Photos and information submitted by Mark Knowles.

Mark Knowles says his son, Cameron, 12, caught "Walter" this year and last year while fishing the pond at Lei-Ti Campground in Bethany. 

"This bass is called Walter by many who tried to catch him," Mark said.

Top photo is from this year and bottom photo is from last year, Mark said.

Photo and info submitted by Rob Stefani.

Rob Stefani caught this bass late this afternoon at the sandwash (Dewitt Recreation Area). He said he guessed it weighed 5 lbs. "It's definitely one of the better bass I've ever caught there," he said.  He used a night crawler and it's the first bass he's seen caught there this year. He's seen lots of trout and pike so far, he said. He did release the fish.

A dirt bike reportedly hit a tree at a residence on Creek Road, Pavilion, and the rider suffered a head injury.

The injury is not described as serious. He has bump on the head and lost consciousness. A chief on scene tells dispatch that Mercy Flight will not be needed, that the patient can be transported by ground ambulance.

Today was the annual student fashion show at Genesee Community College. The show is presented by the Fashion Business students and gives aspiring designers a chance to showcase their work. A dozen different designers participated in the show.

Driving down Bridge Road in Elba this afternoon, I see some strange looking birds near the edge of the roadway. I naturally stop to take pictures.

While stopped, I meet George Morgan, the owner of the birds. He tells me they're guinea hens, native to Africa. He also shows me his peacock (bottom photo).

Morgan said he's owned guinea hens for 30 years.

"They're just a riot," he said. "They're lots of fun. They chase each other. They play tag. I always enjoy a good laugh."

A motor-vehicle accident is reported in front of Batavia Downs on Park Road. A woman is said to have a neck injury. Two Mercy medics are dispatched along with Town of Batavia Fire Department.

UPDATE 5:15 p.m.: Town of Batavia back in service.

A tractor-trailer has jackknifed on Lewiston Road, near the Thruway. Traffic is completely blocked in both directions. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding non-emergency. The roadway will be shut down at Route 63 and Galloway Road.

The Emergency Dispatch Center has received a couple of calls reporting a big balloon of some sort crashed into the trees off Pratt Road, east of Powers Road, by the Thruway, and in the woods.

The contraption is hung up in the trees. It's unknown if occupied. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding, along with Mercy medics as a precaution. Mercy Flight is also put on standby.

A responder on scene said he saw the balloon come down pretty fast and it looked liked a "roll of toilet paper coming down."

UPDATE 4:24 p.m.: Witnesses at the scene say no one is in the thing, which is said to be a weather balloon. East Pembroke and medics are put back in service.

UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: The weather service in Buffalo told dispatchers these types of balloons are put up every 12 hours, every day. This one apparently fell short due to a lack of wind. The white object seen falling from it is thought to be its instrument box. Responders say they haven't located it and think it might be in the swamp. If it's found it will be sent back to Buffalo. The weather service doesn't want the damaged balloon back, just the instrument box.

UPDATE Monday, April 29: This wasn't a weather balloon after all. It is a "crop blanket" from a nearby farm. The farmer told authorities that he had put it over his crop on Friday and on Saturday half of it tore off and blew away. Intact, the crop blanket measured 250 feet by 50 feet.

Two cars and a motorcycle have crashed at 649 Bloomingdale Road, Basom. There are injuries and at least one person has serious injuries. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding and Mercy Flight is on notice.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene. Akron Fire Police are called to shut down traffic at Bloomingdale and Sand Hill roads. People are trapped. Extraction equipment needed. Three ambulances are called. Indian Falls rescue called, too.

UPDATE 3:20 p.m.: A second helicopter called to the scene. Bloomingdale at Poodry Road is shut down. Paw Smokes is to be the landing zone.

UPDATE 3:29 p.m.: One patient has been extracted.

UPDATE 3:32 p.m.: The second helicopter has an 11-minute ETA.

UPDATE 3:34 p.m.: Pembroke was called as well and is now on scene.

UPDATE 3:40 p.m.: Six Several people were trapped. Only one still needs to be extracted.

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: All patients have been extricated.

UPDATE 4:01 p.m.: All patients requiring transport to hospitals are en route. The helicopters and medicshave left the scene. One patient was taken to Lockport, three to Erie County Medical Center, and one to "Children's Hospital."

UPDATE 4:08 p.m.: The Pembroke and Indian Falls assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 4:40 p.m.: Earlier, an official at the scene told Howard it appears that a small white sedan was traveling eastbound on Bloomingdale Road and a motorcyclist was traveling behind it. A minivan was headed westbound. For unknown reasons, the white sedan crossed the center line and hit the minivan head on. The motorcycle got tangled up in the crash and the rider had to lay his bike down. The driver and front passenger of the white sedan were transported via the Mercy Flight helicopters. A third occupant, who was riding in the sedan's back seat, was transported via ambulance. The motorcyclist and the driver of the minivan were also taken to hospitals in ambulances.

UPDATE 5 p.m.: Alabama is back in service. The road is being reopened.

The Elba Volunteer Fire Department was among the local departments holding open houses today, both to let the community learn more about the departments and to recruit more volunteers.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer, visit ReadyGenesee.com.

I'm seeing quite a few anti-Cuomo, anti-SAFE Act signs around Genesee County this spring. This one is in Elba.

Local members of the Christian Motorcycle Association served up a pulled pork feast at Stan's Harley-Davidson today as a fundraiser for the group's various ministries.

Among the CMA's efforts is supporting overseas ministers, including buying them motorcycles for transportation (or horses or boats if that works better where they live). The group also supports a film project to spread the gospel through movies in remote parts of the world. The CMA also travels to the major motorcycle rallies and hands out water and other necessities as a way to open the door to sharing about Jesus.

Rep. Chris Collins was at Seymour Place today to announce the winners of the annual congressional art contest. Students from throughout the NY-27 submitted artworks, which were displayed at Go ART! and judged by local artists.

The winner, above with Collins, was Mitchell R. Krumm, of Clarence High School. Second place, bottom photo, was Judith Brennan, also of Clarence.

The awards were presented by Collins and Diana Kasten (second photo with Collins), a member of the GO ART! Board of Directors.

When the forsythia bloom, you know for sure it's spring.

And it's another beautiful day in Genesee County.

Det. John Condidorio, Le Roy PD, accepts a bag of unneeded prescription medications from a local resident as part of National Drug Take-Back Day.

While old prescription drugs can be dropped off at law enforcement locations throughout the county any time of the year, today is the day local officers are set up especially to collect drugs that might otherwise wind up in the wrong hands or pollute the waste stream.

There are locations for drop off until 2 p.m. at the Le Roy Village Hall, Batavia PD and Pembroke Town Highway (Route 77 and Route 5).

A two-car, head-on collision is reported in the area of 8419 Indian Falls Road, north of Pratt Road. Mercy Flight out of Batavia is apprised and available. East Pembroke Fire Department and two Mercy Medic units are responding.

UPDATE 10:24 a.m.: A responder on scene reports the vehicles are well off the roadway, not blocking, and the occupants claim no injuries. Medics will continue in order to evaluate.

At this week's village board meeting, Le Roy Mayor Greg Rogers encouraged everybody to come out for the annual Little League parade. He said it doesn't get more Americana than a bunch of young ball players parading down Main Street.

He's right.

We are pretty close to getting the new ad server running properly. There are some details to clear up today to make sure all the ads are displaying properly, but the main work is done.

This virus crisis was very stressful and I want to thank all of the readers and local business owners who were so patient and understanding over the past week. We didn't get a single angry phone call or e-mail; nobody accosted me in the street. Everywhere I went people were more curious than upset with the situation. Billie and Lisa and I are very thankful for that understanding response.

Added bonus: We now know we are using a more secure ad server, but here's a benefit I didn't anticipate -- the new ad server seems to be much, much faster. At least for me, even on my iPhone, the site seems to download much faster than it did with the previous ad server. I hope you're noticing a difference, too.

The other thing Billie and Lisa and I are very thankful for is the "Spirit of Downtown" award we received yesterday from the Downtown Improvement District. We're feeling very honored to be recognized by the BID for our work with The Batavian.

And thank you to Dan Fischer of WBTA for his kind words during yesterday's presentation.

As I said yesterday, we feel very fortunate to have been so warmly accepted by the people of Genesee County in just a few short years (The Batavian's fifth-year anniversary is Wednesday). Thank you all -- readers and local business owners -- for your support of The Batavian.

Information and photos submitted by Chuck Flynn.

Students at Oakfield-Alabama Middle-High School turned out to the gymnasium Friday for a "Going Bald for Bucks" event that raised more than $9,000 for Roswell Park Cancer Institute. More than 30 people participated.

Photos and information submitted by Theresa Asmus.

Pastor Jim Renfrew speaks at the Peace Garden during the annual Crime Victims Rights Week walk in Batavia. The event also included a keynote address from Jean Cianfrini and an awards ceremony recognizing Ann Finch with the Crime Victims Service Award and Genesee County Sheriff's Department Youth Officer John Dehm with the Community Advocacy Award.

Below, Jean Cianfrini and Sue Gagne carry a Crime Victims Right's Week banner during the walk.