Oakfield

Heavy smoke is reported coming from a dryer at a laundromat at 34 South Pearl Street Road in Oakfield.

Oakfield Fire Department is responding.

A Batavia man who allegedly attempted to rob the Oakfield Pharmacy today didn't get very far.

The pharmacist and another employee took a chance that the man didn't have a weapon and wrestled him to the floor, pinning him there until State Police arrived.

Cain A. Catino, 39, of Seven Springs Road, allegedly entered the shop at 12:30 p.m., went behind the counter and demanded hydrocodone.

An employee in the back of the store immediately called 9-1-1.

While law enforcement was in route, Catino was reportedly subdued by the pharmacy's owner. Catino had left his car in the parking lot with the engine running.

An ambulance was requested to the scene to check on an employee, and the employee was treated at the scene, but not taken to a hospital.

It's not believed that Catino had any accomplices, and though he reached in his pocket like he might have a weapon, he did not display one.

The State Police are handling the investigation. The Genesee County Sheriff's Office also responded to the scene as well as the Oakfield Volunteer Fire Department ambulance.

The case is still under investigation and no more information is available at this time.

(initial report)

A robbery is reported to be in progress at the Oakfield Pharmacy on Main Street in the Village of Oakfield.

The subject is reported to be a white male with blond hair. The Town Clerk is asked to be watchful as she has a camera in her office across the street to take pictures of the scene.

Two people are holding the suspect down on the floor inside the pharmacy.

UPDATE (12:50 p.m.): Two pharmacy workers subdued the suspect and Sheriff's deputies now have him in custody. No injuries are reported.

UPDATE (12:59 p.m.): The suspect is a parolee. A medic is requested to the scene because someone was said to be assaulted in the incident.

UPDATE (1:13 p.m.): The assault victim is said to have refused medical aid.

Mike Pratt and the Fighting Irish dominated the Oakfield-Alabama Hornets from Notre Dame's opening drive, when Pratt carried the ball on each snap resulting in a touchdown.

In all, Pratt had 234 yards on 18 carries and scored three times.

Notre Dame won 36-0 in the Saturday afternoon match-up.

It was also a big game for Nick Taylor, who had 16 carries for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

In all, Notre Dame rushed for 433 yards on 50 attempts.

On defense, Taylor also had six tackles.

The Hornets drop to 0-3 and Notre Dame moves to 2-1.

In other Genesee County football action Friday and Saturday:

Alexander (0-3) fell to Barker (1-2), 20-17. Jared Quinn threw two touchdown passes to John Winiecki for Alexander.

Pembroke (3-0) defeated Elba/Byron-Bergen (2-1) 6-3. For Pembroke, Caine Cole had 155 yards on 32 attempts, while Dylan Bordonaro had 85 yards on 13 rushes for Elba/Byron-Bergen.

After two shutout wins to open the season, Holley (2-1) lost to Attica (2-1), 26-23. For Attica, Brad Clark rushed for 247 yards on 32 carries. He scored twice, including the winning touchdown. 

Le Roy (2-1) dominated Perry (1-2), 56-20. Tommy McQuillen rushed for 186 yards on 10 touches and scored four touchdowns. Defensively, Brad Morgan forced a fumble and had nine tackles. Austin Steinbrenner added six tackles to go with two interceptions.

In a Saturday night game at Van Detta Stadium, the Batavia Blue Devils were 0-3 after losing to St. Mary's (2-1), 21-14.

More pictures from OA at ND after the jump:

Kelly Jo Spenton, 37, of 6047 Transit Road, New York, is charged with petit larceny. Spenton is accused of stealing the contents of another person's mail. The alleged offense occurred at 39 S. Pearl St., Apt. 1, Oakfield on Aug. 24.

Zachary Ryan Morath, 19, of Summerfield Drive, Lancaster, is charged with DWI and failure to keep right. Morath was charged following a car accident on Route 5 in Darien at 7:40 a.m., Saturday. The investigation was handled by Deputy Jason Saile.

Larry S. Yoho, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd, harassment, 2nd, and aggravated harassment, 2nd. Yoho was arrested by State Police for an alleged incident at 10 Maple St., Batavia, at 9:23 p.m., Sept. 6. Yoho was jailed, but the bail amount -- if any -- was not provided. No further details available.

Valerie S. Wells, 44, of Medina, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and moving from lane unsafely. Wells was stopped by State Police on Park Road, Batavia, at 5:35 p.m., Thursday.

Paula J. Legg, 43, of South Pearl Street, Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny and endangering the welfare of a child. Legg is accused of stealing mail in the presence of a child.

Robert P. Leiser, 41, of Lockport Road, Oakfield, is charged with trespass, criminal possession of marijuana, 4th, and unlawful possession of marijuana. State Police and Sheriff's deputies came into contact with Leiser on Lockport Road, Oakfield, when responding to a report of a fight at 10:54 a.m. There was reportedly a warrant for his arrest on a trespass charge as well as a warrant out of Monroe County on the marijuana charges. No charged were filed in connection with the fight call.

Donna Marie Kowsky, 35, of Byron Holley Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and following too closely. Kowsky was charged after reportedly being involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 7:58 p.m., Tuesday, in the area of 6112 Byron-Holly Road, Byron. Kowsky was allegedly tailgating.

Gregory Allen Jones, 31, of Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt. Jones is accused of contacting a person he was barred from contacting by court order.

Brandon M. Weig, 22, of Batavia, is charged with menacing, 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. State Police responded to an unspecified incident at 3:34 p.m., Monday, and arrested Weig. No further details were released.

Michael L. Jackson was clearly relieved to receive concurrent sentences on multiple felony convictions in Genesee County Court this morning.

After Judge Robert C. Noonan announced that Jackson's two-year prison term on a drug-dealing charge could be served while he's also in prison for breaking into and trashing the offices of Holland High Lift in Bethany, Jackson gave a little thumbs up and turned to his family sitting behind him and smiled.

Dressed in Genesee County Jail orange and with his wrists cuffed, Jackson was clearly anxious about his fate during the morning hearing, up until the point the second sentence was pronounced.

The former Oakfield resident, who's home was destroyed in a fire two years ago, entered a guilty plea to charges of burglary, 3rd, two counts of grand larceny, criminal mischief, 4th, and witness tampering, 4th.

Noonan noted that Jackson clearly recognized he had no defense to the charges when he entered his unconditional plea the day his trial was supposed to start.

He sentenced Jackson to two-and-a-third to seven years in state prison on the burglary and larceny charges and one year concurrent on the witness tampering charge.

After Jackson's June 10 guilty plea, the Batavia resident was caught selling prescription drugs to an undercover agent. Last week, Jackson entered a guilty plea to a charge of criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Jackson obtained no sentencing cap or a promise of concurrent sentences with either guilty plea.

Attorney Gary Horton said Jackson stayed out of trouble from 2003 until 2009, when he lost his home and seemed to go into a tailspin. He said Jackson was so drunk the night in broke into Holland High Lift that he had a blackout and remembers nothing about it.

When asked by Noonan if he wanted to make a statement before sentencing, Jackson said, "Sir, I don't really remember that night. If I did, I should not have done it. Other than that, I'm sorry."

Most of Holland High Lift's losses were covered by insurance, but there was a deductible and a damaged motorcycle that was not covered. Jackson was ordered to pay $2,500 in restitution.

Law enforcement has been dispatched to Galloway Road near Macomber Road, Oakfield, for a report of a longhorn cow or steer (unknown which) laying in the road.

The dispatcher said there were previous calls about a longhorn loose in the area, but now it's apparently laying in the roadway.

UPDATE: The owner was able to retrieve the animal.

A tractor-trailer reportedly hit a utility pole at 108 N. Main St. in Oakfield and kept going.

The power line is not down completely, but it's lower in the roadway, according to a deputy who responded.

The original caller was trying to catch up with the truck and alert the driver to the accident.

Oakfield Fire is being dispatched.

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There was no annual Labor Daze in Oakfield this year, but that didn't stop the community from coming together for a Labor Day picnic in the community park. It featured live music, food, games, crafts and lots of neighborly chatter.

More pictures after the jump:

Law enforcement is in route to the village of Oakfield where reportedly a large group of youths have gathered and may start fighting.

"There's just pushing and shoving right now," according to dispatch.

The group has gathered at Weber and Main.

UPDATE 5:57 p.m.: The group was breaking up just as deputies arrived. A deputy is talking with at least one of the subjects.

UPDATE 6:15 p.m.: All units back in service. No arrests.

Oakfield attorney Raymond Cianfrini will be honored on “Italian-American Night” Aug. 27 at Batavia Downs Casino. The lifelong Genesee County resident is well known as a civic leader and volunteer.

He will add the award “Batavia Downs Casino 2010 Italian-American of the Year” to his list of honors at ceremonies inside the winner’s circle at the Genesee County harness track.

After graduating from Oakfield-Alabama Central School, Cianfrini attended the State University of New York at Albany for his undergraduate studies. He received his doctorate in jurisprudence from the UB School of Law.

He has been a practicing attorney in the Village of Oakfield for 38 years and served as Genesee's assistant county attorney from 1972 to 1974 and its assistant district attorney from 1974 to 1976. Cianfrini also served for two years as an associate professor of Criminal Justice at Genesee Community College and as recording judge for the NYS Racing and Wagering Board at Batavia Downs.

The active 64-year-old currently represents Oakfield and Alabama (District 1) on the Genesee County Legislature after having served as Mayor of Oakfield from 2000 to 2007.

Cianfrini and his wife, Karen, a registered nurse at United Memorial Medical Center, have been married for 37 years.

They have three children and four grandchildren. Son Michael is a partner with him in the Cianfrini Law Firm at 31 Main St. in Oakfield. Daughter Christy Cianfrini Connor is an epidemiologist in San Diego. Another son, Steve, is a helicopter pilot serving with the Army in Afghanistan.

Raymond Cianfrini was the 2007 recipient of the coveted Paolo Busti Cultural Foundation Award of Excellence as Outstanding Italian-American and was a charter inductee into the Oakfield-Alabama Central School Hall of Fame in 2004.

He is also a photographer who worked for the Buffalo Bills from 1988-94, which included the team’s four visits to the NFL Super Bowl.

Anyone wishing to make reservations to attend the Aug. 27 festivities may contact Arna Tygart at (585) 343-3750, ext 437. A special Italian buffet will be served and live music will be featured with The Formula Band.

The young deaths in Oakfield will not be forgotten thanks to Shanda Mabon and the Jarvella family that has worked to team up with TopLine Shirt Company to bring memorial merchandise to friends family and the Genesee County community.

Shanda Mabon, whose sister Amanda Mabon was killed in a car accident about three years ago, organized the ordering of wristbands for Josh Durham, Matt Ware and Allyson Galens. The purple wristbands will say "Live, Laugh, Love" and will have hearts as well as each of the three names.

The Jarvella family, friends of Justin Dickes, contacted TopLine to have shirts made up for his family.

"The proceeds will go to his father to help him cover his (funeral) costs," says Angela Jarvella. The shirts will have his initials "JD" and a cross on the front as well as his name and a guitar, which was one of his passions, on the back.

"It's something we really wanted to help with," says Tim Walton, owner of TopLine. "This has been a tragedy for the families and community and we are glad we could help in whatever way we can at this time"

Mabon has already sold over 200 wristbands and is waiting for another order to come in within the next two weeks. The shirts can be pre-ordered this week by contacting a member of the Jarvella family or TopLine at 585-219-4311. Both the bands and shirts will be available for purchase inside TopLine Shirt Company at 214 E. Main St. in Batavia.

The bands are available for $2 and the shirts are available for $10. Proceeds from the sales benefit the families of the crash victims.

Mabon also has other ideas she is planning to benefit the families. If anyone is interested in helping her with any events you can contact her at shandamabon@hotmail.com.

It's another sad day in Oakfield. Twenty-one-year-old Justin M. Dickes was killed in a motorcycle accident as he left the funeral for Joshua Durham, who was one of three killed this past weekend in a car accident. Durham was killed along with friend Matthew Ware, 22, of Oakfield and his girlfriend Allyson Galens, 20, of Stanley.

It is believed that Dickes was trying to pass a van, that was turning into a driveway, when he hit the side of it and was ejected from the motorcycle. The accident was witnessed by Dickes' brother and other friends that were also leaving the funeral.

Dickes was taken to UMMC where he was then pronounced dead. When the accident originally occured, Mercy Flight was dispatched to the accident but was not used.

The van, owned by Ben's Appliance, was driven by 47-year-old Edward Shultz of Elba. He was not injured in the accident.

Above photo from Dickes' Facebook page.

A former Oakfield resident who is a person of interest in a local unsolved murder reportedly told a cellmate in a Pennsylvania jail that he killed a couple there for money.

Stephen Patrict Rebert, 45, will stand trial for the double homicide of Victoria and James Shugar, both 61, of Jefferson County, following a preliminary hearing in which District Judge David Inzana said the prosecution presented sufficient evidence to try Rebert.

District Attorney Jeffrey Burkett presented a signed statement at the end of the hearing from Rebert's cellmate saying Rebert was motivated by his desire to steal rare coins and currancy, according to the Punxsutawney Spirit.

Rebert was arrested in Genesee County on June 3 and turned over to Pennsylvannia law enforcement. Investigators there say they found evidence on Rebert's computer tying him to the 2005 murder of Bill Fickel in Oakfield as well as the unsolved murder of Kevin Smith in Orleans County.

Photo courtesy of the Punxsutawney Spirit.

While investigators continue to suspect that alcohol may have been a factor in the one-car crash in Oakfield early Saturday morning that claimed the lives of three young people, it appears speed may have been a factor, as well.

Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble said Monday that crash investigator Deputy John Duyssen believes the initial indications are that the speed of the vehicle was too great for the driver to negotiate the curve at the accident scene, resulting in the crash.

The car rotated clockwise when its tires hit the shoulder. The drivers side hit the utility pole by the side of the road and it rolled over on its roof. A passenger in the back seat was ejected from the vehicle, according to Dibble.

Matthew Ware, 22, Joshua Durham, 21 and Allyson Galens, 20, were killed in the crash.

The group had been at the Elba Onion Festival earlier in the evening, but Dibble said investigators have yet to determine what time they left.

It's not yet known where they might have gone -- if any place -- after leaving the festival.

There were empty beer bottles at the scene of the crash, but investigators do not know if they are in any way related to the crash.

"We are still looking into that and will know more when the medical examiner's office completes its investigation," Dibble said.