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The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Genesee County.

The watch is in effect until midnight.

A Sheriff's deputy was accosted early this morning by a man accused of wandering down Colby Road in Darien yelling threats toward residents.

Brett Franklin Dieter, 32, of Lewiston Road, Basom, reportedly tried to avoid Deputy Patrick Reeves when he arrived on scene at 1:37 a.m. When contacted by Reeves, Dieter allegedly shoved Reeves and hit him in the face.

Dieter was reportedly drunk at the time of the incident.

Neither Reeves nor Dieter were injured.

Dieter was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment, 2nd. He was issued an appearance ticket and order to appear in Town of Darien Court on July 20.

A driver was cited for allegedly illegally passing on the right, leading to a minor injury accident at 5:37 p.m., Friday.

The car passing on the right was struck by another vehicle, sending it into a parked vehicle in the area of 2761 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.

Mark A. Riegel, 18, of 3644 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, was driving a 1997 Honda when he allegedly attempted to pass a pickup truck hauling a trailer on the right.

The truck, driven by Joseph O. Martus, 55, of 2761 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, reportedly slowed to make a right-hand turn when Riegel allegedly made his passing attempt. Martus reportedly turned into Riegel's vehicle.

Riegel reported minor injuries, but was not transported to the hospital.

I drove out to Le Roy this afternoon to take some pictures of the first Jell-0 Olympics. Unfortunately, it ended earlier than scheduled. Since I was out that way, I figured I'd swing by Oatka Creek in the village and see what I could photograph.

More pictures after the jump:

The Sheriff's Office is investigating a series of car break-ins on Gabby Road, Town of Pembroke that occurred Thursday night between 10:30 and midnight.

Four cars were entered at two residences and one credit card was taken.

The card was used or attempted to be used at several stores in Erie County. 

Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said not all of the charges were available as of yesterday, but the total is likely only a few hundred dollars.

The value of other items stolen likely exceeds $1,400 (GPS units, purses, sunglasses, etc.).

Brewster said these break-ins do not appear related to the credit card thefts from cars reported earlier in the week.

There's no new information available on that case.

Overnight, somebody pushed over the cow in front of the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

An officer on scene said the anchors appear out of the ground, but it doesn't look damaged.

Dispatch is attempting to contact an extension representative.

UPDATE: Officer Ed Mileham was still on scene when I stopped by for a quick picture and he said last week, pranksters hit the extension, too. Somebody rearranged the lettering of the message board to read "Eat Meat July 2." The cover of that board is now held in place by a padlock. The cow was anchored only with tent spikes.

After finishing covering a minor RV fire on Clinton Street Road, I made a right turn down Warner Road and spotted this disabled Galaxie 500 sitting in a field.

City Fire has responded to a working structure fire at 9 Prune St., Batavia.

UPDATE 7:36 p.m.: When I left the scene around 6:50 p.m., firefighters were still on scene trying to get the last of the fire smoldering in the roof. A neighbor told me the fire started on a couch sitting outside that had been left out for trash, but not picked up, because it wasn't tagged. The fire got into the structure of the house by climbing up the wall behind the siding. Chief Craig Williams didn't think the fire had moved into the front of the house. It seem contained to the back attic.

We'll provide an update when more information is released.

More pictures after the jump:

Sallome's Italian Deli, 40 Oak St., Batavia, NY: Wraps, subs, paninis and pasta as well as pizzas -- Sallome's offers a tasty variety of Italian deli items for eat-in or take-out. We have $10 gift certificates for $5 each.

Stafford Trading Post, 6173 Main Road, Stafford, NY: Lunch or dinner, Stafford Trading Post offers a variety of fresh, homemade meals, as well as snacks and drinks. Now in a new, expanded location. We have a $25 gift card for $12.50.

T.F. Brown's, at 214 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: T.F. Brown's is a great place for a good meal, good friends and to catch up on what's going on in the sports world. "If it happens in sports, it happens at Brown's." We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Matty's Pizzeria, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Matty's is another Batavia favorite for pizza and wings. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Kravings, Valu Plaza, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Kraving's offers soups, salads and sandwiches, fresh and flavorful; Monday through Saturday. We have $10 gift certificates for $5.

Alex's Place, 8322 Park Road, Batavia, NY: People come from all over the region for a fine dining experience at Alex's. It's best known for its ribs, of course, but Alex's seafood is also a favorite of the restaurant's diners. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern, 107 Evans St., Batavia, NY: To me, Delavan's is one of those restaurants where you want to eat frequently until you try everything on the menu. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Center Street Smoke House, 20 Center St., Batavia, NY: Authentic Southern BBQ, from ribs to brisket with all the fixin's. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Margarita's Mexican Restaurant, 15 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: When you're looking for an authentic Mexican meal, Margarita's is the place to go. The food and atmosphere are perfect and the service is always outstanding. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

NOTE: If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

SOLD OUT

Clinton Stanley Worthington, 20, of Genesee Street, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and no/inadequate stop lamps. Worthington was stopped at 2:25 a.m. in the area of 8974 Upton Road, Batavia, by Deputy James Diehl.

A grand slam home run in the 7th inning from Nick Longmire broke a 2-2 tie and powered the Batavia Muckdogs to a 6-3 victory over Mahoning Valley on Thursday.

It was Longmire's third HR of the season, giving him the league lead, and with 14 RBI over the first seven games, he's well ahead of any other player in that category as well.

The Muckdogs are in second place with a record of 4-3.

Jose Rada (1-1) threw three scoreless innings to pick up the win. Starter Kevin Siegrist went five innings and gave up two runs.

Left fielder Rainel Rosario had three hits.

Batavia faces off against Mahoning Valley again tonight, and then return home tomorrow to begin a five-game home stand. First up, State College. Game time Saturday is 7:05 p.m.

UPDATE: The name of the "spotter" in this story has been removed. Public records indicate there is no way the person mentioned was a spotter at the time of the described incidents.  Dan says the only thing he remembers for sure was that his name was "Petey." 

While the dignitaries introduced each other and made their speeches -- all very solemn and respectful -- I couldn't help myself, I wandered over to the Wall.

The Wall is a smaller replica of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. It's on display at the Veterans Hospital in Batavia until Monday afternoon. Today, at 5 p.m., the dignitaries hosted opening ceremonies.

Dan Matthews was at the Wall, too. I took his picture, and moments later I gave him my business card and offered to send him a copy. That's when he told me his story.

Matthews, who splits time between Pembroke and Phoenix, was a sniper, an elite sniper. He served in the Marine Corps on a "recluse" mission.

A young man named XXX was assigned as his spotter.

On XXX third outing with Matthews, they were on a mission and XXX was working hard to do a good job. At one point, Matthews told him he needed to get his head down. He kept spotting. He didn't move fast enough.

"I inhaled bits of his brain," Matthews said.

He then added, "but I killed the other sniper."

Two days later, on another mission, he killed an enemy three-star general.

But to this day, Matthews said, he still struggles with the memories of his time in Southeast Asia.

When I showed him the picture I took of him touching Peter's name, he said, "I can never touch the real Wall."

I'm sorry, but I missed the speeches.

I met Dan Matthews and learned about XXXX instead. They are what the Wall is really about. With due respect to the dignitaries, it's not about speeches.

You should visit the Wall while it's here. I don't care if you're a hawk or a dove, pro-interventionist or anti-interventionist, or supported the Vietnam War or opposed it: You should visit the Wall. The Wall isn't about politics or American foreign policy. It's about young men and women who died doing either what they thought was their duty, or  they felt was the only choice they had. It isn't about the generals or the politicians. It's about our neighbors and our uncles and their friends and their family. It's about Ken Matthews and it's about XXXX

UPDATE: Click here for WBTA's coverage.

More pictures after the jump:

City Fire is being dispatched to Dunkin' Donuts where a child is unable to get out of a car because the seat belt is stuck.

Last year, city workers had to remove the weeds from around the seemingly rotting Latina's building, billing the property owner for the abatement.

LKLWL Properties out of Amherst may be in for another bill from the city if owner Tom Lewin doesn't deal with the growing weed problem soon.

BID Director Don Burkel said he spoke with Lewin the other day and he said Lewin was adamant that he's not going to do anything with the building, neither in regards to upkeep nor selling the property.

I called Lewin this morning and left a voice mail asking him to confirm whether that's his position. No call back yet.

Of course, most of us call the building the Latina's building because that's still the company name on the side of the structure. 

I called Latina's Food Services out of Tonawanda and asked if a company spokesman would comment on any potential public-relations problem in having a decrepit building in the middle of Batavia with its name on it. No official spokesman would come to the phone. The only response was through a receptionist who said he was told to say, "We don't own the building."

Previously:

• Property owner refuses to discuss sea gulls plaguing former Latina's location
• Gulls at Latina's market a nuisance again this year

Hundreds of motorcycle riders were in the procession this morning escorting the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall from Le Roy to the Veterans' Home in Batavia.

As local law enforcement cleared the way, the procession moved swiftly through town.

The Moving Wall will be on display through the weekend, night and day, with opening ceremonies at 5 p.m., today.

Charles Thigpen Gus "Gusto" Williams, 31, of 4213 Cookson Road, Alexander, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. The Local Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 4213 Cookson Road, Alexander, on Wednesday afternoon. Williams was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, Hydrocodone, Suboxone and $770 in U.S. currency. Williams was jailed on $15,000 bail.

Dyllon E. Soccio, 20, of 134 Tracy Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 4th, criminal possession of marijuana, 2nd, and three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. The Local Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 134 Tracy Ave., Batavia, on Wednesday afternoon. Soccio was allegedly found in possession of 3/4 of a pound of Psilocybin (mushrooms), about 2 1/2 pounds of marijuana, a quantity of powder cocaine, Hydrocodone, Valium and $2,096 in U.S. Currency.  Soccio was jailed without bail.  Additional charges may be pending.

A 17-year-old resident of Prospect Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of placing items in her purse while at Tops Market and attempting to leave without paying.

A skip loader being removed from a flatbed truck has reportedly rolled over in the area of 8669 North Road, Le Roy.

No reports on injuries, though a medic is on scene.

The loader reportedly rolled into the woods.

Le Roy Fire and law enforcement is en route.

The county highway department is also requested to the scene because the roadway is "tore up pretty good."

Dispatch describes it as an eight-inch gouge in the roadway.

UPDATE 9:06 a.m.: Clarification: A truck was hauling a trailer with equipment on it. It apparently went around a curve too fast and the trailer rolled over. When the truck stopped, the parking brake either wasn't on or malfunctioned and the truck rolled into the woods.

UPDATE 9:39 a.m.: A wrecker is on scene and the road will be closed so the truck can be moved.

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City Fire responded quickly this morning to a reported house fire at 4 Morton St., Batavia.

Lt. Jay Steinbrenner said when crews arrived, they could see smoke rising out of the chimney, which usually indicates a basement fire.

What firefighters found was a dehumidifier that malfunctioned, and quickly doused the small fire.

There was no structural damage.