On Tuesday, members of the City of Batavia Police Department, alongside members of the City of Batavia Fire Department, Town of Batavia Fire Department, Mercy EMS, Mercy Flight, the Genesee County Coroner, H.E. Turner's Funeral Services and the Genesee County DA's Office conducted a mock DWI fatal accident simulation for juniors and seniors of the Batavia City School District to raise awareness regarding the consequences of impaired driving. 

Members of the BCSD drama club played the roles of victims, the "drunken driver," and the distraught parent in the scenario.

The demonstration showed the very real consequences of impaired driving, including the extraction and treatment of "victims" by the Fire Departments and Mercy EMS, and the landing of a Mercy Flight helicopter to transport a seriously injured patient. 

The simulation also showed the processing and "arrest" of the suspected drunken driver by City Police Officers along with documentation, collection of evidence and photographs of the scene by members of the Police Department's Detective Bureau. 

The Genesee County Coroner was on hand to demonstrate the role of the Coroner's Office, and H.E. Turner's Funeral Services was on hand to remove the "deceased." 

Students also heard from District Attorney Kevin Finnell on the legal consequences of the decision to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while impaired.

The Department wishes to thank the Batavia City School District for hosting this event. We also want to recognize the work of Officer Connor Borchert, School Resource Officer for the Batavia High School, in coordinating the simulation and all departments involved.

Press Release:

Powered by Authenticity, the influential podcast led by tech industry veteran and Batavia native, Emily Carlson, proudly sponsored a networking event on June 4, hosted by The WIT Network Buffalo Chapter.

This event, the first to be hosted in Batavia, aimed to bring together women in technology for an evening of connection, inspiration, and professional growth.

During the event, attendees had the opportunity to learn about The WIT Network Buffalo Chapter's mission to support women in STEM fields through mentorship, professional development, and community engagement.

Emily Carlson, host of the Powered by Authenticity podcast, was present to share insights from her extensive career in IT consulting and project management. Her podcast, which advocates for gender equity and inclusion in technology, was a central theme throughout the evening. Guests were inspired by conversations that highlighted the experiences and achievements of women who are breaking barriers in male-dominated industries.

"We were thrilled to sponsor this event and support The WIT Network Buffalo Chapter's efforts to empower women in technology," said Emily Carlson. "Networking events like these are crucial for building a community where women can share their experiences, support each other, and drive meaningful change in the industry." Carlson continued, “this is the first opportunity we’ve had to extend the reach of the Buffalo Chapter to Batavia and are excited about future events to promote what our community has to add and the value the WIT Network brings to our members.”

The WIT Network Buffalo Chapter event provided an excellent opportunity for women in technology to expand their professional networks, gain valuable insights, and find inspiration from their peers. These events can be especially beneficial for students, new graduates, and professionals seeking internships or new career opportunities.

Special thanks to Carlson Media, led by Ken Carlson, for their media support, and Roman's for hosting the event. Their contributions were invaluable in making this event a success. 

For more information and to learn about future events, please visit Local Communities - The WIT Network. Join us in fostering inclusivity, innovation, and growth within the tech community.

After receiving reports of gunfire in the area of 3310 West Main Street Road, Batavia, shortly after noon on Tuesday, Sheriff's deputies engaged in a standoff with a resident that lasted until after 11 p.m.

There were no injuries to the resident, neighbors, or responding personnel, said Chief Deputy Brian Frieday. 

Friday noted the area is a fairly residential neighborhood with houses close together and a trailer park nearby, so law enforcement carefully assessed the situation and moved slowly in trying to coax the man out of the small house on the property. 

"Just in dealing with anybody with a gun call these days, sometimes you have to take the time and the extra caution to make sure you're dealing with it properly and safely," Frieday said.

Based on multiple witness statements supporting the assertion that there was gunfire on the property, the Sheriff's Office was able to obtain a search warrant for the house.

Throughout the 11-hour standoff, deputies continued to try and talk the man out of the residence.  Every 15 minutes or so, deputies with guns drawn and using shields approached the house and spoke through a bullhorn, telling the man to come out of the house.

Frieday said the man responded once to deputies, but "that ended quickly."

The details of how the subject was taken into custody have not been released, but there were no injuries, Frieday said. He indicated there was no struggle.

Asked if he knew what shots were fired, Frieday said any answer he might give would be speculation.

"I wouldn't want to say anything that wouldn't be 100 percent accurate," Frieday said.

After investigators entered the residence, they were seen removing possible weapons and taking inventory of them at the scene.

While at the scene, with the investigation ongoing, Frieday didn't want to release the possible charges against the suspect.  At least one potential charge was needed to get the warrant, but Frieday said he didn't want to release that charge until a press release was issued with all possible charges.

Asked what possible charges might apply to the situation, Frieday said it's illegal to fire a gun within 500 feet of a residence, there is possibly reckless endangerment, and "a few different things," he said.

Route 5 west of Wortendyke was closed to traffic throughout the standoff.  That, too, Frieday said, was done out of an abundance of caution.

"If ever something were to break out and a passerby on the road was to have something bad happen to them, we certainly wouldn't want that," Frieday said. "We wouldn't want to second-guess that."

That's also why several homes in the immediate vicinity were evacuated, Frieday said. 

Frieday said if other witnesses would like to come forward, they can call the Sheriff's Office at 585-343-5000.

UPDATE: Ryan J. Goldman, 31, was charged with reckless endangerment 2nd and discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a residence, an unclassified misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Photos by Howard Owens.

The State University of New York at Potsdam recently named 727 students to the President's List, in recognition of their academic excellence in the Spring 2024 semester. The SUNY Potsdam students were honored for earning top marks by President Dr. Suzanne Smith.

To achieve the honor of being on the President's List, each student must have satisfactorily completed 12 numerically-graded semester hours, with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

The students included:

• Wyatt Calcote of Le Roy, whose major is Music Performance
• Lydia Geiger of Batavia, whose major is Music Education
• Nate Yauchzee of Le Roy, whose major is Music Business

Mike Geissler (ELM) v.s. Gavin Chandler (BAT)

#GoDogs

West Main Street Road at Wortendyke Road in Batavia remains closed at 5:30 p.m. since a police incident that was called into Genesee County Sheriff's dispatch at approximately 1 p.m. Tuesday.

No other details are confirmed at this time.

UPDATE 11:47 p.m.: Subject was taken safely into custody. Story and photos to come.

There are 710 SUNY Cortland students who earned President's List honors for the Spring 2024 semester. To qualify for the President's List, students must earn a grade of A- or better in each of their classes while carrying a course load of 12 hours or more.

Among those who excelled are:

• Allie Schwerthoffer of Batavia - Major: Healthcare Management
• Karlee Zinkievich of Pavilion - Major: Physical Education K-12

Press Release:

The Genesee County Office for the Aging (OFA) is pleased to announce the distribution schedule of Farmer's Market Coupons. These coupons allow eligible older adults to access fresh, locally-grown produce at participating farmers' markets.

To qualify, individuals must be 60 years or older and have an income at or below $2,322 per month for a one-person household, $3,152 per month for a two-person household, or $3,981 per month for a three-person household.

The OFA encourages all eligible seniors to take advantage of these opportunities. If you reside in senior housing, please look for a flyer at your location with specific details on when the Office for the Aging will visit.

The schedule for July 2024 is as follows:

• Tuesday, July 2: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St., Batavia
• Friday, July 5: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Genesee Country Farmers’ Market, School St., Batavia
• Saturday, July 6: 9 - 11 a.m. at Le Roy Farmers’ Market, Trigon Park, Le Roy
• Thursday, July 11: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St., Batavia
• Friday, July 12: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Genesee Country Farmers’ Market, School St., Batavia
• Monday, July 15: 4 - 6 p.m. at Corfu Farmers’ Market, Corfu Presbyterian Church Parking Lot
• Friday, July 19: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Genesee Country Farmers’ Market, School St., Batavia
• Saturday, July 20: 9 - 11 a.m. at Le Roy Farmers’ Market, Trigon Park, Le Roy
• Thursday, July 25: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St., Batavia
• Friday, July 26: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Genesee Country Farmers’ Market, School St., Batavia
• Wednesday, July 31: 2 - 4 p.m. at Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St., Batavia

For any questions or further information, please contact the Genesee County Office for the Aging at 585-
343-1611.

All motorists please be aware Redfield Parkway will experience traffic delays on Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14 between the hours of 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. for paving operations. 

Paving on River Street will occur on Monday, June 17 and Tuesday, June 18, followed by Jackson Street on June 19 and 20.

While work is being performed in this area, local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays. This work is weather-dependent. 

All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation. All motorists that regularly use these streets are asked to seek alternate routes while the delays are in place.

Contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 opt. 1 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation.

Mason Randall of Batavia has graduated from American International College (AIC) with a Bachelor of Science in the Criminal Justice program.

On Saturday, May 11, the College conferred degrees to more than 600 graduates receiving bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degrees from its School of Health Sciences, School of Education, and School of Business, Arts, and Sciences.

In her remarks, the College's Interim President Nicolle Cestero told the class of 2024 that their time at AIC was formative. "Each of you has overcome challenges, pursued passions and you have grown in ways you might not have imagined when you first stepped foot on campus," she told the graduates. "As you stand ready to begin your next journey, know that life is full of possibilities just waiting for you."

Keynote speaker Michael D. Smith - the CEO of AmeriCorps - regaled graduates, their families, and AIC faculty and staff with stories from his youth, growing up in the McKnight neighborhood of Springfield. Smith spoke of how being part of a community at the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield planted the seeds for his future in which he leads the country's largest public volunteer force.

Smith, who received an honorary doctorate from AIC during the ceremony, told the graduates they were not unlike him. "My story might be yours, too. People see you but they don't always see your struggles. But AIC wanted you because they knew what some saw as hurdles, you are going to use as springboards."

The ceremony saw 216 bachelor's degrees, 279 master's, 72 certificates of graduate study, and thirty-six doctorates awarded.