Genesee Sun

Maniac Who Ditched His Car In Letchworth Gorge Now Suspect in Hate Crime Beating

ROCHESTER — The man who ditched his car into the Letchworth State Gorge back in July has found himself in more hot water, now he is a suspect in a hate-crime spree.

In July, Benjamin Smith, 42, dumped his vehicle down a cliff and into the Genesee River Gorge where he was then charged with criminal mischief and criminal nuisance. Now he has been charged with an assault of a Pakistani man and is suspected in other attacks as well.

The website, www.whec.com reports that that  Smith yelled, "All you Pakistanis and Indians are all going to be killed."

Then he pummeled the victim causing a laceration to his face and bruising.

Smith was arraigned in Pittsford Town Court and is being held on $100,000 cash bail or $200,000 bond.

Smith was currently out on bail from Livingston County pending mental evaluation results.

Clifton Fire Department Parade a Slice of Mayberry

CLIFTON — Once a year in this tiny hamlet of Clifton there is a traffic jam. Townspeople begin staking out seats and getting some food hours before the fire departments annual parade. People come from miles around, but mostly these are all local folks that come to say hello to their neighbors and friends.

The carnival that began as field days shortly after the inception of the Clifton Fire Department has no rides, no carnies, no sponsors, just good food, beverages, and some games of chance. The carnival has changed little over the years, and Assistant Chief Koster says "people like it that way".

It takes about 2 weeks of labor every night to assemble all of the handmade booths, run all of the electricity and prepare the grounds for parking and traffic. This is all accomplished by the 35 member group of volunteers. Every hand is notably working diligently right up until the time of the parade, they march through the mile and half route and then they all take their posts ad work through the night to raise funds so they can purchase equipment for the fire department. The carnival nets about 15% of their total operating budget. That along with a spring roast beef supper, and the autumn turkey raffle nets another 10%.

Attending this event is something akin to stepping into a time machine and traveling back to the 50's and maybe a little town like Mayberry.  This is the small town America that you read about. There used to be a US Post Office, a car dealer, and a mill. They have all closed up years ago. The fire department used to operate out of a barn where the trucks required to have a full load of water, and the emergency lights had to be mounted in front of the windshield for them to be low enough to fit inside.

People like the Melville's who live a few miles away have been coming since they moved here. "It's like a family gathering" they say. Their son, and now grandson came tonight making it a three generation event. This largely agricultural community had over 30 tractors in line tonight from the Western NY 2 Cylinder Club. Melville's grandson turned 3 today, and with his dad Scott's help drove one down the parade route.

Rhonda Kunker, 40 of Holley remembers when she was a little girl being able to win a bag of potatoes at one of the games. Yes, you can still win them, or a quart of peaches.

EXCLUSIVE SLIDESHOW: Burnwell Gas Destroyed in Massive Blaze

MUMFORD — A 4-alarm exploding fire at Burnwell Gas brought over 25 companies and 75 firefighters from three counties into action in the small Monroe County hamlet of Mumford.

Exclusive photographs obtained by the GeneseeSun.com by photographer and firefighter John Spaulding show the danger and power in the massive blaze.

"As a firefighter we train and prepare for an event of this magnitude our entire career," Spaulding said. "The fact that the fire did not spread and no one died really is a testimony to sound training by multiple agencies on numerous levels."

One employee from Burnwell gas was burned and transported to Strong Memorial hospital in unknown condition.  Officials have yet to release their name.

"The primary focus of Superior Plus Energy Services inc. is the health of the injured employee," said Spokesman Keith Wrisley from Superior PLus Energy Services Inc.

A 100-pound propane canister was launched at least 200 yards into the yard of 1123 Main St. Luckily no one was injured

"The Mumford Fire Department has had a plan in place that has been reviewed regularly.  This helped the mitigation," said Chief Mike Burnside.

"The plan was superb," said Linda Dobson, Wheatland Town Supervisor.

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Young Teen Escapes From Industry School

SCOTTSVILLE  — A resident of the School of Industry has escaped and is eluding helicopters and dogs as police search for the escapee.

Eric Glenn, 16, escaped on foot when the gate was opened for a vehicle exit the facility.

Glenn is 5 feet 5 inches and weighs 153 pounds.

New York State Police, Monroe County and Livingston County officials are searching for the teen who was last seen heading south.

If you see the teen please call 911 immediately.

The Industry School is a juvenile detention facility with 18 foot high razor wire fencing that can house up to 90 youths.

UPDATE: Glenn has been recaptured, he was found  by a blood hound near the building.