elba

Howard and I both had a chance to stop over at Genesee Community College for Tech Wars 2011 on Thursday. Howard took some photos, I took some video.

Many thanks to the NXT Lego team members and their coaches for sharing their work with The Batavian.

Here is the video (with a scenic view of the space behind the college to close it out):

For previous coverage, see:

Float in Elba Onion Festival parade gives a 'FIRST' look at LEGO League

Elba students build robots one Lego at a time  

Elba's FIRST Lego League invites robot fans to a maze race at GCC

Photos by Howard Owens

A pair of men from Holley were jailed after allegedly menacing a woman in Elba using their trucks and a gun.

Charged with criminal mischief, 2nd, which is a felony, menacing, 2nd, and reckless endangerment, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child were William E. Grathouse, 37, of Holley-Byron Road, Holley, and Edwin D. Roniger Jr., 37, of East Lee Road, Holley.

According Deputy Matt Butler, at 7:40 p.m. Thursday, on North Byron Road, Elba, Grathouse and Roniger used their pickup trucks to try and block a car driven by a woman from proceeding north on North Byron Road.

Grathouse then allegedly drove his truck into her car and forced it off the road.

Grathouse also allegedly pointed a pistol at the woman while she was in her car.

Both men were jailed on $10,000 bail.

Nothing says spring more than baseball.

Today, in Oakfield, I came across Ryan Byrnes and Joe Colon, both originally from Elba, having a first catch of the season.

They said nothing felt better after a long winter than tossing a ball around.

Scoring droughts in the second and fourth quarters proved the Lady Lancers' undoing Monday night in Letchworth as Elba dropped a western regional playoff game to Whitesville, 50-40.

Elba jumped out to an early lead and played with confidence in the first quarter, but by the half -- after scoring only one basket in the first half of the second quarter -- was down 17-29.

With a fast start in the third quarter, Elba managed to briefly tie the game and ended the third down by one, 34-35.

Using a combination of fast breaks and defensive control of the boards, Whiteville (20-3) dominated the fourth quarter, however, to end Elba's season at 19-4.

Jamie Marshall had 8 points, Meg Stucko 8, McKenzie Bezon 7, and Marissa Pangrazio 6.

More pictures after the jump. To purchase these pictures, click here.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to cap the annual salaries of school district superintendents and if his proposal goes through, one Genesee County superintendent could see a nearly $90,000 cut in pay.

Under the cap plan, all of the other county superintendents are earning less than what Gov. Cuomo's plan says they could earn.

Currently, the highest paid school superintendent in the county is Pembroke's Gary Mix. He earns $232,307 per year.

For a school district the size of Pembroke's, according to Cuomo, Mix's pay should be capped at $145,000.

WBTA's Geoff Redick spoke with Mix.

"I understand that the governor is politically ambitious," says Mix. "He's picked a group of people -- the 700 superintendents in New York -- that in many communities, particularly in small communities, they can often be among the more highly compensated people in the community."

Mix says he grew up the oldest of eight children. His father was a postal worker who also took many odd jobs to support his large family.

So, "I understand the feelings about other people's compensation and benefits," says Mix. "(But) education is crucial, it's important. I hope we truly value it."

On the other end of the spectrum, Elba's Jerome Piwko might want to ask for a raise. He's making only $81,120. While Elba's student population is a rather small 494, Cuomo's plan says Piwko could have his pay capped at $135,000. 

That puts Piwko's pay nearly $55,000 under Cuomo's proposed pay scale. That's the largest disparity between Cuomo's cap proposal and what a current Genesee county superintendent is earning.

For the rest of Geoff's story, click here.

Kenyada R. Peterkin, 29, of Saxton Street, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, aggravated unlicensed operation, unlicensed operation and unlawful possession of marijuana. Peterkin was arrested following a traffic stop by members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force. He was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine and marijuana. Peterkin was jailed on $1,500 bail.

A 17-year-old from Asbury Road, Pavilion, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, and harassment, 2nd. The youth allegedly violated a court order by hitting another person during an argument.

Matthew Joseph Dahl, 19, Tinkham Road, Darien, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving left of pavement markings in a no-passing zone and inadequate headlights. Dahl was stopped at 2:06 a.m., Saturday, on Tinkham Road, Darien, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Stephen Daniel Golembiewski, 32, of Main Road, East Pembroke, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving left of center pavement markings and obstructed rear plate. Golembiewski was stopped at 1:13 a.m., Sunday, on Indian Falls Road, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Jenna Alexandra Kavanagh, 18, of Guaymar Circle, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Kavanagh was allegedly found in possession of marijuana during a traffic stop on Thursday by Deputy James Diehl.

Brandy Rose Douglas, 31, of South Main Street, Elba, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation and driving left of pavement markings in a no-passing zone. Douglas was stopped at 12:17 a.m., Friday, on Chapel Road, Byron, by Deputy Jason Saile.

My route back from the Snowbox Derby included Bliss Road, above, and Pekin Road, below.

For the second time this season, the Lady Lancers came up just points short against Notre Dame, dropping an emotional rematch in Elba, 43-40.

Notre Dame remains undefeated at 15-0 and Elba drops to 12-3.

The Lady Irish were led by Liz Geandreau, who scored 15 points with seven rebounds, and Riley Norton, 11 points and seven rebounds.

For Elba, Meg Stucko had 14 points and 16 rebounds and Racheal Cook scored 12 points.

To purchase pictures from this game (site template a little messed up right now, but site otherwise working) click here.

More pictures after the jump:

A car-into-pole accident has occurred at 453 N. Byron Road. The location is between Lockport and Miller roads. No injuries reported.

Elba Fire Department is responding. Mercy medics on scene determined no injuries were apparent, left, and now are asked to return in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 8:16 p.m.: A firefighter reports that the pole involved, No. 4596, is cracked and National Grid should look at it, but it doesn't required immediate attention. A previous responder said the pole was "split in a few places."

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.

View Larger Map

The Local Drug Enforcement Task Force has  arrested an Elba resident who was stopped by a Sheriff's patrol in November and allegedly found in possession of a quantity of crack cocaine with the intention to sell.

Taken into custody Tuesday was Mark C. Gregori, 49, of Oak Orchard Road, Elba.

He is charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd.

Gregori was jailed on $10,000 bail.

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 one-vehicle rollover accident is reported at 4591 Batavia-Elba Townline Road in Elba. There are reportedly minor injuries.

The location is between State Street and Norton Road.

Elba Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 12:14 p.m.: The female driver has wrist and leg injuries. The car is on its side. She is not trapped, but needs assistance to get out of the car.

UPDATE 12:17 p.m.: The victim is out of the car. A flatbed tow truck is called. The westbound lane is shut down.

UPDATE 12:26 p.m.: Route 98 is being closed at its juncture with Batavia-Elba Townline Road (Daws).

UPDATE 12:47 p.m.: All units back in service. Road is reopened.

Elba student Sam Lamont, who was picked to represent Genesee County as a student attending Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State Speech (writing about it here), received another honor from the New York Legislature today. Assemblyman Steve Hawley presented him with a flag that has flown over the state capitol in Albany.