Stories from

In August, City Fire Chief Jim Maxwell announced plans to equip medics in his fire department with Narcan, a drug that can potentially save the life of a person who has overdosed on heroin or other opiate-based drugs.

Saturday, for the first time, a life was saved in the city when a firefighter administered Narcan to a middle-aged female resident.

The woman apparently overdosed on heroin.

The firefighter, Ryan Whitcombe, said the call came in shortly after noon Saturday for an unresponsive female.

When firefighters arrived, they found the woman unconscious on the floor of her residence. She wasn't breathing.

Whitcombe was informed by others at the residence that the woman may have suffered a narcotics overdose.

After consulting with other first responders, he agreed the best course of action was to administer Narcan, generically known as naloxone hyrdochloride, which he sprayed into the woman's nostrils.

The fast-acting drug did its job.

"Over the period of a minute or two, her breathing started to come back," Whitcombe said. "Little by little her breathing came back to the point where she became conscious and was breathing on her own without assistance."

When a person ODs on heroin or an opiate-based prescription medication, the drug shuts down brain function that controls breathing. The person literally forgets to breath. Narcan stimulates that portion of the brain and the person will start breathing again.

As Maxwell explained to council members in August, there's no known downside to administering the life-saving drug.

"If it's not an opiate overdose, you can't hurt the patient," Maxwell said. "You can't overdose on it or anything along those lines, so if it's a false recognition and they administer it, it doesn't do anything to the patient."

Narcan, clinically considered "an opioid antagonist," can also be used to revive people who have overdosed on prescription medications that are opiates.

"Centennial Plaza," in the St. Mary's parking lot on Evans Street is just about all ready for tonight's revelers as Batavia celebrates the 100th anniversary of its incorporation. 

Fireworks are planned for 10 p.m. and will be launched from behind the fire hall.

There's plenty of wood ready for the bonfire.

Jeffrey Deats and Chandler Zuchs

Jeffrey Deats, the Batavia resident arrested Dec. 18 following the investigation into the death of a 6-month-old boy, died Monday, Batavia PD announced this afternoon.

Deats was found hanging from a bed sheet in his Genesee County Jail cell the night of Dec. 21. CPR was performed by jail staff and Deats was transported to UMMC and later ECMC.

As a result of his death, the criminal case against Deats is closed, Chief Shawn Heubusch said.

Chandler Zuchs died Dec. 14 while in the care of Deats.

At the time, Deats believed he was the father of Chandler, though after his arrest, DNA test results surfaced that showed an Albion resident was the infant's father.

In his statement to police during the investigation, Deats said the boy's mother, Michelle Zuchs, of Tonawanda, alternately told Deats he was the father and wasn't the father, and finally told him she had DNA test results back, apparently leading Deats to believe he was the father.

One account Deats gave of how Chandler may have suffered brain damage, which was the cause of the baby's death, was that he fell down the stairs of his Olyn Avenue home while carrying Chandler.

Deats was 28 years old.

For previous coverage, click here.

From 13WHAM's weatherman Marty Snyder:

Lake effect snow has been falling through Wyoming County this morning. That band will gradually lift north into Genesee County by the late afternoon. It will first line up through the southern towns of Genesee County. Throughout the evening, the band will continue to move northward to along the Thruway, and closer to Batavia. By tomorrow morning, there is the potential of 6 inches of snow in the heaviest portions in the lake effect band, then another 6 inches of snow later in the day. It is very important to note that many parts of Genesee County will see much less snow than this maximum amount, since they will remain outside the focus of the most intense snow.

A lake effect snow warning will remain in effect from noon today through 10 a.m. on Friday for Genesee County.

13WHAM is The Batavian's news partner.

A driver involved in a three-vehicle crash on East Main Street in the Village of Le Roy yesterday morning is in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Charles R. Lowe, of Le Roy, was flown to Strong by Mercy Flight following the 9 a.m. accident at the intersection of Wolcott Street.

A driver in another vehicle, Donald Worthington, of Pavilion, was treated at UMMC for a cut on his head and released.

The third driver, Marrinna Ryan, of Le Roy, was treated and released at the scene for facial pain.

Lowe's vehicle was westbound on East Main when it drifted into the left-turn lane at Wolcott and hit the rear of Worthington's truck, which then struck the rear of Ryan's minivan.

Lowe reportedly told the first responding police officer that he may have fallen asleep.

The Sheriff Office Crash Management Team is assisting Le Roy PD in the ongoing investigation.

We're now looking at a lake effect snow warning for this afternoon through 10 a.m. Friday.

This covers all of Genesee County. 

Some 10 to 18 inches of snow are possible. 

Winds will be from the southwest at 20 to 30 mph with visibility dropping to a quarter of a mile at times.

Blowing and drifting snow will result in hazardous travel conditions, the National Weather Service warns.

If traveling, conditions can change quickly.

UPDATE: Officials say plans for tonight's centennial celebration will go ahead as scheduled.

Do you try to maintain or improve your physical health?

New York Times: The Super-Short Workout and Other Fitness Trends

There is a lake effect snow watch in effect from late Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night.

Potential accumulation of six to 12 inches.

Winds from the southwest of 20 to 30 mph.

Wind chill down to zero.

Visibility as low as a quarter of a mile at times. 

Blowing and driving snow and wind could make travel difficult.

"There remains some uncertainty with the exact placement and intensity of the lake effect snow bands," said the weather service.

The family of Samuel J. Caito placed a memorial today to the former liquor store owner in front of the YNGodess Shop on Main Street, Downtown Batavia, the location of his former shop.

His father, Augustino, opened the store right after the end of Prohibition in 1933. It was the first post-prohibition liquor store in Batavia.

Samuel owned the store until 1985.

He was also a teacher at Notre Dame and Batavia Middle School.

Click here for his full obituary.

For the first time since 2003, the Lions Tournament championship trophy will not be on display in the hallway of a Genesee County school.

After dispatching Batavia in the first round, University Prep ran away from Notre Dame in the 4th quarter of last night's final to clinch the crown in a champion's fashion, 63-49.

In a match-up of a Class A charter school from a populous county against a Class D private school from a rural county, the local team looked for most of the game like they might actually win the game.

But four minutes into the third quarter, a double-digit lead started to slip away after U-prep's guards hit back-to-back threes and the Irish found themselves launching bricks instead of buckets.

"It all started with the missed shots," Notre Dame Head Coach Mike Rapone said. "Once the shots start getting missed, the game gets played at their tempo."

U-prep is a talented and athletic team. After the first round games, Rapone said his team would need to slow the pace of the game down in order to compete, and for 20 minutes, that's what they did.

Notre Dame carried a 29-17 lead into the half.

The Griffins were without three starters, all benched because they missed a practice, said Head Coach Raheem Miller.

"It's all about discipline," Miller said. "To me, you've got to be responsible. I understand things happen and whatever, but you've got to at least call. You don't just not show up."

It was OK, though. Miller still had Isaiah Brinkley at guard, another guard, Quillan Leach-Alexander, and Jeenathan Williams at forward.

Held scoreless in the first half, Brinkley let it up in the second, hitting four threes and scoring 24 points.

Leach-Alexander also hit a quad of treys and finished with a total of 19 points.

Williams, a freshman with some fine athletic moves in the lane and a deft touch from mid-distance, scored 13.

Brinkley was the tournament's most valuable player.

For Notre Dame, Josh Johnson scored 14 points and Caleb Nellis had 10.

Batavia beat Albion 68-31 in the consolution game to finish third in the tournament. Jeff Redband scored 29 points in that game.

Bishop-Timon won the tournament in 2003, and in 2004, Batavia started a tournament win streak that wasn't broken until this year.

To purchase prints, click here.

A motor-vehicle accident with unknown injuries is reported in the eastbound lane of the Thruway in the area of mile marker 404.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire dispatched. Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: A responding chief says, "It looks like he may be out of the woods now. It looks like he's going to be driving out of here." There is a truck off the road. 

UPDATE 11:28 a.m.: It looks like a tow will be required for the truck.

The National Weather Service is reporting that Doppler radar indicates an area of lake effect snow is heading for Genesee County, and Batavia and northern parts of the county specifically.

The storm is reportedly capable of producing up to a half-inch of snowfall an hour.

Visibility will be reduced to a half mile during the storm.

The storm will spread east through 11:30 a.m.

A an accident is reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 387, which puts it just east of Byron Road, Town of Batavia.

A driver is reportedly slumped over the wheel of his vehicle.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:21 a.m.: Town of Batavia back in service. No further information of possible injuries, if any, at this point.

UPDATE 12:26 p.m.: This was a medical issue.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at East Main Street and Church Street, Le Roy.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance dispatched.

Dispatchers are trying confirm whether there is entrapment.

UPDATE 9:04 a.m.: Route 5 being shut down at North Street and Mill Street.

UPDATE 9:14 a.m.: Mercy Flight put on standby.

UPDATE 9:17 a.m.: We've not heard Mercy Flight dispatched, but a ground contact is being established for a landing zone.

UPDATE 10:50 a.m.: This was a three-vehicle accident. A minivan and a pickup truck were in the turn lane on East Main Street, poised to turn south onto Wolcott, when the pickup truck was struck from behind by a westbound a black Chevy SUV. The truck was pushed into the mini-van. The driver of the SUV told officer Daryl Robb that he apparently fell asleep. A witness reportedly estimated his speed at 50 mph. The SUV driver was taken by Mercy Flight to an area hospital with possible serious injuries. One other driver was taken by ground ambulance to an area hospital and the third driver was a sign-off with only a minor facial cut. There were no passengers in any of the vehicles. The Crash Management Team for the Sheriff's Office is on scene conducting a thorough investigation.

Mary Ann McClain, 53, of North Main Street, Albion, is charged with harassment, 2nd. McClain allegedly pushed a chair into another person repeatedly "causing annoyance and alarm." The call came in at 7 p.m. Monday on Judge Road, Alabama. 

Derek G. Thomas, 38, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy, 6th. Thomas is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General on Sunday. Also arrested was Melinda S. Blackshear, 49, of Ross Street, Batavia. Blackshear was charged with petit larceny and conspiracy, 6th.

Rashad N. El-Amin, 33, of Jackson Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. El-Amin was arrested following an investigation at 3:18 a.m. Monday into a reported suspicious condition at an apartment on South Main Street, Batavia.

Matthew M. Maniace, 32, of Birchwood Drive, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and petit larceny. Maniace allegedly bent back the thumb of another person and took the phone of that person before leaving a residence on Birchwood Drive, Batavia, at 12:19 p.m. on Sunday. Maniace was also arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on a aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, charge and jailed on $1,000 bail.

Lauren M. Hunter, 24, of Oatka Trail, Le Roy, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd. Hunter was arrested following an investigation into an unrelated complaint at 2:43 a.m. Sunday on Summit Street, Batavia.

Roadways in the city are reportedly slick with ice this morning and at least one accident, on Clinton Street, as been reported as a result.

City crews are out and salting roadways now.

The current temperature is 21 degrees.

Sometime soon after the first of the year, Vito Gautieri expects to get word from at least one bank on funding for his planned apartment complex atop of Save-A-Lot at 45-47 Ellicott St. in the City of Batavia.

Gautieri is planning a four-story structure with 30 quality apartments with rents ranging from $800 to $1,100 per month.

He expects to begin construction on the "Casa Mia" complex in February. Completion will depend on arrangements with another contractor, but could come as early as the Winter of 2015.

"It’s a nice project and we’re working like mad on it to see if we can get it going as soon as the financing is done," Gautieri said.

If it comes through, Casa Mia will be a nice boost for the Downtown economy, said Julie Pacatte, coordinator of the Batavia Development Corp.

"Our marketing reports have told us there is a need for quality, urban housing in Downtown Batavia," Pacatte said. "There is a boom in Rochester and they're taking full advantage of the demand from millennials and empty-nesters for more quality apartments. We're excited about it. It brings more disposable income Downtown, more shoppers, more diners, which is what we're looking for."

Gautieri has not applied for any financial assistance from the BDC nor the GCEDC, he said, though he may seek a tax break through the city's 485(A) program.

The BDC has worked to spur development of several apartments on Jackson Street and Jackson Square, all in the $800 to $1,000 per month price range, and every unit was rented as soon as it hit the market.

That, and the marketing studies, gives Gautieri a high degree of confidence that his 30 units will fill up quickly.

"There's a lot of advantages to living downtown for young people and the elderly," Gautieri said. "It will be a good compliment to the Save-A-Lot and within walking distance you've got seven or eight restaurants. That should really make it attractive for people."

He anticipates from 70 to 80 people, including children, will live in the apartments.

Sav-A-Lot occupies only half of Gautieri's property there. He's been unable to find businesses willing to rent the other half of the building, so he's planning to convert that space into covered parking -- 32 spaces -- for the residents of the apartments.

The building was originally constructed by Gautieri for Montgomery Ward and the second floor was intended to be a warehouse, so it was engineered to hold a lot of weight.  

That construction is what enables Gautieri to now add two more floors of apartments.

The second floor will be flats. As soon as funding is approved, crews will get busy opening windows and erecting interior walls.

Gautieri is negotiating with companies in Buffalo and Clifton Springs for pre-fab apartments for the planned third and fourth floors.

If an appropriate deal can be brokered, he anticipates finishing the project by the end of next year.

If his own crews have to build the structure, then it will take well into 2016 to finish.

The apartments on the fourth floor -- Gautieri doesn't call them penthouses, "there are no penthouses in Batavia," he said with a chuckle -- will rent at the higher rates, but the first tenants will be able to customize their spaces.

The project is exciting, even if the BDC isn't directly involved, Pacatte said, because more people living Downtown will drive economic growth, help fill retail spaces and bring in more people.

Studies show that each downtown housing unit drives $19,000 in demand for retail goods and services.

"Investment into Downtown that responds to the market findings will be another win for our efforts toward community renewal," Pacatte said. "The Jackson Street owner investments in recent years have already proven successful -- reaching 100-percent occupancy within weeks of becoming available."

The Ellicott Street project isn't Gautieri's only apartment plan Downtown. He's also planning a project for his property at 45 Liberty St.

The project will consist of small, single-occupant apartments aimed at young people just starting out in life or elder people on fixed incomes with minimal residential needs.  

"There's companies doing some of these in Rochester and they're rented before they even start construction," Gautieri said.

He's also planning to convert one of his office buildings on Liberty, where he already operates storage units, into storage units.

Folks in the Town of Pavilion were shaken Friday by the death of Highway Superintendent John Strathearn, who succumbed to a heart attack suffered while salting the roadway on Route 19 near the fire hall.

CPR was performed on Strathearn after he collapsed Friday morning, but he died about 3 p.m. that afternoon, said Town Clerk Cindy Starr.

"He was a great guy," Starr said. "That's just how he was. I would ask him to do something, and he would do it."

Strathearn worked for the town for nearly 30 years (picture of a pin he was awarded last spring).

He was born Jan. 3, 1953 in Batavia, the son of the late Leigh and Eleanor Buckout Strathearn.

He was a graduate of Wyoming Central School.

He was a member of the Silver Lake Sportsmen’s Club, the Wyoming County Veterans Club in Warsaw and the Loyal Order of the Moose #1132 in Le Roy.

More than 200 people, possibly 300, turned out for a celebration of Strathearn's life on Saturday at B.W.'s restaurant, Starr said.

"Everybody thought very highly of John and that was a great tribute to him, I thought," Starr said.

Town of Pavilion employee Jamie Cleveland said Strathearn was always ready with a helping hand for whomever needed it.

"No matter what, no matter the cost, either on the job or just personal," Cleveland said. "I worked with him for 14 years and never heard one complaint about him. He had an impeccable record."

The loss is being felt throughout the town and the town's staff, Starr said.

"He was part of the family," Starr said. "Each one of us felt he was part of our families. He's a great loss for every member of our staff."

Calling hours are 3 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, at Robinson & Hackemer Funeral Home, 246 N. Main St., Warsaw, where John’s funeral service will be held immediately following visitation at 7 p.m. Burial will be in Dale Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pavilion Fire Department, Pavilion, NY 14525 or the Wyoming Hook & Ladder Co., Wyoming, NY 14591.

The office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today funding of $16.5 million for 240 units of new affordable housing across the state, including more than $2 million for Big Tree Glen, a project being planned for West Main Street Road, Batavia.

From the press release:

This $12.2 million project is being co-developed by Conifer LLC and United Memorial Medical Center to consist of 56 affordable rental units in seven two-story buildings. The project meets the Early Award Housing Opportunity Project goal in that the project will be served by Pembroke School District, one of the highest-performing districts in Western New York. The project is also in close proximity to jobs, shopping and services. The Town of Batavia supports the project, as evidenced by the approval of a Special Use Permit, approval of the preliminary site plans, and the issuance of a negative SEQRA declaration.

HCR funding for this project will be provided through a Housing Trust Fund award of $1,382,135 and through a $775,583 award of Federal Low-Income Housing Credit, which will leverage Bank of America and CPC loans of $2.2 million and $1,050,000 respectively, $120,000 of NYSERDA funds, and a deferred developer fee of $208,612.

Previously:

• County planners reject proposed apartment complex on West Main Street Road, Batavia
• Developers make case for 136-unit apartment complex in Town of Batavia
• Town planners give initial nod of approval to apartment complex on West Main Street