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A driver involved in an accident Sunday night on Ellicott Street near Jackson Avenue that sent two people to the hospital has been charged with DWI.

Reid E. Scott, 23, of Bear Road, Cowlesville, is also charged with driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, leaving the scene of an injury accident, reckless driving, speeding and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. 

Scott's vehicle was northbound on Ellicott Street, allegedly at a high rate of speed, according to investigators. A second vehicle was in the left-turn lane, intending to turn into Kwik Fill, and Scott allegedly attempted to pass the vehicle on the left by driving in the wrong lane toward oncoming traffic.

Scott's vehicle struck the turning vehicle. His vehicle then continued north striking a railroad crossing sign and utility pole.

Scott allegedly fled the scene of the accident on foot and was later located in Jackson Square. He suffered a hand injury.

Batavia PD did not release the names of the occupants of the other vehicle or provide information on their injuries.

UPDATE Tuesday, 4:50 p.m.: The driver of the second vehicle was Frances Riggs, of Brockport, and the passenger was Mattie Cole, of Albion. Both were transported to UMMC, but neither suffered a significant  injury, according to Sgt. Chris Camp. 

Tony Mancuso sent in this photo of his father, Joseph Laurence Mancuso, handing out NRA junior diplomas many years ago.

Tony's father did gun safety training and started Batavia Archers.

Tony said he doesn't know the other folks in the photo, but said it would be great to find out who they are. Recognize anybody? Leave a comment, if so.

Jason Gerard Heineman, 42, of Batavia Oakfield Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, failure to keep right, driving left of pavement markings and refusal to take breath test. Heineman was stopped at 12:59 a.m. Saturday on Phelps Road, Pembroke, by Deputy Andrew Hale.

Edward William Zastrow, 33, of Town Line Road, Bergen, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, moving from lane unsafely. Zastrow was arrested by Sgt. Eric Seppala after his vehicle reportedly went off the roadway on Buffalo Street, Bergen, at 1:14 a.m. Sunday.

Devon James Schulman, 19, of Walnut Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Schulman is accused of stealing merchandise from Walmart.

Curtis L. Williams, 34, of Central Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on an aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, charge. Williams turned himself in on the warrant.

Gregory Marcus Munroe II, 26, of Harvester Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on a disorderly conduct charge. Munroe turned himself in on the warrant.

Kim M. Sobczak, 52, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny, controlled substance not in original container and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Sobczak was arrested at Kmart at 12:30 p.m. Friday by State Police. No further details released. UPDATE: NYSP has released additional information on this case. According to police, Sobczak was caught leaving Kmart with a shopping cart full of assorted items with a value of more than $300. She was allegedly found during her arrest with a pill bottle containing acetaminophen/oxycodone and acetaminophen/hydrocodone pill tablets.

Ethan T. Ellis, 30, of Brockport, Mark J. Friga, 29, David A. Morre, 26, Victor F. Martinez, 26, all of  Rochester, were charged with trespass. The four men were allegedly found by State Police riding ATVs on private property off Circular Hill Road, Le Roy, last week. The property is owned by Hanson Aggregates.

A driver involved in a single-vehicle accident at 11:28 p.m. Saturday on Route 262, Elba, has been charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs.

Joseph Paul Pratt, 20, of Church Street, Le Roy, was also charged with failure to keep right. 

Pratt was driving a 2010 Chevy pickup owned by another person eastbound on Route 262. The truck reportedly crossed into the westbound lane and went off the north shoulder of the road. It struck a guy wire for a utility pole and continued through a patch of trees and hedges, coming to rest in a field.  

Deputy Chris Parker reports that Pratt said he hit a patch of black ice.

The investigation showed, Parker wrote in the report, that Pratt's vehicle traveled in a straight line through a curve in the roadway.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) was reappointed as Assistant Minority Leader as well as Minority Ranker of the Assembly’s Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Hawley also announced that he was reappointed to the Agriculture, Insurance, and Ways and Means committees.

“I am honored to serve in our conference’s leadership once again,” Hawley said. “Our members and leadership are tremendously devoted to crafting the best public policy possible and I am motivated to get back to work. Furthermore, as a veteran, I am proud to serve as Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. I have always sought to protect the rights of veterans and advocate for them in Albany. My years in the military have given me the knowledge and experience to meaningfully contribute to the policy process. I look forward to heading back to Albany to continue working for veterans during this year’s session.”

Hawley, a veteran of the Army National Guard and Army Reserves, has served in the legislature since 2006 and as Assistant Minority Leader since 2013. The 2015 Legislative Session opened on Wednesday, Jan. 7, when members took their oaths of office in the Assembly Chamber and Assemblymen Sheldon Silver and Brian Kolb were elected to the positions of Speaker and Minority Leader, respectively.    

High Voltage Tattoo and Piercing is hosting its annual tattoo and piercing event to benefit local charities Friday and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. on both days.

Tattoos, based on available selections, are $35 each and piercings are $15 each.

Proceeds benefit Volunteers for Animals, HomeCare & Hospice, and Justice for Children.

The event always draws a big crowd, so you want to arrive early.

High Voltage is at the corner of West Main Street and Thomas Avenue in Batavia.

Pictured are James Gommenginger, Jeremy Fridman and Mark Fanara.

A two-car accident occurred at 418 Genesee St., Darien.

The initial report had a subject complaining of a head injury. A minor head injury and a minor leg injury are reported.

The cars are no longer blocking.

The location is just before County Line Road.

Darien fire and ambulance dispatched. Corfu dispatched mutual aid.

UPDATE 7:56 a.m.: A second ambulance is requested to the scene. Mercy EMS dispatched.

Chief Don Newton, East Pembroke Fire Department, received the Service Award for 2014, and Fire Training Officer James Gayton was named Firefighter of the Year Saturday night during the department's annual installation dinner.

Counting fire calls, accidents and EMS calls, East Pembroke went on 350 calls in 2014, up from the recent average year of about 300 calls.

The 2015 firematic officers as elected by members are: Newton, chief; Stephen Smelski, 1st assistant chief; Williams Torres Jr., 2nd assistant chief; Donald Newton Sr., firematic captain; Jose Santini, firematic lieutenant; Lori Ann Santini, EMS captain; Robert Yungfleisch, EMS lieutenant; Ray Schramm, fire police captain; Chris Bennett, fire police lieutenant; Gayton, training officer; Smelski, safety officer.

Candles were lit after the dinner in a memorial service to honor fallen first responders and members of the military.

Genesee County Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger administered the oath of office for department and district officers.

Matthew Jurek

Matthew A. Jurek, 26, of Pembroke, has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal pedestrian accident, according to the Buffalo News.

Jurek was allegedly involved in an accident Saturday that claimed the life of Francis A. Meldrum Jr., 38, of Corfu, who was walking on Indian Falls Road in Newstead when he was struck by a vehicle.

A passerby found Meldrum's body in the roadway.

From the Buffalo News:

An unidentified passenger in the suspect’s pickup at the time of the hit-and-run is cooperating with investigators, the Sheriff’s Office said.

“After Jurek struck Mr. Meldrum with the vehicle he was operating, he fled from the scene and left Mr. Meldrum lying on the side of the road,” Erie County Undersheriff Mark Wipperman said in an afternoon news conference.

Jurek was reportedly with a group of people that night.

A car has hit a tree in the area of 7022 Clinton Street Road, Bergen.

The driver is reportedly trapped and complaining of leg pain.

Bergen Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:06 p.m.: The initial caller has called back. The driver is no longer trapped in the vehicle. He is now in the caller's car, still complaining of leg pain.

The driver of a pickup truck that plowed into the western entryway of Batavia's police headquarters did so intentionally, investigators say.

Charges are pending against Steven J. Mancuso-Haitz Jr., according to a statement released by BPD.

Mancuso-Haitz is identified by police as the man who drove a 1998 Chevrolet S10 pickup into the building at 2:57 p.m., Friday, causing damage to the doorway, but apparently not causing any structural damage.

The driver was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital for evaluation.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

No motive was given for Mancuso-Haitz to allegedly drive his truck into the building. Mancuso-Haitz has had prior local law enforcement contact, including an incident that led to this correction by The Batavian in 2011.

In an effort to defeat Batavia's anticipated press in the Rotary Tournament championship game Thursday night, Dave Pero gave his girls a great plan -- quick passes down court to open shooters.

The Fighting Irish got a lot of open shot opportunities in the first half of the game. The part of the plan that didn't work is that too few baskets went through the hoop.

In the end, the Blue Devils prevailed in the defensive battle of rivals, 41-33.

"A game like this is great for us come sectional time," said Notre Dame Head Coach Dave Pero. "We're not going to see a team in our sectional bracket that presses like Batavia, so it's a great lesson we learned tonight of how to handle it."

Pero thought his team handled it pretty well, even mounting a bit of a comeback in the 4th quarter that had to make Batavia supporters a little nervous, but Batavia answered and held off the Fighting Irish charge to avenge defeats in the previous two Rotary tournaments.

"These guys hate me at practice, as hard as we run, but there's a reason," said Marty Hein, Batavia's head coach. "In the second half, and we don't turn the ball over any worse than we do in first half, but we seem to force more in the second half than anybody else. I think that gives us an edge."

Hein tightened his defense during half time, putting more pressure on Notre Dame at half court, which took away passing lanes and made it harder for offensive players to get behind his defenders. It created more turnovers.

Pero said his team was ready and primed for this game, but Batavia just did a little bit better.

"We had a great practice yesterday, perhaps one of the best practices we've had," Pero said. "Did we do a lot with the basketball? We did a little bit. We did a lot of talking. The girls were upbeat. They were responsive. When we got to the locker room upstairs, they were focused. When you get girls that are focused, a team like that, I don't care if they're boys or girls, win or lose, that's when you've got to give them credit for the way they prepared. They were awesome. They were ready for what they were going to give us, we just fell short. Next week is another week."

Hein said he and his team thought they were going to do a lot better.

"We're a little down, because we thought we should play better, myself included, but that's just a credit to them and their coach," Hein said.

Tiara Filbert, Batavia, was tournament MVP and scored 22 points Thursday. No other Blue Devil got into double figures. Essence Williams scored eight.

Shea Norton led Notre Dame with 10 points. Taylor DiMartino and Emma Francis each had eight.

(Filbert and Norton in the top photo)

To purchase prints, click here.

Joel Emerson delivering mail through the snow and bitter cold on Redfield Parkway.

Joe Caruso cleaning his driveway on North Spruce.

Also on North Spruce.

Craig Thurman on State Street.

Joseph Verssagi on Union while his neighbor Buck Oltman works with his own blower in the background.

The sun was out, the storm was gone, but snow was still blowing on Main Street.

A reader submitted this photo of a school bus reportedly stuck in the snow in the traffic circle at Batavia High School.

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff has issued a travel advisory for all of Genesee County effective immediately and continuing until further notice. While travel in the county is not banned at this time, unnecessary travel is discouraged. Heavy, blowing and drifting snow is making roads slippery and limiting visibility. Several motor-vehicle accidents have been reported with numerous vehicles going off the road.

UPDATE: The travel advisory was lifted at 9:30 a.m.

The following players were honored for their 2014 season in the New York Sportswriters Association All-State awards.

• Dom Mogavero, linebacker, Batavia, First Team, Class B
• Tom Kelso, linebacker, LeRoy First Team Class C.
• Greg Mruczek, quarterback, Batavia, Second Team, Class B
• Mike McMullen, quarterback, Le Roy, Second Team, Class C
• Steele Truax, linebacker, Elba/Byron-Bergen, Second Team, Class C
• Honorable mentions in Class D: Josh Johnson, Notre Dame; Tyler Laird, Alexander; Zach Shivlock, Alexander; Allen Chatt, Oakfield-Alabama

UPDATED to include Tom Kelso. who was inadvertantly left out of the original post. Apologies to the Kelso family.

A car has reportedly hit a tree on Cole Road, Le Roy.

Injuries are reported.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance dispatched.

A car has reportedly hit a tree and there are unknown injuries at 3992 South Main Street Road, near Fairway Drive, Batavia.

Town of Batavia Fire and Alexander Fire's ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 6:11 a.m.: Law enforcement on scene reports no injuries. Alexander's ambulance is cancelled. Town of Batavia can hold all equipment in hall.

Closing and cancellations reported to us:

• "This is a message from the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District.  School will be closed today, Friday January 9th due to the weather. This closing includes all after-school and evening activities. Please note that this is our last built-in snow day of the school year. Our plan for makeup days will be distributed next week to allow you to adjust your calendars. Please stay warm and safe this weekend."
• Alexander Central School
• Attica Central School
• BOCES, Batavia campus
• Pavilion
• Pembroke
• Pembroke Family Medicine delayed opening until 10:30 a.m.
• Independent Living of Genesee Region is closed today.
• Notre Dame
• Lamb Family Medicine (Now Open)
• Bingo at St. Mary's
• Delayed opening for County Court and City Court
• Delayed opening to 10 a.m. for Dr. Basra
• The Women's Care Center in Batavia at 33 Chandler Ave.

E-mail closings and cancellations to howard@thebatavian.com