Skip to main content

Law and Order: Mother accused of keeping children in 'deplorable' conditions

By Howard B. Owens

Tesla Renee Greck, 23, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Greck was arrested after patrols responded to her residence on an unrelated matter. Officers Jame DeFreze and Marc Lawrence allegedly found living conditions there "deplorable." Greck's three children lived at the residence.

Clarence Arthur Johnson, 57, of Rose Road, Batavia, is charged with forcible touching and resisting arrest. Johnson is accused of touching the buttocks of a child at a location on Lewiston Road, Batavia. Following an interview, when Johnson learned he was going to be arrested, he allegedly resisted arrest verbally and physically. He was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Steven Erwin Crowell, 21, of Emily Court, Bergen, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and drinking in a motor vehicle. Crowell's vehicle allegedly left the roadway and struck another vehicle at 1:41 a.m. Sunday on Trisha Lane, Bergen. The accident was investigated by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Joshua Michael Pierce, 20, of Meadowbrook Terrace, Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Pierce is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

A 16-year-old resident of Broadway Road, Alexander, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. The youth is accused of doing donuts in a vehicle on the soccer fields of Alexander School and damaging the fields. A 17-year-old resident of Pike Road, Batavia, was also charged.

Jared M. Wendt, 33, of County Road, Angelica, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and aggravated family offense. Wendt was allegedly involved in a domestic incident in the Town of Bethany on Oct. 17 that involved damage to a vehicle and a violation of an order of protection.

Adama William David Brown, 31, of Wilder Road, Warsaw, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, moving from lane unsafely and open container. Brown allegedly was driving when his vehicle stuck a parked car at GCC at 9:50 a.m. Oct. 22.

Samuel C. Longhini, 22, of South Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to use headlights. Longhini was stopped at 2:40 a.m. Oct. 20 on Alexander Road, Attica, by an Attica PD patrol.

Jordan Matthew Brown, 23, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Brown allegedly violated a stay away order of protection.

Kristen M. Meeder, 30, of Rose Road, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, and three counts of falsifying business records. Meeder is accused of stealing from her employer.

Michael T. Phelps, 44, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Phelps was arrested following an investigation into a complaint of two males drinking alcohol in a vehicle on Harvester Avenue at 7:03 p.m. Oct. 21. The vehicle was located on North Spruce Street by Officer Christopher Lindsay and Phelps was arrested.

Brian K. Laird, 21, of State Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant following a tip that he was located at a residence on State Street. Laird was jailed without bail.

Jessalyn A. Gates, 24, of Seneca Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Employees of McDonald's reported a possible drunken driver in the parking lot at 1 a.m. Oct. 22. Following an investigation by Officer Chad Richards, Gates was arrested.

Amy M. Carpenter, 40, of Exchange Street, Attica, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, refusal to take breath test and inadequate stop lights. Carpenter was stopped at 2:43 a.m. Oct. 18 on State Street by Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk.

Photos: Annual John Gardner reading at the Pok-A-Dot

By Howard B. Owens

gardnerreading2015.jpg

Batavia's literary legend John Gardner was honored Saturday night by the John Gardner Society with the annual reading from passages of his work at his favorite restaurant, the Pok-A-Dot.

gardnerreading2015-2.jpg

gardnerreading2015-3.jpg

gardnerreading2015-4.jpg

gardnerreading2015-5.jpg

gardnerreading2015-6.jpg

gardnerreading2015-7.jpg

gardnerreading2015-8.jpg

gardnerreading2015-9.jpg

Photos: Ghost walk through the Batavia Cemetery

By Howard B. Owens

ghostwalkbatcem2015.jpg

The Batavia Cemetery Association hosted its annual ghost walk last night, with local actors playing the roles of historic figures who are buried in (with the exception of William Morgan) the cemetery on Harvester Avenue.

ghostwalkbatcem2015-2.jpg

Gen. John Martindale, played by Derek Maxfield.

ghostwalkbatcem2015-3.jpg

Philemon Tracy, played Tim Buckman.

ghostwalkbatcem2015-4.jpg

Mary Elizabeth Wood, played by Anne Marie Starowitz.

ghostwalkbatcem2015-5.jpg

Dean and Mary Richmond, played by Charley and Connie Boyd.

ghostwalkbatcem2015-6.jpg

Patrick Weissend as Joseph Ellicott.

Photo Tour: Corfu's upgraded sewage treatment plant

By Howard B. Owens

corfutreatmentoct242015-3.jpg

Officials in the Village of Corfu held an open house today to show off their wastewater treatment plant, which has undergone $1.8 million in renovations, increasing capacity while lowering energy consumption.

The plant takes in untreated sewage and runs it through three stages of treatment to remove the solids, with the clean water eventually flowing in to the Tonawanda Creek and the dried and composted sludge being shipped off to a local landfill.

The plant is currently treating 66,000 gallons of sewage per day and the electricity cost has been cut from $4,000 a month to $2,000 per month.

corfutreatmentoct242015.jpg

corfutreatmentoct242015-2.jpg

corfutreatmentoct242015-4.jpg

corfutreatmentoct242015-5.jpg
corfutreatmentoct242015-6.jpg

corfutreatmentoct242015-7.jpg

corfutreatmentoct242015-8.jpg

corfutreatmentoct242015-9.jpg

corfutreatmentoct242015-10.jpg

corfutreatmentoct242015-11.jpg

Photos: Kiwanis Pancake Days

By Howard B. Owens

kiwanispancakesoct242015.jpg

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Batavia are serving pancakes this morning at the Community Center of ARC on Woodward Road, Batavia. The annual fundraiser continues until 2 p.m.

kiwanispancakesoct242015-2.jpg

kiwanispancakesoct242015-3.jpg

kiwanispancakesoct242015-4.jpg

kiwanispancakesoct242015-5.jpg

Notre Dame falls in first round playoffs

By James Burns

untitled_shoot-5275.jpg

Notre Dame lost in first round playoffs to the Clyde-Savannah Golden Eagles by 41 to 20.

It was a cold night in Clyde but the Golden Eagles offense and defense were both red hot in the first half of the game, out scoring Notre Dame 28 to 0. Consistent ground drives by the Golden Eagles and two interceptions by their defense put Notre Dame behind.

The second half was a different story. Notre Dame scored 20 points to Clyde’s 13. The offense was able to move the ball on the ground and air, and ended the game with nearly twice as many offensive yards as Clyde, but a total of six interceptions made a come-from-behind win impossible.  

untitled_shoot-3605.jpg

untitled_shoot-3583.jpg

untitled_shoot-3760.jpg

untitled_shoot-5086.jpg

untitled_shoot-5249.jpg

untitled_shoot-5280.jpg

More pictures of the game are here http://jimburns.org/p574779137#h5e40d0f5

Le Roy stuns Attica with come-from-behind victory, 20-19

By Howard B. Owens

9x5a4003.jpg

Attica scored on their first three possessions in their Class C Section V playoff match against Le Roy on Friday night in Attica, but then the Oatkan Knights defense tightened up, including stopping the Blue Devils twice in the red zone, so Attica never got past those initial 19 points.

In the end, Le Roy pulled out a 20-19 victory.

Nick Egeling gained 115 yards on 17 carries. He scored on a 41-yard run. Nate Flint also scored on the ground, while going for 31 total yards on five rushes.

Josh Laurie was 7-12 passing for 113 yards and TD. He gained 18 yards on the ground on seven rushes.

Reed Kacur hauled in that TD pass, one of three catches for 79 yards. Ryan Boyce had two receptions for 18 yards and Flint had two for 16 yards.

On defense, Benny Piazza, nine tackles, Anthony Natrigo, eight, Kacur, eight, and Egeling and Luke Hogle had six each.

Photos by David Boyce.

9x5a3990.jpg
\

9x5a3844.jpg

9x5a4054.jpg

9x5a3795.jpg

9x5a3674.jpg

9x5a3669.jpg

9x5a3519.jpg

9x5a3546.jpg

Batavia dominates in first round of playoffs with 61-0 win over Midlakes

By Howard B. Owens

bhsfboc23.jpg

Jim Nigro remembers well the night the Batavia Blue Devils scored 63 points. In was 1962 and he was a freshman on the squad that squared off against a team from the Syracuse area. The fans came into town with banners and shouting about beating the farmers, and the Blue Devils buried them 63-20.

The 2015 Blue Devils came two points shy Friday night of tying that school record in a 61-0 victory over Midlakes in the first round of the Section V Class B playoffs.

Batavia advances to the semi-finals against Hornell at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, at Cal-Mum.

QB Greg Mruczek was a perfect 10 for 10 passing for 144 yards and three touchdowns.  Dominick Mogavero ran for 79 yards and two TDs on four carries. Ryan Hogan had three TD receptions, gaining 60 yards. Malachi Chenault caught four passes for 44 yards.  Ray Leach gained 97 yards, returning two punts for touchdowns. John Garlock and Cody Dioguardi each scored. Terren Lovria and Leach had seven tackles, Mogavero six and Trenton McGraw, six with two sacks.

bhsfboc23-2.jpg

bhsfboc23-3.jpg

bhsfboc23-4.jpg

bhsfboc23-5.jpg

bhsfboc23-6.jpg

bhsfboc23-7.jpg

bhsfboc23-8.jpg

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

Tufts show off progress of remodel on former WBTA building

By Howard B. Owens

tuftsoct232015-2.jpg

Dave and Robyn Tufts held an open house today in the former WBTA building on East Main Street that they are renovating into apartments and office space.  The restoration preserves and enhances the mid-century modern architecture and when completed will contain four apartments and office space. The exterior and one apartment are completed and a second apartment will be done soon. The downstairs office space is build-to-suit ready for a tenant.

Previously: Local developer announces plans to restore and preserve Mid-century building in city's central corridor

tuftsoct232015.jpg

tuftsoct232015ex.jpg

Hay baler fire reported in Pavilion

By Howard B. Owens

A hay baler is on fire at 10162 Perry Road, Pavilion. It's next to a barn and attached to a tractor with diesel fuel in it.

Pavilion fire is dispatched.

Photos: Skid Loader Rodeo at Empire Tractor

By Howard B. Owens

empireskidloaderoct232015.jpg

Pete Colantonio, of Empire Tractor, goes over some of the controls of a New Holland Skid Loader with Pete Kingston, of Geneseo, during Empire Tractor's Skid Loader Rodeo.

The most skilled entrants can win prizes.

The rodeo involves driving the skid loader through a timed obstacle course.

Empire Tractor, on East Main Street Road, Batavia, is hosting the event through this afternoon and then again tomorrow starting at 9 a.m.

Lunch is being served both days.

empireskidloaderoct232015-2.jpg

empireskidloaderoct232015-3.jpg

empireskidloaderoct232015-4.jpg

Two Batavia Bulldawgs Youth Football teams to play in NOFA championship games on Saturday in Medina

By Billie Owens

John Reigle says that two of the Batavia Bulldawgs Youth Football teams will be playing in the NOFA championship games tomorrow in Medina. The Mini Team (8-9 year old division) will face off vs. Attica at 4 p.m. and our Varsity (12-13 year old division) will kick off at 8 p.m. vs. Newfane.

The games are held at Vets Park in Medina, located at 335 W. Oak Orchard St.

This is the first year two Bulldawgs teams out of the three divisions will represent the Batavia program and community in the championship games. The athletes, coaching staff, and parents are very excited about this opportunity. You are welcome to attend and show your Bulldawg pride!

Genesee SADD Council students offer timely reminder about evils of tobacco

By Billie Owens

(Photo submitted by Kevin J. Keenan, community engagement coordinator for Tobacco-Free GLOW)

Press release:

Genesee SADD Council students took part in an awareness activity at BOCES earlier this week centering around Halloween and tobacco-prevention initiatives. They want to advance tobacco-free communities.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute established a tobacco-free community outreach program in 1993 and today administers three programs in Western New York: Tobacco-Free Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany (CCA); Tobacco-Free Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming (GLOW) and Tobacco-Free Erie-Niagara (EN). Each locally based program is funded by the New York State Department of Health/Bureau of Tobacco Control.

Its goals are to prevent youth tobacco use through the Reality Check Youth program; raise awareness about tobacco control policies; and to reduce tobacco use among adults across this region and in New York State.

Reduce Tobacco Marketing Point of Sale: Product marketing and price promotion aimed at youth are proven causes of youth tobacco use. Much of this marketing occurs at the point of sale (POS) in the retail environment and may be largely unnoticed by adults.

Increase Tobacco-Free Outdoor Areas: Tobacco use in outdoor areas such as parks, playgrounds, beaches and workplaces is dangerous to the environment and presents a health risk to non-smoking adults and children.

Expand Tobacco-Free Multi-Unit Housing: Smoke-free housing protecting residents’ health by reducing exposure to secondhand smoke. Property managers benefit from reduced maintenance costs and decreased fire risks.

Decrease Tobacco Use Imagery: Research shows that smoking in movies and other media impacts teen perceptions of smoking norms and raises the likelihood of youth initiation.

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease in New York.

Adult Smoking Rates

  • Genesee: 18.7 percent
  • Livingston: 16.9 percent
  • Orleans: 29.9 percent
  • Wyoming: 22.3 percent

*Source:

New York State Department of Health – based on the most recent data (July 2009-June 2009)

http://bit.ly/13A3VEw

Law and Order: Federal detainee accused of strangulation

By Howard B. Owens

Kayode Ayodeji Animashaun, 30, no address provided, is charged with strangulation, 2nd. Animashaun is a detainee at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center on Federal Drive, Batavia, and was allegedly involved in an altercation with another detainee, which was reported Oct. 12. Animashaun allegedly struck the victim and placed the victim in a choke hold causing injury. Animashaun is scheduled to appear in Town of Batavia Court Nov. 30.

NOAA issues winter outlook covering Western New York

By Howard B. Owens

NOAA's most recent winter weather outlook predicts that winter in Western New York will be warmer than average, while there is an equal chance of precipitation being above or below average. The weather outlook is about probability and averages. It doesn't address the likelihood, or not, of significant storms.

'Kitler' the kat is missing -- Who could forget a face like that?

By Billie Owens

This little feline funny face is "Kitler." He was last seen Oct. 12 around the North Spruce Apartments, his home in the City of Batavia. He is very skittish and spooks easily.

If he's in a captive space, please keep him there and contact his mom. If you see him, try to keep an eye on him and contact his mom. He's a big boy. He weighs just over 20 pounds. Zounds! Please help get him home!

Jeanine Messinger is desperately hoping that someone will recognize him. Please call 585-455-0560 if you can help.

Top Items on Batavia's List

The Batavia Housing Authority is seeking a positive, hardworking teammate to perform a variety of outdoor landscaping tasks, primarily mowing, with some trimming and cleanup work. The Groundskeeper is independently responsible for outdoor landscaping tasks on a weekly basis with some flexibility. This job may require some weekend hours when necessary. Part-time position Pay Range: $19.00/hr - $22.00/hr Anticipated start date: May 2024 Application deadline: April 29, 2024 See full job description at: https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/Groundskeeper.pdf Complete Civil Service Application at: https://cms1files.revize.com/geneseecountynew/CivilServiceApplication2022Revision-09.22.22.pdf Contact Information Nathan Varland Executive Director Batavia Housing Authority 400 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 (585) 344-1888 nvarland@bataviahousing.org Location: Batavia
Tags: Jobs offered

Authentically Local