Le Roy

A barn built in the 1880s is reportedly on fire at 8283 North Road in the Town of Le Roy.

It is believed to have started by an electrical wire.

Le Roy Fire Department is called, along with mutual aid from Bergen and two tankers from Caledonia.

UPDATE 5:07 p.m.: Now they say fire is out. Calls for mutual aid to Caledonia and Mumford have been cancelled. "Everything's under control," says a chief.

UPDATE 5:11 p.m.: A Bergen ladder truck is asked to continue in nonemergency mode, but its tanker is told to return to quarters. National Grid has been notified but no estimated arrival time given. North Road was to be shut down by fire police, not sure if that's still the case. They are going to look at the structure with a thermal imaging camera.

UPDATE 5:21 p.m.: There are no electrical wires hanging anywhere as far as anyone can tell. The thermal imaging camera shows no hot spots.

UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: Le Roy and Bergen are returning to quarters.

The school districts in Le Roy and Oakfield-Alabama have announced that all after-school activities are canceled today due to weather conditions.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported on the Thruway in the eastbound lanes at mile marker 378.4.

Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.

Traffic is getting backed up.

UPDATE (11:35 a.m.): One person is being transported to Strong hospital in Rochester. Another person is being transported to Lakeside hospital in Brockport.

Here are three pictures from the a late afternoon drive through Le Roy/Bethany/Pavilion.

Above, Oakta Creek near Creek Road and Le Roy-Bethany Townline Road. Below, two barns on Le Roy-Bethany Townline Road.

Batavia-based Christiano Cellular has been sold to a Marion, Ind.-based company, owner Roger Christiano announced today.

The new owner is Moorehead Communications, with 900 locations throughout the United States.

Christiano Cellular has locations in Batavia, Le Roy and Livingston County.

Christiano said with the sale, he's retiring.

A sale price was not announced.

The Christiano locations will be closed for a few days in early December while staff goes through orientation with the new company.

Full announcement after the jump:

Christiano Cellular, a local Verizon Authorized Wireless Retailer with locations in Genesee and Livingston counties, has been sold to Moorehead Communications, Inc., of Marion, Ind.

The announcement was made today by owner, Roger Christiano. Moorehead Communications' cellular division, known as The Cellular Connection, is the largest Verizon Wireless Premium Retailer in the Midwest with over 350 company-owned stores and over 550 owner-operated partners across the nation.

They are currently the fastest growing division in the wireless industry.

"After 20 years representing Verizon Wireless (formerly Frontier Cellular) in Batavia, LeRoy, Avon and Geneseo, I was looking for an opportunity to retire when this offer came along," Christiano said. "I appreciate being the first Rochester area agent to be approached by Moorehead Communications as they continue their expansion across New York State.

"My wife, Sharon, and I will end our career with Verizon Wireless with a feeling of accomplishment. We want to thank our employees for always going the extra mile for the customers of Verizon Wireless. And, of course, we want to thank our loyal customers for doing business with us over the years. We envision bigger and better things ahead when our existing sales staff joins forces with this dynamic new Premium Retailer."

Christiano Cellular stores will be closed for the first three or four days of December while the staff goes through orientation and training and the stores are converted to The Cellular Connection.

A car is reported off the road at 8237 Vallance Road in Le Roy. There are injuries. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.

UPDATE (2:36 p.m.): The injuries were deemed minor. No transport needed. Units back in service.

"A squirrel did it," according to a fire chief on scene at Clay and Myrtle in Le Roy.

A caller reported a loud noise and suspected a transformer blew.

There was no sparking, however, though one caller reported a brief power outage.

Le Roy Fire responded and investigated.

No lines down. No fire.

All units back in service.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at 8452 Lake St. Road in LeRoy.

The location is between Route 19 and North Street Road.

Le Roy fire and ambulance are repsonding.

With some beautiful weather, I was able to get out of the city for a bit today and take some photos. Here are three of the pictures.

Above, a Ford pickup behind Bruce Scofield's place (Scofield Roll Off Service) on Route 5 in Stafford.

An old windmill on Gully Road, Le Roy.

Silos on Pagen Farms, Gully Road, Le Roy.

In a long conversation today about the need for the Soil and Water Conservation District in Genesee County, Le Roy dairy farmer Dale Stein didn't once complain about an increasingly demanding Environmental Protection Agency.

He just said "Farmers need help."

That help has come for years from the Soil and Water District. Staff members have the expertise to help farmers comply with regulations that protect the land, air and water.

"All of us want to live in a good environment," Stein said. "But we can't do it on our own."

After our talk, Stein walked me across the street, through the mud and over a plank bridge that spans a cement trough, a little creek if you will, of liquid manure.

The manure is fed into a new $170,000 machine that pulls out the solids, drys it, mashes it up and sends it out a conveyor belt into a big pile in a new storage building.

Sawdust, which has served as bedding for cows for decades or longer, is getting expensive, Stein said. Increasingly, it's used in recycled products, which drives the cost up for farmers.

Now, Stein's cows sleep on their own processed manure.

"The cows love it," Stein said. "It's soft and fluffy."

Surprisingly, it has no discernible odor.

The environmentally friendly process was driven as much by federal guidelines to reduce his manure waste as it was by economics.

After a 30-percent federal grant to help pay for the project, Stein said the savings on sawdust purchasing will pay for the operation inside of two years.

Without the help of Soil and Water technicians, Stein said, the project would been a lot harder to pull off. They help identify issues on his farm that might run afoul of regulations, find the right solutions, help secure grants to pay for the projects and then ensure the project is completed within federal or state guidelines.

No farmer, Stein said, has that kind of expertise.

These are tough times, though, and the Genesee County Legislature wants to balance the county's $140.5 million budget without raising property taxes. At the same time, more than 80 percent of the county's revenue is tied up in covering the expense of unfunded mandates.

So, where the county can cut, officials are looking at deep cuts.

For the Soil and Water District, that means a 15-percent reduction -- $26,000 -- in the county's $170,000 allocation.

With the budget cut, there will be at least one less staff member in the district, according to Brad Rodgers, chairman of the Soil and Water board of directors.

"(The cut) would be a real detriment to the agriculture industry in Genesee County," said Rogers. "Even level funding would hurt us."

Scott Page, president of the Genesee County Farm Bureau, believes keeping Soil and Water is critical to protecting Genesee County's economic base.

"If we hurt ag, we miss an opportunity to move forward," said Page. "The more we build off our agricultural base, the better the local economy will do."

Page said his family has been dairy farmers in Le Roy for 50 years, and he's seen the regulations get tighter and more technical. While he doesn't think they are entirely necessary ("What farmer doesn't want to care for his animals?" he says), there is just no way the typical Genesee County farmer can keep abreast of all the regulations without experts to lead the way, he said.

Although Stein's manure recycling project has a direct economic benefit to his business, complying with many of the state and federal regulations adds nothing to the bottom line.

"It's tough for a farmer to lay aside that kind of money for something that is not going to generate profit," Page said.

Banks don't want to loan farmers money to undertake projects that often cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Banks are only willing to help, Stein said, because there are federal grants available to pay from 30 to 70 percent of a project's cost.

And it takes Soil and Water experts to help a farmer through the application process.

"We have a good Soil and Water program," Stein said. "But we will start losing farms in this county pretty quickly due to these regulations without help."

Photos: Top, Dale Stein in front of a pile of manure dust; inset, Stein holding a handful of processed manure; bottom inset, Scott Page.

A Pavilion resident suffered non-life threatening injuries Monday morning when a car he was driving slid off the road in Le Roy and struck a tree.

Charles A. Sisnett, 22, of Creek Road, Pavilion, was cited for allegedly driving too fast for conditions.

Sisnett was in the area of 9845 Roanoke Road, Le Roy, at 9:45 a.m., when he apparently lost control of the 1998 Chevy sedan he was driving.

He reportedly told Deputy Chris Parker that he swerved to avoid an "unknown animal."

(Initial Report)

A Town of Le Roy employee working at the transfer station on Circular Hill Road is being accused of taking money from people bringing in garbage and keeping the cash for herself.

Arrested was 52-year-old Dawn Joy Mancuso, of York Road, Le Roy. She is charged with petit larceny and official misconduct.

After receiving numerous complaints about Mancuso taking money, Deputy Ron Meides, dressed in civilian clothes, began a process of dumping garbage at the transfer facility and getting his dump card punched. On the last week, when Meides was low on available punches on his dump card, Meides said Mancuso allegedly took $10 from him and never turned the cash over to the Town of Le Roy.

Meides alleges in his report that Mancuso has been regularly taking cash from transfer station patrons who did not have enough punches on their cards to drop off garbage.

Mancuso allegedly never turned any of this money over to the town.

Michael Richard Mack, 24, of 72 Main St., Le Roy, is charged with two counts of menacing, 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, and criminal mischief, 4th. Mack was arrested by Le Roy Police Officer Kyle Slocum following the report of a disturbance at Mack's residence. Mack is accused of twice threatening a guest at his apartment and damaging the victim's mobile phone. Mack was arraigned and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

David James Dole, 28, of 610 Kennedy Road, Cheektowaga, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property. Dole is accused of attempting to use a stolen credit card at two retail locations on Veterans Memorial Drive.

Sure there's a free speech consideration, District Attorney Lawrence Friedman said when discussing the arrest of local Democrat activist Chris Charvella on a charge of aggravated harassment, 2nd.

But the statute he's charged under has nothing to do with the content of the phone message Charvella left for Republican Legislator Jay Grasso.

The statute is about making a phone call "for no legitimate purpose other than to harass or annoy," Friedman said.

The content of the message matters only in helping to establish intent, and intent is a matter, ultimately, only a judge or jury can decide.

"That's always true," Friedman said.

Critics of Charvella's arrest have expressed concern that the 30-year-old Batavia resident won't get a fair hearing in Genesee County because of his political affiliation.

Friedman, a Republican, said politics plays no part of it.

"I've been in this job 29 years and I challenge anyone to say politics has played a part in my decision making," Friedman said.

The case is being handled by one of Friedman's five assistant attorneys, and as is often the case, he said he isn't personally involved. Friedman said how the case is handled is entirely up to Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell.

Because of the jurisdiction of the case -- a town court, where ADAs handle the caseload -- and the nature of the charges, it's a case that he does not routinely follow.

"I don’t intend to get personally involved in this case, so my political affiliation is irrelevant," Friedman said. "My political affiliation is always irrelevant. I don’t look at anybody’s politics when I get involved in a case, neither the victims nor the defendants nor the witnesses nor anybody else."

He added, "I don't get involved just because a case is in the media."

Friedman said he hasn't read the case file and only knows about Charvella's arrest from what he's read in media reports. 

For previous coverage of Charvella's arrest for allegedly harassing Grasso, click here.

Photo: File photo.

Le Roy Police have arrested a 31-year-old village resident suspected of child sexual abuse.

Gregory A. Jones, of 34 Main St., Apt. #1, Le Roy, is charged with two counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, a class A-II felony.

The alleged victim is under 13 years old.

Included in the predatory sexual assault charge are accusations of a criminal sexual act, 1st, formerly known as sodomy, and coarse sexual conduct against a child, 1st.

The alleged crimes occurred over an 11-month period at his residence on Main Street.

The investigation was conducted by Det. John Condidorio and the Department of Social Services.

Jones was jailed without bail.

Assisting in the case were the Genesee County Advocacy Center, the District Attorney’s Office and the New York State Police Computer Forensic Unit.

A 21-year-old Lyndonville resident is charged with DWI following a one-car accident early Tuesday morning on the I-490 off-ramp in Le Roy.

Police say Alyssa Brianne Sprague was driving too fast and moved from her lane unsafely when her 2004 Chevy sedan struck the guardrail on the off-ramp, continued onto Vallance Road, spun and struck another guardrail.

Sprague was not injured in the crash.

She was, however, charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater.

The accident occurred at 1:19 a.m. and was investigated by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

There's a couple of incidents going on -- amidst other heavy scanner traffic -- that I've not been able to quite nail down.

There's an apparant grass fire somewhere off Route 33, apparently in Darien's fire district.

Also, there's a car off the road in Le Roy. Their may be power lines down. A caller reports a power outage. The driver called and said he wasn't injured, but an ambulance was started. The car is in the woods.  The location sounds like "Valence Road," but I can't locate such a road anywhere in Genesee County.

UPDATE 6:14 p.m.: The fire was on a recently purchased plot of land in the area of Countyline Road and Route 33. The burn is within legal limits and the owner is planning to have more controlled burns this week.

A new judge will be requested to hear the case of Chris Charvella, a member of the Genesee County Democratic Committee charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd.

In Le Roy Town Court this afternoon, Judge Kermit Arrington readily agreed to recuse himself since Charvella had worked on his election campaign.

Likewise, Le Roy Town Judge Charles Dusen will also be asked to recuse himself because the complainant, Republican Jay Grasso, had worked on his campaign.

The recusals will be forwarded to county court Judge Robert Noonan who will appoint another judge.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell suggested that the case be moved to another town or county because of conflicts of interest in the politically sensitive matter. Charvella's attorney, E. Robert Fussell, opposed the idea and Arrington said there was no adequate basis to justify moving the case.

County Legislator Jay Grasso had Charvella arrested by State Troopers after Charvella made statements on his blog regarding some campaign sign shenanigans and he left a message on Grasso's home phone.

On his blog Charvella said, among other things, that he was going to stick a campaign sign up the arse of the first Republican he encountered at local GOP headquarters if another sign for Republican Senator Mike Ranzenhofer showed up on property he managed.

After a sign reportedly did show up at Charvella's house, with a message written on it that indicated it may have been left by Grasso.

That prompted a call from Charvella to Grasso's home phone.

"Hey, Jerome, it's Chris Charvella. Thanks for reading my blog," was the message Charvella left.

He then posted a blog item that concluded with a picture of an Ewok and the message, "prepare your anus."

In a statement to The Batavian on Friday, Charvella said he didn't believe he did anything illegal.

Before Arrington spoke, Fussell had a brief conversation with Finnell. Fussell asked if the DA's office had received his faxed letter, seeking dismissal of the case because it is a First Amendment issue.

Finnell acknowledged reading the letter, but said "This is not a First Amendment case. ...By calling the house and referencing the blog, that was taken as a threat."

"You're kidding?" said Fussell.

"No, I'm serious," Finnell said flatly.

"I'm ready -- whatever," responded Fussell.

Moments later, an incredulous Fussell told Arrington "We live in a whole new universe than the one I grew up in."

Democrats Rose Mary Christian, who sits on the Batavia City Council, and Lorie Longhany, who chairs the County Democratic Committee, accompanied Charvella in court today.

"This is absolutely not a good use of taxpayer money," Christian said afterward. "There was no threat to Jay or Mrs. Grasso. You should hear some of the messages people have left on my phone. You wouldn't believe the stuff they say. 'You bitch, why did you do that?' I just call them back and say "Here's why."

Longhany said the case is pure politics, adding that Grasso is "trying to shut us up" and that Charvella will wind up paying a hefty legal bill for nothing.

Previously: Local Dem arrested after Republican legislator accuses him of harassing phone call

Darrell Smith, 43, of Queens Drive, West Seneca, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation and improper stopping on a highway in the Town of Alexander. Smith was arrested following a report of a one-car accident at 3:32 a.m. on Oak Street in the City of Batavia. Smith allegedly fled the scene of the accident in his car. Smith also faces charges in the city for allegedly leaving the scene of a property damage accident, moving from lane unsafely and aggravated unlicensed operation.

A 17-year-old from Attica Road, Attica, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. The youth was allegedly found in possession of a stolen a black Diamond Back BMX-style bicycle. The bicycle had been reported stolen from a person in the Village of Attica on July 3.

Peter J. Gravante Jr., 21, of Townline Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, no license plate lamp and operating without brake lights. Gravante was stopped at 4:08 a.m., Friday, on Route 5, Town of Batavia, by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

Alexander Kae Zorich, 18, of Batavia-Stafford Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Zorich is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

A 16-year-old from Route 20, Alexander, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property. The youth was arrested following an investigation into car break-ins in the Village of Alexander during the night hours of Aug. 6-7. A younger defendant was also arrested, and considered the prime suspect. That case was handed over to family court.

Wesley Herrick Marean, 20, of Bronson Avenue, Avon, is charged with petit larceny. Marean is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Tiffany Monea Gaulden, 19, of Taft Avenue, Rochester, is charged with criminal trespass. Gaulden was allegedly found in a controlled access building at College Village. Gaulden was reportedly barred from the property. On Nov. 4, Gaulden was also arrested for alleged trespass and issued an appearance ticket. For the alleged trespass on Friday, Gaulden was jailed on $500 bail.

Gina Lee Schmidt, 21, of Elm Street, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. Schmidt is accused of using a fraudulent check at Walmart.

Peter S. Brigzna, 21, of Townline Road, Bergen, is charged with felony DWI and stopping on a highway. Brigzna was arrested following a report of a car stopped in the middle of the road on Bank Street Road, Batavia, at 6:52 p.m., Friday. Brigzna was allegedly found passed out in the car with the car running and the lights on. He was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Travis J. Schultz, 22, of 3620 Maltby Road, Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Schultz is accused of recklessly damaging the entry door of Sport of Kings restaurant during a fight with another person.

Clinton A. Anderson, 25, of 8 Walden Creek Drive, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Anderson was allegedly involved in a domestic incident with a woman he was ordered to stay away from. He was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Brandon T.C. Johnson, 20, of Culver Road, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and uninspected motor vehicle. Johnson was stopped at 5:14 p.m., Nov. 3, on Main Road, Corfu, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

A perfect season came to a disappointing end for the Le Roy Girls Volleyball Team Saturday as they suffered their first lost of 2010 in a regional championship game at Genesee Community College.

Le Roy (21-1) lost to Section VI Champions Falconer High School (from near Jamestown) three games to one by scores of 25-21, 24-26, 25-23 and 25-19.

Katlyn Tyler had 21 kills and 20 digs for Le Roy. Megan Condidorio had 22 assists and 18 digs.

Six more photos after the jump -- and we have more than 30 photos available for purchase by clicking here.