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Driver in golf cart accident faces two felony charges

By Howard B. Owens

An 18-year-old Byron resident who was reportedly driving a golf cart Nov. 26 on North Byron Road when the cart was struck from behind by a car, leading to the death of her passenger, was arrested today on two felony charges.

A blood sample taken by investigators that night allegedly tested positive for alcohol and a drug.

Cortney L. Greene, of North Byron Road, Byron, is charged with vehicular manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

The top felony, a Class D, carries a maximum prison term of seven years.

The Sheriff's Office did not release the type of drug allegedly in Green's system at the time of the accident.

Zachary J. Rusin, 18, of Holley, died as a result of his injuries after being thrown from the golf cart when it was struck.

The accident was reported at 12:07 a.m. and Green was arrested that morning and charged with DWI, at which time she agreed to provide a blood sample to law enforcement.

The driver of the car, Emmaleigh R. Odom, 19, of Pavilion, was not injured and not charged.

Six local students earn President's List honors at SUNY Brockport

By Billie Owens

The College at Brockport, State University of New York, recently honored students who excelled academically by naming them to the President's List for the Fall 2011 semester. To achieve the honor of being on the President's List, a student must earn a grade-point average of 4.0.

Brittany Bills, of Oakfield

Patricia Johnston, of Byron

Kara Miller, of Le Roy

Joel Pitts, of Le Roy

Maureen Weinman, of Le Roy

Jeffery White, of Le Roy

The College at Brockport is a comprehensive four-year public college, located in Brockport. It offers 50 undergraduate majors, more than 40 graduate programs as well as 24 teacher certification programs. The college is rated among the "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, a "Best Regional University" by U.S. News & World Report, and a "Best Value" by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

Fifty local students named to SUNY Brockport Deans' List

By Billie Owens

The College at Brockport, State University of New York, recently honored students who excelled academically by naming them to the Deans' List for the Fall 2011 semester.

Students who earn a GPA of 3.70–3.99 are named to the Deans' List with Honors, while students who achieve a GPA of 3.40–3.69 are named to the Deans' List.

The honorees are:

Deans' List with Honors

Jeff Appis, of Byron
Brian Burgay, of Bergen
Shane Chatham, of Bergen
Kayla Chiocco, of Elba
Carly Crnkovich, of Elba
Samantha Denton, of Oakfield
Samantha Elliott, of Bergen
Zackary Kibler, of Oakfield
Jennifer Lazarony, of Corfu
Christina Mancuso, of Le Roy
Joanna Menzie, of Bergen
James Mignano, of Stafford
Erika Parmenter, of Pavilion
Theresa Raponi, of Pavilion
Rebecca Smith, of Bergen
Lori Stellrecht, of Basom
Patricia Van Buren, of Bergen
Danielle Wojtaszczyk, of Le Roy

Deans' List

Sarah Amico, of Le Roy
Dylan Ashley, of Le Roy
Zachary Bannister, of Elba
Gregory Barron, of Le Roy
Justin Becker, of Le Roy
Nicholas Bonin, of Bergen
AnDrea Carrigan, of Pavilion
Kristen Casper, of Oakfield
Chelsea Dillon, of Le Roy
Emily Drzewiecki, of Bergen
Donald Fonda, of Byron
Danielle Ford, of Le Roy
Molly Geissler, of Elba
Abigail Graham, of Le Roy
Natalie Haas, of Le Roy
Casey Herman, of Corfu
Brittany Kessler, of Byron
Gena Korn, of Le Roy
Emily Kovatch, of Le Roy
Chelsey Macomber, of Le Roy
Antonio Madau, of Le Roy
Jason McElroy, of Le Roy
Danielle Merica, of Le Roy
Melanie Monroe, of Bergen
Joseph Patton, of Le Roy
Ethan Reynolds, of Corfu
Lyman Rhodes, of Le Roy
Krystal Rivers, of Basom
Katherine Rogers, of Le Roy
Peter Subsara, of Darien Center
Christian Townes, of Le Roy
Kelsey Wright, of Pavilion

The College at Brockport is a comprehensive four-year public college. It offers 50 undergraduate majors, more than 40 graduate programs as well as 24 teacher certification programs. The college is rated among the "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, a "Best Regional University" by U.S. News & World Report, and a "Best Value" by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

Law and Order: Man accused of stealing Valentine's present at GCC

By Howard B. Owens

Joshua Tyrise Lyons, 18, of Fellows Avenue, Syracuse, is charged with petit larceny. Lyons is accused of stealing a Valentine's present from a location in a common area at Genesee Community College.

Andrew DeMara Hewitt, 27, of Skyline Circle, Brockport, is charged with petit larceny and trespass. Hewitt was arrested on a warrant out of the Town of Byron Court. Hewitt is accused of stealing scrap metal from a location in Byron. Hewitt was jailed on $250 bail.

Christopher Patrick Ball, 29, of Ellicott Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Ball is accused of contacting a person he was ordered not to contact.

Four local students make Deans' List at SUNY Oswego

By Billie Owens

Four area residents were named to the Deans' List for the Fall semester at SUNY Oswego.

Showing academic achievement, with their major in parentheses, are:

Lindsey C. Glazier, of Caswell Road in Byron, a senior (elementary education).

Shannon E. Christiansen, of Phelps Road in Corfu, a junior (communication).

Nikki M. Parlato, of Seven Day Road in Darien Center, a senior (public justice).

Courtney M. Brooks, of Washington Avenue in Le Roy, a sophomore (public justice).

The President's and Deans' lists represent the academic top 24.4 percent of the Oswego student body. To be included on the Deans' List, students must have a semester grade average of 3.30 to 3.79.

Admission to SUNY Oswego is competitive. U.S. News & World Report named it among the "Top Public Regional Universities in the North" for 2012, the Princeton Review and USA Today named SUNY Oswego to their 2012 list of 150 "best value" colleges and universities in the nation.

A 151-year-old comprehensive college in the State University of New York system, Oswego enrolls more than 8,000 students in its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; School of Business; School of Communication, Media and the Arts; and School of Education.

Law and Order: Man accused of punching woman in the face

By Howard B. Owens

Lee Uzarowski, 44, of South Lake Road, Pembroke, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, and harassment, 2nd. Uzarowski is accused of punching a woman in the face and taking her mobile phone when she attempted to call 9-1-1. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Sean Allen Kota, 18, of Byron Holley Road, Byron, and a 17-year-old of Warboys Road, Bryon, are charged with petit larceny. Kota and his companion are accused of stealing beer from the Bergen Sugar Creek Store. From a separate incident, Kota is also charged with criminal mischief, 4th. At 2:47 a.m., Jan. 28, Kota allegedly drove his vehicle through a yard on West Bergen Road causing damage.

Law and Order: Duo accused of conspiracy in scrap metal sale

By Howard B. Owens

Angelo A. Cassidy, 35, of Lewis Place, Batavia, and 59-year-old Charles R. Gay, of Hemlock Ridge Road, Medina, are charged with petit larceny and conspiracy, 6th. Cassidy was reportedly employed by a business on Angling Road, Corfu, and allegedly falsified a weight ticket, allowing Gay to collect  money for scrap that was not actually part of his load. Cassidy and Gay are accused of making an arrangement regarding the money. The case was investigated by Deputy Chris Parker.

Carolyn M. Hooten, 29, of 12 Myrtle St., Le Roy, is charged with DWI and several traffic violations. Hooton was stopped late Friday evening on Myrtle Street by Le Roy Police.

Mathew Duncan Brew, 33, of Freeman Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to yield right of way. Brew was arrested by Deputy Brad Mazur following a traffic accident at 9:24 p.m. Saturday at Route 262 and Bank Street Road.

Donovan Michael Zandi, 22, of Campbell Boulevard, Getzville, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Zandi's vehicle was reportedly found by Deputy Kevin McCarthy at 2:59 a.m., Jan. 26, on Countyline Road, Darien, with four-way flashers on.

Kara Ellen Wojkowski, 28, Hall Road, Holley, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Wojkowski is accused of stealing a motor vehicle on Oct. 25. She turned herself in at the Sheriff's Office on a warrant for her arrest. Following arraignment in Byron, she was jailed on $2,000 bail.

Kathryn L. Johnson, 24, of 20 Hutchins St., lower, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Johnson was arrested following a visit by County Probation to her home and jailed on $1,000 bail.

Chinese auction, pancake breakfast to benefit Byron Fire Department

By Billie Owens

A Chinese auction and pancake breakfast to benefit the Byron Volunteer Fire Department will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Feb. 19 at the fire hall. It is located on Route 262, just east of Route 237 in the Hamlet of Byron.

Event Date and Time
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Ten local student make the Deans' List at Roberts Wesleyan College

By Billie Owens

Roberts Wesleyan College is pleased to announce the following students were named to the Deans' List for their outstanding academic performance for the Fall 2011 semester:

  • Kimberly Mills, of Basom, received Highest Honors

 

  • Andrea Zinke, of Stafford, received Highest Honors

 

  • Jewelyn Fregoe, of Bergen, received Highest Honors

 

  • Alannah Heale, of Bergen, received Highest Honors

 

  • Bethany Salvia, of Bergen, received Highest Honors

 

  • Michelle Salvia, of Bergen, received Highest Honors

 

  • Katherine Schrenker, of Bergen, received Highest Honors

 

  • Tyler Sass, of Byron, received Highest Honors

 

  • Katherine Rudman, of Le Roy, received Highest Honor
     
  • Danielle Watkins, of Bergen, received Honors

Honors requires a grade-point average ranging from 3.5 to 3.69; and Highest Honors requires a grade-point average ranging from 3.9 to 4.0

Roberts Wesleyan College has had a tradition of excellence since 1866. It is a leader among liberal arts colleges with a Christian worldview and offers more than 57 undergraduate programs, as well as graduate programs in education, school psychology, school counseling, health administration, nursing education, nursing leadership and administration, strategic marketing, social work and strategic leadership.

Roberts Wesleyan also offers innovative undergraduate degree-completion programs for working adults in health administration, nursing, organizational management, and teacher education. For more information, visit www.roberts.edu.

Photos: A Sunday afternoon in Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

This afternoon, Billie and I went for a drive -- she drove, stopped the car occasionally, and I took pictures. Here are seven of the photos from today.

Above, a barn and tree on Warboys Road, Bergen.

A falcon on Sackett Road, Bergen.

White horse on Swamp Road, Byron.

Dock on Mill Pond, Mill Pond Road, Byron.

Barn, Batavia Elba Townline Road, Elba.

Steer, Batavia Elba Townline Road, Elba.

Daws Cemetery, Batavia Elba Townline Road, Batavia.

Driver who allegedly tried to flee from deputy faces felony DWI charge

By Howard B. Owens

A driver injured in an accident after he allegedly failed to stop for a deputy on Batavia Stafford Townline Road was jailed on $15,000 bail after he was released from the hospital Friday.

Keith Edward Povitch, 29, of Coward Road, Byron, was charged with felony DWI, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, refusal to take a breath test, failure to yeld right of way to emergency vehicle and failure to keep right. 

The incident started at 4:08 p.m. after Deputy Brad Mazur allegedly observed Povitch's car blow through a stop sign at Batavia Elba Townline Road.

Povitch allegedly failed to stop after Mazur turned on his emergency lights.

As Povitch allegedly attempted to flee, he lost control of his car on Batavia Stafford Townline Road.

Mercy EMS transported Povitch to UMMC with facial injuries.

Upon his release from medical care, Povitch was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and then jailed.

(Initial Report)

Two car accident blocking Byron Holley Road, Byron

By Howard B. Owens

A two-car accident with air bag deployment is reported at Byron Holley Road and Cockram Road, Byron.

If there are injuries, they are minor.

The cars are blocking and there is reportedly a lot of debris in the roadway. Byron and South Byron fire departments being dispatched as a precaution.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.: There were no injuries. Byron and South Byron are back in service.

Drug dealer's truck taken in plea deal will be sold rather than repaired

By Howard B. Owens

A 2005 Chevy pickup truck taken by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office as part of the plea deal of a confessed meth dealer will be sold as surplus equipment.

The truck requires at least $2,500 in repairs making it unsuitable for the Sheriff's Office use.

The Public Service Committee today approved a resolution authorizing sale of the truck, but not without some questioning by committee Chairman Ray Cianfrini about why the truck was considered Sheriff's Office property in the first place. He thought it would be county property.

Undersheriff William Sheron explained that under state and federal drug seizure rules, property taken as the fruits of drug dealing must be used for law enforcement purposes. So placing the title of the vehicle under a law enforcement agency's name helps provide proof the vehicle isn't being used for other purposes.

Any proceeds from the sale of the truck will go to the county treasurer, but can only be spent on law enforcement purposes.

Both Le Roy Police and Batavia Police, as members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force, share in the proceeds of drug seizures, Sheron said, but typically, the funds are used for equipment or other task force costs.

While the money can't be spent on anything other than a law enforcement purpose, any expenditure must be approved by the Genesee County Legislature.

The truck seizure was part of a plea agreement for Matthew Zon, who entered a guilty plea July 26 to criminal possession of a controlled substance, 2nd. Zon was sentenced to three years in prison and forfeiture of his truck.

While local law enforcement has been involved in a few drug property seizures over the years, the largest may have been in about 1988, Sheron said, when a drug dealer's house in Batavia was taken. The eventual sale of the house netted local law enforcement about $150,000.

Sheron also noted that the forfeiture law has changed a lot over the years.

"They've definitely raised the bar," Sheron said. "It used to be if you found a roach in a car, the car could be taken. That's all changed now. It takes a case of trafficking."

Dog in the water in Trestle Park, Byron

By Howard B. Owens

A dog, described as a retriever, is in the water at Trestle Park, off Terry Street, Byron.

Byron fire is being dispatched to rescue the dog.

UPDATE 3:26 p.m.: The dog is out of the water. Fire response canceled.


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Photo: Moon over Walkers Corners Road

By Howard B. Owens

I went for a drive late this afternoon and came home with really only one decent picture. This is Moon over Walkers Corner Road.

Law and Order: South Byron man accused of violating order of protection

By Howard B. Owens

Troy D. Hubler, 41, of 7634 Byron Holley Road, South Byron, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd, and criminal contempt, 2nd. Hubler was located in Orleans County by the Sheriff's Office in Orleans County and turned over to Batavia PD on a warrant out of city court. The warrant stemmed from an alleged Oct. 3 incident in which Hubler reportedly made telephone contact with a person protected by a court order. The order of protection was issued by Batavia Family Court.

Andrew Ziemba Perdock, 24, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Perdock is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of unlawful imprisonment, strangulation

By Howard B. Owens

James E. Murray, 23, of 1 Cone St., Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt, 2nd, unlawful imprisonment, 1st, strangulation, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Murray was arrested following the investigation into a domestic incident reported at 4:45 a.m., Monday. Murray was not on scene when police arrived at the alleged incident location. He turned himself in at Batavia PD headquarters at 2 p.m., Monday. He was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Lawrence D. Williams, 51, of 148 Hutchins St., Batavia, is charged with falsely reporting an incident. Williams is accused of calling the dispatch center at 10:46 p.m., Monday, and reporting a "gunfight" at a city address. Williams allegedly knew the information was false. Williams was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Sean P. Case, 34, of 50 S. Main St., Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Case was arrested following a report at 11:38 p.m., Monday, of a person on South Main Street near the Oak Street Extension yelling obscenities. Case was identified by witnesses.

Roger Lee Ballard, 18, of Liberty Street, Castile, and a 16-year-old of Route 362, Bliss, are charged with petit larceny. Ballard and the youth are accused of going into Kmart and taking several pieces of an Xbox gaming system out of their packages and concealing them in their pants and walking out of the store without paying for the items.

Aaron M. Zastrocky, 27, of 6870 Byron Holley Road, Byron, is charged with falsely reporting an incident, 3rd, and making a punishable false written statement. Zastrocky is accused of falsely reporting a vehicle stolen. Zastrocky allegedly signed a written statement reporting the vehicle stolen. Allegedly, the statement was false.

Daniel L. Russell, 36, of 152 S. Main St., Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Russell was stopped at 2:09 a.m., Sunday, on West Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Marc Lawrence.

Rachel A. Fromwiller, 27, of 164 Main St., upper, Akron, is charged with throwing refuse on a public highway (littering), DWI and refusal to take a breath test. Fromwiller was arrested after Officer Kevin DeFelice received a complaint of a woman in a car at Wilson Farms on Pearl Street who may need assistance. Following an investigation, Officer DeFelice made the arrest.

Teen injured in golf cart accident succombs to injuries

By Howard B. Owens

Zachary J. Rusin, 18, of Route 237, Holley, died Sunday as the result of injuries he sustained in an accident early Sunday morning when a golf cart he was riding in on Route 237, Byron, was struck by a car from behind.

The golf cart, driven by Cortney L. Greene, 18, of North Byron Road, Byron, had no lights and was described as slow moving by Sheriff's investigators.

Rusin was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital via Mercy Flight where he died later Sunday.

The accident remains under investigation and Greene faces possible criminal charges.

Previously: Passenger in golf cart on Route 237, Byron, at night seriously injured

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