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Photos: July 4th post-game fireworks

By Howard B. Owens

The Muckdogs put on a great fireworks display for July 4th. Here are a few pictures taken from inside Dwyer.

Later, I'll post pictures from the game and Picnic in the Park.

More pictures after the jump:

Cow and car accident reported on West Sweden Road, Bergen

By Howard B. Owens

A car has reportedly hit a cow on West Sweden Road, Bergen.

The cow has been hurt, but no occupants in the car believed injured.

Law enforcement in route.

UPDATE: A passerby was apparently able to identify the owner of the cow and has gone to notify the owner. There are apparently no human injuries.

Report of a house fire on Burke Drive

By Howard B. Owens

City Fire Department is responding to a report of a house fire at 29 Burke Drive, Batavia.

Residents called dispatch and said they came home, opened the door and smoke was pouring out and the fire alarms were going off.

UPDATE 6:30: "Fire knocked down. Checking for extension."

UPDATE: At the time I left the scene, caused still not determined. Firefighters were ventilating the house before continuing investigation. The residents' pets were removed for their safety.


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Black smoke spotted in a field south of Village of Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

A caller reports a column of black smoke in a field across the road from her house in the area of 9153 Warsaw Road.

The first chiefs on scene say there is a large amount of black smoke that seems to be coming from the area of East Bethany Road.

Trucks will be held in quarters until the location is determined.

Le Roy Ambulance also dispatched.

UPDATE: It's a controlled burn.


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Car accident reported in Village of Corfu

By Howard B. Owens

A motor-vehicle accident has been reported in the area of 22 Alleghany Road, Village of Corfu.

Unknown injuries.

Corfu Fire Department and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 2:36 a.m.: One lane of traffic shut down. No word on injuries, but it isn't sounding serious.


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Heavy smoke reported coming from the grill area of Wendy's

By Howard B. Owens

A caller reports heavy smoke coming from the grill area of 44 Main St., Batavia.

City Fire Department requested to the scene to investigation.

UPDATE 12:33 a.m.: Ladder 15 on scene. Nothing showing.

UPDATE 12:38 a.m.: Appears to be a grease fire under the grill. Firefighters will need to dismantle the grill to get to the fire.

Car fire reported on Vine Street

By Howard B. Owens

A car fire is reported at 157 Vine St., Batavia.

The caller reports wires in the engine compartment are burning.

City Fire Department is dispatched.

UPDATE 12:23 a.m.: Engine 12 and Ladder 15 were dispatched. Ladder 15 is returning to station.

UPDATE 12:32 a.m.: Engine 12 clears the scene, responds report of smoke at Wendy's.


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Possible tractor-trailer fire on Thruway

By Howard B. Owens

A possible tractor-trailer fire is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 387.6. The vehicle is an orange truck with a box trailer. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

Truck driver said she didn't have time to stop to avoid West Main accident

By Howard B. Owens

A truck driver says she saw a car stopped in front of her on West Main Street Road on Friday but simply couldn't stop in time to avoid a collision.

The driver of the car, Dawn M. Newton, 50, of Shepard Road, Batavia, was taken to UMMC with only minor injuries, even though her 2000 Chevy sedan was heavily damaged.

The truck driver, Janice C. Kelley, 58, of Montana Road, Savannah, was cited for allegedly following too closely.

(initial report)

Driver says she lost control after reaching for something in the car that had fallen

By Howard B. Owens

Distracted driving was the cause of a one-car accident at 3:33 p.m. Friday on Lewiston Road, according to a Sheriff's Office report.

According to Deputy Chad Minuto, Christina Mae King, 19, of Chestnut Ridge Road, Gasport, said she reached for something in the car that had fallen when her 1996 Chevy SUV drifted onto the shoulder. King swerved to the left, overcorrecting and going into the oncoming lane. She then overcorrected again, which is when she lost control of the car.

King was westbound in the area of 395 Lewiston, near Salt Road, in Alabama, at the time of the accident.

Both King and her passenger, T.L. King, 20, were taken to Medina Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

King was cited for allegedly driving without a license and moving from lane unsafely.

Driver on Pearl Street Road injured when car is rear-ended

By Howard B. Owens

A driver reportedly failed to see a car that had stopped for a left-hand turn on Pearl Street Road, Batavia, at 4:07 p.m. Friday, causing an accident that sent one person to the hospital.

Injured was Lisa M. Bailey, 49, of Pearl Street Road, Batavia, the driver of the car that was hit.

Jonathan P. Hoca, 23, of Woodrow Road, Batavia, was westbound on Pearl Street Road in a 2008 Chevy sedan when he struck Bailey's 2002 Pontiac sedan.

Hoca said he didn't see Bailey slow down to turn.

Sgt. Greg Walker investigated the accident and reported that another car was also traveling westbound between Hoca's and Bailey's cars and that car swerved around Bailey's vehicle.

Hoca was cited for allegedly following too closely.

(initial report)

Photos: 2011 Ramble Music and Arts Fest under way

By Howard B. Owens

Kelly Kubala from Go Art! opened the 2011 Ramble Music and Arts Fest in Downtown Batavia shortly after 11 this morning.

The Ghost Riders followed and more musical acts will be performing throughout the day, plus there's food, crafts and arts.

Parking is available off School, Jackson and Center streets.

The event goes until 9 p.m.

UPDATE: Video shot by Steve Ognibene:

Murder victim in Buffalo may be from Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

A homicide in Buffalo early Friday may have a Genesee County connection.

The Buffalo News reports that Joseph Hale, 35, was shot in the back while in the area of  St. Paul Mall and Ellicott Street. He later died at ECMC.

A reader informs us that Hale was a former Batavia High School student. A public record check shows that a Joseph Hale, 35, has lived in Buffalo, Batavia and Corfu.

From the Buffalo News:

"Homicide detectives are attempting to trace the victim's whereabouts before the shooting incident occurred," said Dennis J. Richards, chief of detectives. "Mr. Hale was seen in the Allentown area earlier in the morning and prior to the shooting."

This is the city's 21st homicide of 2011.

Multiple-injury accident reported on the Thruway

By Howard B. Owens

A motor vehicle accident has been reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 379, eastbound, in the median.

Multiple injuries are reported.

Le Roy Fire and Ambulance along with Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 6:34 a.m.: Car on its roof. Seven injuries reported. Four more ambulances requested to the scene from Mercy EMS and Bergen. Mercy Flight on in-air standby. Mile marker 379 is just west of Route 19 near Griswold Circle.

UPDATE 6:38 a.m.: Cancel Mercy Flight. A total of five ambulances currently in route.

UPDATE 6:43 a.m.: All remaining responders to continue, but "take it easy."

UPDATE 7:11 a.m.: A total of eight patients transported to Strong. Le Roy fire back in service.

Fire in a compactor reported at Tops

By Howard B. Owens

A fire in a compactor has been reported at Tops Market, 390 W. Main St., Batavia.

City Fire Department responding.

Responders are asked to enter through the rear of the market.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: There is smoke in the rear of the building.

UPDATE 8:53 p.m.: Majority of the fire in the container knocked down. Back of the store being ventilated.

Photos: Early evening in Alabama, Indian Falls and Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

I received a text message this morning from I'm not sure who that read: "Must. Have. More. Photos."

Fortunately, I had already been out yesterday evening on a photo expedition.

Above, the power lines going through the state reserve on Judge Road, Alabama. Below, tall grass off Short Street, Indian Falls, and a lily near the Slusser Road bridge over the Tonawanda Creek, Pembroke.

Police Beat: Suspected shoplifter allegedly found with syringes

By Howard B. Owens

Joshua Stanley Martaus, 27, of Overlook Drive, Batavia, is charged with possession of a hypodermic instrument and petit larceny. Martaus was arrested for allegedly shoplifting at Walmart. During the investigation by Deputy Kevin McCarthy, he was allegedly found in possession of two hypodermic syringes.

Tyler Scott Brand, 19, of Pearl Street, Springville, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding and operating in violation of a conditional-use license. Brand was stopped for allegedly going 49 in a 39 mph zone at 10:13 p.m., Saturday on Route 77 in Darien by Deputy Ron Meides.

Thomas R. Hendershott, 41, Sunrise Parkway, Oakfield, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and operating without insurance. Hendershott was stopped at 10:46 p.m. Tuesday on Stevens Street, Oakfield, by Sgt. Greg Walker.

Local history buff now officially in charge at Holland Land Office Museum

By Howard B. Owens

Jeffrey Donahue, who spent more than 35 years working in local media, has been named full-time director of the Holland Land Office Museum.

Donahue has been serving in that capacity on an interim basis for several months. The HLOM board approved his permanent position earlier this week.

For anybody who has visited the museum recently and had the good fortune to have Donahue provide the museum tour, it's clear Donahue knows local history thoroughly and is passionate about it.

"I always say history is like producing a television show," said Donahue, who worked for 25 years as a producer, editor and photographer for the Batavia cable channel. "People come into the museum expecting to be told a story, a story of history, and that's what you do in television. You tell a story."

Donahue also spent 10 years with WBTA.

Bob Turk, president of the HLOM board, said the board is confident Donahue will continue to be a real asset to the museum.

"We are very pleased that Jeffrey accepted the position," Turk said. "Not only does Jeffrey posses a great knowledge of local history but also has the vision to move the museum forward."

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