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Truck shears off utility pole on South Main Street Road

By Howard B. Owens

A tractor-trailer has reportedly snagged a power line or otherwise hit a utility pole causing it to shear off in the area of 4050 South Main Road, Batavia.

The wires are still up and the pole remains upright.

Town of Batavia Fire is responding. National Grid has been notified.

UPDATE 5:56 p.m.: The scene was cleared some time ago. As for the picture above, it's a bit hard to see, but in the center foreground is a bit of a wire sticking up. It's attached to the base of the utility pole, barely visible. The rest of the utility pole is clear to the left of the picture. It's a very old, very short utility pole. The driver, making his first delivery to Batavia, thought he was on West Main Street Road, not South Main Road. He was making a turn into what he thought was a local business to deliver a supply of camper shells. There's a barn on the property. The cable and phone wires were lower than he thought. No citations were issued.


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Photos: City firefighters talk with Robert Morris Pre-K students about fire safety

By Howard B. Owens

City firefighters were at Robert Morris School this afternoon teaching the Pre-K students about fire safety. The class time included instruction on drop-tuck-and-roll, using your "outside voice" to get a firefighter's attention, and not being afraid of the big person in the funny looking suit.

Dynamic speaker tells local business owners how to stand out in the market place

By Howard B. Owens

Rick Segel , an author and nationally recognized expert on small-business marketing gave a dynamic presentation to about 50 small-business owners or their representatives today. Comedy is part of Segel's pitch and he generated quite a few laughs during the first session. The program went from 9 a.m. 1 p.m. and was sponsored by the Business Improvement District and the Chamber of Commerce.

Man who tried to outrun police until he ran out of gas given prison term

By Howard B. Owens

A Batavia man who tried to outrun law enforcement from Avon to Le Roy will serve one- to three-years in state prison, Judge Robert C. Noonan ruled this morning.

Randy S. Rumble, 27, of State Street, entered a guilty plea at the end of August to felony DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation. On Aug. 1, Rumble led cops from Avon and deputies from Genesee County on a high-speed chase until he ran out of gas and was taken into custody by a Le Roy police officer.

Defense attorney William Tedford described Rumble as the nicest client he has represented.

He's a nice guy who makes poor decisions when he drinks," Tedford said.

"I have no reason to think you’re not a nice guy, but as people in court have heard me say 100 times, if you get killed by a drunk driver it doesn’t matter if it's Mother Teresa or Charles Manson at the wheel," Noonan said.

"You're lucky you're not standing here responsible for the deaths of other people or buried in the ground yourself. This conduct is way beyond anything that’s acceptable in this society."

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini argued for a stiff prison sentence.

"It was a dangerous situation," Cianfrini said. "He only stopped when he ran out of gas. He didn't stop voluntarily. He then ran into a hedgerow, further hampering law enforcement."

As for a statement to Noonan, Rumble apologized.

I respect whatever sentence you give me," Rumble said, then hung his head. "And that’s it."

Rumble will also be required to pay a $2,000 fine and have an interlock-ignition device on whatever vehicles he has access to upon his release from prison.

Previously: Batavia man allegedly tried to outrun law enforcement, until he ran out of gas

Car and bicyclist collide on East Main, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A car into bicycle accident is reported on East Main Street and Trumbull Parkway. A woman is lying on the ground, conscious. City fire, police and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE (11:34 a.m.): The patient refused medical treatment. The driver of the car was not injured. Authorities are clearing, or have cleared the scene, and are filing a report.

Police Beat: Woman accused of trying to hide stolen merchandise under child

By Howard B. Owens

Gena Lorane Ellis, 24, of West Ridge Road, Brockport, is charged with petit larceny. Ellis is accused of stealing $124.13 worth of merchandise from Target by hiding the items under her child in her shopping cart.

Amanda Darlene Clemons, 26, of Ridge Road, Holley, is charged with petit larceny. Clemons is accused of trying to steal $211.86 worth of clothing, boots and other merchandise from Target by hiding the items under a blanket in her shopping cart.

David M. Saylor, 26, of 9431 Summit St. Road, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI with a BAC of .18 or greater, failure to keep right, no seat belt and unsafe tires. Saylor was allegedly involved in an accident on North Street. He is accused of striking a parked car at 12:26 a.m. and causing significant damage to both vehicles.

A Fisherman's Toughest Goodbye

By JIM NIGRO

The above photo of the Canadea bridge was taken by Amy Joyner. The bridge spans the Genesee River near one of her husband Jim's favored locales for fishing smallmouth bass. He's taken countless smallmouths from this stretch, including what may have been his largest bronzeback, a smallie weighing close to seven pounds. Winding back and forth between large gravel bars, rocky bottomed pools and a backdrop of rolling hills, this stretch of the Genesee was a favorite for Jim.

And Jim never fished the river alone. He was always accompanied by at least one, sometimes two, friends. For years, even if Amy remained at their cabin, he was always joined by his other favorite girl and faithful companion, Candy. If Jim was wading the river, the 14-year-old chocolate lab was right by his side. No doubt, she knew this stretch of the river as well as Jim. Now, after so many years of enjoying each other's company, the time all dog lovers dread has arrived.

Candy, may your eternity be filled with winding shallow streams, gravel bars and rolling hillsides.   

Photo: Ellicott Street paving

By Howard B. Owens

Work crews were on Ellicott Street this evening attempting to finish the repaving job through Batavia's downtown.

A worker told me that if it didn't rain, they should be able to finish by 6 a.m.

About an hour later, it did rain a bit.

He also told me that the hot asphalt is 300 degrees when it's laid down.

Batavia man arrested as part of Orleans County marijuana distribution investigation

By Howard B. Owens

A drug investigation that began five months ago in Orleans County led to a search of three Genesee County dwellings Tuesday and the arrest of a Batavia man.

Taken into custody was Edgar Perez, 25, of 110 Jackson St., upper. Perez was arraigned in the Town of Barre Court and jailed in Orleans County on $100,000 bail.

In all, four search warrants were executed by law enforcement Tuesday, including one on a car stopped in Barre where investigators reportedly uncovered eight pounds of marijuana.

Perez was reportedly driving the car.

Search warrants were also executed at 110 Jackson St., Batavia and 32 and 33 Sunset Parkway, Oakfield.

Additional suspects from Genesee County are still being sought according to Orleans County investigator Joe Sacco.

Sacco said Tuesday's arrest and searches were unrelated to another recent drug investigation in Orleans County that grabbed regional media attention.

In the raids, investigators reportedly seized some quantity of marijuana, scales, packaging material and other drug paraphenalia at each search location.

Assisting Orleans County's Major Felony Crime Task Force was the Genesee County Local Drug Task Force and the City of Batavia's Emergency Response Team.

For the record, while we expected to receive a copy of a press release from Orleans County on this matter, we have not. This report combines our interview with Joe Sacco this afternoon and the press release published on WIVB's web site (click through for a picture, apparently, of the marijuana seized).

Man accused of entering woman's home and hitting her

By Howard B. Owens

A woman claims that a man from Alabama entered her home without permission Tuesday and assaulted her and a friend.

Arrested and charged with burglary, 1st, was Glenn David Reuben, 47, of 7536 Sandhill Road, Alabama.

Reuben was jailed on $10,000 bail.

The woman, a Lockport Road resident, suffered a cut on her face that required stitches.

The alleged assault occurred at 10:30 a.m.

Cause of Monday's fire still undetermined

By Howard B. Owens

Investigators have yet to determine what sparked a fire that destroyed a rooming house Monday at 433 E. Main St., Batavia.

With no cause uncovered at this point, it's hard to say when investigators will be able to determine how the fire started, according to Lt. Jay Steinbrenner of the Batavia Fire Department.

The investigation remains ongoing.

There's no further information available on the investigation at this time.

Car accident on Main Road in Pembroke

By Billie Owens

A one-car accident with minor injuries is reported at 747 Main Road, between the Thruway and Lake Road, in Pembroke. There are two people involved and there was airbag deployment.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE (2:30 p.m.) The vehicle struck a telephone wire and tractor-trailers are striking it as they drive by. Verizon is being contacted. The occupants are being transported to UMMC for evaluation.

One car rollover accident on Warboys Road

By Billie Owens

A one-vehicle rollover accident with injuries is reported on Warboys Road. The location is between Route 237 and Merrill Road.

Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding along with Mercy EMS. The victim is out of the vehicle and the car is on its roof.

Photo: Make a Difference Day

By Howard B. Owens

It's "Make a Difference Day," and as part of the effort, four Batavia High School students were in downtown this morning picking up trash on the sidewalks and flower beds. Above, Donald Fagan, a senior at BHS, patrols for litter in a flower bed on East Main Street.

Three people injured in four-car accident at Daws Corners

By Howard B. Owens

Three people were injured in a four-car accident at Daws Corners -- Route 98 and Batavia-Elba Townline Road -- this afternoon.

A westbound car reportedly pulled out from Batavia-Elba Townline Road and was struck by a car traveling southbound on Route 98. Each of those cars then hit two others at the intersection.

Joseph N. Mattison, 20, of Merriman Road, Byron, was cited for alleged failure to yield. Mattison, who was driving a 1994 Chevy sedan, was among the three people injured and transported to UMMC by ambulance.

Also injured were Bob K. Rathman, 39, of Heritage Estates, Albion, and Chrystal Bush, 17, who was a passenger in a car driven by Suanne Quackenbush, 49, of Gillett Road, Byron.

Quackenbush was not injured.

The fourth vehicle was driven by Benny S. Giambrone, 84, of Farnsworth Road, Oakfield.

The accident was investigated by Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello.

(Initial Report)

Drug Task Force raids, searches apartment on Jackson Street

By Howard B. Owens

The Local Drug Enforcement Task Force raided the upper apartment at 110 Jackson St., Batavia, at around 6:15 p.m.

All we know at this point is that the raid was not the only one conducted in Genesee County today.

Investigators were still on scene about two hours later conducting a search of the apartment.

Above, Lt. Chris Bourke of the Orleans County Sheriff's Office and his K-9 "Cliff."

Busy afternoon ties up nearly all ambulances in Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

It doesn't happen often, but late this afternoon there was a shortage of in-service ambulances serving Genesee County.

All Mercy EMS units were tied up on accidents and medical calls, Le Roy, Byron and Oakfield were tied up, too, and crews in Bethany, Darien and Alexander were requested to respond to their respective fire halls to stand by in case needed.

At the time, there were no in-service ambulances within Batavia city limits. There were also no pending calls in the city at the time.

Within 30 minutes of the Bethany, Darien and Alexander crews being put on standby, three Mercy EMS units came in service.

"It doesn't happen a lot, but there is a system in place to protect the public," said Tim Yaeger, director of emergency management for Genesee County.

Yaeger explained that there is a tiered-response system with Mercy EMS, the respective Volunteer Fire departments' units and the medics with volunteer departments. The county also has mutual aide agreements with neighboring counties.

The volunteer departments can respond to other jurisdictions when the primary ambulance services are tied up.

There's been some talk, Yaeger said, of volunteer departments getting out of ambulance service because of the expense and the difficulty in keeping the services staffed with qualified volunteers.

"This is why we've got to do everything we can to keep those units in business, because they fill in during busy times," Yaeger said.

Authorities search for missing foreign exchange student

By Billie Owens

A petite foreign exchange student is reported missing and authorities are searching in and around Bowen Road in the Town of Alexander.

Didn't catch the host's address.

The person is described as 4' 7", 85 pounds, small frame.

Authorities are told to look in a nearby meadow also.

UPDATE (6:58 p.m.): Four searchers on ATVs are scouring the meadow near the residence in search of the person.

UPDATE (7:19 p.m.): Searchers planned on focusing on a trail running north/northwest of the meadow. They are bringing in a dog. However, now there's a report of a young, small female, with her hair in a ponytail and wearing a gray sweatshirt, spotted running on Route 238 (Attica Road) toward Attica. A caller said it appeared she had been running for some time. Also, she's reportedly adept at climbing trees, a skill which might prove handy if she was running away from danger.

UPDATE (7:36 p.m.) The female foreign exchange student has been located and she is safe.

Top Items on Batavia's List

Part-Time Children's Library Clerk Haxton Memorial Public Library is seeking a Part-Time Children's Clerk 19 Hours a week $15.00/hr. Interested applicants please go to www.co.genesee.ny.us for an application or come to the library at 3 North Pearl Street, Oakfield. Any questions, please call at (585) 948-9900
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