Attention former Santy's customers! With Santy's no longer open, Dan's Tire & Auto Service Center wants to remind you that we have the complete capabilities to service all of your vehicle's repair needs.

We offer ASE certified technicians, 24 month/24,000 nationwide parts and labor warranty and with the latest tools and equipment. We have factory repair manuals and service bulletins, and also full access to Ford/Motorcraft parts.

Just call 585-343-7210 to make an appointment if we can help in any way.

Visit Dan's Tire online at: http://www.danstire.com

Two white males have broken into a residence on Ridge Road in Elba and are in the basement. Genesee County Sheriff's deputies are responding along with the canine unit.

Caller reports the suspect vehicle to be a van, light tan or silver in color with tinted windows.

Deputies have found an open back door and the suspects have fled the scene heading toward Route 98.

Looking for two white males -- one with a long, black ponytail and the other with a scraggly beard.

Deputies asking dispatch to advise the Orleans County Sheriff and Batavia police of the descriptions.

UPDATE 1:35 p.m.: Tan van spotted heading toward Batavia or the Thruway with two white males with dark hair, facial hair, possibly Latino.

UPDATE 1:39 p.m.: Law enforcement has checked with the toll collectors at the Thruway and no one matching that description has come through the toll booths. Also checked a van at the Elba Diner but it's not the vehicle.

UPDATE 1:43 p.m.: Town Highway has spotted a man fitting the description standing roadside at Maltby and Fisher roads in Oakfield with some other men.

UPDATE 1:48 p.m.: The location on Fisher Road in Oakfield.

UPDATE 1:57 p.m.: The van is also at this location.

Edward Otis Hardy, 54, of Pelham Road, Pensacola, Fla., is considered a fugitive from justice by the State of Florida and was in Genesee County Jail on unrelated charges when he was arrested on warrants from Florida. In Escambia County Circuit Court, he is charged with battery/touch or strike, battery on a police officer or firefighter, assault on a police officer or firefighter, obstruction, depriving a person the means of protection or communication, disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest with violence. Hard was arraigned in Stafford Town Court and jailed without bail pending extradition.

Shawn Michael Twardowski, 30, of Dodd Run Road, Marietta, Ohio, was arrested on bench warrants for criminal contempt, 1st, and harassment, 2nd. Twardowski was arrested in Caldwell, Ohio, after allegedly fleeing the state after being charged with criminal contempt and harassment. Twardowski was returned to Genesee County Court and arraigned by Judge Robert C. Noonan and jailed without bail. There are also active warrants for Twardowski out of Batavia City Court and Town of Oakfield Court.

Shantell Sharnice Gibson, 20, of East Avenue, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, and petit larceny. Gibson is accused of stealing merchandise from Kmart. She also allegedly stole property from another person.

Rebecca N. Bethune, 24, of 5008 Hundredmark Road, Elba, is charged with two counts of unlawful dealing with a child, 1st. Bethune was arrested by Le Roy PD after allegedly buying alcohol for two people under the age of 21.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C-Batavia) today cast his vote against a poor legislative process that shut the public out of a critical discourse and prevented a measured, responsible approach to protecting our children and families. Major gun control legislation was brought to the Assembly floor without any public commentary or proper time for legislative review. Hawley indicated that the hasty process betrayed the need for compassionate, reasonable and substantive debate.

“In light of recent tragedies in places like Webster and Newtown, I share our community’s desire to ensure that New York’s laws provide the public safety protections that our families need and deserve. However, the hurried passage of this critical legislation is an example of government dysfunction at its worst,” Hawley said.

“Forcing through a massive overhaul of gun control regulations without properly reviewing any of the constitutional or budgetary implications is the kind of unaccountability that has caused the public to lose its faith and trust in Congress. Instead of hastily infringing upon the Second Amendment rights of New Yorkers, we should have engaged in a measured debate that truly protects our children and families from dangerous criminals and those unfit to bear arms. The dysfunction of Albany and the total disregard for our citizens’ input into this process is totally unacceptable!”

New York Times: Sweeping Limits on Guns Become Law in New York

Fisher Sports officially reopens its doors tomorrow, but Andrew Fisher's phone was ringing and there were people showing up at his new location next to Coffee Culture anyway. They were looking for sporting equipment even though the store was not set up yet.

The last 24 hours have been crazy -- moving everything from 412 E. Main St. to 6 Court St.

"We like this location because it's the center of the city. People are driving through here all the time, we were looking for more foot traffic," Fisher says.

Fisher Sports opened on East Main Street last July. Along with sporting equipment, they also offered Zumba classes at the East Main Street store. They will no longer be offering the class, so they decided to move to a smaller space. They went from 3,500 square feet down to 850 square feet.

Fisher says, "We have slimmed down our square footage, but we have the same amount of equipment and apparel in the new store."

Fisher Sports will continue to carry hockey equipment and Sabres, Syracuse, Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox apparel. They will also sell cleates and spikes for soccer, baseball, and football. Team sales are also a big thing at Fisher Sports. They supplied the Oakfield swim team with swimwear this year and are adding new teams to the list.

Contact Fisher Sports for hours and orders at 585-344-2500 or online at www.fishersportsny.com

A Mercy medic ambulance and the Pavilion Fire Department are responding to a one-car accident on Starr Road, near Route 63 in Pavilion.

One person is complaining of a leg injury.

UPDATE 7:58 p.m.: E.M.T. on scene says the patient will be signing off. Mercy medic is back in service.

A motor-vehicle accident with injury has been reported in Stafford on Route 5, just east of Route 237. It is blocking.

Two Mercy medics and Stafford firefighters are on scene.

UPDATE 4:07 p.m: Fire police closing down Route 5 at Route 237

UPDATE 4:17 p.m.: One Mercy ambulance is transporting one person to UMMC, and the other subject is a sign-off. Only the eastbound lane is closed now.

2013 SUMMER SOCCER REGISTRATION IS UNDER WAY! NEW FOR 2013: LYSA HAS IMPLEMENTED AN ONLINE REGISTRATION AND/OR PAYMENT PROCESS

REGISTER EARLY!!! 

A male Kmart employee has taken chase after a female shoplifter near the Verizon Plaza.

Law enforcement has found the suspect and the Kmart employee near Mark's Pizzeria.

There may be another female suspect hiding inside Mark's Pizzeria. Deputies are checking the store.

A flatbed truck on Route 98 lost some of its scrap metal load, striking a parked snowmobile in front of Sunnyside Cycle Sales in Alexander. A vehicle driving behind the flatbed called 9-1-1 to report that the driver did not stop after the incident.

Sheriff's deputies reported a large back end of an old pickup truck in the road. The damage to the snowmobile is minimal.

Law enforcement has the flatbed truck stopped on Angling Road. The driver will return to Sunnyside Cycle Sales with his insurance information.

Lt. Eugene Jankowski is coming to grips with the fact that his 34-year career with Batavia PD is probably drawing to a close.

He hasn't officially announced his retirement yet, but that's probably what he will do before his job as a lieutenant is eliminated April 1 as part of department restructuring.

"I'm glad I was given the opportunity to serve for 34 years," Jankowski said. "It's been good for me. I love what I do and I hate to leave it. It's not about the money. It's never been about the money, but now's the time to find another worthy cause. I'm still young enough to go out and find another worthy cause."

Jankowski disputed a report coming out of Monday's city council meeting that he, along with Lt. Jim Henning and Lt. Greg Steel were offered a chance to stay with the department if they would each accept a demotion to sergeant and that all three turned it down.

None of them, according to Jankowski, has reached a final decision yet.

Henning and Steele are off duty at the time of this story posting so we can't reach them for comment.

For Jankowski, becoming a sergeant isn't even an option. If he accepted a demotion, it would be to patrol officer.

Under civil service law, when a job/rank is eliminated, the employee is offered the job he or she held prior to promotion. For Jankowski, that was patrol officer, not sergeant.

"If it were a sergeant's position, I might consider it," Jankowski said.

City Manager Jason Molino said he wouldn't discuss with a reporter personnel issues and what may or may not have been communicated between city supervisors and the lieutenants.

According to Jankowski, the lieutenants were told they would not be considered for the new deputy chief position.

"We don't know why," Jankowski said. "He didn't give us a reason. He said we won't put anybody in the deputy chief position until you're long out of here."

Molino said that once the position is created, probably after the budget is approved in February, any qualified personnel -- including the lieutenants -- in the department could apply for the job.

If they retire before the job is created, then they won't be eligible for the position.

The three lieutenant positions will be reallocated, creating two new patrol positions and one sergeant's positions.

"The plan is, you're going to have more guys on the street than you have now," Molino said. "With more officers in the field, there's more contact with the community."

The deputy chief position, which will be non-union, will be an increase by one the number of sworn members of the department. 

The restructuring is expected to save the city $10,000 a year.

Jankowski said he doesn't understand why the city wants to eliminate all three lieutenant positions at once. Why not, Jankowski wondered, stagger the retirements over three years so those experienced supervisors would help mentor the new deputy police chief?

"Why would you eliminate 100 years of experience like that?" Jankowski said.

Police Chief Shawn Heubusch is proving a great asset to the department, Jankowski said.

"I like the chief," Jankowski said. "He's going to be great. I like him. He brings out the best in guys. I wish I could work with him longer."

Jankowski, a competitive shooter, isn't sure if he will stay in New York after he retires. He's concerned that gun ownership rules being changed by Albany politicians will make competitive shooting in the state all but impossible. Some ranges, he said, will likely shut down. Limits on magazine size and changes to rifle scopes are big concerns, he said, for competitive shooters.

The changes to the police department don't make him mad, Jankowski said, but the changes being considered in Albany certainly do.

Ramon Roberto Domanski, 51, of South Avenue, Lake Bluff, Ill., is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Domanski is accused of stealing two tractor-trailer tires from a located at 8420 Route 77, Pembroke. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Daniel DiLaura, 38, of Brooklyn Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and criminal mischief. DiLaura is accused of stealing a TV from Walmart and damaging a security device.

In the morning, members of The Batavian Club will receive an e-mail with a coupon from T.F. Brown's for 15-percent off.

Join The Batavian Club by 8 p.m., Wednesday and receive the same coupon, which is good until Jan. 30.

The coupon is addition to the $285 in gift certificates members will receive to local businesses. For a list of participating businesses, click here.

TO JOIN: Use PayPal buttons below, or to pay by check (annual only) or credit card, click here to download form. Or call (585) 250-4118 to pay by credit card.

Monthly Single Membership - $5 per month
Includes membership card and bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Monthly Household Membership - $10 per month
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Single Membership - $50 per year
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Household Membership - $100 per year
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual membership, one payment of $60
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual household membership, one payment of $120
Includes two membership cards, bumper sticker, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Press release:

The staff of Batavia Downs Casino and Thurman Thomas are now accepting entries to name the Hall of Famer’s new restaurant on site at Batavia Downs Casino.

The facility’s $28 Million dollar expansion begins within a month and includes construction of a new Thurman Thomas sports bar. Customers may tweet a suggestion for the Sports Bar’s name on Twitter by tweeting from their account and including the name of the Sports Bar with the tag @BataviaDowns. The contest will end at Noon on Friday, Jan. 18.

Staff from Batavia Downs Casino and Thurman Thomas will review the entries and declare a winner before the end of January.

The person that submits the winning name will win dinner for two inside the new sports bar with Thurman Thomas and Batavia Downs Staff when the new facility opens sometime in the fall. The winner shall also receive a Batavia Downs Casino Prize Pack valued at more than $250.

If more than one person suggests the winning name, then one person shall be randomly chosen from those who suggested that name. Winner will be notified via twitter that they have won. Full rules can be found on Batavia Downs Casino’s Web site at www.bataviadownscasino.com.

“Thurman’s new sports bar will offer great food, a stage for live entertainment on weekends, and many large flat screen TVs where our patrons can enjoy all their favorite sporting events,” said Ryan Hasenauer, director of marketing for Batavia Downs Casino. “It will also feature various pieces of football and Thurman Thomas memorabilia.”

Information courtesy WBTA:

A big change in garbage pick up, a shake up of the police department and a pay raise for council members are the main features of the proposed city budget.

City Manager Jason Molino told council members about the proposed changes in garbage collection, dubbed PAYT for "pay as you throw," which will remove garbage collection from property owners' tax bills and have users of the service foot the bill.

The user fee will extend to nonprofit agencies and churches.

"You pay for what you throw away," Monlino said. "So, if you want a smaller tote or larger tote, you are going to pay respectively. If you throw away more, you are going to pay more. You throw away less, you are going to pay less. Another aspect of the program is unlimited recycling, and that also has the ability to help control your costs of what you throw away."

The automated system -- one-driver trucks will use a mechanical arm to pick up the totes -- will also help reduce costs, Molino said.

The apparent lower bidder for the program is Allied/Republic, a national waste management company headquartered in Phoenix. The company operates in 39 states and has 30,000 employees according to its Web site.

Allied/Republic submitted the lowest of four bids at $4.34-million dollars over the next five years.

Genesee ARC, which had been providing the service to the city for nearly 30 years, bid 4.99-million dollars. It appears ARC's bid was the highest.

ARC Executive Director Donna Saskowski said the loss of the city contract hurts the human services agency:

"I will have to lay off between 8 and 10 people," Saskowski said. "The agency will loose $800,000 in revenue, and we will have to find different jobs for the people with disabilities."

Saskowski said half of the people expected to lose jobs have some form of developmental disability.

The 2013-2014 proposed budget technically calls for a reduction in the city tax rate from $10.71 to $9.15. However, when the average cost of the garbage fee is factored in, Molino said the impact on the average homeowner will be a “wash.”

A big change in police department operations will save about $10,000, according to Molino.

Currently, the supervisory structure of the department includes three lieutenants. The lieutenant position will be eliminated, replaced by two police officers, a sergeant and a deputy chief.

The deputy chief position will be non-union.

The current lieutenants, Eugene Jankowski, Jim Henning and Greg Steele, have elected to retire rather than accept a demotion to sergeant, Molino told council members.

As for council members, a raise for the elected officials approved 6-3 in February, will be instituted, increasing compensation from $2,000 per year to $3,500 per year, beginning April 1.

The only way pay raises could be prevented, Molino said, was for the council to vote down the entire budget proposal or opt to pull the pay raise allocation from the budget plan and vote on it separately.

Council members Patti Pacino and Pier Cipollone said on Monday night they would not support a pay raise. Both had supported the pay raise measure in the February vote.

UPDATE: The city has posted all available documents about the changes to garbage collection.

A Le Roy resident who trashed the home of a person she knew and was later charged with burglary will be required to pay $169,161.71.

Karen L. Stone, of Elm Street, will also serve six months in jail and five years on probation.

Stone was arrested in August and entered a guilty plea Oct. 30 to burglary in the third degree.

Water line repairs in the area of 10 Bogue Ave., Batavia, on Tuesday will disrupt traffic access and water service.

The work will begin at 8:30 a.m. and result in possible lower water pressure and possibly discolored water.

A rollover accident with minor injury has been reported at 8825 Route 98, near L&L Transmission.

The vehicle is off the road in the ditch.

Mercy medics and Town of Batavia Fire Department are on scene.

UPDATE 10:06 p.m.: Subject is not injured at all and the car is well off the road. Town of Batavia back in service.