The roof on the Kwik Fill at Jackson and Ellicott streets, Batavia, was peeled right off by strong winds this morning.

The incident was reported at 6:23 a.m.

City fire responded.

An electrical line was arcing so National Grid was called in to shut off power.

There is a wind advisory in place until 6 p.m 

The wind may hamper search efforts for the missing man in Darien.  It's possible that any aircraft that could be used to assist in the search will be grounded due to high winds.

Scattered snow showers are expected throughout the day.

The search for a man reported missing in Darien has been scaled back for the night and will resume at 8:30 a.m.

The 73-year-old man was reported missing late Friday afternoon. His ATV was found in a creek behind My Saloon of Route 20 near Harper Road.

Water rescue teams from Alden and East Pembroke fire departments participated in the search and will return in the morning.

Darien fire along with Alexander and Corfu fire departments are participating in the search.

Overnight, a smaller search team will remain in the area, periodically checking the creek, according to Tim Yeager, emergency management coordinator.

The Office of Emergency Services along with State Police and the Sheriff's Office are also taking part in the operation.

(Initial Report)

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A person reportedly suffered a neck injury after a vehicle struck a deer at Route 19 and Pavilion Center Road.

Pavilion Fire Department is responding. A Monroe County ambulance was transporting a patient back to Monroe County and stopped at the accident scene, dispatch informed Pavilion.

The smell of smoke is reported inside a residence at 8409 Indian Falls Road in Indian Falls. The basement of the home is flooded, too.

Oakfield, East Pembroke and Pembroke fire units are called.

UPDATE 8:03 p.m.: Assignment back in service.

Firefighters are responding to an area near the juncture of routes 20 and 238 for a missing 73-year-old man. He has gone unaccounted for for five hours.

All Darien fire crews and medical personnel are called to the scene. Alexander fire is standing by in its quarters. Alexander, East Pembroke and Alden are also participating in the operations, along with Mercy EMS.

The area is near a creek and the East Pembroke Water Rescue Team is deployed. Fire police are rerouting traffic. A helicopter is also deployed. The man's cell phone was called but it's not on, or not working, and therefore not trackable. They are going to contact the phone company to determine the last known location of phone service.

UPDATE 7:33 p.m.: A responder on scene says "They are sending a generator and lights to the area of the ATV." Also, several ATV riders are searching the area, too.

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: Bethany requested to fill in at Alexander's hall.

A fully involved car fire is reported on Route 77 in front of the Econo Lodge. That's located at 8493 Alleghany Road in Corfu.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire are responding.

UPDATE 5:52 p.m.: The driver is out of the vehicle and is OK.

Yesterday, in our story on the scuffle at the DSS office, we identified the suspect as Steven Joseph. His correct name is Steven Joseph Mancuso-Haitz.

We also said he was a resident of a complex called Mancuso Heights in Stafford.

It is unlikely there is a development in Stafford called Mancuso Heights, or even in the Town of Batavia, as one of our readers suggested this morning.

Mancuso-Haitz is apparently homeless and had only recently arrived in Batavia on a bus from Florida.

I'd feel a lot worse about this, but the Batavia Daily News reporter misunderstood the information in the same way I did.

I ran into one of the deputies from the scene at the courthouse this afternoon and as we discussed the confusion, it was clear how it came about. We all, I'm sure, regret the error.

Here's a news release from Genesee Community College.

Genesee Community College’s Batavia Campus will come alive with the sounds of rhythm and blues music and the flavors of delicious Cajun fare at the Batavia-bayou Cross-cultural Connection on Saturday.

This culturally diverse event will present and explore Louisiana’s struggle to rebound from Hurricane Katrina and the devastating oil spill. The full-day event features live music by the Frank Mayo Band, educational guest speakers and discussions, a documentary film by Genesee students, a Taste of New Orleans and much more.

Saturday’s events begin at 8:30 a.m. with a full day of presentations and question-and-answer sessions with various guest speakers. A welcome and documentary film presentation by GCC students will start the daylong events.

Guest speakers throughout the day include: Diane Huhn of the Bayou Grace Community Services of New Orleans, who'll make a presentation on wetlands conservation after the Gulf oil spill; Pete Nunually of the Episcopal Community Services of Louisiana who'll talk about on the rebuilding and volunteer efforts; and Captain Wendy Billiot, former oil and gas industry employee, who will speak about the threat to the region’s wetlands and the poisoned landscaped after Katrina.

Saturday will also feature dinner with New Orleans-style food samplings, a photography exhibit by Genesee students who traveled to New Orleans for Alternative Spring Break, and Zydeco dance exhibitions and lessons. Highlighting the evening will be a concert by the Frank Mayo band and a Café du Monde dessert station.

"I am amazed at the resiliency of the people of New Orleans who have come together to help rebuild the region,” said Lori Mould, president of Genesee’s PTK chapter and student trustee.

“This event will highlight the rebuilding efforts and bring to light the issues the city is still dealing with years after Katrina and the BP oil spill. This cultural event should also uncover the amazing cultural gems the city of New Orleans holds."

Mould, a Multimedia and Fine Arts major, has traveled to the New Orleans area about a dozen times over the last year and a half. Her efforts have brought other Genesee students to the bayou region and helped make this event possible.

Proceeds from this event will support Genesee students’ Alternative Spring Break 2011 in New Orleans, Episcopal Community Services of Louisiana and Bayou Grace Community Services.

Tickets for Saturday’s events are $20 general, $15 seniors, and $10 students with valid ID. For tickets, contact the Box Office at 343-0055, ext. 6814, or purchase at the campus.

Adam R. Kopp is indicted on charges of burglary, 2nd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 5th, and petit larceny. Kopp is accused of entering a residence on Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, on Jan. 12, with the intent of committing crimes once inside. On that date, he is accused of possessing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. He is accused of stealing on that date hydrocodone and acetaminophen tablets.

Shawn R. Hugar is indicted on charges of DWI as a misdemeanor, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and aggravated DWI ("Leandra's Law"). Hugar is accused of driving drunk on Aug. 23 in the Town of Darien while a child less than 15 years old was in the vehicle.

Lynn A. Hertweck is indicted on charges of DWI as a felony and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater as a felony. Hertweck is accused of driving drunk on Oct. 3 on Route 19, Town of Bergen.

Dustin M. Locicero, 26, formerly of 16 Gibson St., Bergen, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 4th, and four counts of identity theft. Locicero, currently an inmate at the Elmira Correctional Facility, is accused of possessing a stolen credit card at the Wilson Farms store, 8132 Buffalo Road, Bergen, on March 18, and allegedly using it to make three separate ATM withdrawls and one merchandise purchase. The investigation was conducted by Deputy Dana Richardson and Investigator Timothy Weis.

Stephen John Farrell, 44, of the Bare Hill Correctional Facility, Malone, is charged with burglary, 3rd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Farrell is accused of using force to enter a Bergen business during the early morning hours of Feb. 11. The entry door was damaged. Farrell was arraigned in Genesee County Court and bail was set at $10,000.

Cody James Sundown, 20, of Sailles Plank Road, Irving, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Sundown was arrested on a bench warrant out of Town of Pembroke Court. Sundown is accused of damaging another person's vehicle on Nov. 27.

Matthew Scott Williams, 23, of 21 Maple St., upper, Batavia, is charged with a violation of probation. Williams was taken into custody at 7:47 p.m., Thursday. Williams was wanted on a bench warrant out of Town of Elba Court. He was jailed on $5,000 bail. (For previous arrest reports on Williams, click here.)

A futon caught on fire this morning at 29 Tracy Ave., but the apartment was not damaged.

The initial alarm came in around 10 a.m. and city firefighters responded.

Firefighters found the futon outside the apartment, where the resident had dragged it.

According to Lt. Jay Steinbrenner, the resident was apparently smoking on the futon when he fell asleep. When he woke up, he tried putting the fire out himself. He apparently tried a few times, according ot Steinbrenner.

"This apparently went on for an hour and a half," Steinbrenner said.

When the futon flamed up pretty good, the resident dragged it outside and called 9-1-1.

It's 50 degrees, the skies are clear, the sun is out -- yeah, sure, it's windy, but surely this is a sign of early spring, right?

Don't get your hopes up.

By 9 p.m., temperatures are expected to dip to 36 degrees, and it will be below freezing by 10 a.m.

There's a 50-percent chance of snow over night.

The the next 10-day forecast shows nothing much above 30 degrees.

BTW: There's also a wind advisory in effect until 6 p.m. Winds will be 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 55 mph.

It's an auspicious time for Terry Anderson to return to Batavia to dedicate a peace garden.

Anderson, who grew up in Batavia, was chief Middle East correspondent for Associated Press when he was abducted on March 16, 1985, in Beirut following a game of tennis. Anderson was held in captivity by Hezbollah for six years and nine months.

As Anderson returns to his boyhood home, the Middle East is exploding in a way it never has before. Governments in Tunisia and Egypt have been toppled by pro-democracy demonstrators. Even the Iranian government, which backs Hezbollah, is facing youthful opposition.

Anderson is cautiously optimistic about what he sees happening.

"I watched Yasser Arafat and Isaac Rabin shake hands on the White House lawn," Anderson said tonight during a meet-and-greet at Batavia Downs. "It was one of the most optimistic days of my life, because I covered that conflict for years, and (look at) what has happened since.

"It doesn’t always turn out for the best. But yes, I see something new in the Middle East. I see something that promises something hopeful for the future."

One of America's most acclaimed and recognized journalists, Anderson was invited to return to his former hometown to help raise funds for a War of 1812 Peace Garden planned for a plot of land adjacent to the Holland Land Office Museum.

Anderson will have a busy day Friday, starting with an 8 a.m. visit to Batavia High School. He will also have lunch with GCC President Stuart Steiner followed by a public lecture at noon at GCC. At 2 p.m., there will be a press conference with Anderson at the Genesee County History Office, 7 W. Main St., and at 5 p.m., the main event -- a dinner at Terry Hills ($25 per person), where Anderson will be the featured speaker.

Thursday night, Anderson arrived at Batavia Downs shortly after 7 p.m. and he was warmly greeted by a few old friends as well as people involved in organizing the peace garden effort. Anderson also took a few minutes to talk with members of the media who where there.

Anderson -- who recently finished a teaching stint at the University of Kentucky and is now contemplating a return to residency in Upstate New York -- was animated as soon as the topic turned to the turmoil in the Middle East.

He recalled that he was in captivity when Marcos fell in the Philippines, and that was followed by the regime falling in South Africa and then, of course, the toppling of the Berlin Wall and the fall of the Soviet Union.

"It just proves again what we knew then – you can have all of the police and secret police and guns and thugs in the world, and when your people stand up and say, ‘no, we’re tired of you,’ you’re gone," Anderson said.

He added, "Every country is different, but there is something going around that they all seem to have in common: They are tired of dictators and corruption and denial of human rights."

A Vietnam veteran, Anderson said that as a 19-year-old Marine, he visited the most famous peace garden in the world, the one at ground zero in Hiroshima, Japan. So when he was invited to return to Batavia to help bring about a new peace garden he thought, "who's not in favor of peace?

"Why would I miss a chance to dedicate a peace garden? It may be on a smaller scale, but why wouldn't I support it?"

Photo: Jim Owen gets an autograph from Terry Anderson on one of his books.

A public hearing has been set with the Town of Batavia Planning Board to discuss a proposed change to the location of Oil Doctor, 4003 W. Main St. Road, Batavia.

Owner Ben Thompson has requested permission to convert a portion of the existing building to an area for motorcycle sales.

The hearing will be at 7:30 p.m., March 1, at town hall, 3833 W. Main St. Road, Batavia.

A copy of the application is available at town hall for review.

Construction has begun on a $2 million project to add an indoor water park to the Clarion Hotel on Park Road, Batavia.

Owner Chan Patel (above) said he is looking forward providing year-round recreation to the region. He expects to draw customs from Buffalo and Rochester, not just Genesee County.

"We have a big staff," Patel said. "Even in the winter, we have 60 people on staff. During the summer there's plenty of work, but in the winter I have to cut down their hours. It's not fair because they have to support their families, too."

The 12,000-square-foot facility -- Palm Island Indoor Water Park -- includes a 197-foot and a 169-foot water slide, a pool equipped with basketball hoops, a spa, a play lagoon with waterfalls, small slides and dumping buckets, as well as birthday party rooms, a food and beverage concession and an arcade room with 15 games.

Patel said he planned the park so that there would be activities that would appeal to all ages.

"This will bring more business into town," Patel said. "It will be a benefit to the whole community."

He's even partnering, he said, with local businesses to help ensure his guests patronize those businesses.

He's also using local or regional contractors. The design was completed by Smart Design, of Batavia. Whitney East, of Rochester, is the general contractor, and Batavia's Arctic Refrigeration is handling all of the mechanical work.

The project received tax abatements from the Genesee County Economic Development Center worth about $91,600. That includes partial abatement of property taxes for 10 years worth $18,800, a mortgage-tax abatement worth $12,800, and exemption from sales tax on materials for construction of the park worth $60,000.

GCEDC estimates the $91,600 in tax abatement will have more than a $5 million multiplier-effect benefit for the local economy.

A chimney fire has been reported at 9565 Colby Road, Corfu.

Darien Fire Department along with a tanker from Alexander and Corfu fire have been dispatched.

UPDATE 5:03 p.m.: Power has been shut off to the residence. Pembroke fire requested to fill in at Corfu's hall.

UPDATE 5:13 p.m.: Fire appears contained to the chimney.

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A 26-year-old Stafford man apparently had a bad day at the Department of Social Services office and when a security guard told him it was time to leave, he didn't immediately comply.

"The situation became verbal and then it became physical," said Trooper Mark Catanzaro.

The initial 9-1-1 call for assistance came into the Emergency Dispatch Center at 11:14 a.m.

Taken into custody and facing a possible harassment, 2nd, charge is Steven Joseph, who listed an address in Mancuso Heights, off Seven Springs Road, Stafford.

The security guard was checked by Mercy EMS as a precaution, but was not injured, though his jacket was torn.

Joseph did not appear injured either. 

Catanzaro said Joseph was at DSS seeking services, but "it wasn't going well." He became agitated and the security guard suggested he leave and come back another day.

During the confrontation, the guard wrestled Joseph to the ground and held him there until law enforcement arrived.

Catanzaro was first on scene. A city police officer and Sheriff's deputy arrived on scene seconds later.

UPDATE: A reader sent an e-mail saying that Mancuso Heights is actually in the Town of Batavia.

I spent most of the afternoon in Le Roy looking for news. I came up blank, but as the sun started to set, I took some back roads home to Batavia. This was shot on Smith Road, Pavilion Bethany.