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Catherine Dawn Yarington, 42, of 10051 Bethany Center Road, Bethany, is charged with harassment. Yarington allegedly struck her daughter's boyfriend in the face.

Charles Bryan Harrington, 19, of 7762 Clinton Street Road, Bergen, is charged with petty larceny. Harrington allegedly stole $500 while employed at the Bergen Wilson Farms store.

Franis A. Meldrum, Jr., 32, of 1711 Indian Falls Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI. Meldrum was stopped by Village of Corfu police for allegedly driving left of the pavement marking in a no-passing zone. He was also charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Mercy Flight today received official word from the New York Department of Health that it can operate a ground ambulance service.

The Ambulance Service Certificate, No. 12071, was issued some time today.

County Manager Jay Gsell also said that he's been told by Mercy Flight that 15 of the 16 City of Batavia ambulance personnel who applied for jobs with the new service were hired.

Mercy Flight is scheduled to take over ground ambulance service in Genesee County on Sept. 1.

Richard Stefaniak e-mail in this report and the championship picture:

The Batavia 9 & 10 year olds all-stars won two games this past weekend to become section 1 champs. In game one Batavia beat Orchard Park 9 - 6. Matt Roach pitched the first three innings for Batavia and did a great job giving up only three hits. Orchard Park had a 5 - 2 lead going into the 6th. Batavia finally got the offense going in the top of the 6th when Bryce Polito got things going with a lead off single Alex Canty singled, Ryan Antinore drew a walk  then the scoring started when Tyler Hale singled ,Steven Stefaniak doubled and Jacob Hale singled. T.Hale, Stefaniak and J. Hale would score after Jeremy Boyle and Reid Rademaker would draw walks  Boyle would also score  giving Batavia  a 7 run top of the 6th for a 9-5 lead.Polito would close out the game for Batavia  by pitching a strong 6th giving up  one run on one hit and getting the #5 batter to pop-up to the catcher (Rademaker).
 
In the Sectional Championship game Batavia faced Webster and won 12-10 Batavia scored first to start the game when T.Hale lead off with a single followed by singles from S.Stefaniak and J.Hale to give Batavia a two run lead.Webster also scored two in the bottom of the first to tie the game. In the  third Batavia would jump out to a 7-2 lead with hits from T.Hale (dbl) and singles from  Stefaniak, Rademaker, Jeremy Boyle and Alex Canty. Again Webster faught back scoring five runs to tie the game in ther half of the third.In the top of of the forth Polito,Canty and Micheal Marrocco would score for Batavia giving them a three-run lead Webster would score one in there half inning. In the top of the fifth Batavia's Andrew Mruczek would finally put Batavia on top for good with a shot to right field that scored two. Alex Canty then shut down the webster bats in the sixth and getting the final out by strike out. Batavia will now advance to the state finals in Penfield Saturday August 8 at 11:00 a.m. and Sunday August 9 at 12:00 p.m.

The picture is as follows Front row Ryan Antinore, Alex Canty, Jeremy Boyle, Steven Stefaniak, Micheal Marrocco. Middle row Jacob Hale, Reid Rademaker, Matt ROACH, Bryce Polito, Andrew Mruczek,Tyler Hale, Josh Boyle.Coach Tom Canty and Manager Larry Hale

The Genesee County Sheriff's Office forwarded the following press release today:

Police are seeking information from anyone who knows Michael Kleiman of Sundown Rd Kerhonkson, NY (attached photo).  Kleiman was the victim of a homicide.  On July 25, 2008, his body was discovered disarticulated and burned in his vehicle (listed below) in the East Kingston Hamlet of the Town of Ulster. 

Additionally, police are asking that anyone who may have seen a 2004 Nissan pick-up truck, license # CGE 5199,  color light grey,(similar to the one pictured), in the area or anywhere in the Town of Ulster or Ulster County area on 7/25/08 to please call the Ulster Police at 845-382-1111 or tip-line at 845-336-3784.  All calls will be kept confidential.

New York's junior senator must have noticed the purple boxes hanging from trees along the State's highways. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is now taking up the cause of solving the Emerald Ash Borer problem, even though there are as yet no confirmed findings of the pest in the state.

Gillibrand's office issued a press release today noting that the senator urging approval of an agriculture appropriations bill with $39.7 million in ash borer spending.

“The Emerald Ash Borer has the potential to devastate New York’s more than 900 million ash trees,” said Senator Gillibrand. “We must help our communities with the funds to manage this problem and protect the environment.”

Update: Contrary to Sen. Gillibran's press release, and what we believed to be true when we posted this, the ash borer has been found in New York. (hat tip, Brian Schollard).

UPDATE II: Bethany Lesser of Sen. Gillibrand's office called to say "we know it's been found in New York."  She clarified that Sen. Gillibrand is asking that NY be added to the funding list.

Full press release after the jump:

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Gillibrand continued her fight to ensure New York State receives federal funding to combat the Emerald Ash Borer. The disease is threatening New York’s 900 million ash trees, which are part of the billion dollar timber industry in New York supplying furniture makers, hardware stores and the wood for Louisville Slugger baseball bats, according to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
 
The Agriculture Appropriations Bill has $39,705,000 for Emerald Ash Borer Monitoring, Containment, and Eradication. This funding would be used to combat and contain the emerald ash borer that is currently threatening 7.5 billion trees nationally – an economic value of over $300 billion. The current committee report lists 12 states which are affected by this invasive pest, but does not include New York State. Late yesterday, Senator Gillibrand received a commitment from the Chairman to address this during conference and allow New York State to access these funds.
 
“The Emerald Ash Borer has the potential to devastate New York’s more than 900 million ash trees,” said Senator Gillibrand. “We must help our communities with the funds to manage this problem and protect the environment.”
 
“I would like to thank my colleague for bringing this to my attention and I will certainly address this issue during conference,” said Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI).

The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive insect that has destroyed over 50 million ash trees in the U.S. to date. If unchecked, the Emerald Ash Borer has the potential to cost billions of dollars in damage nationwide, including millions of dollars in costs to municipalities for street tree removal and replanting, and significant costs for private homeowners. According to a report by Michigan State University, it can cost $400 to remove and replace a single infected tree.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a beetle native to Asia that was first found in the U.S. in Michigan and has been steadily making its way eastward. It is a dark, metallic green beetle that burrows into tree bark and chokes trees to death by feeding on the live tissue that transports nutrients throughout the tree. Bug-infested trees typically die within five years.

The name of the driver has not been released yet.  Initial Report

The State Police have arrested five young men from Genesee County on a felony charge of criminal mischief.

The five people are accused of doing $3,500 in damage to a rental property on Cockran Road in Byron.

A sixth person from Monroe County was also charged, and a warrant has been issued for the arrest of a seventh.

Charged were

• Nicholas J. Adkins, 18, of Byron
• Timohty A. Andrews, 19, of Bergen
• Nathaniel L. Beglinger, 18, of Byron
• Adam J Drexler, 19, of Webster
• Elan B Pire, 20, of Byron

And the sixth suspect is 17-years-old.

Jenna L. Josephite, 20, of 1605 Nesbitt Road, Attica, is charged with driving while on drugs, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and criminal possession of a weapon. Josephite was allegedly stopped by Sheriff's deputies following a complaint in the City of Batavia of criminal mischief by a passenger in her vehicle (no details provided). Brass knuckles were allegedly found in the center compartment. Joseph E. Marr, 31, of the same Attica address, was reportedly the passenger in the vehicle and was also charged with possession of a weapon as well.

Coneie A. Munio, 22, 41 Clinton St., Brockport, is charged with DWI and DWI with a BAC of .08 or greater.  Munio was arrested following a complaint of a suspicious vehicle parked illegally on Peachey Road. When Deputy H.J. Carlson arrived, he reportedly found Munio in the car. Munio also received a ticket for allegedly "standing on pavement/parked wrong direction."

Elliott M. Hickman, 18, of 26 Granson Ave., back-upper, Batavia, and at 17-year-old companion and another youth is charged with petty larceny. Hickman and his companions allegedly each tried to leave Kmart with one pair each of ear phones without paying for them.

Dispatchers have received multiple 9-1-1 calls for a one-car accident on Route 5 in Le Roy. A car has reportedly run into a tree. The first responder reports extrication will be required. Mercy Flight is being dispatched from Buffalo, where the Batavia helicopter is currently.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: I'm just back from the scene.  The driver has not been identified. He appeared to be conscious as he lay on the stretcher, folding his hands when instructed. The cause of the accident is under investigation.  The car's roof was removed and Chief Tom Wood said his legs were pinned inside the vehicle. When I saw the driver, there were no visible injuries to his legs. The car lay at a 45-deree angle in a culvert next to Route 5 just short of a pair of trees. The driver was headed eastbound on Route 5.  Video TK.

A woman from Depew was transported by Mercy Flight to Erie County Medical Center with internal injuries following a traffic accident in Darien yesterday at 6:14 p.m.

Jacqueline S. Carmina, 18, of 129 South Transithill, Depew, was driving west on Sumner Road when she reportedly failed to yield for a stop sign. Her 2002 Saturn sedan was broadsided by a 2006 Buick driven by Robert E. Davis, Jr., 54, of 1384 Glen Avon Road, Grand Island.

Davis was not injured in the accident.

Deputy Patrick J. Reeves is investigating the accident and states charges are pending.

T.F. Brown's, at 214 E. Main St., Batavia, N.Y.: 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. When you need to book your next party, think T.F. Brown's. See the ad on the right side of the page for contact information. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern, 107 Evans St., Batavia, N.Y.:  To me, Delavan's is one of those restaurants where you want to eat frequently until you try everything on the menu. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Belladessa's Pizzeria, 9 Jackson St., Batavia, N.Y.: Um, pizza and wings! We have a Family Meal Deal ($25 value), which is a large pizza, 24 wings and a 2 litre soft drink for $12.50.

The Enchanted Florist, 202 E. Main St., Batavia, N.Y.: Brighten up your home or office with flowers! We have a $20 gift certificate for $8.50.

Eclectic Creations, 625 E. Main St., Batavia, N.Y. Do you like fashionable purses? Maybe a unique watch is more your style. Eclectic Creations a variety of items that you won't find in any other local store. This is a $20 gift certificate for $7.50.

A $1 PayPal service fee applies on items more than $10. The fee is 50 cents on items below $10.

Rules: The gift certificate must be used by within 30 days of purchase. It is not valid with other offers and has no cash value. Only one gift certificate per-merchant per-person every six months. Gift certificates cannot be combined with other offers without prior approval of the merchant. Gift certificates bought separately cannot be combined for a single purchase. Individuals buying gift certificates must use their own personal PayPal account for the purchase.

How to Win: Purchase using the PayPal "Buy Now" button below. After the first person to hit the "buy now" button completes the purchase, PayPal will let you know that the item has been sold. Unless other arrangements are made immediately after purchase, the gift certificate will mailed to the winner at his or her PayPal-provided postal address within two or three days of purchase.

T.F. Brown's

sold

Delavan's

sold

Belladessa's

SOLD

The Enchanted Florist

SOLD

Eclectic Creations

sold

Today's poll is posted in conjunction with National Night Out, when communities come together to fight crime. There will be a gathering tonight for National Night Out at Austin Park at 5:30. Organizers also ask that residents leave their front porch lights on to symbolize their support of a crime-free community.

The home of Arnold and Norma Kirch, at 10551 Brookville Road in Alexander, was destroyed by fire this morning.

Smoke detectors woke the couple up at about 4:15 a.m. and they got out of the house safely and quickly.

However, fuel oil stored in the basement in a 150-gallon container spilled into a swamp area and into a tributary. The state's Department of Environmental Conservation has been called to the scene. Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator for Genesee County, said booms have been put in place to block the fuel oil from traveling downstream.

A 1,000-gallon fuel oil tank in the backyard also ruptured, but that spill has been contained.

Yaeger said Mr. Kirch said he thought the fire started in the garage and an assistant fire chief who lives nearby confirmed that observation.

The fire spread quickly, Yaeger said, because of the peaked-roof construction of the log cabin home.

Putting the fire out was hampered, Yaeger said, because of power lines in the area coming down and arcing.

The Alexander Fire Department worked the fire with mutual aid from Darien, Stafford, Town of Batavia, Bethany, East Pembroke and Attica. Inmates from the Wyoming Correctional Facility are on scene helping with clean up. No injuries to firefighters were reported.

Photo above sent from the cellphone camera of an unidentified reader.

UPDATE: WBTA spoke with Tim Yaeger at the scene. Listen.

UPDATE: Another reader submitted the photos below:

A Le Roy man is accused of growing a small quanity of marijuana on his property in the Village of Le Roy.

David Alan Leach, 47, of 24 Munson Ave., is charged with criminal possession of marijuana and unlawfully growing cannabis.

The initial investigation was conducted by Det. John Condidorio, who followed up on a tip that an individual in the village was growing marijuana.

The Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force assisted in the investigation and helped obtain and execute a search warrant, along with the deputies from the Sheriff's office and the Batavia Police BET team.

Leach was issued an appearance ticket and ordered to appear Le Roy Town Court on Aug. 10.