byron

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at Route 237 and Cockram Road. Byron Fire Department is on scene and South Byron Fire Department and Mercy medics are en route. The road is completely blocked and law enforcement is there.

UPDATE 5:34 p.m.: All available manpower out of Byron's hall is called in along with Fire Police. Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is available and a landing zone is going to be set up.

UPDATE 5:42 p.m.: Mercy Flight will be arriving momentarily.

UPDATE 6:15 p.m.: Mercy Flight arrived a while ago.

UPDATE 6:41 p.m.: Byron and South Byron are back in service and the road is reopened. According to Sheriff's deputy Kevin McCarthy, preliminary indications are that a box truck northbound on Route 237 was sideswiped when a southbound sedan crossed over the line. The female sedan driver required extrication and was taken to a hospital by Mercy Flight. The male driver of the box truck was not seriously injured. Identities of both parties involved are known but are not being released at this time. There were no passengers. Charges may be filed pending investigation.

UPDATE: The driver of the 1993 Chevy sedan is identified in the accident report as Renee G. Belknap, 44, of Bergen. The box truck driver is Grancisco M. Rosario, 55, of Medina. Belknap was cited for allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road.

UPDATE: Here are additional photos submitted by Jason Kota.

Brenden Robert Jones, 29, of Oakbrier Court, Penfield, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Jones is accused of stealing more than $2,800 in merchandise from Walmart. Jones alleged had a crack pipe in his possession at the time of his arrest. The investigation is continuing and more charges are possible. Jones was released under supervision of Genesee Justice. Also arrested and charged with grand larceny was Matthew David Marvin, 26, of Old Country Lane, Fairport. Marvin was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Witness Smith, 45, of Laurel Drive, Attica, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Smith allegedly left a child who was under his supervision unattended in a motor vehicle at 12:22 p.m, June 16, on Jackson Street, Batavia.

Gordon M. Yohe, 71, of Swamp Road, Byron, is charged with felony DWI, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle and refusal to take breath test. Yohe was arrested following a report at 2:38 p.m., June 10, of a suspicious person at a business on East Main Street, Batavia. Yohe was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Tyler J. Aina, 22, of Waterport Carlton Road, Albion, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. Aina posted bail and was released.

Jeremy J. Smith, 19, of Loyalist Avenue, Rochester, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Smith allegedly violated an order of protection by contacting a family he was ordered not to contact. Smith was jailed on $500 bail.

Kewa R. Buckman, 43, of Otis Street, Rochester, was arrested on a warrant related to an alleged parking on city streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Buckman was being held in the Monroe County Jail on an unrelated traffic charges. He was transferred to Batavia PD custody, posted cash bail and was released.

Pauline J. Hensel, 61, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant and jailed on $750 bail.

Robert Mitchell Andersen, 44, of Sand Hill Road, Caledonia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, suspended registration and driving without a license. Andersen was stopped at 5:06 p.m. Sunday on Lewiston Road, Batavia, by Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello.

Beniluis Ruiz, 38, of Ellicott Street Road, Pavilion, is charged with criminal sexual act, 3rd, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful dealing with a child. Ruiz allegedly sexually assaulted a person under age 17. He also allegedly provided alcohol to people under age 21.

Scott Macumber Castle, 52, of Vallance Road Le Roy, is charged with trespass. Castle allegedly trespassed at Byron-Bergen Central School. Castle was allegedly advised previously by school officials to stay off school grounds.

At the corner of Route 262 and Batavia Byron Road in February 2008, there was a horrible auto accident. Two children were killed -- Victoria Claus, 7, and Christopher Claus, 11. Friends erected a memorial to the children near the intersection. Today, three young ladies who were classmates in second grade with Victoria decided to return to the memorial to clean it up and add flowers and stuffed animals. Pictured are Morgan Fuller, left, Julia Menzie and Catherine Bumsted.

Kaitlyn Mackenzie Hayes, 20, of Lake Street, Perry, is charged with criminal impersonation, 2nd, and trespass. Hayes allegedly impersonated her sister to reenter Darian Lake Performing Arts Center during the Dave Matthews concert Wednesday. It was later found that she allegedly used a false identification, her sister, at the time of her arrest.

Justin M. Wotherspoon, 27, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Wotherspoon allegedly had physical contact with a person in violation of a court order. Wotherspoon was jailed without bail.

Danielle Marie Stevens, 37, of Ford Road, Elba, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Stevens is accused of stealing the wallet of a WIC employee who was assisting her. Stevens was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Christopher Free Bragg, 28, of Genesee Street, Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Bragg is accused of shoplifting from Walmart. 

Richard Michael Wroblewski, 61, of Williamstowne, Cheektowaga, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding (70 in a 55 mph zone). Wroblewski was stopped at 8:10 p.m. Friday on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Sgt. Greg Walker.

Cody James Hinchey, 27, of Reed Road, Churchville, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Hinchey was stopped at 1:19 a.m. Saturday on Byron Holley Road by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Richard Henry Forman, 64, of Ellinwood Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to keep right. Forman was reportedly involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 3:01 a.m. Friday on Genesee Street, Pembroke. The accident was investigated by Deputy Joseph Corona.

A two-car accident with possible entrapment is reported at Route 237 and Cockram Road. A pole is also involved. Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 2:53 p.m.: Fire police are requested to the scene.

A two-car accident is reported at North Byron and Transit roads. Four people sustained minor injuries. Byron and South Byron firefighters are responding. Mercy medics are on scene.

UPDATE 11:02 a.m.: A second ambulance is called in.

UPDATE 11:07 a.m.: Elba Fire Police are called in.

UPDATE 11:33 a.m.: At least two people have been transported to UMMC.

A car crashed into a pole in the area of 7027 Route 237. Unknown injuries, but the driver is out of the vehicle. The pole and wires are down, blocking the roadway. The "car is smoking."

Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics.

The location is between Town Line and Cockram roads.

UPDATE 3:13 p.m.: Fire Police are called to shut down traffic at Route 237 and Cockram Road. National Grid will be contacted about the damaged equipment.

UPDATE 3:14 p.m.: Byron command says responders can come in non-emergency.

UPDATE 3:35 p.m.: Mutual aid for standby crews is requested: A Stafford pumper to South Byron; and a pumper from Elba to Byron.

Bradley Douglas Miller, 32, of Fullington Road, Attica, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Douglas was allegedly involved in a fight with a neighbor. Both parties suffered minor injuries.

Karen Marie Cummings, 45, of Alexander Road, Alexander, is charged with two counts of harassment, 2nd. Cummings is accused of fighting with a neighbor. Both parties suffered injuries in the incident.

Richard S. Ishmael, 49, of South Lyon Street, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant for alleged failure to appear. Ishmael was arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed on $2,500 bail.

Wendy L. Henry, 29, of Central Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant. Henry was located at an address on Ellicott Street, Batavia. Henry was jailed on $150 bail.

Jeremiah P. Hackett, 27, of Taunton Place, Buffalo, is charged with DWI and failure to maintain lane. Hackett was arrested following an investigation by Officer Stephen Cronmiller reported at 2:19 a.m., Sunday. Hackett's vehicle reportedly struck a tree at 74 Oak St., Batavia.

John Sumlin III, 35, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and unlicensed operator. Sumlin was stopped at 3:30 a.m. Sunday on Park Road, Batavia, by Deputy Joseph Corona. Sumlin was jailed on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

Jeffrey Mark Black, 49, of North Byron Road, Elba, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Black was stopped at 1:20 a.m. Sunday on Byron Holley Road, Byron, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Andrew DeMara Hewitt, 29, of Locust Drive, Hamlin, is charged with petit larceny. Hewitt was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear in Town of Byron Court. Hewitt was arraigned and released.

A tanker with 500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia tipped over in the area of 6355 Cockram Road and Route 237. It is blocking the roadway. No indication of any spill at this time. It was being hauled by a tractor. Byron and South Byron fire units are on scene. Wind is west, southwest at 11 mph. County hazmat officials are notified.

UPDATE 8:11 a.m.: The county hazmat team is responding.

UPDATE 8:32 a.m.: Byron and South Byron fire police are requested to the scene.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.: An engine from Clarendon Fire Department is requested to fill in at Byron's station.

The pin that broke, causing the accident. The ammonia was transferred from the tank that tipped over to two others owned by the same farm. The hazmat team was prepared in case there was a leak.

A Le Roy man is in satisfactory condition at Strong Memorial Hospital after undergoing surgery for stab wounds allegedly inflicted by his brother while they were camping in the Town of Middlebury.

David R. Gross, 23, was stabbed several times, according to State Police on May 11 and flown to Strong by Mercy Flight after first being transported in a private vehicle to Wyoming County Hospital.

His brother, 26-year-old Richard J. Gross, of Byron, allegedly stabbed him following an argument.

They were camping in a wooded area off of Bank Road, State Police said.

David Gross suffered a punctured and deflated lung along with multiple other injuries.

Richard Gross, pictured, was charged with first-degree assault, a Class B felony. He was arraigned in Town of Warsaw Court and jailed on $50,000 bail.

Reader Patti Williams sent in this picture of an owl that her son, Andrew Williams, took while he was out turkey hunting. She says her son, who lives in Byron, saw the owl several times, then was able to get close enough to take this photo.

A rollover accident involving a 2001 Ford pickup truck was discovered by a deputy at 5:41 a.m. Monday morning in the Town of Byron.

The truck, allegedly driven by 20-year-old Jeremy S. Geisler, of South Swan Street, Batavia, was traveling northbound on Route 237 when it reportedly went off the east shoulder of the roadway. It then struck a guide rail, tumbled down an embankment and over a creek, striking several trees before coming to rest on its wheels, according to the accident report of Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

The officer came across the accident scene while on patrol and found the vehicle unoccupied and no one was around.

After investigating, Geisler was cited for allegedly moving from lane unsafely and leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it.

(initial report)

Manpower from Byron and South Byron fire departments has been requested to search the area of a one-vehicle rollover accident near 6272 Byron Holley Road, Byron.

A deputy found the vehicle unoccupied.

The deputy has also requested dispatchers contact area emergency rooms for anybody who might have been brought in.

A guard rail near the accident scene is damaged.

UPDATE 6:30 a.m.: A deputy informs dispatchers that it appears the driver may have been belted at the time of the accident. "He may still be injured but not as severe as we thought." Based on some paperwork in the car, Batavia PD was sent to an apartment in the city, but nobody was home. They'll check again in an hour.

UPDATE 6:34 a.m.: The vehicle is a 2001 green Ford F-150.

UPDATE 8:10 a.m.: All Byron and South Byron units back in service. No word on whether the driver was located.

A one-car accident is reported at Byron Holley and Cochran roads. Unknown injuries. Byron and South Byron firefighters are responding along with Mercy medics. A telephone pole snapped and wires are down.

UPDATE 11:40 a.m.: Command cancels Mercy medics. Other units to continue non-emergency. National Grid to be notified about the snapped pole.

UPDATE 11:55 a.m.: National Grid has a 20-minute ETA.

UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: All fire units are leaving the scene.

A possible brush / grass fire is reported behind a residence at 6902 Clinton Street Road. Byron and South Byron firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 1:22 p.m.: A responder in the area reports nothing showing.

UPDATE 1:40 p.m.: A nearby resident was burning something and it's extinguished.

Photos by Howard Owens / Story by Sloan Martin, WBTA.

New York has several State symbols: the sugar maple is the state tree and the state gem is a garnet. What it doesn’t have, though, is a state snack and the fourth-graders at Byron-Bergen Elementary School are doing something about it.

In a fun school assembly Thursday, the students marked their accomplishment of getting a bill to Albany.

With pop hits like ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and Lorde’s “Royals” reimagined to proclaim the benefits of yogurt, along with funny skits, the auditorium was filled with B-B fourth-graders who’re amped up and extremely knowledgeable about yogurt.

“It’s very healthy for you and it has lots of good vitamins and calcium,” Sadie said.

“We’ve learned that we’ve been producing the most yogurt in New York State, especially in this area,” Grace said.

Learning about its impact on their bodies, the economy and the government, it’s been an interactive and engaging learning experience.

Superintendent Casey Kosiorek says he’s proud of the kids and their teachers for taking what they learn and putting it into action.

“It really lines up with everything Genesee County’s about with dairy farming and additions to our yogurt companies as well,” he said. “It really aligns well. It’ll be memorable for the students, especially after it becomes a law.”

“Absolutely, this is interdisciplinary,” Kosiorek said. “They’ve had to work on their writing, they’ve had to utilize their math, they’ve had to learn about social studies, they’ve had to learn about government. As you can see, they were singing and writing songs, producing films – all the skills that we look for as our young people move up to the junior-senior high school and then college and careers."

State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer says it’s government in action.

“They’re living it by writing us letters, by doing these skits today,” Ranzenhofer said. “We’re going to make this become a law.”

The bill to make yogurt the official state snack has been introduced in the Senate and once it passes both houses, it will find itself on the governor’s desk -- all because of the Byron-Bergen fourth-graders.

Mike Davis, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Kevin Williams, Muller Quaker Dairy, and Roger Parkhurst, Alpina Foods.