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The search for a missing Sheldon man continues today, ten days after he went missing. Michael Shiltz, 42, was last seen on November 10, and his truck was found parked by a trail off of Humphrey Road in Sheldon two days later. Read our post from yesterday for more details.

In other news, Holiday Valley, the Ellicottville ski resort, is opening today. Thanks to the several feet of lake-effect snow over the past week, and more on the way, this will mark the third earliest opening of the resort in its 50-year history.

A fire broke out in a second floor bedroom at 66 Oak Street in Batavia around 9:30pm last night, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. Two people were home at the time, but both escaped without injury. A preliminary investigation has termed the cause accidental, and damage to the home has been estimated at around $15,000.

Fischer picked up a choice piece of audio from our state Assemblyman, Steve Hawley, who spoke of the wastefulness of yesterday's special session of the state Legislature and called for more productive meetings to cut spending in the future. Hawley called the episode "politics as usual," a phrase which—not to knock Hawley at all—was surely used by countless grandstanding state politicians yesterday, all of whom, in the end, are themselves the practitioners of the usual. Are any of these representatives, in truth, practicing the unusual: in other words, getting things done, not shrinking in fear from the collective threats of special interest lobbyists, not wasting time and (our) money on circus shows that masquerade as fruitful discourse? Fischer tells us that yesterday's special session cost the taxpayers in excess of $100,000. Listening in on another news report last night, I heard that the costs were related mostly to overtime and travel expenses for the legislators! How's that for politics as usual. Or irony. Call it what you will.

"Numerous" vehicles ran off the road early this morning on a very slippery Route 20 that got so hazardous it had to be closed down for about a ten mile stretch between Alexander and Pavilion, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. Many of the vehicles that slid off the highway were still being pulled back up onto the road not even an hour ago. Salt trucks were finally starting to make some progress in the seven o'clock hour. About two to three inches of slippery snow fell across the area overnight.

A deer hunter was shot and killed by a member of his own party in Cattaraugus County. Derrick Lockwood, 23, of the town of Humphrey died Sunday morning following the incident, authorities there said. A police investigation into the death is ongoing.

Park Police are reminding those who own snowmobiles that children between 10 and 18 years old need to complete a snowmobile safety certification course in order to operate the vehicles legally, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. In fact, there's no reason parents, too, can't attend the course with the children.

The first certification course will be held at Genesee Sno Packers, 102 S. Pearl St., in Oakfield on November 23. Call (585) 948-5656 to reserve your place. Stafford will also host a course at the Stafford Fire Hall on December 2 and December 9. Call (585) 548-9951 for all the details on those sessions.

Genesee County Manager Jay Gsell told WBTA's Dan Fischer that the potentially drastic cuts being talked about by Gov. David Paterson at the state level should have only a "minimal" impact on the proposed county budget for next year. The governor's plan for cutting spending involves mostly reductions to proposed increases, which wouldn't interfere much with the county finances.

In other news, congratulations are in order for Ed Leising of Batavia who was recently awarded the 2008 Health and Humanitarian Award by the Jerome Foundation and the United Memorial Medical Center Foundation. Dan Fischer tells us that Leising was "recognized for his charity work as a member of the Batavia Rotary Club" and because of his volunteer work with the hospital and other organizations.

Some 2,000 residences in the city and town of Batavia and the town of Pembroke were without power this morning, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. Electric was expected to be back up and flowing again by about 8:00am this morning. A transformer fire near Williams Park early this morning is believed to be responsible.

Last night, the Genesee County Legislature made its first tweaks to the proposed 2009 budget and cut in half the originally suggested 4.2 percent tax rate increase—which would have meant an added $10.26 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. County Manager Jay Gsell hopes that the legislature can eliminate the tax increase altogether by December 10, when the budget will be adopted.

The last flu shot clinic of the season will be held by the Genesee County Health Department between 4:00 and 7:00pm at County Building Two on West Main Street Road, Batavia.

The Genesee County Legislature will meet tonight at 7:00pm in the Old County Courthouse.

WBTA's Dan Fischer has a caution for morning commuters: Be careful on highway overpasses. Several minor accidents were reported earlier this morning due to ice slicks on overpasses in Genesee County that have not yet been salted. Nasty spots include the Route 19 Thruway bridge in Le Roy and the Route 63 Thruway bridge in the town of Batavia. A few power outages were also reported this morning as a result of the icy conditions. Parts of Bethany and Alexander were off the grid for a little while, but power has since been restored.

In other news, the Batavia City Council will meet tonight at 7:00pm at City Hall.

Fire hydrants in the village of Oakfield will be flushed starting Monday and ending on Friday of next week, according to WBTA's Wayne Fuller.

Seventy workers at the Fisher-Price facility in East Aurora may soon be out of a job. The company, run by Mattel, plans to cut 1,000 jobs across the nation due to "the economic slowdown." About 900 people are employed at the facility in East Aurora.

Despite high voter turnout for the elections Tuesday, Genesee County did not break its record of 74 percent from four years ago, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. Seventy-one percent of registered voters made it out to the polls in this county.

Newly-elected state Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer told Fischer that the voters of Genesee County gave him the edge to beat Democrat Joe Mesi and take over the seat in the 61st District that will be vacated when Sen. Mary Lou Rath retires at the end of her term.

A fire broke out in an apartment above the Pavilion Post Office shortly before midnight last night, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. A family of three escaped without injury. Fischer reports that 11 fire companies from three counties came out to battle the blaze. "Most of the mail" was saved, but the Post Office suffered some water damage.

(UPDATE): Earlier this morning, one of our readers attempted to anonymously submit photos and a video clip of the Pavilion fire. Those submissions did not come through. If you tried to send those to us, please send me an e-mail so that we can work out what went wrong and get up the information on the site for all of our readers. If you wish, you may remain anonymous.

WBTA's Dan Fischer reports a big drug bust in Orleans County. Jeffrey Costanza, 51, of Murray, is accused of possessing more than 70 marijuana plants, a loaded shotgun and $25,000 cash. He has been sent to Orleans County Jail. There was no mention of the charges.

Security crews at Ralph Wilson Stadium will now respond to your text message in case of an emergency. Buffalo Bills fans have only to text the word 'BILLS' along with their seat number to 78247 to summon security. This way, if that annoying Brett Favre fan sitting next to you this Sunday gets too rowdy, all you have to do is whip out the cell phone.

A home on Route 5 near Keeney Road in Le Roy suffered extensive fire damage last night, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. The blaze broke out shortly after 7:00pm, and although fire crews were able to get it under control soon after they arrived, the fire "had a good start" and caused considerable damage. No injuries have been reported, and no cause has yet been determined. Investigation will continue today.

Genesee County's Health Department will be holding another flu shot clinic this morning. This time it's in Corfu at the Corfu Presbyterian Church on Alleghany Road from 9:30am to noon.