At 9 a.m., the water level of the Tonawanda Creek, measured behind the courthouse, was 8.5 feet and rising, according to the National Weather Service.
Flood stage is 9 feet.
The creek is expected to crest at 9.4 feet this afternoon.
Impacted areas include Kibbe Park, Law Street and Walnut Street.
Also, expect flooding in the rural areas of Alexander and the Alabama Swamps.
Press release:
The Alexander United Methodist Church invites children between the ages of 5 to 11 years old to attend its Vacation Bible School on July 22nd from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Alexander United Methodist Church.
This farm-themed program, titled "Hay Day," will include a variety of activities including bible teaching, singing, games and crafts.
Vacation Bible School, also known as VBS, has been a tradition in many local churches throughout Western NY. The program is designed to introduce children to the Bible and foster their relationship with God.
“We are so excited to host Hay Day this year. It is a fantastic program with a great message,” said Wendy Burkhart, AUMC youth and children’s director.
Preparation is currently underway at the Alexander church to transform the inside of the building into a farm and create a fun learning environment for those who attend.
“This is not only an opportunity for children to learn about the Bible, but it is a unique event that reaches out to the community and gets the entire congregation involved,” said Yohan Moon, AUMC pastor.
The church is located at 10540 Main St. in Alexander.
For more information, contact AUMC at 585-591-1765 or by email at aumcoffice1@rochester.twcbc.com
To learn more about other VBS programs in the region, visit http://www.fln.org/resources/vbs/
A community gathered to come to grips with the loss of one of their own Monday night at Alexander High School in the wake of the death of 17-year-old Brian West Jr.
"We're going to struggle for a while," said Andrew Young, a father of an Alexander student and athlete. "You need to have conversations you’re not used to having. You need talk with your parents. You need to talk with each other. If you don't, you're going to struggle longer than you should."
A group of classmates brought 17 sky lanterns as a way to honor and remember Brian.
"I didn’t know him the best," said one of the girls involved, "but he always had a smile on his face. Since he lived the best 17 years any kid could, we bought 17 paper lanterns."
After a few words by Young and Tim Sawyer, an Alexander teacher and head football coach, the students went down onto the football field and launched the lanterns.
Sawyer encouraged the kids not to take anything for granted.
"What if life were all good?" Sawyer said. "What if we never had an injury? What if we never broke a bone? What if we didn’t have death? What if there was no hunger? What if there were no broken relationships? Would we appreciate any of it? I’m just saying, life is a struggle and we can’t feel cheated by it. I think it’s part of life, and death, it seems final, but if things were good all the time, would we appreciate anything?"
Matt McCracken recalled a game last season just after Brian's grandfather died. The family was devastated, he said, and Brian already had an injured ankle. The opponent that week was Attica, and Brian played.
"He shows up on Friday night and plays the game of his life, and Brian Sr. and Jr., afterward, I’ve never seen a father and son that close, that happy, and that’s something I’ll remember forever," McCracken said.
Then McCracken turned his attention to a group of teens who came through the grades with Brian and pointed to the community of support around them.
"We're a small community and something like this hits us especially hard," McCracken said. "Don’t forget there are people who care about you."
It's important, Sawyer said, that the community supports each other and the community supports the parents of Brian, Brian Sr., and Jen, but in coming together Monday night, they were doing that.
"I don’t know how long this was going on social media that this was going to happen tonight, two or three hours, but there are a couple of hundred people here, and this is a little town," Sawyer said. "This is a little community. People look out for each other. People share other people’s sorrows. Guys, if it was good and happy and rosy all the time, I don’t know that we would all appreciate each other the way we do."
Previously:
Brian West Jr. loved people, and people loved him, according to Tim Sawyer, head coach of Alexander High School's football team.
He packed a lot of living into his 17 years, Sawyer said. Friends, family, and football.
Early this morning, Brian West died at Strong Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle rollover accident on West Bethany Road on the Bethany/Alexander town line, just yards from his home.
Sawyer wasn't just Brian's coach. He had known him his entire life. Sawyer and Brian's father grew up next door to each other, were best friends and Sawyer also knew Brian's mother since high school and Brian's grandmother is Sawyer's neighbor.
Besides football, Brian liked to hunt and fish and ride ATVs, just like Sawyer and his dad when they were growing up together.
"He was a lot like his dad in that way," Sawyer said.
Brian was one of the nicest kids you could meet.
"I think his relationships meant a lot to him," Sawyer said. "His friends, his teammates, his family. He always had a smile on his face and wanted to have a good time while he was around people."
He was part of the Trojan's first-ever Section V champion team last year. He planned to pursue a career in law enforcement. (Click here for his obituary).
The cause of the accident is under investigation, and with Brian's death, it may be hard to determine. As of last night, investigators said there were few clues at the scene.
Brian was northbound on West Bethany Road and lost control of his Chevy Avalanche after coming over the crest of a hill. The truck swerved, partially left the roadway on the west shoulder, and as Brian seemed to bring it back to the road surface, it flipped over. It may have rolled over twice. Brian was ejected and landed in a neighbor's driveway. He was alert and conscious when first responders arrived and that seemed to provide hope to everybody at the scene that he would survive the crash.
He died this morning at Strong at 5:20 a.m.
Brian was a good football player, Sawyer said. He excelled as a defensive lineman but played mostly as an offensive tackle this past season because of a pre-season ankle injury. Sawyer said he was too valuable on offense to risk playing both ways every game.
"He was almost like a Dustin Schmieder type of kid," Sawyer said. "He wouldn't have come off the field this year for me."
Recently Brian ran a 4.96 40-yard dash.
"We were looking at him possibly playing tight end for us this year," the coach said.
Brian loved athletics and he loved to compete, Sawyer said.
The Alexander football team works out together in the weight room during the offseason, and tonight is no exception.
"We're a really close-knit community and our team is no different," Sawyer said. "As a team, we'll try to wrap our hands around this and I'll talk a little bit about life and how we all leave a legacy, if it's a good one or if it's a bad one. We all have got to make our time count. That's going to be my message to the boys. I'm going to tell them I love them. We lost a big part of our team today and as young men, as men, we've got to be able to deal with that stuff."
Sawyer also spent time today with Brian's parents. Before he went to their house, he said, he spent some time thinking about what he could say. It's hard to know what to say, he acknowledged.
"I said to Brian Sr., 'If God would have said 17 years ago, I will give you a son for 17 years and them I'm going to take him home, I think we would all take that deal if that were a good life, a life worth living,'" Sawyer said. "Maybe that's not the right perspective. I don't know. But he had a good 17 years."
Life doesn't always work in a storybook fashion. Not everything continues along perfectly, Sawyer said.
"As sad as it is, I choose to focus on the positive," Sawyer said. "The boy had a great life. Yes, it’s cut short, but he didn’t get cheated out of his 17 years."
UPDATE 9:07 a.m.: The driver, Brian D. West Jr., 17, of West Bethany Road, died this morning at 5:20 a.m. as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
A 17-year-old East Bethany resident was seriously injured tonight after he lost control of his pickup truck and it rolled over -- perhaps twice -- on West Bethany Road, near his home.
The youth, who was ejected from the truck, was flown by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital. He was conscious and alert, and even trying to get up, when an Alexander fire chief first arrived at 10198 West Bethany Road.
"There is a hill rise to the south of us," said Sgt. Eric Seppala, explaining the sequence of events in the accident. "He was northbound. For some reason, he moved from his northbound lane to the southbound lane, went across it, went off the west shoulder of the road. The tires bit in and the vehicle rolled at least once and then continued and rolled to a stop. During that time, somewhere near the end, is when he was ejected from the vehicle through the driver’s side door window."
The cause of the accident, reported at 10:39 p.m., is under investigation, according to Seppala, but there is no indication at the scene of alcohol or mobile phone use prior to the accident.
Within the 100 yards or so from where the Chevy Avalanche appears to have started to swerve and cross over into the southbound lane to where it finally came to rest on its three remaining wheels, there are tire marks, deep gouges in the asphalt roadway, bits of metal from the truck, and a small field of auto glass.
Whether speed was a factor hasn't been determined, but traffic citations are possible, Seppala said.
Deputies were unable to speak with the youth before he was transported to Strong.
Seppala said it hasn't been determined yet if he was wearing a seat belt, but they suspect he wasn't.
There was a small fire in the truck when Alexander chiefs arrived on scene and they were able to put it out with portable extinguishers.
Deputy Howard Wilson is handling the accident investigation.
Alexander fire and Mercy EMS responded to the accident. Troopers also assisted at the scene.
The driver's name will be available once the Sheriff's Office completes its reports and issues a press release.
There was a car with a small fire in the car -- the fire may be out -- in the area of 1098 W. Bethany Road, Bethany.
An Alexander fire chief is on scene.
A man is down in a driveway.
Mercy Flight, with a 20-minute ETA out of Buffalo, is in route.
The Alexander Fire Department's annual carnival and tractor pull is back this weekend.
Today, the grounds open at 4 p.m. The kiddie parade is at 4 p.m. and pulls start at 7 p.m.
There will be music in the beer tent, starting at 9 p.m., with Red Creek.
The grounds close at 2 a.m.
The annual carnival dates back to 1938 and more than 22 years ago, the department added tractor pulls.
Top Photo: File photo.
Below, a photo by Nate Fix from the pull last night:
A Special Weather Statement was issued a few minutes ago by the National Weather Service stating: "An area of strong thunderstorms will bring torrential rains to Northern Wyoming and Southern Genesee counties.
"Strong thunderstorms were clustered near Attica, or eight miles south of Batavia, moving east at 15 mph.
"These storms will bring very heavy rainfall to Attica and nearby locations with more than an inch of rain possible in an hour or less. Locations impacted include... Darien Lakes State Park, Le Roy, Bennington, Attica, Pavilion, Stafford, Covington, Alexander, Wyoming and East Bethany. This includes Interstate 90 near exit 47. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways."
These conditions are expected until 2 p.m.
Rachel Ann Baehr, 30, of Linwood Road, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, moving from lane unsafely, and speed not reasonable and prudent. Baehr's vehicle reportedly struck a utility pole on Main Street, Alexander, at 5:42 a.m. Tuesday. When deputies arrived on the scene, there was smoke coming from the vehicle and the pole was broken. Baehr was located walking around the vehicle. She was arrested following a field sobriety test. (Initial Report).
Tara Lynn Thurley, 38, of Bethany Center Road, Bethany, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd, and falsifying business records, 1st. Thurley is accused of stealing money from her employer in Pavilion and making false entries into business records of the company in an effort to conceal the theft. She was arraigned and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.
A car has reportedly hit a pole in the area of 10532 Main St., Alexander.
The car is smoking.
Unknown injuries.
Alexander fire and ambulance dispatched.
UPDATE 5:53 a.m.: The pole is broken but upright.
UPDATE 6:02 a.m.: A field sobriety test is being conducted.
UPDATE 6:25 a.m.: The vehicle also struck a sign on Route 98 in front of the fire hall. There is no tow yet for the vehicle because firefighters are concerned about electrical lines on the vehicle. National Grid is in route, no ETA.
"There's a loose dog killing his neighbor's chickens -- occuring now," says a dispatcher about a call just received. The incident is at 2414 Walker Road, Alexander. Sheriff's deputies are responding.
UPDATE 12:05 p.m.: An officer at the scene reports the dog has tags, but he can't get close to the dog (to read them). An animal control officer is responding.
UPDATE 12:08 p.m.: The officer is able to read the phone number of the dog's owner on a tag and provides it to the dispatcher.
Kiha Samuel McNear, 19, of Walnut Street, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct, obstruction of governmental administration, and resisting arrest.On May 27, Batavia PD responded to an address on Jackson Street for a reported disturbance. While on location, police allegedly observed McNear acting in a "violent and tumultuous way." McNear was taken into custody after a brief physical altercation. The defendant was arraigned and jailed on $1,000 cash or bond. McNear is due back in City Court this afternoon. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Eric Foels.
Michael Bryan German, 34, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI with a BAC of .18 percent or higher, and moving from lane unsafely. At about 1 a.m. on May 27, Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Young was traveling east on Route 5 in the City of Batavia when a Ford pickup truck allegedly moved from its lane unsafely, almost striking Deputy Young's vehicle. Deputy Young initiated a traffic stop on the pickup truck. After a brief investigation of the driver, German was taken into custody and charged as noted. German was issued appearance tickets and released. The defendant is due in City Court on June 21 to answer the charges.
Darazian "Willie Paul" Williams, 23, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree and failure to keep right. At 7:29 p.m. on May 25 on Alexander Road, Alexander, Williams was arrested following a property damage accident. He allegedly possessed amphetamine pills at the time. He was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Alexander Court on June 27. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute, assisted by Sgt. Jason Saile.
Chris Kaboingo Mukendi, 28, of Mill Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. Mukendi was arrested at 7:29 p.m. on May 25 on Alexander Road in Alexander followinf a property damage accident. Mukendi allegedly possessed amphetamine pills at the time. The defendant was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Alexander Court on June 27. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute, assisted by Sgt. Jason Saile.
Alan P. Ellis, 36, of Woodstock Gardens, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt in the second degree -- violating a valid order of protection. Ellis allegedly sent text messages to a protected party on Ellsworth Avenue, Batavia, in violation of a duly served order of protection out of Batavia City Court. He was subsequently arrested and jailed in lieu of $1,000 bail. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence, assisted by Officer Peter Flanagan.
Philip S. Pompey, 28, of Lark Street, Buffalo, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, 3rd. He was arrested May 27 on a warrant out of City Court and is due in City Court this afternoon. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Nicole McGinnis, assisted by Officer Darryle Street.
Katrina L. Thigpen, 34, of Thrope Street, Batavia, is charged with offering to file a false instrument in the first degree and issuring a false financial statement with intent to defraud. Thigpen was arrested at her residence after she allegedly provided GC Probation Department with false NYS and Federal tax return information on May 15. She was issued an apearance ticket and released. She is due in Batavia City Court at a later date. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence.
Paul E. Tenney, 71, of East Morganville Road, Stafford, responded to Batavia Police Department Headquarters on his own accord after a bench warrant was issued. He was subsequently arrested for NYS Fire Code violations, which allegedly occured at 198 Ellicott St. at 1:30 p.m. on May 19. He is due in City Court at a later date. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence.
A 17-year-old who lives on Slocum Road, Perry, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Following a complaint on May 28 at 9:54 p.m. on Veterans Menmorial Drive, the defendant was arrested for allegedly possessing a small quantity of marijuana and issued an appearance ticket for Town of Batavia Court on June 26. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Krzemien, assisted by Deputy Ryan DeLong.
Within a two-hour period, three serious injury accidents in Genesee County, in Alexander, Oakfield and Pavilion.
At this point, there is no additional information about these accidents beyond what is in our initial posts (links below).
Alexander:
Three people were injured, including one who needed to be airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight, when a car veered off Dodgeson Road and landed on its roof in a creek in a deep ravine. A state trooper at the scene said the cause of the accident had not been determined at that time. This accident was reported at about 5:40 p.m. (Initial post)
Oakfield:
One person was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC following a single-car accident on Maltby Road, Oakfield. The Sheriff's Crash Management Team responded to this accident to conduct the investigation. The car appears to have veered off the road, struck and tree and spun back into the roadway. This accident was reported just before 6 p.m. (Initial post)
Pavilion:
In Pavilion, a car that was northbound on Perry Road apparently failed to see a stop sign crossing Route 20 and drove into the rear wheel of a tractor-trailer. The car spun around and came to rest pointing south on the north side of Route 20. Two people were transported by ground ambulance to Strong. The truck driver continued south for more than a quarter mile, dragging a wheel broken off its axel, while he tried to maintain control and bring the vehicle to a safe stop on the shoulder of the road. This accident was reported just before 7 p.m. (Initial post)
A rollover accident is reported at 3213 Dodgeson Road in Alexander. A car went into a creek. Unknown injuries. Alexander Fire Department and medics are responding. Mercy Flight is on ground standby in Batavia.
UPDATE 5:46 p.m.: The patient "self-extricated" from the vehicle.
UPDATE 5:53 p.m.: Darien Fire Police are called to shut down all eastbound traffic at Dodgeson and Seward roads.
UPDATE 6:01 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene and a landing zone will be established in the roadway, west of the accident.
UPDATE 6:36 p.m.: There are three patients, all of whom "self-extricated." Two are going to Strong Memorial Hospital via ground ambulances; one is going to Strong aboard Mercy Flight #5, which is airborne. The vehicle landed upside down, deep in a ravine with a creek at the bottom of it.
A two-car accident with two possible injuries, one of them minor, is reported at 1116 Route 98, Alexander. It is blocking traffic. Alexander fire and medics are responding.
David L. Handley Jr. is indicted for the crime of third-degree burglary, a Class D felony. On Feb. 12, it is alleged that the defendant entered a convenience store on Telephone Road in the Town of Pavilion with the intent to commit a crime. In count two, it is alleged that on the same day, Handley commited the same crime at a construction company on Route 237 in the Town of Stafford. In count three, Handley is accused of petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly stealing "a white trash can and tools" from the construction company in Stafford.
Tracy A. Hilton is indicted for the crime of first-degree criminal contempt, a Class E felony. On Feb. 18 in the Town of Alexander, the defendant allegedly violated a duly served order of protection to stay away from a certain person. In Special Information filed with the indictment, District Attorney Lawrence Friedman accuses Hilton of having been convicted of the same crime within the previous five years, on June 2, 2014.
Jeffery M. Brodsky, 45, of Morrow Road, Hilltop Acres, Covington, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd. Brodsky is accused of providing cocaine in both Genesee and Wyoming counties. He is accused of selling cocaine to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force in Genesee County on two occasions. He was jailed pending a bail review.
Travis L. Bartz, 21, of Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant while being held in the Genesee County Jail on unrelated charges.
Devon D. Rogers, 30, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Rogers was allegedly involved in an incident reported at 1:50 a.m., May 2, on Pearl Street, Batavia.
Amanda L. Dixon, 31, of Oak Orchard Road, Albion, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. Dixon allegedly failed to appear in City Court on a traffic violation. She was arrested by Medina PD and turned over to Batavia PD. Dixon posted $500 bail and was released.
Kimberly M. Douglas, 35, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. Douglas allegedly failed to appear for a previous court date.
Michael Adam Jude Salter, 36, of North Service Road, Beamsville, Ontario, Canada, is charged with petit larceny and harassment, 2nd. Salter was allegedly involved in a domestic incident at 2:19 a.m. on May 1.
Garrett A. Jurewicz, 19, of Crittenden Road, Akron, is charged with DWI, driving while ability impaired by drugs, criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, and driving left of pavement marketings. Jurewicz was stopped at 2:30 a.m. on West Main Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Howard Wilson.
Jacob Anthony Hazzard, 22, of Hudson Avenue, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, aggravated unlicensed operation, unauthorized stickers on rear window, insufficient tail lamps, and unlicensed operator. Hazzard was stopped at 9:59 p.m. Saturday on Drake Street, Oakfield, by Deputy Micheal Lute.
Brett Nelson Magoffin, 41, of Genesee Street, Pembroke, is charged with assault, 3rd. Magoffin is accused of assaulting another person during a dispute at 5:01 p.m., Thursday.
Michael Evan Wilson, 23, of Macedon Center Road, Palmyra, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unlawful possession of marijuana, speeding, and unregistered motor vehicle. Wilson was stopped at 3:06 a.m. Friday on Lake Street Road, Le Roy, by Deputy Ryan Young.
A 17-year-old resident of Telephone Road, Pavilion, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The youth was charged following an investigation into a reported suspicious condition in the parking lot of Alexander Deli in the Village of Alexander by Deputy Eric Meyer.
Linda Eileen Grimes, 52, of Transit Road, Elba, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful imprisonment, 2nd. Grimes is accused of physically preventing a 13-year-old from leaving a room in a residence in Byron and of allegedly touching the youth inappropriately.
Darrel T. Wilder, 29, of Bates Road, Medina, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, failure to notify DMV of address change, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle on a highway. Wilder was stopped at 11:45 p.m. April 29 on Route 33, Stafford, by Deputy Kyle Krzemien.
"These two Great Danes are lost and hanging out in Alexander on Gillate (Road) next to the steam show grounds," according to reader Michele Czekala, who contacted us late this morning.
UPDATE 7:48 p.m.: About 15 minutes ago, an animal control officer was dispatched to 10273 Gillate Road in Alexander to pick up two loose, but friendly Great Danes from the yard. They will be taken to the Genesee County Animal Shelter so their owner(s), hopefully, can retrieve them.
Stephen Edward Edmonds, 53, of Dodgeson Road, Alexander, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI -- driving with a BAC of .08 percent or higher, and failure to keep right. Edmonds was arrested at 1:34 a.m. on April 15 on Wilkinson Road, Batavia, for allegedly going over the center line of the roadway. He was allegedly intoxicated at the time. The defendant was released with appearance tickets for Batavia Town Court on May 4. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Parker.
Kayla A. Ladue, 21, of Barry Road, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and speeding in a 55-mph zone. Ladue was arrested at 7:54 p.m. on April 27 on Clinton Street Road, Bergen. Following a traffic stop for allegedly speeding, it is alleged that Ladue had marijuana in her possession. She was issued an appearance ticket for Bergen Town Court on May 3. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Mathew Clor, assisted by Deputy Ryan DeLong.
Adam Stephen Terhaar, 23, of Torrey Pine Drive, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Terhaar was arrested at 9:09 p.m. on April 28 on Judge Road in Alabama following a traffic stop. The stop was made after a complaint of traffic offenses that had occurred. He was allegedly found to be in possession of a quantity of marijuana, a glass smoking pipe and a grinder. He was released on an appearance ticket for Alabama Town Court on May 30. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Howard Wilson, assisted by Deputy Michael Lute.
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