Press release:

Clarence, NY – “At a time when our nation is debating critical policy issues including whether to extend middle class tax relief or give more tax breaks to millionaires and companies that ship jobs overseas, voters deserve to know how their elected officials make their money and how much they pay in taxes. In a commitment to transparency, Congresswoman Hochul has made the last three years of her tax returns public,” said Campaign Manager Frank Thomas.

“Given Chris Collins' unwillingness to discuss his support for policies that gut Medicare to pay for additional tax cuts for the rich and lingering questions about the business he does with China so he can better line his pockets, we call on him to give voters the clarity they deserve and be candid with his tax returns,” continued Thomas.

Copies of her 2009, 2010, and 2011 returns are available here: http://www.kathyhochul.com/meetkathy/tax-returns/

Chris Collins supports tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.  According to a Collins campaign press release, “Collins supports a full extension of the tax cuts.” [Collins Press Release, 7/9/2012]

Chris Collins refused to release his tax returns so he could hide sources of business income. According the Buffalo News,

For his part, though, Collins said he would not release his tax records because they would show how much he's earning from various business partnerships, meaning the release would also make public his partners' income.

More importantly, he said, his income would reveal how much money his companies are making -- and, therefore, provide important information to his competitors. [Buffalo News, 6/2/2012]

Collins told voters “I would never” release tax returns. At an event on May 21, 2012, Collins told an audience “so again, I'm not going to release personal tax returns, because it's got my partners' income. I would never do that.” [Chris Collins Video, 5/30/2012]

Some people in Le Roy are being asked to get the word out about an appearance by Erin Brockovich on Aug. 22 at the American Legion Hall in Le Roy.

The copy of the flier above originated with Bob Bowcock of Integrated Resource Management, Inc., in Claremont, Calif.

The Batavian placed a couple of calls to Bowcock's mobile phone Monday evening for clarification and more information but only got his voice mail.

Brockovich is an attorney and environmental advocate who got involved in the conversion disorder issue in Le Roy after a group of Le Roy High School students started manifesting tic-like symptoms. She made a couple of national TV appearances on the topic.

Bowcock is the environmental consultant hired by Brockovich to visit Le Roy in January and conduct his own investigation into what may have been causing the tics. As part of his visit, Bocock brought national attention to the Lehigh Railroad spill, which showed all appearances of improper remediation by the EPA; however, Bowcock concluded the spill had not migrated toward the school.

A source warned that Brockovich's team has promised previous visits that did not materialize.

It's time for the State Legislature to pass legislation dealing more forcefully with the rise of synthetic drugs in New York, Batavia City Council members said on Monday.

City staff will draft a resolution for the council to vote on at its next meeting, encouraging Albany to expand the penal code to make the manufacture, sale and possession of designer drugs a crime with the same penalties as any other controlled substance.

Some on council wanted to know why the city couldn't enact is own tough, local law, but City Attorney George Van Nest explained that's easier said than done.

"The state has determined that this should be addressed under state law," Van Nest said. "There's that issue, that if the city chose to go above and beyond that, it would be preempted by state action.

"There's also a matter of complexity," Van Nest added. "As the materials indicate, this is a very complicated matter. For city staff to sit down and to try and draft and articulate a statute that's going to stand up in court, withstand challenge, is not going to be an easy undertaking."

Last week, the governor's office announced an emergency order banning the sale and possession of a wide range of synthetic drug compounds, including substances that act like controlled substances.

But breaking this law is only a violation. The maximum criminal penalty under the law is a $500 fine and 15 days in jail.

Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian noted that DEA agents seized about $750,000 from the reported owners of The 420 Emporium chain in raids on July 25, which is quite a bit of money compared to a $500 fine.

Incorporating sale and possession into penal law would mean defendants could face a year in jail for a misdemeanor or several years in prison for a felony conviction (depending on the how much of the substance a defendant possessed).

City Manager Jason Molino shared a report with council members that said from around May 1 (the approximate date The 420 Emporium opened in Batavia) until July 25 (when the DEA raided the store (and it's been closed since)), Batavia PD handled 35 to 40 calls for "bath salts" related incidents.

Since July 25, Batavia PD has handled no such calls.

During the course of those three months, seven individuals were identified as alleged bath salt users.

"That doesn't mean there couldn't have been more, but we didn't have contact with them," Molino said.

"Bath salts" has become a generic name for a range of products that, despite their "not for human consumption" labels, are often snorted, injected or inhaled in order to provide the user with a stimulant-type of high or hallucinations. The chemicals used have nothing in common with substances commonly added to hot water to provide a relaxing bath.

Because the manufacturers of these chemicals change the compounds as quickly as state and federal officials can ban them, it will take a more comprehensive piece of legislation from Albany to effectively deal with the synthetic drug trade in New York.

REMINDER: You must "Like" Graham Careers on Facebook and register for the contest to be eligible to win. Click here.

The Sheriff's Office has received a report of somebody smashing mailboxes on Rochester Street in the Village of Bergen.

The vandals are reportedly in a vehicle and may be using a baseball bat.

There's no description of the vehicle.

There's a car "occupied times three" doing donuts in the parking lot of a pizzeria in Le Roy. "Can you put me on the Pizza Land caper," says a Le Roy police officer, now on scene. It's located at 131 W. Main St.

UPDATE 7:42 p.m.: The driver of the car is no longer doing donuts in the parking lot of Pizza Land. The three funsters will have to find new entertainment. We assume the driver was ticketed.

A fire on the outside of a train car is reported by the railroad crossing at Seven Springs Road. Stafford Fire Department is responding. Someone was said to be using an extinguisher on it. "Looks like a brake fire and it's going pretty good" said a responder at the scene. But then they found it was coming from a traction motor which is attached to a 5,000-gallon tank full of diesel fuel.

UPDATE 5:19 p.m.: The blaze is on west side of the tracks. Fire police are going to shut down Seven Springs Road.

UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: Town of Batavia Fire Department is also responding.

UPDATE 5:31 p.m.: The roadway will be closed at East Main and Seven Springs roads. A fireman says there's rubber burning underneath on one side. "We might be able to yank it right out -- the part that's burning," which is said to be a bellows. The CSX railroad line is shut down for now and a CSX worker is at the scene. There appears to be no indication of any kind of leakage or either gas or oil.

UPDATE 5:42 p.m.: The fire commander said the fire is contained to the bellows of a motor that spread to the structure of the car. They expect to be able to put it out shortly. No fuel lines were affected. The commander asks whether CSX plans to start up the train soon and, if so, recommends fire personnel remain on scene to confirm there are no more safety issues.

UPDATE 5:51 p.m.: CSX is giving the go-ahead to open the tracks. The fire is apparently out.

UPDATE 6 p.m.: All Stafford units are back in service.

UPDATE 6:06 p.m.: All Town of Batavia units are back in service and the roadway is reopened.

It's pretty much impossible to drive around Genesee County the past couple of weeks and not see the signs: "Mercy Flight was here."

As you might have guessed, the signs are placed at locations where Mercy Flight has responded to an emergency medical situation, such as an accident or other dire health-related call.

According to Jeffrey Mendola, director of development & external affairs for Mercy Flight, about 300 such signs have been placed in Genesee County.

"The sign campaign is important to help the community understand the role we play and the role the first responders play," Mendola said. "They see where we've been and see it could be their community or their neighborhood."

Mercy Flight reviewed all of the calls that resulted in a helicopter landing at emergency scenes throughout Western New York in the past two years and selected 2,000 for sign placement. The 2,000 locations represent only a portion of Mercy Flight calls over the past 12 years.

The signs were placed at their locations by the volunteer fire departments that originally responded to the particular calls.

Calls of an overly sensitive nature, such as domestics, were excluded, as were locations that might have very low vehicle traffic volume.

Mendola said when he was at the Erie County Fair this past week, a couple from Warsaw said they counted at least 30 signs between their home and the fair.

Since the sign campaign started, traffic to Mercy Flight's Web site is up 50 percent, Mendola noted, which is important because at the site people can learn that Mercy Flight is a non-profit organization and also learn how to make a contribution to help cover the emergency medical agency's costs.

Griswold Road, Town of Stafford, will be closed to all traffic between Godfreys Pond and the railroad overpass for approximately one week.

Road crews are reducing the size of the hill at that location.

Addresses from 5693 Griswold Road and lower should be entered from Byron Road, and from 5757 Griswold Road and higher, from Caswell Road.

Starting at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, the streets of Downtown Batavia, will start closing so vendors, classic car owners, food stands and musicians can start setting up for Summer in the City.

Main Street will be closed in both directions from Court Street to Liberty Street. Court, Jackson, Center and Bank streets will all be closed.

For a map of closures and locations of Summer in the City attractions, click here (pdf). For more detail on closures, click here (pdf).

Robert P. Leiser Jr., of Lockport Road, Oakfield, is charged with assault, 2nd, and criminal contempt, 1st. Leiser was allegedly involved in a domestic incident July 24 at his residence. Leiser allegedly struck a female in the head with a flashlight. The woman required medical treatment. Leiser was allegedly under court order not to have physical contact with the woman. He was located in the City of Batavia, arrested, and jailed on $15,000 bail.

James A. Klotzback, 35, of Rochester, is charged with assault, 2nd. Klotzback was arrested by State Police for an alleged incident reported at 9:18 a.m., Wednesday, in the Town of Byron. No further details were released.

Summer Ogden, 36, no permanent address, is charged with trespass. Ogden is accused of being on 400 Towers property after allegedly being previously told by police and management that she was barred from the property.

Morgan B. Mikolajczyk, 18, of 328 S. Jackson St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Mikolajczyk is accused of pushing a family member during an argument.

Jessica R. Johns, 29, of 122 Jackson St., Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Johns allegedly possess marijuana while a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped on Jackson Avenue for an alleged traffic violation.

Cory J. Endres, 18, of 400 B Island Cottage Road, Rochester, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Endres was arrested Thursday by State Police for an alleged incident reported June 9 in the Town of Darien. No further details released.

Daniel H. Bettilyon, 51, of Hamlin, is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Bettilyon was stopped by State Police at 1:24 p.m., Friday, on Maltby Road, Oakfield.

Emily Ann Lane, 22, of Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Lane allegedly stole $51.94 in merchandise from Kmart.

A Sheriff's deputy is in contact with a 57-year-old man who has an 18-year-old warrant for his arrest out of Florida.

Florida officials confirmed with the Sheriff's Office that the warrant is still valid.

The warrant is for an alleged failure to appear on a DWI charge.

While the warrant, issued in August 1994, is valid, Florida will not extradite on the charge.

The gentleman is aware of the situation, the deputy told dispatch.

"I guess he'll get a vacation when they come get him," the deputy said.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Wednesday, Aug. 15 and Thursday, Aug. 16 at approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area south of West Main Street and west of Jackson Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored.

A motorcycle accident with injuries has been reported in the area of 7810 Lewiston Road.

A state trooper on scene requests an expedited ambulance response.

Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding. Mercy Flight being put on in-air standby.

UPDATE 9:02 a.m.: The motorcyclist was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC with neck, back, hip and leg injuries.

It appears that the bike rider and a red pickup were southbound and according to Trooper John Szymkowiak, the pickup driver came over the crest of the hill just south of Townline Road and apparently did not see the motorcycle.

The truck struck the bike from behind and the bike with the rider under the bike was propelled, skidding on its side, more than 200 feet down the asphalt.

Szymkowiak said that according to witnesses, the motorcycle was not slowing prior to be struck.

“The motorcyclist was conscious at the scene and he stated he was not slowing or stopping," Szymkowiak said.

Charges are pending against the truck driver, according to Szymkowiak.

"(The motorcyclist is) very lucky at this point," Szymkowiak said. "Any time there’s a motorcycle crash and you’re hit by a truck you’re very lucky to come out of it alive."

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An 11-year-old reportedly suffered a neck injury in a two-car collision at Alleghany and Main roads in Pembroke (routes 77 and 5). Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics. The accident is not blocking traffic and was initially reported as being without injuries.

UPDATE 7:41 p.m.: A second ambulance, from Darien, is requested to the scene in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 8:06 p.m.: The 11-year-old girl's head slammed into the head rest and she has neck pain as a result. She's being taken to UMMC. She's in stable condition and there was no loss of consciousness. A second patient is also being taken to UMMC by the same Mercy rig. Traffic is reportedly at a standstill at the accident site.

UPDATE 8:10 p.m.: Pembroke is back in service.

UPDATE 8:20 p.m.: The other patients are a 12-year-old with a headache, which has persisted all day, and a 17-year-old complaining of shoulder pain.

A motorcyclist is reportedly down and unconscious, but breathing, in the roadway at East Main and Clinton streets -- by the Rite-Aid. Police and Mercy medics are responding along with city fire. Traffic control will be needed.

At around 4:45 p.m., dispatchers received a report of a 3-year-old who had gone missing in the area of Pekin Road, Elba.

Law enforcement along with volunteer firefighters responded and initiated a search.

The child was located at about 5:15 p.m. and did not require medical attention.

All units going back in service.

UPDATE 5:41 p.m. (by Billie): I think the initial call came into dispatch around 4:15  p.m. The tot, clad in jeans and an orange T-shirt, was said to have left the house and could not be located. The caller was the child's older brother. The parents were both home but aren't fluent in English. Law enforcement asked that they scour the house once more to double-check for the child but that turned up nothing. The child was later heard yelling in the woods by officers.