Bethany

After much talk about the need to locate a new veterans' cemetery close to Batavia, only two potential sites announced today by Sen. Charles Schumer are in Genesee County.

Three sites are in Alden and one is in Akron.

The two potential sites in Genesee County are in Le Roy and East Bethany.

Schumer was in Batavia on March 7 to announce his plans to fast track the construction of a cemetery, ideally close to Batavia since it's centrally located between Rochester and Buffalo.

Currently, the closest veterans' cemetery to either city is in Bath.

Officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs are expected to visit the six potential sites this week.

The exact locations were not released.

The sites were identified after the VA solicited proposals from area landowners willing to sell at least 200 acres of land to the government

“I have long fought for this veterans' cemetery in Western New York to become a reality, and today’s news that the VA will be visiting six potential cemetery sites in Western New York is an important step towards finally finding a suitable resting place for Western New York vets,” Schumer said in a statement.

Full press release after the jump:

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to visit six potential veterans cemetery sites this week in Western New York: three sites in Alden, one site in Akron, one site in Leroy, and one site in East Bethany.  The six sites were generated from the VA’s Expression of Interest solicitation which was issued earlier this year.  Earlier this month, Schumer wrote a letter to Secretary Shinseki of the VA, urging that the VA establish a firm timeline for completion of the long overdue veterans’ cemetery in Western New York, specifically in choosing the cemetery site. The VA has yet to acquire the necessary land for the cemetery, further delaying the design and building phase that will ultimately lead to a suitable resting place for Western New York veterans. Today’s announcement marks a step in the right direction towards bringing a long overdue cemetery to over 200,000 veterans in Western New York.

“I have long fought for this veterans cemetery in Western New York to become a reality, and today’s news that the VA will be visiting six potential cemetery sites in Western New York is an important step towards finally finding a suitable resting place for Western New York vets,” Schumer said. “After everything the many thousands of veterans in this region have done for us, it is imperative that they have a local resting place where they can receive the honor they deserve.”
VA National Cemetery officials announced that they will be in Buffalo on Wednesday, March 30th,  to conduct site visits at 6 potential cemetery sites within the VA’s target area in WNY. This target area is the area 7 miles to the North and south of the Thruway, and about 20 miles to the East and West of the Town of Pembroke in Genesee County. The six locations being assessed are three sites in Alden, one site in Akron, one site in Leroy, and one site in East Bethany.  These six potential sites were generated from the VA’s Expression of Interest solicitation which was issued in January 2011.

In a March 7th letter to Secretary Shinseki of the VA, Schumer wrote, “There are some 200,000 veterans in the Buffalo-Rochester region who are not served by a national cemetery.  They have waited too long for this important project and they have been disturbed by a lack of information and communications with the VA.  I urge you to ensure timely progress in selecting and developing a site, and I request that a firm schedule for the project be established and shared with the community.” In today’s announcement, the VA outlined the firm schedule that Schumer had strongly lobbied for. During the VA’s visits to each location,  the officials will assess which sites best fit the VA’s criteria, which includes factors such as the site’s topography, access to highways, proximity to wetlands, and the impact of neighboring facilities. After this assessment is complete, the VA will rank and score each site as part of its evaluation process.  The VA will then narrow the field of candidate sites to the top two and will  proceed with a more detailed due diligence analysis.  The VA anticipates that this review will continue for most of this year.  If it proceeds accordingly, the VA would then be on track to acquire the 200-acres of property by the end of this year or the Spring of 2012.  The VA will then hire an architectural/engineering firm to help develop the master plan for the site, clearing the way for construction.

There are currently six National Cemeteries in New York State, but the facility in Bath is the only one in all of Central New York, Western New York, the Southern Tier and the Rochester Finger Lakes Region.  Current VA regulations allow for establishment of a new cemetery when it would serve 80,000 or more veterans within a 75 mile area. In Western New York alone there are approximately 125,000 veterans. Combined with the Rochester area, which is also more than 75 miles away from the nearest national cemetery in Bath, there are more than 200,000 veterans without appropriate access to a cemetery. A cemetery location in Western New York not only makes sense, but would fulfill an urgent need of these veterans.

Veterans Affairs began seeking a cemetery site in August 2010, with the effort focused within a 50 mile diameter area which included parts of Ontario, Canada, Lake Erie, Erie County, Orleans County, Niagara County and Genesee county. In January 2011, the VA announced that they were starting over and had moved the area under consideration to the east and would center it in Genesee County. Today’s announcement means that these milestones in the process will not continued to be pushed back.

Schumer has long argued that it is critical for the veterans cemetery location to be decided on and for building to begin immediately.  Half of New York Veterans are 65 years of age or older, and now is the time to start planning for the future of those veterans, and ensuring that they are treated with the honor they deserve.  Schumer has heard from local veterans groups that veterans in Western New York desperately want to be buried in a national shrine, but don’t want to force their families to travel long distances to visit, potentially at great hardship to do so.

Today, there are more than 22 million veterans who are eligible for the honor of burial in a National Cemetery. Veterans with discharges other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery. Those who die on active duty may also be buried in a national cemetery.

Veshuan Dequise Thomas, 33, of East Bethany-Le Roy Road in Bethany, was arrested at 12:43 a.m. this morning and charged with criminal obstruction of breathing and criminal mischief, 4th. He was arraigned in Bethany Town Court, where he is to appear at a later date, and jailed in lieu of $1,500 bail. The suspect was involved in a domestic incident wherein he allegedly choked and struck his girlfriend, then damaged a telephone when she tried to call 9-1-1 for help. A stay-away order to protect the girfriend was issued. The case was investigated by deputies Howard Carlson and Frank Bordonaro.

A tractor is reportedly on fire at a farm in the area of 10423 East Road, Bethany.

The tractor is near a structure.

Bethany Fire Department being dispatched.

UPDATE 1:39 p.m.: Pavilion fire is being dispatched, along with Wyoming fire for mutual aid.

UPDATE 1:45 p.m.: The structure is smaller and not yet involved in the blaze.

UPDATE 2:12 p.m.: Fire is out.

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LeeAnna M. Kiefer, 18, of Transit Road, East Bethany, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Kiefer is accused of being involved in an incident on Big Tree Road in Pavilion where she allegedly punched another person in the head and face.

Stephanie Marie Macchia, 33, of Munzel Road, Medina, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Macchia was involved in a traffic stop by Deputy Patrick Reeves at 11:57 p.m., Friday, on Route 77 in Pembroke, and found to allegedly be in possession of marijuana.

I had a little time to drive around a bit late this afternoon and headed out to Bethany. Driving down Francis Road, I came across a couple of picture opportunities.

I spent most of the afternoon in Le Roy looking for news. I came up blank, but as the sun started to set, I took some back roads home to Batavia. This was shot on Smith Road, Pavilion Bethany.

A snowmobiler was injured this evening in the area of Transit Road, east of Dublin Road.

The accident was reported at 9:20 p.m.

The injured rider was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight.

Bethany Fire responded with mutual aid from Alexander and Stafford.

UPDATE: The Sheriff's Office has released additional information: The rider was Steven L. Klien, 41. He was ejected from his snowmobile for an unknown reason while traveling in a southern direction on a marked trail. Klien was then struck by a snowmobile operated by Michael K. Owens, 39. Klien suffered a cut on his leg and a possible broken leg. The investigation is continuing, but alcohol is not considered a factor.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries has been reported on Route 63 between Clapsaddle and Bethany Center roads.

Bethany Fire Department is responding.

All four occupants are safely out of a car that rolled over in the area of 6937 Ellicott Street Road, East Bethany.

Three occupants are walking around and one is waiting in a car with possible glass in his or her eye.

Pavilion Fire and Mercy EMS is responding.

Two of Genesee County's young people seriously hurt in accidents this week remain hospitalized.

Cassandra Koepp, 17, injured in an accident on Wortendyke Road on Wednesday afternoon, remains in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital. Strong lists all patients in the intensive care unit as "guarded."

Jordan Paul Fleming, 22, who had his legs seriously injured when his car hit a tree on East Bethany-Le Roy Townline Road on Thursday is listed in satisfactory condition at Strong.

While at the accident scene this afternoon, I noticed some people looking at something in the sky behind me. I turned around and it was a C-130 circling the area. One of the Mercy Flight pilots told me the C-130 pilots -- wherever they're from -- routinely make practice runs in the area.

UPDATED Feb. 4, 12:37 a.m.

Crews from Bethany and Stafford volunteer fire departments worked for more than an hour and 15 minutes to extricate an accident victim from his car on East Bethany-Le Roy Townline Road this afternoon.

The victim, Jordan Paul Fleming, 22, of East Bethany-Le Roy Townline Road, East Bethany, appears to have suffered leg injuries, according to Bethany's 2nd Assistant Chief John Szymkowiak. 

Fleming was taken by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital.

The 1996 Mercedes sedan passed through a slushy part of the roadway, slid off the pavement and struck a tree on the front driver's side, according to the accident investigation report. The force of the impact collapsed the front of the car, including steering wheel and column onto the driver's legs.

The car essentially had to be dismantled into order to extricate Fleming.

One veteran firefighter described the extrication as the toughest he's ever been involved in.

Szymkowiak requested mutual aid from Stafford to help with the extrication.

(Initial Report)

More pictures after the jump:

A car has struck a pole, trapping the driver inside, at East Bethany-Le Roy Road and Transit Road in Bethany.

Mercy Flight is in air, on standby. Bethany Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 12:34 p.m.: Responder requests Mercy Flight to the scene. Serious injuries reported.

UPDATE 12:37 p.m.: Stafford Fire Department is called in for mutual aid.

UPDATE 12:38 p.m.: Law enforcement is there and controlling traffic. A landing zone is being set up on Transit Road.

UPDATE 12:42 p.m.: The "jaws of life" are called for to extricate the driver, who is the sole victim.

UPDATE 12:50 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 1:04 p.m.: Alexander Fire Department is called to standby in its quarters.

UPDATE 1:36 p.m.: The male victim has yet to be extricated and they are working diligently to do so. The car's roof has been removed in the process. The car's front end is heavily damaged.

UPDATE 1:45 p.m.: The man has been extricated from his vehicle.

UPDATE 2:08 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne, heading to Strong Memorial Hospital. Alexander is released from standby.

UPDATE 2:17 p.m.: Bethany fire units are back in service. The site is being cleaned up and the roadway reopened.

A one-car rollover accident is blocking the eastbound lane of Route 20 in the area of 4471 Broadway Road, Bethany.

There are no reported injuries.

Bethany Fire and Alexander Fire Police are responding.

UPDATE 6:40 a.m.: Traffic is being directed around the accident.

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Ajuna Mona Pruitt, 19, of Dawnhaven Drive, Rochester, is charged with reckless endangerment and criminal trespass, 2nd. Pruitt is accused of entering a room at College Village without permission and then, while in the parking lot, striking another woman with her car. The alleged incident occurred at 6:30 p.m., Monday.

Ajuna M. Pruitt, 19, of Dawnhaven Drive, Rochester, along with Ebony S. Barnes, 18, of Chaplain Street, Rochester and Shibritney M. Colbert, 19, of Shelter Street, Rochester, are charged with harassment, 2nd. The trio are accused of going to an apartment at College Village at 10:39 p.m., Tuesday, and banging and kicking on a door in an attempt to get the resident to come out and fight.

Danielle Marie Kotmel, 30, of East Main Street, Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Kotmel is accused of stealing a red Dell laptop computer. The alleged theft is believed to have occurred in December but was not discovered until an audit was completed in January.

Robert G. Woodhouse Jr., 50, of Creek Road, Bethany, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Woodhouse is accused of entering a residence and remaining unlawfully. He's also accused of damaging a door.

Richard John Downs, 48, of Oak Orchard Road, Elba, was arrested on a probation warrant out of Town of Elba Court.

Steven Michael Keaton, 38, of Gilbert Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Keaton is accused of contacting a woman whom he was ordered not to contact.

A car has hit a pole in the area of Ellicott Street Road and Transit Road.

There is airbag deployment, but no word yet on injuries.

Bethany Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 3:25: Correction, Mercy EMS not dispatched. Chief at scene says he should be all set.

I left the house early this morning with the hope that despite the cloud cover, we would have some good light.  Last night, the forecast -- I didn't recheck this morning -- was a break in the clouds at 8 a.m. That never happened, and instead by 9, we had the first flurries of snow.

Still, I managed to find some interesting things to photograph.

Above, a dog (if I remember correctly, her name is Diana), an old truck and a barn on Starr Road in Pavilion.

My first stop was an old, apparently abandoned, graveyard on Covell Road, Pavilion.

Also from the graveyard on Covell Road.

Just as it started to snow pretty good, I arrived at a grave site off Route 63 in Bethany that somebody had recently told me about.

As long as I was on Route 63 in Bethany, I thought I'd get a picture of one of my favorite barns. I liked how the snow was just beginning to outline the shingles.

Ricky Allen Marsceill, 46, of 174 Ross St., Batavia, is accused of being a fugitive from justice. Marsceill was arrested by Batavia Police Det. Pat Corona on a warrant out of Florida. The underlying charge of the Florida warrant was not released. At 1:10 p.m., Wednesday, Corona approached Marsceill's residence on Ross Street and spotted Marsceill on a bicycle. Marsceill allegedly tried to flee on foot. Corona pursued Marsceill and Officer Jay Andrews responded to the scene. Marsceill was apprehended by Corona and Andrews on Manhatten Avenue. Marsceill was jailed without bail pending extradition to Florida. (Initial Report)

Randy K. Braun, 48, of Maier Lane, Caledonia, is charged with DWI, failure to keep right, moving from lane unsafely and uninspected vehicle. At 9:04 p.m., Wednesday, Deputy Matthew Butler responded to Route 63 in Bethany to investigate a report of a car off the road in a ditch. Braun was allegedly found to be the driver of the vehicle. He was arrested on suspicion of DWI and jailed on $1,000 bail.

Vesna Brongo, 41, of Cadillac Avenue, Rochester, was arrested on a warrant for alleged aggravated unlicensed operation. Brongo was taken into custody by Rochester Police and turned over to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office. Brongo was arraigned in Town of Elba Court and jailed on $250 bail.

A 14-year-old boy from Byron is charged with criminal sexual act with a child 11 years old or younger and endangering the welfare of a child. The name of the suspect was not released by State Police. The crime was reported Dec. 21. No further details were released.

A male about 18 year old is reported to be lying in a snow bank, possibly suffering from hypothermia, at 4822 Route 20, near Silver Road.

Mercy EMS and a crew from Bethany Fire Department are responding.

UPDATE 3:46 p.m.: Responders have requested a deputy to the scene "to secure an item."

UPDATE 3:54 p.m.: The man is being transported to UMMC. A fireman is remaining at the scene until a deputy arrives.

UPDATE 4:01 p.m.: The deputy is going to the scene "to pick up a bicycle."

Kiera Gross, above, got just what she wanted for her 11th birthday. She was surrounded by friends and dogs and cats.

Gross wanted her birthday party to be something that would help support the animal shelter and pet adoption. Volunteers for Animals helped out by bringing some dogs and kittens to the Bethany Fire Hall today.

Guests were asked to bring a donation to the party. More than a dozen of Kiera's friends joined in the party, which included games with the pets, a chance to make a pet bed and lots and lots of petting and cuddling the animals.

Clockwise -- Kim Davis, Sarah Stefan, Loy Gross (Kiera's mom) and Taylor Heineman, work on making pet beds.

Alannah Gross.

Meet "Buddy." If I were more impulsive, I would have taken Buddy home immediately.  He's a super-good natured dog, very friendly -- a real "people person" -- and eager for a new master. The shelter is looking for a home for him very, very soon, so go adopt him.