A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported at Brookville and Broadway roads. Unknown injuries. Alexander fire and ambulance responding. A first responder on scene reports the vehicle is off the roadway, on its roof.

UPDATE 7:09 p.m.: A patient is alert and oriented and being transported by Alexander medic #10 to UMMC. A stop sign was torn down as a result of the accident.

With temperatures at or near freezing and the possibility of freezing rain or snow, the Genesee County Warming Shelter will be open tonight for women and children.

The shelter is located at the Methodist Church on Lewiston Road.

Batavia Cab Co. will be providing rides there from McDonald's on both East and West Main Street, from approximately 7:30 to 8 p.m.

Todd Allen Weigert, 20, of Helena Street, Perry, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Deputy Chris Erion and K-9 Destro responded to the 7-Eleven in Bergen at 12:16 p.m. Thursday following a complaint of people possibly using narcotics in the parking lot. An investigation led to an accusation that Weigert possessed a quantity of a suspected narcotic and paraphernalia.

Scott W. Froebel, 47, of Colby Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, inadequate stop lights and open container. Froebel was stopped at 9:26 p.m. Dec. 19 on Prospect Avenue, Batavia, by Officer Arick Perkins.

Joshua M. Pierce, 20, of Meadowbrook Terrace, Corfu, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. Pierce allegedly failed to appear in City Court on a traffic violation and an unlawful possession of marijuana charge. 

Shane Zimblis, 44, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Zimblis was arrested upon his release from the Wyoming County Jail, where he was held on unrelated charges. Zimblis is accused of contacting a protected individual in violation of an order of protection. He was jailed on $5,000 bail.

A 17-year-old resident of Fargo Road, Stafford, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The youth was arrested following a search of his vehicle at 12:01 a.m. Thursday by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Joshua Richard Nanni, 21, of Broadway Street, Oakfield, is charged with unlawful dealing with a minor, 1st. Nanni was charged following an investigation into a loud noise complaint at his residence at 6:08 p.m., Tuesday. He is accused of providing alcohol to persons under age 21. Also charged was Dylan Ricky LaFramboise, 21, of Broadway Street, Oakfield.

Duty Everett Casell, 24, of South Pearl Street, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, no helmet, uninsured ATV. Caswell was arrested following the completion of an investigation into an accident at 7:55 p.m. Oct. 31 on South Main Street, Oakfield, involving an ATV. Caswell's ATV reportedly hit the rear end of a parked car. Caswell and his passenger were ejected from the ATV. Caswell allegedly fled the scene and located a short distance away. He was transported by an ambulance to an area hospital for medical treatment 

A box truck rollover accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 390. Unknown injuries. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding, Law enforcement is on scene.

UPDATE 8:39 a.m.: A medic reports to command that the box truck is not actually on the Thruway, but rather just west of the onramp to the eastbound Thruway.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.: Command reports the cargo is food and that they are attempting to clear the debris out of the road.

UPDATE 9:02 a.m.: The town assignment is back in service.

A white male has reportedly attempted a robbery at the Yellow Goose, 64 S. Main St., Elba.

The would-be robber "threatened with a gun," according to a dispatcher. He issued verbal threats only, the dispatcher said.

The suspect is described as a white male, brown hair, bangs straight across, wearing a dark blue jacket and a baseball cap.

It's unclear if the suspect received any cash or left empty-handed.

The suspect left on foot, unknown direction of travel.

Law enforcement responding.

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: A deputy on scene reports, "no robbery here." He said a person told the clerk, "If somebody enters with a weapon, duck."

A winter weather advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service out of Buffalo for tomorrow evening through Tuesday morning.

The forecast calls for sleet, freezing rain and perhaps snow, from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m..

Snow accumulations up to two inches are possible.

The combination of mixed winter precipitation will likely make untreated surfaces slippery and travel hazardous. Elevated surfaces, such as bridges and overpasses could freeze over.

An accident with injuries, possibly involving up to five vehicles, is reported at Batavia Elba Townline Road and Route 98. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding, along with Mercy medics #4 and #1.

UPDATE 2:18 p.m.: A first responder on scene confirms five vehicles involved and they are heavily damaged.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: This was two separate accidents in close proximity. The first accident, at the top of this post, involved a pickup truck which allegedly failed to yield the right-of-way and was struck by a Jeep. They are still trying to determine how a third vehicle got mixed up in this. One person with minor injuries is likely to be transported to UMMC; two others are sign-offs. North of the first accident another accident occurred involving two vehicles -- on Route 98 near Edgerton Road, Elba. No injuries reported.

Michele Martinez, right, is the new owner of Main Street Fitness in Le Roy. She bought the business from Fred Merica, left, who will continue to operate Le Roy Karate at 66 Main St. Martinez is joined by her fiance, Dan Saeva, whom she met at the gym.

Being a competitive weightlifter meant Michele Martinez was very serious about her workouts at Le Roy’s Main Street Fitness.

It also meant lots of advice for the gym’s proprietor.

“The truth is, Michele used to break my chops a lot,” Merica joked earlier this week. “ ‘You’ve gotta clean, you’ve gotta buy this, you’ve gotta buy that.’

“Finally I said, ‘Why don’t you just buy the place and do whatever you want with it!' ”

Which is pretty much what finally happened.

Martinez, who lives in Le Roy, took ownership this week. She’ll be leasing space from Merica, who owns 66 Main St. and will continue to own and operate Le Roy Karate.

Martinez is looking forward to meeting the public and sharing her plans for Main Street Fitness during an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Main Street Fitness grew out of the karate studio Merica, 54, established in 2005. He gradually added weightlifting equipment to diversify the business. Now, the gym also features a cross-training room; a cardio room equipped with treadmills, stair machine and Arc Trainer (sort of a cross between a treadmill and an elliptical machine); and, in the basement, a circuit-training room.

In short, something for every age, skill level and interest.

“Everyone thinks it’s just weights, and it’s not,” Merica said. “I think that’s what separates this gym from most gyms in the area.”

It’s also a 24-hour operation, with keyless entry available to members. Merica said he preferred to focus on karate, and needed to find someone who could give the gym the attention it demands.

He said Martinez is the ideal buyer. 

They met in 2012, when Martinez enrolled her daughter Skyler, now 11, in one of Merica’s karate classes. At the time, Martinez was in training — at different gym — for the Ms. Buffalo Bodybuilding Championships.

“We started talking, and he ended up letting me work out up front to supplement my training,” Martinez said.

She went on to win second place in the women’s heavyweight division in 2012. The following year, she claimed first place.

“That’s one of the reasons I thought Michele would be a perfect fit,” Merica said. “It adds another component to the gym, because she’s competed; she’s got that experience.”

But Martinez was reluctant to take on the responsibility. She already works full-time as a training manager for Sutherland Global Services in Rochester; is a part-time sign-language interpreter; and is also raising a second daughter, 9-year-old Kori.

Her outlook changed with her engagement earlier this year to Dan Saeva, whom she met at the gym. He’ll oversee day-to-day operations at Main Street Fitness, while Martinez focuses on the business side.

Martinez and Saeva, also of Le Roy, are planning an April 26 wedding in Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, Martinez doesn’t expect major changes at Main Street Fitness. She will rearrange existing equipment in a way that makes better sense for bodybuilders, add more powerlifting equipment, and do some remodeling. Her contacts in the fitness field may mean expanded services, including nutrition supplements, fitness beverages and benching competitions.

She’ll also have special offers, including discounted rates on group memberships.

“I’m excited,” Martinez said. “I’m overwhelmed; I’m anxious. I think this next month will be the real test for us.”

For his part, Merica said he’s grateful to longtime members for their support as he bows out of the gym business. But he’s also thankful to have less on his plate.

“I’ll be getting more sleep,” Merica said.

And Martinez?

“I’ll be getting less,” she said.

For more information about Main Street Fitness, visit www.fitness-karate.com.

A one-vehicle rollover accident with entrapment is reported in the area of 173 Main Road, Pembroke.

That's at the county line.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments dispatched along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 10:27 p.m.: Wires may be down in the area.

UPDATE 10:49 p.m.: Mercy Flight is nearly on location. The patient is being extricated.

UPDATE 11:01 p.m.: Mercy Flight is about to go airborne to return to quarters.

UPDATE 11:22 p.m.: Reader submitted photos posted.

UPDATE 11:44 p.m.: A source shared that an 84-year-old driver is banged up but should be OK. The victim thinks he may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

A two-car accident has been reported at the intersection of routes 33 and 237, Stafford.

Unknown injuries.

Stafford fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 8:01 p.m.: No injuries.

This slide show is a collection of some of the photos from 2015 of the fires, accidents, ceremonies and other events involving our first responders in 2015.

It was a year in which law enforcement responded to at least three incidents where officers' calm professionalism, despite the looming risk to their own safety, avoided rash action and prevented the situation from getting worse.

This year, we tragically lost a volunteer in the line of duty, and another had his life threatened, plus whether volunteers or paid personnel, these professionals have sacrificed time away from family, businesses and jobs to respond to both the routine and the difficult calls and they put in countless hours training.

We thank our first responders for keeping us safe and responding when we need them.

A one-vehicle rollover accident with unknown unjuries is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 404. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 2:18 p.m.: The assignement is back in service.

Merry Christmas from all of us at The Batavian.

Here are some pictures from yesterday evening of local Christmas lights, starting with the DiSalvos on Fargo Road, Stafford, followed by the Calls' place on Main Road, Stafford, a house on Naramore Drive, Batavia, Joe Gerace's place on Vine Street, Batavia, a house on Washington Avenue, two on Richmond Avenue, South Main Street, Batavia, then Elba, and finally, the window display for Charles Men's Shop, which won the BID window display contest.

(Submitted photo and story from Chapin Manufacturing, Inc.)

We do not often these days hear about lifelong employment and people who spend their entire career at one company. But, that very thing has happened here in Batavia at Chapin Manufacturing. Batavia native Ron Odessa joined Chapin in September 1965 and just celebrated his 50^th anniversary with the company.

Mr. Odessa’s anniversary celebration was capped off by a presentation of a solid gold “Chapin Chip” presented to him at the annual shareholders’ luncheon by Andris Chapin, chairman of the Board of Directors. He accepted the gift graciously, saying with a sly grin, “Things are going well here, I’m thinking about making a career of it.”

Upon close inspection, a visitor might notice the name Ronald Odessa on many of the patents hanging in the hallway at Chapin. These innovations were made possible by Ron’s imagination, creativity and pragmatism developed during a lifetime spent in Manufacturing, Engineering and Quality.   

In his spare time, Mr. Odessa, an eighth degree Black Belt, teaches martial arts at Borell’s Karate Academy in Batavia, and was once considered somewhat of a rock star having played in a well-known Batavia-based band in the 1950s.                  

Chapin International, Inc., is a manufacturer of compressed air sprayers and broadcast spreaders. Homeowners and commercial customers know the familiar red Chapin logo means quality, innovative engineering and quality.

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia, with the support of the Salvation Army, along with supporting volunteers handed out nearly 100 gift baskets to local families at the YWCA on Wednesday evening.

This is the first year local Kiwanians organized the holiday gift program for families identified through schools and social service agencies.

The holiday totes contained food, candy, toys, games and vouchers for a free turkey along with all the other fixings that go with a traditional Christmas Day dinner. The families also received a ready-made piecrust and the fillings for baking a pie. Children received winter gloves and a book donated by the Richmond Memorial Library. 

Santa visited and children could share their wishes for Christmas and the family will receive a free 8x10 print of the children with Santa.

Financial support game from numerous local businesses.

Pictured are some of the people who helped with the project. From left, front row, Jeanne Walton, Jacob Lewis, Pete Guppenberger, Patti Pacino, Mark Lewis; Middle row, Patricia Kurtz, Katie Landers, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Kristi Tretter, Jim Pacino, Mike Rimmer; Back row: Matt Landers, Cindy Baldwin, Jonathan Tretter.

An accident with minor injuries is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 382.1. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding. A car reportedly rear-ended a tractor-trailer, then rolled over several times.

UPDATE 4:01 a.m.: A 39-year-old victim in the car that rear-ended the semi is being transported to UMMC in stable condition.