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A story published by The Batavian in August 2009 received a second-place award from the International Association Firefighters in the organization's 2010 media awards.

The story, about the local firefighters' union annual MDA "Fill the Boot" campaign while ambulance layoffs loomed, was picked for nomination by City Fighterfighter Bob Fix and other members of the department.

The award category was for news stories on the Web. First place went to 1strespondernews.com.

A total of 245 entries from throughout the United States and Canada were judged in the competition.

Along with the recognition, the IAFF presented The Batavian with a $250 check.

An 18-year-old Batavia man allegedly called a Byron-Bergen School and imitated a girl's father to get her released from school early.

There was reportedly a court order in place requiring the man not contact the girl.

Arrested by the Sheriff's Office was Michael Aaron Witkop of Ross Street.

He is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, and criminal impersonation, 2nd.

Witkop was jailed on $250 bail.

This afternoon, just about anywhere I looked I could see a possible picture. I would have been out longer, but 4 p.m. rolled around and it was time to cover the Genesee County Legislature, which also explains why I'm just now getting the afternoon's photos posted.

Above, a tree on the grounds of the VA Center. Below, Vincent DiRisio helps his grandfather Harry Wortzman shovel his driveway. More pictures after the jump.

Centennial Park

Close up of the berries on the tree pictured above.

The clothesline in our own backyard.

Didn't catch the address, but a woman who lives in Dansville is stuck in the snow in the City of Batavia.

But there are no tows available and "she has five dollars to her name." She claims to have AAA but has no card to prove membership. Besides, tows in Genesee County are "backed up by hours."

The Batavia Police Department released information today on seven individuals who are wanted on warrants related to various alleged crimes.

Below are the mug shots and available information on each individual.

Citizens are asked to call Batavia PD at 345-6350 (the county emergency dispatch number). Citizens are warned not to try and apprehend these individuals on their own.

Robert J. Eppolito: born 8/14/1982; 5' 8", 160 lbs; last known address -- 28 Washington Ave. Warrant: Menacing, 2nd - Weapon.

Dashawn A. Butler: born 10/19/1979; 6' 1", 180 lbs; last known address -- 120 State St. Warrant: Criminal Possession of a Weapon, 3rd, Menacing, 2nd.

Amanda A. Maben: born 05/30/1978; 5' 3", 115 lbs; last known address -- 7740 Lewiston Road. Warrant: Possession of a Forged Instrument, 3rd.

Larry R. Brewer: born 02/18/1966; 6', 190 lbs; last known address -- 3 Maple St., lower.
Warrants: Aggravated Harassment x 3, Criminal Contempt, 1st x 3.

Jamie C. Wilmet: born 12/20/1984; 5' 9", 145 lbs; last known address -- 20 N. Spruce St. Warrant: Criminal Possession of a Weapon, 3rd.

Brian A. Merritt: born: 6/21/1974; 6' 2", 185 lbs.; last known address -- 10571 Main St., Alexander. Warrant: Criminal Contempt, 1st.

Jeremiah D. Williams: born 4/06/1991; 5' 10", 135 lbs.; last known address -- 9 Raymond Ave. Warrant: Level 3 Sex Offender - Failure to Verify Address.

A Batavia woman faces a Leandra's Law felony drunken driving charge following a reported hit-and-run accident on Farnsworth Street in Oakfield last night.

Tonya Marie Weber, 26, a School Street resident, was allegedly driving a 1992 Dodge Shadow on Farnsworth when she struck at least one parked car.

The front license plate reportedly fell off the car at the scene and the car reportedly suffered heavy front-end damage.

Within 10 minutes of the 6:44 p.m. accident, Weber's car was reportedly found at another residence in the Village of Oakfield.

Upon investigation, Deputy Joseph Graff concluded that Weber was allegedly driving the vehicle in an intoxicated condition at the time of the accident and a child under 15 years old was in the car.

Weber is charged under Leandra's Law and with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, endangering the welfare of a child, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and moving from lane unsafely.

An arraignment date was set for Dec. 20.

(Initial Report)

Batavia Police have been alerted to look for a 1992 Dodge Shadow that was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident in the area of 20 Farnsworth St., Oakfield.

The small sedan reportedly lost its front license plate after striking at least one car at that address.

The maroon vehicle is registered to a Batavia resident and reportedly has heavy front-end damage.

Sheriff's deputies are responding to the scene in Oakfield.

UPDATE 7:02 p.m.: Car may have been located in Oakfield.

UPDATE 7:38 p.m.: It sounds like there has been arrest.

View Larger Map

David S. Hare, 38, of 5236 Cotton Road, Silver Springs, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, criminal trespass, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Hare was charged following a report of a man entering a residence at 2:12 a.m. today in the area of Route 63 and Batavia-Stafford Townline Road, Batavia. The suspect reportedly broke the door to gain entrance to the house. He then reportedly drove from the scene. Hare was  found by Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello a short distance from the house where his car had driven off the road. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Jeffrey L. Upchurch, 46, of Butler Drive, Bristol, Tenn., is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, and unsafe lane change. Upchurch was arrested following a report of a truck driver and a companion leaving Red Osier on Route 5 in Stafford at 7 p.m., Friday, after being refused service. Upchurch reportedly got into a semi-truck that didn't have a trailer. His truck reportedly hit a tree as he pulled from the parking lot. Upchurch was reportedly found driving his truck on Route 5 just west of the city line by Deputy Matt Butler. Upchurch was jailed on $2,000 bail. (Initial Report)

Jon D. Smith, 28, and Sylvia L. Smith, 25, of 5 Prune St., Batavia, are charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The Smiths were allegedly found on Thursday by officer Kevin DeFelice to be keeping their children living in substandard conditions.

Philip R. Ayala, 25, of 732 W. Bridges Ave., Auburndare, Fla., is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Ayala was charged following a traffic stop on Bank Street on Thursday by Office Marc Lawrence.

Carrie L. Jackson, 32, of 3 Tracy Ave., Batavia, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Jackson is accused of sending threatening text messages to a male acquaintance.

Frankie Lee Brumsted, 19, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Brumsted is accused of hosting an underage drinking party at a residence on Batavia-Bethany Townline Road.

Michael S. Colombo, 30, of Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Colombo was stopped by State Police at 8:26 p.m., Saturday, on Route 33 in Stafford.

Eric J. Flowers, 25, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Flowers was arrested by State Police at 4:13 p.m., Thursday. No further details provided.

A multi-car accident with one possible injury has been reported in the westbound lane of the Thruway in the area of mile marker 390.1.

That's near the Batavia exit.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 5:39 p.m.: The westbound passing lane is being shut down. Below is a map of traffic taken about 5:35 p.m. from Google Maps. Google gathers data from mobile phones with Google Maps GPS enabled to track traffic patterns. The accident is three cars with one apparent minor injury.

UPDATE 5:54 p.m.: Photo at the top from Thruway web cam.

A dump truck and an SUV slid off Route 63 south of Galloway Road yesterday in separate accidents that were only moments apart.

One person in the SUV reported a minor injury, but did not require transport to a hospital.

The driver of the dump truck was not injured after it slid off the snow-covered, wind-blown roadway and flipped on its side on the embankment.

Both drivers were cited for alleged violations related to their tires.

The accidents were reported at 9 a.m.

The dump truck was driven by Kevin E. Andrews, 35, of Allegheny Road, Basom. It is owned by PSI Disposal of Corfu.

The SUV was driven by Rebecca M. Lang, 21, of Bartz Drive, Alexander. She was also cited for alleged unsafe speed for conditions.

Lang's passengers included an infant and 34-year-old Charles D. Bucci.

Lang's vehicle slid off the roadway and struck the back of Andrews' overturned dump truck.

The dump truck was fully loaded at the time. No word on how long it took crews to get it upright again.

(initial report)

An Alexander couple were arrested today for allegedly engaging in a sex act in a public place.

The pair was reported to the Sheriff's Office by security personnel with a business on Veteran's Memorial Drive after they were allegedly witnessed engaged in sexual activity at 4:11 p.m.

Charged with public lewdness were Kelly Anne Brown, 34, and Karl James Hulshoff, 34, both of Broadway Road in Alexander.

Brown and Hulshoff were allegedly engaged in a sex act in a parked car in the vicinity of 4180 Veterans Memorial Drive.

They were arrested by Deputy James Diehl and released on an appearance ticket.

Batavia-based Christiano Cellular has been sold to a Marion, Ind.-based company, owner Roger Christiano announced today.

The new owner is Moorehead Communications, with 900 locations throughout the United States.

Christiano Cellular has locations in Batavia, Le Roy and Livingston County.

Christiano said with the sale, he's retiring.

A sale price was not announced.

The Christiano locations will be closed for a few days in early December while staff goes through orientation with the new company.

Full announcement after the jump:

Christiano Cellular, a local Verizon Authorized Wireless Retailer with locations in Genesee and Livingston counties, has been sold to Moorehead Communications, Inc., of Marion, Ind.

The announcement was made today by owner, Roger Christiano. Moorehead Communications' cellular division, known as The Cellular Connection, is the largest Verizon Wireless Premium Retailer in the Midwest with over 350 company-owned stores and over 550 owner-operated partners across the nation.

They are currently the fastest growing division in the wireless industry.

"After 20 years representing Verizon Wireless (formerly Frontier Cellular) in Batavia, LeRoy, Avon and Geneseo, I was looking for an opportunity to retire when this offer came along," Christiano said. "I appreciate being the first Rochester area agent to be approached by Moorehead Communications as they continue their expansion across New York State.

"My wife, Sharon, and I will end our career with Verizon Wireless with a feeling of accomplishment. We want to thank our employees for always going the extra mile for the customers of Verizon Wireless. And, of course, we want to thank our loyal customers for doing business with us over the years. We envision bigger and better things ahead when our existing sales staff joins forces with this dynamic new Premium Retailer."

Christiano Cellular stores will be closed for the first three or four days of December while the staff goes through orientation and training and the stores are converted to The Cellular Connection.

A dump truck has reportedly rolled over on Lewiston Road near the Thruway bridge, Town of Batavia.

Unknown injuries.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 9:13 a.m.: The dump truck is on its side, fully loaded. There is a reported injury from the car that struck the truck.

James Lamar Poole, 46, of Fargo Road, Darien, is charged with DWI, unlawful possession of marijuana, unlicensed driver, driving left of pavement markings and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle on a highway. Poole was stopped at 1:46 a.m., Thursday, in Allegheny Road, Corfu, by Deputy Kevin McCarthy. Poole was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Gregory Scott Snyder, 42, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Snyder allegedly twice went to the residence of a protected person in violation of a court's stay-away order.

The Batavia Salvation Army kicked off its annual Red Kettle Campaign today at Seymour Place, East Main Street. WBTA's Geoff Redick made the honorary first donation.

Blake Polito, Mitch Riter and Austin Wilkson can't wait for it to snow so they can ski.

But while they wait, they hit upon an ingenious idea -- use the ice dumped from the Zamboni at the Falleti Ice Arena to fashion a mini ski ramp and get some practice in now.

The trio was out behind the arena today practicing-- with permission, they said, from the arena management.

If it's snow they want, they reportedly won't have long to wait. The National Weather Service has issued a lake effect snow watch from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening for parts of Genesee County, including, potentially, Batavia.

Two more pictures after the jump: