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The United Way Day of Caring is May 16 and the planning committee is seeking volunteers and sponsors. To pitch in, call the United Way office at 343-8141.

Photo: Back row: Erik Fix, Jay Gsell, Dave Cecere, Marie Nettnin, Scott Neff, Shelley Falitico, Theresa DeMars, Jane Scott, Chris Fix. Front row: Susie Boyce, Lori Stupp, Debbie Fischer, Carol Boshart.

Not included in the photo: Donna Saskowski, Sue Schuler, Sue Boss.

Photo submitted by Susie Boyce.

Press release:

Batavia Downs Casino generated more than $16.99 million for education during the 2011 fiscal year (April 2011 to March 2012), according to the recently released data by the Division of Lottery. As part of Batavia Downs Casino’s ongoing support of New York education, 51 percent of Batavia Downs Casino's net win is given to the lottery to fund education.

“We’re proud to have contributed so much to New York State’s educational efforts,“ said Mike Kane, president of Batavia Downs Casino.

In 2011-2012, revenue generated by Batavia Downs Casino for education was equivalent to the annual salaries of approximately 245 teachers. With education budgets consistently tightening, this revenue will allow for students throughout New York State to continue to earn a high-quality public education. Since opening in 2005, Batavia Downs Casino has generated more than $115 million in education funding for New York.

More information on Batavia Downs Casino is available at www.bataviadownscasino.com and the full lottery report is available at www.nylottery.ny.gov.

Batavia Downs Casino is owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation. Batavia Downs Casino is a member of the New York Gaming Association. The New York Gaming Association advocates for, and advances the interests of, the state’s nine racetrack casinos, located at harness and thoroughbred racing venues in all four corners of New York.

The association works in partnership with state government on long-term strategies to financially bolster education, create jobs, support agriculture, horseracing and breeding; and maximize economic revenues to the state that will benefit all New Yorkers.

Investigators believe they have identified a possible suspect in Friday's robbery of a Five Star Bank in Pavilion, according to Deputy Chief Jerome Brewster.

"We remain very optimistic that we'll be able to solve this," Brewster said.

According to Brewster, there are some "common denominators" with prior bank robbers in Rochester and Geneva, and the Sheriff's Office has been working with those agencies to piece together evidence.

There may be DNA evidence and fingerprints to link the crimes with a suspect, Brewster said, but investigators are waiting on lab results.

As for the quality of the surveillance pictures released to the media, Brewster said the actual video from the bank is excellent quality. The problem with the still pictures released has to do with conversion of digital video to digital images.

Brewster said investigators have equipment to improve image quality and that Genesee Community College has state-of-the-art equipment if needed. But in this case "it isn't needed," Brewster said, because investigators already believe there is an identifiable suspect.

If there wasn't a good chance at solving the case, Brewster said, he might consider releasing the video or obtaining better quality still pictures from the video.

Chad Allen Irowin Wilbert

As the result of an investigation by the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force, two suspected drug dealers from Batavia were arrested Sunday night.

Taken into custody following a traffic stop at 8:50 p.m. were Chad A. Allen, 33, of West Main Street, and Irowin Wilbert, 53, of West Main Street.

Both men are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 4th, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia, 2nd.

The men were stopped on Ross Street at the intersection with Miller Avenue, Batavia.

A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered a quantity of crack cocaine with an estimated street value of $1,000 along with alleged crack pipes and more than $550 in currency.

Allen and Wilbert were jailed without bail.

Assisting in the investigation were uniformed deputies, State Police and the District Attorney's Office.

Milton H. Simmons III, 29, of 75 Franklin St., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and attempted escape, 1st. Simmons was arrested after police responded at 11:53 p.m., Friday, to a report of a fight involving a knife in the parking lot of a business on West Main Street, Batavia. Police conducted a search of a vehicle reportedly belonging to Simmons and allegedly found 44 glassine bags of crack cocaine. Simmons was arraigned in Batavia City Court and ordered held on no bail. As police transported Simmons from the courthouse to the jail, Simmons allegedly tried to escape and had to be restrained with the assistance of deputies at the court facility.

Zachary Jordan Ayres, 18, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Ayres is accused of stealing approximately $1,300 in jewelry from a woman in Byron and selling the items to a business in Batavia.

Anthony C. Privitera, 19, of Mill Street, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving BAC of .08 or greater, unsafe start, failure to keep right, open container in a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of alcohol by a person under age 21. Privitera was stopped Sunday in the Village of Le Roy by Le Roy PD.

Kimberlin D. Lester-Benjamin, 49, of Carl Street, Buffalo, is charged with petit larceny. Lester-Benjamin is accused of stealing $89.95 in merchandise from Target.

Kenneth Merville Nobles, 66, of Genesee Street, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding (72 mph in a 55 mph zone). Nobles was stopped at 6:13 p.m. Saturday on Route 19, Le Roy, by Deputy Brad Mazur.

Jamie Scott Scholonski, 39, of Vine Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Scholonski is accused of stealing $632 in quarters from a residence in Pavilion.

Nicholas M. Lyons, 31, of 112 State St., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on State Street at 11:40 p.m., Friday, and found Lyons allegedly in violation of a "stay away" order involving another person. Lyons was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Daniel F. Orlando, 29, of 555 E. Main St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and obstructing governmental administration. Orlando is accused of physically obstructing police while officers were investigating an incident at Orlando's residence. Orlando was jailed on $3,000 bail.

Timothy L. Taylor, 37, of 655 Ellicott St., Batavia, is charged with assault, 3rd. Taylor is accused of assaulting another person following an argument. Taylor was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Daniel Lee Ward, 25, of Oak Orchard Road, Albion, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and moving from lane unsafely. Ward was arrested following investigation into a motor-vehicle accident on Fisher Road, Oakfield, at 1:48 a.m. March 3.

Adam C. Hegge, 31, of 14 Overlook Drive, Batavia, is charged with felony DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Hegge was arrested Friday by Officer Dan Coffey following a report of a suspicious vehicle in the Batavia Cemetery.

Strong winds, dry weather and low humidity are combining to create "explosive fire growth potential" throughout Western New York, according to the National Weather Service.

A "Red Flag" warning has been issued from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.

Of course, the springtime "no burn" regulations are in effect through May 14.

Winds are expected to blow from 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

The relative humidity will be as low as 25 percent.

The weather service warns, "any fires will have the potential to grow and spread rapidly."

Congratulations to Julia Matusak, who wins the Alex's Place Facebook Like Contest.

Julia wins dinner for 4 / $100 gift card (does not include alcohol or gratuity) from Alex's Place.

The winner was selected at random from among a group of people who "Liked" Alex's Facebook page and then completed the online registration form.

Any Genesee County business that would like to participate in a Facebook contest, call The Batavian at 250-4118.

Do you believe the theory of man-made global warming?

Associated Press: Start of 2012, March shatter US heat records

A motorcycle accident with injuries is reported in the area of 10038 South St. Road, Pavilion, between Black Street Road and Route 20.

The rider is reportedly down on the road. A caller reports he is breathing and trying to move, but she told him to stay down.

Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 5:18 p.m.: A deputy on scene requests Pavilion fire police to an area south of the accident to slow down traffic. He said, "we're on the reverse side of a hill."

UPDATE 5:20 p.m.: Mercy Flight on ground standby.

UPDATE 5:23 p.m.: Mercy Flight to the scene. Traffic being stopped on South Street Road from the north.

UPDATE: 5:31 p.m.: Mercy Flight 5 in route. Five minute ETA.

UPDATE: 5:36 p.m.: Mercy Flight on the ground.

City Fire Department is being dispatched to the CSX tracks just west of Cedar Street for the report of a small grass fire.

The location is mile post 402.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: City fire requests confirmation of notification of CSX because of limited visibility for westbound trains. There is currently a westbound train in the area.

UPDATE 2:12 p.m.: CSX is slowing trains to 30 mph in both directions. If city fire wishes them slowed more or stopped, dispatch can put in the request.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: Fire is contained.

From the National Weather Service:

... ANOTHER DAY OF ELEVATED FIRE RISK...

A VERY DRY AIRMASS WILL LINGER ACROSS THE REGION TODAY... WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES DROPPING INTO THE 30 TO 35 PERCENT RANGE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AWAY FROM THE LAKESHORES... AND AS LOW AS 25 TO 30 PERCENT ACROSS FAR INTERIOR SECTIONS. IT HAS NOW BEEN ABOUT A WEEK SINCE THE LAST RAINFALL... AND LEFTOVER DEAD VEGETATION FROM LAST YEAR SUCH AS GRASSES AND LEAVES REMAINS BONE DRY.

WEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 10 TO 20 MPH BY MIDDAY... WITH SOME GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 MPH BECOMING POSSIBLE DURING THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON HOURS FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A WEAK COOL FRONT. WHILE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL ALSO BE ON THE RISE FOLLOWING THE FRONT AND SHOULD PREVENT CONDITIONS FROM REACHING RED FLAG CRITERIA... SUCH CRITERIA COULD STILL BE BRIEFLY APPROACHED FOR A FEW HOURS THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS INTERIOR SECTIONS OF THE WESTERN SOUTHERN TIER AND FINGER LAKES REGION.

PLEASE ADHERE TO THE STATEWIDE BURN BAN WHICH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MAY 14TH.

A vehicle fire is reported on Route 77 near Bloomingdale and Judge roads. It's in a field on the east side of the roadway. Alabama Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 5:53 p.m.: A possible field fire is reported as a result of the vehicle fire.

UPDATE 5:54 p.m.: The fire chief on scene says the vehicle fire is fully involved and the field is also on fire.

UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: Fire police are requested to the scene for traffic control.

UPDATE 6:07 p.m.: The fire is under control, but some small blazes have cropped up nearby. More manpower is requested and law enforcement is also responding.

UPDATE 6:12 p.m.: All fire is out.

UPDATE 6:29 p.m.: Alabama is back in service.

The annual Kiwanis Easter Egg hunt was held at Centennial Park in Batavia this morning.

No matter how many eggs the Kiwanis members put out, they're all gone in about 60 seconds.

If you have trouble viewing the slide show below, click here. To purchase printed copies of these photos, click here.

A two-car accident with one person possibly suffering a head injury is reported in the eastbound lane of the Thruway in the area of mile marker 386.8.

Town of Batavia Fire responding. Mercy EMS on scene.

Mercy Flight on standby.

UPDATE 3:08 p.m.: No update on injuries. Town of Batavia assignment being held to equipment on scene.

UPDATE 3:20 p.m.: Two patients going to Strong and two going to UMMC, all by ground ambulance.

A confirmed garage fire is reported at 7658 Telephone Road (Route 20) in Pavilion.

Pavilion Fire along with Le Roy Fire responding. Stafford is on standby.

UPDATE 2:11 p.m.: Chief on scene reports garbage fire next to the garage, but not into the garage yet.

UPDATE 2:14 p.m.: Responding departments include (but not limited to): Perry, York, Wyoming, Alexander and Bethany.  Also Engine 12 of City Fire is responding to something, possibly this, which would constitute the Fast Team, with Fourth Platoon requested to fill in at City Station.

UPDATE 2:20 p.m.: The fire has been knocked down.

UPDATE 2:40 p.m.: Engine 12 back in the city. Le Roy, along with several other responding companies, back in service.

UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: Pavilion back in service.

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A special weather statement from the National Weather Service:

... ELEVATED FIRE RISK AGAIN TODAY...

HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKES WILL CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE A VERY DRY AIRMASS INTO THE REGION TODAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN RELATIVE HUMIDITY DROPPING INTO THE 20 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE THIS AFTERNOON INLAND FROM THE LAKESHORES... AND AS LOW AS 15 TO 20 PERCENT ACROSS HIGHER TERRAIN. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 6 DAYS SINCE THE LAST RAINFALL... AND DEAD VEGETATION FROM LAST YEAR SUCH AS GRASSES AND LEAVES ARE VERY DRY.

NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 10 TO 20 MPH BY MIDDAY. A FEW GUSTS OF 20 TO 25 MPH ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON ON THE HILLS. CONDITIONS MAY APPROACH RED FLAG CRITERIA FOR A FEW HOURS THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE WESTERN SOUTHERN TIER... FINGER LAKES... AND EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO REGION.

PLEASE ADHERE TO THE STATEWIDE BURN BAN WHICH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MAY 14TH.

Authorities are still trying to locate two black males involved in a robbery of the Five Star Bank branch in Pavilion this afternoon.

According to Deputy Chief Jerome Brewster, a black male wearing wearing a blue and white striped shirt, jeans, a red ball cap and sunglasses entered the bank and 3:25 p.m. and presented a note demanding cash.

The robber fled with an unknown amount of money and jumped into a silver or grey pickup truck driven by another black male.

Around the same time as the bank robbery, a stolen vehicle was located on Crossman Road, off of Starr Road, in Pavilion. The motor was still running on the green Dodge Intrepid.

The car was stolen earlier from the park-and-ride lot off the I-490 in Le Roy.

It's unknown at this time if the stolen car is related to the bank robbery.

A couple of witnesses spotted the suspects fleeing and investigators are sorting through witness statements.

Officials say a photo of the bank robbery suspect will be released at some point this evening.

In October 2009, the same branch was robbed by a white male wearing a distinctive jacket. Nick A. Hawkins, 28, of 24 W. Main St., Le Roy, eventually admitted the robbery.

Law enforcement units from Genesee, Wyoming and Livingston counties and the State Police responded to today's robbery.

(Initial post)

 

As we posted previously, southbound Route 77 is closed for culvert repair. FYI: The detour is rather lengthy, taking you west on Cohocton Road, south on Lake Road and then back east on Route 33.

Wednesday, I put on my publisher's hat and spoke before the Ways and Means Committee about a pair of bills pending in the Assembly that would allow online publication of public notices.

Currently, state law requires notices be published only in printed newspapers.

The bills, 6058 by Assemblyman Steve Hawley, and 9075 by Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, would expand publishing options to online news sources that don't run printing presses.

We didn't report on this matter because I couldn't report on something I was participating in and we had no reporter available to cover it.

Long explanation for: here's the unofficial (meaning, not yet approved) wording prepared by the recording secretary that day, Sarah Kingdon, to serve as a report on the meeting.

Batavian Publisher Howard Owens was present to seek support for Assembly Bill 6058 and Assembly Bill 8075 which would give public agencies the option to place legal notices with either print publications or online news publications. This act would amend the general construction law, in relation to allowing for online publication of public notices. Mr. Owens feels that public notices should be easily accessible by a broad range of members of the public, and online is now a more common source for news than newspapers. He also feels this will offer greater options for archiving and searching of data. Legislator Cianfrini asked if this would be more cost effective. Mr. Owens responded that there is potentially a cost savings, and that he feels an RFP process should be done so that the County can get the best price from local news media. After a discussion of the committee it was decided that Chair Hancock will compose a general letter of support which she will distribute to the Committee for their approval prior to sending to State Officials for support. This was approved upon motion of Legislator Cianfrini seconded by Legislator Leadley.