Oakfield

Michael C. Buzzell, 31, 26 Main St., Oakfield, is started with stalking and menacing following an incident outside the County Courthouse yesterday afternoon. Buzzell allegedly threatened another person in the parking lot of the court facility around 12:15 p.m. He and the other person were apparently appearing in court yesterday on the same matter. The alleged victim reports being threatened repeatedly by Buzzell. Buzzell was taken into custody at 4:42 p.m.

Lynn Desiree Bettilyon, 21, of 749 Washington St., Spencerport, is charged with attempt to evade or defeat tax and possession of untaxed cigarettes. Bettilyon was stopped for allegedly speeding in the Town of Alabama. She was allegedly traveling at 51 mph in a 40 mph zone. Deputy Tim Wescott investigated and allegedly found her in possession of 400 untaxed cigarettes. Bettilyon was also issued citations for unlicensed driving and driving left of pavement marking.

The word tragedy is loosely defined as “when bad things happen to good people.” The Fitzsimmons family lost all their possessions and their home in Oakfield on July 30. Luckily, Steve, Alicia and their two boys, Collin, 16, and Tyler, 11, escaped the blaze with their lives.

“When it was over, they literally had nothing but the clothes on their backs...the kids didn’t even have shoes on their feet,” said Tracine Lundmark, a friend of Alicia's.

Lundmark was at the scene the night of the fire and said: “We were all just glad that everyone was alright. I kept telling her that things can be replaced – it’s family that matters.”

The house on Maple Avenue was a point of pride for the Fitzsimmons – they had revamped every room in their home except one. Even the firefighters that night commented on their immaculate backyard, but Alicia was only concerned about her family. “We’re all ok," Tracine said her friend kept repeating, “We’re all ok.”

One of the only things that survived the flames is Alicia's MP3 player. She had just added all her favorite songs and put it in a drawer in the kitchen.

“It’s like God knew she needed some comfort to get her through all this, so he let her have her music," Tracine said with tears in her eyes.

Tragedy can strike at any time – even on a quiet evening at home. Alicia said she left the bathroom that evening to see a haze in the hallway. She thought the smoke from the grill had somehow gotten in the house, so she went to the bedroom to investigate. When she saw the fire, she yelled for Steve and they tried to put it out and called 911.

About 45 minutes into the blaze, Tracine said it was apparent that the house would be a total loss: “When they start knocking down walls and tearing things up with an overhaul… you know there won’t be a house left.”

For now, the Fitzsimmons family is staying with Alicia's mother in Bergen, but they’re looking for a temporary apartment in Oakfield. They don’t want to let this awful turn of events uproot them from their community, especially since Collin will be entering his senior year at Oakfield-Alabama Central School.

The community is working hard to help the family get back on their feet, too. Tracine and her daughter made “spare change buckets” to put throughout the town for people to “give what they can in this economy.” Buckets can be found in the local churches, Yellow Goose, Santino’s, Ally’s Cones and Dogs and the Oakfield Pharmacy.

When Tracine gave Alicia the first round of donations, she said Alicia got teary and asked quietly, “How can I possibly thank everyone?”

Alicia and her family are grateful for their lives, all the genorosity they've been shown, and for everyone's thoughts and prayers.  She says that Tracine has truly been an angel.  She also wants to thank Matt and Debbie Maritan, the Chase family, Mandy McAvoy, their neighbors, the Barnes (for the walmart gift card and the Nintendo DS for Tyler) and the Oakfield community.

She says:

"These are just a few of the people who have been so giving and willing to do as much as they can for us. We are eternally grateful to everyone who has helped us out. Complete strangers have been so kind and giving. It's amazing how this community and even people outside the community have been so selfless, and willing to do something for a family they don't even know. God bless them all." 

A house fire has been reported in Oakfield.

The initial call reported heavy smoke and sparks in the attic.

I don't have the address at this time.  A reader says it's: 10 Irving Parkway.

The fire is reported under control.

It's true, there is a house falling down in the Town of Oakfield and -- if all goes according to law -- it will only be a bad memory come Aug. 21.

Local authorities gave Thomas Capwell until then to tear down the delapidated house he owns on Fisher Road and he has agreed to do so.

His promise was made at Tuesday night's Town Council meeting after members had already voted on the matter.

Capwell arrived a half hour into the meeting. By then, the council had set the tear-down date and -- on a motion made by Councilman Michael Cianfrini seconded by Councilman Tim Kabel -- voted to have a town crew do the job at the owner's expense if the deadline is not met.

They also agreed to allow a maximum of 30 days to remove the debris.

Before voting, some council members expressed skepticism that Capwell would comply in a timely fashion. It's not like this is a new issue.

Oakfield code enforcer Tom Smith said the house was posted back in 2006 as "uninhabitable." But he also noted that it was built before some codes existed or were enforced.

According to Ritchie Kirkum Jr, the house has been in seriously bad repair for quite some time now.

"I fully intend to take it down and clean it up," Capwell told the Town Council, although he expressed concern about being given only 30 days to haul away the debris.

Oakfield-Alabama Central School has $6 million to spend on building repairs, new technology and safety measures for its students, thanks to an EXCEL grant they got four years ago.

“The best part is, there is literally no (additional cost) to the taxpayer…” said Christopher Todd, OA superintendent. “We will not go over our $6 million dollar cap – although we plan to get as close as we can.”

First, OA will spruce up the memorial site in the front of the building. A light will illuminate the flag and new greenery will make the site more eye-catching.

Part of the grant money has been dedicated to making the schools more energy efficient, so new heating/AC units were installed in the elementary school. The new units will also be cheaper to maintain if they happen to break or need repairs. “Here at OA, we like to make sure our kids are cool!” joked Todd.

Parents will have no reason to sweat this year when it comes to the safety of the students during school hours. New doors were installed in the lobbies of both the elementary and high schools – doors that will only open if visitors are approved and buzzed in. The offices in both schools have been remodeled to make this an easy process. (Below is the new elementary school office.)

The biggest changes that affect parents of OA students are the drop-off zones for each school. At the elementary drop-off, parents and their children won’t have to avoid the giant puddle of water that seemed to always form directly in front of the school. The drainage system will be repaired before the beginning of the school year. (When this picture was taken, it hadn't rained for about two days.)

 The drop-off system at the high school has been improved as well. Since the Department of Transportation mandated that the school move its main entrance, parents have the front of the building all to themselves. That includes the new three-lane roadway that extends across what used to be the school’s front lawn.

“It will be much easier for parents to make quick drop-offs, it will keep traffic off the main road, and they won’t have to interfere with the buses' drop-offs either,” explained Todd.

So where will the buses load and unload their students if they’re no longer at the front of the building? Well, it’s hard to see from the road, but behind the middle school there will be a new circle for buses only. There used to be a small administrative parking lot in that area.

“I told [fellow administrators] they couldn’t complain, because I’m losing my parking spot too!” laughed Todd, “I’ll be parking way out there!” he said gesturing toward the far end of the student parking lot.

Also, another roadway will stem from the new bus circle and head straight back for the football fields to a small handicapped parking lot. 

Athletes in OA will benefit from this grant too. The football fields will have new lights, the track will be resurfaced, and ball fields will get new clay and dirt skins called “baseball mix." Plus, a few machines in the fitness center are being leased – they’ll be easier to replace if they happen to break or need repairs.

Physical activity is important to elementary students too, so they’ll be getting a new playground behind the cafeteria. All the pieces have arrived, but the playground itself may not be finished before school begins. All other construction is scheduled to be finished by the time school starts next month.

A house fire was reported at about 7:40 p.m. in the Village of Oakfield. It's a one-alarm fire so far at 12 Maple Ave. with one unit now on location. No other information yet available.

UPDATE (7:05): A City of Batavia fire truck and an ambulance have been asked to stand by.

UPDATE (7:06): Reported that power to house has been cut off.

UPDATE (7:08): Upstairs of house has been declared all clear.

UPDATE (7:16): Firefighters working to get into the attic. The smoke in there is getting thick.

UPDATE (7:23) Flames out and smoke cleared.

UPDATE: (7:26) Salvage crew requested for mop up.

UPDATE (7:28): Throughout this operation, no injuries or occupants noted. There's a call out to get all names of family members.

UPDATE Friday 8:10 a.m. (by Howard): The Sheriff's Office has released information on the fire. Investigators believe the cause of the fire was electrical.  The home owner Alicia Fitzsimmons placed the initial 9-1-1 call, reporting a fire in a bedroom.  When Oakfield firefighters arrived, they found flames coming out of the front door and front downstairs bedroom.  Fire departments from Alabama, Elba, East Pembroke and the town and city of Batavia assisted. The fire was investigated by Deputy Tim Wescott and Deputy Patrick Reeves. The house is believed to be a total loss.

Allen S. Dockstader, 26, 380 Council House Road, Basom, is charged with felony DWI among other charges following an accident at 2:24 a.m. in which Dockstader was allegedly involved in a two-car hit-and-run accident on Gilmore Road in Pembroke. The driver who left the scene was identified as Dockstader, according to a Sheriff's Office report, and Deputy Jason E. Saile reportedly found Dockstader at his home following the accident in an alleged intoxicated state. Additional charges: DWI with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a property-damage accident, unregistered motor vehicle, operating without insurance, switched license plate and unsafe backing.

Michael E. George, 45, of 2383 Lewiston Road, Oakfield, is charged with DWI and leaving the scene of an accident. George allegedly struck a disabled vehicle that was partially in the roadway on Bloomingdale Road in Alabama. George was allegedly found at his home by Deputy Howard Carlson following the accident. Additional charges: Driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speed unreasonable/prudent, no left side mirror and refusal to take breath test. The incident allegedly took place at 9:28 p.m.

Compared to the spiffy new Main Street in Oakfield, Farnsworth Avenue is in pretty bad shape. There are uneven sidewalks, cracks in the road and sagging sewer grates.

Mayor Richard Pasteki said it's "deteriorated to the point where there's cracks, chunks and caved gutters..."

At last night's Oakfield Village Board meeting, it was agreed to begin construction on Farnsworth Ave on Aug. 15.

The board decided to go with D & H Excavating to carry out the project, not only because it found  $866,000 to be an agreeable price, ($160,000 less than the closest bidder above), but because it will be a "nice-sized project for a small company."

Construction on Farnsworth will connect directly to Main Street. The water lines will be redone, too.

 "I can't tell you how old those pipes are!" Mayor Pasteki said jokingly.

He's got high hopes for the town's very near future. Besides the Farnsworth project, the trustees voted to fix the town's water tower (yes, the one built in 1915!) and revamp the sewer system in a way that could save the town around $30,000 a year.

Also, Mayor Pasteki admitted to pulling weeds in Triangle Park this week.

Twenty-five-year-old Tonya Marie Weber is apparently having a tough week with local law enforcement.

Yesterday we reported that Weber was arrested for allegedly possessing stolen property -- a pit bull puppy. Now, we get a press release stating that she is in trouble for allegedly trespassing at the demolition derby Saturday night.

Weber, of 52 N. Pearl St., Oakfield, had been reportedly kicked out of the venue for allegedly fighting and later returned, which led to the trespass charge.

Here's our previous blotter item on Weber:

Tonya Marie Weber, 25, of 52 N. Pearl St., Oakfield, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property. Weber allegedly had a pit-bull puppy that belonged to another person. She then reportedly gave the puppy away, preventing the original owner from recovering the puppy.

UPDATE Tuesday, 10 a.m.: Make that three times this week for Weber. According to a Batavia PD report, Weber was arrested at 2:50 a.m. Sunday at Sport of Kings on a disorderly conduct charge. Weber was allegedly in the parking lot making loud noises and yelling profanities. She was reportedly warned that if she continued to yell profanities, she would be arrested. According to the report, she agreed to settle down. She then entered the restaurant and sat at a table. She again allegedly started yelling profanities. At that point, she was placed under arrest.

Joshua D. Quaintance, 21, of 31 Buffalo Road, Bergen, is charged with assault in the third degree. Quaintance and a 17-year-old companion are accused of striking another person in the head causing an injury during a July 18 incident on Richmond Avenue in Bergen. The incident was investigated by investigators Timothy Weis and Kris Kautz. Both defendants were released without bail.

Tonya Marie Weber, 25, of 52 N. Pearl St., Oakfield, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property. Weber allegedly had a pit-bull puppy that belonged to another person. She then reportedly gave the puppy away, preventing the original owner from recovering the puppy.

Cheri A. Himmerlreich, 45, of 111 Paddock Drive, Dewitt, is charged with DWI and with driving with a BAC of . 08 or greater. Himmerlreich was stopped for allegedly speeding on Route 98 in the Town of Batavia. Deputy Kevin R. McCarthy investigated and concluded that Himerlreich allegedly consumed alcohol prior to driving.

Bruce I. Fuller, 63, of 693 Sanford Road, Churchville, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property. Fuller was stopped by Batavia Police Officer T.S. Mart on Clinton Street after it was determined Fuller was driving a rental vehicle he allegedly failed to return when the rental term expired. He was remanded to Genesee County Jail on $3,000 bail.

Todd M. Kemp, 36, of 6 Lehigh Ave., Batavia, is charged with harassment. Kemp allegedly kicked and pushed a woman he knows yesterday evening. Kemp was remanded to Genesee County Jail on $750 bail. Batavia Police Officer W. C. Fenton investigated the incident.

Jacob S. Smart, 27, of 6437 Albion Road, Oakfield, is charged with DWI. Smart was spotted early Sunday morning by Sgt. Brian Frieday of the Sheriff's Office driving on Albion Road and allegedly crossing the double yellow line. Smart was also cited for failure to keep right.

Ronald Edward Johnson, 19, of 8081 Blackstreet Road, Le Roy, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Johnson was reportedly the passenger in a car that was stopped in the Village of Le Roy for tailgating. During the traffic stop Saturday at 12:16 p.m., Johnson was allegedly found in possession of cocaine. Deputy Brian Thompson was the arresting officer.

David John Reschke, 18, of 9741 Transit Road, Stafford, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Reschke was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for a traffic violation Saturday at 1:17 p.m.  Reschke was allegedly found in possession of marijuana by Deputy Brian Thompson.

Jacob William Paniski, 27, of 2306 Brewerton Road, Brewerton, is charged with petty larceny. Paniski is accused of shoplifting from the gift shop at Darien Lake Theme Park.

Sammantha Nicole Frear, 21, of 2306 Brewerton Road, Syracuse, is charged with harassment, Frear is accused of pushing a loss-prevention officer while at Darien Lake Theme Park.

Joshua J. Swimline, 26, of 1270 Main Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving with a suspended registration and unlawful possession of marijuana. Swimline was stopped Thursday morning on Route 77 in Pembroke by Deputy Patrick Reeves and Deputy Bradley Mazur for allegedly driving a car with a suspended registration. Upon further investigation, Reeves and Mazur allegedly found Swimline intoxicated.

Jeanna Marie Hattaway, 22, is charged with harassment. Hattaway allegedly pushed another person during a domestic dispute. The alleged incident took place yesterday at 12:49 p.m..

A teenager from Oakfield was arrested last night on a felony charge of burglary for allegedly breaking into the Yellow Goose store in town at about 2:16 a.m.

A 14-year-old companion was also taken into custody.

An anonymous caller tipped the Genesee County Sheriff's Office to the alleged crime in progress. When officers arrived on scene they allegedly found the two youths exiting the store.

The investigation is ongoing as to whether another young male was involved in the incident.

The investigation was conducted by Deputy Howard Carlson with assistance from Sgt. Brian Frieday, Deputy Kevin McCarthy, Deputy Ron Medes, Investigator Timothy Weis, Juvenile Officer John Dehm and members of the State Police. 

Michael Zachary Rebert, 18, of 7565 S. Pearl Street Road, Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief and unlawful possession of marijuana. Rebert is accused of being involved in a domestic dispute in which he destroyed property, including smashing a mailbox with a baseball bat. During the investigation, Sheriff's deputies alleged that they found marijuana in his residence.

A 17-year-old from Pembroke is charged with petty larceny. The youth is accused of stealing an X-Box wireless adaptor valued at $107 from Wal-Mart.

One of the main reasons for the recent success the Oakfield-Alabama football program has had is the work ethic coach John Dowd instilled in his players.

The weight room was a high priority.

Don't expect that to change as Dowd's replacement is an O-A grad that was known for his drive to be the best and time spent in the weight room during high school.

"I'm going to try my best to get the full potential out of these kids," said new coach Brian Palone, who graduated from Oakfield-Alabama in 1998. "I will work them hard and earn their respect, constantly telling them it's not about how big they are, but the amount of heart they put into it to get the job done."

Palone - who played football, basketball and baseball in high school - has some big shoes to fill and is ready for the challenge. Dowd led the Hornets to their first undefeated season since 1986 this past fall and the squad made the sectional finals, only to lose a great game against a powerhouse Le Roy squad.

He had a 50-12 record over the last six seasons and won a pair of sectional titles, all while stressing hard work and making the program one of the most respected in Section 5.

"There is a great tradition at Oakfield that I saw after graduating from there and seeing what (Dowd) did last year. He did a great job," Palone said. "I'm going to go in and try my best and see what happens. I told the guys that they need to give me 100 percent and I'll give them 100 percent and we'll do the best we can."

Palone will be returning to his alma matter as a first-time head coach.

He has been a teacher at Naples for the last six years and has been the varsity baseball coach for the last three seasons. But the school does not have a football program.

After playing all over the field in high school and as an outside linebacker for four seasons at Brockport, he was an assistant linebacker and wide receiver coach at Caledonia-Mumford for two seasons. He was on head coach Mike Monacelli's 2003 state title winning squad.

Palone then spent four years as a special teams coordinator and LB/RB coach at Wayland-Cohocton. While teaching at Naples, he gained more experience as a linebacker coach and assistant defensive coordinator with Marcus Whitman.

 "I've been wanting to get an opportunity to get back to Oakfield if a position ever opened," said Palone, who will also teach elementary physical education. "This is a dream come true to give back to the school that gave so much to me."

Dowd ran the Double Wing on offense and the Hornets simply wore teams down with size on the line, allowing multiple backs to go off at will. Palone expects to change things some, but will run a very similar offense.

"We are going to keep some of the same and blend in some other concepts this year," said Palone, who recently purchased a house in Farmington with his wife of seven months, Samantha. "I don't expect to change everything. I have lots of ideas, but some coaches make the mistake of going in and changing everything."

The driver of a 1996 Pontiac was injured Monday night in a single-car rollover accident on Route 63 near Galloway Road in Batavia.

C.J. Friesma, 24, of 27 S. Pearl St., Apt. 3, Oakfield, reportedly told Deputy C.A. Parker that he lost control of the car for reasons unknown. He was driving southbound on 63 when the car began a counter-clockwise rotation. The car traveled across the northbound lane and down an embankment, where it overturned.

Friesma reportedly suffered a shoulder injury and was transported to UMMC.

The Pontiac's owner, Nicole E. Friesma, of Oakfield, told Parker that she called Friesma about 11:15 p.m. to pick her up from work, and he was asleep.

The accident occurred about 11:25 p.m.

(Picture submitted by Chief Robert Hunt, Town of Batavia Fire Department)

Dr. Robert B. Diasio continues to make an everlasting footprint in the medical field. He has traveled all over the United States sharing his knowledge and passion in medicine and pharmacology. But his education started here in Genesee County where he graduated from Oakfield-Alabama as valedictorian in 1963.

Since then he has received recognition from colleges and major medical centers and was selected twice as "Best Doctor in America." And the recognition keeps on coming. On Oct. 3 at Oakfield-Alabama Middle School he will be one of four inductees attending the O-A High School Hall of Fame ceremony.

His passion may have come from his parents, Joseph and Clara Diasio, who were longtime physicians in Oakfield.

After high school he ventured on to receive his B.A. from the University of Rochester and an M.D. from Yale University School of Medicine in 1971.

Then he came back home to do internal training at Strong Memorial Hospital. He was a Fellow in Medical Oncology and in Clinical Pharmacology at the National Cancer Institute. For eight years he was a professor at the University of Alabama School of Medicine and was also the Newman H. Waters Chair and director of clinical pharmacology.

He has published more than 200 manuscripts, written reviews and has contributed chapters in several major medical textbooks.

He is the Director of the Mayo Clinic Center in Minnesota and holds the positions of William J. and Charles H. Mayo Endowed Professor as well as Consultant and Professor of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. His work at the center includes research on pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics as applied to cancer therapeutic agents. His lab is now beginning to expand into other cancer therapeutic agents and other neoplasms.

Check back tomorrow for a closer look into Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Kenneth Bradt.

Darlene Ann Kingdollar, 47, of 25 S. Pearl St., Oakfield is charged with petty larceny. Kingdollar allegedly stole $20 from the purse of Kingdollar's grandson's wife while at a picnic.

Justin Adelbert Lilly, 21, of 11403 Apt. 1 Sanderson Road, Medina, was arrested in Orleans County and turned over the the Genesee County Sheriff's Office on a warrant issued in Alabama. Lilly is charged with burglary and criminal mischief.

A teen-age girl from Lockport incarcerated in Genesee County Jail reportedly punched another inmate in the face causing an injury. She is charged with assault in the second degree.

Daryl Jenkins of Rochester today admitted to sending threatening text messages and photos to an Oakfield woman and plead guilty to stalking in the second degree.

Judge Robert Noonan did not allow Jenkins out of jail pending sentencing. He is being held on $10,000 bail or $20,000 bond.  Noonan said he took into consideration the report of Jenkins two convictions for contempt of court as well as the nature of the messages, which Noonan characterized as showing a disregard for the authority of the court.

"I've just read a series to text messages that flaunt the law more than anything I've ever seen," Noonan said.

Among the messages, Noonan said, were those that read "I'm above the law," which Noonan said Jenkins wrote several times.

Jenkins sent messages to the Oakfield woman threatening to kill her. In one e-mail message he included a picture of a gun and threatened to use it on her.

James Piersma, 49, of 7577 Townline Road, Bergen, is accused of stealing television cable service. He is charged with theft of service. Piersma allegedly stole the service between April 21 and June 24. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Joshua Bratcher, 19, of 88 Lake St., Le Roy, is charged with assault in the third degree. Bratcher allegedly fought a man from Alexander, hitting him in his face and fracturing his cheek bone. Bratcher was issued an appearance ticket.

A 17-year-old from Bergen is accused of damaging the property of another person valued at more than $250. He is charged with criminal mischief. The youth was issued an appearance ticket.

A 16-year-old from Oakfield is charged with coercion and disorderly conduct. Allegedly, the youth was involved in a domestic dispute with his mother. He allegedly threw items inside the house, threatened his mother and prevented her from entering the house.