Press release from Batavia Fire Capt. Robert L. Fix II:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.on Wednesday, Sept. 16th, and Thursday, Sept. 17th in the general area of Main Street, Bank Street and State Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected.

These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about five minutes or until clear.

Press release:

Press release:

Crossroads House has created a project to financially supplement Ambulance Transfer Services of Wyoming County residents who will be coming to Crossroads House for their end of life care.

This project is funded by a $1,000 grant from the Wyoming Foundation Council a division of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. 

Crossroads House is a two-bed comfort care home located at 11 Liberty St. in Batavia. It provides 24-hour, 7-days-a-week care FREE of charge for individuals over the age of 18 years old from Genesee and Wyoming counties who have been given a medical prognosis of three months or less to live. 

This project was established to ensure an individual from Wyoming County who would like to finish their earthly journey at Crossroads House would not be hindered from coming here due to lack of resources for ambulance transfer costs.

Any Wyoming County resident who is admitted to Crossroads House who incurs costs associated with ambulance transfer services can submit documentation of these costs and receive payment up to $300. 

This Ambulance Reimbursement project funded by the Community Foundation is another way Crossroads House can provide emotional support to a family facing an end of life situation. This project will ensure that a family’s financial limitations for ambulance transfer are not a determining factor in keeping them from comfort care at Crossroads House.

Crossroads House is an incorporated not-for-profit comfort care home that has been serving the residents of Genesee and Wyoming counties that have been medically determined to be in their last stages of life (three (3) months or less) free of charge since 1998.

Comfort care is founded upon the belief in the importance of honoring the well-being of every individual and respecting the sacred dignity of human life. The Crossroads House staff and volunteers are committed to provide personalized care attending to the physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs of our residents and their families while affirming a dignified quality of life in a caring home-like environment. Admission is based solely on need, regardless of religion, age, sex, race, creed, economic status, or other distinctions.

FYI...Settler's Restaurant, located at 353 W. Main St., Batavia, is having a benefit today Tuesday, Sept. 15, for Crossroads House. "Supper at Settler's" -- From 4 to 9 p.m., 20 percent of pre-tax receipts will be donated to Crossroads House.

Roberta Susan Dwello, 55, of State Route 104, Williamson, is charged with possession/transportation of more than 10,000 untaxed cigarettes and criminal tax fraud. Dwello was stopped on Route 77, Pembroke, at 12:20 p.m. Sunday by Deputy Joseph Corona. Dwello was allegedly found with 27,000 in untaxed cigarettes and is accused of selling untaxed cigarettes for financial gain.

Bobbisue Butler, 32, of Byron Holley Road, Byron, is charged with petit larceny. Butler is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

Matthew Christopher Moy, 22, of Glidden Road, Holley, is charged with promoting prison contraband, 1st. Moy was allegedly found with a pocketknife while inside the jail.

Kivon Alijah Orr, 18, of Kelly Street, Bronx, is charged with trespass. Orr was allegedly in a dorm at College Village without permission.

Mark David Jackett, 45, of Sunrise Parkway, Oakfield, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Jackett allegedly had unwanted contact with a protected party.

Ryan M. Bobzin, 26, of Byron, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Bobzin was arrested by State Police for an alleged incident reported at 1:20 p.m., Sept. 8. No further details released.

 Photo by Baily DeLelys

Richard Flores had 16 carries for 214 yards and three TDs plus a kickoff return of 82 yards for a touchdown. Tucker Bezon, two carries for 66 yards and two TDs. John Hochmuth was five for nine passing for 60 yards and a TD. he also had four carries for eight yards. Brendan Marsocci and Chase Toal each had rushing touchdowns.

On defense, Andrew Gotler had 15 tackels, Cody Kauffman, 14, David Castaneda, and Flores, eight.

Photos submitted by David Boyce of Le Roy's game against Dansville on Saturday, which the Knights won 28-0.

Nick Egeling scored on a 43-yard run and a six-yard run. Josh Laurie had a 65-yard punt return and Dom Filio had a three-yard run. Mary Purdy knocked in four point after attempts.

Egeling rushed for 108 yards on 18 carries, Laurie 19 on 4 and Filio 16 on five. Laurie was two for nine passing for 38 yards. Catches by Reed Kacur for 40 yards and Ryan Boyce for two yards.

On defense, Luke Hogle, 12 tackles, Kacur, eight, Anthony Natrigo, seven, Filio, seven, and Nate Flint, five.

Darryl Worley, a multi-hit country music artist who topped the charts in 2003 with a 9-11 song, "Have You Forgotten?", played Frostridge Saturday night and a few hundred hearty fans braved the rain and waved flags and cheered Worley's pro-USA, positive-living message.

The show closes out the 2015 season for The Ridge.

Press release:

The Batavia Silver Stars along with the Chili-based Cloverleaf Squares are Western square dance clubs and they will be performing at Darien Lake Theme Park twice this month.

They will have a demo dance from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, and from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. For more information about WNY square dance clubs visit squaredancingrochester.org

Did you know that square dancing is the national folk dance of the United States? It is a great form of exercise, too. You form lasting friendships and once you learn the basic steps you can dance anywhere in the world. Western square dancing involves taking lessons for eight to nine months. You do not need a partner to take lessons and square dancing attire is optional. All ages are welcome from 10 years and older.

The Batavia Silver Stars dance at the VA Medical Center (patio entrance, building #4) every Monday night. FREE Open Houses are Oct. 5 and 12 from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Classes begin on Oct. 19. Class fees are $4/dancer or $10/family.

For more information contact Jan Bencic @ 585-762-8591 -- or stop by and watch us twirl and promenade some Monday night.

The local outlet of the discount food chain Aldi's is closed for remodeling and will remain closed until Oct. 1, according to a handwritten sign outside the store's main entrance on East Main Street in Eastown Plaza.

There was no prior announcement of the closing and no details of the renovations in the store have been released.

Aldi's is based in Germany. The company has 1,400 U.S. stores and is planning on investing $3 billion in the states, and creating 10,000 more jobs. It plans to open 600 more locations in the U.S., making it 44 percent the size of Walmart. Walmart is reportedly Aldi's competitive target.

The U.S. division of Aldi's is based in Batavia, Ill.

In a key early season Genesee Region matchup, Notre Dame beat Alexander 34-14.

Alexander scored first on a 14-yard run by Jake Wozniak. Notre Dame scored twice in the second quarter, making it 12-8, on a two-yard run by Peter Daversa and a 44-yard run by Jack Sutherland.

Alexander tied the score early in the third quarter on a fumble recovery in the end zone by Josh Hylkema.

The rest of the game was all Notre Dame, as the Fighting Irish scored on a 51-yard run by Sutherland, a one-yard dive for a TD by Sutherland, and Deversa scored on a one-yard run.

Alexander finished with 172 yards of total offense to 307, all on the ground, for Notre Dame.

Sutherland gained 185 yards and Deversa had 104. For Alexander, Wozniak rushed for 120 yards on 20 carries.

C.J. Suozzi had nine tackles and Dane Meberlein, 12, and Hunter Marzolf had nine for Alexander.

Suozzi punted twice for 69 yards.

In other Genesee County football this weekend:

• Attica beat Pembroke, 36-0
• Geneseo beat York/Pavilion, 34-28
• Elba/Byron-Bergen beat Holley, 60-14
• Le Roy beat Dansville 28-0 (We should have photos from this game some time tomorrow.)
• Previously: Photos: Batavia beats Cardinal O'Hara 32-8

To purchase prints of photos, click here

A tanker and another vehicle collided at Route 20 and Perry Road, Pavilion. Unknown injuries. The tanker is on its side and heavily leaking fuel, according to the dispatcher. An emergency crew is called to handle the spill and Pavilion fire and Mercy medics are responding. Le Roy's rescue unit is also called to provide mutual aid.

UPDATE 5:25: The tanker is about 40 feet off the road. It was hauling 31,000 pounds of milk.

Fire companies from throughout Western New York were represented in Batavia today for the funeral of William M. Hynes.

From his obituary:

Bill dedicated his life to the fire service in Genesee County. He served with the Le Roy Volunteer Fire Department from 1961-1968. From there he served with the Town of Batavia Fire Department from 1968-1980, serving as chief in 1978 and 1979. He is a current member of the Town of Elba Fire Department, joining in 1980 and served as chief from 1990-2003. He served as president of the Board of Directors of the Elba Fire Department from 2004-2013. He was also a life member of the Western New York Fireman’s Association and the New York State Fire Chief’s Association. Bill served on the Genesee County Mutual Aid Advisory Board, where he served as chairman for two years.

A brush fire is reported in Elba at 7560 Pekin Road. Elba firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 6:34 p.m.: Alabama, as mutual aid, is working the brush fire in Elba's fire district and Oakfield is requested to assemble a crew in the Oakfield hall.

UPDATE 6: 44 p.m.: A crew from Byron is requested to fill in at Elba's fire hall.

UPDATE 6:54 p.m.: Elba command reports fire is under control.

With news that the state is going to once again try to auction off its one-time armory on State Street, there's been some chatter around town about the city buying the building and converting it into the new police headquarters.

After all, it only costs $60,000.

First off, it's going up for auction, and $60K is just the ante. It will likely go for considerably more than $60,000. City Manager Jason Molino said judging by the number of calls the city has been getting with questions about zoning for the property, there is quite a bit of interest in it.

But even if the city could get it at a reasonable price, converting it into a police station would still cost millions.

"It's not a turnkey building by any means," Molino said.

To make it suitable for police needs there would need to be substantial modifications, a lot of demolition, environmental abatement and retrofitting.

"It's not just a matter of repainting a few walls and moving in," Molino said.

The building was considered for a possible location early in the process, Molino said. The original committee of city staff and consultants toured the building and the city even asked the state to hold off on selling it until the city could complete its study.

The state didn't wait. The building was sold at auction, but that deal eventually fell through.

Even with a potential private owner to deal with, the task force that eventually came up with the Swan Street recommendation gave brief consideration to the armory, but rejected the idea almost as quickly.

Besides the cost, the location is essentially a residential area and the property has only one point of entry and exit. With State Street being a main thoroughfare during the school year, the property would be hard to enter or exit quickly twice a day -- morning and afternoon -- for nearly 10 months out of the year.

The City Council will be asked to consider a plan to build a police station from the ground up on Swan Street. That public discussion among council members has yet to take place.

Scott Edwin McKenzie, 29, of South Pearl Street, Oakfield, is charged with forcible touching. He was arrested Sept. 6 on Sunset Parkway Road in Oakfield after he allegedly touched the intimate parts of an acquaintance without permission. He was subsequently issued an appearance ticket and will return to Oakfield Town Court on Sept. 14. The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Erion, assisted by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Austin M. Bartz, 19, of Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, is charged with third-degree attempted assault. On July 27 at 12:45 a.m. on Harvester Avenue, Bartz was arrested following a verbal altercation. Bartz, aided by another person, allegedly punched and/or kicked another person. He was issued an appearance ticker and is to appear in City Court on Sept. 15. The case was investigated by Batavia PD Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk, assisted by Officer Eric Foels.

Kyle L. Michaels, 17, of Edward Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment and fourth-degree criminal mischief. He was arrested at 9:19 p.m. on Sept. 7 following a domestic incident wherein he allegedly damaged a vehicle and struck a person. He was transported to BPD where he was processed and released on an appearance ticker. He is scheduled to appear in City Court on Sept. 22. The case was investigated by Batavia PD Officer Felicia DeGroot, assisted by Officer Christopher Camp.

Kevin J. Cummings, 38, of Wood Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, and aggravated DWI, per se for having a BAC of .18 or more, with no priors. Cummings was arrested Sept. 5 following an investigation into a 9-1-1 open line hang up. He was released from custody and directed to appear in Batavia City Court on Sept. 23. The case was investigated by Batavia PD Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk, assisted by Officer Darryle Street.

Robert Ernest Saari, 33, of Meiser Road, Corfu, is charged with failure to appear. He was arrested on Aug. 9 after he was released from GC Jail on an unrelated matter. He had an arrest warrant for failing to appear at Batavia City Court to answer a charge of second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation. He is scheduled to be in City Court on Sept. 15. The case was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Felicia DeGroot, assisted by Officer Eric Foels.

William B. Coley, 45, of Platt Street, Albion, failed to answer a petit larceny charge at Batavia City Court back in February. The court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. On Sept. 8, Coley was located by the NY State Police and turned over of Batavia Police Officer Frank Klimjack. He was put in jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail.

Reginald C. Sampson, 49, of 1/2 Hutchins St., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt of court. He allegedly intentionally refused to obey a Grand Jury subpoena that was properly served directing him to appear in Batavia City Court at noon on Aug. 18. He was arrested on Sept. 9 and arraigned before Judge Balbick in City Court then released on his own recognizance. The case was investigated by Batavia PD Officer Frank Klimjack.

Juan Antonio Claudio, 47, of Mill Street, Akron, is charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation stemming from an incident on East Main Street in Corfu on April 14. He was arrested on Sept. 10 on a warrant out of the Town of Pembroke and put in jail on $500 cash bail or $5,000 bond. He is scheduled to reappear in Pembroke Town Court at a later date. The case was invetigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Hale.

Remember Rocky, the dog whom authorities say was scalded by hot water? The owner and her boyfriend where charged with crimes, and the owner surrendered Rocky to the county for adoption.

Rocky walked this week in the Oakfield Labor Day Parade and I was surprised to learn nobody had shown any interest in adopting him. On the spot, he kind of muzzled his way into my heart, so after much thought and conversation with Billie and a couple of visits to the animal shelter, Billie and I decided we would adopt him ourselves.

He's a real sweetheart, very gentle, loves people and other dogs and doesn't care much about cats. We had him with Pachuco in Kiwanis Park today to ensure they would get along, and they hit it off and have been doing well together this afternoon.

We think we can give Rocky a good home.

Previously:

• Batavia couple jailed without bail after young pit bull scalded with water
• Dog burned by hot water in good spirits at Animal Shelter
• Owner of scalded dog surrenders ownership during court appearance

Veterans came together at the VA Center for a 9-11 remembrance ceremony.