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Man suspected of rifling through cars on Harvester Avenue is subject of manhunt

By Billie Owens

A man who was allegedly rifling through vehicles near 16 Harvester Ave. is said to be hiding after running from officers. An area spanning three houses has been cordoned off.

Batavia police, Sheriff's deputies and a canine unit believe the suspect is contained within that area.

UPDATE 11:38 a.m.: Law enforcement is opening the area that had been cordoned off.

UPDATE 11:58 a.m.: The subject is in custody.

UPDATE 12:48 p.m.: Batavia Police Sgt. Dan Coffey recapped the incident for local media: "We received a 9-1-1 call of a larceny in progress from an unlocked motor vehicle. The witness was giving us detailed accounts of what was going on while our patrols were responding. Patrols arrived on scene, established a perimeter; the subject fled on foot. There was a brief foot chase. We believe the subject ran into a house here at 16 Harvester Avenue. We set up a perimeter there. We were eventually able to gain access to the residence and we located the subject hiding in a room who later was positively identified by our witness as the subject they saw breaking into the car. ... There was no physical confrontation or anything like that. He did become cooperative." Asked if there was any indication of illegal activity in the house, Coffey said drug paraphernalia was found inside the residence as a result of their investigation. ... "This is a rooming house, and through the process of elimination, (the suspect) was the only person that we couldn't account for. We started tracking him ... and from there we were able to positively identify him." Coffey could not confirm that anything was missing from the vehicle at this point. Possible charges could include attempted petit larceny, petit larceny and the drug parphernalia allegedly found in his room. The investigation is ongoing. Asked about the house being a problem in the neighborhood, Coffey conceded there have been "some issues there -- noise complaints and quality-of-life issues within the City of Batavia. So it's certainly been a house on our radar. ... It's a residence where some of our local college kids have been staying, so, again, it's a house that's been on our radar."

Fundraiser held for Mouery at Stafford Fire Hall

By Howard B. Owens

Organizers planned on selling 750 chicken dinners as part of a fundraiser for the family of Joshua Mouery. They could have sold more.

Joshua was a 16-year-old Stafford resident and sophomore at Le Roy High School who died March 30. 

There were 400 dinners pre-sold and the remaining 350 sold before noon during an event held at the Stafford Fire Hall.

More than $4,000 in gift certificates were donated by local businesses, plus dozens of gift baskets, for the chance auction held during the fundraiser.

Photo: Byron-Bergen baseball team in Cooperstown

By Howard B. Owens

Roxanne sent in this picture of the Byron-Bergen baseball team with the Wheatland-Chili team in Cooperstown today. She said, "A beautiful Mothers Day in Cooperstown! Sunshine and baseball!"

Photos: Eye-catching hats at the Fabulous Females awards dinner

By Howard B. Owens

Town of Batavia Supervisor Greg Post was among several people attending the Fabulous Females awards dinner at Terry Hills tonight attired in hats that would put Kentucky Derby patrons to shame.

This year's honorees were Loren Penman, the Blossom Award, Elizabeth Myers, the Petal Award and Hannah Durham, the Seedling Award.

The dinner is sponsored by the YWCA and the Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden.

Beth Allen

Martha Bailey

Jeanne Walton, director of the YWCA, and Barb Toal, with the Peace Garden.

Joan and Greg Post

Betsy Grasso, Beth Grasso, Carol Grasso and Lorraine Nolan.

Photos: Empire Cup draws soccer players from throughout the Northeast

By Howard B. Owens

Players from more than 70 teams and their families are in town this weekend for the Empire Cup College Showcase, a premier soccer event for soccer players 15-18 looking to move to the next level. Coaches from more than 100 colleges attend the tournament at the Batavia Sports Park on Bank Street Road. Players travel from all over the Northeast in order to participate. Clor's Meat Market is the official food vendor. Local businesses report seeing an increase in sales during the event.

Soccer continues tomorrow at the park.

Photos: Hoops at Williams Park

By Howard B. Owens

Late this afternoon, there was a robust game of basketball at Williams Park. The players were Greg Solomonidis, Dustin Pilc, David Burr, Coty Patrizi, Manny Delrosayrio, Mike Jamil.

Photos: Opening day at Darien Lake

By Howard B. Owens

In another sign that spring is really here, Darien Lake opened to the entire public today (season pass holders had access last weekend).

Photo: Yellow magnolia at Doty Mansion

By Howard B. Owens

This time of year when I drive down Jackson Street, I always enjoy the yellow magnolia tree with the Doty Mansion as a backdrop.

Photos: D-Day plane stops for fuel at Genesee County Airport

By Howard B. Owens

An honest bit of history was parked at the Genesee County Airport for a time this afternoon. Whiskey 7, a Douglas C-47 that actually dropped paratroopers on the beaches at Normandy, June 6, 1944, stopped for refueling on its way back to Geneseo. 

The aircraft "has been all over" said Naomi Wadsworth, the pilot. It's currently owned by the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo. After the war, it was sold to Capital Airlines, then Frontier Airlines, and then it was flown commercially in Alaska then South America before returning to the U.S. to be displayed in museums. The folks in Geneseo acquired it in 2006. 

Wadsworth said they've actually located one of the paratroopers who jumped from the plane on D-Day.

The plane is returning to Normandy on Thursday for the 70th Anniversary of the famous battle. The crew has raised enough money for fuel to make the trip there but still needs to raise money for the return flight. Six bucks buys a gallon of gas. To find out about making a donation, visit www.rtn2014.org.

 

Photos: Swine Club's pulled pork luncheon

By Howard B. Owens

The Genesee County 4H Swine Club hosted its annual BBQ pulled pork lunch today at the Fairgrounds. The event is the largest fundraiser for the club.

Samantha Weber

Cole Carlson

Twins Kyle and Ryan Sage

Photos: Habitat for Humanity project on McKinley Avenue

By Howard B. Owens

Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County has made good progress on its latest project, a home on McKinley Avenue for Muriel Austin and her daughter Brooklyn, who were on the job today to help with the restoration.

Alicia Calcote, a student at RIT, with Sarah Harley and Brooklyn.

Photo: Yesterday's storm

By Howard B. Owens

This very nice photo came in this morning from Larry Trnka. It's of yesterday's storm. He said it's of outside John Riley's farm on Galloway Road, Batavia.

Photo: Community Garden open house

By Howard B. Owens

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The Burke family were among the local residents who came out this morning for the community garden open house at the Batavia Youth Bureau. Master Gardener Bob Gray explained how the program worked. The Burkes are Scott, Jennifer, Lilyana and Noah. Denise Young also helped with the open house.

Clarification: Part of Bethany home owner's complaint is that town pumped water onto his property

By Howard B. Owens

In our story Thursday about Jerald Shea and the winter flooding of his property, we failed to clearly state that part of Mr. Shea's complaint is that the town pumped water onto his property.

Mr. Shea feels this is a significant action by the town that contributed to the damage to his house.

Bethany Highway Superintendent Paul Fleming confirmed the town did pump the water, however, it was to prevent Paradise Road from flooding. The drainage pipe under Paradise Road was frozen solid, Fleming said, so instead of the water flowing under the road as it normally would, it flowed over the road. Either way, Fleming said, the water would flow south to north onto Mr. Shea's property.

Top Items on Batavia's List

Gas stove, dryer, queen bed and boxspring, books, bikes, legos, mens and womens clothing and much more. Cash and Venmo accepted. May 24-26 8am-? 5050 Batavia Elba Townline rd Batavia 14020
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