A donation fund has been set up to assist Candee McConnell, who lost her husband and had a portion of her house damaged in a fire last week.

Donations can be made at any Bank of Castile location in the name of Candee McConnell.

Candee and George McConnell were married for 25 years and were active in the SPCA. George was retired from the U.S. Postal Service and a World War II vet and avid baseball fan, according to his obituary.

For health reasons, George was unable to exit a second-floor bedroom of the McConnell's home on Davis Avenue after the fire broke out in that part of the house.

The back section of the house was heavily damaged.

Donations will assist Candee with various needs arising from the tragedy.

Syracuse.com: Siena College poll on governor's race

A house at 8949 Clipnock Road, Stafford, has reportedly had its roof blown off.

The residence is being evacuated.

Also, about 520 National Grid customers are without power in an area starting just north of the city and in a triangle that stretches up to Elba. No ETA for power restoration.

There are also small power outages in Basom, Alabama, East Oakfield and Darien.

UPDATE 3:14 a.m.: Dispatchers are now saying the roof is "separating from the residence."

The Moose Lodge in Le Roy honored local veterans Saturday night with a prime rib dinner.

Besides the volunteers (pictured below) who helped put it together and run it, the event was supported by Smokin' Eagle, T.F. Brown's, Le Roy Country Club, BW's, 58 Main and Red Osier. Volunteers included Justin Mattice, Bob Sovocoll, Judy Mills, Shane Burger and the staff at the Smokin' Eagle.

Photos by Shane Burger.

In about four hours, or a little later, expect thundershowers and strong winds.

The National Weather Service has issued a weather advisory for 10 p.m. through midnight.

A deepening lower pressure system is lifting across the upper Great Lakes tonight and pushing an energetic cold front through WNY, according to the NWS. The front will likely be accompanied by a squall line of heavy showers and some possibly strong thunderstorms. Damaging wind gusts are possible.

Wind gusts could reach 50 mph.

UPDATE 9:31 p.m.: The weather service has upgraded the storm outlook to a thunderstorm watch, in effect until 1 a.m.

UPDATE 10:07 p.m.: The NWS just issued a thunderstorm warning. Gusts up to 60 mph. Below is the latest radar image of the incoming storm.

Elba Fire Department and fire police will be shutting down Lockport Road at Route 98 because of wires, possibly high tension wires, down on the roadway at North Byron and Oak Orchard roads. National Grid has been contacted, unknown ETA.

UPDATE 4:08 p.m.: The roadway is clear. The roads are reopened. The Elba assignment is back in service.

In a room filled with friends, fans and supporters last night, former Elba Lady Lancers Head Coach Tom Nowak was all smiles.

"It's really special," Nowak said. "It's a little bit, I don't know, I want to say the word, 'imposing,' because you want to be in the background as a coach. It's difficult when you come out here and you're the person, but it's really nice to see."

Nowak was honored with a retirement party at the Elba Fire Hall that featured a collection of memorabilia and lots of memories from 26 years of serving the community by teaching young people how to compete and win.

In 1977, after two years at Dundee, Nowak joined Elba Central as a history teacher. He also became the varsity football coach and the varsity girls basketball coach.

His football record over 22 years was 130-60-6 with two sectional titles.

Leading the Lady Lancers, Nowak compiled a 457-132 record, eight sectional titles and, most significantly, a state title in 2012.

"Just that one precious one," Nowak said of the state championship. "It was special. We went in 2000 and lost in the finals. I always thought I'd never get a chance to go back and I got a chance to go back and the girls came through."

Teaching and coaching in Elba was a perfect fit, he said.

"I've always considered myself a shallow person," Nowak said. "I like history and I like sports. I first got to be a history teacher at Elba and then I got a chance to coach, so it really worked out well for me."

It takes time and dedication to be a successful varsity coach in any sport, and that means, Nowak acknowledged, that he maybe wasn't home as much as his wife might have liked over the years.

"We're going to do some things for my wife," said Nowak, who retired from teaching in 2009. "She spent so many years staying home on a Friday night watching Dallas and Falcon's Crest while I was out gallivanting around scouting football games. It will be nice to give her the opportunity to do some of the things that maybe we didn't get to do when I was a coach."

With all those wins and all those titles, surely young coaches could learn something from Nowak, and here's his advice:

"Find a mentor," Nowak said. "Find the people who are successes and spend some time and find out why they're successful.You will see something you can incorporate into your own plan. That's something I did. I looked at some role models because as a young coach you really don't know what to do and that was really beneficial to me."

A motor-vehicle accident with is reported at Herkimer and Warner roads. Extrication is needed. Darien fire and rescue responding.

UPDATE 5:28 a.m.: Mercy medics are called to the scene.

UPDATE 5:32 a.m.: The victim has been "cut away" from entrapment but will remain in the vehicle until medics arrive.

UPDATE 5:36 a.m.: The chief tells medics, who are about 10 minutes away, that the victim's primary complaint is lower right leg pain. No cuts, abrasions or loss of consciousness. He is to stay in the vehicle "due to the weather."

UPDATE 5:40 a.m.: Command says to dispatch "Start me a tow for a full-size Chevy Suburban, thoroughly totaled and wedged between two trees about 30 feet off the road."

UPDATE 5:54 a.m.: The patient is now on a stretcher, being readied for hospital transport.

UPDATE 6:10 a.m.: Mercy medics are taking the patient to Erie County Medical Center.

City firefighters got their hands on new extrication tools tonight that were acquired with a FEMA grant the department received in January.

The tools are manufactured by Holmatro and include a cutter, a spreader and two rams along with rocker panel support.

The grant was for $60,000 and the money as also used to purchase struts for building and vehicle supports.

Tonight's training was conducted by Tim Norris, a rep for Holmatro.

Capt. Craig Williams said the department reviewed equipment from six different companies and invited four of them in for a head-to-head competition.

What he likes about the Holmatro products, he said, is the tools are the only one on the market that cut and spread in three stages. When there's no pressure on the blades, they move easily. As they feel pressure, they clap down harder, and in the third stage, when extra pressure is needed to finish the cut, the tool delivers maximum pressure.

Also, Williams said, the tools can be hot swapped from their hydraulic lines, meaning the line doesn't need to be drained of pressure before trading out a tool for a particular job.

Shifts of firefighters will be training with the new tools over the next few days.

Holmatro rep Tim Norris, center, conducting training.

Click here to enter. You must both like the Council Opticians page on Facebook and complete the registration form to be eligible to win. Only one winner selected.

Emily Staniszewski, a 14-year-old Oakfield resident, killed her first deer this week bow hunting, but not just any deer. It's an albino buck.

She made the kill of the three pointer in Chautauqua County.

Kimberly Staniszewski said the deer is quite the trophy for her daughter.

"Needless to say we are planning on having a full mount of this unique animal to admire for many years to come," Kimberly said.

Sustained winds up to 30 mph with gusts of 60 mph are predicted for Sunday night in Genesee County.

A high wind warning has been issued for 7 p.m. through 1 p.m., Monday.

The lower apartment at 142 State St., Batavia, is reportedly filling with smoke.

City fire responding.

The occupants have been advised to evacuate.

Engine 11 is on scene with light smoke showing.

UPDATE 7:30 p.m.: Small fire in bathroom. Fire knocked out. Checking for extensions.

UPDATE 7:55 p.m.: City assignment back in service.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Meadville and Salt Works roads in West Alabama. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 5:22 p.m.: A responder on scene says all parties involved will be sign-offs. Two flatbed tow trucks are called.

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: The Alabama assignment is back in service.

It's a beautiful day. Maybe one of the last great days to get outdoor projects done before winter hits. At least that's what James Pontillo had in mind when he pulled a high lift into the parking lot of Stafford Trading Post (he says with the shop owner's permission) so he could work on his building at the corner of Main and Morganville roads.

By now, today's roof work and gutter repair would be done, Pontillo said, if not for the trespassing complaint leveled at him by neighboring property owner Tom Englerth.

A deputy has been to the property twice today. The first time after Pontillo parked the high lift in the parking lot, the second time after he parked it in front of the parking lot. Pontillo contends that area is owned by the State of New York, not Englerth. Englerth apparently contends he controls it.

Englerth was no longer on site by the time The Batavian arrived this afternoon.

Pontillo half expected to be arrested and charged with trespassing.

Deputy Brad Mazur told Pontillo it's a complex situation given the nature of the property and the state highway right-of-way issue. He said he would need to consult with the District Attorney's Office.

Meanwhile, Pontillo has a storm drain he is worried might fall and hurt somebody, and a roof he wants to finish replacing on an arguably historically significant building and he's being prevented, he said, from getting the work done.

Previously: Fences, and more, divide business neighbors in Stafford

Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding to a stove fire at Alex's Place restaurant, located at 8322 Park Road. Darien's rescue truck is requested to stand by in quarters.

UPDATE 10:45 a.m.: Fire is out. The assignment is back in service.

Where the Wiss Hotel once stood this holiday season will stand a huge amount of Christmas cheer thanks to Andrew Lathan, owner of Lathan Tree Service, and his family.

The Lathans are donating a 30-foot tall artificial Christmas tree to the community.

Businesses and families are asked to provide ornaments to the tree. The ornament should have a name or business logo on it.

Ornaments can be dropped off at Town Hall by the end of November.

Ornaments should be at least 6-inches tall. 

"This is a very large tree," the Lathans note. It will be as tall as the existing buildings on the west end of Main Street.

The tree will be lit Dec. 7 as part of the community's holiday celebration.

Pictured are Jack, Jay, Aubrey and Carrie Lathan with the unassembled tree.

• Able to integrate a menu that suits your company's special considerations while maintaining and enhancing the holiday spirit.
• Tasteful, classic, and elegant holiday decorations.
• Traditional Friday & Saturday nights available along with the increasingly popular weekday events.

A car fire is reported on the eastbound Route 90 at mile marker 379. Le Roy fire and medics are responding. State Troopers are on scene. Several people were seen running away from the vehicle. Responders are told to stage at the toll booth.

At the close of our first election season as a party, I am thinking about lessons learned and successes achieved by the Genesee County Libertarian Party. Being novices to politics, we expected surprises along the way and we had some. Pleasantly, the inclusion and interest toward our party and candidates by the local media did not surprise us. In the national media and statewide as well, candidates not from the 2 largest political parties are shunned, ignored and outright ridiculed. Not so here in Genesee County. The Daily News, The Batavian and WBTA were always interested in including the three Libertarians, Jim Rosenbeck, Lisa Whitehead and Robert Brown and independents Rosemary Christian and Esther Leadley in their respective interview series. All 3 media organizations were represented at our election night reception, same as the other parties.

The message of the GCLP is “Educate, Advocate and Choice." We know, without question that The Daily News, The Batavian and WBTA believe in choice as well. All 3 sought to get you, the voter, information from all the candidates. That will always benefit us all. As a voter in Genesee County I want to learn as much as I can before I vote for anyone or anything; I believe most folks will agree.

As we continue to grow, and form town and village committees within Genesee County; it is encouraging to know that local media will continue to let you know what’s happening around your county.

David Olsen
Vice-Chairman, Genesee County Libertarian Party