batavia

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at 229 W. Main Street, in front of Ken Barrett's car dealership. It is blocking traffic. City fire is on scene along with police. Mercy medics are also responding.

Duane Lewis Garlow, 29, of 110 Woodcroft Drive, Rochester, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unreasonable speed in a curve and unsafe lane change. Garlow was charged following a motor-vehicle accident at 12:33 a.m., on Perry Road, Le Roy. Garlow's vehicle reportedly struck a stop sign and utility pole after failing to negotiate a curve in the roadway. The accident was investigated by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

Emma Jean Brinkman, 58, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Brinkman is accused of shoplifting from Walmart and stealing $43.23 in merchandise.

Eva Gristina Hernandez, 23, of Spencer Court, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Hernandez is accused of shoplifting from Kmart and stealing $41.58 merchandise.

Long lines formed at the Batavia Post Office today.

According to Darlene Sharping, who has been at the customer service desk for 14 years, the Batavia Post Office has been one busy place for the last three weeks.

Today the wait in line was about 20 minutes. Some people walked in and walked out, while others braved the line and waited. 

Marybeth Bowen needed to mail a large envelope for $1.90, but did not have enough stamps. She had six but needed eight. In the Christmas spirit, another woman who was waiting in line to mail a lot of packages, volunteered to mail her envelope so she would not have to wait in line for stamps.

Sal Oddo, who has worked behind the customer service desk for 35 years here in Batavia says tomorrow is the last day to mail out packages to places like Florida or California. Anything after tomorrow might not make it in time for Christmas.

If you are mailing in the Northeast the last day is Thursday.

The Batavia Post Office will be open from 9-5 during the week.

Boxes were the theme in line today.

Even though the lines were long most people seemed to be in the Christmas spirit.

Stephanie Ann Bonin, 19, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th. Bonin was arrested following an incident reported at 1:24 p.m., Dec. 6, at 4330 Commerce Drive, Batavia. She was allegedly found in possession of an expandable metal baton in her purse.

Joshua John Lein, 34, of Kibbe Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Lein was stopped at 1:12 a.m., Saturday, on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Raymond W. Schramm, 27, of East Pembroke, and Marla A. Mugler, 24, of Batavia, are each charged with harassment, 2nd. Schramm and Mugler were arrested by State Police in connection with an alleged incident reported at 3:45 p.m., Dec. 9. No further details released.

The City of Batavia Fire Department is on scene at Bank of America, 100 Main St., for the odor of  natural gas.

Fire crews have been on scene for about 20 minutes and have detected some levels of CO on the first floor and in the basement. A crew on the roof has detected the same smell there and they are shutting down the heating/cooling system.

UPDATE 8:52 a.m.: City fire has cleared the building of CO and levels are down to zero.They have isolated the problem to the heating units on the roof and all of the heating and cooling units have been shut down until maintenance arrives. Engine 12 will remain on scene until they arrive.

UPDATE: 9:06 a.m.: Engine 12 has now cleared the scene and is back in service.

Piper McBride, 2,of LeRoy, wondering what to tell Santa.

Supper with Santa, a St. Joseph's School event, has been bringing families and their children together for the Christmas season for over ten years.  Kids of all ages enjoyed some pizza, making cookies, creating ornaments, visiting with Santa and a little live caroling with Kay McMahon and Bill McDonald.

At the end of the night children ate their cookies and had a cup of hot chocolate.

Kay McMahon of the Old Hippies and Bill McDonald of the Ghost Riders, sing a few Christmas songs with the kids as they wait in line to talk to Santa.

Kaitlin Kratz, 6, of Batavia, frosting a cookie to go along with her cup of hot chocolate.

The man who might be described as Batavia's most wanted fugitive has been taken into custody this morning.

Dashawn Butler, 34, was arrested at 8:45 a.m. when police located him at 38 Walnut St., Batavia, while assisting NYS Parole with another person sought by parole officers.

His is charged with a felony stemming from an alleged shots-fired incident Sept. 27 on State Street. He's also a person of interest in a report of shots fired Oct. 8 on Jackson Street.

Butler was taken into custody without incident, Officer Eric Hill said, arraigned in City Court and jailed on $25,000 bail or $50,000 bond.

The investigation is continuing.

UPDATE: According to a press release from Batavia PD, investigators received information that Butler might be at 38 Walnut with Harvey Lockhart, 31, who was wanted by NYS Parole. Butler is accused of firing a handgun at another person at 117 State St. Police received several tips after police released information that there was a warrant out for Butler's arrest. Butler is charged with reckless endangerment, 1st, a Class D felony, and criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C felony, and second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor. "This arrest is the result of good police work, cooperation amongst police agencies and citizen input," said Chief Shawn Heubusch. "This type of criminal activity will not be tolerated in the City. Every resident deserves to live in a safe neighborhood and be able to walk the streets without fear. The witnesses and residents who assisted the officers with piecing this case together should be commended for their actions. Every bit of information was valuable during this investigation." Additional tips can be called into Batavia PD through 9-1-1 or the department's confidential tip line at (585) 345-6370.

It is the largest grant Care-A-Van Ministries has ever received from the Walmart Foundation.

On hand to present the $60,000 grant check to Care-A Van Ministries was Jason Klipa, director of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Walmart. Klipa says the Walmart Foundation awards grants twice a year and today's grant award was part of the Foundation's Hunger Program.

"It's a great way to give back to the Batavia Community and Care-A-Van Ministries is an amazing operation," Klipa says.

Paul Ohlson, president of Care-A-Van Ministries, says in the past year they were able to feed about 5,000 people. He has been operating the mobile food pantry to deliver free groceries, hope and prayer to those in need for about 13 years.

The grant awarded today will help not only in purchasing food products but replacing aging equipment on their fleet of vehicles and maintaining them.

Ohlson says, "This will go beyond the food, our vehicles are the heart of our ministry. God always provides us with what we need."

Ohlson giving a tour to Walmart Foundation representatives.

Pictured from left, Paul Ohlson, Care-A-Van Ministries president, Al Maiorino, president Public Strategy Group, and Jason Klipa, director of Public Affairs & Government Relations for Walmart.

From The Batavian's news partner, WBTA:

Batavia Middle School and the high school are OPEN. 

The announcement was made by School Superintendent Christopher Dailey shortly before 6 a.m. this morning in a voice mail message to parents.

Batavia's First Presbyterian Church will be alive with rousing holiday spirit when "Christmas with Vox, a Festival of Carols" comes around on Friday, Dec. 20.

"Vox Lumine," a professional chorus group made up of 25 members from all over Western and Central New York, is performing for the public free of charge at the church, at 300 E. Main St. in Batavia.

Ann Emmans, minister of music at First Presbyterian, says this is going to be "the church's gift to the community."

"We had ('Vox Lumine') at the church for a concert in May," Emmans said, "and it was delightful.  We thought, 'What would be more wonderful than to have them back for Christmas?' "

Costs are being covered by the church's memorial donation funds from the last few years.

The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. and will probably run about an hour and a half, according to "Vox Lumine" first tenor Mark Ross.

A reception with Christmas cookies and punch will follow in the church's fellowship area.

The performance will feature 17 Christmas songs, including classics such as "Carol of the Bells" and "Joy to the World" and lesser know works, as well as pieces with different ethnic backgrounds (including Polish and Italian).

Emmans stressed that the music is "non-commercial" and has a "sacred character."

"It's more about the joy of the season," she said.

"(The Christmas season) is a time when people appreciate music even more than they normally do," Ross said, "because it's associated with the events of the holiday."

"Vox Lumine" was formed in March 2010 by founder and director Brandon Johnson, D.M.A, director of choral activities at Houghton College.

Ross, of Batavia, said they have done concerts as far east as Ithaca and as far west as Orchard Park.

Because members live in scattered locations (the member living at the farthest distance from Batavia is from Syracuse), Johnson sends the music to each of them individually. They will come together in two rehearsals between now and Dec. 20 to "meld" (in Emmans' words) what they have learned together. So each will quite literally bring his/her own voice to the performance.

A Houghton graduate, a member of First Presbyterian Church for 41 years and currently commissioned lay pastor at Stone Church Presbyterian in Bergen, Ross is very happy to be a part of the upcoming performance. It coincides with his retirement from New York Central Mutual Insurance, where he worked for 27 years as an insurance adjustor.

"It's a wonderful combination," he said with a smile on his face.

For more information, call the church at 343-0505 or e-mail Emmans at HEmmans@aol.com.

Pictured Emmans and Ross at the First Presbyterian Church sanctuary.

Top photo submitted by Mark Ross.

Samuel R. Smith, 27, of Townline Road, Bergen, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Smith was allegedly involved in a motor vehicle accident at 9:22 a.m., Sunday, and his children, ages 7 months and 3, were not secured in any sort of child restraint in the back seat at the time of the collision. The arrest report did not indict whether the children were injured or not.

Amanda Ann Mull, 29, of Mill Street, Akron, was arrested on bench warrants related to charges for aggravated unlicensed operation and following too closely. Mull is accused of failure to appear on the charges. She was arrested following her release from the Erie County Jail where she was held on unrelated charges. She was arraigned in Town of Batavia court jailed on $300 cash bail or $500 bond.

The Baby Jesus that was reported missing from a manger scene at All Babies Cherished yesterday has been found.

A woman who read about the missing Baby Jesus on The Batavian yesterday told her husband about the incident when he arrived home from work last evening. The woman's husband said he spotted it in a bush near a snowbank on Hutchins Street on his way home. He then went to Hutchins Street and retrieved the plastic Baby Jesus.

Tammy Arneth, executive director of All Babies Cherished, says the Batavia couple plans on returning the Baby Jesus to the nativity scene at 445 Ellicott St. on Thursday.

Sheriff's Office K-9 "Pharoah" is nearing the end of this career, and while he no longer works every day, he is available when needed and handler Brian Thompson hopes that's the case until October of 2014.

Pharoah's successor, Destro, and new handler Deputy Chris Erion, graduate from the K-9 Academy on Dec. 17.

The former Niagara County police dog was recently recertified, Thompson said, and that certification expires in October.

Thompson said it will be good for Destro to work with the older, more experienced dog once in awhile, and besides, Pharoah does like to work. It will drive him a little crazy just to sit at home.

"I'll have to work with him more in my off time," Thompson said. "Not letting him work would be like putting an ADD child in a room with one block and telling him to have fun."

Pharoah was put to work today when K-9s from the State Police and Livingston County were not available to help search for a burglary suspect on Batavia Bethany Townline Road.

A house was broken into and the homeowner returned to the burglary in progress and only heard the back door close as he entered the house.

Deputies were on scene quickly, but no suspect was spotted.

Thompson said he found only one possible suspect footprint and Pharoah didn't pick up a scent trail to follow. Thompson said it's probable that the burglary had a car nearby and was able to make a quick exit from the area.

"He's a good dog," Thompson said. "He's ready to work if he's needed. He would have found this guy if he was out there to find."

What's missing from this picture? Try, Baby Jesus.

Believe it or not, somebody actually stole Baby Jesus from the nativity on the steps of All Babies Cherished at 445 Ellicott St., Batavia.

Director Tammy Arneth's one wish for Christmas is just to get the Baby Jesus back.

"We survive just on donations," Arneth said. "I need to spend our money on diapers and baby formula. I can't justify buying another Baby Jesus."

All Babies Cherish is a faith-based organization that is supported by local churches. The goal is to assist women who have chosen to give birth to a child rather than get an abortion.

Arneth has been with the agency for 15 years.

She's shocked that somebody would steal their Baby Jesus. While she filed a police report, she said she isn't looking to get anybody in trouble. She would just like to see Baby Jesus returned.

(NOTE: This is among the stories lost to a server glitch. I was able to recover a copy of the story from Google's cache, but the original group of comments are lost.)

Pamela Morrow, 53, of Linwood Road, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. At 8:35 p.m., Sunday, Sheriff's Dispatch received reports of an erratic driver heading west on Route 5 through the City of Batavia. The car reportedly moved right several times and struck curbing. A witness reported the car turning left on Park Road about the time Sgt. Ron Meides was leaving the Sheriff's Office complex, though Meides did not see the vehicle. The car proceeded to the Batavia Downs parking lot where Meides located the car a short time later. Two witnesses told Meides that they had seen the car strike two parked vehicles before parking. Meides located Morrow inside Batavia Downs and brought her back to the car.

Frank Lynn Morrison, 32, of Bridge Road, Elba, is charged with sexual abuse, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Morrison is accused of subjecting a female child under age 14 to sexual contact. Morrison was jailed on $15,000 bail.

Lorraine Ellen Pillo, 48, of Summit Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Pillo is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

Marion Jermaine Spivey, 31, of Elmhurst Place, Buffalo, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Spivey is accused of punching another person in the face while at the Clarion Hotel in Batavia at 6 p.m., Nov. 30.

Kevin J. Compton, 52, of Clipnock Road, East Bethany, is charged with resisting arrest and harassment, 2nd. Compton was arrested by State Police for an alleged incident reported at 4:56 p.m., Nov. 24. No further details released.

The Batavia Boys basketball team beat Williamsville South today in a game scheduled as part of the Niagara Falls Cataract City Classic, an invitational tournament for the top prep teams in WNY.

Jeff Redband led the Blue Devils to a 58-46 win with 18 points. Justice Fagan contributed 13 and Malachi Chenault added 11.

Batavia jumped out to an early 34-18 lead, but the game tightened in the 4th period with Williamsville closing in at 40-35. From there, Batavia pretty much controlled the game and put Williamsville away.

Mendon has always presented a challenge for the Batavia High School girls basketball team, often over the years snatching double-digit victories over the Lady Devils, which was why Head Coach Marty Hein put the Vikings on the schedule early in the season.

It was a chance for Hein to see where his team stood.

The verdict? Not really different from what he said about his team in the pre-season: The Lady Devils lack bench depth and until the younger players step up their game, Batavia will struggle against teams that can rotate seven or eight players.

"Some of the girls will understand that we've got to work hard and work our way to having a deep bench like Mendon does," Hein said. "Hopefully, we'll be there by mid-season."

To start the game, the Lady Devils looked like the dominate team and held a lead until just about a minute left in the second period, and even through most of the third period, Batavia kept the game within a basket or two.

Then the wheels came off. The plays didn't run as smoothly, the passes weren't as crisp, if not higher risk, and the steals came easier for the Vikings.

"Todd's (Todd Julien) a very smart coach," Hein said. "He didn't use any time-outs (in) quarters one, two and three because he didn't give any opportunity for my girls to get a rest. He knew the longer I kept my starters on the floor, the sooner they were going to wear out."

The final score: Mendon 43, Batavia 36.

Sam Cecere led Batavia in scoring with 14 points. Mendon's Darby Kreienberg presented a challenge for the Lady Devils. She scored 26 points.

Maddie McCulley, who hit a clutch three late in the second period just when it looked like the Vikings might be poised to pull away, suffered what appeared to be an ankle or foot injury early in the third period. She returned to the game a few minutes later and Hein said she'll be fine.

"When we play one-three-one she's down at the bottom with some giants so she takes a beating sometimes," Hein said.

Top photo: Essence Williams drives for a successful layup.

Maddie McCulley

McCulley and Alley Phillips scramble for a loose ball.

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

An accident involving a pickup and another vehicle is reported at Route 33 and Wortendyke Road. There are injuries and it is blocking traffic. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding along with two Mercy rigs. Mercy Flight is called to the scene.

UPDATE 11:21 a.m.: Extrication is needed as soon as possible. A landing zone will be set up in a nearby yard.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: There's heavy traffic congestion in the area.

UPDATE 11:31 a.m.: Mercy Flight has landed. The patient to be airlifted is conscious and alert. Extrication of victim(s) will "easily be five to 10 more minutes."

UPDATE 11:39 a.m.: A third ambulance is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 11:50 a.m.: Extrication has been completed. One person is being transported to UMMC; another is being taken to UMMC Erie County Medical Center. Mercy Flight is airborne.

UPDATE 11:58 a.m.: Mercy Flight is going to ECMC.

UPDATE 12:10 p.m.: The East Pembroke assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 1 p.m. (by Howard): Trooper Steven Brady said the initial investigation indicates that the sedan was eastbound on Route 33. The truck was westbound. The sedan driver didn't see the oncoming truck before executing a left-hand turn onto Wortendyke. The sedan was T-boned. There were circumstances at the time of the accident that would have prevented the driver from seeing the truck, Brady said. "He simply didn't see it." There was another car making a right-hand turn, which may have distracted the sedan driver for a moment. East Pembroke Chief Don Newton was the first emergency responder on scene. He said he requested Mercy Flight primarily as a precaution for the patient in the passenger seat because of the heavy impact on that side of the car. There's no indication at this time that the injuries are serious. The driver of the sedan and the truck were transported by Mercy EMS to UMMC with minor injuries.