Oakfield

A caller reports there's a man lying on or near the roadway on Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road. Meanwhile another caller reports coming home on that same street and finding the front and back door had been opened and a pair of sneakers on the porch. The man lying down is believed to be sans shoes. Law enforcement is responding, and will no doubt be checking to see if the sneakers fit the man.

UPDATE 4:10 p.m.: "Where was the subject supposed to be laying?" asks an officer. The address given is 2847 (Batavia-Oakfield TL Road).

Youths are reportedly tipping picnic tables over at the Elroy D. Parkins Memorial Park on Drake Street in Oakfield. Sheriff's deputies are responding.

This weekend, once again, baseball teams from throughout the region are in Batavia for the 2013 Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation Tournament.

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Bruce Jeramie Brade, 32, of Stroh Road, Attica, is charged with identify theft, 3rd. Brade allegedly used the personal information of another person, including a credit card number, for personal benefit.

Llani Marie Gerrastzu, 18, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Gerrastzu was allegedly found in her home with marijuana at 6:35 a.m., Wednesday.

Shannon Ann Caton, 38, of Fisher Road, Oakfield, is charged with harassment. Caton was allegedly involved in a fight at her place of employment on April 2.

Eric A. Ion, 40, of Brant, is charged with criminal contempt. Ion is accused of violating a court order in Alexander at 4:14 p.m., May 14. Ion was arrested by State Police. No further details released.

Michelle G. Robb, 55, of Corfu, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs. Robb was stopped at 8:06 p.m., May 14, by State Police on Route 77, Pembroke. No further details released.

Richard A. Demmer, 20, of Oakfield, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Demmer was arrested by State Police related to an alleged incident reported at 5:20 p.m., May 14.

A possible structure fire is reported at 7475 S. Pearl Street Road in Oakfield. It is believed to stem from an electrical problem in the basement, which is showing some white smoke. Oakfield Fire Department is responding and mutual aid is requested from East Pembroke, Town of Batavia, and Alabama, which is called to fill in at Oakfield's hall. Everyone is out of the building.

UPDATE 6:42 p.m.: The electrical circuits have been shut off and Oakfield is waiting for National Grid to arrive. All mutual aid responders back in service.

From my drive to Alabama and back today, a tractor and silo off Route 77, Alabama, and below, a dead tree off Judge Road near Maltby.

You don't see these old iron plows used much any more, so when I saw Mike Gibson plowing a field off Lockport Road, East Oakfield, I stopped for a picture. Gibson said he plants about three acres of corn annually that he burns in his corn-fueled heater during the winter. It's a big cost savings, he said, over the $180-per-bag price for store-bought corn.

Our friend Sean Carroll from WHAM 13 was in Oakfield today to talk with Scott McKenzie, the 26-year-old accused of driving a lawn mower while intoxicated late at night. It's a good story by Sean.

Wires are arcing and smoking at 1966 Lewiston Road. A tree has fallen or is leaning on some wires. A secondary line is down and completely blocking the roadway. Alabama Fire Department is on scene. Alabama Fire Police are shutting down Lewiston Road between Knowlesville and Alleghany. Oakfield Fire Police are shutting down Lewiston at Lockport Road.

UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: Alabama commands says that only tractor-trailers will not be allowed through. Personal vehicles will be handled by fire police. Oakfield has opted to shut down Lewiston at Judge Road. A tree crew from the power company is at the scene.

UPDATE 5:08 p.m.: Roads are reopened. Alabama and Oakfield are back in service.

Scott Edwin Mckenzie, 26, of South Main Street, Oakfield, was reportedly driving a 2011 Troy-Bilt Lawn Mower on North Main Street, Oakfield, last night when he was stopped by a Sheriff's deputy and found to allegedly be under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Mckenzie was charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, DWI, unlawful possession of marijuana and failure to display slow moving vehicle emblem.

Deputy Joseph Corona stopped Mckenzie at 11:16 p.m. in the area of 107 Main St., Oakfield.

Genesee County Economic Development Center is trying to get initial permitting completed on a proposed expansion of the Upstate Med-Tech Center on R. Stephen Hawley Drive just in case a specific medical device technology company wants to lease the space.

Mark Masse, VP of operations for GCEDC, told the County Planning Board on Thursday that a contractor has a potential leasee and is in negotiations now. Getting certain regulatory hurdles cleared now would help the process.

"If they reach an agreement, the potential leasee is working on a tight time frame," Masse said.

Masse doesn't know yet how many new jobs could be created by the company.

"They haven't gone before the board yet for incentives from us," Masse said. "More information would be available at that point in time, if it gets to that point."

The planning board unanimously approved site plan review for proposed 60,000-square-foot facility.

The board also unanimously approved a site plan review for a proposed 60,000-square-foot cold storage facility at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.

Masse said GCEDC still owns the property the unnamed company is considering for the facility and sales negotiations are ongoing.

That company also has yet to come to the GCEDC board seeking incentives, so Masse doesn't know yet how many new jobs will be created by the facility.

In other board action:

• Did not approve variances for applicants to operate a gift and hobby shop on Knowlesville Road, Alabama, and a country store on Tesnow Road, Alabama. The board encouraged the applicants to seek a zoning change with the town rather than get a variance to existing zoning.
• Approved a special use permit for a home welding business at 7460 Alleghany Road, Alabama.
• Declared that a proposed boarding house at 316 E. Main St., Batavia, isn't subject to county planning review. Owner Terry Platt is looking to convert a single-family home into a 12-room boarding house.
• Approved subdivision and site plan review for 7,015-square-foot building to house a gun store, laser engraving business and indoor shooting range at 8240 Buffalo Road, Bergen.
• Approved site plan review to rebuild a fabrication business at 1606 Broadway Road, Darien.
• Approved, with modifications, a site plan review and area variance for a new Dollar General at 111 N. Main St., Oakfield.
• Approved a site plan review for conversion of a former restaurant and apartment complex at 6309 Clinton Street Road, Stafford, into a four two-bedroom apartment and a single one-bedroom apartment complex.

Sean M. Vickers is indicted by the Grand Jury and accused of a course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, a Class B felony. He is an adult accused of engaging in two or more acts of sexual conduct, which allegedly included at least one act of deviate sexual intercourse with a child less than 13 years old. The alleged incidents occurred between Nov. 2, 2001 and April 16, 2002.

Joseph E. Marr is indicted by the Grand Jury and accused of driving while intoxicated, as a misdemeanor, and for allegedly driving a motor vehicle on Dec. 14 on Route 5 and/or Keeney Road in Le Roy while under the influence of alcohol. In count two of the indictment, he is accused of having a BAC of .08 or more at the time of the alleged incident. In count three, he is accused of knowingly and unlawfully introducing dangerous contraband into a detention facility or, being a person in jail, knowingly and unlawfully made, obtained or possessed dangerous contraband. In count four, he is accused of driving while impaired by drugs, as a misdemeanor, for allegedly driving a 2001 GMC on Jan. 1 on Route 5 in the Town of Pembroke while impaired by drugs. In counts five and six, respectively, Marr is accused of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, Class D felonies, for allegedly possessing a "black large capacity ammunition feeding device" as well as another such device that was clear/gray, also on Jan. 1 in the Town of Pembroke.

Carrie A. Stewart is indicted by the Grand Jury and accused of tampering with evidence, a Class E felony, on Nov. 15 in the Town of Alexander. It is alleged that Stewart "believing that certain evidence was about to be produced or used in an official proceeding or a propective official proceeding and intending to prevent such production or use, suppressed it by any act of concealment, alteration or destruction, or by employing force, intimidation or deception against any person." This count stems from Stewart allegedly stealing merchandise from Dollar General and then when confronted by management, "threw the merchandise in the Tonawanda Creek where it was carried away by the current." In count two, the defendant is accused of petit larceny for allegedly stealing five pairs of underwear, a hat, socks, gloves, a wallet, and thermal underwear.

Shannon G. Cook is indicted by the Grand Jury and accused of driving while intoxicated, a Class E felony, for allegedly driving a 2002 Dodge pickup on Jan. 20 on Route 262 while under the influence of alcohol. In count two of the indictment, Cook is accused of having a BAC of .08 or greater at the time of the alleged incident.

Oakfield-Alabama's Salina Stymus connects for a home run during a tournament game in Nunda.

The Hornets advanced to the championship game, but dropped the match 7-0 to Keshequa.

Information and photos submited by Ron Welker.

A two-car accident with injuries and entrapment is reported at Judge and Alleghany roads. Alabama and Oakfield fire departments are responding. Mercy Flight #7 out of Buffalo is on in-air standby.

UPDATE 7:30 p.m.: There are believed to be two minor injuries. Mercy Flight is cancelled, but Mercy medics are continuing, non-emergency, and two rigs are requested. Extrication equipment is no longer needed. Traffic at Route 77 and Judge Road is blocked.

UPDATE 7:42 p.m.: The second Mercy rig is cancelled.

UPDATE 7:54 p.m.: Oakfield is returning to service. Mercy medics are transporting patients(s) to ECMC.

UPDATE 8:04 p.m.: Alabama is back in service.

UPDATE 8:09 p.m.: The roads are reopened.

Convicted burglary Benjamin William Muntz, 24, of Maltby Road, Oakfield, who allegedly failed to appear in County Court for a sentencing a year ago has been charged with bail jumping in the second degree.

When Muntz was sentenced on the burglary charge last week, the District Attorney's Office was undecided at that point on whether to charge Muntz with bail jumping.

Judge Robert C. Noonan was did not want to sentence Muntz on both of his felony convictions with the possibility of a bail jumping charge pending.

If convicted of bail jumping, Noonan will have the option, or not, of giving Muntz three consecutive prison terms -- for burglary, grand larceny and bail jumping.

Muntz was arrested in October in Fayetteville, Ark., where he served a short prison term on burglary-related charges. When he was released last week, he was immediately taken into custody by the Sheriff's Office and returned to Genesee County.

Muntz is scheduled to appear in court again June 4.

Wouldn't it be great to eat a juicy, sweet, fresh locally grown strawberry right about now?

You may think that's impossible, but thanks to Pudgie Riner, owner of Triple P Farms in Oakfield, starting Wednesday, you will be able to buy locally grown fresh strawberries at Harrington's Produce Stand at 5282 Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Always an innovator looking for new ideas, Riner found a picture online of a farmer in Denmark growing strawberries from hanging baskets in a hothouse and he realized he could do locally and get strawberries out to market weeks ahead of other local farmers.

"The concern is, if we say we've got fresh strawberries from New York, nobody going to believe us," Riner said. "These really are grown right here. They're not from Florida.They're not from California. They're grown right here in New York and the same varieties that are grown locally and people are used to eating from the ground, but these are grown in a basket."

The 5,000 plants are two years old and should produce 5,000 quarts of strawberries, Riner said.

Peak harvest will be within 10 days, which is a little earlier than Riner wanted, but he'll learn from this year's growing cycle and push it back a bit next year.

He partnered with Andy Harrington (left, above) to bring the strawberries to market because the Harrington family has such a good reputation for locally grown produce.

"I decided that knowing his business, he is the right guy to sell them," Riner said. "I could sell them in my own place, Pudgie's, but I don't have the reputation of being in the produce business, so that would be one more hurdle."

Harrington's on Clinton Street opens Wednesday. The family's Oakfield location, 7550 Lewiston Road, opens in June.

It was an easy decision to take on Pudgie's berries, Harrington said. It gives him more stock early in the spring and, "they're fresh and they taste great."

Previously: Pudgie puts the local into 'locally grown' produce and garden plants

One thing is certain, Benjamin W. Muntz is going to prison. For how long is an unanswered question after Judge Robert C. Noonan decided he needs to know whether the District Attorney's Office will indict Muntz on any new charges.

The DA is considering whether to charge Muntz with bail jumping.

More than a year ago, Muntz failed to appear for his sentencing on Class D felony convictions of burglary, 3rd, and grand larceny, 3rd.

The 24-year-old Oakfield resident is suspected of fleeing the state to avoid getting sentenced and while he was away he amassed a longer criminal record.

In October, he was arrested in Fayetteville, Ark., and charged with burglary, theft of property, breaking or entering and fraudulent use of a credit/debit card.

Muntz received a prison sentence in Arkansas and was released last week and turned over to the Sheriff's Office.

During his time away, Muntz was suspected of plotting with another man in Fayetteville to rob a farm in Genesee County. He is also reportedly wanted in Georgia for alleged crimes there.

With his failure to appear for sentencing March 27, 2012, Muntz appears to have blown a deal to receive concurrent sentences on the two felony convictions.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini said that even before he left the state, Muntz was suspected of violating the terms of his release under supervision by drinking and using drugs.

Muntz is married with two children.

"When you look at his pre-sentence investigation and read his mother's letter, you see that his offenses are fueled by abuse of drugs and his own greed," Cianfrini said. "He has repeatedly shown that he would rather go down the path of criminal activity rather than being responsible for his own family. He was only given a release under supervision because his wife was pregnant."

Defense Attorney Thomas Burns raised the issue of Muntz facing a possible charge of bail jumping, which could lead to a mandatory concurrent sentence with his other charges.

That possibility prohibited Burns, he said, from him discussing in court the circumstances of Muntz fleeing the state.

Noonan asked Cianfrini if the people intend to file such a charge, and Cianfrini said the matter is still under investigation and hasn't been decided.

The law would allow Noonan to consider "mitigating circumstances" and not impose consecutive sentences.

"It's hard to imagine under what set of facts exist that might be mitigating circumstances, but I don't want to prejudge the case," Noonan said. "He's going to state prison. It's just costing us money to house him here. I have an inkling I'll impose a sentence on one felony count today while we make a decision about what to do."

Noonan sentenced Muntz to three and a half to seven years in state prison on the burglary, 3rd, conviction and warned Muntz that he may yet face concurrent sentences on both the grand larceny conviction and the possible bail jumping charge, if convicted.

Muntz will appear in County Court again at 1:30 p.m., June 4, to learn the rest of his fate.

"You certainly don't know what it means to be a father," Noonan said. "The conduct you have engaged in over and over again, and the irresponsible behavior that is so evident not only in your PSI, but in your departure from the state, when you were told what would happen to you if you did, is astonishing. If you loved your children, you wouldn't have engaged in criminal conduct in the first place, but you certainly wouldn't have engaged in the conduct that sent you out of state."

A female found a ferret in her flower shop at 118 Drake St. in Oakfield and called the Emergency Dispatch Center asking for someone to come and catch it. She was told they have no equipment with which to fetch the ferret, but an animal control officer is responding.

UPDATE 11:43 a.m.: The officer on scene says "The ferret was reunited with his family -- a nearby neighbor."

Jamie R. Bachorski, 18, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, and Matthew J. Vandorn, 23, of Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, are charged with grand larceny, 4th. Bachorski and Vandorn are accused of stealing two small dirt bikes from a residence on Clipknock Road, Stafford, in early July. So far, only one of the missing bikes has been recovered.

Kenneth S. Lathrop Jr., 26, of 511 Ellicott St., Apt. A, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, and unlicensed operation. A person notified police that Lathrop was allegedly driving without a license. Officer Chad Richardson observed Lathrop allegedly driving a vehicle on Clinton Street and performed a traffic stop. Lathrop was jailed on $500 bail.

Conan T. A. Kennedy, 30, of 1 Spencer Court, Batavia, is charged with parking on city streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Kennedy turned himself in at Batavia HD on a warrant issued for improper parking after he allegedly failed to appear. Kennedy posted $50 bail and was released.

Nicholas K. Gray, 19, of 2 Olyn Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal nuisance. Gray was arrested during an investigation into an alleged underage drinking party after it was discovered there was a warrant for his arrest. He posted $100 bail and was released.

Robert J. Wheeler, 18, of 40 E. Buffalo St, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of alcohol under age 21. Wheeler was charged following a report of an alleged underage drinking party at 2 Olyn Ave., Batavia.

Michael Robert Sigi, 20, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Sigi is accused of driving with a 14-month-old infant in his lap.

Daniel Thomas Henning, 32, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Henning is accused of violating an order of protection by having a third party contact the protected person.

Al Davids, 44, of Bird Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and failure to keep right. Davids was stopped at 10 p.m., Saturday, on Byron Holley Road, Byron, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Michael John Korczak, 24, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding and failure to keep right. Korczak was stopped at 3:02 a.m., Sunday, on Sumner Road, Darien, by Deputy Joseph Corona. Korczak was allegedly driving 70 in a 55 mph zone.

Sondra Lynn Olcott, 38, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, following too close and unlawful possession of marijuana. Olcott was charged following a two-car motor vehicle accident at 1:37 a.m., Sunday, at Park Road and Lewiston Road, Town of Batavia.

Julie Anne Wallace, 39, of Ellicott Place, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Wallace, a former employee of Kmart, is accused of stealing $39.96 in merchandise while working at the store. She is accused of stealing makeup and costume jewelry between March 27 and April 22.

Ramel Joshua Askew, 19, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Askew was allegedly found in possession of marijuana while in his room by College Village security.

Michele L. Difalco, 22, of West Main Street, Batavia, and Melissa M. Morton, 27, of West Middlebury Road, Bethany, are charged with petit larceny. Morton is also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Both women are accused of shoplifting from Target. Morton was also allegedly in possession of pills containing a controlled substance.

Peter C. Ayala III, 29, and Jamie L. Ayala, 33, both of Wood Street, Batavia, are charged with petit larceny. They are accused of stealing $72 in merchandise from Kmart.

Clinton John Sundown, 18, of Skye Road, Basom, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Sundown was charged following an investigation into a property damage accident at 4:07 a.m., Saturday, on Bloomingdale Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Sundown allegedly possessed individually packaged bags of marijuana. Additional charges are possible.

Ted Eugene Kingsley, 40, of Warsaw Road, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. Kingsley is accused of entering an unlocked vehicle on Pratt Road, Batavia, on March 28 and stealing $600 cash from a purse.