Le Roy

Sheri Lee Flint, 30, of Selden Road, Le Roy, is charged with identity theft, 3rd. Flint is accused of applying for a credit line in the name of another person and after receiving the credit card, making a purchase on credit.

Emily J. Walker, 19, of Sherman-Stedman Road, Sherman, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Walker is accused of sending text messages to a person in violation of a court order.

#7 Batavia Blue Devils (3-4) vs. #2 East Rochester/Gananda Bombers (6-1)
7 p.m., Friday

Batavia enters their Class B first round matchup against East Rochester/Gananda riding a three-game losing streak, and has lost three out of the last four.

Despite the recent lack of success and a few injuries this week, first year Head Coach Brennan Briggs is still optimistic about his team’s chances of pulling off the upset.

“We are due to play 48 minutes of football because we haven’t in the last three weeks,” Briggs said. “If we execute and know our assignments, we can win this football game.”

To key to the Blue Devils’ success will be the playmaking ability of wide receiver Justin Washington. The senior is capable of making big plans in the return game, running and catching the ball.

“We have been working on a few different ways to get him the ball, whether it’s running or passing,” Briggs said. “We think [Washington] is the best athlete on the field on any given night.”

If Washington can break loose, and the Blue Devils overcome their injuries, they have a chance to beat the Bombers on Friday night.

#7 Holley Hawks (4-3) vs. #2 Le Roy Oatkan Knights (6-1)
7 p.m., Friday

Second-seeded Le Roy will host the seventh seed Holley in the first round of the Section V Class C Football Playoffs on Friday night in a matchup of Livingston County and Genesee Region League teams.

Le Roy is coming off an emotional come-from-behind win against rival Cal-Mum last week, as they scored 10 points in the final four minutes of the game to squeak out a victory.

The Knights’ only loss on the season came against Perry in Week 6, but leading rusher Peter Privitera did not play in the game, nor did he last week due to injury. Privitera has rushed for 834 yards and 10 touchdowns in five games this season, while Marcus Mistersaro has 362 yards, 3 touchdowns and 9.8 yards per carry.

Mistersaro stepped in for the injured Privitera last week and ran for 90 yards, including 63 on the game-winning drive against Cal-Mum.

Le Roy averages 282 rushing yards per game, so Holley will have to slow down the running attack in order to have an opportunity to win.

While the Hawks enter the game with more wins than losses, they have a 1-3 record against teams with a winning record for the season.

#6 Bath Rams (4-3) vs. #2 Elba/Byron-Bergen Lancers (6-1)
1:30 p.m., Saturday

Elba/Byron-Bergen will host Bath in a Class C first round matchup on Saturday afternoon and the player to watch is undoubtedly Lancers running back Zack DuBois.

The senior led the Genesee Region League in rushing with 1,572 yards and 16 touchdowns. DuBois also ran for 200 yards in 5 of 7 games he played this year, and never rushed for less than 113. His average of 224.6 yards per game and 10.3 yards per carry were also tops in the league.

If Elba can get DuBois rolling early, it will open up the passing game for quarterback Zac Gillard, who has 881 yards, 12 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions on the season.

Defensively, they are led by four-time Section V Class C Defensive Player of the Week Andy Underhill.

The junior linebacker led the Lancers with 132 tackles, averaging almost 19 per game. While Bath comes in with a 1-3 record against teams with winning records, they did defeat a strong Livonia squad, so the Rams will be a tough first round matchup for Elba/Byron-Bergen.

#4 Dundee Scotsmen (3-4) vs. #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1)
1:30 p.m., Saturday

While Notre Dame is coming off an emotional high last week after defeating Attica to force a three-way tie for the Genesee Region League Championship, the 76 to 14 drubbing that Dundee gave the Irish in the 2009 Class D Championship game is still fresh in the mind of Head Coach Rick Mancuso.

Notre Dame will look to avenge that loss and the attack will begin with do-it-all quarterback Tim McCulley. The junior led the G-R League in passing yards and his 16 touchdown passes were also tops in the league.

McCulley is also extremely effective running the ball if the pocket breaks down, as he did last week 11 times for 79 yards. The McCulley-to-Jared Thornton connection has been hot as of late, with the two hooking up 10 times for 240 yards and 3 touchdowns in the victory against Attica.

If Dundee wants to upset the number-one seed in Class D, they will have to do so by shutting down Irish passing attack.

Notre Dame fell in the Class D Finals a year ago, and has not won a championship since 2006.

Kenyon Hanks Barnes, 27, of North Street, Le Roy, is charged with trespass. Barnes is accused of being on College Village property after being banned.

Joseph Henry Schenik, 21, of Mill Street, Le Roy, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on a charge of criminal possession of property, 5th. Schenik was jailed on $500 bail or $1,000 bond.

Press release:

Four persons were arrested on Oct. 7 by the Le Roy Police Department after allegedly being found in possession of more than $1,000 worth of stolen property, which was taken that night from the outside of a furniture store in the Village of Caledonia.

The investigation started about 10:30 p.m. that evening when a BOLO was sent out by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office asking officers to be on the lookout for a vehicle occupied by people who witnesses say just stole furniture from the store.

The vehicle was located by the Le Roy Police as it was passing through Le Roy, headed west on Route 5 toward Batavia. The four occupants were allegedly found with multiple stolen items inside the vehicle worth more than $1,000 and taken into custody.

The four suspects, their vehicle and the property were then turned over to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department and the four were charged in Livingston County for the theft. The four are also being charged in the Village of Le Roy with criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, a Class E felony.

The four people arrested are:

Amy Lynn Showler, 37, of 19 Manhattan Ave., Batavia

Richard Donald Hammer, 45, of 5 Wood St., upper apt., Batavia

Jennifer Ann Zimblis, 40, of 34 Main St., apt. 2, Le Roy

Daniel John Wolfe, 38, of 5 Wood St., Batavia

Tie game, the 80th meeting of Cal-Mum and Le Roy, and a coach on the side lines yells, "Just give it to Mistersaro."

During the next drive, Marcus Mistersaro's #40 was called at least four times and the senior who is listed on the roster as a tight end, gained most of the 95 yards he had on the night in those carries.

With runs of 28 and 31 yards, Mistersaro helped set up a three-yard push by Tom Kelso with 39 seconds left in the game to give the Oatkan Knights a 19-12 win.

The loss for the Red Raiders (4-3) knocks Cal Mum out of the playoff picture for the first time in a long, long time.

The Knights (6-1) were already guaranteed a first game at home for the Section V Class C tournament.

After the game, Head Coach Brian Moran praised Mistersaro's work ethic.

"There’s a perfect example of a young man who spent his winter in the weight room and it showed in the 4th quarter," Moran said. "He just dominated the 4th quarter.

"There was a young man who put the weight of the team on his shoulders and said, ‘we’re not going to lose tonight,' " Moran added.

It was a big deal, Mistersaro said, to be given a chance to make a contribution in a big game.

"It means a lot," Mistersaro said. "It's 12-12 against Cal-Mum. You just kind of have to step it up."

For senior outside linebacker Archie Cappotelli the win was special on a couple of levels. One, his family is from Cal-Mum. Two, it's the first time senior players from Le Roy experienced a win against the Red Raiders.

"It means a lot to the whole team," Cappotelli said. "We’ve all been working hard since the beginning of August and even before that in the weight room."

The 6-1 record, Cappotelli said, proves what the players knew even before the season started. This is a good football team.

"Everybody was down on us at the beginning of the season, but we’ve been showing them," Cappotelli said. "We can play. We’re for real. We’re ready to go for sectionals now. This game is going to feel good for tonight, but next week we’ve got to focus and get ready for our next team."

You knew this was going to be a hard-fought game when the first quarter ended without a score from either side.

Cal-Mum got on the board first with a two-yard run by Kurtis Haut, but failed its two-point conversion attempt.

Le Roy struck back on the next drive when QB Mike McMullen hooked up with  Ryan McQuillen on a 53-yard pass. A Dylan Johnson extra point made the score 7-6.

The Red Raiders opened the second half with a TD drive capped by Haut's one-yard dive into the end zone.

But the Knights didn't get down, Cappotelli said.

"We never gave up," Cappotelli said. "This team is like a big family. We're all good, ready to go. We knew we were going to win."

A safety later in the quarter made the score 12-9, setting up a big decision in the fourth quarter when Le Roy was near its own end zone on 4th down with four yards needed for a first down.

At first, Moran sent out the offensive unit, ready to go for it, but as the Knights lined up for a play, Moran called time out.

Thomas took the field and kicked the ball through the up-rights to tie the game.

"12-12 is 12-12," Moran said. "If we tie it up, we extend the game. Dylan did a great job for us tonight."

Moran was excited about the win and his players. After a big stop at the close of the first half when a Cal-Mum drive stalled one the one yard line, Moran charged onto the field pumping both fists, congratulating his players.

He was just as excited when time ran out and the win was secured.

"These games are always big," Moran said. "Caledonia is six miles down the street. Any time you play them, it’s a big game. It’s great for our communities, and that’s what it’s about. High school football. These kids know each other and they talk all the time. It’s just nice to get together."

He's also proud of his team's 6-1 record going into sectionals. He said this team has been special.

"It’s enjoyable when you come to practice and kids are ready to work hard," Moran said. "When you have young men who want to learn and do the things you ask them to do, it’s just a pleasure to coach them. You know, they’ve done the things we’ve asked and it’s shown on the field."

In the game, besides Mistersaro's 95 yards on eight carries, Kelso had 16 yards on 16 carries and one TD. Dylan Johnson had four rushes for 10 yards. McMullen was 2-8 for 53 yards and was intercepted twice.

On defense: Kody Lamkin, 10 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 pass breakup;  Zack Fitszimmons, 10 tackles, 1.5 for loss;  Cappotelli,  9 tackles, .5 for loss;  Kelso, 9 tackles, 1.5 for loss; Mistersaro, 5 tackles; Sean McMullen, 5 tackles; Alex Dunn, 4 tackles, 2 pass breakups; McQuillen, 3 tackles, 1 interception.

In other Friday night action:

• Holley beat Oakfield-Alabama 36-0
• Alexander beat Pembroke 42-6

No stats are available for these games.

If you're unable to view the slide show below, click here. To purchase prints of these photos, click here.

A Tonawanda business was evacuated early this morning after an employee found what he thought was an explosive device in the work space of Paul Kaiser.

Kaiser, 26, of 12335 Bullis Road, East Aurora, was charged in Le Roy yesterday with criminal possession of a weapon after a homemade hand grenade was allegedly found in the trunk of his car.

At 8:30 a.m., a co-worker at Anderson Equipment Company reported finding what appeared to be an explosive device in Kaiser's area of the building.

It turned out to be a novelty item and posed no threat, according to WIVB.

The Erie County Bomb Squad searched the building and found no evidence of weapons or explosive devices concealed there.

According to WIVB, authorities do not believe Kaiser planted the novelty item with the intent to scare people. He faces no new charges in Erie County related to this incident.

A 26-year-old Erie County resident is facing a felony weapons charge after his car was stopped in Le Roy this morning and a home made grenade was allegedly found in the trunk of his vehicle.

Paul R. Kaiser, of 12335 Bullis Road, East Aurora, reportedly consented to the search after a Le Roy PD officer informed Kaiser he believed he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle.

Kaiser was initially stopped on Lake Street for allegedly speeding.

After the explosive device was discovered, Kaiser reportedly informed the officer he had made others previously.

Erie County law enforcement later conducted a search of Kaiser's residence, but the results of that search have not yet been released.

During this morning's incident, eight homes on Lake Street were evacuated and Route 19 was closed from about 6:45 a.m. to 9 a.m.

The State Police Bomb Squad was dispatched to the scene and determined the alleged explosive device was live and dangerous. It was removed to a safe location, according to Le Roy PD.

Kaiser was charged with one count of criminal possession of a weapon, 1st, a Class B felony, one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, speeding, driving with a suspended license and uninspected motor vehicle.

Assisting Le Roy PD at the scene and with the investigation were State Police, Erie County Sheriff's Office, Le Roy Fire Department, Le Roy Ambulance Service, the District Attorney's Office and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).

About eight residents had to be evacuated from their homes on Lake Street this morning after a routine traffic stop by Le Roy PD led to a bomb scare.

Following the stop for alleged speeding around 7:30 a.m., a police officer conducted a search of a vehicle and found what appeared to be a homemade grenade in the trunk.

The State Police bomb disposal team was called in, Route 19 was closed, and nearby residents were evacuated.

Unspecified charges are pending against the susptect, who was taken into custody. ATF and the DA's office are being consulted.

The suspect was cooperative with police throughout the incident. 

After he was stopped for allegedly speeding, the officer asked to take a look in the vehicle's trunk and the driver consented.

He reportedly told authorities he had made grenades before.

Route 19 has reopened.

PHOTOS: Top, Police officer with gun found in the vehicle. Bottom, a state trooper at the scene. Photos by Alecia Kaus.

Press release:

The Genesee/Wyoming Music Educators announce that 38 local students will be performing at three music festivals in November and December.

Miranda Graham (chorus-alto) from Le Roy has been accepted to Conference All State that will be held in early December. This is the highest choral honor for vocalists in New York. Miranda was chosen from a large field of students due to her high score at State Solo Festival last spring. Dillon Hirsch (saxophone) from Elba was chosen as an alternate.

Thirty-six other students were chosen to represent their schools at Area All State, which is a group of select singers from nine surrounding counties. All students had to audition at a state solo festival held late last spring.

These festivals will take place for seventh- through ninth-graders (jr. high
orchestra/chorus/band) Nov.  2-3, and for 10th-12th-graders (sr. high orchestra/chorus/band) Nov. 16-17.

The entire Genesee County list is below:

CONFERENCE ALL STATE:
Miranda Graham (chorus-alto) -- Le Roy
Alternate: Dillon Hirsch (sax) -- Elba

AREA ALL STATE
Alexander:
Jr. High Chorus -- Hunter Doran, Alynn Franclemont, Matthew Genaway, Mary Guarino, Marissa Scharlau

Sr. High Chorus -- Mitchell Boughton, Aaron Guarino, Nick Guarino

Batavia:
Jr. High Chorus -- Madison Hoerbelt, Tessa Lynn
Jr. High Band -- Ross Chua, Celia Flynn, Andrea Gilbarto

Byron-Bergen:
Sr. High Chorus -- Sarah Donovan, Andrew Magin, Kelsey Swinter
Sr. High Band -- Lucas DeValder

Elba:
Sr. High Band -- Dillon Hirsch

Le Roy:
Jr. High Chorus -- Katherine Funderburk, Sophia Matla,
Jr. High Orchestra -- Thomas Dunn, Sophie Farnholz,
Jr. High Band -- Joshua Laurie, Kieran O'Halloran, Jennifer Stotz
Sr. High Chorus -- Rachel Glucksman, Miranda Graham,

Pembroke:
Jr. High Chorus -- Ryan Curtis, Grace Fingerglow, Samantha Quaranto, Maisy Ross, Sindel Wille
Jr. High Band -- Katie Brown
Sr. High Band -- Matt Kowalski

Oakfield:
Jr. High Chorus -- Sara Anzalone
Sr. High Chorus -- Eliza Pionessa

St. Joseph's
Jr. High Chorus -- Fiona Beck, Kyra Stella

Brian W. Pike, 49, of 37 Lake St., Le Roy; Brant G. Matthews, 17, of 10 Maple Ave., Le Roy; Roxanne M. Redden, 47, of 37 Lake St., Le Roy, and an unnamed 16-year-old female are all charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Pike was also charged with unlawful imprisonment, 2nd. The four individuals were charged following a Le Roy PD investigation into a domestic incident at 6:45 a.m., Thursday, at 37 Lake St., Le Roy. When arriving on scene, officers observed Pike allegedly holding Matthews in a headlock on the floor while Matthews was holding his 3-week-old daughter. Redden and the 16-year-old are accused of being involved in the altercation prior to police arriving. Pike is accused of physically preventing Matthews from leaving the residence. All four subjects were arraigned and released on their own recognizance. DSS assisted in the investigation.

Danielle M. Stevens, 26, of Ford Road, Elba, is charged with petit larceny. Stevens is accused of shoplifting from Tops Market.

Press release:

The Le Roy Police Department collected a total of 88 pounds of excess medications and 15 pounds of sharps in the last Drug Take Back operation which is part of the nationwide campaign run by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

The Le Roy Police Department wishes to remind all residents that the Le Roy Police Department will take in excess medications any time of the day or night but sharps are only taken in on specific Drug Drop Off days. Please contact the Le Roy Police Department at 345-6350 to request a drop off.   

Le Roy PD suspects that a Buffalo-area man who is accused of stealing $700 worth of baby formula and two boxes of diapers intended to sell the products on the black market, or as the press release put it, at "unscrupulous locations."

A store employee at the unnamed retail location in Le Roy is credited by police with providing crucial information to help catch the alleged shoplifter.

Taken into custody and charged with petit larceny was Edward P. Clark, 23, of Lakeview.

According to Le Roy PD, a store employee spotted an alleged shoplifter leave the store and contacted the dispatch center with a description of the individual, his vehicle and plate number.

As Le Roy PD gathered information at the scene of the alleged crime, law enforcement units in the area were notified of the suspected crime and description of the alleged perpetrator.

After about 10 minutes, a vehicle matching the description was located and stopped by a Sheriff's deputy and state trooper on Route 5, westbound toward Batavia.

The items that were alleged to have been stolen were found inside the vehicle.

The tote contained 44 containers of baby formula.

Clark was jailed on $1,000 bail.

A 22-year-old Le Roy resident who broke into a friend's house and stole a PS3 game system has 30 days to show Judge Robert C. Noonan he "gets it."

Eric Bratcher, of 7 ½ North St., Le Roy, entered a guilty plea to third-degree burglary after originally being charged with burglary, 2nd, and offered a chance at a "split sentence" (possibly six months in jail and five years probation).

After his guilty plea, he was released under supervision of Genesee Justice with certain requirements for his conduct, including no drug use.

The next time Bratcher came before Noonan, he was accused of smoking marijuana while out of jail under supervision, so Noonan sent him back to jail to await his sentencing.

At that hearing, according to Noonan, Bratcher "editorialized" that he didn't see why it was a big deal. "It was just a little weed," according to Noonan.

Since that time, while in jail, Bratcher has reportedly been going through some rehabilitation programs and making progress.

Rather than sentence him today, Noonan gave Bratcher 30 more days to show what sort of progress he can make. He remains jailed without bail.

Noonan could send Bratcher to state prison.

"I'm not certain it won’t come around to the point where a split sentence could be possible," Noonan said. "I’m going to have to be shown something that Mr. Bratcher gets it and I just haven’t seen it yet."

Noonan expressed concern that Bratcher doesn't understand he committed a serious crime.

"You haven't shown me that you understand that you went into somebody's house and -- even though it was a friend and even though it was just a PS3 that was stolen -- the statement he gave on the condition of his residence before he had any idea it was you (was) 'it looks like a burglary,' " Noonan said. "It doesn't look like a friend who just happened to wander into a friend's house."

A two-car accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 378.6. Le Roy Fire Department and Le Roy Ambulance Service are responding. One car is in the ditch.

UPDATE 5:06 p.m.: All parties involved are sign-offs. Le Roy is back in service.

Following a slow-speed chase through the Village of Le Roy, a Rochester resident was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including felony DWI and fleeing a police officer.

Nicholas M. Klusek, 31, of Electric Avenue, Rochester, was jailed on $25,000.

The chase started about 10 p.m., Friday, when a Le Roy PD officer observed Klusek's vehicle allegedly fail to stop for a stop sign and make a turn without a turn signal. The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Klusek allegedly just kept driving.

The chase wound its way down several village streets and was joined by a Sheriff's deputy, who observed the driver stop at Village Square and run into the woods.

The deputy apprehended Klusek.

At one point, Klusek reportedly stopped his vehicle and as a Le Roy officer exited a patrol car, Klusek allegedly put his car in reverse and hit the passenger door of the patrol car.

The officer was not injured.

Besides felony DWI and fleeing, Klusek was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, attempted aggravated assault on a police officer, unlawful possession of marijuana, 12 counts of failing to signal, five counts of failing to stop, two counts of speeding in zone, one count of failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, one count of leaving the scene of a property damage accident and one count of unsafe start.

The alleged assault on a police officer is a Class C felony.

My intention was to stop for sweet corn. What I found when I pulled into Pully's Farm Market on Route 19 in Le Roy was a fall festival.

Owner Dave Pullyblank opened the market in the spring of 2008 on the farm that has been in his family since 1804. His goal then as now is to turn the farm into a family-friendly, agri-tourism attraction.

For fall, Pully has transformed his farm into a wonderland of play areas colored by the vibrant oranges, yellows and greens of the harvest season.

There is a corn maze, pumpkin cannon, corn (instead of sand) box and duck race, but Pully said the number-one attraction is the pumpkins.

The variety, he believes is the largest available in any single location in New York State.

"What I say is all these weird colored pumpkins, that’s fall," Pullyblank said. "You won’t find more variety of a decorative product in any other place. Anybody can grow an orange pumpkin. You won’t find anybody else growing that product in there (the green house)."

Pully's goal is to be a year-round destination. In the spring he sells bedding flowers, hanging baskets and vegetable seedlings. During the summer, he sells produce, including sweet corn, which he believes is the sweetest you'll find, plus tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and squash.

"The biggest thing I tell the folks, at the end of the day, the stuff that hasn’t sold goes to my cows, so when you come the next day, the stuff was picked that morning," Pullyblank said.

He wants kids to learn where their food comes from, Pully said. Eventually, he plans to include farm animals as part of his attractions for families.

For winter, Pully would like to sell u-cut and pre-cut Christmas trees, but two dry summers have slowed the growth of the trees.

What Pully doesn't sell, he brings in from other area farms.

"I can’t do it all, but I want to get it from the other farmers as close as I can," Pullyblank said.

All of the attractions and products at Pully's now will be available through the end of October.

The property has been in Pully's family for at least six generations and Pully got his start driving a tractor for his grandfather when he was 7. Pully said his farm is the last of the original four Le Roy farms still being run as a family operation by the original family.

The spring of 2008 turned out not to be a great time to start a new business, Pully admitted. It hasn't always been easy to grow a business during down economic times, but each year he keeps adding new products and new attractions.

"You have to keep going forward," Pullyblank said. "No matter what, you’ve got to keep going forward. If you don’t, you’re going to go stagnate and then there’s no reason for people to come out and see what you’re doing."

Pully's Farm Market is located 8160 Lake Road, Le Roy.

Le Roy PD is chasing an individual, now on foot, though the chase initially involved a vehicle and was largely contained to streets in the village.

The subject is now on foot heading toward the Royal Apartments.

A deputy has spotted an individual in the woods off Gilbert.

We didn't hear how or why the chase started.

UPDATE 10:08 p.m.: A deputy has the subject in custody and his walking him toward Gilbert.

UPDATE 10:10 p.m.: A Le Roy officer involved in the vehicle chase has requested a tow truck to Le Roy Village Square.

UPDATE 10:17 p.m.: It sounds like the subject is in custody. Possible charges include unlicensed operation and unlawful possession of marijuana.

UPDATE 10:38 p.m.: The chase began with an attempted routine traffic stop on Route 19 at about 10 p.m. The green 1997 Chevy pickup truck made a left on Summit heading south at 39 mph. The vehicle is registered to a village resident. The driver was described as a white male. From Summit, the vehicle turned on Union, back toward Route 19. From Route 19 to Munson. The truck then went north on Gilbert, from Gilbert to Myrtle Street, then left on Craigie heading toward Route 5. On 5, the vehicle head westbound. An officer stated, "he's just playing games. He's back in Village Square" behind the American Legion Hall. It was shortly after going to Village Square that the suspect exited the vehicle and started running.