Gary Maha, Gordon Dibble, and John Hilchey, the three newest members of the Genesee County Legislature, along with the rest of the Legislature, took their oaths of office Wednesday night prior to the Legislature's organizational meeting at the Old Courthouse.

Robert Bausch, representing Elba, Byron, and Bergen, was chosen to chair the Legislature.

From left, Pam LaGrou, clerk to the legislators, Gary Maha, Gordon Dibble, Shelly Stein, Andrew Young, Bob Bausch, John Deleo, Marianne Clattenburg, Gregg Torrey, John Hilchey, and County Manager Jay Gsell.

Town of Batavia officials were sworn in by Town Justice Tom Williams prior to the Town's organizational meeting on Wednesday night. Pictured from left: Tom Williams, town justice; Daniel Underhill, councilperson; Greg Post, supervisor; Patti Michalak, councilperson; Thomas Lichtenthal, highway superintendent; Teressa Morasco, town clerk.  

Photo and info submitted by Chad Zambito.

We have been notified of the following closings for tomorrow due to anticipated extreme cold:

• Batavia City Schools 
• Le Roy Central School District
• Oakfield-Alabama Central School District
• Pavilion Central School District
• Notre Dame High School
• Mental Health Association
• Extended, night-lighted skate, sponsored by the Batavia Kiwanis Club, at DeWitt Recreation Area
• St. Joe’s bingo
• Genesee Christian Academy
• Haxton Memorial Library
• Genesee County Office for the Aging cancels home-delivered meals and congregate meal sites, but the office will be open for business.

Please send announcements about closings to howard@thebatavian.com.

A collision between a car and a small school bus are reported at Big Tree Road and South Street Road, Covington.

Unknown injuries.

Pavilion fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 3:42 p.m.: One injury reported. A child with a head injury, conscious and alert. Traffic at Route 246 will be shut down by fire police.

UPDATE 3:47 p.m.: A fire chief reports multiple accidents at the location.

UPDATE 3:52 p.m.: A second ambulance requested to the scene.

It will be Notre Dame and Cal-Mum facing off tonight in the championship match of the Batavia Rotary Club Girls Basketball Tournament.

After Batavia delivered an uninspired performance leading to a loss to the Red Raiders 43-40, the Lady Blue Devils will face Attica in the consolation game at 6 p.m.

NOTE: the games have been moved from Friday night to tonight because of the anticipated cold snap tomorrow.

The Lady Raiders will face a motivated Lady Irish team that had two of the squad's top players both in sync Wednesday night, with Callie McCulley scoring 22 points and Margaret Sutherland scoring 16 to help lead a dominating 64-42 win over Attica. Natalie Thornton added 13 points.

Attica was led by Taylor Gadd with 13 points and Kacey Pearce with 10.

Top scorer Wednesday night was Cal-Mum's Elyse Van Auken, who scored 24 points. Makenzie Wilson scored eight points.

For Batavia, Ryann Stefaniak scored 13 points, Bryn Wormley, eight, and Kenzie Reigle, seven.

Two Batavia players missed the game due to illness.

A newcomer to watch with Batavia is 5' 11" sophomore Emma Krolczyk, who scored six points. 

To purchase prints of pictures, click here.

There is a wind chill warning in effect starting at 8 o'clock tonight until 7 a.m. Sunday. The National Weather Service issued this urgent warning at 2:52 p.m.

Dangerously cold wind chills are expected. They are anticipated to range from 20 to 30 degrees below zero at times.

This can cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes to exposed skin. It is a potentially dangerous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outdoors be sure to cover all exposed skin.

There is also a hazardous weather outlook in effect until 7 a.m. Sunday.

A semi-truck is reportedly stuck under the bridge on South Lake Road, Pembroke, under the Thruway overpass.

A deputy is dispatched.

UPDATE 11:23 a.m.: A deputy on scene says the roadway is completely clear and there's no sign of damage to the bridge. He's going to check Route 5.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: Route 5 is clear. "No semi's stuck anywhere," a deputy reports.

Police located and arrested a drug dealer yesterday who was accused of failure to appear in County Court for his sentencing and of violating an order of protection while awaiting sentencing.

Officers learned that Charles "Gusto" Williams, 38, was at a residence on Ross Street based on a citizen's tip.

Batavia PD sought the public's assistance in locating Williams after he refused to turn himself in on a warrant.

He was jailed pending his arraignment today.

He was convicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and criminal contempt, 1st.​

Nicholas G. Williams, 41, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, and burglary, 2nd. Williams is accused of unlawfully entering a dwelling in Le Roy with the intent to commit a crime, thereby violating a court order to stay away from the resident. He was also charged with resisting arrest. He allegedly resisted officers when they attempted to place handcuffs on his wrists. He was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Christina M. Sanchez-Anderson, 29, and Kodey R. Mills, 24, both of Church Street, Le Roy, were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Sanchez-Anderson and Mills were arrested after Le Roy PD responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at 9:30 a.m., Sunday. During the investigation police allegedly observed a crack pipe in plain view in the living room. Mills was released on an appearance ticket. There was a warrant for the arrest of Sanchez-Anderson on an unrelated charge. She was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Lori A. Say, 50, of Roanoke Road, Stafford, is charged with petit larceny. Say is accused of shoplifting from a business on West Avenue in the Village of Le Roy.

James M. Tinker, 25, of Fowler Road, Linwood, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Tinker is accused of punching and breaking the window of another person in the Village of Le Roy during a dispute. Tinker was treated for cuts on his hand an issued an appearance ticket.

Chazmar T. Walters, 25, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. 

Brian Gilbert Keller, 22, of Sumner Road, Darien, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and harassment, 2nd. Keller allegedly spit in the face of another person, a violation of a refrain from offensive conduct order of protection. He was jailed on $10,000 bail, $15,000 bond.

A chicken coop fire is reported at 3246 Galloway Road.

A first responder on scene reports two sheds, one completely on the ground, the other starting to get fully involved, about 50 feet from the residence.

Town of Batavia fire with mutual aid from Oakfield dispatched.

UPDATE 6:48 a.m.: East Pembroke requested to stand by in quarters. The flammables and snowblower removed from the second shed.

UPDATE 6:53 a.m.: Per town command, everything on the road can respond non-emergency. East Pembroke can go back in service.

From The Batavian's news partner, 13WHAM

Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center welcomed the hospital’s first baby delivered in the New Year. Madison Marie Fitzwater was born to first-time parents Amanda Inman and Gary Fitzwater at 8:28 am on Jan. 2, 2018.  Madison weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 19 inches long.

The family was presented with a stroller and a gift basket that included baby essentials, safety items, blankets, crib soother and a $100 gift card.

United Memorial Medical Center’s Maternity Floor offers private post-partum rooms designed for maximum comfort with relaxing colors, soft lighting, private bathrooms, and reclining couches for guests. UMMC delivered 576 babies in 2017. To learn more about childbirth and maternity at United Memorial Medical Center, visit RochesterRegional.org.

Press release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley:

“Although I am glad that the governor did not continue his game of political hide-and-seek with the legislature as we saw last year, wasting large sums of taxpayer money to present over 20 ideas with unsubstantiated legislative backing or confirmed funding sources amounts to little more than an expensive taxpayer-funded speech.

“I am glad to be back in Albany continuing to work hard for the residents of Genesee, Orleans and Monroe counties with my focus on lowing our families’ tax burden, making New York more business-friendly, fully funding our infrastructure and continuing to reform our charitable gaming laws.”

Press release from State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer:

“This year, the state of New York is facing a deficit in the billions. The budget must be balanced by restraining spending and not by more taxes for a state that has one of the highest burdens in the nation. It’s time to remove the barriers that inhibit growth in our Upstate economy and enact policies that stem the consistent loss of population of past decades, such as enacting comprehensive regulatory reforms and cutting energy taxes. 

“We should also seriously consider eliminating expenditures for the state’s economic development programs that are not creating jobs, including Start-Up NY and the tens of millions of dollars being spent on television advertising by the Executive.

“By getting our fiscal house in order, we can continue investments in improvements to our community’s transportation infrastructure and water quality, combating the heroin and opioid crisis and ensuring Western New York gets its fair share of state funding for our schools.”

Press release from Congressman Chris Collins:

"The Governor's speech was a pathetic attempt to rile his base, although even they have realized that his political empire is crumbling judging from the fact that the loudest round of applause came when he mentioned the Buffalo Bills. Republicans under President Trump have lowered taxes, rolled back regulations, and are seeing explosive economic growth. In comparison, under Andrew Cuomo, New York is facing a $4 billion deficit, the New York City subway is crumbling, and the FBI has opened an investigation into his hiring practices. New Yorkers deserve better."

One person suffered minor injuries and was transported to UMMC by Bethany's ambulance following an accident at 9:27 p.m. in the area of 11176 Bethany Center Road, Bethany. 

A truck went off the roadway and struck a tree.

Bethany fire and ambulance responded. State Police are handling the investigation.

Photos by Glenn Adams.

Michael Paul Carey, 32, of Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or circulation.  Carey is accused of fighting with another inmate in the Genesee County Jail at 11:33 p.m., Monday. Carey allegedly tried to strangle a fellow inmate.

Allea Beth Devos, 30, of Prospect Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, failure to dim headlights, and refusal to take breath test. Devos was stopped at 9:31 p.m., New Year's Eve, on Ellicott Street, Batavia, by Sgt. Eric Seppala.

Rebecca Sue Hensel, 35, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding. Hensel was stopped at 10:39 p.m., Friday, on Main Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Mathew Clor.

Edward Jordan White, 22, of Michigan Street, Lockport, is charged with possession of dangerous contraband while confined in the first degree. White, while an inmate at the Genesee County Jail, allegedly possessed an alcoholic beverage at 9:43 p.m., Dec. 26.  He is being held on unrelated charges.

Michaela Rose Leach, 18, of Transit Road, Pavilion, is charged with trespass.  Leach was allegedly found at College Village after being barred from the property four days earlier.

Matthew H. Pape, 26, of Oakfield, is charged with harassment 2nd and endangering the welfare of a child. Pape was arrested by State Police following the report of an incident at 9:49 p.m., Monday, in Oakfield. Pape was jailed on bail. No further details released.

Eric M. Schroer, 22, of Depew, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Schroer was stopped at 10:03 p.m., on New Year's Eve, at Tensow Road and Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, by State Police.

A 64-year-old Elba resident died yesterday following a traffic accident on the Thruway at mile marker 417.2, in Depew, when he was unable to stop in time to avoid rear-ending a tractor-trailer that stopped quickly to avoid another collision.

Edward Torres was transported by ground ambulance following the accident at 1:54 p.m. to Erie County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

State Police say Torres was eastbound behind a tractor-trailer that was also eastbound. There was an accident ahead of the truck and the truck came to an abrupt stop. Torres was unable to stop in time to avoid a crash.

There were other people injured and one person remains in serious condition.

The accident remains under investigation.

CNN: The nuclear war tweet heard 'round the world

A skidster is reportedly on fire inside a barn at 7116 Norton Road, Elba. The barn is 75 feet from a house. Elba Fire Department is responding along with Byron. Stafford is requested to stand by in quarters. The location is between Ford and Edgerton roads.

UPDATE 5:08 p.m.: Fire police are requested to shut down traffic at Route 262 and Edgerton Road. Command at the scene tells responders to "take it easy coming in," due to road conditions.

UPDATE 5:23 p.m.: City Engine 11 and Town of Batavia Engine 24 are on scene, too. This is now a working barn fire.

UPDATE 5:28 p.m.: Fire police also requested for traffic control at the intersection of Edgerton and Norton roads, and at Batavia Elba Townline Road and Norton Road.

UPDATE 6:15 p.m.: This occurred at barns owned by Torrey Farms. The fire did not cause structural damage to the barn. Some hay spread through the barn did catch on fire. But there were 120 cows inside and all of them were unharmed and safely evacuated. Cow trailers are being deployed to shuttle the cows to CY Farms' Heifer Farm, where they will be kept temporarily. It is estimated that it will take about 10 trips to transport the cows for safekeeping.

UPDATE 6:24  p.m.: Elba Fire Chief Mike Heale said the skidster fire sparked some hay but there's no significant structural damage to the barn; some top beams may be singed in places -- a later inspection can confirm that. Heale said there was no extension of the blaze.

UPDATE 6:57 p.m.: Town of Batavia back in service, returning.

UPDATE 7:05 p.m.: Elba back in service. Roads reopened.

UPDATE 7:27 p.m.: Correction, the road is still closed. It is closed until the cows have been moved so the trucks can more safely back in. There is at least one more round trip for the trucks.

A traffic accident in Depew has closed the New York State Thruway in both directions and that is having an impact on traffic in Genesee County.

Besides the westbound closure from Pembroke toward Depew, Route 77 is also clogged with traffic. It sounds like there is congestion into Corfu.

The traffic camera above shows the eastbound lane blocked in Depew; however, the Pembroke exit 48 camera (below) just started showing eastbound traffic flowing through the area again while westbound traffic is still being diverted off the Thruway in Pembroke.