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There is apparently a recommendation for a small number of Genesee County residents to boil their household water because of a possible manure spill in the area of Batavia Oakfield Townline Road and Lewiston Road.

The announcement came from the NY-Alert system, not from the County Health Department.

The announcement was released just before the health department closed for the weekend, though it contained information to call the health department for further information.

The announcement says, "At this time, the extent of the contamination is unknown and we would therefore recommend that you boil tap water in your home or use bottled water for drinking and cooking. If your well water quality changes as noticed by color and/or smell, immediately stop using it for all household uses other than flushing toilets."

The first version of the announcement was a recommendation for all Genesee County residents to boil water, then a second version said the spill was in the area of Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road and Lewiston Road.

Because the health department is closed, no further information is available at this time.

Three separate investigations by the Local Drug Task Force have led to the arrest of three Batavia residents suspected of dealing crack cocaine in the city.

Arrested where:

• Demetrius W. "G" Richardson, 33, of East Main Street, Batavia, charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd.
• Dajuandrick C. "Omega" Gardner, 37, of East Avenue, Batavia, charged with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd.
• Diana L. Bloom, 57, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd.

Richardson allegedly sold cocaine to undercover agents Sept. 12 while on Jackson Street and again on Sept. 20 while on Pringle Avenue.

Gardner allegedly sold cocaine to undercover agents Nov. 22 while on State Street, Jan. 2 while on State Street and Jan. 15 while on State Street.

Bloom allegedly sold cocaine to undercover agents while at her residence at 117 State St. on Oct. 30 and again Oct. 31.

All three were arrested on sealed indictments within the past week. Their arrests were announced today.

All three were arraigned in County Court and Richardson was jailed on $50,000, Gardner on $75,000 bail and Bloom was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Assisting in the investigation and arrest were uniformed Batavia PD officers, Genesee County deputies, NYS Parole and the District Attorney's Office.

This morning contractors working on the former Lowe's location, getting the remaining space ready for new retail stores, apparently forgot to turn the water off to the sprinkler system before deciding to disconnect a pipe. The pipe needed to be relocated to make room for a new entrance to the new store. Workers undid two bolts and whoosh! An explosion of water. Perhaps as much as 1,000 gallons spilled out before the water was shut off. The break caused the water flow alarm to go off resulting in a response from the Town of Batavia Fire Department. Volunteer firefighters grabbed squeegees and brooms and helped clear the water out from inside the building.

Press release:

Genesee County STOP-DWI Program announced today that Genesee County police agencies will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.

The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on March 15th and will end on March 18th. St. Patrick’s Day week is historically a deadly period for impaired driving. This year St. Patrick’s Day is on a Monday and that will extend the weekend until Tuesday for many people. The New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related injuries and deaths during this period.

Batavia City Police Chief Shawn Heubusch stated, “The City of Batavia Police Department encourages everyone celebrating to do so safely and have a designated driver. Do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you have been drinking. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday weekend.”

Genesee County Undersheriff William Sheron stated, “St. Patrick's Day is well known as of day of celebration. Please celebrate responsibly. Avoid tragedy; Don't plan on the luck of the Irish, arrange for a designated driver.

The St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association. The Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign also targets Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day Weekend, Halloween and the national Holiday Season in December.

Genesee County STOP-DWI Coordinator Matt Landers stated, "Enforcement efforts like these have contributed to the steady decline in DWI accidents since the program was established. Families in Genesee County are safer while traveling the roads with a program like STOP-DWI funding extra patrols by our fine law enforcement professionals."

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol- and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

Press release:

“The Assembly’s budget proposal was crafted by the Downstate interests that have wreaked havoc on Upstate New York’s economy for years. The governor’s tax relief proposals, which themselves were not significant, are scaled back even further in the Assembly’s budget.

There is no mandate relief whatsoever, without which property taxes will continue to drive families out of Upstate. In addition, there is no plan to pay back the education cuts from 2011 (Gap Elimination Adjustment), and our local libraries are not properly funded, creating the risk that our children will not have the resources they need to grow and learn.

This is also a bad budget proposal for those who support the Second Amendment of our Constitution, as $3.2 million is devoted to implementing the SAFE Act, and a proposal to legalize crossbows for hunting purposes that the governor included in his budget was omitted here.

“It is also deeply troubling that the Assembly leadership has included controversial issues like college tuition for illegal immigrants, taxpayer funded political campaigns and medical marijuana. Fortunately, this proposal is not the final product. We will have a chance over the next couple of weeks to fight for measures that provide tax relief for middle-class families and bring decent jobs to Upstate New York’s economy.”

Batavia City Schools are among five finalists in the state for a $10,000 prize from the NYS Lottery. The contest is built around the idea of students saying thank you for the support of the lottery. Choirs produced a video for the song "Thank you for being a friend." The prize money would go to the school district's music program.

To vote, click here (you'll be asked to log into your Facebook account).

New York Times: To Keep Teenagers Alert, Schools Let Them Sleep In

A few of these signs popped up along downtown streets today. A couple of the business owners who found them in front of their store fronts this morning didn't know who put them out.

They hare the handiwork of Brian Kemp, of T-Shirts Etc.

Kemp took on the project himself -- not through the BID or Vibrant Batavia -- because he thinks local business owners should be encouraged to keep the sidewalks in front of their establishments. The ones who do so should be rewarded.

"They don't realize you've got to be able to see the cement," Kemp said.

He only made a few signs, so he'll rotate them around tomorrow, making sure businesses that haven't received the recognition yet, but deserve it, will.

Bottom photo submitted by Jessica Budzinack. She wrote, "My husband Christopher Budzinack works at The City Church. He was so happy his hard work was recognized during this rough winter.

A city worker clears away snow from the corner of Ellicott and Court.

The front of the former NY State Armory on Bank State Street.

The snow might stick around for awhile. The five-day forecast has a lot of cold in it.

A rollover accident is reported on the Thruway in the eastbound lane near mile marker 401.8.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments responding along with Mercy EMS.

The vehicle is in the median.

Unknown injuries.

UPDATE 9:29 a.m.: A Mercy medic reports both patients out of the vehicle. Both likely sign-offs (no medical transport). Pembroke and Indian Falls engines standing by at the hall or at the toll booth.

UPDATE 9:32 a.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls back in service.

Douglas James Hanley, 23, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to stop at stop sign and aggravated unlicensed operation. Hanley, while driving a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze, was reportedly involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 10:59 p.m. Feb. 1 on Prole Road, Stafford. Hanley's vehicle reportedly hit a tree. Hanley was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released. The accident was investigated by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

Adam Matthew Shultz, 31, of Fargo Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Shultz was stopped at 3:01 a.m. Tuesday on Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Matthew Lutey.

Bonnie S. Oleandi, 44, of Montclair Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant. The reason for the warrant was not released. Oleandi was jailed on $100,000 bail.

A 17-year-old from Batavia was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. The youth was allegedly found with a controlled substance for which he didn't have a prescription following an investigation by school personnel at Batavia High School.

Charles P. Mitchell, 34, of Sanders Road, Stafford, is charged with criminal contempt. Mitchell allegedly violated an order of protection by sending text messages to the protected person.

Lauryn Brick, who lives on Slusser Road, East Pembroke, opened her garage door this morning and found this.

Jacob Yasses sent in the two pictures below.

CNN: 25 years of the World Wide Web

The travel advisory for Genesee County was lifted at 2:40 a.m.

Main and Center was pretty eerie at 6:10 p.m. today with very little traffic passing through and no cars parked along the curbs.

The amount of snowfall has slowed, but the weather service is cautioning travelers about blowing and drifting snow and icy conditions on roadways.

The travel advisory for Genesee County remains in effect.

Snow-covered vines on the southside of the Center Street Smokehouse building.

On South Lyon, Ann and Bob Chilano shovel their drive.

City plow trucks on West Main Street.

John Chilano blowing his drive on Redfield Parkway. Yes, John and Bob are brothers. Proof that we live in a small city, getting pictures of Bob and John minutes apart is completely a coincidence and in no way planned.

Batavia Downs in the snow.

Main Street after dark.

A view down Ellicott from Court.

Here are weather photos submitted by readers today -- the first two from Beth Ely.

Sarah Calkind sent in this photo in praise of her bosses at Tompkins Insurance Agency. She says the two people in the parking lot are David Boyce and Timothy Spezzano, Tompkins executives, who brushed off the snow from staff members cars before they were released from work for the day.

From Paul Conklin, North Street, Le Roy

From Brandi Kaplun, Route 98

This photo from Christine Brunell of Lincoln Avenue. She writes, "Just thought I would share some photos from Lincoln Ave. My husband Chet Burnell loves to get out the snowblower and clear the sidewalks as well as several of our neighbors' driveways. I'm hoping this is the last time he will be out this season!"

Erika Sobczak's dog Dutch loves the snow.

By early afternoon, travel conditions on Lewiston Road, as well as other roads in the county, were pretty treacherous. Where there wasn't drifting snow (up to a foot deep), there was ice.

A postman got his delivery truck stuck and a pair of Mercy EMS medics stopped and helped dig him out and gave him a push. Assisting him were Andy Merkel and William Hockenberry.

The Weather Service warns that snowfall of an inch an hour along with strong winds will make travel conditions hazardous well into the evening.

Two cars lost control on Lewiston Road at about 1 p.m., with the white hatchback T-boning the silver minivan on the passenger side. Michael Lasik and his wife, Weiling, were southbound in the minivan. Weiling was the passanger and needed to be extricated from the vehicle by Town of Batavia firefighters. She was transported to an area hospital with unknown injuries. There were no other injuries. Laura Smith, of Alexander, was driving the white car. Trooper Holly Hanssel said the cause of the accident appears to be treacherous road conditions. No citations issued. (Initial Post)

A vehicle heads north on Lewiston Road, which by 1:30 p.m. had visibility of a half mile or less.

For a weekday afternoon, there was unusually low traffic volume at Main and Oak streets.

A person walking on East Main Street.

By 2 p.m., Empire Tractor was just wrapping up its open house. CEO Tim Call said more than 100 people turned out, with most of them arriving before 11 a.m. and leaving before the worst of the storm arrived.

Kim Hatch, a Batavia High School teacher, took her snow day to keep her driveway free of snow, trying to keep one step ahead of the plow trucks on Ellicott Street that kept pushing more snow onto the drive.

On Jackson Street

At about 2:30 p.m., Jackson hadn't been plowed in awhile and a couple of high drifts had built up along the east side of the street.

A stove fire is reported at 9865 Route 98, Alexander.

Alexander fire is dispatched. Town of Batavia's ladder truck requested to the scene.

UPDATE 4:09 p.m.: Town of Batavia can go back in service. One responding Alexander engine can continue non-emergency and the other can stage in quarters.

UPDATE 4:23 p.m.: Alexander assignment back in service.

From Undersheriff William Sheron:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office has issued a travel advisory for all of Genesee County effective at 10 a.m. today and continuing until further notice. While travel in the county is not banned at this time, unnecessary travel is discouraged. Heavy, blowing and drifting snow is making roads slippery and limiting visibility. With the forecast calling for the weather to continue to deteriorate as we move into the afternoon and evening, travel conditions will only get worse.