elba

Craig Daniel Martin, 27, of Morton Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, unlawful possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance not in its original container, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, and unlicensed operation. Martin was stopped on Jackson Street, Batavia, at 1:09 a.m. Saturday by Deputy Patrick Reeves for alleged traffic violations. Martin was allegedly found in possession of two types of controlled substances and a quantity of marijuana concealed in his vehicle.

Brittany Megan Hart, 24, of Warsaw Road, Le Roy, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a hypodermic instrument. Hart was charged following a traffic stop for alleged violations at 11 p.m. Sunday on Jackson Street, Batavia, by Deputy Brad Mazur.

Daniel John Hickey, 33, of Sherwood Drive, Brockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Hickey was stopped at 1:22 a.m., Saturday on Route 262 in Elba by Deputy James Diehl.

Nicholas Keith Thorne, 23, of Osborne Road, Mt. Sterling, is charged with criminal mischief, 2nd. Thorne allegedly smashed a glass door and window at the Econo Lodge on Route 77, Corfu. Thorne was jailed on an unspecified amount of bail.

Dennis P. Schroeder, 54, of Cotton Hill Road, Attica, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and inadequate exhaust. Schroeder was stopped at 7:40 p.m. Dec. 15 on Tinkhem Road, Darien, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Nicholas M. Worrells, 24, of 10253 Roosevelt Highway, Lyndonville, is charged with criminal contempt. Worrells was allegedly found hiding under the rear deck of a residence on East Main Street, Le Roy, after police responded to a report of a disturbance. Worrells was allegedly with a person at the residence in violation of a complete stay-away order. Worrells was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Dayton G. Schultz, 52, Maltby Road, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of. 08 or greater and driving left of pavement markings. Schultz was stopped at 10:35 p.m. Friday on Route 262, Elba, by Sgt. Greg Walker.

Eric Matthew Kingsley, 24, of Perry Road, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and illegal parking on a highway. Kingsley was arrested by Deputy Jason Saile following a report of a vehicle fire at 4:48 a.m., Saturday, on Ellicott Street Road, Bethany.

Jeremy John Haynes, 35, of Church Street, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and speeding. Haynes was stopped at 11:27 p.m. Friday on East Main Street, Le Roy, by Deputy Eric Seppala.

Brent Michael Semmier, 36, of Cypress Street, Rochester, is charged with felony DWI, speeding (90 in 55 mph zone), alcohol consumption in a motor vehicle and improper right turn. Semmier was stopped at 4:29 p.m. Sunday on Route 19, Le Roy, by Deputy Brad Mazur.

A young woman lost part of her leg in a farm machinary accident off Drake Road, Elba, on Wednesday afternoon.

A hunter found Diana M. Beechler, 24, of Water Street, Oakfield, with her arm and leg stuck in an auger she had reportedly been cleaning.

Elba Fire, along with more volunteers from Batavia and Oakfield worked for than 90 minutes to extricate Beechler from the machine.

Mercy Flight transported Beechler to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

"It was a pretty tough extrication," said Brian Russell, chief of the Elba Volunteer Fire Department. "We’re used to extricating out of cars, not farm equipment, so it definitely adds to the challenge."

Russell said crews had to cut through two layers of metal covers to be able to safely pull Beechler from the auger.

Beechler was reportedly an employee at the farm at 3869 Drake Street Road and was inside a grain cart cleaning it out when she either fell or was pulled into the auger.

It's unknown how long she had been stuck when a local hunter came upon the machinery and noticed a problem with the power take off (PTO) of the tractor. When checking the PTO problem, he discovered Beechler lodged in the auger.  He shut down the PTO and called 9-1-1.

Russell said Beechler was alert and conscious throughout the extrication.

"We controlled the bleeding as best we good," Russell said. "It was hard with her being stuck up inside there, but they (the volunteers) did an excellent job."

Alton Beechler, Diana's father-in-law, called it "an unfortunate accident."

"She is pretty tough," Alton added, "and if anybody can make it, she can."

Assisting at the scene were Mercy EMS and the Sheriff's Office.

(Initial report)

A man's 24-year-old woman's arm is reportedly caught in a grain auger behind the residence at 3869 Drake Street Road in Elba. The location is between Pekin and Weatherwax roads. She is conscious and breathing.

Elba Fire Department, Mercy medics and Sheriff's deputies are also responding.

UPDATE 3:36 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene.

UPDATE 3:39 p.m.: Mercy Flight is en route. Elba units, along with one from Oakfield Fire Department, are going to set up the landing zone.

UPDATE 3:53 p.m.: An engine from Barre is called to Elba's Fire Department.

UPDATE 4:14 p.m.: Town of Batavia's fire rescue unit is called as mutual aid to the scene. Barre is now standing by in Elba's hall.

UPDATE 4:50 p.m.: Mercy Flight has been waiting at the scene for some time now. "The victim has been freed from the equipment." Fire police are handling traffic, with one lane of traffic eastbound, alternating with one lane of traffic westbound.

UPDATE 4:59 p.m.: The victim is being loaded into Mercy Flight which "fired up" and is preparing to take off. Traffic has been stopped for this.

UPDATE 5:02 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and heading to Strong Memorial Hospital. The traffic shuffle resumes.

Patrick Leslie Gugliuzza, 32, of Meadowbrook Terrace, Corfu, is charged with assault, 3rd. Gugliuzza is accused of punching another person in the face several times breaking his tooth and causing other injuries.

Austin L. Wester, 17, of 3373 Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, escape, 3rd, and obstructing governmental administration. Wester turned himself in to Batavia PD on the above charges and was jailed on $250 bail.

Julious Murphy, 59, of 319 Ellicott St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Murphy is accused of striking a child multiple times with a belt causing bruising.

A 17-year-old, of East Bethany Le Roy Townline Road, is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of stealing a half dozen eggs from Tops Market in Le Roy.

Guadalupe Hernandez, 35, of Bank Street Road, Elba, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to signal turn, speeding and unlicensed operation. Hernandez was stopped at 2:39 p.m., Saturday on Bank Street Road, Batavia, by Sgt. Brian Frieday.

Kurt Hamilton Hawkins Jr., 18, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with assault, 2nd. Hawkins, an inmate at the Genesee County Jail, is accused of assaulting another inmate at 4:26 p.m., Thursday. The alleged victim was treated at ECMC where he was held overnight for observation.

Sandra Louis Chilano, 51, of Dodgeson Road, Alexander, is charged with petit larceny. Chilano is accused of stealing $100 while employed at Alexander Deli as a clerk.

Ryan Christopher Riggi, 16, of Ridge Road, Lyndonville, was arrested on a warrant issued by Batavia City Drug Court. Riggi was jailed on $100,000 bail.

Samual Christopher Dilcher, 28, of Lewiston Road, Oakfield, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Dilcher was arrested following a complaint of harassment at 2:10 a.m., Sunday on Park Road in Batavia.

Samual Christopher Dilcher, 28, of Lewiston Road, Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Dilcher is accused of smashing the driver-side window out of a pickup truck during an argument at a location on Park Road, Batavia. He is is also charged with trespass. Dilcher was allegedly involved in an incident Nov. 20 in the Batavia Downs parking lot. Upon further investigation Deputy Joseph Graff came to believe that Dilcher had been previously banned from Batavia Downs property.

Christopher Jordan Rhodes, 41, of Transit Road, Wyoming, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI and failure to keep right. Rhodes was stopped at 2:01 a.m., Sunday, on Lewiston Road, Batavia, by Sgt. Brian Frieday.

Zachary Michael Rebert, 20, of South Pearl Street, Oakfield, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, 2nd, and harassment, 2nd. Rebert is accused of getting into a domestic dispute with a woman, pushing her several times and then taking her car without her consent. Rebert was jailed on $5,000 bail.

John Edward Bird, 70, of Barrville Road, Elba, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to stop at a stop sign, moving from lane unsafely and driving left of pavement markings. Bird was stopped at 9:43 P.M., Saturday, on Chapel Road, Byron, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Mary Hale sent in this picture of her daughter Liz Wilkosz, 26, formerly of Elba, who shot her first deer, an eight-point buck, this morning on Molasses Hill, Elba. Pictured with Liz, from left, are her brothers Tim and Ed, boyfriend Keith and friend Warren.

NOTE: There is a Molasses Hill in Elba.  It's private property. It's off Barrville Road.

Announcement from the Town of Elba:

At the September meeting, the Elba Town Board voted unanimously to discontinue refuse and recycling collection service at the town transfer station at the end of the year. 

For more than a decade, the town transfer station has operated at an annual deficit. Revenues have not offset the operating expenses.    

Over the past few years, the town board has made attempts to decrease the expenses (decreasing the hours and negotiating to reduce the Dumpster service costs) and increase the revenues (increasing the fee per garbage bag and charging for “dump day”) to narrow the deficit gap, but the town budget can no longer afford to subsidize this service. 

Fewer than 100 Town of Elba households purchase garbage bag “punch-cards” every year. To help these town residents choose a refuse disposal service, we have obtained information from three area refuse collection businesses. 

Curbside pick-up:
• PSI: phone 585-599-3255
• Waste Management: phone 800-333-6590

Private Transfer Station:
• Scofield Transfer and Recycling in Stafford: phone 585-343-7373

More detailed information about the services each business offers is available on the “refuse disposal” page on the town’s website www.elbanewyork.com; the town clerk’s office Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Closed between 12-1 p.m.); and the town transfer station Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Additional information:

The last Saturday that the Town of Elba transfer station will be open for refuse collection is Dec. 17.

For your convenience, the transfer station will be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 26.

Elba firefighters are at the scene of a barn fire in Barre, providing mutual aid to extinguish the blaze. The location is off of White City Road Extension, at 15146 Jakaub Road.

UPDATE 10:25 p.m.: Elba is back in service.

State Police investigators are still uncertain about what caused a car heading westbound on North Byron Road this afternoon to go off the south shoulder and strike a tree on the driver's side.

Impact was right at the driver's seat and the car wrapped around the tree nearly to the point of the passenger's seat.

The driver, Linda Brown, 67, of Elba, was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Robert Yungfleisch.

The accident occurred about a half mile east of Log City Road, Elba.

Trooper John Szymkowiak was first on the scene and said he checked Brown's vitals and did not detect a pulse. He requested Mercy Flight be dispatched to the scene.

An Elba medic arrived minutes later and the medic was also unable to detect a pulse and other vital signs were negative. Mercy Flight was canceled at that point.

The initial call to 9-1-1 was at about 3:50 p.m. by another westbound driver who came over the top of a hill, just east of the accident location, and saw the car strike the tree. 

The witness did not see enough prior to impact to help provide information on what caused Brown's car to go off the road.

Szymkowiak said it appeared Brown started to go off the road about 100 feet prior to impact with the tree and there were some signs of braking on the road surface.

"The cause is still under investigation," Szymkowiak said. "It could have been a medical issue. It could have been a deer in the roadway. We are looking at several things right now."

An autopsy will be completed to try and determine if the cause was medical.

Updated at 8:29 p.m.

UPDATE: WBTA's Geoff Redick has video posted.

A car has reportedly hit a tree on North Byron Road near Log City Road, Elba, and a person is reportedly trapped in the car and possibly unconscious.

Elba Fire Department and Mercy EMS dispatched.

Mercy Flight being dispatched. Mercy Flight #2 is coming from Buffalo.

UPDATE 4 p.m.: Mercy Flight is cancelled.

UPDATE 4:43 p.m.: This is a fatal accident and the victim is female. No other information is available yet.

An Oakfield resident accused of multiple burglaries and other crimes in several Genesee County jurisdictions was ordered held in jail without bail by Judge Robert C. Noonan on Monday morning.

Benjamin W. Muntz appeared in county court to be arraigned on charges of burglary, 3rd, possession of stolen property and petit larceny.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini asked that Muntz, who was already in jail, continue to be held without bail because he faces possible felony and misdemeanor charges out of Oakfield, Elba, Alabama and Bergen.

Thomas Burns, the attorney assigned Muntz, asked for a bail review once all of the other cases are brought before Noonan.

Muntz pled not guilty this morning.

In the current indictment, Muntz is accused of breaking into a garage on Judge Road, Alabama on Aug. 26 and stealing a Honda dirt bike.

State Police arrested an Albion man in Elba on Thursday following a chase along back roads in two counties that reached speeds of 90 mph.

The chase started with what should have been a routine traffic stop, according to Sgt. Ron Lober, NYS State Police.

Instead of stopping, the driver took off heading south.

"The chase lasted 12 minutes, covering a distance of 17 miles. None of it went through any villages," Lobur told WBTA.

"The vehicle operator lost control on (Barrville) road (in Elba) and slid off into a grassy area," Lobur said.

The driver, 34-year-old Jason Klotzbach, of Albion, was arrested and taken into State Police custody.

Troopers out of Albion conducted the chase and made the arrest.

I was out in Elba chasing a story that didn't pan out, but I remembered I've long wanted to stop by the Pine Hill Cemetery on a fall day.

Apparently, an aurora borealis was visible in Genesee County, at least in Elba, on Monday night. Fran Woodworth submitted this photo.

The driver of a sedan that smashed into a tree on Route 262 in Elba shortly after 5:30 a.m. may face a DWI charge.

Corey Hemmer, 25, of Elba, was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC.

Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said a blood sample was taken from Hemmer and additional charges may be pending.

Hemmer is in intensive care.

Also injured where Megan Ann Gregg, 18. She is listed in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital. Strong's policy is to list anybody in intensive care as "guarded."

The third victim in the crash is Aaron Pahuta, 19. He underwent emergency surgery at ECMC this morning.

Hemmer was reportedly driving westbound on Route 262 just east of Route 98 when his Pontiac drifted off the north side of the roadway. The car struck a tree head on.

Sgt. Brian Frieday said at the scene that a passerby found the wreckage some time after the accident. Investigators were unsure at that time how much earlier the accident had occurred.

All three occupants had to be extricated and transported to hospitals by Mercy Flight.

The accident is under investigation by the Crash Management Team of the Sheriff's Office.

Elba Fire Department and Mercy EMS responded to the scene and Town of Batavia Fire Department was dispatched to provide additional extrication tools and manpower.

Note: Upon request of the Sheriff's Office, publication of photos withheld until victim notifications completed.

A car has hit a tree on Route 262, just east of Route 98 in Elba.

Three people were in the car and one person is entrapped.

Mercy Flight is on in-air standby.

Three Mercy EMS ambulances have been dispatched.

Elba Fire Department is on scene.

UPDATE 5:52 a.m.: Two Mercy Flight helicopters requested to the scene. A landing zone will be set up at the fire department rec hall.

UPDATE 5:54 a.m.:  Third Mercy Flight helicopter requested to the scene.

UPDATE 5:57 a.m.: All three occupants are trapped in the vehicle.

UPDATE 6:01 a.m.: First Mercy Flight bird on the ground. A second has been dispatched. Dispatchers are checking on availability of a third helicopter.

UPDATE 6:06 a.m.: Town of Batavia Fire's extrication equipment requested to the scene. Oakfield Fire requested to standby at Elba Fire Hall.

UPDATE 6:08 a.m.: Third helicopter in route with a 20 to 25 minute ETA.

UPDATE 6:27 a.m.: Second helicopter on the ground.

UPDATE 7:02 a.m.: All three victims have been extricated. The third helicopter is at the scene.

A man driving a Ford van lost control of it while on North Byron Road, Elba, this morning, causing it to go into a ditch and overturn.

The driver, Elmer Perez-Garcia, 17, of Morristown, Tenn., suffered only minor injuries in the accident and did not require hospital treatment.

Perez-Garcia was cited for alleged failure to maintain lane and driving without a license.

A witness told Deputy Chris Parker that he saw Perez-Garcia's van cross into the eastbound lane and the driver appeared to be "doing something" inside the van prior to losing control.