Press release:

At approximately 12:30 p.m. today, the Le Roy Police Department received a report of an unsupervised/suspicious duffle bag located near the U.S. Post Office on Main Street.

During the investigation, Main Street (between Bank and Wolcott streets) was closed for a short time while bomb squads from the New York State Police and the Rochester Office of the FBI responded and determined that the item was non-hazardous.

Main Street was reopened and no charges are pending. The Le Roy Fire Department assisted with traffic control during the incident.

It took six quarters of football, but the Elba Byron-Bergen Lancers finally got fired up Saturday to turn a 12-0 half-time deficit into a 13-12 victory of the Alexander Trojans.

After a blistering 32-7 loss to Barker last week, Coach Mike Cintorino said the Lancers needed a spark to turn things around, and Zack DuBois, helped by some key blocks at the line, did that in the third quarter with a 95-yard run for a score.

"Our guys came out in the second half excited to play and we had some success to get us moving in the right direction," Cintorino said. "We've been waiting, knowing that Zach is due, and he popped a big one for us today. This is exactly what our team needed today just to show us that we are as good as we were last year and now we can build on that."

Alexander, playing under new head Coach Jack Rennolds, and coming off an injury-plagued 2010 season when the team went 1-6, played a pretty dominant first half.

The Trojans converted a turnover into a touchdown when Austin Heberline punched it in from two yards out.

Patrick Crawford helped lead the next drive, including darting in on a 12-yard TD run to put Alexander up 12-0 at the half.

Alexander had 213 yards on the ground, most of it gained in the first-half of the game.

But the momentum seemed to shift in the second half, sparked, of course, by the DeBois run, but defensively the Lancers seems to come to life, making it much harder for Alexander to move the ball.

Zac Gillard helped put his team ahead with a 35-yard TD pass to Matt Ramsey with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

From there, it was just a matter of a fired-up Lancers' defense keeping the Trojans in check.

Rennolds said he saw a lot of positives in his team, especially during the first half of play.

"We played really well in the first half and I was really happy with our play, but we seemed to drop our coverage a bit in the second half," Rennolds said. "We came out a little flat and Elba came out definitely ready to play."

The Lancers move to 1-1 and Alexander is now 0-2 on the young season.

Stats:

Offensive Stats - Elba Byron Bergen
RB - Zack DuBois (So.): 24 Carries for 175 yards and 1 TD (94-yard run)
QB - Zac Gillard (Jr.): 6-10 for 79 yards and 1 TD (35 yards)
WR - Matt Ramsey (Sr.): 1 reception for 35 yards and 1 TD (35 yards)

Offensive Stats - Alexander
RB - Pat Crawford (Sr.): 3 Carries for 51 yards and 1 TD (12-yard run)
RB - Austin Heberline (Sr.): 5 Carries for 6 yards and 1 TD (2-yard run)
RB - Mark Farnsworth: 48 yards rushing
RB - Luke Phillips: 42 yards rushing
RB - David Schmeide: 22 yards
QB - Mark Farnsworth (Jr.): 3-11 for 22 yards
QB - Nelson Burke: 3 completions for 31 yards
Lineman Nick Mrucza was used on an offensive play and carried the ball for 38 yards.

Defensive Stats - Elba Byron-Bergen
Cody Naylor (Sr.): 10 tackles, 3 for a loss
Nate Jonathan (Jr.): 10 tackles, 2 for a loss

Defensive Stats - Alexander
Lucas Phillips (Sr.): Forced fumble
Austin Heberlein: 8 tackles and 4 assists
Nick Mrucza: 6 tackles
David Patrick: 5 tackles and 2 assists

Photos from this game can be purchased by clicking here.

If you can't view the slide show below, click here.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Genesee County, including Batavia and Le Roy, from now until 1:30 p.m.

Winds could reach 60 mph with quarter-size hail and cloud-to-ground lightning.

A Dumpster fire has been reported at Darien Lake Theme Park in the area known as "the graveyard."

Darien Fire Department is responding.

Crowds are exiting the performing arts center from the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival.

Darien fire asked to respond to the back entrance. "It's the fastest way."

Dispatch has received multiple calls about a couch blocking a northbound lane on Route 19 in Bergen, north of Bovee Road.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: The couch has been removed from the roadway and the state Department of Transportation will be notified to pick it up.

A field car involved in a field car race has rolled over in an accident and there are injuries reported. The site is 2757 Route 20 in Alexander, behind Breton Construction, Inc.

Alexander Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. An ambulance from Darien is called in as mutual aid to Alexander to stand by at the high school football game so Alexander can handle this call.

Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is on in-air standby.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Mercy Flight is asked to land in the field adjacent to the accident.

UPDATE 3:21 p.m.: The patient is a 40-year-old man who suffered loss of consciousness and has upper back pain, upper thoracic tenderness and "crackling in the lungs."

UPDATE 3:38 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Strong Memorial Hospital.

A multiple vehicle accident with multiple injuries is reported at 9049 Route 77. Corfu Fire Department and Mercy medics are en route.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: There are four vehicles involved. Darien Fire Department is also headed to the scene.

UPDATE 2:40 p.m.: Traffic is snarled near the accident scene. Traffic police are needed and they are seeking an available unit. A medic from Darien has transported one patient to UMMC.

UPDATE 2:59 p.m.: All Corfu units are back in service. A Sheriff's deputy is handling traffic detail.

UPDATE 3:13 p.m.: Darien units are about to clear the scene and when they do they plan to go to Alexander High School to stand by at the football game while Alexander Fire Department handles a race car accident.

A car accident with injuries is reported on Vine Street just off of Main Street in the City of Batavia. City fire department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: A 47-year-old male is transported to UMMC with minor injuries.

Tyrone Gantt, of Rochester, came out to Batavia today to visit his granddaughters and thought he would bring his ice cream truck along.

He said he's never brought the truck with him before, but people kept telling him there was no ice cream truck in Batavia and it might be an opportunity for him.

After the response he received today he said, "I should come out here more often."

When he stopped on Maple Street around 6 p.m., people -- adults and children -- came running (some, really running) from all directions.

His granddaughters are Sharmaine Powell (pictured in the truck), Jykiya Powell and LaQueasha Taylor.

If it's ever been your dream to own an old town hall, here's your chance -- the Bethany Town Hall, which has most recently served as a museum and a theater, is up for sale.

Somebody has posted a sign on Route 20, Bethany Center, encouraging people to plant flags along the road as a 9/11 memorial. So far, at least 30 flags have been left.

A car is reportedly on fire in the parking lot of the Pembroke Service  Area, off the Thruway.

East Pembroke Fire responding.

UPDATE 6:44 p.m.: A responder at the scene says the car fire is fully involved.

The mini-boomlet of new businesses opening on Ellicott Street, Batavia, continues with The Laughing Buddha at 440 Ellicott St.

The Laughing Buddha offers tattoos, piercing and a gift shop.

Pictured are tattoo artists Eric "Crazy Goose" Weis, left, and James "Jimi" Soccio, along with Ashley Keene, who handles the front counter, owner Jay Lang (who also owns Batavia Cab Co.), and Eric Betz, piercer and store manager (Betz is formerly of Time Bomb Tattoo).

A wire is reportedly down in a pasture and on fire at 10032 Cook Road. Alexander Fire Department is en route.

As counties on the east end of the state continue to struggle with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, emergency workers in Genesee County continue to pitch in and do what they can to help.

Currently, four of the Sheriff's Office emergency dispatchers are being deployed for a couple of days in Broome County.

The will provide a "much needed break," as one dispatcher put it, to the overextended crew in Broome.

Sheriff Gary Maha said interagency cooperation like this is common in New York.

He also praised the dispatchers making the trip.

"It shows they care," Maha said. "We try to help other counties whenever we can."

All expenses incurred by the Sheriff's Office for the deployment will be reimbursed by Broome County, Maha said.

Last week, volunteer firefighters from five departments traveled to Schoharie County. Besides helping with clean-up work, the volunteers also ended up working a structure fire about 30 miles from their base.

Another deployment of volunteer firefighters from Genesee County to the storm-ravaged region is being planned.

You may have noticed, the flags along Main Street have been up all week. The flags are owned and displayed by the Batavia Area Jaycees.

This year, the Jaycees decided to leave the flags up from Labor Day through Patriot's Day in honor of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"We are proud to help lead our community in remembering this historic event," said Amy Robinson, the group's 2011 president.

Eric Michael Duda, 49, of Main Road, Stafford, and Summer Ogden, 35, of State Street, Batavia, are both charged with criminal contempt. Duda and Odgen were seen walking together on Main Road, Stafford, at 4:15 p.m., Wednesday. There are court orders in place barring Duda and Odgen from being in contact with each other.

Dennis Kaijage Stambuli, 19, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass and unlawful possession of marijuana. Stambuli was allegedly found on College Village property after being banned.

Scott E. Hodgins, 47, of 9394 Creek Road, Batavia, is charged with felony DWI, passing a stop sign, speed in zone and obstructing governmental administration, 2nd. Hodgins was stopped at 8:40 p.m., Thursday, on Blakely Place, by Officers Jerry Casper and Chris Camp. Hodgins was allegedly observed speeding on South Jackson Street. Hodgins allegedly tried to flee on foot following the traffic stop and was located after an extensive search of the area. New York State Police assisted in the search. Additional charges may be pending. Hodgins was jailed without bail.

Press release:

This is going to be a big weekend at Batavia Downs Casino. Honoring and remembering is the theme.

Tonight, Joseph Teresi will be honored as the Batavia Downs Casino Italian-American of the Year with a special Winners Circle ceremony. The inaugural recipient of the award, Joseph Gerace, nominated Teresi for the award. Gerace recognized the work that Teresi does in the community and how he honors his Italian heritage doing so.

Teresi is currently the vice president of Tompkins Insurance Agencies. Some of his accolades include Geneseean of the Year, YMCA Volunteer of the Year, two-time Lions Distinguished Service Award winner and “Lion of the Year” award.

He is also involved as: the current president of Regional Action Phone Line; founder and volunteer of the YMCA Challenger Sports program; member of the Notre Dame High School Education Foundation; supporter of the T.F. Brown’s/Batavia Lions club annual Christmas dinner; past president of the Genesee YMCA Lions Club; and co-chair of the recent Genesee Foundation “Encore” event.

A special Italian-American themed buffet will be served in the Clubhouse while the Formula band, known for playing traditional Italian music, will be in Grandstands Bar & Grille from 8 until midnight.

On Saturday night, two big events will be taking place. After the fourth harness race, five high school students -- Elizabeth Shuknecht from Elba High School; Kendra Wall from Notre Dame of Batavia; Natalie Tuites from Batavia High School; Conor George from Oakfield High School; and Wyatt Chittenden from Pembroke High School -- will go behind the starting gate to race for their share of $7,500 in college scholarship money.

The scholarship race is a partnership between Batavia Downs Casino, Buffalo Raceway, Harness Horse Breeders of New York and the Western New York Horsemen Association. The college scholarship breakdown is as follows: $3,000 to the winner; $2,000 to the second-place finisher; and $1,200, $800 and $500 going to the third, fourth and fifth place finishers, respectively.

All students practiced at least five times during the month of August with the driver/trainer that they will be teamed up with. They were exposed to the full equine experience associated with the racing industry. The students and their professionals will race 1-mile, that's two laps around Batavia Downs on double-seated jog carts.

Later in the evening, Benny "The Whip"  Webster and P.C. "Patsy" Rapone will be installed in the Upstate New York Harness Racing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2011 representing Batavia Downs. Webster and the family of Rapone will be presented their Empire Pinnacle Crystal awards to mark the occasion, trackside after the 7th and 8th races.

Webster is a homegrown Western New York racing legend. He lived in Hilton, and got his first driving win at the age of 16 at the Hemlock Fair; both a mere 25 miles from Batavia Downs Casino. But that incipient stage of his development would later see a 47-year career unfold on the biggest stages of the sport as Webster would go on to win the Hambletonian, the Little Brown Jug and the Kentucky Futurity.

In a career that spanned six decades, Webster won 4,378 races and his horses earned purses of $43,197,645.

Born and raised in Caledonia, Patsy C. Rapone came from a harness-racing family; just about every relative was involved in the sport in some capacity. His father Lou Rapone was a national training and driving force from the 1950s right through the 1970s and amassed 2,069 wins in his career. So it was no surprise when Patsy left high school to go work with his dad taking care of the horses.

He started driving at age 21 at Batavia Downs in 1974. During his short career, Rapone won 2,643 races and $5.8 million in purse money. He died of brain cancer on May 16, 1996 at the age of 42.