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Chicken BBQ on Saturday goes to help Colby family

By Billie Owens

All proceeds from a chicken BBQ on Saturday planned by the Batavia Area Jaycees will go to help the Colby family.

The group's board of directors decided to use the money to help the family of Jonathan Matthew Colby, 37, of Batavia, who died earlier this month in a car accident on West Main Street.

The BBQ is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 30.

Cost for the dinner is $8 pre-sale or $8.50 the day of the event and includes half a chicken, cole slaw, salt potatoes, roll & butter.

Pre-sale tickets are available from 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Jaycee Office located at 31 Batavia City Centre. Or they can be bought at Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, (210 E. Main St.), T-Shirts, Etc., (438 E. Main St.) or by calling 585-343-5775; or by asking any Jaycee for more details.

Dinners can be picked up at Clor’s Meat Market at 4169 W. Main St., Batavia. If you have any questions about the chicken BBQ, contact the Jaycees at 585-343-5775.

Two new events at GCC: Radio DJs reunion and 'Trek the Trail'

By Billie Owens

This information comes from Genesee Community College.

Two unique new opportunities will make Genesee Community College's Batavia campus the place to be on May 6 and 7.

That weekend, there'll be a reunion for WGCC disc jockeys, as well as a community walkathon fundraiser for student scholarships -- "Trek the Trail."

RADIO REUNION

The idea for a Radio Reunion came about at GCC's Homecoming event in October earlier this academic year, said Valerie Bello, instructor of Media Arts and Communication. About 25 WGCC alumni got together and had so much fun on the air together that they wanted to come back in the spring.

"For a lot of these alumni coming back, it's all about how the station represents fun memories for them," Bello said. "When these guys come back, it's like they are kids in a candy store. They are excited to get on the air and tell stories about what they did when they were students here."

Bello said that when a few alumni got to meet up with a few of their former instructors, the conversations made for some great radio time.

The Homecoming Reunion was "a huge hit" in October according to recent Alumni Hall of Fame recipient, Matt Locker. He was an integral part of the success of WGCC when he was a student and continues to work hard to keep in touch with other Communications and Media Arts alumni and support WGCC with in-kind contributions of his time, talent and resources.

Locker prepared an exciting radio-spot to advertise the reunion this spring, saying, "Voices from years gone-by return to the air to reminisce, rekindle and play a wide variety of music – it's an on-air time machine and you're invited to tune in!"

Hear Locker's WGCC ad by going to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOuJWWW0lWc.

All GCC graduates who may be interested in being part of the WGCC Radio Reunion from 1 to 10 p.m. on May 6-7 are asked to e-mail: wgccfm907@gmail.com <http://wgccfm907@gmail.com> with the time slots for preferred airtime that weekend.

Or, tune in to 90.7 FM to hear some college alumni tell colorful stories of "back in the day" when they enjoyed their time at GCC. For WGCCFM's Web site with a listing of the current schedule, shows and DJs go to www.wgcc-fm.com <http://wgccfm907@gmail.com>.

TREK THE TRAIL

Saturday, May 7 marks the debut of another event featuring outdoor fun and festivities for the whole family. The Alumni Trek the Trail offers an exciting opportunity for community members, alumni and/or current students to take a two-mile trek around the Batavia campus while raising funds for future students and programs.

Individuals or teams can sign up for the walkathon to support Genesee Community College Foundation's scholarship fund. Everyone is encouraged to participate -- no matter what their running, walking, hiking or trekking abilities may be. The main objective is to have fun! Come dressed up in innovative themes to celebrate the college with prizes awarded to the best outfitted walkers!

Registration for Trek the Trail begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Theatre Lobby and the walk is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Participants will have the opportunity to check out many hot spots on campus along the designed Cougar Paws Pathway.

Various "Trek Treats" will be given to walkers as they make their way from the Nature Trail, to the new soccer stadium, baseball fields, new lighted tennis courts, College Village and the newly renovated gym.

Trek the Trail winds up on the East side of campus where the enjoyment continues! A lunch featuring hotdogs and hamburgers, with an awards ceremony concluding the event and fundraising festival. Prizes will be given to individuals and teams with the most creative costumes and the most pledges. For the youngest trekkers, Mr. Scribbles will be on hand for additional entertainment.

Alumni Affairs Coordinator Jackie Christenson said it feels great to be able to offer community members a chance to tour the campus themselves and enjoy a festive event that also supports the college.

"I'm excited to offer the alumni, business owners and residents of the community a chance to check out all our new facilities in person, and to bring family, friends or even colleagues in on a fun and casual opportunity," she said. "People will be impressed when they tour the campus and see it with their own eyes."

Registration for Trek the Trail is $15 per person or $50 per team, with no limit on the number of team members.

Individuals who raise $100 or more in pledges will have their registration fee waived, and teams that raise $500 or more in pledges will also have their registration fee waived.

All participants will receive a T-shirt, lunch and "Trek Treats" as part of their registration fee. Details are posted on the GCC Alumni Web site at www.genesee.edu/Alumni.

Sponsorship opportunities for Trek the Trail are still available and can be arranged by contacting Jackie Christenson, Alumni Affairs coordinator, at 343-0055, ext. 6265 or <http://jkchristenson@genesee.edu>.

ATV driver hurt in bad landing at Alexander race track

By Howard B. Owens

An ATV rider suffered a broken leg while riding at an ATV race track on Halstead Road, Alexander, on Saturday.

Michael A. Royce, 22, of 4073 Four Rod Road, East Aurora, was driving the ATV over a jump. When the ATV landed, Royce was ejected and the ATV landed on his right knee.

Royce was transported by ambulance to an area hospital (not identified in the report).

The accident was reported at 7:41 p.m. and was investigated by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

Police Beat: Charges filed after children allegedly left in car at Walmart

By Howard B. Owens

Isaac Emmaneul Simmons, 24, of Ellsworth Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Simmons is accused of leaving a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old in a car outside Walmart with the motor running while he went into the store.

Michael J. Raphael, 22, 4 Noonan Drive, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. At about 1 a.m., Sunday, Batavia Police were notified that a person was in the area of Center Street attempting to fight with others. When police arrived, they were told the person had walked toward the Mancuso Bowling Center. When officers checked the area, they were advised by a witness that Raphael struck a parked car causing damage to the vehicle.

Brad Hilchey, 29, 43 Oak St., Oakfield, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI and moving from lane unsafely. Hilchey was stopped at 1:06 a.m., Saturday, on West Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Frank Klimjack.

Ryan James Sundown, 30, Meadville Road, Basom, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing. Sundown is accused of trying to choke a woman during an altercation at an address on Meadville Road.

Virginia Louise Miller, 46, Colony Run, Attica, is charged with assault 3rd and menacing 2nd. Miller is accused of threatening another person with a knife and of biting that person in the arm.

Robert Paul Leiser, 42, of Lockport Road, Oakfield, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and aggravated harassment, 2nd. Leiser was arrested following an investigation into an alleged incident at 3 a.m., April 20.

Ryan S. Richards, 21, of Medina, is charged with petit larceny. Richards is accused of shoplifting $25.05 worth of merchandise from Kmart. Richards was also cited for alleged fictitious inspection sticker, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, operating without a license, switched plates and unregistered motor vehicle.

Thomas J. Torres, 48, of Albion, is charged with DWI and aggravated DWI. Torres was taken into custody in the Town of Stafford at 10:35 p.m., Saturday, by State Police.

Christopher J. Nacca, 22, of Webster, and Taylor M. Shoemaker, 18, of Williamson, are charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Nacca and Shoemaker were stopped by State Police at 4:10 p.m., Friday, on Route 5 in Pembroke.

Flood watch takes effect at 5 p.m., heavy rain expected this evening and overnight

By Howard B. Owens

Already saturated ground and one-to-two inches of rainfall may produce localized flooding in the region, according to the National Weather Service.

A flood watch is in effect from 5 p.m. through Tuesday morning.

A warm front is moving in from Ohio and Pennsylvania and ahead of it possibly some heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Poorly drained, low-lying areas and areas along larger creeks and rivers are susceptible to flooding.

Photo: Mulching downtown

By Howard B. Owens

City crews were on Main Street, Batavia, this morning, mulching the flower beds.

Photos: Mid-morning in Bethany

By Howard B. Owens

The top two pictures were taken from almost the same spot on Bethany Center Road, Bethany. The bottom photo was taken on Mayne Road.

Photos: Community Easter egg hunt at Centennial Park

By Howard B. Owens

Dozens and dozens of children -- from toddlers on up -- swarmed Centennial Park this morning to gather dozens and dozens of brightly colored Easter eggs.

Sponsored by Batavia Kiwanis, Batavia Police were also on hand -- including Officer Dan Coffey, whose patrol car was almost more popular than the Easter Bunny after the hunt.

More pictures after the jump:

Car strikes parked car at residence on Randall Road

By Howard B. Owens

A car has reportedly gone off the road at 6842 Randall Road, Le Roy, traveling through the yard and striking a parked car.

Unknown injuries.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 4:50 p.m.: Units responding can come in non-emergency. No injuries.


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Woman taken to hospital following rollover accident on Hutton Road

By Howard B. Owens

A woman driving on Hutton Road early this morning lost control of her car and it overturned after striking a utility pole guide wire.

The cause of the accident was not included in the Sheriff's Office report and no citations were issued.

The woman, Hope M. Conibear, of Gibson Street, Oakfield, was conscious and alert when extricated from the vehicle and transported by ground ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Conibear was northbound on Hutton Road at 4 a.m. when her 1994 Chevy sedan crossed into the southbound lane, went off the west shoulder, striking an earthen embankment. The car continued northbound, striking the guide wire and becoming airborne. It landed on its roof on top of an old concrete bridge.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Eric Seppala.

(Initial Report)

Car hits tree on Creek Road in Bethany

By Billie Owens

A car has hit a tree in the area of 9546 Creek Road in Bethany. There are believed to be minor injuries. There was air bag deployment.

Bethany Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

The location is across from Old Creek and Putnam roads.

UPDATE 12:05 p.m.: There is debris all over the roadway. Fire police are shutting the road to traffic.

UPDATE 12:49 p.m.: The driver was transported to UMMC with minor injuries. They are cleaning up the roadway.

UPDATE 1:14 p.m.: The roadway is being reopened to traffic.

Power outages reported in Alabama

By Howard B. Owens

National Grid is dealing with two power outages effecting more than 700 customers in the northwestern part of the county.

One outage covering most of Alabama effects 578 customers and started at 3:58 a.m. Power is expected to be restored by 6 a.m.

The second outage started at 3:51 a.m. in the area of Slusser Road and stretches northwest to the Tonawanda Indian Reservation, taking in all of Ledge Road. It effects 138 customers. Power is expected to be restored by 6 a.m.

Rollover accident on Hutton Road, Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

The initial call reported a female driver either partially ejected from or underneath a vehicle which rolled over in the area of 7178 Hutton Road, Oakfield.

A first responder says there's one person trapped in the car, but appears uninjured. Another person is unaccounted for.

There are power lines down in the area, but power appears to on. National Grid requested to the scene as a precaution.

Oakfield Fire Department responding.

Mercy Flight is not available due to weather.

UPDATE 5:12 a.m.: A second ambulance requested to the scene, but apparently no more Mercy EMS rigs are available, so Medina is requested to the scene.  Mutual aid response from Town of Batavia Fire requested.

UPDATE 5:20 A.M.: Medina's response cancelled.

UPDATE 5:27 a.m.: It sounds like law enforcement thinks the driver has walked away from the accident. A search is in progress.

UPDATE 5:52 a.m.: The trapped person has been extricated. No word on the location of the driver.

UPDATE 6:41 a.m.: The road is reopened.

UPDATE 4:10 p.m.: Based on the accident report, there was only one person in the car, the driver. 


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A Sunday for Sundae

By Brittany Baker

Meet Sundae Rose, a 4-year-old girl who is truly as sweet as her name.

Sundae loves nail polish, coloring, and putting together puzzles that should be too difficult for a girl her age. She also loves her big brother, Jack, and has been known to play "firemen" with him and her other friends as they ride on the back of her wheelchair. Although she's only had the chair for a year, she's an expert driver.

Sundae has Muscular Dystrophy, a disease that weakens the body's muscles. Her mother, Sue Duyssen, recalled how scary the diagnosis process was for her and her family. Sundae was only a year old.

"They narrowed it down to two kinds (of the disease)," she said as her eyes welled up with tears. "If it was one of the two, she wouldn't survive. The other kind, she could stay the same for the rest of her life or even get a little better."

Thankfully, it was discovered to be the latter of the two conditions, and Sundae enjoys her life, family and friends with the help of physical therapy, her wheelchair and a few other gadgets that help her along.

Some of the things Sundae needs to improve her health and quality of life are covered partly by the family's insurance plan -- but other expenses are not.

To defray the costs to the family, a fundraiser will be held in Le Roy called "Jammin' for Sundae." Fittingly, the event falls on Sunday, May 1.

The event starts at 1 p.m. and will be held at The Eagle (9 Main St.) in Le Roy. Tickets cost $20 and include a live show from the Skycoasters, a chicken BBQ dinner and soda. There will be 50/50 raffles and a Chinese auction as well. Tickets can be purchased at Papa John's Eagle, Five Star Bank, Java's on Main and The Hobby Horse in Le Roy.

For more information or to donate to the Chinese auction, contact Sue Duyssen or Kelly Stalica at Batavia Legal Printing, Inc. on Bank Street in Le Roy.

Family of second driver in Wednesday's accident concerned he may never walk again

By Howard B. Owens

Angelo Merica III, the second driver in Wednesday's fatal crash that took the life of 37-year-old Jonathan Colby remains in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Family members are concerned that he may never walk again.

WBTA's Geoff Redick spoke with Merica's uncle, Jamie Merica, who said Angelo -- the father of two young children who recently moved to Batavia from Pavilion -- was planning to get married in July.

Now family members worry that he won't be able to walk down the isle.

"He's going to have a long, tough road ahead of him, for sure," Jamie said.

Though conscious and alert when he was extricated from his car, the 27-year-old Angelo Merica is now in an induced coma.

Possible truck fire at routes 19 and 63

By Billie Owens

A possible truck fire is reported near the juncture of routes 19 and 63. Pavilion Fire Department is responding. Traffic control is requested.

UPDATE 1:36 p.m.: "What we have here is a blown turbo," says a responder. It's been "shut off." They are holding the assignment to one engine, nonemergency mode. But traffic control is still necessary. They are asking for some "speedy dry."

Photos: Tree and plant sale

By Howard B. Owens

The Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District is holding a tree and native plant sale at the fairgrounds today and tomorrow.

Most of the plants were pre-sold, but there are seedlings still available as well as flower seeds, bird feeders and bird houses.

The sale runs until 6 p.m. today and from 8:30 a.m. to noon tomorrow.

Above, George Squires, left, helps Charles Bartlett of Darien with his pine tree order. Below, Cindy Smith arranges some of the native plants that have been sold.

Backyard Bushy Tails

By JIM NIGRO

While there has always been a good number of gray squirrels nearby, this is one of the few fox squirrels I recall seeing near our home. That bushy tail may be one of the reasons behind their name.

About one and a half times the size of a gray, the fox squirrel is North America's largest. Here it's feasting on last year's box elder seeds.

Like the gray and red squirrel, the fox squirrel's color phase may vary from region to region.

Adding to its ample girth.

Smaller than both the fox and gray, the red squirrel, above, seems to be the feistiest of the three, particulary when defending its territory.

Here it's easy to see where the red got its name.   

The entire time I watched, this red seemed preoccupied in one of walnut trees growing along the north border of our property.

Here again, the red tends to a walnut tree. It seemed to concentrate on forks in the tree, perhaps enhancing future buds. Whatever, the red squirrels have established themselves in the area around the six walnut trees that are clustered into a small area. The gray squirrels, meanwhile, have been relegated to the hickory and oak trees back near the creek.

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