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Funeral services set for Batavia mother whose death remains under investigation

By Howard B. Owens

Funeral services for Alyce M. Huntoon, the 24-year-old Batavia woman who died under undetermined circumstances Wednesday night, will be at 10 a.m., Monday, Grace Baptist Church.

Huntoon, originally from Elba, leaves behind two small children, Ava and Maddox. She was a 2005 graduate of Batavia High School.

From her obituary:

She was a secretary at Zirbel Automotive and had just begun working part time at Tully's. A shy, family oriented person, Alyce had a great love for her family and her world was being a mommy to her sweet babies, Ava & Maddox. She loved holidays, baking, family dinners and family traditions.

Calling hours are today from 6 to 9 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at Michael S. Tomaszewski Funeral & Cremation Chapel, 4120 West Main Street Road, Batavia.

Previously: Batavia woman's cause of death not yet known

Attempted break-in on Central Avenue in the city reported

By Billie Owens

A caller reported seeing people trying to break into a house and an RV at or near 23 Central Ave. in the City of Batavia. There are three suspects being sought, one of whom was seen wearing a red hoodie. They were last spotted walking eastward on Ellicott Street.

No students injured in bus crash near Notre Dame HS

By Howard B. Owens

No students were hurt today when an Elba school bus on Union Avenue, Batavia, swerved off the road and into a fence surrounding Notre Dame High School's football field.

There were 16-18 students on the bus, all Elba residents who attend Notre Dame.

Sgt. John Peck said the driver apparently suffered a medical condition, though he is being cited for alleged failure to keep right.

Law and Order: Woman accused of breaking into home three times over the holidays

By Howard B. Owens

Jeanine Lynn Calice, 39, of Summit Street Road, Le Roy, is charged with three counts of burglary, 2nd. Calice is accused of entering a home on Creek Road on three separate occasions to steal items while the residents were on vacation. Calice allegedly entered the residence Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Jan. 2.

Brian T. Cole, 33, of Route 262, Elba, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. Cole is accused of damaging a vehicle while it was parked at Batavia Downs.

Daquan Jamar McGrew, 19, of Palnet Street, Rochester, is charged with trespass. McGrew was allegedly at College Village after being banned from the property.

Michael Thomas Martinez, 27, of Orient Street, Medina, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, criminal contempt, 2nd, aggravated unlicensed operation and speeding (51 mph in a 40 mph zone). Martinez was stopped at 1:58 a.m., Feb. 5, on Lewiston Road, Batavia, by Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello.

Batavia woman's cause of death not yet known

By Howard B. Owens

Investigators have no clear understanding yet of how or why Alyce Huntoon, 24, of Batavia, died Wednesday night.

Monroe County medical examiners conducted an autopsy today, and according to Chief Randy Baker, "found no obvious sign of physical injury that resulted in her death."

There were injuries to her body that were consistent with medical personel trying to revive her, Baker said. Otherwise, her body suffered no physical trauma.

An unnamed city resident, Baker said, reported finding an unresponsive female in a parked car at 427 E. Main St., Batavia, at 10:30 p.m.

City fire, Mercy EMS and police officers responded to the scene.

Huntoon was transported to UMMC where she was pronounced dead.

The medical examiner's office will complete toxicology tests, but investigators will need to wait for up to three months for results.

Meanwhile, Det. Pat Corona said investigators will continue to question people who may be able to shed light on who Huntoon had contact with, what she was doing and what was going on in her life.

Corona called the investigation a "death investigation."

Huntoon was most recently employed at Tully's and did work Wednesday night.

Baker would only say that the person who called 9-1-1 was "a city resident."

The chief acknowledge there weren't a lot of details to report and said, "We're trying to give out accurate information," and he was careful not address specific aspects of the investigation.

"We've talked to several different people who may have had contact with her last night," said Baker, when asked about questioning a specific person.

In her Facebook profile, Huntoon wrote:

Having fun with life and being a mommy! spending my time with ppl that make me smile:-) bound and determined to smile and laugh everyday!

I am a momma of two beautiful babies Ava and Maddox! I try to spend my time with ppl that make me happy! i am determined to live a happy and fun filled life with the people that make me smile everyday!

Police investigating unattended death

By Howard B. Owens

A women was found unresponsive in a vehicle in a parking lot at 10:30 p.m., Wednesday and later pronounced dead, accounting to Batavia PD.

An autopsy is expected today to determine the cause of death and an investigation is ongoing.

Mercy medics and city firefighters responded to 427 E. Main St. on the initial call.

The 24-year-old woman was transported to UMMC were she was pronounced dead.

Police expect to release more information today.

The woman's name has not been released pending family notification.

Man facing multiple felonies admits to two charges as part of plea deal

By Howard B. Owens

A conspiricy to commit murder charge was dropped today against Derick Barker, 26, of Georgia, as part of a plea deal that had him admit to two felony charges.

Barker, who first made the news for running across the Thruway last June in an attempt to evade police, admitted to criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal strangulation.

When Barker was first arrested, he was taken into custody along with his brother Justin, 22, and Benjamin Santiago Jr., 22.

In September, the brothers were accused of a plot to murder Santiago. In January, Justin Barker entered a guilty plea to the conspiracy charge.

A short time later, Derick Barker was charged with strangulation for choking a fellow inmate in the Genesee County Jail.

For the drug and strangulation charges, Barker faces up to eight years in prison. He will be sentenced in April.

UMMC implementing electronic medical record system at outpatient clinics

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center is currently implementing an electronic medical record (EMR) system in outpatient clinics. Last week, Tountas Family Care Center in LeRoy was the first hospital-run outpatient service to transition to an electronic medical record and over the next six months each family care center and hospital based medical practice will shift to the new system. This includes Batavia Family Care Center, the Women’s Care Centers in Batavia and Medina, Surgical Associates, Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, Cardiology and Internal Medicine, and the Corporate Health Center.

Evolving to an electronic medical record keeping system in all facets of health care will lead to improved quality, efficiency, and ease of access for providers to an individual’s important health information. Paper records require considerable storage space and collecting records for review by a single provider is time consuming and complicated. Handwritten notes can be illegible and important pieces of data can be buried under a “mountain” of paper. The electronic medical record provides standardization of information and can predict, detect and prevent adverse events based on the information submitted and stored on the system. With the patient’s medical history, laboratory test results, allergies, medication and immunization records at their finger tips, physicians will be able to make a faster, more accurate diagnosis and reduce medical errors.

In addition to providing clinical documentation in the providers’ office, orders can be sent electronically to other hospital departments, (i.e. the Laboratory, Diagnostic Imaging, Wound Care Center) as needed and prescriptions can be sent electronically to local pharmacies for new prescriptions and refills.

In 2006, United Memorial Medical Center began using Medical Information Technology, Inc. (MEDITECH), an integrated software solutions company as the information system in the acute care, hospital setting. LSS Data Systems, a subsidiary of MEDITECH, will provide software for use in the physician practices for the creation of an EMR. The compatibility between information systems at the Hospital and in the physician offices allows structured clinical data to be shared in a timely manner and permits all available clinical information to be in place when making decisions.

This marks a significant accomplishment towards a consolidated electronic medical record for United Memorial patients, regardless of the service provided.

Maple Street resident accused of welfare fraud

By Howard B. Owens

A 39-year-old resident of Maple Street in Batavia is being accused of welfare fraud that spanned nearly 18 months following an investigation by the Department of Social Services.

Kerry A. Ackley is charged with felony grand larceny, 3rd, and four felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing.

Ackley allegedly failed to report that she was receiving worker's compensation payments and she is accused of receiving $11,341.18 in cash assistance and food stamps from Oct. 2009 to April 2011.

Following arraignment, Ackley was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Suspected welfare fraud can be reported confidentially to DSS at (585) 344-2580, ext. 6417 or 6416.

Hot Stove league dinner set for March 2

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Genesee County Baseball Club will hold its annual Batavia Muckdogs Hot Stove dinner and auction on Friday, March 2 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Terry Hills at 5122 Clinton Street Road in Batavia. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.

The evening will begin with a cocktail hour followed immediately by dinner.  The Hot Stove Dinner is a time for good food, friendship, baseball talk, and silent and live auctions of baseball-related memorabilia (including signed bats and balls), work by local artists, and gift certificates from a variety of local businesses.

Tickets may be purchased in Batavia at Dwyer Stadium, Gerace’s Hair Care, the Williams Law Firm, and the offices of Dr. Ross Fanara and Dr. Alan Barcomb.

Batavia Muckdogs Hot Stove Dinner is set for March 2

By Billie Owens

The Genesee County Baseball Club will hold its annual Batavia Muckdogs Hot Stove Dinner and auction from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 2 at the Terry Hills. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.

The evening will begin with a cocktail hour followed immediately by dinner. The Hot Stove Dinner is a time for good food, friendship, baseball talk, and silent and live auctions of baseball-related memorabilia (including signed bats and balls), work by local artists, and gift certificates from a variety of local businesses.

Tickets may be purchased in Batavia at Dwyer Stadium, Gerace’s Hair Care, the Williams Law Firm, and the offices of Dr. Ross Fanara and Dr. Alan Barcomb.

Terry Hills is located at 5122 Clinton St. Road in Batavia.

School board report: Consolidation plan update released

By Howard B. Owens

Report released by the city school district:

Highlights from the Batavia City School District Board of Education meeting on Feb. 6 include the following:

School Consolidation Update

On behalf of the BOE’s Buildings and Grounds Committee, Board Member Steve Mountain presented their completed feasibility study and a recommendation for consolidation of schools. The report also will be shared with the Budget Ambassadors as they review the district’s preliminary budget  and make recommendations to the board. The committee’s recommendation takes both fiscal and educational progress into account and includes:

-- Selling the Administration Building and relocating staff to available spaces around the District;
-- Utilizing the Jackson Elementary building for students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grade one;
-- Utilizing John Kennedy for students in grades two through four;
-- Placing grade five students at the middle school;
-- Revising the transportation policy so that all K-8 students who live farther than one mile from their school would be eligible for free busing; and,
-- Maintaining the Robert Morris building, making its classrooms and offices available for rental or lease.

Among the considerations behind their recommendation were the advantages of a “cluster model” for schools in which all students in a specific grade level are in the same building, providing for a more focused and deeper instructional plan. Research indicates that students benefit when curriculum is more consistent, and having all students of each grade in one building will facilitate this consistency as well as regular collaboration and sharing of strategies and resources. It also enables greater balance of class size as well as balancing concentrations of students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students among classrooms.

While this cluster model would also describe the middle school, part of the recommendation is to have fifth-grade classrooms in a different part of that building, set off from the older students. Another suggestion is to create a house model --  a school within a school that has its own educational program, staff and students -- for both fifth- and sixth-graders. The study also noted several nearby districts which currently and successfully have fifth grade as part of their middle schools.

Jackson and John Kennedy elementary were designated as the sites for lower grades after all three of the current elementary buildings were analyzed in regard to number and size of classrooms, parking and parent drop-off/pick-up, bus loops, gymnasiums, cafeterias, library media centers, and size of the school grounds.

In regard to the finances, overall, the committee estimated an anticipated net savings in the first year of slightly more than $1 million. A reduction in staffing would have the greatest impact, followed by lower utility costs for the Robert Morris building. Relocating the Information Technology Department from the Administration Building, which involves moving the fiber optic cables that make up the district’s computer network, would be a one-time expense increase. This is recommended only upon the event of the sale or lease of the Administration Building, in which case the proceeds from the sale or lease could be used to mitigate the impact of the expense. Transportation costs would increase if more students become eligible and if those eligible students use district transportation, but, using current formulas for NYS transportation aid, approximately 90 percent of the costs would be returned the following year. 

BMS Comprehensive Educational Plan

More after the jump (click on the headline to read more)

Batavia Middle School (BMS) Principal Sandra Griffin presented highlights of the middle school’s Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP), as mandated by NYS Education Department for all schools designated as being a School in Need of Improvement (SINI). BMS was classified as a SINI for not making adequate yearly progress (AYP) in meeting the higher proficiency targets in English Language Arts (ELA). While BMS has already begun implementation of practices to improve 
ELA proficiency, the CEP requires official board approval before being sent into the NYS Education Department.

The CEP includes three parts. Part I is a comprehensive school profile consisting of data on various topics -- such as enrollment, attendance, demographics, assessment data and survey results -- related to students, teachers, the district, the community, and the subject area of concern. Part II consists of the CEP team’s analysis of the data whereby patterns and root causes of low performance are identified and plans for improvement emerge. In Part III, the section for a detailed action plan, Mrs. Griffin highlighted two major strategies. First, the ELA staff will improve literacy instructional practices and make progress toward the college- and career-ready standard by more tightly aligning curriculum with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Secondly, the BMS community will learn, practice, and model research-based literacy strategies by having all departments taking responsibility for improving student literacy skills and increasing opportunities for students to interact with informational text.

Mrs. Griffin stressed that utilizing data analysis, interim assessments, and an interdisciplinary approach while increasing the scope, span and rigor  of expectations will help more students reach the raised bar of achievement.

Superintendent’s Summary

In addition to other reports on various current district projects, Superintendent of Schools Margaret Puzio, briefly noted the following:

-- While the board had recommended a zero increase in the district budget for 2012-2013, so far, the preliminary numbers are at approximately a 3-4 percent increase, which reflects an approximate 5 percent increase in the tax levy. Budget Ambassadors will begin reviewing the preliminary budget this week, and their recommendations as well as those from administrative reviews will be forthcoming.

-- A committee of district employees representative of the variety of staff positions has come together to investigate ways to reduce health care costs in order to preserve more jobs and programs. Rising health care costs continue to be a great concern in budget projections.

-- The district is well on its way to implementing the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) adopted by NYS in 2009. A recent training was held in Syracuse, and every department chair will be part of an upcoming district-wide presentation to staff on what and how CCSS are implemented.

School Board Association Awards

Superintendent Puzio formally thanked board members Patrick Burk and Amy Barone and congratulated each for receiving a Board Achievement Award from the NYS School Boards Association (NYSSBA). The NYSSBA’s School Board U recognition program is meant to acknowledge the extensive time and effort invested by members as they continually strive to expand their knowledge and skills for better board governance.

Update on Evaluation Procedure for Teachers and Principals

Deputy Superintendent Christopher Dailey provided an update on the emerging evaluation procedure for teachers and principals, noting that the State Education Department has requested permission to utilize pieces of our district plan as an example for other districts throughout the state.

The plan is in response to new legislation, first reported to the board by Puzio last fall (Nov. 1, 2011). At that time she noted:

-- Chapter 103 of the Laws of 2010 added a new section (3012-c) to the Education Law regarding annual professional performance reviews of all classroom teachers and building principals.
-- The new law applies first to all evaluations conducted by school districts on or after July 1, 2011, of teachers of “common branch subjects” (any or all of the subjects usually included in the daily program of an elementary school classroom) or English language arts or mathematics in grades four to eight, and principals employing such teachers.
-- By July 1, 2012, the process will be phased in for all classroom teachers and principals conducted by school districts or BOCES.
-- The new section of the law builds on current performance reviews, as opposed to replacing them.
-- The evaluations are intended to be a significant factor for employment decisions including but not limited to promotion, retention, tenure determination, and termination.
-- Performance reviews will yield a single composite effectiveness score (1-100) that incorporates multiple measures of effectiveness.
-- The measures used for scoring include student growth data on state assessments (initially 20 percent of the score, then 25 percent); locally selected measures of student achievement (initially 20 percent of the score, then drop down to 15 percent); and locally developed and negotiated criteria (for 60 percent of the score).
-- If a teacher or principal is rated as either developing or ineffective, the district must formulate and implement an improvement plan including such elements as the needed areas of improvement, timeline for achieving improvement, the manner in which improvement will be assessed, and differentiated activities to support improvement in those areas.
-- Districts must have an appeals procedure, established through negotiations, for teachers and principals to challenge their reviews.
-- This education law also establishes separate rules and for a Teacher Tenure Hearing related to charges of teacher or principal incompetence based solely upon an alleged pattern of ineffective teaching or performance (i.e., two consecutive annual “ineffective” ratings). In order to expedite the process of being able to remove an ineffective teacher or principal, the charges are to be heard by a single hearing officer within seven days after the pre-hearing conference and completed within 60 days thereafter. (A limited and time specific adjournment beyond the 60 days is available only if the hearing officer determines the delay is attributable to a circumstance or occurrence beyond the control of the requesting party and that an injustice would result if the adjournment was not granted.)

In a later update to the Board of Education (November 1, 2011), Mr. Dailey and Robert Morris Principal Diane Bonarigo outlined progress in working with the Batavia Teachers Association to determine measuring points and effective methods of evaluation for the locally determined 60 percent portion of the scoring measures. Utilizing ideas from the work two educational experts, Kim Marshall and Charlotte Danielson, Mr. Dailey and Mrs. Bonarigo presented a model that consists of approximately five annual, unannounced, mini-observations lasting 5-10 minutes, looking for evidence of “highly effective” to “ineffective” practices in three of the Four Domains taken from Danielson’s work: Planning and Preparation; Classroom Environment; Instruction; Professional Responsibilities. Then, within 48 hours, the principal would either provide written feedback, and/or have a conversation with the teacher to discuss that particular “snapshot” of teaching as well as invite the teacher to reflect.

The most recent report to the board included an update on the appeals process being negotiated, and on the 20-percent portion of the scoring measure. This portion of the measure is focused on defining the Student Learning Objective (SLO), which is particularly important for those subject areas in which there is no state assessment that can be used for teacher evaluation. Mr. Dailey outlined the five decisions that need to be effectively addressed before June 2012:

-- Assess and identify priorities and academic needs;
-- Identify which grades/subjects will have state-provided growth measures and which will require SLOs  as “comparable growth measures";
-- Determine district rules for how specific SLOs will get set;
-- Establish expectations for scoring SLOs and for determining teacher ratings for the growth component;
-- Determine district-wide processes for setting, reviewing and assessing SLOs in schools.

Booster Fundraising Proposals

Superintendent Puzio noted that, with the anticipated reductions in the number and in the scope of individual school programs, several parents have requested approval for forming booster groups to provide financial support for activities. Noting that difficult budget years are likely to continue, so too are these requests. As such, Mrs. Puzio suggested that the board consider formalizing a policy to handle such requests, and she asked for members’ initial thoughts and concerns. Some of the thoughts expressed by individual board members during this preliminary and exploratory discussion included:

-- The board should do whatever it can to preserve programs, including creating booster policies that would enable the preservation or support of activities;
-- A note that programs cannot become “pay to play” and that participation cannot become hinged on the ability to raise funds;
-- Any plan would need to consider the timeline for planning and scheduling (For example, any athletic group would need to be able to secure funding before the district could commit to scheduling competitions for the team.);
-- Breaking down all related expenses and forecasting the cost of activities could be burdensome;
-- Recently, some board members had expressed a concern about fundraising becoming too much of a burden for parents, yet this policy would likely increase the amount of fundraising that occurs.

Mrs. Puzio will consolidate the ideas and concerns in preparing a proposal for discussion next month at the March 26 school board meeting.

City council approves $1,500 annual raise

By Howard B. Owens

On a vote of 6-3 Monday night, the Batavia City Council approved a $1,500 annual raise for themselves.

Council pay will bump from $2,000 annually to $3,500.

It's the first pay raise for the council in 20 years.

New council members Brooks Hawley, Chris Doeringer and John Canale voted against the raise.

Car accident reported at Ellicott and Jackson, with injuries

By Howard B. Owens

An accident with injuries is reported at Ellicott and Jackson streets.

One person may have neck and back injuries.

City Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 8:48 a.m.: The scene is clear. No further information at this time. The vehicle had plates from outside the state.

UMMC's laboratory awarded 'Gold Seal of Approval'

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center Laboratory has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in laboratories. The accreditation award recognizes United Memorial’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards.

The UMMC Laboratory underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey in the Fall of 2011. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated the lab for compliance with standards of care that directly affect the quality and safety of diagnostic services and patient care.

"In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, United Memorial has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients," says Jennifer Rhamy, M.B.A., M.A., M.T. (ASCP) SBB, HP, executive director, Laboratory Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission.

"With Joint Commission accreditation, we are making a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis from the top down. Joint Commission accreditation provides us a framework to take our organization to the next level and helps create a culture of excellence,” said Mark C. Schoell, president and CEO of United Memorial.

“For our organization, achieving Joint Commission accreditation is a major step toward maintaining excellence and continually improving the care we provide.”

The Joint Commission has been evaluating and accrediting laboratory services since 1979. Today, The Joint Commission accredits almost 2,000 organizations providing laboratory services. This represents almost 3,000 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment certificate laboratories, including independent reference labs and in vitro fertilization labs, and those connected with other health care organizations such as hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and long-term care facilities.

The Joint Commission’s laboratory standards emphasize the results a laboratory should achieve instead of emphasizing the technical methods of performing testing, and were developed with input from professional laboratory organizations.

Joint Commission standards address processes that follow laboratory specimens -- from the doctor’s order into the laboratory, from specimen collection then back to the patient through result reporting -- focusing on the provision of high quality, safe laboratory services integrated with patient care.

These standards highlight the essential nature of laboratory services on the actual care and service delivery processes that contribute to and support the overall health care delivery system.

Batavia couple sentenced in welfare fraud case

By Howard B. Owens

A Batavia couple who admitted to welfare fraud were ordered by Judge Robert Noonan on Thursday to repay the government $14,017.14 they stole by filing false reports.

They are also disqualified from receiving food stamps.

Joshua Carney, 34, will serve four months of intermittent jail time in the Genesee County Jail, and then be on probation for three years. His wife, Holly Carney, 29, will serve three years probation.

In November, both Joshua and Holly entered guilty pleas to offering a false instrument for filing, 2nd.

Joshua had been charged with nine counts of offering a false instrument for filing and one count of grand larceny, 3rd.

Holly had been charged with 11 counts of offering a false instrument for filing and one count of grand larceny, 3rd.

They were accused of submitting forms to DSS that failed to report Joshua's commission income from his employer.

The confidential tip line for suspected welfare fraud is 344-2580, ext. 6417.

Law and Order: Duo accused of conspiracy in scrap metal sale

By Howard B. Owens

Angelo A. Cassidy, 35, of Lewis Place, Batavia, and 59-year-old Charles R. Gay, of Hemlock Ridge Road, Medina, are charged with petit larceny and conspiracy, 6th. Cassidy was reportedly employed by a business on Angling Road, Corfu, and allegedly falsified a weight ticket, allowing Gay to collect  money for scrap that was not actually part of his load. Cassidy and Gay are accused of making an arrangement regarding the money. The case was investigated by Deputy Chris Parker.

Carolyn M. Hooten, 29, of 12 Myrtle St., Le Roy, is charged with DWI and several traffic violations. Hooton was stopped late Friday evening on Myrtle Street by Le Roy Police.

Mathew Duncan Brew, 33, of Freeman Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to yield right of way. Brew was arrested by Deputy Brad Mazur following a traffic accident at 9:24 p.m. Saturday at Route 262 and Bank Street Road.

Donovan Michael Zandi, 22, of Campbell Boulevard, Getzville, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Zandi's vehicle was reportedly found by Deputy Kevin McCarthy at 2:59 a.m., Jan. 26, on Countyline Road, Darien, with four-way flashers on.

Kara Ellen Wojkowski, 28, Hall Road, Holley, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Wojkowski is accused of stealing a motor vehicle on Oct. 25. She turned herself in at the Sheriff's Office on a warrant for her arrest. Following arraignment in Byron, she was jailed on $2,000 bail.

Kathryn L. Johnson, 24, of 20 Hutchins St., lower, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Johnson was arrested following a visit by County Probation to her home and jailed on $1,000 bail.

Shed fire reported at residence on Bank Street Road

By Howard B. Owens

A shed fire is reported at 7786 Bank St. Road.

A chief on scene reported a full involved fire in a 10x10 shed about 15 feet from a house.

Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m.: The fire is burning itself out and the house is not threatened. Engines can continue response non-emergency.


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Photos: Youths spotted on roof of industrial building

By Howard B. Owens

Around noon, Batavia police received a report from an area resident of youths on the roof Excide Battery / Yancey's Fancy building on Ganson Avenue.

When police responded, they spotted people apparently trying to hide from officers.

Two officers found a way on the roof, located the boys and held them until city firefighters could respond with Ladder 15. (It's apparently easier to get on the roof, than off.)

Police said the teens would be taken back to the station, their parents called, questioned, and then they would decide whether to charge them with trespass or just turn them over to their parents.

In all, six boys age approximately 14 or 15 to 16 or 17, were involved.

Photos: Golf in February at Terry Hills

By Howard B. Owens

The snowmobilers are pretty unhappy with winter in 2012 so far, but the golfers don't mind.

About 80 people showed up at Terry Hills today to get in a round on a course that is usually covered inches deep or more in snow this time of year.

"It's amazing," said Brandon Seifert, of Buffalo. "I can't believe it."

Seifert, above right, was with Matthew Olsen, in the cart, and Olsen said he was dubious when Seifert told him he got an email saying the course was open today.

"We golfed here in November and the conditions were a lot worse," Olsen said.

Colin Castile, of Amherst, was also golfing and enjoying the break from snowboarding while getting the chance to tune up his game before spring.

"It’s nice to have a place that’s relatively local that’s open right now," Castile said.

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