Local News

Brain Fobbs shows off his player-of-the-year plaque and first-team all-region certificate (photo credit: GCC Athletics/Curtis Kreutter)

Press Release:

Fobbs Awarded NJCAA Region III Player of the Year

Prior to the National Junior College Athletic Association Region III Final Four games, Genesee Community College’s Brian Fobbs was awarded NJCAA Region Player of the Year.

Fobbs was one of four Cougars recognized as all-region players along with teammates Rahmel Thompson and Brandon Peters. From the Cougars’ women’s team Rosalyn Sealey was also recognized as all-region.

Fobbs led the region in points-per-game (26.4) and rebounds-per-game (20.2). The latter total is currently the best in the nation at NJCAA Division-II, while Fobbs’ point total has him at No. 2 nationally.

In the team’s season-ending semifinal playoff game against eventual champion Erie, after trailing by double digits in the second half Fobbs gave his team its first lead that put the Cougars on the brink of playing for the region title in the game’s final minute. Among Fobbs’ many highlights this season was setting a points record in a single game with 46.

Thompson saved his best ball for playoffs and led the team in both post-season contests against Mercyhurst North East in the quarterfinals and Erie in the semifinals. The sophomore wasn’t far behind Fobbs as Thompson ranked as the region’s third-best in points-per-game (20.2) and fifth in rebounds-per-game (6.4). The pair both reached the 1,000-point career mark this season with Thompson getting to No. 10 all-time and Fobbs to No. 4 all-time, and both were first-team selections.

The player that helped the aforementioned pair the most in scoring all those points by getting them the ball was Brandon Peters, who topped all region players in assists with 5.6. That total also put him in the nation’s top-25 in that category in NJCAA D-II statistics and earned him a third-team nod to all-region.

Sealey was a region top-10 performer in both points and assists. She ranks seventh in points with 15.3 per-game, and third in assists-per-game with 3.8. Those totals helped the Cougar sophomore to the region’s second team as the lone selection from the Cougars’ women’s basketball team.

Mark Jagord
GCC Sports Information

Press Release:

In response to the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida on Valentine’s Day, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has written a letter to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) requesting an additional $50,000 be included in this year’s state budget for every school in the state to hire armed school resource officers.

“I hereby request that you provide an additional $50,000 a year toward the cost per armed school resource officer for every New York State school in this year’s budget,” Hawley wrote.

Hawley is also requesting that the salary cap for retired police officer serving as school resource officers be raised from $30,000 to $50,000 per year. This is in addition to his proposal to recruit veterans and retired law enforcement to bolster security at schools.

“A mother in my district actually purchased a bullet proof vest for her 16-year-old son subsequent to a shooter threat in his high school. How incredibly heartbreaking it has come to this!” said Hawley in the letter ”I vehemently urge that you seriously consider these measures and any other that you feel will create an environment that is safe and secure for our most cherished and vulnerable constituents, our children.”

Top aide to Governor found guilty of corruption.
Following more than a week of deliberations, the jury delivered a partial verdict in the trial against Joe Percoco.
The Westchester Democrat was convicted yesterday of taking $300,000 in bribes from businesses hoping to get contracts in New York.
The jury found him guilty on three counts of public corruption but not of conspiracy.
Percoco is currently considering his options for an appeal as he could receive up to 50 years in prison at his sentencing in June.
Governor Cuomo has distanced himself from his former campaign manager, who he once referred to as his brother, saying more safeguards must be put in place to secure the public trust.

Batavia Students plan on walking out this morning.
Batavia High School students are joining other Students across the state and nation in a planned walk out today to protest that something be done about gun violence.
Syndney Atchinson a Senior at Batavia has taken the leadership role locally, organizing the students and contacting media to cover the protest.
Students plan to walk out of class at ten o’clock today for 17 minutes symbolizing the 17 victims at the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
The same group that organized the women’s march is responsible for rallying students across the country.
School Administrators at Batavia are allowing the students to participate in the walkout and have requested a police presence to ensure the safety of the student protestors.
Police Chief Shawn Heubusch…

The Chief said he has been in talks with the school district for a long time in the hopes of establishing a permanent School Resource Officer in Batavia.
He said currently financial restraints on the school and Department have hindered the creation of such a position.

Jackson Street man jailed for alleged drug sales in the City.
35 year old Jonathan Hoges of Jackson Street in Batavia has been arrested and charged with two counts of Criminal Sale and two Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance which were all Class B Felonies.
Hoges was accused of selling crack cocaine to a task for agent on two occasions.
He was remanded without bail to the Genesee County Jail.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for areas to the south, including Wyoming County.
The warning is in effect until tomorrow morning.
Total snow accumulations of 8 to 16 inches are expected with winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

One of Governor Cuomo’s former top aides is guilty of public corruption. Following eight days of deliberations, the jury delivered a partial verdict in the trial of Joseph Percoco. He was convicted on three counts of public corruption, but acquitted on conspiracy charges. Twice the jury had told the judge they were deadlocked, but today’s development comes after they were told a partial verdict was acceptable. Percoco faces a maximum of 20-years in prison on some of the counts, and a maximum of ten-years on others.

Property owners in the city of Batavia will see a three-percent decrease in their city property taxes.
Council last night unanimously approved next year’s city budget.
The decrease was due in large part to the sal.e of the county owned nursing home to a private company. That put the facility back onto the tax rolls.
The budget also contains a 3 and a half percent increase in water rates and a two percent pay raise for non-union city emplolyees.

Batavia High School students will join in tomorrow “walk-out” with the school administrations blessing.
The students will leave their classrooms at 10am for 17 minutes, one minute for each of the lives lost in the recent shooting in Parkland, Florida.
That shooting has touched off a wave of support for greater gun control across the country.

Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch

Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch says his department has been in talks with the school for a long time about providing a permanent resource officer:

The Chief said he doesn’t have an opinion on whether the walkout is right or wrong and his primary concern remains the safety of students and staff.

Maybe we will dodge this one. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for areas to the south of us, including Wyoming County.
The warning takes effect at 6 this evening until Thursday Morning.
Total snow accumulations of 8 to 16 inches are expected with winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

Joseph Percocvo

One of Governor Cuomo’s former top aides is guilty of public corruption. Following eight days of deliberations, the jury delivered a partial verdict in the trial of Joseph Percoco. He was convicted on three counts of public corruption, but acquitted on conspiracy charges. Twice the jury had told the judge they were deadlocked, but today’s development comes after they were told a partial verdict was acceptable. Percoco faces a maximum of 20-years in prison on some of the counts, and a maximum of ten-years on others.

School administrators are allowing Batavia High School students the opportunity to participate in a planned protest tomorrow morning encouraged by the March for Our Lives and Women’s March movements.

Batavia Senior Sydney Atchinson has organized the walkout for tomorrow at 10 a.m. and has sent out media coverage requests.

Batavia Police were requested by the school to be in attendance to ensure the safety of the student protesters.

Police Chief Shawn Heubusch said the department has been in talks with the school for a long time about providing a permanent resource officer…

Heubusch said the police are there to support the school in any need that they have.

The Chief said he doesn’t have an opinion on whether the walkout is right or wrong and his primary concern remains the safety of students and staff.

Press Release:

What: Last Chance is TODAY to Register for SAT Prep Course at GCC in Lima
And the Registration deadline for Dansville session is April 19, 2018

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Course Schedule: Thursdays, March 20 through May 1, 2018 (no class April 3) from 6 – 9 p.m. Note: Date change

Where: GCC’s Lima Campus Center ~ 7285 Gale Road, Lima, NY

Who: Anyone planning to take the SAT Exam

Background: The BEST (Business and Employee Skills Training) Center at Genesee Community College will host its second SAT Prep courses in Lima and the registration deadline is March 13, 2018. The SAT Prep course is designed to prepare students for the English and Math components of the SAT exam. The course familiarizes students with the format of the exam and provides practice using questions similar to those that will appear on the SAT. In preparation for the English component, course participants will practice critical reading, sentence completion, grammar usage and writing. The Math component practice will focus on pre-algebra, algebra and geometry.

The SAT Prep course consists of six sessions totaling 18 hours and costs $149.00 per participant which includes the course prep textbook. Participants are required to bring their own calculators.

The SAT Prep course session will be at GCC’s Lima Campus Center – 7285 Gale Road, Lima, NY. The course will run on Thursday evenings beginning March 20, 2018 through May 1, 2018 from 6 – 9 p.m. No class on April 3. Participants MUST register by today, March 13, 2018 to attend.

The BEST Center will also offer the SAT Prep course at:

• GCC’s Dansville Campus Center – 31 Clara Barton Street, Dansville, NY. Thursday evenings beginning April 26, 2018 through May 31, 2018 from 6 – 9 p.m. Register for this session by April 19, 2018.

To register for any of the SAT Prep courses, please visit www.bestcenter.org or call (585) 345-6868.

Additional Details: http://news.genesee.edu/news/2018/01/19/gcc-offers-sat-prep-course

Best Friend is going to be featured at the Arc Film Festival. It’s the story of Deirdre, a young girl from New York
struggling to accept Los Angeles as her new home

Press Release:

A St. Patrick’s Day art show and film festival highlights Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month at Arc of Genesee Orleans. The community is invited to attend the Saturday event at Stuart Steiner Theatre at Genesee Community College. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. for the art show featuring work by individuals served at the Arc followed by films at 1:00 p.m.

Arc Director of Development Shelley Falitico said this year eleven different films from the New York City based Sprout collection will be presented. “Sprout films are produced by or feature individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities – the work is amazing,” Ms. Falitico said.

The March observance of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month began in 1987
When President Reagan invited “all individuals, agencies, and organizations concerned with the problem of developmental disabilities to observe this month with appropriate observances and activities directed toward increasing public awareness of the needs and the potential of Americans with developmental disabilities.” He urged all Americans to encourage opportunities to help people with developmental disabilities lead productive lives.

In the years since that first observance, Arc of Genesee Orleans has grown immensely over two counties with the opening of several community homes, development of unique vocational training and day programs. Ms. Falitico said the Arc also encourages volunteerism and giving back to the community. “From Waterport to Pembroke, Oakfield to Holley and every town in between, the community has played a significant role in our growth and the opportunities we are able to offer the people we serve,” she said.

Also during March, the Arc of Genesee Orleans is kicking off its annual membership drive and has a Developmental Disabilities Awareness display at Case-Nic Cookies in Medina. From March 19 – 24, Case-Nic Cookies will donate $1.00 of every dozen cookies sold during that week directly to the Arc Genesee Orleans. You will find more information on the Arc of Genesee Orleans programs, services and upcoming events at www.arcgo.org.

Press Release:

Since 2008, Genesee Community College has offered the Genesee Promise Plus (GPP) scholarships to help remove financial barriers to higher education for citizens in the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming (GLOW) counties. As the scholarship program celebrates its 10th Anniversary, the College encourages all qualified individuals, from students in high school to adults who have never taken a college course before–to apply for up to two summer semester courses tuition-free at GCC!

Ten years ago, GCC’s Board of Trustees sought unique ways to encourage high school students who may have been reluctant to enroll in college. The first year, Genesee Promise Plus was only for graduating seniors, but officials soon realized that GPP would serve high school juniors equally as well. In successive years, GPP was opened up not only to juniors, but also to adult students who have never attended college in the past.

“Summer is a perfect time for new GCC students or students in our Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) program to immerse themselves in the college culture, acquaint themselves with the rigors of college coursework or appreciate the nuances of online learning,” Lindsay Gerhardt, assistant dean for Recruitment and Admissions said. “The GPP program provides a wonderful opportunity for college-bound students to cost effectively earn up to six credits, complete prerequisite or general education courses and get a head start on a degree program. It’s a win-win for all.”

GPP is available to GLOW region citizens who are high school juniors (rising seniors), graduating high school seniors or new adult college students (adults who have never attended college before). With more than 60 courses being offered this summer, in two summer sessions and both online and at GCC’s seven campus locations, there are ample opportunities for all eligible applicants in these categories:

• High School Juniors (rising seniors) and qualifying Homeschool Students are eligible for scholarship funding to take one course.
• Graduating High School Seniors are eligible for scholarship funding to take one or two courses
• Adults who have never attended college are eligible for scholarship funding to take one course. This includes adults who have received a GED prior to May 1, 2017 or graduated from a GLOW area high school in December 2016 or earlier. GCC will require a copy of high school transcripts.

GPP scholarship applications are being accepted until June 22, 2018 for the 2018 summer session. The complete list of courses available this summer is available at https://www.genesee.edu/courses/schedule/ and includes Females Roles in Film (CIN242), Beginning Personal Fitness (PED259), Principles of Business (BUS101) and many, many more.

Applications, qualification criteria and additional information are available at http://www.genesee.edu/gcc/promise/.

All interested individuals are encouraged to contact the office of admissions at admissions@genesee.edu or by calling (585) 345-6805 today!

Additional information about Genesee Community College is available at www.genesee.edu and through Facebook and Twitter.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) [left] joins members of the Assembly Republican Conference to unveil a plan requiring a ten year state takeover of Medicaid costs

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) joined his Republican colleagues today in Albany to announce a groundbreaking plan that would pave the way for significant local tax reductions for upstate residents. The plan would entail New York State taking over the county share of Medicaid expenses over a 10-year period.

“These cradle-to-grave welfare programs are bleeding our state dry,” Hawley said. “Many state leaders do not realize that a large portion of these state-imposed costs are mandated expenses on counties which are then passed down to residents in the form of higher property and local taxes. The bottom line is that Albany should pay for what Albany spends instead of passing the buck down to local governments.”

New York’s Medicaid budget is about $70 billion, more than one-third of the entire state budget. In federal fiscal year 2016, New York spent more on Medicaid than Texas and Florida combined, despite the fact that the combined populations of these states was approximately 46.1 million to New York’s 19.7 million.

An Albion man accused of incest in child sex abuse investigation.
Investigation into an Albion couples alleged sexual abuse of three children has led to disturbing new charges.
45 year old Richard L. Hering Jr. has been charged with incest, rape and predatory sexual assault against a child.
Hering and his girlfriend, 54 year old Renee Koch were both arrested two weeks ago after being accused of sexual abuse, forcible touching and child endangerment.
The couple resided at 301 Hamilton Street in Albion and according to authorities the abuse against the three children took place at various locations in Albion.
The children were said to be between 4 and 15 years old.
The couple was initially released on bail when they were first arrested, however Hering has since been ordered to be held without bail.

Budget passed by City Council boasting a 3 percent tax decrease.
Council members have unanimously passed the City budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year that begins on April 1.
Batavia Interim City Manager Matthew Worth boasted about the included three percent decrease in taxes before entering the Council’s Executive Session. He also explained some changes in the cities investments policy.

The $26.9 million budget calls for a tax levy of $5.25 million dollars, and also includes a 2 percent salary increase for 10 supervisors and department heads.
City Counci breezed through two dozen resolutions during the meeting.
Council passed Local Law No. 1 for 2018 which establishes 3.5 percent increases in water rates and meter fees, and a 10 percent increase in capital improvement fees.

Investigators continue to piece together Perry Murder case.
More details were released on the shooting death of 32 year old Robert Irvine the third of Perry.
Irvine was allegedly shot to death by an acquaintance, Joseph Mlyniec last Wednesday evening in the suspect’s driveway.
Authorities said Mlyniec, a retired Wyoming County Sherriff’s deputy, shot Irvine four times with a .45-cal handgun.
In the leg, chest, neck and head.
The death has been ruled a homicide.
Mlyniec is being held without bail charged with second degree murder.
Deputies say the two men knew each other but a motive for the slaying has not been determined.

Winter Storm Warning to the South.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Southern Erie Counties from 6 this evening until Thursday Morning.
Total snow accumulations of 8 to 16 inches are expected with winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

New charges have been placed against an Albion an Albion man previously charged with sexually abusing these children, between the ages of 4 and 15.
45 year old Richard L. Hering Jr. is now facing a charge of incest, rape and predatory sexual assault against a child.
Hering was arrested two weeks ago along with his girlfriend, 54 year old Renee Koch. Police said both lived at 301 Hamilton Street in the Village of Albion.

Richard Hering

Renee Koch

The two were accused of sexual abuse, forcible touching and child endangerment.
Police have said the abuse of the children occurred in various location in Albion over the past eight years.
Both had been released on bail at the time of their original arrest. Hering is now being held without bail.
Police are not releasing any information about the children or their relationship to the suspects.
We are learning new information today into the shooting death of Robert Irvine of Perry.
Irvine was found shot to death last Wednesday evening in the driveway of an acquaintance, Joseph Mlyniec,
Authorities said Mlyniec, a retired Wyoming County Sherriff’s deputy, shot Irvine four times with a .45-cal handgun. One shot struck Irvine in the head.
The death has been ruled a homicide.
Mlyniec is being held without bail charged with second degree murder.
Deputies say the two men knew each other but a motive for the slaying has not been determined.

State Police are saying littler about the arrest of a Buffalo man on a charge of rape.
28 year old AddikadirSabtow of Buffalo was arrested following a report of a rape in the Town of Batavia.

Victoria Young

An Attica woman takes plea deal in child sex abuse case.
23 year old Victoria Young of East Ave in Attica has pleaded guilty to a felony child pornography charge for a promised 5 year prison sentence.
Young was arrested in January, accused of sexually assaulting a four year old boy she was related to by using the child in a sex video.
She is also set to receive 10 years post release supervision and will be ordered to register as a sex offender when she is sentenced on April 26th.

Joshua Bush has been indicted on a count of rape in the first degree.
The case date back to October and allegedly occurred in the Town of Bergen.

News Release: Albion Police Dept.

Richard Hering

Renee Koch

On February 27, 2018 the Albion Police Department conducted an investigation involving Richard L. Hering Jr. and his girlfriend Renee D. Koch who reside at 301 Hamilton Street in the Village of Albion. The investigation involved sex crimes allegedly committed by both Hering and Koch on separate times and dates. The 3 victims in the case ages when these crimes were committed range from 4 to 15 years old.

As a result of the investigation both Hering and Koch were charged with various crimes on February 27, 2018. The investigation then developed further evidence that resulted in additional charges being filed against Hering on March 9, 2018.
Hering and Koch were arraigned on February 27, 2018 in the Town of Albion Court and placed in the Orleans County Jail. Hering’s Bail was set at $20,000.00 while Koch’s bail was set at $10,000.00
Hering and Koch were released from Jail after placing bail on March 7, 2018.

On March 9, 2018 Hering was arrested again after additional information was developed. Hering was arraigned on the additional charges in the Town of Albion Court and placed in the Orleans County Jail on No Bail.
The crimes are alleged to have occurred over the past 8 years at various locations in the Village of Albion. The case is being prosecuted in both the Town of Gaines and Town of Albion Court because of the locations of the offenses.
The names of the Victims and their relationship to the suspects will not be released.

Charges: 02-27-18

Hering: 2 Cts Sex Abuse 1st PL 130.65(1) D-Felony
6 Cts Endangering the Welfare of A Child PL 260.10(1) A-Misdemeanor
4 Cts Forcible Touching PL 130.52(1) A-Misdemeanor

Koch: 2 Cts Sex Abuse 1st PL 130.65(1) D-Felony
2 Cts Forcible Touching PL 130.52(1) A-Misdemeanor
2 Cts Endangering the Welfare of A Child PL 260.10(1) A-Misdemeanor

03-09-18

Hering: 2 Ct Predatory Sex Assault Against a Child 130.96 A-II Felony
2 Ct Rape 1st PL130.35(3) B-Felony
2 Ct Incest 1st PL255.27 B-Felony

News Release: Byron-Bergen Central Schools

Betsy Brown

Bergen, NY ~ “The growth mindset of this district was what really attracted me to Byron-Bergen,” said Byron-Bergen Elementary School’s new Assistant Principal Betsy Brown. “The approach to education is innovative and forward-thinking. I’m so impressed with the opportunities our students have here.”

“We’re fortunate to have an administrator with Betsy’s depth and experience,” said Elementary School Principal Brian Meister. “She is a great addition to our team, and I think she will bring a wonderful combination of commitment, caring, innovation, and humor to her role.”

Brown has 15 years of experience in elementary education. She came to the district from Avon Central Schools, where she supported students and staff as a literacy coach for three years. Prior to that, she taught in third- and fourth-grade, and kindergarten classrooms. Brown holds a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and a Master of Education degree in literacy, earned at the State University of NY at Geneseo. Her administrative coursework was completed at the University of Rochester.

Brown was an active member of the video coaching professional development team at Avon, and will continue her activity as a coach at Byron-Bergen. “Byron-Bergen has been the regional leader in offering video coaching as a way for teachers to grow and to improve their teaching methods,” she said. “Teachers here have embraced the technology, and students are benefitting from the results.”

Open communication, Brown believes, is an essential part of any school. She is looking forward to meeting families and parents and working with them to ensure an exceptional school experience for their students. She encourages parents to call or stop in. “We have an active social media presence on Twitter and Facebook, too,” she said. “They provide a window into all the activities students are doing in the classroom.” The community can follow the assistant principal on Twitter @MrsBetsyMBrown.

28 year old Abdikadir Sabtow of Buffalo was arrested by State Police Troop A in Batavia on Friday afternoon following a report on March 6th of an alleged rape in the Town of Batavia.

According to State Police details have not been released because the nature of the pending investigation.

Sabtow was charged with a Class E felony of third degree Rape for allegedly having sexual contact with someone who was not consenting or incapable of doing so.

News Release: Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Gregory J. Rudolph reports, “On Thursday, March 9, 2018 at about 8:00 p.m. and after about twenty-seven hours of forensic work, the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office released the house and property to Cathy Mlyniec, Joseph Mlyniec’s wife. The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office investigators and forensic technicians were assisted by: NYS DEC Police (K-9 assisted in locating projectiles), NYS Parks Police (assisted utilizing their drone for an overview of the property), NYSP (Forensic Unit assisted in measurements and 3D imagery inside the residence). Additionally, Sheriff’s Office Forensic Technicians secured several electronic devices and a request will be made to the Western New York Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory to assist in analyzing for potential evidence.

On Friday, March 9, 2018, at the direction of Coroner Renee Hill, the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy of Robert Irvine, III. A Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Technician attended. The cause of death has been ruled a homicide. Additionally, it was determined Mr. Irvine had been shot four times (leg, chest, neck and head). It is believed a .45 caliber handgun was used, which was secured at the residence but further analysis needs to be conducted to confirm. A full autopsy report will not be completed for several months awaiting toxicology.

As of the 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 12, 2018, the Criminal Investigations Division has conducted 16 interviews to continue to develop a timeline for the victim, Mr. Irvine, and the defendant, Joseph Mlyniec, along with a motive. Many more interviews will be conducted in the days and weeks to come. District Attorney Donald O’Geen has reported a Felony Hearing has been waived by the defendant and there will not be an appearance in the Town of Warsaw Court on March 12, 2018. A new Town of Warsaw Court date of May 21, 2018 has been set, however, it is expected the case will be presented to the Grand Jury and transferred to Wyoming County Court in the interim. The defendant remains remanded to the Wyoming County Jail with no bail. The investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to call Captain Edward Till at: 585-786-8989 or our Confidential Tipline at: 585-786-8965.”

ORIGINAL- March 8, 2018

On March 7, 2018 at 5:42 p.m., the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from 2468 Route 246 in the Town of Perry from Joseph Mlyniec (age 60 of the same address) who reported the incident. Two Deputies arrived at 5:48 p.m. and after a very brief conversation, Joseph Mlyniec, was taken into custody and transported to the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim was later identified as Robert Irvine, III- age 32 of Perry. A Search Warrant has been obtained for the property and the Forensic Technicians continue to process the scene. Mlyniec was arrested and charged by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office with Murder in the second degree. He was arraigned by Judge Mohun and ordered to the Wyoming County Jail with a return date of March 12, 2018. The investigation is continuing and will continue through court proceedings.

Joseph Mlyniec retired as a Patrol Sergeant at the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office in 2008 after a twenty plus year career. In 2009 he returned to the Office on a part time basis as a Deputy Sheriff and resigned in 2013. He is also a current Councilman of the Perry Town Board. The Wyoming County District Attorney Donald O’Geen and his Office has been involved and assisting from the outset and was represented at the arraignment. Additionally, Wyoming County Coroner Renee Hill is investigating the official cause of death with the assistance of the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office. “The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office is committed to justice in this case and will utilize every resource to ensure that happens. This investigation will be conducted at the upmost professional level, leaving no stone unturned.”

44 year old Scott Beswick of Pratt Road Batavia was arrested and charged with DWI and failing to stop at a stop sign following investigation into a vehicle that had went off the roadway on Ellicott Street Road in Bethany early yesterday morning.

He was released with an appearance ticket for April 10th in Bethany Town Court.

10th Annual Tech Wars at GCC in 2017

Press Release:

Anyone interested in watching teams of teens and young adults embrace, engage and enjoy all the facets of new and existing technology should come to Genesee Community College for the 11th Annual Tech Wars on Thursday, March 15, 2018 at the College’s Batavia Campus. More than 750 students from 23 regional school districts, an all-time record, will be competing in 30 different events all focused hands-on activities that use technology of all kinds.

The yearly event matches area middle and high school students against each other in many competitions including the Robotic Tractor Pull, Catapults and SUMO Bots in the gymnasium, the Regatta in the Aquatics Center, and Bridge Designing in the central Forum. A new event this year is Battlebot Soccer where high school students will design and build a remote control robot to compete in a soccer match.

Hosted by the College’s ACE (Accelerated College Enrollment) Program for students in the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming Counties) region, this is the 11th consecutive year that Tech Wars brings area middle and high school students to GCC’s Batavia Campus where teams of students work collaboratively to demonstrate their technical expertise through innovative, mind-expanding competitions. The students arrive on GCC’s Batavia Campus at 8:30 a.m., with the competitions scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony luncheon from 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Students participate in a variety of challenges, many in groups of two or more. Many of the competitions involve bringing projects they’ve been working on to GCC’s Batavia campus, and other events are more spontaneous with materials and exact directions shared day of.

“We are very excited that Tech Wars continues to grow both in the number and interests of the students, the schools they represent, and also the creativity of the planners who continue to invent new events to challenge GLOW area students each year,” Debbie Dunlevy, GCC Career Pathways Program director said. “Tech Wars is always a day of great fun alongside some serious competition.”

In addition to the new Battlebot Soccer competition listed above, there are 29 other events to challenge students in an array of technologies. The 2018 Middle School events include: Catapult, CO2 Car and Truck Challenges, Logo Design, Mystery Project, Paper Airplane, Rube Goldberg, Sculpture and Tower. The 2018 High School events include: Battlebot Soccer, Bridge Design, Architectural Design in CAD, CO2 Car and Truck Challenges, King of the Hill, Logo Design, Mystery Project, On Site CAD Project, Regatta, Reverse Engineered CAD Drawing, Robotic Tractor Pull Limited and Unlimited, Sculpture Event, Skimmer Car, SUMO Bots and Trebuchet which must launch a projectile at a given target 40 feet away.

For the rules and details on all these competitions, go to http://www.techwarsgcc.org/.

The event would not be possible without significant sponsorships. The Gold Sponsors this year include: Amada Machine Tools America Inc., Graham Corporation, Liberty Pumps, Northeast Technologies, Inc. and Turnbull Heating and Air Conditioning.

“We thank all of our sponsors for their support in helping to create a successful event for all participants,” Dunlevy said. “Without them, it wouldn’t be possible.”

The ACE Program’s Career Pathways helps students explore career options and make a smooth transition from high school to college and ultimately to professional careers. Tech Wars is among several dynamic programs giving students the opportunity to learn hands-on, often in business settings and with industry professionals.

For more information, please contact Debbie Dunlevy, Genesee Community College Career Pathways program director at 585-343-0055 ext. 6316 or dkdunlevy@genesee.edu.

For photographs from the 10th Annual Tech Wars at GCC in 2017 go to GCC’s Facebook Photo album at:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/sunygcc/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10155110462863103

An Investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office into alleged misuse of a Dansville school computer has led to the arrest of 21 year old Kyle Webster.

The Sheriff’s Office was tipped off by a Dansville teacher in October that there were inappropriate website searches done overnight on her computer.

A School Resource Officer identified Webster who is employed as an overnight custodian at the school as the suspect.

Investigators obtained the school computers and an electronic device from Webster’s residence for forensic examination.

There were no illegal images found on the school computer however there were images of child porn on Webster’s personal device.

He was arrested and charged with 2 felony counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child and with Peitit Larceny for allegedly stealing 150 dollars from a class fundraising envelope in the teacher’s desk.

Webster was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff in lieu of one thousand dollars bail.

School Officials and the Sheriff’s Office say there is no reason to believe that any students were affected by this incident.

Press Release:

…This is an ACTUAL MISSING CHILD ALERT…

Issued By: NYS-DCJS-MPC
Affected Jurisdictions: Cayuga, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates Counties

Headline: NYS Missing Child Alert Alert for TREVYAN ROWE on March 09, 2018 at 02:26 am has been cancelled.

The New York State Missing Child Alert on behalf of the Rochester City Police Department for TREVYAN ROWE is now cancelled as of 08:01 am on March 12, 2018.

Thank you for your subscription to NYS Missing Child Alert.

———-

For a permanent link to this Notification (may contain additional formatting and / or content which could not be sent), follow this link: https://users.nyalert.gov/newsitem/5165477?messageID=300417271

Press Release:

Women’s Lacrosse Team Returns From Road Trip with Split

The Genesee Community College women’s lacrosse team took to the road to open their season and returned with a 1-1 split with a season-opening loss to the Community College of Baltimore County Essex 19-7 March 10 and followed that with a 19-13 win over Frederick Community College March 11.

“After a tough first year of trying to build a program and teaching a complete new sport, we are finally turning the corner in our second year. We have all learned a lot and have all come a long way and are so happy to come out of this weekend with a 1-1 split,” head coach Jeff Reyngoudt said.

Leading the way in the latter win was Molly Barden with seven goals and Bri Heers with five. Kali Wright added three goals, while Rachel Ladd added a pair with a single tally coming from Olivia Steedman.

The season-opening loss to the Knights didn’t start well with the Cougars falling behind 7-0, but in a span of just over four minutes late in the first half the Cougars cut the deficit to 7-4 with Barden starting a scoring spree that was followed by a single tally from Wright and a pair from Heers.

The Cougars scored another three goals in the second half with all of them coming off the stick of Barden, who also led the team with nine shots.

Twenty-two of the team’s 26 goals over the weekend came from three players with Barden leading the way with 11. Heers and Wright have another 11 combined with seven coming from Heers and four from Wright.

The Cougars next travel to powerhouse Monroe for a 5 p.m. start March 21.

Mark Jagord
GCC Sports Information

Rahmel Thompson led GCC in both weekend playoff games with 52 points (photo credit: GCC Athletics/Curtis Kreutter)

Press Release:

Men’s Basketball Team Loses Heartbreaker after Impressive Rally

The Genesee Community College men’s basketball team was close to a storybook ending in their Region III semifinal playoff game against Erie, but the Kats snatched Genesee’s only second-half lead away in the final 30 seconds to end the Cougars’ season.

The Cougars entered the second half down by six at 38-32 and trailed by as much as 11 during the second, but Genesee put together an impressive rally that saw the Cougars stay within striking distance before taking their first lead of the second with just one minute to go.

A Brian Fobbs layup made it an 80-79 game, but Erie went back ahead 81-80 with 30 seconds to go before adding a pair of free throws that gave the Cougars just eight seconds to sink a three and send the game to overtime.

Both halves almost played out identical as aside from exchanging baskets in the first few minutes, Genesee trailed almost the entire first half but took its first lead in the final minute with a Rahmel Thompson layup for a 32-31 lead. Erie rattled off the half’s last seven points in the final 30 seconds for the 38-32 halftime lead.

The difference in the game ultimately came down to the Kats ability to respond to Genesee taking its lead from them with the Kats holding a collective 11-0 scoring edge when combining the final 30 seconds of each half.

On paper it appeared Genesee was the far better shooting team in holding the edge percentage-wise from the floor percentage 51-40 and from beyond the arc at 42-26, but the Cougars who have been strong at the foul line all season only shot 67 percent to Erie’s 85 and Erie dominated the boards with a 45-28 edge. Of Erie’s 45 rebounds almost half (22) were offensive. Erie also edged the Cougars in second-chance points (24-11) and bench points (38-9) and were able to hold the nation’s leading scorer – Fobbs – to 17 points, something very few teams were able to do all season so credit has to go to Erie’s defensive game plan.

Leading Genesee was Thompson with 22 points, followed by 20 from Jarett Haines. Brandon Peters added 10 to give Genesee four double-digit scorers. Fobbs led the team in rebounds with eight, followed by seven from Thompson.

Thompson’s 22 points moved him into 10th place on the all-time career scoring list with 1063 points; five ahead of Dave Spiller. Fobbs finished with 1306 in fourth-place all-time and 48 behind No. 3 Rodney Knight.

No. 4 Men’s Lacrosse Team Moves to 2-0 with 22-4 Win

The No. 4 nationally-ranked Genesee Community College men’s lacrosse team moved to 2-0 with a 22-4 road win over the Community College of Baltimore County March 10.

The Cougars got out to a 6-0 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. The fifth goal of the opening quarter by Jason Chiodo proved to be the game winner as Genesee added 16 more goals in quarters two through four.

Two Cougars accounted for 16 points with each registering eight. Alex Mack scored five goals to go with three assists, while Kevin McParlene split his eight points evenly with four scores and four helpers.

The Cougars threw 53 shots at the net with 37 on target. Mack had nine shots, while McParlene had eight to lead Genesee. Eight other Cougars scored in addition to Mack, McParlene and Chiodo with none of those eight registering more than two points for the contest.

Genesee dominated in faceoffs (21-6) and groundballs (27-13) and utilized three goalkeepers during the contest. Garrett Lazore saw the bulk of the action from the cage with six saves in almost 42 minutes, while Troi Benedict and Lincoln Potter combined for three saves in 18 combined minutes.

Chiodo finished with three goals, while two Cougars recorded a pair of goals each from Zach Wade and Patrick Bilbrey. Single tallies came from Josh Bernas, Joshua Shields, Tyler Thompson, Robert Campany, Mat Anderson and Evan Hollfelder.

Mark Jagord
GCC Sports Information

Albion man facing 17 felonies after drug raid in Orleans County.
Following a three month long investigation by the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force 44 year old Jason Abron of Lydun Drive in Albion was arrested and charged with selling drugs.
He allegedly sold cocaine and crack cocaine to a Task Force agent on numerous occasions and was charged with eight felony counts of Criminal Sale and eight felony counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance along with two additional felony and misdemeanor drug charges.
The Orleans County SWAT team stopped Abron on Linwood drive in Albion while search warrants were simultaneously executed at his address on Lydun Drive and at an East State Street Address.
Task Force members seized a quantity of drugs, cash, ammunition, scales and packaging materials in the raid.
Abron was jailed without bail.

Police chase through Batavia ends with a man in custody.
A disturbance on Hutchins Street in the city Saturday night spurred on a car chase that soon involved three law enforcement agencies on a pursuit through Batavia into Stafford.
When police arrived on scene, a man who was believed involved in an altercation, fled the scene down East Avenue leading police to another address on Clipnock Road in Stafford.
Police, deputies and state troopers surrounded the house after the man locked himself inside.
He was eventually taken into custody and hospitalized for a mental health examination.

Warsaw man arrested on Batavia warrant for alleged threats.
The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office arrested 46 year old Keith Legge of South Main Street in Warsaw on a Batavia City Court arrest warrant following investigation into alleged harassment.
Legge was accused of sending numerous threats to multiple individuals through Facebook.
He was charged with Aggravated Harassment and was remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of bail.

Summer Street woman accused of striking a police officer.
21 year old Katty Jackson of Batavia was arrested and charged with Harassment and Obstruction of Governmental Administration following a domestic disturbance that occurred last week on Central Ave in the city.
She is accused of hitting an individual along with the responding officer in the incident.
Jackson was released under supervision of Genesee Justice and is expected in Batavia City Court on March 29th.

Deliberations in the federal corruption trial of a former top aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo are stretching into another week.
The jury announced last week that it was deadlocked about whether Joe Percoco accepted bribes from companies looking to do business in New York State.
However, the judge ordered jurors to keep trying to reach a verdict. Percoco was a confidant and close friend of Cuomo’s for over two decades, but the governor has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Tyrod Taylor is set to be a Cleveland Brown.
The veteran Bills quarterback was traded Friday for a third round draft pick.
Taylor took to Twitter to thank Buffalo Friday and updated his account to say he’s now with the Browns.
The trade won’t be official until the new league year begins Wednesday afternoon.

Police from three agencies chase a man from Batavia into Stafford.
The chase started last night following some type of disturbance on Hutchins Street.
As police arrived a man, believed involved in an altercation, fled the scene down East Avenue and eventually out to a residence on Clipnock Road in Stafford.
There the man locked himself inside as police, deputies and state troopers surrounded the house. The man was eventually taken into custody and hospitalized for a mental health examination.

An Albion is man facing 18 charges of selling and distributing crack cocaine in Orleans County.
44 year old Jason Abron of Lydun Drive, Albion, was charged following a three-month investigation.
He is being held in the Orleans County Jail without bail.

The Batavia City Council is scheduled to take final action on next year’s city budget when they meet tomorrow night.
The budget reduces city property taxes by three=percent but increases water rates.
There is also a separate measure to grant a 2-percent pay raise to non-union city employees.

The season has ended for the Elba Lady Lancers varsity basketball team.
The Lancers were defeated yesterday in a Class D regional playoff against Franklinville.
Final score was: Franklinville 60,  Elba 40.

Press Release:

…This is an ACTUAL MISSING CHILD ALERT…

Issued By: NYS-DCJS-MPC

Affected Jurisdictions: Cayuga, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates Counties

Headline: Missing Child Alert, 14 years old black/male *UPDATED*

At the request of the Rochester City Police Department, a New York State Missing Child Alert has been issued relating to the disappearance of TREVYAN ROWE; age 14; from ROCHESTER, NY at 02:26 am on March 09, 2018.

Click on the link for further details. www.criminaljustice.ny.gov

—-

Missing From: ROCHESTER, New YorkDate Missing: 03/08/2018
TREVYAN DEVON ROWE

DOB: 02/01/2004
Sex: Male
HGT: 5’06”
WGT: 140 lbs.
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black

Other Information: Trevyan Rowe is a 14-year-old missing child with autism and may be in need of medical attention. He was last seen getting off the school bus on South Avenue in Rochester, Monroe County, at 7:30 AM on Thursday, March 8. Trevyan was last seen wearing a brown hoodie, tan pants and red shoes.

Case Date: 03/09/2018

Rochester City Police Department(585) 428-7210 or 911

Richard Beatty (right) with Kelli Pease (center), WGCC faculty advisor, and student announcer Austen Vroman (left) at GCC’s recent Student Club Fair

Press Release:

Richard Beatty of Batavia, and Cody Catlin of Waterport, opened the new radio show with a long song by Big Brother and the Holding Company, and they continued on to play a little Bob Dylan, Creedence Clearwater Revival and even a Chet Atkins number. All were songs from the WGCC library of music that don’t see a whole lot of play time anymore. Those tracks of music from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond will begin to see a bit more airtime on most Thursday nights from 8 – 10 p.m.

Genesee Community College’s student-run radio station, WGCC (90.7 FM), has welcomed the interest of Beatty, who has many years of music appreciation and a wide personal collection of albums, CDs, a few cassette tapes and now streaming playlists. At 67 years old, he quickly reflects back on 50 plus years of attending concerts across the country.

“One of my first concerts was the Who opening for Herman’s Hermits – after experiencing Pete Townshend’s windmill attack on his guitar and Keith Moon’s drumming, I didn’t bother sticking around for Peter Noone’s crooning ” Beatty said. “I was lucky enough to see many of the greats before their lives were cut short – maybe the best was the Allman Brothers in ’71 at a University of South Florida gym in Tampa- my recollection it was a 4 hour show.” RaeAnn Engler, Richard’s partner in life, has shared many great club shows in the 21st century. “We shy away from arena shows and prefer club shows featuring largely unknown acts. We saw a Jeffery Lewis show in Medina where the band out-numbered the audience. It was still a great show!

Beatty, a retired industrial property appraiser for New York State Real Property Services, approached the College about his interest in developing a weekly program to feature music from earlier years, creating a community opportunity that he hoped would allow him to interact with GCC students, exchange an appreciation of music and even feature of few special guests on his ‘Geezer Radio’ show. Next Thursday, March 15, 2018 – his first guest will be local author and screen writer Bill Kaufman, who was also GCC’s 2017 Commencement speaker. Other proposed guests may be Craig Yunker, another friend of the College who attended Woodstock, GCC retirees and musicians Ray Chaya and Bob Knipe, Richard Schauf, detective for Batavia Police Department and maybe even GCC President Jim Sunser.

Working with the students has been a pleasure for Beatty. He has enjoyed helping them relocate station equipment during the renovation project between the fall and spring semesters. He regularly attends station meetings, and he supported WGCC at the Student Club Fair. In the spring, Beatty plans to help out at GCC’s Scholars’ Symposium on March 29, 2018.

“Cody has been a real pleasure to work with, and I appreciate all that he is teaching me about the equipment and airtime guidelines,” Beatty said. “And Kelli Pease, the faculty advisor to the station and also a GCC alumnus has also been a joy to work with. In the world of being retired, it doesn’t get better than this.”

Beatty is also president of Landmark Society of Genesee, a docent volunteer for the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, and a regular supporter of Richmond Memorial Library Books Sandwiched In program. WGCC is a not for profit non-commercial radio station run by the students, faculty and staff of Genesee Community College. It’s been on the air since 1985 and has become a well-loved part of the Batavia community.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

The cover of Melissa Ostrom’s new book, The Beloved Wild

Press Release:

Melissa Ostrom, known to many as an extraordinarily gifted teacher of English Composition at the Albion Campus Center of Genesee Community College and also known as a widely published short story writer, is now being recognized as an accomplished young adult fiction author.

Melissa, who lives with her husband and children in Holley, New York, and who has taught for GCC for over a decade, has her first novel, The Beloved Wild, forthcoming from Macmillan in March of 2018.

Winner of a 2008 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Master Teacher Award for her engaging classroom teaching style, her passion for excellence in writing, and her devotion to student success, Melissa’s reputation as an exemplary educator at GCC is well known.

Her short story fiction has appeared in The Florida Review, Quarter After Eight, The Baltimore Review and Juked, among other journals. As Melissa puts it, “Good short stories, in my opinion, do possess… piercing quality. They are like lamps that shine through the murk of life and allow us to see something important and true. And they bore into us, the readers, as well, leaving us awakened, startled, changed.”

For those interested in learning more about Melissa’s writings, check out her blog at http://www.melissaostrom.com/about-melissa/, attend her upcoming talk at the Hoag Library in Albion, Thursday, April 26 ~ 7 p.m. or stop by the Albion Campus Center at 456 West Ave, Albion, NY, to sign up for her Fall 2018 semester English 101 class.

The Albion Campus Center is located at 456 West Avenue, Albion. 585-589-4936.

Press Release:

Genesee County STOP-DWI Coordinator, Matt Landers, announced today that Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of LeRoy Police Department will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.

The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on March 16th and will end on March 18th. New York State Police, County Sheriffs and municipal law enforcement agencies will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of impaired related injuries and deaths.

You can help to make a difference by Having a Sober Plan! Download our mobile app – “Have a Plan” and you will always be able to find a safe ride home www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp
Impaired driving is completely preventable. All it takes is a little planning. If you’re headed out for St. Patrick’s Day, designate a responsible and sober driver! Remember, “Don’t Drive, Get a Sober Ride”

The STOP-DWI St. Patrick’s day Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from the STOP-DWI Foundation courtesy of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign also targets Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day Weekend, Halloween, the national Holiday Season in December and the Super Bowl weekend.

Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

Rahmel Thompson scored 30 points in GCC’s quartfinal region playoff win

Press Release:

GCC Men’s Basketball Team Punches Ticket to Region Final Four with Win Over Saints

The Genesee Community College men’s basketball team out-scored Mercyhurst North East 25-13 in the final dozen minutes to break a 46-46 tie and advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association Region III Final Four with a 71-59 win. The Cougars will now face Erie Community College in the region semifinals at 6 p.m. March 10.

Rahmel Thompson scored half of his game-high 30 points down the stretch when the Cougars needed him most. After a three gave the Cougars a 46-44 lead, Mercyhurst tied the game one last time before another Thompson three gave the Cougars the lead for good.

After consecutive threes, Thompson would add another nine down the stretch and help the team to a double-digit lead before the final horn.

The Saints started the game on fire with a 7-0 run and maintained that lead throughout the first 10 minutes of the first half with a 16-9 lead. Genesee went on a 10-0 run to take a 19-16 lead with six minutes remaining before settling on a 32-30 lead at the half.

Mercyhurst responded with a 38-36 lead early in the second half and went up by as much as four twice at 42-38 and 44-40 before Thompson exploded for the Cougars.

The sophomore finished the game with a double-double performance with a team-high 11 rebounds, while teammate Brian Fobbs also recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards.

Jordan Smart also had a double-digit performance with 10 points and the along with Thompson and Fobbs, the trio was the team’s top-three rebounders.

Jarett Haines, Brandon Peters and Fobbs co-led the team in assists with three, while Peters also added a team-high three steals.

Thompson’s 30 points moved him into 11-th place on the all-time career Cougar scoring list and he now needs 18 more points to move into the top-10 to pass Dave Spiller (1975-77).

Mark Jagord
GCC Sports Information

Second defendant in East Main Street assault found guilty
26 year old Anthony Spencer Jr. of Batavia has been found guilty on all counts.
Spencer also known as “Trouble” was accused of beating victim Jon Roblee over the head with a cooking pot during a gang assault on East Main Street in Batavia.
The attack left the victim bleeding uncontrollably, clinging to life.
The verdict was read shortly after 10 o’clock Friday morning after the jury deliberated for around 3 and half hours.
Spencer was found guilty on count #1 of Gang Assault in the first degree and on count # 2 of Assault in the first degree.
Co-Defendant JW Hardy the Third also known as “Dubs” accepted a plea deal in December regarding the incident and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Spencer is scheduled for sentencing on April 6th.
He was ordered to be held without bail pending sentencing at the request of the District Attorney.
Investigation into the incident still continues as there were other alleged suspects involved that fled the scene.

Murder suspect in Perry waives his preliminary hearing.
60 year old Joseph Mlyniec of Perry is behind bars charged with second degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing 32 year old Robert Irvine the third of Perry.
He allegedly shot Irvine in the head while in the driveway of his home on Route 246 in Perry at around quarter to 6 Wednesday night.
The former Wyoming County Sheriff Sergeant and current Perry Town Board Member not give a formal statement and investigators say they do not have a clear motive for the shooting, only that the two men were acquainted.
The latest information regarding the case is that Mlyniec has waived his right to have a preliminary hearing, which was scheduled for Warsaw Justice Court on March 12th.
Mlyniec is now expected in court on May 21st however, it’s anticipated that the matter will be presented to the Wyoming County Grand Jury before that date.
He remains in jail without bail.

Albion couple accused of child sex abuse with more victims emerging.
54 year old Renee Koch and her boyfriend 45 year old Richard Hering Jr. both of Albion were arrested and charged with forcible touching, sex abuse and acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 years of age.
The couple is accused of sexually abusing children between the ages of 12 and 16 during a number of reported incidents last year.
Police say more victims are coming forward accusing the Albion residents of sexually abusing them as the investigation continues.
The couple are due back in Orleans County Court next Tuesday.

A second suspect in last summer’s violent assault on East Main Street has been found guilty on all counts.
26 year old Anthony Spencer Jr. of Batavia, known on the street as “Trouble” was found guilty of Gang Assault on John Roblee last July.
Roblee was left in the street bleeding profusely and barely clinging to life.
A second defendant, JW Hardy the Third also known as “Dubs” accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 10 years.
The Genesee County Court jury began deliberating Spencer’s fate yesterday afternoon. Their verdict was returned gthis morning.
Spencer will be sentenced next month.

More potential victims of of an Albion couple’s suspected sexual abuse have come forward.
Police say more possible victims have accused 54 year old Reneee Koch (Cook) and her 45 year old boyfriend Richard Herring of molesting children between the ages of 12 and `17.
Koch and Herring are due back in Orleans County Court next week.

Batavia City Council is scheduled to take final action on next year’s city budget when they meet this Monday night.
The budget calls for a 3% decrease in city property taxes but increase water rates.
City lawmakers will take a separate vote on hiring a full time Building Maintenance worker for the City Centre Mall now that the city is taking over responsibility for the mall concourse.
In another separate council will be asked to approve a 2% pay raise for non-union city hall workers.

The New York Senate is considering a bill that would legalize sports betting.
The legislation would make it legal to place sports bets in casinos and online.
There would be an 8.5% on gross revenue. Proponents say legalized sports betting would generate between $10 and $30 million a year for New York State coffers.

For the second week in a row, flu rates are down across New York.
The latest numbers by the state show a more than 50-percent drop in new flu cases from the week before.

Press Release:

Yesterday, Sen. John Bonacic (R-Mount Hope) the head of the New York Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee introduced legislation that would pave the way for sports betting, should the Supreme Court knock down the federal prohibition.

Western Regional Off Track Betting and Batavia Downs Gaming are perfectly positioned with existing infrastructure to deliver a sports betting platform to our customers in our 15 Counties including the cities of Buffalo and Rochester.

As the only municipally owned gaming facility in the state, Batavia Downs Gaming is not only a strong economic driver for Central and Western New York, but it provides critical funding for community development which creates jobs, keeps families safe and helps to offset tax increases for residents. Since its inception, Batavia Downs Gaming has generated over $226 million to 17 municipalities and bringing sports betting to our locations will significantly increase these important contributions.

“If we are able to offer sports betting to our customers, we would see more resources flowing directly to our bosses – the millions of New Yorkers who live in the Western Region Off Track Betting counties,” said Henry F. Wojtaszek, President/CEO of Batavia Downs Gaming WROTB. “We’d be able to deliver critical funds to help local law enforcement, first-responders, and help in the fight to keep property tax hikes at bay. We want to thank Sen. John Bonacic for his leadership on this important issue. Our delegation in Albany and Governor Cuomo has always stood by our side to get our fair share out of Albany, and we hope it’s no different with sports betting. “Operationally with our brick and mortar locations, Batavia Downs Gaming and WROTBC is a natural affiliate to deliver sports wagering to residents of Western and Central New York as we have delivered Parimutuel wagering since 1974”, said Michael Nolan Chief Operating Officer Batavia Downs Gaming/WROTB.

BACKGROUND: STATE OF POLITICS: Bonacic Bill Would Legalize Sports Betting

Press Release:

The Crime Victims Legal Network is a partnership of organizations working to create a website that will connect victims of crime with civil legal information and the assistance they need.

CVLN wants to make sure the website is easy to use, helpful, and appealing to the people who it is designed to serve, namely victims of crime and the professionals who work with them. They are holding a focus group in Oakfield and are looking for:

• English-speaking individuals
• Over the age of 18
• Who have been victims of a crime – such as burglary, identity theft, assault, discrimination, abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, etc., OR work with victims of crime

The focus group will be held
March 27, 2018
Noon – 1 pm
Oakfield Town Hall
3219 Drake Street, Oakfield NY 14125

If you or someone you know would like to help by participating in the focus group, please RSVP to Dr. Dietzel at sdietzel@albany.edu

A Jury of 12 has found 26 year old Anthony Spencer Jr. of Batavia guilty on all counts.

Spencer who goes by the nick name “Trouble” was on trial for the July 18th assault on East Main Street in Batavia that left victim Jon Roblee clinging to life, bleeding uncontrollably from his arm.

The jury reached their verdict at around 9:30 this morning after beginning deliberations at approximately 3 o’clock yesterday.
Spencer was found guilty on count #1 of Gang Assault in the first degree and on count # 2 of Assault in the first degree.

Co-Defendant JW Hardy the Third also known as “Dub” or “Dubs” accepted a plea deal in December regarding the incident.
He was ultimately sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Spencer’s trial began at the beginning of this week with jury deliberations extending to this morning.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman called an 18 year old witness who identified Spencer as one of the attackers.
She testified that the suspects were getting into a verbal altercation with victim Jon Roblee, threatening him to make a payment or something would happen to him or his friend.
She said Roblee went inside his residence and came out wielding a knife, then threatened other people in the area including her briefly.
A group of around 15 people gathered in the area.

Somehow co-defendant JW “Dubs” Hardy allegedly obtained the knife from the victim and soon the group turned the tables on Roblee and began chasing and beating him up and down the street.

The witness said that Spencer hit the victim in the head with a cooking pot with full force several times.

A dented cooking pot with a broken handle was submitted as evidence that the item was used with great force.
The cooking pot was located at the scene and the handle was found on Swan Street in between the scene and where Spencer was picked up at 218 Ellicott Street.

Defense Attorney Frederick Rarick argued that the testimony of the witness was suspect because she had only just met the suspect earlier that evening and that she was protecting other members of her group that he alleged were involved in the assault.

He questioned her ability to accurately recall the event because she admitted to drinking and smoking pot the night of the assault.

Rarick also noted in cross examination of both Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Forsyth and Batavia Police Detective Thaddeus Mart that they observed no blood on Spencer’s clothing when he was taken into custody the night of the assault.

DA Friedman argued the lack of blood on Spencer’s clothing proved nothing.

Spencer is scheduled for sentencing on April 6th at 9:15 a.m. and following a request by the DA, was ordered to be held without bail pending sentencing.

Investigation into the incident still continues as there were other alleged suspects involved that fled the scene.

Press Release:

Each year in April, the Office for Victims of Crime helps lead communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), which will be observed in 2018 on April 8-14. This year’s theme “Expand the Circle: Reach All Victims” emphasizes the importance of inclusion in victim services.

Criminal Justice Day 2018: Surviving and Thriving After Trauma
Monday, April 9, 2018
8:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Genesee Community College
Conable Technology Building, Room T102
1 College Road, Batavia NY

Keynote Speakers:
Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb of Cattaraugus County. Sheriff Whitcomb is a dynamic and powerful speaker who lectures on topics such as: post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, and protecting and treating those exposed to trauma.

Eva Abrams, a survivor of the Holocaust, along with her daughter, Bonnie Abrams, who is Director of the Center of Holocaust Awareness and Information in Rochester. Eva was born in Oradea, Romania, in 1926 and was 17 when the Nazis occupied her hometown and sent her family to a ghetto. Her family was then deported to Auschwitz a month later.

***This day is sponsored in part by GCASA and Our Lady of Batavia Knights of Columbus***

Presented by the Criminal Justice Day 2018 Partners:

Batavia City Police, Justice for Children Advocacy Center, Genesee Community College, Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (GCASA), Genesee County District Attorney’s Office, Genesee County Mental Health, Genesee County Office for the Aging, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Genesee County Youth Bureau, Genesee Justice, Mental Health Association of Genesee and Orleans Counties, RESTORE Sexual Assault Services, and YWCA of Genesee County.

Cost: $20.00* per person / $10.00* per student or senior (62+)
* includes lunch
For registration details: Contact Genesee Justice at 344-2550 ext. 3929
or e-mail: Holly.McAllister@co.genesee.ny.us

Ash encouraged students to believe in themselves and do what makes them happy.

Press Release:

Bergen, NY ~ Ballet star Aesha Ash told the hundreds of students at Byron-Bergen Elementary that when she was growing up in Rochester, “there were no princesses or fairies that looked like me. There were no magical creatures, unicorns or swans that looked like me.” When she dreamed of being a ballerina, she was told that there were no black ballerinas, and that she would never succeed. She dreamed anyway, and she did succeed. She was accepted to the legendary School of American Ballet where she was chosen to join the New York City Ballet when she was 18—one of the first black dancers in the corps.

How did this world-famous dancer and winner of the National Women’s History Museum’s 2016 Women Making History Award, come to be in Byron-Bergen? Fourth-grade teacher Alyson Tardy heard about Ash’s Swan Dreams Project, which was founded in 2011. This project uses powerful imagery to counter negative stereotypes of race and socio-economic background and inspire children to dream bigger. She thought that Ash’s message would be a great tie-in to the school’s character education program. She invited Ash and coordinated the special visit. Students surprised their visitor with a hallway lined with artwork featuring swans of many shapes and colors.

Students had the opportunity to meet international ballet star Aesha Ash in person after the formal presentation.

“The art is so beautiful,” said Ash. “I’m honored that the kids welcomed me this way.”

At the crowded assembly, Ash shared her story with attentive students, beginning with her passion for dance and her determination to become a ballerina. She explained how she was part of Rochester’s Urban Suburban program, and constantly faced questions and misunderstanding from peers about her background and city neighborhood. Her family was not rich; she told the story of borrowing toe shoes for her first tryout. Even when Ash became a professional ballet dancer, she felt a sense of not belonging, of being different.

Representatives from every grade level prepared a series of questions for Ash.

“All my life, I’ve fought to change perceptions and dispel myths—for myself, my family and my Rochester community,” she said. “The more that people told me that I couldn’t do something, the more I wanted to do it.”

Ash’s professional dance career lasted 13 years. It included eight years with the NYC Ballet along with performing in the Bejart Ballet in Switzerland and Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, and with many other companies as a freelance artist. She and her family currently live in California where she is working to make the Swan Dreams Project an afterschool program. She hopes to open a studio where she can teach ballet to children who are not able to afford lessons. The Swan Dreams Project video she shared with Byron-Bergen students can be found at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7h58rXzsNhU

Now-retired ballerina Ash gamely performed chaînés turns in her high-heeled boots when the students requested a dance move.

Nanako Shiozawa sets school record in the 100 Butterfly here in Fort pierce Florida during Day Two of the NJCAA Championships (photo credit: GCC Athletics/Andrew Crofts)

Press Release:

Cougar Swimmers Break More Records on Second Day of NJCAA Nationals

The Genesee Community College swimming teams ended the second day of competition in the National Junior College Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Nationals with two new school records in Fort Pierce, Fla.

Nanako Shiozawa set a women’s record in the 100-meter butterfly with a 1:01.40 time early into the start of finals, while the men’s 400-meter medley relay completed the day with a school-record time of 3:39.70.

Including those two school records, overall the Cougars recorded four top-10 finishes in both men’s and women’s competition.

Leading the women was Shiozawa’s aforementioned record that was good for fifth place. Angel Priest finished seventh in the 50-meter backstroke with a 29.45 time. The women’s 200-meter freestyle relay team finished eighth with a 1:48.58 time, and the 400-meter medley relay team finished 10th with a 4:38.18 time.

Leading the men was Ferran Martinez’s fourth-place finish in the 400-meter individual medley with a 4:08.94 time. Just like the women’s team, the men recorded top-10 finishes in both the 400-meter medley and 200-meter freestyle relays. The former was the school record time previously mentioned for a seventh-place finish, while the latter was good for an eighth-place finish at 1:32.52. Joan Ferrer rounded out the men’s top-10 finishes with a ninth-place showing in the 100-meter butterfly with a 53.82 time.

Both Nathan Richardson and Brandon Brown just missed top-10 finishes. Richardson in the 50-meter backstroke (25.91) and Brown in the 200-meter freestyle (1:52.44), with the pair both finishing 11th. Also competing in the latter event was Matthew Langerman with a 14th place finish (1:54.55), while Ryan Mahaney finished 16th in the 100-meter butterfly (59.67).

Natalie Amico recorded a 15th place finish in the 100-meter butterfly to round out the women’s top-15 finishes.

While the men’s team remained in eighth place with 134 points after the second day, the women’s team moved up two spots to 10th with 75 points.

GCC Sports Information
Mark Jagord

Teen jailed for school shooting threat in LeRoy.
A 16 year old Leroy student is behind bars after being arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported threat at the LeRoy Junior-Senior High School on Wednesday afternoon.
The 16 year old male student who resides in Stafford had allegedly been involved in several confrontations with other students in a hallway and threatened to shoot another student.
No weapons were found and no injuries were reported.
The student is facing a Class D Felony and was remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
The Sheriff’s Office thanked the School Administration and staff for their quick action during the incident and reminds citizens of their “no Tolerance policy” for any threats of violence involving a school, students or staff.

Investigators search for a motive in Perry murder case.
Former Wyoming County Sheriff Sergeant and Perry Town Board Member 60 year old Joseph Mlyniec of Perry remains behind bars while the investigation into the murder of 32 year old Robert Irvine of Perry the third continues.
He allegedly shot Irvine in the head while in the driveway of his home on Route 246 in Perry at around quarter to 6 Wednesday night.
Mlyniec called 911 himself to report the shooting and following a brief conversation with two deputies who responded, he was taken into custody without incident.
Investigators say the two men were acquainted however they do not have a clear motive for the shooting and Mlyniec did not give a formal statement.
Mlyniec continues to be held without bail with the investigation on-going.

Victims emerge during investigation in an Albion couple’s alleged sex abuse.
Police say more victims are coming forward accusing Albion residents, 54 year old Renee Koch and her boyfriend 45 year old Richard Hering Jr. of sexually abusing them.
The couple was arrested and charged with forcible touching, sex abuse and acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 years of age.
They are accused of sexually abusing children between the ages of 12 and 16 during a number of reported incidents last year.
The couple are due back in Orleans County Court next Tuesday.

The New York Senate is considering a bill that would legalize sports betting in the Empire State. The legislation, introduced yesterday, would make it legal to place bets in casinos and online. There would be an eight-and-a-half-percent tax on gross revenue. Proponents say legalized sports betting would generate between $10 and $30 million a year for New York.

For the second week in a row, flu rates are down across New York.
The latest numbers by the state show a more than 50-percent drop in new flu cases from the week before.
Positive flu rates in Western New York are at a nearly two-month low.
The flu has been geographically widespread in the state for more than three months and has caused nearly 20-thousand hospitalizations.

A 16 year old LeRoy High School student is locked up in the Genesee County jail for allegedly threatening to shoot another student.
Police tell WBTA the 16 year old was involved in a confrontation yesterday with several other students in a school hallway.
Police say threats were made but no weapon was displayed and no one was hurt.
The 16 year old boy from Stafford was charged with Making a Terroristic Threat, a low grade felony. He is being held on $10,000 bail.
The Sheriff’s Office says it has a “no tolerance policy” for any violence or threat of violence directed at anyone in a school.

Joseph Mylyniec

A retired Wyoming County Sheriff’s sergeant and current Perry Town Board member has been arrested for murder.
60 year old Joseph S. Mylniec is charged with in the shooting death of 32 year old Robert Irvine III of Perry.
Authorities said Myliec shot Irvine in the head early last evening while in the driveway of Myliec’s home on Route 246 in Perry.
No motive for the shooting was made public. The two men reportedly knew each other.
Mylniec called deputies to report the shooting and was taken into custody without incident.
He has been charged with Second Degree murder andis being held without bail in the Wyoming County jail.

The man infamous for streaking across New Era Field during a Bills game last November may be redeeming himself.
Tristan Lambright rescued a Lackawanna family’s cat had been stuck high up in a tree for more than a week. He scaled the tree and safely removed the fragile feline.
The rescue was caught on video and as of last night, it had more than ten-thousand views on Facebook.

News Release: Genesee County Sheriff’s Office

The Genesee County Sheriffs Office responded yesterday afternoon to a report from the LeRoy Junior-Senior High School, 9300 South Street Road in the Town LeRoy that a student had threatened to shoot another student. Upon the arrival of Sheriffs Deputies, it was learned from School Officials that a 16 year-old male student had been involved in a confrontation with several students in a hallway and the threats were made. No weapons were displayed and no injuries occurred.

The 16 year-old male resident of the Town of Stafford was subsequently charged with Making a Terroristic Threat, a class D Felony. Arraigned before Town of LeRoy Justice John Duyssen, the defendant was remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail to await further court proceedings.

The Sheriffs Office commends the School’s Administration and staff for their quick notification and assistance during this investigation and reminds citizens that we have a “no tolerance policy” for any violence or threats of violence directed at anyone in school or about school.

Official Men’s Soccer championship Photo

Press Release:

NJCAA National Champion GCC Men’s Soccer Ring Ceremony Live-Streamed March 8

In a private ceremony on the Batavia Campus of Genesee Community College, the 2017 National Junior College Athletic Association Cougars’ men’s soccer team will be presented their national championship rings.

The event will be live-streamed around 5 p.m.(EST) March 8 on GCC Special Events Channel 2 with the following internet link:

https://www.genesee.edu/home/event-streaming/streaming-channel-2/

In addition to GCC President James M. Sunser, other speakers include director of athletics Kristen Schuth, coaches Ken Gavin and Josh Carpenter, and team captains Glenn Holmes and Joseph Calvert.

A highlight video is also planned prior to the official ring ceremony and introduction of the team.

Reika Murota (Yachiyo, Japan) and Rahmel Thompson (Jamaica, NY)

Cougar Athletes of the Week Announced

The Genesee Community College’s athletes of the week for the period ending March 3 are Reika Murota (Yachiyo, Japan) from the women’s basketball team and Rahmel Thompson (Jamaica, NY) from the men’s basketball team.

Murota led the Cougars to their most convincing WNYAC win this season with a team-high 22 points at Mercyhurst North East Feb. 28 in a game where Genesee never trailed and won by 16 points, 78-62. The 22 points were also a season-high, eclipsing her previous total of 17 against Herkimer County Community College Jan. 16. Murota shot 64 percent from the field, but her 18 points from beyond the arc were the most impressive as they came with a 66 percent shooting accuracy. In addition, she also added an assist and block in the season-finale win.

Thompson became only the 13th men’s basketball player in GCC history to top 1,000 points in a career when he scored 21 points last week in the regular season finale for the Cougars. Thompson added a team high three steals in the win over Mercyhurst University – North East securing the third seed in the upcoming Region III-Division II/NJCAA District II Tournament. It was Thompson’s third-consecutive 20 or more point performance where the team has seen an offensive surge by averaging 99 points during that span. For his efforts, Thompson was also named NJCAA Region-III Male Athlete of the Week.

GCC Sports Information
Mark Jagord

Ferran Martinez

Press Release:

Cougar Swimmers Complete First Day of NJCAA Nationals

The Genesee Community College swimming teams began competition in the National Junior College Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Nationals in Fort Pierce, Fla.

The Cougars highlight was the breaking of the men’s 200-meter medley relay with a new school record time of 1:40.10. The record-breaking group included Nathan Richardson, Ferran Martinez, Joan Ferrer and Ryan Mahaney. The seventh-place finish was the best on the day for GCC.

Host Indian River State College leads both the men’s and women’s scores after the first day with 290 and 326 points, respectively. The Cougar men’s team sits in eighth after the first day, while the women’s are tied-12th.

The best event for the Cougars turned out to be the 200-meter individual medley. In the women’s race, Nanako Shiozawa finished eighth with a 2:19.04 time, while Martinez and Richardson finished in 10th and 15th respectively in the men’s race. Martinez clocked in at 1:56.90 and Richardson at 2:03.95.

In individual competition, while Shiozawa’s eighth-place finish was the best for the women’s team, Matthew Langerman’s eighth-place finish in the 1000-meter freestyle was the best for the men’s team with a 10:22.18 time.

The Cougars had three top-20 finishers in the 1000-meter freestyle. In addition to Langerman, Brandon Brown and Alex Bookmiller finished 16th and 18th respectively. Brown finished with a 10:47.50 time and Bookmiller with a 11:09.02 time.

Rounding out Cougar top-20 finishes was Benjamin Vacanti in the 50-meter breaststroke with a time of 29.65.

GCC Sports Information
Mark Jagord

Murder in Perry lands a former lawmen in lock up.
The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed to WBTA that Joseph Milyniec of Perry has been arrested and charged for second degree Murder.
He is accused of shooting and killing Robert Irvine the third during an incident at Milyniec’s home on Route 246 in Perry at around 5 p.m. yesterday evening.
Milnyiec is a current Perry Town Board member, a retired Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant and a past president of the Perry Center Volunteer Fire Department.
He was arrested a few minutes before midnight last night and after being arraigned was committed without bail to the Wyoming County Jail.
According to the Sheriff’s Office a more detailed arrest report will be forthcoming sometime this morning.

Scottsville Woman faces felony in LeRoy for driving drunk with three kids.
32 year old Amy Page of North Road in Scottsville was arrested and charged with a Felony Aggravated DWI under Leandra’s Law and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
A concerned citizen reported an erratic driver last Sunday on Route 5 near Stafford.
They reported that Page’s vehicle had almost hit two other vehicles and was driving in the wrong lane going off the road numerous times.
LeRoy Police located the vehicle after Page turned into a parking lot on West Main Street and allegedly drove into a snowbank.
She recorded a Blood Alcohol Content above .18%
Page was committed to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $2,500 bail and a full stay away order of protection was issued for the children.

Law Enforcement and Legislators in Genesee County agree that they want a police officer in every school in the county.
Local Lawmen and state government representatives met recently to address the growing concern of school safety against the backdrop of the tragic school shooting in Florida.
The general consensus from the meeting was that there should be a resource officer in every school.
Currently LeRoy Schools are covered by LeRoy Police, the Genesee county Sheriff’s Office provides a deputy for Byron-Bergen and Genesee Valley BOCES and Batavia PD provides resource officers at city schools.
Sheriff William Sheron says it is his goal to a have a resource officer in every school building.
The big question remains how to pay for the amount of resource officers needed to meet the goal.

State Police in Batavia are alerting the public of a new Bank text message scam.
State Police say if you receive a text from your personal banking cooperation it could be a scam!

The message alert will appear like it was sent from the bank and will have a way for you to “contently” contact them back.
Police say DO NOT give your personal banking account or credit/debit card information or over the phone or by email.
If you have questions or concerns about your banking accounts, contact your bank directly or in person.

Genesee County lawmen and agree they want every school in the county to have a police officer in their building.
The question is: how to pay for it.
Law enforcement officials and state government representatives met recently against the backdrop of the tragic school school in Florida.
According to a statement released following the meeting, there was a general consensus that there should be a resource officer in every school.
LeRoy PD provides an officer to LeRoy Schools, Byron-Bergen and Genesee Valley BOCES is covered by a deputy from the Genesee county Sheriff’s Office and Batavia PD provides security aides for city schools.
Sheriff William Sheron says it is his goal to a have a resource officer in every school building.

A former teacher at Brockport Central Schools pleads guilty to child pornography charges.
31 year old Roland Yockel faces to 5 to 20 years in in Federal Prison. He will be sentenced in June.
Prosecutors say Yockel lived in the basement of his parent’s home where his mother providing baby-sitting services.

The Elba Lady Lancers continue in girls high school basketball playoffs.
Elba defeated Wheatland-0Chili last night in a game called by WBTA’s John Vazquez

Elba now takes on Franklinville Saturday afternoon at 3 at Rush-Henrietta in the Far West Regionals.

Jurors in the corruption trial of a former top aide to Governor Cuomo are getting a snow day. Joseph Percoco has been on trial for six weeks in for allegedly accepting bribes.
The jury says it’s deadlocked and a few jurors have asked to be dismissed for exhaustion. The judge ordered the jury to get back to deliberating tomorrow morning.

SRO-Deputy Matt Butler

Press Release:

Genesee County Sheriff William A. Sheron, Jr. hosted a meeting last week with Genesee County School Superintendents, local police officials, local government representatives, along with state representatives Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer, to discuss school safety concerns and the viability of having School Resource Officers within each school district.

Senator Ranzenhofer & Sheriff Sheron

“School Resource Officers can play an important role in our school districts, from helping to resolve conflict to preventing tragedies. I fully support placing these officers in our local school districts, and I have been working to secure state funding to expand School Resource Officers in Genesee County and across New York State. I commend Sheriff Sheron for his leadership on this issue, and I will continue to work with him to keep our children safe,” said State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer.

While it was the consensus of most of those in attendance that there should be a School Resource Officer in each school within the county, concerns were expressed of how to fund the position and identifying the source of this funding. The attendees discussed a variety of possible federal, state and local options and agreed to explore funding sources to offset the cost of the potential School Resource Officers.

Assemblyman Hawley

“I was pleased to meet with Sheriff Sheron, local educators and community stakeholders to discuss how we can increase school safety. The state needs to take action to help our schools become the most secure and comfortable environments they can be. We need to look at working with retired law enforcement and veterans in our schools because our children’s safety should be our number one priority,” said Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia).

Currently, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office has School Resource Officers at the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership’s (BOCES) Batavia Campus (for the past 15 years) and in the Byron-Bergen Central School District (for the past three years). Additionally, the Village of LeRoy Police Department provides a School Resource Officer to the LeRoy School District, and the Batavia City School District has Security Aides within its facilities.

During the meeting, representatives from Genesee Valley Educational Partnership’s (BOCES) Batavia Campus and the Byron-Bergen School District spoke highly about the advantages of having a School Resource Officer. They explained that it not only provides a safe environment for the students and faculty but also provides for direct interaction and guidance with the students. Both officials agreed that the benefits of having a School Resource Officer far outweigh the expense associated with the position.

“When we started our SRO Program 15 years ago, the prevailing question was, ‘Why?’” said Christopher Hayward, LeRoy Police Chief. “With everything that has happened in the last 15 years, and sadly will continue to happen, the question has to be, ‘Why not?’”

Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch stated, “the City Police Department remains dedicated to the safety and security of all schools within its district. The time has come for the lawmakers in this state to step up and allow school districts to utilize their aid in establishing programs that make sense on a local level. This type of flexibility would go a long way to allowing each district in Genesee County to partner with local law enforcement to provide a School Resource Officer.”

Sheriff Sheron stated that it his goal to establish a School Resource Officer in all county schools to ensure the safety and protection of the students and faculty. “Although the cost associated with placing a School Resource Officer in the schools is significant, I believe the safety and security of our children should be of the utmost precedence.”

Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies will be visiting schools on a regular basis and assist during school safety drills. This will aid in familiarizing Deputies with the school’s faculty and students along with the layout and procedures of each school.

Press Release:

A complaint from a concerned citizen of an erratic driver on 3/04/2018 led to a Felony Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated Charge with a Child (Leandra’s Law) and three counts of Misdemeanor Endangering the Welfare of a Child for 32 yr old Amy M. Page of 526 North Rd, Scottsville.

The caller, who was following the vehicle that Page was driving, reported that Page’s vehicle almost hit two vehicles on Route 5 near Stafford, was driving in the wrong lane and went off the road numerous times.

Page’s vehicle was located by the LeRoy Police Department after it turned into the parking lot of the business on West Main Street in the Village and allegedly drove into a snowbank.

During the course of the investigation, It was Alleged that Page was Intoxicated with a Blood Alcohol Content above .18% and did so with three children in the vehicle.

Page was arraigned in the Town of LeRoy Court and committed to the Genesee County Jail on $2,500 bail and a full stay away order of protection was issued for Page to stay away from the children.

65 year old Felix Cabrera-Lopez of Emerson Street in Rochester was stopped on South Lake Ave in Bergen late Tuesday night where he was arrested for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation and for having an Uninspected Vehicle.

Deputies found that Cabrera-Lopez had his driving privileges revoked on at least 10 different occasions.

He was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

53 year old Anthony Calabrese of Firestone Road in Lackawanna was stopped for allegedly speeding on Route 5 in Batavia early Tuesday morning.

Calabrese was accused of being intoxicated and was taken into custody for DWI.

He was additionally charged with speeding, moving from a lane unsafely and Misuse of dealer plates.

He was released with an appearance ticket returnable to Batavia Town Court on April 19th.

Dr. Thomas C. Priester, courtesy of GCC

Press Release:

Officials at Genesee Community College announced that Dr. Thomas C. Priester of Lancaster, NY has accepted the position of associate dean of the Wyoming County Campus Centers in Arcade and Warsaw. Dr. Priester has been operating as interim dean since the summer of 2017 when his predecessor retired. He came to GCC in 2012 as an instructor of Transitional Studies and was named director of Transitional Studies in 2015. Prior to GCC, Dr. Priester worked as the director of Academic Success at Finger Lakes Community College and the program coordinator at Monroe Community College.

“I first came to GCC for an opportunity to serve as a faculty member at a forward-moving community college in Western New York,” Dr. Priester said. “Community colleges are affordable, transformational institutions. From access to success, the unique role of the community college is to meet students where they are and help to get them to where it is they want to go. As hope-inspired institutions dedicated to helping students interact with the future, community colleges assist students overcome barriers to enrollment, develop and deliver rigorous curricula that prepare students for their respective life-career goals, and lead purposeful efforts that activate student persistence, retention and completion.”

Dr. Priester also serves as a lecturer for the Higher Education Administration graduate program at SUNY Buffalo State College, and he is a member of the board of directors for the SUNY Fredonia Alumni Association, an accreditation reviewer for the National Association for Developmental Education and a peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission of Higher Education.

“Tom’s commitment to the Wyoming County community and his dedication to higher education are evident in the work he began as interim associate dean,” said Dr. Craig Lamb, dean of Distributed Learning who oversees both GCC’s six Campus Centers and Online Learning. “His official appointment as associate dean will only spur his efforts and allow him to continue to serve our students, our faculty and staff, and our communities.”

Dr. Priester earned his B.A. in Secondary English Education at SUNY Fredonia, his M.S. in Student Personnel Administration at SUNY Buffalo State College, and his Ed.D. in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College.
“With the academic and life-career success of our students (both inside and outside of the classroom) as our motivating factor, I am thrilled to work closely with the exemplary team of faculty and staff at the Wyoming County Campus Centers as we work together towards our common goal-student success,” Priester said. “While relationships are the currency of higher education, one of our immediate goals is to rejuvenate successful relationships with local high school personnel and community members to position both the Arcade and Warsaw Campus Centers as educational hubs in Wyoming County. Ultimately, we plan to keep our hallways hoppin’!”

In Wyoming County, the Arcade Campus Center was established in 1995 and is located at 25 Edward Street, Arcade, NY 14009, https://www.genesee.edu/home/about/campuses/arcade/; and the Warsaw Campus Center was established in 1991 and is located at 115 Linwood Avenue in the YMCA Building, Warsaw, NY 14569, https://www.genesee.edu/home/about/campuses/warsaw/.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

Jason Chiodo (left) carries the ball before scoring one of five goals in a 15-10 win at MCC (photo credit:GCC Athletics/Mark Jagord)

Press Release:

Men’s Lacrosse Team Scores Double-Digit Middle Frames to Rally Over MCC

The Genesee Community College men’s lacrosse team must have had the weather on their minds because like the temperature, the team had a cold start. The Cougars put together back-to-back five goal quarters for a combined 10-goals in the middle frames in the second and third to coast to a 15-10 road win to open the season.

After trailing 4-2 after the first quarter, the team rallied to take a 7-5 lead at the intermission and then scored eight more goals in the next two quarters. Andrew Forte was a key figure in giving the Cougars possession after dominating the faceoff circle with 18 wins.

Genesee had four multi-goal scorers and was led by Jason Chiodo’s five goals. Alex Mack scored three including the game winner, while Jordan Brennan and Evan Holfelder each added a pair. Single tallies came from Kevin McParlene, Patrick Bilbrey and Tyler Thompson.

Brennan and McParlene co-led the team in assists with three, while Chiodo also recorded a pair of helpers for a seven-point night. Garrett Lazore and Lincoln Potter split equal time in the cage with Lazore getting the start and recording four saves, while Potter recorded three saves in relief with each logging 30 minutes. Although each keeper allowed five goals against, one of Lazore’s and two of Potters’ were while Monroe was man-up.

Genesee had 18 more shots toward the net than Monroe at 51-33 and also won 14 more draws than the Tribunes at 40-26.

Jason Chiodo blows this shot past Monroe’s netminder and would pick up seven points on the day with five goals and two helpers

Mark Jagord
GCC Sports Information

2017 Virtual Business Trade Fair, courtesy of GCC

Press Release:

Genesee Community College is pleased to host the Virtual Business Trade Fair on Thursday, March 22, 2018. The trade fair will be set up in GCC’s William H. Stuart Forum at the Batavia Campus from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for everyone to come and enjoy some virtual shopping.

The Virtual Business Trade Fair, available through the Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) Program, provides students enrolled in economics and entrepreneurship courses with a hands-on learning opportunity to apply the theories, practices and knowledge from their classroom learning to an almost-real innovative business venture. The students work collaboratively to develop all of the components of a successful virtual business. They begin by writing mission statements and conducting extensive research into product features and competition, and culminate their work in building advertising pieces and their trade fair displays.

The students’ trade fair goal is to sell their products or services and allow the attendees to make purchases with virtual dollars. Community members are invited to come, pick up virtual spending dollars, shop any of the companies and support our local students. Thousands of virtual dollars will be given out to attendees to “spend.” At the end of the trade fair, the business or school with the most virtual dollars and virtual sales will be recognized.

As in years past, high schoolers from the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties will come to the forum and set up booths to “sell” their virtual products and services. This year will feature the following high schooler-created companies:

• Batavia High School featuring Relaxation Corporation
• Byron-Bergen High School featuring Survival Surplus
• Dansville High School featuring Trendline Designs
• LeRoy High School featuring Wide Awake Café
• Livonia High School featuring Delicious Deliveries
• Notre Dame High School featuring Cruisin’ Cuisine
• Pavilion High School featuring Spectrum
• Pavilion High School featuring Tailgatorz
• Wayland-Cohocton High School featuring iSnack
• WNY Tech Academy featuring AmeriWare

“The students learn so much building their virtual businesses. From basic business operations to salesmanship and marketing strategies, booth design and product presentation, this is a complete hands-on learning experience,” Deborah Dunlevy, Career Pathways Program director said. “It’s wonderful to watch the students learn to work collaboratively to make their businesses and the event successful.”

For the third year, volunteer bankers from M&T Bank will be on-site to help the virtual businesses to track and manage their sales.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

2017 Virtual Business Trade Fair, courtesy of GCC

Press Release:

“Facebook Marketing” will be the subject of a small business workshop to be hosted the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce on March 14.

This is the one of a series of business workshops held in conjunction with the United States Small Business Administration and the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce. The workshops are open to all Chamber and non-Chamber businesses and their employees and will offer expert advice from experienced business professionals designed to help small businesses succeed and grow.

“Facebook marketing is a great way to market your business at a lower cost,” said Tom Turnbull, Chamber President. “This workshop will offer tips on how to make your Facebook marketing more effective.”

The workshop will be held at the Chamber of Commerce office, 8276 Park Rd., Batavia. The session will run from 7:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and includes a question and answer period. Cost for non-Chamber members is $10 for each attendee. Chamber members and Batavia Business Improvement District members may attend all small business workshops free of charge but should make reservations to insure space.

To reserve a seat in any workshop or for more information, contact Kelly Bermingham at 585-343-7440 or by email at kbermingham@geneseeny.com.

Press Release:

While Batavia and Genesee County have long been recognized as one of the top micropolitan regions in the United States, the area received its highest ranking ever as it climbed all the way to number 2 among 575 micropolitans across the country. The annual rankings are compiled by Site Selection magazine.

Batavia was the only town in New York State to be ranked in the top 40 of micropolitans. It is the fifteenth consecutive year Batavia and Genesee County have been recognized. The ranking of “Top Micropolitans” is based on cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people which cover at least one county.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment and it once again demonstrates the commitment and collaboration among the public and private sectors to bring new investment and jobs to the region and just as important assisting companies that are already here in expanding and retaining jobs,” said Steve Hyde, President and CEO of the GCEDC.

The GCEDC achieved 16 project “wins” in 2017 that generated approximately $240 million in investment.
Since 2003, the GCEDC has provided similar assistance and incentives for 449 projects which have generated $1.3 billion in capital investment and the creation and/or retention of approximately 4,528 jobs.

Full the full list of rankings, including some commentary about the region’s rise to 2nd place, please visit:
https://siteselection.com/issues/2018/mar/top-micros-2017-crowning-achievement.cfm?utm_source=Dispatch&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Editorial

Former kindergarten teacher in Brockport pleads guilty to child porn charge.
Prison awaits a disgraced former teacher at the Brockport Central School following a guilty plea for receiving child pornography.
31 year old Roland Yockel the second admitted to receiving and possessing the material in a Federal Court in Buffalo Yesterday.
Yockel is said to have lived in the basement of his parents’ home with his mother providing babysitting services at the residnce.
Last year investigators searched through his residence uncovering hundreds of child porn videos.
Officers even found children’s underwear beneath his mattress.
Yockel admitted he had contact with a girl under seven years old who was being babysat by his mother.
He faces between 5 and 20 years behind bars when he is sentenced in June.

Flu rates on the decline after tripling previous cases recorded.
Health Director Paul Petitt reported to the Human Services Committee during their Monday meeting, that there have been 520 confirmed flu cases in Genesee County this season.
The number is nearly three times the average of the 150 to 200 cases usually recorded during the same period.
Fortunately the number of reported cases is beginning to slow, however there is typically a second peak during flu season.
Petitt said the flu shot is still the best way to prevent or reduce the severity of the flu even though it is only reported to be around 40 percent effective.

A 100 year old home is lost to an early morning fire in Batavia.
Flames ripped through the home on 20 Columbia Avenue yesterday morning destroying the home and belongings of a family of five .
Fortunately there were no injuries.
The fire went to a third alarm with crews from Elba and Alexander activated as well as the Town and City of Batavia Departments.
The home was declared a total loss and several pet dogs perished in the blaze.

Two Medina residents behind bars for drugs and funny money.
A home visit by Parole officers at a Medina residence allegedly uncovered a small amount of pot along with bag of various other drugs.
That spurred a full search of the residence with a police K-9 unit.
The search uncovered even more cocaine and marijuana along with a large sum of money as well as several counterfeit bills in 100 dollar denominations.
Collen Poole and Rebekah Champlin were both arrested and charged with felony counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to sell along with several other related charges.
Both were committed to the Orleans County Jail.
Poole was ordered to be held without bail and Champlin was held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

A brand-new initiative to sniff out suspected opioid dealers in Western New York is off to a fast start.
On Monday, law enforcement in Erie County offered people up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an opioid dealer.
It said about 70 tips were received within 24 hours of the offer.
The Erie County D-A has set aside $45,000 to reward tipsters through Crime Stoppers Buffalo.
WHEC says they’re working to find out if Rochester will start a similar program.

The number of confirmed cases of the Flu in Genesee County this year is three times what it was last year.
County Health Director Paul Petit told the legislatures Human Services committee yesterday there were 520 confirmed cases so far this flu season, compared to 150 cases last year.
There was a bit of positive news: Petit said the number of new cases seems to have slowed but he added that there is usually a second peak of cases before the season is over.
Petit also reported there was a cases of rabies in January. A total of 12 people required treatment after they took in a stray kitten that tested positive for rabies.

PHOTO: Courtesy: The Batavian

Fire at 20 Columbia Avenue this morning rips through a 100 year old home.
There were no injuries.
A family of five, including an infant, has been left homeless.
City of Batavia Fire Captain Marty Heinz;

Three alarms were sounded to bring the blaze under control.
The home and contents declared a total loss. Several pets dogs perished in the blaze.

Two Medina residents busted with drugs and phony money.
Collen Poole and Rebekah Champlin were both arrested during a parole visit last week. Authorities say the found a quantity of cocaine and pot along with several counterfeit $100 bills.
Both were committed to the Orleans County Jail where they held on $25,000 bail.

Darien Lake is hiring for the upcoming summer season. The amusement park is looking to fill 1,600 positions in lodging, entertainment and food service. The theme park is holding a job fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at its Lodge on the Lake Hotel.

Health Director Paul Petitt reported to the Human Services Committee at a meeting yesterday that there have been 520 confirmed flu cases in Genesee County this season.

That’s well over twice the average of the 150 to 200 cases usually recorded during flu season.

Fortunately the number of reported cases is beginning to slow, however there is typically a second peak during flu season.

Petitt said the flu shot is still the best way to prevent or reduce the severity of the flu even though it is only reported to be around 40 percent effective.

For more on the story check the article by our news partner The Batavian.

Parole officers allegedly located a small amount of pot along with bag of various other drugs during a home visit Thursday in Medina.

The discovery led to a thorough search of the residence by Local and State Police along with a K-9 unit.

The search uncovered even more cocaine and marijuana along with a large sum of money as well as several counterfeit bills in 100 dollar denominations.

Collen Poole and Rebekah Champlin were both arrested and charged with felony counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to sell along with several other related charges.

Both were committed to the Orleans County Jail.

Poole was ordered to be held without bail and Champlin was held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Press Release:

When we think of nurses, we think of the care they provide to patients in a hospital, nursing homes, medical offices or schools. However, Genesee Community College’s Nurse’s Club is taking “care” to another level. On Saturday, March 10, 2018 GCC’s Nurse’s Club will host a community Easter Basket Assembly event at the Dr. Bruce A. Holm Upstate MedTech Centre. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. the entire community is invited to come and help assemble the baskets. Families are encouraged to bring their children and donate a couple hours to this meaningful community project.

The Nurse’s Club’s goal is to prepare 50 baskets to be given to the families staying in the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester on Westmoreland Drive as well as the House within the Hospital in Rochester.

Supporting GCC’s Nurse’s Club, Willow Group, Ltd. of Batavia has donated all 50 baskets and Pauly’s Pizza also of Batavia is donating pizza for the basket-makers to enjoy during the assembly event. The club is currently accepting monetary donations, candy (no peanuts), plastic eggs, playdoh, sidewalk chalk, or other Easter goodies to fill the baskets. The club is also eager to welcome any volunteers who’d like to help assemble. To volunteer or to make a donation, please contact Sandy Kosciolek at sdkosciolek@genesee.edu or (585) 343-0055 ext.6355 by March 7, 2018.

“The families staying at the Ronald McDonald House are there to be near their sick children. They didn’t choose to find themselves there during the Easter holiday, but they are there. These baskets will hopefully lift their spirits and make the holiday a little easier,” Rebecca Herlan, a GCC nursing instructor and co-advisor to the Nurse’s Club. “Often times, the hospitalized child’s siblings are staying at the Ronald McDonald House too and so these baskets will go to them as well.”

For Trista Teets, the student organizing the entire event, this is much more than a community service project, it is about the warmth these donations bring to the hearts of these children and families. Teets’s daughter was a patient at Golisano Children’s Hospital when she was just two weeks old. “It was Easter time and our entire family was so wrapped up in our daughter’s care, we had no time or energy left for an Easter celebration for our older children. The Easter Bunny and a local police officer visited the hospital and gave both of our sons a small stuffed bunny. It made our sons smile and our hearts melt. I am hoping this basket event will do the same for other families who are just trying to get through this difficult time in their lives,” says Teets.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a “home-away-from-home” for families while their children receive the medical care they need. The Westmoreland Drive House has 24 bedrooms, three kitchens, complimentary laundry facilities, gardens and play areas where kids can be kids. The house also provides meals and snacks for the families and transportation to and from the medical facilities is available. More information about the Ronald McDonald House Charities including ways to donate or volunteer is available at http://www.rmhcrochester.org/.

The Nurse’s Club at GCC was founded over two decades ago with the desire to promote community involvement and leadership. The club members provide health information and charitable contributions to organizations related to the health care industry. In addition to the basket assembly event, the club is currently operating a drive to collect towels and feminine hygiene products for the House of Mercy in Rochester.

The basket assembly event will take place at the Dr. Bruce A. Holm Upstate MedTech Centre which is located at 99 MedTech Drive in Batavia, across the street from GCC’s Main campus. The MedTech Center provides GCC’s Nursing Program students with state-of-the-art medical equipment and laboratories. The facility also houses the United Memorial Medical Center’s Physical Therapy program and the Genesee County Economic Development Center offices.

To volunteer, to make a donation, or for further information please contact Sandy Kosciolek at sdkosciolek@genesee.edu or (585) 343-0055 ext.6355 by March 7, 2018.

Fire crews face tight quarters in structure fire on Columbia Ave.
What was initially reported as a basement fire on Columbia Ave in the city quickly went to a second then a third alarm after spreading to the upper floors.
Firefighters were called to respond at around 4:20 this morning for a working struture fire at 20 Columbia Ave near Ellsworth Ave in Batavia.
First responders reported only a few flames were visible however there was heavy smoke pouring out of the house.

City of Batavia Fire Captain Marty Hinz…

City of Batavia Fire Chief Stefano Napolitano…

City and Town of Batavia Fire Departments along with Elba Fire and Alexander’s Fast Team were all activated.
Firefighters had a tough job maneuvering equipment around the scene due to the closely neighboring buildings and the narrow street.
There have been no serious injuries reported and all the occupants along with a pet dog made it out safely.
The occupants are said to have several pets which have yet to be accounted for.
The Chief said the building appears to be a total loss as of his current assesment.

Troopers arrest a Lockport man on multiple felony drug and gun charges, with five kids in the car.
Police received a report of reckless operation on Transit Road near the Wendy’s and Walmart in Lockport.
Troopers located the 2016 Nissan speeding through a parking lot and performed a traffic stop.
After failing a field sobriety test, 26 year old Alexander Ruof-Brown was taken into custody.
He was allegedly driving intoxicated with five children ranging in from ages 2 to 9.
The children were turned over to family.
During the inventory of the vehicle a loaded handgun was located along with powder cocaine, over 82 grams of marijuana, numerous Alprazolam pills, a digital scale and empty glassine baggies.
He is facing a litany of felony charges including Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated under Leandra Law.

Orleans County man arrested for threatening to shoot someone in Batavia
30 year old Derek Dingman of Route 231 in Albion was arrested following an alleged incident on Prospect Ave in Batavia last Friday.
Police were alerted of a disturbance in which Dingman allegedly threatened to shoot another person.
He was charged with second degree Harassment and remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail.

Conversion therapy is now illegal in Erie County.
The practice aims to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of someone under the age of 18.
County Executive Mark Poloncarz signed a law yesterday banning the therapy.
Officials say the law will ensure the physical and mental well-being of minors.

Several bills are under consideration in the New York Senate that aim to keep students safe.
Lawmakers are looking to increase schools’ ability to hire security, invest in infrastructure to improve school safety, and strengthen penalties for crimes committed on school grounds.
Other bills that have been introduced would increase access to school-based mental health services and expand actions and intelligence coordination to help protect schools against attacks.
As current bills are being sent to the Assembly, additional safety measure could be unveiled next week during the conference’s Security Agenda.

Press Release:

On March 10th at 10:30 am the sixth ward and first ward will have a neighborhood meeting open to the public for any concerns. City reps and Council will be there. Please join us. Rose Mary Christian 6th Ward council person.