Photo: Tree fungus
Near the end of our visit to Picnic in the Park, I noticed a tree in the northeast corner of the park with this fungus of some sort growing on it. Rather interesting shape and texture.
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Big crowd at Dwyer treated to fireworks and hometown win
With more than 2,200 fans in Dwyer Stadium for baseball and fireworks, the Batavia Muckdogs mounted a three-run, eighth-inning rally to snatch a 3-2 victory over Mahoning Valley.
Starter Jonathan Cornelius went four innings without giving up a run, and only one hit, but did not figure in the decision. Relief pitcher Eric Binder picked up his second win of the year.
Danny Miranda completed his fourth save.
The Muckdogs are now 8-10 on the year and will taken on Mahoning Valley (10-7 and tied with Jamestown for first place in the Pinckney Division) again at 7 tonight at Dwyer Stadium.
Second-season Muckdog Mike O'Neill started the rally in the eighth frame with a walk, advancing to second on a fielder's choice when Joey Bergman, also a returning Muckdog, grounded out.
O'Neill scored when Juan Castillo singled sharply to left field and Aaron Sillga misplayed the ball.
Two more errors added two more runs for Batavia when Jeremy Patton hit a grounder to right that right fielder Kevin Fontanez overran, allowing Castillo to score and Patton to take a charge at third base. He scored on a throwing error by second baseman Todd Hankins.
First baseman Romulo Ruiz had two hits, raising his season average to .308.
More pictures after the jump:
Photos: July 4th post-game fireworks
The Muckdogs put on a great fireworks display for July 4th. Here are a few pictures taken from inside Dwyer.
Later, I'll post pictures from the game and Picnic in the Park.
More pictures after the jump:
Cow and car accident reported on West Sweden Road, Bergen
A car has reportedly hit a cow on West Sweden Road, Bergen.
The cow has been hurt, but no occupants in the car believed injured.
Law enforcement in route.
UPDATE: A passerby was apparently able to identify the owner of the cow and has gone to notify the owner. There are apparently no human injuries.
Report of a house fire on Burke Drive
City Fire Department is responding to a report of a house fire at 29 Burke Drive, Batavia.
Residents called dispatch and said they came home, opened the door and smoke was pouring out and the fire alarms were going off.
UPDATE 6:30: "Fire knocked down. Checking for extension."
UPDATE: At the time I left the scene, caused still not determined. Firefighters were ventilating the house before continuing investigation. The residents' pets were removed for their safety.
Black smoke spotted in a field south of Village of Le Roy
A caller reports a column of black smoke in a field across the road from her house in the area of 9153 Warsaw Road.
The first chiefs on scene say there is a large amount of black smoke that seems to be coming from the area of East Bethany Road.
Trucks will be held in quarters until the location is determined.
Le Roy Ambulance also dispatched.
UPDATE: It's a controlled burn.
Car accident reported in Village of Corfu
A motor-vehicle accident has been reported in the area of 22 Alleghany Road, Village of Corfu.
Unknown injuries.
Corfu Fire Department and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 2:36 a.m.: One lane of traffic shut down. No word on injuries, but it isn't sounding serious.
Heavy smoke reported coming from the grill area of Wendy's
A caller reports heavy smoke coming from the grill area of 44 Main St., Batavia.
City Fire Department requested to the scene to investigation.
UPDATE 12:33 a.m.: Ladder 15 on scene. Nothing showing.
UPDATE 12:38 a.m.: Appears to be a grease fire under the grill. Firefighters will need to dismantle the grill to get to the fire.
Car fire reported on Vine Street
A car fire is reported at 157 Vine St., Batavia.
The caller reports wires in the engine compartment are burning.
City Fire Department is dispatched.
UPDATE 12:23 a.m.: Engine 12 and Ladder 15 were dispatched. Ladder 15 is returning to station.
UPDATE 12:32 a.m.: Engine 12 clears the scene, responds report of smoke at Wendy's.
Possible tractor-trailer fire on Thruway
A possible tractor-trailer fire is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 387.6. The vehicle is an orange truck with a box trailer. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.
Truck driver said she didn't have time to stop to avoid West Main accident
A truck driver says she saw a car stopped in front of her on West Main Street Road on Friday but simply couldn't stop in time to avoid a collision.
The driver of the car, Dawn M. Newton, 50, of Shepard Road, Batavia, was taken to UMMC with only minor injuries, even though her 2000 Chevy sedan was heavily damaged.
The truck driver, Janice C. Kelley, 58, of Montana Road, Savannah, was cited for allegedly following too closely.
Driver says she lost control after reaching for something in the car that had fallen
Distracted driving was the cause of a one-car accident at 3:33 p.m. Friday on Lewiston Road, according to a Sheriff's Office report.
According to Deputy Chad Minuto, Christina Mae King, 19, of Chestnut Ridge Road, Gasport, said she reached for something in the car that had fallen when her 1996 Chevy SUV drifted onto the shoulder. King swerved to the left, overcorrecting and going into the oncoming lane. She then overcorrected again, which is when she lost control of the car.
King was westbound in the area of 395 Lewiston, near Salt Road, in Alabama, at the time of the accident.
Both King and her passenger, T.L. King, 20, were taken to Medina Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.
King was cited for allegedly driving without a license and moving from lane unsafely.
Driver on Pearl Street Road injured when car is rear-ended
A driver reportedly failed to see a car that had stopped for a left-hand turn on Pearl Street Road, Batavia, at 4:07 p.m. Friday, causing an accident that sent one person to the hospital.
Injured was Lisa M. Bailey, 49, of Pearl Street Road, Batavia, the driver of the car that was hit.
Jonathan P. Hoca, 23, of Woodrow Road, Batavia, was westbound on Pearl Street Road in a 2008 Chevy sedan when he struck Bailey's 2002 Pontiac sedan.
Hoca said he didn't see Bailey slow down to turn.
Sgt. Greg Walker investigated the accident and reported that another car was also traveling westbound between Hoca's and Bailey's cars and that car swerved around Bailey's vehicle.
Hoca was cited for allegedly following too closely.
Photos: 2011 Ramble Music and Arts Fest under way
Kelly Kubala from Go Art! opened the 2011 Ramble Music and Arts Fest in Downtown Batavia shortly after 11 this morning.
The Ghost Riders followed and more musical acts will be performing throughout the day, plus there's food, crafts and arts.
Parking is available off School, Jackson and Center streets.
The event goes until 9 p.m.
UPDATE: Video shot by Steve Ognibene:
Murder victim in Buffalo may be from Batavia
A homicide in Buffalo early Friday may have a Genesee County connection.
The Buffalo News reports that Joseph Hale, 35, was shot in the back while in the area of St. Paul Mall and Ellicott Street. He later died at ECMC.
A reader informs us that Hale was a former Batavia High School student. A public record check shows that a Joseph Hale, 35, has lived in Buffalo, Batavia and Corfu.
From the Buffalo News:
"Homicide detectives are attempting to trace the victim's whereabouts before the shooting incident occurred," said Dennis J. Richards, chief of detectives. "Mr. Hale was seen in the Allentown area earlier in the morning and prior to the shooting."
This is the city's 21st homicide of 2011.
Multiple-injury accident reported on the Thruway
A motor vehicle accident has been reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 379, eastbound, in the median.
Multiple injuries are reported.
Le Roy Fire and Ambulance along with Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 6:34 a.m.: Car on its roof. Seven injuries reported. Four more ambulances requested to the scene from Mercy EMS and Bergen. Mercy Flight on in-air standby. Mile marker 379 is just west of Route 19 near Griswold Circle.
UPDATE 6:38 a.m.: Cancel Mercy Flight. A total of five ambulances currently in route.
UPDATE 6:43 a.m.: All remaining responders to continue, but "take it easy."
UPDATE 7:11 a.m.: A total of eight patients transported to Strong. Le Roy fire back in service.
