Genesee County's unemployment rate last month was at its lowest level for July since 2006, hitting 4.0, lower by sixth-tenths of a percent from July of last year.

In 2006, the rate was 4.0 and the last time it was lower was in 2001, at 3.7 percent. The highest rate over the past decade was 7.5 percent in 2012.

Nationally, the unemployment rate is 5.1 percent and for New York State it is 5.0.

In June for Genesee County, the unemployment rate was 3.7 percent. June's rate locally is usually the same or lower than July.

The county's labor participation total -- the number of people working or actively looking for work is 30,800. A year ago it was 31,400. The highest level this century was 34,800 in 2008.

The unemployment rate for the GLOW region is 4.5 percent, down from 5.2 percent a year ago.

In the Rochester area, the unemployment rate is 4.7 percent. It's 4.9 percent in the Buffalo area.

The following people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office during the Blink 182 concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Wednesday:

Jonathan W. Keough, 30, of La Mesa Lane, San Angelo, Texas, is charged with trespass after allegedly refusing to leave the concert venue after being told numerous times to leave the venue. Keough was arraigned in Darien Court and jailed in lieu of $250 bail.

Brandon J. Robinson, 23, of Willow Ridge, Amherst, is charged with two counts of second-degree harassment, third-degree criminal trespass, and resisting arrest after allegedly jumping a fence inside the venue and then fighting with security guards. Robinson then allegedly resisted arrest. He was arraigned in Darien Court and jailed in lieu of $1,500 bail.

Nicholas J. Pascucci, 26, of Parmalee Road, Le Roy, is charged with second-degree harassment after allegedly biting a Live Nation security guard. Pascucci was arraigned in Darien Court and jailed in lieu of $250 bail.

Mark J. Cone, 22, of Anglewood Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

Jeremy J. Carr, 19, of Vinedale Avenue, Rochester, is charged with two counts of trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue twice after being ejected and told not to return.

Brandon J. Sarget, 28, of Douglas Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Michael J. Rawle, 22, of Appian Drive, Rochester, is charged with second-degree harassment after allegedly striking another person.

Allison J. Minnick, 23, of Maple Ridge Road, Medina, is charged with third-degree criminal trespass after allegedly jumping over the exterior fence into the venue after having been ejected earlier.

Rawson J. Duckett, 25, of Marlborough Road, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

Philip J. Williamson, 19, of Seville Drive, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

One person is injured following an accident at the intersection of Oatka Trail and Circular Hill roads. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.

Deputies were able to follow a trail of breadcrumbs, or in this case, truck parts, and, along with the help of witnesses, find and identify a suspect in a hit-and-run accident that occurred in the late morning in Le Roy on Monday.

James J. Riechel, 39, of Britt Road, Le Roy, was charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident, following too closely, driving without a license and reckless driving.

According to reports, Riechel's 2002 Dodge pickup struck a Waste Management garbage truck that was in the midst of making its rounds. 

A witness said as the Waste Management driver called to report the accident, Riechel fled the scene.

The accident was reported at 11:40 a.m. in the area of 8550 North Road, Le Roy. 

There were no injuries reported.

The accident was investigated by Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Loftus.

Reader submitted photo.

A 26-year-old Corfu woman was arrested on Route 98 in the Village of Attica after Attica PD initiated a traffic stop for a vehicle traveling with a flat tire at 2:59 a.m. on Aug. 19.

Upon further investigation, Jessica L. Zellner was allegedly found to be driving while intoxicated.

It was determined by Attica PD and the Wyoming County Sheriff's Department that Zellner had left the scene of two separate property damage accidents, one of which took place on Maxon Road, Town of Bennington, and the other on Route 354 in the Village of Attica.

During the arrest process, Zellner was also charged with refusal to take a breath test and unlawful possession of marijuana. She was also charged with resisting arrest, third-degree escape and third-degree attempted assault, following two different altercations that allegedly occurred at Attica PD headquarters.

She was arraigned in Village of Attica Court and put in Wyoming County Jail on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. Zellner is to reappear in Village of Attica Court at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 12.

Joshua D. Murphy, 30, of Pleasant Street, Le Roy, was arrested on Aug. 23 by the Le Roy Police Department. Murphy was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor. Murphy was arrested following the investigation of a child who had been struck in the ribs. Murphy allegedly struck a 20-month-old child in the ribs on Aug. 13. Murphy was issued an appearance ticket on the charge and is due in the Le Roy Town Court on Sept. 26 to answer to the charge.

Kenisha A. Thomas, 18, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on Aug. 14 by the Le Roy Police Department. Thomas was charged with: two counts of criminal mischief in the 4th degree, a Class A misdemeanor; one count of petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor; and second-degree harassment, a violation. Thomas was arrested following a larceny complaint at the Beautiful Kitchen Chinese restaurant on West Main Street. Thomas allegedly stole a tip jar from the counter of the establishment, which had approximately $60 inside. While fleeing the scene, Thomas allegedly damaged the exit door and struck an employee in the face. Thomas was arraigned and is being held at the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $200 cash bail or $400 bond. Thomas is to return to the Le Roy Town Court on Sept. 6 to answer to the charges.

Jon Roblee, 40, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of marijuana. He was arrested on the charges following an incident on Aug. 16 that originally occurred at 10 p.m. on Oak Street in Batavia. He allegedly pushed a subject at that location but left prior to arrival of police. Patrols later located Roblee on Bank Street and attempted to take him into custody. He allegedly resisted but was eventually subdued and arrested. He was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana. He was arraigned and jailed on $2,500 cash/bond. Roblee was due back in City Court on Aug. 18. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Felicia DeGroot, assisted by Officer Eric Foels.

Nicole R. Elmore, 28, of Erie Street, Le Roy, was arrested on Aug. 22 by the Le Roy Police Department. Elmore was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor. Elmore was arrested after she allegedly allowed a child to be in the area of numerous items of drug paraphernalia in her residence. Elmore was arraigned and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. Elmore is to return to the Le Roy Town Court on Sept. 6 to answer to the charge.

Jason A. McFollins, 39, of Union Street, Batavia, is charged with: DWI; open container of alcohol; obstructed vision; aggravated unlicensed operation -- previous conviction; and operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or more -- first offense. McFollins was arrested at 2:05 a.m. on Aug. 14 on Olyn Avenue in Batavia for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. He was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on Sept. 14. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk, assisted by Officer Eric Foels.

Jonathan H. Wincott, 22, Gilbert Lane, Plainview, is charged with: refusal to take a breath test; speeding; unlawful possession of marijuana; and driving while ability impaired by drugs. He was arrested at 12:18 a.m. on Aug. 16 following an investigation into a traffic violation that occurred on East Main Street in Batavia a short time earlier. Wincott was processed at BPD headquarters and given several traffic tickets and an appearance ticket for City Court on Aug. 31. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Eric Foels, assisted by Officer Felicia DeGroot.

Dianna Leon, 18, of Richmond Avenue, Batavia, turned herself in at city police headquarters on a bench warrant. It was issued because she failed to appear in court on a driving-while-ability-impaired charge stemming from a hit-and-run accident on Ellicott Street in Batavia on Halloween 2014. She posted $250 cash bail and was issued a computer-generated appearance ticket. She was due in City Court on Tuesday (Aug. 23). The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer James DeFreze.

Patrick Neaverth, 35, no permanent address, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt and second-degree burglary. On Aug. 13, Batavia PD was dispatched to a Kingsbury Avenue address for a report of a male lying on the floor of an enclosed porch. Police found Neaverth in the enclosed porch. The female resident has a valid order of protection against the defendant out of City Court. He was arrested and jailed without bail. He was due in City Court on Aug. 15. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Matthew Joseph Engert, 25, of Geddes Street, Holley, was arrested Aug. 8 on a bench warrant out of City Court for allegedly failing to appear on a charge of aggravated harassment. He was jailed in lieu of $2,000 cash or $4,000 bond and was due in City Court Aug. 10. The case was handled by Batavia Police Sgt. Jason Davis.

Darryl Simone Robinson, 52, of East Main Street, Batavia, turned himself in on a City Court bench warrant on Aug. 16. Robinson allegedly failed to pay a fine on Aug. 3 on an unnecessary noise conviction. Robinson was arraigned on the warrant then released on his own recognizance. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jason Ivison.

Tyanna D. Green, 21, of Walnut Street, Batavia, was arrested on Aug. 16 on two bench warrants -- one for failure to appear in court, the other for failing to pay a fine from two separate incidents. Green was arraigned and the judge also signed and executed a warrant for violation of Probation. Green was jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail and was due back in City Court on Aug. 18. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jamie Givens, assisted by Sgt. Dan Coffey.

Gina L. Avino, 41, of Haven Lane, Batavia, was turned over to BPD by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office on Aug. 19 on a bench warrant out of City Court. Avino was arraigned and jailed on $250 cash bail or bond and is due in City Court today. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins.

Cody Moore, 27, no permanent address, was arrested on a bench warrant Aug. 22. He allegedly failed to appear in Batavia City Court to answer charges of traffic violations. Moore was arraigned and put in GC County Jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail. He is due in City Court on Aug. 30. The case was handled by Batavia Police Sgt. Jason Davis, assisted by Sgt. Dan Coffey.

Jordan G. Merica, 24, of Main Road, Stafford, was arrested at 9:46 p.m. on Aug. 20 after being located in Kibbe Park in Batavia after hours and allegedly in possession of marijuana. Merica is due in City Court on Aug. 30. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Mitchell Cowen, assisted by Officer Arick Perkins.

Two people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office during the ZZ Top concert at Darien Lake PAC on Tuesday (Aug. 23).

The following were issued appearance tickets to be in Town of Darien Court on Sept. 13:

George J. Kovach, 59, of Adam Street, North Tonawanda, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance not in its original container, after allegedly possession a quantity of a controlled substance during a suspicious condition investigation.

Earl J. Spencer, 39, of Grove Street, Tonawanda, was arrested for unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

Press release:

Don’t miss out! Spots for the GLOW’s 2016 Household Hazardous/Pharmaceutical Waste Collection Event are going fast. Residents who want to dispose of materials at the Saturday, Sept. 17, collection in Batavia must have an appointment in order to attend.

GLOW accepts a wide range of household chemicals, oil base paint, home computers (NOTE LIMIT OF TWO (2) CRT TVs AND/OR MONITORS PER REGISTRANT), propane tanks and canisters, vehicle batteries and other materials. Microwave ovens and for the seventh year, thanks to the assistance of the Genesee County Sheriff’s office, pharmaceuticals (unwanted, outdated, unusable and over-the-counter medicines) will be accepted. These materials are accepted FREE OF CHARGE. There is a nominal fee for tires.

Funding is provided by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), GLOW’s county contributions and Covanta Energy.

This is a great opportunity for residents to dispose of household chemicals and medicines they no longer want or need. Past collections have resulted in the safe and legal disposal of thousands of tires, thousands of gallons of solvents, cleaning products and paint, not to mention vehicle batteries, propane tanks and computers. Whenever possible materials collected are recycled.

The collection is open to residents in Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming counties. To make an appointment residents are asked to call the GLOW office at 585/815-7906 or 800/836-1154, or email glow@co.genesee.ny.us

Long a staple of the Genesee Region league, Elba and Byron-Bergen have parted ways, creating an opportunity for Elba and Oakfield-Alabama to create a new alliance.

It makes sense. The two communities share a youth football program, so the players grow up together and now they can continue that learning process together through the games that really count in high school.

Now comes the hard part of bringing two programs together on short notice. Elba's Head Coach Mike Cintorino and O-A Head Coach Brian Palone will share that role this year in the combined program. Home games will be split between the two schools and the team will wear the home uniform of whichever school is hosting that home game. On the road, they'll switch up the uniforms.

Next year, Cintorino said, no pun intended, the uniforms will become more uniform. There will be new colors and a new mascot.

This year, everybody's just got to get through the transition.

And the players are getting through it just fine, both coaches said. They're coming together, working hard and learning, even though it's a young team with lots of decisions to be made about who to play where.

One key decision is already made. Strong-armed freshman Colton Dylan will be behind center, taking snaps and running the offense.

"If we didn’t have the confidence in him we would probably find somebody else," Cintorino said. "He came out this summer and showed us right away — there were a few kids we were thinking about at the quarterback position, but the first time we came out for 7-on-7s and we watched him throw and watched him do what he can do, we just kind of looked at each other and said, ‘yup, that’s our guy.’ "

He's a freshman. He's got a lot to learn. He'll make mistakes and have his ups and downs, but Palone said he's shown he has the maturity to handle the process.

"He has a good cast around him, in coaches and players, to support him and help him become a better player," Palone said.

The offensive line is made up mostly of O-A players returning from last year and the receiving corps is anchored by experienced players from Elba, which will help put a good offense around Dylan, Palone said.

"Being a ninth-grader and being a leader to seniors is not an easy task," Cintorino said. "It’s not an easy task for an 11th-grader, so he’ll have to grow into that, but physically, he can do everything that we ask of him."

Palone and Cintorino are also growing into working with each other, they said. They both came into the GR the same year, so they know each other well, but they are molding together different styles and different strategies, but so far it's working well, they said.

"We're able to work together and help each other out," Palone said. "It's only going to make us better coaches, learning from each other and what we do. We’re both excited and looking forward to the challenge of working with each other and helping the kids out and becoming one program."

Mindfulness, self-improvement and guidance are important themes in today’s crazy world. With all of this anxiety swirling around our society, it’s probably the most perfect and appropriate time for a wonderful painting exhibition called “Meditations” by Joanna Angie at The Rosalie “Roz” Steiner Gallery at Genesee Community College in Batavia.

“Meditations” runs through Sept. 24. The gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and open during GCC special events.

Buffalo artist Angie’s large, colorful thangka paintings explore the themes of compassion, community and knowledge. The images stem from the natural connection of Tibetan spiritual practice and the traditional form of art dating back to the 11th century. In addition to their stunning beauty, the thangka paintings serve as objects of devotion, aids to spiritual practice and sources of blessings to the who meditate upon them.

Angie’s colorful works are reflective of her life’s path. Her early childhood passion for colorful paintings began a journey of creative pursuits. Along the way, she got involved with Tibetan spiritual practice, which has taken her across the world to places like China, Tibet, India and beyond. After founding Buffalo Arts Studio in 1991, Angie directed the organization and worked on her mural career.

Visit www.VisitGeneseeNY.com to learn more...

City fire is being dispatched to 212 N. Spruce St. for what could be a brush fire in the woods behind the apartment complex, or it could be a campfire.

UPDATE 10:05 a.m.: It's a small, outdoor cooking fire. No word yet on whether it was attended. The fire was put out.

National recording artists and rock band ZZ Top performed last night, headlining three concerts in one week at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center. They played many greatest hits off their 15-album career like "Legs," "Rough Boy," "Cheap Sunglasses," "Tush" and "La Grange."

Over 45-plus years of the band's success has also included TV and films early in 1990s as they appeared in the movies "Back to the Future Part III" and "Mother Goose Rock N Rhyme."  Very popular in the 1980s, they won three music video awards for "Legs," "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Rough Boy."

Earlier this month, Gregg Allman cancelled the remainder of his solo and U.S. tour with ZZ Top due to serious health issues, so Randy Bachman and his band opened for ZZ Top. 

The former lead guitarist of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive from the 1960s and '70s played some classics like "No Sugar Tonight," "American Woman," "You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet" and "Takin’ Care of Business."

Also opening was Jonny Two Bags from Social Distortion who performed a 30-minute set.   

Tonight’s concert is pop / punk rock band Blink 182 and Friday’s performance is American bro-country duo Florida Georgia Line, both starting at 7 p.m.

Randy Bachman

A truck driver managed to escape an accident on the eastbound Thruway earlier this evening after a tire blew out and his truck veered off the roadway and into the woods.

The accident occurred at mile marker 400.1 (which he ran over -- picture below).

The accident was reported at about 7 p.m. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire companies responded and both agencies cleared the scene shortly after 8 p.m.

Photos submitted by a reader.

A car vs. bicycle accident is reported at 505 E. Main St. and the bicyclist is said to be lying in the roadway. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:32 p.m.: A 14-year-old male who was the bicyclist is being transported to UMMC with a complaint of right knee pain. He was boarded and collared as a precaution, according to a medic.

Press release:

The two new facilities under construction at Genesee Community College are beginning to take shape and both projects are on schedule to be completed next summer, the College's Board of Trustees learned at its monthly meeting following a project tour. 

The structural steel is rising on the new 18,478-square-foot, two-story Student Success Center, which will connect to the existing Conable Technology Building through a second-story bridge. As the new "front door" of the Batavia Campus, the Student Success Center will partially enclose the College's central clock tower quad and provide a one-stop service center for students seeking admissions, financial aid, academic advisement, as well as job and career counseling. 

The site work for the new, 56,614-square-foot Richard C. Call Arena continues with the structural steel anticipated in the coming two or three weeks. Located adjacent to the Soccer and Lacrosse Turf Field at the far west side of campus, the new facility will be the largest open public space in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties and is expected to draw as many as 500,000 visitors to the campus each year. The large arena will not only accommodate an array of athletic competitions, but all kinds of civic, community, trade, industry as well as college events -- from farm, boat and tractor shows to commencement ceremonies where a whole family can sit together. 

Combined, the two projects make up the largest component of a nearly $25-million overall capital project. 

In other business, the Board of Trustees:

• Heard a report from Barbara Sadden, director of the Upward Bound program, which is celebrating its 32nd year as part the federally funded TRiO Program. Through a partnership between Genesee Community College and numerous area secondary schools, the program serves students in Genesee and Wyoming counties from low-income families and/or families where neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. Upward Bound provides these students with year-round academic instruction, tutoring, counseling, mentoring, cultural enrichment, work-study programs and other activities all focused on increasing their likelihood of graduating from high school and enrolling in a college or university. Since 1984 when the program was introduced, 1,671 students have been served, and Upward Bound students have successfully enrolled in more than 24 different colleges and universities. In addition, as high school students enrolled in GCC's Accelerated College Enrollment Program, Upward Bound students have taken 324 college credits. 

• Approved President James Sunser's report on the reaffirming of the following College policies with minor revisions: Use of Equipment (5006), On-Campus Sales (5007), Parking Regulations (5008), External Support of Research and Development Activities (5010), Process for Independent Auditing Services (5011), Purchasing Policy (5015) and Petty Cash (5016). 

• Appointed the Board of Trustee committee assignments as follows: Buildings & Grounds -- Donna Ferry (chair), Peter Call, Maureen Marshall, Laurie Miller and Jacalyn Whiting; Personnel -- Laurie Miller (chair), Benjamin Bonarigo, Robert Boyce, Maureen Marshall, and Diane Torcello; Policy -- Benjamin Bonarigo (chair) and Jacalyn Whiting; Finance -- Peter Call (chair), Donna Ferry and Diane Torcello; NYCCT -- Donna Ferry; Foundation -- Robert Boyce, Peter Call, and Jacalyn Whiting; GCC Association -- Laurie Miller; Nominating -- Donna Ferry (chair) and Robert Boyce.

• Heard President Sunser report on the following new personnel appointments:

• Laurel Sanger, will begin as the new director of GCC's Nursing program on Sept. 5. She leaves Monroe Community College after nearly 20 years of experience as the dean of Science, Health and Business, the chair of the Nursing department and a nursing instructor. She earned two master's degrees, in Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Public Administration from Nazareth College and The College at Brockport, respectively. She resides in Rochester.

Other new Nursing program instructional staff include: 

• Crystal Shelanskey earned her master's degree in Nursing Education from Roberts Wesleyan College, and has been clinical adjunct instructor at GCC for three years and a visiting nurse in the Rochester area performing in-home patient support. She resides in Rochester.
• Beth Felix also earned her master's degree in Nursing Education from Roberts Wesleyan College. She has worked as a clinical instructor for both GCC and MCC and currently works as an intensive care RN in the Rochester Regional Health System. She resides in Rochester.
• Sabrina Schwartz is a 2010 graduate of GCC's Nursing Program and earned her master's degree from SUNY-IT Utica. She has worked in a variety of nursing specialties including clinical teaching, in-service and telehealth, and has three years of maternity experience. She currently is a per diem nurse in maternity and newborn nursing. She resides in Newfane.
• Mary Dixon is a 1984 graduate of GCC's Nursing Program and earned her master's degree in Nursing Education from St. John's Fisher College. She has since served as an adjunct nursing instructor at both institutions. As a certified oncology nurse, she currently practices oncology and hematology nursing. She resides in Batavia.

Press release from the city Department of Public Works:

Paving operations are scheduled to begin on Washington Avenue and Jefferson Avenue with pavement milling on Thursday, Aug. 25, and work continuing through next week until the new pavement is completed.

The paving aspect of this project includes Washington Avenue in its entirety and the northern end of Jefferson Avenue.

Traffic delays can be expected during this phase of contruction and alternate routes should be used when possible.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

If you have ever attended live harness racing and realized you may be interested in becoming an active participant in America’s oldest organized sport, Batavia Downs is offering a new owner seminar at 3 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 10) in the Robert J. Kane Boardroom, located in the lower grandstand. It is being held in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association and the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State.

The program will include a two-and-a-half hour classroom presentation by representatives of the United States Trotting Association (USTA) and the Harness Horse Breeders of New York (HHBNYS) and will include guest trainers, drivers, owners and management from Batavia Downs Racetrack. Topics will include risk and reward, what it costs, choosing your horse, trainer and driver, and time will be allowed for questions and answers throughout the evening.

The package includes:

• All needed classroom materials;
• A hands-on tour of the paddock as horses prepare for the night's action;
• Reserved seating in the clubhouse;
• Dinner at the prime rib, crab leg and shrimp buffet;
• A trip to the winner’s circle for a win picture after a race;
• Membership to the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State;
• $20 worth of free-play on the gaming floor;
• and a free one-year subscription to the industry’s award-winning publication, "Hoof Beats Magazine."

The cost is only $30 for a single and $50 for a couple. Reservations should be made in advance but payment will be made at the door. There are several ways to register. There are links on both USTA and Batavia Downs Facebook pages or go to shop.ustrotting.com and click Prospective Owners Events. You can also e-mail owners@ustrotting.com or call 877-800-8782, ext. 5555 or 585-343-375, ext. 6322.

This is your opportunity to own your own sports franchise and go from the grandstand to the winner’s circle with your winning horse. Purses have never been higher at many tracks in North America and there has never been a better time to get involved in all the fun and excitement of harness racing ownership than right now.

The players are working hard, learning fast and Head Coach Brian Herdlein likes what he sees so far of the 2016 edition of the Le Roy Oatkan Knights.

The team has athleticism, he said, though several players are being asked to step into starting roles for the first time.

Josh Laurie returns to his #1 QB slot and the other offensive skill positions look strong, Herdlein said.

"if we can stay away from the injury bug, we should be solid at the skill positions, especially receiver; we’re pretty deep there," Herdlein said. "We’ve got a couple of solid running backs, then you add Josh in there, who can run and throw. He’s a duel threat, so I think we’ll be OK."

Defensively, the team loses Nick Eggling but adds speed and height with Dom Filio, Nate Flint, Bryce Bordonaro and Luke Stella.

The team's first home game will be played in Perry because of new construction (field house, concession stand and press box) at Hartwood Park, with the first actual home-home game coming in the fourth game of the season.

That odd schedule won't affect the team at all, Herdlein said. The players have known about the change all off-season, he said.

Le Roy will play Cal-Mum this year, the traditional archrival, at the end of the season.

It's always the Knights' goal to make the post-season and Herdlein thinks his young team has the talent to challenge for a Class C title.

"Right now, I think we’re taking all the right steps," Herdlein said. "The kids work hard every day. They’re willing to learn. That’s all we can ask."

A caller at 7051 Pearl Street Road, Oakfield, reports the smell of electrical burning in the residence.

Oakfield fire along with Alabama, East Pembroke and Elba dispatched.

A first responder reports nothing showing.

UPDATE 9:26 p.m.: Oakfield chief on scene says Oakfield can respond non-emergency, all other units can remain in quarters.