A Hazardous Weather Outlook was issued for today by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo.

It is for Western and North Central New York.

Today and tonight, a few storms will be possible along lake breeze boundaries. There is a marginal risk that these storms will become severe with the primary threat being damaging winds and hail.

Wednesday through Monday, a cold front will near and then cross the Eastern Great Lakes on Wednesday. There is a slight risk of severe storms with the primary threat damaging wind gusts and hail.

An officer is called to the Target parking lot for a report of a dog locked in a Chevy Sonic. "The windows are only down one inch," according to what the dispatcher was told.

The officer on scene reports the air-conditioner is running and the dog appears fine.

But the officer is going inside the store to try and locate the owner.

It's 83 degrees now and overcast, with 55-percent humidity, according to the National Weather Service.

The local unemployment rate hit its lowest level of 2020 so far in April at 5 percent, more than 10 percentage points what it was in the previous April, the worst month locally for the job market during the coronavirus pandemic.  

The 5-percent rate is still a point-and-a-half or so above the 3.6-percent rate of April 2019.

Outside of the 15.9-percent rate of a year ago, the highest rate for an April over the past 31 years was 7.6 percent in 2012.

The Labor Department reports 27,900 people in Genesee County's labor force, which is the aggregate of everybody employed and everybody seeking work. Of those, 26,500 have jobs and 1,400 are looking for jobs.

The March 2021 unemployment rate was 6.1 percent.

The state's unemployment rate is 8.2 percent.

Press release:

As heavily requested, single-game tickets are now available for all 29 home games throughout the 2021 season. The official Muckdogs schedule can be found on the Perfect Game website (pgcbl.com) and on our Facebook page, “Batavia Muckdogs Baseball.”

To purchase tickets, please call (585) 524-2260 to be in attendance and cheer on your Muckdogs at historic Dwyer Stadium!

Season ticket packages are also still available for the 2021 season. For inquiries, make sure to call (607) 734-7825 before our home opener against Elmira on June 4th. Be on the lookout for more Batavia Muckdogs news as the season kicks off in less than two weeks!

Home Schedule

• Friday, June 4th vs Elmira (7:05 p.m.)
• Saturday, June 5th vs Jamestown (7:05 p.m.)
• Monday, June 7th vs Mansfield (7:05 p.m.)
• Tuesday, June 8th vs Elmira (7:05 p.m.)
• Friday, June 11th vs Geneva (7:05 p.m.)
• Sunday, June 13th vs Newark (4:05 p.m.)
• Monday, June 14th vs Elmira (7:05 p.m.)
• Thursday, June 17th vs Niagara (7:05 p.m.)
• Saturday, June 19th vs Jamestown (7:05 p.m.)
• Sunday, June 20th vs Niagara (4:05 p.m.)
• Monday, June 21st vs Elmira (7:05 p.m.)
• Thursday, June 24th vs Geneva (7:05 p.m.)
• Saturday, June 26th vs Elmira (7:05 p.m.)
• Monday, June 28th vs Niagara (7:05 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 1st vs Newark (7:05 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 3rd vs Niagara (7:05 p.m.)
• Sunday, July 4th vs Mansfield (4:05 p.m.)
• Monday, July 5th vs Syracuse (7:05 p.m.)
• Tuesday, July 6th vs Geneva (7:05 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 8th vs Elmira (7:05 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 10th vs Elmira (7:05 p.m.)
• Monday, July 12th vs Niagara (7:05 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 15th vs Jamestown (7:05 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 17th vs Newark (7:05 p.m.)
• Sunday, July 18th vs Elmira (4:05 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 22nd vs Newark (7:05 p.m.)
• Friday, July 23rd vs Jamestown (7:05 p.m.)
• Sunday, July 25th vs Jamestown (4:05 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 29th vs Niagara (7:05 p.m.)

Press release:

Local Primary Election Information, Absentee Deadlines

Early Voting Poll Site, Dates and Times

Local Republican Primaries in Bethany, Byron and Stafford ONLY – There are three local Republican Primary Election contests in the towns of Bethany, Byron and Stafford. There are no countywide contests. Because New York State is a closed Primary state, only registered Republicans, living in those jurisdictions, can vote in these elections.

Registration deadline for the Primary – May 28 is the last day to postmark an application to register to vote and to register in person. Registration forms can be found on our website at many public offices, and by calling (585) 815-7804 and requesting a registration form be sent.

Mail registration forms must be received at Board of Elections by June 2 to be eligible to vote. There is a blackout period for changing Party affiliation prior to these Primary elections; therefore any change will not go into effect until after the Primary.

Absentee Voting for the Primary Election

• June 15 is the last day to postmark, email or fax application for a Primary ballot;
• June 21 is the last day to apply in person for a Primary ballot;
• June 22 is the last day to postmark the ballot;
• It must be received by the Genesee County Board of Elections no later than June 29.

There will be an accessible Ballot Marking Device set up for the disabled at the County Board of Elections, 15 Main St., Batavia, for anyone who wishes to vote absentee from our office.

Early Voting

Early Voting is available for the Republican Primary voters in the towns of Bethany, Byron and Stafford. The Early Voting location is The ARC Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia.

Saturday, June 12        12 – 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 13          12 – 5 p.m.
Monday, June 14          9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday, June 15        12 – 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 16   12 – 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 17         9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday, June 18             9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 19        12 – 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 20          12 – 5 p.m.

Primary Election Day

Tuesday, June 22   --   Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.  

On Monday, the Old Hippies -- Bill and Kay McDonald -- announced a series of four free afternoon concerts in Genesee County this summer.

The Old Hippies, a renowed local band specializing in Americana roots music, will perform the "Home to Home Concert Series: For the Common Good":

• Saturday, July 3 at 1 p.m. in Jackson Square
• Sunday, Aug. 8 at 1 p.m. in Jackson Square
• Sunday, Aug. 22 at 3 p.m. in Elba Town Park
• Sunday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. in Jackson Square​

These dates are in addition to the 7 p.m. Friday concert July 2 in Downtown's Jackson Square.*

There will​ also be live performances by the Ghostriders, Deanna Spiotta and other talented musicians.

Food vendors will be available along with displays from local businesses.

All are welcome to:

• Enjoy the music live and in person. Bring your own chair;
• Listen in on FM radio as they broadcast near the concert venue;
• Interact with livestream over the internet via Facebook from wherever you may be;
• View the recorded concert on YouTube at a time and place you choose.

For updates and info, visit:

• oldhippiesmusic.com​
• Facebook.com/oldhippiesmusic
• or contact Bill McDonald at (585) 250-2269 or email billmcdonald50@gmail.com

​The performances are possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the NYS Council on the Arts, with support from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature, administered by GO ART! They are sponsored by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

*Previously:  Here's the lineup for the free concert series on Friday nights in Jackson Square starting June 25

According to Wikipedia, as of February 2020, the United States was home to 6,652 known disc golf courses – including 130 in New York -- on the official Professional Disc Golf Association course directory.

And more and more are on the way, says Batavia resident Phillip Boyd, who is hoping to persuade City Council to let him and other enthusiasts of the outdoor sport set up a course on a city park.

“Bergen has one and Pembroke has one. There are so many parks in the (Batavia) area where you could fit a nine-hole course,” Boyd said Monday night as he presented his idea at Council’s Conference Meeting at City Hall, “The popularity of the sport is on a huge rise. COVID might have destroyed a lot of things, but it made the popularity of disc golf insane.”

Boyd, 27, (photo above), played soccer, hockey and lacrosse while attending Batavia High School. He said he became hooked on disc golf about three years ago, but wished he would have started much earlier.

“But since then, I’ve fallen in love with the sport. Last year, I put over 100 rounds in just the summer alone. It’s just a great sport,” he said, adding that the walk through the course provides decent exercise.

A former regular golfer, Boyd said disc golf is a “cheaper way to do the same thing.”

He advised Council members that he and his friends could get a course up and running in about three weeks and it wouldn’t cost the city anything.

“At pretty much all of the courses, they go out to different restaurants or stuff to sponsor a hole. They (businesses) will pay the money for the actual basket … and then the people that want to do it will put it in,” he said. “So, pretty much I just need permission at whatever park is possible to install everything – the tee pads and the baskets.”

Boyd said Centennial Park would be the preferred location, noting there is room there for an 18-hole course but he would be satisfied with a nine-hole course.

“A nine-hole would be easier – not as in the way for people walking their dogs,” he said.

He explained that players toss a Frisbee-like disc from the tee area toward the basket (hole), which has chains on it.

“The object is to throw the disc into the chains and have it (disc) fall into the basket. That’s how you make the hole,” he said.

Scoring is similar to regular golf – the least number of throws, the better.

Boyd said that Buffalo and Rochester are putting up several new courses this year.

“They’re going up everywhere.”

City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. suggested that Boyd work with City Manager Rachael Tabelski on the details and that she could report back to Council.

“Maybe that would be something we could consider,” Jankowski said. “I think it is a great idea – present it … and we’ll go from there.”

Boyd said his hope is that the course would be a permanent part of the selected park and offered as another benefit to residents.

The basket with chains serves as a typical "hole" for disc golf.

The Batavia City Council is leaning toward the “let’s try it and if it doesn’t work out, we’ll end it” approach to an offer by Casella Waste Systems of New York to empty the trash receptacles at city parks and downtown at no charge.

Batavian Jeff Pero, Casella’s Batavia Division general manager, previously had reached out to City Manager Rachael Tabelski with the proposal that allows Casella crews to service the parks on a daily basis and downtown on a weekly basis in return for letting the company paint the receptacles (dark blue) and place a sign on them, stating “Serviced by Casella Waste.”

At tonight’s Conference Meeting at City Hall, the board agreed to move a resolution to enter into a contract with Casella to its June 14 Business Meeting for a formal vote. After a brief discussion on the matter, the consensus was to take the business up on its offer and if things don’t proceed as expected, it would use a clause in the pact to terminate it.

Council Member John Canale said he had three concerns with the plan.

“If we allow them to do this and we enter into this agreement … does that mean we’re not asking the citizens then to carry in and carry out? Does this cancel that out?” he asked.

Tabelski said the "carry in, carry out" policy will apply to use of the pavilions at the parks.

“So, when you use a pavilion on the weekends, we’re not doing rentals and we’re not approving overtime of DPW (Department of Public Works) staff or park staff,” she said. “However, we still have garbage cans in the parks around the playground areas and high use areas – which is what they would service.”

Canale that brought up the fact that Casella wants to label the trash cans with the “Serviced by Casella Waste” sign.

“I don’t have a big problem with that, I just don’t want to set a precedent that where other organizations may want to volunteer their services and put up some type of advertisement in the park as well … I don’t want our parks to become a billboard,” he said.

His final issue was what happens if things don’t go as planned.

“If we enter into this agreement and find out that it’s not what we thought it was, do we have a clause in there that we can cancel that agreement at any time?” he asked.

Tabelski said the contract could be cancelled without cause with a 60-day notice and immediately if either party defaulted in any manner.

Council members Rose Mary Christian and Patti Pacino shared that they have received calls from several residents who are against the idea due to poor service from Pero’s former business, Trash Away.

Council Member Paul Viele informed them that Casella is a separate company and that Pero works for the Rutland, Vt.-based enterprise.

“And I think it’s a great idea that they they’re picking it up for free. Thank you,” he said. “If it doesn’t work out, we’ll figure something out.”

Canale agreed to not judge the new company on the past, stating if a problem does arise, Council will address it.

Christian said that she is a Casella customer and said “they’re very reliable.”

Casella’s offer will mirror what is currently being done by DPW staff at the parks and downtown.

Following the meeting, Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. said nothing has been finalized at this point.

“The process is still ongoing and there’s still now a two-week period of time for the public to weigh in,” he said. “It appears that the public has weighed in so far – and talking about the former company and the former concerns they had with the former company. This is not the same thing, It’s a different company now.”

He said that the impression he got from Council’s comments is that the new company should be given a chance.

“It’s not the same company that people are upset with. However, there still is time for the public to weigh in and if they have a concern, contact your Council member. We won’t be voting on it officially until next meeting.”

In other action, Council moved two other resolutions to the Business Meeting next month:

• Using $69,700 from the appropriated parking lot reserve fund to pave the Center Street lot ($50,000), Lions Park lot ($12,500) and Canale lot west of 240 Ellicott St. ($7,200).

“For the record, that (the Canale lot) has nothing to do with me. It’s the old Canale’s bar,” Canale said, drawing a laugh.

When asked if COVID-19 relief funds could be used for this project, Tabelski said it likely wouldn’t happen for this one – “We don’t have all the rules and regulations,” she noted – but said the might be able to appropriate some of that money for future paving projects.

Williams Park is on the city’s paving scheduled for 2022-23.

• Appointing five people to the City Audit Advisory Board through the end of the year. They are citizens Nicholas Harris, Marc Staley and Paul Battaglia, and Council members Bialkowski and Jankowski.

CALLING ALL PARADE PARTICIPANTS

Bialkowski issued a call for veterans groups and others to participate in next Monday’s Memorial Day Parade, which will start at 9:45 a.m. at the Eastown Plaza.

“We’ve sent out a lot of invitations but the RSVPs are very poor so far this year,” he said. “I’ve only got about a dozen back so far.”

He added that the Batavia High School band will be in the parade, with marchers including law enforcement and fire personnel. He said he believes there will be some pipers and is hoping for Mighty St. Joe’s Drum & Bugle Corps to take part as well.

“We have vehicles lined up for veterans who want to ride,” he said.

Bialkowski can be reached at (585) 409-3624 or at bbwski@yahoo.com.

Previously: City Council to consider Casella Waste System's offer to pick up trash from parks, downtown business district

One of the most storied rivalries in Section V hockey could come to an end as soon as next season if the Batavia Ice Devils and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish become a single team.

Team coaches presented the proposal to the Batavia City School District Board of Trustees tonight and the board gave both programs permission to continue exploring the idea of a merger and drafting a five-year agreement for Batavia-Notre Dame hockey teams at the junior varsity and varsity levels.

The concept has already been approved by the Notre Dame Board of Trustees.

Tonight, by consent, the Batavia board authorized the talks to continue between coaches and athletic directors. If a final agreement is reached, a final resolution will be presented to approval for both boards. Section V must also approve the merger.

If approved, it is likely that Marc Staley, who has coached Notre Dame for 21 years, would be the varsity coach of the merged teams. John Kirkwood, 14 years with Batavia, would be the assistant coach. And Brennan Briggs, varsity football coach and a coach with Batavia hockey, would be the JV coach.

"We think we can build a community," Batavia Athletic Director Mike Bromley told the board. "It’s more than Batavia and Notre Dame. It’s a community."

Batavia has been merged with other schools in the county for four years. Those mergers would end if this proposal is approved.

One of the big concerns both for coaches and board members was what happens to the six hockey players who do not attend Batavia High and have been members of the Ice Devils. Those players go to school in Alexander, Elba, Le Roy, Oakfield-Alabama and Pembroke.

Staley and Kirkwood both made assurances that all six players will be "grandfathered" into the Batavia-Notre Dame team and Staley said all six, given their experience and ability, will be integral parts of the merged team for the next season or two. 

"All six players are going to be impactful players at the varsity level," Staley said.

Both Staley and Kirkwood said that their teams have been playing at a disadvantage against larger Monroe County schools, including merged programs, because filling out a complete varsity roster means putting seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-graders on their teams.

That is also a safety issue, Staley said. 

"We just come to the conclusion that relying on seventh- and eighth-graders, and ninth-graders who are ill-prepared, and putting them on the ice, how do we answer this as a board, as adults, as administrators, if a seventh- or eighth-grader gets seriously injured in a hockey game because he’s hit by a kid who six-foot-four, 220?" Staley said. "We’ve got some real questions. Why are we putting these kids here and for what reason?"

Bromley said there are 24 hockey teams in Section V and 12 of them are merged programs. Few if any of those programs are putting players who should be playing JV in varsity uniforms.

The merger would create a JV program that would allow players to develop and become better varsity players.

It might even mean -- if enough kids sign up -- that the schools could have a modified program, creating the same sort of pipeline that Briggs has created with Blue Devils football leading to repeated sectional championships.

For the most part, parents and players have been receptive to the idea, both Staley and Kirkwood said.

There have been parents who have objected to the idea that their kid as a ninth-grader was on varsity and now will likely play JV as a sophomore but Staley said his counterargument is that at least they will get to play.

“To be an eighth-grader or ninth-grader and get to wear your jersey to school on game day and know darn well you’re probably not going to see a shift is a little different than going to school in your jersey knowing ‘I have a JV game. I’m playing tonight,' " Staley said.

Briggs said his JV-playing nephew can't wait for the merger. He's excited, Briggs said. His nephew knows if it happens he is going to get a chance to play every game and that he will play at a level throughout his prep-hockey career that he will compete every season for a championship.

There is an issue a team name. Ice Devils, or perhaps, Irish Devils, won't wash with a Catholic school. Blue Shamrocks or Ice Angels seem like nonstarters, too, but in response to a question from Trustee Shawna Murphy, there probably won't be time to poll the community. That's because the time frame is short for getting Section V approval and ordering new uniforms for both varsity and JV. The team name is a pending question.

Whatever the name, Staley is convinced the community will embrace the new team -- a club that is ready to compete at the varsity level with McQuaid or Victor or Pittsford. 

"We haven’t had that building filled with 500 people all cheering for the same team for 25 years," Staley told the board.

Judge Charles Zambito expressed frustration today -- frustration he and his colleagues on the bench throughout New York share -- that when considering bail for a defendant, he cannot weigh the potential threat the defendant represents to the community. 

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman had just asked that Devon A. Wright be held without bail in the Genesee County Jail citing his recent felony arrest on top of two criminal indictments already pending.

Since Zambito couldn't send Wright to jail or increase his present bail (he is out of jail on bail), the County Court judge ordered the 19-year-old to undergo a mental health evaluation within the next three weeks, not consume drugs or alcohol, stay in his own residence from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (thereby prohibiting him from staying at his girlfriend's house), and avoiding any confrontation with police, who will have blanket permission to search him or his residence at any time.

Since turning 18 in 2019, Wright has been charged with crimes ranging from larceny and assault to sexual misconduct.

In the past 20 months, Batavia PD has reported the following arrests:

• In Nov. 2019, Wright was accused of violating an order of protection and charged with criminal contempt.
• Later that month, Wright was charged with larceny, harassment, and endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly stealing money from a person less than 17 years old while in City Centre.
• In March 2020, Wright allegedly caused a disturbance at the Sunoco Gas Station on West Main Street in Batavia and was charged with burglary, assault, and criminal mischief.
• The next month, Wright was accused of running down a person on Highland Park in Batavia while driving a silver sedan. He then allegedly fled the scene on foot. When taken into custody, he allegedly resisted arrest and damaged property at the police station. He was charged with attempted assault, 1st; resisting arrest; obstructing governmental administration, 2nd; criminal mischief, 4th; criminal nuisance, 2nd; and harassment, 2nd. Wright answered to the charges in City Court and bail was set at $10,000 cash, $20,000 bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond. It's unclear if he posted bond or bail but he was released from custody.
• In May 2020, Wright was accused of sexual conduct with a person less than 15 years old and charged with two counts of criminal sexual act in the second degree and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
• In July 2020, Wright was arrested on a pair of warrants, one for alleged failure to pay a fine, the other for an alleged failure to appear in court.
• Wright's most recent arrest came earlier this month. Wright was arrested on a Batavia City Court Warrant and charged with second-degree menacing, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and second-degree harassment. He allegedly threatened several individuals in a vehicle with a weapon.

It's the most recent arrest that prompted Friedman to ask Zambito to order Wright held without bail.

Friedman said that he was more concerned about Wright's willingness to make future court appearances given his growing list of unresolved criminal charges.

Attorney Nathan Pace, recently assigned to represent him after Wright's previous attorney resigned from the case, argued that there was no reason to doubt Wright won't make future court appearances since he has made recent court appearances. Pace said he represented Wright in other matters two years ago and the defendant made his appearances then. He also said he and his client dispute the facts of the recent arrest. He also said Wright will become a father in a few months and is looking forward to the baby's birth and that he will start a job at a Batavia gas station on Monday.

"I believe he will continue to appear in court," Pace said.

Friedman countered that it is meaningless that the defendant denied wrongdoing in the new cases. That's what defendants do at this stage of proceedings. Friedman said it was more relevant that Wright is accused of resisting arrest and fighting with police officers. 

Zambito opened his remarks by saying it was difficult to agree with the desire of Pace to keep his client out of jail, but that New York law limited what he could do to hold Wright in custody. 

"It's impossible under the current bail reform laws," Zambito said. "It seems Wright is a clear and present danger to the community as long as he is out and he continues to get arrested. 

But, Zambito added, "the law doesn't allow a judge to consider community safety when setting bail. I'm frustrated. I think every judge in New York State is frustrated."

He said he was going to order a mental health evaluation and Pace agreed that is a good idea. 

"As his previous attorney said, 'something is not right in his head,' " Pace told Zambito.

As Zambito issued his order, Pace emphasized to Wright that he can't go out of the door of his house after 9 p.m. and before 6 a.m. and that he must cooperate with police when he encounters them, even when they show up to search his house. 

Zambito added, "they're going to show up at your house and you can't fight with them, you can't resist them."

Wright is also not allowed to leave Genesee County while his cases are pending.

Press release:

​Assemblyman Steve Hawley has written a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker slamming new guidelines published by the administration’s Department of Health that mandates the wearing of masks, for periods of up to several hours, for children as young as 2 in childcare and summer camp facilities.

Some local health officials have stated that childcare centers or summer camps that are found to be in violation of this guidance could pay up to $1,500 per day per child in fines.

“To think that these guidelines are needed this year following our historic vaccination effort, when they weren’t needed last year before anybody had immunity, is just absurd. Almost as absurd as the idea a 2-year old will calmly keep a mask on their face for hours at a time,” Hawley said.

“This mandate is not needed to protect public health, and only serves to jeopardize the operations of summer camps and childcare centers alike. I hope to see it swiftly rescinded.”

Here's the Letter

A downed wire that was sparking has caused a grass fire at 8076 Batavia Stafford Town Line Road. Flames are showing. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. The location is between the dead end and College Village.

National Grid has been notified; no ETA.

Traffic will be stopped on the roadway in order to extinguish the blaze.

Ermonie R. Schichler, 18, of State Street, Batavia, was arrested at 10:40 a.m. on May 17 and charged with disseminating indecent material to a minor in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a minor. It is alleged that she sent sexually explicit photos to a minor over a period of time. She was arraigned via Skype in Batavia City Court, then released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court later this afternoon (May 24).

Daniel J. DiFransecso, 39, of Libarty Street, Batavia was arrested at 5:48 p.m. May 9 and charged with second-degree harassment. It is alleged that on that day he verbally threatened to kill a person while banging on their window with a hockey stick. He was issued an appearance ticket for May 18 in Batavia City Court.

Robert Wood, 30, was arrested by Batavia Police Officer Peter Post at 3:45 p.m. May 19 in the City of Batavia (no address provided) and charged with first-degree criminal contempt. It is alleged that he had contact with a female who has an active stay away order of protection against him. Wood was arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed without bail. He was due to return May 20.

Darren Ayrhart, 52, of North Main Street, Albion, was arrested at 8:45 p.m. May 19 and charged with first-degree criminal contempt and second-degree burglary. It is alleged that he violated a stay away order of protection against him after a domestic incident on Dellinger Avenue in the City of Batavia. He was put in jail; no bail status provided. Ayrhart is due in city court on May 27.

Justin Thagard, 32, was arrested at 12:54 a.m. May 11 for violating a court order of protection by being in the presence of the protected party -- he was allegedy found inside their vehicle during a traffic stop in the City of Batavia. Thagard was arraigned in Batavia City Court then put in jail on $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond or $10,000 partially secured bond.

Eladio A. Wattles, 23, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, was arrested at 5:10 p.m. May 16 and charged with second-degree criminal contempt. It is alleged that he violated an order of protection by sitting inside a vehicle with the protected party. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court then released under supervision of Genesee Justice. He is due back in court June 24.

Adam T. Shipwash, 41, of West Main Street, Batavia, was arrested at on May 19 on a warrant out of Batavia City Court and charged with petit larceny. It is alleged that at 9 p.m. April 8 Shipwash stole money from a person on West Main Street. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court then released on his own recognizance. He is due to return to court June 17.

Michael L. Jackson Jr., 40, of East Main Street, Batavia, was arrested at 1:36 p.m. on East Main Street and charged with petit larceny. It is alleged that Jackson stole merchandise from a grocery store and was still present in the store's parking lot when a Batavia police officer arrived. He was taken into custody without incident then released on an appearance ticket for May 25 in Batavia City Court.

A two-car accident with no injuries that is blocking traffic is reported at Center and Main streets in Downtown Batavia. City fire and police are responding.

Press release from AAA: 

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.04, down one cent from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $1.96. The New York State average is $3.07 – up one cent from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.18. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $3 (up 4 cents since last week)
• Buffalo- - $3 (up 4 cents since last week)
• Ithaca -- $3 (up 2 cents since last week)
• Rochester -- $3.02 (up 3 cents since last week)
• Rome -- $3.09 (up 2 cents since last week)
• Syracuse -- $3.03 (up 3 cents since last week)
• Watertown -- $3.12 (up 5 cents since last week)

*Note: for the markets that just hit $3 a gallon – prices were rounded up – Batavia is $2.996, Buffalo is $2.999, Ithaca is $2.995

After a week of pump price spikes, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is holding steady at $3.04 after a ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline that halted its operations and severely constrained the delivery of gasoline along the East Coast and Southeast.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), demand is up while supply is down slightly. With the gasoline distribution system continuing to recover from the attack and grappling with a shortage of gasoline tanker drivers, higher refinery utilization rates will ensure refined products, including gasoline, continue to flow where they are most needed.

Prices may fluctuate this week as we approach Memorial Day weekend. Drivers should fill up now as prices may increase slightly with holiday demand.

From GasBuddy:

"In the lead up to Memorial Day, we haven't seen gas prices come down much, though with oil's recent move lower, we should start to see more drops at the pump materialize in the days ahead," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

"With the Colonial Pipeline situation continuing to improve in Southeastern states, fueling up for the holiday weekend shouldn't be too challenging, save for a few pockets in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, where outages remain a bit higher than neighboring states.

"For those hitting the road, we should see prices inch lower in the coming week through at least Memorial Day, so motorists need not rush to fill their tanks as the drop in oil prices should manifest into lower gas prices as we begin the summer driving season."

The lineup for the Downtown Batavia 2021 Concert Series in Jackson Square is set for Friday evenings from 7 to 9 starting June 25. Admission is free.

Here are the entertainers:

• June 25 -- Penny Whiskey
• July 2 -- Old Hippies
• July 9 -- Skycats
• July 16 -- The Don Newcomb Band
• July 23 -- Ghost Riders
• July 30 -- Tommy Geraci's Rio Bravo
• Aug. 6 -- DSP Jazz Trio
• Aug. 13 -- Bluesway Band
• Aug. 20 -- Mitty & The Followers
• Aug. 27 -- Red Creek

Press release:

The Genesee County STOP-DWI coordinator announced today that Genesee County police agencies, including the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of Le Roy Police Department, will participate in special efforts to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.

The statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign will start on Friday, May 28^th and will end on Tuesday, June 1st.

Memorial Day is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year and marks the official start of summer.

New York State Police, County Sheriffs, municipal law enforcement agencies and local STOP-DWI Programs will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of impaired driving-related injuries and deaths.

The STOP-DWI Memorial Day Weekend High Visibility Engagement Campaignis one of many statewide initiatives promoted by STOP-DWI NY and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

The Statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign also targets the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Holiday Season, Super Bowl weekend and St. Patrick’s Day.

Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

You can help to make a difference by Having a Sober Plan! Download our mobile app – “Have a Plan” and you will always be able to find a safe ride home -- www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp.

Impaired driving is completely preventable. All it takes is a little planning.

A possible school bus accident with a person down in the parking lot is reported at Batavia High School. City fire and Mercy medics are responding to 260 State St.

UPDATE 9:28 a.m.: A first responder says this is NOT a school bus accident; it's strictly a medical issue. He said he believes a school bus driver was the reporting party.