Sheriff's deputies are responding to Stringham Drive where a huge garage sale is apparently causing traffic and parking problems.

Some people have apparently parked in such a way as to potentially block the fire trucks at the Town of Batavia fire station at the intersection with Clinton Street Road. Those cars may be towed.

It appears that when Mother Nature heard that "Make a Splash at Your Library" was going to be the theme of the Haxton Memorial Library's upcoming summer reading program, she took it a bit too literally.

Interim Library Director and Children's Librarian Kimberly Gibson met with a surprise when she came into work on Monday morning. She went downstairs to the children's room, followed by a group of youngsters eager for story hour...only to find the place flooded up to her ankles.

She called in Warren's Carpet Cleaning Service to take care of the problem -- which was no easy task.

"It took two full days to to dry the place out," Gibson said. "And they had to use 10 huge blowers and two humungous dehumidifiers."

The water extended from it's point of origin (which is inside the room slightly right of center, behind the table) all the way to the carpet used for story hours and also sideways to where the stairs are located.

The Warren's employees on the job told Gibson it was lucky she contacted them when she did, because the humidity was already at a very dangerous level.

"We probably would have lost all of our carpeting and everything if we'd waited much longer," Gibson said.

Things could have been a lot worse, and the place is steadily drying out. The saddest part of this whole ordeal for Gibson, though, is that she had just purchased 22 ocean-related books for the summer reading program, and 13 of them were completely ruined.

"I don't think we're going to be able to salvage them," she said. "It's crushing, because I worked so hard to plan these programs, and I bought these books because I thought the kids would really like them. In fact I was just getting ready to put them on display."

The flooding resulted from this past weekend's continual torrential rain -- which, according to Library Trustee Ann Engel, Oakfield residents are saying amounted to about two and a half inches.

Gibson said the same thing happened six years ago.

"We've been lucky not to have anything happen in six years," she said. "But this time it was worse than before."

In spite of this misfortune, Gibson has tried to remain upbeat and to keep her leadership mentality all along. After the initial shock of discovery on Monday morning, she immediately resolved to "just stay focused and get things taken care of as soon as possible." 

"She's a trooper," another library trustee said of Gibson.

Still, Gibson, the library's two other staff members, and the board of trustees would gladly accept any assistance the community would be willing to provide. Gibson said that monetary donations would be especially helpful.

"We have a small budget here at Haxton, and this is obviously going to cost more money than we had planned on spending. With the cost of the books [that were ruined] and the bill for Warren's services, we would certainly welcome any monetary assistance."

The Haxton Library has basic insurance, but they are hoping that they will not need to turn to that to pay for the damages.

"We have a $2,500 deductible," Gibson said, "so we don't want to go to our insurance unless we have to. We don't know what the overall cost will be yet, but hopefully it won't exceed that. Plus, I'm not sure if flood damage is covered, since that kind of thing is fairly unusual in this area of the country."

Gibson arranged for all children's activities to be held upstairs this week, but she hopes to have the children's room open to patrons again on Monday.

A van fire has been reported in the area of mile marker 396.1 of the Thruway.

Several callers reported the fire.

East Pembroke and Town of Batavia have been dispatched.

A chief reports the fire was knocked down with available fire extinguishers while awaiting fire truck response, but the fire is starting to go again.

UPDATE 3:56 p.m.: Traffic is stopped in the westbound direction.

UPDATE 5:27 p.m.: Fire units cleared the scene some time ago and traffic is starting to flow again. Photo by Destin Danser.

While police investigators have concluded the Wiard Plow factory fire was intentionally set and they have at least two suspects, no arrests have been made yet.

"We're still trying to nail down a few things," said Det. Kevin Czora, who has been leading the investigation.

A number of youths may have been involved in setting both fires in the historic factory building on May 8. The first fire did little damage and was put out quickly. The second fire several hours later leveled the back part of the old brick, steel and wooden structure.

At least one person was present at the ignition of both fires, Czora said.

Czora said he doesn't know why the youths set the blaze.

They may have used accelerants to help push along the second fire, but lab results are not back yet.

After the State's fire dog, "Shadow," alerted on chemicals on the old factory floor, investigators attempted to gather traces of whatever chemicals were on the floor to send to a crime lab.

Detectives conducted numerous interviews over the past several weeks, Czora said. The interviews were key both in identifying suspects and corroborating statements.

In a release about the investigation earlier today, the PD said evidence used to crack the case included "electronic" evidence. Asked if that meant phone calls or text messages or cell phone photos, Czora just said, "communications."  He said the communications included suspects and witnesses.

The youths apparently entered the factory buildings without permission on dates previous to the fire, Czora said.

The case has taken a long time to develop to this point, Czora said, because investigators are trying document as many details as possible.

"Because of the scope -- the evidence, the witnesses, the suspects -- we just needed to make sure we investigated thoroughly and completely so as to make sure nothing is unidentified or missing from the investigation," Czora said.

It will be up to County Attorney Charles Zambito to file charges once the investigation is complete, and the youths will be dealt with in family court.

City Fire is responding to a report of a "toxic odor" in the area of the Sugar Creek Store, 189 Pearl St., Batavia.

Engine 12 is responding "non-emergency" to investigate.

UPDATE 12:07: We've not heard any more about this.

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I was out on a story that didn't pan out this morning, but being out and about a little earlier than usual, I was struck how great the sky looked to the east, so I decided to drive out that way in search of photo opportunities. The better light was probably 30 or 45 minutes earlier before I got to any place worth taking pictures, but here are three photos from my short drive.

Above a group of barns on Britt Road near Warner Road.

I was struck by these two bare trees in an emerging cornfield.

Douglas Lake on Route 237.

Kevin Andrew Hinca, 18, of Brunswick Road, Depew, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Hinca was reportedly on a 12-grade field trip from a high school in Erie County to Darien Lake. He was allegedly found at Darien Lake in possession of hydrocodone and MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy.

James Thomas Pero, 18, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Pero was allegedly found in possession of marijuana in the parking lot of Batavia High School following a random sniff search with the Sheriff's Office K-9. The search was conducted at the invitation of the school.

Megan T. Suttell, 20, of Oakfield, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Suttell was cited by State Police at 12:25 a.m., Thursday. No further details were released.

Unidentified juveniles are being blamed for the fire that destroyed a portion of the Wiard Plow factory building on May 8.

Following a weeks-long investigation, Batavia Police detectives have concluded the fire was arson.

In a news release this morning, the department said numerous interviews of suspects and witnesses as well as electronic and physical evidence led to the identification of the suspects.

Because of their age, the case against the suspects will be referred to family court, where defendants names are kept confidential.

Oliver's Candies, 211 W. Main St., Batavia, NY. Oliver's, a Batavia landmark, offers the finest chocolate and confections in the area. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Matty's Pizzeria, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Matty's is another Batavia favorite for pizza and wings. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Center Street Smoke House, 20 Center St., Batavia, NY: Authentic Southern BBQ, from ribs to brisket with all the fixin's. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern, 107 Evans St., Batavia, NY: To me, Delavan's is one of those restaurants where you want to eat frequently until you try everything on the menu. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Settler's Restaurant, 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.

Margarita's Mexican Restaurant, 15 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: When you're looking for an authentic Mexican meal, Margarita's is the place to go. The food and atmosphere are perfect and the service is always outstanding. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Stafford Trading Post, 6173 Main Road, Stafford, NY: Lunch or dinner, Stafford Trading Post offers a variety of fresh, homemade meals, as well as snacks and drinks. Now in a new, expanded location. We have a $25 gift card 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 $20 gift card for $10.

Alex's Place, 8322 Park Road, Batavia, NY: People come from all over the region for a fine dining experience at Alex's. It's best known for its ribs, of course, but Alex's seafood is also a favorite of the restaurant's diners. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Larry's Steakhouse, 60 Main St., Batavia, NY: The name says it all -- Larry's is a great place for steak. Larry's has a fine dining atmosphere with a great menu and outstanding service. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Main St. Pizza Company, 206 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: Pizza, wings, subs and even hamburgers and hot dogs, Main St. Pizza makes everything deliciously. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

NOTE: If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

SOLD OUT

A three-, possibly four-vehicle, accident is at 7635 Oak Orchard Road. There's one minor injury reported and gas leakage from one or more of the vehicles.

A  two- vehicle accident is reported at Transit and Byron-Elba Road (Route 262). There are minor injuries. Elba fire and Mercy EMS are responding.

A two-vehicle accident is reported at Sumner and Colby roads in Darien. A teen driver has a head laceration and a baby was thrown from the car seat, but not ejected from the vehicle. No other information available.

Darien Fire and Mercy EMS are responding.

With summer less than two weeks away, farm-grown fruits and vegetables will soon be in plentiful supply at Batavia’s Genesee Country Farmers’ Market. The popular open-air market begins its 2010 season this Tuesday, June 15, in the parking lot at Batavia Downs Casino.

In addition to farm-fresh produce, the market will also feature home-baked goods like bread, rolls, pastries, pies and muffins.

Member wineries of the Niagara Wine Trail will once again offer a wide variety of local wines to taste and purchase. And a new addition this year is a lunch wagon serving sandwiches, drinks and desserts. About 20 vendors are expected to participate.

In making the announcement, Market Manager Paul Fenton said “We are looking forward to our third season at Batavia Downs Casino. It’s an easily accessible spot for all of our customers and is convenient for the many patrons of The Downs, too.

"We are proud of the fact that we are a grower’s market and everything we sell is grown by our vendors.”

The market will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday through Oct. 29.

The ongoing investigation into the 2005 murder of Bill Fickel is moving forward, there have been new leads, but the case is far from solved.

Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office is obviously reluctant to discuss details, but he said that recent leads "take us in a direction we want to go."

Lisa Fickel said she's heard news from the Sheriff's Office that indicate new progress is being made.

"It makes me hopeful," she said.

But both Brewster and Fickel said nobody should expect an arrest any time soon.

By now, most Genesee County residents know the story of Bill Fickel's murder.

At about 8:30 p.m., Nov. 10, 2005, Lisa saw a flatbed truck back into their driveway. She told Bill she thought somebody was there to look at the van they had for sale. Bill put on his shoes, grabbed a flashlight and headed outside with their dog. Lisa, who was in the kitchen of their Burns Road home, heard two shots. She ran outside just in time to see the truck driving away. She found her husband lying the the driveway. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Bill Fickel was 46 years old at the time of his death.

Lisa said the Sheriff's Office remains in constant contact with her as investigators continue to work the case. She put up billboards, especially in Orleans County, asking anybody with information to call the Sheriff's Office.

Brewster said even with new leads, it's a complicated investigation. He compared it the Scott Doll case, where investigators had a blood-covered suspect caught near the scene of the night of the murder, but getting a conviction was still no easy process.

"Here we have the complexity of gathering evidence five years later," Brewster said.

That evidence includes DNA evidence, he said. He said every two weeks the Sheriff's Office gets its turn to run DNA evidence from the Fickel case through the national DNA database. If a suspect were to be convicted of a crime in New York, the rest of the U.S. or Canada, his DNA would eventually wind up in the databank and perhaps a match would result.

"We are making progress," Brewster said. "We continue to work the case. We are hopeful, but we're not about to make an arrest."

Brewster asks that anyone with any information that might help in the case should call the Sheriff's Office at (585) 345-3000.

A two-car accident with a minor injury is reported at East Main and Clinton streets. It is in near Aldi's market and is blocking traffic. City fire and Mercy EMS are on scene.

Genesee County Democrats have agreed to line up behind local author and Bergen resident Chris Barons, better known on The Batavian by his pen name, C.M. Barons.

The Democrats picked Barons to face off against popular Republican incumbent Steve Hawley in the 139th Assembly District.

Mike Ranzenhofer, a first-term Republican who represents Genesee County in the Senate, will face a committee-endorsed challenger.

The Democrats announced that Marc Coppola will get their support. Coppola has held a State Senate seat previously.

From the Democrat's release:

Barons met with the committee at their May meeting. In an open letter to county Democrats Barons said, "My bottom line is dialogue -- dialogue with local governments, constituents and ultimately with fellow assembly members. It is time to put aside blame and get down to the business of making New York State government function again. I am committed to that task."

County Chairwoman Lorie Longhany said, "We’re very excited to have the opportunity to give voters a real choice. We’re fielding excellent candidates and I think people are going to be proud to vote the Democratic line from top to bottom this November."

Both candidates were endorsed unanimously.

A dump truck has apparently partially rolled over on Route 33 near Jericho Road, Bergen.

It is on two wheels and entangled in cable and phone lines.

The driver is out of the vehicle and no injuries are reported.

Bergen Fire is responding and advised to use caution.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: Phone company is on scene.

Colleen Fisher just may be the most popular Prom Queen ever selected at Oakfield-Alabama High School.

In a landslide of ballot votes, the 18-year-old garnered all but about two votes to be crowned at the junior/senior prom held at Stafford Country Club.

She is a graduating senior, very well liked, who happens to have Down syndrome.

“She is a wonderful young girl,” said High School Principle Lynn Muscarella.

Colleen’s teacher says Colleen’s thrilled with the honor.

“She’s on Cloud 9,” teacher Adrienne Fuore told Muscarella. “Being named Prom Queen has made her whole year.”

And it has been a busy one. She studies basic life skills for a half-day, then takes vocational classes --called the West Program – at Boces.

In addition, she’s been active in Drama Club and this year she started learning how to play clarinet.

For the spring musical presention, the musicians all learned a song that Colleen could perform on her clarinet. It was the traditional standard “Hot Cross Buns.” She also played the final song with the group and the audience was delighted.

“I’ve never seen or heard of anyone with Down syndrome being named Prom Queen,” Muscarella said. “I am just so proud of my kids here. It tells you a lot about them.”

Colleen's mother, Dawn Fisher, said the event was the highlight of her daughter's senior year.

"She was excited about the prom in general, about life, and when she won she yelled 'I won!'" Dawn said. "It is awesome that the kids chose her. They recognized her. It was very selfless of them."

Prom royalty pictured on top, from left: Princess Randi Zakes, Prince Nathan Klos, Queen Colleen Fisher and King Kevin Beuler.

Inset above, the royal couple, King Kevin and Queen Colleen.

Oakfied resident Jim Beverly is a dog lover who has always wondered what his dogs were thinking -- or what they would say if they could talk.

And as an animal trainer who has four-legged hunting partners, he thought it would be interesting to produce a DVD that would use his talents, teach people something and be amusing, too.

So he created what he dubbed the "Fun DVD," which he is selling to help the Batavia City Church finish its kitchen project in the Generation Center. He is a member of the congregation. The rest of the money will go to Roswell Cancer Institute in Buffalo where his wife has been treated for a rare form of the disease.

"My mission in life is to help anyone I can with the talents and opportunities that God has entrusted me with," Beverly said. "The more pictures I looked at and the situations the dog was exposed to, the more I started imagining some funny remarks or thoughts that that particular animal may have had at the time.

"It's amazing at some of the things we demand and ask of our four-legged hunting partner."

Although his education is in marketing and engineering, his passion is retrievers and waterfowl hunting.

He has learned that a dog is a never-ending learning experience and it can always keep you on your toes.

"My filming project is going to be a down-to-earth retriever training DVD focusing on the everyday retriever owner and my techniques God has blessed me with. ... The education, experience and faith that I have is what has allowed me to be in the top of my profession.

There may be nothing quite like this DVD on the market. Beverly has done very little editing in order to show different personalities of dogs and how to deal with the training issues of each one.

"As I tell young people that happen to be attending any of my appearances, I did not take dog training 101, but a good education is the first step toward being able to choose what you want to do rather than being forced into something just to earn a living."

The DVD can be ordered directly from Beverly. Cost is $18, including shipping. His phone number is (716) 474-4661.

Beverly is working on another video that he plans to release next year.

Paula Ann Kingdollar, 41, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with issuing a bad check. Kingdollar is accused of writing a check on a closed account in September, 2009, at a business in Corfu.

Joshua Paul Piscitelli, 25, of Eagle Harbor Road, Albion, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Piscitelli was stopped by Deputy James Diehl at 9:34 p.m., Wednesday for an alleged traffic violation on Quaker Hill Road in Elba.

James A. Mitchell, 32, of 3 Maple Ave., Le Roy, is charged criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. He was arrested by Le Roy Police.

Anthony J. Donoghue, 27, of 6 School St., Le Roy, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of stolen property, 5th, and possession of an altered vehicle document. Donoghue was arrested by Patrolman Daryl Robb of the Le Roy Police Department. It was alleged that Donoghue unlawfully possessed one license plate and one vehicle registration belonging to another and also that he altered the vehicle registration.

Two youths from the Town of Batavia were arrested by State Police and charged with criminal mischief. One youth is 16 and the other is 12. Both are males. The alleged incident occurred at 5:31 p.m., March 25. The alleged incident occurred in the area of 8792 Haven Lane, Batavia. No further details were released.

Accidents from the State Police blotter:

2:08 p.m., June 8, Morganville Road, Stafford, three vehicles; Driver 1: Dianne D. Callisher, 51, Batavia; Driver 2: Craig A. Tiberio-Shepherd, 20, of Le Roy; a third driver was not identified. No injuries reported.

5:15 p.m., June 7, West Saile Drive, Town of Batavia, two vehicles: Driver 1: Joni L. Brown, 20, of Batavia; Driver 2: Dodie L. Keller, 39, of Akron. One injury reported.