Abby is missing. Abby is a pure-bred Chesapeake Bay retriever owned by Tom Frew of Le Roy. Tom said Abby has been missing since last Wednesday from the Asbury Road area.

Abby is 2 years old and Frew was planning to use her for foundation stock for his two-dog kennel. She is also his personal gun dog and house pet. He has all the proper AKC paperwork.

A 16-year-old girl from Holley remains in the intensive care unit at Erie County Medical Cener this morning following a head-on collision last night on Route 98 in Elba.

The accident occurred just south of Edgerton Road at 8:09 p.m. when a southbound Dodge sedan driven by Ashley Nicol Deskins, 18, of Hall Road, Holley, crossed the center line and hit an oncoming car.

Deskins vehicle left the roadway and came to rest in a field on the east side of Route 98.

Extrication teams from Elba and Town of Batavia fire departments were called to the scene.

Jessica Deskins, 16, reportedly suffered, neck and abdominal injuries. She was transported by Mercy EMS to the Genesee County Airport, and from there flown by Mercy Flight to ECMC.

Ashley Deskins was taken by ground ambulance to ECMC where she was treated and released.

The other driver, Gina Delelys, 41, of Log City Road, Elba, was transported to UMMC for minor injuries.

A baby in Deskin's vehicle, Maelee Scott, was not injured. The car is owned by Brittany Scott of East Main Street, Batavia.

Deputy Kevin McCarthy investigated the accident and his report indicates Deskins may have been driving too fast for road conditions.

A lake effect snowstorm had started about an hour prior to the accident and Route 98 had some snow on it.

UPDATE: A revised accident report released by the Sheriff's Office this evening says charges are pending in the accident. Also, Maelee Scott was transported to Mothers and Childrens Hospital in Erie County with minor injuries.

At the Clarion Hotel last night for the Batavia Muckdog's Hot Stove Dinner, snow was falling on the LCD palm tree in the parking lot.

A lake effect snow advisory remains in effect until 1 p.m. with another small band or two of snow possibly passing through our area.

More than 200 Batavia Muckdogs fans gathered tonight at the Clarion Hotel for the booster club's annual Hot Stove League Dinner.

One of the highlights of the night is the auction of memorabilia, merchandise from local businesses and local art.

The auction was conducted once again by Todd Jantzi, owner Bontrager's.

There was also a silent auction.

The most talked about item of the night was an old baseball card featuring local broadcasting legend Wayne Fuller.

Wayne Fuller

A two-car injury accident is reported at routes 5 and 77. Indian Falls Fire Department is called along with Mercy medics. Mercy Flight will not be available.

UPDATE 9:09 p.m.: Mercy Flight is not needed. National Grid is notified that an intersection light "has been knocked off the pole," although the pole is intact. The wires are low-hanging.

UPDATE 9:12 p.m.: Fire police are called for traffic control. Pembroke fire is assisting at the scene. An ambulance is requested to be expedited. Chest pain and the possibility of fractured ribs are reported.

UPDATE 9:28 p.m.: A second ambulance, from Darien, is requested to provide mutual aid.

UPDATE 9:49 p.m.: Darien is transporting a patient to UMMC.

UPDATE Sunday, 11:30 a.m.: State Police investigated the accident. Here's the information available at this time. Matthew Weatherbee, 28, allegedly ran a red light. The other driver was Joshua Phillips, 20. Both were transported to ECMC.

Two ambulances are requested to a motor-vehicle accident on Route 98 just south of Edgerton Road, Elba.

Elba Fire Department is responding.

Law enforcement is on scene and reports extrication will be needed and that Route 98 needs to be shut down in both directions.

No word on how serious the injuries might be.

UPDATE 8:21 p.m.: Two Mercy Flight helicopters requested to the scene. Mercy Flight #5 out of Batavia and Mercy Flight #6 out of Buffalo are started.

UPDATE 8:26 p.m. (by Billie): All available manpower from Elba fire is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 8:30 p.m.: Elba is requesting that Town of Batavia Fire Department to send Engines 24 and 20 to the scene -- a rescue truck and one equipped with extrication jaws.

UPDATE 8:33 p.m.: Both Mercy Flights -- # 5 and #6 -- cancelled due to weather.

UPDATE 8:35 p.m.: Fire police are cancelled.

UPDATE 8:36 p.m.: The jaws are needed right away. Mercy Flight states that if one of the ambulances can get to the Batavia hangar, they can leave from there and go to Buffalo, but the helicopter can't head north (to the scene itself). Also, the Buffalo ship is heading to Batavia's airport and the Batavia ship is on standby there.

UPDATE 8:41 p.m.: Medics report that "patient 1" -- a 17-year-old with head, neck and abdominal injuries -- is being transported to the Batavia hangar for transport by Mercy Flight.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: The second patient has been extricated.

UPDATE 8:47 p.m.: A third ambulance is called.

UPDATE 8:50 p.m.: Two ambulances are One unit is going to Erie County Medical Center, another to Women's and Children's Hospital in Buffalo. One adult and an infant still require transport. Town of Batavia is cleared from the accident.

UPDATE 8:56 p.m.: A "patient en route to the hangar is unresponsive now." An inquiry is made about Byron's availability to send an ambulance for the remaining patient -- a fourth ambulance called to the scene.

UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: Road is re-open. Elba back in service.

A car is reported to have struck a tree on Oak Street, north of Main Street. There are said to be three injuries. City of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding, along with police for traffic control.

UPDATE 6:44 p.m.: A 24-year-old female is being taken to UMMC with complaints of back and knee pain.

UPDATE 6:46 p.m.: A second Mercy rig is taking two patients to UMMC, both females. One is 55 years old and complains of right hip pain and the other bit the tip of her tongue.

Twenty-four boys and girls ages 4-9 came out for a 'Try Hockey' event today at Falleti Ice Arena. The free event gave kids a chance to skate around, hit pucks with sticks and learn a little about the game.

Above, four-year-old Matthew Kosiorek.

A rollover accident with injuries and "with heavy entrapment" is reported in the area of 3581 Spring Road in Alexander. The nearest available Mercy Flight, in Olean, is airborne. Alexander Fire Department and medics are responding.

UPDATE 1:41 p.m.: The location is at the entrance to Frey's Sand & Gravel Co. Vehicle is on its side. "We're going to need the struts and tools set up when we arrive."

UPDATE 1:44 p.m.: The extrication process is expected to be lengthy.

UPDATE 1:47 p.m.: The ETA for Mercy Flight is 20 minutes.

UPDATE 1:48 p.m.: Mercy medics are on scene.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: "We've almost got him out." The helicopter is nearly there.

UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: The patient has just been extricated. Mercy Flight has a three-minute ETA and Strong Memorial Hospital will be its destination once the patient is onboard.

UPDATE 2:20 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: Mercy Flight is headed to Strong.

UPDATE 2:33 p.m.: Alexander is back in service.

UPDATE (by Howard): Landen P. McCormick, 24, of Sandpit Road, Alexander, was driving on a gravel road cutting through farmland owned by his family when he lost control of his 2007 Dodge Ram pickup. The truck appears to have fishtailed, causing it to hit an embankment and roll up a small hill on the west side of the road. McCormick may have suffered a dislocated shoulder and was complaining of chest pain. Because of the nature of the accident and the complaint of pain, McCormick was flown to Strong by Mercy Flight as a precaution. No citations were issued. The accident was investigated by Deputy Chris Parker.

Press release:

On January 15, 2013, New York State passed new legislation known as the “NY SAFE ACT”– New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act.

The NY SAFE ACT includes the ability for pistol permit holders to "Opt-Out." This means pistol permit holders can request that their information be kept private and confidential.

The NYSAFE Act protects the privacy of pistol license holders by permitting them to notify a county clerk that they do not wish for their information to be released publicly.

Current licensees and new applicants may make this notification to their licensing officer using the NYS Firearms License Request for Public Records Exemption form which was approved by the Superintendent of the New York State Police.

In order for pistol permit holders to "Opt-Out" and have their information kept private, the form needs to be completed in its entirety and the original needs to be mailed or dropped off to your local county clerk’s office. The form is available at your local county clerk’s office and on their Web sites. We are also encouraging our town offices and local gun dealers to make the form available at their place of businesses, so you can also check there to see if they have the form available.

Genesee County Clerk Don M. Read
County Building #1
PO BOX 379
15 Main St.
Batavia, NY 14020-0379
(585) 344-2550, ext. 2243
Fax: (585) 344-8521
http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/countyclerk

Orleans County Clerk Karen Lake-Maynard
3 S. Main St., Suite 1
Courthouse Square
Albion, NY 14411
Phone: (585) 589-5334
Fax: (585) 589-0181
http://orleansny.com/Departments/PublicRecords/CountyClerk.aspx

Wyoming County Clerk Rhonda Pierce
143 N. Main St.
Warsaw, NY 14569
(585) 786-8810
(585) 786-3703 
http://www.wyomingco.net/cclerk/main.html

A motor-vehicle accident is reported at Macomber and Batavia Oakfield Town Line Road in Oakfield Alabama. There is one injury and the person is inside the vehicle, alert and conscious. Oakfield Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. Law enforcement is on scene.

UPDATE 4:17 p.m.: It's actually in Alabama's fire district. Oakfield was called first however, and asks for Alabama to provide fire police for traffic control.

UPDATE 4:19 p.m.: One patient will need transport to a hospital, two others will be sign-offs.

UPDATE 4:41 p.m.: Alabama is opening up the roadway and returning to service, along with Oakfield. One person is being taken to UMMC.

Some people call them storm shelters, others fallout shelters, or bug-out rooms or bunkers.

Nate Fix thinks you should just call them "peace of mind."

Fix is now a distributor of underground shelters built by Kentucky-based Storm Shield.

The shelters come fully assembled, ready to drop right in a big hole in the ground and come in sizes that can handle from four to 21 people in a short-term emergency event.

"The shelters meet all of FEMA's standards," Fix said. "FEMA says the best place to be during a storm is underground."

There have been 20 tornadoes reported in Western New York since 1950, and with changing weather patterns, some people might want to prepare for more.

The shelters may also appeal to people worried about changing political winds.

There's even people, Fix noted, who just might like the shelters as extra storage.

"They make excellent cold food storage units," Fix said.

The shelters are watertight and, unlike concrete or steel shelters, the fiberglass bodies will last a lifetime, Fix said.

He said his company -- Rebel Storm Shelters -- is the only distributor for these units within an 800-mile radius.

Fix has three contractors ready to help residents install the shelters.

Town of Batavia Fire Department has a new ladder truck under construction. You can see more pictures and follow the progress on the Spartan ERV Web site.

Scott D. Stanley is indicted on counts of first-degree rape, second-degree rape, and two counts of rape, 3rd. Stanley is accused of engaging in sexual intercourse with a person less than 13 years of age some time between April 2011 and May 8, 2011, in the Town of Pembroke. He is also accused of engaging in sexual intercourse with a person less than 15 years old some time between December 2010 and January 2011. He is also accused of engaging in sexual intercourse with a person less than 17 years old.

Timothy J. Petrie is indicted on 10 counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. Petrie is accused of subjecting a child less than 11 years old to sexual contact in the Town of Pavilion in the summer of 2002, and of forcing sexual contact with a child under age 14 in March 2007. UPDATE: In July 2013, a jury acquitted Petrie on all counts.

Dion L. Clyburn Jr., is indicted on two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd. Clyburn is accused of selling cocaint on Aug. 21 at 679 E. Main St., Batavia, and possessing cocaine on that date with intent to sell it.

Robert P. Decarolis is indicted on a count of felony driving while impaired by drugs. Decarolis is accused of driving while impaired by drugs July 6 in the Village of Corfu.

Frederick J. Hensel Jr., is indicted on three counts of criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd. Hensel is accused of possessing on Aug. 15, in violation of Penal Law Section 265.02, a Harrington and Richardson Arms Company .22 caliber revolver, a Colt .25 caliber semi-automatic, and a Harrington and Richardson .28 caliber revolver.

LoriAnne Vogel, 48, of 2401 Spencerport Road, Spencerport, is accused of stealing more than $3,000 from a local business where she worked.

The woman was an office worker, according to Batavia PD and in an attempt to cover up cash deficits, she allegedly falsified business records.

Vogel is charged with grand larceny, 3rd, and falsification of business records, 1st.

Following arraignment in Batavia City Court, Vogel was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Andrew Zimba Perdock, 25, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Perdock allegedly made an unauthorized charge of $32.40 to a woman's debit card.

Brandt Lonnie Arnold, 32, of Clinton Street, Cowlesville, was arrested on a felony DWI warrant. Following arraignment in Genesee County Court, Arnold was held without bail.

Patricia Lynn Capen, 45, of East Shelby Road, Medina, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, DWAI (drugs and alcohol), driving left of pavement marking and aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd. Capen was arrested following a report at 9:34 p.m., Wednesday, of an erratic driver on Route 63, Oakfield. Capen was stopped by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

At least four vehicles were broken into overnight in the area of 358 Bloomingdale Road in Alabama, according to scanner traffic. Sheriff's investigators are on scene. The location is between Shanks and Tesnow roads.

Press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs have announced their manager and coaching staff for the 2013 season. This year’s squad will be led by Manager Angel Espada, Pitching Coach Brendan Sagara and Hitting Coach Rich Arena.

The 2013 campaign marks Espada’s second year as the manager for the Marlins’ short-season Single-A affiliate, first as manager of the Batavia Muckdogs. Espada spent the past season as the manager of the Jamestown Jammers and the year prior as the hitting coach for the Jammers. Prior to his time with Jamestown, he spent two years working as the hitting coach for the Gulf Coast League Marlins.

Espada was a 42nd-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in the 1994 First-Year Player Draft. In addition to the Braves, he also played in the Mets and Yankees systems. His playing career spanned 14 years and he finished with a .305 career batting average over 940 games played.

Sagara begins his second season as pitching coach for the Marlins’ short-season Single-A affiliate. Sagara has served as a pitching coach for 11 seasons with various teams. He broke into the coaching profession with the Dubois County Dragons of the Frontier League in 2001 as the club’s pitching coach. He has also worked for the Braves as a part-time scout (2010-11) and the Mets as an associate scout (2006-09). In 2007, he was named Coach of the Year in the Frontier League, while coaching the top pitching staff in Windy City. He and his wife, Michelle, reside in Wahiawa, Hawaii.

Arena returns for his second season as hitting coach for the Marlins’ short-season Single-A affiliate. He spent the previous two years as the director of scouting for Team One Management in Tampa, Fla. Prior to his time at Team One Management, Arena was the head coach at his alma mater, Tampa Catholic High School (Fla.), from 2007-09. He was recognized as the 3A Coach of the Year in 2008 and compiled a 53-18 record at Tampa Catholic HS. He spent the previous 10 years with the New York Yankees as scout and coach in the Minor League system. He and his wife, Joselle, have five children and reside in Tampa.

Bibbo will serve as the trainer for the 2013 season, his first year with the Marlins’ organization. Bibbo previously was the interim head athletic trainer at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia. Prior to that, he spent four years (August 2007-September ‘10, September 2011-June ‘12) as the assistant athletic trainer at Malvern Preparatory School. He spent seven months (February-August 2011) as the rehabilitation intern with the Philadelphia Phillies. Bibbo received his Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science from California University of Pennsylvania in 2012 and his bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. in 2007. He resides in West Chester, Pa. with his wife, Elizabeth, and stepson, Andrew (12).

Tim Hens, who owns property neighboring the Wiss Hotel building and is an engineer and history buff, sent along this photo of the "Wiss House" circa 1900, when it was two stories with a wood exterior.

He notes it was a wood-framed building.

Is it possible that the three-story structure there now is the same two-story building with a third-story addition? Most of the frame structures built in the early 1800s were post-and-beam construction with wood siding. Very few remain in our area. It would have been difficult to add a third floor to a post-and-beam constructed building. Was there ever any history of a fire? Possibly they rebuilt on the same site?

Building permits were not required way back when, so the historical record is rather incomplete.

Hens also notes that the facade in the postcard pictures we ran the other day make it look like the facade is stacked stone.

Here's one of those postcards:

Of course, we all know the current facade is red brick.

Hens said it makes no sense to put brick in front of stacked stone and it isn't likely somebody would have removed the stacked stone to put up brick.

Thinking about this, I remembered something I read in the Lynne Belluscio article from 2005.

Hepps added the third story to the old two-story landmark and capped it off with a flat roof. He covered the exterior with metal siding.

In 1927 he replaced the siding with 'tapestry brick" veneer. He added the small one-story store to the east ...

So the Hepps-owned building we see above was probably sided with tin that was pressed to look like stacked stone.

I asked Hens if that was possbile and he said yes, but said such a facade in that era wouldn't not have weathered well.

As for adding the third floor to the wood-framed structure, compare window and door placement. The interesting thing to note is how the east end of the building isn't level with the west end in both pictures. 

However, Hens said a new building, given the slant of Main Street, could have been built the same way.

Personally, it seems to me unlikely that the building of 1900 would be so similar to the building of the 1920s if they were different buildings.

So here's something else to debate: Is the current Wiss the same building as the structure originally built at that location in 1802 (the construction date in an article Hens shared).

On another note, a caller this morning raised the issue that I haven't reported that the Le Roy, NY, LLC, isn't in a position to take immediate ownership of the building even if the village board approved the sale today.

That hasn't been an issue, at least in public statements, for the three trustees blocking the sale, but it's also true.

I confirmed with Bob Fussell this morning that there is a contingency in the LLC's offer that would give the group four months to raise funds sufficient to move forward with the project.

Fussell said he believes people have made sufficient verbal commitments to ensure the funds would be raised well within the time frame, but until the funds are committed, the LLC won't take title to the building.

Charlotte connected on five three-pointers as a part of a 15-2 run to start the fourth quarter to put away Batavia on their senior night, 72-54.

The Lakesiders got off to a hot start as Kievonn Banks scored 14 of his game-high 37 points in the first quarter and led 21-15.

In the second quarter, Batavia’s own star took over as Justin Washington scored 15 points in the frame to help give the Blue Devils a one-point halftime lead.

Washington continued to control the game after the intermission, until midway through the third quarter as he picked up his third personal foul on a coast-to-coast charge.

With the Blue Devils’ star on the bench, Charlotte would use their full-court pressure to regain the lead heading into the fourth, 48-46.

“We didn’t take care of the ball,” Washington said. “If we are going to make a run in sectionals, we are definitely going to have to take care of the ball.”

Banks would connect on a three to start the frame, and would strike seconds after a Rayqwaun Blocker steal of Jake Brasky led to another three from Demetrius Gettys.

Batavia halted the run after a timeout with a lay up, but Charlotte would hit three consecutive shots beyond the arc, two more coming from Gettys, to put the Blue Devils away.

In total, Charlotte (15-3) tallied 15 steals, 7 by Banks, on the night as Batavia never seemed to crack the Lakesiders’ full-court press.

Banks would add nine rebounds to go along with his 37 points and seven steals, while Gettys chipped in with 16 points for Charlotte.

Washington had a superb all-around night in defeat, finishing with 25 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Jamesson Etienne added 14 points and nine rebounds while Jalen Smith chipped in 11 points for Batavia (15-3).

The Blue Devils had already locked up the top seed in Class B1 prior to the game and will play host to the winner of the Midlakes/Waterloo game on Feb. 23. 

PHOTOS By Howard Owens.

Top, Justin Washington scores on a lay up in the second quarter; Jalen Smith with a lay up in the third quarter; Batavia on defense.

To purchase a print of photos, click here, or click the link in the upper right of the slide show below.