Author: Robert Kinney

LIVINGSTON COUNTY — A $20,000 political consulting payment made by Assembly candidate Marjorie Byrnes has been returned after questions were raised about the arrangement involving the Livingston County Conservative Party chair. Byrnes, who is running in the Republican primary for New York State Assembly’s 133rd District against incumbent Joe Errigo, paid Jason McGuire, the Livingston County Conservative Party chair, $20,000 in consulting fees, according to campaign finance filings dated June 21. The payment occurred before Byrnes received the endorsement of the New York State Conservative Party. On July 13, Byrnes was unanimously endorsed by the party’s State Executive Committee, a…

Reports have surfaced indicating that Assemblyman Errigo was briefly reported missing in the Wayland area, prompting concern among local officials and residents. According to initial accounts, Errigo was expected at a scheduled engagement but did not arrive as planned, leaving his whereabouts in doubt. The situation triggered inquiries and informal checks by those attempting to locate him. Officials later confirmed that Errigo had been found and was not in danger. No medical emergency or criminal activity was reported in connection with the incident. Details surrounding how and why the assemblyman was reported “lost” have not been fully clarified, and authorities…

DANSVILLE – Thomas J. “Big Da” Rauber Sr., a nationally recognized advocate for the bald eagle and a lifelong resident of Dansville, passed away early Wednesday at his home on East Hill. He was 93. Rauber was widely published for his work on bald eagles, and his decades-long effort to save the species from extinction was featured nationally, including on CNN. While his research gained broad attention, those closest to him said he took the greatest pride in the countless hours he spent quietly observing and photographing the birds he worked to protect. Born in Dansville on May 27, 1924,…

Just before melting snow marked the end of muzzleloader season, a longtime Letchworth State Park hunter experienced an unexpected and rare moment deep in the park’s rugged backcountry. On the second-to-last day of the season, Matt Sphar was positioned along a steep, hemlock-lined ridge overlooking the Genesee River. Having already harvested a buck during the regular gun season and another during archery season, Sphar and fellow hunters were focusing their efforts on does in a remote section of the park. As he prepared to move through the woods to push deer toward a nearby field, he encountered something entirely unforeseen.…

Geneseo Police have ticketed a truck driver following a crash that severely damaged the village’s iconic Bear Fountain early Thursday morning. According to police, Gordon Gay, 49, of Rochester, was issued a citation for failure to keep right of a traffic island after his truck struck the fountain at an estimated speed of 24 miles per hour. Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian said the incident was determined to be an accident following a thorough investigation. “At the end of the day, an accident is an accident,” Osganian said. “The driver stated that strong winds pushed the truck to the right…

SUNY Geneseo Police are investigating an incident involving offensive graffiti discovered inside a campus residence hall. According to university officials, a resident assistant in Nassau Hall found graffiti on November 11 depicting a swastika alongside the word “Trump” written on a wall in a common area of the building. The resident assistant immediately reported the discovery to University Police. Campus police responded promptly, launching an investigation and arranging for the graffiti to be removed without delay. Authorities continue to canvass the area, but no suspects have been identified at this time. In a statement addressing the incident, the college reaffirmed…

Life-sized replica models of early Japanese and German World War II combat jets are on their way to a new permanent home at the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo. According to museum president Austin Wadsworth, the aircraft replicas were constructed by Nunda resident George Lucas and are being donated following their time on display at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center in Horseheads, New York. The transfer reflects the cooperation and shared mission between aviation museums to preserve and present military history. Museum leadership expressed strong appreciation for the collaboration that made the move possible. “We are extremely excited to…

A SUNY Geneseo student was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly stealing an ambulance that had responded to a campus emergency call and driving it through the Village of Geneseo while intoxicated. According to Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, Colin Dahlberg, 22, was taken into custody and charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree, a Class C felony, aggravated driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, and driving out of class. Additional charges are pending. “University Police realized the ambulance was missing and issued a radio alert to locate it,” Osganian said. “When the suspect was arrested,…

The crash occurred at approximately 6:07 a.m., knocking the fountain from its base and toppling its iconic bronze bear, known as Emmeline. The driver of the tractor trailer was transported to the hospital for treatment following the incident. “At this point, it appears to have been operator error,” said Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian. “We are still conducting a thorough investigation.” Despite the damage, local officials expressed optimism about restoration efforts. Area historical organizations maintain detailed documentation of the fountain and the bronze bear, which will be used to guide reconstruction. The Bear Fountain has long been a landmark in…

Diana Kastenbaum, CEO of Pinnacle Manufacturing Company Inc. in Batavia, has announced her candidacy for the United States Congress. According to a campaign press release, Kastenbaum, a Democrat, is running for New York’s 27th Congressional District. The district includes all of Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston counties, as well as portions of Erie, Monroe, Niagara, and Ontario counties. Kastenbaum said her background as a small-business owner has given her firsthand insight into the challenges facing working- and middle-class families across Western New York. “As a small business owner from Batavia, I understand the realities facing middle-class families,” Kastenbaum said. “Drawing…