batavia

The county is scheduled to receive a $7,200 grant to help fund training for potential food-processing workers, as part of the Finger Lakes Food Processing Cluster Initiative.

The grant will likely assist Genesee Community College in developing food-training classes, said Scott Gage, director of the Job Development Center, and comes at a good time, with companies like Alpina opening factories in Batavia, along with existing businesses such as Yancey's Fancy in Corfu.

"Workers need to learn manufacturing techniques, process control, and health and safety issues," Gage said. "We’re seeing this as a tool to help us with these new businesses moving into the town."

Steve Hyde, CEO of the Genesee County Economic Development Center, said there is an effort going forward from government agencies, schools and food-processing companies themselves to create a better trained work force for these types of businesses.

He said developing such tech-based job-training programs (and food processing is now a tech-based job) is hugely important for the region.

"We are better aligning education with industry needs," Hyde said. "If you really start being able to deliver (a better trained work force), boy, you are at a key strategic advantage (for attracting new businesses to the area)."

In the past 10 years or, call volume for the Town of Batavia Fire Department has jumped from about 50 calls per year to around 300 calls per year, and the number could soar to 800 calls per year in the next two decades.

That kind of growth requires planning, according to Board of Directors Member Tim Yeager, who was joined by department leaders Thursday to unveil a new master plan -- the first of its kind -- for the department.

"What has occured in the past 10 years, what's occurring now and what could potentially happen in the future -- we tried to address all of those things (in the plan)," Yaeger said. "We don't want to play catch up and be reactive. We want to be proactive and anticipate those potentials and better plan for those in order to keep costs down."

The department will remain all volunteer, Yaeger said, but staffing will need to increase from 41 active members to 100 active members.

That kind of recruitment and retention, according to the plan, may mean possible property tax relief for volunteers, stipends, retirement plans as well as other incentives to volunteer. The department's bylaws may also need to be amended to relax the residency requirements.

The biggest expense for the department is in possibly replacing two aging and inadequate fire halls, which could cost $5.8 million and $2.7 million respectively.

The department will also need a second ladder truck at a cost of $625,000 and to replace the current ladder truck, another $1 million. Plus over the next several years, other aging pieces of equipment will need to be replaced at a cost of $400,000 to $500,000.

All of this can be done, Yaeger said, without increasing the fire district's tax rate, which is currently $2.34 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Growth in the town, much of it fueled by the anticipated success of the Genesee Agri-Business Park, will drive up the overall assessed value of property in the town, meaning more revenue for the fire district.

"That increase should sustain us based on our predictions over that 20-year period and keep in consideration any increase in the cost of doing business over those 20 years," said Fire Chief Randy McIntire. "We can keep the tax rate as it is."

Station #1, at 8382 Lewiston Road, is 20 years old and only 6,800 square feet. The concept #1 new station would be 18,000 square feet and include five engine bays, a room for turn-out gear, men's and women's locker rooms, offices, a workout room, lounge area and increased storage.

But Station #2 is perhaps the location in most immediate need of replacement and enlargement.

The large buildings of the ag park will require the fire department to have a ladder truck at Station #2, and with the anticipated growth in both business and residential on the east side of town, the department will need updated trucks and personnel ready to respond from Station #2, according to the report.

Built on Clinton Street Road in 1977, the 1,920-square-foot facility has only two engine bays and not much else.

The concept #2 new station would be 8,200 square feet, have three bays, offices, conference room, locker rooms and a lounge area.

Construction on the new Station #2 would begin in 2014.

While the plan doesn't anticipate a tax increase, and forecasts the ability of the department to pay for new equipment out of tax revenue, the cost of new stations will probably mean the department will need to take out construction loans at an anticipated interest rate of 4.5 percent.

The plan came about because department officials were looking at growth in the town and realized they better be ready for it, but they didn't have a lot of data on what the town was planning or what was anticipated.

Department officials met with town officials over the past several months and gathered data to help them develop a plan for the future.

"We had a lot of ideas, and lot of good ideas on where to move forward, but there was nothing documented," Yaeger said. "We needed to gather the data to justify the decisions that we needed to make. All of the decisions in this plan are based on data."

UPDATE: Forgot to link to the PDF of the report. Here it is.

UPDATE: The Batavia Police Department announced today (Feb. 3) that Shannon Reichart was located today safe and unharmed. Detective Richard Schauf thanks the public for its assistance in locating her.

Batavia PD issued an alert today for a 15-year-old runaway who may be in the area.

Shannon Reichart has a history of running away, according to police and has been found in Genesee County before. She has a boyfriend in Genesee County. His name has not been released.

Reichart is described as 5'2", 110 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes. 

She was last seen wearing a black shirt with white letters that say "STAR" and black sweatpants with white Nike sneakers. Shannon has a tattoo of a peace sign on her knee cap and the initials "HHH" on the web on her left hand.

She may be in the company of her 17-year-old boyfriend who has brown hair and brown eyes, weights 160 lbs. and is 5'7".

A 35-year-old Batavia resident is accused of breaking into a home on Porter Avenue on Nov. 18 and stealing video games and a gaming system.

Jailed without bail on a charge of second-degree burglary is Justin C. Smith, of 25 Hutchins St., Batavia.

Melissa C. Verton, 32, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with two counts of petit larceny and resisting arrest. Verton is accused of stealing $35 in cash and merchandise while employed at Walmart as a cashier. Verton is accused of verbally and physically resisting arrest.

Brandon Marshall Weig, 33, of Shady Lane, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Weig was arrested on a warrant for an alleged violation of an order of protection Nov. 13. Weig is accused of having contact with a protected person. Weig is accused of doing the same thing on Dec. 18.

Kahlil Nathaniel Johnson,19, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass. Johnson is accused of being at College Village after being banned from the property.

Dustin Stephen Williams, 24, of Simonds Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to signal and speeding. Williams was stopped at 2:12 a.m. on Route 238, Darien, by Deputy Jason Saile.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported in front of Batavia High School, located at 260 State St. in the City of Batavia. City firefighters and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 3:01 p.m.: A second ambulance is responding to the scene.

UPDATE 3:15 p.m.: A 37-year-old female driver and her passenger are being transported to UMMC with complaints of neck and back pain.

UPDATE 3:23 p.m.: City fire is back in service.

A limo is reported to be on fire at Mancuso Limosines, located at 3959 W. Main St. Road in the Town of Batavia. The limo is at the shop behind the residence. A responder on scene initially reported "nothing showing." But then a limo was found to be on fire inside a structure. "The occupant thinks he's got most of it." He's using a garden hose. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:48 p.m.: The fire is out. Units are continuing to the scene is non-emergency mode and they are going to check "to be sure there is no extension (of the fire) in the vehicle."

UPDATE 1:54 p.m.: A thermal-imaging camera is called for.

UPDATE 2:35 p.m.: Town of Batavia Fire Department is back in service.

City fire is being dispatched to the area of 8 Central Ave., Batavia, for the report of an arcing transformer.

It's been a beautiful snowy night so I stopped by Austin Park and took this picture of two trees under one of the lights in the park.

More than 100 brides visited Terry Hills today for a bridal show that featured 33 local vendors, such as Valle Jewelers, Stella's Bridal Boutique, Charle's Men Shop and Sweet Ecstasy Bakery.

It's the second year for the show and Lisa Fickel, marketing manager for Terry Hills, said the number of vendors is three more than a year ago, but the show can't get much bigger (maybe one or two more vendors next year) and she thinks that's a good thing.

"Rochester and Buffalo already had their shows and brides say lines are 12, 14 people deep and a lot of times they can't even get a business card from a vendor," Fickel said.

The show is helping expose local brides to the advantages of shopping locally for their gowns, cakes and accessories, Fickel said.

"People are very surprised to find we have all of this locally," Fickel said. "A lot of brides automatically think they need to go to Buffalo or Rochester for a quality wedding dress or a quality photographer," Fickel said. "They have been amazed to find they can find it all right here."

For a complete list of vendors who participated this year, click here.

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported at 4029 W. Main St. Road in Batavia. It's in the area of the Marks Trail Motel. One person is complaining of a shoulder injury. Town of Batavia firefighters and Mercy EMS are responding.

When Dennis Taber heard from a friend in another town how well he was doing with a gold, silver and coin exchange business, he decided it sounded like something he should do.

His friend actually invested in Taber's business and helped him open American Trust Gold and Coin Exchange at 239 Ellicott St., Batavia.

"He said it was a lucrative idea and I decided to take a chance on it," said Taber, who has worked for 30 years as an antiques dealer.

The lifelong Batavia resident said he deals in gold and silver, coins and any antiques he thinks he can make a buck on.

One of the Barker Brothers -- the two men charged over the summer with drug crimes and conspiracy to commit murder -- has been arrested again, this time for allegedly assaulting a fellow jail inmate.

Derick W. Barker, pictured left, of Jonesboro, Ga., was charged with strangulation, 2nd, and assault, 2nd.

At 11:54 a.m., Thursday, the 26-year-old Barker was reportedly playing cards with two other inmates of the Genesee County Jail when, for an unknown reason, he got up from the table in the common area, went behind an inmate sitting nearby and allegedly placed a choke hold on him.

The inmate lost consciousness for a short period and jail staff were able to intervene and lock Barker inside his cell.

The inmate was treated at the jail by medical personnel and remains in custody.

Barker was arraigned in Batavia City Court on the new charges and sent back to jail without bail.

On Jan. 19, Derick's brother Justin entered a guilty plea to burglary, 3rd, for a break-in at a restaurant in Darien and an "Alford Plea" on the conspiracy charge.  He is in jail awaiting sentencing.

Steven R. Cox, 29, of Franklin Street, Machias; Jessica A. Cox, 26, of North Union Street, Olean; and, Bonnie J. Bremiller, 33, of 4th Street, Olean, are charged with grand larceny, 4th, and conspiracy, 5th. The trio was arrested at 2:26 a.m., Thursday, following a routine property check by Deputy Kevin McCarthy of Deluxe Machine & Tool Co. at 8825 Route 98, Batavia, which revealed heavy equipment parts were missing. The suspects appeared to have left traveling south on Route 98, and with the assistance of Deputy Howard Carlson and Officer Brian Marceill of the Attica PD, a truck overloaded with metal was located on Route 98 in the Village of Attica. The suspects are accused of stealing $1,500 worth of used heavy equipment parts from Deluxe Machine & Tool. Steven Cox was jailed on $20,000 bail. Jessica Cox and Bremiller were given also jailed and bail was set at $10,000 each. Sgt. Brian Frieday and Deputy John Weis also assisted in the investigation.

Christopher J. Fiorentio, 21, of 622 Four Rod Road, Alden, is charged with petit larceny. Fiorentio is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General. Fiorentio allegedly fled from the store when confronted and was located by Batavia PD a short distance from the store.

Raymond Paul Boskat, 38, of Dorwood Park, Ransomville, is charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, 2nd. Boskat is accused of presenting a legitimate NYS prescription form containing forged information to obtain Oxycodone from the Kmart pharmacy.

Joel Brent Zajaczkowski, 18, of Main Street, Alexander, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Zajaczkowski is accused of damaging flowers and a flower urn at Alexander Central School.

Brendan Curry found a brown and white beagle-pitbull mix in his yard this morning and is hoping the owner will come forward.

He said the dog showed up on his porch after he let his own dogs in.

He lives on Batavia Elba Townline Road between State and Bank.

Brendan can be reached at (585) 219-4861.

A convicted sex offender who was charged with new crimes a year ago was found guilty by a jury Wednesday of four counts of sexual abuse in the first degree.

The jury found that in two separate incidents, Anthony P. Dioguardi, 28, a resident of Wyoming Correctional Facility, used force to have sex with a child age under age 11.

Following jury selection Monday, the trial took place Tuesday. The jury deliberated for 90 minutes Wednesday before finding Dioguardi guilty on all four counts.

Statement from District Attorney Lawrence Friedman:

Needless to say, these terrible crimes involving the sexual abuse of children are usually committed outside the presence of any other witnesses and, more often than not, there isn't any medical, physical or scientific evidence. Therefore, it is reassuring to see that convictions can be obtained when a brave child, like the victim in this case, comes forward and credibly testifies before a jury and sees that justice can be achieved.

UPDATE: Dioguardi is facing up to 14 years in prison, though his sentence could be concurrent with the time he is currently serving. Sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., March 21.

We've heard for some time that while PepsiCo is paying for grading for a possible construction of a food processing plant in Batavia, the same work is "being done in three other locations."

One of those locations is in Avon, and as WHAM13's Sean Carroll discovered yesterday, no site work is taking place in Avon at all.

At the same time, however, the economic development directer in Livingston County says the site is much closer to being "shovel ready" than the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park. His park, he said, doesn't need a USDA grant for sewer and water because it already has all the infrastructure in place.

"If they chose this site, and we made it very clear, literally they could plug in and all the utilities are in the ground and there's no infrastructure needed here or at the sewage treatment plant," Rountree explained

While Genesee County clearly has the lead in the race to land the project, Livingstone County isn't giving up.

The support of a U.S. Senator and the fact that dirt is actually being moved at the Batavia site appears to indicate Project Wave’s final destination may only be a formality at this point in the process. Yet Rountree and his team are staying optimistic after an aggressive pitch that included top representatives from Barilla.

Either way, regional dairy farmers will be pleased with either outcome.

"I think for the dairy industry in this area specifically it spells a good feeling about long-term stability," Coyne explained. "To have end-product manufacturing this close, it just adds to the confidence that we can invest in our own farms long-term and be able to be in business."

The other two supposedly competitive sites are in Pennsylvania. A contractor familiar with the project told me some time ago that those sites are graded and have infrastructure in place, but we currently have no way to confirm that assertion.

Press release:

Today, Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide several hundred thousand dollars in federal funds for sewer and water infrastructure work to prepare a Genesee County site to host a massive food processing plant.

Build out of the new plant will occur in two phases and could bring hundreds of jobs to Genesee County over the next several years. The Genesee County Economic Development Center is currently preparing a site to host a 363,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, capable of hosting 300 to 400 jobs just three years after it is completed.

The GCEDC is currently finalizing a contract with a food producer for the site, and is seeking federal funding to cover part of the costs of infrastructure improvements to ensure that the site is compatible with the needs of the food company. Today, Schumer called on Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to provide $300,000 to $500,000 in USDA funds for several projects that will ensure the site is ready to serve as a major job creator in Western New York.

“This massive plant could be a game-changer for Genesee County and Western New York,” Schumer said. “We can’t let inadequate sewer systems and wastewater lines, stand in the way of jobs. The USDA should realize the massive potential this project has and provide the seed funding that will help grow jobs and economic prosperity in the county.

"The funds are there to spur development and USDA would be hard-pressed to find a better return on their investment than this new plant. Secretary Vilsack should do the right thing and help us make these infrastructure improvements as quickly as possible to ensure that we don’t miss out on a chance to bring hundreds of good-paying jobs to Upstate New York.”

To ensure the site is ready to host the manufacturing plant, GCEDC must complete $1.8 million in infrastructure upgrades to the site. These upgrades include the construction of a second access road into the park, the addition of a new turning lane and road re-striping at the site’s main entrance as well as up to $500,000 for wastewater and sewer pump station upgrades. The GCEDC is seeking $300,000 to $500,000 in USDA rural development funds to complete these upgrades.

With Schumer’s encouragement and support, GCEDC plans to apply for funding through the USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program. The application is due to USDA in April and funding would be awarded in June. Schumer noted that in 2010, Genesee County applied for and won over $200,000 under this program to build out sewer infrastructure to land the Alpina Yogurt Plant, which will serve as another major job creator for the county.

Schumer is pushing the USDA to help Genesee County build on this success by providing funding that will help the county ensure that the site is prepared to host a major food manufacturer in the months ahead.

In his letter, Schumer wrote, “Simply stated, securing USDA funding to complete these new upgrades will bring this $247 million project and its associated 300 jobs to Batavia, NY. As such, and with my full support and encouragement, GCEDC is submitting an application for Rural Development funding by the April 2012 application deadline.

“Funding this upgrade will create an enormous return on investment. Already New York’s rural and agricultural regions are quickly becoming centers of tremendous job growth due to the rise in yogurt and other food processing. This new food processor will join the ranks of the 900-employee Chobani Greek Yogurt manufacturing facility in New Berlin, NY, the 240-employee Fage plant in Jamestown, NY, and the 50-employee Alpina yogurt facility in Batavia, NY.”

CLARIFICATION: Rachael J. Tabelski, with GCEDC, said the USDA grant is intended to fund sewer improvements. Needed upgrades at the site include a secondary roadway and aquifer water.

Previously:

• Likely buyer for 'Project Wave' plant is PepsiCo
• Expert: Batavia poised to become yogurt capital of Northeast