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Shawn T. Rushok is indicted for the crime of first-degree sexual abuse, a Class D violent felony. It is alleged that between Dec. 15 and April 24 in the Town of Le Roy, that Rushok subjected another person to sexual contact when that person was under age 11. In count two, the defendant is accused of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor. It is alleged in count two that between those dates Rushok knowingly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of a child less than 17 years old. In count three, the defendant is accused of the crime of first-degree sexual abuse for allegedly subjecting another person to sexual conduct by forcible compulsion on April 24. In count four, Rushok is accused of endangering the welfare of a child on April 24 for allegedly knowingly acting in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of a child less than 17. The crimes in counts two, three and four also allegedly also took place in the Town of Le Roy.

Press release:

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and, as often as domestic violence is discussed during October, there is often one missing component in the message.

“Domestic violence is a devastating social problem that affects every segment of the population. Children are considered secondary victims of domestic violence and this is not the case,” says YWCA’s Support Services coordinator Sherry Crumity. “Children often hear and see violence at home, and through that exposure they have emotional, mental and social damage that can affect their developmental growth.”

That was the message during YWCA’s annual Partner Agency Breakfast Wednesday at the nonprofit’s North Street site. The event is a way to recognize those people that work in law enforcement, legal and justice systems, government, business and human service fields to help reduce domestic violence in the community.

Why the focus on children? Since 2015, two dozen victims and 46 children have sought safe housing at YWCA’s shelter. That means 46 little lives have all been touched by domestic violence right here in Genesee County this past year alone. Nationally, one in 15 kids is exposed to intimate partner violence each year and 70 percent of abusers seeking treatment witnessed domestic violence as a child.

This type of violence does not happen in a vacuum, said Dr. Alisa Hathaway of Project Stronger at Mount Hope Family Center. She explained it simply after a video showed one young girl’s sadness due to the abuse in her home.

“She feels invisible,” Hathaway said to the audience of about 50 people. “There’s not something wrong with her but what has happened to her.”

Children exposed to domestic violence exhibit signs of aggression, anxiety, stress, destruction of property, depression, bedwetting, challenging authority, headaches and/or nightmares, Crumity said.

Since services for children began at YWCA earlier this year, seven out of 10 have met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. It can be a long-lasting struggle, she said. She has worked with adult clients who have gotten “stuck” at the age they first witnessed domestic violence.

“Children who have witnessed domestic violence often have confused and contradictory feelings.  When the violence happens, children may feel scared and ashamed, or they may even think that they caused the problem,” she said. “Worse, they can grow up thinking that it's okay to hurt others or let other people hurt them.”

While most people are aware that domestic violence may include emotional, verbal, physical, sexual and even financial abuse, trauma and its signs may not be as obvious. Trauma is one’s response to a perceived threat to survival or emotional well-being. Even if a child seems “fine” on the outside, that doesn’t mean he or she is truly emotionally stable, Hathaway said.

In fact, care providers need to pay attention to those kids in particular, she said. They can be feeling shutdown, numb and separated from normal life, and therefore pull away from activities and relationships.

Crumity believes that it’s crucial for partner agencies, which also include health care professionals, schools and churches, to be trained in trauma-informed care and the effects domestic violence has on children.

“This way they are able to identify and refer families to services,” she said. “The training conducted today by Dr. Hathaway was a major step in addressing the gaps in services for children exposed to domestic violence.”

What to do? Hathaway offered some “essential elements” for providing this type of care:

• Recognize the impact trauma has had on a child;
• Help the child to feel safe and understand his or her problem behaviors;
• Respect and support the child’s positive, stable relationships;
• Be an advocate for the child and encourage trauma-focused assessment and treatment.

There is another element that is the anchor to all of these suggestions, Hathaway said.

“Take care of yourself,” she said. “It is equally important that trauma care providers take care of themselves.”

For more information about domestic violence and YWCA’s services, call (585) 343-5808 or YW’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at (585) 343-7513.

Press release:

Eugene Jankowski Jr., of Batavia, president of the Batavia City Council and a former Batavia Police officer, and has just returned from hosting Season 1 of "Shot to the Heart" reality TV show.

“The crew and contestants were great to work with and it’s one of the top 10 most fun projects I've ever been involved with!” Jankowski said.

"Shot to the Heart" is the brainchild of Stephanie Shipman and is produced by the Shipman Agency. Filmed on location in Texas, it's an outdoor television original and the first of its kind in reality outdoor programming.

A true outdoor-oriented reality show, based on the couples' abilities in the outdoors. Think "Survivor" meets "The Apprentice" outdoor style!

The show features couples that are experienced in various outdoor disciplines. They will compete in events that range from shooting sports, various hunting techniques, wilderness survival, trekking and sporting challenges. Only one couple will emerge the Champion.

The program will air mid-January on the BLAZETV network, check your local listings for times.

For more information and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the show, click here.

Eugene can be found here.

Press release:

The HEAP Clean and Tune benefit opened Aug. 1 and will run until Nov. 4 or until funds are exhausted. Anyone interested in the Clean and Tune program must contact Genesee County DSS at 344-2580. 

Eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper and efficient operation of the heating equipment. Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to provide clean and tune services, up to a maximum of $400. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.

You may be eligible for a benefit if:

·         You are the homeowner;

·         Your household’s gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size as posted on the table below;

·         Your primary heating equipment is more than 12 months old;

·         Your primary heating equipment or chimney has not been cleaned within the last 12 months;

·         You do not have a service contract with your vendor that includes clean and tune services;

Your household eligibility requirements include filing an application with your local department of social services, providing all necessary documentation, and the household must reside in an eligible living situation.

Here are the current income eligibility guidelines:

2016 HEAP            Elderly or Disabled figures                

Household Size

Max Monthly Income

1

$2,300

2

$3,007

3

$3,715

4

$4,423

5

$5,130

Press release:

Project Lifesaver has given parents of autistic children in Genesee County peace of mind, now local caregivers of older adults with cognitive impairments may also benefit.

Genesee County Sheriff's Office, Genesee Senior Foundation Inc. and the Genesee County Office for the Aging are partnering in this project to save lives.

Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office immediately, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area. Most who wander are found within a few miles from home, and search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. Recovery times for Project Lifesaver clients average 30 minutes — 95-percent less time than standard operations.

Ruth Spink, director of the Office for the Aging, notes that, “For individuals with dementia, wandering can become a behavior at any time. Don’t wait for it to happen, be proactive and protect your loved one.”

Caregivers who are caring for a loved one at home in Genesee County and are interested in participating in Project Lifesaver, may call the Office for the Aging at 585-343-1611.

Each unit costs $250 with annual expenses of about $50 for batteries, etc. The Genesee Senior Foundation which is affiliated with the Office for the Aging is accepting donations for Project Lifesaver.

Spink said, “We very much hope that some folks will be moved to make a contribution. Any amount will help to underwrite the cost of a unit for families who are not in a position to pick up these costs. We would hate to see the expense be a roadblock to keeping someone safe in our community.”

Donations may sent to the Genesee Senior Foundation, 2 Bank St., Batavia, New York 14020, with notation “Project Lifesaver.”

Spink added, “We also want to remind folks of our Caregivers Program which offers long-term care services, support, and options counseling. In addition to that foundational program, we are in the first year of a five year New York State Health Department regional grant project, Western New York Alzheimer’s Caregiver Partnership.

"With that grant, we are now even better equipped to serve caregivers through additional resources offering consultation, respite services, transportation, education, joint enrichment activities, and support groups. No one should be expected to go through this challenging disease alone. We encourage people to call our office. We’re here to help.”

Press release:

Batavia and Genesee County will play host to the upcoming Rotary District 7090 2016 District Conference on Friday, Oct. 21, through Sunday, Oct. 23. More than 300 people are expected to attend the conference to be held at Batavia Downs Gaming, and it will be the first group to utilize the brand-new Hotel at Batavia Downs, in addition to other Batavia lodging locations.

Rotary District 7090 consists of 70 chapters located in both Western New York and Southern Ontario, Canada. The annual gathering allows Rotary members to become immersed in several areas and initiatives of the service club, while also learning about the community they are visiting.

The conference includes an annual meeting and district leadership luncheon, education events, hands-on projects, parties and more.

On Friday night, many of the Batavia restaurants will be busy with a “dine around” event – where conference leaders have arranged for several local restaurants to reserve seats for members and are encouraging exploration within the area. The conference also has a day trip to Letchworth State Park in Wyoming County planned for guests.

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has been assisting conference planners with their visit and estimate that the three-day event will result in a $60,000 economic impact on Genesee County.

Christopher J. Campbell, 38, of Chaddock Road in Bethany, is a registered sex offender who, on Oct. 18, was charged with failure to report a change of address as required by law. It is a felony. He formerly resided on West Main Street Road in Batavia. Campbell was arraigned in Bethany Town Court and jailed in lieu of $5,000 cah bail. He is due to return to court at 7 p.m. on Nov. 15. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Parker, assisted by Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Saile.

Teresa M. Bosdyk, 54, of Water Street, Perry, is charged with DWI, speeding lane violation and not wearing a seat belt. The defendant was involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 11:50 p.m. on Oct. 18 on Ellicott Street Road in Bethany. It appears she crossed into the oncoming lane and struck a tractor-trailer. Further investigation revealed she was allegedly driving while intoxicated. Bosdyk was transported via Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital for evaluation of her injuries. She will return to Bethany Town Court at a later date. Additional charges are pending. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Howard Carlson, assisted by Deputy Andrew Hale.

Douglas Duane Brown Jr., 34, of Meadow Farm, North Chili, is charged with insufficient tail lamp, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree, aggravated DWI, per se, with a BAC of .18 or more, DWI. The defendant was stopped on Alexander Road in the Town of Alexander at 11:50 p.m. on Sept. 22 for an alleged equipment violation. Further investigation allegedly revealed that the defendant was driving while intoxicated. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy McClellan, assisted by Howard Carslon.

Adam Louis Zichitella, 18, of Cole Road, Colden, is charged with DWI, operation of a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or more, and stopping, standing or parking upon a highway. The defendant was found parked roadside in the southbound lane of Route 77 in the Town of Alabama at 12:43 a.m. on Sept. 25. An investigation allegedly revealed that the defendant was allegedly driving while intoxicated. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy McClellan, assisted by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Press release:

Genesee Valley Educational Partnership Drag Race Club will be hosting a car wash from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 22. The profits from the car wash will benefit the Drag Race Club.

The car wash will take place at the BOCES Genesee Valley campus, located at 8250 State Street Road in Batavia. Upon arrival, follow the signs through the campus.

Students from the Conservation, Metal Trades, Health Dimensions, Automotive Technology and Collision, Custom and Repair are working together to build a drag car.  The students have been working on disassembling a Ford Ranchero. 

Peter Stanley Hawkins, 49, of A Cayuga Village Street, Niagara Falls, is charged with third-degree assault. He was arraigned on the charged in Darien Town Court at 4:20 p.m. on Oct. 18. His arrest stems from an unspecified incident that occurred at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center at 9 p.m. on Aug. 31. Hawkins was released under supervision of Genesee Justice and is due back in Darien Town Court at 1 p.m. on Nov. 17. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Forsyth.

Guillermo Avila-Ramirez, 64, of Port Bay Road, Wolcott, is charged with: third degree criminal possession of a weapon; unlawful possession of marijuana; unsafe tire; and uninspected vehicle. The subject was arrested for allegedly possessing a dagger in his truck after it was involved in a motor-vehicle crash on Bloomingdale Road at the Tonawanda Indian Reservation at 8:03 a.m. on Oct. 16. The subject also allegedly possessed a bag of marijuana in his pocket at the time of his arrest. He is due in Town of Alabama Court on Nov. 3. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Parker, assisted by Sheriff's Sgt. Eric Seppala and NYS Trooper Mark Catanzaro.

Joshua John Dibble, 34, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. At 4:28 p.m. on Oct. 15, following the investigation of a shoplifting complaint on Lewiston Road in the Town of Batavia, Dibble was arrested. He allegedly stole merchandise from a department store by passing all points of purchase without paying. He was issued an appearance ticket for Oct. 27 in Batavia Town Court. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Henning.

Bethany Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding to 5402 Ellicott Street Road, Bethany, for a rollover accident in which one person is out of the vehicle and another is unconscious but breathing and trapped inside.

UPDATE 11:57 p.m.: Mercy Flight #5 out of Batavia is on ground standby.

UPDATE 11:59 p.m.: Stafford Fire Department's extrication equipment, "their jaws," are requested to the scene to expedite extraction. Possibly more than one person is entrapped. State Police are en route.

UPDATE 12:17 a.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene and the roadway is being shut down.

UPDATE 12:19 a.m.: It is confirmed only one person is trapped inside the vehicle. Mercy Flight transport is being done primarily for precautionary reasons. The vehicle with the person trapped inside is on the east side of the road and there's a semi-truck on the west side.

UPDATE 12:26 p.m.: A responder at the scene has corrected the incident location to 5405 Ellicott Street Road.

UPDATE 12:30 a.m.: They are going to shut down traffic at Route 63 and Little Canada Road.

UPDATE 12:58 a.m.: The victim who was entrapped is a female who regained consciousness by the time she was transported by Mercy Flight as a precaution to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

UPDATE 1:03 a.m.: The female victim was driving a sedan southbound on Ellicott Street Road when she drifted into the northbound lane. The male driver of a northbound semi-truck saw the sedan drifting into his lane and pulled to the right but could not avoid contact. The vehicles clipped each other, sending the semi off the west side of the roadway, partially into some woods. The sedan continued off the roadway in an easterly direction and struck a utility pole. There were no passengers in either vehicle. The truck driver was walking around at the scene, uninjured. The road closures are expected to remain in place for about an hour until the vehicles and debris can be removed.

UPDATE: The driver of the sedan has been charged with DWI, speeding, lane violation and no seat belt. She is Teresa M. Bosdyk, 54, of Water Street, Perry.

Submitted photos and press release from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office:

At approximately 2:35 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, the Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center (9-1-1) received a report from a teller at Elba M&T Bank, 7133 Oak Orchard Road (Route 98), Elba, that the bank had been robbed.

A description of a vehicle involved in the robbery was given to dispatchers and patrols from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office and New York State Police responded.

The bank teller observed the get-away car and license plate number and reported it to dispatch, along with a discription of the two robbers. The car was described as a silver Dodge Stratus, which traveled northbound on Route 98 upon leaving the bank.

The two suspects were wearing face masks, gloves and dark-colored hoodies. The get-away car was located approximately 1/10th of a mile north of the bank and it looked like the suspects got into another vehicle and fled.

Investigation revealed that the silver Dodge Stratus was stolen from the Spencerport area and the license plates were stolen from the City of Rochester.

The amount of money stolen is unknown, but it is believed to be not substantial.

Investigation is continuing by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police and FBI.

For more information, contact Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster, (585) 345-3000, ext. 3503.

A bank robbery is reported at the M&T Bank on Route 98 in Elba. Elba High School is on lockdown. The suspect vehicle left heading northbound on Route 98. Sheriff's deputies are responding.

UPDATE 3:13 p.m.: In a field north of the bank, money is strewn about. The area is cordoned off. Some of the currency is bunched in a packet, streaked with dye.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: No one is injured. The bank is located at 7133 Oak Orchard Road (Route 98).

UPDATE 3:23 p.m.: There are at least two suspects, both of whom were completely covered up and wearing ski masks and gloves. One person matching an eyewitness's description has been spotted walking along a road in Bergen -- a male wearing a gray sweatshirt and dark pants.

UPDATE 3:43 p.m.: The school is no longer on lockdown.

UPDATE 3:56 p.m.: The man spotted walking in Bergen was found to have no connection to this crime.

UPDATE 3:59 p.m.: According to Sheriff's Gary Maha, the call came into dispatch at 2:35 this afternoon of a robbery at M&T Bank. State Police and Sherifffs deputies responded and spoke with the tellers, who "were very good" at providing law enforcement with details about the suspect vehicle, including the plate, and a description of the two suspects at the scene. The vehicle was reported stolen in Rochester. The men both wore hooded sweatshirts, gloves and carried black handguns. They "appeared very nervous" and verbally demanded money and handed tellers bags for them to put it in. One suspect is described as black and the race of the other is uncertain. They left with some money, some of which was ruined by the dye packets, and some was left scattered on the ground. They fled north on Route 98 a short distance, then ditched the vehicle. Whether they were picked up by someone else or had another vehicle parked in the vicinity is unknown at this time. Maha said they ought to have photos to release later today. Investigators are poring over the bank's video and still pictures. They are going to process the abandoned vehicle for clues. Maha said this was the same bank that was robbed in 2009 and the tellers handled it as well as can be expected. "They are shook up, as you would be if someone pointed a gun at you, I'm sure," Maha said. "Fortunately, nobody got hurt. That's the main thing."

Press release:

State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer has announced $55,000 in state funding to establish a new joint agriculture education program for Oakfield-Alabama Central and Elba Central School districts.

The mission of the new program is to encourage more high school students to explore agriculture and consider a career in the industry.

“This important program will serve as another tool for educators to cultivate student development and success, and I am proud to have been able to jump start this new program," Ranzenhofer said. "Now, our students will have better opportunities to learn more about agriculture and be inspired to start a career in the industry."

The start-up funding will cover equipment, field trip expenses, instructional resources and materials, and instructional salaries. Enrolled students, in grades nine through 12, will experience classroom instruction, hands-on projects and opportunities to visit local businesses with a connection to the agriculture industry. The program will be administered by and located at the Oakfield-Alabama School District.

“We appreciate the support of Senator Ranzenhofer in this new program. Our students are surrounded by agriculture and now have the opportunity to learn about the careers of the industry. We hope the program will motivate some of our graduates to remain in the area as well,” said Oakfield-Alabama Superintendent Mark A. Alexander.

Agriculture and its related industries are the number one economic driver for Genesee County and New York State, and industry demand for a properly trained workforce is greater than ever. According to the Land O' Lakes Foundation, food production in the next 50 years will need to be higher than the prior 500 years.

Senator Ranzenhofer’s office received letters of support from the local agriculture industry, including: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Genesee County; Lamb Farms Inc.; CY Farms LLC; East Pembroke Grange; Wayne E. Phelps Ent. Inc.; Offhaus Farms Inc.; and Z&M Ag and Turf.

The Oakfield-Alabama Board of Education will publicly recognize Senator Ranzenhofer for his efforts to establish the new program during tonight’s board meeting.

A horseman is down on the track at Batavia Downs and reportedly has suffered a minor injury, possibly a hip injury. Mercy medics and city Ladder 15 are responding. It is a possible sign-off.

Medics are to go to Richmond Avenue to the stable entrance to access the track.

New items are still being accepted for the auctions at the 13th annual Fur Ball to benefit the Volunteers for Animals Spay /Neuter program at the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

The shelter is located at 3841 W. Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia. You can drop new auction items off this week during shelter adoption hours.

Adoption hours are:

Monday and Tuesday -- 1 to 3 p.m.

Wednesday -- 1 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

CLOSED THURSDAYS.

Friday -- 1 to 3 p.m.

Saturday -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sunday -- 1 to 3 p.m.

The Fur Ball begins at 6 p.m. at the Days Inn in Batavia on Saturday, Oct. 22. The Days Inn is located at 202 Oak St.

The Fur Ball will feature food, fun, surprises, stupendous desserts and auctions!

Cost is $25 for adults; children 12 and under are $15; tables of 10 are $250. Limited to 200 attendees.