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In 30 years as an emergency dispatcher, Steve Robinson has probably handled every imaginable kind of call, first with the City of Batavia and later with the Sheriff's Office -- lost cats, petit larcenies, fires, train derailments, overdoses, homicides, and everything in between.

It's a tough job but on the night of his final shift, he said he is glad he chose the job he did as a young man.

"It's been an amazing career," Robinson said. "I've made a lot of friends -- with other dispatchers, judges, DAs, police officers, EMS, fire -- everybody involved in the whole process. I couldn't have asked for a better career for 30 years. It's not pretty sometimes. We deal with a lot of unpleasant stuff, but we get through it and I appreciate everybody I've worked with, and I've gotten a lot of help over the years."

To be a good dispatcher, Robinson said, you have to be able to multitask. You can find yourself dealing with a police officer on the radio about one call while taking an emergency call from an unrelated incident on 9-1-1. 

"There is a lot of activity in the room and you can't rely on somebody else to answer your phone for you," Robinson said.

And because you're sometimes dealing with people in duress, at the worse time of their lives, or who are angry, you have to have good people skills to be a good dispatcher. You have to be able to stay calm, talk people through their situations and ensure first responders are kept safe.

"The people I work with, not just the dispatchers, but the first responders, we have a bond because nobody else understands what we do," Robinson said. "In this job, unless you do it, you can't understand what we deal with and that is what bonds us."

In retirement, Robinson will still be around, and not far from the career he's loved. He will continue to work part time for Batavia PD as a desk clerk.

"I'll keep a hand in the business," Robinson said. "I'm not totally walking away."

Press release:

National Grid has approved an economic development grant totaling $127,000 to offset costs related to an upgrade to three-phase electricity power at McCormick Family Dairy Farm in Alexander.

As part of an upgrade, the owners of the farm are planning to install new equipment that will keep their 2,500 cows healthy, save the company money and add power to run fans, motors and improve product quality.

“We frequently work with small businesses and agribusiness customers that are looking to grow but may be limited due to lack of three-phase power at their site,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa.

“McCormick Family Farms had examined other potential alternatives to meet their new and growing electricity needs. By working with them, it was determined that three-phase power is the appropriate solution to meet the farm’s electric load.”

The grant was made through National Grid’s Three-Phase Power Incentive program, which provides grants to fund the extension of three-phase electricity service to eligible National Grid customers.

More information about National Grid’s economic development programs is available at www.shovelready.com.

Even though Pittsford-Sutherland had a size advantage down low, the Blue Devils kept their home game Wednesday night close until the third quarter.

Then Pittsford-Sutherland's guards started dropping threes like gumdrops in a five-and-dime. 

Drew Kull, Jalyn Moorehead and Owen Flisnik combined for seven makes beyond the arc and sealed the deal of a 58-42 win for the Knights.

For Batavia, the only player in double digits scoring was Alex Hale with 11 points. Zach Gilebarto scored nine, Caeden White, eight, and Camden White scored seven.

The Blue Devils are now 7-6 on the season.

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A family in Pavilion would like to get their 2003 Chevy Silverado back.

It was stolen at 5:20 this morning.

It's dark gray/black with a light bar, and a plow mount (the plow was not attached at the time it was stolen). The passenger side door handle is broken. There are glow lights under the truck and the front license plate is on the driver's side grill. There is a plastic toolbox across the bed of the truck.

Whoever stole the truck apparently headed north on Roanoke Road because there was sheet steel in the bed of the truck that fell out.

State Police took the stolen vehicle report. The State Police can be reached at (585) 344-6200. A friend of the owner, Jessica Wolcott, can be reached at (585) 815-3625.

A woman who was driving an SUV struck head-on on Route 5 in East Pembroke yesterday morning has died, according to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

Patricia L. Dzienciol, 50, of Akron, succumbed to her injuries at the Erie County Medical Center.

Dzienciol was driving a 2015 Nissan Rogue westbound in the area of 2700 Main Road at 7:14 a.m. when 1997 Mercury sedan crossed over from the eastbound lane and struck her vehicle. The Rogue traveled off the north shoulder and overturned in a roadside ditch.

The driver of the Mercury, Kathleen Swanekamp, 84, of Roswell Avenue, Tonawanda, was cited for allegedly driving at a speed that was not safe nor prudent and for failure to stay in the right lane.

At the time of the accident, snow was falling and roadways were wet and slushy. East Pembroke Chief Don Newton said the conditions made it difficult for volunteers to respond to the scene both quickly and cautiously.  

UPDATE: Audio on the video (finally) fixed.

One of the drivers involved in a serious injury accident at 7:14 a.m. on Route 5 in East Pembroke was cited for two alleged traffic violations following an investigation into the collision.

Kathleen A. Swanekamp, 84, of Roswell Avenue, Tonawanda, was cited for allegedly driving faster than was safe or prudent for the conditions and for failure to stay in the right lane of traffic.

According to the accident report prepared by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun, Swanekemp was eastbound on Main Road east of Barrett Road when her 1997 Mercury sedan crossed into the westbound lane.

The car collided head-on with a 2015 Nissan SUV driven by Patricia Dzienciol, 50, of Golden Pond Estates, Akron. Dzienciol's vehicle overturned in a ditch on the north shoulder and East Pembroke Chief Don Newton said it was a lengthy process to extricate her from the vehicle.

Swanekamp had two passengers: William J. Danek, 26, and Daniel Cordner, 42. A passenger in the rear seat of Swanekamp's sedan also required extrication.

All four patients were taken to the trauma center at ECMC.

CORRECTION: Earlier we listed the registered owner of the SUV, not the driver. The driver was Patricia Dzienciol.

UPDATE: Audio corrected on the video.

As part of Catholic Schools Week on Sunday, St. Joe's held it's third annual "Slime Off."

Press release:

New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a key member of President Trump’s impeachment defense team and a rising conservative star, endorsed Chris Jacobs today for Congress in New York’s 27th District. 

“In 2016 Republican and Conservative Party leaders turned to Chris Jacobs to reclaim a critical seat in the state senate that helped maintain control of the chamber and ensured a check on Governor Andrew Cuomo,” Stefanik said. “Now we’re turning to Chris again to win another tough election because he’s a proven conservative leader we can count on to stand with President Trump to defeat the socialist agenda of Washington Democrats, defend the Second Amendment, stop illegal immigration and put America first. I’m proud to endorse Chris Jacobs for Congress.” 

Jacobs was nominated Saturday by Republican leaders as their nominee for the 27th District special election. 

Jacobs is a conservative reformer, small businessman and New York State Senator representing Erie County in Western New York. First elected to the Senate in 2016 and re-elected in November of 2018, Chris has been a strong voice for Western New York, fighting against policies driven by New York City political interests that are harmful to the region. 

Prior to his election to the Senate, Jacobs was the first Republican Clerk elected in Erie County in 40 years. As County Clerk, Jacobs drove dramatic efficiencies without increasing the number of employees and ran the county’s Pistol Permit Division, where he gained recognition for his strong defense of 2nd Amendment rights during the passage of the New York SAFE Act.

Jacobs is the founder and owner of Avalon Development. Founded in 2002, Avalon has redeveloped many vacant and historic buildings in Western New York.

In 1994, Jacobs founded the BISON Scholarship Fund, a charity that has provided scholarships for more than 20,000 children throughout Western New York.

Jacobs and his wife, Martina, have a daughter, Anna.

In an overtime game Saturday night, Oakfield-Alabama beat Warsaw 74-70.

Kaden Cusmano scored 18 points for the Hornets. Gaige Armbrewster scored 12, and Kam Cusmano scored 10.

Photos by Kristen Smith. For more photos, click here.

Press release from AAA: 

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.52, down 3 cents since last week. One year ago, the price was $2.26.

The New York State average is $2.69 – down 2 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.51.

AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $2.64 (no change since last week)
• Buffalo -- $2.61 (down 2 cents since last week)
• Ithaca -- $2.67 (down 1 cent since last week)
• Rochester -- $2.65 (down 2 cents since last week)
• Rome -- $2.67 (down 2 cents since last week)
• Syracuse -- $2.58 (down 4 cents since last week)
• Watertown -- $2.69 (down 1 cent since last week)

Gas prices continue their long-awaited descent – most metro areas across the region and seeing a drop in prices at the pump while state and national prices are also down. Increased stocks and low demand have helped to push the national average lower.

As these trends continue, motorists will likely continue to see pump prices decline.

From GasBuddy:

Worry has gripped oil markets, sending the commodity plunging in value in recent weeks with downdrafts in gas prices starting to accelerate with motorists continuing to be the beneficiaries," said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

"With oil prices now nearly $6 per barrel lower than a week ago and nearing their lowest level since October, there's plenty more room for the decline in gas prices to be extended again. While the national average could fall into the $2.30's before all is said and done, the downward move likely won't last much more than a few more weeks.

"For now, my advice to motorists is don't be in a rush to fill -- nearly every station nationwide will be cutting their prices in the days ahead -- but shop around if you do need to fill up and patronize the stations with the lowest prices."

Press release:

Nate McMurray, Democrat running in the Special Election in Western NY’s 27th District, today released his proposal for protecting and expanding health care for seniors, working families, rural communities and small businesses.

With a growing rural doctor shortage and many rural hospitals struggling, the high cost of health care for small businesses, entrepreneurs and so-called “gig workers,” nearly 30 million people still uninsured, and Trump’s new attack on Medicare, McMurray said the time for action is now.  

“Insurance companies and big pharma are choking our economy, making people sick and driving families into bankruptcy," McMurray said. “The cost of insurance is up, deductibles are up, and co-pays are up, and the CEOs of drug companies and insurance companies are taking home millions.

"Meanwhile, rural hospitals can’t find doctors, and Trump is getting ready to cut Medicare. The system we have isn’t working for too many people, and we need to change.” 

McMurray put a particular focus on Medicare, which provides healthcare to America’s seniors.

“Medicare is one of the great successes of our nation," McMurray said. "Before Medicare, half of all seniors couldn’t afford health insurance, now everyone is covered because taxpayers and employers put money into the system with every paycheck.

"How dare Trump and his allies threaten to cut benefits. Our seniors paid for those benefits all their lives, and as Congressman, I’m never going to let Washington break that promise."

McMurray slammed Washington’s approach to health care in general, and called out Congress members for taking corporate PAC money from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, while protecting their profits, over helping families and small businesses.  

“It’s corrupt,” McMurray said. “Big pharma pushes cash to Congress members like they pushed opioids into our communities. The politicians they buy should be protecting us but they don’t, so we need to cure this sickness by electing people who will do the job.”

McMurray’s 4 Point Healthcare Platform includes: 

1.) Supporting rural hospitals by expanding debt forgiveness programs for medical professionals and doctors that work in rural hospitals and clinic and increasing funding for rural hospitals;

2.) Creating a single-payer health care system while protecting patients’ rights to choose their doctors;

3.) Blocking Trump’s Medicare cuts;

4.) Battling the opioid epidemic by reimbursing local hospitals and clinics for overdose treatment, and training all first responders in usage of Naloxone to save overdose victims’ lives.

 “Medical costs help cause two-thirds of all bankruptcies, and the average cost for small business for family coverage is over $20,000 per employee," McMurray said. "How many more small businesses have to go under and how many more families have to go bankrupt before we are willing to change? It’s time to break free and give Americans the health care they deserve."

Fact Check: According to the National Institute of Health, medical costs do not cause "two-thirds of all bankruptcies." The report states: " ... the magnitude of the bankruptcy effect is much smaller than previously thought: we estimate that hospitalizations cause only 4 percent of personal bankruptcies among nonelderly U.S. adults, which is an order of magnitude smaller than the previous estimates described above.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating a robbery that occurred in the parking lot of Pizza Hut on Jan. 24 at approximately 7:38 p.m. The victims had gone to the lot to meet with a potential buyer of items the victims were selling online when the robbery occurred. It is believed the potential buyer is the suspect in this case.

The suspect was armed with a blunt object at the time. The victims were not injured during the incident. Further information can not be released at this time due to the ongoing investigation.

The Batavia Police would like to remind citizens the Batavia Police Headquarters rear vestibule, located at 10 W. Main St., is a certified SafeTrade Station. This means members of the public wishing to buy or sell online items, can conduct the sale with the other party in a safer spot than a parking lot or house.

The vestibule area is monitored by surveillance cameras/police personnel and a direct phone connection to the Genesee County Dispatch Center is available. More information about the SafeTrade Program can be found here.

Anyone with information in reference to the case may contact: Detective Sergeant Matt Lutey at 585-345-6311, or the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350, the confidential tip line at 585-345-6370, or online here.

A white male who stole a Spectrum Cable pickup truck from a location in the Town of Batavia on Saturday night and then evaded capture during a pursuit on Oak Street is still at large, according to the Batavia Police Department.

The police are asking the public's assistance in identifying the suspect.

The incident began about 11:30 p.m. when the Sheriff's Office received a report of a stolen work truck.

An officer in the City of Batavia observed a white Ford F-150 with the Spectrum logo on its doors traveling on Washington Avenue.

The officer followed the vehicle onto West Main Street while confirming with dispatchers that the vehicle in question was the stolen vehicle.

The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the stolen vehicle at the intersection of Olyn Avenue and Holland Avenue. The suspect fled northbound on Holland, continuing northbound on to Oak Street before making an abrupt right turn at Charles Street.

The subject then drove through all the backyards of the houses located on the north side of Charles Street, damaging fences, vehicles and the yards.

The work truck then emerged through the driveway of 70/72 Oak St. damaging vehicles and a house. The vehicle traveled westbound across Oak striking and significantly damaging three vehicles in the driveway of 69 Oak St.

At that point, the operator then fled the area on foot.

Deputy Chris Erion and K-9 "Frankie" responded for a search of the area while state Troopers helped establish a perimeter.

Despite an extensive search, the suspect was not located.

The suspect was described by witnesses to be a white male, with long hair, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a black backpack.

There were no reported injuries as a result of the incident. 

The Batavia PD press release suggests investigators have a possible name for the suspect but are looking for additional information to confirm the identity. Anybody with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Det. Jason Ivison. Ivison can be reached at (585) 345-6370.

A light amount of heavy, wet snow is falling in Batavia and the roads are getting slick.

At about 8:35 p.m., a vehicle failed to negotiate a curve in Ganson Avenue and slid into a tree. City fire and Mercy EMS were called to the scene to evaluate a pregnant woman who was riding in the backseat.

Officer Mark Lawrence said City DPW has been notified of road conditions and are expected to start treating roadways.

Here at The Batavian, we go out at night to find out what's going on so you don't have to. Help us do more to inform you about what's going on in your community by becoming a supporter.

Press release:

Yesterday, the county chairs held a closed-door meeting to pick career politician Chris Jacobs for the GOP ballot in the special election. This decision does not reflect the voice of the voters of NY27. Jacobs has voted to raise taxes and fees, funded planned parenthood, has been weak on the Second Amendment and voted to provide free college tuition. As a Republican in name only, he is the wrong fit for the constituents in the reddest district in New York State. 

As the true conservative, our message has resonated with voters. In six short days, we had over 2,500 voters sign our pick Parlato petition. Our campaign has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, our grassroots continue to build and we are gaining momentum as our movement continues to motivate and excite voters throughout the district.

We believe the voters deserve to have their voices heard. Therefore, we will continue our campaign and look forward to winning the Republican nomination in the June primary.

A two-car, head-on, minor-injury accident is reported in the area of 3325 Broadway Road, Alexander.

The accident is partially blocking the roadway.

Alexander fire along with Mercy EMS dispatched.

Jared Chick was named Firefighter of the Year for the Le Roy Volunteer Fire Department at the department's annual awards and installation dinner on Friday night, held at the Stafford Fire Hall.

Le Roy responded to 289 alarms in 2019.

Craig Johnson was issued the Medal of Valor for rescuing a woman from an early morning house fire in May 2019.

Rick Bater, past chief

The installation of fire fighters; Joe Orlando, left, Josh Fendler, right. 

Tim Yaeger administers the oath of office for Le Roy's officers and board members.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Water Department is on location of a water main break in front of 185 Pearl St. The water will be turned off on Pearl Street from 100 Pearl to the western City line.

We appreciate your understanding while this repair is being made. City crews will make every attempt to restore water as soon as possible.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m.: Water service has been restored.

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