Le Roy

Michele R. Williams is indicted for the crime of aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle, which is a Class E felony. It is alleged that on May 24 in the Town of Darien that Williams drove a 2013 Chevrolet on Route 77 while having a BAC of .08 percent or more and while a child age 15 or less was a passenger. In count two, Williams is accused of aggravated DWI with a child as passenger, a Class E felony, also on May 24. In counts three and four, Williams is accused of the same crimes, respectively, for having a second child age 15 or less in the vehicle. In counts five and six, Williams is accused of the same crimes, respectively, for having a third child age 15 or less in the vehicle. In counts seven and eight, Williams is accused of the same crimes, respectively, for having a fourth child age 15 or less in the vehicle​. In counts nine and 10, Williams is accused of the same crimes, respectively, for having a fifth child age 15 or less in the vehicle​. In count 11, Williams is accused of following another vehicle too closely, a vehicle and traffic violation, without having due regard for the speed to the vehicle, the traffic or the condition of the roadway.

Taraleen T. Tundo is indicted for the crime of aggravated driving while intoxicated, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on May 1 in the Town of Stafford that Tundo drove a 2004 Ford on Route 5 while her ability to do so was impaired by the conbined influence of drugs and while a child age 15 or less was a passenger. In count two, Tundo is accused of driving left of pavement markings the same day, a vehicle and traffic violation. In count three, she is accused of criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. It is alleged in count three that Tundo knowingly possessed gelatin capsules, glassine envelopes, vials, capsules or other material suitable for packaging individual quantities or narcotic drugs.

Brian K. Dyer is indicted for the crime of first-degree assault, a Class B violent felony. It is alleged that on July 5 in the City of Batavia that Dyer intended to, and did, cause serious physical injury to another person by means of a dangerous instrument -- a concrete statue. In count two, Dyer is accused of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony, for possessing a dangerous instrument -- a concrete statue -- with the intent to use it unlawfully against another person.

Patrick J. Gonzales is indicted for the crime of third-degress burglary, a Class D felony. On March 16, 2017, Gonzales allegedly knowingly entered a building on Lake Street in the Town of Le Roy with the intent to commit a crime. In count two, he is accused of third-degree grand larceny, also a Class D felony, for allegedly stealing property with a value in excess of $3,000 -- a safe and personal property valued at about $3,702.50 in U.S. currency.

Sybil D. Davis is indicted for the crime of aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on April 3 in the Town of Le Roy that Davis drove a 2001 Dodge on Route 19 while her license was suspended or revoked by authorities and while she was under the influence of a drug or alcohol. In count two, she is accused of driving that day while her ability was impaired by the combined influence of drugs or alcohol, as a misdemeanor. In count three, Davis is accused of reckless driving, as a misdemeanor, for driving that day in a manner that unreasonably interfered with the free and proper use of the roadway or unreasonably endangered users of the roadway. In count three, Davis is accused of reckless driving for crossing the center line and driving into the path of an oncoming vehicle in the Town of Pavilion and/or Le Roy that was operating lawfully; the affected vehicle had to engage in evasive manuevers in order to avoid a collision. In count four, Davis is accused of reckless driving for crossing the center line and driving into the path of an oncoming vehicle in the Town of Le Roy that was operating lawfully; the affected vehicle had to engage in evasive manuevers in order to avoid a collision. In count five, Davis is accused of reckless driving for crossing the center line and driving into the path of an oncoming vehicle in the Village of Le Roy that was operating lawfully; the affected vehicle had to engage in evasive manuevers in order to avoid a collision. In count six, Davis is accused of attempted escape in the third degree, a Class B misdemeanor, for allegedly attempting to escape from custody on April 3 in the Town of Le Roy.

Joseph L. Ruise is indicted for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class B felony. It is alleged that on June 21 in the City of Batavia that Ruise knowingly possessed cocaine with the intent to sell it. In count two, Ruise is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, a Class C felony. In count two, he is accused of knowingly and unlawfully possessing one or more preparations, compounds or mixtures containing the narcotic drug cocaine and these had an aggragate weight of one-eighth ounce or more. In count three, Ruise is indicted for the crime of criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. It is alleged in count three that on the same day, Ruise knowlingly possessed gelatin capsules, glassine envelopes, vials, capsules or other material suitable for packaging individual quantities of narcotic drugs.

Christopher A. Ridgeway is indicted for the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class B felony. It is alleged that on June 27 in the City of Batavia that Ridgeway knowingly and unlawfully possessed cocaine with the intent to sell it. In count two, he is accused of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a Class A misdemeanor. It is alleged in count two that on the same day, Ridgeway knowingly and unlawfully possessed alprazolam.

Submitted photo and press release:

Last month, the Le Roy Women of the Moose held a pig roast to raise money for new winter outer wear and accessories for Le Roy Wolcott Street School students in need.

Winter coats, hoodies, boots, gloves, hats and socks were purchased.

School counselors and the school nurse identify those with the greatest need. 

Events like these are a success due to the generosity of our community and our volunteers.

A pig roast is a big undertaking, but Dave Ehrhart Jr. and his crew, along with the WOTM, do a great job. Thank you Le Roy! It takes a village!

Photo, from left: Jamie Clark, assistant principal at Wolcott School, and Merritt Holley, superintendent of the Le Roy Central School District, along with Women of the Moose Laurie Cooper, Martha Bailey, Cathy Campbell and Judy Mills.

In the Fifth Annual Battle of the Bands at the Smokin' Eagle BBQ & Brew in Le Roy, after a summer-long competition, the John Payton Project came out on top in the finalist pairing of the season on Saturday night.

Second place went to Deeper Blue.

Here's a video highlighting last night's event. We'll have full-song videos from each band over the next two days.

Le Roy's volleyball team is now 12-0 on the season after beating Brockport at home Wednesday night in three sets, 25-23, 25-17, and 25-17.

Next up for the Knights: The Waterloo Tournament on Saturday.

Photos and info courtesy Tim McArdle.

Press release:

The Genesee County Office for the Aging will, once again, be holding Medicare open enrollment vendor fairs for members of the community.

These vendor fairs will have representation from local Medicare Advantage insurance companies, AARP Supplemental, and EPIC where you can ask questions and change your plan, should you decide to do so.

HIICAP counselors from the Office for the Aging, who specialize in Medicare, will also be available to give you an unbiased look at your options before you speak to a sales agent.

Volunteers will also be available assisting those wishing to sign up for a MyMedicare.gov account.

All vendor fairs run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For questions call (585) 343-1611.

Thursday, Oct. 17th 

• Alabama Fire Hall, 2230 Judge Road, Alabama 

Tuesday, Nov. 5th 

• Our Lady of Mercy Gym, 44 Lake St., Le Roy

Wednesday, Nov. 20th 

• Darien Center Fire Hall, 10537 Alleghany Road, Darien Center

Tuesday, Dec. 3rd 

• First United Methodist Church of Batavia, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia

Press release and submitted photos.

LE ROY -- Wright Beverage Distributing has acquired Certo Brothers brand distribution rights and is expanding their footprint in Western New York.

The deal is set to close on Jan. 10^th, and Wright Beverage will assume full operations in Certo’s existing markets effective Jan. 13.

Wright Beverage plans to acquire a 139,000-square-foot warehouse, adjacent to their 205,000-square-foot facility, in the Village of Le Roy as part of a proposed $8.9 million expansion plan.

The newly combined Rochester/Buffalo area brand rights expand Wright’s base by more than 50 percent to service 17 counties and over 2.5 million people.

Wright Beverage Distributing, headquartered in Rochester, announced Tuesday that they have reached an agreement with Certo Brothers Distributing to acquire Certo’s brand franchise and distribution rights for all five counties Certo currently services in Western New York. The newly acquired brand rights will extend WBD’s market coverage from 14 to 17 counties, growing their existing 10.5m annual case sales volume by more than 50 percent and adding more than 150 jobs to their current team of 425 employees.

“Our employees are what make expansion opportunities like this possible,” said Claude H. Wright, owner and CEO of Wright Beverage Distribution. “With both our companies being family owned and over 170 combined years of local market heritage in the beverage business, our cultures are very similar, and I know we’ll make an outstanding combined team.”

Wright had previously competed with Certo in Erie and Niagara counties, and this purchase will expand Wright’s territory into three additional counties: Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegheny. Major brands involved in the transaction that are currently represented by Wright in adjacent territories include Coors, Molson, Miller, Sam Adams, Corona and Genesee.

Founded in 1953, Wright Beverage is now run by second-generation owner Claude H. Wright, CEO who has grown the company exponentially since taking over in 1977. The company attributes its sustained growth to its people and partnerships that spanthree generations. Representing over 50 suppliers, the company maintains a diversified portfolio of Beer, Non-Alcohol, Wine and Spirit products.

It will also be expanding its current Buffalo metro sales offices and employee base. Tessa (Wright) Tobin, Claude’s daughter, is the third generation of the Wright family to take ownership of the company and serves on the executive team as Chief Business Development Officer. Tobin is leading the joint transition team focused on launch plans to ensure a smooth transition and get the expanded organization off to successful launch in January 2020.

“We are thrilled to finally expand our Buffalo footprint and make this longstanding goal a reality. Our newly combined team and expanded territory will enable us to leverage our business model and yield sustainable benefits for our employees, customers, and supplier partners,” Tobin said.

WBD prides itself on bringing smaller scale brands to compete at market with larger players and has cultivated partnerships with local and regional breweries, wineries, distilleries and non-alcoholic brands to complement its business model.

“We are brand builders," Wright said. "We do this by actively managing a relevant portfolio and reinvesting in our partnerships, people and community. This is key to our sustainability.”

Other local and regional Wright brewery partners include F.X Matt (Saranac), Young Lion Brewing, Triphammer Bierwerks, K2 Brother’s Brewing, Ithaca Beer, and Blue Toad Hard Cider. Wright also maintains a diversified portfolio of wine and spirits, including local, family owned wineries and distilleries such as Villa Bellangelo, Billsboro, Toro Run, Lockhouse Spirits, and Tequila 21, distilled in Mexico.

Gaining broader market awareness and presence with an established and respected distributor like Wright Beverage has significantly accelerated their success, like it has for our own Genesee Brewery in Rochester. Wright currently boasts being Genesee’s largest distributor worldwide – whose beginnings with Wright were much the same as many of their smaller locally owned brands are today.

“Wright Beverage is and will continue to be a family owned and managed business, committed to continuing the exceptional level of service to the community as Certo has provided for over a hundred years," Tobin said. "Our Vision, Mission and Core Values remain the same; their meaning and importance will be shared throughout our organization and reinforce our unified culture.”

WBD eagerly encourages anyone interested in joining the Wright team to visit their career page to learn more about available positions and apply for a job by visiting www.wrightbev.com/careers. More information about this transaction and the company can be found at www.wrightbev.com.

(Inset photo above, Wright Beverage Distributing CEO Claude H. Wright (right) and his daughter Tessa (Wright) Tobin, chief Business Development officer, represent second and third generations the company's management.)

Press release:

What: Guitar Lessons with Pete Avery
Where: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1 E. Main St., Le Roy
When: Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., starting Nov. 5th

Pete Avery, guitar teacher and certified choral director, is offering weekly guitar lessons for beginning to advanced players starting on Tuesday, Nov. 5th from 7-8:30 p.m.

These will be held each Tuesday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1 E. Main St., Le Roy. Lessons are offered at no charge, but a recommended weekly donation of $10 will be accepted to benefit local charities. No instrument is required to start.

Avery has taught guitar in most musical styles to people of all ages for the past 30 years. He started his musical training at age 6 and has played and sung with several groups for the past 55 years.

He is a certified Barbershop Harmony Society chorus director and is St. Mark’s current choir director. He sees his guitar playing gift as a blessing and has never charged for the 200+ students he has taught over the years.

Registration is required. Please email Avery at pgavery58@gmail.com. More information is available at www.stmarksleroy.org

Andrew Englerth rushed for 206 yards and four touchdowns to help lead Le Roy to a 58-13 win over Mynderse/South Seneca on Friday night.

Kyler LaCarte filled in at QB for Jake Hill, who is missing a couple of games due to an injury, and was 5-9 passing for 52 yards. LaCarte scored a touchdown while gaining 25 yards rushing on five carries.

Nate Andrews scored two touchdowns, one rushing and one on an 82-yard punt return. Andrews also converted six point-after attempts.

Kaiel Robinson also scored a touchdown.

Cole Rauscher had 10 tackles and an interception.

OPEN HOUSE ALERT: 9309 Warsaw Road, Le Roy, Saturday from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Custom built in 2006, well built, well kept ranch home that is super warm and cozy and ready to move right in! This 3 bedroom, 2 full-bath home in nice area is outside the village backed up to fields but close to all amenities.

Home features great room w/cathedral ceiling and pretty stone gas fireplace.Very open floor plan that has spacious oak kitchen blending into large dining area with sliding doors that open to large forever deck that is fully screened with full awning AND connects to airy master bedroom suite -- imagine early morning coffees out your bedroom door or great evenings entertaining!

Two large extra bedrooms and first-floor laundry finish off the upstairs -- but don't forget awesome large basement that adds so much more opportunity! Don’t forget the Generac generator and central air! Click here for more information on this listing, or call Lynn Bezon today for a showing.

Press release:

Responding to concerns over the length of firefighting training programs, the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control has redesigned the Fire Officer I (FOI) program into five individual modules. Completion of all five modules will earn the participant a Fire Officer 1 certificate. 

Heather M. Spiegel, 45, of Le Roy, is charged with: felony driving while intoxicated -- third offense, a Class D felony; aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree; operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device; consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle; and having an unregistered motor vehicle. Spiegel was arrested at 11:38 a.m. on Sept. 28 after a traffic stop on Route 19 in the Town of Covington by Wyoming County Sheriff's Sgt. Colin Reagan. She was stopped for having an expired vehicle registration and then allegedly found to have a revoked NYS driver's license from multiple DWI-related revocations. Spiegel was also allegedly found in possession of an open bottle of vodka. Following field sobriety testing, she was arrested for DWI. She then refused to submit to a chemical test. She has three prior convictions for DWI in the past 10 years (two felonies; one misdemeanor). Spiegel was arraigned in Town of Covington Court. Due to having two prior felony convictions, Spiegel was held without bail in Wyoming County Jail until her scheduled court appearance Oct. 21 in Town of Covington Court.

Terry Michael Martino, 64, of Gibson Street, Oakfield, is charged with second-degree harassment. It is alleged that at 6:39 p.m. on Oct. 1 on Gibson Street in Oakfield that Martino shoved another person during a domestic incident. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Oakfield Court on Oct. 14. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Travis DeMuth, assisted by Deputy Brock Cummins.

Kyle Gilbert Harling, 25, of Bromley Road, Churchville, is charged with: driving while intoxicated -- first offense; DWI with a BAC of .18 percent of higher; and failure to keep right. On Oct.1 at 3:34 p.m. on Warboys Road in Byron, Harling was the subject of a traffic stop for alleged vehicle and traffic violations. He was the suspect of an erratic operator complaint received by the Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center. Harling was processed at the Genesee County Jail and issued appearance tickets to be in Byron Town Court on Oct. 21. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Mullen, assisted by Deputy Travis DeMuth.

Benjamin D. Seekins, 30, of Batavia, was arrested by Livingston County Sheriff's deputies on Sept. 21 and charged with: driving while intoxicated; aggravated driving while intoxicated -- with a BAC of .18 percent or more; and failure to keep right. Seekins will reply to charges in Avon Town Court on a later date.

Brian D. McInnis, 26, of Le Roy, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree. He was arrested on Sept. 25 after a traffic stop on Route 19 in the Town of Warsaw. He was stopped by Wyoming County Sheriff's deputies for a headlight violation and having an expired NYS vehicle inspection sticker. During a roadside investigation, it was found that McInnis had a suspended license due to failure to answer a prior summons. He was released to a third party and will answer the charges on Oct. 21 in the Town of Warsaw Court. Wyoming County Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Chase handled the case.

New Listing Alert: 9309 Warsaw Road, Le Roy. Custom built in 2006, well built, well kept ranch home that is super warm and cozy and ready to move right in! This 3 bedroom, 2 full-bath home in nice area is outside the village backed up to fields but close to all amenities.

Home features great room w/cathedral ceiling and pretty stone gas fireplace.Very open floor plan that has spacious oak kitchen blending into large dining area with sliding doors that open to large forever deck that is fully screened with full awning AND connects to airy master bedroom suite -- imagine early morning coffees out your bedroom door or great evenings entertaining!

Two large extra bedrooms and first-floor laundry finish off the upstairs -- but don't forget awesome large basement that adds so much more opportunity! Don’t forget the Generac generator and central air!

Click here for more informtion on this listing, or call Lynn Bezon today for a showing. Open House this Saturday from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Press release:

A student at Le Roy Junior-Senior High School is being charged as a juvenile in connection with an alleged threat posted on Snapchat that led to classes and activities being canceled at Le Roy schools on Friday.

Le Roy PD announced today that the unnamed juvenile is being charged with falsely reporting an incident, 3rd, and that the matter is being referred to Genesee County Family Court.

Police say the youth posted a message on Snapchat threatening to harm students. A parent of one of the students who received the message contacted the Safe School Helpline to advise officials of the threat.

Superintendent Merritt Holley said he was informed of the threat early Friday morning and made the decision -- based on what was known at the time, leading him to believe it was a credible threat -- to cancel classes and activities at both Wolcott and the Jr.-Sr. high.

Previously: More than single Snapchat post apparently used to determine need for school closure today in Le Roy

A Le Roy PD officer is in a foot pursuit of a dirt bike rider in a quarry off of Circular Hill Road in Le Roy.

The rider failed to yield when the officer tried to make a traffic stop.

Deputies are arriving on scene to assist in the search for the rider.

UPDATE 3:16 p.m.: A deputy is with a dirt bike on Gulf Road. Unclear if it's directly related to the previous report or if there is a rider with this bike.

UPDATE 3:20 p.m.: It sounds like at least one person is detained.

While officials have declined to discuss thus far the specific nature of a threat made on Snapchat overnight that led to the closing of the schools in Le Roy today, Superintendent Merritt Holley did indicate during a press conference this morning that it was more than just the words used in the Snapchat post that caused concern.

"From my end of it right now, I think because we know what the threat was, we know who the person is, I think from that end, this is exactly -- I'm not going to use the word, there's nothing textbook when you get into these, but I think if you have a situation where we have finality to what we know -- I think that's exactly where you want to be, and I think if we could have gotten that, we think about the time frame of where we're trying to get that information and go," Holley said. "I think closing the school today looks very small in the big scheme of things."

A reporter at the press conference suggested that Holley was saying there was more context to the situation than just what was posted on Snapchat and Holley said, "you can interpret that."

Neither Holley nor Le Roy Police Sgt. Emily McNamara would discuss details about the content of the Snapchat post, nor why police and school officials determined the threat should be taken seriously and considered credible.

The school district was alerted at 5 a.m. by a service set up two years ago to field anonymous tips about safety threats at schools, and Holley said he immediately contacted Le Roy PD. By 8 a.m., the Junior-Senior High School student who made the post had been identified.

Holley said both the student and the student's family are cooperating with the police investigation.

The situation is resolved, both Holley and McNamara said, and school activities return to normal on Saturday.

"This was an isolated incident and I really want to emphasize to the community and to the students at the school that we don't believe that there's any cause for any further concerns or alarm," McNamara said.

She said this is still an open investigation and while charges are possible, it's too soon to say what those charges might be.

As a result of the Snapchat posting, both Wolcott School and Le Roy Junior-Senior HS were closed and all school activities, including tonight's football game in Avon, were canceled.

"This is far from a prank," Holley said. "I think with the investigation going on, I don't want to get specifically into what was said and what was put out, but 'credible' is the key term and with any threat in this day and age that we're in right now, any school district, not only here in Le Roy but across the state, across this country, it's our duty and responsibility to look into every possible situation, and we have to do our due diligence and I think we did that in this in this situation."

Press release:

The sets are being built, the costumes are being bloodied and now the talent has been cast for next month's production of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at Genesee Community College!

Brodie McPherson, director of the show and also GCC's instructor of Theater Technology, released the cast list today (Sept. 27) for what promises to be the college's biggest theater production of the season!

GCC's Forum Players Theatre Company will perform Richard O'Brien's “The Rocky Picture Horror Show,” Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17, 18, and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and again Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. in the College's Stuart Steiner Theatre.

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" will feature GCC students representing many majors and four different countries, as well as a GCC alumnus. Audiences will enjoy the talent, style and a little craziness from the following:

• Tiago Marques, of São Paulo, Brazil, as Frank-N-Furter
• Runo Suzuki, of Hokkaido, Japan, as Janet Weiss
• Samuel G. Rigerman, of Batavia, as Brad Majors
• Benjamin Reiner, of Pembroke, as Riff Raff
• Lacey Sloat, of Bergen, as Magenta
• Fu Kikuchi, of Fukuoka, Japan, as Columbia
• Chris Barbis, of Pavilion, as Rocky Horror
• Jack Diskin, of Le Roy, as Eddie and a Phantom
• Grant Calcote, of Le Roy, as Dr. Everett V. Scott and a Phantom
• Josh Pacino, (GCC classes of 2008 and 2009), of Batavia, as The Narrator
• Marissa Carbonell, of Batavia, as Trixie The Usherette and a Phantom

And playing Phantoms throughout the productions will be:

• Marissa Carbonell, of Batavia
• Sam Ciesla, of Hamburg
• Haylea-Ann Nicole Self, of Brockton
• Brittany Mayes, of Medina
• Jessie Pierce, of Batavia
• Tiffany Smith, of Arkport
• Brandon Ribbeck, of Warsaw
• Ai Jitozono, of Nagasaki, Japan
• Ayaka Nakamura, of Osaka, Japan
• Francesca Pieter, of Willemstad, Curaçao
• Alyssa Young, of Brockport
• Andrew DeMeo, of Staten Island

This show will take full advantage of all the high-tech sound and lighting equipment at the College's state-of-the-art theater. The full scene and costume shops provide dynamic sets, clothing and special effects to take this production over the top. In addition, special "Goodie Bags" to be sold for $5 are in development as is some pre-show, intermission and post-show opportunities for the audience to interact with the cast.

"This show promises to be among the most memorable experiences not only for GCC's Forum Players, but also for our audience and supporters. It really is not to be missed," McPherson said. "Everyone should enjoy the perfect prelude to the Halloween season with a performance that is 'out of this world!' "

Tickets for "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," performed by GCC's Forum Players Theatre Company, are: $8 for adults; and $5 for seniors (55+) and students (16+) and GCC faculty/ staff. GCC students with ID are $3, and GCC alumni with ID will receive a $2 discount on an adult ticket.

To reserve seats, contact the GCC box office today at boxoffice@genesee.edu or (585) 345-6814. Seating is limited and advance reservations are strongly advised. The show is designed for mature audiences only.