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Barn fire reported on Sand Hill Road on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation

By Billie Owens

A barn fire is reported at 7629 Sand Hill Road "at the curve," on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Alabama, Pembroke, Indian Falls and Akron fire departments are responding. One caller to dispatch so far.

UPDATE 8:34 p.m.: Indian Falls and another unit are returning to service. No status reported on the blaze.

UPDATE 8:50 p.m.: All responders back in service.

Motorcycle wreck with injuries reported on Colby Road, Darien

By Billie Owens

A motorcycle accident is reported on Colby Road just south of Sumner Road. There are injuries and Mercy Flight #8 from Buffalo is called to the scene. Darien fire will be establishing a landing zone nearby.

UPDATE 7:47 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 8:04 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to a hospital in Buffalo.

UPDATE 8:22 p.m.: The Darien assignment is back in service.

Rollover accident on westbound Thruway

By Billie Owens

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 396. East Pembroke fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: There are reports of entrapment.

UPDATE 3:39 p.m.: Mercy Flight #7 is called to the scene -- availability is checked.

UPDATE 3:44 p.m.: Town of Batavia Engine 24 just arrived, too.

UPDATE 3:53: Two ambulances will be needed.

UPDATE 4:21 p.m.: Three children are being transported to Women & Children's Hospital in Buffalo. The assignment is back in service.

Three arrests reported at One Republic concert

By Howard B. Owens

The following people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office during the One Republic concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Saturday:

Christopher M. Kirsch, 19, of Gerald Drive, Hamburg, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Bryce R. Feiner, 18, of West 70th Street, Dunkirk, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Jenna R. Andolina, 18, of Tisbury Road, Hamburg, was issued a ticket for alleged possession of a fictitious Pennsylvania Identification Card.

Hochul attends Batavia Muckdogs game

By Howard B. Owens

Jim Owen and Kathy Hochul at Saturday's Batavia Muckdog's game at Dwyer Stadium. 

Owen was one of Hochul's teachers in high school. Hochul is the former congressional representative for Genesee County and a current candidate for lieutenenant governor.

Photo provided by Hochul's campaign staff.

Photos: Brian Kemp paints fire hydrant on Main Street

By Howard B. Owens

Among the artists painting fire hydrants Downtown this weekend as part of a Vibrant Batavia project was Brian Kemp, co-owner of T-Shirts Etc. Kemp painted the hydrant in front of the Key Bank location.

Photos by Amanda Earl.

Vehicle crashes into guard rail on eastbound Thruway, lands on its side, unknown injuries

By Billie Owens

A vehicle has struck a guard rail on the eastbound Thruway, unknown injuries. It is on its side. The first caller to dispatch said it was a tractor-trailer. The second caller thought it was a pickup truck hauling a camper. Town of Batavia fire and Mercy medics are responding. The mile marker is 385.

UPDATE 2:03 p.m.: A responder says there are no injuries, but the accident is blocking two lanes of traffic, which will have to be routed through the passing lane.

Fans happy to see their favorite band in return of live music at Frost Ridge

By Howard B. Owens

To say Blackberry Smoke rocked the house Saturday night at Frost Ridge might be misconstrued.

There are no reports of windows rattling in the homes of Frost Ridge neighbors.

In fact, a deputy assigned to monitor the decibel levels at Conlon Road and Oatka Trail Road said the noise level never went much above 60 decibels, well below the threshold of 100 set by Judge Robert C. Noonan when he issued an order a few days ago allowing the concert to take place.

The fact is, at the corner of Conlon and Oatka Trail, through most of Blackberry Smoke's set, the crickets were louder than the music.

Blackberry Smoke is billed as an up-and-coming, soon-to-be-big-stars Southern rock/outlaw country band, and if fame is measured by only a few hundred die-hard, rambunctious fans, Blackberry Smoke has already hit the big time.

They did rock the house and the fans raised the roof.

The band is Charlie Starr (lead vocals, guitar), Richard Turner (bass, vocals), Brit Turner (drums), Paul Jackson (guitar, vocals), and Brandon Still (keyboards).

A five-piece combo can make a lot of noise, and inside the Frost Ridge amphitheater at stage level, the band seemed no less loud than their show in the same venue a year ago.

A sound engineer familiar with the venue predicted before the show that the hill between Frost Ridge and the homes of Cleere and Collins (the two plaintiffs in one of the lawsuits against Frost Ridge) would absorb all of the treble and mid-range of the music, while bass tones would bend some and carry over the hill.

The crickets, he said, would be louder.

That certainly seemed to be the case.

In their lawsuit against Frost Ridge, the Cleeres have claimed that they can't sit outside their home on concert nights, the noise is so loud, and that when they try to go inside and close the windows, the walls shake because of the noise.

The Town of Le Roy is pursuing a parallel suit against Frost Ridge.

Both suits allege that live music at Frost Ridge violates local zoning laws, even though the campgrounds owners, Greg and David Luetticke-Archbell, received a previous ruling from the Zoning Board of Appeals that the use is an allowable, prior nonconforming use (grandfathered in).

While the Town of Le Roy is not suing the ZBA, the town board does not agree with that ruling, or does not find it valid. The Cleeres and Collins suit names the ZBA as a co-defendant. 

Delays in the process have prevented a hearing on whether the ZBA decision was filed with the town clerk prior to April 6. That hearing will be held Aug. 21. If it's determined that ZBA decision was filed prior to April 6, it could invalidate the the lawsuits against Frost Ridge on statute of limitations grounds.

Because of the delay of the hearing and the financial toll to Frost Ridge with five previous shows cancelled by court order, Noonan lifted the restraining order for the Blackberry Smoke concert, but barred alcohol sales.

The next scheduled show is at The Ridge NY is Phil Vassar and the Morgan Twins, Aug. 23.

The slide show below also includes photos of Chris Weaver Band, one of Saturday's opening acts.

AUDIO: A recording taken during the concert last night at the corner of Conlon and Oatka Trail (mp3).

A seat front-and-center for the Blackberry Smoke set was auctioned off and $375 was raised for the Le Roy Fire Department. 

The decibel reader employed by a deputy to monitor noise levels at Conlon and Oatka Trail roads.

Woman reports car stolen after forgetting where she parked it last night

By Howard B. Owens

A caller reported her car stolen. A Le Roy officer responded to take a report and investigate. He requested a "be on the lookout for" to other units.

A few minutes later, the woman called back and apparently told dispatchers, "You know what, now that I think about it, I think I left the car at Scooter's last night."

The officer responded to Scooter's. The car is parked at Scooter's.

Must have been a wild night.

Car-pole accident reported in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

A car has hit a pole on Route 262 just east of Fisher Road. At least one person is injured. Oakfield fire responding with Mercy EMS. Mercy Flight on ground standby. 

UPDATE 4:20 a.m.: Patient is being transported to ECMC.

Four Muckdogs named All Stars

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The 2014 New York-Penn League All-Star roster will include four players from Batavia. They will send infielder Mason Davis, catcher Rodrigo Vigil and pitchers Michael Mader and Alex Carreras to the game to be held Tuesday, August 19th at MCU Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Davis, a 19th-round pick in the 2014 draft, has played in 41 games for the Muckdogs this year and has been among the league leaders in hitting all season. Davis currently ranks fourth in the league in hitting, with a .329 batting average, fourth in on-base percentage at .407 and third in OPS at .891.

Rodrigo Vigil was an undrafted free agent signing in 2009 and has started 20 games behind the plate for the Muckdogs this season. He is currently batting .254 with eight runs scored, four doubles and seven RBI’s. Vigil has been solid behind the plate this year for the Muckdogs, throwing out 46 percent of the runners who have attempted to steal on him.

A supplemental 3rd-round pick out of Chipola College in the 2014 draft, Mader has started nine games for Muckdogs in his first professional season. The left-hander has compiled an ERA of just 1.80 and has racked up 20 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched. Opposing batters are hitting just .192 against Mader so far this season.

Alex Carreras is in his third year of professional baseball and was a Minor League free agent signing in 2014. The left-hander has appeared in 15 games this year and is 5-2 with an ERA of 1.85. He has also recorded 27 strikeouts in his 34 innings of work and opposing batters are hitting just .220 versus Carreras this year.

Batavia currently holds the fourth-place spot in the Pinckney Division with a record of 24-30 and sit only five games out of the Wild Card. The Muckdogs sent five players to the 2010 All-Star game, six in 2011, five in 2012, and four players in 2013.

Twenty-six arrests reported for Drake and Lil' Wayne concert

By Howard B. Owens

The following people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and NYS DMV Investigators during the Drake/Lil’ Wayne concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Friday.

Lamesa Frazier, 30, of Sixth Street, Niagara Falls, is charged with trespass after allegedly refusing to leave the concert venue after being told to leave several times. Frazier was arraigned in Darien Court and remanded to jail in lieu of $250 bail.

Bryan L. Becker, 19, of Price Road, Livonia, is charged with trespass (two counts) and criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly reentering the venue three times after being ejected and told not to return each time. Becker was arraigned in Darien Court and remanded to jail in lieu of $500 bail.

Gianna N. Cornman, 29, of Brinton Street, Buffalo, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, and trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue twice after being ejected and told not to return. Cornman was arraigned in Darien Court and remanded to jail in lieu of $500 bail.

Samantha C. Escudero, 29, of Sixth Street, Niagara Falls, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return. Escudero was arraigned in Darien Court and remanded to jail in lieu of $250 bail.

Michael H. Fronckowiak, 27, of Park Place, Buffalo, is charged with harassment, 2nd, after allegedly striking a CSC security guard. Fronckowiak was arraigned in Darien Court and remanded to jail in lieu of $300 bail.

Bryan A. Rosario, 19, of Locust Drive, Fairport, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana, 5th, after allegedly possessing more than 25 grams of marijuana.

Hannah J. McNamara, 20, of Lake Street, Angola, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, and trespass after allegedly re-entering the concert venue twice after being ejected and told not to return each time.

Timothy J. Fletcher, 21, of Westside Drive, Churchville, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, and trespass after allegedly entering the concert venue twice after being ejected and told not to return each time.

A 17-year-old of Edwards Road, Waterloo, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

William G. Sulkowski, 19, of Ashley Drive, West Seneca, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Adam J. Hurd, 22, of East Genesee Street, Auburn, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Alicia R. Alagna, 18, of Tennyson Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Jacob E. Fish, 19, of Saint Joan Lane, Cheektowaga, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Cooper W. Zurich, 17, of Wayneport Road, Macedon, is charged with harassment, 2nd, trespass and resisting arrest after allegedly refusing to leave the concert venue, pushing a Darien Lake employee and the resisting the arrest.

Emily N. Dory, 20, of Sweet Home Road, Amherst, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Rachel C. Andrews, 27, of Milford Street, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Alexander J. August, 19, of Kings Trail, Williamsville, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

A 17-year-old of Kings Trail, Williamsville, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

A 17-year-old of Kippen Drive, East Amherst, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

A 16-year-old of Westwood Drive, North Tonawanda, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Matthew P. Dimartino, 28, of Pickthorn Drive, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Alexander J. Schianl, 20, of Valewood Run Penfield, criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly jumping over a gate into the concert venue.

Dustin H. Waldeck, 22, of Graver Road, Niagara Falls, is charged with harassment, 2nd, after allegedly punching a Darien Lake Security guard in the face.

Katelyn R. Flanagan, 18, of Wolfboro Drive, Fairport, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Terren N. Craig, 18, of Wilmuth Avenue, Lackawana, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

A 16-year-old of Washington Street, Salamanca, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

The following were issued tickets for alleged license violations:

Victoria M. McMahon, 20, Rochester
Lea C. Preller, 20, Rochester
Lavalle A. Walker, 20, Buffalo
16-year-old from Kenmore
Thomas G. White, 19, Lancaster
Kaira A. Koller, 18, Amherst
Elisebeth Anczok, 20, Niagara Falls
Austin J. Gieseke, 20, Livonia
Andrew J. Parrilli, 20, Pittsford
Joseph R. Arias, 18, Williamsville
Cody D. Herman, 19, Ontario, Canada
Melanie M. Glover, 19, Kenmore
Tyler R. Biedron, 19, Buffalo
Jessica R. Holmes, 19, Syracuse
Rachel V. Smith, 19, Niagara Falls
Jacob J. Monna, 19, Webster

Elba Onion Festival celebrates 78 years

By Julia Ferrini

The 78th Elba Onion Festival kicked off Friday with the opening of the carnival and evening parade. The festival is one of the largest fundraisers for the Elba Fire Department.

Just up the road a bit from the festival is the Elba Muckland; there, red, white and yellow onions grow, which gives the festival its name. 

One bit of trivia: Onions are one of the largest vegetable crops in the United States.

The festival continues throughout the day today.

Muckdogs downed by Yankees 4-2

By Howard B. Owens

The Yankees are in town, and that helps. So does post-game fireworks. Either way, 1,500 baseball fans came out to Dwyer Stadium on Friday.

Alas, the Muckdogs lost, 4-2.

Sadly, that's been the trend for the hometown team recently. Batavia has lost seven of its last eight games. All low-scoring affairs.

At 24-30, the Miami Marlins affiliate is fourth in the Pinckney Division, trailing first place State College (now the Cardinals affiliate) by nine games.

Last night's game completed a three-game series with Staten Island, which gave local New York fans a chance to see some of the Yankees prospects, including 18-year-old catcher Luis Torrens. The Venezuelan was signed as a free agent by the Yankees at age 16, when he was considered one of the top two international prospects.

He's hitting .304 on the season, but Batavia pitching kept his bat silent in this series. His only hit came last night.

For the Muckdogs, second baseman Mason Davis continues to impress. He's hitting .329, fourth best in the league, and had two more hits Friday. 

John Norwood also had a two-hit game. Norwood is riding high after signing with the Marlins six days ago as a free agent. Norwood hit one of the few home runs in this year's College World Series, and the dinger propelled Vanderbilt to its first national championship in baseball. Norwood, who decided to forego his senior season to turn pro, is off to a hot start in three games, with four hits in 10 at bats.

Catcher Christopher Hoo, a 27th round draft pick out of Cal-Poly, also had two hits.

The losing pitcher was Scott Squier, a 16th-round draft pick in his first professional season. He gave up three earned runs in four innings. This was his second start. He's 1-2 in nine appearances with a 3.00 ERA.

New York Mets fans can come out to Dwyer Stadium the next three days to check out Mets prospects while the Brooklyn Cyclones are in town. Tonight's game will include post-game fireworks. Game time is 7 p.m. On the mound for the Mets tonight is Marcos Molina, a top-10 prospect who is 5-1 with a 1.27 ERA.

Five people hurt in westbound Thruway crash

By Billie Owens

An accident with five injured people is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 399.9.

Pembroke and Indian Fall fire departments and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: Traffic is backed up as a result of the accident. At least four of the occupants are said to be probable sign-offs.

UPDATE 7:22 p.m.: One child is being transported to Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo. The other medics are back in service.

Top Items on Batavia's List

The Batavia Housing Authority is seeking a positive, hardworking teammate to perform a variety of outdoor landscaping tasks, primarily mowing, with some trimming and cleanup work. The Groundskeeper is independently responsible for outdoor landscaping tasks on a weekly basis with some flexibility. This job may require some weekend hours when necessary. Part-time position Pay Range: $19.00/hr - $22.00/hr Anticipated start date: May 2024 Application deadline: April 29, 2024 See full job description at: https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/Groundskeeper.pdf Complete Civil Service Application at: https://cms1files.revize.com/geneseecountynew/CivilServiceApplication2022Revision-09.22.22.pdf Contact Information Nathan Varland Executive Director Batavia Housing Authority 400 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 (585) 344-1888 nvarland@bataviahousing.org Location: Batavia
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