A two-car accident with unknown injuries is reported at West Main and Oak streets in the city. Two flatbed tow trucks are called. City fire and Mercy medics are responding. Police are on scene. Fluids are leaking.
UPDATE 11:42 p.m.: City fire is back in service. No one was transported to a hospital; they were "sign offs."
FYI...Howard will soon board a plane in Buffalo and head to Chicago. He is attending a small conclave of independent online news publishers from across the nation. He returns this Sunday afternoon.
The Batavian welcomes digital photos taken by readers at events this weekend. We will take a look at submissions and may post them on the Home Page on Sunday -- or on Saturday if time permits.
Meanwhile, I'll be listening to the scanner and posting items as warranted.
Have a great weekend! The weather is supposed to be really nice.
Join us for Geocaching 101 at The BEST Center at Genesee Community College! Everyone is welcome!
Today, more than 1.75 million geocaches have been hidden, and found by more than 5 million people worldwide.
Want to learn more about geocaching?
Don’t just hear about it - EXPERIENCE it!
Register NOW and get your cache on!
Bring the family - Geocaching is a family-oriented hobby/sport!
GPS units will be provided (or bring your own!) and each person will get a free geocaching swag item!
DON'T MISS IT!! THIS IS THE LAST SESSION OF THE SEASON!!
Wednesday, May 23 • 6:00PM - 9:00PM • Batavia Campus
Geocaching. Geo-what?? Jee-oh-kash-ing. In this course, you will learn what this high-tech treasure hunt is all about and its history. By the end of this introductory course, you will have created a Geocaching profile, gone out and made your first geocache find, and successfully log it on Geocaching.com. If you want to learn how to use a GPSr, love the outdoors and enjoy a challenge, Geocaching is for you! GPSr units will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own unit, whether it be hand-held, dash, or an app on your phone! Dress appropriately, as geocaching is an outdoor adventure! So, join us - and let's go Geocaching!
Presented by Elizabeth Downie (Geocaching ID: authorized users)
A 40-year-old Batavia woman who bilked two elderly patients out of more than $308,000 faces up to seven years in prison and significant restitution after pleading guilty this morning to four felonies.
Heidi L. Schollard, 161 Bank St., Batavia, entered a guilty plea to three counts of grand larceny, 3rd. Each Class D felony carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, but under the plea deal, Schollard's sentences will be served concurrently.
She also entered a guilty plea to grand larceny, 4th, a Class E felony with a maximum sentence of four years.
Schollard is ordered to repay $265,131 to one elderly victim and $43,000 to another, plus $23,414 to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance and $2,485 to the Department of Labor.
Schollard was initially arrested in December 2010 for allegedly stealing about $250,000 from a Batavia resident.
She was out of jail during the proceedings in that case and was arrested again in March and accused of defrauding another elderly person. The alleged victim in this case is a resident of Alabama.
In both cases, Schollard was reportedly a caregiver for the victims.
Sentencing is set for 9 a.m., Aug. 9.
The Sheriff's Office is looking for assistance in locating Paul J. Doctor. Doctor allegedly failed to comply with a release under supervision contract and an arrest warrant was issued by Genesee County Court related to two counts of burglary.
Warrant Officer Eric Olson asks that anyone with information that may assist in locating Doctor to call (585) 343-0911.
UPDATE: Paul Doctor turned himself in May 21.
Press release:
The Dwyer Stadium Box Office will open for the 2012 season at 9 a.m. Monday, May 21. Tickets for Opening Day and ALL regular season games for the 2012 season will be on sale. The box office will be open until 5 p.m.
Normal box office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Season seat holders will be able to pick up their season tickets on Monday. Fans interested in season tickets can also stop by the stadium and pick out their seat for the 2012 season.
The Batavia Muckdogs, Genesee County’s only professional sports franchise, have also released their 2012 promotional schedule featuring fireworks, giveaways, special events, theme nights and daily promotions.
The fun will kick off three days prior to Opening Day with an exhibition game vs. the Newark Pilots of the Perfect Game League. The aim of this game is not only to get the players acquainted with the stadium but also to give fans the first opportunity to meet the team. Tickets for the exhibition game will be discounted off the already low box office prices and season tickets holders will receive a free ticket to that evening’s ball game.
The Muckdogs will again offer fans a daily menu of money-saving promotions available throughout the season.
Tuesday features a new addition to the lineup. This year, New York’s 529 College Savings Program presents Kids’ Tuesday Night Tickets. Every Tuesday home game, the first 50 kids accompanied by an adult will receive a free General Admission ticket.
The Family Four Pack will take place on every Wednesday during the 2012 season and is presented by M&T Bank. Fans can purchase four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, four 12 oz. sodas and a 2012 program for only $30, a savings of $14.
On Thursday nights, The Williams Law Firm will once again sponsor our Kids Eat Free promotion. At every Thursday home game, the first 100 kids 12 & under will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, soda and snack item.
Fireworks will again light up the sky after every Friday night game at Dwyer Stadium, as well as on the annual Independence Day celebration on July 4th.
Every Saturday will feature a pre-game concert in the concourse. These “Rock the Ballpark” events are presented by Tim Horton’s of Batavia and New Buffalo Impact with Papa and Mama Root, an oldies rock 'n' roll tribute band, and original music recording artists. All performances begin at 6 p.m. and are weather permitting.
At Sunday home games, kids can run the bases with Homer after the game courtesy of Denny’s of Batavia. Every child that runs the bases will receive a coupon for a free Kids Meal at Denny’s.
Other games of note on the 2012 promotional schedule include:
Fireworks Nights will be as follows: June 22nd, July 4th, July 6th, July 20th, July 27th, August 10th, and August 24th.
The Muckdogs open their 2012 home schedule on Monday, June 18th vs. the Auburn Doubledays at 7:05 p.m. For a complete 2012 promotional schedule, go to www.muckdogs.com or call the Muckdogs office at (585) 343-5454. Muckdogs season tickets, coupon books, ticket packages and individual tickets are all on sale.
Jonathan E. Garcia, 19, of 101 State St., upper, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful imprisonment, and Sandra L. Fry, 41, of 101 State St., upper, Batavia, is charged with criminal nuisance, 2nd. The charges stem from an investigation into the whereabouts of a missing 14-year-old girl. Garcia is accused of forcibly preventing the victim from leaving his apartment. Fry, his mother, is accused of maintaining a place where persons gather for the purpose of engaging in criminal conduct. Both were arraigned in city court and released under the supervision of Genesee Justice.
Rae C. Cook, 23, of 121 Liberty St., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Cook is accused of striking a protected person several times during an altercation May 5. Cook was arraigned in city court and jailed on $5,000 bail.
Press release:
John Weber and his Genesee ARC family care provider, Lynda Domnissey, experienced memories of a lifetime during a May 13 concert in Boston featuring The Go-Go’s. They had VIP tickets for the Wilbur Theater show, but Domnissey said, “This was over the top!”
“We met everyone from all of the roadies, right up to Belinda Carlisle and the rest of the band,” she added, saying it’s something they will never forget!
John has been a part of Domnissey’s family care home for the past eight years.
“My husband, Mike Grosshans, and I love music and so does John,” she said.
John summed it up with, “The Go-Go’s are AWESOME!”
Group members took the time to pose for photos and sign John’s self-advocacy backpack
The Go-Go’s formed in Los Angeles in 1978. Their hits include "Our Lips are Sealed," "We Got the Beat" and "Vacation."
Pictured above: John Weber (seated); with Gina Schock, drummer; Belinda Carlisle, singer; Charlotte Caffey, guitar; Jane Weidlin, guitar; Lynda Domnissey and Kathy Valentine, base guitar.
A one-vehicle rollover accident has been reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 386.
Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.
UPDATE 6:41 a.m.: Very minor injuries. The location is just east of the Clinton Street Road overpass.
UPDATE 6:44 a.m.: Rescue 20 back in service. Engine 24 to the scene to secure the vehicle.
UPDATE 6:46 a.m.: At the request of the NYS Thruway Authority, Engine 24's response cancelled. Town of Batavia back in service.
Yesterday, as part of the United Way Day of Caring, members of the Batavia Lions Club showed up at Adam Miller Toy and Bicycles and whipped 25 bikes into shape for local charities, including Genesee ARC. Near the end of the day, four clients of Genesee ARC showed up to pick up their new rides. Pictures are Hank, left, Amber, Tim and Andrew.
Press release:
Batavia Downs Casino is marking its seventh anniversary with a weekend celebration that includes a Preakness party and prize drawings.
Batavia Downs Casino opened at 10 a.m. on May 18, 2005 with just 586 machines. Now open 20 hours a day with 640 machines on site, the facility’s growth has meant more jobs and more money given back to the counties and cities that the public benefit corporation serves. With a 27 million dollar expansion also set to start, the facility’s staff is looking forward to the future.
“We are pleased with not only where we are but also with what’s on the horizon,“ said Michael Nolan, chief operating officer of Batavia Downs Casino and Western Regional Off-Track Betting.
"As a partner in this community we’ve created jobs for this region and will look to create even more with this expansion. Our monetary distributions to the counties and cities that we serve will also increase.”
Further details can be found at bataviadownscasino.com
One person is complaining of back pain following a motor-vehicle accident at the intersection of Main and Bank streets, Batavia.
Batavia FIre Department and Mercy EMS responding.
UPDATE 9:55 a.m.: City fire back in service.
This morning, 3-year-old Kaylee took her rottweiler Koda for a walk on Chase Park, along with her mother Debbie.
A small mulch fire is reported on the south side of the ESL Federal Credit Union by the ATM. It's located at 4214 Veterans Memorial Drive. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.
UPDATE 6:05 p.m.: The mulch fire is out. Town of Batavia is back in service.William Delose Hirsch, 25, of Buchman Road, Bethany, is charged with menacing, 2nd, reckless endangerment, 2nd, and unlawful imprisonment, 2nd. Hirsch is accused of driving a motor vehicle at 8:49 p.m., Monday, from Batavia to Pavilion in a manner that was reckless and menacing to his female passenger. Hirsch is accused of not letting that woman exit the vehicle while on Ellicott Street in the City of Batavia. Hirsch was arraigned in Pavilion on the first two counts and in city court on the third. He was released on his own recognizance.
Neil Patrick Jacobs, 48, of Creek Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt, 2nd. Jacobs is accused of possessing a firearm after being ordered to surrender all firearms to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office. The alleged failure to surrender the firearm was in violation of two orders of protection issued by Family Court on April 23. Following arraignment, Jacobs was placed under the supervision of Genesee Justice.
A 16-year-old resident of of Railroad Avenue, Alexander, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. The youth is accused of hosting an underage drinking party.
Daniel E. Plath, 62, of Old Creek Road, Alexander, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, unlicensed operation, operating a motor vehicle with an open container of alcohol and driver's view obstructed. Plath was reportedly on his way home from his girlfriend's house in Batavia at 2:44 a.m., May 12, when deputies were called for a report of a possibly drunk person trying to buy beer at a store.
It's now official -- local author, historian and localist advocate Bill Kauffman is now a screenwriter, too.
Kauffman wrote a script based on a novel by Harold Frederic, a 19th Century resident of Utica.
The movie, titled "Cooperhead" and set in the Civil War, recently started production in King’s Landing, New Brunswick, Canada.
Actors Jason Patric and Angus MacFadyen are take starring roles and the movie is being directed by Ron Maxwell.
The story centers around a family torn apart by the war between the states.
Kauffman is a native Batavian and currently resides in Elba. No word on when his book about Batavia, "Dispatches from the Muckdog Gazette," will be turned into a major Hollywood production.
More than 300 local residents showed up at Dwyer Stadium bright and early this morning to kick off United Way's Day of Caring.
It's the largest number of volunteers yet for the annual event.
Volunteers perform a variety of tasks for local agencies, from painting to weed pulling and other tasks.
This year, among the volunteer efforts, Lions Club members showed up at Adam Miller Toy and Bicycles to recondition 25 bikes into rideable machines for Genesee ARC clients.
Though not part of the event at Dwyer, 40 students at Batavia High School participated in Day of Caring by doing volunteer work on campus.
In all, 40 businesses and organizations sent volunteers and tasks were performed at more than two dozen locations throught the county.
Joe Sacco, below, sang the National Anthem and "America the Beautiful" to kick off the event.
Top group photo by Kevin Carlson, of Carlson's Studio.
If you're unable to view the slide show, click here.
A total of 1,179 people turned out to vote in the Batavia City Schools election today, approving a $40 million budget with nearly 61 percent of the vote and electing one new school board member.
Gretchen DiFante, one of two candidates not currently on the board, was the top vote getter in the election with 736 votes. Incumbent Gail Stevens garnered 623 votes and Phil Ricci, an appointee running for school board for the first time, got 616 votes.
Incumbent Gary Stich lost with 490 votes and newcomer Dennis Warner came up short with 472 votes.
The budget passed 690 votes to 446.
Creation of a student ex-officio board member passed 852 to 214 votes and changing transportation mileage for students passed 808 to 240.
These are unofficial results.
The husband of a woman previously charged in a welfare fraud cause has been arrested on similar charges and is accused of stealing more than $17,000 in unwarranted public assistance.
Taken into custody following a DSS investigation is Michael Schramm, 36, formerly of Hutchins Place, Batavia.
Schramm is married to Deborah Schramm, who was previously charged.
Michael Schramm is charged with felony counts of grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing.
He is accused of filing falisified documents from February through August last year in order to receive medical assistance and food stamps.
The total aid allegedly provided to the Schramm's above what they were entitled to was $17,026.39.
The suspect was located in Butler County, Ohio, by Warrant Officer Eric Olsen and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
The warrant also covered a failure to appear in Batavia Town Court on April 25 on an unrelated case.
Olsen and Deputy John Baicco retrieved Schramm from Ohio.
Following arraignment, Schramm was jailed without bail.
In July, both Deborah and Michael Schramm were accused of shoplifting from Walmart.
During some of the darkest days of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln wondered why agriculture, such a vital industry to the well being of the nation, was represented in the federal government by only a clerk.
At his prompting, Congress created the U.S. Department of Agriculture and 150 years ago today, the USDA was born.
The USDA now handles a wide variety of rural issues and is the primary conduit for a rural voice in the federal government. The USDA has a significant presence in Genesee County through its office on Liberty Street.
Local USDA staff celebrated the anniversary -- as USDA offices all over the nation did -- with cake, cookies and punch.
Photo submitted by David M. Klafehn.
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