Stories from

Numerous power outages have plagued Genesee County throughout the day, with the largest and longest lasting affecting more than 300 customers in the western area of Batavia (both city and town).

Power to those customers is not expected to be restored until after 3 p.m.

Five hundred customers in Alexander had power restored an hour or so ago. Many of the other power outages affect five customers or less.

National Grid provides an interactive map of power outages on its Web site. Snapshot of the map above taken about 1 p.m.

An in-store video helped a downtown liquor store owner discover that one of his customers had apparently stuck a bottle of vodka in his pocket and walked out the front door last week, so he was keeping an eye out for the suspect's return.

On Monday, a man fitting the description of the suspect David Buchholtz saw on video came into the store again, made a bee-line for the vodka shelf. Apparently thinking he was unobserved, the guy allegedly stuck another bottle in his jacket and walked out -- this time, not even making the pretense to stop and pay for the booze.

Buchholtz waited for the man to leave the store -- not wanting a scene in the store where he might get in a tussle and damage inventory -- and then grabbed him from behind. He got the suspect in a head lock and held him until police arrived, which didn't take long.

Arrested and charged with petit larceny was Steven A. Lewis II, 29, of 541 E. Main St., Batavia.

A second charge of petit larceny is pending further investigation into the original alleged theft.

In other Police Beat news:

Dennis Edson, age unknown, of Porter Avenue, Batavia, was charged with disorderly conduct this morning. Edson allegedly flipped off a police officer while he and others observed the accident activity on Ellicott Street this morning from in front of the Court House.  Lt. Eugene Jankwoski described Edson as somebody known to police for allegedly making the same gesture toward cops in the past, but has generally been ignored. This morning, Edson allegedly did it in front of a crowd of people. Edson then allegedly resisted arrest. Jankowski also said that Edson "got mouthy" with City Court Judge Robert Balbick. Balbick ordered Edson held on $1,000 bail.

Johnson O. Quanton, 19, of 36 Merrimac St., Rochester, is charged with petit larceny. Quanton allegedly tried to exit the campus bookstore at Genesee Community College with books that had not been purchased.

The Daily News printing press is without power this morning. Publication of the paper has been delayed "indefinitely" according to an announcement this morning.

Strong winds and lake effect snow will combine to create "near blizzard-like conditions" tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

A winter storm watch is in effect from 7 p.m. through Thursday evening.

An arctic cold front will hit WNY later this afternoon, turning rain into snow. The back side of the storm will carry lake effect snow.

The National Weather Service warns the storm will "create very difficult driving conditions."

Heavy lake-effect snow is expected to hit Genesee County by Thursday morning.  Driving conditions could be especially treacherous in parts of Erie and Genesee counties tomorrow morning.

A tree has reportedly fallen on a car at 13 Clay St., in Le Roy.

View Larger Map

Ellicott Street between Main and Court is closed in both directions until further notice following a one-vehicle accident.

A Jeep SUV damaged a telephone poll and now National Grid crews are trying to figure out how to keep the poll standing, or the wires from coming down, when the car is removed.

Lt. Eugene Jankowski said Ellicott could be closed for hours while the National Grid makes repairs.

The driver, who has not yet been identified, was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital with unknown injuries.

The accident occurred about 8:30 a.m.

Jankowski said police are asking that drivers plan on avoiding the area and not try to evade the barricades.

UPDATE: The driver has been identified as 41-year-old Julie Conover of Batavia.

Roads were slick  this morning, but the ice will be melting as the sleet turns to rain.

Temperatures are expected to reach the mid 40s.

The chance of precipitation is near 100 percent.

Winds will continue in the 35 mph range, with gusts up to 60 mph by this evening.

Temperatures will drop by tonight with 1 to 3 inches of snow accumulation, and blowing snow, expected.

The current temperature is 35 degrees.

Buyers: Please remember the six-month rule -- please don't buy a gift certificate you bought within the past six months.

Sallome's Italian Deli, 40 Oak St., Batavia, NY: Wraps, subs, paninis and pasta as well as pizzas -- Sallome's offers a tasty variety of Italian deli items for eat-in or take-out.

Matty's Pizzeria, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Matty's is another Batavia favorite for pizza and wings. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

South Main Country Gifts, 3356 Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: Handcrafted items, gifts with a regional flair, candles, teas and spices -- South Main has a wide selection to please most any interest. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Great Kutz, in the Valu Plaza, 4152 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: Great Kutz is Batavia's newest full-service hair salon. Women, try Great Kutz for a haircut at the incredibly low price of $7, exclusive offer from to The Batavian. (gift card can be applied toward other services, but not products).

T.F. Brown's, at 214 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: T.F. Brown's is a great place for a good meal, good friends and to catch up on what's going on in the sports world. "If it happens in sports, it happens at Brown's." We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Center Street Smoke House, 20 Center St., Batavia, NY: Authentic Southern BBQ, from ribs to brisket with all the fixin's. We have a $25 gift card for $12.50.

Pudgie's Lawn and Garden Center, 3646 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: Time to visit Pudgie's and buy your Christmas tree. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Settler's Restaurant, 353 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Settler's has a 25-year history of serving great, affordable breakfasts, lunches and dinners to Batavians. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Kravings Kafe, Valu Plaza, W. Main Street, Batavia, NY: Recently opened, it offers soups, salads and sandwiches, fresh and flavorful; Monday through Saturday. We have $10 gift certificates for $5.

NOTE: If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

Great Kutz - Women

A driver reports striking a pole on Buckley Road in area of Prentice Road in Stafford and complains of a head injury.

Stafford Fire and Mercy EMS have been dispatched.

UPDATE 7:44 a.m.: Pole is down. Wires are down.

View Larger Map

An accident on Route 33 in the area of West Bergen Road has been reported.

There is a report of injuries and smoke coming from one of the vehicles.

Traffic on Route 33 is blocked.

Bergen Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 7:34 a.m.: Reported apparent minor injuries.

Elba Fire and Mercy EMS are responding to a report of a car hitting a pole at 5353 Ford Road.

UPDATE 7:28 a.m.: Wires were pulled from the adjacent house. The home owner has turned off his electricity and National Grid is being dispatched.

UPDATE 7:31 a.m.: Border Patrol has also been requested to the scene.  Also, traffic is now clear.

UPDATE 7:33 a.m.: Elba Fire requested to return to scene because of smell of electrical burning in the house.

View Larger Map

Tonight I went to Jackson Street and a couple of the side streets to the west and snapped pictures of a few of the homes with Christmas lights.

More pictures after the jump:

City fire crews are being dispatched to 60 Walnut St. to investigate a possible chimney fire.

The caller reports sparks coming from the chimney.

Engine 12 and Ladder 15 are responding. Mercy EMS is also responding.

UPDATE 9:24 p.m.: Engine 12 and Ladder 15 back in service.

View Larger Map

Ronald J. Wendt, accused of driving drunk in Darien and getting into an accident that claimed the life of a Dansville girl, is back in jail.

Wendt had been released on $50,000 bail pending his trial, but on the condition he not drive (his license was revoked).

On Nov. 18, Wendt was stopped by a State Trooper in the Town of Batavia while riding a reportedly unregistered and uninsured dirt motor bike.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman said Wendt readily admitted to the Trooper who he was and volunteered information about his case.  The Trooper arrested him and brought him before a Town of Batavia justice, who set his bail at $500, which Wendt immediately paid.

Friedman brought the arrest to the attention of Judge Robert Noonan, who ordered Wendt to appear in County Court.  Noonan adjusted Wendt's bail to $250,000.

Alcohol was not a factor in the latest arrest, Friedman said. 

He couldn't confirm whether Wendt was trying to get to work at the time of his arrest.

Wendt has not yet raised that bail amount.

Previously:

• Drunken driving suspected in Darien accident that kills Dansville girl
• More serious manslaughter charge levied against Alexander man accused of drunken driving
• Alexander man accused of manslaughter pleads not guilty to 11 felony counts

Somebody broke into the Oil Doctor location at 4003 West Main Street Road, Batavia, overnight and stole inspection stickers and business records.

This morning, Sheriff's deputies attempted to track the suspect through tracks in snow, but that apparently only led them to a location down the road where the suspect apparently got in a car and drove away.

According to Deputy William Ferrando, the burglar gained entry to a west side door by breaking some glass.

No suspect has been arrested yet.

Despite six previous DWI convictions, one of which led to a stint in state prison, Robert Lamkin of Batavia isn't going to be locked up just yet for his 7th DWI conviction.

Judge Robert Noonan granted Lamkin one year interim probation. If Lamkin makes it through probation successfully, his possible prison term will be reduced to one to three years.

Either way, Lamkin is looking at another prison term. The only question is when it starts and for how long.

Noonan warned that any slip up of any kind will land him in a lot of hot water.

"It will not take much of trip and fall to put you in for a major prison term," Noonan said. "When, and if, you're getting to the point of reaching for a bottle or reaching for car keys you need to stop and think whether it’s important enough for you to take that drink or take that drive that you want to be separated from your family for a long, long time."

Noonan granted the interim probation over the objection of Genesee Justice and after reading a less than stellar probation history.

"On this history it's hard to see how to justify anything but state prison," Noonan said. "By your own statements, you've just kind of blown off the conditions of probation in the past. At least until June of this year, you've paid very little heed to the restrictions placed on you. ... I have an obligation to the citizens of the world to make them safe from people like you. I'm only saying that to tell you the corner you've backed yourself into."

Lamkin's most recent arrest came in June in Pavilion.

While on probation, Lamkin will be required to take an Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) test regularly. It detects alcohol in the system for up to 80 hours, yielding results even when a breath test reads zero. It's sometimes used with airline pilots to ensure they're not even hung over when they fly.

Lamkin is represented by attorney Michael M. Mohun.

Nick A. Hawkins, described by his attorney as a troubled young man, who admitted to robbing the Five Star Bank branch in Pavilion on Oct. 13, is going to state prison.

Judge Robert Noonan imposed a sentence of two to six years this morning, though he could not order Hawkins repay the $443 dollars he received from a teller after handing her a note because Five Star Bank did not request restitution.

Hawkins, dressed in orange jail garb, was a little tearful when he expressed regret for his crimes.

"I'd like to apologize for all the trouble I’ve caused every one," Hawkins said, pausing to wipe a tear from his face. "I know that doesn’t change it, but I d’ like a chance to make it right. That’s all."

Noonan also sentenced Hawkins on his burglary conviction, stemming from a crime he committed at Frost Ridge Campground in 2001. That  one-and-a third- to four-year sentence will be served concurrently with his robbery sentence.

Hawkins had a plea agreement that would have allowed the burglary conviction to be treated as a youthful offender case. But since the plea, the court discovered he had a previous youthful offender adjudication for a felony conviction in another county. That made him ineligible for youthful-offender status this time. Hawkins could have withdrawn his guilty plea, but did not.

Public Defender Gary Horton asked Judge Noonan for some leniency, describing Hawkins as a "tortured individual" who has struggled with a number of issues in his life.

"He realizes the seriousness of the offenses," Horton said. "He realizes the seriousness as much as anybody in this courtroom and I know he’s remorseful for any pain he has caused others. I don’t think this is an individual who should be given up on or thrown away at this time. I fear the kind of individual he will be several years from now when returned to our community."

Noonan said he felt compelled to send Hawkins to prison.

"Reading about family, your mental health, your drug addiction, the loss of your brother, these are all troubling things," Noonan said. "It’s a very sad story, no question about that. But as you stand here before me, I have to balance the trouble you've gone through with the needs of society. You need to be in prison. You’ve demonstrated you cannot abide by laws in a free society and you cannot control yourself and you committed crimes that are very troublesome."

Previously: 

• Accused bank robber comes from Le Roy family having a tough time
• Five Star Bank robber pleads guilty
• Le Roy man arrested and charged with Pavilion bank robbery
• Police pursue bank robbery suspect in Pavilion area

The Batavia area can expect more snow and sleet tonight, with accumulations of 1 to 2 inches.

There is also a wind advisory for Wednesday night, with winds reaching 40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph.

From the National Weather Service:

A high wind watch remains in effect from Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon.

A very deep early winter storm system will track to the west and north of the area Wednesday and Thursday. Southeast winds of 15 to 25 mph will be found ahead of the storm on Wednesday. ... then stronger winds will set in Wednesday night. The winds will become southwesterly and will increase to 25 to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph possible overnight. These strong winds will become more westerly late Wednesday night and will continue through the day Thursday.

Reginald Jason Donahue, 34, of 6483 Townline Road, Byron, is charged with criminal contempt in the first degree and menacing in the third degree. Donahue is accused of entering the residence of his estranged wife, violating an order of protection. During a reported argument with her, he allegedly made a fist and threatened her.

Juan A. Ramos, 19, of Batavia, was arrested by State Police at 8170 Batavia-Stafford Townline Road, Batavia. Ramos is charged with trespass.