A car has crashed into the guard rail on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 391. Unknown injuries. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 6:23 p.m.: A female driver says her car was forced into the guard rail by another vehicle. She is not injured and was found near mile marker 398. Mercy medics are continuing to the scene in non-emergency mode. Town of Batavia is back in service. State Troopers are on scene.

UPDATE 6:27 p.m.: No injuries found. Mercy medics are back in service.

A 17-year-old male lost consciousness and reportedly suffered a back injury following a dirt-bike accident at Area 51. He is now alert. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The motocross track is located at 3323 Harloff Road in the Town of Batavia.

UPDATE 2:32 p.m.: Medics on scene have requested Mercy Flight. Dispatch says Mercy Flight is checking the weather, supposedly there are storms approaching, to determine if a helicopter can fly in. The patient will be transported to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: Mercy Flight 5 out of Batavia is going to launch. Indications are there may be weather issues flying to Buffalo. That's still being determined, but "they can fly the other way if necessary." East Pembroke is to establish at landing zone at Area 51.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: Mercy Flight 5 has landed.

UPDATE 2:52 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne. The destination is still not certain, but the plan is to go to ECMC.

UPDATE 2:54 p.m.: Mercy Flight has the green light to go to ECMC in Buffalo.

GoArt! hosted its first GoArt! Members Exhibition on Friday, along with its first Digital Art Exhibit. Both are intended to become annual events.

The above ink-on-canvas painting is called "Fiscal Policy" and was painted by Kevin Hammon, who lives just north of Le Roy. It was on sale for $350.

Here is Hammon with another of his canvas works, "Moon Light Drive-In" ($125).

Below are some of the other paintings on display at Seymour Place.

Oil painting: "Wolf Creek at Letchworth" by Rick Ellingham ($275).

Oil painting: "Route 5" by Joseph Deni ($400).

Kevin Feary, of Batavia, stands beside his oil-on-muslin painting, "Short Order Cook" ($580).

Artist (and City Councilwoman) Rose Mary Christian stands next to her untitled acrylic (not for sale) with Linda Sforno (left) and Roelene Christian.

"Country Cottage Needlepoint" by Joan E. Rotondo ($238).

Watercolor: "Sinking Ponds" by Rita M. Hammond ($50).

Pencil: "Silent Communication" by Judy Wenrich ($175).

Glass art: "Dragonfly Wide Bowl" by Heather Whitney ($100).

Glass art: "Peacock Bowl" by Heather Whitney ($120).

Acrylic and paper: "Night Out" by Kimberly A. Argenta ($100).

Acrylic: "National Geographic: Stampede" by Carole LaValley ($225).

Oil on muslin: "Upton Monument" by Kevin Feary ($580).

Oil: "Rusted & Weathered" by Rick Ellingham ($200).

Connie Mosher, of Albion, stands next to her Arizona-inspired oil painting, "Rugs on a Railing Near Sedona, AZ" ($500).

Pastel: "Alzheimer's--the Ultimate Identity Theft," by Sharon Jahnke Long (not for sale).

Earthenware, slips, glaze: "Cityscape II" by Moi Dugan ($425).

Pastel: "Twoo Wuv" by Sharon Jahnke Long (not for sale).

Woodcut: "Angus" by Rita Hammond ($50).

Clay: "Covered Jar with Wheat" by Jean Grinnell (SOLD).

Long Stitch: "Tiger Walk" by Joan E. Rotondo ($238).

To find out which of these--and other--photos are still for sale, contact Robin Upson, administrative assistant at GoArt!, at 343-9313, or email info@goart.org.

As this was going on, a reception for non-members' digital art was held next door at GoArt!'s satellite gallery in the Batavia Senior Center.

"Study in Perspective" by Natalie Buczek ($10).

"Katie" by Byron-Bergen ninth-grader Katelyn Simmons (not for sale).

"Guitar Rock" by Susan Meier ($45).

"Let It Be" by Daniel Cherry ($40).

Cherry displays his work, "Broken Treaties," with his sons, Jimmy and Daniel.

The digital artwork will be on display until April 27 at the senior center, at 2 Bank St. in Batavia. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

For information, contact Joe Langen at jlangen@goart.org.

The Elba Lady Lancers finish out 2012 with a perfect 25-0 season and a state championship after a win at Hudson Valley Community College today.

Elba beat Argyle High School 48--34 to take the team's first-ever state title.

Yesterday, Elba beat #1 seed South Kortright in the Class D semi-final to move on to today's final game.

McKenzie Bezon was named MVP and Meg Stucko was named to the All-Star Team. Kelsey Bezon won the Sportsmanship Award.

Two youths are reportedly shooting geese in Oatka Creek with a pellet gun from the creek bank off Munson Street in Le Roy. Some birds have been killed or injured and are floating downstream. Le Roy police are responding.

Downtown Batavia was hoppin' on Saturday night with hundreds of local residents out to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. We stopped by Delavan's, T.F. Brown's, Bourbon & Burger, Center Street Smoke House and, of course, O'Lacy's.

If you can't view the slide show below, cick here. To purchase prints of any of these photos, click here.

A caller to dispatch has reported a "suspicious condition" in Le Roy -- two people taking random pictures of the village.

The caller said the two people have been in the village since at least 11 a.m. taking pictures all over the village of things such as buildings and street signs.

Apparently, the caller spoke with the two people and they said they were reporters from France.

That seems to be the straw that broke the camel's back and prompted the call.

A Le Roy police officer confirmed seeing people take pictures of a statue in the village and wanted to know if the photographers had been seen on private property.

No report of trespassing.

The officer will attempt to make contact, but didn't sound confident of finding criminal activity.

UPDATE 7 p.m.: The officer made contact. The photographers are from Pennsylvania and are taking pictures to post to Facebook. "Nothing suspicious," the officer reports.

A grass fire is burning out of control and approaching a structure at 8959 S. Lake Road in Pembroke. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding. The location is between Scribner and Cohocton roads.

UPDATE 3:23 p.m.: The fire is now under control.

UPDATE 3:36 p.m.: The fire is out. All fire units are back in service.

A fairly dry winter and an apparently early spring does increase the wild fire danger, and local residents should be especially mindful of the state's open burn regulations from now through May 14, said Tim Yaeger, coordinator for Genesee County Emergency Services.

This time of year, you can't burn leaves, you can't burn brush, you can't burn twigs and branches, you can't burn any other kind of organic material (and you can never burn non-organic material).

The only outdoor fire allowed right now is a small cooking fire that is closely monitored and maintained.

If a fire is spotted, emergency dispatch will be called, a fire company will respond and you could be fined.

"Law enforcement can be called and the fee is significant for those who burn illegally," Yaeger said.

Fires that get out of control -- which is easy in these conditions -- put property and lives at risk.

"During the burn ban time, our goal is to save lives and property," Yaeger said. "That's our biggest concern, that we don't have any property that's not intended to burn, burn, and we don't put any of the public or the firefighters at risk when these fires are preventable."

Leaves, especially, should not be burned, Yaeger said. The embers from such a fire can blow well beyond the fire area and ignite brush and wooded areas, creating potentially fast moving fires.

"We encourage people to compost their leaves," Yaeger said.

Once May 15 passes, organic matter can be burned in the rural parts of the county, and people can once again have small campfires (three feet high and four feet in width or diameter) and ceremonial or celebratory bonfires, but all fires must be attended and monitored.

Certain agricultural waste fires -- organic material -- are also permitted.

At no time can people burn inorganic material.

Last week Yaeger was at a meeting with the state's emergency coordinator and Yeager said the message was that "unsettled weather patterns" create a number of dangers for state residents.

Wind-whipped fire is one matter, but significant storms, even tornadoes are not out of the question.

"There's been some odd weather patterns in the Midwest," Yaeger said. "We hope nothing will occur, but with the weather patterns we're seeing, we must be concerned that we might get some unsettled weather this season."

If you spot a fire, the number to call is (585) 343-5000 or if an emergency situation call 9-1-1.

A car has reportedly hit a parked car in the area of 22 Ross St., Batavia.

An EMT on scene reports a possible medical condition for the driver.

City fire department and Mercy EMS responding.

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Sackets Harbor beat Notre Dame today in the semi-finals of the boys basketball tournament in Glens Falls.

The final score: 50 to 40.

It's only the second loss of the season for the Fighting Irish, who won their first Section V title since 2001 and the Western Regional title.

It looks like Batavia Downs is a long shot to expand into a full-blown Vegas-style casino with table games and expanding gambling options.

The NYS Legislature took a big step yesterday toward opening up so-called racinos to more casino games, but capped the number of race tracks that can expand at seven.

Western Regional OTB board member Dick Siebert told WBTA that he's very concerned that Batavia Downs is being excluded from the expansion.

“Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs are the closest raceways to the Senecas' casinos (in Niagara Falls and Allegany), and they’re the ones putting the heat on the state,” Siebert points out. “So I’ve got a strange but very sound feeling that we’re the two being targeted.”

The seven target locations have not been disclosed.

The Senecas believe they have an exclusive lock on gambling in New York and the legislature may have caved to pressure from the Senecas by excluding Buffalo and Batavia from the expansion.

“They’re behind it,” Siebert said. “They’ve got money, and they’re throwing it around. They don’t want the competition. But not having Batavia Downs be a full casino hurts Western New York a lot more than what might happen to the Senecas.

“I’ll probably get myself in trouble to say it – but it’s the truth,” Siebert added.

Michael Kane, CEO of the Western Regional OTB remains hopeful, however.

“I don’t think it takes Batavia Downs out of the mix at all,” Kane says. “I think the number was just negotiated between the governor and the two houses.”

When you want to shop locally and shop online, there's only one place to do it: Shop Batavia.

Here's some of the great offers on Shop Batavia now:

• Save $40 on a Hot Diamonds Sterling Silver and Black Agate bracelet from Lambert's
• Buy One Get One Free set of guitar strings from Roxy's Music
• Get a free T-shirt with every hoodie purchased (offer expires today) from Pink Gorilla
• $5 off your first massage from Rae Ann's Hands Relaxation and Therapeutic Massage
• $10 off repairs of $100 or more from L&L Transmissions
• 25-percent off your entire purchase from Anything Goes Books and More
• A $40 photo session with Jes Richardson Photography

You can also buy gift certificates for local businesses. Click here.

Check Shop Batavia's home page daily for new offers and promotions from local businesses.

When you shop locally, more of your hard earned dollars stay in the local community where they do the most good. Shop Locally. Shop Batavia.

A possible brush fire is reported in a wooded area near 10355 South St. Road in Pavilion. The location is just north of Route 20. Pavilion Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 6:12 p.m.: A responder on scene says "It looks like a controlled burn. It looks like it's contained. ... The homeowner's on location. I don't think it's going anywhere." The assignment is put back in service.

UPDATE 6:20 p.m.: The actual address was determined to be 7635 South St. Road. The homeowner was informed of the new open burning regulations.

A 35-year-old Batavia resident has been charged with grand larceny for allegedly making false claims with the Department of Social Services.

Lee Heckman, of 5 Fairmont Ave., is accused of submitting various forms with DSS that concealed income from a scrap recycling business.

Heckman allegedly received food stamp benefits totaling $600 from March 2011 through July 201, as well as temporary assistance totaling $1,576.13.

Following arraignment in Town of Batavia Court, Heckman was jailed without bail.

Besides the grand larceny, 4th, charge, Heckman is also charged with two counts of offering a false instrument for filing.

Cases of suspected welfare fraud can be reported by calling 344-2580, ext. 6417 or 6416. All calls are confidential.

A large field fire is reported in the area of 1283 Lewiston Road, just west of Alleghany Road. Alabama Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 4:03 p.m.: The fire is under control.

UPDATE 4:10 p.m.: The fire is out. All units returning to service.

Reuters: New York cuts pension benefits for public workers

Press release from Mary Pat Hancock, chairwoman of the county legislature:

I applaud Governor Cuomo for not backing down in his fight to provide meaningful long-term savings for local governments. Over the past several years, pension costs have crippled local governments in New York. Here in Genesee County we have seen our annual pension costs escalate from $247,000 to over $4 million dollars in a 10-year period. That is just not sustainable. It makes maintaining vital local services most difficult. I cannot emphasize enough how important it was for the state legislature to enact meaningful pension reform this year and thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership.

Technology students from throughout the GLOW region gathered at GCC today for the fifth annual Tech Wars.

The event pits teams from high schools and middle schools against each other in contests of engineering and design, including bridge building, Lego robots, CAD design and web page design, among more than a dozen other contests.

The competition's first year was 2008 and it has grown every year since its inception.

A grass fire is reported in Alexander at 11250 Maplewood Road. Alexander Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 2:36 p.m.: The fire is out. All units returning to service.