WBTA AM 1490 Batavia, New York

Morning Summary

Dan Fischer — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:17:00 GMT

This morning, it’s the bone chilling cold.
Single digit temperatures greet us this morning, along with a fresh coating of snow, about 3 to 5 inches of it.
Today’s high forecast : 15.

Police have checked on 50 local sex offenders through Genesee County.
Lawmen fanned out in a joint detail last night to determine if area sex offenders were in compliance with the terms of their release.
Police verified the addresses of 50 registered sex offenders.
A total of nine individuals were found to be out of compliance and were turned over to either Genesee Justice, probation or state parole office.
Five were arrested on outstanding warrants.

A two-car accident in Elba sent four people to the hospital.
The accident happened yesterday afternoon at the intersection of Route 262 and Norton Road.
Sheriff’s deputies say a pick-up driven by 48-year-old Martha Horton failed to stop at a stop sign and struck a second vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kathleen Kowalczyk of Oakfield.
The drivers and a passenger in each vehicle went to UMMC for treatment of minor injuries.

Last year ended on a high note for Kodak. The company had its first profitable quarter in a year due to its consumer digital products.
Sales were up six percent over the fourth quarter of 2008.
The latest numbers beat Wall Street expectations and the stock price soared.
However, Kodak ended 2009 with eleven-hundred fewer local employees in the area.

For the third time this month a train has hit a car in Macedon. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents. The latest, happened just before 6:30 Thursday morning. Police say a car became disabled on the tracks on Quaker Road near Canandaigua Road. The driver was waiting for assistance when the crossing gates lowered alerting the man that a train was coming. The driver was able to get out in time, but the train smashed into the car sending it one-thousand feet down the tracks. The car was heavily damaged. Authorities say on January 3rd and on the 11th cars hit freight trains, but on one was injured.

Morning Summary

Dan Fischer — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:33:00 GMT

Genesee County is under two weather warnings this morning:
The National Weather Service has posted both a Winter Storm Warning and a Lake Effect Snow Warning until 6 o’clock tonight.
The forecast is calling for 3 to 5 inches of new snow during the day today with gusty winds.

Ever since last month’s fatal accident on the State Thruway at Pembroke, State Police have questioned why so many motorists were able to avoid Julie Stratton’s disabled car, but the driver of a tractor-trailer did not.
The 33-year-old Stratton, the mother of two young boys, was killed when the big rig plowed into the back of her car that had stalled out when she had struck a deer.
Troopers now say they know why truck driver Thomas Wallace did not avoid the collision: he was watching a porno movie on his lap top computer.
Wallace has been charged with Manslaughter and jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.
More Details

The Genesee County legislature has OK’s their part of the agreement that should lead to the replacement of that snowmobile bridge over Oak Orchard Creek.
The agreement calls for the Town of Alabama to take legal responsibility for the bridge. The town is expected to pass that liability along to the Sno-Packers snowmobile club, the group the built the bridge in the first place, only to have the span later removed by the county.
Sno-Packers president Kevin Fisher said he doubts the legal work can be done in time for the bridge to be replaced for snowmobilers to use this season.

A Batavia woman arrested for allegedly socking another person in the face…with a broomstick.
21-year-old Tiffany Kent of East Ave is charged with menacing and harassment.
Tiffany was locked up in lieu of 500-dollars bail.

Bills head coach Chan Gailey continues to assemble his staff. Gailey has named five new assistants while also keeping on two coaches from the previous staff. The five new members of the coaching staff all have worked with Gailey either on the Kansas City Chiefs or at Georgia Tech. Two positions remain open including a defensive coordinator and a wide receivers coach. Gailey says he wants to make sure they get the right kind of people who are great coaches and great teachers.

Trucker Charged with Manslaughter

Dan Fischer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:30:00 GMT

Accused of Watching Porn while driving

Morning Summary

Dan Fischer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:43:00 GMT

Up to five inches of new, wet snow has fallen on parts of Genesee County overnight.
The new snow has created slick spots on area roads.
To the south of us, heavier Lake Effect snow is expected. A Lake Effet Snow advisory has been posted for southern Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties.

Louise Ward of East Bethany has lost everything, including her pets, in a fire that destroyed her home on the East Bethany-LeRoy Road.
Louise told fire investigators she had just stoked her wood stove before she left for work at BOCES yesterday morning. It was just before 9am when a passerby saw smoke and flames streaming from the house.
Louise, 58, is a teacher at BOCES. Friends tell WBTA she and her husband bought the house three years ago. He later passed away from cancer. A fund has been established for anyone wishing to donate. Contributions can be sent to:

Louise Ward Fund
Five Star Bank
124 W. Main St.
LeRoy, NY 14482

More than 15-hundred people packed a church in Clarence to say goodbye to a fallen state trooper.
Thirty-one-year-old Jill Mattice was the first female state trooper to die in the line of duty.
She was killed in a traffic accident last Wednesday in Otsego County. Hundreds of police officers from around the state and country turned out to pay final respects. The Cheektowaga native was remembered as a courageous trooper with a big smile and infectious personality.

WBTA Eye on Government:
The Genesee County Legislature meets tonight.
County Lawmakers will act on an agreement with the Town of Alabama over that snowmobile bridge on Sour Springs Road.
The meeting is scheduled for 7pm in the Old County Courthouse.

Dave Matthews fans will be happy to know the band is coming back to Darien Lake this summer. The band will play Darien Lake on June second. The band is celebrating its 20th year of touring with a 49-date stint through North America beginning just days before the Darien Lake gig.
Tickets for the general public go on sale February 26th.

Morning Summary

Dan Fischer — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:41:00 GMT

Snow showers continued this morning across Genesee County. Accumulations generally an inch or less.
The snow follows heavy rain yesterday that swelled some local creeks, but the flood watch that had been issued for Genesee County has been lifted.
The level of Tonawanda Creek at Batavia stood at 8.4 ft at 5AM. Flood stage for the Tonawanda at Batavia is 9 ft.

Batavia’s projected 3-percent property tax increase has been cut in half.
The council adopted amendments last night to the tentative city budget that result in a property take rate increase of 1.5-percent.
The savings comes mainly from a $150,000 dollar cut in the city’s contingency budget.
City Manager Jason Molino termed reducing the contingency budget, "a moderate risk" noting that city police officers are almost certain to win another pay increase in arbitration. Contingency funds have been used in the past to cover unanticipated expenses.
A public hearing on the tentative budget and a 2 and a half percent increase in water rates has been scheduled for February 8th at City Hall.
A final budget must be adopted by the end of March.

The Batavia City Council rejects the recommendation of their own fire chief and says no the use of ALS trained firefighters to respond to emergency medical calls.
Most city firemen are ALS (Advanced Life Support) trained. Fire Chief Ralph Hyde proposed allowing ALS firemen to answer emergency medical calls along with Mercy EMS, the city’s new ambulance service.
But City Council voted 8-0 to deny the chief’s plan.
Council President Marianne Clattenburg said council wants the fire department to do to focus more on code enforcement, fire prevention and education. "We don't want our firemen chasing ambulances," Clattenburg said.
According to Chief Hyde ALS response by city firemen would cost the taxpayers nothing, and when Mercy EMS ambulances are busy, the difference in response time could, "save lives," Hyde said.

A 15-year-old Batavia girl, not seen since last Friday, has been located.
Batavia Police put out an alert yesterday afternoon for Stephanie Cooper.
Two hours later the alert was cancelled. No further information was released.

A Buffalo man will spend ten years behind bars for cutting off part of another man's nose during a drunken bar fight. 51-year-old David Call got into it with 36-year-old Billy Bryant over a woman. Call left the bar and returned with a two-foot ceremonial sword and sliced off Bryant’s nose. Surgeons were able to reattach it. Call apologized in court and says he does not recall the alcohol-fueled attack.

Missing Batavia Teenager

Dan Fischer — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:13:00 GMT

Update: Girl located, is OK

Nine Involved in LeRoy Fracas

Dan Fischer — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:25:00 GMT

Three men injured, police ask public for information

Morning Summary

Dan Fischer — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:15:00 GMT

Genesee County is under a Flood Watch until 11:30am this morning.
The National Weather Service has posted the Flood Watch alert for most of Western New York.
Rainfall totals since Sunday afternoon have reached 1.5 to 2
inches across much of the area.
This rain combined with runoff from the remaining snowpack has caused considerable ponding on area roadways and some basement flooding.
The rain should taper off to scattered showers after 8am.

Police in LeRoy this morning are still looking into a fight early Saturday that sent three men to the hospital.
The incident at 31 Myrtle Street involved a half-dozen people.
At first, police feared the three injured suffered gunshots wounds. It was later determined their injuries were caused by some type of sharp object and not a gunshot.
Police say two separate groups were involved in the incident. Police are asking for information from the public that could help their investigation.

On the local police blotter:

33-year-old Woodrow Horseman of Lewis Place, Batavia:
he arrested yesterday for allegedly boosting two 18-packs of beer from Tops Supermarket.
Horseman has been charged with Petty Larceny.

59-year-old William Cummings of Lake Street, Pavilion:
he has been arrested by Batavia Police on a charge of menacing.
BPD says Cummings and another man got into a flight on Friday and Cummings allegedly threatened the other man with a baseball bat.

State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is reportedly closer to announcing a run for the governor's office. The "New York Daily News" reports that Cuomo will make an announcement at the end of March that he plans to challenge Governor David Paterson in the Democratic primary.
At a football party yesterday, Paterson says he welcomes any and all challengers.
In the latest polls, Cuomo has a 64-percent job approval rating, compared with Paterson's 31-percent approval rating. Cuomo has raised $16-million so far, more than five times the amount Paterson has in his war chest.

The Batavia City Council is meeting tonight.
Council is holding three separate sessions
During its regular business meeting Council will introduce a local law raising water rates and set a public hearing on the bill.
No action on the rate increase itself will be taken tonight.
Council is then holding a Conference Meeting to talk about recommendations of the Neighborhood Improvements Committee and Sidewalk Snowplowing policy.
Council will then hold a Budget Work Session.
The first meeting begins at 7 tonight at City Hall. The public is welcome at all three meetings.

The Batavia City School Board meets tonight.
The board is scheduled to meet at 7pm this evening in the administration building on Washington Avenue. The public is invited, but you will likely have to wait the hallway for up to an hour as the board routinely goes into executive session session at the beginning of their meeting.

Batavia Missionaries Return Home

Dan Fischer — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:54:00 GMT

Sharon Wolf and Zach Ashley describe their exodus from Haiti

Morning Summary

Dan Fischer — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:43:00 GMT

Those two Batavia missionaries, in Haiti at the time of last week’s horrific earthquake, are safe at home this morning. Sharon Wolf and Zach Ashley arrived at the Buffalo Airport yesterday afternoon. Sharon and Zack were among a dozen other members of the Western New York Lutheran Church group who were working at an orphanage in Les Cayes, Haiti, about 120 miles from Port au Prince.

Read full story with pictures

A Buffalo man is dead after rolling his SUV on the Thruway in Pembroke over the weekend. Police say 53-year-old Mark Deacon was ejected from the vehicle just before 9 Saturday night. Investigators say Deacon was driving westbound when he crossed onto the left shoulder. Police say he over corrected the steering and flipped the SUV. Deacon was taken to Erie County Medical Center but died from serious head injuries.

Today is a federal holiday, Martin Luther King Junior Day. Schools and banks are closed today, along with government offices. There will be no mail delivery today.

The Batavia City Council is meeting tomorrow night in a work session to review next year’s proposed budget.

Council will meet at 7 tomorrow night at City Hall to begin a department by department review of the tentative budget. That spending plan, as it stands now, will increase the property tax rate in the city by 3 percent.

Assembly Republicans are hoping New Yorkers will help them find examples of government waste. A new website has been established called, "stopgovernmentwasteny.com."

Republicans say the site will seek the direct input of taxpayers and state workers, who can anonymously report waste they've either seen first hand or have learned about.

Morning Summary

Dan Fischer — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:37:00 GMT

A recent spate of underachievement has led Catholic Charities of Buffalo to lower its goals for 2010.
Bishop Edward Kmiec of the Diocese of Buffalo announced a $10.5-million goal, the lowest since 2004.
The bishop cites Western New York’s struggling economy as the primary challenge for fundraising.
The CEO of Catholic Charities, Dennis Walczyk, says the lower goal was designed so that the organization would be better assured of meeting it.
The official Catholic Charities Appeal 2010, a sort of “rush week” for donations, takes place March 21st through 28th in the Diocese of Buffalo, which includes Genesee County Catholic parishes. The appeal’s fiscal year ends in June.

A Special Senate Committee of Inquiry has recommended that Senator Hiram Monserrate resign from office; and now the Queens Democrat’s own political party has turned on him as well.
Edgar Santana, the Deputy Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Committee, says that Monserrate’s conviction has quote, “brought disrepute to the Senate Chamber, his colleagues and the Democratic party.”
Santana also says that if Monserrate does not resign, the Democratic party will call on the Senate for his immediate expulsion.

An Erie County man has been charged with stealing a firearm from a Corfu gun store.
28-year-old Jason Freeman has been charged with a felony count of grand larceny for allegedly stealing a gun from A and K Giun Sales in the Village of Corfu.
Freeman was given an appearance ticket and told to return to court next week.

A court appearance ticket was also given to 18-year-old Eric Halsey of Main Street Road, Batavia.
Halsey is accused of grabbing a woman by the face, threatening to harm her…and smash the windows of her car.

Today marks one year since US Airways flight 1549 splash landed in New York's Hudson River. Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger safely guided the plane into the water after it struck a flock of birds shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport en route to North Carolina. His actions saved the lives of 155 people on board the jet.

Morning Summary

Dan Fischer — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:23:00 GMT

Two Batavia missionaries in Haiti at the time of the devastating earthquake, are confirmed safe and in good health this morning.
The two, Sharon Wolf and Zach Ashley, are both members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Batavia.

An Oakfield driver facing a felony charge and DWI.
24-year-old Craig Meyer of Albion Road, Oakfield, was stopped on Route 63 in the Town of Batavia yesterday. Meyer was allegedly drunk and operating his vehicle with a suspended license.

A Stafford woman in trouble for snowmobiling.
30-year-old Melissa Quigley of Main Rd., Stafford, was stopped early this morning and charged with operating a snowmobile while intoxicated, operating it without a helmet and operating the snowmobile without the permission of the owner.

Another case of “sexting” in Livingston County.
18-year-old Donald Gleanson of Avon has been charged with having inappropriate contact with a child via a cellphone.
Gleanson was jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Last week a substitute teacher in Mount Morris turned himself in to State Police following a complaint that he was sexting a student.

In response to the Governor’s call for ethics reform, Albany lawmakers are unveiling bipartisan legislation that will revolutionize ethical and campaign finance practices.
The current Legislative Ethics Commission would be divided into investigative groups to review ethical practice in the Senate and Assembly. Another six-member panel would oversee the Governor’s office.
The legislation does not change ethics practices in the judicial branch of government.
If passed, it is expected to take effect in the second half of this year.

In nearby Clarence, a construction worker is the state lottery’s latest millionaire.
49-year-old Robert Baker turned a $5 instant ticket into a million bucks. He'll get $33,000 a year for the next 20 years.
Baker says he’ll help his daughter through college and fix up an old car.

Batavia Missionaries in Good Health

Dan Fischer — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:46:00 GMT

Communications Limited in Haiti

Morning Summary

Dan Fischer — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:43:00 GMT

Two Batavia residents on a humanitarian mission to Haiti are reported to be OK following yesterday’s devastating earthquakeSharon Wolf and Zach Ashley were in Les Cayes, Haiti, about 100 miles west of Port au Prince. Sharon and Zach are both members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Batavia. They were due to return home this Monday but those plans are now uncertain given the devastation in the country caused by the quake.

Junior State Senator Hiram Monserrate may be on his way out.

A Senate Committee has recommended his expulsion or censure following his misdemeanor conviction. The Queens Democrat was found guilty last month of assaulting his girlfriend.

Western New York Senator Mike Ranzenhofer, whose district includes Genesee County, says Monserrate should be expelled from the State Senate.

Monserrate has said he will fight any effort to make him leave office.

The check was in the mail, but where did it go? State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli today called on the House Committee on Oversight to investigate how the U.S. Postal Service "misplaced" tens of thousands of New York State pension checks.

Still need a flu shot?

Genesee County is holding a flu vaccine clinic today. Both the seasonal flu and H1-N1 vaccines will be available. Today’s clinic will be held at the health department in County Building 2 on West Main Street Road from Noon until 4pm.

Genesee Community College Board of Trustees has approved a two year degree program in Veterinary Technology.

The new program will begin this fall with an initial class of 15 students.

The school calls the field a high demand profession.

It will prepare students to work in partnership with licensed veterinarians at animal hospitals, clinics, research labs and zoos.

Two Batavia Residents in Haiti

Dan Fischer — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:28:00 GMT

Two Batavia residents on a humanitarian mission to Haiti are reported to be OK following yesterday’s devastating earthquake.

Sharon Wolf and Zach Ashley were in Les Cayes, Haiti, about 100 miles west of Port au Prince.

Sharon and Zach are both members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Batavia.

They were due to return home this Monday but those plans are now uncertain given the devastation in the country caused by the quake.

Saturday Summary

Dan Fischer — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:15:00 GMT

Two persons were injured during a shooting spree in Brockport yesterday. The suspected gunman, Scott Pescara, 41, is in custody after the shooting west of the SUNY Brockport College and the Brockport Central School campus, at 6963 4th Section Road. It happened around 12:50 pm Friday afternoon. Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies say that 41-year-old Deputy, Jonathan Strong was shot in the leg. A neighbor of Pescara, 60-year-old Nellie Marshall of Fourth Section Road was shot in the shoulder. The Brockport and Elementary School along with the SUNY Brockport campus were both locked down and all reads in the area were blocked off. Sheriff’s negotiators were able to contact Pescara by phone and then talked him into surrendering. The situation was apparently the result of a domestic situation according to authorities. Pescara is reportedly originally from Albion. Both victims were treated at the hospital and released.

Two persons have been arrested by Wyoming County Sheriff’s Deputies after what’s been called a domestic incident in the Town of Gainesville.
18-year-old James Dieter has been charged with menacing and 17 year old Meaghan Schiavi has been charged with Criminal Mischief. Both will have a return appearance in Town of Gainesville court.

A Kent man has been charged with felony DWI following a one car accident at the intersection of South Holley Road and North Bergen Road in the Town of Byron late last night. He’s identified as 43-year-old Stuart Newbould of Bridge Road in Kent. He was also ticketed for unreasonable speed and failure to stop at a stop sign.

Harold Ford Junior is pushing back against top Democrats, pressuring him not to run against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand this fall. Ford says he will not be "bullied or intimidated" by "party bosses," in his strongest statements to date that he is considering a return to politics in a Democratic primary. A Ford spokesman issued a statement late Friday to defend his interest in running. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Mayor Bloomberg to ask him not to back Ford, while former Bloomberg campaign staff held a strategy session with the transplanted New Yorker this week. But Queens Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez says Harold Ford is too conservative for New York Democrats and urges Mayor Bloomberg to stay out.
Congresswoman Velazquez, a one-time Gillibrand rival, says Ford has too moderate of a record on abortion, gun rights, and gay rights. Senator Gillibrand is running in her first statewide election this November. Ford is set to deliver the keynote address next month before the state Association of Black and Puerto Rican Lawmakers in Albany.

Proposed City Budget Released

Dan Fischer — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:55:00 GMT

Tentative tax rate increase 3-percent

Morning Summary

Dan Fischer — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:20:00 GMT

Another suspected drug dealer operating in Batavia is off the streets.
The Genesee County Local Drug Task Force has busted 24-year-old John Tillman of Buffalo.
Tillman is accused of selling crack cocaine in and around Batavia.
He’s locked up without bail.

An arrest has been made in a year and a half old case of stolen tools.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Investigators have arrested 24-year-old John Testa of Stafford and charged him with possession of stolen property.
Lawmen say they found Testa in possession of tools taken from the construction site of the Lowe’s Home Store during the summer of 2008.
At the time of the heist, authorities estimated the value of the stolen tools at over $7,000.

A Mount Morris Central School substitute teacher has been arrested for sexting a message to a student.
24-year-old Adam Steen turned himself in after the parent of the student
filed a complain with the State Police.

New York State may be forced to delay paying its bills for a second straight month.
Governor David Paterson warned today that without deep spending cuts from the Legislature, the state will have to delay March payments to school districts, service providers and state employees.
State officials estimate New York will owe a total of $19-billion in March, with not enough cash in the budget to cover the bills.

Senator Chuck Schumer says the Bills' owner has assured him the team is staying put in Western New York. This comes after rumors swirled that a Southern California real estate company was trying to lure the Bills to a possible new stadium on the West Coast. Schumer says he has spoken with team owner Ralph Wilson who told him he has not had any contact with that company and is not seeking offers to relocate.