Stories from

The loud boom heard on the southside of the city about 15 minutes ago was a transformer that blew out. It occurred in the area of 28 Jackson St. by the Salvation Army store. National Grid is on scene to do repair work. City fire was there and had traffic blocked off, but the road is reopened and the city assignment is back in service.

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported at State Street and Fairmont Avenue. City firefighters and Mercy medics are responding.

Law enforcement is looking for a suspect wanted on a Genesee County Court warrant and he was last seen at 19 Manhattan Ave. running through back yards toward Ross Street.

His name is Ryan P. Johnson, 22, and he is described as white, about 5'7" and weighing about 160 pounds.

He is wearing khaki shorts, sneakers and a white T-shirt and a baseball cap.

If you see a person matching this description, phone the Sheriff's Office at 343-5000.

UPDATE: Johnson has made arrangements to turn himself in.

Four-month-old Lilly Bridges will not be in her mother’s arms on Sunday. Cancer-stricken Kailee died last night in the intensive care unit at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

On Mother’s Day, the 20-year-old Marine’s family, including husband, Justin, will instead mourn the woman who valiantly underwent life-saving surgery in February while pregnant.

But the concert for Lilly’s Trust Fund scheduled for this Friday at Grace Baptist Church in Batavia will go on as planned with Christian music superstar Bebo Norman, of Nashville. The performance begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 and $25 and are available through itickets.com.

Although her doctors and loved ones hoped to have her home by this weekend, about 10 days ago she took a turn for the worse, said her pastor, Mark Hurlbut.

“We’re glad God gave her husband and myself the grace and wisdom to provide for (Lilly),” Hurlbut said, regarding the series of events and decisions that unfolded to bring about the plans for a benefit concert well in advance of Kailee’s downturn.

In the Providence of God, here we are,” he said.

The recording artist has been kept in the loop all along the way, Hurlbut said, describing him as a terrific man of God who “will be asked to wear his preacher’s hat” on Friday.

Kailee, who was from Wyoming County and graduated from Warsaw High School, had been in ICU since her surgery and her young Marine husband had practically lived there over the past few months. In light of the circumstances, the Texas native is holding up.

“If the Marine Corps didn’t make him grow up, this will,” the pastor said. “It’s a lot for a young man to go through, but he is shouldering it well.”

Little Lilly is healthy and adorable.

Those who knew her mother say she had a personal relationship with her Lord and Savior and they know where she is today and that she has no more pain.

H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home is handling arrangements for the family.

A possible fire reported behind the residence at 8924 Creek Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 4:38 p.m.: Responder on scene reports nothing showing.

UPDATE 4:46 p.m.: "Looks like they were disking (plowing soil) on the east side of Creek Road. I think they may have seen dust." The town assignment is back in service.

Kailee Bridges is fighting for her life right now with a rare bone cancer. She is a 20-year-old Marine, with a newborn daughter named Lilly, and a husband, Justin, who is also a Marine.

To help this Batavia family, major Christian recording artist and Dove Award winner Bebo Norman, who lives in Nashville, has graciously agreed to perform a benefit concert called "Love for Lilly: A Concert for Hope." It's this Friday evening, May 10, at Grace Baptist Church, Batavia, located at 238 Vine St.

Tickets are $30 and $25. Monetary donations are also welcome and the church has set up an account for them called the Lilly Trust Fund.

The concert will undoubtedly draw a packed house of people from Canada to Connecticut to help raise funds for Kailee and her family.

To get tickets, go online to itickets.com

Kailee was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as osteosarcoma during her pregnancy. It was found in her pelvis and she was not expected to live. She had emergency, high-risk surgery in an effort to save her life. She pulled through, and so did Lilly, who was subjected to chemo in the womb.

But their ordeal is not over. Her cancer has metastasized and she faces more battles with it.

A tree on fire is reported in Swallow Hollow, on a trail off Knowlesville Road near the Orleans County line. Alabama Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 5:21 p.m.: Five firefighters are hiking on foot to the blazing tree, which is about a quarter mile off the road.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: They are now on scene with a smoldering tree.

UPDATE 5:38 p.m.: The tree fire is out and the firefighters are heading back to their trucks.

City fire is on scene at a fire in or near a building behind Ferrallgas at 655 Ellicott Street. It is possibly a building of Hanson Aggregates at 645 Cedar St.

UPDATE 12:53 p.m.: City police are on scene to control traffic and shut it down at Cedar and Edwards. DPW is called to put up barricades at Cedar and Ellicott and Cedar and Edwards.

UPDATE 12:57 p.m.: A third platoon is called into city fire headquarters for standby. A Hanson building rep is arriving at the scene.

UPDATE 1:02 p.m.: Fire knocked down. Checking for extentions.

UPDATE 1:29 p.m.: Crews are picking up equipment and preparing to return to service.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m. (by Howard): Chief Jim Maxwell said the preliminary indication is that some smoldering insulation went unnoticed after crews finished installing some new water pipes and new water meter in one of the rooms of the structure. The fire was contained to the small room. A torch or soldering iron had been used. The facility is used to mix ready-made concrete.

Antonio Lester James, 22, of Rochester, was arrested on a bench warrant from Genesee County Court on a charge of grand larceny, 4th. He was arraigned and bail set at $25,000. He was returned to Monroe County Jail where he is being held on unrelated charges.

Kevin J. Weber, 42, of 5 Columbia Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation, coercion in the second degree, and harassment, 2nd. He is jailed on $2,500 bail or $5,000 cash bond. Weber was arrested after a domestic incident wherein it is alleged that he shoved a female into a wall after an argument and grabbed her by the throat.

Justin C. Hofert, 25, of 81 Woodstock Gardens, Batavia, was arrested May 2 by Batavia Police officer Perkins in the UMMC parking lot after it was reported that he allegedly pushed a female while their child in common was present. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance, charged with harassment, 2nd, criminal contempt, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child,

Lakeisha A. Gibson, 26, of 1353 Lewiston Road, Alabama, was arrested on warrants May 2, and charged with criminal mischief, 4th, harassment, 2nd, and disorderly conduct. She had an arrest warrant for the first two charges, and a bench warrant for the disorderly conduct charge. She was arraigned in city court and released on her own recognizance.

Samantha Brooks, 26, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, was arrested by a Sheriff's deputy April 30 and and charged with petit larceny. She is accused of shoplifting $21.98 worth of merchandise from Kmart. She was issued an appearance ticket and has to return to Batavia Town Court on May 20.

Stephanie Grace Pelkey, 18, of Snipery Road, Corfu, is accused of stealing $38.87 worth of merchandise from Kmart on May 3. She will be arraigned May 30 in Batavia Town Court on a charge of petit larceny.

Joshua Michael Pierce, 18, of Meadowbrook Terrace, Corfu, is accused of stealing $38.87 worth of merchandise from Kmart on May 3. He will be arraigned May 30 in Batavia Town Court on a charge of petit larceny.

Autumn M. Sierra, 19, of Brooklyn, was arrested by Batavia Police and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and not wearing a seat belt. The defendant was arrested after a traffic stop by officer Darryl Streeter after he allegedly observed her sitting on the lap of the front middle passenger of a vehicle on East Main Street. She was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Caitlin A. Hanley, 24, of 8080 Batavia Stafford Townline Road, was arrested May 3 by Batavia Police officer Marc Lawrence on a bench warrant out of Bergen County, New Jersey, for failure to appear. She was arraigned and put in Genesee County Jail without bail, awaiting extradition.

A car fire with flames shooting from the engine compartment is reported on Wortendyke Road near Route 33. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 11:23 a.m.: A responder on scene says "I think we got it knocked down with a few extinguishers." East Pembroke just arrived at the scene.

Ay Caramba!

"The fajitas activated the smoke alarm" at Salsa & Curry says a dispatcher, who called for city fire to respond.

"Smoke from fajitas confirmed," says a firefighter, putting the assignment back in service.

The entree --  a spicy combo of onions, peppers and meat -- is popular, brought to your table on a sizzling hot plate with fresh tortillas.

So this is a not an uncommon occurance at the location, as was the case when it was Margarita's restaurant.

And tommorrow is Cinco de Mayo...