There are plenty of opportunities to pay respects to fallen soldiers in Batavia on Memorial Day. There are six observance ceremonies tomorrow, all during the morning with full military honors, wreath laying, rifle salute and taps. There's also a parade down Main Street.

Memorial Day Observances

• Begins at 8 at the World War I Memorial, which honors the 35 Batavia citizens who gave their lives in the Great War. Williams Park, at Pearl Street and Brooklyn Avenue.
• Begins at 8:30 at the VA Medical Center flag pole, 222 Richmond Ave.
• At about 8:50 at the flag pole at NYS Veterans Home, 220 Richmond Ave.
• Begins at 9:30, Upton Monument at the junction of routes 5 and 63.
• Begins at 10 to honor all war dead of all wars in Elmwood and St. Joseph’s cemeteries. Veterans Plot on Harvester Avenue.
• Ceremony at 10:30, preceded at 10 by music performed by the Batavia Concert Band. UMMC Jerome Center at Bank Street and Washington Avenue. The names of Genesee County veterans who have died since last Memorial Day will be read and a flag placed to honor each one. (This is the site of the planned Genesee County War Memorial to honor all war dead from Genesee County.)

City of Batavia Memorial Day Parade

Participants will gather at 9:30 a.m. at Eastown Plaza, located at 567 E. Main St. The parade begins at 10 and will proceed west on Main Street, ending at St. Joseph’s School parking lot at Summit Street.

A dryer fire was reported at 61 Myrtle St., Le Roy, in the basement.

Flames were showing.

An assistent chief responded to the scene and knocked the flames down with an extinguisher.

Le Roy Fire is responding and Bergen is responding mutual aid, non-emergency.

View Larger Map

City of Batavia firefighters will hold their annual "Fill the Boot" Drive to benefit MDA on Friday, June 3, beginning at 9 a.m.

This year’s co-chairmen are firefighters Jeff Stevens and Greg Ireland.

Off-duty city firefighters -- members of IAFF (International Association of Firefighters) Local 896 -- will help raise money for the cause. They will be at Court and Main streets as well as Court and Ellicott streets.

The IAFF is MDA’s largest sponsor.

City of Batavia Fire Department Local 896 has been holding  the "Fill the Boot" drive for 17 years. Last year's boot drive was quite successful. City firefighters with the community's help raised $5,600 for the MDA!

There are more than 40 neuromuscular diseases that are covered by MDA, including ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Donations cover everything from wheelchairs to braces, physical therapy sessions to kids' summer camps.

The guys are looking forward to hitting the streets again in an attempt to top last year’s total. They really appreciate the generousity of those that can give, be it their spare change, a dollar or even more.

This information comes from Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer's office.

Earlier this month, the New York State Senate approved legislation to help older veterans by creating an advisory committee to specifically assist state officials in addressing important veteran issues.

New York has the second highest veteran population in the United States and bill S.3337, sponsored by Senator Michael Ranzenhofer (R-C-I, Amherst), focuses on improving the care and state support available to aging veterans by creating a panel of gerontology and veterans’ issue experts.

"Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country and for the freedoms which we all enjoy,” Ranzenhofer said. “They have earned only the best care and support programs and establishing a Veterans Advisory Committee will ensure that continues.

Older veterans represent a population in New York whose needs and problems pervade multiple geriatrics and gerontology disciplines. This legislation establishes a Veterans Gerontological Advisory Committee, which will advise the Director of the state Office for the Aging on policies, programs, services and trends affecting New York’s aging veteran population.

At no cost to the taxpayers, the advisory committee will be able to provide crucial recommendations aimed at improving the care and support available to aging veterans. The membership will be drawn from the ranks of New York’s finest experts on aging, seniors’ and veterans’ issues, representing medical researchers, practitioners, academia, and veterans’ organizations.

Their mission will be to share information and challenges associated with caring for aging veterans and their families. The panel would provide the Office for the Aging with guidance on pressing concerns including caregiver initiatives, alternative housing trends for veterans, long-term and continuing care, health promotion and rehabilitation, departmental research and dementia research. The committee can also play a role in educating staff and the public on a wide range of issues affecting veterans and seniors.

The bill has been sent to the Assembly.

There is a report of wires arcing in the area of 14 Brooklyn Ave., Batavia.

City Fire Department is responding.

View Larger Map

During the annual Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament in Batavia, the Michael Napoleone Foundation presented a $12,000 check to the Center for Pediatric Biomedical Research at URMC.

Accepting the check above are, from right, Kathleen McGrath, Paul Kingsley and Alec Kingsley.

McGrath said the money is being used to cover the expense of more powerful computers. As part of the center's research, scientists take pictures of blood cells to study. The sophisticated camera equipment creates massive files that took the old computers hours to process. The new computers do the same work in minutes. The center also replaced worn out centrifuges. 

Michael Napoleone died in 2006 from Burkitt's Lymphoma/Leukemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer.

Mark and Laurie (second picture, left, with her brother, Dave Pero) Napoleone set up the fondation to give back to the community after so many people helped them during their son's illness.

Teams from as far away as Fairport are competing in the tournament, which runs through tomorrow.

Griffin Dellapenna, who was friends with Michael, reads a statement about how he misses Michael and what the tournament means to him. 

Griffin met Michael when they were both battling cancer. Next week, Griffin marks his fourth year in remission.

Jeremy Boyle and Matt Roach hit back-to-back home runs during Batavia's game against Oakfield-Alabama.

To buy quality, affordable prints from this event, click here.

More pictures after the jump:

To buy quality, affordable prints from this event, click here.

A driver was taken to ECMC with a complaint of neck pain yesterday following a one-car rollover accident at 4:54 p.m. on Route 77, Darien.

Nickol R. Burnett, 20, of Horseshoe Lake Road, Stafford, was cited for allegedly driving too fast for conditions.

Deputy Chris Parker, in his report, said the roads were slick with rain and Burnett lost control of her vehicle. Her 2004 Chevy sedan began to spin clockwise and traveled off the roadway and struck a culvert at the end of a driveway causing it to overturn.

Daniel Roger Sumeriski, 25, of State Street Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny, harassment, 2nd, and criminal tampering, 3rd. The charges against Sumeriski stem from an alleged domestic incident on May 18 when Sumeriski allegedly took the victim's cell phone and urinated on the interior of her car. Sumeriski was put in the Genesee County Jail where he is being held on a parole warrant.

Robert David Cummings III, 24, of Akron Road, Corfu, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, unlawful possession of marijuana and no seatbelt. Cummings was stopped at 1:34 p.m. Thursday on Bloomingdale Road, Basom, for an alleged seat belt violation. Drug paraphernalia and marijuana were allegedly found in his car. He was jailed on $100 bail. The stop was made by Deputy Chris Parker, who was assisted by Deputy Lonnie Nati and Deputy Brian Thompson with K-9 Pharaoh.

Stephen Vance Recco, 20, of Hemlock Ridge Road, Medina, is charged with criminal impersonation, improper use of a mobile phone and unlicensed operation. Recco was stopped at 4:09 p.m. on Route 77, Alabama, by Deputy Chris Parker for allegedly driving while talking on a mobile phone. Recco allegedly gave a false name and date of birth during the traffic stop.

Jason Howard Freeman, 29, of Bush Gardens, Marilla, is accused of promoting prison contraband. Freeman was allegedly found in possession of a lighter and tobacco while housed as an inmate at the Genesee County Jail.

Thomas Jesse Mullen, 45, of Thorncliff Road, Spencerport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Mullen was stopped at 11:57 p.m. Friday on North Byron Road, Elba, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Kate Elizabeth Brozic, 28, of Trimmer Road, Spencerport, was arrested on a bench warrant related to a DWI charge. Brozic was picked up by Spencerport Police and turned over to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office on a warrant out of Stafford Town Court. She was jailed on $500 bail.

Marlek E. Holmes is indicted on charges of failure to register change of address, failure to personally verify his address, disseminating indecent material to a minor, 1st degree, and endangering the welfare of a child. Holmes, a registered sex offender, is accused of not notifying authorities of his new address after relocating from 516 E. Main St., Batavia, on Feb. 19. Holmes is also accused of sending sexually explicit text messages to a 16-year-old girl in December 2010. 

Chester Dortch is indicted on a charge of aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st. Dortch is accused of driving on the Thruway in Batavia on Nov. 20 while knowing his license was suspended. Dortch reportedly had 10 prior suspensions for failure to answer and failure to pay fine.

Joshua Carney and Holly Carney are indicted on 11 counts of offering a false instrument for filing, 1st, and grand larceny, 3rd. The Carneys are accused of filing false statements related to Joshua's employment in order to receive food stamps and Medicaid. The Carneys are accused of stealing $7,453 in food stamp assistance and $6,564.14 in Medicaid.

Tonya M. Weber is indicted on a felony DWI charge and aggravated DWI, also a felony, for having a child under 15 in the car and endangering the welfare of a child. Weber is accused of driving drunk Nov. 29 in the Town of Oakfield.

Genesee County didn't have the biggest voter turnout in the special election on Tuesday, but we made a good run at it.

Board of elections officials have said our turnout was "about 25 percent."

That's 8 percentage points behind Erie County, but still at the high end of anticipated turnout for a single-ballot item, special election.

Depending on how "about" the GC turnout was, it also looks like Niagara County also had a slightly higher turnout at 25.7 percent.

These are unofficial numbers before absentee ballots have been counted.

Monroe County's turnout was 21 percent, Orleans 22 and we haven't been able to obtain the numbers for Wyoming County.

Even though we couldn't beat Erie (33 percent) -- where all four candidates were from -- our turnout was strong. The Batavian will go ahead and make its $100 donation to the Genesee Justice Foundation.

So I headed out to Francis Road this morning to see if I could get a picture of an intrepid deputy rounding up cows.

There were no cows, but there was this lost beagle. 

Deputy Lonnie Nati picked him up and delivered him to the animal shelter.

The beagle was wandering about 3/4 of a mile south of Lei-Ti Campground. It was a good distance from any nearby home, so not sure where he belongs (could be a she, I didn't check).

No tags. The pooch, very friendly and calm, has a large softball seized growth on its left rear hindquarter.  

A deputy has been dispatched to the area of 9300 Francis Road for a report of cows in the road.

The deputy's reply: "Copy, steak in the road."

Two cars were apparently shot at while driving north on Ellicott Avenue around 5 p.m., according to Batavia Police.

Both cars were hit, one having window damage and the damage report is not yet available on the second car.

Evidence indicates the shots came from the east side of the street between Washington and Park.

It hasn't been determined whether the shots came from a pellet gun or a small calibre firearm.

Anybody with information that might aid the investigation are asked to call Batavia PD at 345-6350.

UPDATE 9:33 p.m.: Sgt. John Peck said that some evidence was found in the area of 42 Ellicott Ave. and that two possible juvenile suspects have been identified. The investigation is ongoing. "It's possible other vehicles have been hit and the drivers are not even aware of it," Peck said. If any other cars were hit, or if anybody has more information, they can call Batavia PD at 345-6350.

The owner of the Batavia Nursing Home has been accused by federal authorities of committing wire fraud to help fund a "lavish" lifestyle.

Meanwhile, two employees of the nursing home on State Street have contacted The Batavian to say they've either not been paid or were paid late.

Marc L. Korn, 54, of East Amherst faces a possible 20 years in prison or a $250,000 fine or both. He was arraigned a week ago in federal court and is scheduled to appear again on June 2.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gretchen L. Wylegala, who is handling the case, said that Korn devised a scheme to obtain funds from a charitable organization he headed, the American Friends of Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, an organization which raised funds to support a medical center in Israel.

An IRS investigator told the Buffalo News he's diverted as much as $1 million for his personal use and has also kept employee payroll taxes.

For employees of the nursing home, they're wondering what's going on. Today, they were told there was no money in the payroll account so no checks would be issued. 

"We've been told we would be paid, but we don't know when," an employee said.

This has happened before, according to another employee, who said two weeks ago the employees were given checks but told they couldn't cash them until the following week.

Korn could not be reached for comment.

One of the employees said that the Department of Labor has visited the facility, but she's not aware of any action beging taken.

She said all deliveries -- including food for residents -- are now C.O.D. (collect on delivery)

"The residents have their Social Security checks sent to the nursing home," she said. "Where's the money going?"

A relative of hers is a resident at the facility and the family is trying to move her, but she said she doesn't think the community really understands what's going on at the nursing home.

Five people quit today, she said. She figures she will start pulling 80-hour work weeks to keep up with the work load.

She continues her employment there, she said, because she believes it would be unethical to leave the residents without care.

Her husband's income has also been uneven lately, she said, so times are tough.

"I have to go home and tell my kids we may not eat today," she said.

She said all of the employees are facing similar difficulties, including falling behind on mortgages and car payments.

The woman said employees have been told Korn is trying to sell the facility, but they're not aware of any progress on that front.

We tried Korn's pager number, but it's disconnected. We also emailed him and asked for comment.

A man who met an Oakfield woman on a bus ride from Florida to Massachusetts and then came with her to New York entered  not guilty pleas today to 51 counts of rape for allegedly having sex with the woman's underage daughter and her underage friend.

The indictment covers another 13 more charges stemming from the alleged incidents, which investigators say occurred in November and December of 2010. Raymond E. Allard is accused of engaging with sexual acts with two girls under age 15.

The alleged incidents occurred in Oakfield, the City of Batavia and the Town of Batavia.

Allard was held without bail. Judge Robert C. Noonan said Allard presented a substantial flight risk because he has no real connections to the area, is facing serious charges with a potential lengthy prison term and has a prior criminal record.

According to Det. John Dehm, Allard's prior criminal record did not include similar sexual charges, but he did appear to target his alleged victims in this case after seemingly befriending the woman and her daughter on a bus trip. 

The case remains under investigation and there may be another victim or victims, Dehm said.

The 64-count indictment includes 51 counts of rape in the second degree and 13 counts of criminal sexual act, 2nd, for allegedly engaging in oral sex with both girls.

Outside of court, Dehm said parents should be cautious with people they have just met.

"A person might appear to be extremely friendly and polite and courteous," he says, "but you just never know what their past is all about, or what they could be up to."

Here's a news release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley's office.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C – Batavia) is continuing his commitment to New York’s veterans through his work with the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

Having served seven years in the Ohio Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves, where he earned the rank 1st Lieutenant, the assemblyman takes his responsibility to the courageous members of our military extremely seriously. “It is a privilege and an honor to serve on the Veterans’ Affairs committee, responding to the needs and issues that are most important to the men and women that risk their lives to protect our freedom,” Hawley said. “As a former member of the armed forces, I know firsthand how important the work done by our military personnel is to our way of life as Americans.

"This nation is truly only as strong as the servicemen and women that risk life and limb for their fellow countrymen, and I am proud to fight for their needs each and every day in the state Assembly.”

The assemblyman noted that Memorial Day, which falls on Monday, May 30, presents an opportunity for the people of the community to show their appreciation for our local veterans.

“Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the contributions that our veterans make each and every day to our community, our state and our entire nation,” Hawley said. “With the holiday just around the corner, I encourage the people of our community to visit a local veterans organization and show your appreciation for our past and present heroes, or just take some time to approach a veteran and thank them for all that they’ve done to make this country great.”

Assemblyman Hawley is the sponsor of numerous bills that support veterans, including measures to provide tax credits for home loans to veterans, support in custody battles for those in active duty, and tuition assistance for military families.

The assemblyman will be conducting his fourth annual Patriot Trip to Washington D.C. for veterans from Sept. 22 through 25.

Patriot Trip IV will include roundtrip private coach transportation from Western New York to Washington, D.C. and accommodations at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia. The trip also includes tours of the WWII, Vietnam, Korean and FDR Memorials as well as Arlington Cemetery and the Udvar Hazy Aerospace Museum. Most meals are included with the trip cost of approximately $300. For more information about trip details, pricing, or to sign-up, please call Assemblyman Hawley’s District Office at 589-5780.

Memorial Day Services are scheduled at United Memorial Medical Center beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 30 at the hospital’s Bank Street campus, the Jerome Center. But at 10 a.m., the Batavia Concert Band will assemble to perform for those attending the service.

The names of veterans who have passed away since Memorial Day 2010 will be read aloud and a wreath honoring those who died in service will be placed near the flag pole. Prayers will be read from each of the five distinct military branches.

The monument that stood in front of the hospital at North Street was removed during renovations and the plaques were placed in temporary storage. The veterans will unveil their plans for a new monument to be placed at the Bank Street site.

Light refreshments will be served at this event and the community is encouraged to attend.

A Le Roy man who got in a tussle with members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force in April will go through a drug treatment program before facing a possible sentence of up to four years in prison on drug and alcohol charges.

Craig A. Tiberio-Shepherd, 21, of 22 Lathrop Ave., Le Roy, entered a guilty plea today to criminal possession of a controlled substance, 4th, and assault, 3rd. He also admitted to driving drunk in August 2010.

Still in police custody for today's hearing, Tiberio-Shepherd will be released under supervision to Hope Haven for rehab.

On April 21, Tiberio-Shepherd was apprehended by members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force in Batavia and found in possession of at least 1/8th of a gram of cocaine. During his arrest, he wrestled with task force members. Two detectives suffered minor cuts and scrapes.

On Aug. 14, 2010, Tiberio-Shepherd was arrested and charged with felony DWI. Just five days prior to his arrest he was convicted of DWI in Le Roy Town Court.

The drug and assault charges carry a maximum four year prison sentence and the DWI charge is a one-and-a-third to three-year sentence. As part of the plea agreement, Tiberio-Shepherd could serve the sentences concurrently.

A generator is reportedly on fire at 193 S. Main St., in the area of Apt. 21, on the southwest corner, in the City of Batavia.

City fire crews responding.