Pavilion

A Special Weather Statement was issued a few minutes ago by the National Weather Service stating: "An area of strong thunderstorms will bring torrential rains to Northern Wyoming and Southern Genesee counties. 

"Strong thunderstorms were clustered near Attica, or eight miles south of Batavia, moving east at 15 mph.

"These storms will bring very heavy rainfall to Attica and nearby locations with more than an inch of rain possible in an hour or less. Locations impacted include... Darien Lakes State Park, Le Roy, Bennington, Attica, Pavilion, Stafford, Covington, Alexander, Wyoming and East Bethany. This includes Interstate 90 near exit 47. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways."

These conditions are expected until 2 p.m.

Two people were injured this morning after the vehicle they were in allegedly failed to yield to a dump truck on Route 20 in Pavilion.

Injured were driver Lynnette Duckworth, 48, of Callan Road, Le Roy, and George Duckworth, 35. Both were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital.

The accident was reported at 9:52 a.m.

According to an accident report prepared by Deputy Joe Loftus, Lynette was driving south in a 2016 Toyota SUV on South Street Road when she failed to yield to an eastbound dump truck driven by Caitlin Morsch, 28, of Avon.

An accident is reported in the area of 9683 Route 19, Pavilion.

A person is injured and may be having a medical emergency.

The vehicle hit a pole. The pole is not down. It is broken. National Grid being notified.

There had been a prior complaint about an erratic driver in the area.

The location is just south of the Le Roy Town Line.

Pavilion fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Rachel Ann Baehr, 30, of Linwood Road, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, moving from lane unsafely, and speed not reasonable and prudent. Baehr's vehicle reportedly struck a utility pole on Main Street, Alexander, at 5:42 a.m. Tuesday. When deputies arrived on the scene, there was smoke coming from the vehicle and the pole was broken. Baehr was located walking around the vehicle. She was arrested following a field sobriety test. (Initial Report).

Tara Lynn Thurley, 38, of Bethany Center Road, Bethany, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd, and falsifying business records, 1st. Thurley is accused of stealing money from her employer in Pavilion and making false entries into business records of the company in an effort to conceal the theft. She was arraigned and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

The fifth annual Pavilion Day will be held starting at 10 a.m. on June 24 at the Henry B. Wright Park, featuring live music, vendors and a magician.

Cindy Starr, the town clerk, brought Pavilion Day back in 2013. Before then, it had been more than 20 years since it was last held.

This year, the Pavilion High School Band will play at 10 a.m. with Mike Seege, a magician from Cheektowaga, performing at 11:30.

Starr said she is looking for bakers for a dessert contest. If anyone is interested, contact her at 584-3850.

Press release:

"What is the biggest challenge you face in your business?" is a question often asked by the Agri-Business Academy students during tours of local agriculture businesses. The answer is almost always the same. "Labor."

The challenge of finding dependable, hardworking individuals for stable, well-paying careers in agriculture has been a constant battle for agriculturalists for years. As the instructor of the Agri-Business Academy, I've spoken with local agribusiness people from more than 100 local agribusinesses and the need for good employees is a common thread.

The common misconception is that these are not careers, but physically demanding jobs that do not require a college degree and involve a way of life that many would not willingly choose. Today, agribusinesses are usually seeking applicants with college degrees, technology and management experience, and business and communication skills. What is most important is that the compensation aligns with these requirements. In addition, the benefits and satisfaction that comes from working in the agriculture industry is unlike any other.

Agriculture continues to be the number one industry in Genesee County and the driving force of the local economy. When students of the Agri-Business Academy toured Torrey Farms, among the largest agribusinesses in New York state, they heard Maureen Torrey Marshall explain that Torrey Farms does not simply employ a few people in the surrounding community.

She described the multiplier effect, which means that other businesses, such as trucking companies, mechanic shops, equipment dealerships, transportation hubs, technology, fuel and fertilizer suppliers, and many others are all part of the agribusiness economy. Most people do not recognize the many different aspects of agriculture and the need for individuals with a broad array of interests and expertise. Animal and plant systems, food products and processing, agricultural mechanics, precision agriculture, agribusiness networks, international trade, environmental and conservation systems, and energy use are just a few of the trades under umbrella of agriculture.

To ensure that the agriculture community has the employees they need to thrive, and to continue to be the bedrock of our community the Agri-Business Academy is again seeking high school seniors to learn about careers in all aspects of agriculture. The Agri-Business Academy is a one-year partnership program between the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership and Genesee Community College.

Through this program, the students earn 15 college credits through the ACE program at Genesee Community College. They spend half the school day in the Agri-Business Academy enrolled in the following five college courses: Western New York Agriculture, Career and Educational Planning, Principles of Business, Principles of Biology and Public Speaking.

Throughout the year students tour area agribusinesses to learn and experience these businesses, job shadow professional producers and at the end of the year each student participates in a two-week internship. This year's Agri-business Academy students are working at their internships experiencing many different aspects of agribusiness -- from robotic and organic dairies to maple syrup and crop management and much more.

The following locations throughout Western New York are currently sponsoring student internships: DeLaval Dairy Services in Corfu, WBB Farm in Alden, Beaver Meadows Audubon Center in North Java, Merle Maple Farm in Attica, Cottonwood Farms in Pavilion, Cornell Cooperative Extension in Wyoming County, Schierberdale Holsteins, Perry and WNY Crop Management in Warsaw.

If you know of a current junior or underclassman who is interested in business or agriculture, or is unsure of a career path, please encourage them to apply for the Agri-Business Academy at the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. Through the Agri-Business Academy, students explore the plethora of wonderful careers available to them -- locally, internationally or often it is a dynamic blend of both.

Whether they like working inside or outside, with their hands or crunching numbers, handling heavy equipment or studying the nuances of soil (agronomy), tending to livestock or discovering how technology can help feed the world-the "Ag Academy" is a career starter.

Jack Klapper, an Agri-Business Academy graduate and Cornell University assistant men's basketball coach, said, "I would recommend this academy to anyone, whether they are pursuing a career in agriculture or not. The life skills I developed in this program are some of the best skills I have ever learned."

Applications are available at http://www.genesee.edu/home/ace/career-pathways/agri-business-academy/.

The first 20 students to submit their application will receive a free Genesee Community College flash drive wristband.

Questions? Please do not hesitate to contact me at 585-344-7783 or kirchardson3@gvboces.org. Check out the Agri-Business Academy on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Agri-Business-Academy-680673051998953/

Top photo: Agri-business Academy student Cherie Glosser of Warsaw High School with calf at Post Dairy Farms.

Agri-Business Academy students at Torrey Farms, in Elba.

Agri-Business Academy students at Porter Farms in Elba.

Agri-Business Academy students at SJ Starowitz Farm, in Byron.

James L. Ozzello, 29, of Kathryns Way, Livonia, is charged with: pedestrian failed to yield right of way to a vehicle; pedestrian proceeded into the path of a vehicle; disorderly conduct; and resisting arrest. The alleged incident was reported at 2 a.m. Saturday on West Main Street, Batavia. Ozzello was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Geoffrey M. Anderson, 51, no permanent address, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear. He was jailed without bail.

Bonnie Mae Marrocco, 47, of Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. During an argument, Marrocco allegedly damaged property of another person with a value of more than $250.

Rebecca A. Edwards, 23, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Edwards was arrested on a warrant and jailed on $500 bail.

Wendy Lee Henry, 32, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with obstruction of governmental administration. Henry allegedly interfered with a medical situation at 4:08 a.m. Friday at a residence on Central Avenue.

Christopher S. Usselman, 25, of Hamilton Street, Albion, is charged with criminal impersonation, 2nd, two counts of aggravated unauthorized operation, 2nd, open alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Usselman was stopped at 1:49 a.m. Friday on West Main Street, Batavia, for an alleged traffic violation by Officer Mitchell Cowen. Usselman allegedly initially gave the officer the name of another person for his identity. Further investigation allegedly led to the discovery of an open container of an alcoholic beverage in the vehicle, marijuana and a revoked driver's license.

Bleyke Z. Culver, 20, of Willow Street, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct, trespass, and criminal mischief, 3rd. Batavia PD responded to a residence on Maple Street at 8:02 p.m. Friday for a report of a disturbance involving several people. Police were able to separate the parties and after an investigation, Culver was arrested. Culver was jailed (bail status not included in press release). Also arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, Laqueasha M. Taylor, 23, of Bank Street, Batavia.

Bryan S. Harris, 35, of Stratford Road, Buffalo, was arrested on a warrant stemming from an incident reported at 9 a.m., Feb. 23, 2015. No further details released.

Sandra Ann Muhs, 50, of South Street Road, Pavilion, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, failure to keep right, and unsafe tires. Muhs was arrested by Deputy Mathew Clor following the report of a motor-vehicle accident, no injuries, at 5:56 a.m. Tuesday in the area of 9778 South Street Road, Pavilion.

Corey B. Rieser, 29, of Darien Center, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, insecure license plate, and visibility distorted by broken glass. Rieser was stopped in the Town of Sheldon by Sgt. Colin Reagan, Wyoming County Sheriff's Office, for alleged traffic violations. He was jailed on $500 bail or $2,500 bond.

Within a two-hour period, three serious injury accidents in Genesee County, in Alexander, Oakfield and Pavilion.  

At this point, there is no additional information about these accidents beyond what is in our initial posts (links below).

Alexander:

Three people were injured, including one who needed to be airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight, when a car veered off Dodgeson Road and landed on its roof in a creek in a deep ravine. A state trooper at the scene said the cause of the accident had not been determined at that time. This accident was reported at about 5:40 p.m. (Initial post)

Oakfield:

One person was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC following a single-car accident on Maltby Road, Oakfield. The Sheriff's Crash Management Team responded to this accident to conduct the investigation. The car appears to have veered off the road, struck and tree and spun back into the roadway. This accident was reported just before 6 p.m. (Initial post)

Pavilion:

In Pavilion, a car that was northbound on Perry Road apparently failed to see a stop sign crossing Route 20 and drove into the rear wheel of a tractor-trailer. The car spun around and came to rest pointing south on the north side of Route 20. Two people were transported by ground ambulance to Strong. The truck driver continued south for more than a quarter mile, dragging a wheel broken off its axel, while he tried to maintain control and bring the vehicle to a safe stop on the shoulder of the road. This accident was reported just before 7 p.m. (Initial post)

A head-on collision -- semi-truck vs. car -- is reported at Perry Road and Route 20, Pavilion. Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding along with law enforcement. Traffic control will be needed.

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: Mercy Flight is requested.

UPDATE 7:06 p.m.: A landing zone will need to be set up.

UPDATE 7:28 p.m.: An entrapped victim has been extricated.

UPDATE 7:45 p.m.: Mercy Flight was cancelled. Two victims, both in a passenger vehicle, were taken by ground ambulances to Strong Memorial Hospital. The accident occured, according to an officer at the scene, when a westbound tractor-trailer on Route 20 was struck by a car that was northbound on Perry Road. The car's driver said she didn't see the stop sign; her vehicle clipped the rear wheel of the semi-truck, causing the car to spin around. It came to rest pointing south on the north side of Route 20. The semi-truck's rear wheel was bent and torn from its axel, yet the truck's driver managed to continue traveling uphill for a quarter mile until he could stop it at a safe location, according to a deputy.

UPDATE 8:43 p.m.: The truck has been cleared. Route 20 reopening. 

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Perry Road and Big Tree Road, Pavilion.

Pavilion fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

David L. Handley Jr. is indicted for the crime of third-degree burglary, a Class D felony. On Feb. 12, it is alleged that the defendant entered a convenience store on Telephone Road in the Town of Pavilion with the intent to commit a crime. In count two, it is alleged that on the same day, Handley commited the same crime at a construction company on Route 237 in the Town of Stafford. In count three, Handley is accused of petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly stealing "a white trash can and tools" from the construction company in Stafford.

Tracy A. Hilton is indicted for the crime of first-degree criminal contempt, a Class E felony. On Feb. 18 in the Town of Alexander, the defendant allegedly violated a duly served order of protection to stay away from a certain person. In Special Information filed with the indictment, District Attorney Lawrence Friedman accuses Hilton of having been convicted of the same crime within the previous five years, on June 2, 2014.

Christopher R. Stowell is accused of the crime of aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Sept. 6 in the Town of Pavilion, that Stowell rode a 2006 Suzuki motorcycle in a westerly direction on Route 20 and did so while holding a conditional driver's license and also did so while under the influence of alcohol. In count two of the indictment, the defendant is accused of the offense of driving while ability impaired by alcohol, a violation. In count two, it is alleged that his ability to operate the Suzuki at the time was impaired by the consumption of alcohol. In count three, Stowell is accused of operating a motor vehicle in violation of the terms of a conditional driver's license. It is alleged that at the time he rode the motorcycle, he did so for a use other than authorized by the vehicle and traffic law section (1196-7(a)) of the conditional license. In count four, he is accused of second-degree assault for allegedly recklessly causing serious physical injury to another person by means of a dangerous instrument -- a motor vehicle, in this case, a motorcycle. Also, in Special Information filed by the District Attorney, Stowell is accused of having been convicted of driving while ability impaired by consumption of alcohol on Aug. 16 in the Village of Geneseo Court and that this conviction formed the basis of the conditional license referred to in counts one and three.

Jason E. Carpenter is indicted for the crime of second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony. It is alleged that on Feb. 26 on Liberty Street in the City of Batavia that Carpenter, with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, caused such injury to a person.

Willie A. Sabb Jr., AKA Willie A. Saab Jr., is accused of the crime of second-degree burglary, a Class C violent felony. It is alleged that on Jan. 29 the defendant knowingly entered or remained unlawfully in a dwelling on Lyon Street in the City of Batavia with intent to commit a crime. In count two of the indictment, he is accused of first-degree criminal contempt, a Class E felony. It is alleged in count two, that on Jan. 29, in violation of a duly served order of protection, he -- with intent to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm the protected party -- struck, shoved, kicked or otherwise subjected that person to physical contact, or he attempted or threatened to do so.

Elementary school students in Pavilion were entertained today by Jill Jayne, who travels the country using a face-based, rock-show format called Jump with Jill to teach kids about nutrition. The hour-long show is participatory and educational, with messages about taking care of "my body" and that fruit is sweet like candy, but gives you energy and is better for your body.

Stephen Everett Pike, 20, of Big Tree Road, Pavilion, is charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief. Pike is accused of driving recklessly in the parking lot of Pavilion High School at 11:30 p.m., March 11, causing his vehicle to strike the building, damaging it (previous report).

Tonya Marie Ficarella, 30, of Lovers Lane Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Ficarella is accused of stealing merchandise from Kohl's Department Store.

Robert John Leach, 56, of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs and inadequate plate lamp. Leach was stopped at 11:23 p.m. Saturday on Main Road, Stafford, by Deputy Ryan Delong.

Karyn Winters, a 2003 graduate of Pavilion High School, is the new director of the Business Education Alliance.

She replaced Beth Kemp, who is now director of the Business Improvement District.

Winters gave her first department review to the Human Services Committee of the County Legislature yesterday afternoon and shared some of the things she will be working on in the coming year.

Among the highlights: improving the process for students to apply and get involved in the job shadow program; an expanded agriculture summer camp; continued work with schools in Le Roy, Byron-Bergen, and Oakfield-Alabama, on a career agriculture program; a program in Le Roy and Byron-Bergen on adult life skills; and a program already in Elba and expanding to Alexander to assist students with developmental disabilities on job skills.

The summer ag camp, Winters said, probably won't change this year, because of the short time left until it starts, but she would like to expand it beyond a veterinary camp working with large animals, to include crops and tractor maintenaince as well as other ag-related skills.

"Agriculture is such a changing industry," she said, noting how technology is playing an ever bigger role in farm operations.

She said students today are much more attunded to what is available in the job market and are looking beyond just big dreams, such as, "I want to be a star in the NBA," but are more interested in making practical decisions. Part of her job, she said, is to help them explore career opportunities close to home, both what is available now and what is coming in the future.

Not all kids, she said, are looking to take the college path.

"There are students who love the hands-on experience with BOCES who are making great livings and they’re not digging themselves out of the hole of student loans," Winters said.

Winters was previously with Junior Achievement in Rochester and spent a year-and-a-half working in Wyoming County in prevention education.

She went to college to become a teacher and is education certified, but her career has taken her on the nonprofit route, which she said she's passionate about.

That passion, a passion for helping kids, and the fact that the BEA job was in her home county all attracted her to the position, she said.

"I often think there are a ton of resources for urban and suburban areas, but often times, rural communities kind of get forgotten," Winters said. "It’s nice to be able to provide summer camps and exposing kids who don’t normally get a ton of exposure to different careers. Here’s what’s available to you right in your back yard, so that’s a really nice thing."

Pavilion is hosting a community workshop to discuss its upcoming comprehensive plan this Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Town Hall.

The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee will lead a community discussion and present a look at the community's future during the workshop.

Light refreshments will be served.

Tyler Schiske, on the right with Chief Dewey Murrock, was named Pavilion's Firefighter of the Year, during the department's annual dinner at its Fire Hall on Saturday night.

The Pavilion Volunteer Fire Department's officers for 2017 are: Dewey Murrock, chief; John Weis, 1st assistant chief; Donald Roblee, 2nd assistant chief; Tyler Schiske, Paul Dougherty, Wayne Taylor, captains; Mike Wright and Chad Freeman, lieutenants; Doug Wright, fire police captain; Bill Kegler and Dick Park, safety officers; and Dougherty, Schiske and Taylor are training officers.

The social officers are: Nick Wright, president;Paul Dougherty, vice president; Bill Carrigan, treasurer; Kathy Wright, recording secretary; and Kelly Kraft, financial secretary.

An ensemble of young musicians and choral singers from Wyoming and Genesee counties will be performing at the All-County Music Festival, sponsored by the Genesee-Wyoming Music Educators’ Association Inc.

The first performance begins at 2 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium at Attica High School, Main Street, Attica. The second performance will be at 2 p.m. April 7 at Pavilion Central School, Big Tree Road, Pavilion.

Students from St. Joseph and Notre Dame, and Alexander, Attica, Batavia, Byron-Bergen, Elba, Le Roy, Oakfield-Alabama, Pavilion, Pembroke and Wyoming school districts compete for a chance to perform in this festival.

Performances include the Senior High Jazz Band Ensemble, the Elementary All-County Chorus, the Junior High All-County Band, and the Senior High All-County Chorus.