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Woman from Dansville stuck in the city

By Billie Owens

Didn't catch the address, but a woman who lives in Dansville is stuck in the snow in the City of Batavia.

But there are no tows available and "she has five dollars to her name." She claims to have AAA but has no card to prove membership. Besides, tows in Genesee County are "backed up by hours."

Lisa Falkowski

How do you know? Where is she? Is she safe? I work on Main Street. I'd be happy to give her a warm place to sit until her tow. News blurbs like this are "ok," but you kind of leave things hanging...

Dec 1, 2010, 2:44pm Permalink
Billie Owens

Lisa, I know stuff like this because I sit with my ear cocked to the scanner all day. I report what's worth reporting as I hear it and am able. Scanner reports can be tricky in that when it's super busy it's sometimes difficult to get all the details or even to keep incidents straight.

This woman is safe. Don't know her whereabouts, but if it is reported over the scanner again I'll post it. Scanner calls should be taken for what they're worth -- just a note about what the sirens are for, if a road is closed, an accident -- they are not intended to be comprehensive and we don't usually follow up on them.

Dec 1, 2010, 2:56pm Permalink
Lisa Falkowski

I understand ... and I appreciate your reply. I do enjoy this site and am glad you're there. I'm also glad this woman is safe. I envy that you have a scanner. I'd like one. Keep up the good news-reporting. Be warm and safe.

Dec 1, 2010, 3:06pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

Lisa, if you have a smartphone, you can probably find an app that works as a scanner. I have one on android.

Dec 1, 2010, 3:20pm Permalink
WBTA News

Unfortunately, the weather and the "stranded" situation likely won't be improving for this woman from Dansville.

Excerpt from our interview earlier this afternoon with NWS Meteorologist John Hitchcock:

"...the worst is definitely yet come for tonight, into at least the first part of tomorrow. And then later tomorrow afternoon and into tomorrow evening, the (lake effect) band will shift south, more exclusively into the Southern Tier."

A lot of snowy driving ahead of her.

-Geoff Redick
WBTA News

Dec 1, 2010, 3:32pm Permalink
Kim Grant

I came across this online police/fire/rescue scanner a while back. It covers almost all of the counties.

http://www.radioreference.com/

Click on Live Audio at the top.
Click on New York
Click on a county. Unfortunately, Wyoming & Orleans aren't covered.
Click on "Launch the County Web Player" to the right.
Choose one of the three items listed on the player.

Sounds like a lot of steps but once you get to where you're going, just bookmark your spot. :)

Dec 1, 2010, 3:51pm Permalink
Bob Rathenburgh

I have a question about the scanner... We have one but it never seems to work. I used to use it in the city alot but living in darien i cant seem to get a thing.. any idea if its just a bad reception, wrong chan or am i doing something wrong? Figured it was worth a shot for asking. Thanks for posting the site though that will be cool to check out. If you do hear more about this woman please let us know, id be willing to help but it wouldnt be til after 5:30 pm when i get my truck back

Dec 1, 2010, 4:14pm Permalink
Lisa Falkowski

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't have a smartphone. I'll have to buy a scanner the old fashioned way. I wish I knew more about this stranded woman. I'd help her out for the evening. It sounds like it's going to be a long, cold night. Everyone, drive safely!

Dec 1, 2010, 4:31pm Permalink
Greg Bruggman

Bob, what kind of scanner do u have ?? Do you know if it's programmable or does it have the old crystals ? I'd be happy to help you out, if you can give me some basic info. :)

Dec 1, 2010, 5:08pm Permalink
Billie Owens

Not sure of the fate of the woman from Dansville, but maybe she ended up at a hotel like another stranded driver.

About an hour or so ago, an officer reported a car off the road, stuck in a ditch, driven by the same guy who was stuck in another ditch earlier in the day here. He is also from out of town. The officer said he was dropping the guy off at a hotel and the man would be calling AAA tomorrow to rescue his car.

This would be a nifty beginning for a romance novel.

Dec 1, 2010, 7:12pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Cars stuck in the snow reminds me of my first winter in WNY.

I was living in an apartment in Canandaigua and Billie and I had driven a 1998 Thunderbird cross country so I could have a car here.

One weekend after the first snowfall of winter, I went out into Ontario County looking for possible housing.

On some country road, I'd missed a turn and needed to turn around. The shoulders looked nice and flat, and I pulled a bit off the road to make my turn.

The right side of the car dropped very quickly into a culvert.

I called AAA.

While I waited, a State Trooper pulled up.

He asked me for my license. I pulled out my California DL. He looked at it and started laughing. "That explains a lot," he said.

Dec 1, 2010, 8:57pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

I got back from the Air Force about three weeks after the October storm. Glad I missed that one.

Coincidentally, I left for the Air Force during the 4-6 feet in 24 hours storm in December 2000.

Dec 1, 2010, 10:11pm Permalink
Billie Owens

My back bumper is held in place by duct tape. It is cracked in a couple of places because of my attempt last winter to turn around just like Howard described.

I was going to the kennel on Wortendyke Road and drove just passed it. Instead of going down to the next cross street and turning around, I figured with my little car I could just swing around in the middle of the roadway to get back to the kennel.

Wrong. As soon as I did so I got stuck in the ditch. A truck came by a minute later and a guy got out and said he could tow me out. He hooked a chain someplace under my car. Russ came out from the kennel to help and when the time was right said, "OK, give it just a little gas." At which point I stomped on the gas pedal, thinking I needed traction to get up out of the ditch.

But that's what the truck was for, pulling me out. So blam I hit his front bumper and I jumped out and said "Oh my God, did I mess up your truck!?" He said no, but I think you messed up your car. And so, the little silver Scion mushes about with its pitiful little bumper. And I'll never turn around in the middle of the road in the snow again.

Dec 2, 2010, 4:13pm Permalink

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