Oakfield

A boat at 3113 Batavia Oakfield Townline Road, Oakfield, is reportedly on fire.

It is out of the water, but near a structure.

Oakfield Fire Department responding.

A tanker from Town of Batavia requested to the scene.

UPDATE 9:01 p.m.: Batavia back in service.

UPDATE 9:37 p.m.: Oakfield back in service.

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A car-deer accident with injuries is reported at Fisher Road and Lewiston Road, Oakfield.

Oakfield fire and ambulance responding.

UPDATE 1:38 p.m.: At least one victim with cuts from glass and minor bruising where the deer hit her.

UPDATE 1:45 p.m.: Oakfield Engine 72 back in service.

Alec Covel and the Oakfield-Alabama Hornets persevered through seven innings of playoff baseball Friday to secure berth in the Class CC finals Tuesday against #1 seed Lyons.

Covel gave up 11 hits against Perry, but more importantly, he struck out 10 and surrendered only two runs to lead the Hornets (17-4) to an 8-2 victory.

Covel said he just wanted to "win one for the team."

The Yellow Jackets got to him for a quick run in the first inning, but then Covel settled in and gained confidence as the game went on.

"In the beginning I had trouble spotting my curve ball," Covel said. "It started coming through. It was working and they weren’t hitting it so I kept throwing it."

The sophomore mixed his off-speed stuff with a dominating fastball to keep the Perry hitters off balance for most of the night.

His lone base on balls came in the final frame, when Perry scored its only other run of the night.

Co-head Coach Dan Gilbert, who shares the position with James Patrick, said the win was a team effort -- Covel was backed by solid defense, but praised Covel's attitude and work ethic.

"It's a combination of Alec's temperament -- he's a great pitcher, great work ethic, hard-nosed kid who doesn't get rattled, and he had great defense behind him," Gilbert said.

Gilbert said the Hornets knew they would have their hands full with Perry, but the team never gave up and the five-run sixth was just what the Hornets needed to put away the #11 seed.

"We knew coming in they were scrappy and they played scrappy," Gilbert said.  "We knew we would have to persevere through any kind of adversity or bumps in the road. We had a couple of mistakes along the way that we had to persevere through and we didn’t quit and we didn’t give up. And we got the big inning when we needed it."

The offense was led by Kurtis Dunlap, who reached base four times -- one hit, two walks and one hit by a pitch -- and scored three runs.

Tommy Manzella had a triple and a run scored.

Hunter Spiotta had his second 2-3 game of the playoffs and scored a run.

The Hornets go into the finals as the #2 seed and getting to the championship game is what O-A's seniors have had in mind all season, Gilbert said.

"The senior leadership has been phenomenal," Gilbert said. "They’ve had a desire to make a run the whole year. They’ve picked up everybody along the way. Our hats go off to the seniors every day because sometimes when you’re a senior, senioritis kicks in. These guys just want to play baseball, do the best they can for the team. That’s been the key to our success all year."

Even though they will be facing the #1 seed, Gilbert said the Hornets are ready for the challenge.

"We feel confident," Gilbert said. "We know we have a chance. We’re going to have to play quality baseball, but we have good quality kids who are going to work hard and leave it on the field."

The game will be played Tuesday at a location yet to be determined.

If you have trouble viewing the slide show, click here.  To purchase prints of these photos, click here.

LaVerne "Vern" M. Bridge was a man known to enjoy working in his yard and being seen around town in work boots, blue jeans, suspenders and a baseball cap.

Today, at the Maple Avenue Cemetery in Elba, Bridge was laid to rest in his favorite attire while his pallbearers and some friends wore similar clothing in his honor.

The 84-year-old Oakfield resident was working in his yard at 6624 Fisher Road last week, apparently cutting down a tree, when the tree fell on him.

Pallbearers in the top photo are, from left, Joe Seweryniak, John Latko, Rob Warboys, Scott Mabon, Andrew Fowler and Roy Scroger.

For the full obituary of Bridge, click here.

Mike and Laura were doing a little yard clean up when Mike went to grab a fallen tree branch. It stopped when he spotted a bunny hiding in the wedding bells. Laura ran in, grabbed her camera, attached a long lens and was able to snap this shot before the bunny hopped away.

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported at Maltby and Lewiston roads in Oakfield. Sheriff's deputies are on scene. Oakfield Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

An 85 84-year-old man who has been missing since yesterday was found lying in a creek this morning beneath a fallen tree off Fisher Road in Oakfield.

A third-party caller reported this to dispatch around 10 a.m. Oakfield Fire Department was dispatched as were Mercy medics since it was not yet known if the man was injured, but still alive.

Responders discovered the body, which was well off Fisher Road between Lockport and Maltby roads.

The coroner is en route. Family members are at the scene as are Sheriff's investigators.

UPDATE 11:30: (Provided by Howard at the scene) The victim's name is Lavern Bridge, who lived alone at 6624 Fisher Road, according to Deputy Chief Gordon Dibble. The man's son last spoke to him on Wednesday at 3 p.m. A friend told investigators Bridge's normal routine was to have breakfast with him and when Bridge didn't show up this morning, his friend went looking for him and found Bridge's ATV first and then his body nearby. Bridge had been cutting down a tree and a chainsaw was found next to his body. The tree appears to have fallen and hit his head, Dibble said. Emergency responders describe his back yard as "park like." Dibble said that family members told him Bridge loved taking care of his yard and kept it well maintained.

UPDATE 11:41 a.m.: Oakfield is back in service.

A grass fire is reported at 3962 Batavia-Elba Town Line Road in Oakfield. It's on the Lamb Farms property and is estimated to be the size of four or five football fields. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding

This is a dairy farm.

UPDATE 12:25 p.m.: There are no barns or other structures currently in the path of the fire.

UPDATE 12:28 p.m.: A tanker from Oakfield is called. The chief on scene says "This is nowhere near the size it was originally dispatched as." It appears to be following a path along a ditch, not approaching any structures.

UPDATE 12:33 p.m.: Firefighters approaching the scene are told they'll probably see more black smoke than gray smoke because some tires in the field have caught fire.

UPDATE 12:42 p.m.: Foam is being used to put out the tires on fire. The easterly edge of the blaze is knocked down. The chief says "I think we'll be in good shape" when asked if more manpower or equipment will be needed.

UPDATE 12:47 p.m.: The foam has squelched the tire fire. The overall blaze is under control.

UPDATE 12:58 p.m.: The fire is out.

UPDATE 1:11 p.m.: All units are back in service. The revised estimated area of the fire swath is 30 feet by 200 feet.

Patrick M. Holler, 58, of 14713 Holley Road, Albion, is charged with DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and open container. At 7:40 a.m., Tuesday, deputies responded to a report of a 1994 Chevy Astro van being driven on Lewiston Road by a driver who was consuming alcohol. Holler allegedly refused to submit to a breath test after being stopped.

Joel David Prouty, 25, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt. Prouty is accused of sending a letter to a protected person.

Shawn Richard McGiveron, 23, of Marble Road, Akron, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, criminal mischief, 4th, and harassment, 2nd. McGiveron is accused of engaging in a fight with a protected person and damaging that person's property.

A driver says his shoe got caught on the gas pedal as he was leaving the M&T Bank in Oakfield at 9:11 a.m., Monday, causing his car to accelerate and strike another vehicle.

The other car was flipped onto its side and the driver suffered minor injuries.

Frank J. Mosco, 85, of Orchard Street, Oakfield, was cited for allegedly failure to yield right-of-way.

Injured was F.A. Burdick, 38, of Byron.

Mosco was driving a 2006 Buick sedan. Burdick was in a 2011 Dodge SUV.

A third car, a 1990 Chevy sedan owned by Michael J. Dulkevich, of Basom, was struck by Burdick's car.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Chris Parker.

(Initial report)

A rollover accident is reported in the Village of Oakfield in the area of the M&T Bank with possible entrapment.

Oakfield Fire Department and ambulance responding.

UPDATE 9:15 a.m.: The person is out. No entrapment. Mercy EMS response is cancelled.

Steven M. Mogle, 56, of 28 Greenbriar Drive, Lancaster, is charged with menacing, 2nd. Mogle was charged after he allegedly brandished a handgun during an argument over a parking spot with another driver at Tully's on East Main Street, Batavia. Mogle has a NYS pistol permit for the weapon.

Stacy Lynn Maholick, 24, of Route 20 Alexander, is charged with falsifying business records, 1st, and petit larceny. Maholick is accused of completing 11 false merchandise returns and taking cash for the returns while employed at Radio Shack on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia.

Brian Paul Griffen, 27, of South Pearl Street, Oakfield, is charged with burglary, 3rd, and grand larceny, 4th. Griffen was arrested in connection with an alleged incident reported at 11 p.m., June 7. No further details were released.

Jacob W. Johnson, 24, of 2609 School St., East Pembroke, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Johnson is accused of harassing a woman who is protected by a court order.

An Oakfield child molester who pled guilty to third-degree burglary last month was given a three- to six-year prison sentence this afternoon by Genesee County Court Judge Robert C. Noonan.

In addition, Steven A. Mullen will concurrently serve a sentence of one-and-a-third to four years for failing to register as a sex offender after moving to a new address.

He was given the maximum sentence possible under a plea agreement with the District Attorney's Office. (Although he's a two-time felon, the first-degree sex offense could not be considered for sentencing purposes with regard to the burglary charge.) No restitution or fine was included in the deal.

"Mr. Mullen has a brief criminal history -- only the child molestation conviction before now," said Assistant Public Defender William Harper. "He had a terrible upbringing. He was the victim of sex abuse from multiple offenders."

Harper noted that his client "somewhat understands" how his family history has impacted his judgement.

"He makes poor choices, he acknowleges making poor decisions and knows that his actions affect others," Harper said before asking for the minimum sentence allowable.

When the judge asked Mullen if he had anything to say to the court, the slightly built 25-year-old spoke only of the failure-to-register conviction.

"I knew better, on failure to register, I knew I had 10 days," Mullen said. "I'm only asking the court to be lenient for my family, not myself."

Noonan was not swayed, saying multiple crimes have been committed because of one man's poor choices.

"I can't see that anything else should be afforded you," Noonan said before making his ruling.

Several supporters sat in the gallery behind the defendant and one woman wept softly as the sentence was handed down.

In 2004, Mullen was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse and served two-and-a-half years in prison.

Mullen was arrested earlier this year after an alert neighbor on Weatherwax Road in Oakfield reported a burglary in progress. He has been in Genesee County Jail since his arrest Feb. 16 and subsequent conviction on third-degree burglary.

I made a picture of this barn two springs ago and a lot of people said they liked it at the time, but as I learned more about photography, I was unhappy with the picture -- it lacked some pop with the overcast sky. Last spring, as soon as the dandelions bloomed, I went back to try a retake, but I drove out to Judge Road in the late afternoon, so the shadows on the west side of the barn were too dark.  This morning, with the dandelions in bloom, I tried again.

Press release:

The Oakfield Fire Department will open its doors to area residents, so they can learn about what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter in their community as part of a statewide program called RecruitNY.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, the Oakfield Fire Department, located at 20 Albert St., will join in an initiative with volunteer fire departments all across the state at their respective firehouses for a unified recruitment drive, as part of National Volunteer Week.

Over the past several years, it has been very tough for many fire departments throughout New York State to recruit and retain volunteers for a variety of reasons. Like most volunteer fire departments, Oakfield needs to bolster its emergency responder numbers, so it can continue to provide the optimum level of protection for its residents.

Not only will RecruitNY be an opportunity to highlight the duties and rewards that come with being a volunteer firefighter, it will also raise public awarenesss about the need for volunteers. The hope is that a collaborative effort among volunteer fire departments statewide will turn the declining number of volunteer firefighters around.

"Come on out and join us for this unique recruitment day at our firehouse," said Oakfield Chief Sean Downing. "This is a great opportunity for our neighbors to observe the exciting tasks of a firefighters. Our current members love what they do; they are everyday heroes who help neighbors in need. We hope our recruitment day will inspire other area residents to join our fire service family."

Throughout the day, the Oakfield Fire Department will conduct tours of the station and firefighter apparatus, allow visitors to try on firefighter gear, and provide activities and stations throughout the firehouse for visitors. The fire department will discuss the requirements to be a volunteer, as well as conduct demonstrations, answer questions, and let visitors know how to get involved in the fire department.

Established in 2011, RecruitNY is a joint undertaking by the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY), the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC), Association of Fire Districts of New York State, Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York, and County Fire Coordinators Association of the State of New York.

Last year, fire departments in more than 50 counties across the state participated in the first RecruitNY weekend.

For fire departments that would like to sign up for RecruitNY, simply log onto http://recruitny.org/opendoors.php and fill out the participation form. The program provides fire departments with access to recruitment resources, communication tools, posters, banners, etc. via http://recruitny.org/resources.php to help a firehouse hold a recruitment open house.

For area residents looking for more information, or to find out if your fire department is participating in RecruitNY, visit www.recruitny.org or contact your local fire department via a non-emergency phone number or its website.