batavia

Jason A. Klinkbeil, 24, of 80 South St., Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny and criminal traspass, 3rd (entering an enclosed property). Klinkbeil is accused of stealing scrap metal from a location at 653 Ellicott St., Batavia. Also charged, Nathan S. Snyder, 27, of 7185 W. Main St., Le Roy.

Tracy L. Hume, 41, of 3351 Iroquois Road, Caledonia, is charged with DWI, failure to use a turn signal, failure to keep right and failure to submit to breath screening device. Hume was stopped by Le Roy PD at 12:28 a.m., Saturday, on Clay Street for an alleged traffic infraction.

Tiana N. Terry, 31, of 30 Buell St., Batavia, is charged with menacing, 2nd. Terry allegedly threatened another person with a knife during a domestic incident reported at 10:21 p.m., Saturday.

Jason D. Alessi, 20, of 9741 Simonds Road, Corfu, is charged with making graffiti. Alessi was allegedly caught spraying painting some equipment at the Skate Park off Evans Street, Batavia.

Kevin O. Simmons, 53, of 20 Central Ave., Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and unlicensed driver. Simmons was arrested by Sgt. Jason Davis following an investigation into a property damage accident reported at 2:30 a.m., May 18, at 210 State St., Batavia.

Steven Matthew Seyler, 22, of Bridgeman Road, Sanborn, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding (44 in a 35 mph zone) and failure to keep right. Seyler was stopped at 12:39 a.m., Monday, on Route 33, Corfu, by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

Brennan Briggs, head football coach for the Batavia Blue Devils, is invivitng all sixth- and seventh-graders to a free football camp from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Sunday, at Van Detta Stadium.

The team's coach staff and varsity players will assist in putting the aspiring high school football players through their paces in individual skills and drills on offense and defense.

Briggs will provided information on the modified football program and there will be flag football games following the two-hour camp.

Participants will also receive Blue Devils apparel and a tour of Van Detta Stadium.

All participants must bring cleats, sneakers, outdoor clothes and a water bottle.

Kyle Kendall's favorite sport is baseball, but he seems to have a knack for catching trophy pike.

Last summer, he caught a big one at the sand wash, which his parents had mounted. This weekend, he landed a 35.5-inch, 10-pound pike.

Photo and info submitted by Dave Kendall.

"Lola" thought about trying to make her escape today, but once on the roof above the porch of her home on Pringle Avenue, she wasn't quite sure of her next move.

A neighbor tried getting to her with a ladder, but she was too big and hard to carry on his own.

Police were called, who called the fire department.

The owner wasn't home, but firefighters were able to gain access to the house and went to the second floor. Firefighter Bob Fix opened a window and called to her.

At that point, "Lola" gave serious consideration to jumping from the roof. Onlookers yelled, "no," and Fix called her again. She turned and walked into the house through the window.

When Fix came out, he said "Lola" was standing on the kitchen table.

About this time, the owner returned from a bike ride with her children.

It's not the first time "Lola" has done something like this, she said. At their previous residence -- the family recently moved to Pringle -- "Lola" jumped from a second-floor window.

"She's crazy," she said.

Then her children got tours of the fire truck and the police car.

(Initial Post)

My big project this weekend was to plant eight new rose bushes and some other flowering plants in the front yard.

This afternoon, as I worked on Memorial Day pictures, I heard a boy's voice outside. He was summoning his sister.

"Come see," he said. "I found a tiger swallowtail butterfly. Come see it."

He kept repeating, "It's a tiger swallowtail."

So, I went out side to see it. 

The butterfly was just sitting next to a newly planted rose.

The boy told me, "I've seen a picture of one in a book before, but never in person."

I asked him if he knew a lot about butterflies and he told me he was fascinated by butterflies and that his dream, once he's grown up, is to breed the first "American swallowtail," which he said would be a red, white and blue butterfly.

There were about 20 Memorial Day events in Genesee County today. Here are photos from four of them: Services at the NYS Vets Home, the Upton Monument and parades in Batavia and Corfu.

And Ken Mistler's giant flag on the Carr's building.

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

A barn fire is reported at 8244 State Street Road, just north of the BOCES complex. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. "That would be the old Stan's Harley-Davidson."

UPDATE 7:39 p.m.: Oakfield is asked to stand by in Town of Batavia's Station #1.

UPDATE 7:43 p.m.: State Street Road is shut down just north of BOCES to accommodate a 5-inch water line across the road to fight the fire.

UPDATE 7:48 p.m.: Town of Batavia fire and Mercy medics are on scene.

UPDATE 7:58 p.m.: The electrical breakers for the barn have been shut off.

UPDATE 8 p.m.: The barn is being vented.

UPDATE 8:09 p.m.: The fire is under control and firefighters are now doing overhaul.

A resident reports there is an Irish setter on the roof at 30 Pringle Ave. in the city. The fire department is responding.

UPDATE 6:40 p.m.: Truck #15 is responding with its ladder. The home was recently purchased and the owners are not there. The dog busted through a screen on the second floor and is just hanging out, perhaps enjoying the scenery.

UPDATE 6:54 p.m.: "Lola" the dog was put safely back in the home, coaxed by firefighters. The owner, who was out for a bike ride, subsequently returned.

UPDATE 6:56 p.m.: Truck #15 is back in quarters.

At least five black males are reportedly fighting in the parking lot of the Batavia Meadows Apartments on West Main Street. Law enforcement is responding.

A fight is reported in front of 107 Jackson St. City police are responding.

Bryan McWayne Hargrave, 26, of Morrow Road, Pavilion, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 3rd. Hargrave was reportedly found in possession of a vehicle and tools that had been reported stolen in Le Roy on Saturday. Hargrave was jailed on $20,000 bail.

Woodrow Clarence Horseman, 37, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Horseman was allegedly caught shoplifting at Kmart.

Beth M. Overacker, 34, of North Chili, is charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, aggravated DWI (child in car), endangering the welfare of a child, controlled substance not in original container and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Overacker was stopped at 11:53 a.m., Saturday, on R. Stephen Hawley Drive, Batavia, by State Police. Overacker was held on bail. No further details released.

Jason W. Lebar, 27, of Stafford, is charged with illegal discharge of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon, 4th (prior criminal conviction). Lebar was arrested by State Police in connection with an alleged incident reported at 7:08 p.m., Saturday. No further details released.

A reader sent in this picture of country music superstar Tim McGraw from earlier today when he stopped in at Next Level Fitness to work out. McGraw is playing at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center tonight.

Batavia's Memorial Day Parade begins in the Eastown Plaza at 10 a.m.

Here's the order of parade participants and what you can expect to see:

First Division:

• Batavia Police Chief
• VVA Chapter 193 Color Guard
• WWII Don Lewis
• Batavia NG 102nd Gun Bn. AAA
• Ralph Parise Korea
• Bob Stack Mustang Conv. Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan
• Humvee New York Army Guard
• Daughters of the American Revolution
• Paul Ohlson and Laura Friend 1946 Plymouth
• Dick McClurg Roadster Grand Marshall Mary Pat Hancock  
• The Ghost Riders
• Eugene Jankowski driving a 1942 Batavia PD motorcycle, wearing a period Batavia PD Police uniform

Second Division:

• Genesee County Sheriff Dept. Color Guard
• Genesee County Sheriff’s Dept.
• New York State Police
• City of Batavia Fire Department
• Mercy Ambulance
• Town of Batavia Fire Department

Third Division:

• Batavia Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol
• Sal Licata Remember our Troops
• Elected Officials
• Knights of Columbus

Fourth Division:

• Batavia High School Color Guard and Marching Band
• Holland Land Office Museum
• The Peace Garden
• ARC
• The Muck Dogs  /  Amy’s Fluffy Friends
• The Jaycees
• Rotary Antique Cars

Fifth Division:

• Batavia Concert Band
• St. Joseph Kiwanis K Kids
• Cub Scouts
• Girl Scouts
• Boy Scouts
• 6 Scouts

Sixth Division:

• The Patriot Guard

Seventh Division:

• Care a Van Ministries
• First Student Bus

A horse is reportedly loose on Pratt Road.

The owner was reportedly riding the horse and the horse stopped cooperating. She's concerned it may run toward the Thruway.

A deputy is responding.

UPDATE 9:07 a.m.: Deputy on scene. Horse nowhere in sight. Caller being re-contacted.

UPDATE 9:08 a.m.: The owner and the horse are reportedly in a field behind Ridge Road Village Park.

UPDATE 9:29 a.m.: A deputy to another, "She's got that rope over it, but he's not a real willing participant."

UPDATE 9:32 a.m.: Horse re-harnessed. No further law enforcement assistance needed.

This weekend, once again, baseball teams from throughout the region are in Batavia for the 2013 Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation Tournament.

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

A proposal to create tax-free zones around SUNY campuses is intriguing to officials at Genesee Community College, according Rick Ensman, director of development and external affairs, even though it's unclear how it will all work.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the proposal a few days ago. The plan would allow any business on a SUNY campus, or in some cases, in a zone around the campus, to operate completely tax free -- including no state income tax for employees -- for 10 years.

The justification, according to Cuomo, is to spur business growth and innovation in New York.

"This is an exciting and innovative proposal," Ensman said. "It has great potential for job creation and new academic-business partnerships. We’re eager to learn about the details, and about how we can participate."

The proposal has not yet been through the legislative process. It seems to have Republican and Democratic support so far, but in the process some details could change or refined.

"As I understand the proposal, businesses would be eligible for the tax-free zone if their products or operations are related to programs of study on the campus," Ensman said. "So it’s possible that businesses related to any of our programs (e.g. technology, health care, office tech, etc.) could locate in the area."

Issues such as where businesses would be located and how they would fit into the campus, or just off campus, won't be explored until and if the proposal becomes law.

"We’re anxious to learn more about the program," Ensman said.

A car has hit a bicycle at West Main Street and River Street, Batavia.

It's believed there are injuries.

City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPATE 9:08 p.m.: City fire back in service.

UPDATE 9:22 p.m.: Mercy ambulance back in service with a sign-off.

Two home-field pitchers, two dominant performances, a pair of very similar results for Batavia and Notre Dame in Section V playoff games at Dwyer Stadium on Friday.

Behind the 15-K, two-hit performance of Zach Hale, the Blue Devils shutdown Newark 1-0.

In the night cap, Alec Covel was just as masterful for the Fighting Irish. In the process of striking out 10, Covel gave up only one hit, and that wasn't until the top of the 6th inning, leading Notre Dame to a 2-0 victory over Alfred-Almond.

Batavia Head Coach Rick Saunders said Hale pitched the game of the year.

"What a performance," Saunders said. "The whole game is Hale. He got the base hit, and then I pinch run for him, and he's the winning run."

Mike Rapone, head coach of Notre Dame, was just as impressed with the performance of Covel, who started only three games this season prior to Friday because of an injury. Both Rapone and Covel said he came into the game, fresh, strong and eager to pitch.

"He threw only 78 pitches," Rapone said. "He was pounding the strike zone. His curve ball was sharp. He's a great player. He really is."

Both Newark and Alfred are lower seed games, but in sectionals top-ranked teams are going find themselves going against the best pitcher of their opponents.

"Their kid pitch great, too," Rapone said. "That's the thing with sectionals. They've got a .500 record, but they probably won every game that he pitched and maybe they lost all the ones he didn't, so you never know what you're going to run into when you get into sectional tournament. I mean, for a nine seed, heck, that kid threw the ball well."

Saunders was equally impressed with Newark's starter.

"i don't know anything about their pitcher, but I'll tell you, he is quality," Saunders said. "He threw a real nice fastball and a sweet curve ball."

Batavia was limited to four hits, but still managed to get a couple of runners to third. It made Saunders a little nervous when his offense couldn't close the deal.

"We had our chances," Saunders said. "Those games bother me more than anything, when we see guys on third base many times, one out, and you don't score, you go 'oh-oh, something bad can happen.' Nothing bad happened because Hale was in control of the game."

Being out on the mound in a big 1-0 game is exactly where he wanted to be, Hale said.

"I usually throw better later, but especially after we got that run," Hale said. "It really gave me a boost. I'm like, hey, better close it out.

"The rush is crazy," he added. "When you're out there every batter means something. It's not like it's a 10-0 game."

Covel said he just likes to be in that commanding situation, taking control of the game.

"All of my pitches working and with the strong defense behind me, it just gives me all the confidence in the world," Covel said.

Slide show from Batavia game. To order prints, click here.

Slide show for Notre Dame game below. Click here to purchase prints.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported at Ellicott and Jackson streets, Batavia.

City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

There are three vehicles involved and the intersection is blocked.

UPDATE 10:28 a.m.: No injuries.

UPDATE 10:57 a.m.: City assignment back in service.

After covering Section V playoff baseball at Dwyer Stadium, I stopped in Center Street Smokehouse to warm up and found myself enjoying the acoustic duo the Steve Balisteri Band. Since I had my camera with me, I thought I'd make a couple of photos.

I'll have coverage of the baseball games in the morning. Batavia won 1-0 and Notre Dame won 2-0.