We don't have much information on this yet -- Mercy Flight is being dispatched for a hunting accident -- a man has sustained shotgun wounds while hunting turkeys.
UPDATE 6:44 a.m.: Landing zone being set up on Lockport Road, Oakfield.
UPDATE 7:01 a.m.: Mercy Flight in route to Strong Memorial Hospital.
Batavia Police are being dispatched to the area of Swan Street for the report of a loud noise.
The caller was on his porch and said it was very loud, a boom.
I heard it, too, and I'm four or five blocks from Swan. From the echo, I could tell it was some blocks away, but loud. I was guessing in the area of Kibbe Park, but I'm inside.
UPDATE 11:45 p.m.: A reader on Hutchins reports hearing it, too. Police cleared the scene about 11:30 p.m. without finding anything.
A dog has been struck on Colorado Avenue.
The driver did not stop.
No description of the hit-and-run vehicle is available.
A person is on scene awaiting police in order to help identify and notify the owner.
An Alabama man was seriously injured in a single-car accident today when his car struck a tree on Sandhill Road, Basom.
Robert J. VanPelt, 22, was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC following the 1:40 p.m. accident.
While the accident remains under investigation, a Sheriff's Office release says alcohol may have been a contributing factor.
"Charges may be pending," according to the release.
VanPelt is being treated for multiple serious injuries.
VanPetl's passenger, Brandon Rueben (no age provided), also from Alabama, was taken by ground ambulance to ECMC. The Sheriff's Office describes his injuries as "non-life threatening."
VanPelt was driving a 1997 Buick north on Sandhill when he apparently failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the east side of the road. His car then traveled back across Sandhill and off the west shoulder, where hit struck an embankment and then a tree.
Responding to the scene were Deputy Lonnie Nati, Deputy Dana Richardson, Sgt. T.A. Sanfratello, Investigator Kris Kautz, Deputy Kevin McCarthy and Deputy Eric Seppela from the crash-management team. Assisting at the scene were Alabama, Indian Falls and Pembroke fire departments as well as Mercy EMS.
For our initial report, click here.
A "large brush fire" moving into the woods has been reported in the area of 9980 Harper Road, Corfu.
Darien Fire has been dispatched.
UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: Chief on scene reports large brush fire, but not heading into the woods. He's going to explain the new burn laws to the property owner. Darien units, except 46, being put back in service. Incident address corrected to 9990 Harper Road.
Regional and local soccer players gathered at the recently completed Batavia Sports Park at Batavia Turf Farms on Bank Street Road over Saturday and Sunday for various training sessions.
The camp included sessions for the New York State West Olympic Development Program on both days. This afternoon the Genesee Amateur Soccer Association held a Coaches and Players Clinic.
More pictures after the jump:
In the Town of Batavia Fire Hall on Saturday night, Batavia's volunteers gathered for their annual awards dinner and installation of officers.
Above, all of the firefighters who responded to at least 100 calls during 2009 are recognized.
Dan Kemp was named Firefighter of the Year and Randy McIntire won the President's Award. Nate Fix and Bob Mullen were recognized for each responding to more than 200 calls.
Dan Jacques and Paul Barrett (who was unable to attend) were recognized for 25 years of service.
After the jump, more pictures:
Dan Kemp, Firefigher of the Year.
President's Award, Randy McIntire.
Dan Jacques, 25 years of service.
Fire Chief Bob Hunt.
Mercy Flight is on stand by following a single-car accident in the area of 7605 Sandhill Road, Basom.
The car hit a tree. Injuries are reported.
Alabama Fire and Indian Falls are being dispatched along with Mercy EMS.
UPDATE 1:49 p.m.: Two Mercy Flight helicopters are being requested along with another Mercy EMS advance life support ambulance. One patient is reported unconscious. The landing zone is being set up at the corner of Hopkins and Sliker Roads. The first helicopter has a three-minute ETA.
UPDATE 1:55 p.m.: A fire engine needs to be positioned so the winch can be used to stabilize the vehicle.
UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: Second patient extricated.
UPDATE 2:16 p.m.: The second helicopter is coming from Buffalo. It has at least at 20 minute ETA yet.
UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: The second helicopter is being cancelled. The patient will be transported by ground ambulance.
Harness racing isn't want it used to be and probably never will be again, according to newly elected Chairman of the Western Region Off Track Betting Board of Directors Dick Siebert.
In an interview with WBTA, Siebert characterized harness racing as "the cost of doing business." It's the loss leader that under state law allows Batavia Downs Casino to keep its doors open for the much more profitable video slot machines.
"The people that used to come to our parlors, the 55 and older men, are no longer 55 years of age," Siebert said. "Unfortunately, they're dying off. The newer group of people, it doesn't have the interest to them that it did with the old bettor. ... I honestly can't see where harness racing is going to turn around and ever be back where it was in the '50s, '60s and '70s."
He said in 2009, Batavia Downs lost $1.5 million on harness racing while the video lottery terminals brought in $3 million in profits.
To help reduce harness racing costs, more bets will be placed at electronic terminals rather than at the traditional caged window with a person taking the bet.
Meanwhile, Siebert said the Downs continues to work with state regulators on a plan to address deficiencies in some administrative procedures. He said the board is looking to hire a consultant to help address the state's concerns, rather than bring in a management company to take over the Downs' operations, which is one of the state's other suggestions.
Full interview available here (mp3).
A Batavia woman was hurt in a two-vehicle accident at 1:35 p.m. Friday in Alabama.
The woman stopped the 2003 Toyota pickup she was driving at intersection of Townline Road and Maple Street Road when she was struck by another car that was behind her.
Cheryl A. Vagg, 53, of 110 Evans St., Batavia, was transported to UMMC by ground ambulance with back pain, according to Deputy Timothy Wescott, who investigated the accident.
The other driver, Susan J. Neamon, 46, of 2272 Thomas Road, Varysburg, was not injured.
Vagg's passenger, Keith W. Cadieux, 54, was not injured.
Neamon told Wescott she was "looking for oncoming traffic and must have rolled forward." Her 2009 Ford Sedan struck Vagg's truck, which was in front of her preparing to make a right-hand turn on Maple Street Road.
No citations were issued.
A 35-year-old Batavia man reported being shot and his wallet stolen as he walked down what he thinks was Indian Falls Road about 5:30 p.m., Saturday.
After being shot and robbed, Carlos Torres called a friend for assistance, who drove him to UMMC. He was transferred from UMMC to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight, according to the Sheriff's Office.
He was in surgery at the time the Sheriff's Office released information on the incident at 11:23 p.m., Saturday.
Torres told officials, according to the release, that he believes he was walking on Indian Falls Road when a car pulled up behind him and somebody demanded his wallet. He was then shot in the back and his wallet was taken.
After the suspects left, he continued walking to Route 5, where he called a friend for help.
The Sheriff's Office says Torres was shot twice with a small caliber weapon. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 345-3000.
Police have responded to a report of a fight at the carnival in downtown Batavia.
When the first unit he arrived, the officer reported "quite a fight." He immediately called for an ambulance for a person having a seizure.
A subject was reportedly seen fleeing west on Ellicott Street and crossing the street toward Della Penna's. Police are looking for two white males, with one wearing a white T-shirt.
UPDATE 10:04 p.m.: One of the subjects who fled reportedly dropped a knife. A second fight has reportedly broken out. Two State Police units have been called in to back up Batavia Police.
UPDATE 10:11 p.m.: Mercy EMS was requested to check on a male down behind Alberty's. He reportedly has a head laceration. There is also a report of "all suspects are black males." It's unclear if that's related to all fights or just one of the fights.
UPDATE 10:29 p.m.: One patient transported to UMMC. Police units going back in service.
UPDATE 8 a.m. Sunday: Reader Adam Lowder submitted the photo above. His description of events follows after the jump:
Adam Lowder's description of events:
I was at the carnival when the fight took place, and I have attached a photo of the aftermath.
First off I would like to say that this carnival was just plain disgusting. The majority of the ride attendants I witnessed were interacting with the patrons; using foul language, leaving their stations for minutes at a time, and one was even smoking a swisher sweet style cigar that he passed to a young patron to hold onto and smoke for a few minutes.
There were groups of unsupervised middle-school aged kids all over.
We were getting ready to leave around ten o'clock when I saw the ride attendant from the “vehicles that go in a circle” kids' ride (black male 20's red hat with goatee) wrap his arms around a black male, belly to belly, and slowly but forcefully push him across the grounds. The attendant was making statements along the lines of, "just leave" and the male being forced back was saying, "did you hear what he said" repeatedly.
After a minute of this and after a few other people involved yelled towards the two men, the ride attendant in red let go of the male who took off towards Jackson St. Seconds later a group of people (prominently if not all black males) took off running in the same direction.
Ten to fifteen seconds later a few more males ran passed me in the same direction. That is when I saw a crowd of observers gathering on Jackson St. and people screaming and yelling.
As I approached the area, I could see a large group of people involved in physical actions (some jumping around, some swinging their arms, some taking pictures with their phones) in the middle of the street.
An officer in a SUV pulled up with his lights flashing and the group quickly scattered. A few more police cruisers quickly arrived on the seen. I did not see the police apprehend any of those involved, or really even attempt to do so. They all came to the man that was left lying in the middle of the street.
A few minutes later, two of the cruisers rushed over towards Rt. 63, and one stopped next to the Salvation Army.
One thing that I am certain of is that some of the ride attendants were involved in this. The one that I mentioned earlier who was smoking the cigar was in the group that ran past me. He was a black male wearing a Kobe Bryant Lakers jersey, and he was running the “Rio Grande Train” kids’ ride.
I stopped to snap this photo as I walked back to my car parked across from O’Lacy’s Bar.
At this point, the injured male was still lying in the road, paramedics had arrived, there was a crowd of people watching, and a couple of officers were standing near the victim watching.
The Downtown Batavia Carnival continued on Saturday, so we have more pictures from this afternoon. Sunday is the final day and it runs from 1 to 5 p.m.
More pictures after the jump:
Families from Batavia's Natural Parenting Network gathered at the home of Kristi Evans today for a May Day Party that featured arts and crafts for the children. Evans said the wind today made it a little tough to do crafts outside, but all the kids were having a great time, anyway.
Sarah Fisher set up the foot-painting activity and Olivia Dayton was the first child to give it a try.
Kids from the First United Methodist Church in Batavia were at the Town of Batavia Fire Hall today washing cars for donations. It's a fundraiser to build a school for a village in Nicaragua. The church needs to raise $20,000. The next car wash is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 12 at the same location. To help with the school building project, call Sharon McWerthy at 343-6326.
One of my favorite parts of Spring in Batavia is charcoal-cooked hot dogs at Jerry Arena's pizzeria on Lewiston Road. I made my first stop of the season there today.
A barn behind a field of dandelions on Judge Road in Alabama.
Workers were in the field of Root Brothers Farm in Oakfield this morning removing rocks. Here Armando Luna hauls away a bucket full.
Yes, it's May Day. And it's Law Day. You might also say, it's The Batavian Day.
The Batavian officially launched on May 1, 2008. In our first month, 2,756 people visited the site.
In May 2009, there were 25,553 visitors. The past two months, we've topped 40,000 unique visitors each month.
And, of course, we've gone from zero to 75 local businesses sponsoring the site.
In May 2008, I was an employee of GateHouse Media and launched The Batavian for my employer. Now, Billie and I own The Batavian, LLC and I no longer work for GateHouse and Billie and I live in Batavia.
A lot can change in two years, and Billie and I (and Pachuco) love how things have turned out.
Thank you all for your support.
P.S.: It would be fun to hear in comments how you first heard about The Batavian.
A car is reportedly in a ditch in the area of 8936 Lover's Lane Road, Corfu.
It's unknown if there are any injuries.
Corfu Fire and Mercy EMS have been dispatched.
UPDATE 2:39 p.m.: A chief reports that a tow is already in route. The driver has left the car and is reportedly walking north toward Main Road. Law enforcement is on scene.
UPDATE 2:49 p.m.: The driver has been located and is being returned to the scene. His only injury appears to be a minor cut on his arm.
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