Stories from

There are reportedly very minor injuries following a rollover accident on Route 98, just south of Edgerton Road, Elba.

Elba Fire Department and Mercy EMS responded.

Route 98 was shut down for a time, but is being reopened now.

The vehicle is about 15 feet off the roadway and will require a tow.

At the point this morning I looked outside, it was bright and sunny and I decided I should go for a drive and take some pictures. By the time I actually got out of the house and got fueled up, the clouds were rolling in.

It was still a beautiful morning, however, so I drove through Stafford and Byron and took a few pictures.

Above, from Route 237 looking northeast.

Barn on Transit Road, Byron.

Tree off Transit Road, Byron (across from the barn)

Happy New Year!

Dominique L. Clyburn, 22, of 142 Saxton St., Rochester, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing, criminal mischief, 4th, and harassment, 2nd. Clyburn was taken into custody by Rochester PD on an arrest warrant out of Batavia City Court and turned over to Batavia PD. Clyburn was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Elizabeth Ann Bucci, 58, of Prestige Crossing, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Bucci is accused of placing a phone call to a person she was ordered not to contact.

Casey Thomas Sutherland, 22, of Westside Drive, Churchville, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Sutherland was allegedly found in possession of a small amount of marijuana during a traffic stop by Deputy Jason Saile at 9:20 p.m. Friday on Route 262, Byron.

Jonathan Christopher Pestillo, 18, of Seven Springs Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of petit larceny. Pestillo is accused of shoplifting from Target on Dec. 16 and Dec. 19.

Jessie Marie Miles, 49, of Walnut Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Miles is accused of shoplifting at Kmart.

Jason L. Perry, 18, of Pavilion, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driving without a license. Perry was arrested by State Police on an alleged incident reported at 2:32 p.m. Thursday in Pavilion.

And if you liked The Batavian's news coverage in 2012, help support what we do by becoming a member of The Batavian Club.

It was the kind of day I wish I had more time to drive around and make photos. There were moments of sun and blue sky.

I did a bit of that this morning when leaving Bergen, with a drive through Le Roy.

Heading back to Batavia, I noticed the snow-covered pines above in Stafford off Route 5 and thought they would make a nice picture -- if only there was blue sky behind them.

This afternoon, I noticed some blue sky to the northeast, so I headed out to Stafford for this shot.

The other photos below were taken this morning.

Street lights in the Village of Bergen.

First Presbyterian Church, Bergen.

These two trees between North Road and the 490 on ramp in Le Roy always fascinate me. 

I think the first barn photo I ever took for The Batavian (but not my first barn photo) was of this structure on North Road, Le Roy. It was probably March 2009 or so and all I had for a camera at the time was a Casio point-and-shoot. The photo got so many comments; it was an encouragement to take more barn photos.

Shock, horrified, disbelief, these were the words that came to mind to some of the volunteer firefighters from Genesee County who assembled at the Bergen Fire Hall this morning before heading to Webster for a funeral service for Lt. Mike Chiapperini.

Chiapperini was one of two volunteers from the West Webster Fire Department murdered Christmas Eve while responding to a fire call on Lake Road.

The inexplicable ambush has affected firefighters over the entire nation, but especially in Western New York, where friendships often cross district lines.

The other important word this morning was "brotherhood."

"This effects us deeply," said James Bridges, assistant chief with the Bergen Volunteer Fire Department. "You just never know what you're walking into, what might happen. This is a brotherhood. We're all brothers. We are a team. When something happens to an individual, it happens to everybody."

Bridges knew Chiapperini. They worked together for about 15 years, Bridges said, while Bridges was on patrol and a fire investigator for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Chiapperini worked for the Webster Police Department.

"He was a great guy, a fun guy to be around," Bridges said. "He always had your back."

Volunteers serve to aid their communities, to help people.  You would just never expect to be a target, the firefighters said.

"We know what we do is dangerous, but most of those dangers we can control," said Bill Schutt, deputy fire coordinator for the West Battalion. "This is a danger you can’t control. You don’t even think about it when you’re responding to a call.  The fact that it comes out of the blue, it’s not something you would ever think about when you’re responding to a call most times."

That may not change the way volunteers do their jobs, Schutt and others said, but it's something that cannot easily be forgotten.

"I’m sure there are people who haven’t got to calls since Christmas Eve because of it, because that thought was in the back of their minds or the back of their wives' minds or kids' minds," Schutt said.

The idea that there might be a sniper at an emergency scene isn't something firefighters can readily prepare for, the way a police officer might. Schutt said it's not like firefighters are going to start wearing bulletproof vests or riot gear to fire scenes.

Tim Yaeger, fire coordinator for Genesee County, said responders probably need to be alert for dangers, but then, that's been the case since 9/11.

"We face hazards every time we go on a call," Yaeger said. "One hundred firefighters die every year in the line of duty, but never did we think gunfire from an assailant would be something we would ever consider as well. It puts a different perspective on our job. I don't think we're going to do our jobs any differently. We're just going to be as aware as we possibly can of our surroundings every time we go out the door."

That heightened awareness, Yeager said, has to really be part of a firefighter's life ever since 9/11.

"In Genesee County we know we're not the direct target of an international terrorist,  but it’s the homegrown folks, some bad people out there, that we’re worried about and I'd don't think it changes how we do our jobs. We just need to be very, very cautious every time we go on a fire run or EMS job."

Fire chiefs are responsible for the safety of their men and women and the shooting deaths of Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka was too shocking to really comprehend, said Don Newton, chief of the East Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department.

"It's unimaginable," Newton said. "To think your community and your district and your department can put out the money they do for volunteers and the support you get from your community ... and somebody could commit a senseless act on somebody who is there unarmed ...  I don’t know how to grasp it."

Newton said he didn't know how he would deal with the actual funeral.

"I’m going to be honest with you," Newton said. "When it happens in our own department, just a member passing away, I take it really hard, so I just don’t know how this is going to go over with me. I don’t like wearing my class A uniform for things like this, but unfortunately this is part of life now. We’ve got to keep going on."

Ben Fisher, a firefighter with the Town of Batavia Volunteer Fire Department, said he was a little apprehensive about going to the funeral. He took it hard, he said, when he heard about the murders.

"I was heartbroken, to be honest with you," Fisher said. "I was crying. I’m going to be honest with you. You might as well be losing family. It’s a brotherhood. I may not have known them, but obviously we’re all in it for the same reason. It’s like losing a family member."

Like the other volunteers, Fisher said he just can't comprehend why firefighters would be targeted by a sniper.

"What would possess you to shoot somebody who is just coming to help you?" Fisher said.

The shooting was terrifying, said Capt. Christine Marinaccio, Le Roy Volunteer Fire Department.

"It’s just the thought you’re going out there, you’re going to respond to a general call, and it’s something that you would never think would happen," Marinaccio said.

East Pembroke firefighter Destin Danser said he was horrified when he heard the news, and sad and angry.

"I'm going today to show respect," Danser said. "From what I know about the guys who were out there, if it were me who was down, they would be here for me. I want to show them that respect, too."

Photo: Yaeger briefs firefighters on transportation plans to the funeral.

There's a dark green, early 2000 Hyundai missing a front left fender out there somewhere and the Sheriff's Office would like to locate it.

The vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run accident this morning at the Sugar Creek at Route 19 and Route 33, Bergen.

A survelliance camera at Sugar Creek has helped deputies get a description of the vehicle and the driver.

The driver is described as a male, about 5' 10" to 6" tall, 160 to 185 pounds, in his early to mid 20s. He wore his hair "high and tight," according to Deputy Joseph Corona.

The Hyundai may have been left overnight at the Sugar Creek and witnesses think they saw the driver warming up the car prior to the accident.

The driver left the parking lot northbound and was attempting to turn left, westbound, when it struck another sedan that was eastbound on Route 33. The Hyundai's fender became lodged in the other car's rear passanger-side door. The car then proceeded northbound on Route 19.

Deputy Corona asks anybody with information to contact him through the Sheriff's Office at 585-343-5000.

A power outage has been reported to Genesee County emergency dispatchers that is affecting a "large area" in the western part of the county.

The Village of Corfu is without power.

The traffic light is out at Route 77 and Route 20.

UPDATE 7:05 p.m.: National Grid has provided dispatchers with an ETA for power restoration of 10 p.m.

UPDATE 7:43 p.m.: National Grid reports four outages in Darien and Corfu and 1,915 customers without power. Restoration is now predicted for 8:15 p.m.

UPDATE 7:55 p.m.: According to scanner traffic, power is back on in the Village of Corfu.

UPDATE 8:03 p.m.: Darien Fire Department had a traffic control detail at 20 and 77. Those volunteers have gone back in service.

A Batavia man died today after he lost control of his Ford Ranger on a snow-and-ice covered Route 20 in Alexander and hit a westbound semi-truck.

The 48-year-old State Street resident was not wearing a seat belt, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Frank R. Demarco was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Donald Coleman.

Demarco's passenger, Brandon J. Eck, 32, of Graystone Lane, Rochester, suffered a serious leg injury in the accident. Eck was belted in his seat prior to the accident.

The driver of the 2010 Freightliner, 54-year-old Douglas E. McPherron, of County Route 9, Clayton, was not injured, though he was transported to UMMC by the Alexander ambulance as a precaution.

Unsafe speed for the road conditions is considered the preliminary contributing factor to the accident, according to investigators.

Demarco's Ranger was westbound when it crossed the center line and hit the truck head on. McPherron tried to break but couldn't slow quickly enough to avoid the accident, an investigator said.

The Ranger exited the road on the north shoulder.

The accident was reported at 1:34 p.m. at a location on Route 20 about half way between Browns Mill Road and West Bethany Road.

Alcohol is not considered a factor in the accident.

Assisting at the scene were the Alexander Volunteer Fire Department, State Police and Mercy EMS. The Bethany Volunteer Fire Department and Pavilion Volunteer Fire Department assisted with traffic control.

Route 20 was closed to all westbound traffic for about three hours. Westbound truck traffic was diverted onto Route 63 at Texaco Town.

The accident investigation is being conducted by Deputy Christopher Parker, Deputy Joseph Corona, Sgt. James Meier, Deputy John Duyssen, Investigator William Ferrando and Sgt. Greg Walker.

\

TO JOIN: Use PayPal buttons below, or to pay by check (annual only) or credit card, click here to download form. Or call (585) 250-4118 to pay by credit card.

Four-day sale on annual memberships: Join before midnight Monday, Dec. 31, either through PayPal or with a credit card set up on a recurring annual payment of either $50 or $100 and get a $10 rebate on your first year's dues.

We currently have about a dozen businesses that will provide gift certificates to club members with a total value of $220, plus we'll continue to e-mail out coupons to members.

Join today and save!

Monthly Single Membership - $5 per month
Includes membership card and bumper sticker.

Monthly Household Membership - $10 per month
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers.

Annual Single Membership - $50 per year
Includes membership card, bumper sticker.

Annual Household Membership - $100 per year
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers.

We're in the midst of a winter weather advisory that started this morning and will last until 9 p.m.

From two to four inches of snow are predicted for today and another inch or so tonight.

With temperatures in the 20s, roads will be slick, especially on untreated roads, warns the National Weather Service.

A caller reports seeing an SUV roll over at East Main and Vine streets and then leave the area.

Another caller reports seeing a Trailblazer-type vehicle, doing 60 or 65 mph on East Main in the same area, hit a snow bank and drive off.

The first caller was headed in the opposite direction, but turned around after seeing the rollover, he said, and when he did, the SUV was gone.

A police officer on scene says there is no debris in the roadway, but there has been a lot of snow knocked into the roadway. He then reported being waved down by some people standing on the sidewalk nearby.

UPDATE 10:45 p.m.: An officer has located a tan Blazer or Jimmy. When a dispatcher asked if EMS was necessary, the officer said the driver is uncooperative at this point.

UPDATE 11:09 p.m.: Police are  interviewing witnesses and suspect(s).

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating several residential burglaries in the southwest area of the city. Entries to all residences were made in similar fashion via unsecured doors. Taken from the residences were items such as laptop computers, small electronics, gift cards and jewelry.

All incidents are similar in nature and are occurring during daylight hours.

Police will be increasing patrol activities in this area. The police department is also asking residents to be observant for, and to report, any strange activity or unknown persons in their neighborhood. Police ask that residents not attempt to intervene, but rather obtain a description of the person or persons involved, any vehicles involved as well as any direction of travel. Residents are encouraged to call 9-1-1 immediately and report the incident.

All residents are reminded of the importance of locking the doors to their homes even during the daytime hours. Residents are also reminded of the importance of documenting serial numbers or other identifying numbers of valuable items in the event they become lost or stolen. This documentation will assist the police in tracking the items if necessary.

Anyone with information regarding these burglaries, or any unsolved crime, is encouraged to contact the Batavia Police Department at 345-6350. Residents may also contact the Batavia Police Department’s Confidential Tip Line at 345-6370.

Darryl P. James, 30, of Darien, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, moving from lane unsafely, open container, failure to submit to breath test, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration. The Wyoming County Sheriff's Office received a complaint at 4:42 a.m., Christmas Day, of a vehicle operating on a resident's driveway on Church Road, Bennington, and James was arrested following further investigation. James allegedly has two prior DWI convictions. James was jailed on $25,000 bail.

Bryan Michael Wharton, 25, of Clover Crossing, Manchester, is charged with unlawful possession of untaxed cigarettes. Wharton was stopped at 4:16 p.m., Dec. 23, for alleged equipment violations on Gabbey Road, Pembroke, by Deputy Kevin McCarthy. He was allegedly found in possession of untaxed cigarettes.

There are more jobs in Genesee County, but a higher unemployment rate locally, according to statistics released today by the Department of Labor.

In November 2012, there were 29,300 jobs in the county, compared to 29,000 a year ago.

However, the county's unemployment rate went up slightly year-over-year from 7.3 percent to 7.4 percent. That translates into 2,400 people counted as unemployed in November 2012 compared to 2,300 a year ago.

Rochester's unemployment rate went from 7.2 percent to 7.4 percent and Buffalo also saw an increase from 7.5 to 7.9 percent.

Orleans County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state at 10.1 percent.

I don't remember seeing anybody sledding last winter in Centennial Park. Today, a small crowd gathered to take in some fresh powder.

To purchase prints, click the link in the upper right of the slide show below.

Batavia demonstrated this morning that it knows how to dig out pretty quickly after getting in the neighborhood of a foot of snow overnight. By midmorning, most residents had their driveways and sidewalks cleared and a few others were just finishing up.

Above, Jack Chmielowiec, Otis Street.

Eric Haile, Summit Street.

Rick Porter, Prospect Avenue. Porter also had a request for his fellow Batavians: Please shovel your sidewalks and around your hydrants.

Leon Koukides, South Jackson Street.

Gabe Abdella, South Jackson Street.

Karen Zerbe and Bill Barton, Jackson Avenue.

Press release:

The city fire department would like to ask residents and business owners to assist in making fire hydrants accessible. During the recent snowfall some hydrants have become blocked by snow, especially in parking areas. The city fire department would like to request your help to remove the snow from around hydrants so they are visible and accessible. If you have a hydrant in your front yard, clean a 3-foot circle around it.

City fire crews will be out throughout the winter clearing snow from hydrants, but with your assistance by adopting a fire hydrant, the 500+ hydrants in the city will be clear and ready for an emergency.

Also, please be sure to keep your house numbers readily visible, and for business owners the accumulation of snow may block exit doors. All doors should be checked to make sure they can open and are not blocked by snow.

The city fire department appreciates your help in keeping the community safe. Any questions, please call Chief Jim Maxwell at 585-345-6375.