Author: Robert Kinney

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…

The historic estate of General James Wadsworth is now open to the public as a wedding venue, offering couples the opportunity to celebrate their special day on the grounds of the landmark Hartford House in Geneseo. Current owner and resident Corrin Strong said the decision carries deep personal significance. His parents, Alice Wadsworth and Trowbridge Strong, were married at the Hartford House in 1948, and he is now welcoming other couples to create their own memories at the historic property. “Valentine’s Day is a traditional time for engagements,” Strong said. “It felt like the perfect moment to announce that the…

Geneseo Police arrested a Cicero man Sunday after determining that he allegedly filed a false police report following a dispute over a hotel room rate. According to a press release from Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, Adam Aguado, 26, was charged with falsely reporting an incident after becoming upset about the price quoted for a room at a local hotel. Police allege that when Aguado was unable to secure the rate he wanted, he told a hotel clerk that he would call 911 and claim the clerk had threatened him with a knife. The clerk refused to alter the quoted…

A SUNY Geneseo sophomore and member of the school’s ice hockey team is hospitalized in intensive care after suffering a severe head injury. The cause of the injury was not immediately known. According to information shared on a GoFundMe page created for the family, Jason “Jay” Stephanik sustained a fracture to the back of his skull along with bleeding in his frontal lobe. Hospital officials at Strong Memorial Hospital said Stephanik is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit and remains in guarded condition. The fundraising page states that Stephanik has experienced periodic seizures and significant speech impairment since the…