Stories from

At the Arc of Genesee Orleans site on Walnut Street, Batavia, today, the Down Syndrome Parent Support Group of Genesee County Inc. presented a check for $10,000 to help fund the estimated $100,000 cost of remodeling a portion of the ARC's former production facility.

The remodeled facility will become the "GO TO Hub," a place for community prevocational and day habilitation services.

The change in the use of the building become because of changes to service delivery for ARC-type programs throughout the state.

The vision of the Arc’s GO TO Hub is to offer career development and lifelong learning, in a welcoming and inspiring space. When completed, stations will include a teaching kitchen, art and ceramics area, technology center, exercise area, simulated office and meeting rooms with mobile partitions.

Previously, ARC received a $25,000 donation from the Golisano Foundation and $10,000 from Howard Ouriel.

Donations are still being accepted. To find out more, contact Shelley Falitco at (585) 343-4203.

Top photo: Kelly Anstey; Donna Saskowski; front row -- Corinne Phelps, Colleen Fisher, Missy Cook, Lisa Losdon; back row – Gracia Leavy, Sharon White, Wanda Gilbert, Vinnie Tjhumg, Tammi Burbules, Kim Travale, Dawn Fisher, president of Down Syndrome Parent Support Group of Genesee.

Dispatchers have received a report of a fire in the woods in the area of Pearl Street and Drake Street that was supposedly started by juveniles who are now trying to put it out. 

Oakfield Fire Department responding.

UPDATE 5:40 p.m.: The location is 14 N. Pearl St. according to a first responder.

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: The fire appears to be a tractor tire. It will be out shortly, a chief reports.

UPDATE 5:50 p.m.: Oakfield command reports the fire is out.

A truck driver with 40,000 pounds in beets in his trailer thought he could make it under a railroad overpass on Griswold Road at 8:30 this morning.

According to Deputy Chris Erion, the driver was following GPS but the address he was going to was the billing address on the manifest, not the shipping address, which is on Transit Road.

Griswold was closed for several hours as a result of the accident.

UPDATE 6:06 p.m.: Griswold Road has reopened.

(Initial Report)

Press release from AAA: 

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.72, up 6 cents from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.85. The New York State average is $2.87 – up 2 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.02. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $2.82 (up 5 cents since last week)
• Buffalo -- $2.86 (up 2 cents since last week)
• Ithaca -- $2.80 (up 6 cents since last week)
• Rochester -- $2.85 (up 5 cents since last week)
• Rome -- $2.84 (up 1 cent since last week)
• Syracuse -- $2.79 (up 5 cents since last week)
• Watertown -- $2.80 (up 2 cents since last week)

Pump prices have increased as gasoline stocks decreased and demand remains robust. As gas stocks continue to dwindle, the busy summer driving season is now underway and American motorists are seeing pump prices increase as we approach the Fourth of July.

OPEC and its partners are meeting in Vienna and more market tightening may occur if the cartel decides to extend its current production reduction agreement through the end of the year. Additionally, China and the United States met at the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan to discuss trade negotiations between the world's two largest economies. There is growing global concern that an escalation of tensions could decrease demand for crude for the remainder of the year.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia Energy Solution’s (PES) refinery will shut down within the next month. This news follows an explosion and two fires within the last few weeks at the South Philadelphia complex. This is the oldest and largest refinery on the East Coast, producing 335,000 barrels of crude per day (42 U.S. gallons per barrel). That shutdown is also affecting regional gas prices.

A truck reportedly tried to go under the railroad bridge in the area of 5757 Griswold Road, Stafford, struck the bridge, and is now stuck.

Law enforcement is on scene.

Michael Ilasi produced this video about the GO Out! Gay Pride Parade in Batavia on Friday.

While Jim Bouton may be retiring from his job with the county as a fire coordinator, his nearly 50 years of service to Genesee County will continue.

Bouton said he will remain with the Town of Batavia Fire Department as a volunteer deputy fire chief.

Bouton, a retired corrections officer, started as a volunteer firefighter in 1972 in Alexander. He was chief by 1983. He took his first job as a fire inspector with the county in 1996. In 2004, he was hired in the Office of Emergency Management as a fire coordinator and training technician.

The thing he will miss the most, he said, is being with the people who became his friends over the course of his career.

"I liked working with a mass group of great folks out there," Bouton said. "I made a lot of friends, a lot of new friends. It was a wonderful experience. I wouldn’t give it up for anything."

After 47 years in the fire service, Bouton said volunteering with a local fire company is definitely a career path he would recommend for young people.

"It might open doors you didn’t think might be there for a career down the road, whether it’s maybe becoming a paid firefighter or a lot of other opportunities that happen because of the association of friends and group of friends you’re going to meet, some door may open," Bouton said.

Top photo: Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator, presents Bouton with his helmet and a commemorative helmet stand. Gary Patnode and Diane Bouton are on each side.

Coordinators with the Office of Emergency Management: Gary Patnode, Chuck Dodson, Bill Schutt, Jim Bouton, Tim Yaeger, Don Roblee (retired), and Sean Downing.

City firefighters presented Jim Bouton with a plaque to congratulate him on his retirement. Pictured: Dwane Weathell, Marty Hinz, Jim Bouton, Christine Marinaccio, and Mark Holly.

A motor vehicle accident, possibly with injuries, is reported on Warboys Road, Byron.

Two cars are involved.

Byron and South Byron fire departments responding.

UPDATE 3:38 p.m.: There are no injuries, medic response canceled. 

Mr. Wine & Liquor, long located in the Top's Plaza, has moved to a bigger location just a few doors down, and on Friday, the Rathod family celebrated the grand reopening with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. The ribbon was cut by the Rashod family mother/grandmother, Mukta Gulab Rathod.

A four-wheeler accident is reported at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, at the race track, in Batavia.

The patient reportedly hit her head and is pregnant. 

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS responding.

We missed the initial dispatch but the follow-up to a deputy contained this update: "You can disregard. The caller called back and it turns out the rabid animal is a brown paper bag."

Here's video from yesterday evening's GO Out!, gay pride parade, in Batavia.

Jason Smith spotted this piebald deer on Route 63 in Oakfield and sent in this photo.

My trip to Washington, D.C., to witness David Bellavia receiving the Medal of Honor and be inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon is the highlight of my journalism career.

Yes, it was a great experience to visit the White House (I'll answer the question many people have asked, "Did you meet the president?" No.) and the Pentagon, and it was an honor to see Bellavia receive the Medal of Honor. But in going to these events, what I didn't expect was how meaningful it would be to meet the men who served with Bellavia in Fallujah, Iraq. I got to see firsthand their love for each other and hear their stories and speak to several of them individually.

It was a special honor and pleasure to meet and speak with Colin Fitts, Maj. Joaquin Meno, and Sgt. John Bandy.

On Tuesday night, I was able to attend a party at a private residence in D.C. with the men of Bellavia's platoon. I was there when Meno made a toast to their fallen comrades. And though I took no pictures, made no recording, it's a moment I'll never forget.  

One of the highlights of the trip -- and there many -- was hanging out with Michael Ware, a legendary combat journalist. We spent a lot of time together and he helped me with my coverage. My interview with him figures prominently in this video.

I hope the video gives you a good sense of what took place in Washington over four days and provides you with a better sense of what happened in Fallujah on Nov. 10, 2004. The video doesn't just cover the main events -- the Medal of Honor ceremony and Hall of Heroes ceremony -- both of which were open to the press; but also the events I attended as a guest of David's while other media were excluded, primarily the reception in the ballroom of the hotel on Monday night and the reception in the White House after the Medal of Honor ceremony.

This is a complete photo gallery from my attendance of events and ceremonies in Washington, D.C., this week for David Bellavia receiving the Medal of Honor. Some of these photos come from events that no other photojournalist attended.

A car and motorcycle accident is reported at Route 98 and West Saile Drive.

No word on injuries.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:07 a.m.: Town of Batavia units can hold in quarters.

A house fire is reported at 6616 Junction Road, Pavilion.

Both occupants were exiting the house

Pavilion fire, Le Roy fire, and Stafford dispatched.

UPDATE 12:44 a.m.: Fully involved structure fire with flames coming through the roof. City fire and Alexander dispatched.

UPDATE 12:50 a.m.: A chief calls for a defensive attack.

UPDATE 12:54 a.m.: National Grid called to the scene.

UPDATE 1:40 a.m.: Caledonia to proceed to the scene and Bergen to fill in at Le Roy.

UPDATE 3 a.m.: Information and photos from Alecia Kaus/Video News Service: The house is a total loss. The homeowner (listed on the county tax website as Kenneth Reamer) woke up to a fire in the house. A friend was sleeping on the couch. The owner called 9-1-1 grabbed one of his cats and ran out. The other cat was seen running out of the house. No cause of origin of the fire yet released.

A caller reports hearing an explosion in the area of 1600 Ham Road, Alabama.

A first responder reports smoke showing.

Alabama fire responding for an investigation.

UPDATE 6:31 p.m.: A chief reports that the resident at 1600 also heard the explosion but that it wasn't at that property.

A car-bicycle accident is reported at 56 Ellicott St., near the former Santy Tires location.

No word on injuries.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

On Monday, Rep. Chris Collins gave a short floor speech in the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing and honoring David Bellavia on receiving the Medal of Honor. The Batavian asked for and received a video copy of the speech to share with our readers.

Also, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who once represented our area in Congress and knows David as a result, issued the following statement on Twitter:  p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 16.0px}

All of New York is proud of the courageous actions of WNY native Staff Sgt. David Bellavia while under fire.

 

His actions saved lives and his Medal of Honor is well deserved.