Town of Batavia fire is on scene at Quality Inn & Suites in Batavia, where a chief has reported a broken sprinkler system has caused flooding.
He's requested code enforcement to the scene to assist.
More than 700 National Grid customers in Darien are without power this morning.
The outage began about an hour ago and National Grid estimates that power will be restored about 7:15 a.m.
The area of the outage is from the county line on the west to Bowen Road, and from the county line on the south to just south of Darien Lake Theme Park.
We have no information on the cause of the outage.
A shed fire is reported at 8449 North Lake Road, Pembroke.
A chief on scene reports that it looks like the only thing in the shed is a motorcycle.
Pembroke fire, Indian Falls fire, and the City's Fast team dispatched.
UPDATE 5:56 a.m.: Indian Falls engine returning; in service.
UPDATE 6:46 a.m.: All units back in service. Fire coordinators and deputies remaining in scene.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul was in Batavia at Genesee Community College today to review Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State speech.
After cheering the Buffalo Bills and talking a bit about how well Batavia and Genesee County are doing, Hochul highlighted key elements of the speech, which outlines some of the issues the governor's office will take on in 2018.
These issues include: stepping in and filling the gap, like many other states, left by the Trump Administration's announced withdrawal from the Paris Accord on Climate Change; expanding high-speed broadband in rural parts of the state; continuing to address the opiate addiction crisis; improving the lives of children through improved access to nutritious meals, through addressing lead exposure, and expanding after-school programs; ending the state's practice of suspending professional licenses for people who default on student loans; addressing workplace sexual harassment, including among elected officials; bail reform; improving ballot access; and ethics reform for the Legislature.
Hochul also praised the efforts of Cuomo to improve the business climate in New York.
She said under Cuomo's leadership, the state has controlled spending and lowered taxes. The corporate tax rate is the lowest it's been since 1968, she said, and the middle-class rate is the lowest it's been since 1947.
"Keep these numbers in your head," Hochul said. "When you walk around and here people say taxes are too high, they’ve come down dramatically under this governor."
She pointed to the state's investment in infrastructure as another factor in the state's improved economic outlook, noting, too that there are now 8.1 million jobs in the state and the unemployment rate has dropped dramatically during Cuomo's tenure.
The Cuomo Administration has also pushed for paid family leave, tuition-free college for qualifying students, and Raise the Age, a reform that will allow 16- and 17-year-olds accused of some crimes who would have been prosecuted as adults in the past to be moved to Family Court.
Hochul said that while she represents all of New York, Batavia is always a special place to visit. This was her 31st trip to Batavia since becoming lieutenant governor.
She is excited by the progress she's seeing, from the Downtown Revitalization award to the entry of HP Hood into the former Muller Quaker plant, and the promise of high-tech jobs in Alabama.
"Just talk about the STAMP project," Hochul said. "Yes, it's taking a little longer than we want, I understand that, but there has been $50 million from the State for Ludlow Construction for the infrastructure they've put in at the site during the summertime. That's going to be transformative. That's going to be a magnet."
Speaking with the press after the event, Hochul attacked the GOP tax plan passed in December by the House and the Senate and signed by President Trump just before Christmas. She said it was bad for the working people of New York.
"This one came down to calling on our entire congressional delegation to stand with New Yorkers and four did not, which is appalling to me," Hochul said. "Four individuals broke from their colleagues in the same party in New York and said, 'we don't care.' Now we've got a fight on our hands."
That fight could include dropping the state's income tax and switching to a payroll tax. Such a change, in theory, would not change the take-home pay for workers. Their employers would pay the same amount of tax they currently deduct from paychecks, but it would be pre-tax (federal tax) money. Workers would then not be double taxed (which is the case if they can't deduct the money they pay in taxes to the state on their federal returns).
"Everything is on the table," Hochul said. "We're looking at what other states have done. We're looking at what we can do legally. We believe it is unconstitutional to have double taxation. It's something our Founding Fathers discussed. It's talking about states rights and how not to trample on them. It's amazing to me how people in Washington will pick and choose which states rights they want to protect."
If you found an intruder in your house, would you know what to do?
Even if you were armed, would you know what to do?
Or would you panic?
Training in advance of stressful situations is key to surviving potentially hazardous conflicts and defusing them safely for yourself, your family members and even the intruder.
M&S Tactical Solutions in Batavia has set up an Active Home Invasion System at its facility in the Harvester Center in Batavia.
It's designed to provide training for the company's primary clients, local residents who want to improve security in their home, especially if they keep a firearm.
Yesterday, Sheriff William Sheron and members of his command staff -- Greg Walker, Jerry Brewster, Bill Zipfel, and Joe Graff -- toured the new facility (along with Mercy medic Wade Schwab) and Zipfel and Graff both went through simulated home invasion scenarios to experience how the training works.
"I like it because it’s realistic," Zipfel said. "It's not like our tower. There’s actual furniture. It’s really nice."
While the AHIS is set up to train civilians, it's also used by local police officers to get extra training and practice in detecting and reacting to threats in real-life scenarios.
Participants, if armed, are armed with realistic-looking airsoft pistols and wear face masks.
When it's civilians going through, they are given a basic firearm safety course, even if previously trained, just to make sure everybody is on the same page, said M&S owner Jeff McIntire. Then they're put in a scenario to see how they handle it. McIntire and his staff monitor the home invasion scenario thorugh closed circuit video so they can review how things played out with the participants.
"We don’t give them anything at first," McIntire said. "We put them over there because we want to see what your natural reaction is. I want to see what you naturally do. Then we come back here and debrief. Now we can start actually talking about what to do."
One recent participant fired first and asked questions later. That's a measure, McIntire said, of how realistic and stressful the scenarios can be. The adrenaline pumps and your autonomic systems take over and pushes your mind into "fight or flight" mode.
Getting past those automatic responses is what training is about. Repetition helps build up a kind of muscle memory that helps you stay calm and make better decisions.
To help teach the importance of good decision making, not all of the "intruders" are hostile. They might be an Alzheimer patient who is convinced he's in his own home, or a neighbor just knocking on your door. The intruder might even be your wife home early from work. In other words, not every scenario is hostile but could end in tragedy without proper training.
And not every intruder deserves to be shot. A TV, McIntire noted, is not worth a person's life. Participants are taught to better recognize which intruders pose a real life or limb threat to themselves or a family member.
The scenario yesterday for Graff involved the chief deputy just returning home from work. There is an intruder going through his belongings in his bedroom. At some point, the intruder comes out of the room and Graff became aware he was there. In this case, Graff drew his pistol and shouted for the intruder to put his hands where he could see them and get on the ground. As the intruder went down, he was instructed to reach for his mobile phone in his pocket. Graff yelled for him to put his hands back up and the intruder fumbled with his phone and drop it. Graff did not fire.
In the other scenario, Zipfel came home, grabbed a beer and went in the bedroom to ly down. Then two intruders entered. They began searching the living room for items and Zipfel heard the noise. He crouched down, entered the room, spotted the intruder and ordered him to the ground. As he approached the intruder, the second intruder started to enter the room from the kitchen, gun pointed at Zipfel. Zipfel shot him.
In both cases, with their boss Sheriff Sheron watching, they made the right decision.
While officers who use the facility for training aren't earning any sort of certification, McIntire said he recognizes the need for officers to get numerous repetitions of potentially dangerous situations to help improve their decision making.
Whether civilian or officer, repetition and review are key training tools for improved performance.
Without training, McIntire, people often revert to what they've seen on TV or in a movie, and that's not a good place to be.
McIntire said, "We stress getting people to that point with muscle memory where they say, 'I don't have think. I just know what to do.' "
Top photo: The tour in the living room apartment. Next two photos, Graff during his scenario. Fourth photo, monitors showing Zipfel's scenario. Bottom, McIntire and Walker in the facility's firing range (where airsoft guns are used).
It's not the 107-year sentence former County Court Judge Robert C. Noonan handed down to convicted child molester Sean Vickers, but Vickers will still serve many decades in prison.
Earlier this year, the jury trial conviction of Vickers was overturned on appeal because the appeals court found he wasn't properly tried under the same counts in the original indictment against him.
It looked like a new trial for Vickers, but in October, Vickers agreed to a plea agreement. While that means Vickers might avoid a similar 100-year sentence, it also means his victims won't be required to testify again.
On that guilty plea, today Judge Charles Zambito sentenced Vickers to the agreed-upon 40-year prison term.
He was already serving a 20-year term on a similar conviction in Niagara County.
In a rematch of last year's Rotary Tournament finale, Notre Dame, this time, was the more dominant team, beating Cal-Mum, 43-35.
"We didn't really have an identity early in the season last year and it showed," said ND's head coach Tom McCulley. "They were a mature team and we weren't really there yet. This year I think we probably had the edge maturity."
The star of the game was Stevie Wilcox, who scored 17 points and seemed in command of her game from the start. She was named tournament MVP.
"We were ready to bring it and play as a team and work together because when we do, we're unstoppable," Wilcox said.
The Lady Irish are always tough on defense and McCulley said that's what he saw from his team again, especially in the first half, when Notre Dame held the Lady Raiders to six points. Guard Morgan Rhodes was a big part of that, he said.
"Morgan was steady all throughout," McCulley said. "She got some steals and helped us with ball pressure so we weren't allowing them to get comfortable in their sets, maybe not as quickly as they would like. I think most of the time, when I looked up, by the time Cal-Mum got in their sets there was 16 seconds off the close. I was shocked by that. That puts a lot of pressure on the offense to execute."
Margret Sutherland and Natale Thornton also had big games. Sutherland scored 10 points and Thornton scored nine. Both were a strong presence under the boards.
Callie McCulley added six points.
For Cal-Mum, Elyse Van Auken scored 12 points.
Besides Wilcox at MVP, the all-tournament team was Taylor Gadd, Attica, Ryann Stefaniak, Batavia, Elyse Van Auken, Cal-Mum, Margaret Sullivan, Notre Dame, and Callie McCulley, Notre Dame.
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A one-vehicle rollover accident with minor injuries is reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 389.3.
Town of Batavia fire with mutual aid from Le Roy fire dispatched.
UPDATE 11:37 a.m.: Chief on scene reports vehicle on its wheels in the median.
UPDATE 11:39 a.m.: Patient is walking around and no complaint of pain. Mercy EMS to continue for patient evaluation.
A dog has been reportedly left in the cold in a Nissan parked outside Kmart in Batavia.
The caller does not believe the car is running.
A deputy is responding.
UPDATE 9:41 a.m.: Caller reports the owner has come out, got into his vehicle and left the area. Deputy's response canceled.
Gary Maha, Gordon Dibble, and John Hilchey, the three newest members of the Genesee County Legislature, along with the rest of the Legislature, took their oaths of office Wednesday night prior to the Legislature's organizational meeting at the Old Courthouse.
Robert Bausch, representing Elba, Byron, and Bergen, was chosen to chair the Legislature.
From left, Pam LaGrou, clerk to the legislators, Gary Maha, Gordon Dibble, Shelly Stein, Andrew Young, Bob Bausch, John Deleo, Marianne Clattenburg, Gregg Torrey, John Hilchey, and County Manager Jay Gsell.
Town of Batavia officials were sworn in by Town Justice Tom Williams prior to the Town's organizational meeting on Wednesday night. Pictured from left: Tom Williams, town justice; Daniel Underhill, councilperson; Greg Post, supervisor; Patti Michalak, councilperson; Thomas Lichtenthal, highway superintendent; Teressa Morasco, town clerk.
Photo and info submitted by Chad Zambito.
We have been notified of the following closings for tomorrow due to anticipated extreme cold:
Please send announcements about closings to howard@thebatavian.com.
A collision between a car and a small school bus are reported at Big Tree Road and South Street Road, Covington.
Unknown injuries.
Pavilion fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 3:42 p.m.: One injury reported. A child with a head injury, conscious and alert. Traffic at Route 246 will be shut down by fire police.
UPDATE 3:47 p.m.: A fire chief reports multiple accidents at the location.
UPDATE 3:52 p.m.: A second ambulance requested to the scene.
It will be Notre Dame and Cal-Mum facing off tonight in the championship match of the Batavia Rotary Club Girls Basketball Tournament.
After Batavia delivered an uninspired performance leading to a loss to the Red Raiders 43-40, the Lady Blue Devils will face Attica in the consolation game at 6 p.m.
NOTE: the games have been moved from Friday night to tonight because of the anticipated cold snap tomorrow.
The Lady Raiders will face a motivated Lady Irish team that had two of the squad's top players both in sync Wednesday night, with Callie McCulley scoring 22 points and Margaret Sutherland scoring 16 to help lead a dominating 64-42 win over Attica. Natalie Thornton added 13 points.
Attica was led by Taylor Gadd with 13 points and Kacey Pearce with 10.
Top scorer Wednesday night was Cal-Mum's Elyse Van Auken, who scored 24 points. Makenzie Wilson scored eight points.
For Batavia, Ryann Stefaniak scored 13 points, Bryn Wormley, eight, and Kenzie Reigle, seven.
Two Batavia players missed the game due to illness.
A newcomer to watch with Batavia is 5' 11" sophomore Emma Krolczyk, who scored six points.
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A semi-truck is reportedly stuck under the bridge on South Lake Road, Pembroke, under the Thruway overpass.
A deputy is dispatched.
UPDATE 11:23 a.m.: A deputy on scene says the roadway is completely clear and there's no sign of damage to the bridge. He's going to check Route 5.
UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: Route 5 is clear. "No semi's stuck anywhere," a deputy reports.
Police located and arrested a drug dealer yesterday who was accused of failure to appear in County Court for his sentencing and of violating an order of protection while awaiting sentencing.
Officers learned that Charles "Gusto" Williams, 38, was at a residence on Ross Street based on a citizen's tip.
Batavia PD sought the public's assistance in locating Williams after he refused to turn himself in on a warrant.
He was jailed pending his arraignment today.
He was convicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and criminal contempt, 1st.
Nicholas G. Williams, 41, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, and burglary, 2nd. Williams is accused of unlawfully entering a dwelling in Le Roy with the intent to commit a crime, thereby violating a court order to stay away from the resident. He was also charged with resisting arrest. He allegedly resisted officers when they attempted to place handcuffs on his wrists. He was jailed on $10,000 bail.
Christina M. Sanchez-Anderson, 29, and Kodey R. Mills, 24, both of Church Street, Le Roy, were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Sanchez-Anderson and Mills were arrested after Le Roy PD responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at 9:30 a.m., Sunday. During the investigation police allegedly observed a crack pipe in plain view in the living room. Mills was released on an appearance ticket. There was a warrant for the arrest of Sanchez-Anderson on an unrelated charge. She was jailed on $1,000 bail.
Lori A. Say, 50, of Roanoke Road, Stafford, is charged with petit larceny. Say is accused of shoplifting from a business on West Avenue in the Village of Le Roy.
James M. Tinker, 25, of Fowler Road, Linwood, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Tinker is accused of punching and breaking the window of another person in the Village of Le Roy during a dispute. Tinker was treated for cuts on his hand an issued an appearance ticket.
Chazmar T. Walters, 25, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear.
Brian Gilbert Keller, 22, of Sumner Road, Darien, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and harassment, 2nd. Keller allegedly spit in the face of another person, a violation of a refrain from offensive conduct order of protection. He was jailed on $10,000 bail, $15,000 bond.
A chicken coop fire is reported at 3246 Galloway Road.
A first responder on scene reports two sheds, one completely on the ground, the other starting to get fully involved, about 50 feet from the residence.
Town of Batavia fire with mutual aid from Oakfield dispatched.
UPDATE 6:48 a.m.: East Pembroke requested to stand by in quarters. The flammables and snowblower removed from the second shed.
UPDATE 6:53 a.m.: Per town command, everything on the road can respond non-emergency. East Pembroke can go back in service.
From The Batavian's news partner, 13WHAM
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