A three-vehicle accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 383.9. All occupants are said to be out of the vehicles. Unknown injuries.
Le Roy Fire Department and Ambulance Service are responding and Bergen fire is called for mutual aid.
UPDATE 12:04 p.m.: The assignment is back in service.
Under ideal weather conditions, as part of a national campaign, there was a walk this morning in Batavia to end Alzheimer’s.
The event started and ended at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, which hosted the event.
Individuals and families came together to rally around friends and relatives effected by the disease. They wore colorful shirts and carried flowers that signified how Alzheimer’s affected them or their loved ones. Purple, the predominate color, signified they had lost a loved one to the disease.
Proceeds from the walk go to the Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter so they can continue to provide supportive services and education at no cost, while raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and Association services all across the Genesee Valley.
Photos and information from reader Brian Fose:
Darien Center -- The Buffalo-based Zuut Belly Dancers will perform at Six Flags Darien Lake tomorrow (Sept. 21), the last weekend of Harvest Festival.
See them from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Showplace Stage at the park's Beaver Brothers Lakeside Cafe area (next to the Boomerang Roller Coaster). The amusement park is located at 9993 Alleghany Road, Darien Center.
Zuut was founded in 2006. The name of the group combines their mutual love for Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Peter Shaffer's "Equus," and the French language.
They currently have fivedancers in the troupe (Mandy, Andrea, Yumi, Sandy & Cassie).
Mandy said they love all of their dances, but think they are especially fond of the "La Résistance" piece in which they wear Guy Fawkes masks and belly dance with double revolvers to the song "Uprising" by Muse.
They offer dance classes at House of Hips at 1863 Clinton St., Buffalo.
Experienced dancers who like to push the boundaries of what belly dance can be and who support and encourage our collective geekiness, silliness, spookiness, and "that what she said" jokes are accepted into their troupe as new members.
They perform mostly at local WNY bars, festivals and events. Their website is here.
In the Six Flags Darien Lake map below, the area where the belly dancers will be performing is circled in red.
It's been another busy year for the County Highway Department, Superintendent Tim Hens told members of the Legislature during his annual department review at the Public Service Committee meeting on Thursday.
In 2019, the county received $1.7 million from the state for roads, bridges, and culverts, plus another $382,183 for road paving.
There are 92 bridges in the county with a span of greater than 20 feet. The condition rating is 5.16, up from 5.11 last year.
There are currently nine bridges in the county posted to warn away drivers with heavy loads. This year, three of those bridges are being replaced. They are: Caswell Road, Searls Road, and Pratt Road bridges.
Taking into account all bridges greater than five feet long, much progress has been made over the past three years, Hens said.
“We did an inventory and assessment study in 2016 and identified our top 30 worst bridges,” Hens said. “We have replaced 18 of those. That’s better than half, which is pretty good. With three of them currently being replaced by the end of the year, that number will go up by three by the end of the year.”
Those state programs are going to be dependent in future years on what the federal government does, which Hens said is a concern. He's uncertain about congressional approval and whether the bill will be passed before the 2020 election.
There are 260 centerline miles of highway the county maintains. The average condition rating is now 5.69, an improvement from the previous year.
Paving projects completed in 2019:
Another project completed in 2019 is the EMS training ground and new firing range at the Emergency Services office location on Bank Street Road.
There are currently 61 employees in the department, for a total of 56.75 full-time equivalents, up by two from 2018.
The proposed budget for 2020 us $5,527,130, which is an increase over 2019 because of the rising cost of salt for snow and ice removal, and increased health care costs.
Salt prices are going up about 5 percent.
Gas prices and asphalt prices have remained stable, Hens said.
Obviously we have some funding concerns going forward, Hens said.
There is at least $125 million in capital projects pending in the county over the next 10 years.
"That’s not the jail. That’s not water. That’s other stuff," Hens said. "We’re going to need federal aid. I hoping that this new federal authorization has some money in it for roads for counties, some relief for counties.”
A larceny of several coats is reported at Dick's Sporting Goods in Towne Center at Batavia. A black female and male reportedly left the store with the merchandise, got into an unknown make vehicle, and left the parking lot in an unknown direction of travel.
Law enforcement is responding. The store employees are trying to get more information from the customer who allegedly spotted the larceny.
UPDATE 1:28 p.m.: The getaway car is reportedly a black four-door sedan; another person allegedly was driving the vehicle -- so there are three people involved. No clothing descriptions provided.
Heavy equipment to start shaping the land east of Route 77 and south of Indian Falls Road in Pembroke into a veterans cemetery has arrived at the work site.
Natalie Helen Brown, 25, of Weber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with: Driving while intoxicated, with a BAC of .08 percent or more; DWI; insufficient stop lamp; speeding in a 55-mph zone; and moving from lane unsafely. Brown was arrested at 1:45 a.m. this morning (Sept. 20) on Route 63 in Alabama following a traffic stop. She was released on appearance tickets and is due in Alabama Town Court on Oct. 9. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jordan Alejandro, assisted by Deputy Ryan Young.
Geoffrey Paul Jamele, 25, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, unlawful possession of marijuana, and having an obstructed driver's view. On Sept. 19 Jamele was arrested at 4:18 p.m. at Genesee Community College after a traffic stop on 1 College Road in the Town of Batavia. He allegedly possessed two THC oil cartridges (THC -- tetrahydrocannabinol -- is the principle psychoactive compound in marijuana.). He was issued an appearance ticket to be in Town of Batavia Court on Oct. 10. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush, assisted by Deputy Mathew Clor.
From the NYS Sheriff's Association:
Governor Andrew Cuomo has proclaimed Sept. 22 – 28 to be Sheriffs Week in New York State. Sheriffs Week celebrates the significant contributions made by the Office of Sheriff in county government and in the statewide criminal justice system.
Fifty-five of New York's 58 sheriffs are elected officials, accountable to the citizen voter every four years and responsible for the complex operations of a Sheriff’s Office, which can include criminal law enforcement, traffic patrol, emergency rescue operations, homeland security programs, SWAT operations, civil emergency response, jail operations, correctional alternative management, courtroom security, and civil litigation process, among others.
William A. Sheron Jr., who has worked for the Genesee County Sheriff's Office since age 18 and was elected Sheriff in 2017, currently serves as one of three trustees for the New York State Sheriff's Association.
To mark Sheriffs Week, the New York State Sheriffs’ Association is sharing the public service announcement above, designed to inform the public about all the public safety services provided by their Sheriff.
The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation formed in 1934 to assist all 58 of New York’s sheriffs in serving and protecting the citizenry through training programs, accreditation programs, governmental advocacy, and safety programs for the public. Visit www.nysheriffs.org.
A larceny of tomatoes from a stand at the Downtown Batavia Public Market is reported.
A caller to dispatch reports the alleged tomato nabber is driving a silver SUV that is now in the drive-thru at Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union, adjacent to the outdoor market on Alva Place. Batavia police responding.
UPDATE 11:52 a.m.: It is said that the complainant is "not interested in pursuing (charges); they just want him advised that he's not welcome back here."
While coming to terms with entering a guilty plea to a sexual abuse charge, Wesley Thigpen told his attorney the statements attributed to a young girl were "(expletive) lies" after hearing the evidence the people would present against Thigpen if the case went to trial.
Thigpen was entering his plea on an Alford basis, which means that he pleads guilty without admitting the accusations against him are true.
The defendant himself told Judge Charles Zambito, "it's a strategic decision."
By accepting a plea deal, Thigpen guarantees he will spend no more than four years in prison, instead of more than a decade if he were convicted at trial of sexual abuse in the first degree, two counts of burglary, and criminal contempt in the first degree.
As part of the Alford plea process, First Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini summarized the case that would be made against Thigpen if he turned down the plea offer and went to trial on the sexual abuse charge.
According to Cianfrini, Thigpen was alone with a girl less than 13 years old in her room when he engaged in a series of sexually related actions, including but not limited to showing her pictures on his phone of body parts.
Cianfrini said in a recorded interview later, Thigpen admitted that he had been alone with the girl and that she may have somehow gotten access to his mobile phone.
Throughout the legal process of this case, Thigpen has denied the sexual abuse allegations while admitting to the criminal contempt charge.
Today, Thigpen did plead guilty to criminal contempt after Zambito recited the specific actions of Thigpen's that led to the charge. Thigpen slapped food out of the hands of a person who was the subject of an order of protection and raised a fist as if threatening to hit that person.
Dressed in jail orange, Thigpen wasn't afraid to speak up for himself during the proceedings. Bright and articulate, Thigpen made it clear why he was pleading guilty and on key points asked Zambito to clarify the law and the terms of the deal.
He conferred more than once with his attorney Mark Lewis about the charges and the plea deal, most of the time speaking in hushed tones. But after Cianfrini recited the evidence against him, he spoke with Lewis in a more agitated manner, raising his voice slightly at one point to call the statements against him a lie.
At that point, Zambito explained very clearly that he understood that Thigpen wasn't admitting to the allegations but pleading guilty because he accepted the fact he was at substantial risk of being found guilty at trial and facing a potentially harsher prison term.
Thigpen also spoke up for himself when it came time to discuss his bail status while awaiting sentencing. He argued for lower bail because he has several financial matters to clear up, including taking care of penalities for use of his 401(K) during these proceedings to support his family, as well as collecting his final paycheck from his former employer.
Lewis said before his arrest, Thigpen, a lifelong Batavia resident, worked for five years at a major corporation in Genesee County.
Despite all this, Zambito kept his bail at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond while he awaits sentencing.
Volunteers for Animals (VFA) is preparing for the 16th annual Fur Ball to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. The event has been moved to a larger venue this year – Slomba Hall at Ascension Parish (17 Sumner St., Batavia).
The Fur Ball is the largest fundraiser for the VFA with proceeds going toward spays/neuters, medicine and the health care of the animals.
In addition, a portion of this year’s proceeds will be donated to an animal rescue program in the Bahamas. Parts of the Bahamas were devastated by Hurricane Dorian earlier this month with animal care shelters also bearing significant damage and loss.
The Fur Ball will feature food catered by Main Street Pizza Co. There will be 200+ baskets along with a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle. Ticket are $25. each (children 12 and under $15).
The volunteers will give a review of the past year’s work and programs as well as an update on the canine "graduates" from the Path to Home prison-based dog-training program.
Tickets are available for purchase at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.
The VFA is a nonprofit group that works in partnership with the Genesee County Animal Shelter. For more information about Volunteers for Animals and the work they do please go to: www.vol4animals.org/
UPDATED Sept. 19, 1:23 p.m.: The following event is postponed. A new date will be announced once the parties' availablity is confirmed.
Ithaca Beer Co. and Batavia Downs announced today they will launch the sale of the new Thurmanator Beer at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19th at the 34 Rush Sports Bar.
“We’ve been looking forward to this special release for some time," said James Sapienza, head of Brand Development for Ithaca Beer Co. “The Thurmanator beer is an easy-drinking lager we hope will score big with hardcore Buffalo football fans, as well as those seeking a refreshing and crisp, light golden lager with a subtle sweetness and restrained hop character that lends a gentle floral quality and clean finish.”
The public event will include an appearance by the beer’s namesake, Buffalo Football Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas, and sampling from many of Ithaca’s line of products while attendees enjoy the Thursday Night Football game on the big screens.
Batavia Downs is located at 8315 Park Road in the City of Batavia.
About Ithaca Beer Co.
Begun in 1998 in a small renovated retail store just outside of Ithaca, the original space had a small seven barrel brewhouse, a modest tasting bar and sold full growlers to go as well as homebrew supplies.
Today, Ithaca Beer brews about 25,000 barrels of beer per year and features both 50 and five barrel pilot brew houses. In addition to a state-of-the-art brewing facility, Ithaca Beer has fully automated packaging capabilities for bottling, canning and kegging.
Ithaca Beer distributes beer to 54 wholesalers in 14 states in the Northeast from New England in the East to Ohio in the West and Virginia and North Carolina to the South.
A Rochester resident has been arrested and accused of dealing crack cocaine in the City of Batavia.
David C. McClary, 29, of Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, was arrested in Monroe County after a warrant was issued for his arrest based on evidence developed through an investigation by the Local Drug Task Force.
He is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd.
McClary allegedly sold crack cocaine to an agent of the task force on two separate occasions.
He was arraigned in Genesee County Court and jailed on $10,000 bail or $20,000 bond.
The task force was assisted by Batavia PD, uniformed deputies, and the District Attorney's Office.
Three people were arrested earlier this week after a drug raid on a Batavia residence West Main Street Road by the Batavia Emergency Response Team and the Local Drug Task Force.
The raid was the result of an investigation into narcotics trafficking in the area.
Arrested were:
The District Attorney's Office assisted in the investigation.
A 21-year-old Le Roy resident died Wednesday night after a dirt bike he was driving collided with a minivan on Linwood Road in Le Roy.
The accident occurred at about 7:30 p.m.
According to state police, the victim, whose name has not yet been released, was southbound on Linwood Road. The van was heading north when it turned left into a driveway. The motorbike T-boned the minivan.
The victim died in the ambulance in route to the hospital.
State Police are investigating the accident and will release more information when it becomes available.
Information gathered by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service. Photos by Alecia Kaus.
Press release from the State Police:
On Sept. 18 at 7:38 p.m., troopers out of SP Batavia responded to Linwood Road in the Town of Le Roy for a two-vehicle collision.
Further investigation revealed that a 2013 Kawasaki dirt bike operated by Michael T. Leubner, 21, of Le Roy, was traveling southbound on Linwood Road and struck a 2018 Toyota van traveling northbound as it was turning into a driveway.
Leubner was transported to Erie County Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. Leubner was traveling without a headlight.
New York State Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in this investigation.
A car fire is reported at 11 Garfield Ave., Batavia.
The car is in a garage.
The garage is not attached to a house.
City fire responding.
UPDATE 8:39 p.m.: A second alarm is sounded. Alexander's Fast Team requested to the scene. Town of Batavia to stand by in headquarters.
UPDATE 8:42 p.m.: Town of Batavia now requested to the scene.
UPDATE 1:25 a.m.: Photo by Frank Capuano added. I shot video at the scene a little later. It's taking forever, for some reason, to upload to YouTube. I'm going to bed and will add the video in the morning.
Submitted photo and information:
This year the Lei-Ti Campground & Recreational Community's annual Labor Day Auction benefitted Genesee Cancer Assistance.
A total of $8,400 was raised and donated to the nonprofit Genesee Cancer Assistance Inc.
There were 110 gift cards donated by local businesses, and 239 baskets donated by campers. They also had eight large ticket items for the auction.
Lei-Ti is located at 9979 Francis Road in the Town of Bethany (its mailing address is in Batavia).
Press release:
On Saturday, Oct. 12, the sixth Annual Fall Harvest Dinner Dance to benefit Crossroads House will be held at Maximillian Kolbe Church hall, 8656 Church Street, East Pembroke.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Dinner will be provided by Penna’s Catering from 5:15 to 7 p.m. The menu is stuffed chicken, pasta, twice-baked potato, veggies, tossed salad, rolls and desserts.
There will be music to follow, by the Dark Horse Run Band from 7 to 11 p.m.
The famous pie auction will take place as well as basket raffles.
Tickets for this event are $20 cash, presale only, and are available at Crossroads House, 11 Liberty St. in Batavia, or by contacting Bob at (585) 762-8585 or Penny at (585) 356-3413.
Thank you for supporting the very best in comfort care in Genesee, Wyoming, and surrounding counties!
Press release:
Don’t know where to donate those still-like-new clothes you or your children have grown out of? Community Action of Orleans & Genesee gladly accepts your new and gently used clothing.
With a new school year started, and cold weather just around the corner, we are in need of warm-weather clothing and winter coats. Children’s clothing and coats of all sizes are especially needed.
Please donate your gently used items to us, to be given to a child or adult in need.
We happily accept clean items without stains or holes, please no broken zippers. We also accept sneakers, shoes, and boots in good condition.
Please drop donations off at 5073 Clinton Street Road in Batavia Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Receipts given for tax purposes.
Please call 585-343-7798 with any questions.
Thank you for your caring and consideration of our community in need.
Eric James Olverd, 47, of Wallace Street, Batavia, (inset photo, right) is charged with: obstruction of governmental administration; resisting arrest; two counts of reckless endangerment; second-degree assault with injury to a victim over age 65; second-degree harassment; criminal mischief, and endangering the welfare of a child. Olverd was arrested at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15 on Wallace Street following a domestic incident. He was jailed in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond. He was due in Batavia City Court on Sept. 17. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Quider, assisted by Officer Sean Wilson.
Darrell Smith, 52, of Highland Park, Batavia, is charged with third-degree assault. Smith was arrested at 9:33 p.m. on Sept. 16 on Highland Park. He allegedly punched a person in the face, causing injury. Smith was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released on his own recognizance. He is due back in city court on Oct. 3. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Officer Felicia DeGroot.
John Joseph Saddler Jr., 32, of Orange Grove Drive, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt in the second degree and disorderly conduct. At 1:44 p.m. on Sept. 17, Saddler was arrested while standing in front of Judge Robert Balbick in Batavia City Court after being warned not to use obscene language in the courtroom. He allegedly continued to use obscene language, causing a disruption in the courtroom. Saddler was arraigned in city court by Judge Durin Rogers then put in Genesee County Jail in lieu of $2,000 cash bail. He is due back in city court at 1 p.m. this afternoon (Sept. 18). The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Saile.
Michael S. Carter, 33, of Eagle Harbor Road, Albion, is charged with operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or more, driving while intoxicated and failure to keep right. Batavia Police Officer Peter Post arrested Carter at 2:37 a.m. on Sept. 7 on East Main Street in the City of Batavia. He was released on an appearance ticket for this morning (Sept. 18) in Batavia City Court but held at the Genesee County Jail on a violation of parole warrant. Officer Arick Perkins assisted in the case.
Jacqueline R. Garrett, 40, of Church Street, Le Roy, is charged with illegal use of toxic vapors. Garrett was arrested after she was allegedly observed inhaling a toxic substance while in public at 11:53 a.m. on Sept. 16. The incident location is Eastown Plaza on East Main Street in the City of Batavia. She was processed at Batavia Police Department and released on an appearance ticket. She is due in Batavia City Court on Sept. 24. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Miah Stevens, assisted by Sgt. Dan Coffey.
A 17-year-old male who lives in Batavia was arrested on Sept. 14 by Batavia Police Officer Peter Post and charged with second-degree harassment. At 6:46 p.m. on Sept. 9 on Ellicott Street in Batavia, the male allegedly had unwanted contact with a person. He was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on Sept. 24. Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence assisted with the case.
Randy S. Turner, 63, of Burke Drive, Batavia, is charged with having a dog that was running at large. He was arrested following an investigation of a complaint that he allegedly allowed his family's dogs to run at large at 6:15 p.m. on Aug. 29 onto a neighbor's property on Burke Drive. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on Sept. 24. The case was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Sean Wilson.
Kakeen K. Ithna-Asheri, 59, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. The defendant was arrested at 12:34 p.m. on Sept. 15 after he allegedly stole a package of batteries from a store on East Main Street in Batavia. He was released on an appearance ticket and was due in Batavia City Court on Sept. 17. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Miah Stevens, assisted by Officer Kevin DeFelice.
Steve B. Nesbitt, 34, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with owning an unlicensed dog. He was arrested at 1:44 p.m. on Sept. 16 on Holland Avenue, then released on an appearance ticket. He is due in Batavia City Court on Sept. 24. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Wesley Rissinger, assisted by Officer Jason Ivison.
Jesse Daniel Bowman, 27, of Vine Street, Batavia, turned himself at Batavia Police Department Sept. 15 on a warrant out of Batavia City Court. He was arraigned at 10:39 a.m. in city court, then released on his own recognizance. He is due to return to court on Oct. 3. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Wesley Rissinger, assisted by Officer Jason Ivison.
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