The seventh annuall Casablanca Casino Night Fundraiser benefitting Genesee County CASA for Children will be held Friday, May 31, at Terry Hills Banquet Facility in Batavia.

All proceeds benefit absued and neglected children in Genesee County who are served by CASA -- Court Appointed Special Advocates.

Dress code is business casual. Advanced tickets are $85 each and can be purchased online, through a CASA board member or the GC CASA office. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Admission includes food stations, beer, wine and soda along with $500 in casino money and $10 in Free Play at Batavia Downs Casino.

Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. and the CASA casino will be open from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Guests can try their luck at games such as Texas Hold 'em poker, blackjack, roulette and craps. Don't know how to play? No worries! The professional and experienced dealers of Upstate Vegas Events will be there at every table to guide and teach you.

Exchange your "winnings" for raffle tickets and enter them for a chance to win an assortment of valuable prizes. There will also be a silent auction, lottery tickets, and 50/50 raffle.

Terry Hills is located at 5122 Clinton Street Road.

Press release from AAA: 

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.84, up only 1 cent from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.76. The New York State average is $2.89 – up 6 cents from last week and the same as a year ago. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia - $2.78 (no change since last week)
• Buffalo - $2.81 (up 4 cents since last week)
• Ithaca - $2.84 (up 4 cents since last week)
• Rochester - $2.82 (up 2 cents since last week)
• Rome - $2.84 (up 4 cents since last week)
• Syracuse - $2.81 (up 3 cents since last week)
• Watertown - $2.87 (up 4 cents since last week)

Demand: While some travelers headed out on Easter road trips, others were returning – leading to an increase in demand. AAA expects peak prices for the year to be around Memorial Day weekend.

Inventory: Should crude oil and gasoline stocks continue to drop and supplies tighten, then drivers could see gas prices continue to rise in the coming weeks.

Oil Prices/OPEC: Oil prices have increased this week as political unrest in Libya, U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela and OPEC’s reduced production contribute to tightening global crude oil supplies. Market watchers will continue to keep an eye on crude oil availability as OPEC members gear up to meet June 25-26 in Vienna to decide on the production agreement's future.

As many as four cars may be involved in an accident on the Thruway in the westbound lane near mile marker 391.

Multiple callers report from two to four vehicles involved.

Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:01 p.m.: The westbound lane is being closed. All traffic must exit at Exit 48.

UPDATE 11:04 p.m.: Liquid clean up is required. Both lanes are blocked. The scene commander said a vehicle will be moved shortly so at least one lane can be reopened. No word on injuries.

UPDATE 11:19 p.m.: One patient will be transported. One westbound lane is now open.

The Pembroke-Corfu-Darien Kiwanis Club hosted their annual Easter Egg Hunt today in Pembroke Town Park.

A semi-truck versus car accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 397. Unknown injuries. East Pembroke and Town of Batavia fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics.

A head-on collision with injuries is reported at 2102 Main Road in East Pembroke. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire department are responding along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 2:20 p.m.: Darien is called to provide the fourth ambulance into the scene. The location is between Indians Falls Road and Cleveland Road.

UPDATE 3:22 p.m. (by Howard): This was not a head-on collision. One car rear-ended another. "It sounded serious at first but it appears to be minor in nature," said East Pembroke Fire Chief Don Newton. There were six patients, all with minor injuries. Two were taken to ECMC and four to UMMC. A couple of the patients were teenagers, the rest were adults. East Pembroke Fire responded. Corfu assisted with traffic control. Three Mercy EMS advanced life support ambulances responded and Darien's basic life support ambulance also responded. Law enforcement would not release further information at the scene. A deputy said there will be more information in a press release at a later time.

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt this morning at Centennial Park.

NOTE: We have a little problem with the video. My phone didn't save the video of the actual hunt.

Guy Clark, owner of Cedar Street Sales and Rental, shared this photo from earlier this week of a sunrise over DeWitt Recreation Area.

Members of Girl Scout Troop 42031 in Alexander were at the Alexander Fire Hall this week to take on a few community projects, including making blankets and care bags for families visiting the Ronald McDonald House, and care bears for Sheriff's deputies to provide to children they encounter in their jobs who might be in the midst of a stressful situation.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported in Stafford at 5955 Main Road. Stafford Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The location is between Sanders and Clipnock roads.

UPDATE 5:32 p.m.: Two flatbed tows are called for a Toyota and a Mazda sedan. A second ambulance is called to the scene.

Katelyn M. Bennett, AKA Katelyn Orozco, age 29, white female, 5’5” 180 lbs., brown hair, blue eyes, LKA Dyson Street, Rochester, NY

Bench warrant for violation of probation CPL 410.40 (felony) Genesee County Court DOW 3/19/19

Robert W. Blankenberg, age 35, white male, 6’6” 260 lbs., brown hair, hazel eyes, LKA Union Street, Le Roy, NY

Arrest warrant for grand larceny 4^th PL 155.30-1 (felony) Le Roy Town Court DOW 3/23/19

Lawrence D. Boggs, age 30, white male, 6’0” 200 lbs., blond hair, hazel eyes, LKA Embreville Road, Johnson City, TN

Bench warrant for DWI and DWI drugs VTL 1192-3, VTL 1192-4 (misdemeanors) Batavia Town Court DOW 9/23/13

Robert A. Boggs, age 32, white male, 6’0” 200 lbs., brown hair, brown eyes, LKA Reeser Road, Johnson City, TN

Bench warrant for assault 3^rd PL 120.00-1 (misdemeanor)  Batavia Town Court DOW 9/23/13

Richard J. Burdick, age 41, white male, 6’1” 190 lbs., brown hair, brown eyes, LKA Summit Street, Batavia, NY

Arrest warrant for petit larceny PL 155.25 (misdemeanor) Batavia Town Court DOW 3/27/19

Benjamin G. Evans, age 30, white male, 6’1” 180 lbs., brown hair, brown eyes, LKA West Main Street Road, Batavia, NY

Bench warrant for petit larceny PL 155.25 (misdemeanor) Batavia Town Court DOW 3/12/19

If you are able to assist the Sheriff's Office in locating these people, the Sheriff's Office asks that you do not approach these people and that you call (585) 343-5000 with information that may assist in locating the suspects.

Willis Floyd Miller Jr., 59, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. He was arrested on April 18 and arraigned in Pembroke Town Court at 4:30 p.m. for allegedly stealing tools belonging to his former employer on Dec. 5 on Genesee Street in Pembroke. He was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Pembroke Town Court again on April 30. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Forsyth.

Elizabeth Rose George, 28, of Council House Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with: unauthorized use of a vehicle; leaving the scene of a property damage accident; and moving from lane unsafely. George was arrested on April 18. It is alleged that she drove a vehicle on April 18 without the owner's consent and that she was subsequently involved in an accident at 5:13 a.m. on Bloomingdale Road. It is also alleged that she left the scene of the accident. George was issued traffic tickets and released on appearance tickets. The defendant is due in Alabama Town Court on May 8 to answer the charges. The case was handled by Deputy Travis DeMuth, assisted by Deputy Joshua Brabon.

Brandon Eugene Matteson, 25, of Ellicott Street Road, Pavilion, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree harassment. Following a domestic incident that occurred at 7:56 a.m. on April 17 on Ellicott Street Road in Pavilion, Matteson was arrested and arraigned at 11:41 p.m. on April 17 in Le Roy Town Court. He was jailed in lieu of $500 cash or $3,000 bond. Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Meyer handled the case, assisted by NYS Police.

Press release:

On Thursday, April 18^th, members of the Genesee Community College Criminal Justice Club made a donation of $200 to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Fund.

Accepting the donation from the Sheriff’s Office was Undersheriff Brad Mazur.

The club members raised the money from a one-day bake sale at the college. Club members hoped that the donation could be used by the K-9 unit toward the purchase of a bulletproof vest for the new K-9 or toward the cost of the K-9.

The GCC Criminal Justice Club consists of students enrolled at the college, the majority of whom are Criminal Justice majors. They are trying to pursue careers in the Criminal Justice field. However, membership in the club is open to all GCC students.

Students in the club participate in social and community service activities throughout the academic year.

Submitted photos and press release:

In celebration of Spring, beautiful bouquets of flowers were hand delivered on Wednesday (April 17) to more than 90 Meals on Wheels recipients. This delightful surprise brought smiles all across Genesee County -- and even some tears of joy.

The Genesee County Office for the Aging and the RSVP Volunteer Placement Program were pleased to partner with the Kohl’s Batavia store for Kohl’s Cares Associates in Action.

Five local employees volunteered their morning to help bring joy to area older adults. Additionally, Kohl’s Corporation will make a monetary donation to the Genesee Senior Foundation to further support programming for residents 60 and older and their caregivers.

The special delivery of posies was made possible through the generosity of a private donation, specifically to benefit the lives of those receiving Meals on Wheels.

The Program offers a nutritionally balanced, hot meal at lunchtime, five days per week. The meals are delivered by dedicated RSVP volunteers and Office for the Aging staff. Each person receives social interaction and a safety check with each delivery as well as ongoing case management, an important piece of the program, which supports their health and independence in the community.

Anyone interested in helping with these efforts by way of a donation is encouraged to do so through the Genesee Senior Foundation, a nonprofit affiliated with the Office for the Aging. Please call Dorian Ely, services coordinator, at (585) 343-1611 to learn more about charitable donations to the Foundation.

The Office for the Aging wishes to thank everyone involved in making this day special, including staff and volunteers from Kohl’s, OFA, RSVP and the ARC Culinary Program.

James A. Chase is indicted for the crime of failure to register a change of address, a Class D felony. It is alleged that this convicted Level 3 sex offender failed to register with the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services within 10 calendar days any change of address, including Internet accounts, Internet access providers or Internet identifiers. In this case, he is accused of not registering a specific email account. In count two, he is accused of the same crime for allegedly not registering a Facebook account that used the screen name of John Chase. In count three, he is accused of the same crime for allegedly not registering an Internet access provider he used, in this case Boost Mobile. In Special Information filed by the District Attorney, Chase is accused of having been convicted of: the crime of failure to register/verify a change of address, as a Class A misdemeanor, on Aug. 18, 2005 in Batavia City Court; failure to register a change of address, a Class D felony, on Sept. 12, 2005 in Town of Oakfield Court; and failure to register/verify change of address, as a Class E felony, on March 10, 2015 in Genesee County Court.

Jacob J. Camerera is indicted for the crime of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Nov. 18 in the City of Batavia that Camerera knowingly possessed stolen property, in this case one or more firearms, rifles or shotguns -- a Marlin .22-caliber model 60 rifle.

A caller reports seeing and hearing a transformer explode in the area of Maple Street and Ganson Avenue, Batavia.

City fire responding.