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Stafford

Car hits pole on Route 33, knocking wires low over road

By Howard B. Owens

A car has hit a pole on Route 33 237, according to a fire police volunteer from Elba who came across the accident.

There are no injuries, but the pole is leaning and wires over the roadway are now too low for a truck to pass under.

The fire police volunteer is shutting down traffic at Route 237 and Route 33 (aka Byron Holley Road and Clinton Street Road).

Stafford Fire Department dispatched.

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: Responders are advising almost white-out conditions at the scene.

UPDATE 8:36 p.m.: The accident scene is actually on Route 33, just east of Griswold Road.

Stafford-based pool cue maker starts line of quality butcher blocks

By Howard B. Owens

For years, Bill Dominiak has been known the world over as a master craftsman.

Dominiak makes pool cues, the kind top professionals buy and use to win tournaments.

Now, right here in Genesee County, anybody can buy a Dominiak designed and built product, but you won't need a felt-covered table to use it.

You just need a knife and something to cut.

Dominiak and business partner Tom Walter launched New York Butcher Block about six months ago and their local retail outlet is Batavia Restaurant Supply.

Blocks are $65 and up, and butcher tables are $275 and up, with table tops and countertops in the works.

The blocks are all natural, including the finish, which contains natural oils and beeswax.

"When you're in business, you're always looking for new revenue streams," Dominiak said.

For pool cues, Dominiak's Stafford-based company buys only the best hardwoods available in Western New York. The people who buy professional pool cues have very high standards and not all of the great wood is good enough to make it into a pool cue.

"Pool cue manufacturers are very fussy about the grade of wood they use and this gives us a chance to do something else with (the rest of the wood)," Dominiak said.

For years, Dominiak said, the wood not used in cues would just be given away.  Now he's found a way to turn the wood into money.

Stafford student makes Deans' List at Gettysburg College

By Billie Owens

Erin O'Connor, of Stafford, is on the Gettysburg College Deans' Honor List for outstanding academic achievement in Fall 2011.

Students with a point-average of 3.60 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for a semester's work are placed on the list.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition that includes Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate and other distinguished scholars among its alumni. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Slippery road blamed for rollover accident on Route 5

By Howard B. Owens

A slippery highway is to blame for a one-car accident at 6:53 p.m., Saturday, that sent one person to the hospital with minor injuries.

Adam F. Helmer, 28, of Chestnut Ridge, Middleport, was reportedly driving west on Route 5 in the area of the former Batavia Party House, Stafford, when he lost control of a 2005 Ford pickup truck.

The truck slid off the south shoulder of Route 5 and into a ditch, turning onto its passenger side.

Helmer's passenger, 27-year-old Cheryl Cary, of Chestnut Ridge, Middleport, who owns the truck, was transported to UMMC by Mercy EMS.

The infant with Helmer and Cary was not injured.

No citations were issued.

The accident was investigated by Sgt. Greg Walker.

(Initial report)

Ten local student make the Deans' List at Roberts Wesleyan College

By Billie Owens

Roberts Wesleyan College is pleased to announce the following students were named to the Deans' List for their outstanding academic performance for the Fall 2011 semester:

  • Kimberly Mills, of Basom, received Highest Honors

 

  • Andrea Zinke, of Stafford, received Highest Honors

 

  • Jewelyn Fregoe, of Bergen, received Highest Honors

 

  • Alannah Heale, of Bergen, received Highest Honors

 

  • Bethany Salvia, of Bergen, received Highest Honors

 

  • Michelle Salvia, of Bergen, received Highest Honors

 

  • Katherine Schrenker, of Bergen, received Highest Honors

 

  • Tyler Sass, of Byron, received Highest Honors

 

  • Katherine Rudman, of Le Roy, received Highest Honor
     
  • Danielle Watkins, of Bergen, received Honors

Honors requires a grade-point average ranging from 3.5 to 3.69; and Highest Honors requires a grade-point average ranging from 3.9 to 4.0

Roberts Wesleyan College has had a tradition of excellence since 1866. It is a leader among liberal arts colleges with a Christian worldview and offers more than 57 undergraduate programs, as well as graduate programs in education, school psychology, school counseling, health administration, nursing education, nursing leadership and administration, strategic marketing, social work and strategic leadership.

Roberts Wesleyan also offers innovative undergraduate degree-completion programs for working adults in health administration, nursing, organizational management, and teacher education. For more information, visit www.roberts.edu.

Three-car accident at routes 33 and 237

By Billie Owens

A three-car accident is reported at routes 33 and 237. All vehicles are off the road. There is reportedly one person with a back injury and another with a chest injury, neither are serious. Stafford Fire Department is responding along with two Mercy rigs.

UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: Two patients are being transported to UMMC in one of the Mercy rigs. One is a 33-year-old male who was a driver in the accident. He was wearing a safety belt. He has some lumbar pain. The other patient is a 22-year-old female who was a passenger in the accident. She was also wearing a safety belt and has complaints of right shoulder pain. The second Mercy rig which responded is back in service.

UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: Stafford Fire Department is back in service.

Stafford students named to Deans' List at Herkimer County Community College

By Billie Owens

Matthew R. Riggi, of Stafford, has been named to the Deans' List at Herkimer County Community College. Majoring in Travel & Tourism: Hospitality & Events Management, Riggi was one of 600 students to earn academic honors for the fall 2011 semester.

The Deans' List recognizes students who have earned an average from 3.25 to 3.8 for that semester.

Herkimer County Community College is a unit of the State University of New York, located in Herkimer, about 20 miles east of Utica.

Driver who allegedly tried to flee from deputy faces felony DWI charge

By Howard B. Owens

A driver injured in an accident after he allegedly failed to stop for a deputy on Batavia Stafford Townline Road was jailed on $15,000 bail after he was released from the hospital Friday.

Keith Edward Povitch, 29, of Coward Road, Byron, was charged with felony DWI, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, refusal to take a breath test, failure to yeld right of way to emergency vehicle and failure to keep right. 

The incident started at 4:08 p.m. after Deputy Brad Mazur allegedly observed Povitch's car blow through a stop sign at Batavia Elba Townline Road.

Povitch allegedly failed to stop after Mazur turned on his emergency lights.

As Povitch allegedly attempted to flee, he lost control of his car on Batavia Stafford Townline Road.

Mercy EMS transported Povitch to UMMC with facial injuries.

Upon his release from medical care, Povitch was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and then jailed.

(Initial Report)

Car crashes near Fotch Road after deputy attempts to stop vehicle

By Howard B. Owens

A driver apparently lost control while being pursued by a deputy on Townline Road at Fotch Road, Stafford, and crashed in a field.

Mercy EMS is dispatched.

The deputy is out with the driver.

The deputy initially called in a pursuit and within seconds said, "and he's crashed."

It's unclear how serious the injuries might be.

UPDATE 4:18 p.m.: The crash appears to be further up the road, where Batavia Stafford Townline Road becomes Batavia Elba Townline Road. Town of Batavia responding, with Stafford notified that the accident is in Stafford's district.

UPDATE 4:19 p.m.: One Batavia engine responding, non-emergency.

UPDATE 4:47 p.m.: Patient being transported to UMMC with law enforcement following.

Two-car accident at Route 5 and Roanoke Road, Stafford

By Billie Owens

A two-car, minor injury accident is reported at Route 5 and Roanoke Road in Stafford. Stafford fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 4:04 p.m.: All patients will be sign-offs. Medics are to continue in non-emergency mode.

Jackknifed big rig in ditch leaking fuel on Route 237, Stafford

By Billie Owens

A tractor-trailer is reported to have jackknifed, landing in a ditch, and is now leaking diesel fuel on Route 237, south of Route 33. Stafford Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:04 p.m.: Dispatch reports that 100 gallons of diesel fuel have already spilt due to the rupture of the gas tank. The conditions on that stretch of roadway are very icy and responders are told to use caution.

UPDATE 1:22 p.m.: Stafford is on scene along with a heavy duty wrecker.

UPDATE 2:13 p.m.: The truck was carrying 23 head of young dairy cattle. The roadway is solid ice and winds are hitting at least 30 mph across the open fields. Below, WHAM13's Sean Carroll battles the conditions while giving an update from the scene. He's being filmed by cameraman Tom Maloney. Fire crews are just now clearing the scene.

Five local Nazareth College students make the Deans' List

By Billie Owens

Nazareth College is proud to announce the following students have earned Deans' List honors for the Fall 2011 semester:

  • Kate Miano, of Corfu, who is studying Psychology

 

  • Meagan Lamendola, of Stafford, who is studying Business Administration

 

  • Karisa Kobel, of Bergen, who is studying Health Sciences

 

  • Brogan O'Halloran, of Le Roy, who is studying Music Therapy

 

  • Colleen Swinton, of South Byron, who is studying Health Sciences

A student's grade-point average must be at least 3.5 or above, and they must complete 12 credit hours of graded work that semester in order to be included on the list.

Founded in 1924, Nazareth College is located on a close-knit, suburban campus in the dynamic, metropolitan region of Rochester. It offers challenging academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences and professional programs in health and human services, education, and management.

Stafford resident admits to violating order of protection and DWI

By Howard B. Owens

A Stafford resident facing three felony counts of criminal contempt and a misdemeanor count of DWI faces a possible sentence of "shock probation" after pleading guilty Monday to two of the charges against him.

Eric Michael Duda, 50, who has been arrested a few times over the past two years, entered a guilty plea to one count of criminal contempt, 1st, and to DWI.

Duda will be sentenced in April and could receive some jail time followed by a period of probation.

Judge Robert C. Noonan also issued a new order of protection barring him from contact with Summer Ogden, the person Duda has previously had contact with in violation of an order of protection.

Ogden has reportedly also been ordered not to contact Duda and on two occasions when Duda was arrested for violation of the order of protection, Ogden was also arrested.

Duda is out of jail pending sentencing under supervision of Genesee Justice. He is required to be in his apartment from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. under the terms of his release.

Stafford student selected as member of Gettysburg College Musical Group

By Billie Owens

Erin O'Connor, of Stafford, has been selected to participate in the Gettysburg College Musical Group. She is a member of the Wind Symphony.

For almost 100 years, Gettysburg College students have been performing in musical groups at Gettysburg. The college has a long tradition of excellence in performance and offer a variety of music ensembles - choral, band, orchestra and jazz for students to join.

With a student body of approximately 2,600, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park. The college was founded in 1832.

Stafford student awarded All-American scholarship to Alfred State College

By Billie Owens

A Genesee County resident has been awarded approximately $4,350 per year for the "All-American Scholarship" to attend Alfred State College.

Sutton Carhart, of Stafford, is slated to graduate in 2012 from LeRoy Jr.-Sr. High School and intends to enroll in the construction management engineering technology program.

The "All-American Scholarship" (free board) is awarded to students who possess an 88 or better high school average through their junior year and who have achieved at least a 1,100 combined SAT score or a composite ACT score of 24. Recipients must maintain a required GPA (grade-point average) to continue to receive free board in subsequent semesters.

Fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Alfred State offers some 52 associate degree programs, 19 baccalaureate degree programs, and three certificate programs.

Law and Order: Traffic stops lead to untaxed cigarettes charges

By Howard B. Owens

Randolph Ricardo Scott, 59, of West Humboldt, Buffalo, is charged with possession of more than 400 untaxed cigarettes and speeding (62 in a 40 mph zone). Scott was stopped at 10:58 p.m. Wednesday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves. Scott was allegedly in possession of 800 untaxed cigarettes.

Marc Anthony Crispino, 20, of Cassandra Circle, Chili, is charged with possession of more than 400 untaxed cigarettes. Crispino was stopped at 12:02 a.m., Dec. 6, on Route 77, Pembroke, for alleged traffic violations by Deputy Patrick Reeves. Reeves reportedly found Crispino in possession of 800 untaxed cigarettes.

Martin Andrew Wade, 53, of Sanders Road, Stafford, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and insufficient turn lamps. Wade was stopped at 10:19 p.m. Wednesday on Route 5, Stafford, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Tabatha Holly Clark, 25, of Telephone Road, Le Roy, charged with petit larceny and possession of a controlled substance not in original container. Clark is accused of shoplifting $22.67 in merchandise from Kmart.

Car on fire at Main and Fargo roads in Stafford

By Billie Owens

A totally "fully involved" car fire is reported at Main and Fargo roads in Stafford. Stafford Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: The fire is out. No one was hurt. Stafford is back in service.

Photos: Kids' night at DiSalvo's on Fargo Road, Stafford

By Howard B. Owens

As of 7 p.m., more than 450 children had arrived at the DiSalvo residence on Fargo Road in Stafford to see Jim DiSalvo's spectacular Christmas light show.

Jim said it was the biggest turn out ever. 

Boy Scout troops from throughout the region were a big part of the attendance.

This year, high school students earning community service credits conducted tours of the multi-acre light display.

Photos: Winter wonderland of lights on Fargo Road

By Robin Walters

I am new to this area and have never experienced Fargo Road at Christmas time. If you have not taken your family there, I would highly recommend it. There are many beautiful displays. Just keep on driving down and you will run into this awesome winter wonderland. You can park your cars and get out and take a walk around the whole place. God bless all the owners for bringing some Christmas magic to all!

Driver reportedly slumped over wheel before striking another car head on

By Howard B. Owens

A deputy dispatched at 1:43 p.m., Thursday, to a report of an erratic driver on Route 33 saw the driver slumped over the steering wheel just before his large SUV veered left and struck another car head on.

The driver of the car, Gladys E. Worthington, 79, of Woodside Drive, Bergen, was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by ground ambulance.

Worthington reportedly pulled to the side of the road when she saw the deputy's patrol vehicle heading her way with emergency lights flashing. 

Deputy Nate Balduf was attempting to stop a Chevy Suburban driven by Raymond T. Buckner, 67, of Maplewood Avenue, Spencerport.

Buckner's SUV, headed westbound on Route 33 near Caswell Road, swerved across the eastbound lane and struck Worthington's stopped car head on.

Worthington's car flew back eastbound and came to rest about 120 yards from the point of impact.

A witness, a truck driver from Akron (who probably didn't give us his real name), described the collision as looking like "two dragons colliding in midair."

Worthington was conscious and alert following the accident and as she was transported to Strong. Her injuries are not believed to be serious.

Buckner was also transported to strong and did not sustain any life threatening injuries.

No information was released on what Buckner's medical condition might have been prior to the accident.

No citations were issued.

The accident investigation was completed by Balduf.

(Initial report)

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