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A caller reports a possible dangerous condition on Pringle Avenue in the city -- a person is trying to yank down a tree using a tow rope and a pickup truck. A police officer just arrived on scene.

Press release:

Russ Romano has a long and impressive list accomplishments on his resume and he'll add another one Saturday night (Nov. 9) when Batavia Downs honors him as the "Italian-American" for 2013.

Romano will join past award winners including Joe Gerace, Chuck Zambito, Ray Cianfrini, Joe Teresi and Charles Ruffino. He'll be honored in the winner's circle after the seventh race tonight.

To say Romano his a diverse resume would be an understatement.

His athletic career included being a professional steer wrestler in the International Rodeo Association of Pauls Valley, Okla. He was a linebacker for the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and also coached at Brockport State and Rochester Institute of Technology. Romano was also inducted Section 5 Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Currently a realtor for Nothnagle in Batavia, Romano has held many titles in a vast array of organizations. He was the president of the Genesee Community College Foundation, president of the Genesee County Board of Realtors, director of the Greater Buffalo Realtors Association, director of the New York State Association of Realtors and the regional vice-president of the New York State Association of Realtors.

Romano also has served as past president of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, district chairman for the "Genishua District" of the Boy Scouts of America and the president of the Genesee Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Association.

As a volunteer, Romano's work includes being the chairman for the Genesee Cancer Assistance Program where he also coordinated the Annual Festival of Hope and Annual Golf Tournament. He also is the recipient of the "Teddy Award" for his work with Camp Good Days and Special Times.

Besides being an author of many professional and educational tools for the real estate industry, Romano is also on the list of "Who's Who in the Professional of Speakers" where he has given numerous workshops and seminars throughout the country since 1983.

Romano is married to his wife, Gillian, and they have two children, David and Stephanie. They are also grandparents to nine and great-grandparents to one.

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff's Office is investigating a robbery that occurred early this morning at the Sugar Creek store on Route 33 in the Town of Bergen. At about 1:30 a.m. a white male entered the store and demanded cash from the clerk. He implied he had a weapon although none was displayed. The clerk complied with the demand and the suspect was able to flee with cash from the register. The suspect was last seen leaving the store on foot headed east. If anyone has any information regarding the incident please contact the Genesee County Sheriff's Office at (585) 343-5000.

A car vs. deer accident resulted in minor injuries to a 4-year-old girl. It occurred about 15 minutes ago at Pratt and Indian Falls roads in East Pembroke. A responder says the deer crashed through the vehicle's window, shattering glass which cut the child's face. Her hair is also full of pieces of broken glass. Mercy medics and East Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are on scene.

UPDATE 6:19 p.m.: The assignment is back in service.

Most of the information in this post was provided by WBTA.

The first oral arguments of the defense, lasting about seven minutes, were heard in the case of Craig Lawson, who is accused of hitting Jason McNeil after the Kid Rock concert at Darien Lake this summer.

Lawson was not present in Genesee County Court today. He lives in Canada, more than three and a half hours from here, and this absence was excused by the court. (He did appear when he pled not guilty.)

He is charged with a single count of second-degree assault. To win a conviction on that in New York, a prosecutor must prove that the defendant intended to cause serious physical injury.

His defense co-counsel, Buffalo-based Joel Daniels, says it was a one-punch fight, not a brawl, and there aren't many examples of how those have been prosecuted. Lawson is also represented by Michael Ranzenhofer.

They looked through hospital records which said the victim has no facial broken bones or really any indication on his face of a fight. He was hurt, rather, when he fell down and hit his head.

Obviously, there's the question of intent. With a single punch, was Lawson trying to inflict the serious injuries which McNeil sustained? The defense maintains that was not Lawson's intention.

According to court documents, McNeil's head hit the ground and he was in a coma for more than a week. Records show the victim underwent a surgical procedure to have part of his skull removed.

Daniels says he understands that his client the alleged victim -- a former WNY resident who currently lives in Alabama -- is doing better now.

Alcohol was a factor in the incident and hospital records indicate the victim could have had a BAC of .19 at the time.

Initially, Lawson was charged with a misdemeanor, assault 3rd, and bail was set at a $1,000. Once it became apparent that McNeil's injuries were serious, the charge was upgraded and a grand jury indicted Lawson on a single felony count of second-degree assault.

The defense team will review the grand jury transcripts. They believe there is insufficient evidence to support the assault, 2nd, charge. They want the court look at all of the circumstances, including the way in which the punch was delivered and the likelihood that its impact was made worse by running (which was not clearly explained).

The DA's Office said that of course the prosecution can get a conviction on the crime as charged.

A motor-vehicle accident with minor injuries is reported at 5948 Cochram Road, at the corner of Byron Road, in Byron.

UPDATE 1:39 p.m.: A female complains of hip pain. Two vehicles are involved.

UPDATE 1:41 p.m.: A Mercy ambulance is called in. Byron and South Byron fire department are also responding. Law enforcement is on scene.

UPDATE 2:12 p.m.: The patient is being taken to UMMC. The assignment is back in service.

A racoon is on the loose inside the hair salon Head Games, located at 61 Swan St. in the City of Batavia. Someone there called for help in rounding up the critter and removing it.

"I told them we don't handle wild animals, but still they're looking for some assistance," said the dispatcher to a police officer, who has just arrived on scene.

A tractor-trailer hauling livestock is reportedly on fire on the westbound Thruway. It's near mile marker 380.5 and was initially reported as a brake fire, but now the rear end of the vehicle is said to be fully involved.

A fully involved structure fire is reported at 9778 Creek Road in Bethany. Bethany and Town of Batavia fire departments are responding. It is near Putnam Road.

UPDATE 11:07 p.m.: Mutual aid is called from Byron, Alexander, Pavilion, Stafford, the City Fast Team, and others.

UPDATE 11:30 p.m.: Calls are out for East Pembroke, Le Roy, and Elba.

UPDATE 11:34 p.m.: A tanker from York is called to the scene and an engine from there to the Bethany hall, along with the same equipment from Caledonia. National Grid is notified about power lines at the site and there's a 15-20 minute ETA.

UPDATE 11:45 p.m.: The lack of public water is hampering the firefighting efforts at Baskin Farms and the main structure(s) on the property are in peril. South Byron is also on scene and National Grid has arrived.

UPDATE 12:24 a.m.: Oakfield is at Town of Batavia Fire Hall filling in. National Grid has cut all power to the grounds. A tanker out of Gainsville, Wyoming County, is called to the scene.

UPDATE 12:27 a.m.: The mandate -- more tankers, more water, more tankers, more water.

UPDATE 12:34 a.m.: Mutual aid from Perry Center is requested to fill in at Pavilion's fire hall.

UPDATE 12:36 a.m.: Equipment from Perry Barre is called to stand by in Elba.

UPDATE 12:38 a.m: Equipment from Clarendon is requested to fill in in Byron.

UPDATE 1:45 a.m. (by Howard): The fire is largely knocked down. A firefighter reports that there are no flames showing at this time. There's still lots of smoke. It's hard to say at this point how much of the main feed processing facility was saved.

UPDATE 2:12 a.m.: Bethany command reports the fire is out. Overhaul starting. Tankers will start breaking down.

UPDATE 2:26 a.m.: South Byron, the first company to be released from the scene.

A possible barn fire is reported on Prentice Road near Route 237. A passerby told dispatch is looked like an abandoned barn on fire. Stafford Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 5:07 p.m.: A chief near the scene says it looks like a rubbish fire off the roadway.

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: The chief confirms it's a big pile of debris on fire; no one appears to be attending it.

UPDATE 6:07 p.m.: The fire is out. Stafford is back in service.

Carin Wade, the "Team 9 leader" at Pavilion High School, let us know that each year the Pavilion ninth-graders hold a food drive during the month of November.

They collect canned goods and monetary donations with the hopes of providing local Pavilion families in need with a turkey, plenty of canned goods, and a gift card to a local supermarket to help make their holidays a little more enjoyable. They usually service about 25 local families.

If you would like to help this worthy cause, call the school (584-3070 or 584-3115) or drop off donations at the school, located at 7014 Big Tree Road in Pavilion.