We've heard for some time that while PepsiCo is paying for grading for a possible construction of a food processing plant in Batavia, the same work is "being done in three other locations."

One of those locations is in Avon, and as WHAM13's Sean Carroll discovered yesterday, no site work is taking place in Avon at all.

At the same time, however, the economic development directer in Livingston County says the site is much closer to being "shovel ready" than the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park. His park, he said, doesn't need a USDA grant for sewer and water because it already has all the infrastructure in place.

"If they chose this site, and we made it very clear, literally they could plug in and all the utilities are in the ground and there's no infrastructure needed here or at the sewage treatment plant," Rountree explained

While Genesee County clearly has the lead in the race to land the project, Livingstone County isn't giving up.

The support of a U.S. Senator and the fact that dirt is actually being moved at the Batavia site appears to indicate Project Wave’s final destination may only be a formality at this point in the process. Yet Rountree and his team are staying optimistic after an aggressive pitch that included top representatives from Barilla.

Either way, regional dairy farmers will be pleased with either outcome.

"I think for the dairy industry in this area specifically it spells a good feeling about long-term stability," Coyne explained. "To have end-product manufacturing this close, it just adds to the confidence that we can invest in our own farms long-term and be able to be in business."

The other two supposedly competitive sites are in Pennsylvania. A contractor familiar with the project told me some time ago that those sites are graded and have infrastructure in place, but we currently have no way to confirm that assertion.

Adam Miller Toy & Bicycles, 8 Center St., Batavia, NY: Feel like a kid in a toy store again, or treat your kids to the greatest toy store they will ever see. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Alabama Hotel, 1353 Lewiston Road, Basom, NY: A historic and legendary tavern and restaurant. The Alabama Hotel is famous for its fish fries, but also serves a variety of top-quality entrees, featuring Certified Angus Beef. Now with expanded hours. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Alli's Cones & Dogs, 7063 Lewiston Road, Oakfield, NY: Full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu; all-you-can-eat salad bar; ice cream served year-round; eat-in or take-out. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Bohn's Restaurant, 5256 Clinton St., Batavia, NY: Fine dining in an atmosphere of casual elegance. Lunch and dinner, steak, prime rib and seafood. Ask about Bohn's catering services and banquet facility. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Clor's Meat Market, 4169 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: For the best, most flavorful, juiciest chicken or hamburger in town, hands-down, stop by Clor's. Oh, and the steaks are great, too. And the sausage. Clor's also serves lunch and dinners from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.

Ficarella's Pizzeria, 21 Liberty St., Batavia, NY: Dine-in, drive-thru or delivery. Featuring fresh, hearth-baked pizza since 1985, plus wings, pasta and more. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10. (Good only at the Batavia location.)

Greg'ry's Bakery, 13 North Lake Road, Bergen, NY: The bakery offers a variety of the finest cakes, cookies, pies, cupcakes, breads, breakfast and lunch sandwiches and so much more. Each treat is made the same as it has been for decades and baked right here. Come in and sample some for yourself! We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Kravings, Valu Plaza, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Kravings offers soups, salads and sandwiches, fresh and flavorful; Monday through Saturday. We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.

Palm Island Indoor Water Park, 8250 Park Road, Batavia, NY: The newest family fun center in Genesee County, featuring a hot tub, monsoon lagoon pool and play area, tipping buckets, water slides, arcade with 15 games and birthday party rooms. We have a pair of gift certificates worth $40 in merchandise or services for $20.

Rancho Viejo, 12 Ellicott St., Batavia, NY: Traditional Mexican cuisine, from tacos and burritos to pollo norteno, Rancho Viejo brings a bit of "South of the Border" to Batavia's restaurant scene. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Salsa & Curry, 13 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: An authentic Mexican restaurant, offering all of your favorite dishes from enchiladas and burritos to tacos and fajitas, as well as daily Indian food specials. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Settler's, 353 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Settler's has a 25-year history of serving great, affordable breakfasts, lunches and dinners to Batavians. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Spirits, 78 Lake St., Le Roy, NY. Le Roy's favorite sports bar, where fun and good food are always on tap. Come try one of our many delicious burgers that we have to offer, as well as our HUGE Bomber Sandwich, homemade chicken fingers made to order, and the all-time favorite Dumpster Plate with many choices. We deliver. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

T.F. Brown's, 214 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: T.F. Brown's is a great place for a good meal, good friends and to catch up on what's going on in the sports world. "If it happens in sports, it happens at Brown's." Stop in and check out our jumbo chicken wings, roast beef on weck and Friday night fish fry. The original family spaghetti sauce still adorns all of our Italian specialties. The other popular selections from our menu range from super salads, butcher cut strip loin and South of the Border items. We offer daily lunch and dinner specials as well as a full adult and children’s menu. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Viking Valhalla Restaurant & Rose Garden Bowl, 21 Buffalo Road, Bergen, NY: Open for lunch Monday through Sunday, and dinner Friday and Saturday evenings. Dinner favorites are our succulent prime rib and Friday fish fries! We are always happy to help plan your special occasion -- wedding, shower, rehearsal dinner, stag party, graduation, company function, banquet, family or class reunion. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

SOLD OUT

Note: if you've never purchased Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

If your Chrysler's keyless and you're clueless, Volunteers for Animals may be able to help.

They found a Chrysler key in a bag of returnable bottles left at the Genesee County Animal Shelter around Jan. 18. So if you lost your key, drop a note to Wendy. The address is:

Volunteers for Animals, P.O. Box 1621, Batavia, NY 14021

Or reach her via email at <www.vol4animals.org>

A one-vehicle accident is reported on the Thruway with one occupant entrapped and possibly unconscious.

Mercy Flight is on standby.

The accident is in the area of mile marker 383.6 in the eastbound lane.

Le Roy fire and ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 1:09 p.m.: A dispatcher informed the Le Roy chief that he spoke with somebody in the toll booth center who said the Thruway Authority did not want Mercy Flight dispatched. The dispatcher said he informed the person that it was the fire chief's call.

UPDATE 1:14 p.m.: The victim is out of the car and with State Troopers on scene. The car is well off the road and on its side. Mercy Flight can stand down.

UPDATE 1:39 p.m.: Le Roy Ambulance Service is headed to Strong Memorial Hospital with two patients on board. Le Roy fire crews are back in service.

Press release:

Today, Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide several hundred thousand dollars in federal funds for sewer and water infrastructure work to prepare a Genesee County site to host a massive food processing plant.

Build out of the new plant will occur in two phases and could bring hundreds of jobs to Genesee County over the next several years. The Genesee County Economic Development Center is currently preparing a site to host a 363,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, capable of hosting 300 to 400 jobs just three years after it is completed.

The GCEDC is currently finalizing a contract with a food producer for the site, and is seeking federal funding to cover part of the costs of infrastructure improvements to ensure that the site is compatible with the needs of the food company. Today, Schumer called on Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to provide $300,000 to $500,000 in USDA funds for several projects that will ensure the site is ready to serve as a major job creator in Western New York.

“This massive plant could be a game-changer for Genesee County and Western New York,” Schumer said. “We can’t let inadequate sewer systems and wastewater lines, stand in the way of jobs. The USDA should realize the massive potential this project has and provide the seed funding that will help grow jobs and economic prosperity in the county.

"The funds are there to spur development and USDA would be hard-pressed to find a better return on their investment than this new plant. Secretary Vilsack should do the right thing and help us make these infrastructure improvements as quickly as possible to ensure that we don’t miss out on a chance to bring hundreds of good-paying jobs to Upstate New York.”

To ensure the site is ready to host the manufacturing plant, GCEDC must complete $1.8 million in infrastructure upgrades to the site. These upgrades include the construction of a second access road into the park, the addition of a new turning lane and road re-striping at the site’s main entrance as well as up to $500,000 for wastewater and sewer pump station upgrades. The GCEDC is seeking $300,000 to $500,000 in USDA rural development funds to complete these upgrades.

With Schumer’s encouragement and support, GCEDC plans to apply for funding through the USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program. The application is due to USDA in April and funding would be awarded in June. Schumer noted that in 2010, Genesee County applied for and won over $200,000 under this program to build out sewer infrastructure to land the Alpina Yogurt Plant, which will serve as another major job creator for the county.

Schumer is pushing the USDA to help Genesee County build on this success by providing funding that will help the county ensure that the site is prepared to host a major food manufacturer in the months ahead.

In his letter, Schumer wrote, “Simply stated, securing USDA funding to complete these new upgrades will bring this $247 million project and its associated 300 jobs to Batavia, NY. As such, and with my full support and encouragement, GCEDC is submitting an application for Rural Development funding by the April 2012 application deadline.

“Funding this upgrade will create an enormous return on investment. Already New York’s rural and agricultural regions are quickly becoming centers of tremendous job growth due to the rise in yogurt and other food processing. This new food processor will join the ranks of the 900-employee Chobani Greek Yogurt manufacturing facility in New Berlin, NY, the 240-employee Fage plant in Jamestown, NY, and the 50-employee Alpina yogurt facility in Batavia, NY.”

CLARIFICATION: Rachael J. Tabelski, with GCEDC, said the USDA grant is intended to fund sewer improvements. Needed upgrades at the site include a secondary roadway and aquifer water.

Previously:

• Likely buyer for 'Project Wave' plant is PepsiCo
• Expert: Batavia poised to become yogurt capital of Northeast

Tesla R. Greck, 20, of 134 Liberty St., Batavia, is charged with falsely reporting an incident, 3rd, and offering a false instrument, 2nd. Greck is accused of falsely reporting that her ex-boyfriend violated an order of protection.

Gregory Seppe, 53, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. Seppe was arrested at 8:44 p.m., Tuesday, for allegedly possessing several prescription medications that were reported stolen by the owner of the prescriptions.

In the six weeks since we launched Shop Batavia, the response has been great.  People around town ask me about the site and tell me what a great idea they think it is and so far 135 local businesses have created accounts.

More than 100 items are listed in the site's marketplace.

A dozen businesses are selling gift certificates.

There are currently 10 money-saving coupons available.

More than 100 reviews have been posted.

And if you check the news feed daily on the home page, you can see the site is bustling with activity.

Thanks to all who have supported the site so far. We're excited about the good start and eager to see Shop Batavia grow, giving local businesses and local shoppers a great way to connect, do business and help the local economy.

WGRZ, Buffalo, is reporting that there are now 15 cases in Le Roy of teens with tic symptoms, including a boy. Also, the station interviews a doctor who treated a similar case in North Carolina a decade ago. His diagnosis: conversion disorder.

Press release:

“Tonight, President Obama reported on the state of the nation and laid out his plan to move our economy forward. While we’ve seen some progress, we need to continue to invest in America, ensuring Americans have good jobs to go to every day.

“The President’s proposal to revitalize our manufacturing community, invest in American infrastructure, and focus on job training at community colleges, like ECC, NCCC, GCC, and MCC, will keep America competitive and bring jobs back to the United States. It’s time we stop rewarding those companies that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America.

“I, however, would have liked to hear more about the President’s plan to cut the deficit and reduce our national debt. This is why I supported the Balanced Budget Amendment that requires Congress to balance its finances in the same way Western New York families do every day; and why I support efforts to streamline government, eliminate waste, and be more responsive to the needs of American businesses.

“Right now is the time for us to come together and work with one another to strengthen our nation and give Americans the chance to get back to work. We have the best ideas, the finest universities, and the hardest working people in the world – now we must create an economy that benefits the working families of America.

“Like the President said, every American just wants a fair shot at achieving the basic American promise; having a good paying job, buying a home, and raising a family. Our country is strongest when every American is contributing their fair share, but this can only happen when we’re all given that fair shot.”

Two Pennsylvania papers, including the Bradford Era, are reporting that Steven Rebert has been found guilty of murder.

The 48-year-old Rebert is originally from Oakfield and has been a person of interest in the November 2005 homicide of Bill Fickel.

While investigators have been unable to gather sufficient evidence to substantiate a charge in the local homicide, Bill's widow, Lisa Fickel, has offered a $100,000 reward to anybody providing evidence that leads to a conviction of Bill's killer.

Rebert, according to reports, was found guilty of murdering Wayne and Victoria Shugar in April 2010 in Jefferson County.

UPDATE: Brittany Boyer with WJAC reports, "Rebert was found guilty of the following: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, aggravated assault, theft, robbery and burglary." The jury deliberated for one hour and 50 minutes. On Thursday, the jury will begin the penalty phase. Rebert could get the "death penalty," which in Pennsylvania means spending the rest of his life in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day.

The year-over-year job and employment picture for Genesee County brightened in December, according to Department of Labor statistics.

The county's unemployment rate for December was 7.4 percent, a slight improvement over December 2010 when it was 7.9 percent, but not as good as last November when unemployment stood at 6.7 percent.

Overall, non-farm jobs increased from 22,600 in December 2010 to 23,800 last December. However, that's still below the November job figure of 24,100.

Historically, Genesee County sees a decline in jobs from November to December.

According to the latest report, there are 30,200 people in Genesee County with jobs, compared to 29,400 people with jobs in December 2010.

Year-over-year, goods producing jobs increased from 3,900 to 4,000.

Total service jobs increased from 18,700 to 19,800, including those in education. Health service jobs increased from 3,000 to 3,300, and leisure and hospitality jobs increased from 2,200 to 2,500

Government jobs increased from 6,100 to 6,200.

An Albany television station is reporting that two girls have developed tics and verbal outbursts and linking the report to the 12 girls in Le Roy who have suffered similar symptoms.

As for a possible connection to the cases in Western, NY, both girls did eat at a restaurant in Le Roy this summer.

"Maybe she had been carrying something that she brought with her to Le Roy," says Nicholson.

The piece on the girls describes joint pain along with the tics and verbal outbursts. One girl was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, though her mother doesn't seem to accept the diagnosis.

Meanwhile, The Week, a British publication quotes Dr. Lazlo Mechtler, the neurologist who has reportedly examined 11 of the 12 girls from Le Roy, as blaming the outbreak locally on terror alerts.

“Ever since 9/11, Americans have been subjected to warnings of orange alert and red alert, and, unlike Israelis for instance, they are not culturally used to it,” says Mechtler. “What has happened to these girls is the result of Americans being made to live in fear. We are going to see more of these outbreaks.”

According to the article, Mechtler has not examined Thera Sanchez, whom the article says was the first Le Roy girl to exhibit symptoms. But in her Today Show appearance, Sanchez said she was in treatment.

At the community meeting Jan. 11 in Le Roy, the mother of the reported 12th girl said she hadn't been to treatment yet because she was the last of the girls to develop symptoms.

In the past couple of weeks, we've received emails from people all over the United States with their own theories and suggestions. It would be a time-consuming task to chase down every theory and get response from officials, and, as we know, there's only so much officials can, or are willing, to say.

After the jump (click the headline to read the whole thing) are three of the emails we've received.

From Susan Walker:

Here is what I hope will be helpful information for the girls afflicted with the strange tics and Tourette-like problems in New York. I’ll try to keep this short!

Our grandson was afflicted with Tourette-type tics along with accompanying nervousness and difficulty sleeping quite suddenly at the age of about 7 years. It was heartbreaking to see him struggle with it. For a year or so he was treated with various medicines all of which left him lethargic but not improved. Our daughter asked me to research anything I could find to help him so I embarked upon a reading and Internet frenzy for information.

The only thing I found, aside from medicines he had already tried or things that seemed worse than the problem, was a fair amount of anecdotal evidence, which was first noted in a book by Mitzi Waltz about Tourettes Syndrome. She reported that a number of boys had found  great relief from the symptoms by taking grape seed. I passed this information to my daughter after researching grape seed and finding it to be very high in antioxidants and otherwise harmless.

To make a longer story short, our grandson showed marked improvement in just a couple of weeks and he felt much “better inside” as he described it, after taking 1 mg. per pound of body weight twice per day of grape seed extract in pill form. Within a month or two he had no symptoms at all and was able to sleep much better. He is now 18 years old and has been tic free all these years. He still takes grape seed.

I have kept myself open for any articles or info over the years which might explain this phenomenon and have run across a few things which suggest to me that perhaps the area of the brain which is involved in causing tics and related symptoms can be affected in some susceptible people by a sort of autoimmune response to oxidants which build up in their blood either from outside causes or perhaps from their own metabolic peculiarities.

In any case, grape seed has been a lifesaver for our grandson and there are numbers of mothers and sons who report similar experiences. It’s worth a shot and I’d surely try it if my daughter was one of  these cases.

From Denise Grubbs, RN:

I am founder and director of PPARS: PANDAS-PITAND Awareness & Research Support and I am also a Registered Nurse. I just registered to leave a comment as I am very concerned about the underlying cause of tics in these children.

I wonder if they have tested the girls for strep, myco p, Lyme and related diseases. I hope if they used titers such as ASO & Anti-DNase only that they did not use this to rule out this condition as we know that some kids never elevate titers. Inability to elevate titers does not rule out PANDAS-PITAND -- it only means we have to look harder before it can be ruled out as a cause.

Another potential cause to consider is the GARDASIL vaccine. Because only girls are reported and the age, we have to consider this as a potential cause.

There are physicians who are knowledgeable about this condition and could fully evaluate the students to determine if it can be ruled out or not.  Treatment can bring healing, but it is important to catch it early.

How can we reach someone who can fully evaluate to help these girls?

Website: http://www.pandas-pitandawareness.org/Home.php
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/PANDAS-PITAND-PANS-Awareness-Ribbon-Research-Support/104784939604627
Twitter: https://twitter.com/?ref=nf&utm_campaign=PANDAS_PITAND&utm_content=146545841648308224&utm_medium=fb&utm_source=fb#!/PANDAS_PITAND

From Laurie Endicott Thomas, www.gorillaprotein.com

I was greatly disturbed to see the girls with Tourette syndrome from Le Roy on the TODAY show and highly annoyed to see a neurologist attribute the problem to "conversion disorder." I have written an article that will be published soon in the medical journal Medical Hypotheses that argues that doctors should never make the diagnosis of conversion disorder. Doctors make a diagnosis of conversion disorder when they can't find the real cause of the problem. It's a cop-out and shouldn't be permitted.

Chances are good that the girls' problems are due to a simple problem with the temporomandibular joint, which is the hinge joint where the jawbone attaches to the skull. If the jaw is not in the correct position, it can irritate one of the cranial nerves, thus setting up a reflex arc that causes the movement problems.

In many cases, the problem can be solved simply and without drugs by giving the girl a dental appliance that holds her jaw in the correct position. The girl might be able to get longer-lasting relief from a simple surgical procedure to take a "tuck" in the articular disk in the temporomandibular joint, to put it back where it is supposed to be.

Here's an article from the Journal of Craniomandibular Practice about the problem.

http://www.tmjstack.com/casereport.pdf

Here's video of a patient with gait problems and all of the typical Tourette symptoms. Watch how rapidly the problems go away when the woman gets a dental appliance to reposition her jaw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W7qBbjbRZ8

I wouldn't be surprised to find that all of the girls in Le Roy had the same dentist or orthodontist. That could account for why you've had an outbreak of Tourette syndrome in girls locally.

The Batavian has also received phone calls suggesting lead poisoning, mercury poisoning and telecommunication radiation.

Jonathan Donnie Laverne, 47, of Council House Road, Alabama, is charged with assault, 3rd, unlawful imprisonment, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Laverne is accused of biting the face of another person during a domestic incident Jan. 17. Laverne allegedly took the mobile phone of the person and prevented the person from leaving or calling for help. Laverne was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Gregory Seppe, 53, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with five counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Seppe was arrested following a report at 10:22 p.m., Monday, of a man causing a disturbance at the Arrow Mart store on Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Andrea Linda Kempisty, 23, of Lovers Lane Road, Pembroke, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, failure to stop at stop sign, failure to yield right of way at stop sign and moving from lane unsafely. Kempisty was stopped at 2:17 a.m. Monday on Route 5, Batavia, by Deputy James Diehl.

A suspected crack dealer from Rochester was taken into custody Monday on Buell Street by members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Nekia "Nick" Newton, 35, of Duran Street, Rochester, was allegedly found in possession of a quantity of crack cocaine.

He was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd.

Following arraignment in Batavia City Court, Newton was jailed without bail.

Task force members located Newton's car on Buell and as they approached, he reportedly got out of the vehicle and started walking toward a residence.

Newton was reportedly wanted on a pending charge of selling crack cocaine.

Assisting in the arrest were the Batavia PD and Sheriff's deputies.

Batavia City Council members deserve a pay raise, veteran Council Member Rose Mary Christian said to kick off Batavia's budget session Monday night, according to WBTA.

Christian, who represents Ward Six, didn't say how much the raise should be and apparently there wasn't much support from the nine-member council, which includes six new members.

Currently, council members are paid $2,000 per year.

The council is reviewing a proposed budget that would raise property taxes 4.2 percent and also increase water rates and fees more than $13 a year for the average customer.

The county has suspended STOP-DWI funding for the Village of Corfu Police Department, and the issue made for a contentious village board meeting Monday night.

A village board member asked for disciplinary action against the police chief One police officer blamed the village board for dragging his name through the mud. And the mayor blamed Board Member Ralph Peterson (inset photo) for costing the village $3,000 in funding.

Peterson claims he only went to county officials to ask questions about how STOP-DWI vouchers should be processed. He said he didn't ask for a criminal investigation.

But after Peterson raised the issue, a State Police investigator opened a fraud investigation, which included visiting the home of at least one part-time village police officer.

The investigation concluded with no charges filed.

"There was no evidence of malfeasance," said village Attorney Mark Boylan.

Mayor Todd Skeet characterized the mishandled paperwork as a mistake, a misunderstanding between the village and the STOP-DWI committee that approves the vouchers.

"The STOP-DWI panel didn’t seem to understand the Corfu Police Department," Skeet said. "They didn't understand how it worked until this came along."

In a letter to the village, Frank Ciaccia, assistant county manager and the STOP-DWI coordinator, informed the village that recently submitted vouchers wouldn't be paid and 2012 funding for the village was suspended. The letter also states:

"Unlike the other police agencies with full-time officers, I believe that the Corfu Police Department is a unique operation that doesn't lend itself to easily comply in a verifiable manner with the requirements of the STOP-DWI program."

Funds for the STOP-DWI program come from DWI fines paid and are distributed to departments to help pay for equipment that can be used in apprehending suspected drunken drivers, such as radar units and license plate readers.

Agencies submit vouchers and time cards indicating times officers spent on road patrol with a specific intent of looking for drunken drivers.

The allegation is that the village submitted vouchers for times when officers were on general patrol, not specifically DWI patrol.

Skeet said the village completed the paperwork exactly as Ciaccia trained officials to do several years ago.

Officer Gene Nati spoke up at the meeting and complained that the whole village is gossiping about recent allegations of corruption in the village. And with State Troopers showing up at his door on a supposed criminal investigation, he feels like he's getting his reputation soiled when he didn't do anything wrong.

"My neighbors are talking about how the Corfu court is corrupt, the Corfu Fire Department is corrupt and the Corfu Police Department is corrupt," Nati said. "I'm not going to have my name dragged through mud for any wrongdoing for anything anybody else is doing.

"This is a part-time job," added Nati, who is also an Erie County Sheriff's deputy. "I don't need the money. I do it so I get a little extra money and buy a few cigars.

"I come here write a few tickets and generate some revenue for the village, but I and the other officers don't need our names dragged through the mud. It's the Village of Corfu, and you guys can't even get along at your own meetings."

Peterson opened the meeting by reading from a lengthy statement expressing his doubts that the problems with the STOP-DWI program paperwork were just an oversight. Peterson said that Chief James Meier, a 20-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, should already know how to complete the paperwork.

At the end of his statement, Peterson made a motion for "some sort of disciplinary action" against Meier.

Attorney Boylan told Peterson he couldn't make such a sweeping motion, and then explained that because of the finding of the State Police investigator and the lack of evidence of any intentional wrongdoing, there was no basis to discipline anybody.

"My personal feeling is that I believe that Ralph Peterson is the cause of the village losing $3,000 in funding," Mayor Skeet said. "He didn't ever come to the board once, never once saying there is a problem with the STOP-DWI program. Instead, he went straight to Batavia and got Frank Ciaccia all boiled up over it."

After the meeting, Peterson said he still isn't satisified that there was no wrongdoing in how the funds were handled. He said the reason he didn't come to the board first is that, in the past, issues he's raised with the board haven't been taken seriously.

Skeet said Peterson started pursuing the STOP-DWI issue only after the village board asked state auditors to look into potential problems with the village court.

Officials expected Village Justice Robert Alexander to go to Monday's meeting and address the recent NYS audit report on alleged missing funds in his court, but Peterson informed the board at the onset that Alexander was sick and unable to attend.

CLARIFICATION: Chief Meier said neither he nor his officers prepare the STOP-DWI vouchers. They are completed by the village clerk. There were no errors in the paperwork, but rather a "procedural problem" over how patrols were designated.

An accident involving multiple vehicles is reported on Route 63 near Transit Road. It is completely blocking the roadway. There is no entrapment. Wires are everywhere. National Grid is called. Bethany Fire Department is responding along with Mercy EMS.

Pavilion Fire Department is asked to respond as mutual aid and shut down Route 63 at Bethany Center Road. Southbound traffic is to be shut down at Bethany Center Road / Batavia Stafford Townline Road at Route 63 by Town of Batavia Fire Department, responding as mutual aid.

The roadway is slippery and wet. One person in a minivan has minor injuries, according to law enforcement on scene. At least one car is off the road.

UPDATE 1:33 a.m.: Traffic on Transit Road is backed up at least all the way to East Bethany Le Roy Townline Road. Pole number 6084 6072 is damaged.

UPDATE 1:36 a.m.: The person in the minivan is "all set," and medics are asked to check on the driver of a tractor-trailer. The transformer on the damaged pole is leaking. National Grid has an ETA of 35 minutes. Northbound traffic is also shut down on Route 63 at the juncture with Route 20.

UPDATE 1:50 a.m.: One car struck the utility pole. And a tractor-trailer that followed pulled down the wires. (It is considered two separate accidents, and other drivers involved responded to that sequence of events.) Mercy medics are back in service. The mother of the minivan driver responded to the scene.

UPDATE 1:59 a.m.: At this point, it appears to be just a matter of getting vehicles towed as needed and clearing the roadway so traffic flow can resume.

UPDATE 2:08 a.m.: There will be no further updates to this post.