Jay is missing Ginger in the Village of Le Roy. Jay is offering a reward for Ginger's safe return. Ginger was last seen on Saturday. If you find Ginger, call Jay at (585) 820-7818.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported in Le Roy at 7988 Lake Street Road, near North Road. There is entrapment and the accident is blocking both lanes of travel. One patient is said to have leg injuries but is conscious. Le Roy fire and ambulance service are responding.

UPDATE 7:30 a.m.: A first responder on scene reports a patient complains of ankle pain. "There's quite a bit of traffic." Fire police are requested to the scene for traffic control.

UPDATE 7:41 a.m.: The entrapped patient has been extricated.

UPDATE 7:49 a.m.: A patient is being transported to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 7:51 a.m.: One lane is open now and the other will be soon.

James D. Pontillo, 48, of Griswold Road, Byron, is charged with offering for file a false instrument, 2nd, grand larceny, 4th, falsifying business records, 1st, and forgery, 2nd.

Pontillo, who is the recorded owner of nine pieces of property in the City of Batavia, is accused of falsely portraying himself as the owner of a multi-dwelling property in the city and of filing documents indicating he was the owner and of collecting benefits from the State of New York.

Following arraignment in City Court yesterday, Pontillo was released without bail.

Previously:

• Fences, and more, divide business neighbors in Stafford
• Reward offered for illegal dumping of garbage bags in Stafford
• Owner of one of Stafford's historic buildings says neighbor preventing restoration work
• Pontillo needs to show some respect, and insurance, if he wants permission to go on property, owner's son says
• Stafford: The fence that divides a community
• Stafford ZBA to meet tonight on Pontillo fence issue
• The Sunlight Dialogues: Stafford ZBA denies variance for too-high fence
• Stafford ZBA's denial of fence variance reversed on appeal
• Sink hole opens at property on Oak Street
• Landlords object to idea of fining property owners for nuisance tenants
• Local landlord calls in police to investigate damage to apartment following eviction
• Law and Order: Police break up alleged Halloween underage drinking party on Jackson Street

A 36-year-old Hutchins Street resident with a long history local of drug-related arrests, most notoriously in 2012 when he got caught up in synthetic drug use, leading to bizarre behavior, has been arrested in two counties for allegedly selling heroin.

Bradley J. Broadbent is accused of selling heroin to a fellow inmate in the Genesee County Jail and of selling heroin to an agent of the Wyoming County Local Drug Task Force in Perry.

In Genesee County, Broadbent is facing charges of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and promoting prison contraband, 1st.

In Wyoming County, he is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the 4th and 5th degrees and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 4th and 5th degrees.

Also arrested with Broadbent in Batavia, following an investigation by the Local Drug Task Force, was Ryan M. Bobzin, 27, of West Bergen Road, Bergen. Bobzin is charged with promoting prison contraband, 1st, and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. 

The transaction allegedly took place April 24 after both Broadbent and Bobzin were incarcerated on unrelated charges. Broadbent is accused of smuggling the heroin into the jail.

Both men were arraigned in City Court and Broadbent was ordered held on no bail and Bobzin was released on his own recognizance.

Broadbent was ordered held on $100,000 in Wyoming County, where he is currently incarcerated. 

In 2012, during the summer of bath salts in Batavia, Broadbent made the news for climbing on the roofs of houses on Hutchins Street after rampaging through a commercial building on Liberty Street.

Prior to his March 6, 2013 sentencing on convictions stemming from those events, Broadbent approached a reporter in the courtroom and talked about how he wanted to turn his life around and he apologized to the community for his behavior.

Later, during sentencing, he told Judge Robert C. Noonan, "I'm never going to be behind this table again, your honor."

He also told Noonan, "I've been in jail almost my whole life. I know with my record, saying I'm sincerely sorry is hard to take seriously, but I am sorry. This is the last time I'm ever going to be at this table, your honor, regardless of what you sentence me to."

Broadbent was convicted in a jury trial of misdemeanors and Noonan sentenced him to two one-year sentences to be served consecutively.

Noonan told Broadbent at the sentencing that he hoped he could turn his life around.

"You're a poster child for why bath salts had to be banned," Noonan said. "The evidence of your behavior in this trial was nothing short of bizarre, and not only in terms of what you did, but what you were able to do with almost superhuman feats while under the influence of those substances."

Press release:

Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha announced today that 25 children from the county will be attending the New York State Sheriffs' Association Institute's 2016 Summer Camp.

The Sheriffs' Summer Camp is designed to provide a solid recreational program combined with the development of a sense of good citizenship. This will mark the 39th year of the camp's operation.

The Sheriffs' Summer Camp, which is located near Penn Yan in Yates County, is supported by the Sheriffs' Association Institute's Honorary Members through their contributions and annual dues.

This year the camp will accommodate more than 900 deserving boys and girls from across New York State.

"This is a great opportunity for our county youth and I personally thank Genesee County residents for donating and making this possible," Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha said.

In discussing the objectives and goals of the camp, Maha said: "The Sheriffs' Summer Camp Program is designed to provide a child who ordinarily would not have the chance, an opportunity to go away during the summer. The primary objective is to create positive interaction between the kids attending the camp and the Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs who participate in the camp programs.

"We have found from experiences during the first 38 summer camps that kids develop a renewed respect and understanding for the men and women who enforce laws. The deputies become their friends and, in some cases, substitute parents for a week."

Throughout the week-long stay, the children observe special exhibits and demonstrations presented by the Sheriffs' Offices from across the state. Included in these presentations are D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education -- "DARE to Resist Drugs and Violence") presentations, boat and bike safety programs, law enforcement equipment and technical demonstrations and even a talent show just for fun.

Upon completion of the stay, all children will be awarded a diploma for their participation in a program of "Good Citizenship and Law Enforcement Studies."

Stacey Ziminski is continuing on with the Batavia citywide yard sale that started last year with the help of the now-defunct community booster group Vibrant Batavia.

Vibrant Batavia supplied Ziminski with a map of around 80 yard sale participants and some advertising.

Ziminski plans to run the yard sale as an annual event that will take place the last Saturday and Sunday of June starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. each day.

"I'm scrabbling around to throw it together...I'm looking to get as much help as I can...," Ziminski said.

​She doesn't have a dedicated website for the yard sale yet, but she does have a Facebook page, which boasts more than 800 likes; she plans to use it to list addresses of all the yard sales in Batavia this weekend. 

To register your yard sale in the Batavia citywide yard sale, go to their Facebook page and submit your address and yard sale.

The weather should be nice and hot.

Press release:

Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Public Health Advisory

Keeping Wild Animals – Unsafe, Illegal and Inhumane! 

RABIES ALERT! STOP! and THINK! Do NOT touch! It can kill! Any mammal is able to get rabies, it is very important to get your pets vaccinated and not to touch or handle any stray or wild animals including baby animals and bats.

“The Health Department has had several cases where people have taken in wild animals (babies) and / or played with stray cats and dogs which have led to unnecessary post exposure treatments and/or having to put the animals down (euthanize) them to be tested," stated Paul Pettit, director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

"Because rabies is in New York State ALL wild and stray animals that come in direct contact (bitten or scratched with broken skin and saliva exchange in open wounds or mucous membranes – eyes, nose, and mouth) with humans and domesticated animals are assumed to have rabies...even if they don’t.

"The only way to know is by testing the animal, which means it has to be euthanized. Whether the animal has rabies or does not, it is dead. Not only are you putting your family and friends at risk of a deadly disease, those who think they are ‘helping’ an animal could be giving it a death sentence."

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Infected mammals can spread rabies virus to humans and other mammals through the saliva and spinal fluids. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

Pettit notes, “It is illegal to possess any wild animal that naturally lives in the state. Not only do these animals have the potential to spread rabies, but they often carry parasites, or may carry diseases that can be spread from animal to human.

"It is important to leave wild animals alone! More times than not baby animals are not orphaned but are kept hidden while the parents can hunt for food or stay away to protect them from predators. Nature will take care of nature. Wild animals have had to be put down because humans have interfered in their lives.”

The best way to keep pets safe from rabies is to vaccinate them and keep their shots up-to-date.

By avoiding contact with stray or wild animals, saving the bat / animal that may have had contact with humans / domestic animals, and reporting an incident to your local Health Department, we may be able to avoid unnecessary medical treatment that averages over $3,000 per person.

Take note of the upcoming FREE anti-rabies immunization clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets. The animal must be three months of age or older. Additional clinics can be found by checking the web sites or calling your local Health Department. Check your county web site for pre-registration instructions. Each dog, cat, and ferret must be accompanied by someone who can control it:

• Genesee County: Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, 5031 E. Main St., Batavia. The clinic runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Dog, cat and ferret vaccinations are free for Genesee County residents. A $5 voluntary donation per dog, cat, or ferret, is appreciated to offset clinic expenses. Non-county residents must pay a mandatory $5 fee for each dog, cat, and ferret immunized. Speed up the registration process during the clinic by registering your pets ahead of time! To pre-register your pets visit: http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health/click_here_to_pre-register.html
• Wyoming County: Wednesday, July 20, at the Attica Town Highway Department, Route 98, Attica. The clinic runs from 6 to 8 p.m. (Registrations until 7:45 p.m.) This is a FREE clinic to Wyoming County residents ~ Donations are gratefully accepted! Out of county residents will be charged $10 per animal.
• Orleans County: Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Shelby Highway Department, 4062 Shelby Basin Road, Medina. The clinic runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. You must arrive no later than 11:30 to ensure that you will be served. Clinic staff reserves the right to decline service to late (after 11:30) arrivals. To pre-register go to https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/ this site will have an Orleans County button/link before the scheduled clinics.

• For information on Health Department services contact,

• Genesee County Health Department at: 344-258,0 ext. 5545 or visit their website at www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health/index.html. Visit Facebook at Genesee County Health Department and Twitter at GeneseeCoHealthDept.

•  Wyoming County Health Department at: 786-8890 or visit their web site at   www.wyomingco.net/health/main.html. 

•  Orleans County Health Department at: 589-3278 or check out our website at: www.orleansny.com/publichealth.

            Visit Facebook and Twitter: the user name for both is OrleansCoHealth.

Children ages 5 to 12 years old are invited to join the Batavia High School cheerleaders at their premiere cheer camp Friday and Saturday, July 29-30, at Vandetta Stadium. The stadium is located at 120 Richmond Ave. in Batavia.

Both days are mandatory. Cost is $40 and will include a camp T-shirt and pizza on Saturday.

Camp on Friday is from 1 to 5 p.m. On Satruday, it's from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a performance for parents at noon.

There will be a cheer merchandise booth for the participants to purchase extra apparel and bows.

Registration is due by July 8.

Questions? Call Melissa Swinehart at 202-6504 or Sherri Wahr at 356-0639.

****************

Mail registration fee, payable to Batavia Cheer Boosters, along with a piece of paper with the cheerleader's name, age, name of parent or guardian, phone number, and shirt size to:

Batavia High School

Attn: Cheer Booster

260 State St.

Batavia, NY 14020

A 17-year-old female and a 17-year-old male were arrested at 5:26 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15, at Kibbe Park in Batavia and charged with public lewdness. They were allegedly engaged in a sexual act with each other while in a vehicle in a public park. They were each issued appearance tickets and are due in City Court at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jamie Givens, assisted by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Michael J. Difalco, 28, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment and criminal obstruction of breathing. It is alleged that at 12:10 a.m. on June 18, Difalco was involved in a domestic incident with a female in the City of Batavia and that he harassed the victim physically and obstructed her breathing by applying pressure to her neck. He is scheduled to be in City Court this afternoon. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Frank Klimjack, assisted by Officer Eric Foels.

James D. Liotta, 33, of 551 Brooktondale Road, Brooktondale, is charged with felony unlicensed operation, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, and driving with a BAC of .08 percent or more, also a misdemeanor. He was arrested at 8:18 a.m. on June 18 on Route 77 in the Village of Corfu. He was stopped for driving a motor vehicle while using a cell phone without free hands. He was allegedly found to be intoxicated with a BAC of .16 percent and it was found that his operating privileges were revoked for two prior DWI arrests. Liotta was also found to be wanted out of Orleans County. He was jailed without bail and a detainer from Orleans County was forwarded to the GC Jail for the suspect. The case has handled by Village of Corfu Police Officer Gene Nati, assisted by GC Sheriff's Deputy Lonnie Nati.

David T. Latterell, 27, of Norris Drive, Rochester, is charged with passing a red light, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, and operating a motor vehicle without an interlock device. At 8:21 p.m. on June 14, Latterell was arrested on these charges on West Main Street after he allegedly ran a red light while traveling eastbound on Main Street at Ellicott Street. He allegedly knew his NY driver's license was revoked and that he was supposed to have an interlock ignition device on any vehicle he operated, which he did not have. He is due in court on June 29. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jamie Givens.

Bryan H. Fetterly, 30, of Route 350, Macedon, was taken into custody by Batavia BD on June 14 after he was picked up by Ontario County Sheriff's deputies on a bench warrant issued by Batavia City Court for failure to comply. He was jailed on $2,000 cash bail or $4,000 bond and is due in City Court on Wednesday. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Felicia DeGroot.

Timothy M. Ridgway, 34, of Elm Street, North Valley, is charged with violation of probation. He was arrested by GC Probation and turned over to Batavia PD. He was jailed on $5,000 bail and was due in court June 14. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

Malachi M. Chenault, 19, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of alcohol, with intent to consume, by a person under age 21. Chenault was arrested at 1:49 a.m. on June 11 and is to be in City Court this afternoon. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk, assisted by Officer Peter Flanagan.

Brandon P. Armstrong Sr., 27, of Harvester Avenue, Batavia, is charged with failure to appear. Armstrong turned himself in on a bench warrant on June 9, which was issued after he failed to appear in City Court on traffic violations. He was released and is due in court on July 13. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jason Davis.

Lots of twisted metal, but only a minor injury in an accident on Route 77 in Darien on Father's Day.

The driver of an empty milk truck was cited for allegedly following too closely.

That driver, Harold T. Scheg, 51, of Clarence, had a complaint of pain in his hand and arm, but was not taken to a hospital.

The other driver, James Tischendorf, was not injured.

According to an accident report prepared by Deputy Chris Parker, Scheg was northbound on Route 77 near O'Connor Road, following a truck and trailer driven by Tischendorf. Scheg initiated a passing maneuver because, according to the report, Tischendorf's vehicle was "moving slow." At that point, Tishendorf started a left turn into a driveway.

Scheg said he didn't see a turn signal. Tishendorf said he signaled. 

The accident was reported at 2:07 p.m.

Submitted photos.

Dancer and choreographer Shoulin Young has traveled the world, working and performing with the likes of Brittany Spears, Chris Brown, Jason Darulo and Justin Beiber. Monday, he was in Batavia, conducting classes with students at Kristen's Performing Arts Center on East Main Street.

"I love what she (Kristen) has going on here, especially for a small town like Batavia," said Young, who is originally from Rochester, but now lives in Tampa, Fla. "Any chance I get to come here and work with these kids, I love to do it. The kids always have great energy. I love every second of it."

Owner Kristen Drilling opened the studio 10 months ago and offers a wide range of classes in performing arts, including all styles of dance, theater, music and pageant training. Each summer, she tries to bring in an accomplished and well-known instructor to conduct classes for a day.

Students from the studio have won competitions in Niagara Falls and Rochester, which has drawn attention from choreographers such as Young, she said.

"They see a lot of talent through our girls," Drilling said. "They see we're from a small town, so when we have really talented girls go out and win first place over all these big cities, we get a lot of choreographers in our studio to see what our girls have."

Young said he sees the talent, but more importantly, he sees an enthusiasm for hip-hop that a lot of people might not expect from a small town.

"When you think of Batavia or smaller towns in Upstate New York, you don’t really think hip-hop, but the hip-hop talent specifically here is very, very impressive," Young said. "There are lots of kids who are very hungry for it and dance in general is something that younger kids really want and the style of hip-hop is just a music that they all love.  I’m very impressed with the dancers I see here."

Photos and info provided by Rob Radley.

To help offset the cancellation of the Stafford Carnival, an annual fundraiser for the Stafford Fire Department, local musician Bill Pitcher, organized a jamboree Sunday at the Stafford Fire Hall. Several bands played, the firefighters prepared a chicken BBQ, while the exempts prepared hamburgers and hot dogs.

Pictured are members of The Sky Cats. 

A rollover accident, unknown injuries, is reported in the area of 6684 Alleghany Road, Alabama.

Alabama fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:50 a.m.: A first responder reports, "this is not an ongoing rollover. They're already out of the vehicle and home."

UPDATE 8:53 a.m.: One minor injury reported.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of Genesee County, including Batavia.

It is in effect until 10:15 p.m.

A large storm is heading toward the Southwestern portion of the county and is expected to come as far north as Batavia.

The storm is moving at 55 mph. 

Wind gusts of 60 mph are expected with possible quarter-size hail.

A Mercy Flight landing zone is being set up following the report of a motorcycle and deer collision in the area of 123 Transit Road, Pavilion.

Pavilion fire and Mercy EMS have responded.

A 20-year-old Batavia resident will get a second chance as the result of a plea deal stemming for a pair of alleged burglaries of a family member's home if he can successfully complete substance abuse treatment.

Kyle Robert Ratulowski entered guilty pleas today to burglary, 2nd, and grand larceny, 4th, with the understanding that if he successfully completes the program, he will be given a chance to withdraw his guilty plea on the burglary charge and receive a probationary sentence on the grand larceny charge.

Ratulowski is currently in county custody, held without bail, while awaiting a "bed-to-bed" transfer to a drug treatment facility.

A bed at the facility should open within a week.

Interim Judge Michael Pietruszka told Ratulowski that if he washed out of the program, he would be looking of a possible maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

Ratulowski was arrested in April and accused of breaking into a home on Clinton Street, Batavia. He allegedly took a wallet containing a debit card. He told the court that he did not use the debit card. If there is a claim for restitution, Ratulowski will be required to pay it.

Sentencing is set for 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 16.

Press release from the City of Batavia Bureau of Maintenance:

Cherry Street, Pringle Avenue and Central Avenue will be closed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, June 23 and 24, for milling operations. The work will begin on Cherry Street first.

Residents and businesses are not to park on the roadway during milling operations.

These streets will be closed to through traffic. Residents and businesses of these streets will have limited access to their properties and should expect delays when paving operations are ongoing. All other traffic is asked to avoid this area and seek alternative routes.

If work is postponed by weather, work will be rescheduled for the next calendar day.

Press release:

When Genesee Community College Board of Trustees initiated the Genesee Promise Plus (GPP) summer scholarship program in 2008 its goal was to remove financial barriers that often prohibit high school graduates in the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties from attending college. Trustees also felt the scholarship program would help families of the graduates recognize that a college degree is perhaps the most valuable investment for their future. 

The GPP report provided by Virginia (Ginny) Taylor, Ph.D., GCC's vice president for Student and Enrollment Services at last week's Board of Trustees meeting, illustrated the importance of the summer scholarship program and how its growth continues to positively impact families in the GLOW region. 

Through the past eight years, college officials have expanded GPP beyond its original scope of providing a scholarship for one or two summer GCC classes to just graduating high school seniors. Today, high school juniors, GED recipients, homeschooled students, as well adults who have never attended college before can also apply and receive a GPP scholarship for one or two classes. 

Interestingly, it is high school juniors that have shown the most substantial growth between 2015 and 2016. As of last Monday, there was an 82-percent increase over last year in the number of juniors who had applied for GPP scholarships. Batavia High, Elba and Pembroke Central were the schools showing the most growth, and homeschooled students jumped from 19 to 37 students. High school seniors increased by 17 percent. The number of adult students applying for GPP is small but also growing. Last year five adults applied, while this year the College welcomed 14 adult applicants. 

"Summer enrollment in Genesee Promise Plus continues to be a powerful opportunity for residents in our GLOW community, and we are excited to have another strong summer session this year, which starts July 5th," Taylor said. "It's not too late register."

There are more than 60 courses offered by GCC in Summer Session II with classes at all seven campus locations and online. From ceramics to chemistry, algebra to accounting, history to hip hop culture-GCC courses all offer SUNY transferable credit.

One more week to register! GPP application deadline is Friday, June 24.

To apply online go to: http://www.genesee.edu/home/academics/genesee-promise-plus/

You can also stop in at any of GCC's seven campus locations:

• GCC at Albion – 456 West Avenue (Rte. 31), Albion, NY 14411- (585) 589-4936

• GCC at Arcade – 25 Edward Street, Arcade, NY 14009 - (585) 492-5265

• GCC at Batavia – 1 College Road, Batavia, NY 14202 – (585) 345-6800

• GCC at Dansville – 31 Clara Barton Street (as of July 2, 2012), Dansville, NY 14437 – (585) 335-7820

• GCC at Lima – 7285 Gale Road, Lima, NY 14485 – (585) 582-1226

• GCC at Medina – 11470 Maple Ridge Road (Rte. 31A), Medina, NY 14103 – (585) 798-1688

• GCC at Warsaw – 115 Linwood Avenue, Warsaw, NY 14569 – (585) 786-301

Press release:

New York Farm Bureau seeks to intervene in the farm labor lawsuit filed against the State of New York and Governor Cuomo. The grassroots farm organization will file a motion today in State Supreme Court of Albany County to gain intervenor status in a lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union Foundation. The NYCLUF seeks to create a constitutional right for farmworkers to collectively bargain. The ultimate goal of NYFB with today’s motion is for the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

NYFB is taking this major step to defend farmers, who feel they have been abandoned by the Governor and the New York Attorney General. Both leaders have made public statements supporting the lawsuit and refusing to defend state law, despite its importance to agriculture in New York State.

NYFB believes it has the right to intervene because the interest of its members will not be represented by the defendants – the Governor and Attorney General - and the ability of the organization’s members to continue to produce food for New York residents would be harmed in the event the plaintiffs prevail in this action.

The motion reads, “Farm Bureau is uniquely situated to represent the varied perspectives of its member farms and to zealously defend the constitutionality of the challenged farm labor exemption.”

Farm Bureau believes that the exemption of farmworkers from collective bargaining rights is constitutional, and that the exclusion of farmworkers from the State Labor Relations Act law is based on decades of rational public policy and legal precedent that will be outlined in NYFB’s motions to intervene and to dismiss.

New York Farm Bureau believes that the legal precedent is clear. This is not a question for the courts, and the NYCLUF is attempting to make an end-run around the legislature, which has not approved collective bargaining for farmworkers despite numerous opportunities.

“New York Farm Bureau has a century-long record of defending the state’s family farms, and today’s action is one of the most important in our long history. If we can’t count on our state leaders to do the right thing in this case, we are prepared to stand up for our members in court to protect their rights,” said Dean Norton, New York Farm Bureau president.