Tonight I went to the Le Roy Central School District board meeting to see if anything interesting happened. Nothing did, but as I was leaving, I saw this wonderfully shaped tree with the great mural in the well-lit hallway in background and thought it should make a good picture. As long as I had the tripod out, I took the picture below of the Woodward Memorial Library.
Elmira College named two Le Roy students to its Dean's List for academic achievement for the fall 2010 term. The Dean's List recognizes students who have a grade-point average of 3.6 or higher for the semester.
Matthew Gale is majoring in childhood education, sociology and anthropology and is the son of Mr. Christie and Mrs. Cynthia Gale.
Megan Lowe is majoring in adolescence education -- mathematics, and is the daughter of John and Lynda Lowe.
Elmira College is located in the Finger Lakes Region. To learn more about what Elmira College has to offer, navigate to www.elmira.edu or call 1-800-935-6472.
A car reportedly crashed into some trees on West Bergen Road just south of the Thruway.
There are unconfirmed injuries.
Le Roy Fire and Ambulance dispatched.
UPDATE 11:01 a.m.: No injuries. A fire hydrant was struck. Monroe County water being notified.
UPDATE 11:05 a.m.: Le Roy units back in service.
Something happened two weeks ago involving a few Le Roy High School basketball players.
As near as we can tell, it was a serious matter.
Judging by the reaction of some students the following Tuesday (wearing T-shirts in support of one of the alleged aggressors in the situation) and the reaction of the father of the possible alleged victim, emotions were running high around this issue.
WHAM-13's Sean Carroll has been looking into this matter, and I have had numerous conversations with sources as well. There have also been other reporters looking into the issue.
At this point, it appears everybody has lawyered up and clammed up.
Given the seriousness of the allegations on both sides, it's hard to just shrug and say, "well, it's just some sort of private matter."
It's especially difficult to take that stance when several, shall we say, well-placed Le Roy residents and community leaders keep telling me, "there's more to this," and "you need to keep digging," and "don't let this go."
Kim Cox, the Le Roy Central School District superintendent, cites student confidentially for her unwillingness to discuss the situation, but not all of the questions either Sean or I are asking are covered by student confidentially laws or policies.
For example, she refused to answer a question regarding some sort of public conflict at a basketball game saying, "the matter is under investigation." The problem with that answer is that it isn't under investigation as far as we can tell. Supposedly, students have been told not to talk to anybody about that incident (or the other) and the police have not been called in to investigate it.
The school board is no less uncooperative. I called four school board members. Two did not return messages, a third said repeatedly "no comment" and a fourth hung up on me.
It's troubling when people whom we regard as highly credible and responsible people are telling us "there's more to this" and "keep digging" and at the same time the school district appears to be taking every step possible to keep a lid on it.
There are serious allegations here involving young people, so it is a very sensitive situation, but it's hard to be confident that it's being handled appropriately when district officials put up a stone wall.
Sean Carroll put out a call in his blog post for witnesses to come forward. I would also welcome information from direct witnesses to either of these incidents. It's hard to say if any this will ever lead to a "story."
But given the requests of knowledgable people not to let this drop, it seems important to let readers know we're concerned that these events may just get swept under the rug.
None of the seven people involved in a two-car accident in Le Roy on Saturday afternoon were injured.
The driver of one car, Cody A. Busch, 19, of Batavia, said he was trying to brake for another car when he lost control of the 1989 Pontiac he was driving and the car spun into oncoming traffic.
The Pontiac struck a 2002 Kia driven by Angelo J. Rampino, 38, of Tonawanda.
No citations were issued following the 5:33 p.m. accident on Route 19 in the area of 8623 Lake Road.
In Busch's car were James K. Goodenow, 39, and Kristine M. Reynolds, 21. In Rampino's car were Heather C. Rampino, 37, Angelo J. Rampino II, 4, and Deborah A. Gillmor, 57.
The accident was investigated by Deputy Joseph Graff.
A two-car, minor injury accident is reported at Lake Street near West Bergen Road.
Le Roy Fire Police requested to the scene to shut down traffic on Route 19.
Le Roy Ambulance responding.
A one-car rollover accident with four victims is reported at Route 19 and Court Road in the Town of Covington. Pavilion Fire Department, Le Roy Ambulance and Mercy EMS are responding.
The accident occurred "at the curve" there. Pavilion-Warsaw and Court roads are being shut down to traffic.
One of the victims has back pain.
Tomubari Godswill Gbaraba, 18, of 262 14th St., Buffalo, is charged with rape in the first degree. Gbaraba is accused of having forced sexual intercourse with an 18-year-old victim at College Village. Gbaraba was jailed on $50,000 bail.
Christine A. Woika, 37, of 82 Gilbert St., Le Roy, is charged with reckless endangerment of property and endangering the welfare of a child. Woika is accused of placing a jacket and other clothing in an oven in an apartment and leaving the oven on. The clothes started to burn and if they had caught fire, the fire could have spread causing at least more than $250 in damage. Woika is also accused of allowing herself to become incoherent to the point that she had to be transported to a hospital while she was caring for a 2-year-old child.
John Weston Boddy, 19, of Junction Road, Pavilion, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Boddy is accused of possessing marijuana while on Pavilion Central School property. He was issued an appearance ticket by Deputy Brian Thompson.
A 17-year-old, of Roanoke Road, Pavilion, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The youth is accused of possessing marijuana while on Pavilion Central School property. He was issued an appearance ticket by Deputy Brian Thompson.
Gary Frank Caccamise, 64, of Attica, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle. Caccamise was reportedly spotted by Deputy Brian Thompson allegedly drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle. Upon further investigation, Thompson allegedly found Caccamise in possession of marijuana.
Gerald George Ryder, 50, of Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, and harassment, 2nd. Ryder is accused of punching a woman in the head and then smashing her wooden bookcase during an incident at 2:30 a.m., Saturday.
A two-car accident with a possible minor injury is blocking the eastbound lane of West Main Street, Le Roy.
One subject is complaining of a possible arm injury.
The accident occured in the area of 70 West Main St.
Le Roy Fire and Ambulance responding.
Scott Dennis Boyles, 31, of Warsaw Road, Le Roy, is charged with two counts of criminal mischief, 4th, and harassment, 2nd. Boyles is accused of preventing another person from making a call to the Sheriff's Office during an alleged domestic incident. He's also accused of damaging a chair in the residence and having physical contact with the other person.
Randy R. Skrypek, 35, of Cluber Road, Rochester, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. He was arrested following a report of a domestic incident on Fisher Road, Oakfield, at 4:45 p.m., Monday. Skrypek allegedly drove to the location in an intoxicated condition.
A brake fire on an unknown type of vehicle has been reported by the Thruway Authority on the I-90 at mile marker 375.1.
That puts it just at the county line.
Le Roy Fire is responding.
A third suspect in an alleged fight at the Eagle Hotel in Le Roy on Jan. 23 has been arrested and charged with harassment, 2nd.
Steven Hare, 37, of 9 Washington Ave., Le Roy, was arraigned and released following his arrest.
Hare is accused of shoving another person during the alleged altercation.
Previously charged with assault, 2nd were Thomas B. Streamer, 40, of 28 Grover St., Warsaw, and Thomas W. Sherman, 41, of 108 North St., Le Roy.
One alleged victim was taken to UMMC with with facial, head and shoulder injuries.
Jorge Alberto Rojas Cazares, 16, of Gully Road, Le Roy, is charged with illegal entry. Cazares came to the attention of the Sheriff's Office while Deputy Joseph Graff investigated the complaint of a person receiving unwanted text messages. The youth was turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol.
Mark H. Poole, 44, of 104 Oak St., Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment, 2nd. Poole is accused of being in a physical altercation with a person under 17 years old. Poole was jailed on $750 bail.
Thomas B. Streamer, 40, of 28 Grover St., Warsaw, and Thomas W. Sherman, 41, of 108 North St., Le Roy, are each charged with assault, 2nd. Both men are accused of getting into a fight with a 37-year-old Le Roy resident while at the Eagle Hotel on Jan. 23. The alleged victim suffered serious physical injuries to his shoulder, head and face. He was treated at UMMC. Streamer and Sherman were arraigned in Le Roy Town Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. Le Roy Police say that further arrests are pending.
Walter Lyle Knickerbocker, 53, of South Street Road, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. Knickerbocker is accused of stealing road salt from the DOT salt barn on routes 19 and 20, Pavilion. The alleged theft(s) occurred on and before Jan. 19.
Aaron D. Swimline, 24, of Main Road, Corfu, is charged with a felony count of DWI, a felony count of aggravated DWI (driving with a BAC of .18 or greater), unlawful possession of marijuana, speed not reasonable nor prudent, moving from lane unsafely. Swimline was reportedly involved in a one-car accident at 12:59 a.m., Saturday in the area of 2553 Main Road, Corfu. The accident was investigated by Deputy Howard Carlson.
LaToya Tamika Vialva, 19, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Vialva is accused of being on College Village property after being banned from the property.
Demolishing the vacant and ramshackle Wiss Hotel in Le Roy Village could cost at least twice as much as the Genesee County Legislature discussed Wednesday night before voting to forgive tax liens on the property.
A local real estate investor -- who asked not to be identified -- said he looked at the property one time and had a Rochester-based demolition company give an estimate on taking down the building. The low-end best guess was $175,000.
The investor said that's the price for tearing it down without an asbestos inspection and hauling the material to a dump that would accept potentially contaminated material.
If it could be confirmed before demolition that there's no asbestos present, tearing the structure down and disposing of the material could be cheaper. But an asbestos inspection costs $35,000.
If an inspection was done, he said, and asbestos was found, then the demolition price would climb beyond $175,000, perhaps beyond $225,000.
And that's before dealing with any potential contamination from the former NAPA location next door on Route 19.
It's a great location, he said, but realistically, any investor would need both properties to make it a suitable space for modern retail. The potential expense of buying and leveling both properties so a new business could be built, would eat up most potential profits -- even if the hotel parcel was bought for the price of the tax liens.
With the county washing its hands of the property, it becomes the problem of either the village or property owner.
Gene Sinclair, Le Roy code enforcement officer, said he isn't sure what the village will do. In early 2010, the village started down the path of declaring it an unsafe building, but backed off when it became clear what the potential demolition costs would be.
The investor said the interior of the building is in pretty bad shape and gives anybody who looks at it a pretty clear idea that the building needs to come down.
"I'd hate to wake up some morning and read that the building has fallen down with a couple of people buried under it," he said.
The owner of the former Wiss Hotel at 80 Main St., Village of Le Roy, will get to keep the property, despite owing thousands of dollars in back taxes.
The property was headed for the county's March foreclosure auction, but the Genesee County Legislature cast a unanimous vote Wednesday night saying essentially, "we don't want it."
The building, owned by New Jersey resident Emily Pangrazio, is in such a state of disrepair, county officials said, the only thing to do with it is tear it down, which would cost more than $100,000.
The county could not take title without taking responsibility for the building's disrepair, even just to auction it off later.
There's also concern that a former gas station next door could have leached contaminants onto the property, creating a potentially costly clean-up requirement.
If the county became part of the chain of title for even one day, county taxpayers could wind up footing the bill for any environmental impacts.
By voting to cancel the tax lien, the property -- with numerous alleged code violations -- becomes an issue for the owner and the village to deal with.
Several people have noted that a couple of weeks ago, crews were inside the former hotel removing fixtures and other items, basically stripping the building of salvageable items, according to witnesses.
Updated 9:19 p.m.
A Le Roy resident who appears to have headed a Genesee County-based methamphetamine ring entered a guilty plea in federal court today to a drug dealing charge.
The charge -- conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine -- carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $4 million fine.
Donald G. Vanelli II, 47, of 8394 Lake St., Le Roy, was arrested in July following a months-long investigation by local, state and federal authorities into meth sales and distribution in Genesee and Monroe counties. Three other Genesee County residents along with a Monroe County resident were also arrested and accused of dealing meth.
The investigation revealed, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, that Vanelli was responsible for procuring from suppliers and distributing between 5 and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from 2004 through July 2010.
A kilo equals 2.2 pounds. The estimated street value of a pound of meth is between $15,000 and $25,000.
The contents of an affidavit released by authorities after his arrest gives the appearance that Vanelli was the kingpin of the meth distribution ring, with other alleged dealers coming to him for their supplies, and Vanelli working with a Monroe County source to allegedly acquire meth from unnamed sources.
During the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine, three firearms, and more than $6,000 in cash.
As part of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to forfeit to the government a 9mm rifle, a 9mm magazine and 78 rounds of 9mm ammunition that were seized from his Le Roy residence.
Sentencing is set for 3:15 p.m., May 10, in Rochester Federal Court.
The charges against the four other defendants in case are still pending.
Vanelli's co-defendants are Donna L. Boon (aka Donna Mcauly), 44, of 3658 Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road; Andrew W. Chapman, 40, of 5 Cedar St., Batavia; Kerry A. Ball, 51, of 7202 Meadville Road, Basom; and, David H. Cohen, 49, of 918 Goodman St., Rochester.
Ajuna Mona Pruitt, 19, of Dawnhaven Drive, Rochester, is charged with reckless endangerment and criminal trespass, 2nd. Pruitt is accused of entering a room at College Village without permission and then, while in the parking lot, striking another woman with her car. The alleged incident occurred at 6:30 p.m., Monday.
Ajuna M. Pruitt, 19, of Dawnhaven Drive, Rochester, along with Ebony S. Barnes, 18, of Chaplain Street, Rochester and Shibritney M. Colbert, 19, of Shelter Street, Rochester, are charged with harassment, 2nd. The trio are accused of going to an apartment at College Village at 10:39 p.m., Tuesday, and banging and kicking on a door in an attempt to get the resident to come out and fight.
Danielle Marie Kotmel, 30, of East Main Street, Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Kotmel is accused of stealing a red Dell laptop computer. The alleged theft is believed to have occurred in December but was not discovered until an audit was completed in January.
Robert G. Woodhouse Jr., 50, of Creek Road, Bethany, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Woodhouse is accused of entering a residence and remaining unlawfully. He's also accused of damaging a door.
Richard John Downs, 48, of Oak Orchard Road, Elba, was arrested on a probation warrant out of Town of Elba Court.
Steven Michael Keaton, 38, of Gilbert Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Keaton is accused of contacting a woman whom he was ordered not to contact.
The case of Chris Charvella, accused of placing an unwanted phone call to Legislator Jay Grasso, is moving back to Genesee County Court with a request that Judge Robert C. Noonan reassign the case again.
Previously, the case was moved from Le Roy Town Court to Town of Batavia because both judges in Le Roy had conflicts of interest.
Charvella's attorney, E. Robert Fussell, told Town of Batavia Justice Michael Cleveland that he and the District Attorney's Office agreed the case should be heard by a judge who is an attorney.
Cleveland is not an attorney.
Justice Tom Williams in Town of Batavia Court is an attorney.
Cleveland said that when the case was moved to Batavia, he and Williams discussed the case and decided that Cleveland would hear the case. Cleveland did not explain why they reached that decision.
Fussell will submit an application to Noonan to have the case reassigned to another town court, such as Stafford, where an attorney sits on the bench. Yet Stafford does not have two judges with a legal degree. The case could still wind up before a non-attorney judge.
The case needs to be heard by a judge who is an attorney, Fussell said, because of the Constitutional issues involved in the case.
Charvella is charged with harassment, 2nd, under the provision of the law that prohibits phone calls for no legitimate purpose.
After some back-and-forth between Charvella and Grasso prior to the last election -- in which Charvella reportedly wrote that he would shove some campaign signs up some people's rear ends -- Charvella called Grasso's house and said, "Thanks for reading my blog."
Grasso, who represents Le Roy, contacted State Police and had Charvella arrested on the harassment, 2nd, charge.
For previous coverage, click here.
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