Brad C. Doward, of 10 Hall St., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt in the first degree, endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment, 2nd. The 22-year-old was involved in a domestic incident Aug. 3 on Prune Street wherein he allegedly pushed a female acquaintance in the presence of a 10-year-old child. There's an order of protection in place directing the defendant to refrain himself from harassment against this female. He turned himself into the Batavia PD on Aug. 5, was arraigned and put in jail without bail pending his court appearance today at 1:30 p.m. The investigating officers were Frank Klimjack and Jason Ivison.

I'll be out of service most of the morning, at a minimum, for routine medical reasons.

Billie will post some items later.

Of course, Billie will monitor the scanner, as usual.

New York Times: To Increase Learning Time, Some Schools Add Days to Academic Year

Press release:

Genesee ARC and the City Youth Bureau Parks program teamed up this summer to offer educational tours at ARC’s new Trash & Recycling facility, 3785 W. Main St. Road.

Children from all five city parks program sites signed up to learn about the city’s recycling efforts and how items are reduced, reused and recycled.  ARC Trash & Recycling Coordinator Mike Smith shared information about recycling seven different types of plastic, as well as tin cans, paper and the number one product recycled at the new facility, cardboard.

A new initiative called e-recycling was showcased during the tour, explaining the NYS law requiring recycling of electronics such as a computers, televisions, cell phones and electronic games.

(Photo: Mike Smith and a group from the Williams Park recreation program in front of piles of baled tin cans).

A one-car rollover accident with four occupants still inside is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 393.7. Unknown injuries. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:33 p.m.: The vehicle landed on its roof and it's actually on the shoulder of Harloff Road. One person remains trapped inside. There are multiple cars pulled over near the accident scene.

UPDATE 7:36 p.m.: Two adults and two infants were in the car, with one adult still inside. A second ambulance is called along with traffic control.

UPDATE 7:51 p.m.: The driver is being transported to Erie County Medical Center.

UPDATE 8:01 p.m.: The babies are being transported to Women's & Children's Hospital in Buffalo.

UPDATE 8:07 p.m.: East Pembroke is back in service.

Elba crowned its 2012 Onion Queen on Saturday evening and she is Jamie Marshall (blue dress). First runner-up is Makenzie Bezon, left, and second runner-up is Paige Pangrazio.

If you're unable to view the slide show below, click here. To purchase prints of these photos, click here.

Amy Swanson, assistant director for Crossroads House, sent along a couple of pictures from yesterday's Run the Roads for Crossroads House 5K. She said it was a "wonderful day" for a run. A total of 211 people turned out for the event. Collin Mulcahy finished first to win the Overall Male with a time of 17:19; Liz Valento was the Overall Female winner with a time of 20:35.

The complete results can be found at www.crossroadshouse5k.com.

Swanson wrote:

All proceeds raised today help support the mission of Crossroads House in providing comfort care to the dying. Individuals with three months or less to live can stay at Crossroads House completely for free where our volunteers and nurses take care of physical, emotional and medical needs.

We accept residents from not only Genesee County, but also Wyoming county as well. All of our funding comes from in-kind donations, memorials and community support like we experienced today! Along with the runners and walkers who turned out today, more than 50 area business sponsored this event!

The National Weather Service issued this weather alert:

AT 1 PM A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS ADVANCING INTO THE REGION FROM THE WEST. NORTHERN ERIE AND NIAGARA COUNTIES WILL SEE THE ACTIVITY BEGINNING THERE BY 130 PM, WITH AREAS FARTHER EAST BY 230 PM. MANY OF THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH, SMALL HAIL, FREQUENT LIGHTNING, AND TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS CAPABLE OF CREATING PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND LOW LYING AREAS. ANY OF THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE DURING THE AFTERNOON.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: Dispatcher: "We've got a report that the viaduct may be flooding."

UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: Route 5 through Le Roy is closed becuase the viaduct is flooded.

UPDATE 2:17 p.m.: Le Roy fire requesting all available manpower to the fire hall for standby.

UPDATE 2:19 p.m.: Cedar Street underpass is flooding.

UPDATE 2:21 p.m.: Our newly installed rain gauge has measured just over a half inch of rain in the past hour. What's your's showing? If you have weather related photos to share: Send them to howard at the batavian dot com (properly format the email address, of course). Flooding is reported at Maltby and Route 63. A basement is flooded at 38 Myrtle St., Le Roy. It may be a foundation problem, so pumping it out may not be an option. A roadblock is requested on Gilbert Street, Le Roy.

UPDATE 2:26 p.m.: About 138 National Grid customers are without power in the area of Randall Road, Stafford. ETA for power restoration is 5 p.m. City fire has received a general fire alarm at the Dollar Tree store. 

UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: Four inches of water is reported on Pratt Road. The Dollar Tree has a flooding problem, which probably set off the fire alarm. Also, the NWS has issued a severe thunderstorm warning:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... SOUTHEASTERN GENESEE COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK NORTH CENTRAL LIVINGSTON COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK NORTHEASTERN WYOMING COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK

* UNTIL 3:00 PM EDT

* AT 2:24 PM EDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PAVILION... OR 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BATAVIA... AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE... WYOMING... PAVILION... YORK... AVON... GENESEO...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7:00 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN NEW YORK.

UPDATE 2:34 p.m.: Ellicott Street is flooded and a vehicle is disabled, though the occupant is out of the vehcile. Ross Street between North and Ellsworth is covered in water. A pool is flooding into a basement on Ellicott Street.

UPDATE 2:53 p.m.: City fire assignment on Ellicott Street for basement flooding is back in service.

UPDATE 2:54 p.m.: Ellicott Street is reopened.

UPDATE 2:59 p.m.: Route 5 in Le Roy should be reopened within 10 minutes. A reader sent over this picture of what I think is Ellicott Street.

UPDATE 3:12 p.m.: Le Roy is clear from Myrtle Street. All Le Roy assignments are back in service.

UPDATE 3:18 p.m.: Le Roy crew needed for cellar pump detail. A chief requests that future requests for such details go directly to the fire hall from dispatch. Crews are standing by. Below is a view of Ganson Avenue submitted by Ron and Diane Burroughs. Cedar Street is open. Rick Franclemont reports about an inch and a half of rain at his place in Corfu.

UPDATE 5:49 p.m.: Ron Burroughs "fishing" on Ganson Avenue.

If planning an outdoor activity for this afternoon, the National Weather Services warns "be prepared for rapidly changing and potentially hazardous weather."

By this afternoon -- probably around 3 p.m. -- Genesee County is expected to be hit by strong thunderstorms.

The storm will pick up strength as it moves east.

It may produce strong winds and large hail. Gusts may exceed 60 mph.

Today was the Antique Truck, Farm & Construction Show at the Stafford Fire Hall sponsored by Empire State Antique Truck Association.

If you like trucks and tractors, it was the place to be today.

The event will continue Sunday, depending on the weather.

Aiden, at 22 months, enjoyed his first visit to the Spray Park in Austin Park today while his family, from Clarendon, was visiting Batavia.

More shots from the Spray Park in today's 90-degree weather below.

The weather prediction for Sunday remains strong thunderstorms.

Joe Maiorano (top) and Charlie Hamilton (bottom) tie off during the annual Ricky Palermo Foundation charity tournament at Terry Hills today. Maiorano came from Danbury, Conn., and Hamilton from Tampa, Fla., for the tournament.

The World Harmony Run passed through Batavia today.

The effort is a relay-run involving dozens of runners who have already traveled 8,500 miles on a 10,000-mile journey through all 48 continental states.

There are also running participants in 100 other countries around the globe.

Salil Wilson said the effort is intended to send a message that "peace and harmony starts with each person."

"It demonstrates," he said, "that there is far more that unites us as one human family than divides us."

The group, which includes runners from Germany, Hungary, New Zealand, Belarus, and, of course, the United States, stopped for refreshments at the Peace Garden before heading east.

Click here for a map of the route the group has traveled.

Top photo and photo below, Laszlo Szente, of Hungary.

A fire is reported on the front porch of 69 Maple Ave., Oakfield.

Oakfield Fire Department is responding.

View Larger Map

If you see anybody with a scooter that looks like this, Oakfield resident Lois Sutton is hoping you will contact the Sheriff's Office.

Sutton said this morning somebody stole her from Motofino scooter from her back yard. She thinks the look of the scooter is unique enough, and there are no local dealers, that it will stand out.

The Sheriff's Office can be contacted at 585-345-3000.

A 60-year-old female with diabetic problems is in need of rescue at the top of the falls behind the Log Cabin Restaurant -- on the opposite side.

"She is at the top of the falls ... she's approximately 30 feet down," says a responder.

The county Rope Rescue Team is on standby in case needed. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments responded and gave her some insulin and medical aid.

The woman came to the attention of others because she "was not responding appropriately."

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: A fireman on scene says her blood insulin level at this point is 43. "We will have to take her up manually unless we can get her blood sugar up higher." Medics are on their way.

UPDATE 8:37 p.m.: For those who don't know, the Indian Falls Log Cabin Restaurant is located at 1227 Gilmore Road in Corfu.

UPDATE 8:41 p.m.: The rescuers are going to employ a rope and a basket to bring up the woman. Her blood sugar is now reported to be 51. "We'll probably be taking her out of here -- unless it gets better real quick," says a responder. Other responders headed to the scene are requested to continue in full emergency mode.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: Rescuers are directed to the north side of the creek to assist with efforts under way.

UPDATE 8:47 p.m.: More rope is demanded "for those coming up and down to hold onto something." Assurance is given that it is on the way.

UPDATE 9:04 p.m.: At this point, "Everybody's topside." In other words, the woman has been brought to the top of the falls, as well as her rescuers, and is ready to be transported to the hospital via ambulance.

UPDATE 9:11 p.m.: Mercy Flight, which was on standby, is back in service and responders from Pembroke and Indian Falls are breaking down their light towers and equipment and returning to service. The patient is being taken to UMMC.

A car and bicycle accident is reported at the intersection of Clay Street and West Main Street, Village of Le Roy.

There is an injury.

The bike rider is out of the roadway.

Le Roy fire and ambulance responding.

UPDATE 5:11 p.m.: The car will need to be towed. "The window is just demolished and it's not driveable," an officer tells dispatch. 

UPDATE 5:15 p.m.: Route 19 is reopened. Le Roy fire back in service.

A Maple Street resident who admitted to welfare fraud will serve five years probation and must repay $11,341.18 after being sentenced in Genesee County Court.

Kerry Ackley, 39, admitted in May to a felony count of attempted grand larceny, 3rd.

She received benefits after failing to report her receipt of worker's compensation. She was originally charged with four counts of offering a false instrument for filing and the grand larceny charge.

Ackley is also barred from receiving food stamps.

A man who robbed a bank in Batavia in November 2007 entered a guilty plea in federal court on Friday, admitting to a total of five bank robberies in Western New York and Pennsylvania.

Michael Makolinski, 31, of Buffalo, faces up to 25 years in jail, a $1 million fine or both after pleading guilty to bank robbery.

“In his greed to steal the money of others, this serial bank robber thought he could prey upon banks located is some of our smaller communities, as well as in Buffalo,” said U.S. Attorney William Hochul. “As today’s convictions prove, the defendant’s belief was wrong.”

Besides the robbery of the Bank of America branch in Batavia, Makolinski, who appeared to display a gun in each robbery, hit banks in Erie, Pa., Irondequoit, Lewiston and Buffalo.

All of the robberies occurred between October 2007 and December 2007.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 13.

Temperatures are expected to hit the low to mid 90s today, with humidity driving the heat index into the high 90s.

The heat, the National Weather Service warns, has the potential of increasing the risk for heat-related illness.

The NWS recommends limiting exposure to heat outside if possible and drinking plenty of fluids.

The weather forecast for tomorrow is scattered thunderstorms in the morning, becoming more widespread with possible severe storms in the afternoon.

The storms, which could extend into the night, may produce large hail and strong winds.