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Jim Bouton retires from Emergency Management, will remain a volunteer firefighter

By Howard B. Owens

While Jim Bouton may be retiring from his job with the county as a fire coordinator, his nearly 50 years of service to Genesee County will continue.

Bouton said he will remain with the Town of Batavia Fire Department as a volunteer deputy fire chief.

Bouton, a retired corrections officer, started as a volunteer firefighter in 1972 in Alexander. He was chief by 1983. He took his first job as a fire inspector with the county in 1996. In 2004, he was hired in the Office of Emergency Management as a fire coordinator and training technician.

The thing he will miss the most, he said, is being with the people who became his friends over the course of his career.

"I liked working with a mass group of great folks out there," Bouton said. "I made a lot of friends, a lot of new friends. It was a wonderful experience. I wouldn’t give it up for anything."

After 47 years in the fire service, Bouton said volunteering with a local fire company is definitely a career path he would recommend for young people.

"It might open doors you didn’t think might be there for a career down the road, whether it’s maybe becoming a paid firefighter or a lot of other opportunities that happen because of the association of friends and group of friends you’re going to meet, some door may open," Bouton said.

Top photo: Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator, presents Bouton with his helmet and a commemorative helmet stand. Gary Patnode and Diane Bouton are on each side.

Coordinators with the Office of Emergency Management: Gary Patnode, Chuck Dodson, Bill Schutt, Jim Bouton, Tim Yaeger, Don Roblee (retired), and Sean Downing.

City firefighters presented Jim Bouton with a plaque to congratulate him on his retirement. Pictured: Dwane Weathell, Marty Hinz, Jim Bouton, Christine Marinaccio, and Mark Holly.

Accident reported on Warboys Road, Byron

By Howard B. Owens

A motor vehicle accident, possibly with injuries, is reported on Warboys Road, Byron.

Two cars are involved.

Byron and South Byron fire departments responding.

UPDATE 3:38 p.m.: There are no injuries, medic response canceled. 

Mr. Wine & Liquor owners celebrate moving into a bigger location

By Howard B. Owens

Mr. Wine & Liquor, long located in the Top's Plaza, has moved to a bigger location just a few doors down, and on Friday, the Rathod family celebrated the grand reopening with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. The ribbon was cut by the Rashod family mother/grandmother, Mukta Gulab Rathod.

Four-wheeler accident reported at fairgrounds

By Howard B. Owens

A four-wheeler accident is reported at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, at the race track, in Batavia.

The patient reportedly hit her head and is pregnant. 

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS responding.

The rabid animal was 'a brown paper bag'

By Howard B. Owens

We missed the initial dispatch but the follow-up to a deputy contained this update: "You can disregard. The caller called back and it turns out the rabid animal is a brown paper bag."

Video: GO Out! parade in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens
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Here's video from yesterday evening's GO Out!, gay pride parade, in Batavia.

Video: David Bellavia Medal of Honor Week in Washington, D.C.

By Howard B. Owens
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My trip to Washington, D.C., to witness David Bellavia receiving the Medal of Honor and be inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon is the highlight of my journalism career.

Yes, it was a great experience to visit the White House (I'll answer the question many people have asked, "Did you meet the president?" No.) and the Pentagon, and it was an honor to see Bellavia receive the Medal of Honor. But in going to these events, what I didn't expect was how meaningful it would be to meet the men who served with Bellavia in Fallujah, Iraq. I got to see firsthand their love for each other and hear their stories and speak to several of them individually.

It was a special honor and pleasure to meet and speak with Colin Fitts, Maj. Joaquin Meno, and Sgt. John Bandy.

On Tuesday night, I was able to attend a party at a private residence in D.C. with the men of Bellavia's platoon. I was there when Meno made a toast to their fallen comrades. And though I took no pictures, made no recording, it's a moment I'll never forget.  

One of the highlights of the trip -- and there many -- was hanging out with Michael Ware, a legendary combat journalist. We spent a lot of time together and he helped me with my coverage. My interview with him figures prominently in this video.

I hope the video gives you a good sense of what took place in Washington over four days and provides you with a better sense of what happened in Fallujah on Nov. 10, 2004. The video doesn't just cover the main events -- the Medal of Honor ceremony and Hall of Heroes ceremony -- both of which were open to the press; but also the events I attended as a guest of David's while other media were excluded, primarily the reception in the ballroom of the hotel on Monday night and the reception in the White House after the Medal of Honor ceremony.

Photos: David Bellavia, Medal of Honor Week

By Howard B. Owens

This is a complete photo gallery from my attendance of events and ceremonies in Washington, D.C., this week for David Bellavia receiving the Medal of Honor. Some of these photos come from events that no other photojournalist attended.

Car and motorcycle in accident on Route 98

By Howard B. Owens

A car and motorcycle accident is reported at Route 98 and West Saile Drive.

No word on injuries.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:07 a.m.: Town of Batavia units can hold in quarters.

House fire reported on Junction Road, Pavilion

By Howard B. Owens

A house fire is reported at 6616 Junction Road, Pavilion.

Both occupants were exiting the house

Pavilion fire, Le Roy fire, and Stafford dispatched.

UPDATE 12:44 a.m.: Fully involved structure fire with flames coming through the roof. City fire and Alexander dispatched.

UPDATE 12:50 a.m.: A chief calls for a defensive attack.

UPDATE 12:54 a.m.: National Grid called to the scene.

UPDATE 1:40 a.m.: Caledonia to proceed to the scene and Bergen to fill in at Le Roy.

UPDATE 3 a.m.: Information and photos from Alecia Kaus/Video News Service: The house is a total loss. The homeowner (listed on the county tax website as Kenneth Reamer) woke up to a fire in the house. A friend was sleeping on the couch. The owner called 9-1-1 grabbed one of his cats and ran out. The other cat was seen running out of the house. No cause of origin of the fire yet released.

Explosion heard, smoke showing on Ham Road, Alabama

By Howard B. Owens

A caller reports hearing an explosion in the area of 1600 Ham Road, Alabama.

A first responder reports smoke showing.

Alabama fire responding for an investigation.

UPDATE 6:31 p.m.: A chief reports that the resident at 1600 also heard the explosion but that it wasn't at that property.

Bicyclist hit on Ellicott Street

By Howard B. Owens

A car-bicycle accident is reported at 56 Ellicott St., near the former Santy Tires location.

No word on injuries.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Video: Rep. Chris Collins' floor speech honoring David Bellavia

By Howard B. Owens
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On Monday, Rep. Chris Collins gave a short floor speech in the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing and honoring David Bellavia on receiving the Medal of Honor. The Batavian asked for and received a video copy of the speech to share with our readers.

Also, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who once represented our area in Congress and knows David as a result, issued the following statement on Twitter:  p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 16.0px}

All of New York is proud of the courageous actions of WNY native Staff Sgt. David Bellavia while under fire.

 

His actions saved lives and his Medal of Honor is well deserved.

Photo: Emory Upton in the Pentagon

By Howard B. Owens

At the Pentagon yesterday, walking down the hall toward the auditorium where the ceremony was held to induct David Bellavia into the Hall of Heroes, I noticed several Civil War displays, so I immediately started looking for anything related to Gen. Emory Upton. I spotted this small placard.

As I was trying to line up a shot, a Pentagon official walked up behind me and said, "Sir, photography is not authorized in this area of the Pentagon." I said, "But this is Emery Upton -- he's from our hometown; there's a big monument to him ..." the official said, "OK, hurry up."

Batavia is now permanently represented in the Pentagon by Upton, Charles F. Rand, and David Bellavia.

Video: David Bellavia inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon

By Howard B. Owens

 

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David Bellavia, the 43-year-old Batavia resident who yesterday received the Medal of Honor from President Donald Trump in a ceremony at the White House, today was inducted to the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon.

This video is an edited version of a video of the ceremony produced by Department of Defense to provide the highlights of the induction and Bellavia's induction speech.

To view the full DoD recording of the ceremony, click here.

Rogers, Bonarigo heading for November general election after Rogers wins primaries

By Howard B. Owens

Durin Rogers, running to move up from part-time City Court judge to full-time, won the Republican primary vote Tuesday, beating attorney Ben Bonarigo, 644 votes to 396 votes.

Rogers also won on the primary lines for Conservative and Independence by 43-16 and 48-34, respectively.

Though Bonarigo was unable to win the Republican line for the general election in November, he will still appear on the ballot on the Democratic line.  

Bonarigo faced no challenge for the Democratic line.

Cause of Le Roy woman's death following accident in Pavilion is under investigation

By Howard B. Owens

A 49-year-old Le Roy woman died Tuesday after suffering serious injuries in a motor-vehicle accident on Route 20 in Pavilion on Monday.

Holly C. Neuffer was driving a 2010 Nissan Murano westbound on Route 20, according to the Sheriff's Office, when she failed to negotiate a curve in the road and went off the north shoulder. The Nissan struck a tree head on in the vicinity of 7550 Route 20 at 3:35 p.m.

Neuffer was transported by Le Roy Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital.

A medical examination will be required to determine whether Neuffer died as a result of her injuries or from another medical condition.

The crash remains under investigation. Conducting the investigation are Chief Deputy Brian Frieday, Sgt. Andrew Hale, Investigator James Diehl, Deputy Ryan DeLong, and Deputy Robert Henning.

Assisting at the scene where the Le Roy Fire Department, Pavilion Fire Department, Mercy EMS, and State troopers.

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