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Traffic backed up on Route 63 near Johnny's bar

By Howard B. Owens

Traffic is reportedly at a standstill on Route 63 near Johnny's bar.

Dispatch reports numerous calls, but the dispatcher says, "we're trying to figure out what's going on out there."

Law enforcement is in route.

UPDATE: The situation on Route 63 sounds like a mess. There is a jack-knifed truck holding up traffic, and (unrelated) one truck driver is filing a complaint against another truck driver for assault.

UPDATE 8:10 p.m.: Westbound Route 20 is being closed so that a DOT plow can be extracted from a ditch.

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: Looking at the radar map, the storm is well south of Batavia. The heaviest concentration of snow is falling from Attica up to Bethany. Darien and Alexander are on the border of the storm.

UPDATE 8:44 p.m.: A driver stuck on Richmond Avenue called for a tow. He was told: Four-hour wait.

UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: It sounds like the car mentioned in the update above has been freed from its snow  bank. Also, it sounds like a truck in Pavilion is blocking traffic now.

UPDATE 9:57 p.m.: Route 63 is open again. Also, a law enforcement officer in Texas Town is reporting one of his suspects is eight-months pregnant and is feeling pressure and discomfort. We don't know why she was arrested. She's being taken to UMMC.


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Nobody found in car in rollover on Thruway

By Howard B. Owens

Emergency crews responded to a report of a rollover accident on the Thruway and when they got there, there was nobody in the car and nobody around, but the car was on its roof.

Meanwhile, a semi-truck on Route 33 is reportedly "driving people" off the road. He happens to be heading toward a roadblock set up earlier this evening because of a jack-knifed truck near Seven Springs Road.

Also, inmate trustees are clearing Porter Road so law enforcement has access to the jail.

There continue to be reports of accidents, cars and trucks stuck in various locations.

UPDATE 6:08 p.m.: Route 33 is open.

UPDATE 6:13: Route 19 is open.

Weather Watch: Lake effect storm to linger in area through the evening

By Howard B. Owens

The lake-effect snowstorm hitting Genesee County isn't expected to abate for a few more hours, according to the National Weather Service.

A band of heavy lake-effect snow will continue from the towns south of Buffalo and -east across central and southern Genesee County. Expect this band to remain nearly stationary through early evening before settling farther south into the more distant south-towns later this evening, finally moving out of the area by late evening.

The storm is expected to continue dropping one- to two-inches an hour. Strong winds will create near blizzard conditions.

Meanwhile, there are still lots of drivers out on the roadways and reports continue to pour into the Dispatch Center of cars stuck in ditches.

A travel advisory issued by Sheriff Gary Maha remains in effect, recommending only necessary travel due to weather conditions.

Downtown, it's pretty much white-out conditions now.

Photos: Route 33, Bergen to Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Feeling pretty confident about the ability of my four-wheel drive truck with new all-weather tires, when I left Le Roy this afternoon, I decided to take Route 19 to the Byron-Bergen area and then head back to Batavia.

Route 33 proved to be an adventure. I passed at least four vehicles off the road.  At times visibility was no more than 5 or 10 feet and I had to crawl along at about 5 mph.  

I was surprised at how many people driving just regular passenger vehicles were out on the road after all of the warnings about treacherous conditions.

Visitor booth broken into, apparently for shelter overnight

By Howard B. Owens

The visitor information booth in the parking lot of the Holland Land Office Museum was broken into last night, according to Kelly Rapone, tourism marketing director for the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

Somebody broke a lock to gain entry and then made himself at home.

Nothing was stolen -- there's nothing inside to steal, unless you think you can resell travel brochures.

"We were grateful that it had not been vandalized as we had just refinished the inside this summer," Rapone said.

The lock has been replaced.

Rapone supplied the photo.

"We're not sure what he did with all the Windex!" she said. "That was half full when we locked it up in October."

Weather-related closures announced for hospital, college, library

By Billie Owens

Due to the severe-weather travel advisories and lake-effect snow warnings, the following closures have been reported to us:

United Memorial Medical Center outpatient sites

• Byron Family Care
• Batavia Family Care
• Tountas Family Care
• Tonawanda Seneca Family Care
• The Jerome Center
• Corporate Health
• Pembroke Diagnostics
• LeRoy Diagnostics
• Surgical Practice Office

Patients with appointments for today have been called and will be asked to reschedule.

The Hospital and Emergency Department are open. Please call 9-1-1 for emergency medical attention.

Genesee Community College is closing at 4 p.m. -- no classes for tonight.
http://www.genesee.edu/

The Byron-Bergen Public Library is closed today.

Travel Advisory in effect

By Howard B. Owens

Sheriff Gary Maha has issued a travel advisory for Genesee County.

"No unnecessary travel is advised," Maha said in a statement.

He noted that all roads in Genesee County suffer from poor visibility and slippery conditions due to blowing and drifting snow.

There are several working accidents in the county.

Maha noted this is an advisory and not a ban.

Vehicles off the road, stuck, etc.

By Billie Owens

More traffic woes:

An elderly man was stuck in his vehicle off the roadway, west of Wortendyke and east of Upton roads. But now he's at home and a tow truck is en route to get his car.

There's a vehicle stuck on Main Street in front of the jail in Batavia.

There's a vehicle sticking out into the roadway at Ellicott and Linwood in Batavia.

Big-rig in ditch in Pembroke.

Kids throwing snowballs at cars

By Billie Owens

As if things weren't bad enough out there, youths are reported to be disrupting traffic, throwing snowballs at vehicles near Washington Avenue and Ellicott Street.

(Law enforcement and emergency crews are swamped and now someone has to deal with this, too.)

Avoid Thruway, white-out conditions; accident westbound near Batavia exit

By Billie Owens

There's a motor-vehicle accident with injuries on the Thruway in the westbound lane about a half-mile from the Batavia exit (mile marker 389 and a half, east of the Route 48 interchange). Emergency crews are responding.

Reader Dan Jones unfortunately is driving on the Thruway and called to say: "Tell your readers to stay the hell off the road."

Also, there's a car off the road at Pearl and Lover's Lane.

And intermittant power outages are wreaking havor with some communications, including being able to book people at the jail.

You know it's bad weather when a responder tells dispatch: "I think I'm on location."

UPDATE (by Howard): Picture above sent in from Dan Jones depicting the white out conditions on the Thruway.

Unnamed tipster leads investigators to suspected meth lab in Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

About two months ago, local law enforcement received a tip from an unnamed informant that methamphetamine was being manufactured and sold out of a home in Le Roy.

This morning at 6:15 the officers from Le Roy, Genesee County, State Police and the DEA raided a home at 28 Clay St. and arrested five people.

"It took some time to develop probable cause for a search warrant," Sheriff Gary Maha said at a press conference this morning.

The five people arrested at the house have not been formerly charged yet. They will be arraigned later today in Le Roy Town Court.

Taken into custody were:

  • Kari L. Riggi, 21, of 28 Clay St.
  • Koree R. Stephenson, 22, 14 St. Marks St., Le Roy
  • Christopher J. Elmore, 31, 14 St. Marks St.
  • Nathan D. Bernard, 21, 28 Clay St.
  • Joshua A. Miller, 20, 51 Myrtle St.

Maha described the lab found in the house as a working meth lab and that it was larger than the one allegedly found in Alabama last month.

"That was a little bit of a surprise to us," Maha said. "We didn’t expect it to be as large, so that’s why it will take a little bit more time for clean up."

Agents will be on scene all day, he said, and a clean-up crew that specializes in this sort of hazardous material clean up for law enforcement will arrive from Pennsylvania this afternoon.

The alleged lab was located in the attic and, according to Maha, there was also a quantity of finished product in the house.

Le Roy Chief Chris Hayward said his department believes some of the meth was being distributed in Le Roy, but some of it may have been going into other communities as well. He said where it was being distributed is unclear at this time.

Hayward said this is the first known meth lab found in the Village.

"Over the last 18 or 24 months I've been on public record as saying we have a growing problem in this community and we've been taking steps to address it," Hayward said. "If nothing else, this demonstrates to the community that there is a problem here that we need to address."

Hayward said he believes three of the five individuals grew up in Le Roy and another has lived in the Village for a decade or so. Police have also responded to 28 Clay on calls unrelated to the suspected meth labe, Hayward said.

The Drug Enforcement Agency also participated in the investigation, but has not yet decided whether to file federal charges against the suspects. In the Alabama/Batavia case, the three individuals arrested were immediately arraigned on federal charges, which carry stiffer penalties. Maha said then that the DEA was brought in to send a clear message that meth manufacturing won't be tolerated in Genesee County.

Five arrested in Le Roy in connection with possible meth lab

By Howard B. Owens

Five people were taken into custody this morning in connection with a suspected meth lab at 28 Clay St., Le Roy, the Sheriff's Office announced this morning.

At 6:15 a.m., the Sheriff's Office, Le Roy Police Department and State Police executed a search warrant at the Clay Street address.

No further details have been released at this time. Sheriff Gary Maha and Chief Chris Hayward are holding a joint press conference at 11 a.m.

Sun out in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

The sun is out in Oakfield, at least for now.

More pictures after the jump:

Roundabout plowed

By Howard B. Owens

I keep hearing all over town -- "they're never going to be able to plow that thing," or "I can't wait to see a plow try to go through that thing."

Well, when I stopped by about an hour ago, it was plowed and a truck was even making it through.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens when there's real snow accumulation.

Also, below, picture of a woman in Batavia shoveling her walk.

Top Items on Batavia's List

Town Court Clerk Below are two lists: one details the myriad responsibilities that fall within the purview of the court clerk; the other summarizes the knowledge and abilities that court clerks possess or acquire through training. These lists are provided so that a judge and municipality can intelligently discuss the benefits that a court clerk can provide. The items below can also form the basis for a list of job duties should a municipality need to fill a vacancy in a court clerk position. Primary Responsibilities A. Maintain confidentiality of records and information when required to do so B. Prepare court calendar C. Collect monies, reconcile daily receipts, deposit receipts, prepare reports for monthly disbursements, reconcile bank accounts, and prepare administrative reports D. Enter convictions on drivers' licenses and prepare conviction reports electronically transmitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles E. Enter criminal conviction on NCIC reports and electronically send same to Division of Criminal Justice Services F. Respond to inquiries-in person, by phone, by e-mail and by mail-and provide assistance to lawyers, litigants, media, and members of the public G. Prepare monthly reports that are electronically sent to the Office of the State Comptroller H. Prepare orders, summonses, warrants and other court forms i. Communicate with outside agencies in order to coordinate the Court's activities and provide services to litigants. Such agencies include: ii. Law enforcement agencies, such as local police departments, New York State Police, Sheriffs office, FBI and CIA, US Armed Forces, and the Office of the District Attorney; I. Other courts, including superior courts and other local town and village courts; and i. Miscellaneous county agencies, such as Community Service, Community Dispute Resolution Center, Pre-trial Release, Probation, Stop DWI program, Victim Impact Panel, and Youth Court. ii. State agencies that require periodic reporting, including the New York State Unified Court System, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Office of the State Comptroller, the Division of Criminal Justice Services, and the Office of Court Record Retention. J. Examine court documents to ensure their accuracy and completeness K. Receive and file summonses, traffic tickets and other documents for court proceedings i. Assist the Justice at the bench during all Court proceedings Knowledge of: 1. The functions and organization of the Unified Court System ii. Basic legal terminology, codes and abbreviations iii. Court forms, practices and procedures, including those set forth in the Uniform Justice Court Act and the Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts (22 NYCRR Part 214) 2. Ability to: i. Prepare judicial orders and decisions ii. Effectively communicate information orally and in writing iii. File and retrieve materials, extract data from various sources for entry onto court form iv. Research and interpret laws outlined in court documents and litigants' motions and other papers v. Perform mathematical tasks in order to compile court activity reports, total receipts, accept payments, and verify bills vi. Refer to appropriate documents, statutes, citations or other sources in order to respond to specific questions from attorneys, litigants and members of the general public vii. Interpret policies, statutes, rules and regulations and apply them in specific contexts viii. Establish work priorities ix. Constructively manage conflict with court users Qualifications: Highschool diploma recognized by the NYS Dept of Education or appropriate equivalent. Along with 4 years of college, specialization in criminal justice, law, business administration or related field. -OR- 2 years college with specialization in Business Administration or related field. Please email your resume to abrownell@townofbatavia.com no later than 12/16/2024. Pay is based on experience.
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