Pavilion

After the Genesee County Economic Development Center meeting yesterday evening, I had two choices: Go home and write some stories that I gathered information on during the day, or take advantage of a great spring day and drive around and take some pictures.

I chose pictures taking. I would have time, I reasoned, to write later in the evening.

Near the end of my loop through Le Roy, Pavilion, Bethany and Batavia, I stopped by a friend's house for a chat. Near the end of my visit, Billie called and told me about the teen in the gorge at Indian Falls.

So rather, than writing my stories last night and posting these pictures last night, I spent four hours on the Indian Falls story. 

Here's the photos from yesterday evening and those stories I need to write are coming.

The barn above is on Main Road in Stafford. Two more shots of it below.

Route 19, Town of Le Roy.

Cook Road and Route 20, Pavilion.

Transit Road and Ellicott Street Road, Bethany.

The Town of Pavilion has begun enforcement action against property owners that have for years been storing apparently broken down vehicles on their parcels.

At the beginning of the year the town entered into a shared services agreement with the Town of Batavia and Dan Lang is now code enforcement officer in Pavilion.

He said the first order of business was to go after the most obvious alleged code violations, and the properties at 11076 Lake Road and 11256 Perry Road certainly met that criteria.

In letters to Jacob Weber and Steven Weber, the town asserts they have 47 and 12 broken down vehicles on their properties, respectively.

The Webers appeared in town court Monday and asked for more time to work with an attorney on resolving the issue. They are scheduled back in court June 4.

The state's property maintenance code states:

Except as otherwise provided for in statute or other regulations, two or more inoperative or unlicensed motor vehicles shall not be parked, kept or stored on any premises, and no vehicle shall at any time be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled. Painting of vehicles is prohibited unless conducted inside an approved spray booth.

The town is demanding that the inoperative vehicles be removed from the property. The Webers, if the issue isn't resolved and they are convicted, could be fined $350 or spend six months in jail for each code violation.

Lang said he won't be looking for every little code violation in Pavilion, but property owners with obvious code violations will be contacted and he will also respond to complaints from residents.

The photo of the Perry Road location was taken in October.

A construction accident at 6612 Tufts Road, Pavilion, has caused an electrical wire to come down, which has sparked a small grass fire.

Pavilion fire is responding.

National Grid is also in route.

A dirt bike reportedly hit a tree at a residence on Creek Road, Pavilion, and the rider suffered a head injury.

The injury is not described as serious. He has bump on the head and lost consciousness. A chief on scene tells dispatch that Mercy Flight will not be needed, that the patient can be transported by ground ambulance.

A car rear-ended a tractor-trailer at the intersection of routes 63 and 20 -- Texaco Town. There are minor injuries and no entrapment. But the car, with Connecticut plates, is pinned underneath the semi, according to a Sheriff's deputy on scene. Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 1:28 p.m.: The Pavilion assignment is back in service.

A grass fire is reported at 10119 Pavilion Center Road. Pavilion Fire Department is responding non-emergency. The location is between Stubb and Junction roads. There is a small structure nearby, but the fire chief on scene says it's not in danger at this time.

UPDATE 3:38 p.m.: The fire is out. Pavilion is back in service.

I've driven past this old, worn-down barn and farmhouse on Route 63 in Pavilion dozens and dozens of times and thought -- some day, I need to take a picture. On the way to the feed bunk fire today, I finally figured out how -- I think -- to make the shot. So after the fire, I went back and made this picture.

Mention "bunk fire" to a volunteer firefighter, and you might get an eye roll.

Nearly every firefighter we spoke to at the scene of the fire on the Schumacher Farm in Pavilion today said when they heard "bunk fire" from the fire dispatcher, they knew there were in for a lot of work.

"They tend to be a drawn out affair," said Pavilion Chief Paul Dougherty. "The material is highly compacted. In fact, when they put it in the silo they go to great measures to compact it to keep the oxygen out. It's a smoldering type of fire that you've got to break apart until you've got it extinguished."

The fire was reported at 2:15 p.m. and Pavilion Fire was on scene until about 6 p.m.

It took thousands of gallons of water to deal with the fire and with no public water in the area, tankers were called in from Batavia, Le Roy, Alexander, Bergen, Stafford, Caledonia, and Bethany, as well as Le Roy's ladder truck.

The fire appears to have spread from a burn pile on the southwest corner of the feed bunk (a bunker used to store cattle feed) and up the feed pile and into bales of hay stored at the top of the bunker.

Crews had to battle the fire in the bunker and clear a safe path to the back in Le Roy's ladder truck in order to put out the hay fire.

Because of winds, hot spots spread into the adjacent fields.

"The wind this particular day is certainly not in our favor," Dougherty said. "It is feeding the smoldering material and also carrying embers out into the surrounding fields, which are at this point in the year wet and difficult to get into to put out any burning materials."

The Schumacher Farm straddles the Genesee County-Wyoming County line and the feed bunk is in Genesee County, while the main structures of the farm are in Wyoming County. No structures were threatened by the fire, being down wind from the feed bunk.

Tankers shuttled water into the fire, but the time between truck fulls of water was such that the ladder truck had to periodically stop shooting water on the burning material.

For this type of fire, the flow of water, however, wasn't critical. At one point, in fact, firefighters took a break for refreshments and rest since the fire was well contained and not going anywhere.

"The one difference between this type of fire and structure or house fire is that with a structure or house, getting water is a bigger problem," Dougherty said. "Here we've got time to get water set up. The fire is not really going anywhere. We're not going to get behind it."

If the fire was started by a controlled burn, there are exemptions for agriculture during the no-burn season. Also, Dougherty noted, the fire could have been set days ago and only became a problem after the wind kicked up today.

Also assisting at the scene were Mercy EMS (on standby) and the Salvation Army.

To purchase prints of these photos, click here.

A fire is reported at 6471 Hudson Road in the Town of Pavilion. No structures are involved -- it's a livestock feed bunk. Pavilion, Le Roy and Stafford fire departments are responding. "We've got heavy, heavy black smoke in the air."

UPDATE 2:23 p.m.: Tankers from York and Bethany are also called to the scene. A wind advisory for parts of Western New York, including Genesee County, is in effect until 6 p.m. Winds are expected to average 25 to 35 mph, with gusts of up to 50 mph. which, of course, makes fires more difficult to fight.

UPDATE 2:29 p.m.: Fire police will be deployed at Route 19 to stop westbound traffic onto Hudson Road so tankers can draw water from a pond near that juncture. Perry Center's tankers, if available, are summoned.

UPDATE 2:33 p.m.: Mutual aid from Alexander, Town of Batavia and Bergen are called in.

UPDATE 2:36 p.m.: Caledonia is called to the scene and also to stand by in Pavilion's quarters.

UPDATE 2:37 p.m.: Brockport and Mumford are enlisted.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: Pavilion Fire command says "The fire's contained, but we've got to get up here and put these hay bales out. I'm not sure the ladder's going to reach that far." Wyoming #2 is called, Perry Center is cancelled.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: They want to get a backhoe in there to bust up the hay bales. "They're going pretty good." There's a big heap of corn cobs to deal with, too.

UPDATE 2:51 p.m.: Mercy medics are responding in case they are needed.

UPDATE 2:57 p.m.: The Pavilion Auxiliary and/or Salvation Army is going to bring refreshments. Attica Rescue is called to fill air bottles.

UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: The fire is pretty much knocked down. No hands lines are in use at this point. Alexander is released from the scene and others will be soon.

Pavilion fire is on scene of a field fire in the area of 7364 Dillon Road, Pavilion.

It was apparently a controlled burn that got out of control and was reported to be about 50 yards from a structure.

A chief reports that it hasn't gotten into the nearby woods.

Another chief said that once crews are on scene with brooms, it should be easy to knock down.

UPDATE 10:46 a.m.: A chief reports fire is definitely out and he's walking the perimeter of the whole area to ensure it's out.

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Rob Hellford Hoag, 26, of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged with failure to register Internet accounts. Hoag is a registered sex offender and required to register all Internet, social media and e-mail accounts within 10 days of any change. Hoag allegedly failed to register his accounts.

Ryan F. Schumacher, 23, of 384 Starr Road, Pavilion, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to signal for a turn. Schumacher was stopped at 11:48 p.m., Tuesday, in the Village of Le Roy after Le Roy PD received a reported of a possibly intoxicated driver going through the McDonald's drive-thru. Schumacher was allegedly observed exiting the McDonald's parking lot without using a turn signal.

The second alarm is called for a fully involved barn fire in Bethany at 4658 Route 20, just west of Francis Road. A deputy there reports black smoke billowing from the barn. The road will be shut down. The Bethany chief is on scene and all equipment from his department is called in.

Mutual aid is requested from Darien, Alexander, Attica, Town of Batavia, the city's Fast Team, and the Village of Wyoming. Stafford is called to stand by in Bethany's fire hall. The city's first platoon is called to stand by in headquarters.

The occupants are out of the house. Power is shut off in the barn. Vehicles have been removed from the property. The propane tank is also shut off.

UPDATE 3:34 a.m.: Westbound Route 20 is shut down at Texaco Town (the junction of routes 63 and 20).

UPDATE 4:01 a.m.: Command reports the fire is under control.

UPDATE 4:45 a.m.: The town and city units from Batavia have returned to quarters. Wyoming responders are released.

UPDATE 6:39 a.m. (by Howard): For the past 45 minutes or so, mutual aid departments have been going back in service. Bethany remains on scene. Photo: Reader submitted photo.

A Pavilion mother caught twice drinking and driving, including once with her underage children, will be given 11 months to show to the court she can stay out of trouble.

Judge Robert C. Noonan gave Angela A. Kruse, 40, interim supervision until Feb. 6, when she will returned to County Court for sentencing.

Her sentence will be determined by her conduct over the next 11 months.

Kruse was arrested in June in Le Roy for driving while intoxicated with her children in her car, leading to a felony charge under Leandra's Law. She was arrested a second time following an accident in Covington in September. She reportedly had a child with her in the car at that time as well.

Richard Joesph Liberte, 46, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 3rd. Liberte is accused of deliberately driving his vehicle into a parked truck and then into a residence, causing substantial damage to the structure at 2:18 a.m., Sunday, at 7997 Batavia Byron Road, Stafford. Liberte was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Yolanda E. Johnson, 26, of 8 Wood St., Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Johnson is accused of stealing a bag of money from the apartment of a friend.

Melissa M. Morton, 27, of 4802 Middlebury Road, Bethany, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Morton was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for alleged traffic violations on Main Street by Officer Chad Richards. There was an active bench warrant for Morton out of Batavia City Court. She was jailed on $500 bail.

Daniel C. Dilaura, 38, of 32 Brooklyn Ave., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Dilaura is accused of hitting a woman he knew in the face. Dilaura was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Brian Lee Smith, 51, of Colonial Boulevard, Batavia, is charged with stalking, 4th. Smith is accused of having continued contact with an ex-girlfriend after being advised by law enforcement to cease all contact.

Patricia Kathleen Vogel, 52, of Exchange Street, Attica, is charged with petit larceny. Vogel is accused of stealing clothing and a book with a total value of $112.58 from Kmart.

Jerry Guity, 21, of Beach 54th Street, Far Rockway, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Guity was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for an alleged traffic violation at 1:47 a.m. Monday on Route 33, Batavia, by Deputy Patrick Reeves. Guity was allegedly found in possession of marijuana.

Stephanie Leigh Hyatt, 19, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with falsely reporting an incident, 3rd. Hyatt allegedly reported that her vehicle was struck in the parking lot of Applebee's and provided a vague description of the "suspect vehicle." Hyatt allegedly later admitted to having an accident on the I-490 in Monroe County at a prior time.

Eric Michael Kelckler, 24, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Kelckler allegedly tried turning around in a private driveway on Hopkins Road at 4:15 a.m., Saturday, when his vehicle became stuck in the front yard of the residence. Upon investigation by Deputy Jason Saile, Kelckler was arrested for alleged drunken driving.

Suzanne Ryder, 46, of South Newstead Road, Akron, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Ryder was stopped at 10:24 p.m. Friday on Main Road, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves for allegedly driving 53 in a 40 mph zone.

Pamela Lynn Palaszynski, 27, of Tillotson Place, Buffalo, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, speeding, operating without headlights and failure to yield to emergency vehicle. Deputy Patrick Reeves attempted to stop Palaszynski's vehicle on Main Street, Batavia, at 10:39 p.m. Thursday for allegedly speeding (52 in a 45 mph zone) and other alleged traffic violations. Palaszynski allegedly did not stop for 2/10ths of a mile from the original traffic stop location.

Robert James Dempsey, 23, of Prole Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and moving from lane unsafely. Dempsey allegedly drove his vehicle into a tree on Junction Road, Pavilion, at 2:30 a.m. Saturday. The accident was investigated by Deputy Eric Seppala.

Erik A. Kendell, 34, of East Bethany, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, moving from lane unsafely and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Kendell is accused of being in involved in car vs. telephone pole accident at 5:20 a.m. Saturday on Route 20, Alexander, and then fleeing the scene. The incident was investigated by Deputy Howard Carlson and Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

A tractor-trailer and sedan have collided at 7695 Big Tree Road, Town of Covington. Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. It's not yet known if the accident is blocking traffic. Mercy Flight's availability is being checked.

UPDATE 9:26 p.m.: Mercy Flight out of Batavia and Buffalo is not available due to weather conditions.

UPDATE 9:28 p.m.: The roadway is iced over heavily and it does not look like the state DOT has cleared the roads. Emergency responders are told to use extreme caution. A responder on scene reports one minor injury. The accident is partially blocking traffic. A second ambulance is called in.

UPDATE 9:35 p.m.: Southbound traffic will be stopped at routes 63 and 246. The semi-truck driver will need to be checked out. The personal vehicle had driver's side impact and the driver will need to be evaluated.

UPDATE 9:38 p.m.: The accident is deemed to be completely blocking northbound traffic.The site is near the Agrifab & Repair facility.

UPDATE 9:58 p.m.: The semi-truck driver is declining medical treatment. The second ambulance is cancelled. The driver of the sedan is being taken to UMMC.

UPDATE 10:30 p.m.: The driver of the sedan, an 18-year-old female, is being taken to UMMC with a complaint of lip pain.

UPDATE 12:40 a.m. Pavilion back in service.

A broken utility pole with wires down is causing snarled traffic at routes 246 and 63, the county line between Genesee and Wyoming. Pavilion Fire Department is on scene. Wyoming will shut down northbound traffic, and further up Route 63 -- didn't catch the juncture -- traffic will be diverted. National Grid is responding, or already on scene.

UPDATE 1:49 p.m.: The wires have been removed and the roadways are reopened. Pavilion assignment is back in service.

Sandra Eileen Pawlukewicz, 46, of Gibson Street, Bergen, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. Pawlukewicz was stopped at 4:26 p.m. Tuesday on Lake Road, Le Roy, by Deputy Matthew Butler. She was allegedly driving a vehicle with switched plates and a suspended license. The plates were later found to be stolen.

Jason Lee Perry, 18, of Telephone Road, Pavilion, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Perry is accused of violating a court order by contacting a person he was ordered not to contact. Perry allegedly placed more than 100 phone calls to the person while at the Genesee County Jail.

A 17-year-old resident of Quinlan Road, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Jon Hoyt Bush, 29, of Oak Orchard Road, Elba, was arrested on a Family Court warrant out of Livingston County. Bush was taken into custody at the Sheriff's Office after Bush went to the office with another individual on an unrelated matter and Deputy Joseph Corona recognized Bush as a warrant suspect.