 52, of Bethany Center Road, Bethany, is charged with petit larceny. Moser is accused of shoplifting from a store on Veterans Memorial Drive at 7:20 p.m. on March 8 (the Sheriff's Office did not disclose the name of the store in the arrest report). Moser allegedly tried to steal six items valued at $95.12. She was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
Brandi Rose Hough, 29, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Hough was arrested following a Probation Department home visit at 10:15 a.m. on March 7. She was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine.
Dale R. Williams, 41, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, and driving without insurance. Williams was stopped at 12:50 a.m. on March 1 on Richmond Avenue in Batavia by Deputy Ayrton Blankenberg. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
Colleen Michell Hutchinson, 50, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, driving a vehicle without a stop lamp, and uninspected motor vehicle. Hutchinson was stopped at 4:48 p.m. on March 3 by Deputy Jeremy McClellan. She was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine and "narcotic equipment used to smoke crack cocaine." She was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Rashad Tariq Cordell, 25, of State Street Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 3rd and aggravated unlicensed operation 2nd. Cordell is accused of possessing a stolen vehicle at 10 p.m. on Feb. 27 on Park Road, Batavia. He was held pending arraignment.
Robert Paul Leiser, 56, of Lockport Road, Alabama, is charged with hindering prosecution 3rd. Leiser is accused of allowing Marc C. Cook to live on his property while knowing Cook had active felony warrants. Leiser was transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and released.
Dana Lee Powers, 54, of Prestige Xing, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, and operating a vehicle without stop lamps. Powers was stopped at 12:21 a.m. on Feb. 28 on Ellicott Street, Batavia, by Deputy Jacob Kipler. Powers was transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and released.
Raymond James Dick, 60, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Also arrested was Sandra L. Marsceill. They were allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance while in a parking lot on Veterans Memorial Drive at 3:48 p.m. on Feb. 25. They were transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and released.
Malachi J Nix, 20, of Tonawanda, is charged with burglary 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon 2nd, grand larceny 3rd, criminal mischief 3rd, and conspiracy 4th. Nix and another person allegedly broke into Barrett's Batavia Marine on May 27 and stole firearms. He was arrested on Jan. 21, arraigned in City Court and was remanded to the Genesee County Jail.
Clint J. Towne, 44, of Phelps Road, Batavia, and Steven M. Morales, 49, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, are charged with four counts each of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, tampering with physical evidence, criminally using drug paraphernalia 2nd, and aggravated unlicensed operation (Morales). Towne and Morales were arrested on Feb. 13. The was the result of an investigation into the location of a wanted suspect. During a traffic stop, Towne and Morales were allegedly found in possession of 50 grams of cocaine, an ounce of fentanyl, alprazolam tables, 46 sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone strips, and mannitol. Towne is suspected of attempting to destroy evidence. Both were held pending arraignment. The investigation was conducted by Sgt. Andrew Hale, deputies Nicholas Chamoun, Alexander Hasdall, Mason Schultz, Jon Dimming, Zachary Hoy, and Nicholas Jennings.
Marc Christopher James Cook, Jr., no age provided, of Lockport Road, Alabama, was arrested on Feb. 6 on eight separate warrants by members of the Batavia Emergency Response Team (consisting of members of the Sheriff's Office and Batavia PD). The warrants were related to charges of criminal possession of a weapon 3rd and 4th, bail jumping 2nd, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, bail jumping 3rd, criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd, and violation of a family court act. Cook was arraigned and held without bail.
Robert Maynard Smith, 73, of North Street, Blasdell, is charged with menacing 2nd. Smith is accused of wielding a box cutter knife, threatening a worker at Eagle Star Housing, 2620 West Main St., Batavia, at 6:06 p.m. on Feb. 14. Smith was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
Nathan Lee Dunn, 20, of Prospect Avenue, Medina, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .108 or greater, aggravated unlicensed opeatertion 1st, unregistered motor vehicle, driving without financial security. At 12:15 a.m. on Feb. 2, Deputy Zachary Hoy responded to the parking lot at Batavia Downs to investigate a motor vehicle accident, as a result, Dunn was taken into custody. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Chad Matthew Winkelman, 32, of Fullington Road, Attica, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, moving from lane unafely, and drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle. Winkelman was arrested by Deputy Jacob Kipler following a report of a motor vehicle accident at 11:42 p.m. on Feb. 2 on Sandpit Road, Alexander. He was processed at the Genesee Jail and released.
Kenneth G. Muckle, 56, of Franklin Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Muckle is accused of stealing merchandise from a store (the Sheriff's Office withheld the name of the store) on Veterans Memorial Drive on Feb. 5. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
Charles Phillip Stevens, 38, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Stevens was allegedly found in possession of buprenorphine/naloxone and cocaine during a traffic stop on Feb. 10 by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.
Christopher Earl Merrell, 62, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, and moving from lane unsafely. Merrell was arrested by Deputy James Stack following an investigation into a motor vehicle accident reported at 6:37 a.m. on Feb. 15 on Batavia Elba Townline Road, Batavia. He was released on an appearance ticket.
Lakeisha A Gibson, 38, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Gibson is accused of hitting another person multiple times during a fight on Bank Street on Jan. 21. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Christina M. Corde, 39, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Dordes is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General on Jan. 15. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Jennifer C. Moscicki, 48, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Moscicki is accused of stealing property from another person on Central Avenue in January 2022. She was arraigned in City Court and released.
Julie L. Dutton, 29, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Dutton is accused of using a counterfeit $100 bill to receive change at a local business on Jan. 20. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Donovan I. Reese, 18, of Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing. Reese is accused of grabbing another person and applying pressure around the person's neck during a fight on Sumner Street on Jan. 16. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Thomas J. Mitchell, 35, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Mitchell was allegedly found in possession of cocaine on Nov. 8 while being arrested on an unrelated matter. He was arrested on Jan. 16 on the drug charge and issued an appearance ticket.
Hailee N. Callicutt, 24, of Batavia, was arrested on Jan. 12 on three warrants. Two warrants were related to traffic stops. She was also charged with bail jumping 3rd. She was arraigned and released.
Jacob J. Frayne, 27, of Darien, was arrested on Jan. 17 on a warrant. He allegedly failed to appear on a prior DWI arrest. He was arraigned and released.
Emotional moment: "This is one of the few natural areas remaining in this region of the state, and it seems ridiculous to throw away," said Maggie Cowen. Photo by Howard Owens.
Data centers are big, noisy, use too much energy, and pose a risk to watersheds, more than two dozen speakers told the staff of the Genesee County Economic Development Center at three public hearings on Monday in the town of Alabama.
The hearing was held at the rec hall of the Alabama Volunteer Fire Department and was attended by more than 50 people. Some brought signs or wore T-shirts expressing their opposition to locating a data center at WNY STAMP.
They came from Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara County, Orleans County, and Genesee County, including the Tonawanda Seneca Indian Reservation.
The proposed projects are massive -- all more than 750,000 square feet, or more than 13 football fields -- and will range in cost from $2.2 billion to $6.32 billion. They would each create from 100 to 200 jobs.
The three projects are STREAM U.S. Data Centers, LLC, Project Rampart, LLC, Potentia Holdings, LLC.
Exactly what kind of data the proposed centers would store and retrieve is unclear, but data centers typically provide services for artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency data mining, data analytics and storage, IT and telecommunications, and co-location services for major corporations.
Stream Realty Partners builds data centers for Fortune 500 companies. PRP Real Estate Investment Management backs Project Rampart, and its clients include Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, and Amazon. Potentia Capital is an Australian private equity firm specializing in technology, software, and tech-enabled services.
These sorts of projects are usually backed by a consortium of private equity investors, often global in nature.
CORRECTION from prior version of the story: Neither Steam nor Project Rampart are seeking property tax exemptions, just sales tax and mortgage tax exemptions. The Stream project would generate $10.9 million in annual revenue for local municipalities and school districts, and Project Rampart, $10.3 million annually. Potentia is seeking $42.7 million in property tax exemptions over 20 years, resulting in an average of $7.1 million in annual PILOT fees.
Many speakers questioned whether data centers fit into the promised profile of WNY STAMP, which was sold to the community as a high-tech manufacturing hub, much like the Edwards Vacuum plant currently under construction.
Edwards is promising 600 jobs in a 240,000-square-foot facility, or one job per 400 square feet. Stream is projecting one job (at a salary of $89,000 annually) per 7,800 square feet, Rampart, one job ($64,000 annually per 7,142 square feet, and Potentia, one job ($129,000 annually) per 4,460 square feet.
There is only enough space available in STAMP for one of these data centers, so the GCEDC board will need to decide whether to reject all of them or pick only one of them for approval.
Data centers have been controversial in other communities, and several speakers brought up issues with the Digihost Fortistar Niagara County facility. It is a 60 MW cryptocurrency mining operation located off Erie Avenue in North Tonawanda. Residents there have protested against noise pollution, leading the city to ban the facility from expanding for two years.
The controversy in Niagara County about data centers may have contributed to chasing away Kevin O’Leary, of Shark Tank fame, when he sought to build a data center in the region. He claimed the project was fully funded and would have created thousands of jobs. He said he ran into significant roadblocks raised by local politicians and state policies.
He reportedly said on CNN, "It got so bad with the politicians in the local region and the state policy, we moved it to Norway, and all the jobs. Norway has it now. Thousands of jobs coming out of that! That’s New York. Uninvestable.”
While many speakers on Monday focused on these issues, the only matter before the GCEDC board, when the projects come up for a vote, is economic -- will a data center create jobs and help grow tax revenue in Genesee County? NOTE: The environmental issues will come before the board during the SEQRA, if GCEDC is lead agency.
Mark Masse taking notes during testimony. Photo by Howard Owens.
If approved by the board, the winning project must jump through a series of regulatory hoops, including:
State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) compliance, which assesses potential impacts on air quality, water resources, wildlife, and other environmental factors. GCEDC has applied for lead agency status for the SEQRA review.
Air and Water Quality Permits, which cover air emissions and water usage. It would be up to the Department of Environmental Conservation to provide the permits.
The project must comply with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which focuses on greenhouse gas emissions. There would also be a requirement for energy consumption disclosure.
The town of Alabama's local zoning boards and the Genesee County Planning Board would review the projects. The project would need to comply with existing noise ordinances, for example, as well as other land-use regulations. As part of the public hearing process at the local level, the developer would need to address community concerns about noise, emissions, and resource usage.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Highlights of speakers' remarks (not all speakers included):
Madeline Nyblade, an assistant professor at SUNY ESF with a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences, specializing in hydrology. Nyblade expressed concern about the hydrology of the region, which includes wetlands and clay-rich soils that create perched water tables. The area is upstream from critical ecosystems such as the Tonawanda Seneca Nation lands, the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, and the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, making it susceptible to downstream impacts.
“This land is wetland, part of this larger wetland complex, yet none of the proposals take into account the wetlands that will be destroyed,” she said.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Margaret Wooster, reading a letter from Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, Western New York Environmental Alliance, and 57 other environmental, faith-based, human rights, and good governance groups. The letter states that the project contradicts New York State’s and international commitments to environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and long-term stewardship and expresses concerns about the destruction of wetlands. The data centers will consume 200 megawatts of electricity annually, straining regional energy systems, she said. The centers would also use 800,000 gallons of fresh water daily. She also raised concerns about air pollution.
“Industrial runoff, hydrological disruptions, and heated water discharge from a data center would devastate these fragile ecosystems,” she said.
Joseph O’Malley (reading a statement by John Whitney) The letter noted the area is a 20,000-acre network of wetlands and wildlife refuges critical to biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
“The GCEDC STAMP site is situated in an area with deep cultural and ecological significance," the letter stated. "It is central to Western New York’s heritage, including that of the Haudenosaunee people and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation.”
It also called into question the "excessive" financial incentives given the limited number of jobs expected.
“Public funds should not be used to incentivize these uncertain benefits, not without first conducting an independent economic analysis of the costs and benefits,” he said.
The long-term costs could outweigh any short-term financial gains, he said, especially if rapid technology advancements render the facilities obsolete in a few years.
Dr. Kirk Scirto Photo by Howard Owens.
Dr. Kirk Scirto, a family physician who treats patients from Tonawanda Seneca Nation and is a public health specialist He said the data centers would emit at least 500 tons of carbon dioxide annually and burn 60,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year, leading to air pollution that disproportionately affects the nearby Tonawanda Seneca Nation. The noise, he said, would be 50–90 decibels, "akin to jet engine noise." The projects he said are a threat to The Big Woods, a key hunting ground for residents of the reservation. Water usage, he said, would deplete resources for the surrounding counties. The superheated discharge water, which could also contain toxins, could harm downstream fisheries. If the centers are used for AI, AI could lead to significant job loss throughout the United States.
"In medicine, we study how parasites suck up the nutrients or resources while harming them," Scirto said. "Well, that's exactly what these data centers are -- parasitic centers that would suck up an immense amount of the drinking water of Niagara, Orleans, Erie and Genesee county residents. They would also steal a huge amount of their energy in exchange for a barrage of contamination. What's more, hardly any jobs would be offered to local residents."
Photo by Howard Owens.
Diane Sirczyk, representing the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club "Data centers around the country are notoriously dirty and noisy consumers of vast amounts of electricity, which are straining electric grids, emitting large volumes of greenhouse gas pollution and undermining our country's ability to transition away from fossil fuels," she said.
She noted that Project Potentia, if approved, would require 195 megawatts of electricity per year, which is enough to power about 32,000 homes.
She suggested the data centers would not comply with CLCPA.
Barbara Jonathan Jonathan said she lives near Big Woods. She expressed concern about the impact on future generations, given the potential for a negative environmental impact. She expressed concerns that the data center will have no accountability and no relationship with the local community once built.
“Where are these people who operate these data centers? Are they going to really give a damn about you or me?” she said.
Mark Masse repeats a request for Sarah Howard to conclude her remarks after she had run well over her alloted time. Photo by Howard Owens.
Sarah Howard, a resident of Syracuse Howard opposed the incentives and criticized GCEDC for a "lack of transparency" and "procedural flaws."
She expressed environmental concerns, concerns about energy consumption, and a lack of a significant number of jobs created by the projects.
“The revised EAF states no water is needed for cooling but includes an 8-acre retention pond holding 10 million gallons. This raises serious questions about transparency," she said.
Howard was the only speaker who steadfastly refused to stop talking at the end of her time limit.
Maggie Cowen (reading a statement from a person named George) Cowen noted that wastewater from a data center could contaminate Orleans County rivers and creeks, ultimately reaching Lake Ontario and affecting its growing tourism industry, notably fishing. Cowen noted that a data center in Niagara County generates noise levels from its cooling fans of 85 decibels. Cowen argued that a data center provides no meaningful value to the community.
Cowen fought back tears near the end and said, "I've got a little bit more time, so I just like to say, like, this is one of the few natural areas remaining in this region of the state, and it seems ridiculous to throw away."
Evelyn Wackett, Buffalo resident and environmentalist The STAMP project threatens endangered and threatened species, she said, including the short-eared owl, northern harrier hawk, monarch butterfly, and bog turtles. She said a data center would draw six million gallons of water from the Niagara River daily.
“Yesterday was World Wetlands Day," she said. "I want to celebrate the wetlands. I don’t want to see them destroyed.”
Kristen Moser Photo by Howard Owens.
Kristen Moser, a wildlife photographer from Syracuse Moser said these projects do not belong near the Tonawanda Seneca Nation or the surrounding wildlife refuges, including the John White Wildlife Management Area, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, and Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area.
“The Big Woods is home to over 100 species of birds, many of which are dependent on undisturbed areas to reproduce,” she said.
She played a recording of birds singing in the woodlands and then a recording from the same spot when a supply truck for one of the STAMP projects passed by. The birds were silent and only the truck could be heard.
"That's what you'll be hearing if these three data centers go in," she said. "If any of this continued destruction continues, the data center would be one of the closest complexes to this exceptional forest. The sound of the trucks will be multiplied by the constant industrial sounds of the center. Noise pollution will not only impact and displace wildlife in the Big Woods, it will forever destroy the peace and serenity of this sacred land for the people of Tonawanda."
Katie Rivers, Alabama Rivers said she has lived near the project site for 30 years. She said development has already disrupted local wildlife, particularly deer, which have been displaced from their natural habitats. She suggested economic developers and planners prioritize corporate interests over community welfare.
“It seems like you’ve all been bamboozled," Rivers said. "I can’t even imagine that you think this could be beneficial to anybody in the town.”
Angela Carlson Photo by Howard Owens.
Angela Carlson, from Oakfield, now living in Batavia She claimed that a cost-benefit analysis has not been produced, violating General Municipal Law 859-a. She highligned the environmental risks of the project and its potential adverse impact on threatened species such as the northern harrier and short-eared owl.
She called on GCEDC to produce a cost-benefit analysis, disclose the names of the owners and operators of the projects, conduct a comprehensive noise study, and provide more opportunities for public participation.
“One cannot claim to care about the environment while continuing to disregard and disrespect the rights of Indigenous peoples,” Carlson said.
Concerned residents on behalf of the Reservation Territory of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation are highlighting the Genesee County Economic Development Center's (GCEDC) plan to hold daytime public hearings on proposals from three investor groups vying to site a data center at the WNY Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) mega industrial site, currently being constructed in the town of Alabama.
The February 3 hearings are required by Article 18-1 of the General Municipal Law and pertain to financial incentives promised by GCEDC to each of the three applicants. GCEDC has not released any details on these financial incentives, meaning that the public will not have a chance to review this information prior to submitting written or oral comments.
Moreover, GCEDC has refused to disclose the identities of the companies represented by the investor group applicants. ‘Data center’ is a generic term that can refer to operations ranging from cryptocurrency mining to Artificial Intelligence processing.
Based on financial incentives offered to the only other confirmed tenants at STAMP - Edwards Vacuum and Plug Power, these incentives are likely to be in the ballpark of several million dollars - despite the fact that data centers create minimal jobs, use massive amounts of water and energy, and face opposition from other WNY communities concerned about their noxious public health and environmental impacts. The proposed data center would be sited on a parcel of land characterized by wetlands and located immediately adjacent to the Reservation Territory of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, whose Council of Chiefs opposes STAMP.
Three public hearings held by STAMP developer GCEDC to gather comments on proposed data center applications. GCEDC is also accepting written comments to gcedc@gcedc.com before 12 p.m. on Friday, January 31. The email must contain the project name in its subject line.
On Monday, February 3 at Town of Alabama Fire Department 2230 Judge Road, Alabama
Plug Power, the green hydrogen manufacturing firm based in Lathan, with a plant under construction in the town of Alabama, has closed on a $1.66 billion loan guarantee with the U.S. Department of Energy.
The loan guarantee has been under negotiations for months and closes just days before President Joe Biden leaves office.
“Finalizing this loan guarantee with the Department of Energy represents a significant step in expanding our domestic manufacturing and hydrogen production capabilities, which create many high-quality jobs throughout the U.S.,” said Plug CEO Andy Marsh in a release. “In addition to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing the resilience of the U.S. energy grid, we believe the hydrogen economy aligns closely with national security interests, ensuring that the U.S. remains at the forefront of energy technology development and deployment on a global scale.”
Based on prior reporting, it's unclear if Plug intends to use a portion of the loan funds to complete its $290 million green hydrogen fuel plant under construction in WNY STAMP.
Chris Suozzi, VP for business and workforce development at the Genesee County Economic Development Center, reportedly told a Washington, D.C.-based commercial real estate firm that Plug Power's STAMP project is on hold.
However, throughout the negotiations process, Plug Power has publicly maintained that it intends to use the fund to complete six plants, which has previously included the local plant.
The loan guarantee will help finance the construction of up to six projects to produce and liquify zero- or low-carbon hydrogen at scale throughout the United States. Plug’s Graham, Texas, green hydrogen plant, the first to benefit from this financing, will create hundreds of high-quality jobs. Powered by an adjacent wind farm, Plug’s green hydrogen production plant will utilize the company’s electrolyzer stacks manufactured at its factory in Rochester, N.Y., and its liquefaction and storage systems built at its facility in Houston.
The company already has operational plants in Georgia, Charleston, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
The loan is for $1.55 billion in principal, and Plug is expected to pay $107 million in interest.
Advancing clean hydrogen is a key component of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to building a robust clean energy economy that creates healthier communities, strengthens energy security, and delivers new economic opportunities across the nation. Today’s announcement will help unlock the full potential of this versatile fuel and support the growth of a strong, American-led industry that ensures the United States remains at the forefront of the global economy for generations to come. Plug submitted its application to LPO in November 2020.
The release states the Plug is positioned to build out clean hydrogen facilities in several potential locations and to supply its national customer base with end-to-end clean hydrogen at scale.
This project advances President Biden’s efforts to strengthen domestic clean energy supply chains, which are essential to meeting the nation’s ambitious climate goals and enhancing our national and energy security.
The DOE expects that hydrogen from the plants will fuel cell-electric vehicles in material handling, transportation, and industry, which could result in an 84 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional hydrogen production.
The clean hydrogen facilities will utilize Plug’s electrolyzer stacks that are manufactured at the company’s state-of-the-art gigafactory in Rochester, NY and will use modular designs to ensure a resilient hydrogen fuel delivery network. Plug is among the leading commercial-scale manufacturers of electrolyzers in the United States and currently operates the largest Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system in the United States at its Georgia hydrogen plant.
The DOE explains the process:
Electrolyzers use electricity to split water into its component parts, hydrogen and oxygen. Plug’s PEM technology allows it to operate efficiently even with variable electricity, enabling it to leverage electricity from intermittent renewables. Electrolyzers that use renewables to power their hydrogen production produce emissions-free clean hydrogen. The electrolyzer stacks can be easily configured to produce systems at 1 megawatt (MW), 5 MW, and 10 MW scales. (One MW powers the equivalent of 750 American homes based on their instantaneous demand.)
Wall Street's reaction to the news of the loan? A 7% drop in the stock price, bringing it down to $2.44 a share by the close on Friday.
In its 28-year history, Plug has never turned a profit. The company has reported reported $1.4 billion in losses. It also has $930 million in debt already on its books.
In recent coverage of the criminal proceedings related to the death of Michael Poole, The Batavian misstated the status of the case against Kathryn A. Henry.
On Aug. 22, Henry entered guilty pleas to charges of hindering prosecution, a Class D felony, and concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony. She is no longer facing a murder charge as previously reported. The Batavian was unaware of this Aug. 22 appearance and was informed of the error this week.
Henry is scheduled for sentencing in County Court on Aug. 18.
A 39-year-old Lockport man confirmed in County Court on Tuesday that he wants to be tried on a murder charge rather than take a plea offer.
Edward Dunn initially turned down a plea offer in December. It would have capped his prison term to 15 years to life. His appearance on Tuesday before Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini was his last chance to accept the plea offer. If convicted of murder at trial, he faces a potential term of 25 years to life on that count alone. With additional charges under New York law, he could be potentially sentenced to 50 years to life.
Dunn is accused of killing Michael Poole, of Olcott, and then hiding his body in the trunk of a car that was abandoned in the town of Alabama in March.
Also charged in the murder is Kathryn A. Henry, 33, from Lockport, who was arrested on April 19 and charged with murder in the second degree. She was accused at the time of conspiring with Dunn to kill Poole and hide his body.Correction: Henry entered guilty pleas on Aug. 22 to charges of hindering prosecution, a Class D felony, and concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony. She is no longer facing a murder charge as previously reported.
Norman S. DuBois, 45, of Lockport, is charged with hindering prosecution in the first degree, tampering with physical evidence, concealment of a human corpse and conspiracy.
Dunn's trial is scheduled to start with jury selection on March 2.
Besides the Class A-1 felony of murder, he is also charged with assault in the second degree, a Class B felony; concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony; and tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony.
The Town of Alabama Republican Committee is looking for candidates to immediately fill two positions on the Alabama town council due to resignations. The prospective candidates will be recommended to the Town of Alabama Board to fill the remaining year of the term.
Also, the Alabama Republican Committee is looking for candidates to run in the 2025 November election. The committee is looking for two (2) town council candidates for 4-year terms and also a candidate for Genesee County Legislator to be elected for a 4-year term in November of 2025.
All interested candidates are asked to send their information to Earl LaGrou, 7420 Macomber Rd., Oakfield OR by email to earl@lwemail.com.
All letters need to be in no later than January 11.
Douglas Grant Goodwin, 33, of Maple Road, Alabama, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Goodwin, currently in custody at the Genesee County Jail, made a phone call to a specific person at 11:44 a.m. on Dec. 15 in violation of an order of protection. Goodwin is also charged with promoting prison contraband 2nd. Goodwin is accused of possessing two mobile phones while being incarcerated.
Philip Roy Chin, 37, of Conrad Drive, Greece, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd. Chin is accused of intentionally damaging a door by kicking it multiple times at 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 15 at a location on West Main Street, Batavia.
Roy Joseph Knauss, 34, of East Main Road, Le Roy, is charged with harassment 2nd. Knauss is accused of spitting on and kicking another person during a fight at 2:55 p.m. on Dec. 15 at a location on East Main Road, Le Roy. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Linda Maria Doucette, 59, of Lake Road South, Brockport, is charged with DWI. Doucette was stopped at 7:33 p.m. on Dec. 17 following a traffic complaint on Peachey Road, Beren. Doucette was released on a ticket.
Daniel Lawrence Kensy, 41, of Schlemmer Road, Lancaster, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and failure to keep right. Kensy was stopped at 12:05 a.m. on Dec. 18 on Pearl Street Road, Batavia, by Sgt. Mathew Clor. Kensy issued tickets and released.
Douglas G. Goodwin, of Basom, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd, criminal nuisance 2nd, stalking 4th, unlawful fleeing a police officer 3rd, aggravated harassment 2nd, menacing 2nd, burglary 2nd, speeding, failure to obey traffic control devices, failure to stop at a stop sign, speed not reasonable prudent, failure to signal, driving an unregistered vehicle, reckless driving, and aggravated unlicensed operation 1st. Basom was arrested by the Sheriff's Office in Corfu on Nov. 27 following an investigation by the Attica Police Department. Attica PD reports that in the evening hours of Sept. 16, officers responded to the parking area of Sokol Drive in the village to investigate a report of a suspicious and dangerous person. State troopers and Wyoming County deputies assisted in the response. When patrols arrived, the subject of the call fled on a performance-style motorcycle at a high rate of speed. The driver reportedly failed to respond to commands from police to stop and continued in a reckless and unsafe manner, almost striking a police vehicle. After a short chase the pursuit was terminated to protect the safety of residents. Through an investigation, Goodwin was identified as the suspect. An arrest warrant was obtained based on witness statements and a victim statement. He reportedly has 14 license suspensions. Goodwin was arraigned in Attica Village Court and ordered held on $20,000 bail, $40,000 bond, or $80,000 unsecured bond. Chief Dean Hendershot stated, "I appreciate the dedication, effort and assistance of all involved, including the Wyoming County, NY Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and the Genesee County, NY Sheriff’s Office. The residents of the Village of Attica can continue to live peacefully in a safe community they each deserve.”
Shawn P. O'Connor, 35, no residence provided, is charged with criminal mischief 2nd, unlawful fleeing 3rd, and reckless endangerment 2nd. O'Connor was arrested on Nov. 24. He allegedly fled from deputies attempting a traffic stop on Route 63 north into the village of Oakfield, where he crashed his vehicle after hitting a Sheriff's patrol vehicle in the parking lot of the Oakfield-Alabama Central School. He was taken into custody without incident. Multiple objects in the parking lot were reportedly struck by O'Connor's vehicle. He was issued 17 traffic tickets and held pending arraignment. Additional charges are pending.
Nyejay Nasir Braction, 20, of Wyoming Street, Buffalo, is charged with assault 2nd. Braction is accused of attacking a corrections officer at the Genesee County Jail at 6:50 p.m. on Oct. 15 and breaking the guard's finger. He was arrested on Nov. 15. He was arraigned and held.
Carl E. Canterbury, 54, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd. Canterbury was arrested on Nov. 14 on a sealed indictment following an investigation by the Local Drug Task Force into the possession, transportation, and sale of crack cocaine in the city of Batavia. Canterbury is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the task force on two occasions while in the city of Batavia. He was arraigned in County Court and jailed.
Jerad Michael Stalker, 40, of Indian Falls Road, Corfu, is charged with falsifying business records 1st and criminal possession of stolen property 5th. Stalker is accused of selling stolen merchandise to Pawn King on Veterans Memorial Drive on Aug. 26 and signing a form stating he was the rightful owner. He allegedly stole the merchandise from a vehicle on West Main Street, Batavia. He was arrested Nov. 19 and processed at the Genesee County Jail.
Reanne Pauline Reed, 30, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Reed was allegedly involved in a scuffle at Batavia Downs at 9:14 p.m. on Nov. 20. Reed was taken to the Sheriff's Office and issued an appearance ticket.
Ryan Michael Bobzin, 35, of West Bergen Road, Bergen, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation 1st, driving while impaired by drugs, and unlicensed driver. Bobzin was stopped at 4:28 p.m. on Oct. 2 on Townline Road Bergen by Deputy Zachary Hoy. He was arrested on Nov. 20. He was issued traffic tickets and released.
Ryan Philip Harrison Clarke, 35, of North Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd and harassment 2nd. Clarke allegedly violated a "refrain from" order of protection by yelling in a person's face at 4:20 p.m. on Nov. 21 at a location on East Main Street, Corfu. He was held pending arraignment.
Zachary N. Knapp, 27, of East Avenue, Batavia, is charged with felony driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and driving a vehicle on a highway. Knapp was stopped at 2:29 p.m. on Nov. 23 of Veterans Memorial Drive in connection with an investigation into a larceny in the area by Deputy Ryan Mullen. Knapp was released on an appearance ticket.
Mossy Earl Jones, 21, of Bloomingdale Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with DWI and moving from lane unsafely. Jones was stopped at 2:04 a.m. on Nov. 23 on Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, by Deputy Nicholas Jennings. He was released on appearance tickets.
Matthew Ryan Clarke, 32, of Middleport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, dazzling headlights, speeding, and moving from lane unsafely. Clarke was stopped at 1:31 a.m. on Nov. 24 on Route 77 in Pembroke by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell. He was issued on traffic tickets.
Sarah Ann Malone, 42, of Graham Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation, endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment 2nd. Malone was arrested on a warrant issued by the Town of Bethany Court on Nov. 26 and held pending arraignment.
Nichole Marie Boldt, 25, of Route 237 Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, moving from lane unsafely, and inadequate lights. Boldt was stopped at 6:02 p.m. on Nov. 27 on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Deputy Zachary Hoy. She was issued traffic tickets and released.
A 39-year-old Lockport man is facing a prison term of 50 years to life related to the murder of an Olcott man after passing a plea offer in County Court on Friday that would have capped his sentence at 20 years to life.
Edward Dunn told County Court judge Donald O'Geen that he understood the offer and that he was decling to accept it at this time, instead choosing to face a potential jury trial.
The plea cutoff date in the case is Jan. 8, but District Attorney Kevin Finnell said he can't say if Dunn will get the same offer again after turning down today's officer, which was a minimum of 15 years to life and a maximum of 20 years to life.
Defense attorney Casey F. Spencer said in court that there had been a meeting in the judge's chambers where the DA agreed to a possible sentence, if the plea was accepted, of 18 years to life.
Spencer said she did discuss the offer with Dunn thoroughly before he decided to turn it down.
Dunn is accused of killing Michael Poole and then hiding his body in the trunk of a car that was abandoned in the town of Alabama in March.
He is charged with murder in the second degree, a Class A-1 felony; assault in the second degree, a Class B felony; concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony; and tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony.
If he had accepted the plea, he would have admitted to murder and to concealment of a human corpse.
The maximum sentence by state law on the murder count is 25 years to life.
On the concealment count, Finnell was offering a sentence of 2 to 4 years, to be served concurrently with the murder sentence.
If convicted at trial, Dunn could be sentenced to the maximum on the murder charge. Because the concealment act could be considered a separate crime, and because Dunn has a prior felony conviction, he could get another 25 to life sentence on that conviction and have the two sentences run consecutively, giving an effective sentence of 50 years to life.
Finnell said the offer was put on the record today because Dunn was given a chance to accept it before motion hearings, which are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 13.
Also charged in the murder is Kathryn A. Henry, 33, from Lockport, who was arrested on April 19 and charged with murder in the second degree. She was accused at the time of conspiring with Dunn to kill Poole and hide his body.Correction: Henry entered guilty pleas on Aug. 22 to charges of hindering prosecution, a Class D felony, and concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony. She is no longer facing a murder charge as previously reported.
Her next scheduled court date isn't until Aug. 19.
Also charged in the case is Norman S. DuBois, 45, of Lockport. He is charged with hindering prosecution in the first degree, tampering with physical evidence, concealment of a human corpse and conspiracy.
Dunn appeared in court on Friday dressed in the green jumpsuit of the state corrections system. He is being held at Elmira on a conviction in Orleans County on a count of burglary in the third degree. He was sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison in October. His first parole eligibility charge on that sentence is September 2026.
Daquan J. Butler, 28, of Brooklyn, is charged with assault 1st, burglary 1st, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Butler is accused of illegally entering a residence on Liberty Street, Batavia, on Aug. 25, 2023, and stabbing an adult male inside the residence. A child was in the house at the time. Butler was located in New York City by U.S. Marshals and returned to Batavia. He was arranged in County Court and jailed.
Asa A. Wooton, 20, of Batavia, is charged with reckless endangerment 2nd, menacing 2nd, criminal possession of. weapon 4th, and criminal mischief 4th. Wooten is accused of threatening another person with a knife and damaging property on Oct. 28 during a fight on Mill Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Devonte T. Griner, 30, of Rochester, is charged with reckless endangerment 2nd, criminal mischief 4th, harassment 1st, and vehicle and traffic charges. Griner is accused of following another vehicle in the city of Batavia on Oct. 28 and using his vehicle to intentionally attempting to run the other vehicle off the road. Griner was located a short time later and taken into custody. He was arraigned and released.
Shquanebin Lone, 38, of Akron, is charged with burglary 2nd, criminal mischief 4th, endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment 2nd. Lone is accused of unlawfully entering a dwelling on Bloomingdale Road, Basom, at 7:42 p.m. on Nov. 3. Lone allegedly committed crimes in the dwelling in the presence of a child. She was held pending arraignment.
Megan Marie Gray, 22, of Alabama, is charged with trespass. Gray was reportedly barred from Walmart and allegedly entered the store at 2:15 p.m. on Nov. 6. She was released pending arraignment.
Reinaldo Aponte, 60, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 4th, DWI, unlicensed operation, stopped on a highway, and failure to signal turn. Aponte was stopped by Deputy Jeremy McClellan at 1:59 a.m. on Nov. 3 on West Main Street Road, Batavia. Apointe was arraigned and released.
Thomas Duane Booth, 48, of Conlon Road, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Both allegedly violated an order of protection on Nov. 12 at a location in Le Roy. He was arraigned and was released.
Paul Donald Rich, 63, of Crane Road, Medina, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and moving from lane unsafely. Rich was arrested by Deputy Alexander Hadsall after a vehicle was found on its side at 8:57 p.m. on Nov. 12 on Knowlesville Road, Alabama. Rich allegedly had a BAC of .17. He received treatment for possible injuries in the accident at ECMC. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
John Alano Dirosa, 44, of South Main Street, Elba, is charged with assault 3rd. Dirosa was charged following an investigation into a fight reported at 9 p.m. on Nov. 12 on Main Street in Elba.
Keith A. Lowery, 55, of Little Canda Road, Bethany, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, five or more suspensions, equipment violation, and dirty/covered plate. Lowery was stopped at 1:01 a.m. on Nov. 14 on Richmond Avenue, Batavia, by Deputy Stephen Smith. Lowery reportedly had four active warrants at the time of the stop.e was held pending arraignment.
Rhiannon Joy Graff, 44, of Park Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or higher, driving without insurance, aggravated unlicensed operation, and registration suspended. Graff was stopped at 12:54 a.m. on Nov. 15 on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Mason Schultz. Graff was prossed at the jail and released.
Lakara Denise Johnson, 34, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving while intoxicated with a child less than 16 in the vehicle, endangering the welfare of a child, and open container. Johnson and a male passenger were reportedly involved in a physical domestic fight in a car while driving back from Rochester at 9:52 p.m. on Nov. 10, with three children in the car. The vehicle was stopped on Seven Springs Road by Deputy Jeremy McClellan. Johnson was ticketed and released.
Michael Charles Riggi, 54, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Riggi is accused of stealing $40 cash from another person while at Walmart on 3:55 p.m. on Nov. 15. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Trevon L. Armstrong, 39, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on Oct. 16. Armstrong was initially arrested on a charge of criminal mischief 4th, for allegedly damaging a window on Nov. 16, 2023. The warrant was issued after he allegedly failed to reappear in court. Armstrong was arraigned in and held on bail.
Justin R. Nadrowski, 32, of Oakfield, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd. Nadrowski is accused of entering the Spirit Halloween store on Oct. 26 at 1:05 a.m. through an unlocked door. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Donald D. Ryan, 41, is charged with petit larceny. Ryan is accused of taking down payment to complete work at a residence on Clifton Avenue but never showing up start the job. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Cori L Cleland, 39, of Perry, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs. Cleland was allegedly found unresponsive in her vehicle on Oct. 21. She was issued an appearance ticket.\
Cody A. Bush, 38, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd. Bush allegedly injured another person during a fight on East Avenue on Oct. 18. He was arrested on Oct. 26 and issued an appearance ticket.
Brant G. Matthews, 30, of Le Roy, was arrested on Oct. 26 on three warrants. Matthews allegedly failed to appear in court on three separate criminal cases. He was arraigned and released.
Thomas J. Mitchell, 35, of Batavia, is charged with resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration. Mitchell is accused of running from police when they attempted to detain him on Oct. 20 in connection with a separate incident. He was issued an appearance ticket.
A 45-year-old Lockport man admitted in Genesee County Court on Wednesday to concealing a human body in the trunk of a car and parking it in the town of Alabama on March 17.
Norman S. "Bud" DeBois entered a guilty plea to concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony, and tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony.
DeBois was initially charged in April with additional counts of hindering prosecution in the first degree and conspiracy in the fifth degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
Wednesday's plea satisfies all charges. He faces from 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 21 at 2:15 p.m.
On March 19, while investigating a missing person complaint out of Niagara County, Sheriff's deputies found the body of Michael G. Poole, 59, of Olcott.
Two Niagara County residents are accused of conspiring to murder Poole.
On April 19, Kathryn A. "Kit" Henry, 33, of Lockport, was charged with murder in the second degree, a Class A-1 felony, assault in the first degree, a Class B felony, concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony, hindering prosecution in the first degree, a Class D felony, tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony, conspiracy in the second degree, a Class B felony, and conspiracy in the fourth degree, a Class E felony. CLARIFICATION: Henry entered guilty pleas on Aug. 22 to charges of hindering prosecution, a Class D felony, and concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony. She is no longer facing a murder charge as previously reported.
Last week, Edward A. Dunn, 38, of Lockport, was charged with murder in the second degree, a Class A-1 felony, assault in the second degree, a Class B felony, concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony, and tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony.
Those two cases are pending further court proceedings.
The investigation into a case that began in March with the discovery of a body in the town of Alabama has concluded with the arrest of Edward A. Dunn, 38, of Lockport, on charges of murder in the second degree, a Class A-1 felony.
Dunn is also charged with assault in the second degree, a Class B felony, concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony, and tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony.
The Lockport man is accused of killing Michael Poole and then taking steps to conceal Poole's body.
Dunn was arraigned in Genesee County Court on the indictment and ordered held on $100,000 bail. He is schedule to appear in court again on Nov. 7.
The investigation began on March 19, when the body of the 59-year-old Poole, an Olcott resident, was located during a search for a missing person from Niagara County.
Kathryn A. Henry, 33, from Lockport, was arrested on April 19 and charged with murder in the second degree. She was accused at the time of conspiring with Dunn to kill Poole and hide his body.Correction: Henry entered guilty pleas on Aug. 22 to charges of hindering prosecution, a Class D felony, and concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony. She is no longer facing a murder charge as previously reported.
On June 27, the Sheriff's Office arrested Norman S. DuBois, 45, of Lockport, and charged him with hindering prosecution among other charges for his alleged part on conspiring to hide Poole's body.
Rural America, paychecks that don’t seem to go as far, and YouTube gurus that have latched onto how to make the most of inexpensive items have all added to the buzz of popularity for Dollar Generals in small town communities, and Genesee County is no exception.
The 10th such dollar store is on tap for approval at the next Genesee County Planning Board meeting this week. It’s set for 7 p.m. Thursday in the large Conference Room of County Building 2, 3837 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.
With at least three of the stores dotting the city of Batavia landscape, there are others on both the east and west parts of the county, and the latest one is planned for 7174 Alleghany Road, Basom.
Sweet Haven Farms/The Broadway Group, LLC has applied for a site plan review of the expected 10,556 square foot new commercial retail building on state Route 77.
The applicant is requesting a site plan review “for the development of a 10,640 square-foot retail space with supporting infrastructure, parking, drainage and lighting, etc.” Land uses adjacent to this property are rural, agriculture and residential, according to the application.
The planning board’s review is to include the following modifications:
1) The applicant provides documentation from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as to the project's impacts on threatened and endangered species; 2) The applicant provides a pedestrian connection to Sumner Road.; and 3) The applicant merges the remaining land with the parcels immediately north to avoid creating an additional nonconforming lot with no road frontage.
With these required modifications, “the proposed development should pose no significant county-wide or intercommunity impact,” the related site plan documents state.
Estimated cost of project is $474,550, and it would be situated on 2.19 acres for a total square feet of 95,396.4. The structure would be 76 feet by 140 feet as a new structure by Broadway Construction.
The proposed action is a permitted use under the zoning regulations and consistent with the adopted comprehensive plan, also with the predominant character of the existing (building) or natural landscape, according to the applicant.
This addition of this business is not expected to result in a substantial increase in traffic above present levels, public transportation services are not available at or near the site of the proposed store and there are not any pedestrian accommodations or bicycle routes available or near the site, the application states.
The proposed action does meet or exceed the state energy code requirements, and will connect to an existing public or private water supply, but will not create storm water discharge, the application states. Construction is to include impoundment of water, such as a retention pond or waste lagoon.
According to Trek Investment Group, Dollar General Corp.’s 14,000 stores yielded more than double the profit of Macy’s Inc. on less revenue during its most recent fiscal year. And its $22 billion market value eclipses the largest U.S. grocery chain, Kroger Co., which has five times the revenue.
While many large retailers are closing locations, Dollar General executives said they planned to build thousands more of these discount thrift stores, mostly in small communities that have otherwise shown few signs of the U.S. economic recovery, the company said.
Sen. Charles Schumer holds up a rendering of the exterior of the Edwards Vacuum plant under construction in WNY STAMP in the town of Alabama. Photo by Howard Owens.
With the groundbreaking for Edwards Vacuum's new plant at WNY STAMP in Alabama, it's all going according to plan.
In August 2020, Schumer traveled to WNY STAMP to propose a bill that eventually became law, funding the semiconductor industry in the United States to the tune of $50 billion. He said ramping up domestic semiconductor production was a matter of national security. He also wanted to create jobs in Upstate New York, including rural counties. At another news conference in 2022, he said chip manufacturing "belongs in Batavia, not Bejing."
"What makes us so happy about this project is J-O-B-S," Schumer said at Tuesday's ceremony. "Jobs, right here. In just over a year, hundreds of local workers will be employed at this factory behind me, where they will build some of the most sophisticated, cutting-edge equipment for the semiconductor industry, not just in New York and not just in America, but in the world. This will be one of the world-class plants right here in Genesee County."
Schumer said Edwards will pump $300 million into the Genesee County economy.
"This story is going to be repeated over and over again across upstate New York, over and over again, of what we now call the 'Semiconductor Superhighway,' which is I-90, as it runs from Albany all the way to Buffalo, through Rochester and Syracuse.
Mark Masse, CEO of the Genesee County Economic Development Center, thanked all the agencies—from Gov. Kathy Hochul and Empire State Development to Genesee County and the town of Alabama—for their efforts to collaborate and help make Tuesday's groundbreaking possible.
"It requires collaboration at all levels of government to make an economic development project like Edwards Vacuum a reality," Masse said.
The work to build out STAMP is ongoing, Masse said, and it isn't easy.
"The competition to develop sites like STAMP and bring companies such as Edwards to New York has never been more challenging," Masse said. "The opportunities for communities across New York State, particularly upstate, are unlimited in terms of creating generational wealth that we have not experienced in a very long time."
Alabama Town Supervisor Rob Crossen said the town welcomed the opportunity for economic growth.
"Why would we accept such a thing in a very small town? It's about jobs. It's about good-paying jobs," Crossen said. "I spent my entire life growing up here, as many of us did, watching everybody move from Genesee County and from Western New York. Now, we're going to start seeing license plates from other states coming here."
During his speech, Schumer recalled watching WNY companies such as Kodak, Bausch and Lomb, Xerox, Bethlehem Steel, Bell Helicopters, and more either reduce manufacturing locally, move away, or close up shop.
"It pained me to see jobs leave Upstate New York to hear the stories and actually witness some parents at airports waving goodbye to their kids in their early 20s who wanted to stay here," Schumer said. "They liked the good life here, but they couldn't find a job here. Now, the reverse is going to be true. Parents will be going to airports in the rest of the country and waving goodbye to their kids as they come to Upstate New York for the good paying jobs."
Official groundbreaking. Photo by Howard Owens.
Empire State Development CEO Hope Knight and Sen. Charles Schumer. Photo by Howard Owens.
Alabama Town Supervisor Rob Crossen. Photo by Howard Owens.
Sgt. Andrew Hale with a Jeep involved in a rollover accident on Route 77 in Alabama. Photo by Howard Owens.
Dispatchers are checking on the availability of Mercy Flight after receiving a report of a possible serious injury accident in the area of 6218 Alleghany Road, Alabama.
UPDATE 5:37 p.m. Joanne Beck: Mercy Flight en route to Erie County Medical Center. Howard Owens is at the scene.
UPDATE 6:32 p.m. Joanne Beck:
In a one-vehicle accident, considered to be one of those “freak” occurrences when not wearing a seat belt actually may have saved the driver’s life. The driver was ejected from his Jeep early Monday evening and is expected to survive, said Genesee County Sheriff’s Sergeant Andrew Hale.
The 39-year-old driver was flown by Mercy Flight to Erie County Medical Center with serious injuries.
Hale said the vehicle was heading northbound on Route 63 towards Medina at approximately 4:50 p.m., where there was some road construction, when, for “some unknown reason,” the driver drove through road-closed construction signs.
“It’s out of the Alabama area here right on the county line, at which point it blew through some construction signs here, and overcorrected and went off the shoulder of the roadway. The construction crews are doing work in the area,” he said. “So from our preliminary investigation, we determined this vehicle rolled at least two times, possibly a third. And the individual was not wearing his seatbelt. And that's ultimately what probably led to him surviving the motor vehicle crash. Had he been wearing a seatbelt, he would have been probably trapped and crushed by the rolling of the Jeep. So, in this instance, it appears that being ejected from the vehicle is what ultimately saved him.”
Hale confirmed that the driver was conscious and alert when responders found him and was able to “talk briefly.”
“But he did have severe injuries,” Hale said.
He did not suspect that alcohol was involved in the accident, he said, but added there's no way of telling if drugs were involved at this point.
There will be an investigation as to why the driver went through the construction signs because “at this time, we don’t have an answer as to why he did that,” Hale said.
“We’ll definitely follow up,” Hale said. He’s got some things he’s got to tend to for right now, but when the time comes, we’ll probably ask him those most important questions.”
There was an off-duty volunteer fireman who lives just up the road who heard the accident and and, along with his father, also responded to the scene.
It is still being determined at what point the driver was ejected from the vehicle, Hale said. He was just lucky in this case that he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, though Hale encourages everyone to wear one.
“Absolutely wear a seatbelt. You know, 99 percent of the time, it will only benefit you and help save your life and help save others’ lives,” he said. This was just one of those rare freak accidents, and in this case, it played to his benefit.”
The driver’s fiancee had been notified of the accident, Hale said. The driver's name has not yet been released.
