Photo: Moon over Pembroke

Photo submitted by JoAnne Meiser.
Photo submitted by JoAnne Meiser.
A traffic controller has contacted Genesee County Emergency Dispatch to report the sighting of a drone flying at 3,000 feet over Pembroke, apparently in the flight path for the Buffalo Airport.
It's illegal to fly a drone above 400 feet unless flying over a tall structure.
A deputy has been dispatched to the area of Gorton Road and Phelps Road.
The drone is described as about two feet by two feet and silver.
Christopher C. Good, 19, of Cohocton Road, Pembroke, was arrested June 8 and charged with unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, stemming from an incident that occurred earlier that day. He was arraigned virtually by Bergen Town Court and released on his own recognizance. A subsequent investigation led to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office executing a search warrant on his residence June 15. Good was allegedly found in possession of a firearm, in violation of a previously served order of protection, and in possession of a high capacity ammunition feeding device. Good was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal contempt, a Class A misdemeanor, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony. Good was arraigned virtually in Genesee County Court and remained in custody of the Sheriff's Office, jailed in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond. The county DA's office assisted in the investigation.
Stephen J. Rucinski, 38, of West Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with three misdemeanors and a violation, respectively: criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th; obstructing governmental administration in the second degree; aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree; and no or inadequate license plate lamps. At 12:59 a.m. on June 9, Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy David Moore attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle in the area of Selden Road and Route 19 in the Town of Le Roy. The operator, Rucinski, allegedly fled from the vehicle into a wooded area north of Selden Road. Deputy Nicholas Chamoun, Deputy Andrew Mullen and K-9 Frankie arrived on scene to assist locating the defendant. Following a successful track by K-9 Frankie, Rucinski was taken into custody without incident. It is alleged that he was in possession of a controlled substance at the time of his arrest and that he was driving with a suspended NYS driver's license. He was released with appearance tickets returnable to Le Roy Town Court July 6. Also assisting in this case were Sheriff's Sgt. Andrew Hale and members of the Le Roy Police Department.
Jacob Minnick, the 18-year-old from Lockport who died yesterday in a drowning incident at Indian Falls, was a back-to-back to Section VI diving champion, according to the Lockport Journal.
In his senior year at Lockport High School, Minnick was undefeated.
He had just completed his freshman year on Clarion University where he was a member of the swim team. The athletic department issued the following press release (and photo above):
CLARION, Pa. – Jacob Minnick, a member of the Clarion men's swimming & diving team, tragically passed away on Thursday, June 17. He was 18 years old. A native of Lockport, N.Y., Minnick had just completed his first year of study at Clarion and was an active member of the Golden Eagle team.
Information regarding memorial services are not available at this time.
"Jacob was a very sincere, polite, happy, caring kid," said Diving Coach Dave Hrovat. "In the time I got to know him, it was easy to see that he loved training with his teammates and loved being part of the program. He had a bright future ahead of him, athletically and academically. I want to express my heartfelt condolences to all his family and loved ones, and let them know that we are there for them in this tremendously difficult time."
"Jacob had a smiling, bright-eyed face every day walking on the pool deck," said Head Swimming & Diving Coach Bree Kelley. "He enjoyed his teammates and Clarion and we were excited to see him progress through our program. We are surely going to miss that smiling face. We will be offering counseling services for our team if they should need it but in the meantime our team will stand together to support one another through this tough loss."
"We are extremely saddened to learn of the passing of Jacob," said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Wendy Snodgrass, Ed.D. "He was an important and valued member of our men's swimming and diving program, and quickly developed strong bonds with his teammates and coaches. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone who knew and loved him."
"I extend our deepest sympathy to Jacob's family, friends, teammates and the faculty and staff in the Clarion community who knew him," said Clarion President Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, Ed.D. "Any loss of life is a tragedy, but the grief cuts especially deep as we mourn a young man who had accomplished so much and had so much more to give."
Minnick recently completed his first year as a member of the Golden Eagle men's swimming & diving program, and was a Biology / Ecology major. A freshman from Lockport High School, he did not compete during the 2020-21 season but was an integral part of the team during their training schedule. One of the top divers in the history of Lockport, he was a three-time state meet qualifier in high school, with a number of section championships to his credit. He placed 14th at the state meet as a junior and 16th as a senior.
A volunteer dive team attached with the Alden Volunteer Fire Department located the body of 18-year-old Jacob C. Minnick, of Lockport, in the churning waters below Indian Falls at 5:51 p.m. on Thursday.
Minnick had apparently gone to the falls with a group of friends to jump off the rocks into the water and after one jump shortly before 4 p.m. he resurfaced briefly and wasn't seen again.
His friends tried searching for him themselves before first responders from Pembroke, Indian Falls, and the Sheriff's Office arrived.
The City of Batavia's Fast Water Team was dispatched to assist in the search and team members were in the water for about an hour before the dive team was able to deploy. It took a diver about 11 minutes to locate Minnick's body. Coroner Karen Lang declared him dead at the scene.
Also assisting at the scene were Emergency Management and Corfu fire.
Previously: Juvenile who jumped in Indian Falls has not been seen coming to the surface, rescue units responding
Photo by JoAnne Meiser of yesterday's sunset at McAlpine Road in Indian Falls.
Image: A first-place Graphic Arts creation, grades 10 to 12, by Michelle Jefferson from Dansville Central Schools called "Neon Lights."
Submitted image and press release:
The DIGIES is an annual digital media conference and festival run by the School Library Service, a program of the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership.
The mission of The DIGIES is to strengthen the digital media continuum between Pre-K-12 schools, higher education and professional institutions. The DIGIES recognizes student potential in an annual festival format and draws student entries from throughout the region and the Upstate New York area.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this in-person awards’ ceremony was canceled. Emilee Williamson and Andrea Fetterly, library technologies’ specialists, coordinate this conference. Fetterly said despite the pandemic, this year’s festival drew a number of entries.
“We are excited to celebrate the amazing creativity and skill demonstrated by the participants in this year's DIGIES festival," Fetterly said. "Despite a much different school year with remote learning and other extraordinary circumstances, students continue to achieve great success."
Congratulations to these imaginative students!
Audio
Seventh-ninth Grades
10th-12th Grades
Graphic Arts
Pre-K-third Grades
Fourth-sixth Grades
Seventh-ninth Grades
10th-12th Grades
Interactive
Pre-K-third Grades
Fourth-sixth Grades
10th-12th Grades
Video
Pre-K-third Grades
Fourth-sixth Grades
Seventh-ninth Grades
10th-12th Grades
About the School Library Service
It is a program of the Genesee Valley BOCES. GV BOCES operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services offering shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York State.
Press release:
The Avenue of Flags is something National cemeteries display during Memorial Day. National cemeteries can either put small flags up at each marker or display an Avenue of Flags for Memorial Day.
The Western New York National Cemetery has been recently approved to display the Avenue of Flags annually from Armed Forces Day (Third Saturday in May) to the Saturday after Veterans Day (Nov. 11).
Each flag that is flown along the Avenue has either draped a veteran's casket or accompanied a veteran's urn to their final resting place. These are known as interment flags.
Each flag has been presented to the next of kin of the veteran on behalf of the President of the United States and the branch of service the veteran served. Families donate their veterans interment flags to fly along the Avenue to represent their service and sacrifice to the country.
The WNYNC Memorial Council is responsible for the maintenance of the flags as well as collecting the donated flags. The WNYNC Memorial Council is a newly developed council, begun within the last year to support the WNYNC.
Photos by Howard Owens.
Charles Edward Allis Jr., 23, of Garland Street, Lyndonville, is charged with fifth-degree arson and trespass. Following the initial call for a structure fire at 5:57 p.m. June 8 on Ham Road in Alabama, Allis was arrested. He allegedly entered property without permission and started a fire. He was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Alabama Town Court on July 20. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Krzemien.
Tyler William Reeves, 23, of Main Road, Pembroke, is charged with second-degree criminal mischief. Reeves was arrested after an incident at 2:45 p.m. June 8 on Main Road in Pembroke. He was arraigned virtually in Bergen Town Court and released under supervision. He is due in Genesee County Court on Aug. 3. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Dimmig, assisted by Sgt. Mathew Clor.
Sunset last night on McAlpine Road, Indian Falls.
By JoAnne Meiser.
Press release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley announces the passage of Assembly Bill A.6021, which designates State Route 77 between Pembroke Town Park and the intersection of Indian Falls Road in the Town of Pembroke as the “SP4 C. Jay Hall Memorial Highway.”
Specialist Four Clarence "C. Jay" Hall served as a rifleman in the Army in Binh Duong, Vietnam. On Oct. 7, 1969, Specialist Hall exposed himself to hostile fire so his comrades were able to obtain cover with a complete disregard for his personal safety. During this action, he was mortally wounded.
Specialist Hall earned the NYS Conspicuous Service Cross, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with One Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Silver Star, which is the nation's third highest award for valor.
“The actions of Specialist Four Clarence ‘C. Jay’ Hall should be remembered and honored for all of time, so I am proud to have passed this law forever enshrining his legacy within our Western New York community,” Hawley said. “The selfless service of our nation’s heroes must never be forgotten.”
A three-car accident is reported at Galloway Road and Slusser roads in East Pembroke. A pregnant female complains of foot pain. A first responder says it is not blocking traffic. Pembroke Fire Department is responding and two Mercy medic ambulances are requested.
UPDATE 8:49 p.m.: The second ambulance is cancelled. Three flatbed tows will be needed.
UPDATE 8:59 p.m.: The Pembroke assignment is back in service.
Haley Christine Keyser, 35, of Strasbourg Drive, Cheektowaga, is charged with aggravated harassment -- physical contact due to race, and disorderly conduct. Following a complaint at Six Flags Darien Lake at 5:28 p.m. May 30, Keyser was arrested. She allegedly subjected a victim to physical harm, yelled obscenities and racial slurs in a public place. She was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Darien Town Court on June 17. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Krzemien, assisted by Sgt. Andrew Hale.
Matthew Jacob Zon, 39, of East Main Street, Byron, is charged with criminal contempt in the first degree and criminal obstruction of breathing. He was arrested at 6:35 p.m. May 29 after a disturbance on East Main Street in the Town of Byron. Zon was arraigned in Town of Stafford Court and put in Genesee County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash, $5,000 bond, or $15,000 partially secured bond. Zon is due in Genesee County Court on June 28. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Dimmig, assisted by Deputy Kyle Tower.
Tevin Bloom, 27, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing, second-degree harassment and criminal mischief. At 9 p.m. on May 20, Bloom was arrested after an investigation into a domestic incident where Bloom was allegedly involved in a physical altercation. He allegedly damaged property inside the victim's apartment. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and is due there June 23.
Dustin Wilcox, 36, was arrested on May 20 by Batavia Police Officer Peter Post and charged with disorderly conduct. It is alleged that he was involved in a fight on Washington Avenue. He was issued an appearance ticket to be in Batavia City Court today (June 1).
Lawrence Boone, 30, was arrested outside a Batavia residence after being located by police May 20; he is charged with disorderly conduct. It is alleged that he physically fought another male in the street. Boone was due in Batavia City Court on May 25.
Rachel Baehr, 34, was arrested May 21 and charged with second-degree harassment and endangering the welfare of a child. At 2:57 p.m. May 14 on Oak Street, it is alleged Baehr was involved in a physical altercation during a domestic incident. She was issued an appearance ticket for a future date in Batavia City Court.
Kevin Thomas, 32, turned himself in on numerous active warrants May 18 and was arraigned in Batavia City Court. He is charged with burglary in the second degree, criminal contempt in the second degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, criminal mischief in the third degree; endangering the welfare of a child; and first-degree criminal contempt. The charges stem from a domestic incident that occurred May 4 on Walnut Street. Bail was set at $1 and Thomas is due back in court June 22.
Ray Spencer-Lindqui Saile, 19, of Judge Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with second-degree menacing. On May 28 at 3:45 a.m., the dispatch center received a report of a domestic incident involving a knife on Bloomingdale Road in Alabama. An investigation at the scene allegedly revealed the defendant possessed a knife, which caused the victim to fear being injured. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin McCarthy, assisted by Sgt. Michael Lute.
Ernest Jerome Heineman, 40, of Old Creek Road, Alexander, is charged with aggravated harassment in the second-degree. At 3 a.m. on May 30, Heineman was arrested for an incident that occurred at 7:30 p.m. May 1 on Old Creek Road. It is alleged that he sent threatening text messages to a person, causing them to fear for their safety. He was arraigned in Alexander Town Court and he was served with an order of protection. He is due in Genesee County Court July 13. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas Chamoun, assisted by Deputy Jordan Alejandro.
Stephanie Lynn Salcido, 31, of Walden Creek Drive, Batavia, is charged with: driving while intoxicated; driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs and alcohol; driving a motor vehicle on a sidewalk; failure to stop at a stop sign; and failure to keep right. At 11 p.m. on May 30, Salcido was arrested on the charges. She was issued appearance tickets and is due in Batavia City Court on June 16. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas Chamoun, assisted by Sgt. Andrew Hale.
Zachari Morgan, 25, is charged with second-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. He was arrested May 26 at DeWitt Recreation Area after he allegedly threw a rock at another person, striking them in the head during an altercation. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. Then on May 27, Morgan was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. It is alleged that at 5:11 p.m. on May 25, Morgan slapped and threw a person to the ground, causing injury, during a domestic incident at DeWitt Recreation Area. He was arraigned in city court and released on his own recognizance. Morgan is due back in court July 8.
Modesto Domingo-Cardenas, 27, is charged with unlawful imprisonment in the second degree and harassment in the second degree. He was arrested after a domestic incident at 1:15 p.m. May 25 on Pearl Street in Batavia. It is alleged that he slapped a person and then attempted to prevent them from leaving the residence. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court July 1.
Thomas Martin, 80, is charged with third-degree menacing following a dispute at 5:04 p.m. May 26 on McKinley Avenue. Martin allegedly threatened another male. He was issued an appearance ticket for June 1 in Batavia City Court.
Eric Gant Jemison, 48, of West Center Street, Medina, is charged with: operating a motor vehicle while having a BAC of .08 percent or more -- first offense; driving while intoxicated -- first offense; operating a motor vehicle without stop lights. At 9:05 p.m. on May 28, Jemison was arrested after deputies responded to Judge Road in Alabama for a complaint of a vehicle that struck a stop sign and drove away. Deputies located the vehicle a short time later. Jemison was released with appearance tickets for June 8 in Alabama Town Court. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush, assisted by Deputy Kyle Tower.
Timothy James Passage, 37, of Squire Court, Amherst, is charged with possession of a forged instrument in the first degree. At 12:22 p.m. on May 28, Passage was arrested on a warrant out of Town of Pembroke Court. He allegedly passed a fake U.S. $20 bill while at Tim Hortons in Pembroke. He was transported to Genesee County Jail to be arraigned virtually. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Kevin McCarthy, assisted by Deputy Chad Cummings.
Joseph Freeman, 38, and Lynn Homer, 48, were arrested on warrants out of Batavia City Court at 3:38 p.m. April 28. It is alleged that they stole while together at a local business. They were arraigned in city court then released under supervision of Genesee Justice. Freeman is due back in court June 23; Homer is due back in court June 24.
Kyle Shea, 26, was arrested May 20 on a warrant out of Batavia City Court for failure to appear after appearance tickets were served. It is alleged that Shea was driving a motor vehicle on Aug. 9 on Willow Street while his driver's license was suspended and so was the vehicle's registration. Shea turned himself in, was arraigned in city court, and the matter was resolved by plea. No further court proceedings are pending.
Paul Schwartzmeyer, 42, was arrested and charged with having a dog running at large. It is alleged that at 8:05 p.m. May 18 at an apartment complex parking lot, Schwartzmeyer allowed his dog to run at large and it attacked another dog. He was issued an appearance ticket to be in Batavia City Court on June 15.
Bryan Bartholomew submitted this photo of sunset over Lehigh Avenue, Batavia.
JoAnne Meiser submitted this photo of sunset in Indian Falls.
Last night's sunset in Pembroke, submitted by JoAnne Meiser.
Press release:
Today, May 25th, Senator Ed Rath’s first bill passed the New York State Senate (S.6105). The bill will designate state Route 77 between Pembroke Town Park and the intersection of Indian Falls Road in the Town of Pembroke, County of Genesee, as the "Specialist Four (SP4) Clarence 'C. Jay' Hall Memorial Highway."
“I am extremely happy to announce the passage of my first bill," said Senator Rath. "I am immensely proud of this legislation, highlighting a local hero. It is also fitting that this bill passes just days before Memorial Day. Specialist Hall gave the ultimate sacrifice and to be able to honor him is very humbling."
Specialist Hall served as a rifleman in the Army in Binh Duong, Vietnam. He was mortally wounded on Oct. 7, 1969, during an intense attack by enemy forces.
Specialist Hall earned: the NYS Conspicuous Service Cross; the National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal with One Bronze Star; Vietnam Campaign Ribbon; Combat Infantryman Badge; and the Silver Star, which is the nation's third-highest award for valor.
The Veterans Outreach Club and the Government classes of the Pembroke Jr. /Sr. High School requested this legislation.
The bill passed the Senate and is currently in the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means for consideration.
A man who lives on Gabbey Road in Pembroke says he is being harassed by a neighbor who displayed a knife and is now in a backyard shed. Sheriff's deputies are responding.
Yesterday evening's sunset in Pembroke.
Photo by JoAnne Meiser.
Jeremy Sinclair Logan, 44, of Meadville Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with second-degree assault and third-degree assault, which are, respectively, a Class D felony and a Class A misdemeanor. He was arrested at 8:50 p.m. May 4 at the Flying J Travel Center on Alleghany Road in Pembroke after he allegedly struck two victims in the face and head multiple times, causing injuries to both victims, for not wearing face coverings inside the store. Logan was arraigned in Pembroke Town Court then released on his own recognizance because the crimes he's accused of committing are not qualifying offenses for bail. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy James Stack, assisted by Sgt. Jason Saile.
Connor Lee Andrews, 21, of Bacon Street, Le Roy, is charged with: operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs -- first offense; criminal possession of a controlled substance; vehicle operator leaving the scene of a property damage accident; and failure to keep right on a two-lane road. At 8:27 p.m. on May 3, a Genesee County Sheriff's deputy responded to Route 19 in the Town of Le Roy for a report of a hit-and-run accident. The vehicle was found on Bacon Street in the Village of Le Roy. Andrews allegedly possessed methamphetamine and cocaine at the time of his arrest. He was released with appearance tickets returnable to Le Roy Town Court on June 1. The case was handled by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush.
John Willie Fore, 49, of Batavia (no address provided), was arrested at 9:28 p.m. on May 3 on Alexander Road in the Town of Batavia. It is alleged that he was driving while intoxicated -- first offense -- while having a BAC of .08 percent or more. He was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and is due to return there on May 13. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Austin Heberlein, assisted by Deputy Kyle Krzemien.
Seven dogs that once belonged to a dog breeder in Pembroke are in the process of being adopted into new homes, but the resolution of the criminal case against Lori Ann Adolf won't be settled until next month at the earliest.
The 47-year-old Adolf is charged with 26 counts of torturing or injuring animals and failure to provide proper sustenance along with one count of endangering a child.
There is a pending plea offer but her attorney, Michael Guarino, in Pembroke Town Court today said he has not yet had time to sit down with his client and go over the offer with her. He asked for an adjournment and Justice Donald O'Connor granted one until 1:30 p.m., June 9. Assistant District Attorney Kaitlynn Schmidt said she didn't oppose the adjournment but said if Adolf isn't ready to accept the plea offer at the June 9 appearance the offer will be withdrawn.
The terms of the offer were not discussed in open court.
In January Deputy Kevin McCarthy arrested Adolf after reportedly finding 13 dogs and two cats covered in feces, urine, and surrounded by garbage. The dogs were reportedly not in good health but recovered while at the animal shelter. McCarthy also reported finding 10 dead rabbits inside the house that as well as a dead dog.
At a hearing on April 14, Guarino said Adolf would sign over some of the dogs for adoption but that she wanted to keep three dogs and two cats. Three of the dogs reportedly belonged to other people.
"The situation was not the way she intended it," Guarino said in April.
He said his client would like a chance to prove to the county that she can improve her situation and take proper care of her animals.
She has no prior record of animal neglect or abuse and no other criminal record.
All seven of the dogs released by Adolf have been claimed by prospective new owners.
Previously:
Copyright © 2008-2022 The Batavian. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service