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Driver reportedly seen stopping on Route 33 to hit a child

By Howard B. Owens

Police are looking for a Ford-type SUV vehicle, silver and grey, that may be heading into the city on Route 33, following a report of the vehicle stopping and the driver getting out and hitting a child who had been in the vehicle.

The vehicle has out-of-state plates.

Man on Thruway bridge was allegedly urinating on vehicles

By Billie Owens

A caller reports that a man who was standing on the Thruway bridge allegedly urinating on cars got into a maroon Ford Taurus car and drove to Federal Drive. He's outside the gate of the Federal Detention Center and a Sheriff's deputy is now out with him.

UPDATE 12:44 p.m.: He's in custody.

UPDATE 12:48 p.m.: The suspect lives on Kohlman Street in Rochester and is being charged with public lewdness and urinating in public.

Pickup truck strikes house in Stafford, no injuries or significant damages reported

By Billie Owens

A pickup truck crashed into a house. No one is injured. We didn't catch the address, but think it occurred in Stafford. A Sheriff's deputy is on scene. The house is not badly damaged. They are going to check the inside to make sure it's safe.

UPDATE 11:40 a.m.: Stafford Rescue also responded and is now leaving the scene.

Electrical fire reported in apartment on Ellicott Street

By Howard B. Owens

An electrical fire is reported at 513 Ellicott St., upper, Batavia.

The caller reports black smoke in the living room.

City Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 10:43 p.m.: City fire back in service.

Big fight on Watson and Thorpe in the city

By Billie Owens

About 30 people are fighting on Watson Street, according to a caller to dispatch. City police are now on scene "sorting things out."

On another call, there are a number of black males and females creating a disturbance on the adjoining Thorpe Street. It's unknown if the two incidents are related.

The prime suspect is at 5 Thorpe "and just tried to jump out the window."

UPDATE 8:22 p.m.: A male suspect is running eastbound on the railroad tracks.

UPDATE 8:24 p.m.: "Two people just came out of the woods on the westside of the tracks," says an officer at the scene.

Search under way for missing 15-year-old boy last seen on neon green bike wearing 'Elmo' pants

By Billie Owens

Law enforcement is sending out an All Points Bulletin to be on the lookout for a missing 15-year-old boy from Stafford who has not been seen since late last night.

He is white with blond hair and was last seen on Main Street riding a neon green bicycle and wearing pants with a print of the cartoon character "Elmo" on them.

He's tall -- 6'6" -- and his weight is estimated to be around 190 pounds.

Officers are particularly checking in Batavia and Le Roy, where he has friends.

If you know of his whereabouts, contact the dispatch center at 343-5000 or the Sheriff's office.

UPDATE 2:54 p.m.: The teen has been found and is safe.

Naked man getting a tan next to SUV at manufacturing facility

By Billie Owens

A man is "sunning himself" in the buff next to an SUV in the parking lot of Traco Manufacturing Co. at 4300 Commerce Drive in the Town of Batavia. After receiving a call from a concerned citizen, Sheriff's deputies are responding.

UPDATE 2:25 p.m.: A deputy is out with him and says now "he is clothed."

Search under way for person missing in the woods off Hartshorn Road

By Howard B. Owens

Sheriff's Deputies and State Troopers are on scene in the area of Hartshorn Road searching for a white male who has gone missing in the woods.

The individual is reportedly wearing gray pants, a T-shirt and sneakers.

A K-9 from SP Clarence is in route. A State Police helicopter is also requested to the scene.

UPDATE 1:34 p.m.: K-9 and helicopter cancelled. The subject has come out of the woods and is with law enforcement.

County Democrats announce three candidates for Legislature

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

After an interview process conducted by the Genesee County Democratic Committee three candidates were endorsed for the Genesee County Legislature.

Ed DeJaneiro is a five-term incumbent legislator representing District 9 in the City of Batavia and a former City Councilman. Ed works as a sales consultant for an area distributor. Bill Fava, an Iraq War veteran, Genesee Region Boy Scout leader and former City Councilman, is running in District 8 in the City of Batavia. Political newcomer, Earl Funderburk is the candidate endorsed in District 5 in Le Roy. Earl is an enterprise architect for Hewlett Packard and owns the historic Jell-O factory where he owns and operates a document management company called Upstate Document Management.

The committee is excited about the prospects of a successful campaign with three highly qualified candidates who bring a wealth of leadership in business, service to community and service to country. They look forward to engaging in the issues that effect Genesee County small businesses, working men and women, senior citizens and youth needs, infrastructure and job development as well as other key components of county government.

The committee also continues to accept candidate queries for the other districts in Genesee County. Please contact the Genesee County Committee at geneseedems@gmail.com as soon as possible as balloting time restraints are in place.

Kayaker falls into Black Creek in Bergen, another one carried away by swift water

By Billie Owens

A woman who was kayaking by Black Creek Bridge in Bergen fell into the water but is now out safely and wrapped in a blanket. Medics were called, but later cancelled. The location is near 6377 North Lake Road, east of the bridge crossing.

A companion kayaker is said to be still traveling downstream in a swift current of high water. The Churchville Water Rescue Team is called to try and intercept the second kayaker.

Bergen Fire Department and Sheriff's deputies are on scene.

UPDATE 12:11 p.m.: The second kayaker has a cell phone and they are attempting to call that person.

UPDATE 12:15 p.m.: The second kayaker has been located and she's "all set," choosing to continue paddling in the creek toward Churchville. The Churchville response is cancelled.

UPDATE 12:19 p.m.: Bergen fire is back in service with one sign-off.

Man rescued from the Tonawanda Creek off Walnut Street

By Howard B. Owens

A person was rescued from the Tonawanda Creek at 9:30 a.m. in the area of 63 Walnut St., Batavia.

City Fire Department responded to the call and located a semiconscious man in the water who was being held by a bystander.

The victim was removed from the water by firefighters and transported to UMMC by Mercy EMS.

His name or condition has not yet been released.

Garage in Pavilion destroyed in fire over night

By Howard B. Owens

A garage fire was reported in Pavilion overnight at 6638 Ellicott Street Road.

Pavilion Fire Department along with Bethany, Stafford and Le Roy responded to the 1:50 a.m. alarm.

The garage was destroyed, causing an estimated $20,000 in damage.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

The property is owned by Jason A. Howland.

Photos provided by Joel Murcin.

Photo: A salute to Flag Day

By Howard B. Owens

The grandchildren of Mike Cleveland offer a salute while standing in front of a giant flag he's hung on his garage for Flag Day today.

The girls are Angelina, 6, and Juliana, who is 3 years old today.

The Pok-A-Dot, a Batavia landmark, turns 60 this month

By Howard B. Owens

The Pok-A-Dot turns 60 years old this month and co-owner Phil Pastore couldn't be happier.

Not many restaurants survive 60 years, and fewer still with the same ownership.

"It’s probably one of the greatest things in my life, to own something for 60 years and still be alive to appreciate it," Pastore said.

"We're quite proud," said his wife, Leona, "quite proud."

Pastore said his friend Joe Marone, who ran a concession business, came to him one day while he was working at Masse Harris and suggested they open a hot dog stand at the corner of Ellicott and Liberty streets.

In the 60 years since, the Pok-A-Dot has become a landmark, a throwback to a simpler time of friends and neighbors seeing each other every day and sharing a bite to eat. It was the favorite restaurant of famed author John Gardner and has become a must-visit stop for many politicians on the campaign trail.

It's been featured in international media reports.

And still, it's a place where locals come for coffee and breakfast or a beef-on-weck every day.

"It's the food," Pastore said, explaining the Pok-A-Dot's success. "And it's a very friendly place, a place where you can sit around an eat and talk with people. That's what it's really known for."

The 60th anniversary celebration will be from 5 to 9 p.m., June 22. Musician Bill McDonald and friends will play and many old friends are sure to gather.

Photo: Joe Marone, Joanne Cox, Phil Pastore and Nicole Johnson.

Batavia Downs not terribly hurt by Cuomo's deal with Senecas, but just don't call it a casino

By Howard B. Owens

We're not supposed to call it Batavia Downs Casino anymore, but beyond that, officials are still sorting out what a new compact between New York and the Seneca Nation means for Western Regional OTB.

In exchange for resuming long-overdue payments, at a reduced rate, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has granted the Senecas exclusive rights to casino operations in WNY.

Exactly what "exclusivity" means hasn't been entirely spelled out, said Michael Kane, president of the Western Regional OTB.

Dick Siebert said he's worried the governor has given away Rochester to the Senecas after promising that Batavia Downs would be the only gaming facility in the region.

Dropping "casino" from the name isn't too troubling, nor is the requirement to stop calling video terminal games "slots," and even the loss of electronic table games isn't crippling, but there needs to be some compensation to WROTB for the deal cut with the Senecas.

The Senecas had their taxes reduced, Siebert said, so should Batavia Downs.

"They got what they wanted and we’re just looking for a little relief ourselves since they took the table games away from us," he said.

WROTB is lobbying for a 15-percent reduction in the amount of money it sends to New York, Siebert said.

"We need concessions to be able to provide more for our local counties," Siebert said.

Batavia Downs is undergoing a $27-million renovation downstairs and space was being set aside for electronic table games. That space will just now be used for something else, Siebert said.

"We can survive without them (the table games), that's for sure," Siebert said.

Kane agreed.

"We still think our customers will be very happy with the expansion," Kane said.

Related link: The Buffalo News.

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