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When Ted and Patricia Hawley launched New York Craft Malt in 2013, it could have been characterized as an experiment. It was certainly speculative.

The State Legislature had recently passed a law that opened the door to commercial craft brewing and distilling, but it required 90 percent of the ingredients of any craft brew to come from New York.

Malt, created from barley, is a critical ingredient in beer but what legislators apparently didn't realize was that malting barley hadn't been grown in New York for nearly 100 years.

The Hawleys recognized an opportunity and they opened New York Craft Malt in Batavia.

"It was very experimental," Ted Hawley said after giving a tour of his malthouse to about 100 people on Wednesday, including beer enthusiasts, farmers, other malters, and brewers. "I had to educate myself on how to malt. I had to learn how to malt with this equipment. I had to learn the equipment and learn the trade, so I've come a long way in a short time."

Today, New York Craft Malt offers more than 40 varieties of malt with an emphasis on flavor and color, the unique attributes of craft malts. Brewers from throughout New York buy Hawley's malts and he now has customers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Oregon and California.

"The circle is growing," Hawley said.

New York Craft Malt is also no longer the only malthouse in New York. There are 12 now, and each is unique, according to Gary C. Bergstrom, chair of Cornell University's Plant Pathology Department.

"I’ve seen every one of them and I can tell you, every one of them does things a little differently," Bergstrom said. "The word craft really applies here."

The tour of Hawley's operations started with Bergstrom and other members of Cornell's team in a farm field off of Assemblyman R. Stephen Hawley Drive in Batavia where Hawley and Cornell work together to grow experimental barley strains as they try to develop varieties that can not only thrive in New York but also provide what craft malters seek -- a choice of flavors and colors.

Malting in New York fell victim 100 years ago to market forces, the climate (it's not easy to grow barely in New York), and Prohibition. The effort to bring barley back has concentrated on developing strains that can grow well and be disease free in this climate.

"After the legislation passed, we quickly realized that we didn't grow what the whole industry depends on, which is malting barley," Bergstrom said. "We hadn't grown it since Prohibition. We had an immediate challenge and a positive challenge."

Cornell scientists swiftly started studying all of the varieties grown throughout the world to find which might best be adapted to New York.

"We started a breeding project to find our own unique variety of barley," Bergstrom said. "In the meantime, we learned about varieties that do well enough here to grow them and how to adapt them, how to reduce the risks and toxins on them, and how to harvest them to get the best quality we can produce right now."

Hawley has been an integral part of that barley trials, Bergstrom said.

"Ted has been a great partner with Cornell," Bergstrom said. "He's cooperated on trials; he's opened his facility to tours; at the state level he's been a good person to network and share his knowledge with others. He's helped on the education front as well as the research."

After the field tour and the malthouse tour, the group headed over to Eli Fish Brewing Company where master brewer Jon Mager gave a tour of his operation and guests could sample some locally brewed beers.

With a craft beer in hand, Jason Crossett, lead brewer for the New York Beer Project in Lockport, said coming on the tour was an important part of seeing how the whole value chain of craft beer works in New York. It was a chance to meet growers and even though he knows how malting works, he wanted to see how a craft malthouse did it.

"For me, I've done a few beers with Ted's malts but I always wanted to check out his facilities and see how a small malting operation works," Crossett said. "It was very important for me to see how the grain gets from the farmer to the malter to the brewer. To me, it's a cycle. Beer can't be made without the malters doing what they do and the farmers doing what they do and the brewers doing what we do. It takes all of us to make a good product for consumers."

Hawley also emphasized the importance of those cooperative relationships. They are, he said, what has enabled his business to grow and thrive. Early on, a few brewers trusted him enough to work with him and help him develop his product.

"In the beginning, I had bad supplies," Hawley said. "I was learning the trade and now those brewers trust me for quality malt because, without their feedback, I wouldn’t know if I was making something that was good or not. I needed their feedback, their honest, constructive criticism and it has made me where I am today."

A propane truck has reportedly rolled over at 599 Route 246 in the Town of Covington.

Pavilion fire and Mercy EMS responding. Le Roy asked to standby in quarters.

Mercy Flight was initially dispatched but then canceled.

Shianne Foss, of Alden, won the 4-H Club's annual Overall Master Showman competition at the Genesee County Fair on Saturday.

The competition is among the six members who won their respective showmanship awards for their animals but in the master showman contest they must demonstrate their ability at handling four different animals -- in this case, goats, lambs, chickens, and beef steer -- as well as their knowledge of those animals.

Pictured with Foss are judge Kirby Dygert and the 2017 winner Ben Kron.

Saturday was tractor pull day at the Genesee County Fair.

More than 90 children from age 4 to age 8 turned out at the Batavia Sports Park on Friday for Ricky Palermo's annual soccer clinic.

This was the 15th year Palermo hosted the clinic.

"It grows a little bit every year and that's exciting," Palermo said.

The clinic helps raise awareness about spinal injury, Palermo said, and shows the kids that even a person with a spinal injury can still do things.

A property-damage accident is reported at Route 77 and Route 5 in Pembroke. One subject is reportedly intoxicated and an argument was reported.

Deputies are responding.​

A grass fire is reported at Route 33 and Warner Road, Byron.

The fire is 150 feet from a house.

A fire chief on scene has requested a law enforcement response, no reason given. A trooper is responding.

Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched.

UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: All equipment can be held in quarters at this time.

DriVen -- a power trio comprised of Dylan Desmit on guitar, Mike "Thunder" Warran on base, and Alex Desmit on drums -- beat out Invictra to win the 2018 Genesee County Fair Battle of the Bands.

I first saw Dylan Desmit play a few years ago and he was a good, young guitarist. He's become a great guitarist.

As the winner, DriVen is tonight's entertainment at the fair. They are scheduled to play from 7 to 11 p.m.

It's also Demolition Derby night and there will also be barrel racing at 8 p.m.

Corinne Rhoads was a big hit with the crowd when it came time to auction off the chickens she had raised during the annual 4-H Club Livestock Auction at the Genesee County Fair.  Bidders purchased 112 animals during the charity auction, usually at prices well above market value, which included not just chickens, but goats, lambs, beef steers, dairy steers, and hogs.

William Kent Inc. conducted the auction.

Clare Mathers

Madelynn Pimm

Mya Grant

Hunter McCabe

Pete Broughton making a bid.

Bob Bowen, Circle B Winery, holds up his bidder number so the auctioneer can record his winning bid on an animal.

Audre Dorman

A hay baler in a field at 7088 Dillon Road, Pavilion is reportedly on fire.

Pavilion fire along with Le Roy's brush truck requested to the scene.

Congressional challenger Nate McMurray made a series of campaign stops in the NY-27 yesterday, including in Batavia at the Genesee County Fair, to call out Rep. Chris Collins for not calling out President Donald Trump over, what McMurray said, was Trump's false equivalency between the United States and authoritarian-ruled Russia.

Collins has stood by Trump following Trump's press conference with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, which followed a private meeting between the two leaders, where Trump seemingly dismissed U.S. intelligence reports of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

"I’m disappointed our congressman didn’t come out boldly — I don’t care, if Donald Trump were a Democrat, I don’t care who he is — when someone gets up on a stage and compares America to an authoritarian state you have to stand up and say that is wrong," McMurray said. "As a kid growing up in this country and believing in the future of our country, I am saying that is wrong."

In the midst of bipartisan criticism of Trump's remarks, Collins issued the following statement:

“I share President Trump’s continued frustration as the left continues to try to nullify the 2016 Presidential election with claims of Russian interference. The fact is, any Russian meddling did not make a difference in the election and there was no campaign collusion. It’s time the Mueller investigation comes to a conclusion. I also urge the President to work with Congress to ensure any future Russian attempts to influence our elections are stopped at our border. Unfortunately, this is something the Obama administration failed to do."

McMurray said in the 48 hours after the press conference, his campaign was re-energized by new supporters and new volunteers signing up.

"Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike are getting involved in our campaign and they’re getting involved because they’re worried about the state of our country," McMurray said.

About 24 hours after the press conference, Trump said he misspoke in Helsinki.

"I thought that I made myself very clear, but having just reviewed the transcript ... I realized that there is a need for some clarification," Trump said. "The sentence should have been ... 'I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be Russia.' "

He said he meant to say "wouldn't" instead of "would."

McMurray thinks Collins has a job to do and he's not doing it: Being a check on executive power.

"A big part of being a congressman is you must be a check on the executive branch, even if you love Donald Trump," McMurray said. "We do not live in an authoritarian state like Putin has. We live in a country where people who go to Congress, people who fight for the people of Western New York, need to be a check on the executive branch so we don’t have an expansion of unwarranted power."

The Batavian contacted the Collins campaign and requested a response. Spokesman Bryan Piligra sent over the following quote:

“Residents of Genesee County know Chris puts their interests first in Washington, fighting for our farms, veterans, and small businesses. They also know he proudly supports President Trump and he won’t back down from that support because radical progressives can’t get over the 2016 election."

Wednesday evening the 4-H Swine Club held its annual competition at the Genesee County Fair, with members judged on their showmanship and the quality of their swine.

These pictures are from the showmanship contest, where members are judged on their ability to herd their hogs.

The awards went to: 

Senior Swine Showmanship

• 1st place -- Mellisa Keller
• 2nd place -- Ben Kron
• 3rd place -- Becky Kron

Junior Swine Showmanship

• 1st place -- Cody Carlson
• 2nd place -- Hudson Weber

Novice Swine Showmanship

• 1st place -- Brendan Pimm
• 2nd place -- Chase Zuber

Melissa Keller won the Master Showman award.

Tonight is the annual 4-H meat auction. This evening, the Original Red Osier Landmark Restaurant's food trailer will be offering a pulled-pork dinner for $12, with 20 percent of all sales going to the 4-H Swine Club's scholarship award. It is given to a member who has shown sportsmanship and leadership during fair week.

Click here for a schedule of fair events.

Melissa Keller and Ben Kron competing for master showman by demonstrating for a judge their ability to herd their swine though a figure eight around a pair of chairs.

Press release:

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) today introduced legislation that prevents states from diverting fees collected from consumers on their phone bills, which are meant to be used to improve 9-1-1 emergency communications systems.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has found that New York diverts at least 41 percent of 9-1-1 fees that are collected for other non-public safety-related purposes. Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (CA-18) and Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07), vice chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, co-authored the bill and have also seen 9-1-1 fee diversion in their home states.

“It is completely unacceptable that we have seen states diverting fees meant to make important and necessary improvements to emergency response systems,” Collins said. “Diverting these important fees puts lives in danger, especially in rural areas. I thank Congresswoman Eshoo and Congressman Lance for their support of this legislation and their commitment to making sure all communities across the nation can achieve the highest level of safety.”  

“Our 9-1-1 call centers are the first point of contact for Americans in emergency situations, but many of these call centers rely on technology that’s been in place since the time of the first 9-1-1 call 50 years ago,” Eshoo said.“9-1-1 fees collected by states should only be used to upgrade our 9-1-1 infrastructure, not diverted to the general coffers of state governments.”

“My constituents need to know that in an emergency the 9-1-1 call is going to go through,” Lance said. “Lawmakers in Trenton raided the fund set aside to improve the 9-1-1 system and left the account penniless – leaving public safety threatened and taxpayers on the hook. Members of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee are seeking to end this practice.

"The 911 Fee Integrity Act will empower the Federal Communications Commission to crack down on state governments that divert these funds and shortchange much-needed upgrades to bring the critical 9-1-1 system into the 21st century. And instead of further taxing New Jerseyans, Trenton should first stop diverting the existing fees from their intended use.”   

Collins’ bill directs the FCC, in consultation with public safety organizations, and state, local and tribal governments, to determine the appropriate use of funds collected from consumers. Currently, states are able to set their own definition of what is a covered cost for 9-1-1 fees, which has allowed them to divert fees.

In April, Collins toured the Niagara County 9-1-1 call center with FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly where they called on the State of New York to stop diverting fees. Governor Cuomo has not stopped diverting fees, leading Collins to introduce the 911 Fee Integrity Act.

Officer Felicia DeGroot.

Press release:

On Monday, July 16, officers from the City of Batavia Police Department responded to the area of 11 Lehigh Ave. for a 9-1-1 hang-up call plotting to the general area. Upon arrival, officers found no signs of distress and checked the building located at 11 Lehigh Ave. for any signs of a disturbance.

Officers located an open door to the building and checked the interior to ensure that there were no problems inside the building itself or anyone in need of assistance. During the search of the interior of the building officers located a large make-shift aquarium that contained a 4-foot-long alligator.

Officers immediately notified the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and EnCon Officer Wilson arrived on scene a short time later. The alligator was captured and turned over to EnCon Officer Wilson. It was determined that the 9-1-1 hang up call was not related to the found alligator.

Residents are reminded that the possession or sale of alligators and other dangerous animals is a violation of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law. Not only is it illegal to possess such an animal, but they are dangerous and should not be harbored by anyone without specific training and the appropriate licensing or permits.

If anyone has any information regarding this animal or knows of anyone harboring such a dangerous animal, they should contact the DEC Region 8 office at (585) 226-2466.

This investigation was turned over the DEC, any requests for further information should be directed to DEC Region 8 press contact Regina Willis at (585) 226-5324 or pressoffice@dec.ny.gov. 

Previously: Four-foot alligator found in vacant building on Lehigh Avenue

Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Tracy A. Battaglia, 47, of Ellicott Avenue, Batavia, is charged with owning an unlicensed dog and dog running at large. Battaglia was charged after her dog ran loose and bit another dog and two people attempting to intervene (initial report).

Thomas E. Brenkus, 50, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with forcible touching and first-degree sex abuse. Brenkus is accused of touching a female acquaintance by force for the purpose of sexual gratification. He was jailed without bail.

Cameron David Majewski, 19, of South Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment. Majewski allegedly punched another person during a disturbance on South Swan Street at 1:30 p.m. March 25. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Kerry Ann Dudek, 43, of Fisher Road, Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny. Dudek is accused of stealing $54.63 worth of merchandise from Tops Friendly Market.

Darien L. Rhodes, 25, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing, criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful imprisonment, menacing, 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon. Rhodes was charged following an incident reported at 1:09 a.m. July 12 at a location on Dellinger Avenue.

Deborah S. Rodriguez, 50, of Farnsworth Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Rodriguez was charged following an investigation into a disturbance on Pearl Street, Batavia, at 3 a.m. July 5, by Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk.

Thomas A. Griffin II, 31, is charged with South Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment, 2nd. Griffin is accused of trying to take a child out of the arms of another person and striking the person in the face in an incident reported at 4 p.m., Monday. Griffin was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Shawn Brent Springsteen, 53, of Fitchett Street, Poughkeepsie, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Springsteen was allegedly found in the presence of a person protected by a complete stay away order at 4:48 p.m. Wednesday at a truck stop on Route 77, Pembroke.

Andrea Marie Gray, 40, of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged criminal mischief, 4th. Gray is accused of damaging property at 5130 E. Main St., Batavia, at 2:15 p.m. July 10.

Maurice Devon Doleman Sr., 49, of Killian Road, Pembroke, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, illegal signal, driver's view obstructed. Doleman was stopped at 11:07 p.m. Tuesday on Killian Road, Pembroke, by Deputy Eric Meyer.

Jacob Wyatt Klotzbach, 26, of Walnut Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Klotzbach is accused of stealing $22.67 in merchandise from Tops Friendly Market in Batavia.

Ryan D. Bell, 19, of Henrietta, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and driving a vehicle without an inspection certificate. Bell was stopped at 9:32 p.m. Wednesday on Route 77 in Darien by State Police. Also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana is Jason A. Batterson, 33, of Walworth.

Jennifer A. Roskey, 37, of Oakfield, is charged with menacing, 2nd, acting in a manner injurious to a child, and criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd. Roskey was charged following an incident reported at 8:23 p.m. Wednesday, at 39 S. Main St., Oakfield, by State Police. Roskey was ordered held on bail. No further information released.

Domonique T. Smith, 26, of Rochester, is charged with DWI, Felony DWI, endangering the welfare of a child, and driving while impaired by drugs. Smith was stopped at 2:03 p.m. June 27 on South Lake Road, Bergen, by State Police.

Trisha R. Santora, 35, of Batavia, is charged with conspiracy, 5th, grand larceny, 4th, and falsifying business records. Santora is accused of a theft at Home Depot reported at 1:37 p.m. Monday. Santora was arrested by State Police. No further details released.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Buffalo Road and South Lake Road, Bergen.

Bergen fire and ambulance dispatched.

It's been a busy football summer for Mason Randall, who will be a junior at Notre Dame High School this year.

He's established himself as a legitimate contender for a Division 1 roster spot.

Last month, he was number one, with the highest score of all lineman, participating at the sections 5 and 6 NYS High School Football Coaches Association Combine held at Fairport High School.

That earned him an invitation to the “Elite Showcase,” held at Ithaca College this past weekend, where he showed off his skills along with 250 of the state's best high school football players.

His father, Doug Randall, said the combine went really well:

The coaches from the colleges and high schools were very positive and offered a lot of tips and advice to the young men including the importance of their high school grades. 

The participants were broken up into smaller specialty groups to work with various college coaches. They were warmed up and given instruction and demonstration in proper technique and then they put those instructions to use in someone on one competition.

At the end of the showcase, the students were given the opportunity to meet one on one with all the coaches and ask questions about the different programs and schools in hopes of cultivating an invitation to play for them. 

Notre Dame's incoming Head Coach Joe Zambito said he's very fortunate to be taking over a team with a player like Mason on it, along with a group of linemen who are all impressive in size and ability.

"We have a really good line coming back Mason is a great student-athlete," Zambito said. "He’s unbelievable to coach and I’m lucky enough that in my first year I get to coach guys like him."

He said Mason's showing at the combines is really impressive.

"He beat some guys who already have Division I scholarships," Zambito said. "It goes to show you how hard he’s worked in the off-season to get himself in shape and in place to become an elite lineman, not only in GR but in New York State.

Mason said it feels great to get the recognition he's received and earning a D1 scholarship is one of his football dreams.

"Division I highest level," Mason said. "I’ve always loved football. My dad’s always loved football and everybody else in my family. Nobody in my family has ever gone D1. I had a couple of grandfathers go D2, but it would be so great to be able to go D1."

At the fair yesterday, we took in a couple of events at the Draft Horse Show.

Mark Barre (top photo and fourth photo), of Lor-Rob Dairy in East Bethany, won in the Unicorn Class and Doug Laurence, of Arkport, won the Farm Team Class (pictured below with his ribbon stuck in his hat and in the third photo).

Yesterday's classes also included Six-Hitch, Farm Single, Open Cart, Farm Obstacle, and Feed Team.

Steven Beardsley, one of the organizers of the event, said the teams are judged on how well they work as a unit, the horse animation (for example, how well and high their pick up their legs on a trot, their headsets (straight and high), and the uniformity and cleanliness of the whole hitch. Some classes have slightly different criteria, such as the Farm Team, where horses must also demonstrate their ability to perform commands.

For the fair schedule, click here.