Stories from

Police are looking for a man that allegedly left the scene of an accident on Harris Road in Le Roy. He is walking and described as a heavy-set white male, 6-feet tall, wearing a striped shirt and shorts.

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: The roadway had been closed, but is now reopened. Law enforcement is waiting for National Grid because wires were torn down.

A trailer stacked with hay is reportedly on fire at 7328 Seldon Road. Le Roy Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 6:06 p.m.: Bergen fire is requested to stand by in its hall.

UPDATE 6:18 p.m.: Bergen is called to the scene.

UPDATE 7 p.m.: The fire is out.

Police are in pursuit of a motorcyclist who failed to stop when they attempted a traffic stop. He was on Route 5 headed into the city going 100 mph and allegedly passing vehicles unsafely. He sped through downtown going 80 mph, zoomed into Le Roy and ran the red light at Church Street. Dispatch has notified Livingston County of the incident.

He is described as a black man on a red Honda, registered to an address on Clinton Street in Rochester. He briefly slowed down, which is how they could get the plate information. They have information that the driver is wanted for allegedly committing a felony in Rochester and the bike is reportedly stolen.

He is being followed now by law enforcement in Caledonia.

UPDATE 6:03 p.m.: The dispatch center was notified that the suspect ditched the bike and fled on foot, last seen running through back yards off River Street in the Village of Avon. A K-9 unit is being dispatched to try and apprehend the suspect. Genesee County Sheriff's deputies are also going to that area.

A caller reports to dispatch that the neighbor's dog is running loose on Maple Avenue in Oakfield and the owners have moved out of their apartment, possibly leaving the dog behind. It is described as a "police dog and somewhat aggressive."

UPDATE 9:27 p.m.: Two Sheriff's deputies are scouting for the dog, which was last seen "by the mulch pile."

UPDATE 9:33 a.m.: They were unable to locate the dog. They are back in service.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: A Sheriff's deputy has spotted the dog. It's in the area of Ledge Road and Route 77. It's a white German shephard with a blue collar. And its owner contacted authorities and told them the dog was missing. It will reunited with the owner shortly.

UPDATE: This afternoon it was determined that the white German shephard is owned by a member of law enforcement who lives in Batavia and who reported the dog missing very early this morning. So, apparently it's not the dog said to be running loose from a reportedly vacant apartment in Oakfield.

A car crashed into a tree in Alabama and the elderly female driver reportedly has a back injury and is unable to move but is conscious and alert. Alabama Fire's Engine #1 is responding along with Mercy medics. The location is 7495 Maple St. across from Ledge Road.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.: The patient is being transported to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 9:39 a.m.: The Alabama assignment is back in service.

Yet another fight involving juveniles is reported in Austin Park. Police are on scene.

A group of youths are reportedly fighting on the east side of Austin Park. Not clear if this is related to the earlier calls, but the police were called there a minute ago and are on scene.

UPDATE 3:24 p.m.: A responding officer cleared the scene.

A group of five youths who were allegedly causing trouble at Austin Park were rounded up by Batavia police less than an hour ago and they all walked to the adjacent police station so the officer could take a report and call their parents. They were released.

UPDATE 2:39 p.m.: Dispatch has received another call that the same group of kids is back at Austin Park repeating their alleged mischief, but we have no further details on what that involves. The same officer who handled the first call will be responding again.

A caller complains that a dog has been locked inside a black Toyota Corolla for 20 minutes in the Walmart parking lot. The windows are down. An animal control officer is responding. The vehicle is said to be by the trees on the west side of the parking lot, in the third row.

UPDATE 2:06 p.m.: The officer reports that the vehicle was gone by the time she got there, to which the dispatcher replies "surprise."

A dog or dogs are locked inside a red Pontiac with the windows up near the food entrance of Walmart. An animal control officer is responding to the complaint.

UPDATE 1:30 p.m.: The owner was paged and the officer advised the person about the danger of leaving a dog in a car with the windows up.

A three-car accident is blocking traffic in front of the jail on Main Street. No injuries are reported. Batavia PD is responding.

Rob Thompson will be signing copies of his new best-selling book "The Linden Murders...Solved" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, July 13, at Coffee Culture in Batavia. Copies are $20.

The Linden murders are the most infamous of unsolved crimes in perhaps all of Western New York. Four grisly murders were committed during an 18-month period between 1922 and 1924. Thompson reopened the existing case files and by using modern profiling techniques and with the aid of a former FBI profiler claims to have solved the murders and names the killer.

Coffee Culture is located at 6 Court St.

A car versus bicyclist accident with minor injuries is reported in the Clor's Meat Market parking lot at Lewiston and West Main Street roads. Law enforcement is on scene along with Mercy medics and the Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

Press release:

Catholic Charities of Buffalo officials recently announced that the 2013 Appeal exceeded its $10.7 million goal, with cash and pledges received to date totaling $10,819,043.65.

Completing his first Appeal since being installed as Bishop of Buffalo last August, Bishop Richard J. Malone addressed donors and supporters of Catholic Charities at the organization’s headquarters regarding the final report of the 2013 campaign.

“As a result of the incredible generosity of the Western New York community, I have the great joy of announcing we have met, and surpassed, our goal again this year,” Bishop Malone said.

These are the totals raised by parishes in Genesee County:

St. Brigid -- $17,755.00
Resurrection -- $73,434.00
Ascension -- $34,112.02
Our Lady of Mercy, Le Roy -- $96,672.00
St. Padre Pio, Oakfield -- $40,595.45
St. Maximillian Kolbe, Corfu -- $23,931.31
Mary Immaculate, East Bethany -- $25,047.00

TOTAL -- $311,546.78

Joined by Catholic Charities’ leaders, staff, and the Appeal leadership team and volunteers, Bishop Malone thanked donors and supporters for their dedication and commitment toward achieving this year’s Appeal goal.

“After months of planning, we launched this year’s campaign on a cold but sunny morning in early January, with hopes of raising $10.7 million,” he said. “Much like a long-distance runner facing the last several miles of a marathon, our Appeal leadership team, our many volunteers throughout the Diocese of Buffalo, and of course our dedicated staff, simply refused to give up until the race was complete, raising more than $2.2 million since March 25.”

Bishop Malone recognized the hard work of everyone involved in the Appeal.

“On behalf of all those served by Catholic Charities and all those who have in any way contributed to this year’s Appeal, I thank you for your support,” said Bishop Malone. “Your continued efforts will allow us to protect, strengthen and empower those in need throughout our eight-county diocese.”

Sister Mary McCarrick, OSF, Catholic Charities’ diocesan director, also highlighted the work and dedication of all the individuals involved in this year’s Appeal, specifically the community’s youngest and most faithful supporters.

“The compassion and help demonstrated by students this year show us that the future of the Appeal is in good hands!” she said.

Catholic Charities empowers children, families and seniors to achieve meaningful, healthy and productive lives. In all situations, we deliver support to meet immediate needs and then assess for other needs to ensure long-term success. We are the most comprehensive human service provider serving more than 130,000 people in all eight counties of WNY with 70 programs and 61 locations. We receive highest ratings for quality of service from the Council on Accreditation and for financial health/accountability from Charity Navigator. For 89 years, Catholic Charities has been making a difference for people of every faith and ethnicity in WNY.

The patron of Appeal 2013 is Blessed Frederic Ozanam, a layman who co-founded the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

For more information on Appeal 2013 or to make a donation, contact Catholic Charities at (716) 218-1400 or go to www.ccwny.org. Check out Catholic Charities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ccbuffalo and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ccbuffalo.

Press release:

One of the biggest events on the promotional calendar at Batavia Downs every season is the Wiener Dog Races and 2013 will be no exception as the dachshunds take to the track during this year's Family Fun Day at the races, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 25.

Entry into the races begins today, July 8. To enter your dachshund, call event coordinator Arna Tygart at 585-343-3750, ext. 437.

There is an 80-dog limit and an also-eligible list will be started if needed. The first 70 dogs entered will receive a "Doggie Gift Bag" courtesy of the race sponsor -- Petco of Batavia.

The fleet-footed dachshund named Gordon, owned by Lindsay Ryan, of Lancaster, will be looking to three-peat in this year’s event. He dead-heated with another wiener dog legend, Jake Arnold, and then scored a very narrow victory last year.

A total of 10 heats will be contested this year with eight wiener dogs in each race.

The winners of each qualifying heat will receive $25 in free play at Batavia Downs Gaming. The winners of each heat will advance to the finals with the champion getting $100 of free play for the gaming machines.

The second- and third-place finishers will also receive free play. The wiener dog competition, a dash down the homestretch of Batavia Downs, will begin after the last live harness race, at approximately 4:20 p.m.

"This is one of our biggest days of the year and it definitely brings out one our largest crowds of the season," said Batavia Downs' General Manager of Live Racing Todd Haight. “We'll get dogs coming in from all around New York State. In fact, we have heard some are already in training."

Besides the wiener dog races, other highlights of the Family Fun Day will include free pony rides from 2 until 4 p.m. sponsored by Castilone Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep of Batavia.

The day will also see appearances by the ever popular Pringles the Clown and Mr. Scribbles. There will be $1 Salhen’s hot dogs and $1 sodas available from noon until 4.

A 12-race card of afternoon harness racing is scheduled on Family Fun Day with first post slated for 1:15 p.m. Admission and parking is free.

Batavia Downs, the oldest lighted harness track, will kick off its 67th season on Monday, July 22.