The following arrests were made in connection with the Motley Crue concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Friday.

Ricky I. McAllister, 24, of 2nd Avenue, Albion, Pa., is charged with trespass. McAllister allegedly refused to leave the concert venue after being told to leave many times. He was jailed on $350 bail.

Ryan J. Vanandel, 25 of Russ Road, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada, is charged with disorderly conduct. Vanandel allegedly urinated in public. He was released on $100 bail. 

Thomas S. Ashby, 27, of Wexford Place, Webster, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Ashby is accused of pushing a security guard while being ejected from the venue. 

Matthew A. Rodak, 38, of Jerico Road, Bergen, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Rodak is accused of shoving a security guard while being ejected from the venue. 

Christopher M. Jensen, 37, of E. Water Street, Waterloo, is charged with trespass. Jensen allegedly entered the concert area after being ejected and told not to return.

Jacob A. Steger, 30, of Buffalo Road, Alleghany, is charged with disorderly conduct. Steger allegedly fought with concert security.

Regy M. Root, 36, of Coneflower Drive, West Henrietta, is charged with trespass. Root allegedly returned to the concert area after being ejected and told not to return.

The following people received citations for allegedly consuming alcohol under age 21.

Geoffrey R. Buckert, 20, Henry Trail, West Henrietta
A 16-year-old, of Duxbury Road, Rochester
Dylan D. Scott, 18, of Long Meadow Drive, Rochester
Joseph B. Devlin, 18, of Indian River Line Road, Indian River, Ontario, Canada
Ryan J. Devlin, 20, of Division Road, Indian River, Ontario, Canada
Gregory D. Watts-Barr, 20, of Kildare Road, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
William J. S. Towns, 20, of Center Road, Lakefield, Ontario, Canada

While limited supplies last, The Batavian is offering gift certificates for Carlson's Studio on Jackson Street in Batavia at HALF PRICE.

We have a limited number of $100 gift certificates for $50 (plus a $2 service fee) and a limited number of $200 gift certificates for $100 (plus a $3 service fee).

Gift certificates may be redeemed for photos sessions for family portraits, newborn pictures, senior photos, weddings or any other situation where only quality, professional photography will do.

Limit one gift certificate per household.

$100 Gift Certificate (for $50)

Reader Dana Barrett submitted this photo.

Two weeks after a disabled Iraq War veteran fell to his death from the Ride of Steel at Darien Lake, the ride was reopened shortly after a late afternoon press conference. The park's manager refused to answer questions about what ride operators said about their interaction with Sgt. James Hackemer.

What did they ask and what was said? Local and regional reporters tried at least six times to get answers and failed. General Manager Christopher Thorpe said he wouldn't "speculate" on what transpired on the ride's boarding platform.

"I don’t want to speculate as to what they knew or didn’t know, nor do I want to speculate as to the thought process of Sgt. Hackemer," Thorpe said.

Reporters told Thorpe they didn't ask him to speculate. They wanted to know what ride operators actually said about what happened July 8.

"That part of our investigation will remain confidential because it’s speculation," Thorpe insisted. "I don’t want to speculate on what was said or done, or what was behind the thought process of those individuals on that ride because I don’t know."

Earlier Thursday, the NYS Department of Labor issued two citations to Darien Lake Theme Park, placing the blame for Hackemer's death on improperly trained operators. The DOL said that operators were unfamiliar with the safety requirements of the Ride of Steel.

Even so, Thorpe maintained today that the operators had been trained.

"Our employees are trained and certified in the rules for the Ride of Steel ride, but for reasons that we will never fully understand, Sgt. Hackemer was allowed on the coaster," Thorpe said.

He emphasized that the Ride of Steel is mechanically sound and that Darien Lake has a long track record of operating rides safely.

"More than 35 million guest since 1964 have come to Darien Lake," Thorpe said. "This is the first ever ride-related death. As a native Western New Yorker, and as a father myself, I can assure you there is nothing more important than the safety of our guests."

Darien Lake has initiated enhanced training and safety procedures.

All 15 staff members who work on the Ride of Steel were "re-certified" in the safe operation of the ride, ensuring, Thorpe said, a comprehensive understanding of its restrictions and rules. The operators will be thoroughly tested verbally, in writing and through practical exams by auditors on the correct rules and procedures of the Ride of Steel, as well as the other rides in the park.

An safety auditor position has been created.

And while both the entrance and the exit of all rides had signs outlining safety rules -- and the Ride of Steel had an audio warning for guests that included a warning about physical disabilities -- new signage has been added with a safety message specifically for riders with disabilities.

"We have worked methodically with the Department of Labor to ensure this will never happen again," Thorpe said. "To that end, we’ve looked at our existing policies and procedures and enhanced our training to include recertification, increased audits and then to ensure increased information for people with disabilities."

Before boarding a ride, guests with disabilities can pick up a pamphlet outside the ride that explains the physical requirements for all rides. The information is also now posted on the Darien Lake website.

The operators were all 18 years of age or older, Thorpe said, but he wouldn't discuss them in any detail citing privacy concerns. He declined to answer any questions about whether they are still employed by Darien Lake or whether they were disciplined.

Meanwhile, WGRZ reports that somebody is preparing for a possible lawsuit in the case because a prominent Buffalo law firm contacted the news station asking for footage related to the story. A legal expert told WGRZ that the request indicates either somebody is preparing to file a site or, if Darien Lake hired the firm, the theme park is preparing to fight a lawsuit.

A hay fire has rekindled at the site of yesterday's barn fire. That was at 4103 Batavia-Elba Town Line Road in Elba at the Post dairy farm.

Elba Fire Department is responding.

A garbage fire is reported on Broadway near Tinkham Road in Darien. Darien Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 8:20 p.m.: The fire is said to be very small and not likely to "go anywhere." But Darien is responding to investigate.

A motorcycle accident with minor injuries is reported somewhere along the Oatka Trail. Le Roy Fire and Ambulance is responding and dispatch is working to track the location.

UPDATE 8:11 p.m.: A deputy headed eastbound on the trail, and a now a mile and a half into Monroe County, has not found the accident. Le Roy responders are continuing but Monroe County authorities are being notified since it's probably in Mumford's fire district.

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: Le Roy is returning to service. The accident involves one victim with minor injuries and it is confirmed to be in Mumford's district.

A high-tension power line has fallen down and is burning at 6888 Alleghany Road in Alabama. The location is north of the Judge Road intersection. Town of Alabama Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 7:35 p.m.: The high-tension wires are the responsibility of the New York Power Authority, which is being notified. About 300 yards of grass around the wires is on fire.

UPDATE 7:39 p.m.: The power authority has been informed and there's a representative en route. But he's coming from Lewiston so it will take time to get there. The Department of Environmental Conservation is being notified.

UPDATE 7:47 p.m.: Little can be done until the power is shut down. Firefighters on scene are ensuring the blaze does not spread to structures. No structures are threatened at this time. State forestry workers are available if needed since land under the power lines belongs to New York.

UPDATE 8 p.m.: A grass truck out of Akron and tankers from Pembroke and Indian Falls are requested as mutual aid to Alabama. The grass fire is described as large. It's behind the White Memorial State Game Farm.

UPDATE 8:08 p.m.: After researching the location, the state power authority says the power lines belong to National Grid. The state has contacted National Grid and a rep is being sent, but no ETA given.

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: Oakfield is to fill in at Alabama's hall. Another unit out of Niagara County is called in.

UPDATE 8:34 p.m.: The high-tension lines are fully powered. A National Grid rep is in the area and still needs to figure out how to shut down power there. A supervisor is en route. Once they figure it out, one of them will coordinate duties with the fire officials. The shifting wind is proving to be somewhat problematic.

UPDATE 8:39 p.m.: A fire truck out of Shelby is requested.

UPDATE 8:43 p.m.: A grass truck out of East Pembroke is called.

UPDATE 8:53 p.m.: A tanker from Oakfield is called and so are fire police from East Pembroke to help with traffic control.

UPDATE 9:03 p.m.: National Grid has a 30-minute ETA. Tankers are filling up at Parkers Pond at Gordon and Judge roads.

UPDATE 9:06 p.m.: The chief says the fire has been extinguished on the northwest side of the site. They are heading up on the hill to concentrate their efforts on the other side. Grass under the power lines continues to burn because the electrictity has yet to be shut down by National Grid.

UPDATE 9:31 p.m.: The chief reports the fire is contained and the remainder consists of a 50-foot swath of land underneath the power lines. National Grid has not yet arrived.

UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: National Grid is on scene. The fire is under control and the scene is being turned over to them to handle.

What's left of a once popular amusement park in Indian Falls was largely undamaged by a late evening fire along Phelps Road.

One small structure -- impossible to tell what it once was -- was charred while several structures remain, though largely overgrown by brush, vines and trees.

The causes of the fire, which was reported at 9:01 p.m., remains under investigation. 

The park, locally known as "Boulder Park," opened in 1949, the brainchild of Phil Morrot. Historians know it as "Morrot's Boulder."

While the park featured a miniature steam train and a Ferris wheel, the highlight of the park was reportedly its merry-go-round.

The carousel -- designed by Phil's sister, Emily Bourgard, and built by the Herschell Company -- was a menagerie of animals, including 32 horses, a lion, tigers and a giraffe.

The park was sold in the 1960s, fell into disrepair and was closed by 1970, at which time the animals of the carousel apparently went missing.

An Indian Falls resident, Cindy Henning Hanks, published a book in 2003 about the carousel and what happened to the animals. She's been able to track what happened to all but three of the wooden, hand-carved beasts.

According to her website, the giraffe sold at auction a few years ago for $51,000.

According to a Sheriff's Office report, the property is currently owned by Kelkco, LLC, out of Clarence Center.

The fire is being investigated by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

Pictures below were taken today.

A domestic dispute in Alexander on Thursday started out as a report of a wife running over her husband with her car and ended for him with a trip to the Genesee County Jail.

Jerod Norcross, 33, formerly of Attica and currently believed to be a resident of West Virginia, suffered a couple of cracked ribs when the side-view mirror of his wife's Toyota struck him, as well as a contusion to his foot when a tire backed over it.

Norcross is accused of taking an unknown object and smashing in the back windshield of the car and cause other damage to the car's body.

After being transported to UMMC by the Alexander ambulance, Norcross was treated and released. Upon release from the hospital, Norcross was arrested by a trooper and arraigned in Alexander Town Court.

He was charged with criminal mischief, 3rd, and jailed on $2,500 bail.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending, according to State Police Sgt. Sam Taglienti.

The wife was not charged because it's not believed she intentionally tried to hit her husband, Taglienti said. She was reportedly trying to get away from him and he was allegedly trying to stop her.

The type of object that Norcross allegedly used to smash the back windshield has not been determined, Taglienti said. It hasn't been found.

The couple formerly lived in Attica, according to Taglienti, and moved to West Virginia and were in Alexander visiting family.

A large cloud of black smoke is reported in the area of 13762 Sky Road in Alabama. It's off the road and in the woods. Alabama Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:32 p.m.: Alabama reports it is a large controlled burn on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. The firefighters are returning to service.

A car was on fire in the parking lot of Sport of Kings restaurant, 419 W. Main St. in Batavia. The city fire department was responding but the flames were knocked down by a passerby with a fire extinguisher. The fire truck is back in service. Police are on scene.

The drivers of both vehicles involved in a two-car, head-on collision on Indian Falls Road on July 7 remain hospitalized but their health is improving.

Donald Sage, 70, of Judge Road, Oakfield, remains in intensive care at Strong Memorial Hospital. 

On a website set up by Strong for family members to share information about loved ones, his daughter reports that Sage recently was able to breath for 27 hours without a respirator. Sage suffered internal injuries and a broken arm.

Meanwhile, investigators were finally able to talk with Sonya M. Charache, 30, of Gorton Road, Alabama, a couple of days ago, according to Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble.

Charache is in intensive care at ECMC. (A family member reports that Sandra is out of intensive care, though will remain hospitalized for some time.)

Dibble said, as is common in traumatic accidents, Charache is unable to remember the accident.

Investigators are analyizing data from the computers on the vehicles, but that information will only get them so far in determining what happened, Dibble said.

"They can tell you about speed, braking and seat belts," Dibble said, "but they can't tell you why a driver crossed over into the other lane. We still don't know what caused the accident."

Basic elements -- wind, water and fire -- were all critical factors in a blaze that destroyed a 160-year-old barn on Batavia-Elba Town Line Road on Thursday afternoon.

The Elba fire was called in at 4:15 p.m. and the first Town of Batavia chief on scene reported only smoke coming from the barn.

Two minutes later, flames began shooting out the front door of the barn and within another minute they covered nearly a quarter of the roof. Even a quick response by a group of Genesee County volunteer fire departments couldn't beat the windswept flames from engulfing the front barn of Post Farms and spreading to a second attached barn.

Complicating matters for firefighters was the lack of public water on Batavia-Elba Town Line Road. 

Eventually, Elba Fire Chief Brian Russell would request every single tanker from all 17 fire departments in Genesee County to the scene along with tankers from Orleans, Livingston and Wyoming counties, not to mention a couple of milk trucks drafted into duty to bring water from nearby ponds.

"When you’re flowing this much water on a barn fire you just go through water really quick," Russell said. "It just takes time to fill up the trucks and bring them back in."

In temperatures that exceeded 90 degrees and humidity that raised the heat index above 100, water was also essential to firefighter safety. First, Elba's auxiliary brought in refreshments and then the Salvation Army set up a rest and recovery station. A portable pool was also set up that firefighters could get in as a way to cool off.

More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene. The large contingent helped ensure crews could remain fresh.

"You’re wearing a lot of equipment and a lot of gear," Russell said. "It doesn’t take long for a body to get overheated."

Russell was grateful for the mutual aid from more than 20 departments throughout the region.

"Mutual aid is key in any situation like this, from manpower, the other trucks, water, you’ve just got to have the other departments responding," Russell said.

A Sheriff's Office investigation concluded that the fire started by exhaust from a skid loader in one of the barns.

The barn was full of hay and straw, which complicated firefighting efforts even further.

The barns are part of Post Farms, a dairy farm. The second attached barn contained calves. They were all evacuated safely. No livestock was hurt as a result of the fire.

One firefighter suffered a minor case of heat exhaustion and was taken by Mercy EMS to UMMC. He is reportedly fine.

The Post Farm has been in the family since the 1890s, when Stu Post acquired it. It's currently owned by Jeff Post.

His grandmother, Louise Post, spoke with reporters and the family is devastated by the loss of the barns and the contents.

"I think they are all very sorry to have this happen, not only the ones who work here, but the remainder of the family," Louise said.

"We lost a lot of history and a lot of product," she added.

While the fire was in progress, neighbors complained about the water situation on Batavia-Elba Town Line Road. The fire, they said, is exactly why either the Town of Batavia or the Town of Elba needs to bring public water to the road.

Plus, the well water on the road is undrinkable.

Douglas Clark and his wife said they've been drinking nothing but bottled water for 15 years, and when farmers are spreading manure, their bathing water smells pretty bad.

"I also work with these farmers and I support these farmers, so what am I supposed to do?" Douglas said. "The town ought to put water right down this road."

(Initial Report)

Below is a slide show of more than 60 photos from the fire. Click on the button in the lower right to expand to full screen mode. Pictures may be purchased by clicking here.

It turns out there are two sets of Ghost Riders in town, and both will play at Jackson Square tomorrow night.

Batavia resident Dough Mellenthine, one of the directors of the "other" Ghost Riders, describes it as a miniature drum and bugle corps and a "brass choir." They play everything from patriotic tunes to chorales to "fun-filled, good time music" (as worded in a press release).

Formed in 1996 to compete in the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) "World Championship," which is held every year at various locations throughout the country, the Ghost Riders have distinguished themselves numerous times. They have appeared in championships for 15 consecutive years, won the New York State American Legion Crown, and, last year, won the Silver Medal and position of first runner-up at the DCA World Championship with a score of 98.0.

Mellenthine co-directs Ghost Riders along with Rod Keppel. Music is arranged by "World Drum Corps Hall of Fame" and "Buglers Hall of Fame" member Donny Allen. Group members are professional musicians whose experiences range from education to judging music competitions.

"This is not beer tent stuff," Mellenthine said. "I believe we're Batavia's best-kept secret."

Ghost Riders will perform from 8 until 8:30 p.m. at Jackson Square tomorrow night. Mellenthine said they've been practicing all year for this performance, so it ought to be good!

To learn more about Ghost Riders, visit their Facebook page.

Photo submitted by Doug Mellenthine.

There is a report of six youths with baseball bats fighting at the intersection of Jerome Place and East Main Street.

UPDATE 12:01 a.m.: First officer on scene, no youths anywhere to be seen.

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A grass fire has been reported at the intersection of Route 77 and Phelps Road.

Indian Falls and Pembroke fire departments dispatched.

Newstead, standing in for one of the departments, standing down. Akron, standing in, is responding.

UPDATE 9:14 p.m.: Pembroke, Indian Falls, all available manpower requested to the scene. The location has been identified as "Boulder Park." There is a 30-by-50 foot area on fire several yards from a building.

UPDATE 9:16 p.m. "There are remains of a structure that is involved now." Also, law enforcement requested to the scene.

UPDATE 9:18 p.m.: Corfu, returning from Elba, called the Indian Falls chief and asked if he needed a hand. One word answer: "Yes." Corfu fire in route.  

UPDATE 9:27 p.m.: Poles, rakes and a chainsaw needed to help clear a way to get to the structure. Lights being set up to illuminate the scene.

UPDATE 9:43 p.m.: Fire is out.

UPDATE 10:08 p.m.: Corfu back in service. Road reopened.