The weather can only be described as nasty. It's 10 degrees, about four or five inches of snow is falling and it's still coming. The breeze is strong enough to add a pretty strong bite to the already low temperature.
And more is on the way. The winter storm warning remains in effect through tomorrow.
Press release:
Due to the Wind Chill Advisory in our area for the next two days, the Batavia Youth Center will be closed today and tomorrow (Jan. 2, 3). It is not safe for the children to be out and exposed to these cold temperatures. The Youth Bureau and Youth Center will resume normal business hours on Monday, January 6, 2014.
UPDATES:
A 28 year old Le Roy man accused of stealing high voltage wire didn't appear for his sentencing today reportedly because he's been hospitalized at Strong.
Meanwhile, Judge Robert C. Noonan said that he's been notified Michael A. Nicometo, of 45 North St., hasn't reported to Genesee Justice per the terms of his release under supervision since Oct. 30.
In November, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Nicometo's attorney, Brian Degnan, was given until close of business tomorrow to produce documentation that his client is indeed hospitalized.
"I have no problem picking a date (for Nicometo's next appearance), but if he's at liberty and located, he will be brought in," Noonan said.
Nicometo entered a guilty plea Sept. 20 to one count of third-degree burglary on an Alford basis. An Alford plea means the defendant is not admitting to the crime, just that the evidence, if presented to a jury, would likely lead to his conviction.
He was indicted by a Genesee County grand jury in early September on two counts of burglary, 3rd, and one count of grand larceny, 3rd.
Police arrested Nicometo in March following an investigation into the theft of high voltage wire from industrial complexes in the Le Roy area. He and an alleged accomplice were later accused of doing $32,000 in damage to the Dolomite facility in Le Roy.
The new scheduled sentencing date for Nicometo is 9 a.m., Jan. 17.
The National Weather Service has revised its estimate for our weather over the next 24 hours, raising its alert from an advisory to a winter storm warning.
Heavy snow with a bit of wind is expected now through 6 a.m., Friday. From 4 to 8 inches of snow could fall today and another 2 to 4 inches tonight.
There's a wind chill advisory in effect from 4 p.m. until noon, Friday, with wind chill of 15 to 20 degrees below zero.
Winds will be 10 to 20 mph creating, at times, visibility under a half mile.
Travel will be difficult at times, the weather service warns. Use caution.
Reason Magazine: On Congressional inactivity
In 2013, The Batavian was visited 5,909,231 times and we served 9,794,627 page views. That's up from 2012 when there were 3.8 million visits and 5.4 million page views.
Here are the most viewed stories for 2013:
It's been four months since I posted the monthly top 10 most viewed stories, so below are the top posts for December, November, October and September.
December:
November:
October:
September
A chimney fire is reported at 7231 Lyman Road, Bergen.
Bergen fire is responding with mutual from Le Roy.
The first chief on scene reports smoke coming from the structure.
At the same time as this call, Le Roy has a call in the village for medical assistance. Pavilion is being dispatched mutual aid.
UPDATE 6:54 p.m.: Le Roy is back in service.
UPDATE 7:14 p.m.: Bergen is back in service.
To purchase prints click here. If you click that link, you can also view a version of the slide show that includes captions.
A fire is reported at Oak Orchard Road and West Saile Drive.
A person reportedly ran into a business and said there was a fire and a person from the business called 9-1-1.
Town of Batavia fire responding.
UPDATE 1:27 p.m.: A chief on scene reports it's a controlled burn at Offhaus Farm. Batavia back in service.
Cold, wind and snow are in the forecast for this evening, though snowfall will be no more than four inches, according to the National Weather Service.
The wind chill factor will make it feel like it's 15 to 20 degrees below zero.
Winds of 15 to 25 mph will create blowing snow and add to possible white-out conditions. Visibility could be down to a half a mile at times.
Use caution when traveling and dress warmly.
Press release:
United Memorial Medical Center and MVP Health Care® are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement which will allow United Memorial to be included as a network facility for MVP health insurance products purchased through the New York State of Health Exchange. The agreement was reached today, December 31st and will go into effect tomorrow, January 1, 2014.
As part of the Affordable Care Act, people who do not have health insurance through their job, or cannot afford the plan offered by their employer, now can use the “Healthcare Exchange” or “Marketplace” to compare plans and sign up. In New York State, residents are provided a list of insurance companies and plans to select from, based on their county of residence.
“We greatly appreciate the patience and understanding of our community as we are working to address the sweeping changes brought on by healthcare reform,” stated United Memorial’s CEO Mark C. Schoell. “I am pleased that we were able to bring the negotiation with MVP Health Care to a successful conclusion.”
Matthew MacKinnon, vice president, Network Operations, MVP Health Care said, “We are happy that United Memorial Medical Center is a participating provider for MVP products in Genesee County, including new Exchange coverage, and we look forward to continuing to serve residents of the Batavia area.”
Jason Berne, manager of Parmenter Tire near the airport, sent in this picture of a snowy owl that he said a researcher brought into the shop for he and his staff to see.
"They are beautiful," Berne said.
TV news crews have been out to the airport today. Jay Terkel, in comments on our story from yesterday, said there are so many cars driving slowly around the airport "it's like Lion Country Safari" out there.
Photo by Jay Terkel.
Photo by Dylan Brew.
There's no ball drop in Batavia, but it should still be noted that if you're celebrating New Year's Eve outside tonight, dress warmly.
The National Weather Service says an Arctic air mass moved across the lower Great Lakes last night and will remain in place for the next couple of days.
The cold air combined with gusty winds this afternoon and evening will making it feel bitterly, bitterly cold.
The wind chill factor will bring temperatures down to low single digits and as cold as -5 in some areas.
The NWS advises anybody outside during this time to dress in layers of clothing, which help trap body heat better than a single layer.
You should also wear a hat because significant body head can be lost through your head.
Snowy owls have become Batavia's latest tourist attraction. Birders are driving out to the Genesee County Airport from miles around to see the majestic raptors.
"It's very special to come out and see such an unusual bird," said Leslie Phillips, a Rochester resident who read about the "irruption" of snowy owls in Batavia through an e-mail discussion list for birders.
Irruptions are the irregular southern migrations exhibited by bird species that typically winter in Canada and the extreme northern United States, according to Cornell University's Project Feederwatch.
She was among six or seven birders who were on State Street Road this afternoon with scopes and binoculars watching the owls perched on snow banks or fence posts.
David Genesky, a conservationist who specializes in raptors, spent much of the day trapping the owls on behalf of a national snowy owl research program.
By 5 p.m. he had caught eight and believed there were at least two more in the airport area. (CORRECTION: It's eight for the season, three on Tuesday.)
Genesky collected a feather, for a DNA sample, and weighed each bird before banding it and releasing it. The whole process took about five minutes per bird.
"Personally, I just want to make sure the species is OK," Genesky said. "There's a lot of talk about global warming and climate change and how it would effect their nesting areas, and for me personally, that's what I'm concerned about."
Genesky said the collection of snowy owls at the airport is a great opportunity for the public to see one of the great birds of the wild up close.
"They've been as steady as can be for the last month," Genesky said. "People have come from miles away and gotten good looks at them."
Sharon Leising hasn't had to travel far this winter to see the owls. She lives on State Street Road, and when she heard about the trapping project today, she had to meet up with Genesky and learn about what he was doing. She was at the Emergency Training Center when Genesky brought one of the birds in for cataloging (inset photo; photo courtesy Sharon Leising).
"This is so exciting, to have something like this happen in our area," Leising said. "They're such beautiful birds."
Typically, snowy owls make their homes in the Arctic and don't often congregate in such numbers in the northeast.
"This year is probably is biggest number in 40 years," Genesky said. "It's very rare to get this many birds in the Northeastern United States. The Western states have fewer birds. They seem to have concentrated here."
Genesky said the local snowy owl population seems to be in good shape.
"Believe me, these birds are all healthy," he said. "They're not starving."
While there may be as many as a dozen snowy owls in the airport area, that number will thin soon to one or two as the birds establish their territories for the rest of the winter. Grenesky said anybody interested in seeing the birds should get out to the airport soon.
Leslie Phillips
Justin Samuel Fagan, 26, of Ellicott Street Road, Batavia, is charged with assault, 3rd. Fagan allegedly punched another person in the head causing that person to lose consciousness while at the Blue Dog Saloon on Attica Road, Darien, at 12:55 a.m. Sunday. Fagan allegedly fled the scene and was later located by a state trooper in Batavia.
Christopher Michael Rheinheimer, 24, of Chick Road, Darien, is charged with DWI, moving from lane unsafely, unreasonable speed and refusal to take breath test. Rheinheimer was reportedly involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 1:29 a.m. Saturday on Attica Road, Darien, which was investigated by Deputy Jason Saile.
Sutton Ken Carhart, 19, of Clipnock Road, Stafford, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child, 1st. Carhart allegedly provided alcohol to several people who were under age 21.
Jacob Michael Risewick, 20, of West Bergen Road, Le Roy, is charged with unlawful possession of alcohol by a person under age 21. Risewick was allegedly in possession of alcohol while at an underage drinking party on Clipnock Road.
Amanda Ashley Stranc, 22, of Alleghany Road, Darien, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speed not reasonable or prudent and moving from lane unsafely. Stranc reportedly observed a motor vehicle accident while driving on Attica Road, Darien, at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, and lost control of her car, becoming involved in a secondary motor-vehicle accident, while attempting to stop and assist the other motorist. The accident was investigated by Deputy Patrick Reeves.
A 17-year-old resident of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child, 1st, and criminal trespass, 2nd. The youth allegedly hosted an underage drinking party at 8341 Harris Road, Le Roy.
Elijah Absalon Seelay, 18, of Old Meadow Road, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Seelay is accused of possessing marijuana while at an underage drinking party at 8341 Harris Road, Le Roy.
Mitchell Robert Mulford, 20, of Attridge Road, Churchville, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of alcohol. Mulford was arrested at an alleged underage drinking party at 8341 Harris Road, Le Roy.
Miguel Angel Dejesus, 66, of Perry Road, Pavilion, is accused of violating a release under supervision contract. Dejesus was jailed on $2,000 bail or $5,000 bond.
Danny Jay Torok, 26, of Dodgeson Road, Alexander, is accused of a violation of a Family Court act. Torok is accused of failure to appear for a scheduled Family Court appearance.
Philip Robert Perry, 27, of Ellsworth Avenue, Batavia, is charged with failure to pay fine imposed by court. Perry is also charged with promoting prison contraband, 1st, and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Perry was allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance while being processed into the Genesee County Jail.
Amy Vlack sent in this picture of the snowy owl that's been hanging out at the Genesee County Airport this winter.
A possible electrical fire is reported at 4346 Drake Street Road, the lower apartment, Elba.
Smoke is coming from the washer or the dryer.
Elba and Town of Batavia fire dispatched.
UPDATE 8:39 p.m.: Fire is out. Town of Batavia can go back in service, per Elba chief.
UPDATE 8:53 a.m.: Elba back in service.
An ambulance is requested to the Tim Horton's parking lot where a person has slipped and fallen, suffering a possible head injury.
City fire also responding.
UPDATE 8:21 a.m.: City fire back in service.
UPDATE 8:25 a.m.: The woman who slipped is being transported to UMMC with complaint of hip pain and back of the head pain. No loss of consciousness.
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