A car crashed into a tree and the driver is "not completely alert" at Wilkinson and Lear roads. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 12:49 a.m.: Corfu Fire Department is called to assist East Pembroke. The driver is trapped inside the vehicle.

UPDATE 1:04 a.m.: Mercy Flight is hovering over the crash site, seeking an appropriate place to land. They are checking a field on Lear Road just south of the scene.

UPDATE 1:06 p.m.: Sheriff's deputies are on scene.

UPDATE 1:30 a.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to ECMC.

UPDATE 1:39 a.m.: The female driver left the roadway for an unknown reason and hit a tree. She was extricated and taken ECMC via Mercy Flight primarily for precautionary reasons, said Sgt. Eric K. Seppala. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

UPDATE 8 a.m.: The driver is identified as Jennifer D. Bisig, 38, of Hopkins Road, Batavia. She is listed in serious condition at ECMC. Investigators have yet to determine why her 2002 Saturn Vue left the roadway. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.

A two-car accident is reported by the parking lot at Batavia Downs, 8315 Park Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. Law enforcement is on scene. An 8-month-old infant is said to have a head injury and a 7-year-old has a hand injury.

A two-car accident is reported at 110 Oak St. A person is said to have back injury. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

Super deal on this cute City home. Owner super willing to negotiate -- don't let this one go by without looking!!! Solid and nicely kept city home in central location and ready to move in! This home has been upgraded and freshly painted throughout, with more room than it appears from the road! Good size rooms and a walk up finished attic that adds a whole lot more room for storage or play! Large back enclosed porch for nice nights and a place to kick off your shoes. Come check this one out -- easy to see!!

Sheriff's deputies and Batavia PD State troopers are in the area of Office Max on Veterans Memorial Drive and the Batavia Downs parking lot on Park Road looking for a possible criminal suspect, perhaps for shoplifting at a nearby store.

One subject is apparently in custody and the second suspect may have been spotted, but not yet apprehended.

The only description we have at present is that he was wearing a white shirt that was tucked in and he untucked it when he started running.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: The suspect reportedly attempted to leave a store with about $930 in merchandise.

UPDATE 3:22 p.m. (By Billie): The shoplifting suspect being pursued by law enforcement is believed to have crawled inside a drain pipe by Kohl's department store on Veterans Memorial Drive. They have called the Town of Batavia Fire Department to the scene the help apprehend the man. He is described as white, wearing a black short-sleeved, V-neck shirt, having on sunglasses, dress slacks and black sneakers. He is said to have both arms heavily inked with nearly complete tattoo "sleeves."

UPDATE 4:05 p.m.: The suspect is believed to have stolen goods from Kmart.

Photos by Howard Owens.

UPDATE 4:23 p.m.: The suspect is in a drain pipe tunnel. Here responders are trying to communicate with him from a manhole in the parking lot. They are yelling down to him. If he's still down there, he's not responding.

UPDATE 6:17 p.m.(By Howard): At the time I left the scene, 45 minutes ago, the subject still hadn't been located. We have no update since. Here are more photos. We'll provide updates as new information becomes available, but we won't have anybody at the scene for the rest of the incident.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m. (By Billie): Mercy medics are called to stand by at the scene per law enforcement.

UPDATE 8:13 p.m.: The suspected thief is in custody and at the time of his arrest suffered from mild hypothermia. The assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 8:35 p.m.: Here's a statement from Sheriff Gary Maha issued in response to a query from Howard at 8:24 p.m.: "Two deputies went down into the drain pipe and found the guy. They pulled him out and he was unresponsive at first. He would have died down there. Taken to UMMC. A press release is being prepared by the Sergeant."

UPDATE: Video shot by Dan Fischer, WBTA ((NOTE: we replaced the original version of the video we posted with a new version from WBTA))

The suspect is identified as Wayne L. Rinker, 30, of Shadowwood Lane, Webster. He's facing larceny and conspiracy charges. He was taken to UMMC by Mercy EMS. The deputies who crawled through the storm drains to locate him were Chad Cummings and Michael Lute. They located him barely conscious. The deputies secured a rope to him and he was brought to the other end of the pipe, about 100 feet away, where Deputy Rich Schildwaster and Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello were located. He was pushed and pulled to an opening where he was lifted out. Assisting the Sheriff's Office at the scene were NY State Police, Batavia PD, COR Plaza security personnel, Town of Batavia Water Department, and Greg Post of General Services (providing the sewer camera).

On at least two occasions in recent days, local residents have confronted unwanted guests in their homes in Batavia.

In one case, a suspect was arrested, but in the other, where items were actually stolen, the case remains under investigation.

In the case where an arrest was made, the break-in was reported on The Batavian as it happened and police soon took 53-year-old Stacey Williams into custody. Williams is charged with criminal trespass.

He is accused of attempting to enter the Washington Avenue home of Rich Richmond, a candidate for City Council.

The second case we heard about from the resident who had her wallet stolen.

The woman and her husband became aware of the intruder and her husband was able to tackle him, she said, but then he got loose. Her husband chased him in his car, but lost him on Jackson Street. He came across three Batavia PD patrol vehicles on Jackson, but the woman isn't aware what the police did from that point.

Chief Shawn Heubusch said that case is under investigation, but no arrest has been made.

The woman said the suspect matches the description in the Washington Avenue case, but Heubusch said investigators don't believe at this time that the cases are related. 

The woman said her home was broken into about 4:30 a.m., Wednesday.

"I live on the Southside of town and I would like for my friends and neighbors who live on that side to just be aware," the woman said. "This guy obviously had to be hyped on drugs as he walked right past my husband laying on the couch and walked right through the kitchen, which had lights on, to my dining room, where my purse was located, and our bedroom was off to the side from that -- a very bold individual and we don’t know if he is still out there or not."

Heubusch said he is unaware of any similar criminal complaints in the past few days.

Vic Marchese, owner of Main St. Pizza Company, on East Main Street, Batavia, stands in front of the opening of the commercial space next to his business where workers are busy remodeling so Marchese can add more space to his popular restaurant.

The front part of the restaurant will feature a sliding window system, called a nana system, that will allow open-air dining when weather permits, but a closed dining area when it gets cold.

With his plans recently approved, Marchese just ordered the windows, which will take six to eight weeks to arrive. Marchese is optimistic the new space will open in January.

The restaurant will expand by about 2,000 square feet and include additional interior dining room space, as well. The dining room and the pick-up counter will have separate entrances, which will help people get in and out of the restaurant faster.  

Marchese is also expanding the kitchen.

A one-car accident is reported on Route 77 just north of the Thruway overpass. A person is injured and bleeding. Pembroke and Indians Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 2:22 p.m.: The vehicle has minor damage. There was air-bag deployment, according to a responder.

From Laurie Napoleone:

On Saturday, Sept. 19^th, the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation is hosting “Run for the Gold” to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer.

The 5K Run/Walk will be held in Le Roy starting at the Summit Street Tennis Courts beginning at 9 a.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The cost is $25 pre-race and $35 on the day of the race. T-shirts will be given to the first 100 runners.

New this year – a balloon launch. Buy a balloon in memory and honor of a loved one or just send a special note on one.

Gather friends and family and take a walk on a beautiful fall morning while making a difference in the lives of those affected by a pediatric cancer diagnosis. If you can’t walk, just join the foundation for a fun day in the lovely Village of Le Roy.

Register today at http://www.active.com/leroy-ny/running/distance-running-races/run-for-the-gold-2015?int or for more information go to michaelshope.org.

Hope to see you there!

Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center will host a multi-agency mass casualty incident drill on Friday, Sept. 25, at approximately 2:30 p.m. Visitors to the hospital at 127 North St., Batavia, during this time should expect to see several emergency vehicles, first responders, and increased activity.

The Pembroke Girls Varsity Soccer Team had an impressive 4-0 shutout in last night's game against Notre Dame. The girls scored three goals in the first half and added another in the second.

http://francletography.photoshelter.com/gallery/2015-09-17-Notre-Dame-at-Pembroke-Varsity-Girls/G0000zxKjlQPb8qo/C0000o8qnIUWIJ3w

The Landmark Society of Genesee County is presenting awards to five local buildings for preservation or restoration work at its annual dinner tomorrow night. Dinner tickets are $15 and it starts at 6 p.m. at the Elba United Methodist Church.

The five winners are:

• Tender Loving Care: Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, 8 Center St., Batavia
• Restoration: residence at  5211 Watson Road, Elba
• Tender Loving Care: Cornell Cooperative Extension , 420 E. Main St., Batavia (top photo)
• Interior Preservation: Corfu Grange, 73 Alleghany Road, Corfu
• Tender Loving Care: residence at 32 Tracy Ave., Batavia

(Photos by Howard Owens, except interior of grange hall)

Press release:

This year’s honorees have each spent decades preserving and maintaining their historic properties. Their conscientious care has improved their neighborhoods and helped preserve our county’s architectural history for future generations.

Adam Miller was the second owner of the building that houses Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle store at 8 Center St., Batavia. He owned and operated the store for over 30 years before passing ownership to his children, Joyce Masse and A. Gary Miller, in the late 1970s. They still own the building today, but in 2002, sold the retail business “Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle” to John and Cathy Roche. The distinctive neon sign was installed in the mid-1950s on the front of the building and was restored in the 1990s. The Miller family and the Roches are being honored for the Tender Loving Care they have given this beloved Batavia landmark.

When Michael and Alison Riner bought and inhabited their Greek Revival farm house in Elba, it was quite dilapidated. The home had been vacant for years and didn’t even have running water. One vision, 20 years, and a lot of construction later, it is now a charming, immaculate home for their family. The Riners have ingeniously blended original architectural features with modern conveniences.    

For over 60 years the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County has taken excellent care of this historically and architecturally significant building that houses their offices. The Tender Loving Care they have given their 1820s property has greatly added to the streetscape of Main Street, Batavia.

Charles and Mary Brenner have spent over 30 years maintaining and restoring their “Princess Anne” style home on Tracy Avenue in Batavia. They have performed all of the work themselves and it has truly been a labor of love. They stripped all of the paint from the interior woodwork to reveal the natural beauty of the wood. Using a palette of eight different colors, the home’s exterior has been painted so that its unique features stand out.

Corfu Grange #142 was founded in 1874 and the meetings were held in the homes of its members. In 1914, the Grange purchased the Universalist Church. Then in 1939, the building was moved across the street to the present location. The curved beadboard ceiling and original gaslight fixtures are notable features of this well-preserved interior space.

32 Tracy Ave., Batavia

5211 Watson Road, Elba

Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle

Corfu Grange

Joanne O'Geen lives in the Village of Le Roy and is a 72-year-old dementia patient. She wandered off from her house on foot this afternoon and Le Roy PD is asking for the public to be on the lookout for her. She was last seen around 3:30-3:40.

If you spot her, call 9-1-1 immediately.

She is white and has dark, short hair. She is wearing black slacks and shoes, eyeglasses, and a white, short-sleeved shirt. She is said to be well known in the community.

UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: The woman has been located and is safe.

UPDATE: Here's a press release from Le Roy PD about the search:

A search for an elderly endangered person ended well today in the Village of Le Roy thanks to an alert neighbor, a very white shirt and a search party. The Genesee County Dispatch received a call about 4:05 p.m. advising that an elderly female with dementia had left a residence in the Presidential Acres, wearing a white shirt and was now missing in the village and was last seen on Robbins Road.

The family had been out looking for the person for about a half hour but was unable to locate her. The Le Roy Police started looking for her but were unable to locate her initially, at which time more manpower from the Le Roy Police and Genesee County Sheriff's were called in to assist along with a K-9 unit from Livingston County and a helicopter from the New York State Police. The Le Roy Fire Department was then placed on standby.

The ground search continued at which time an alert neighbor who was not sure what exactly was going on, notified the ground units of something suspicious that he saw. The neighbor stated he saw a person wearing a white shirt exit a hedgerow in a crop field east of Robbins Road and was now standing in the field between Robbins Road and Summit Street.

The ground units responded to that location and observed a person having a very white shirt standing about 150 yards out in the field. At 5:56 p.m., the missing female was located safe and unharmed and was returned to her residence.

Dewey Towner came up a winner again (he's previously won the Harley Raffle), this time in a Take 5 contest of the New York State Lottery. Towner bought his winning ticket at Northside Deli. Owner Dave Stupp, on the right, said it's the largest single jackpot to come out of his store so far. Towner is holding his winner's receipt. He's expected to get a check from the lottery for just over $21,000 (less taxes).

Batavia's Original Pizzeria has a new campaign going as a way of saying "thank you" to any law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician or member of the military.

Their Pay It Forward program works this way: buy a giant slice of pizza for $3 plus tax and they will put up a Post-It note on the window at the pizzeria, located at 500 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia.

Then when a person in uniform (as mentioned above) comes in the restaurant, they can take a Post-It note off the window and redeem it for a gargantuan slice of pizza, pre-paid by you.

The phone number, in case you want to call in an order, is 343-3303.

(Photo of Dime A Dance with driver Matt Kakaley, courtesy of Paul White.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

A lightning-fast track and 80 degree temperatures greeted the New York Sire Stakes 2-year-old pacing fillies at Batavia Downs where two divisions offering a total of $109,000 in purses, along with important points needed to make the NYSS final, were up for grabs on Wednesday night (Sept. 16).

Prohibitive 2-5 favorite Dime A Dance didn't dissapoint her backers as she put on a show in her $54,500 division, winning in definitive style and resetting the world's record for a 2-year-old pacing filly over a half-mile track.

Dime A Dance (Roll With Joe-Hat Dance Hanover) took off the pace fourth and watched as No Clouds Bluechip (Kevin Cummings) and American Ivy (Mark Macdonald) duked it out for the lead in a fast :26.4 quarter. From there, the field remained stagnant until the half when Mother Of Art (John Cummings Jr.) pulled first over from third and Dime A Dance (Matt Kakaley) took cover second-over behind her.

The group picked up the pace with a :28.4 third panel but that wasn’t fast enough for the eventual winner. Dime A Dance swung three-deep at that station and circled the field to clear and pull away by three-lengths in an impressive and uncontested victory in 1:52.4.

The time was a new world's record for 2-year-old pacing fillies, besting that of Isabella Blue Chip's 1:53.1 at Delaware, Ohio in 2006. It was also a new track record for Batavia Downs, smashing the old standard of 1:54.2 set by Sassa Hanover just last year.

“She’s definitely one of the better fillies this year. She was just awesome tonight; she could have paced faster,” said driver Matt Kakaley.

It was the third win in eight starts for Dime A Dance ($2.90) and it pushed her earnings to $101,513 for owners Our Horse Cents Stable, Blue Chip Bloodstock and J&T Silva Stables. The filly is trained by Ron Burke.

In the first $54,500 division, Encore Deo hung on strong down the lane for a close victory over Art Critic.

Wishy Washy Girl (Ray Schnittker) took a quick, early lead before yielding to Encore Deo (Matt Kakaley) before the quarter that went in :28. The field remained single-file to the half before the heavily favored Upside Surprise (Mike Micallef) pulled from fifth to start her outside trek.

Upside Surprise got to third and hung and couldn’t gain anymore as the leader took the field to three quarters in 1:25.4. Positions stayed the same to the top of the stretch and Encore Deo was riding a short lead when Art Critic (Jim Morrill Jr.) swung inside the fading Wishy Washy Girl and came up the pylons. The two battled in deep stretch with Encore Deo just hanging on by a nose in 1:55.1.  

“I wanted to try her on the lead tonight. At three-quarters I thought I was going to win but it got a little close there at the end,” Kakaley said.

It was the second win in eight starts for Encore Deo ($13.40) and the winning time was a new lifetime mark for the filly. The winner’s share of the purse pushed her earnings to $56,578 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Jason Melillo and Lawrence Carr. Ron Burke mentors the filly.

There were also two divisions of the $15,000 NYSS excelsior series on Wednesday.

The first split was won by Major Millie (Art Major-Gravity) in 1:57. The filly is trained by Erv Miller and was driven to the victory by Kakaley. Major Millie ($9.10) is owned by KDM Stables Corp.

The second stanza was won by Milky Way Rae (American Ideal-Aurora Borealus) in a swift 1:55.3. She is trained by Tracy Brainard and was driven by Jim Morrill Jr. Milky Way Rae ($3.90) is owned by Fortunate One, LLC.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 18) at 6:35.