Skip to main content

Stories from

Salvation Army's free annual Summer Block Party is July 5

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Salvation Army would like to invite the community to its free annual Summer Block Party to be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 5. The location is 529 E. Main St. (across from Tulley's Restaurant).

There will be games, hot dogs, snow cones, dodge ball, basketball and prizes. Parents will also be able to sign up their children for the Summer Super Sparks program.

For more information contact: Major Patty at 343-6284 or email at patricia.kurtz@use.salvationarmy.org

Law and Order: Alleged gas station robber faces five charges

By Billie Owens

Robert Lee Hizer, of East Avon - Lima Road, Avon, is charged with: aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle under age 15 (Leandra's Law); driving while intoxicated; aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, 3rd; improper signal; and not wearing a seat belt. Following arraignment, Hizer was jailed on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond. The charges stem from the 32-year-old's alleged robbery of a convenience store on Lake Street in Le Roy on the morning of June 23, and then leading police on a pursuit. He is scheduled to appear in Le Roy Town Court at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 9. The case was investigated by Deputy Jason E. Saile.

Eric R. Swede, 24, of Perry Road, Pavilion, was arrested by Wyoming County Sheriff's deputies at his home on June 26 on an outstanding warrant for a violation of probation. He was arraigned in the Town of Covington Court and committed to the Wyoming County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to appear in the Covington courtroom on July 2 for further proceedings.

Kyle W. Nash, 24, of Route 5,  Stafford, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, for allegedly violating a stay away court order of protection which was issued June 25. The following day, he allegedly entered the residence of the protected person. He was issued an appearance ticket for July 3 in Stafford Town Court. The case was investigated by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

Shed fire on Ivison Road, Byron

By Billie Owens

A shed fire is reported at 7410 Ivison Road in Byron. It is connected (or close) to a barn. Byron, South Byron and Bergen fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: Elba is called to stand in at the Byron Fire Hall.

UPDATE 7:04 p.m.: Firefighters on scene report smoke is showing. The location is between Gillett and Freeman roads.

UPDATE 7:08 p.m.: The response from Elba and Bergen is cancelled.

UPDATE 7:14 p.m.: This was actually a tractor on fire, which was parked in the shed. The fire is out and the tractor has been removed from the shed. The inside of the shed has been hosed down.

UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: Byron is back in service. South Byron is remaining until the scene is picked up/cleaned up.

Brush fire on Gilbert Street, Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A brush fire is reported at 82 Gilbert St. in the Village of Le Roy. Le Roy Fire Department is responding. A fireman at the scene says there's a fire in the woods.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: A firefighter says "We've got it pretty well knocked down. There's just some embers on some logs."

UPDATE 6:52 p.m.: The fire is out. Le Roy is picking up equipment and will be in service momentarily.

Smoke in the basement of Oakfield residence

By Billie Owens

A possible fire is reported at 24 Maple Ave. in the Village of Oakfield. There are no flames showing, but smoke is coming from the basement. The caller says it may be electrical in nature. Oakfield Fire Department is responding. The power has been turned off. The location is between Gibson and Main streets.

UPDATE 12:18 p.m.: The firefighter says "We've got an electrical fire in the wall." A pumper and tanker from Elba are requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:29 p.m.: A building inspector is called to the address.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: A rep from the Niagara-Mohawk power company is requested.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: The fire is out. Oakfield and Elba are back in service.

Man cut in fight on Oak Orchard Road, Elba

By Billie Owens

Medics are responding to aid a man who received a laceration in a fight at 7614 Oak Orchard Road in Elba. When the call came in, the dispatcher said the altercation "sounds very violent." Law enforcement is on scene. Elba Fire Department is also responding.

UPDATE 2:32 p.m.: The man is being taken to UMMC with several cuts on his right arm. Elba is back in service.

Shed fire on Munson Street in Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A shed fire is reported behind a residence at 38 Munson St. Le Roy firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 4:33: The shed is small and there's not much in it. They are holding the assignment to Engine 63.

UPDATE 4:35: Le Roy police are also on scene.

UPDATE 4:39 p.m.: Le Roy ambulance also responded, but is now back in service. UPDATE 4:44 p.m.: The fire is out. Le Roy firefighters are back in service.

People trying to gawk at bear in the woods are creating a traffic hazard

By Billie Owens

A bear spotted in a wooded area near the juncture of Buffalo Road and Rochester Street in Bergen is said to be creating a traffic hazard. People are stopping, slowing down and otherwise rubbernecking to get a look at the bear. A sheriff deputy is responding.

UPDATE 3:59 p.m.: The deputy just reported that the bear was "gone upon arrival" and that there are no traffic issues.

Motorcyclist down on State Street, minor injuries

By Billie Owens

A motorcycle accident is reported at 248 State St. The elderly rider is still in the street but said to have only minor injuries. City fire and Mercy EMS are responding. The location is between Douglas and Denio streets.

UPDATE 1:12 p.m.: City fire is back in service. EMS is transporting a 63-year-old male to UMMC.

House fire on Union Street in the city

By Billie Owens

A working house fire is reported at 1 Union St. in the City of Batavia. City fire is responding. Many calls have come in on this. The location is at the corner of West Main Street.

It's a two-story house and the upstairs is on fire. All off-duty firefighters are also called in, and the Town of Batavia Fast Team. One person on the first floor remains unaccounted for.

UPDATE 7:19 p.m.: A Mercy ambulance is called.

UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: The missing person has been accounted for and is safe. National Grid is called in.

UPDATE 7:24 p.m.: The chief says "We've got a good knock down on this fire. Heavy smoke throughout. Checking for extensions."

UPDATE 7:27 p.m.: Alexander firefighters are called to fill in at the city station.

UPDATE 7:29 p.m.: There's fire in the basement. There's no fire in the attic now, but there's still heat. The fire on the first floor is out. They've got three water lines on the house.

UPDATE 7:31 p.m.: They've broken out the basement windows and the basement fire is mostly extinguished. They have not yet cut the power at the panel box "too much debris." They are having trouble locating the gas line to shut it off. They are going to put fans out front to help blow away the smoke.

UPDATE 7:34 p.m.: They've found the gas line and shut it off. In the basement, the electrical panel which contains the circuit breakers has melted.

UPDATE 7:44 p.m.: The second floor fire is out, including some extension into a wall.

UPDATE 7:45 p.m.: "The homeowner's pretty sure it started on the stove, in the kitchen there."

UPDATE 7:51 p.m.: National Grid has arrived.

UPDATE 7:55 p.m.: National Grid has shut off the power. A building inspector is called in as is the American Red Cross to assist one occupant.

UPDATE 8 p.m.: The building is owned by Terry Platt. The occupant is Doug Veltz.

UPDATE 8:03 p.m.: The Red Cross is expected to arrive in about 15 minutes.

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: Town of Batavia's Fast Team is released from the assignment.

UPDATE 9:04 p.m.: Alexander is back in service. Mercy medics went back in service some time ago.

UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: The Union Street assignment is back in service. All responders are clearing the scene.

Dogs in hot cars reported

By Billie Owens

A crowd of people is reportedly standing around a maroon sedan in the parking lot of Walmart -- concerned with the welfare of a dog left inside with the windows barely cracked. Law enforcement is responding and there's another complaint like this pending at Target.

Wide-load trailer accident at Main and Oak streets, Batavia

By Billie Owens

An accident involving a 54-foot pre-fab home being towed with a wide-load tractor-trailer is reported at the intersection of Main and Oak streets. The tractor-trailer has a broken axel and is up on the curb. The intersection is completely blocked. Police are on scene to control traffic. A heavy-duty tow truck will be required. "We're going to need a healthy supply of cones," says an officer.

UPDATE 2:50 p.m.: The tractor-trailer is being repaired on scene and is expected to be moved shortly, so the cones will not be needed. The mishap is completely blocking one lane on West Main Street in front of Hess Gas Station and part of the adjacent lane.

UPDATE 2:54 p.m.: The roadway is open.

Smoke from dryer reported on Bank Street

By Billie Owens

The smell of smoke coming from a dryer is reported at 161 Bank St. City firefighters are on scene and report there's nothing showing. The dryer is in the downstairs unit, which has been evacuated.

UPDATE 7:42 p.m.: Firefighters determined the complaint to be unfounded. They are returning to service.

Rollover accident on westbound Thruway, unknown injuries

By Billie Owens

A one-vehicle rollover accident, unknown injuries, is reported at mile marker 397 on the westbound Thruway. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:31 p.m.: Responders on scene report there's nothing found. The single call may have been about a disabled semi roadside. After midnight, a tractor-trailer accident was reported near the location. It landed on its roof and dumped its cargo of bananas. Since then, the semi has been uprighted, but remains roadside until its tow is available, which is expected within the next 24 hours. Responders to this call are returning to quarters.

Resident of Washington Towers claims he was 'jumped' at Austin Park

By Billie Owens

A man who resides on the fourth floor of Washington Towers told dispatch he was "jumped at Austin Park" and police are going there to interview him about his complaint.

The senior housing complex is located at 1 State St. in the City of Batavia, adjacent to the park.

Several calls have been made to dispatch in recent weeks complaining of fights and other distrubances at Austin Park.

GCC learning specialist honored by the Nioga Library System

By Billie Owens

A community project aimed at encouraging reading for pleasure and building relationships has earned kudos for a learning specialist at Genesee Community College.

Sue Chiddy, of Elba, was honored recently by the Nioga Library System for her efforts to engage GCC with the public library initiative called "A Tale for Three Counties." The outreach project encourages people to read a chosen book, discuss it with friends and neighbors at local libraries or in chance meetings on the street, and then meet the author at the conclusion of the program.

It was launched by public libraries in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties nine years ago, and Chiddy brought the college onboard in 2005. Her efforts earned her Nioga's Outreach Award, which was given to her during the Nioga Board of Trustee's annual dinner last month at Terry Hills Banquet Facility in Batavia.

Chiddy helps GCC students embrace reading for pleasure through the college's developmental reading classes. She says "A Tale for Three Counties" is a dynamic and motivating program that she hopes instills the value of reading in her students, and motivates them to build relationships by discussing what they've read with classmates and neighbors.

"I am honored to receive the award, but I feel honored every time I notice students, faculty and staff reading the year's selected 'Tale for Three Counties' book," Chiddy said. "It's a pleasure to see the college community participating in the community at large."

The award, which includes a $75 honorarium to be used for the purchase of library materials to further outreach goals, is granted to nominees who show a commitment to providing library services to populations that have limited access to such services.

This past year, GCC's participation included the reading of Yannick Murphy's "The Call," which details the life of a small town veterinarian. Instructors in 21 of GCC's classes used the book as a learning resource and the library distributed more than 400 copies.

Authentically Local