Submitted photos and press release:

St. Paul's Lutheran School in Batavia held its annual school Christmas program on Dec. 20.

The mission of St. Paul Lutheran School is to enable the families of the community to know Jesus as their Savior by providing a Christian educational environment which fosters academic excellence.

At St. Paul's, school is a family!

All teachers, staff, students and families work together to create a loving, inspiring and encouraging environment in which children can thrive to their greatest potential -- a great way to begin your child's education experience.

At St. Paul's they like to say "We don't raise little Lutherans, we develop Disciples of Christ."

A structure fire is reported at 10 Maple St. in the city. Smoke is pouring from the second floor. An alarm is sounding; unknown if the structure is occupied. City fire is responding and it's gone to a second alarm.

UPDATE 6:21 p.m.: Firefighters searched inside and no one was there.

UPDATE 6:37 p.m.: The dog in the photo below was rescued from the structure and given air as a precaution for the effects of smoke inhalation.

UPDATE 10 p.m. (By Howard): The dog's name is Sadie. She is fine. The fire appears to have started with a space heater. There was no apparent structural damage, no extension to the walls or ceiling. There are three apartments in the building and only one was occupied at the time of the fire. That occupant was sleeping and was awoken by Capt. Marty Hinz when he arrived on scene. Nobody was hurt in the fire. Video at top of the story replaced original breaking news video.

This is our annual look back at photos from the year of our first responders. We thank our first responders for all they do to make our community better and safer.

Merry Christmas to all.

It looks like we're having a White Christmas after all.

Stephen Hall blowing snow on Ross Street.  

Jonathan Hoca and Quintin, 5, building a snowman on Ross Street.

Jennifer Desautels submitted this photo of Teigan Desautels, 5, with a snowman.

The high scores keep rolling in at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

In the Sneezy's Monday Night League last week, proprietor Randy Hanks recorded his second 300 game in four weeks -- 300-259-228--787, and in the Friday Night Mixers League, Curtis Foss posted 278-248-275--801.

At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Chris Bardol registered a 299 game en route to a 780 series in the Tuesday G&W Vending League.

For a list of high scores from the Genesee Region, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

Mike Pettinella's next Pin Points column is scheduled for this Thursday.

Merry Christmas to all!

Earlier, several callers reported a dangerous condition in the area of Brickhouse Corners -- a woman in a motorized scooter was driving on Route 5 along the shoulder, causing cars to swerve around her.

A police officer responded and shortly after locating her reported that a Good Samaritan stopped, loaded up her scooter in his vehicle and gave her a ride to her friend's in Batavia, which is where she was trying to get to.

CORRECTION: This wasn't the call at Brickhouse Corners. The woman in an electric wheelchair that was picked up was on Route 63 between Oakfield and Batavia.

Two shoplifting suspects are running from Walmart.

They are described as white males. One is in a brown jacket the other in a green jacket.

A deputy is dispatched and Batavia PD asked to assist.

UPDATE 11:27 a.m.: Two males are stopped in the Auto Zone parking lot.

Press release from AAA: 

Merry Christmas!

Motorists are getting the gift of cheaper gas at area pumps – prices are down across the entire region. A full report is attached. Here is a look at prices:

• Batavia -- $2.71 (down 3 cents since last week)
• Buffalo -- $2.73 (down 4 cents since last week)
• Ithaca -- $2.51 (down 4 cents since last week)
• Rochester -- $2.63 (down 4 cents since last week)
• Rome -- $2.64 (down 5 cents since last week)
• Syracuse -- $2.55 (down 3 cents since last week)
• Watertown -- $2.76 (down 8 cents since last week)

We wish everyone safe travels and happy holidays!

A three-car accident is reported at West Main Street and South Lyon Street, Batavia.

Minor injuries reported.

Traffic is blocked. 

City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:15 a.m.: One minor leg injury, reported. Also, city fire responding reports a property damage accident at Main and Court.

A truck is on its side in a ditch in the area of 9806 Creek Road, Bethany.

Minor injuries reported.

Bethany fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:17 a.m.: Confirmed minor injuries. Responding units can proceed with caution, non-emergency.

A motor-vehicle accident with no injuries is reported at 9481 Alexander Road, Alexander.

Alexander fire and ambulance dispatched.

An Alexander chief on scene requests fire police for traffic control.

The roads are slick and units should proceed non-emergency and with caution.

UPDATE 10:52 a.m.: Shortly after a chief mentions "we need to get people to slow down," he reports, "we've got another one in a ditch." The roads are slippery.

UPDATE 10:54 a.m.: A DOT salt truck is in route.

UPDATE 11:04 a.m.: One member of fire police warns the other to "be carefull -- these people are not listening or following directions."

Richardson is suspected of holding the protected party at their residence on Jackson Street and refusing to allow them to leave.

A short time later, the Batavia PD received information that Richardson had returned to the protected party's residence and police responded. Police did not release the date of the incident, but put out this report on Friday (Dec. 21).

They located Richardson hiding and he was taken into custody and charged with: four counts of first-degree criminal contempt -- Class E felonies; three counts of second-degree burglary -- Class C felonies; and one count of unlawful imprisonment in the first degree -- also a Class E felony.

Richardson was arraigned in Batavia City Court and put in Genesee County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail. He is to reappear in city court at a later date.

This case was investigated by Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Sgt. Christopher Camp, Officer Mitchell Cowen, Officer Chad Richards and Officer Jamie Givens.

Steven William Barnhardt, 27, of River Road, Pavilion, is charged with second-degree aggravated harassment and fourth-degree stalking. At 12:15 p.m. on Dec. 21, Barnhardt was arrested on the charges. After meeting a female a week prior, he allegedly continued to send text and Facebook messages and call the female, who lives on Barrville Road in Elba, after being advised to have to further contact. Barnhardt was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. An order of protection was issued by the court. The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Investigator Joseph Loftus.

Gary David Doctor, 36, of Pembroke, is charged with: driving while ability impaired by drugs; unlawful possession of marijuana; driving left of pavement markings; having an unregistered motor vehicle; unauthorized sticker on rear window; and obstructed driver's view. On Dec. 20, Doctor was arrested on the charges, which stem from a motor-vehicle accident that occurred at 9:48 p.m. on Nov. 5 on Knapp Road in Pembroke. Doctor was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Pembroke Town Court on Jan. 22. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Forsyth.

Damien M. Schoonmaker, 20, of Smith Street, Rochester, is charged with trespass. The defendant was arrested after allegedly driving around the property and racetrack of the Genesee County Fairgrounds at 1:43 p.m. on Nov. 30 without permission and causing ruts in the mud and grass. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Ronald Meides.

Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

Submitted photos and press release:

Genesee County employees and unions donated lots of cash, nonperishable food items, and games and toys to this year’s Kiwanis Holiday Tote Project. It’s a great project and the workers have really been incredibly generous.

The Kiwanis Holiday Tote Project provides local families with a tote full of ingredients to make a holiday meal and turkeys are donated by Batavia Downs Gaming Western Regional Off-track Betting. The Richmond Memorial Library provides a book to each child; gloves and hats are given away and the children get a visit from Santa.

This year Genesee County employees and their Unions (AFSCME, CSEA, DSA and SEA) provided large cash donations, more than 400 additional food items and more than 70 games for needy families.

Genesee County Highway Department.

Genesee County Probation Department, Treasurer's Office and Human Resources Department.

Genesee County Civil Service Employees Association General Unit Local #819 -- Bryan Pike, CSEA Union president, and Jeremy Barber, CSEA Union vice president (identification in photo unspecifiied).

Genesee County Clerk's Office.

A personal injury accident is reported in the area of 6994 Tripp Road, Byron.

One patient was reportedly in route to Strong for a medical issue at the time of the accident.

Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched along with Mercy EMS; however, once fire chiefs were on scene, an ambulance was told to respond non-emergency.

The roadway is blocked and traffic is being shut down.

UPDATE 9:39 a.m.: A patient is being transported to Strong by Mercy EMS.

Last night, T.F. Brown's hosted a happy hour and ugly sweater contest in support of the annual Christmas Day Community Dinner.

The dinner has been going for close to three decades and offers a free meal and toys from Santa for children and is open to all members of the Genesee County community.

For more information, click here.

Gregory Hallock, executive director of GO ART! holds up the winning ornaments from an ornament-decorating contest for GO ART! members. Tammy Hathaway, the left ornament, won in the adult category and Anna Browne won in the children's category.

GO ART! opened its winter members' art show, Heat Wave, on Thursday night.

Best of Show, "Firebird," by David Burke.

A sculpture, "Forest Floor," by Emily Crawford.

This morning, members of the Batavia Police Department presented a check for $1,930 to Genesee Cancer Assistance, funds raised as a result of their ability and willingness to grow facial hair during "Movember."

Officers paid $50 for a goatee, $25 for a mustache and $100 for a full beard.

Chief Shawn Heubusch gave members of the department permission to continue the facial hair fundraising in December, with money raised going to a local family with medical needs. Donations to that cause are being accepted at the police station until Jan. 11.

Officers will need to become clean shaven again Jan. 1, unless their efforts to lobby Heubusch for an extension is successful.

Photo: Sgt. Matt Lutey, Det. Sgt. Kevin Czora, Sue Underwood and Teresa Potzebowski, both with Genesee Cancer Assistance, Officer Frank Klimjack, and parking enforcement and animal control officer James Sheflin.