A barn at 3105 Countyline Road, Darien, was destroyed in an overnight fire that required firefighters from eight area fire companies to be on scene from just before 2 to just after 6 a.m.

Darien Fire Department, with mutual aid from Corfu, Alexander, Pembroke, Indian Falls, Crittenden, Bennington, Alden and Batavia City's FAST Team all responded to the scene, along with Emergency Management Services and Mercy EMS.

Trustees from Attica prison responded to help with clean up once the fire was out.

The intial call came in at 1:53 a.m. The barn was reportedly "already on the ground" according to a Darien chief when first arriving on scene.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

UPDATE: The property is owned by J. Daniel Oles and Jane M. Oles. The cause remains unknown, possibly electrical or overheated damp hay. The barn is described as a storage barn. It contained an Allis Chalmers Combine, John Deere Round Bailer, corn planter, three freezers, tools and supplies for the farm. There was no natural gas or propane run to the barn, electricity only. The barn was last entered at 8 p.m by Andrew Oles, who saw or smelled nothing out of the ordinary. The initial caller reported seeing the second floor "lit up and on fire" when she called. Alden firefighters were first on scene.

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Local residents are being warned once again by the Sheriff's Office to be on the alert for scammers.

According to the Sheriff's Office, a person or persons have been calling area residents posing as a Microsoft employee and telling them their computer system has been compromised, potentially with a virus.

The caller then attempts to guide the person through a series of steps supposedly meant to fix the problem, but may actually give the caller remote access to the computer system.

Once a malicious person has gained such access it's possible to capture passwords, steal identity or install malicious software.

Three such calls have been reported locally and the Sheriff's Office is aware of similar scams being run on residents on Niagara County.

In all reported cases, the Sheriff's Office said, residents became suspicious and terminated the call.

Any resident who has questions about potential telephone scams are encouraged to contact local law enforcement.

A fight involving six people is reported at 5 Dellinger Ave. in the City of Batavia. One or more of the participants is said to have fled the scene westbound on Main Street in a green Ford Explorer. Police are on scene.

Press release:

The Cancer Services Partnership of Genesee and Orleans County will hold its annual cancer awareness program, Pink Hatters, on Thursday, Oct. 11 at the Clarion Hotel, 8250 Park Road, Batavia.

A Chinese Auction will be held from 4 to 6:30 pm. Hors d’oeuvres and dessert stations will available from 5 to 7 pm. Cancer survivors will be recognized and prizes awarded for the best pink hats. “Breadtime Stories” will be presented by the evening’s featured speaker, Chet Fery.

The evening is a colorful, celebratory event filled with laughter. However, when survivors stand up based on the number of years since they received their cancer diagnosis, an awe-inspiring hush fills the room. Women who are currently battling the illness are applauded with support. Women who have been cancer free for 20 years, 30 years or longer provide hope to everyone.

Tickets are $20 each and available by pre-sale only. Call the UMMC Healthy Living Department at 344-5331 for registration information. Reservations are available for tables of 10.

Payment and registrations must be received by Oct 4. This event is funded in part by a grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Western New York.

The Cancer Services Partnership is a grant funded program which provides access to free colorectal, breast and cervical cancer screenings for men and women, age 18 to 64, who are uninsured or underinsured. United Memorial manages the Partnership for Orleans and Genesee counties.

Press release:

The historian who captured the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for history in 2011 will bring his expertise to Genesee Community College this month, while the Batavia campus will simultaneously host a travelling exhibit exploring the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Columbia University history professor and author Eric Foner, Ph.D., regarded as the leading contemporary historian of the post-Civil War Reconstruction period, will share insights from his award-winning book "The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery" on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at a free lecture in the Stuart Steiner Theatre at 1 p.m. Immediately following the lecture, Foner will sign copies of his book.

"I am thrilled at the prospect of having Dr. Foner visit GCC. It is not often you can rub elbows with a Pulitzer Prize winner," says Derek Maxfield, who not only teaches GCC history courses, but has been the college's resident historian and coordinator or numerous Civil War initiatives throughout the past 18 months.

"As a historian, I recognize him as a giant in the field. His work on the Civil War and Reconstruction has shaped my own interpretation in important ways, and his newest book is destined to define the standards by which other works will be measured."

Foner's presentation coincides with an exhibit exploring Lincoln's influence from the Civil War through modern times. Using personal journals, official documents and other printed materials, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History used a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to assemble "Abraham Lincoln: A Man of His Time, a Man for All Times."

This impressive display has been traveling the country and sharing the life, accomplishments and the legacy of the revered 16th U.S. president. Interestingly, Foner was among the experts consulted during the development phase of the exhibit. The display in GCC's Alfred O'Connell Library will be open for free public viewing from through Oct. 28.

The Fiery Trial is essentially a political biography of Lincoln, delving into the president's personal convictions, and Foner "is able to provide the most thorough and judicious account of Lincoln's attitudes toward slavery that we have to date," according to a 2010 review in The New York Times.

Kirkus Reviews cites Foner as "particularly impressive in explaining the hesitations, backward steps and trial balloons -- including placating slaveholding border states and proposing colonizing blacks outside the United States -- that preceded his embrace of emancipation."

Foner is one of only two persons to serve as president of the three major professional organizations: the Organization of American Historians, American Historical Association, and Society of American Historians, and he is one of only a handful of authors to have won the Bancroft and Pulitzer Prizes in the same year.

He has written 19 critically acclaimed books, dozens of highly praised literary and historical articles, reports and editorials, and has served on editorial boards for several prestigious publications. Additionally, his mastery of scholarly research and presentation has earned him invitations to appear on television and radio shows, including as the on-camera historian for "Freedom: A History of Us," on PBS in 2003.

To learn about Foner's extensive accomplishments, visit his Web site: http://www.ericfoner.com/

The exhibit and Foner's visit continue GCC's commitment to exploring the Civil War and its enduring ramifications 150 years after the official ceasefire. Numerous lectures revolving around the war, a weekend long reenactors encampment, a Victorian Yule Celebration and the development of a topic-specific blog were offered last year, and several more enterprising initiatives are planned for the current academic year. A summary of the Civil War commemorative events at GCC's Batavia Campus also includes:

• Lecture: The Search for Good Ground and Fair Weather: The Role of Climate and Topography in the Civil War. Wednesday, Oct. 3, Batavia Campus, 7 p.m. Presented by Aaron Wheeler, Ph.D., of Capital Community College.
• Lecture: Among the Many Fires: Trials, Opportunities and Experiences of Native Americans in the Civil War. Wednesday, Nov. 7, Batavia Campus, 7 p.m. Presented by GCC History instructor Dan Hamner.

A hunter is lost in the woods somewhere off the dead end of Judge Road in Alabama. Emergency dispatch is in phone contact with him and help is on the way to try and locate him.

UPDATE 2:18 p.m.: Just around the bend, on Feeder Road, he says he parked his green Subaru and went into the woods across the road from where it's parked. That's in the Tonawanda State Wildlife Management Area.

UPDATE 2:22 p.m.: The hunter is said to possibly be walking along where power lines are strung up. Law enforcement is going to sound their sirens at the junction of Feeder and Judge.

UPDATE 2:25 p.m.: The hunter can hear the siren. They are going to turn their lights on to help guide him, but the area "is pretty dense" with trees.

UPDATE 2:45 p.m.: Dispatch has lost phone contact with the hunter and hope he's able to call them back.

UPDATE 2:57 p.m.: About five minutes ago, an officer said "We have the subject and we're taking him to his vehicle and we'll be clear." It's not clear if this statement pertains to the hunter. If not, of course, we'll update further.

Le Roy PD suspects that a Buffalo-area man who is accused of stealing $700 worth of baby formula and two boxes of diapers intended to sell the products on the black market, or as the press release put it, at "unscrupulous locations."

A store employee at the unnamed retail location in Le Roy is credited by police with providing crucial information to help catch the alleged shoplifter.

Taken into custody and charged with petit larceny was Edward P. Clark, 23, of Lakeview.

According to Le Roy PD, a store employee spotted an alleged shoplifter leave the store and contacted the dispatch center with a description of the individual, his vehicle and plate number.

As Le Roy PD gathered information at the scene of the alleged crime, law enforcement units in the area were notified of the suspected crime and description of the alleged perpetrator.

After about 10 minutes, a vehicle matching the description was located and stopped by a Sheriff's deputy and state trooper on Route 5, westbound toward Batavia.

The items that were alleged to have been stolen were found inside the vehicle.

The tote contained 44 containers of baby formula.

Clark was jailed on $1,000 bail.

A 22-year-old Le Roy resident who broke into a friend's house and stole a PS3 game system has 30 days to show Judge Robert C. Noonan he "gets it."

Eric Bratcher, of 7 ½ North St., Le Roy, entered a guilty plea to third-degree burglary after originally being charged with burglary, 2nd, and offered a chance at a "split sentence" (possibly six months in jail and five years probation).

After his guilty plea, he was released under supervision of Genesee Justice with certain requirements for his conduct, including no drug use.

The next time Bratcher came before Noonan, he was accused of smoking marijuana while out of jail under supervision, so Noonan sent him back to jail to await his sentencing.

At that hearing, according to Noonan, Bratcher "editorialized" that he didn't see why it was a big deal. "It was just a little weed," according to Noonan.

Since that time, while in jail, Bratcher has reportedly been going through some rehabilitation programs and making progress.

Rather than sentence him today, Noonan gave Bratcher 30 more days to show what sort of progress he can make. He remains jailed without bail.

Noonan could send Bratcher to state prison.

"I'm not certain it won’t come around to the point where a split sentence could be possible," Noonan said. "I’m going to have to be shown something that Mr. Bratcher gets it and I just haven’t seen it yet."

Noonan expressed concern that Bratcher doesn't understand he committed a serious crime.

"You haven't shown me that you understand that you went into somebody's house and -- even though it was a friend and even though it was just a PS3 that was stolen -- the statement he gave on the condition of his residence before he had any idea it was you (was) 'it looks like a burglary,' " Noonan said. "It doesn't look like a friend who just happened to wander into a friend's house."

There isn't much new news in Genesee County so far this morning.

There was a massive fire in Wyoming County over night, in Castile and several fire departments from Genesee County responded.

A 25-year-old restaurant, the village offices and town offices along with some apartments were destroyed. There is some concern for the safety of at least one person, though no confirmation of injuries or fatalities. Water had to be trucked in because the water main to the village is being repaired, so fire hydrants were not working. Here's coverage from WIVB and WHAM13.

We don't know what winter will bring weather-wise, but no matter how cold it gets, we can expect to pay 3 percent less for natural gas to heat our homes and businesses, National Grid announced yesterday. It's the lowest price level in eight years.

And Genesee County Economic Development Center shared this video created by Buffalo Niagara Enterprise to promote the Genesee Valley Agribusiness Park.

Vist us online: www.thecitychurch.com

A 29-year-old Batavia man was arrested by federal authorities today and accused of transporting a minor to another state with the intent of sexual activity.

Timothy Logsdon was taken into custody following an investigation that started Saturday when the parents of a 16-year-old girl contacted the Genesee County Sheriff's Office to report her missing.

During an interview with FBI agents, the parents indicated the girl might be with Logsdon.

Authorities obtained a court order and traced Logsdon's mobile phone activity and determined he was in Kentucky.

That same day, State Police in Kentucky located Logsdon in Bowling Green and he was allegedly with the teenager.  

“Thanks to the awareness of the victim’s parents and the hard work by the FBI and Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, this case was investigated and closed in extremely rapid fashion,” said U.S. Attorney William Hochul in a news release. “This is yet another example of how the public coming forward to police with important information can stop criminal conduct before it gets too far.” 

Logsdon remains in federal custody pending further legal proceedings.

UPDATE AND CORRECTION: The first name of the alleged perpetrator contained in the original post was wrong. The story has been changed to contain the correct first name.

According to online interviews Rochester resident Sean Madden has conducted over the past two years, he is as accomplished at working with troubled children as he is as an artist.

A surrealist whose work is sure to offend mainstream sensibilities, his pen-and-ink creations have been featured in books, on screen, in galleries and sought after by collectors.

It's also his artwork that may have cost him his job with the Byron-Bergen Central School District where he was employed as a counselor.

Contacted today, Superintendent Casey Kosiorek said he couldn't discuss a "confidential matter."

Madden also said he is not very interested in talking about the situation at this stage. He said it's very early in the process and he hasn't decided yet what, if any, message he wants to share with the media.

He confirmed he has spoken with attorneys from his teacher's union and the ACLU and agreed that the case is an interesting First Amendment matter.

All of the paintings and his promotion of his art were done away from the school and not during work hours, Madden confirmed.

Beyond that, he didn't want to say more until conferring further with lawyers.

In interviews with publications in Rochester and Buffalo, Madden has said he's a husband and father who was born in Buffalo, raised there in the 1970s, attended SUNY Brockport, and eventually obtained a master's degree in counselor education.

"I worked my way up the ladder in society," Madden told Rochester at Home, "from mopping floors, to serving in restaurants, to becoming a respected counselor. I’ve spent years working with the most violent, disturbed families and kids in the system.

"I’ve been in high demand throughout my career, as I’ve worked with the toughest cases. For many years, my specialty was working with emotionally disturbed kids in institutions. I’ve worked in classrooms that many people were too afraid to work in — the kids were too aggressive."

Without cooperation of the school district, it's unclear how long Madden was employed by Byron-Bergen, but according to See Through New York, his tenure goes back to at least 2008 and in 2011 he earned $59,000.

It's unknown to what degree the school district was aware of Madden's work prior to hiring him. The district has been through at least one change in superintendents since he started working there.

Unless the district issues a statement, we also don't know if there other issues, from the district's perspective, involved in the apparent dismissal of Madden.

Madden's personal Web site contains samples of his artwork, which features iconic subjects in surreal circumstances and in themes some may find distasteful.

The fact that not everybody will find his art appealing seems to be fine by Madden. He told Buffalo Rising that he isn't after the same kind of success as a guy who paints puppies.

"For a guy like me -- who does blasphemous, sexually explicit, psycho-representational work -- it's a much bigger deal," Madden said. "I'm not worried about the general public liking my work.

"After all, they haven't voted for a female president yet, so who cares what they think? The general public is stupid. However, the folks who understand my work -- weirdo intelligentsia -- them I care about."

An injured horse, possibly struck by a car, is running down Route 77 near Herkimer Road in Darien. The brown and white horse is said to be hobbling quite a bit as though it has a broken leg. Law enforcement is en route.

UPDATE 3 p.m.: A passerby reported seeing a man wearing an orange hat walking the horse. A person is going to take an officer to the home where he thinks the man took the horse after corraling it.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: The horse was found safe and sound. "It's a lame horse and was never involved in any accident with a vehicle," says the officer.

Press release:

With October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Car Care Month, Grease Lightning auto repair shops are for the third year partnering with AutoTex to sell AutoTex PINK wiper blades in their stores.

With each sale of AutoTex PINK products, a donation will be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The blades can be found locally at: Grease Lightning, 4003 West Main St., 2418 North Main St., Warsaw and at Castrol Premium Lube Express, 50 Liberty St. Batavia and 29 East South St., Geneseo.

AutoTex Pink wiper blades come in black with a pink ribbon insignia or an all pink style

Grease Lightning Founder Ben Thompson is thrilled to be partnering with AutoTex again.

“There is almost no one alive who isn't affected by breast cancer, either personally fighting the deadly disease, or watching a friend or loved one deal with the tragic consequences of breast cancer. Our team is happy to support the cause, and our customers seem happy when they make a purchase -- knowing that they are supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

AutoTex PINK is a women-owned and created company based in Pine Brook, NJ that is among the nation's leading global suppliers of windshield wipers. Get more info at www.autotexpink.com

Grease Lightning is on the Web at mygreaselightning.com

A driver allegedly failed to stop for a red light at the Texeco Town intersection in Pavilion at 1:09 p.m., Sunday, causing an accident that sent three people to area hospitals.

Andre Trepanier, age unknown, of Sainte-Threse, Quebec, Canada, was issued a traffic citation following the accident.

He was transported by Mercy EMS to Erie County Medical Center as was his passenger, Lise Trepanier, 72.

Also injured was Toby S. Emo, 37, of Nunda. Emo was taken to UMMC.

None of the injuries were life threatening.

According to the accident investigation report by Deputy Brad Mazur, Trepanier was westbound on Route 20 when he allegedly failed to stop for a red light. His 2011 Chevy sedan was struck by Emo's 2012 Ford minivan. The minivan then struck a utility pole.

(Initial Report)

Brandon M. Maldonado, 24, of 146 Summit St., Batavia, was arrested on warrants for alleged petit larceny and criminal mischief. Maldonado was located at the scene of the fire Sunday night at 140 Summit St.

Bethani M. Dibble, 20, of 146 Summit St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Dibble allegedly drove her vehicle into the porch and fence of her residence and then left the scene of the accident at 2:38 a.m., Saturday.

Daniel E. King, 36, of 2058 Phelps Road, Basom, is charged with petit larceny and harassment, 2nd. King is accused of stealing a can of Mike's Hard Lemonade from a convenience store on West Main Street and then hitting the store manager when confronted.

Daryl R. Hamler, 18, of 6786 Westcott Road, Le Roy, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Hamler was charged after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana while driving through a DWI checkpoint on Clinton Street.

Alicia M. Stanwick, 21, of 318 E. Main St., Apt. 2, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and inadequate stop lamps. Stanwick was stopped at 1:36 a.m., Sunday, on Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Marc Lawrence.

Katelyn Louise Hodgins, 24, of Pringle Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving left of pavement markings and open container. Hodgins was stopped at 1:17 a.m., Saturday, on Seven Springs Road, Batavia, by Sgt. Greg Walker.

Thomas Allen Pfalzer, 45, of Harper Road, Darien, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving while on a mobile phone, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle and unlawful stopping or parking in the roadway. Pfalzer was allegedly located at 2:04 a.m., Saturday, in his vehicle stopped on Sumner Road, Darien, talking on his mobile phone. Upon investigation by Deputy Jason Saile, Pfalzer was allegedly found to be intoxicated.

Darrell Jerrod Holloway, 44, of Crowydon Road, Rochester, was arrested on a bench warrant for alleged failure to pay a fine. Holloway was taken into custody following his release from the Elmira Correctional Facility, where he was held on an unrelated matter. Holloway was jailed pending a court appearance.

Tyanna Desiree Green, 17, of Lewis Place, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Green allegedly stole two CDs from Kmart.

A stove is reportedly on fire inside the residence at 146 Summit St., Batavia.

City Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 8:47 p.m.: Engine 12 on scene reporting smoke coming from front door. First platoon requested to the scene. Second platoon requested to stand by at fire headquarters.

UPDATE 8:52 p.m.: There is fire reported in the ceiling. A firefighter requests the back windows of the structure be broken out.

UPDATE 8:55 p.m.: A Mercy rig requested to the scene for standby.

UPDATE 9:10 p.m.: National Grid requested to the scene.

UPDATE 9:16 p.m.: Fire under control.

UPDATE 11:08 p.m.: City fire picking up on Summit.

PHOTOS: Submitted by Frank Capuano.

UPDATE: Press release from City fire:

The City of Batavia Fire Department was dispatched at 8:45 pm, Sunday, Sept. 30, to a reported stove fire at 146 Summit St. Engine 11 and Ladder 15 arrived on location at 8:47 p.m. with smoke showing from the front doorway and eaves. All occupants were out of the structure on arrival.

Interior crews found a fire in the kitchen and dining room on the first floor with extension into the ceiling, second floor and attic. The fire was quickly extinguished and salvage and overhaul completed. Damage to the structure and contents is estimate at around $40,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Captain Craig Williams was the incident commander. Assisting at the scene were City of Batavia Fire second-alarm personnel, Genesee County Emergency Management Office, Mercy EMS and National Grid.

The displaced occupants are staying with family members.

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James Pontillo wants to know who dumped 15 black commercial garbage bags in the Dumpster of his property in Stafford.

Pontillo is restoring the old Odd Fellow's Hall, the former location of the Stafford Trading Post, now known as Pontillo's Place, at the corner of Route 237 and Route 5.

He is offering $100 for the arrest and conviction of whomever dumped the garbage bags.

To report any information, the Sheriff's Office can be reached at 585-343-5000.

UPDATE 6:36 p.m.: Pontillo says the matter has been resolved.