Genesee Sun

Batavia Downs Vies For Spot among 7 Non Native American Full Casino Gaming Sites

BATAVIA — The decision New York state lawmakers made Wednesday to legalize public casinos and allow full casino gaming at seven non Native American run casinos in the state, could mean great news for Batavia Downs Casino.

Currently, Batavia Downs is the only municipally owned casino in New York State owned by the 15 western New York counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo.

According to Michael Nolan, the casino’s vice president of administration, the Western Region Off-Track Betting/Batavia Downs Casino has returned over $200 million to local municipal owners since its inception. Nolan said that by operating as a full casino gaming site, Batavia Downs can bring more jobs to western New York and help keep local property tax rates lower.

“We will work with our western New York delegation and the governor to make sure Batavia Downs is one of the approved full gaming venues in the state,” said Nolan. “It is imperative that western New York not be left behind on a great potential for new jobs and revenues returned to local governments.”

The locations of the seven casinos are scheduled to be decided in 2013.

Darien Lake Ride Steals Life of Wounded Iraq War Veteran

DARIEN LAKE — An Iraqi war veteran has died after a roller coaster accident on the Superman ride in Darien Lake.

According to WHAM13.com,  Sgt. James Hackemer who lost both of his legs while serving in Iraq, fell from the roller coaster and died while at the park with his two sisters and children.

"Darien Lake Theme Park is deeply saddened by an incident that occurred at 5:30 pm today on Ride of Steel. An adult male guest came on the ride and unfortunately the guest has passed." said Darien Lake officials in a written statement posted on their website.

The park is open but the Ride of Steel will not be in operation until the investigation is complete.

Le Roy Twitch Now Bringing Divided Community Back Together

LE ROY — The case of the Le Roy twitch, where mostly young teenage girls have come down with Tourette's like symptoms has divided the community at the same time brought closure to an old wound.

The division of the community has occurred in how the parents of the students with the symptoms have handled the situation and the poor response of the school district that created the public relations fiasco.

The old wound that is finally being taken care of occurred in 1970 when a train derailed on the the Lehigh Valley Railroad and leaked cyanide.  Earlier in February the EPA conducted a study on the barrels left over from the site and found there to be no leaking contaminates. The barrells will be removed.

"Everyone in the community with questions and concerns needs to come forward and ask them," said Karen Callahan an appointed parent representative on committee to the Le Roy school board. "People need to stop fueling the rumors, and ask questions."

According to Callahan she receives numerous phone calls from concerned parents with questions that range from property tax rates or whether or not it is safe to plant a garden in the spring because of rumored polution.

One of the more vocal local leaders on the issue is Jennifer Keys, a Le Roy Village Board member who has championed support for school officials.

"The school needs to put out factual answers," said Keys. "Officials need to be accessible and not hide behind the lawyer, a lot of this could have been avoided with a better response. That's in the past though and we need to move forward and support eachother."

Many people are unaware that students with Tourette's have been in Le Roy for years, one young woman graduated last year.

The lack of response in the beginning and the aggressive pursuit of national media has fueled the chaos.

According to the New York Post not all of the students are listening to their doctor's orders or even being treated, which is leading to confusion on how the symptoms should be corrected.

"The community is completely divided, people really became panicked," said Callahan. "The finger pointing at the school district is unfair, and the school doesn't deserve that, Le Roy is a great community and I am proud to live here."

So far 18 people have been diagnosed with what is being called a conversion disorder which is a psychological illness. The patients have been instructed to stay away from Facebook and other kids until they can break the symptoms. Then they will be gradually re-introduced back into mainstream society after the begin to drop the symptoms.

Home Burglar Bandits Busted in Multi-County Bust

CONESUS — A group of bandits were arrested in a multi-county home burglary operation that spanned four counties.

Mallory Rowe, 24, Kelly Bortle, 27, and Danielle Fisher, 26, were warrested in the Town of Henrietta after a multi-jurisdictional investigation into residential burglaries in Livingston, Ontario, and Steuben Counties. They were all charged with Grand Larceny and Burglary.

The three are accused of entering residential homes during the daytime hours and taking various items including electronics, firearms and U.S. currency.  The three are also accused of committing these acts with a 5-year-old child in their care.

The three perps were arraigned in Conesus Town Court before Justice Mahoney.  Danielle Fisher was held on $5,000 cash and $10,000 bond.  Kelly Bortle and Mallory Rowe were held on $20,000 cash and $40,000 bond.  The three were remanded to the Livingston County Jail to be held for further court proceedings.

Sheriff York reports that the investigation was lead by the Livingston County Sheriff's Office and assisted by the Livingston County District Attorney's Office, Ontario County Sheriff's Office, Ontario County District Attorneys Office, the New York State Police and the Rochester Police Department.

WNY Delegation Offers House Resolution to Remember Flight 3407 Victims and Honor Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Kathy Hochul (NY-26), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Louise Slaughter (NY-28) and Tom Reed (NY-29) introduced a House Resolution to remember the victims of Continental Connection Flight 3407, honor and thank their families and friends who have worked hard to pass flight safety reforms and call on the Administration to implement those reforms to ensure safer skies for the flying public.

“Three years after this avoidable crash, the families, friends and loved ones of the victims of Flight 3407 are still fighting for ‘one true level of safety’ for the flying public,” said Congresswoman Hochul in a press release. “The Administration must fully implement these flight safety reforms to ensure no one ever experiences a tragedy like the one that took place in the heart of my district.”

Congressman Higgins echoed the Congresswoman’s statement.

“It is people who truly influence policy – people like the Families of Flight 3407,” said Congressman Higgins. “They are persistent, tireless, and driven. Their courage to put aside pain and put forward purpose is remarkable and inspiring. The Flight 3407 Families are building a bridge to better flight safety, in memory of their families, for our families and future families.”

Congresswoman Slaughter and Congressman Reed elaborated on the House Resolution and why they thought it was needed.

“This is one more important opportunity for us to thank the families who we’ve worked with time and time again for their heroic work to make many of the improvements we’ve seen so far possible,” said Congresswoman Slaughter. “After almost three years, we continue to stand with them collectively pushing to improve safety in the skies for everyone who steps onto an airplane.”

“Thanks to the constant effort of the families of the victims, the FAA is moving in the right direction with regard to pilot fatigue rules,” said Congressman Reed. “Hopefully this will be the last resolution of this type ever introduced in the House.”

Yesterday, Members of the Western New York Delegation and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand held a news conference with the families and friends of Continental Connection Flight 3407, where they called for the full implementation of flight safety rules.

Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed in Clarence Center on Feb. 12, 2009 claiming the lives of everyone onboard and one person on the ground. In August 2010, Congress passed new flight safety reforms through the “Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010.” In Dec. 2011, the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a new rule to prevent and address fatigue amongst pilots of commercial passenger carriers.

A copy of the House Resolution can be found here. 

Livingston County Pays Tribute to Senator Volker

LIVINGSTON COUNTY — The County Board of Supervisors honored longtime Senator Dale Volker with a resolution and an award for his years of service and commitment to the community.

Senator Volker was first elected to the State Assembly in 1972 and then went on to serve the constituents of the 59th Senate District. His successor, Senator Patrick Gallivan, began serving his first term at the beginning of 2011.

"Albany is not the same place as when I started," said Volker who now practices law part-time, "The attitude of New York City came north and changed it."

In 1987, Senator Volker was appointed Chairman of the Senate Codes Committee, which plays a major role in shaping criminal justice policy for New York State. He has championed numerous issues that protected women and children from domestic violence, combated drug use and trafficking, addressed the problem of prison overcrowding, reinstituted capital punishment, toughened sentences for violent criminals and strengthened the rights of crime victims.

"I always loved Livingston County, I grew up hunting and fishing in the region and will truly miss it," Volker said.

Statement From Senator Patrick M. Gallivan on the Governor’s State of the State Address

NEW YORK — Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R,C,I - 59th District) was selected by his Senate colleagues today to give official notification to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo that the Senate is standing at ready to conduct its business for 2012. Gallivan notified the Governor prior to the annual State of the State address this afternoon, which Gallivan applauded for “its strong vision for New York State’s future” while stressing the importance of building upon the cooperation and collegiality that enabled last year’s progress.

“Governor Cuomo outlined a broad agenda for the State’s future this afternoon, articulating the urgency of our challenges and the limitless potential of our future. Last year was a year of great accomplishment, but much remains to be done. We still tax too much, we still spend too much, and good paying jobs are still too far and few between -- particularly in Western New York.

Rebuilding the Western New York Economy and providing opportunity for its families, students, seniors, businesses, and farmers remains my top priority for 2012. The Governor’s speech today signaled to me that he shares that priority. Specific proposals to invest $1 billion in the economic future of the City of Buffalo, expand and improve upon the NY-Farms program, reform and redesign New York’s failing education and pension systems, while continuing to seek ways to make government more competent, efficient and honest all point to the promise of our collective future.

I once again expect to work closely with the Governor and my colleagues in the legislature to make these goals a reality. We must also work to address the staggering cost of Medicaid, and the state’s reliance on taxes and spending. These are both still fundamental obstacles to growth and I look forward to the Governor being an engaged partner with the Senate Majority on these issues, as he has been in the past.”

New York State Budget Agreement Announced

MANHATTAN — Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Legislators have apparently reached an agreement for the 2011-2012 fiscal year Sunday.

The budget will reduce spending by 2 percent as well as decrease next year's from $15 billion to $21 billion. The total budget will be $132.5 billion.

"I believe this puts us on the right path," Cuomo said in a released statement, "I have said that New York is at a crossroads, one road leading to further dysfunction and decline, the other towards fiscal responsibility and government efficiency."

The deadline for the budget is Friday, and in the past these agreements have fell apart.

Manhunt for Russell Marcum, Ft. Drum Soldier, Ends Peacefully

State Police Searching in Wayland for Missing RIT Student

WAYLAND — State Police are searching the region for a RIT  student that has been missing for days.

George Delany, 21,  a student Majoring in Liberal Arts was last seen by his roommates Saturday afternoon, and according to www.rochester.YNN.com he said he would be right back.

Police have spent most of the time searching around Ward rd as well as near Loon Lake where his car was found the website reported.

His family in Maryland has not yet heard from him.

Delany is 5’10”, about 150 lbs with reddish hair.

RIT sent out a campus wide e-mail notifying students and asking anyone with information on Delany's whereabouts to call State Police at (585) 398-4100.

Livingston County Chamber President Cynthia Oswald Appointed to the Finger Lakes Economic Development Council

NEW YORK STATE — Our Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce President Cynthia Oswald has just been appointed by Governor Cuomo to the new Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council.

Cynthia Oswald will be a General Member of the Finger Lakes Council and Livingston County Chairman James Merrick will serve as the region's elected official.

Currently, New York State's economic development efforts are managed through dozens of separate state and local agencies. The Regional Councils will now bring together stakeholders in every region of the state to serve as a coordinated point of contact for economic development. Each Regional Council will be chaired by Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy and will be led by two Regional Co-Chairs from the business and academic community. Additional membership is comprised of local leaders from business, academia, labor, agriculture, nonprofits, and community-based organizations

Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy said, "Governor Cuomo's groundbreaking economic development strategy will put our state back on the right path. Only by focusing on what our regions actually need can we take full advantage of our resources and keep businesses and jobs here in New York. The Regional Councils will enable every section of the state to prepare individualized economic plans and will make the regions the drivers of their own success."

Finger Lakes Regional Council Members

Regional Co-Chairs
Joel Seligman, President of University of Rochester
Danny Wegman, CEO of Wegmans Food Markets

General Members
Robert S. Sands, CEO, Constellation Brands, Inc.
Christine Whitman, Chairman, CEO & President, Complemar, Inc.
Augustin Melendez, Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer, Kodak
Bradley Macdonald, Vice President, Brunner International Corp.
Tom Macinski, President, Standing Stone Winery
Charles Cook, President & CEO, Liberty Pumps Inc.
Kirsten Werner, President & Co-Owner, Diamond Packaging Co. Inc.
Tyrone Reaves, President, TruForm Manufacturing Corp
Dr. Anne M. Kress, President, Monroe Community College
Robert Brown, Business Manager, Laborers Local 435
William W. Destler, President, Rochester Institute of Technology
Hilda Rosario Escher, President & CEO, Ibero American Action League
Theresa B. Mazzullo, CEO, Excell Partners, Inc
Pamela P. Heald, President & CEO, Reliant Community Federal Credit Union
John Noble, President & Owner, Synergy, LLC
Mark S. Peterson, President & CEO, Greater Rochester Enterprise
Sandra A. Parker, President & CEO, Rochester Business Alliance
Cynthia Oswald, President, Livingston County Chamber of Commerce
Steve Griffin, CEO, Finger Lakes Economic Development Center

Elected Officials
Monroe County Executive
Chairman of Genesee County Legislature
Chairman of Wayne County Board of Supervisors
Chairman of Ontario County Board of Supervisors
Chairman of Livingston County Board of Supervisors
Chairman of Orleans County Legislature
Chairman of Wyoming County Board of Supervisors
Chairman of Yates County Legislature
Chairman of Seneca County Board of Supervisors

Man Charged With Felony DWI Under Leandra's Law

GENESEO — Wednesday a Groveland man was arrested for Felony DWI under Leandra's law.

Thomas Phillips, 62, was pulled over by Deputy Martin Herkimer for unsafe passing in the vehicle, he had two children under the age of 16 yrs inside the car.

Leandra's law was enacted after Carmen Huertas crashed a vehicle in New York City. She was driving 80 mph after a booze filled birthday party when the vehicle crashed with 7 kids loaded into the Mercury Sable, one of which died, 11-year-old Leandra Rosado.

Under the law Phillips must now pay for an ignition lock on his vehicle and his license is now automatically suspended pending trial. 

Bath Tour Bus Crash Leaves Two Dead 35 Injured

BATH  — A Tour bus just South of Livingston County crashed on 390 South in Steuben County killing two people and injuring 35 others.

According to New York State Police Spokesperson Mark O'Donnel the accident might have been caused by a tire blow out, numerous victims were mercy flighted to Strong Memorial Hospital and others were transported to Noyes Hospital in Dansville.

The bus was traveling from Washington D.C. to Niagra Falls at 4:15pm on Sunday when the accident occurred.