Deputy Brian Thompson was battling flu and fever today. That didn't stop him from helping a snowmobiler who was stranded in water and ice on a trail off Wilkinson Road in East Pembroke.

Genesee County dispatchers got the 9-1-1 call about 2:30 this afternoon of a snowmobiler swamped in water near a creek and Deputy Thompson was the first on scene. 

Using the GPS signal from the snowmobiler's phone, Thompson was able to position himself 575 feet south of the scene. After about 10 minutes of plowing through waist-deep snow, and a half mile later, Thompson spotted the 30 year old male rider standing on a small island next to a tree. His snowmobile was up to its windshield in water.

Deputy Thompson was able to guide him back to the trail and onto the road where an ambulance was waiting. Hypothermia was a concern after being in the cold creek water and frigid temperatures for 45 minutes. Mercy Medic ambulance crews checked the rider over and he was released at the scene.

The snowmobile had to be removed before nightfall to keep the trail safe for other riders.

Rising creek waters made the ice thin and the area swamp-like near the trail. Riders need to be aware of trail conditions each day.

Thompson says this rider was lucky. He says it's important to remember some basic snowmobiling rules that could save your life. Never drink and ride, travel in pairs, never alone, slow down, and always be aware that trails change from day to day. 

Thompson says, "This young man had just been on the trail yesterday, and again this just shows how fast conditions can change. He was confident the trail would be OK today, and it wasn't."

It was the kind of day I wish I had more time to drive around and make photos. There were moments of sun and blue sky.

I did a bit of that this morning when leaving Bergen, with a drive through Le Roy.

Heading back to Batavia, I noticed the snow-covered pines above in Stafford off Route 5 and thought they would make a nice picture -- if only there was blue sky behind them.

This afternoon, I noticed some blue sky to the northeast, so I headed out to Stafford for this shot.

The other photos below were taken this morning.

Street lights in the Village of Bergen.

First Presbyterian Church, Bergen.

These two trees between North Road and the 490 on ramp in Le Roy always fascinate me. 

I think the first barn photo I ever took for The Batavian (but not my first barn photo) was of this structure on North Road, Le Roy. It was probably March 2009 or so and all I had for a camera at the time was a Casio point-and-shoot. The photo got so many comments; it was an encouragement to take more barn photos.

Shock, horrified, disbelief, these were the words that came to mind to some of the volunteer firefighters from Genesee County who assembled at the Bergen Fire Hall this morning before heading to Webster for a funeral service for Lt. Mike Chiapperini.

Chiapperini was one of two volunteers from the West Webster Fire Department murdered Christmas Eve while responding to a fire call on Lake Road.

The inexplicable ambush has affected firefighters over the entire nation, but especially in Western New York, where friendships often cross district lines.

The other important word this morning was "brotherhood."

"This effects us deeply," said James Bridges, assistant chief with the Bergen Volunteer Fire Department. "You just never know what you're walking into, what might happen. This is a brotherhood. We're all brothers. We are a team. When something happens to an individual, it happens to everybody."

Bridges knew Chiapperini. They worked together for about 15 years, Bridges said, while Bridges was on patrol and a fire investigator for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Chiapperini worked for the Webster Police Department.

"He was a great guy, a fun guy to be around," Bridges said. "He always had your back."

Volunteers serve to aid their communities, to help people.  You would just never expect to be a target, the firefighters said.

"We know what we do is dangerous, but most of those dangers we can control," said Bill Schutt, deputy fire coordinator for the West Battalion. "This is a danger you can’t control. You don’t even think about it when you’re responding to a call.  The fact that it comes out of the blue, it’s not something you would ever think about when you’re responding to a call most times."

That may not change the way volunteers do their jobs, Schutt and others said, but it's something that cannot easily be forgotten.

"I’m sure there are people who haven’t got to calls since Christmas Eve because of it, because that thought was in the back of their minds or the back of their wives' minds or kids' minds," Schutt said.

The idea that there might be a sniper at an emergency scene isn't something firefighters can readily prepare for, the way a police officer might. Schutt said it's not like firefighters are going to start wearing bulletproof vests or riot gear to fire scenes.

Tim Yaeger, fire coordinator for Genesee County, said responders probably need to be alert for dangers, but then, that's been the case since 9/11.

"We face hazards every time we go on a call," Yaeger said. "One hundred firefighters die every year in the line of duty, but never did we think gunfire from an assailant would be something we would ever consider as well. It puts a different perspective on our job. I don't think we're going to do our jobs any differently. We're just going to be as aware as we possibly can of our surroundings every time we go out the door."

That heightened awareness, Yeager said, has to really be part of a firefighter's life ever since 9/11.

"In Genesee County we know we're not the direct target of an international terrorist,  but it’s the homegrown folks, some bad people out there, that we’re worried about and I'd don't think it changes how we do our jobs. We just need to be very, very cautious every time we go on a fire run or EMS job."

Fire chiefs are responsible for the safety of their men and women and the shooting deaths of Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka was too shocking to really comprehend, said Don Newton, chief of the East Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department.

"It's unimaginable," Newton said. "To think your community and your district and your department can put out the money they do for volunteers and the support you get from your community ... and somebody could commit a senseless act on somebody who is there unarmed ...  I don’t know how to grasp it."

Newton said he didn't know how he would deal with the actual funeral.

"I’m going to be honest with you," Newton said. "When it happens in our own department, just a member passing away, I take it really hard, so I just don’t know how this is going to go over with me. I don’t like wearing my class A uniform for things like this, but unfortunately this is part of life now. We’ve got to keep going on."

Ben Fisher, a firefighter with the Town of Batavia Volunteer Fire Department, said he was a little apprehensive about going to the funeral. He took it hard, he said, when he heard about the murders.

"I was heartbroken, to be honest with you," Fisher said. "I was crying. I’m going to be honest with you. You might as well be losing family. It’s a brotherhood. I may not have known them, but obviously we’re all in it for the same reason. It’s like losing a family member."

Like the other volunteers, Fisher said he just can't comprehend why firefighters would be targeted by a sniper.

"What would possess you to shoot somebody who is just coming to help you?" Fisher said.

The shooting was terrifying, said Capt. Christine Marinaccio, Le Roy Volunteer Fire Department.

"It’s just the thought you’re going out there, you’re going to respond to a general call, and it’s something that you would never think would happen," Marinaccio said.

East Pembroke firefighter Destin Danser said he was horrified when he heard the news, and sad and angry.

"I'm going today to show respect," Danser said. "From what I know about the guys who were out there, if it were me who was down, they would be here for me. I want to show them that respect, too."

Photo: Yaeger briefs firefighters on transportation plans to the funeral.

A snowmobiler went off a trail and into some sort of body of water way off the road in the woods, west of 9140 Wilkinson Road. The snowmobile is submerged and the rider is apparently stuck in the icy water, although he is said to be uninjured. The Water Rescue Team from East Pembroke is responding along with volunteer firefighters.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: The location is a crick approximately parallel to Lear Road, about a 100 yards south of the railroads tracks, in a clump of woods north of an open field known as Harmon Field. The rider's mobile phone is about to go dead. A Town of Batavia plow, which was in the vicinity, is heading back to the rescuers' location to plow a more direct path to the victim. Snowmobilers tell dispatch the place "is a total washout. There's a lot of water in the area." An ambulance is called.

UPDATE 2:48 p.m.: A law enforcement officer at the scene tells dispatch the snow is too deep to plow there, so the Town of Batavia's plow is told to cancel its response. A Gator from Alexander is called instead. The rider is out of the water, but surrounded by it.

UPDATE 2:52 p.m.: The Gator response from Alexander is cancelled. Responders may be able to access the spot and walk the person out, although there's no clear way to do that just yet.

UPDATE 3:08 p.m.: Rescuers According to a reader, K-9 Deputy Brian Thompson and the victim are walking out of the accident site, and are nearing a blue house with a white barn and green tractor. ATVs were not able to get back there.

There's a dark green, early 2000 Hyundai missing a front left fender out there somewhere and the Sheriff's Office would like to locate it.

The vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run accident this morning at the Sugar Creek at Route 19 and Route 33, Bergen.

A survelliance camera at Sugar Creek has helped deputies get a description of the vehicle and the driver.

The driver is described as a male, about 5' 10" to 6" tall, 160 to 185 pounds, in his early to mid 20s. He wore his hair "high and tight," according to Deputy Joseph Corona.

The Hyundai may have been left overnight at the Sugar Creek and witnesses think they saw the driver warming up the car prior to the accident.

The driver left the parking lot northbound and was attempting to turn left, westbound, when it struck another sedan that was eastbound on Route 33. The Hyundai's fender became lodged in the other car's rear passanger-side door. The car then proceeded northbound on Route 19.

Deputy Corona asks anybody with information to contact him through the Sheriff's Office at 585-343-5000.

A power outage has been reported to Genesee County emergency dispatchers that is affecting a "large area" in the western part of the county.

The Village of Corfu is without power.

The traffic light is out at Route 77 and Route 20.

UPDATE 7:05 p.m.: National Grid has provided dispatchers with an ETA for power restoration of 10 p.m.

UPDATE 7:43 p.m.: National Grid reports four outages in Darien and Corfu and 1,915 customers without power. Restoration is now predicted for 8:15 p.m.

UPDATE 7:55 p.m.: According to scanner traffic, power is back on in the Village of Corfu.

UPDATE 8:03 p.m.: Darien Fire Department had a traffic control detail at 20 and 77. Those volunteers have gone back in service.

A Batavia man died today after he lost control of his Ford Ranger on a snow-and-ice covered Route 20 in Alexander and hit a westbound semi-truck.

The 48-year-old State Street resident was not wearing a seat belt, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Frank R. Demarco was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Donald Coleman.

Demarco's passenger, Brandon J. Eck, 32, of Graystone Lane, Rochester, suffered a serious leg injury in the accident. Eck was belted in his seat prior to the accident.

The driver of the 2010 Freightliner, 54-year-old Douglas E. McPherron, of County Route 9, Clayton, was not injured, though he was transported to UMMC by the Alexander ambulance as a precaution.

Unsafe speed for the road conditions is considered the preliminary contributing factor to the accident, according to investigators.

Demarco's Ranger was westbound when it crossed the center line and hit the truck head on. McPherron tried to break but couldn't slow quickly enough to avoid the accident, an investigator said.

The Ranger exited the road on the north shoulder.

The accident was reported at 1:34 p.m. at a location on Route 20 about half way between Browns Mill Road and West Bethany Road.

Alcohol is not considered a factor in the accident.

Assisting at the scene were the Alexander Volunteer Fire Department, State Police and Mercy EMS. The Bethany Volunteer Fire Department and Pavilion Volunteer Fire Department assisted with traffic control.

Route 20 was closed to all westbound traffic for about three hours. Westbound truck traffic was diverted onto Route 63 at Texaco Town.

The accident investigation is being conducted by Deputy Christopher Parker, Deputy Joseph Corona, Sgt. James Meier, Deputy John Duyssen, Investigator William Ferrando and Sgt. Greg Walker.

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Wires are arcing, but not down, on a utility pole at 11230 Genesee St. in Alexander. There's also a fire in the center of the top of the pole. The location is near the county line. Alexander Fire Department is responding. The utility company has been notified. No ETA given.

UPDATE 4:01 p.m.: A responder on scene says the utility company should be advised that the pole is well off the roadway. It does not have a transformer on it. But the fire is now four feet down from the top pole and it's "burned pretty good." The ETA of the utility company is 30 minutes to an hour and a responder says he will "babysit" the situation until the workers arrive.

A car went off the roadway and into a ditch on Tower Hill Road near Byron Road. Byron and South Byron fire companies are responding along with an ambulance. The car is on its side. The driver is out of the vehicle with "minor injuries, however completely soaked," and possible having symptoms of hypothermia.

UPDATE 3:41 p.m.: Fire crews are told to respond non-emergency.

Two patrons of Tenney Coin Laundry at 198 Ellicott St. reportedly got into a fight over a washing machine and one of them slammed the machine's lid on the other's fingers. Police are responding.

A male patron of Sunny's Restaurant in the city mall reportedly got out of control and police have been called to respond. He is said to have started "swinging at people" once outside the eatery and was trying to regain entry through a side door.

A pickup truck and tractor-trailer crashed at 4176 Route 20 and there are injuries. Mercy Flight is unavailable due to weather. The location is between Brown's Mill and Molasses Hill roads. Alexander Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding along with law enforcement. One person is reportedly unconscious. The westbound lane is blocked. Bethany Fire Police are called in for traffic control.

UPDATE 1:46 p.m.: No westbound traffic from Molasses Hill Road will be allowed onto Route 20 (Broadway Road).

UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: Route 63 will be shut down at Route 20 (Texaco Town) for westbound vehicles and Pavilion Fire Police are called to provide traffic control.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: One person is being transported to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: The driver of the pickup truck sustained fatal injuries. The passenger was taken to Strong. The driver of the semi, which has Oklahoma plates, is not injured.

UPDATE 2:24 p.m.: A heavy wrecker is called to tow the semi, which lost all of its fluids in the crash, and has / had a weight of 79,000 pounds.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: The driver of the semi is being transported via Alexander ambulance to UMMC for evaluation. He was able to get out of his rig unaided and any injuries he sustained are believed to be minor.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: The medic tells ER personnel the man has "zero injuries" and his transport there is precautionary.

UPDATE 4:25 p.m.: Route 63 at Route 20 is being reopened. Pavilion Fire Police will be in service shortly.

UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: All of westbound Route 20 is reopened and Bethany Fire Police are going back in service.

We're in the midst of a winter weather advisory that started this morning and will last until 9 p.m.

From two to four inches of snow are predicted for today and another inch or so tonight.

With temperatures in the 20s, roads will be slick, especially on untreated roads, warns the National Weather Service.

A caller reports seeing an SUV roll over at East Main and Vine streets and then leave the area.

Another caller reports seeing a Trailblazer-type vehicle, doing 60 or 65 mph on East Main in the same area, hit a snow bank and drive off.

The first caller was headed in the opposite direction, but turned around after seeing the rollover, he said, and when he did, the SUV was gone.

A police officer on scene says there is no debris in the roadway, but there has been a lot of snow knocked into the roadway. He then reported being waved down by some people standing on the sidewalk nearby.

UPDATE 10:45 p.m.: An officer has located a tan Blazer or Jimmy. When a dispatcher asked if EMS was necessary, the officer said the driver is uncooperative at this point.

UPDATE 11:09 p.m.: Police are  interviewing witnesses and suspect(s).

Christine Crocker and the staff of YNGodess would like to wish everybody a Happy New Year and thank the more than 12,000 customers who came into the store during its first 10 months in business.

In 2013, Christine plans to continue to expand, adding more wines and spirits, and she invites customers to bring their requests of favorites to her. Many of the wines YNGodess carries now are not readily available in other stores.

Come to the YNGodess to check out the large selection of wines and for daily tastings. The friendly staff is always ready to help you find the perfect pairing for any occasion.

The YNGodess will be open New Year's Eve to help you with your party supply of wines and spirits. Toast in the New Year with YNGodess!

The store is located at 73 Main St. in the City of Batavia. Phone is 343-3170. Normal business hours are:

• Monday and Tuesday -- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday through Saturday -- 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday -- Noon to 5 p.m.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating several residential burglaries in the southwest area of the city. Entries to all residences were made in similar fashion via unsecured doors. Taken from the residences were items such as laptop computers, small electronics, gift cards and jewelry.

All incidents are similar in nature and are occurring during daylight hours.

Police will be increasing patrol activities in this area. The police department is also asking residents to be observant for, and to report, any strange activity or unknown persons in their neighborhood. Police ask that residents not attempt to intervene, but rather obtain a description of the person or persons involved, any vehicles involved as well as any direction of travel. Residents are encouraged to call 9-1-1 immediately and report the incident.

All residents are reminded of the importance of locking the doors to their homes even during the daytime hours. Residents are also reminded of the importance of documenting serial numbers or other identifying numbers of valuable items in the event they become lost or stolen. This documentation will assist the police in tracking the items if necessary.

Anyone with information regarding these burglaries, or any unsolved crime, is encouraged to contact the Batavia Police Department at 345-6350. Residents may also contact the Batavia Police Department’s Confidential Tip Line at 345-6370.

Darryl P. James, 30, of Darien, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, moving from lane unsafely, open container, failure to submit to breath test, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration. The Wyoming County Sheriff's Office received a complaint at 4:42 a.m., Christmas Day, of a vehicle operating on a resident's driveway on Church Road, Bennington, and James was arrested following further investigation. James allegedly has two prior DWI convictions. James was jailed on $25,000 bail.

Bryan Michael Wharton, 25, of Clover Crossing, Manchester, is charged with unlawful possession of untaxed cigarettes. Wharton was stopped at 4:16 p.m., Dec. 23, for alleged equipment violations on Gabbey Road, Pembroke, by Deputy Kevin McCarthy. He was allegedly found in possession of untaxed cigarettes.

Notre Dame handed Perry its first loss of the season in the Lions Club Holiday Shootout at Genesee Community College, 46-29.

While neither team seemed to find their shooting touch throughout the game, Notre Dame was able to throttle the Yellowjackets’ offensive attack, limiting them to 25 percent from the floor for the game, including 1-for-17 from 3-point range.

Despite playing without the school’s all-time leading scorer, Anthony Ricotta (who was out due to a sprained ankle), Perry kept the game within reach at halftime, trailing only 23-16. The Fighting Irish, who average nine three-pointers per game, were limited to three in the first half and only five for the game. Tommy Prospero and Jared Thornton combined to go 3-for-12 from long range after combining for 34 triples entering the contest.

“We really weren’t patient early in the game,” said Notre Dame Head Coach Mike Rapone. “They came out in a little bit of a different defense and we just didn’t exhibit the kind of patience to be successful against a defense like that.”

The Perry defense focused in on Notre Dame’s three-headed monster of Prospero, Thornton and Tim McCulley, holding them to a combined 23 points, but that meant their role players would get open looks and they made the most of them. Senior Ryan Bender posted his first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds while senior Vin Misiti tied Bender for a team-high 10 points.

“They did what they have to do when a team plays a defense like that,” said Rapone. “If they leave you open, you have to stick the open shot.”

The Irish clamped down their defense in the second half, limiting Perry to only five made field goals in the second half, and holding them without a three-point field goal. Notre Dame came up with 10 steals in the game, including three consecutive possessions that ended in McCulley or Prospero deflections and steals in the third quarter.

McCulley finished the game with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Prospero had a solid all-around game with five points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals for Notre Dame (6-0).

Tyler Elliott led the way for Perry (7-1) with 10 points and 15 rebounds.

In the first game of the night, Elba defeated Mount Morris, 63-47.

Senior Kyle Morse led the way for the Lancers with 22 points, 13 rebounds and four steals en route to victory.

Elba stifled the Mount Morris offense all night, holding them to 28-percent shooting for the night, including 3-for-30 from beyond the arc. The Lancers, meanwhile, dominated the glass, edging the Blue Devils, 36-28.

Junior Brandon Naylor scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half, while adding six rebounds and two blocks. Jesse Pflaumer chipped in with 11 points and five assists for Elba (4-4).

Mike Olverd scored a team-high 21 points for Mount Morris, while Dev Milford chipped in eight points, eight assists, eight steals and six rebounds in the loss. 

Photos by Howard Owens

To purchase prints of these photos, click the links in the slide shows.

I never tire of watching and listening to Canada geese, whatever stage of flight they're in, whether passing overhead at treetop level or applying the brakes like the trio pictured above.

The weather services weren't the only ones who knew a storm was coming. Wednesday, only hours before the snow began to fall, large numbers of geese began descending onto this field of cut corn.

Like all wildlife, geese are great natural barometers, always aware of imminent weather changes.

The time period just prior to inclement weather often triggers a good deal of movement. The entire time I watched, the descent of geese never let up...flock after flock dropped out of the sky like gangbusters.

In a setting reminiscent of what was perhaps waterfowling's greatest tragedy of the 20th Century, this pic reminds me of a painting titled "The Winds of Hell," depicting a scene from the Armistice Day storm of 1940. On that day ducks and geese by the thousands were pouring into the backwater sloughs and marshes along a stretch of the Mississippi River...they were seeking shelter from a coming storm, a storm that would catch waterfowlers unprepared and cost many lives. 

Despite Wednesday's storm and present cold temps, I saw numerous flocks passing overhead, none of which were so high they would appear to be in migratory flight. Maybe they'll stick around...I have no doubt they know more about the long-range forecast than the rest of us.

Geese weren't the only feathered critters getting in a major feed prior to the storm...a dozen or more turkeys were feeding in the far end of the same field. 

Frozen ground and a bit of snow would not deter the turkeys from getting in one last feed before a thick blanket of white would make foraging all but impossible.