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The county's tax lien auction yielded $ 290,900 in revenue. It was held at Bontrager's Auction Center, Wortendyke Road, Town of Batavia.

Location Accessed Value Taxes Due Buyer and price paid 1281 Bloomingdale Road, Alabama $69,300 $6,222.13 Nikola Gurov,  $12,000 3544 W. Main St. Road, Batavia $38,000 $5,359.81 Steven A. Barraco, $12,000 7645 Dublin Road, Bergen $17,200 $12,298.92 Peter Hollands, $45,000 6865 McElver St., Byron $67,600 $13,312.08 Angeline J. Petrillo, $41,000 6896 Route 262 $12,500 $39,652.25 John L. Sackett Jr., $5,000 1322 McVean Road, Darien $83,900 $8,682.67 Corfu Darien Properties, $16,500 East Hundredmark Road, Elba $5,200 $752.85 CY Properties, LLC, $10,000 Batavia Oakfield Townline Road, Oakfield $5,600 $1,317.98 David Tullar, $6,000 Telephone Road, Pavilion $7,800 $1,169.86 Douglas N. Waite, $4,000 Telephone Road, Pavilion $1,000 $736.73 Rodd Lee Froebel Jr., $300 Boyce Road, Pembroke $20,100 $3,316.99 David Brumsted, $35,000 Boyce Road, Pembroke $40,300 $4,532.38 Casey & Jesse Stocking, $40,000 Angling Road, Pembroke $5,500 $988.47 Patsi Vigneri & Sons, $11,000 Anglng Road, Pembroke $8,500 $1,197.84 Patsi Vigneri & Sons, $13,5000 Ellinwood Road, Pembroke $74,000 $20,964.30 63.6 acres, vacant land Horseshoe Lake Road, Stafford $100 $442.55   27 Le Roy St., Bergen $55,000 $7,932.49 Raymond Nichols, $6,000 West Main Street, Le Roy $10,000 $2,495.87 Robert Uberty, $1,000 West Main Street, Le Roy $6,100 $1,454.60 Andrew J. Ashley, $2,600 27 South Pearl Street, Oakfield $50,800 $5,660.89 Raymond Nichols, $18,000

Not included on the list we published Jan. 23:

• 22.-1-86, on Maple Road, Pembroke, which sold to Steven A. Barraco for $4,000;
• 22.-1-87, at 315 Maple Road, Pembroke, which sold to Ricky Roy Reiss for $8,000.

A possible electrical fire has been reported at 114 North St., Batavia.

Smoke is reported in the residence.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 10:06 a.m.: City fire back in service.

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The Tonawanda Creek, taken Monday evening from River Street.

A third windmill went up on the Partridge Farm on Ellicott Street Road, Batavia, today.

Don and Pat Partridge, who acquired the farm from the White family in 1980, installed their first two windmills four years ago.

Those power plants have supplied about 50 percent of the farm's electricity and with the new windmill, Don hopes to reach 100 percent, or close to it.

"The new windmill is about 30 percent more productive," Partridge said.

The list price on the windmill is close to $75,000, but Partridge received a state grant and won a competitive USDA grant.

He expects to break even on his investment within 12 years (as he will with the first two windmills).

The windmills have an expected useful life of 25 years.

"It's the last half of their life where I'll enjoy them the most," Partridge said.

Partridge, who now works at Cummings & Bricker on Lehigh Street, quit full-time farming in 1999 for "a paying job," but he still raises some corn and hay and has a few head of cattle. The rest of the acreage is run by another dairy farmer.

"We're in a very wind-productive area," Partridge said. "It's Class C wind, which is productive wind. I think we have more wind power than solar."

With all that wind, Partridge said he doesn't understand the resistance to wind power.

"We would like to see more people get involved in solar and wind," Partridge said. "I just don’t understand all of the resistance to the big ones. I wish I had some big-wind ones up here. If the town put four big ones up here, the town residents could get credit for their electric bills. I would think that would be worth doing."

I took a drive out to Bethany and back this morning -- came away with two photos: Above, a barn on Cook Road (taken from Creek Road) and below, the Little Tonawanda as it winds along the side of Mill Road.

Eric Charles Zglinicki, 49, of Alleghany Road, Darien Center, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th. Zglinicki was allegedly found in possession of three shotguns following an investigation and search of his residence by the Genesee County Probation Department and the Sheriff's Office. Zglinicki has a prior felony conviction.

Samantha Mary Williams, 31, of Warsaw Road, Le Roy, was arrested on a bench warrant out of the Hamburg Town Court to appear on charges of resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration. Williams was turned over to the Hamburg Police Department.

Allen Skye Dockstader, 29, of Council House Road, Alabama, was arrested on a bench warrant out of Genesee County Court on a charge of violating probation following an investigation into a criminal mischief complaint.

Cody L. Osborn, 24, of 3265 State St., Caledonia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, inadequate head lights, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, possession of an open container of alcohol in a vehicle and unlawful possession of marijuana. Osborn was stopped in the early hours Saturday by Le Roy Police. He was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Shawn Richard McGiveron, 23, East Main Street, Corfu, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. McGiveron is accused of violating an order of protection by calling and sending text messages to a protected person.

More than 650 spring bouquets were sold in Genesee and Wyoming counties during the pre-sale period for 18th annual event, which benefits the HomeCare & Hospice Foundation, according to Linda Cummings, development director (top photo).

Volunteers from Notre Dame and Pembroke high schools and Batavia Kiwanis were at the First Presbyterian Church in Batavia today to help get the arrangements in buckets and boxes and properly marked for deliver on Monday.

If you didn't get your order in on time, there's still plenty of opportunity to make a purchase.

On-site sales will take place:

• Noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Batavia Downs
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, UMMC
• Noon to 3 p.m., Wednesday, and noon to 5 p.m., Thursday, at the Bank of Castile
• Noon to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday at First Niagara Bank.

Traditional bouquets are $8 and the Bouquet of Hope is $16.

Press release:

For the eighth consecutive year Site Selection Magazine has recognized Batavia/Genesee County as one of the top micropolitans in the United States, including the number-one ranking in the Northeast. The criteria for receiving the recognition includes capital investment and job creation. Through the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC), approximately $51.3 million in new capital investments were made in the county creating approximately 172 new jobs in 2011.

“Through the collaboration of the Genesee County Legislature, the City and Town of Batavia, and many others in our community, we had another successful year in our economic development efforts,” said Steve Hyde, president and CEO of the GCEDC. "With the recent announcement of Premiere Credit and Java Equipment projects, 2012 is off to a tremendous start.”

In 2011 the GCEDC was able to participate in 30 project “wins," including four major projects that have significant employment impacts for the region. Alpina Foods, one of the most recognized dairy companies in the world, and a leading dairy producing company in Colombia and South America, will open its first specialty yogurt manufacturing plant in the United States and will be the first occupant of the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park. Alpina will create 50 jobs and invest more than $15 million in the construction and occupation of its new manufacturing plant.

The expansion at Graham Corporation will create 26 new jobs while a green technology firm, Vegetal I.D., which creates green roofs, will be adding 20 jobs over the next three years. In the Gateway I park, a new Holiday Inn Express is under construction that will create 19 jobs. The new hotel will be attached to an existing banquet hall.

“Congratulations are in order and Genesee County should be very proud of the achievements of our GCEDC,” said Mary Pat Hancock, chairwoman of the Genesee County Legislature. “The recent groundbreaking by Alpina in our newly opened agricultural park, and the recent activity at the park promises a substantial investment in the economic health of our area.

"There were additional achievements, new cooperative workforce-training programs, businesses expanding, jobs retained; do not think that all this would have happened without the inspired and dedicated work of the GCEDC and their team. Their success is our success."

The City of Batavia, in partnership with Mancuso Business Development Group, was able to complete the Masse Gateway Redevelopment Project which included the demolition of 40,000 square feet of vacant industrial space in the Batavia Industrial Center, and the renovation of approximately 120,000 square feet for commercial, residential and light industrial use. In December 2011, the first new business in the Masse Gateway Redevelopment project was secured and in January 2012 the second business was secured. Both expect to be open by Spring/Summer 2012.

“We appreciate the recognition and will continue to build upon our rich entrepreneurial history and facilitate collaborative partnerships that support and enhance opportunities for all community residents,” said Batavia City Manager Jason Molino.

Upstate New York’s City of Batavia, the hub of the Batavia Micropolitan region, continues to reinvent itself in the wake of the national Site Selection recognition. An empowered Batavia Development Corporation -- the city’s strategic alliance and economic development agency -- invested in personnel, small business development and infrastructure initiatives to support the continued growth and success of the area in 2011.

“New staff was hired, more small business loans were distributed and a newly defined action plan for adaptive re-use was adopted,” said Ray Chaya, president of the Batavia Development Corporation (BDC). “The BDC has seen confidence return to the community."

The city's Business Improvement District completed six façade improvement projects totaling more than $17,000 in reinvestment in downtown properties, with another six projects that are expected to be completed by the end of this month. The BID is also pleased to announce that it paid off early the $250,000 bond for the Ellicott Street streetscape project, which was done in conjunction with the City of Batavia.

“The Batavia Business Improvement District is extremely proud of having four new downtown businesses, which includes a Save-A-Lot Food Store. This means approximately another 35 individuals being employed within the district,” said Don Burkle, executive director of the BID.

“I can only express my deepest appreciation for the all of the partners, municipalities, and employees who continue to collaborate and are dedicated to the strategic vision of growth for our community,” said Greg Post, supervisor of the Town of Batavia. “This success is because of the partnerships that have been fostered over the last 10 years and the willingness of everyone to work together as a team to achieve a common goal for economic success."

“The chamber congratulates all of the economic development partners in Genesee County on receiving this award. It is always gratifying to be recognized for a job well done — particularly when the hard work is often done ‘behind the scenes’,” said Lynn Freeman, director of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

“The investment being made in our community, as a result of our economic development groups and the chamber, is bringing more and better paying jobs to Genesee County that will in turn improve the quality of life for all of us."

Press release:

Following the announcement that Holy Family School in Le Roy had exceeded the first of three benchmarks required to keep the school open, Dr. Rosemary Henry, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Buffalo, issued this statement:

“I wish to congratulate the entire Holy Family School community for responding to last November’s call to action. By meeting their first goal, they have shown a commitment to sustaining and growing Catholic education in Genesee County.

“But much work remains to be done in order for Holy Family School to remain open beyond June. In the coming weeks, we need to see greater engagement on the part of supporters of Catholic education to ensure each individual benchmark is met,” Dr. Henry said.

As of March 2, the school had registered 70 students for the 2012-13 school year and raised $47,000, surpassing the March 1 benchmark of 40 paid registrants and $40,000 raised.

After a series of meetings last year, it appeared that Holy Family School would merge with St. Joseph School in Batavia, but upon hearing from members of the Holy Family community and local leadership, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of Buffalo, agreed to give the community time to rally around the school in an effort to keep it open.

Two additional benchmarks must now be met:

April 15, 2012: a total of 80 paid registrants with nonrefundable deposits and an additional $40,000 on deposit. June 1, 2012:  a total of 120 paid registrants with nonrefundable deposits and an additional $45,000 on deposit.

According to a plan agreed upon and presented to the Holy Family School leadership and the local community, as well as a letter sent by Father Michael Rock, OdeM, canonical administrator of the school, to the Holy Family community on Dec. 2, 2011, meeting the benchmarks will allow Holy Family School to remain open.

“Parishioners, school supporters and alumni are encouraged to continue this impressive momentum to ensure Catholic elementary education is maintained in Le Roy,” Dr. Henry said.

A driver says she served to avoid a deer leading to an accident that sent herself and two passengers to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Shaunta M. Jackson, 23, of Batavia, was driving north on Slusser Road in Pembroke at 4:54 p.m., Saturday, when she lost control of her car.

After swerving to avoid the deer, she said her 2000 Ford SUV left the east shoulder of the road. She over-corrected, the vehicle went off the west shoulder and she turned the wheel to avoid hitting a tree, at which point the vehicle overturned.

Also injured were Nikayla C. Jackson, 19, and Kyle J. Jackson, 18. 

All three people were transported by Mercy EMS to an area hospital.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Joseph Graff.

(Initial report)

A person reportedly kicked his way into the Discovery Chapel, 315 W. Main St., Batavia, overnight and left barefooted sometime later.

The break-in was reported at 8:15 a.m.

A door to a storage shed was forced open as well as a door into the church itself.

Found in the seating area of the church was a jacket, shoes and socks.  Investigators believe these items were left by the perpetrator.

Police found the impressions of bare feet in the snow outside the church. The footprints indicate the person walked east on the south side of Main Street, and in the area of Main and Court, the person turned toward the roadway and may have gotten into a car.

The suspect appears to have suffered a cut on his right foot.

So far, no items are reported missing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6350 or by calling the confidential tip line at (585) 345-6370.

For the third time in three meetings in 2012, Notre Dame beat Elba in boys basketball, but this time the game determined the Class D1 Section V champion.

It's the first sectional win for Notre Dame since 2001.

"They all laugh at me because I always say, 'you gotta dance with the girl you brought,' " said Coach Mike Rapone. "That's an old-timers saying, but we're not going to change anything. We're going to do what got us here."

After two previous meetings, both teams had to make adjustments, Rapone said.

"I give Elba a lot of credit," Rapone said. "They knew what we wanted to do and took a lot away from us."

Notre Dame (20-1) took a lead early, and though Elba (18-3) was often nipping at their lead, it wasn't until 3:42 left in the game that the Lancers held a 40-39 lead.

But after Doane McCulley hit a lay up and Zach Hotze sunk a three-pointer, Notre Dame didn't look back, holding on for a 50-45 point victory.

Zach Hotze and Tim McCulley had 16 points each for the Fighting Irish. Jared Thornton added 12 points.

"We're fortunate we hit our big shots when we had to," Rapone said.

One of the goals of the Irish, Rapone said, was to take the three-point play away from Dan Ramsey, whom Rapone said is one of the most consistent three-point shooters in the section.

Dan Ramsey was held to eight points for the game.

For the Lancers, Matt Ramsey had 14 points, Mike Ramsey nine. Mike Ramsey added nine rebounds.

The historic back-to-back championship match-ups between Elba and Notre Dame, with the Elba girls defeating the Notre Dame girls Friday night, was big for both schools.

"I don’t think it gets any better in small-school basketball than Notre Dame and Elba," Rapone said.

It's been a fun season at Notre Dame, according to Rapone, between the two basketball teams and the hockey team winning its Section V championship last week (the Irish skaters lost a regional playoff game Saturday night).

"We have a lot of school spirit and it’s been the most amazing winter ever," Rapone said. "I mean, the girls play for a championship, the boys make that miraculous run in hockey, everybody’s on cloud nine."

The Irish will face DeSales in a regional playoff game on Tuesday night.

If you have trouble viewing the slide show, click here.

To purchase prints of the photos, click here.

A rollover accident with injuries is reported at Route 63 and Boyd Road, Pavilion.

Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 7:22 a.m.: Minor injuries, if any.

UPDATE 7:42 a.m.: Pavilion back in service.

As we reported last night, Elba girls beat Notre Dame on Friday night, 44-33, to take the Section V title.

Photos in this post submitted by Bare Antolos.

Tonight, Notre Dame beat Elba for the boys Section V title. We'll have pictures and a story in the morning.

In hockey, Notre Dame lost their regional game tonight.

A chimney fire was reported about 15 minutes ago at 812 Genesee St., Corfu.

Corfu Fire Department with mutual aid from East Pembroke, Darien and Akron along with City of Batavia Fast Team dispatched.

The Fast Team along with Arkon have returned to station.

A fire was found, contained to the chimney. Corfu remains on scene.

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A utility pole is reportedly on fire with wires arcing behind the Chapin Manufacturing building on Ellicott Street.

City Fire Department responding.

UPDATE  8:08 p.m.: City fire on scene. Confirms burning and arcing. National Grid notified.

UPDATE 8:30 p.m.: National Grid supervisor on location.

The first regional home and business expo sponsored by the Batavia Area Jaycees kicked off this morning in Batavia City Centre.

The Genesee Region Expo replaces the home show run by the Jaycees for 60 years.

More than two dozen vendors are ready to explain to visitors this weekend how they can make their homes more attractive and more comfortable.

The event includes food and a kids zone for children to hang out while parents visit vendor booths.

The show runs today through 7 p.m. and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.