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Alexander

Route 238 closed

By Billie Owens

North and southbound Route 238 is closed. That's in Darien.

More than 60 students earn academic honors at the College at Brockport

By Billie Owens

The College at Brockport, State University of New York, recently honored students who excelled academically by naming them to the dean's list for the Fall 2012 semester. Students who earn a GPA of 3.70–3.99 are named to the dean's list with honors, while students who achieve a 3.40–3.69 are named to the dean's list.

Dean's list with honors:

Alexander

  • Patrick Guarino, with honors
  • Peggy Hamm-Johnson, with honors

Basom

  • Lori Stellrecht, with honors
  • Elias Seward, with honors
  • Danielle Hirtzel, with honors

Batavia

  • Heidi Dempsey, with honors
  • Kristin Aidala, with honors
  • Jennifer Baker, with honors
  • John Beckler, with honors
  • Kaley Falkowski, with honors
  • Leigh Woodall, with honors

Bergen

  • Shane Chatham, with honors
  • Cody Pierce, with honors
  • Rebecca Smith, with honors
  • Lindsay Stumpf, with honors
  • Athena Corodimas, with honors

Byron

  • Melissa Hale, with honors
  • Tammy Fuller, with honors
  • Sarah Ritchie, with honors

Elba

  • Gianni Zambito, with honors

Le Roy

  • Natalie Wedge, with honors
  • Katherine Rogers, with honors
  • Meghan Bishop, with honors
  • Danielle Ford, with honors
  • Gena Korn, with honors

Oakfield

  • Jamie Borkholder, with honors
  • Zackary Kibler, with honors

South Byron

  • Kallee Stein, with honors


Dean's list:

Alexander

  • Cory Dick

Batavia

  • Patrick Carr
  • Emily Mott
  • Felicia McJury
  • Erin Suttell
  • David Eick
  • Charles Eggebrecht
  • Cara Grosshans
  • Carrie Putney
  • Brittany Wormley
  • Diane Cox
  • Emily Glidden
  • Katrina Mogavero
  • Catherine Taylor

Bergen

  • Harjit Singh
  • Brian Humphrey
  • Alexander Gunther
  • Alyson Tardy
  • Emily Drzewiecki
  • Carrie Cooper
  • Paul Morton

Byron

  • Darren Kwiatkowski

Corfu

  • Casey Herman
  • Kristen Gaik

Elba

  • Keenan Hughes
  • Meg Stucko

Le Roy

  • Joel Pitts
  • Justin Becker
  • Abigail Graham

Oakfield

  • Samantha Denton
  • Olivia Waldron
  • Benjamin Cherry
  • Lisa Halat

Pavilion

  • Theresa Raponi
  • Shawn Mascho

Law and Order: Woman accused of stealing items from residence in Alabama over Father's Day weekend

By Howard B. Owens

Penny Sue Sprague, 42, of Oakfield, is charged with burglary, 2nd. Sprague is accused of entering a residence without permission on Father's Day weekend and stealing several items, including electronics, jewelry, money and other property.  Following arraignment, Sprague was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Scott D. Fairfield, 19, of 131 S. Swan St., Batavia, is charged with resisting arrest. Fairfield is accused of interfering with the arrest of another person at his residence. No further information was released.

Timothy James Walsh, 44, of Redfield Parkway, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Walsh is accused of using a motor vehicle to recklessly damaging the property of another person on Hunn Road, Alexander, on Feb. 3.

Man facing up to 11 years in prison for grand larceny pleads not guilty to new burglary counts

By Howard B. Owens

An Alexander resident -- who has already admitted to grand larceny in Wyoming County, and is facing prior theft charges locally -- entered a not guilty plea in Genesee County Court today to two new burglary counts.

Nicholas A. Antonucci, 25, of 4192 Broadway Road, who is being held in Wyoming County Jail pending his sentencing Feb. 21, made a brief appearance before Judge Robert C. Noonan this afternoon.

Antonucci was indicted by the grand jury a week ago on two new counts of burglary in the second degree, stemming from two alleged break-ins at a residence in Darien.

In Genesee County, he was already facing incharges of burglary, 2nd, grand larceny, 3rd, and grand larceny, 4th.

On Nov. 26, in Wyoming County Court, Antonucci entered a guilty plea to grand larceny, 3rd, and grand larceny, 4th. His original indictment also included a count of burglary, 3rd.

He faces from three and two-thirds to 11 years in state prison on the Wyoming County conviction, to be served concurrently with any sentence he might receive in Genesee County on the original set of charges.

The Wyoming County plea satisifies all of the charges in that county against him.

Law and Order: Two new burglary counts added to charges against Alexander man

By Howard B. Owens

Nicolas Adam Antonucci, 25, of 4192 Broadway Road, Alexander, is indicted on two counts of burglary in the 2nd degree. Antonucci is accused of breaking into a residence on Broadway Road, Darien, on Nov. 12 and on Nov. 18. (For prior charges against Antonucci, click here).

Daniel H. Bettilyon is indicated on felony counts of DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Bettilyon is accused of driving a 1989 Harley Davidson motorcycle while drunk on Maltby Road, Oakfield, on Aug. 10. Bettilyon allegedly has a prior DWI conviction from July 2004.

SUNY Geneseo names a dozen local students to its dean's list

By Billie Owens

The State University of New York at Geneseo has announced its dean's list for the fall semester 2012. To be on the list, a student must have achieved a 3.5 grade-point average while taking at least 12 credit hours.

Students on the list from this area are:

  • Chelsey Brinkman, from Alexander
  • Amanda Gouger, from Batavia
  • Christina Mortellaro, from Batavia
  • Grey Musilli, from Batavia
  • Abigayle Brown, from Batavia
  • Calli Raines, from Batavia
  • Clarisse Birkby, from Corfu
  • Sarah Lawson, from East Bethany
  • Mitchell Gillard, from Elba
  • Michael Ramsey, from Elba
  • Briana Pangrazio, from Le Roy
  • Alicia Rohan, from Oakfield

SUNY Geneseo is a public liberal arts college recognized nationally for excellence in undergraduate education and for its professional and master's level programs.

Alexander cheerleaders raise money for Austin's Army

By Alecia Kaus

The parking lot at Alexander High School was packed with cars and people from all over the Genesee County community. Folks came out to give their support to an 18 year old 2012 Pembroke High School graduate who has been battling a rare juvenile cancer since last February.

The fundraiser for Austin Heineman during last night's Alexander Boys Basketball match-up with Lyndonville was organized by the Alexander Varsity Cheerleading squad.

"I wanted the girls to see what it's like to give back to the community," Varsity Cheerleading Coach Erin Coles said. "This is their chance to shine for a second, I just didn't expect this many people here." 

Admission was free. Donation buckets, 50/50 raffle, a half-court basketball shoot, a bake sale, and the sale of Austin's Army T-shirts and wristbands collected a total of $1,500 for the night. All proceeds will go toward Austin's medical expenses. 

Austin was scheduled to be at the fundraising event, but had to go to Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo for stem cell replacement yesterday morning. 

Doctors want to boost his platelet count to prepare him for a bone marrow transplant next week at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md. 

According to Tricia Heineman, Austin's aunt, they have found two good candidates for the bone marrow transplant.

"He has the best attitude -- if there was one to make it through this, it would be him," Tricia Heineman said.

The Alexander Boys Basketball Team defeated Lyndonville 59-39 to make the night complete.

To keep updated about Austin's condition go to www.facebook.com/austinsarmy

Truck loses some of its scrap metal load, striking a parked snowmobile

By Alecia Kaus

A flatbed truck on Route 98 lost some of its scrap metal load, striking a parked snowmobile in front of Sunnyside Cycle Sales in Alexander. A vehicle driving behind the flatbed called 9-1-1 to report that the driver did not stop after the incident.

Sheriff's deputies reported a large back end of an old pickup truck in the road. The damage to the snowmobile is minimal.

Law enforcement has the flatbed truck stopped on Angling Road. The driver will return to Sunnyside Cycle Sales with his insurance information.

Alexander, Bethany and Darien respond to barn fire in Attica

By Alecia Kaus

A barn fire in the Village of Attica at 69 High St. has closed down Route 98 between Dunbar Road and Route 354. Alexander, Bethany and Darien fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: Town of Batavia also responding.

UPDATE 7:10 p.m.: According to the property owner Gene Reding, the barn was fully engulfed when he arrived home. The two horses that are normally housed in the barn were out in the field at the time and not injured. There was some equipment and hay for bedding inside. He says he has owned the property since 1975 and the barn was built in 1919.

Attica Fire Chief Bob Willard says the wood frame barn went up in flames in five minutes. It looks like the fire started in the basement and it could have been an electrical problem that caused it. It is a total loss.

Seven companies were called to the two-alarm blaze and no one was injured.

Law and Order: Man arrested by Batavia PD accused of using holding cell as bathroom

By Howard B. Owens

Maurice G. Leach, 36, of 212 State St., Batavia, is charged with menacing, 3rd, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and criminal tampering, 3rd. Police officers Eric Hill, Thad Mart and Chris Camp responded to a report of a male subject hitting a woman outside 212 State St. at 8:39 a.m., Sunday. During the investigation, Leach allegedly became combative and when officers attempted to place him into custody, he allegedly resisted arrest. While at police headquarters, Leach allegedly urinated and defecated on the floor of the holding cell. Leach was jailed on $50,000 bail.

Edward R. Freida, 41, of 47 Tracy Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd. Freida was allegedly found in possession of a switchblade knife during a routine search of his residence by a probation officer. Because Frieda has a prior conviction for criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, the charge is elevated to third degree. Freida was jailed without bail.

Jessica L. Polk, 36, of 202 Bank St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Polk is accused of pushing and grabbing a child during a domestic incident.

Ann M. Schlegel, 35, Lawrence A. Atkins, 35, and Leon D. Atkins, 16, all from Medina, are charged with petit larceny. The trio is accused of attempting to steal $337.31 in merchandise from Kmart at 5:54 p.m., Sunday.

Scott Dwayne Kingdon, 46, of Sparks Road, Pavilion, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Kingdon is accused of sending e-mails to a person in violation of an order of protection.

Nathaniel L. Beglinger, 21, of Peaviner Road, Alexander, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Beglinger is accused of recklessly causing damage to a building in Darien, causing more than $250 damage, at 12:35 a.m., Dec. 1.

Dennis J. Saporito, 25, of Culver Road, Albion, turned himself in on a bench warrant out of Batavia City Court for alleged driving while ability impaired. Saporito was arraigned and sentenced to 10 days in jail.

Robert Lee Ealey, 26, of Phelps Road, Rochester, Ealey was taken into custody by Rochester PD on a bench warrant issued by Genesee County Court and turned over to the Sheriff's Office. Ealey was held pending arraignment today.

Adam M. Miller, 20, of Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Miller is accused of damaging property with a value greater than $250 at 4 a.m., Jan. 1, in the Town of Shelby. Miller was arrested by State Police. No further details released.

Benefit basketball game for Alexander's Austin Heineman

By Billie Owens

The Alexander High School Varsity Cheerleaders will host a benefit basketball game for Austin Heineman at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18.

Come to Alexander High School and watch the Alexander Trojans (varsity boys) take on Letchworth. The school is located at 3314 Buffalo St.

Donations are welcome at the door. Plus, there will be a 50/50 raffle, half-court shootout, bake sale, and gift certificates from local businesses to be raffled off.

All proceeds will be donated to Austin as he battles a rare childhood cancer. He is currently awaiting a bone marrow transplant.

Photos: Alexander Fire's annual awards and installation dinner

By Howard B. Owens

The Alexander Fire Department held its annual awards and installation dinner Saturday night at the fire hall.

Above from left:

  • Dylan Scharlau, who was honored for completing the most hours training -- 103 hours
  • Ryan Hinz, most calls -- 118 calls
  • Dean Hendershott, Firefighter of the Year
  • Debra Spires, president and EMS captain
  • Chief Lance Scharlau
  • Tom Green, Chief's Award
  • Patricia Merle, President's Award

Spires is holding a flag that was flown in Afghanistan and was presented to the department last night.

Elba dominates previously undefeated Alexander in girls basketball

By Howard B. Owens

With a record of 7-0, Alexander's girls were riding the high of a good start to a season.

Then they hit the brick wall of a team that hadn't lost its previous 31 games and are defending state champions, the Lady Lancers of Elba.

Keyed by McKenzie Bezon's 18 points, the Lancers, now 7-0 themselves, notched a decisive 57-31 at home.

Alexander Head Coach Marcia Hirsch wasn't too happy with her team's performance.

"We were playing a tough team," Hirsch said. "I expected my team to step up a little better. Our defense is the not the defense we’ve seen. They shut down all my scorers."

Her girls can expect to drill more on defense in the coming days and weeks, Hirsch said.

Elba's head coach, Tom Nowak, said in preparation for the game, his girls drilled on pressuring Alexander with an aggressive defense, forcing turnovers and limiting scoring, which is what they did Thursday.

And the team will continue to work on defense, he said.

"Hopefully, we can polish things up a bit," Nowak said. "You just keep playing. You never know where it's going to take you."

To go with her 18 points, McKenzie had six rebounds.

Kelsey Bezon had five rebounds and 11 points. Jamie Marshall had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anna Dorman had seven points and five rebounds.

For Alexander, Sarah Loranty led the way with 13 points.

Next up, Elba hosts Bergen on Monday and Alexander plays in the Rotary Tournament at Genesee Community College on Tuesday.

Bergen woman wins $5 million on lottery scratcher

By Howard B. Owens

A Bergen resident, Jasvir Kaur, bought a $20 scratch-off ticket Nov. 13 at the Country Deli in Alexander and won $5 million, lottery officials announced in Rochester today.

After taxes, Kaur pockets $3.3 million.

Driver who died on Route 20 accident wasn't wearing a seat belt

By Howard B. Owens

A Batavia man died today after he lost control of his Ford Ranger on a snow-and-ice covered Route 20 in Alexander and hit a westbound semi-truck.

The 48-year-old State Street resident was not wearing a seat belt, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Frank R. Demarco was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Donald Coleman.

Demarco's passenger, Brandon J. Eck, 32, of Graystone Lane, Rochester, suffered a serious leg injury in the accident. Eck was belted in his seat prior to the accident.

The driver of the 2010 Freightliner, 54-year-old Douglas E. McPherron, of County Route 9, Clayton, was not injured, though he was transported to UMMC by the Alexander ambulance as a precaution.

Unsafe speed for the road conditions is considered the preliminary contributing factor to the accident, according to investigators.

Demarco's Ranger was westbound when it crossed the center line and hit the truck head on. McPherron tried to break but couldn't slow quickly enough to avoid the accident, an investigator said.

The Ranger exited the road on the north shoulder.

The accident was reported at 1:34 p.m. at a location on Route 20 about half way between Browns Mill Road and West Bethany Road.

Alcohol is not considered a factor in the accident.

Assisting at the scene were the Alexander Volunteer Fire Department, State Police and Mercy EMS. The Bethany Volunteer Fire Department and Pavilion Volunteer Fire Department assisted with traffic control.

Route 20 was closed to all westbound traffic for about three hours. Westbound truck traffic was diverted onto Route 63 at Texaco Town.

The accident investigation is being conducted by Deputy Christopher Parker, Deputy Joseph Corona, Sgt. James Meier, Deputy John Duyssen, Investigator William Ferrando and Sgt. Greg Walker.

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Wires arcing, top of pole on fire on Genesee Street, Alexander

By Billie Owens

Wires are arcing, but not down, on a utility pole at 11230 Genesee St. in Alexander. There's also a fire in the center of the top of the pole. The location is near the county line. Alexander Fire Department is responding. The utility company has been notified. No ETA given.

UPDATE 4:01 p.m.: A responder on scene says the utility company should be advised that the pole is well off the roadway. It does not have a transformer on it. But the fire is now four feet down from the top pole and it's "burned pretty good." The ETA of the utility company is 30 minutes to an hour and a responder says he will "babysit" the situation until the workers arrive.

Pickup truck and big rig collide on Route 20, Alexander

By Billie Owens

A pickup truck and tractor-trailer crashed at 4176 Route 20 and there are injuries. Mercy Flight is unavailable due to weather. The location is between Brown's Mill and Molasses Hill roads. Alexander Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding along with law enforcement. One person is reportedly unconscious. The westbound lane is blocked. Bethany Fire Police are called in for traffic control.

UPDATE 1:46 p.m.: No westbound traffic from Molasses Hill Road will be allowed onto Route 20 (Broadway Road).

UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: Route 63 will be shut down at Route 20 (Texaco Town) for westbound vehicles and Pavilion Fire Police are called to provide traffic control.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: One person is being transported to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: The driver of the pickup truck sustained fatal injuries. The passenger was taken to Strong. The driver of the semi, which has Oklahoma plates, is not injured.

UPDATE 2:24 p.m.: A heavy wrecker is called to tow the semi, which lost all of its fluids in the crash, and has / had a weight of 79,000 pounds.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: The driver of the semi is being transported via Alexander ambulance to UMMC for evaluation. He was able to get out of his rig unaided and any injuries he sustained are believed to be minor.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: The medic tells ER personnel the man has "zero injuries" and his transport there is precautionary.

UPDATE 4:25 p.m.: Route 63 at Route 20 is being reopened. Pavilion Fire Police will be in service shortly.

UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: All of westbound Route 20 is reopened and Bethany Fire Police are going back in service.

RIT announces Dean's List honorees for Fall 2012

By Billie Owens

The following local residents made the Dean's List for Fall 2012 quarter at Rochester Institute of Technology:

ALEXANDER

Brittani Scharlau, a second-year student in the College of Health Sciences and Technology.

BASOM

Daniel Mancuso, a fourth-year student in the E. Philip Saunders College of Business.

Dean Kubik, a second-year student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Daniel Crossen, a fifth-year student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Erin Crossen, a fourth-year student in the College of Science.

BATAVIA

David Renzo, a fifth-year student in the College of Applied Science and Technology.

Matthew Zaso, a fourth-year student in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

Joy Snyder, a fourth-year student in the College of Science.

Amanda Krol, a third-year student in the College of Applied Science and Technology.

Matthew Jackson, a fifth-year student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Maura Chmielowiec, a second-year student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Sophia Del Plato, a second-year student in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

BERGEN

Matthew Starowitz, a fifth-year student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Trevor Thunell, a fifth-year student in the College of Applied Science and Technology.

Nicholas Quilliam, a fourth-year student in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

Charles Slack, a fourth-year student in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

Michael Slack, a second-year student in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Eric Hunt, a first-year student in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

Matthew Haywood, a fifth-year student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Robert Ellsworth, a fifth-year student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Philip Berggren, a fourth-year student in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Joshua Barnard, a third-year student in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

CORFU

Michael Zaikis, a fifth-year student in the College of Applied Science and Technology.

Karl Pajak, a second-year student in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Nicholas Flumerfeldt, a third-year student in the College of Applied Science and Technology.

DARIEN CENTER

Robert Osborn, a first-year student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Christopher Snyder, a first-year student in the College of Science.

Jason Inman, a fifth-year student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

LE ROY

Russell Schultz, a fourth-year student in the College of Health Sciences and Technology.

Kristen Stacy, a third-year student in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Benjamin Nicodemus, a first-year student in the College of Applied Science and Technology.

Jonathon Locke, a fifth-year student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Ryan Hochreiter, a first-year student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Kari Branton, a third-year student in the College of Applied Science and Technology.

Alex Graham, a fourth-year student in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

OAKFIELD

Hannah Belliveau, a second-year student in the Center for Multidisciplinary Studies.

John Koenig, a third-year student in the College of Applied Science and Technology.

PAVILION

Evyn Morgan, a fourth-year student in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Rochester Institute of Technology is internationally recognized for academic leadership in computing, engineering, imaging science, sustainability, and fine and applied arts, in addition to unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. RIT enrolls 17,500 full- and part-time students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, and its cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation.

Batavia Rotary holds tip-off lunch for 24th annual basketball tournament

By Howard B. Owens

The Rotary Club of Batavia hosted its annual lunch kicking off its basketball tournament.

The 24th annual tournament will be Jan. 8 and 10 at GCC, game times of 6 and 7 p.m.

Photo above: Riley Norton, Notre Dame, senior, forward; Kaleigh Cicero, Perry, senior, guard; Tatyana Wayne, Batavia, senior, guard; and, Sarah Loranty, Alexander, senior, guard.

Below, Santa asks attendees to applaud for the coach with the best "do-rag." From left, Brent Gillette, Perry, Marcia Hirsch, Alexander, Dave Pero, Notre Dame, and Bill Wade, Batavia.

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