elba

A vacant structure fire is reported for the third time in a week at 6616 Snyder Road, Elba. Elba fire is responding to the "rekindle" along with mutual aid from Oakfield.

UPDATE 12:45 p.m.: Fire is out. Elba assignment is back in service.

A house fire is reported at 6616 Snyder Road, Elba, located between Lockport and Maltby roads. It's the same vacant structure that was on fire April 20. Snyder Road becomes Weatherwax Road south of Maltby. A Sheriff's deputy on scene confirms the blaze and says some trees next to it are also on fire. Elba fire is responding along with mutual aid from Oakfield, which is to set up a draft site on Maltby Road, and Byron and Barre. Snyder Road will be shut down to traffic.

UPDATE 5:23 a.m.: Alabama fire is asked to fill in at Oakfield's fire hall.

UPDATE 5:32 a.m.: Elba command reports the fire is knocked down.

UPDATE 7:40 a.m.: Photos added.

"The structure was pretty much gone when we got here," said Elba Chief Mike Hale. "It was just a matter of getting the fire out and making sure the crews were safe doing it."

The fire is under investigation.

"It's definitely suspicious," Hale said. "We were out here earlier this week and now we're back again, so there's definitely something suspicious there."

Because the house was vacant and already pretty much gone by the time fire departments were dispatched, Hale said he kept the response to a minimum necessary for manpower and water.  Besides Elba, responding were Byron, Oakfield and Barre.

Hank is missing. Hank is 6 months old and escaped from home on Transit Road in Elba/Byron two days ago. If found, or with other helpful information, call (585) 297-0088 or (585) 490-3335. A reward is offered for Hank's return.

On Monday, members of the Elba community met in the crowded auditorium of Elba Central School to discuss a controversial cost-cutting budget that will reduce the positions of seven teachers and staff members.

The proposed budget for 2015-2016 will eliminate a guidance counselor, librarian, academic intervention service (AIS) math teacher, and an English Language Learner (ELL) teacher. It will also eliminate three teaching positions in Spanish, social studies and gym.

Elba has seen a $1.5 million budget reduction since 2013.

The new program at the high school would assign one guidance counselor at the high school and use a school psychologist to assist with counseling. Some students in Spanish would have to take a French class to earn an Advanced Regents Diploma. Staff members would supervise students in the library and students would no longer be permitted to use it during Study Hall. Gym class would increase from 17 students to 25.

At the elementary level, AIS math and English would be taught by homeroom teachers and teaching assistants. The focus at the elementary school was to maintain 15 students in each class, thereby keeping class size small.

“These are hard times and we have to make some tough decisions,” Scott Kaperman, principal of Elba Elementary, said. “The budget has been developed to put the focus on your child.”

Some parents, teachers and members of the community did not agree with Kaperman’s statement.

“I thought our motto here at Elba was, ‘students first,’ ” guidance counselor Chad Agen said when he addressed the Board of Education.

Agen and the other guidance counselor, Kelly Carlie, voiced just how important their jobs are at the schools. The two of them expressed concerns about bullying, suicide threats and other mental issues that some students have. Together, they help students apply for colleges and write letters of recommendation. They are worried that one guidance counselor would not be sufficient for the needs of all the students.

One of the biggest concerns expressed on Monday was the loss of AIS teachers.

“Why do we continue to cut our support for our remedial students?” asked Julie Maderer, K-12 reading teacher at Elba. “All students do not have the same problem and AIS is not a one-size-fits-all solution.”

Parents echoed Maderer’s concerns. They also expressed fear for how the 37 ELL students will do with only one teacher to help them. Nineteen percent of Elba students are Latino or Hispanic.

Christopher Salinas, principal of the secondary school, argued that students who have special needs will always coexist with their peers and it is the school's job to prepare them for life. Parents, however, said they feel the students are all being lumped together and it isn’t necessarily fostering success.

“If you ask the parents of the kids who need help, if you ask the parents of kids who are in the middle, if you ask the parents of the kids who excel, they would all agree that something is being taken away from all of the students,” parent Lori McClurg said.

A confirmed residential structure fire is reported at 6616 Snyder Road, Elba, located between Lockport and Weatherwax roads. It is a vacant house and the fire was called in from a passerby who said he saw flames inside. All available manpower from Elba fire is called to the scene, along with mutual aid from Oakfield, Byron and Bergen. Town of Batavia is asked to fill in at Elba's fire hall.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/6616+Snyder+Rd,+Oakfield,+NY+14125/@43.0922189,-78.2174804,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89d3f3eeec8511f1:0x8dd3115440501a07

UPDATE 1:17 p.m.: A code enforcement officer from Elba is called to the scene.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: The Elba assignment is back in service. Barre also responded.

Photos by Jim Burns.

WBTA has expanded its programming from one local entertaining talk show to two.

Hiram Kasten is now co-hosting "Batavia After Breakfast" with is wife Diana at 9 a.m., Wednesday mornings and his former partner, Lucine Kauffman, now has her own show, "Genesee Life," at 8:30 a.m., Saturdays.

Hiram and Diana, pictured above, will feature their witty repartee as they share their experiences in Batavia, what's happening in Batavia, and Hiram -- with decades experience as a comedian, actor and performer in New York, Hollywood and Las Vegas, as well as around the globe -- hosts guests from his entertainment world.

Lucine, bottom photo, will celebrate and explore Genesee County rich cultural life, featuring local residents who might be artists, musicians, authors, historians, hobbyists, farmers, athletes, local business owners and local characters. The show will also promote local shows and showings.

WBTA is at 1490 AM, 100.1 FM and streaming at wbtai.com as well as through apps available for your mobile devices.

Cindy Lou Bush, 53, of Route 98, of Elba, is charged with five counts of criminal contempt, 2nd. Bush was allegedly at a residence with five people under an order of protection forbidding her not to contact the individuals. She was jailed on $2,500 bail, $5,000 bond. Bush was also wanted for alleged failure to appear on five prior counts of criminal contempt stemming from a single incident.

Barbara Jean Salmon, 44, of Coal Hill Road, Taberg, is charged with possession of more than 400 untaxed cigarettes, tinted windows and plate obstruction. Salmon was stopped at 11:38 a.m. Tuesday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Amanda Christine Paige, 24, of Park Street, Pavilion, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Paige is accused of stealing from a business.

Brandon James Spurling, 23, of Strouts Road, Elba, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana, 5th, criminal solicitation, 5th, and conspiracy, 6th. Co-defendant, Anthony Abraham, 27, of Main Road, Akron, is charged with conspiracy, 5th, and criminal possession of marijuana, 5th. Spurling allegedly asked Abraham to take possession of marijuana and hide it from police, and Abraham allegedly cooperated with Spurling. 

Richard David Flint, 48, of Fort Hill Avenue, Canandaigua, is charged with falsely reporting an incident, 3rd, and misapplication of property. Flint allegedly reported a burglary to his residence that did not occur. The property he reported stolen belong to two different rent-to-own stores. He allegedly sold the property without the stores' permission.

Katherine Lynn Urf, 54, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy, 6th. Also charged, Joseph Michael Franchi-Platten, 31, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia. Urf and Franchi-Platten are accused of working together to steal merchandise from Walmart.

Mercy Flight #5 is called to Drake Street Road is Elba to transport an 80-year-old man with a broken leg. He fell off the ladder from the height of a one-story roof. Elba fire and Mercy medics are on scene. Firefighters will be establishing a landing zone. The location is between the Elba Village line and Weatherwax Road.

Photos by Jim Burns. Game information from Emily Tomczak.

A third-quarter rally wasn't enough for the Elba Lady Lancers to overcome Jasper-Troupsburg in the Section V Class D1 final in Letchworth on Friday night.

Jasper came out on top 55-47.

Haley Brown had 16 points, Alex Reigle had 14 points, and Alyssa Bogue had 13 points.

Alex Reigle and Haley Brown were named to the All-Tournament team, and Jenna Pedro received the sportsmanship award.

To view more photos and to purchase prints from Jim Burns, click here.

Genesee County will have four teams playing for Section V championships in their respective classes this weekend.

Elba's Lady Lancers plays Jasper-Troupsburg for the Class D1 crown at Letchworth at 8 p.m., Friday. Elba beat Arkport last night 68-36.

Byron-Bergen's Lady Bees take on Mynderse at 1 p.m., Saturday, at Rush Henrietta after winning last night 42-38 over Gananda.

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on Genesee Valley in the boys Class D1 championship at 7:15 p.m., Saturday, at Blue Cross Arena. Notre Dame beat Mt. Morris 62-45 to advance. Head Coach Mike Rapone asked that fans be advised that officials are going to clear out the stands at Blue Cross Arena following the completion of the 4:15 p.m. game Saturday. Doors will open for the 7:15 game at 6:45 p.m.

The Batavia Blue Devils go for the Class A2 title at 5 p.m., Sunday, against School of the Arts at Blue Cross Arena. (Click here for coverage of their semi-final game). 

One person is reportedly trapped following a motor-vehicle accident on Route 98 and Edgerton Road, Elba.

Elba fire and Bergen ambulance dispatched.

Also, there's an accident with minor injuries in Stafford, Roanoke Road near Westcott Road. Stafford fire responded to that call.

UPDATE 5:40 a.m.: The person is out of the vehicle. Minor injuries reported.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Route 98 and Lockport Road. Elba fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 3:33 p.m.: All available manpower from the Elba Fire Department is requested to the scene, including Fire Police.

Heading into the 2015 legislative session, the top priority for the New York Farm Bureau is immigration reform, said Dean Norton, bureau president, during a media conference call this morning.

The Elba resident is in Washington, D.C., this week meeting with members of New York's congressional delegation to represent farmers' interests.

"We need a stable, legal, reliable workforce," Norton said. "What we have now is broken. A stable workforce on our farms means a stable rural economy."

The Farm Bureau is calling on Washington to create a visa program or temporary worker program that will make it easier for farmers to hire and retain farm workers and not worry about all of their workers being taken away by immigration officials without notice.

"Everybody (in Washington) understands there's a problem, but neither side trusts and has faith in the other side to deal fairly," Norton said. "Both sides want to hold immigration as a political football."

The Farm Bureau is also looking for clarification from the FDA on food safety rules and there's been some progress on that front, Norton said.

Until recently, a small dairy farm with gross revenue of $500,000 that also grows a few strawberries for a fruit stand would face reams of regulations for the strawberry operation, but the FDA will start to apply those rules to $500,000 per crop, so the strawberry operation would not be covered in that circumstance.

Still a top priority for the Farm Bureau is the EPA's proposed rule change on what constitutes navigable waters. Farmers remain concerned that rule changes would bring into regulation small --- even very small -- bodies of water on farms.

"We continue to push the EPA for a clarification on the rules," Norton said. "Of the comments sent in by individuals, 58 percent of the comments ask the EPA to start over and become better partners with agriculture and come up with rules that are better for everybody."

Also on today's conferance call was Elisabeth Walters, director of national affairs, who said the Farm Bureau is paying close attention to the implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill, and is pushing for trade reform and reforms in tax structure to encourage more farmers to donate crops to local food pantries.

Norton said farmers want greater access to foreign markets, which means trade agreements, and the president should have greater authority to reach trade deals. 

Rep. Chris Collins has publicly opposed the idea, and Norton said he would be meeting with Collins today to discuss the issue with him.

"The reason we're in favor of it is that our trading partners want to deal with one person, not negotiate with 365," Norton said.

Law enforcement is being dispatched to Batavia Elba Townline Road near Pekin after a highway worker reported he had a confrontation with a resident who is blowing snow in the road.

The worker said this isn't the first time the issue has come up.

"He gave it to me and I gave it right back to him," the worker told dispatchers.

The worker said the resident videotaped the encounter.

"He's putting the hazard right back in the road," the worker said.

Zaid Amhad Alhariri, 47, of Dodge Street, Buffalo, is charged with possession of more than 4,600 untaxed cigarettes. Alhariri was stopped for alleged traffic violations at 12:23 p.m. Sunday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves. He was allegedly found in possession of 4,600 untaxed cigarettes with a value of $1,055.

Cindy Lou Bush, 63, of Oak Orchard Road, Elba, is charged with five counts of criminal contempt, 2nd. Bush was allegedly involved in an incident at 7:30 p.m. Monday at a residence on Oak Orchard Road, Elba, with five other people, all who are the subject of a complete stay away order issued to Bush.

Annette Monique McMillian, 30, of Elmdorf Street, Rochester, is charged with scheme to defraud, 1st, petit larceny and issuing a bad check. McMillian was arrested on a warrant after turning herself in to Monroe County Probation. She was arraigned in Le Roy Town Court and jailed on $1,000 bail.