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By the fall, three deputies with the Sheriff's Office will become school resource officers in Alexander, Pavilion and Pembroke, so the County Legislature is being asked to add three new positions to the Sheriff's Office staff.

Sheriff William Sheron said the three deputies who will become SROs have been interviewed by their respective school districts and approved. He plans to announce their names next week after the Legislature approves the new positions and the contracts with the school districts.

The deputies will join Deputy Matt Butler, serving Byron-Bergen, and Deputy Chad Cummings at BOCES.

Pavilion has budgeted for a deputy serving as SRO for 12 months. Alexander and Pembroke, for 10.

The members of the Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday had questions about what happens with the SROs when school is out of session.

For BOCES and Byron-Bergen, there are events, as well as summer school, where the deputies' presence is possible.

In Butler's case, Sheron said the deputy will also build up a lot of comp time over the course of a school year, primarily from covering sporting events, and that Butler will take his comp time and vacation time during the summer. He will also work some road patrol and assist with Darien Lake security.

This will be the first summer for Cummings since becoming SRO at BOCES.

Each deputy will decide how to balance ongoing school needs, vacation and comp time during the summer, Sheron said.

In the case of the district's with only 10-month contracts, those deputies are more likely to wind up back on road patrol during the summer.

"Historically, both these schools that have them now, started off with 10 months but went to a whole year," said Legislator Gordon Dibble, former chief deputy for the Sheriff's Office. "I don’t think there is any reason these other schools won’t experience the same thing and eventually absorb that cost. I think it’s getting your foot in the door. It’s a lot easier to get your foot in the door for 10 and then add 12 after, from what I've seen."

Patrick McGee, principal at Byron-Bergen High School, attended Wednesday's meeting to discuss his school's experience with an SRO. He said Butler is more than a cop on the beat. He's a mentor, a positive influence, and a deterrent.

"He was at the prom," McGee said. "That’s the ultimate thing — no kids are going to come to the prom under the influence when you have a drug recognition expert. They know he’s standing right there. It’s not to scare them but it is a deterrent to certain behavior."

There's no price you can put on the safety of children, Sheron said, and such deterrence is invaluable.

"That’s the thing with deterrence," Sheron said. "You don’t know what you’re stopping. You’ll never know."

Jenn Martino-West shared this picture from early this morning of a deer helping herself to birdseed on South Pearl Street.

On a Tuesday night, there is probably no place in Batavia with more positive energy flowing than St. Anthony's on Liberty Street.

The former Catholic Church property is now owned an operated by City Church and for more than a year, church leaders have been opening up the gym and community rooms for basketball, games, an art class, and dance lessons.

And everybody -- white, black, rich, poor, young, old -- is having a good time.

"We're just showing the love of Christ and reaching out in care and love," said Ryan Macdonald, who was running the events last night. 

Ryan is the son of Pastor Marty Macdonald of City Church.

When the doors open on Tuesday night, they're open to everybody, Macdonald said.

He's mindful of some of the issues faced by Southside residents, and some of the negative news about the community recently, including a recent murder on Central Avenue, just a block away, and he said that's why he and other volunteers are there.

"When you create a relationship with an open hand instead of a fist you can get a whole lot more done in a community," Macdonald said. "I think that we could all benefit from reaching out instead of demanding a certain set of rules, so that’s what we’re doing here."

At 7 p.m., all of the activities stop and everybody participating enters the gym for a short message and a prayer before food is served -- in this case, six giant sheet pizzas from Batavia's Original paid for by donations from local businesses.

After reading a Bible verse, MacDonald said, "Somebody asked me not long ago why do you do what you do on a Tuesday night. Here's my answer. The Lord said to those people who asked, 'we never fed you, we never clothed you, we never loved you.' He answered and said these similar words. 'When you did it for those other people, you did it for me.'

"That’s why we’re here tonight because I believe when I honor you, every person in this room, from the greatest among us to the least among us, when I’m honoring you, I honor God himself. That’s why I’m here tonight."

At that point, everybody in the room applauded.

A State trooper is out with a vehicle on Route 33 just outside of the city and reports there is a person there tying balloons to deer carcasses.

A dispatcher chimes in, "I've seen a lot of that on social media."

UPDATE 4:18 p.m.: The trooper asks that somebody come out and remove the carcasses. "These deer have become quite the spectacle," the trooper said. He said school buses have stopped and other cars stop and look. The person he talked to wasn't there placing balloons but taking pictures.

UPDATE 5:48 p.m.: Photos added.

Kelly Lyn Widzinski, 35, of Reddick Lane, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 4th, criminal using drug paraphernalia, 2nd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and petit larceny. Widzinski is accused of trying to steal a vacuum cleaner from Target. During the investigation, she was allegedly found in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Widzinksi was allegedly found in possession of stolen property unrelated to Target. She was jailed on $2,000 bail or $4,000 bond.

David W. Weadon, 31, of Telephone Road, Le Roy, is charged with: driving while ability impaired by drugs; driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs; reckless driving; criminal possession of a weapon, 4th; unlawful possession of marijuana; consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle; tailgating; failure to keep right; unsecured license plate; and unlawful stickers in windshield. Weadon was stopped by a Wyoming County deputy on Route 19, Covington, following a complaint about a vehicle being driven in an unsafe manner in the Town of Warsaw. Following the complaint and the deputy intercepted the vehicle and followed it. The deputy reported the driver was still operating in the same "aggressive" manner. During the traffic stop, Weadon was allegedly found to be drinking alcohol in the vehicle and in possession of an unlawful billy club. He reportedly failed a field sobriety test. He was evaluated for drug use and allegedly found to be impaired by multiple categories of drugs. 

Nicholas Peter Garbarini, 36, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with stalking, 4th. Garbarini was charged following a lengthy investigation into a series of incidents at Genesee County Mental Health. Garbarini was held without bail.

Jason Allen McFollins, of Union Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant. McFollins turned himself in. He is accused of failing to comply with a court-ordered program by missing a day of that program.

Ricky N. Porter Jr., 27, of Gilbert Street, Le Roy, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Porter was arrested on a warrant. He is accused of making alarming and threatening statements toward another person over the phone. He was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Raymond J. Radley, 52, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with nine counts of criminal contempt, 1st. Radley is accused of violating a full stay away order of protection between February and May by repeatedly communicating with the protected party. He was jailed without bail.

John M. Carr, 21, of Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Carr was stopped on the I-490 in Le Roy by State Police at 9:55 p.m. Monday.

Hannah S. Schreiber, 24, of Palmyra, is charged with obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct. Schreiber was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 7:22 p.m. Sunday on Alleghany Road in the Town of Darien by State Police. No further details released.

Members of local law enforcement held their annual torch run from Elba to Batavia in support of the Special Olympics today, with a path that took them down Richmond Avenue to the Genesee Orleans Arc Community Center on Woodrow Road, Batavia, on their way to the Arc building on Oak Street, Batavia.

A caller reports hearing a screech and looking out her window and saw a car off the road with steam coming from the engine on Hunn Road at Brookville Road, Alexander.

A deputy on scene reports a driver with a head injury but conscious and alert.

Alexander fire and ambulance responding. Units responding can respond non-emergency. Mercy EMS was dispatched but can go back in service.

UPDATE 1:22 p.m.: Alexander back in service. Patient sign off.

A former resident of Puerto Rico, Kentucky, and Indiana, with a pending serious felony charge in Indiana, who was just passing through Genesee County when he was caught with a stolen, loaded handgun, got little sympathy from Judge Charles Zambito yesterday.

The attorney for Alberto Santos, Michael Locicero, suggested his client might be a good candidate for a probationary sentence, but Zambito was skeptical that Santos would fulfill the terms of such an agreement.

He noted that on every one of the prior criminal cases for Santos in Kentucky and Indiana, a warrant had to be issued for Santos at some point when he failed to turn up in court at appointed times.

Santos pled guilty May 7 to charges of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, 2nd, and criminal possession of stolen property, 4th, and yesterday Zambito sent Santos to state prison for two years followed by three years probation.

A trooper arrested Santos after stopping him Feb. 4 for speeding on the I-90. He found a Sig Sauer Model SP2022 in the vehicle.

"I don't believe you didn't know the gun was stolen," Zambito said. "The fact you were driving 91 miles per hour with a loaded handgun on the Thruway says something about your character and your danger to the community."

One of two men suspected of setting up drug-dealing operations in a residence at 133 State St., Batavia, entered a guilty plea yesterday and faces a maximum possible prison term of more than five years.

Keith R. "Sosa" Kendrick, 26, of Viola Drive, North Chili, an Army reserve veteran, entered a guilty plea to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd.

This is his first criminal conviction and he was released under supervision (RUS) of Genesee Justice. If he does well on RUS, he may be eligible for a probationary sentence and avoid prison if he continues to avoid arrests.

Kendrick was arrested along with Denzel T. Hall, 25, of Stenwick Drive, Rochester, and Donna M. Fidanza, 48, of State Street, Batavia, following an investigation by the Local Drug Task Force.

Hall is charged with two counts each of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd. 

Fidanza, the resident on State Street accused of allowing drug sales in her home, is charged with criminal nuisance in the first degree.

Yesterday, Batavia fourth-graders got a chance to try out various track and field events and demonstrate their athletic skills.

This is Nolan Ball.  He has a strong arm.  Three times he threw the softball at least 138 feet.

A recent theft of cash, jewelry, and prescriptions from a home on Batavia Elba Townline Road and another attempted similar burglary on Indian Falls Road over the weekend has gotten the attention of the Sheriff's Office and Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster says local residents should be on the watch for Gypsy scammers in their neighborhoods.

In the Townline Road case, a dark-skinned man came to the front door of a 96-year-old resident and said he was there to investigate a problem with a telephone line behind the house.

When the resident and the visitor went behind the house, two other people, who had apparently been hiding in the car, entered the house and stole items.

In the case on Indian Falls Road, a person knocked on the door and said he was there to see about cutting down some trees behind the house.  Somehow, he talked the resident into walking behind the house. At which point, at least one person entered the residence. In that case, nothing was stolen.

In both cases, the visitors arrived in a white Kia. The Kia is missing a front plate and likely has an out-of-state back plate.

Brewster said the operation matches a well-known scam run by Gypsies who pass through the area occasionally. He said they are most likely staying at a motel in a neighboring county. They don't usually stay in the county where they are conducting their scams.

They will approach residents, usually elderly residents, with any number of stories to try and talk the resident into walking to the back of the house so confederates can enter the residence and make off with whatever valuables they can easily grab.

While there have been no reports of similar crimes in the city, he said city residents should be vigilant for people who try to talk their way into basements.

He said he isn't sure how the Gypsies select their victims -- whether they case neighborhoods beforehand to identify elderly residents or if they acquire names and addresses online.

Brewster said residents who observe suspicious activity at a neighbor's house, such as one person going to the door and then going into the backyard, followed by two more people getting out of a car and entering the front door -- call the police.

An effort led by Genesee County Mental Health Director Ellery Reaves to create a first-of-a-kind a nonprofit mental health care coalition among five counties has hit a bureaucratic roadblock.

It's caused a six-month delay in the project though Reaves believes it will soon be resolved, he told members of the Human Services Committee at a meeting Monday.

"The hang-up is really a bizarre thing," Reaves said. "New York State, in its wisdom, in order to draw the maximum amount of dollars for this project, passed it through a managed care company. Well, they passed it through a managed care company as a premium. If it’s an insurance company, you have to pay out premiums based on services. It can’t be paid as a project."

And this, Reaves said, is a project.

If the federal government were later to question reimbursements, the question is: Who will pay back the federal government if required?

At first, there was an effort to make the counties responsible for any such return of funds.

"Our attorney basically said, 'That’s not going to happen,'" Reaves said. "'Once we’ve received the money in good faith for the project and we’ve met our deliverables, you’re not getting anything because we’ve met our deliverables.'"

Reaves said in a sense the project is in a state of limbo. There are still operational tasks to be completed to get the new company up and running.

None of this, he says, has affected patient care.

"We think the state is going to agree with the managed care companies and indemnify them from any future potential loss, so we hope it’s going to resolve itself soon," Reaves said.

Previously: County Mental Health Services planning to enter coalition with five other counties to form new nonprofit

The Genesee County Libertarian Party held its annual convention Monday evening at T.F. Brown's in Batavia.

Mark Potwora (top photo) was elected chairman. Dave Olsen is now vice chairman, and Lisa Whitehead is secretary.

The party endorsed one candidate for office in the 2018 election: Mark Glogowski for the State Assembly, District 139.

There will be a fundraiser for Larry Sharpe and Andrew Hollister, who are running for governor and lieutenant governor, July 22 at 1 p.m. at T.F. Brown's. 

The boys participating in this year's B Squad, a running group coached by Sarah Gahagan and other Batavia Middle School teachers, celebrated their first year as a team with a pizza party and individual recognition for their accomplishments.

Each boy was nominated for an award by a teacher or administrator based on improvements or contributions they made throughout the school year.  There are 50 boys who participated this year.

The group runs as a team and often to locations where they learn about the community or local businesses.

A water main break is reported in Corfu at East Main Street and Thompson Drive.

A responder on scene reports there's water coming up on both sides of the road.

UPDATE: Corfu Chief Brian Schollard says Route 33 is open through the village but houses on both sides of the street, from 56 to 78 are without water for the night. Work crews are on scene repairing the break. Two hydrants are also out of service between Lawrence and Thompson. Repairs are expected to be completed by the morning sometime.

A man either had his arm run over or otherwise entangled in a vehicle in the area of 4116 Broadway, Alexander.

The vehicle is off the road and has a trailer attached that is now blocking Route 20, westbound.

Alexander Fire dispatched.

The following people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office during the Kendrick Lamar Concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Sunday:

Jack E. Katzman, 20, Addison Drive, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, arrested for criminal mischief, 3rd, and criminal tampering, 3rd, after allegedly damaging a window to a Darien Lake camping trailer with his elbow and then entered a Darien Lake cabin and smeared blood on multiple surfaces. Jack was arraigned in Darien Town Court and jailed in lieu of $500 bail.

John K. Donnell, 19, Gulick Road, Naples, was arrested for harassment, 2nd, after allegedly pushing a Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputy. Donnell was arraigned in Darien Town Court and jailed in lieu of $100 bail.

Donovan M. McCann, 18, Cornell Avenue, Amherst, was arrested for trespass and unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return and then was found to be in possession of a quantity of marijuana. McCann was arraigned in Darien Town Court and jailed in lieu of $500 bail.

(name redacted upon request), 22, Beilman Court, Hamburg, was arrested for criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, after allegedly being found in possession of cocaine.

Zachary J. Black, 21, Woodbine Avenue, West Seneca, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Graham S. Schild, 18, Chatham Woods, Pittsford, was arrested for criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly entering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Donald C. Bielefeld, 19, Humboldt Place, Depew, was arrested for criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly entering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Marissa L. Hayes, 19, Mark Drive, North Tonawanda, was arrested for criminal trespass, 3rd, and trespass after allegedly entering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return twice.

Rani V. Patel, 18, Beresford Court, Williamsville, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Matthew J. Mruk, 20, Arrowood Lane, Orchard Park, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Matthew E. Poblocki, 20, North Transit Hill, Depew, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Allison J. Attea, 19, Lockhart Circle, Buffalo, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Hailey J. Miller, 18, Silent Meadow Lane, Orchard Park, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return. 

Kathryn A. Clancy, 19, Charles Drive, Camillus, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Gordon H. Nelson, 21, Brookhaven Terrace, Rochester, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Bradley L. Logan, 18, Newton Road, Hamburg, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Alexander D. Jennings, 18, East River Road, Grand Island arrested for harassment, 2nd, after allegedly striking a Darien Lake medic inside the venue. 

Joshua J. Mase, 26, Farnsworth Avenue, Oakfield, was arrested for criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly entering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Lindsey E. Tomasak, 17, Transit Road, Orchard Park, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Alexis R. Skowron, 19, Hall Road, Elma, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Today, Terry Hills hosted the annual Jim Kelly Golf Celebrity Classic, a fundraiser created by the Buffalo Bills great to help support several children's' charities in Western New York.

Above Dean Cain, who played for the Buffalo Bills for a short time before launching an acting career that has included a role as Superman, talks with his golf partners for the tournament.

Dean Cain on the tee.

Willie Hutch Jones with fans. Jones played for the San Diego Clippers in the early 80s. He's originally from Buffalo and for the past 30 years has been director of the Willie Hutch Jones Educational & Sports Programs in Buffalo. The program's mission: "... to provide every child, at no cost, equal opportunities to engage in the highest quality program and to offer character building activities through academics, sports, and the arts."

Thurman Thomas

Thurman Thomas with his golf partners.

Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, former Dallas Cowboys receiver, signs a Buffalo Bills cap for Luke Gutman.

LPGA professional golfer Cindy Miller.

Danielle Rotondo with actor Dennis Haskins.

Local golfers T.J. Woodward, Ray Tortorice, Tim Woodword, and Matt Meyer, with former Bills player Ed Rutkowski (center).

Danielle Rotondo with ESPN's broadcasting legend Chris Berman.

Chris Berman.

When Terry Hills Golf Course built the 14th hold more than 30 years ago, the green, on one of the course's signature holes, was mostly surrounded by water. To provide a bridge to the green, two telephone polls were placed across the water.

In the three decades that passed, the weather did its work on the wood, so last summer the bridge was removed.

This year a new bridge was installed, and with Jim Kelly on hand to cut the ribbon, it was officially opened.

Top photo: Mary Brown, Casey Brown, Danielle Rotondo, Jessica Ecock-Rotondo, Ellen Simkulet and Nick Rotondo.

Below, two photos provided by Terry Hills. First, Tom Brown walking across the telephone polls when first placed over the water. Second, Casey Brown walking across the first beam placed for the new bridge.