byron

The residents at 5645 Ebb Road, Byron, found something creative to do with the piles of snow plowed and piled up next to their driveway -- they built a snow dragon.

For the past seven months, the staff at Gillam-Grant Community Center on West Bergen Road, Bergen, has been hosting members of the community -- a dozen at a time -- for a tour and information session about the 30-year-old center.

The "Growing Gillam-Grant" programs provide insight into what Gillam-Grant is about through the stories of the seniors, adults and children who have benefited from and contributed to Gillam-Grant.

"We share the stories so people understand what we do," said Peggy Swapceinski, executive director.

It's also a chance for members of the community to provide feedback on programs and services so Gillam-Grant can evolve, Swapceinski said, and continue meeting the community's needs.

Gillam-Grant provides programs that vary from adult education and senior meals, to children's day camps and crafts. The current newsletter also promotes an upcoming theater performance, bus trips and fitness classes.

Growing Gillam-Grant sessions are by invitation, but open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the center. To request an invitation to a future event, call (585) 494-1621.

Photos: Above, Loren Penman explains some of Gillam-Grant's programs, and below, Shirley Wade tells the story of a Gillam-Grant patron.

A car is reportedly on fire at 6744 Mud City Road in Byron. It was inside a detached garage, but was moved outside, apparently before igniting the building.

Fire crews from Byron, South Byron are called in. Town of Batavia's Fast Team was cancelled.

The location is between Mill Pond and Cole roads.

A driver was issued three citations following a secondary accident on Byron Road yesterday afternoon.

The driver and another car were approaching an accident scene on Byron Road at 4:42 p.m. when his car rear-ended the other car.

Cited for allegedly following too closely, aggravated unlicensed operation and driving on a suspended license was 41-year-old Scott P. Dunham, of Batavia.

Dunham's car hit one driven by Patricial Williams, 41, of Byron. Williams and her passenger, Lauren E. Williams, 11, suffered minor injuries and were transported to UMMC.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Joseph Graff.

(Initial Report)

 A car is on its side in the area of Route 33 and Old State Road, Byron.

A deputy called in that three or four cars were off the road and then said, "now I've got a rollover." 

There is a reported minor injury.

Byron and South Byron fire dispatched along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 8:37 a.m.: Bergen's rescue engine requested to the scene to help with extrication. Mercy EMS told to continue non-emergency.

A different car accident in the same location as one just awhile ago has been reported in the vicinity of 6945 Byron Road in Byron. There are injuries, however, in this incident.

The vehicle veered off the roadway. Byron Fire Department was headed back to quarters after handling the earlier accident when this call came in. The crew turned around and went back to the location. Mercy medics are also on scene. Fire police being sent in to shut down traffic.

UPDATE 5:20 p.m.: Byron fire is back in service. There are two female victims and both are being taken to UMMC.

A car has struck trees at 6945 Byron Road in Byron. Law enforcement on scene requests evaluation of the driver.

Byron Fire Department and Mercy BLS are responding.

UPDATE 4:38: Byron fire went back in service after a patient sign-off for this accident.

A 17-year-old resident of Mechanic Street, Byron, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. She is accused of forcing a door open, punching a hole in a wall. The youth was jailed on $100 bail.

Amy Lou Platten, 41, of Main Road, Pembroke, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Platten allegedly violated an order of protection.

Two Genesee County schools are among 10 finalists to receive $50,000 grants from Pepsi Co. following a competition among thousands of grant proposal submitted to the soft drink company.

Supporters of the projects were asked to express that support through online voting and text messages in the national competition.

"We couldn't have done it without the team effort of the entire community," said Robert Morris Principal Diane Bonarigo.

Robert Morris applied for a grant to fund construction of a new playground.

The Byron-Bergen Elementary School Playground Committee also finished in the top 10.

Next, Bonarigo said, Pepsi will review the grant applications again and make sure all of the paperwork is in order. She said she expects official confirmation of the grant in a couple of weeks.

"We are very excited to be finalists," said Bonarigo. "The students are excited."

She thanked the whole community for their support and the local media for promoting the competition.

A passerby has called in a trailer fire in the area of Route 262 and Transit Road.

It's unknown if the trailer is occupied.

Byron and South Byron being dispatched along with a tanker from Elba and Town of Batavia's Fast Team.

UPDATE 1:41 p.m.: First responder reports heavy smoke upon approach.

UPDATE 1:45 p.m.: There are people outside the structure, still unknown if anybody is inside.

UPDATE 1:47 p.m.: Law enforcement was on scene first and vented windows. Still unknown if residents inside. All Elba equipment dispatched.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: A tanker from Bergen is now on scene. Mercy EMS also responded. A fire chief asks dispatch to contact Elba School to see if they have anyone registered at that address.

UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: Byron and South Byron back in service.

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Two children are said to have minor injuries following a car-into-pole accident at Route 33 and Warner Road.

Byron and South Byron fire departments and Mercy BLS are responding.

UPDATE 2:49 p.m.: Firefighter on scene says a National Grid pole is busted. A few minutes later, it was determined that the pole was for phone and cable only, not power.

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: Adults signed waivers for treatment of the children, since their injuries were not serious and transport to a hospital was not needed. All Byron and South Byron units are back in service.

Adam Richard Kopp, 20, of Bushhill Road, Farmersville, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and petit larceny. Kopp is of stealing and then possessing a quantity of Lortab tablets. Kopp was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Dana Douglas Hagen, 31, of Batavia-Byron Townline Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, moving from lane unsafely and no seat belt. Hagen was allegedly involved in a personal injury accident at 11:08 p.m., Wednesday, in the area of 7812 Fotch Road, Stafford. Hagen's car reportedly struck a utility pole at that location.

Penny S. Hofert, 45, of 11 Porter Ave., Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Hofert is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General.

This afternoon I drove out to Byron for a bit and found a couple of interesting looking barns. The pair above, if I remember correctly, were on Warboys Road. Below, a group of barns on North Byron Bergen Road.

Nicholas Adkins, 20, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with burglary, 2nd. Adkins allegedly forcibly entered a house on Swamp Road, Town of Byron, and stole money. Adkins was jailed on $5,000 bail.

A 17-year-old resident of Transit Road, Elba, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The youth is accused of becoming physically abusive toward a 14-year-old boy while the boy was in the area of 430 E. Main St., Batavia. The Elba youth may be eligible for youthful offender status.

David Paul Bartholf, 19, Kelsey Road, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Bartholf was reportedly a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Deputy Patrick Reeves at 4:58 p.m., Nov. 11.  Bartholf was allegedly found in possession of a marijuana pipe.

Gregory Seppe, 52, no permanant address, is charged with petit larceny. Seppe is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General at 8:08 p.m., Wednesday. Seppe was jailed on $750 bail. (For previous reports on Seppe, click here.)

Donna M. Croft, 57, of 56 Buell St., Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Croft is accused of trying to hide several items of merchandise from Dollar General  in her purse. The alleged crime was reported at 9:54 p.m., Wednesday.

A 15-year-old South Byron girl is missing for the second time within about two months.

Justice Osborne hasn't been seen since Dec. 20, said the John Dehm, youth detective for the Sheriff's Office.

"I'm really worried about her," Dehm said.

While Dehm said she is most likely still in the local area, some of his contacts have suggested she could be as far away as Florida.

Dehm is asking that anybody with any information about Osborne to call him directly at (585) 345-5000, ext. 3575.

Osborne, who is biracial and also known as Jessi, is described as 5'3" and 130lbs.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported on Byron Road, on the curve at Byron-Holley and Tower Hill roads. There are injuries and an ambulance is called.

Byron Fire Department is responding.

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 rollover accident is reported on Transit Road, near Watson Road. Unknown injuries.

Byron and South Byron fire and fire EMS are responding.

UPDATE 5:39 p.m.: All Byron, South Byron units are told to remain in quarters. A responder reports that there is no one in the vehicle. It apparently is not blocking the roadway.

UPDATE 5:44 p.m.: A responder says "We believe (the occupants) went to a labor camp. We are going to have personnel check it out." Meanwhile, a driver and an EMS crew remain on standby in the Byron fire hall.

UPDATE 5:52 p.m.: Now Byron command is calling personnel to the scene of the accident.

UPDATE 5:57 p.m.: The exact location is reported to be 6063 Transit Road.

UPDATE 6:04 p.m.: The commander says "The location has changed, meet us here at Transit and North Byron roads."

UPDATE 6:37 p.m.: About a half hour ago, responders at the scene reported they knocked on the door of a trailer. Apparently, it was someplace near the accident scene, possibly with victims inside. At 6:32, South Byron left the scene. Shortly afterward, two ambulances were reported heading to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

UPDATE 6:44 p.m.: Byron fire is back in quarters.

A Genesee County man will spend 24 months in federal prison for drug dealing, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Buffalo announced today.

Kenneth E. Munnings, 45, of Byron, was convicted in July in Federal Court of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

The charges stemmed from a join federal, state and local wiretap investigation, which revealed the defendant was responsible for obtaining significant quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from a drug trafficking network in Rochester and then distributing the drugs in Genesee County.

Prosecutors say Munnings dealt drugs from some time in 2006 until October 2008.