The Alexander High School Varsity Cheerleaders will host a benefit basketball game for Austin Heineman at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18.

Come to Alexander High School and watch the Alexander Trojans (varsity boys) take on Letchworth. The school is located at 3314 Buffalo St.

Donations are welcome at the door. Plus, there will be a 50/50 raffle, half-court shootout, bake sale, and gift certificates from local businesses to be raffled off.

All proceeds will be donated to Austin as he battles a rare childhood cancer. He is currently awaiting a bone marrow transplant.

Press release:

The Batavia City Council and city manager are seeking city residents who are interested in volunteering as a member of the following committees/boards:

• Board of Assessment Review
• Historic Preservation Commission
• Youth Board
• Planning Board – Alternate Member

Residents interested in applying can obtain an application from the City Clerk’s Office or can visit our Web site at www.batavianewyork.com and download a Committee/Board Application under Downloadable Forms.

Applications are due to the City Clerk’s Office by Friday, Jan. 25.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact:

Office of the City Manager

One Batavia City Centre

Batavia, New York 14020

Phone:  345-6330

Fax:  343-8182

E-mail:  jmolino@batavianewyork.com

A two-car accident has been reported at 986 Bloomingdale Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, in front of The Rez smoke shop.

One person has a facial injury.

Alabama Fire Department, Mercy EMS responding.

The roadway is blocked.

UPDATE 1:13 p.m.: All the patients are in the restaurant. There are at least two, maybe three.

UPDATE 1:44 p.m. (Billie): One person suffered a leg injury, possibly a fracture. One patient was transported to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. Not sure of the destination, if any, of others. Alabama went back into service at 1:37 p.m.

The Alexander Fire Department held its annual awards and installation dinner Saturday night at the fire hall.

Above from left:

• Dylan Scharlau, who was honored for completing the most hours training -- 103 hours
• Ryan Hinz, most calls -- 118 calls
• Dean Hendershott, Firefighter of the Year
• Debra Spires, president and EMS captain
• Chief Lance Scharlau
• Tom Green, Chief's Award
• Patricia Merle, President's Award

Spires is holding a flag that was flown in Afghanistan and was presented to the department last night.

A pedestrian has serious injuries after being struck by a car in front of the Castilone Chrysler dealership at the corner of West Main and North Lyon streets. City police, fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 8:58 p.m.: Mercy Flight is on ground standby. Medics intend to take the victim via ambulance to the airport hangar for transport to a hospital. Traffic control is needed and westbound lanes are getting a little backed up.

UPDATE 9:11 p.m.: The victim is well en route to the Mercy Flight hangar. City Engine 11 is back in quarters.

UPDATE 10 p.m. (by Howard): According to Sgt. John Peck, the pedestrian was walking in the westbound lane of West Main Street. Another person out walking a dog tried to tell the pedestrian to get out of the street and onto the sidewalk, but the pedestrian, who appeared to be intoxicated, would not do it and even became belligerent. The driver of the red pickup never even saw the pedestrian until just before hitting him. No charges are anticipated. The pedestrian suffered a possible serious head injury and was unconscious when police first arrived on scene. The patient was conscious by the time he was transported by Mercy EMS. Peck said there appeared to be no issue with the snow that prevented the man from walking on the sidewalk.

UPDATE 10:58 p.m.: The pedestrian has been identified as Kevin G. Viehdeffer, 52, of Batavia. The driver has been identified as Ryan Gugel, 25, of Batavia. There are no charges pending against Gugel.

Elected officials from national, state and county government were at the Old Courthouse today for both a ceremonial and official swearing in for office.

For Rep. Chris Collins, State Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer and Assemblyman Steve Hawley, taking the oath in Batavia today was ceremonial. But for Sheriff Gary Maha, Treasurer Scott German, coroners Donald Coleman and Karen Lang, along with Undersheriff William Sheron and Deputy Treasurer Matt Landers, the oath was official.

Collins spoke briefly about his commitment to representing the people of the 27th Congressional District, hearing the concerns of voters, especially in Genesee County, and working in Congress to help control spending and bring down the deficit.

"My job in representing this district is that we stand up for our children and grandchildren to get spending under control, to get our deficits down to zero in some reasonable time, like 10 years, and grow the economy," Collins said.

He promised that the people of Genesee County will see him frequently in the county.

Prior to the ceremony, Collins took his wife, Mary, daughter, Caitlin, son, Cameron, and staff members to a no-media lunch at the Pok-A-Dot. Collins has referred to the Pok-A-Dot as a good-luck charm, dining there on election day for the primary and general elections, but when he showed up today, he reportedly told people there that he wanted a chance to enjoy lunch with his family without cameras around.

Sheriff Gary Maha takes the oath, administered by Assemblyman Steve Hawley, as wife Susan Maha holds the Bible.

Above, Coroner Donald Coleman, who has served in the position for 21 years, takes the oath of office.

To purchase prints of the photos in the slide show, click the link in the upper left of the slide show.

The Town of Batavia Fire Department collected more than $7,000 today in a boot drive to benefit the families of the four volunteer firefighters who died or were injured Christmas Eve in Webster.

The money will be donated to the West Webster Fire Department to distribute to the victims and their families.

Batavia firefighters set up on Lewiston Road at Park Road, right outside their fire house, and collected donations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from drivers who passed by.

The event was primarily organized by firefighter Josh Finn (pictured below).

A car struck a pedestrian in front of McDonald's restaurant on West Main Street in Batavia. The person is down in the roadway, but conscious. Town of Batavia Fire Department, Mercy medics and law enforcement are responding.

UPDATE 1:19 p.m.: The pedestrian was taken to UMMC. The town fire assignment is in service.

UPDATE 1:24 p.m.: The victim is a 45-year-old man who was taken to the Mercy Flight hangar off West Saile Drive and will be flown to a hospital. He is said to have injuries to his right hip and wrist and his ribs. He is having some difficulty breathing but never lost consciousness.

UPDATE 1:33 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Strong Memorial Hospital. Mercy Medic 1 is back in service.

A car has crashed into a house at 26 S. Main St. in the City of Batavia. The driver has fled, according to a witness on scene. Police officers and the fire department are on scene. There is a natural gas leak at the damaged house and National Fuel is being notified. The location is in the area of the roundabout.

UPDATE 5:27 a.m.: The natural gas meter has been destroyed and National Fuel is notified to expedite a crew to the location.

UPDATE 5:33 a.m.: A bottle of an alcoholic beverage was found outside of a house on the South Pearl Street Extension. Police now have the vehicle's driver and are taking the person to police headquarters for "field testing," (sobriety check) according to an officer at the scene.

UPDATE 5:41 a.m.: National Grid has a 15-minute ETA.

UPDATE 5:44 a.m.: The Department of Public Works is being notified that a light post was knocked down and there are exposed electrical wires at its base.

UPDATE 5:55 a.m.: According to eyewitness(es), the car came into the roundabout at a high rate of speed, maybe 60 miles an hour. It struck a snow bank and a light pole, sending it airborne in a southeasterly direction whereupon it crashed into the house at 26 S. Main St. The car was dragging the light pole behind it -- one of the newer black ones. A neighbor said the noise was so loud "it sounded like Santa landed on the roof."

UPDATE 5:58 a.m.: National Fuel reps are on scene. A city code enforcement officer is called in.

UPDATE 6:11 a.m.: National Grid is called in. No ETA given. The bottle of alcohol which was recovered by the house on the South Pearl Street Extension was allegedly thrown from the vehicle by the driver, according to a witness. The driver is now in custody and is being charged with driving while intoxicated and faces numerous other charges, a police officer said.

UPDATE 6:21 a.m.: No injuries are reported. The occupants of the damaged house and their neighbors have been evacuated.

UPDATE 7:33 a.m.: City fire back in service.

UPDATE 8 a.m. (by Howard): The driver is identified as 22-year-old Cory D. Goff, of 457 Mt. Read Blvd., Rochester. Goff was arraigned in Batavia City Court this morning but the full list of charges against him has not yet been released. 

According to Officer Darryle Streeter, Goff was allegedly driving his vehicle eastbound on Route 33/Pearl Street when he entered the roundabout at a high rate of speed. His vehicle struck a curb, went airborne, hit a lamp post, several signs and plowed through a snowbank. It then slid on its side across South Main Street, uprighted itself, hit another snow bank, sending it airborne again before it struck the house at 26 South Main.

Witnesses allegedly saw Goff exit the vehicle and run across the street and dispose of a bottle. The bottle was recovered by police. Goff then reportedly went back to the house and notified the residents that there was a gas leak. Goff was still on scene when police arrived. He was taken to Batavia PD headquarters for questioning and a field sobriety test and subsequently arrested on a DWI charge and other charges.

Rob Ogeen, a neighbor and one of the witnesses, said the crash was so loud it sounded like "Santa landing on the roof."

Nobody was injured in the accident. An upstairs resident of 26 S. Main slept through the entire event and only came out after being awoken by the landlord.

The location is next door to a vacant lot that contained a house until March 2010, when another driver came through the roundabout at a high rate of speed, lost control and knocked the house off its foundation. In this accident, the residence does not appear to be as seriously damaged.

UPDATE: Goff was charged with DWI, refusal to take a breath test, speed not reasonable and prudent, unreasonable speed/special hazards (roundabout), reckless driving, and two counts of failure to keep right.

A tractor-trailer has reportedly been involved in an accident on Route 77 at Cohocton Road, Corfu, and the driver struck his chest on the steering wheel.

The truck is blocking Route 77.

Corfu fire and Mercy EMS responding.

A car vs. tractor-trailer accident, believed to be without injuries, is reported on Route 63 near Little Canada Road. The roadway is completely blocked. Bethany Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 8:12 p.m.: A second semi-trailer is now involved. The first one "believe it or not," says the Bethany chief, was "pushed into the ditch by the wind and will need a heavy-duty tow." Stafford Fire Police are rerouting traffic. It is confirmed that there are no injuries.

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: Bethany requests that southbound truck traffic be held at Cedar Street.

From Batavia PD Chief Shawn Heubusch:

It is with great pleasure that the City of Batavia Police Department welcomes Officer Jamie Givens to its ranks.

Officer Givens joined the Batavia Police Department on March 1, 2012; she attended the Basic Police Academy at Monroe Community College’s Public Safety campus. While at the Basic Police Academy Officer Givens learned many aspects of Law Enforcement such as accident investigations, vehicle and traffic enforcement as well as handling emergency situations. Following her formal classroom education Officer Givens entered the Batavia Police Department’s Supervised Field Training program in early September of 2012.

During her time in in Field Training Officer Givens was exposed to normal police activity all the while being monitored and evaluated by experienced Field Training Officers. While in Supervised Field Training Officer Givens was able to test her knowledge and learn tactics from veteran Officers. Officer Givens received high praises for her knowledge and ability during her time spent in Supervised Field Training.

Officer Givens has successfully passed Supervised Field Training and will be assigned to the Day Platoon starting in early January 2013.

We ask everyone to join the Police Department in welcoming Officer Jamie Givens to the City of Batavia Police Department.

Photo: By Howard Owens, taken at the scene of today's motor-vehicle accident on Clinton Street.

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office recently hired Joseph A. Corona to fill the position of Deputy Sheriff; a position that was left vacant by a Deputy Sheriff who retired on May 5, 2012.

Deputy Corona is a 2004 high school regents graduate from Brockport High School and completed a BOCES Outdoor Power and Marine Technology program. He has participated in several volunteer programs with the Brockport and Rochester Police Departments and also participated in an internship with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Corona was previously employed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and graduated in 2009 from the Detention and Removal Operations Basic Law Enforcement and the Detention and Removal Spanish Language Training Programs. 

He was designated as an Expert Marksman in the firearms course, received the Driver Training Award, and was recognized as an Outstanding Distinguished Graduate and an Outstanding Physical Fitness Graduate for his performances while in the Academy. Deputy Corona recently graduated from the Niagara University Law Enforcement Academy on December 21, 2012 and, again, received the academy’s Physical Fitness award. Joe is also a nationally certified Personal Trainer.

Sheriff Maha stated, “Deputy Corona has been participating in our 14-week field training program and is performing exceptionally well. He will be a great addition to our road patrol.”

Traffic is being diverted off Clinton Street to East Avenue while Batavia PD deals with a two-car, non-injury motor-vehicle accident.

Batavia Fire Department is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 4:23 p.m.: Initial indication is a town snow plow was stopped southbound on Clinton and was allowing a Haul-4-Less truck to make a left-hand turn from East Avenue onto Clinton. A semi coming up behind the plow truck may not have seen the plow truck stopped and tried going around the plow truck, hitting the Haul-4-Less truck. No injuries. Heavy wreckers had to be called in for the disabled trucks and traffic was blocked in both directions.

Related, local law enforcement officers are currently working a handful of property damage accidents in various parts of the county. All seem to be weather related.

With a record of 7-0, Alexander's girls were riding the high of a good start to a season.

Then they hit the brick wall of a team that hadn't lost its previous 31 games and are defending state champions, the Lady Lancers of Elba.

Keyed by McKenzie Bezon's 18 points, the Lancers, now 7-0 themselves, notched a decisive 57-31 at home.

Alexander Head Coach Marcia Hirsch wasn't too happy with her team's performance.

"We were playing a tough team," Hirsch said. "I expected my team to step up a little better. Our defense is the not the defense we’ve seen. They shut down all my scorers."

Her girls can expect to drill more on defense in the coming days and weeks, Hirsch said.

Elba's head coach, Tom Nowak, said in preparation for the game, his girls drilled on pressuring Alexander with an aggressive defense, forcing turnovers and limiting scoring, which is what they did Thursday.

And the team will continue to work on defense, he said.

"Hopefully, we can polish things up a bit," Nowak said. "You just keep playing. You never know where it's going to take you."

To go with her 18 points, McKenzie had six rebounds.

Kelsey Bezon had five rebounds and 11 points. Jamie Marshall had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anna Dorman had seven points and five rebounds.

For Alexander, Sarah Loranty led the way with 13 points.

Next up, Elba hosts Bergen on Monday and Alexander plays in the Rotary Tournament at Genesee Community College on Tuesday.

A reader of The Batavian has helped another recover a ring lost the day after Christmas that was more precious than valuable.

Lynn Halicki posted a lost-and-found notice to The Batavian's "Announcements" section and another reader spotted it, called her and returned the ring.

"The ring really has no monetary value - just sentimental value," Halicki said in her post.

After getting her ring back, Halicki posted a comment and wrote, "It made me extremely happy and proud that there are so many GOOD people!!!!!!"

One of the people who reportedly got involved with bath salts over the summer and wound up getting in trouble with the law has decided to entrust his fate to a local jury rather than accept a plea deal.

Because 32-year-old Bradley J. Broadbent has a prior violent felony conviction, the best deal District Attorney Lawrence Friedman could offer the Batavia resident was a minimum of five years in prison with a guilty plea to attempted burglary, 2nd, a Class D felony.

Broadbent was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, criminal trespass, burglary in the second degree and petit larceny.

On July 6, Broadbent was talked down off the roof of a house on Hutchins Street. He was reportedly hallucinating and suffering from a high body temperature.

He was suspected of damaging bathrooms at a business complex on Liberty Street earlier that day, and after leaving the UMMC emergency room, he allegedly entered a house on Tracy Avenue without permission.

At the time, Broadbent was suspected of using bath salts and family members were upset, suspecting his use of bath salts started after the 420 Emporium opened at 400 Ellicott St.

According to Broadbent's sister, Melissa, Bradley was on a good, positive path prior to starting bath salt use.

In court today, Judge Robert Noonan granted a brief recess so attorneys could research Broadbent's criminal record and confirm that a guilty plea would indeed make him a second felony offender.

Broadbent was released from prison 10 years and six months before his arrest in July on his 1986 conviction for burglary, 2nd. Documents available in court prior to the recess didn't include the two years he spent in prison on an unrelated conviction in Batavia City Court a few years ago. If Broadbent had not been in jail or prison during the 10 years and six months after his original prison term, he would not be considered a second violent felony offender for the purpose of sentencing on the new charges.

The top charge against Broadbent is a Class C felony and carries a mandatory minimum sentence, if he's convicted, of seven years and a maximum of 15 years in state prison.

Press release:

“Today, the House of Representatives took action on the first of two aid packages to help people devastated by Superstorm Sandy in October. I am pleased that one of my first acts as a member of Congress was to cosponsor and vote in favor of this bill, which will provide nearly $10 billion to FEMA so it can cover flood insurance claims.

It is important that Congress come together to do its part and provide the necessary aid to help the millions of people impacted by this natural disaster. Too many families have had their entire lives turned upside down. It is only right that the federal government help those impacted on the East Coast recover and begin to rebuild not only their homes, but their lives.”