Stories from

A caller reports seeing flames at the construction site at 4187 Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia.

Town of Batavia fire dispatched to investigate.

UPDATE 5:39 p.m.: First responder: "Confirmed. Looks like a small fire."

UPDATE 5:40 p.m.: Fire must be out. Town assignment back in service.

UPDATE 9:45 p.m.: Another fire reported at the same location.

UPDATE 9:53 p.m.: Town of Batavia assignment back in service.

A motor-vehicle accident, believed to be with injuries, is reported on West Main Street Road, in front of Taco Bell.

City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 6:09 p.m.: Police believe the Nissan, which was eastbound, started a left-hand turn into the Tops parking lot and then the driver changed his or her mind but failed to negotiate fully back into its own lane of traffic. The Nissan struck a car, front left fender to front left fender, that was stopped to make a left-hand turn into the shopping center on the south side of West Main. The Nissan then careened into a third vehicle. Two people were transported to UMMC for evaluation.

STORY UPDATED AT 5:32 p.m.

A semi-truck hauling potatoes and a passenger vehicle collided at about 1:15 p.m. today at the intersection of Lockport Road and Route 98 in Elba and as a result of the accident two people died.

The victims are Franca C. Monachino, 45, of Hilton, and Jerry E. Tuttle, 29, of Kingley, Pa.

State Police investigators believe Monachnio was driving a 2013 Honda Civic westbound on Lockport Road and failed to yield at the intersection of Route 98. Tuttle, in a 2004 Peterbilt hauling potatoes, was northbound.  

Both vehicles went off the west shoulder of Route 98 and became entangled in high-voltage electrical lines. Firefighters were unable to check on the victims until National Grid arrived on the scene, about 30 minutes after the accident, and shut off power to the lines.

The operators were deceased at the scene and there were no other victims.

Troopers were assisted by Elba fire, Mercy EMS, Sheriff's Office, National Grid, Genesee County coroner, NYSP Commercial Enforcement Unit, NYSP Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

The investigation is continuing.

A tractor-trailer rollover accident with possible multiple vehicles involved is reported on Route 98 and Lockport Road in Elba.

The roadway is closed.

One possible injury.

Power lines may be down.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) 1:56 p.m.: Route 98 is closed at Old Oak Orchard Road and Lockport Road is closed in both directions. There is a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle involved and they are entangled in power lines. The roadways will be closed for an extended period of time.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported at Ledge Road and Route 77, Alabama.

It might be with injury, but a dispatcher says there is a language barrier with the caller.

Alabama fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

Fans of the Notre Dame, Elba rivalry got their money's worth Friday night as the boys' basketball teams battled into overtime Friday night before the Fighting Irish came out on top 74-72.

The Lancers went into the final 15 seconds of regulation with a four-point lead but a three-point bucket by Andrew Moore (top photo) narrowed the lead to one. Elba failed to score on its possession and the Irish got the ball back with a little more than five seconds on the clock. Notre Dame's Gabe Macdonald was fouled as he drove in the lane toward the basket as time expired. He was also injured, so Zachary Cocking was called on to shoot his free throws. Cocking made the first to tie the score but missed the second (second from bottom photo) to send the game into overtime.

"They showed they have a lot of heart," said Head Coach Mike Rapone after the game. "They have a lot of courage. They didn’t give up. We not only played without (Ryan) Moffett (due to injury), but Nico (Zambito) had fouled out so the kids just circled the wagons and just keep battling. They hit some big shots and they never gave up."

Zambito was the game's top scorer with 26 points. He hit six three-pointers. Spencer Misiti had 14 points, with four three-pointers. Keith Szczepanski, Notre Dame's 6'7", 305-pound sophomore forward, scored 13 points, including four points in overtime.

For Elba, Colton Dillon scored 23 points. He hit five shots outside the arch. Collin O'Halloran scored 15, including a pair of threes. Grayson Huntington scored 11, including two threes. Jonathan Boyce added 10 points.

This is a notice for people who submit calendar items.

We were using a vendor calendar on Batavia's List (www.bataviaslist.com) and it was necessary to Batavia's List to submit calendar items.  As a cost-saving measure, we've canceled that vendor contract.  We're going back to just the calendar that is part of thebatavian.com's content management system.  To submit calendar items, use the "add event" link under the calendar on the right-hand side of the page.

For those who submitted calendar feeds for us to import, we are still importing those feeds.

As an alternative, you're also welcome to email calendar items to billie@thebatavian.com.

For users of the calendar, people who just view it, you won't notice any change on The Batavian, but there is no longer a calendar on bataviaslist.com.

CY Farms was named Business of the Year for Genesee County by the GLOW Workforce Development Board at a breakfast this morning at Terry Hills.

The Elba-based company was honored by for its contributions to agriculture, the local business community and employee development. 

Founded in 1951 by Carl Yunker, the farm has grown from 25 cows and a tractor to more than 6,000 acres of crops, 3,800 dairy replacement cattle, and Batavia Turf. CY Farms supports numerous community activities and has hosted job development tours and education programs. The company was also honored because one of its employees is a man with disabilities that the Yunkers worked with to help tailor a job to suit his needs.

"The man is now able to support his family," said Veronica Frost during the presentation of the award to CEO Craig Yunker.

Christi Lotempio was named Participant of the Year for Genesee County. Frost also presented this award.

Lotempio was laid off by Muller Quaker and when she entered the job bureau she had no college education experience.

She enrolled at Genesee Community College and completed a two-year degree in 18 months with a major in Business. She also studied Accounting. She graduated with a 3.94 GPA despite big changes in her life -- being forced to move because the home she was renting got sold; her uncle died; she was in a car wreck; and she got married.

Now she's employed at Genesee Lumber.

Lisa Smith presented Samantha Strumph with the Youth Recognition Award. Smith described Samantha as quiet and shy when she first entered the Job Bureau in Batavia. Now, she said, she's bursting with confidence after working at the Byron-Bergen Library.

A larceny has been reported in the area of Burger King in Batavia.

The suspect took the caller's phone and ran.

Last seen at 23 Oak St., Batavia.

Maybe running toward Burger King.

The suspect is a black male wearing a black hoodie and sweatpants.

UPDATE 11:18 a.m.: A police officer is following possible tracks on Holland Avenue.

Folks from Arc of Genesee Orleans were among the first to show up this morning with gifts for the annual Salvation Army toy drive at Ken Barrett's Chevrolet and supported by WBTA.

To donate new, unwrapped toys, head over to Ken Barrett's on West Main Street, Batavia, by 4 p.m.

This is the 23rd year WBTA has sponsored and supported the toy drive.

H.E. Turner Funeral Homes hosted its annual service of remembrance for local residents who lost a loved one during the past year last night at Grace Baptist Church in Batavia.

Rev. Bill Hockey, above, delivered the message for the service, and Pastor Jeffrey Bartz, below, read Bible passages of the Christmas Story.

Press release:

Sheriff William A. Sheron Jr. recently announced that he has promoted Investigator Joseph M. Graff to Chief Deputy – Road Patrol, taking the place of Chief Deputy Gordon L. Dibble who is retiring on Dec. 30.

Chief Graff has been in law enforcement since 1999, starting his career as a Probation Officer for Genesee County. On Feb. 28, 2004, he became a Deputy Sheriff with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. He was awarded the Joseph Stebelein Memorial Award and the Academic Achievement Award for Exemplary Achievement at his basic academy graduation. In 2015, Joe was promoted to Investigator. He is a current member of the Emergency Response Team; is a field training officer; and is an instructor for firearms, TASER, ASP, and OC Spray.  Chief Graff has been awarded two meritorious awards, one commendation, and was selected as Officer of the Year in 2007.    

Chief Graff is a Batavia native and a 1991 graduate of Notre Dame High School. In 1995, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, with a minor in Management Finance, from St. John Fisher. He resides in Genesee County with his wife, Erin, and their three daughters.  

“Chief Graff is a dedicated, professional officer who is well respected within the law enforcement community,” Sheriff Sheron said. “I am honored to have him join the administrative team of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.”

Braelynn Cook, 4, received a free scarf from Leanne Mullen, owner of Tahoe Pines Custom Sewing and Design, yesterday during the St. Nick’s Christmas Bazaar at the Manor House.

This was the first year the Manor House hosted the bazaar and Braelynn was there with her mother, another vendor, and Mullen thought she deserved a scarf​ for being a good girl during the event.

The bazaar was open to the community as well as Manor House residents to help with Christmas shopping.

Zoe A. McClure, 48, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with identity theft, 2nd. McClure is accused of opening a credit card account in the name of another person and using that card to charge more than $500. McClure was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

William Gordon Schultz Sr., 43, no permanent address, is charged with petit larceny. Schultz is accused of shoplifting from Walmart at 3:20 a.m. Wednesday. He was jailed on $250 bail, $2,000 bond. Schultz was also arrested on a warrant for an unspecified violation of a family court act. He was jailed on $250 bail, $2,000 bond on this charge.

Samuel R. Thompson, 62, of York Street, Rochester, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Thompson is accused of writing on the outside of the building of Kwik Fill, 99 Jackson St., Batavia, at 3:38 p.m., Dec. 1, in permanent marker. He was jailed on $1,500 bond.

Christopher J. Campbell, 39, of Batavia, is charged with false personation. Campbell was arrested by State Police in relation to an incident reported at 5:15 p.m., Tuesday. No further details released.

Last night's snow in Oakfield gave the 76 decorated community Christmas trees in the village a nice natural flocking.

Photo submitted by Melissa Haacke.