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Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, I, C – Batavia) is hosting a blood drive at the Batavia Salvation Army Headquarters, 529 E. Main St., from noon to 5 p.m. tomorrow, Feb. 17. The assemblyman is encouraging anyone able to donate to stop by the event and help save a life.

“Every donation to our local blood banks is critical in their efforts to save the lives of our friends, family and neighbors,” Hawley said. “Giving the gift of blood truly is giving the gift of life, and I look forward to seeing both new and familiar faces at this event helping our community.”

All those who have not donated since Dec. 23 are encouraged to participate. If you wish to donate, you may call 1-800-RED CROSS to schedule an appointment, or visit redcrossblood.org. Walk-ins are accepted as well.

Anyone age 17 or older, weighing at least 110 pounds, and in good health is eligible to donate blood. In New York state, 16-year-olds may donate blood provided they bring an original signed "New York State Informed Parental Consent for 16-Year-Old to Donate Blood" form to the blood drive. The form can be found at www.DonateBloodNow.org/16.

A two-car collision with injuries is reported at South Lake Road and Cohocton Road. There is possible entrapment in one vehicle. Mercy Flight #5 is put on standby. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments along with Mercy EMS are dispatched. Akron fire is responding to the scene since their extrication tools may be needed.

UPDATE 1:31 p.m.: A responder at the scene says everyone is out of the vehicles. Akron's response and Mercy Flight are cancelled.

UPDATE 1:34 p.m.: Pembroke command requests a second ambulance (which will be provided by Darien). One car rolled over into a ditch. There are two people injured.

UPDATE 1:59 p.m.: One patient is being transported to UMMC and another is being taken to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Williamsville.

UPDATE 2:20 p.m.: The Pembroke and Indian Falls assignment is back in service.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, I, C – Batavia) is encouraging the heroic returning soldiers of Western New York to take advantage of Governor Cuomo’s recently enacted “Experience Counts” program. The initiative will remove bureaucratic roadblocks from veterans looking to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License if they drove similar vehicles while defending our freedom.

Hawley, who served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Reserves as well as with the National Guard, is a member of the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs, and hopes that this measure will mark the beginning of many positive developments for veterans during the 2012 Legislative Session.

“Our service men and women put their lives on the line to defend our freedom, and the least we can do is make their transition back into civilian life as smooth and prosperous as possible,” Hawley said. “I commend the governor for advancing the ‘Experience Counts’ initiative so we can honor our veterans while helping them gain employment, and I offer my full assistance to local veterans looking to take part.”

The waiver is now available for up to 90 days after discharge, or for active duty military and active duty New York National Guard members that currently hold a valid driver's license. Applicants must be regularly employed, or have been regularly employed, within the last 90 days in a military position requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle, and also have operated a vehicle that is similar to a civilian commercial vehicle for at least two years immediately preceding discharge from the military.

Applicants must fill out a "CDL Certification for Military Waiver of Skills Test" form (CDL-102), which is available at any DMV office, or online at http://www.dmv.ny.gov/forms/cdl102.pdf. Applicants must still pass a written test and pay the written test fee, but the $40 road test fee will also be waived by completing the certification.

For more information, please contact Assemblyman Steve Hawley at 121 N. Main St., Suite 100, Albion, NY 14411, by phone at (585) 589-5780, or by email at:  hawleys@assembly.state.ny.us.

Contestants are sought for the Miss Greater Rochester Scholarship Pageant. This is a preliminary competition to the Miss New York and Miss America Scholarship Pageants.

The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.

The Miss Greater Rochester pageant will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday April 1 at the Roberts Wesleyan College Cultural Life Center. It is located at 2301 Westside Drive in Rochester. Contestants must arrive by 9 a.m.

The components of the competition include:

• Nine-minute interview
• "Lifestyle in swimsuit"
• Talent presentation (1 minute 30 seconds or less)
• Evening Wear
• On stage question
• "Adoption of the personal platform"

Eligibility requirements:

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• At least 17 years old at the time of local pageant (April 1)
• No more than 24 years old on Dec. 31, 2012
• High-school graduate or successful completion of GED test by July 1
• Female, never married and never had children
• Legal resident of New York at least six months prior to local pageant
• Meet geographic eligibility for local pageant (at least one criterion must apply): (1) RESIDENCY -- Resided in Western New York or Finger Lakes Region for a minimum of six months prior to entering the local preliminary pageant. Proof will be a New York driver's license, auto registration, current lease, student ID card or any other official document establishing residency; (2) SCHOOL ATTENDANCE -- Completed at least one full-time semester at a high school, community college or a four-year college/university within the state of New York and must be currently enrolled as a full-time student located within Western New York or the Finger Lakes Region or in accordance with the Miss New York nearest four-year-college rule. Proof will be evidence of registration, transcripts or other official documentation from the appropriate educational institution; (3) EMPLOYMENT -- Have been a full-time employee of a firm located within the local pageant franchise area for a minimum of six months prior to entering the local pageant. Must also be currently employed by a firm in Western New York or the Finger Lakes Region. Proof will be a letter from the contestant's employer.
• Must maintain the basis for eligibility throughout the local and state competition.

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MARCH 7.

For more information about the pageant, please visit this website:  www.msgreaterrochester.com

You can also send email to:   mgrpageant@gmail.com

Phone is (585) 746-1631.

A fully involved barn fire is reported at 5816 Torrey Road in the Town of Bethany. Bethany and Stafford fire departments are responding.

The location is between Clipnock and Little Canada roads.

UPDATE 12:10 p.m.: Attica, Alexander, South Byron are also called in, along with all equipment from Pavilion Fire Department. National Grid is called to the scene.

UPDATE 12:13 p.m.: York Fire Department is put on standby.

UPDATE 12:27 p.m.: The fill-in from York is cancelled. All units headed to the scene are told to come in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 12:42 p.m.: The structure is actually a work shed. The homeowner was welding inside the shed when it caught fire.

UPDATE 1:08 p.m.: The fire is out.

A car-into-pole accident is reported at 147 Bank St. in the City of Batavia. Unknown injuries. City firefighters and Mercy medics are responding. The location is between North and Washington avenues.

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported at Route 77, north of Gabbey Road. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding. A pickup truck is reportedly tipped over on its side.

The roadway is super slick. Route 77 is being shut down due to icy conditions at Indian Falls / Gabbey roads. The county Highway Department is aware of the road condition and will have a crew there within the hour.

UPDATE 5:11 p.m.: Mercy medics were called but cancelled since no one involved is injured.

A car has struck a tree next to a pole at 5979 W. Sweden Road in Bergen. An occupant reportedly has a head injury but is conscious and alert. Bergen Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 2:25 p.m.: The driver is shaken up by the accident, but otherwise OK, according to a responder. There was air-bag deployment. The vehicle is intact and is wedged between the tree and the utility pole. The location is just north of Cook Road.

UPDATE 2:35 p.m.: A person on scene says the car is snagged 10 feet off the ground.

A two-car accident in Alexander shortly after 10 Sunday night, which resulted in minor injuries, was caused by a driver allegedly traveling at an unsafe speed for road conditions, according to the accident report.

Alexander resident Nicholas P. Hiscutt, 19, was driving a 2000 Chevy sedan southbound on Route 98 near Dodgeson Road at an allegedly unsafe speed for road conditions. He reportedly lost control of the car and it crossed into the northbound lane, a witness told the investigating officer, Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

Hiscutt's car was struck by a 2003 Chevy Suburban driven by 29-year-old Jon D. Smith, of Prune Street in Batavia, causing both vehicles to veer onto the east shoulder of the roadway. Sylvia L. Smith was a passenger in the Chevy Suburban.

Minor injuries were reported and Jon Smith was taken to UMMC. Hiscutt was issued a citation for allegedly driving at an unreasonable speed.

A car accident is reported at Route 33 and Read Road in Pembroke. A female in the car is conscious and alert. She's "shook up" but apparently has minor injuries. Alexander Fire Department is responding due to East Pembroke Fire District's manpower being employed elsewhere. Medics from Bethany are also en route.

UPDATE (11:23 a.m.): The car is in a ditch.

UPDATE 11:41 a.m.: A 40-year-old woman is being transported to UMMC.

A car has crashed into a tree at 5018 Clinton St. Road near Terry Hills Drive. Because the Town of Batavia's fire crews are working a structure fire, a unit from Bethany is called to the scene, along with Mercy medics. A person is complaining of back pain.

UPDATE 11:42 a.m.: One person was transported to UMMC Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

A confirmed, working house fire is reported at 7650 Macomber Road in East Pembroke's fire district. All available manpower from that district is responding to the scene along with mutual aid from Alabama, Indian Falls, Elba, Pembroke, Corfu and Oakfield. The Town of Batavia Fast Team is also responding and another unit will fill in at the East Pembroke Fire Hall.

UPDATE 11:03 a.m.: Town of Batavia will switch from filling in at the East Pembroke hall and head straight to the fire. Alexander firefighters will fill in at East Pembroke. A firefighter upstairs reports near-zero visibility, which will "make the advance difficult...we're going to backdown the stairs until we can get the roof knocked out." Fire police are going to handle traffic control and "rubberneckers." ... Now all interior firefighters are ordered out of the structure.

UPDATE 11:08 a.m.: A tanker from Darien is called to the scene.

UPDATE 11:11 a.m.: An engine out of Stafford is called to the scene.

UPDATE 11:27: Shelby is called as mutual aid to fill in at Alabama's fire hall. Mercy medics have been on scene since shortly after the initial call went out.

UPDATE 11:34 a.m.: Akron is called as mutual aid to fill in at Pembroke.

UPDATE 11:44 a.m.: The house was built sometime in the 1830s. It belongs to Lorna Klotzbach, who is a member of the Town of Alabama Planning Board. Inmates from the Wyoming Correctional Facility will be transported to the site to help out. The fire departments in Wolcottsville and Barre are called to provide mutual aid.

UPDATE 11:55 a.m.: More help is coming from Byron, South Byron, Attica and East Shelby.

UPDATE 12:01 p.m.: The Ladies Auxiliary of the East Pembroke Fire District are called to provide refreshments at the scene.

UPDATE 12:46 p.m.: A person from the scene is being transported to UMMC. The patient is a man with an ankle injury.

UPDATE 1:08 p.m.: Shelby and Barre firefighters are released and will be returning home.

UPDATE 3:32 p.m.: Town of Batavia is the latest fire company, of a few of them, to go back in service.

UPDATE 4:25 p.m.: Ambulance requested to the scene for a person with a hand injury, requested transport to UMMC.

UPDATE 5:32 p.m.: Ambulance requested to the scene non-emergency for a person with a shoulder injury.

UPDATE 5:56 p.m.: Oakfield's tanker requested back to the scene, non-emergency.

UPDATE 6:25 p.m.: All units, back in service.

An alarm of fire is reported at a natural gas compression station located behind a residence at 3337 Lockport Road in Oakfield. The caller reported hearing a loud bang followed by the sound of the fire alarm.

Law enforcement and Oakfield Fire Department are en route.

UPDATE 9:02 p.m.: Oakfield fire on scene reports nothing showing.

UPDATE 9:04 p.m.: A National Fuel Co. rep is on scene en route, with an ETA of about 20 minutes. The other responders are staging outside the main gate.

UPDATE 9:07 p.m.: National Fuel tells dispatch that the station is programmed to automatically shut down if excess gas is present. A responder says there is excess gas pressure at the site and it is "bleeding off." Winds are blowing southwesterly at 9 mph.

UPDATE 9:15 p.m.: A key holder to the property has arrived and is being escorted into the area by a deputy. A responder says "It seems there is no power at the plant at this time."

UPDATE 9:21 p.m.: A rep from National Fuel is now on scene.

UPDATE 9:24 p.m.: A senior foreman for National Fuel is headed into the compression station.

UPDATE 9:27 p.m.: Deputies are escorting the National Fuel rep to the station and the expectation is  "we'll be released shortly."

UPDATE 9:45 p.m.: The Oakfield assignment is back in service.

A caller reported seeing people trying to break into a house and an RV at or near 23 Central Ave. in the City of Batavia. There are three suspects being sought, one of whom was seen wearing a red hoodie. They were last spotted walking eastward on Ellicott Street.