Stories from

A winter weather storm is heading our way, according to the National Weather Service.

A winter weather advisory is in place to start at 4 p.m. today.

A winter weather watch has been announced for Friday evening through Sunday morning.

Initially, expected mixed precipitation with snow accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations of around one-tenth of an inch with wind gusts up to 40 mph.

Starting Friday evening, heavy lake-effect snow is expected, with accumulations of nine inches or more in the most persistent lake-effect snow bands.

 

Travelers should plan for slippery road conditions with increased difficulty of travel where lake-effect snow is falling.

Reader submitted photo of tanker truck rollover in Bethany.

Two rollover accidents are reported in Alexander, one on Route 98 and another on Brookville Road.

No injuries are reported at either accident, but people are trapped in both vehicles.

Icy road conditions are reported at both locations.

Alexander Fire is dispatched to both locations.

Town of Batavia is requested to assist with extrication on Route 98.  Bethany Fire requested to assist at Brookville Road.

The Brookville Road accident is a contractor's truck with tools spilled in the roadway.  A heavy wrecker required.

UPDATE 9:08 a.m.: A tanker truck rollover accident is reported in the area of 5546 Broadway Road, Bethany. Unknown cargo.  Bethany Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:17 a.m.: Route 20 is being closed at East Road. Pavilion is requested to check Route 30 east of East Road. The truck rollover is a milk truck. Route 20 is "just a sheet of ice, the whole road."

UPDATE 9:21 a.m.: Two heavy wreckers will be needed for the milk truck rollover.

UPDATE 9:23 a.m.: Alexander's Brookville assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 9:24 a.m.: On the milk truck rollover, about 2,200 pounds of milk aboard. The driver self-extricated and is uninjured. The dairy has their own heavy wreckers coming. 

A motor vehicle accident with injuries is also reported at 1225 Main Road, Batavia. East Pembroke Fire dispatched.  It's the second call in East Pembroke's district. The vehicle is off the road. 

UPDATE 9:28 a.m.: Units responding can respond non-emergency. The occupants are reportedly out of the vehicle and have left the scene.  There's also an incident Pembroke is working on the Thruway.

UPDATE 9:31 a.m.: A first responder is on Route 5 near Powers Road where two vehicles are off the road.

UPDATE 9:36 a.m.: Three vehicles involved on Route 5 at Powers Road, property damage. All three vehicles have headed further east with four ways on to get to a safer location to meet with law enforcement.  There is a Thruway incident where an ambulance is requested for a neurological evaluation.  There is another incident where the driver is being taken to the TA Travel Center to get him out of the elements (he's uninjured). The vehicle is well off the road, and it's not going anywhere until a wrecker gets there.

UPDATE 9:41 a.m.: A vehicle has reportedly struck a tree in the area of 3603 Lockport Road, Oakfield. Injuries are reported. Oakfield Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:42 a.m: A rollover accident is reported in the area of 3668 Telephone Road, Pavilion. Pavilion fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:47 a.m.: A pickup truck fire is reported at the Ontario Service Center, 8700 Vallance Road, Le Roy. The vehicle is reportedly next to a building. Le Roy Fire and Bergen Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 9:50 a.m.: Minor injuries reported at Oakfield incident.  Fire police requested to shutdown traffic. Elba requested to close traffic at Snyder Road and to respond to the accident with extrication equipment.

UPDATE 10:39 a.m.: A vehicle is off the road at Route 20 and Marsh Road, Alexander. The driver is at the fire hall, uninjured. A deputy is requested for an accident report.

UPDATE 11:07 a.m.: Bethany assignment to Route 20 is back in service. Route 20 remains closed.

The set list for tonight's (Dec. 15) Christmas Concert at City Church promises to be as diverse as it is joyful, with more than just gospel and hymns but also hip-hop, R&B, and smooth jazz celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Ryan Macdonald also promises concertgoers will enjoy engaging and energetic performers and great musicians.

"We've done (the Christmas Concert) every year now, with the exception of COVID, for about five years," Macdonald said. "It's really been a wonderful night of really coming together and celebrating."

The artists, Macdonald said, are also personal friends.

"They are not just great artists but great people," Macdonald said.

Carlton Wilcox, Rufus McGee Jr, and Trellis Pore have all performed at previous Christmas concerts.  This is the Batavia debut for Kimera Lattimore (top photo).

Macdonald said he's tried to get her on the bill for years, but there was always a scheduling conflict.  He said he met her in Buffalo years ago, where she is the music director and worship leader of Renovation Church.  She is a national recording artist, singer, songwriter, musician, poet, rapper, vocal teacher, theologian and Elder of the gospel."

"She is really a great spirit, a great believer," Macdonald said. "She believes people matter. She believes humanity matters."

Her bio states that she believes, "We were all created, by the creator, to create."

The concert, Macdonald said, is intended to uplift the whole community, and all are invited.

"Our goal the whole Christmas season is the celebration of the birth of Christ, but beyond that, we're celebrating each other," Macdonald said. "The term that has really stuck with me is that we're not independent; we're interdependent. We need each other.  We don't only need each other as believers, but we need the whole community." 

The concert begins at 7 p.m. at City Church, 210 East Main St., Batavia. The concert is also live-streamed.

Submitted photos.

Submitted information:

Pastor Trellis Pore, multi-instrumentalist and Vocalist. A Western NY native. He started singing and playing instruments at the age of 5 with his family gospel group, The Cooper family Gospel singers. Singing traditional quartet Gospel music. Also was apart of the band Perifial Vision,  and The Glorious Sons of Rochester.  Currently, he leads The Trellis Cooper Band. Singing gospel music with a twist. Trellis has his own Signature series guitar with the company Mucho Guitars of Rockwall, Texas. Trellis is currently the Pastor of Shiloh Church Albion. 

Submitted information:

Rufus McGee Jr., son of Bishop & Lady Rufus and Linda McGee is Rochester’s best-kept secret, however, now the secret is out! His parents began molding him at age 2 years old to become a musician. Although he began as the church drummer at 6 years old, at 11, he progressed to becoming one of the most extraordinary organists/keyboardists that anyone has ever heard.

His ability is God-given, but can also be attributed to years of absorbing gospel music passed down through the classic COGIC style of music, and the music of the church that he attended growing up in his hometown, Rochester, New York. His drive and confidence developed from the challenge to rise above mediocrity. 

He is an exemplary musician, producer and the founder of RMJ Productions. He enjoys listening to George Duke, Chick Corea, Kevin Bond, Jason White, Mike Bereal and Eddie Brown. 

He has recorded with: Aaron Lindsey, Kathy Bowman, Ricky Dillard, Jason Wright, Serena Young, Shirley Murdock, Eddie Balltrip, Danell Daymon and Royalty, Malcolm Williams, Amar’rae Hill True Foundation and Jerome Francis and Divine Nature.

Rufus gives every ounce of his being to excelling and finishing well! Rufus has a great passion and love for gospel music and enjoys devoting his life to giving God his all. His greatest inspiration is God. He often says, “Without God, I would be nothing.”

Submitted information:

Carlton Wilcox has been creating a standard of excellence in music that embodies, style, quality, and substance. This singer, songwriter, and accomplished bassist has been entertaining Western NY for over two decades. Resounding melodies accompanied by rich voice make this crooner one of our area’s sought talents. With gospel, smooth jazz and R&B roots, Carlton wants to spread the message of hope through music. Carlton Wilcox is also a Monroe County Deputy Sheriff, event promoter and music instructor for the City of Rochester’s ROC Music Program. Carlton Wilcox wants to make a difference in the world, one day at a time, by giving back the love and support that he has been given.

A motor vehicle accident with possible serious injuries is reported at Buckley Road and Britt Road in Stafford.

There were four children in one vehicle.

Dispatchers are checking on the availability of Mercy Flight.

Stafford Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 8:50 p.m.: Two vehicles off the road with entrapment, according to a first responder.

UPDATE 8:51 p.m.: There are four children and four adults. At least one helicopter is required.  Le Roy ambulance and fire and Byron ambulance requested to the scene.

UPDATE 8:54 p.m.: Mercy Flight #8 out of Buffalo is en route.

UPDATE 9:09 p.m.: A second helicopter is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 9:11 p.m.: Mercy Flight Central is not available due to weather. No second helicopter is available.

UPDATE 9:12 p.m.: All patients are extricated.

UPDATE 9:23 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 9:34 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne, headed toward Rochester.

UPDATE 10:17 p.m.: Stafford assignment back in service.  State Police is handling the investigation.  Two people were seriously injured. One was transported by Mercy Flight to Strong, the other by ground ambulance (destination not confirmed).  It appears an SUV t-boned a minivan, reports Alecia Kaus/Video News Service. Troopers refused to provide more information at the scene. 

UPDATE 11:07 p.m.: State Police still on scene investigating. Fire police requested to the scene for traffic control.

UPDATE Dec. 15, Noon: The State Police have released the names of the drivers: Charles A. Johnson, 47, of Byron, and Danielle C. Wojtaszczyk, 34, of Le Roy.  There were a total of seven people injured. No further information has been released.

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service

Tyshon Taylor

A Batavia man indicted by a Genesee County Grand Jury on an attempted murder charge in what was an apparent, unprovoked attack against a stranger on Jackson Street in Batavia, entered a not guilty plea to the charge in Genesee County Court on Wednesday.

Tyshon L. Taylor, 25, dressed in an orange jail shirt and paints, sat motionless during the hearing with his head down, seeming almost disengaged from the proceedings, except to coherently respond to every question of Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini.

Taylor is accused of stabbing a person walking on Jackson Street at about 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 18.  The Batavian has learned from a source who asked not to be identified that neither the victim nor Taylor had met prior to the encounter.

The victim survived the attack.

Taylor is also accused of attempted assault in the third degree for an incident reported at 11:39 p.m. Oct. 13 on Oak Street.

As is procedure following an arraignment on a Grand Jury indictment, Cianfrini set calendar dates for future appearances and motions. 

A preliminary conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. Jan. 25. Defense motions are due Jan. 30. Prosecution answers are due Feb. 6. Oral arguments on motions is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 22.

Taylor is being held in the Genesee County Jail without bail.

Tarrence Williams

A Batavia man was ready for sentencing on a drug-dealing-related charge on Tuesday, but Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini decided to delay sentencing after a private discussion of a legal issue with the defendant's attorney.

Attorney Fred Rarick indicated in court that it is in the best interest of his client, Tarrence Yuron Williams, 23, that he combines his sentencing with his possible acceptance of a plea offer in a gun-related charge.

Ironically, while Williams was ready to move forward with sentencing today, in October, Williams requested and received new legal counsel because he wanted to combine the two cases in the hopes of getting a better deal.

To recap:

• In December 2021, Williams was arrested an charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal obstruction of breathing and blood circulation, and menacing in the third degree.
• At a later date, he accepted a plea offer that satisfied all of those charges. He entered a guilty plea to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.
• On Sept. 30, Batavia PD received a report of shots fired somewhere on Ellicott Street.  An officer pursued a suspect on the Ellicott Trail to Evans and then to Court, where the suspect eluded capture but apparently ditched a firearm in the bushes.
• Williams was subsequently arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a Class C felony, and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
• Williams last appeared in court on Nov. 2 for sentencing on the drug charge, but District Attorney Kevin Finnell was unexpectedly called away on other business and couldn't appear. The case was postponed because Rarick was trying to negotiate a plea offer for his client on the weapons charge.

After a late start to his case on Tuesday, there were some financial matters to resolve.

First, Finnell wanted to incorporate into Williams' original plea the forfeiture by Williams of $3,195 that Williams had on him at the time of his arrest in December 2021. That matter had not been properly recorded at the time of the original plea.  Williams agreed to include the forfeiture stipulation in the record of his original guilty plea.

Second, the Sheriff's Office had requested restitution of $100. Though not discussed in court, this is typically money used by an agent of the Local Drug Task Force to make a narcotics buy -- and Rarick informed the court it was his understanding that Williams had already paid restitution.  

Nobody in court had a record of the transaction, though a friend of Williams who was sitting in the gallery said he had a receipt at home for the payment.  

Cianfrini called for an adjournment while Rarick went to the Public Defender's Office to obtain a receipt and Finnell went to his office to check records in his office.

Both came back to court a short time later and informed Cianfrini that both had found proof that restitution had been paid and the money had been remitted to the Sheriff's Office.

At that point, Cianfrini called Rarick and Finnell to the bench.  After a lengthy private discussion, she informed Williams of her decision to continue his case so that he could have time to discuss the case further with his attorney.

She told Williams it was really in his best interest to delay sentencing.

Williams, who remains in custody, is scheduled to appear in court again at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 20.

A 24-year-old North Carolina man, who reportedly participated in the Jan. 6 attempted insurrection in Washington D.C. and was later arrested in Le Roy with an illegal AR-15 rifle, entered a guilty plea to Federal charges today in U.S. District Court in Rochester.

Michael Alan Jones, of Charlotte, N.C., admitted to the felony of being in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The charge stems from his March 19 arrest by sheriff's seputies following a traffic stop of a Nissan Sentra driven by Jones.

Upon approaching the vehicle, Deputies Kenneth Quackenbush and Nicholas Charmoun observed several knives, military surplus gear, and two compound bows inside the vehicle, according to a Federal affidavit by an FBI agent. 

The affidavit says a passenger in the car was identified only as PK.  The deputies reportedly observed a backpack on the passenger-side floorboard with bolt cutters protruding from the pocket.

Upon searching the vehicle, the deputies located pry bars, bolt cutters, and gloves, which, the affidavit states, the deputies believed to be consistent with burglary tools. They also found pepper spray and ammunition. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Moynihan, who is handling the case, stated that in February 2019, Jones was convicted in Alamance County, North Carolina, of two felony crimes, and as a result related to sexual involvement with a teenage girl, and is therefore legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Jones was originally scheduled to enter a plea a week ago but his hearing was delayed by his medical issues, according to Raw Story.

Jones was hospitalized for treatment of MRSA, a bacterial infection that resists antibiotics.

“His infection is very severe and he needs to remain at the hospital for about the next two weeks receiving intravenous antibiotics,” Slawinski wrote. “He also tested positive for COVID-19 last week while in the hospital. His condition is serious and it is possible that his leg may have to be amputated if the infection spreads further.”

Sentencing is scheduled for May 16 at 2:30 p.m.

It's Day 1B of the $15 million World Poker Championship in Las Vegas today -- it's the largest pot in poker tournament history -- and a Batavia native is still in it.

Ronald “Tigar” Penepent, who now resides just outside of Chattanooga, Tenn.,  won his $10,400 buy-in to the championship through a satellite tournament.

A satellite tournament is one where the top prize is a seat at a major, higher-buy-in tournament.

The WPT Championship runs through Dec. 18. 

Penepent is one of 1,531 entrants in the tournament, and the prize pool is now expected to exceed the original $15 million estimate. Registration for the tournament in Las Vegas closes at 10 p.m. EST, at which time the total prize pool will be set.

Penepent told PokerNews that his love of poker began with family and friends in Batavia. 

“It was always a dream of mine to win a big tournament, and I often shared this goal with my Dad," he said. "Sadly, my Dad passed away in 2020 from cancer. Winning an entry into this tournament is truly a bucket list item for me.”

He told PokerNews he would love to meet two poker legends, Doyle Brunson and Phil Hellmuth.

“During my time in Las Vegas, I will be joined by 10 family members," he said. "They will be there to support me and have fun as we always do. They will be traveling from New York, Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, and Alabama.”

Photo courtesy of the Penepent family.

A pickup truck has reportedly hit a parked box truck in the area of 6366 Big Tree Road., Pavilion.

Injuries were reported but the latest info from the scene is that everybody is walking around so Pavilion Fire can proceed non-emergency. 

An approximately 25-gallon diesel fuel spill is reported at the TA Travel Center on Allegheny Road in Pembroke.

The initial spill reportedly happened at 9 p.m. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments were just dispatched. City Fire's FAST team is also dispatched.

A cardboard box fire was reported at Koolatron, 4330 Commerce Drive, Batavia, shortly after 7 p.m.

Town of Batavia Fire was dispatched.

Multiple employees reported boxes on fire and a dispatcher could hear the building's alarm sounding in the background.

The building was evacuated. The sprinklers were activated.

Elba Fire dispatched mutual aid.

City Fire asked to cover Town of Batavia calls, if any.

UPDATE 8:20 p.m.: Stafford and East Pembroke asked to have crews standby in quarters.

Eric Motquin

 

Eric R. Motquin, 40, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, tampering with physical evidence, and obstruction of governmental administration. Motquin was arrested following a traffic stop on Dec. 3 at 3:55 p.m. on Ellicott Street, Batavia. Motquin is accused of struggling with officers and attempting to destroy narcotics. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $1 bail. Motquin was also arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on an unrelated matter.

Tyshon L. Taylor, 25, is charged with attempted assault 3rd. Taylor is accused of an attempted assault on Oct. 13 at 11:39 on Oak Street, Batavia. Taylor, who is being held without bail on an attempted murder charge, was ordered held on minimum bail on this charge.

Jarrod K. Fotiathis, 27, no permanent address, is charged with grand larceny 4th, petit larceny, and conspiracy. Fotiathis and another person, unidentified in by police, are accused of stealing property on Nov. 16 at 4:09 a.m. at a location on Oak Street, Batavia. Fotiathis was issued an appearance ticket.

Alicia M Lyons, 43, of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Lyons is accused of trespassing at a location on Jackson Street, Batavia on Dec. 6 at 4:22 p.m. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Harry R. Silliman, 58, no permanent address, is charged with trespass. Silliman was charged following a report of a disturbance on Maple Street, Batavia, on Dec. 6 at 11:42 p.m.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Robyn D. Scott, 65, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Scott was charged following a complaint on Dec. 6 at 7:46 a.m. of 'unreasonable noise' in the form of alarms causing an ongoing annoyance at a location on Walnut Street, Batavia. Scott was issued an appearance ticket.

Jean N. Pettit, 58, Batavia, is charged with DWI and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Pettit reportedly drove her vehicle on Dec. 5 at 6:01 p.m. and stopped at a residence on Vine Street, Batavia, and asked for assistance. A Batavia patrol officer responded and conducted a field sobriety test. Pettit was processed at Batavia PD headquarters and released on appearance tickets.

Parker Reid Davis, 29, of East Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Davis is accused of possession of a controlled substance during a probation home visit. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Andrew Anthony Crimes, 50, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt 1st. On Dec. 8 at 10:49 p.m., Crimes reportedly entered Batavia Downs in violation of an order of protection. He is also accused of sending 111 text messages from Jan. 24 to Nov. 19 to a person in violation of an order of protection. He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released.

Benito Anthony Gay, 34, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny, falsifying business records 2nd, criminal use of an access device 2nd, and unlawful possession of personal identification 3rd. Gay is accused of using another inmate's personal ID number to make phone calls.

Willie Albert Sabb, Jr., 48, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Sabb was allegedly found in possession of cocaine during a traffic stop on Dec. 9 at 10:26 p.m. on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Deputy Zachary Hoy.

Michael David McCracken, 42, of Aberdeen Street, Rochester, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation 1st, and failure to signal. McCracken was stopped on Dec. 10 at 1:26 a.m. on Telephone Road, Pavilion, by Sgt. Mathew Clor.

Jeanna M. Hattaway, 35, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Hattaway is accused of stealing in the Town of Batavia on Dec. 6 at 4:19 p.m.. She was arrested by State Police and released on an appearance ticket.  No further information released.

Carl E. Webber, 42, of Rochester, is charged with grand larceny 3rd. Webber was arrested by State Police in connection with a theft reported on July 14 at 5:37 p.m. in the Town of Batavia. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Taylor McCabe, of McCabe Enterprises, an electrical contractor, was one of four contractors on a job site at Brickhouse Corners in Pembroke to introduce students to the building trades.

Owner and developer Randy Fancher said he and his brother thought their mixed-use development -- retail and apartments -- was a good job site to show young people what a construction site is like and hear about the kind of work available in different facets of construction.

Besides electrical, students -- and their parents and grandparents -- learned about drywall, HVAC, and plumbing.

"We're letting kids know there are opportunities in the building trades," Fancher said.

For more on the development, click here.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Brian Stevens of DWC Mechanical talks about pipes with a group of students.

Cindy Merritt tries her hand at putting a screw into drywall.

Armani, with Batavia police officer Connor Borchert and his mother Ashley Ayala, was among 30 children selected this year to "Shop with a Cop" at Walmart for Christmas.

The children each had $150 to spend on presents for themselves or for others.  The toy aisles were the most popular part of the store.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Armani and Ashley.

Ivy with Investigator Eric Hill.

Angelique with Batavia PD Assistant Chief Chris Camp

Deputy Jeremy McClellan with a nine-month-old on his first Christmas shopping trip to Walmart (mother asked that we not identify the child).

Deputy Jeremiah Gechell shops with Keaghen and his father, Chad Broskin of Brockport.

Deputy Kyle Tower joins Gechell, Chad, and Keaghen.

Mercy Flight is receiving a $3,043,000 federal loan to purchase a new helicopter that will be modified for medical service operations and stationed at the Genesee County Airport in Batavia, the USDA announced this week.

Mercy Flight has not been able to station a helicopter in Batavia since a fatal crash in Elba in April.  The crash of the Bell 429 helicopter claimed the lives of pilot James E. Sauer, 60, of Churchville, and Stewart M. Dietrick, 60, of Prosper, Texas.

From the press from the U.S. Department of Agriculture announcing several funding initiatives in Upstate New York:

USDA Rural Development New York State Director Brian Murray announced investments totaling more than $46 million across 10 projects throughout the state to expand market opportunities for rural businesses and enterprises. This is part of a national announcement where U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Department is investing $981 million to help create new and better market opportunities and expand essential services for rural people, businesses and entrepreneurs in 47 states, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

“Rural people provide the everyday essentials our country depends on,” Murray said. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is dedicated to helping people through job creation and expansion of entrepreneurial opportunities in the rural places they live. The partnerships we’re announcing today demonstrate USDA’s commitment to advocating for rural business owners and building brighter futures for residents and stakeholders in rural New York and throughout America.”

The funding will help keep resources and wealth made by rural people right at home through affordable financing and technical assistance. It will help rural Americans start businesses and allow small business owners to grow. It will also open the door to new economic opportunities for communities and people who historically have lacked access to critical resources and financing.  

Photo: File photo by Howard Owens of the Bell helicopter that crashed taken a few days prior to the accident during an emergency medical response in Batavia.