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A two-car accident has been reported at 986 Bloomingdale Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, in front of The Rez smoke shop.

One person has a facial injury.

Alabama Fire Department, Mercy EMS responding.

The roadway is blocked.

UPDATE 1:13 p.m.: All the patients are in the restaurant. There are at least two, maybe three.

UPDATE 1:44 p.m. (Billie): One person suffered a leg injury, possibly a fracture. One patient was transported to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. Not sure of the destination, if any, of others. Alabama went back into service at 1:37 p.m.

The Alexander Fire Department held its annual awards and installation dinner Saturday night at the fire hall.

Above from left:

• Dylan Scharlau, who was honored for completing the most hours training -- 103 hours
• Ryan Hinz, most calls -- 118 calls
• Dean Hendershott, Firefighter of the Year
• Debra Spires, president and EMS captain
• Chief Lance Scharlau
• Tom Green, Chief's Award
• Patricia Merle, President's Award

Spires is holding a flag that was flown in Afghanistan and was presented to the department last night.

Elected officials from national, state and county government were at the Old Courthouse today for both a ceremonial and official swearing in for office.

For Rep. Chris Collins, State Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer and Assemblyman Steve Hawley, taking the oath in Batavia today was ceremonial. But for Sheriff Gary Maha, Treasurer Scott German, coroners Donald Coleman and Karen Lang, along with Undersheriff William Sheron and Deputy Treasurer Matt Landers, the oath was official.

Collins spoke briefly about his commitment to representing the people of the 27th Congressional District, hearing the concerns of voters, especially in Genesee County, and working in Congress to help control spending and bring down the deficit.

"My job in representing this district is that we stand up for our children and grandchildren to get spending under control, to get our deficits down to zero in some reasonable time, like 10 years, and grow the economy," Collins said.

He promised that the people of Genesee County will see him frequently in the county.

Prior to the ceremony, Collins took his wife, Mary, daughter, Caitlin, son, Cameron, and staff members to a no-media lunch at the Pok-A-Dot. Collins has referred to the Pok-A-Dot as a good-luck charm, dining there on election day for the primary and general elections, but when he showed up today, he reportedly told people there that he wanted a chance to enjoy lunch with his family without cameras around.

Sheriff Gary Maha takes the oath, administered by Assemblyman Steve Hawley, as wife Susan Maha holds the Bible.

Above, Coroner Donald Coleman, who has served in the position for 21 years, takes the oath of office.

To purchase prints of the photos in the slide show, click the link in the upper left of the slide show.

The Town of Batavia Fire Department collected more than $7,000 today in a boot drive to benefit the families of the four volunteer firefighters who died or were injured Christmas Eve in Webster.

The money will be donated to the West Webster Fire Department to distribute to the victims and their families.

Batavia firefighters set up on Lewiston Road at Park Road, right outside their fire house, and collected donations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from drivers who passed by.

The event was primarily organized by firefighter Josh Finn (pictured below).

A tractor-trailer has reportedly been involved in an accident on Route 77 at Cohocton Road, Corfu, and the driver struck his chest on the steering wheel.

The truck is blocking Route 77.

Corfu fire and Mercy EMS responding.

From Batavia PD Chief Shawn Heubusch:

It is with great pleasure that the City of Batavia Police Department welcomes Officer Jamie Givens to its ranks.

Officer Givens joined the Batavia Police Department on March 1, 2012; she attended the Basic Police Academy at Monroe Community College’s Public Safety campus. While at the Basic Police Academy Officer Givens learned many aspects of Law Enforcement such as accident investigations, vehicle and traffic enforcement as well as handling emergency situations. Following her formal classroom education Officer Givens entered the Batavia Police Department’s Supervised Field Training program in early September of 2012.

During her time in in Field Training Officer Givens was exposed to normal police activity all the while being monitored and evaluated by experienced Field Training Officers. While in Supervised Field Training Officer Givens was able to test her knowledge and learn tactics from veteran Officers. Officer Givens received high praises for her knowledge and ability during her time spent in Supervised Field Training.

Officer Givens has successfully passed Supervised Field Training and will be assigned to the Day Platoon starting in early January 2013.

We ask everyone to join the Police Department in welcoming Officer Jamie Givens to the City of Batavia Police Department.

Photo: By Howard Owens, taken at the scene of today's motor-vehicle accident on Clinton Street.

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office recently hired Joseph A. Corona to fill the position of Deputy Sheriff; a position that was left vacant by a Deputy Sheriff who retired on May 5, 2012.

Deputy Corona is a 2004 high school regents graduate from Brockport High School and completed a BOCES Outdoor Power and Marine Technology program. He has participated in several volunteer programs with the Brockport and Rochester Police Departments and also participated in an internship with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Corona was previously employed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and graduated in 2009 from the Detention and Removal Operations Basic Law Enforcement and the Detention and Removal Spanish Language Training Programs. 

He was designated as an Expert Marksman in the firearms course, received the Driver Training Award, and was recognized as an Outstanding Distinguished Graduate and an Outstanding Physical Fitness Graduate for his performances while in the Academy. Deputy Corona recently graduated from the Niagara University Law Enforcement Academy on December 21, 2012 and, again, received the academy’s Physical Fitness award. Joe is also a nationally certified Personal Trainer.

Sheriff Maha stated, “Deputy Corona has been participating in our 14-week field training program and is performing exceptionally well. He will be a great addition to our road patrol.”

Traffic is being diverted off Clinton Street to East Avenue while Batavia PD deals with a two-car, non-injury motor-vehicle accident.

Batavia Fire Department is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 4:23 p.m.: Initial indication is a town snow plow was stopped southbound on Clinton and was allowing a Haul-4-Less truck to make a left-hand turn from East Avenue onto Clinton. A semi coming up behind the plow truck may not have seen the plow truck stopped and tried going around the plow truck, hitting the Haul-4-Less truck. No injuries. Heavy wreckers had to be called in for the disabled trucks and traffic was blocked in both directions.

Related, local law enforcement officers are currently working a handful of property damage accidents in various parts of the county. All seem to be weather related.

With a record of 7-0, Alexander's girls were riding the high of a good start to a season.

Then they hit the brick wall of a team that hadn't lost its previous 31 games and are defending state champions, the Lady Lancers of Elba.

Keyed by McKenzie Bezon's 18 points, the Lancers, now 7-0 themselves, notched a decisive 57-31 at home.

Alexander Head Coach Marcia Hirsch wasn't too happy with her team's performance.

"We were playing a tough team," Hirsch said. "I expected my team to step up a little better. Our defense is the not the defense we’ve seen. They shut down all my scorers."

Her girls can expect to drill more on defense in the coming days and weeks, Hirsch said.

Elba's head coach, Tom Nowak, said in preparation for the game, his girls drilled on pressuring Alexander with an aggressive defense, forcing turnovers and limiting scoring, which is what they did Thursday.

And the team will continue to work on defense, he said.

"Hopefully, we can polish things up a bit," Nowak said. "You just keep playing. You never know where it's going to take you."

To go with her 18 points, McKenzie had six rebounds.

Kelsey Bezon had five rebounds and 11 points. Jamie Marshall had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anna Dorman had seven points and five rebounds.

For Alexander, Sarah Loranty led the way with 13 points.

Next up, Elba hosts Bergen on Monday and Alexander plays in the Rotary Tournament at Genesee Community College on Tuesday.

A reader of The Batavian has helped another recover a ring lost the day after Christmas that was more precious than valuable.

Lynn Halicki posted a lost-and-found notice to The Batavian's "Announcements" section and another reader spotted it, called her and returned the ring.

"The ring really has no monetary value - just sentimental value," Halicki said in her post.

After getting her ring back, Halicki posted a comment and wrote, "It made me extremely happy and proud that there are so many GOOD people!!!!!!"

One of the people who reportedly got involved with bath salts over the summer and wound up getting in trouble with the law has decided to entrust his fate to a local jury rather than accept a plea deal.

Because 32-year-old Bradley J. Broadbent has a prior violent felony conviction, the best deal District Attorney Lawrence Friedman could offer the Batavia resident was a minimum of five years in prison with a guilty plea to attempted burglary, 2nd, a Class D felony.

Broadbent was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, criminal trespass, burglary in the second degree and petit larceny.

On July 6, Broadbent was talked down off the roof of a house on Hutchins Street. He was reportedly hallucinating and suffering from a high body temperature.

He was suspected of damaging bathrooms at a business complex on Liberty Street earlier that day, and after leaving the UMMC emergency room, he allegedly entered a house on Tracy Avenue without permission.

At the time, Broadbent was suspected of using bath salts and family members were upset, suspecting his use of bath salts started after the 420 Emporium opened at 400 Ellicott St.

According to Broadbent's sister, Melissa, Bradley was on a good, positive path prior to starting bath salt use.

In court today, Judge Robert Noonan granted a brief recess so attorneys could research Broadbent's criminal record and confirm that a guilty plea would indeed make him a second felony offender.

Broadbent was released from prison 10 years and six months before his arrest in July on his 1986 conviction for burglary, 2nd. Documents available in court prior to the recess didn't include the two years he spent in prison on an unrelated conviction in Batavia City Court a few years ago. If Broadbent had not been in jail or prison during the 10 years and six months after his original prison term, he would not be considered a second violent felony offender for the purpose of sentencing on the new charges.

The top charge against Broadbent is a Class C felony and carries a mandatory minimum sentence, if he's convicted, of seven years and a maximum of 15 years in state prison.

Press release:

“Today, the House of Representatives took action on the first of two aid packages to help people devastated by Superstorm Sandy in October. I am pleased that one of my first acts as a member of Congress was to cosponsor and vote in favor of this bill, which will provide nearly $10 billion to FEMA so it can cover flood insurance claims.

It is important that Congress come together to do its part and provide the necessary aid to help the millions of people impacted by this natural disaster. Too many families have had their entire lives turned upside down. It is only right that the federal government help those impacted on the East Coast recover and begin to rebuild not only their homes, but their lives.”

A Bergen resident, Jasvir Kaur, bought a $20 scratch-off ticket Nov. 13 at the Country Deli in Alexander and won $5 million, lottery officials announced in Rochester today.

After taxes, Kaur pockets $3.3 million.

A former Le Roy resident who was involved in a scuffle with police June 17 when a deputy tried to arrest her son entered a guilty plea today to one charge against her but would not admit to using a knife against the deputy.

Elaina J. Mead, 43, formerly of 21 Maple Ave., Le Roy, now a resident of Varysburg, entered a guilty plea to attempted menacing a police officer under what's known as an "Alford Plea." It means Mead believes a jury would convict her at trial, but she's not admitting to the actual events alleged against her.

Mead did admit that she tried to interfere with Deputy Matthew Butler's attempt to arrest her son, 25-year-old Michael Mead Sr., on a warrant (see correction below), but when Judge Robert C. Noonan asked her if it was true that she placed a knife to Butler's chest and placed Butler in fear of his life or serious injury, she said she did not.

The plea satisfies all counts against Mead, which included assault, 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, and obstructing governmental administration, 2nd. The maximum sentence under the terms of the agreement are up to 15 days in jail and four months intermittent jail time and a $5,000 fine.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell said that if the case went to trial, Officer Emily Clark, Le Roy PD, would testify that Michael Mead was resisting arrest and she and Butler were wrestling with him when people from inside 21 Maple Ave. started throwing small household objects at the officers.

Clark would say, Finnell said, that she saw Elaina Mead exit the house with a knife in her hand and approach Butler and place the knife against Butler's chest.  According to Clark's version of events, Clark yelled, "knife, knife," and then let go of Michael Mead's legs and knocked the knife from Elaina Mead's hand, sustaining a small cut in the process.

Last month Sheriff Gary Maha presented Clark with a Certificate of Appreciation and Butler a Commendation for their conduct during the confrontation.

UPDATE and CORRECTION: We should have included that Mead could also get five years probation. Also, the information that Butler was at the residence to execute a warrant is a mistake from the initial report that I forgot (while writing this) was later corrected. Butler and Clark went to the residence to question Michael Mead on an alleged violation of a court order investigation. When Butler attempted to arrest Mead, that's when he allegedly resisted arrest.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported on Ellicott Street Road at Little Canada Road, Bethany, with minor injuries.

A person reports not feeling well and having back pain.

Bethany Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:48 a.m.: A dispatcher informs a deputy responding that "the situation is deteriorating quickly." A Bethany chief requests mutual aid from Stafford and the deputy requests a trooper to respond to assist with traffic control.

UPDATE 10:02 a.m.: Roadway is reopened. It sounds like there were two accidents at this location.

Jamie S. Schlonski, 40, an inmate in the correctional facility in Collins, is charged with burglary, 2nd, and criminal possession of a forged instrument, 2nd, and petit larceny. Schlonski was charged following an investigation by Le Roy PD into burglaries in August in the village. The victim reported numerous checks stolen and cashed in the village. Schlonski was living in Le Roy at the time and was later identified as a suspect.

Rebeca Lynn Rose, 26, of North Street, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. Rose is accused of shoplifting clothing from Target on Thursday. Also charged with petit larceny was Megan Lynn Furr, 26, of North Street, Le Roy.

Alicia M. Stankwick, 21, of 2955 Angling Road, Corfu, is charged with harassment, 2nd.  Stankwick is accused of sending unwanted text messages to a male whom she was advised by a Batavia PD officer the day before not to contact.

Ryan C. Cook, 34, of 7 Mill St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Cook is accused of having unwanted physical contact with a woman.

Kristen L. Brightenfield, 19, of Stafford, is charged with criminal mischief 4th/prevention of emergency call. Brightenfield was arrested by State Police for an alleged incident reported at 2:17 p.m. on Wednesday. No further details were released.

There is a wind advisory in effect today for all of Western New York.

Winds of 20 to 35 mph are predicted with gusts up to 50 mph.

The advisory is in effect until 6 p.m.

Wind could bring down tree branches, damage power lines and it may be difficult to handle high-profile vehicles on roadways.