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House fire on Union Street in the city

By Billie Owens

A working house fire is reported at 1 Union St. in the City of Batavia. City fire is responding. Many calls have come in on this. The location is at the corner of West Main Street.

It's a two-story house and the upstairs is on fire. All off-duty firefighters are also called in, and the Town of Batavia Fast Team. One person on the first floor remains unaccounted for.

UPDATE 7:19 p.m.: A Mercy ambulance is called.

UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: The missing person has been accounted for and is safe. National Grid is called in.

UPDATE 7:24 p.m.: The chief says "We've got a good knock down on this fire. Heavy smoke throughout. Checking for extensions."

UPDATE 7:27 p.m.: Alexander firefighters are called to fill in at the city station.

UPDATE 7:29 p.m.: There's fire in the basement. There's no fire in the attic now, but there's still heat. The fire on the first floor is out. They've got three water lines on the house.

UPDATE 7:31 p.m.: They've broken out the basement windows and the basement fire is mostly extinguished. They have not yet cut the power at the panel box "too much debris." They are having trouble locating the gas line to shut it off. They are going to put fans out front to help blow away the smoke.

UPDATE 7:34 p.m.: They've found the gas line and shut it off. In the basement, the electrical panel which contains the circuit breakers has melted.

UPDATE 7:44 p.m.: The second floor fire is out, including some extension into a wall.

UPDATE 7:45 p.m.: "The homeowner's pretty sure it started on the stove, in the kitchen there."

UPDATE 7:51 p.m.: National Grid has arrived.

UPDATE 7:55 p.m.: National Grid has shut off the power. A building inspector is called in as is the American Red Cross to assist one occupant.

UPDATE 8 p.m.: The building is owned by Terry Platt. The occupant is Doug Veltz.

UPDATE 8:03 p.m.: The Red Cross is expected to arrive in about 15 minutes.

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: Town of Batavia's Fast Team is released from the assignment.

UPDATE 9:04 p.m.: Alexander is back in service. Mercy medics went back in service some time ago.

UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: The Union Street assignment is back in service. All responders are clearing the scene.

Dogs in hot cars reported

By Billie Owens

A crowd of people is reportedly standing around a maroon sedan in the parking lot of Walmart -- concerned with the welfare of a dog left inside with the windows barely cracked. Law enforcement is responding and there's another complaint like this pending at Target.

Wide-load trailer accident at Main and Oak streets, Batavia

By Billie Owens

An accident involving a 54-foot pre-fab home being towed with a wide-load tractor-trailer is reported at the intersection of Main and Oak streets. The tractor-trailer has a broken axel and is up on the curb. The intersection is completely blocked. Police are on scene to control traffic. A heavy-duty tow truck will be required. "We're going to need a healthy supply of cones," says an officer.

UPDATE 2:50 p.m.: The tractor-trailer is being repaired on scene and is expected to be moved shortly, so the cones will not be needed. The mishap is completely blocking one lane on West Main Street in front of Hess Gas Station and part of the adjacent lane.

UPDATE 2:54 p.m.: The roadway is open.

Minor injury accident reported at Bank and Main, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

A minor injury accident is reported downtown at the intersection of Bank and Main streets, Batavia.

City Fire Department and Mercy EMS are on scene.

One woman is complaining of back pain.

3-on-3 basketball tournament scheduled for return to Williams Park

By Howard B. Owens

Former Batavia High School basketball player Jerry Smith is bringing blacktop basketball back to Williams Park with a 3-on-3 tournament June 30.

Williams said it's been a few years since the park hosted such tournaments, but he remembers them from his youth and thinks area players should get the same opportunity.

As many as 35 teams, or more, are expected to participate, coming from not just Batavia, Elba and Le Roy, but also Buffalo, Lockport, Perry, Medina and other towns in the region.

"It's some of the best competition around," Smith said.

The cost is $50 per team and teams can consist of as many as five players.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. and play begins at 9 a.m.

For more information, call Smith at (585) 993- 3342 or email him at honeybun11x@yahoo.com

Proceeds will benefit Franchise Basketball of Rochester, an Amateur Athletic Union team and help send the team to Las Vegas in July for a tournament. Local team members include Jalen Smith, Tommy Prospero, Justin Washington and Jered Thornton.

Photo: Jalen Smith, Justice Fagan and Josh Johnson.

Grand Jury Report: Man accused of getting girl stoned and engaging in sex act

By Howard B. Owens

Alexander J. Kessler is indicted on counts of criminal sexual act, 1st, criminal sexual act, 3rd, sexual abuse, 1st, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful dealing with a child. Kessler is accused of providing a female age 17 or under with marijuana and alcohol, and then subjecting her to oral sexual contact without her consent and at a time she was unable to consent because she was physically helpless. The alleged conduct reportedly took place Feb. 25 and/or Feb. 26 in the Town of Le Roy.

Anthony J. Goulet is indicted on a count of assault, 2nd. Goulet is accused of injuring another person by hitting him with a beer bottle on June 15.

Thomas Hammerl is indicted on counts of falsifying business records and criminal purchase of a weapon. Hammerl is accused of attempting to purchase a J. Stevens single 12-gauge shotgun from Gary C. West of Sheard’s Antiques and Guns and falsely answering a question on a U.S. Department of Justice form ATF 4473 regarding his legal eligibility to purchase a gun. Hammerl is allegedly barred from owning firearms due to either a prior conviction or "some other disability which would render him ineligible to lawfully possess a firearm, rifle or shotgun in this state."

Law and Order: Buffalo man accused of stealing flooring from Home Depot

By Howard B. Owens

Rocco A. Ballacchino, 53, of Red Jacket Parkway, Buffalo, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Ballacchino is accused of stealing $1,267 worth of flooring from the Home Depot in Batavia. Ballacchino was arraigned and held without bail.

A 17-year-old resident of River Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The youth was stopped on River Street at 9:25 p.m., Thursday, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Hochul goes to bat against breast cancer in annual Capitol Hill softball game

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Representative Kathy Hochul (NY-26) competed in the fourth annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game against female members of the Capitol Hill Press Corps.

“This event is a great opportunity to have a little fun with my colleagues and some of the journalists who cover us,” Rep. Hochul said. “I was happy I got to play centerfield this year since that’s where I’m most comfortable — not too far to the right and not too far to the left. I’m sure the reporters all noticed my prowess in the center and how well I worked with my bipartisan teammates.”

The press team defeated the congressional team 13 to 10.

The proceeds from this year’s event are going to the Young Survival Coalition, a group dedicated to young women affected by breast cancer.

GCC will forgo request for $50K funding increase from county

By Howard B. Owens

GCC will delay some initiatives in order to squeeze its budget a little bit tighter, college President Jim Sunser told the Genesee County Legislature.

The college can forgo, at least for this year, an increase in the county's host share of funding.

"We will continue to be very diligent about how we allocate and expend dollars," Sunser said. "We will keep as much as we can toward student success first and foremost, but we’ll be OK."

In another of a series of lean budget years for Genesee County, GCC was facing a tough battle to convince legislators to increase funding by $50,000, from $1,937,374 to $1,987,374.

The county's share of GCC funding represents about 5 percent of the college's overall $37 million operating budget.

Two recent staff retirements will also help the college hold down expenses just a bit, Sunser said.

"We will manage how quickly we replace those positions," Sunser said. "Some of the staff temporarily filling in will fill in just a bit longer."

As part of the budget plan, GCC is planning a tuition increase of $75 per semester per full-time student.

Unknown type chemical smell reported on Liberty Street

By Howard B. Owens

City fire and Mercy EMS have been dispatched to an address on Liberty Street where the residents report an unknown type chemical smell.

Two people are reportedly feeling ill.

Law enforcement was also dispatched.

UPDATE 8:24 a.m.: Complaint apparently unfounded. All units back in service.

Photos: Sneak peek at new Batavia Downs signs

By Howard B. Owens

Officials with Western Regional OTB, Batavia Downs and invited guests were in Rochester today for a ribbon cutting and unveiling of the work done so far on the new marquee signs for Batavia Downs.

The work is being completed by Premier Sign Systems.

Ryan Hasenauer, director of marketing for Batavia Downs, provided the pictures.

Smoke from dryer reported on Bank Street

By Billie Owens

The smell of smoke coming from a dryer is reported at 161 Bank St. City firefighters are on scene and report there's nothing showing. The dryer is in the downstairs unit, which has been evacuated.

UPDATE 7:42 p.m.: Firefighters determined the complaint to be unfounded. They are returning to service.

Rollover accident on westbound Thruway, unknown injuries

By Billie Owens

A one-vehicle rollover accident, unknown injuries, is reported at mile marker 397 on the westbound Thruway. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:31 p.m.: Responders on scene report there's nothing found. The single call may have been about a disabled semi roadside. After midnight, a tractor-trailer accident was reported near the location. It landed on its roof and dumped its cargo of bananas. Since then, the semi has been uprighted, but remains roadside until its tow is available, which is expected within the next 24 hours. Responders to this call are returning to quarters.

Resident of Washington Towers claims he was 'jumped' at Austin Park

By Billie Owens

A man who resides on the fourth floor of Washington Towers told dispatch he was "jumped at Austin Park" and police are going there to interview him about his complaint.

The senior housing complex is located at 1 State St. in the City of Batavia, adjacent to the park.

Several calls have been made to dispatch in recent weeks complaining of fights and other distrubances at Austin Park.

Top Items on Batavia's List

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