A 51-year-old Batavia resident involved in a rollover accident on R. Stephen Hawley Drive yesterday is in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital this morning.

At strong "guarded" means the patient is in the intensive care unit.

The driver of the vehicle was Gerald E. Nicholson. The initial report said Nicholson was trapped under his pickup truck after it rolled over in a cornfield to the east of the roadway. A trooper at the scene said it appeared Nicholson's truck came over the hill, heading north, on Hawley Drive and failed to negotiate the curve and Nicholson may have overcorrected.

Nicholson was transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital.

A first responder said Nicholson was conscious and alert during extrication and sources described his injuries as apparently non-life threatening while he was at the scene.

State Police have not been forthcoming with information about the accident. We don't have the make, model or year of the pickup truck or any information on the status of the investigation.

UPDATE 1:35 p.m.: A State Police sergeant said Nicholson was driving a 2007 Ford F-150. It does appear he came over the hill, lost control and overcorrected. Citations have been issued but the sergeant didn't know the exact charges. The accident is still under investigation but DWI is not suspected. 

Previously: Pickup truck driver taken by Mercy Flight to Strong after rollover accident by the college

At about 6 p.m., Deputy Travis Demuth and Sgt. Andrew Hale were dispatched to 4040 S. Main Street Road, Batavia, the Meadowbrook Golf Course, for a report of a doe stuck in a pond.

It turns out there are several ponds on the property and after checking nearly all of them, Hale was able to clarify that the caller was on the second hole when he reported the stuck doe.

A course manager located the doe and suggested it wasn't stuck but had been left at that location by the doe's mother while mother was feeding. Hale wanted to check the doe's health and started to walk into the pond when the doe bolted. The doe was clearly fine. It ran off into the woods.

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Press release:

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that following his push, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has agreed to administratively provide funding for the work being done nationwide, including the Northeast Center For Occupational Safety And Health For Agriculture, Forestry And Fishing (NEC), on the national tractor rollover protection systems (ROPS) rebate program through the end of FY2019.

Schumer, who has long advocated for the ROPS program, said today’s announcement is welcomed news for thousands of Upstate farmers. Schumer lauded the CDC for funding the ROPS program and said it is a vital program, considering that farm-related deaths are up to 800 percent higher than many other major industries, with tractor overturns being their most frequent cause at a rate of 96 cases per year.

“ROPS is a critical and cost-effective rebate program that provides important information to farmers across the country on how to find and install the right rollover bar for their machinery. The CDC’s decision to provide funding administratively for this lifesaving program is a great first step, but I won’t rest until I know for certain it will still be fully operational for years to come.

"I vow to continue working with the CDC to ensure our agricultural community has every available resource to succeed,” Senator Schumer said.

The ROPS program facilitates rebates in states with state-based funding to farmers to cover approximately 70 percent of the cost for a farmer to install a ROPS roll bar retrofit kit on their tractor. According to Schumer, the original grant funding for this important program was slated to expire in September, but following a major push by Schumer, the program will be funded for at least another year.

“Keeping family farmers and farm workers who operate dangerous machinery safe must be a major priority, especially in Upstate New York, where the agricultural community is our lifeblood. That is why I laud the CDC for restoring funding for this critical farm safety program,” Schumer added. “The work done by organizations like the NEC is exactly the type of work the federal government should be investing in: it’s cost-effective, informed by real industry experts, and helps save farmers’ lives every day.

"Funding this program means that Upstate New York Farmers will have continued access to valuable critical resources including a 1-800 safety hotline number and on the ground experts in rural communities to help farmers access the ROPS Rebate Program, which helps them correctly install rollover bars on their tractors just in case the tractor flips over.

"I’m proud of the role I played in helping secure funding for the ROPS program to plow forward and will be doing everything possible to make sure this program, which puts farmers first, is protected for years to come.”

According to NEC Director, Julie Sorensen, Ph.D., the program has also been considerably cost effective with recent economic assessments pointing to a $5 million savings in NY State due to deaths and injuries averted through the program.

“Before this program, many NY farmers had neither the money nor the time to invest in these crucial lifesaving devices and unfortunately their only viable solution prior to the ROPS program was to routinely put their lives at risk hoping this wouldn’t be their day to die on the job," Sorensen said. "Senator Schumer’s advocacy sends a clear message to farmers -- you are important and valued members of the New York community.”

Schumer said the agricultural community is the lifeblood of Upstate New York, and that protecting the well-being and safety of farmers must be a major priority. In response to the hazardous environment of working on a farm, the Northeast Center For Occupational Safety And Health For Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing launched an effort to create the life-saving ROPS Rebate Program, which covers approximately 70 percent of the cost for a farmer to install a ROPS rollbar kit on their tractor.

In most cases, this means farmers only pay $500 or less for this life-saving equipment that can otherwise cost up to $1,200. NEC also provides information to farmers throughout the country on how to find and install the right rollover bar. Since its inception in 2006, the NEC reports that more than 2,150 tractors have been retrofitted with protective structures in seven states, with more than 1,500 of those retrofits occurring in New York State alone.

Farmers throughout the country benefit from the hotline and administrative support that is provided through CDC funding. Furthermore, Schumer said, participants in New York reported 221 close calls and 19 serious incidents in which death or injury was likely without the protective ROPS structures.

Schumer said now that the CDC has agreed to administratively fund the program, critical outreach and infrastructure surrounding the ROPS program can continue and grow. Schumer lauded the CDC and vowed to do everything possible to ensure that the CDC administratively funds the program now and in the future so that the inroads the ROPS program has made can continue beyond 2020.

Two people were reportedly bitten by a dog on Ellicott Avenue and one of the victims may have a severed thumb as a result.

About 10 minutes ago, city fire, police and Mercy medics responded to 18 Ellicott Ave., lower apartment, for the dog bite complaint. The dog is contained.

UPDATE 5:28 p.m.: An emergency responds says the wounds are superficial and that no one suffered a severed thumb. Police are still inside the apartment investigating the incident.

UPDATE 5:31 p.m.: Police Sgt. Chris Camp said a neighbor's dog escaped from its yard and went into the yard at 18 Ellicott Ave. and a fight broke out between the escaped dog and the resident dog. Two adults tried to break up the dogfight and got bit in the process.

Submitted photos and press release:

St. Joseph Catholic School is proud to announce its graduating class of 2018.

Congratulations to: Cole Ashley, Jayce Ashton, Madalyn Bochicchio, Nathanael Brew, Michael Cianfrini, Aaron English, Gianna Fanara, Nicholas Grover, Cody Henry, Aidan Hume, Camden King, Norman-Vincent March, Colin McCulley, Conner McWilliams, Hope Miceli, Matthew Neal, Amanda Nguyen, Danilee Schneckenburger, Aiden Sisson, Lucia Sprague, Christian Swiercznski, Benjamin Tomaszewski, Jose Torres and Lindsey Weidman.

On June 20, these 24 students along with their families, friends and teachers gathered together at Resurrection Parish (St. Joseph Site) one last time to celebrate mass and receive well deserved awards and scholarships.

Although this is the last time these students will walk the halls of St. Joseph School, this is not the last time they will see each other. Many of these students will be continuing their catholic education at Notre Dame High School.

A stump fire next to a residence is reported at 3975 Rose Road, Batavia. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

The location is between Donahue Road and Route 98.

• July 11
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[Editor's Note: Due to technical diffculties, the site has been down for about an hour and we have been unable to post anything until now.]

Shortly after 1 p.m. a pickup truck rollover accident was reported on Assemblyman R. Stephen Hawley Drive near Batavia Stafford Town Line Road. The driver was pinned underneath the wreakage after being ejected.

Town of Batavia Fire Department responded to the scene along with mutual aid from Stafford Fire Department. State police and Sheriff's deputies were also on scene.

The male driver was reported extricated at 1:32 p.m. and it took medics 20 minutes to stablize him in an ambulance before he could be transported via Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

It appears the gray pickup was northbound on Assemblyman R. Stephen Hawley Drive and when it came over the crest of a hill by the MedTech Center, the driver may have lost control of the vehicle. There are skid marks in the middle of the road in front of the MedTech Center.

The pickup skidded off the roadway, flipped over, ejecting the driver and landing in a cornfield.

State police are investigating the accident.

Photos from the scene will be posted later today.

UPDATE 6 p.m.: The State Police have declined to provide any further information about the accident.

UPDATE 7:15 p.m. : non-life threatening injuries, according to a source.

Two young males reportedly fled Le Roy Dry Cleaners headed toward Main Street on foot after swiping the complainant's electronic cigarette about 10 minutes ago.

The youths are possibly Hispanic, both wearing shorts, and said to be between 8 and 14 years of age.

The dry cleaning business is located at 11 Mill St. Police are responding to the area to look for the boys. The complainant is at the dry cleaners.

The Village of Corfu is digging in its heels when it comes to the county’s demand that it sign a new contract allowing the county to increase rates charged for water.

“We want to make sure as a board we let everyone know what we’re dealing with,” said Mayor Joseph Biggs Johnson at Monday night's village board meeting.

Trustee Al Graham explained to the more than 40 residents who attended that the village has a 40-year contract with the county, with 22 more years to go, guaranteeing a rate of 60 cents per 1,000 gallons of water used.

“Now they want us to do away with that contract and sign another allowing them to charge any amounts the county decides are necessary,” Graham said. “The money collected will be used to provide water to other Genesee County residents, and as we already have a water system in place, we won’t get any benefit from this increase.”

Genesee County said the increase is necessary because they underestimated the demand for water throughout Genesee County and the rate needs to be raised substantially to generate the money to pay for more water.

The Corfu Village Board is further upset by what it considers a threat from the county attorney to take away sales tax from the village, even refusing to maintain water lines if Corfu fails to sign the new contract.

One resident remarked the village was essentially being held hostage.

“We don’t like the words ‘blackmail’ or ‘extortion’ but we’ve been told we can sign or we can lose a big portion of our sales tax, which we use to run our village,” the mayor said.

He said then they would be forced to raise taxes.

Trustee Tom Sargent said other towns had already signed, except Corfu, Darien, Pembroke and the City of Batavia.

Johnson said another thing which upset them was the fact the county couldn’t tell them if the charge would increase past 60 cents, and no plans or improvements were ever discussed with the village before the decisions were made.

Graham said the village board has to investigate legal action.

“But we have to expect if we come in with a lawyer, the county will have 20,” Johnson said.

He said the county justifies the increase by rationalizing in this way: When the entire county has water, it will attract more business and more residents, which will result in more sales tax.

“But will it be enough to offset the extra cost?” Johnson asked.

A lady in the audience said there was no guarantee new businesses would be coming in, when businesses are moving out of New York State and people are leaving.

Another resident asked why areas which still need water couldn’t be charged enough to pay the cost, but the mayor explained the county wanted to be fair and charge the entire county.

When someone asked what the board’s stance was, the reply was, “We won’t sign.”

That was met with rousing applause from the crowd.

“If we would benefit by better water, it would be acceptable to pay more,” Graham said, “but we aren’t going to.”

The board said it has been getting pressure from the county for several months to sign.

Village Attorney David Saleh said taking money from one source as a penalty for another may be legal, but it also may be a breach of Corfu’s existing contract, something he is looking into.

The board urged residents to contact their state and county lawmakers and express their concerns.

The county was invited to send a representative to the meeting, but no one attended.

It was decided to schedule another public hearing on a date which is convenient for someone from the county to attend.

The Muckdogs fell to State College on Monday night at Dwyer Stadium, 3-0.

Bryce Howe worked the first three innings and gave up only one run but took the loss.

Gunnar Schubert, out of Gonzaga University, drafted in the 28th round this year and added to the roster June 25, had two hits, raising his average to .333.

Batavia doesn't play today and travels to Connecticut for a three-game series. They're back home Saturday for a 7:05 p.m. game against Lowell.

Top photo: Michael Donadio stole second base in the fourth inning.

A strike-out, throw-out double play in the fifth inning. The Spikes' Edwin Figuera struck out swinging and Batavia's catcher Igor Baez threw out Nick Dunnwtih second baseman Luke Jarvis taking the throw on a short-hop.

Matt Brooks dives back to first safely in the fifth inning.

Spikes shortstop Delvin Perez.

Update: Oscar is home safe tonight! 
Lost kitty alert: Oscar got out of his Main Street, Le Roy, residence Sunday night. He’s a 3-year-old black male, curious and friendly.

If you find him, please call Trisha at (585) 297-0999‬.

During a visit to Batavia today, Rep. Chris Collins, when asked about debating his challenger for the NY-27 congressional seat called Nate McMurray a "carpetbagger."

McMurray has been using social media and press releases to dog Collins about the incumbent's refusal so far to schedule a candidates' debate.

"Desperate politicians do desperate things," Collins said. "Carpetbagger Nate McMurray, who’s never lived in the 27th Congressional District, who opened his district office in Brian Higgins' district — I’m still trying to figure out why he didn’t run a primary against Brian, since he’s never lived in this district and then had the audacity to open his campaign office not in this district. He lives and works in Higgins district. I don’t know why he’s running in the 27th."

The Batavian contacted Chris Grant, campaign manager for Collins, a couple of weeks ago and offered to host and moderate a debate but we had not received a response. Collins said he was unaware of the offer but that it's too soon to talk about debates anyway.

"That’s a decision to be made in late September into October, when we see where the campaign is, where our campaign is, where his campaign is," Collins said. "It’s certainly not a decision now for July."

In a phone interview this afternoon, McMurray called the "carpetbagger" charge by Collins "ridiculous," noting that Collins didn't live in the district when he first ran and that district lines change every 10 years.

"I'm from here," McMurray said. "I was born and raised in Western New York. He's from North Carolina. I've got a cousin who works at Moon Java. I've got family in Batavia. For him to use this name calling, it's stupid. I could call him a white collar criminal all day but then we could have a debate and have a more insightful conversation."

Collins was in town for a visit at Genesee Community College, where he met with students in the TRiO Upward Bound program, which is college-prep coursework partially funded by the federal government, and then received a tour of the campus by President Jim Sunser.

After lunch at the Pok-A-Dot and a couple of other stops, Collins dropped by Dwyer Stadium to learn from General Manager Dave Chase about the effort to keep minor league baseball alive in Batavia.

A silage fire is reported at 5020 Edgerton Road, Elba.

Elba fire along with Town of Batavia, Byron, and Bergen dispatched.

The fire is not near a residential structure.

UPDATE 5:36 p.m.: Fire units are about to clear.

The Genesee County Sheriff's Office reports that at 2:45 p.m. a black bear was spotted in the area of Putnam Road and Francis Road, Bethany.

Last week a bear was reported around the Village of Attica.

UPDATE 4:52 p.m.: Photo of the bear provided by the Sheriff's Office.

Press release:

The  48^th Annual Genesee County 4-H Market Animal Auction will be held Thursday, July 19, at the Genesee County Fair.

The auction begins at 7 p.m. in the main show ring.

New this year, 4-H members will be selling market chickens and dairy steers.

The auction will feature approximately 28 lots of market chickens, 10 goats, 19 lambs, 29 beef steers, two dairy steers and 44 hogs.

There will be a complementary buyers' dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

Auction supporters will receive buyer’s dinner meal tickets after registering for a buyer’s number.

Special thanks to William Kent and Family for providing 48 years of support of the 4-H Market Animal Auction Program.

For more information, contact the Genesee County 4-H Office at 585-343-3040, ext. 101.