By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2017 at 2:19 pm
ALBION – A Holley woman was sentenced to three years in state prison today.
Shawna N. Weis, 29, of Holley admitted in a previous court appearance to selling heroin on Feb. 6 when she was a resident of the Holley Hotel.
She pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and faced a maximum of 1 ½ to 4 years in state prison.
Weis has a prior felony and two misdemeanors.
“She does have a serious drug problem,” her attorney Michael O’Keefe said during sentencing this morning.
Orleans County Court Judge James Punch told Weis she not only has a drug problem, but was selling drugs in the community. He ordered her to pay $200 in restitution to the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force.
Her sentence also includes two years of post-release supervision.
The judge also said he would recommend she receive drug addiction treatment at the Willard program through the state Department of Corrections.
• A Ridgeway man who was sentenced to state prison last week was resentenced today and received intermittent jail time, as well as probation.
Judge Punch had wanted to sentenced Richard C. Turrell, 62, to local jail and probation, but Turrell and his attorney requested the state prison and its drug treatment program through Willard.
Punch said a “legal impediment” required him to resentence Turrell, the owner of the Rick & Ron’s automobile business.
He was arrested last September. Turrell on May 22 admitted in court to selling cocaine. He pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.
Turrell has “no substantial criminal history,” Punch said during sentencing last week. The judge said he didn’t think Turrell had reached the criminal level of going to state prison.
Turrell doesn’t qualify for Willard because he isn’t a second-felony drug offender or a first-time offender convicted of a B felony. Turrell pleaded guilty to a D felony.
The new sentence requires Turrell to spend two days a week in jail over four months, and be on probation for five years. Punch said the sentence allows Turrell to keep working and be in a drug treatment program.
• Andrew Coley, 19, of Platt Street in Albion was sentenced to six months in jail for endangering the welfare of child after he allegedly had drugs in the presence of two underage girls at a motel in Albion.
Coley faces additional drug charges for allegedly selling crack cocaine in Orleans County. He has been arraigned on criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, as well as criminal sale in the fifth. Those charges are pending.
• A Hamlin man was sentenced to intermittent jail over eight months, spending two days a week in jail.
Daniel F. Heberle, 45, of Lakeshore Road was charged with driving while intoxicated on Jan. 28 and allegedly had a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.14 percent and was driving without a license. He was stopped on Norway Road in Kendall.
He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the second degree.
The judge said Heberle’s crime warranted some incarceration, but Punch also wanted Heberle to be able to continue working.
He will be required to install an interlock ignition device when he starts driving again. That device measures his BAC.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday signed legislation (S.750 / A.611), which will immediately ban the use of electronic cigarettes on all public and private school grounds in New York State.
“Nicotine use in any form has shown to be damaging to teens and this measure will close a dangerous loophole that allows e-cigarettes to be used in New York schools,” Cuomo said. “This measure will further this administration’s efforts to combat teen smoking in all its forms and help create a stronger, healthier New York for all.”
Prohibiting electronic cigarettes on all school grounds will diminish youth access to electronic cigarettes and help bolster New York’s commitment to preventing childhood and teenage smoking. School grounds includes any building, structure and surrounding outdoor grounds contained within a public or private pre-school, nursey school, elementary, or secondary school’s property, and any vehicles used to transport children or school personnel.
In March, the Governor announced a survey released by the New York State Department of Health, which found that e-cigarette use by high school students nearly doubled in the last two years, from 10.5 percent in 2014 to 20.6 percent in 2016. Additionally, a recent U.S. Surgeon General’s report shows the number of high school students using e-cigarettes soared 900 percent between 2011 and 2015, becoming the most commonly used form of nicotine among youths.
Electronic nicotine and vapor delivery systems, which include e-cigarettes, vaping pens, e-hookah and similar devices, typically contain nicotine. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can cause addiction and harm the developing adolescent brain.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2017 at 8:32 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Dennis Mathes, 8, of Barre leads a steer through the show arena during Tuesday’s beef show at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Rylie Lear won the master showmanship award with Nicole Mrzywka the reserve master showman for beef.
The dairy show is today at 4 p.m.
Jackson Nesbitt, 11, of Waterport waits to lead this animal into the show arena. Jackson helped show Nathan Woodworth’s beef animals after Nathan got sick on Tuesday. Nathan, 9, of Lyndonville won the grand champion award for best overall beef animal.
Jayne Bannister of Point Breeze leads the grand champion beef animal that is owned by Nathan Woodworth of Lyndonville.
Lillian Mathes, right, of Barre and other 4-Hers get ready with their beef animals to head to the show arena.
Kaitlynn Basinait, 8, of Barre has this beef animal under control during Tuesday’s show.
Homer Mathes, 9, of Barre leads a beef animal in the show arena. Ribbons are set on a table for the top animals and leading showmen.
Kaylee Nesbitt, 13, of Waterport shows a beef animal.
Jayden Neal, 14, of Albion keeps up with some of the barn chores, which are critical for keeping the animals clean for their moments in the the show arena.
5 -8 p.m. P.Raising Kids Children’s Activity Center with Face Painting, Crafts and Art Projects. Trolley Building
5:30 p.m. The Creature Teacher and friends live show at Log Cabin Lawn
6 p.m. Donut Eating Contest Sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts at Orleanshub.com Stage
Logan Woodcock, 7, of Newfane competes in the small fry tractor pull on Tuesday. The event returns at 6:30 p.m. today by the fair office.
6 p.m. Registration Ends for the Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull Fair Office
6 p.m. Live Chalk Art. South Side of Lartz Building
6 p.m. Master Gardener Floral Design Contest (Open to public) at Lartz Building
6 p.m. Magic Joe: Tricks, Illusions and Wonder Stage Act at Orleanshub.com Stage
6 -7:15 p.m. Meet and Greet with the Creature Teacher and Friends at Log Cabin Lawn
6:30 p.m. Dairy Cattle Show. Show Arena
6:30 p.m. Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull Sponsored by Lance Mark and Empire Tractor. Tractor Pull Course: Fair Office
Cora Clark of Kendall shows a Polish rabbit during the rabbit Show on Tuesday. She is joined by friends Brian Shaw of Kendall, left, and Lydia Scharlau of Medina. There are 152 rabbits registered at the fair from 22 breeds.
6:30 p.m. Horses, Horses, Horses! World Champion Performing Horses at Lawn South of the Knights Building
7 -9 p.m. Magic Joe: Street Magic. Throughout Grounds
7 -8:30 p.m. Open Mic with Oak Orchard Review. Orleanshub.com Stage
7:30 p.m. The Creature Teacher and friends live show. Log Cabin Lawn
8 p.m. Live Chalk Art. South Side of Lartz Building
8:30 p.m. Horses, Horses, Horses! World Champion Performing Horses at Lawn South of the Knights Building
9 p.m. Orleans County 4-H Fair $1,000 Karaoke Challenge at Orleanshub.com Stage
10 p.m. Buildings Close
10 p.m. Greased Pole Climbing Contest (Teams must pre-register at the Fair Office) Sponsored by Big Ash Fireplace and Stoves at Greased Pole
Hugh Gabalski, center, waits for the judge to look over his rabbit. He is joined by Naomi Mathes, left, and his sister Peggy-Jo Gabalski. They were all showing American Fuzzy Lops.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2017 at 4:20 pm
MEDINA – The tractor trailers rumble down Park Avenue early in the morning through the evening. They are beating up the village streets and bothering neighbors, village officials said on Monday.
Medina wants them to stay off village streets, and instead take Maple Ridge Road to Salt Works Road to then go to Associated Brands and companies in the Olde Pickle Factory.
Many of the truckers who are stopped by police for violating the 5-ton weight limit say their GPS leads them through the village streets, Police Chief Chad Kenward told board members.
“We need to do something to protect village property and the residents,” said Mayor Mike Sidari.
Trustee Owen Toale said the heavy truck traffic forces the village to mill and pave sections of Park Avenue every year “because it gets beat up so bad.”
Toale said he often gets emails from residents on Park Avenue before 8 in the morning, informing him that “four tractor trailers have gone by my house.”
Toale suggested raising the fine to $1,000 and impounding trucks that use the village streets.
None of the other village officials supported that. Sidari and Trustee Marguerite Sherman said more signage should be posted for trucks, directing them to Maple Ridge and Salt Works. The signs should also note fines for using village streets at perhaps $500 per infraction, Sidari said.
Resident Michael Maak suggested the village talk with the companies that have tractor trailers stop for deliveries. Those businesses could work with the trucks’ dispatchers to inform them to stay off the village streets.
Sidari liked the idea of reaching out to businesses for help with directing the trucks to the right roads that can better handle the weight.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2017 at 3:43 pm
MEDINA – The Village Board held a public hearing on proposed regulations for a dog park on Monday, and heard some resistance to setting aside space in a public park for dogs.
Village officials said they were eyeing Gulf Street Park, north of the canal, for the dog park. The whole park wouldn’t be used for dogs. There would be a section with a fence that would be 4 to 6 feet high. The park would be open dawn to dusk, according to the proposed ordinance.
The enclosed area would allow dogs to be off-leash, with the area exclusive to dogs and their handlers.
Three residents near that park said it should be used for children and their families only – not dogs.
“I don’t want to listen to dogs barking,” said resident Art Washak. “I don’t want to look at it or smell it.”
A Stork Street resident said the park, the only one on the north side of the canal, shouldn’t have space set aside for animals.
“We’re taking away a park for kids and giving it to dogs,” the resident said. “That’s wrong.”
Village Trustee Owen Toale said the board has no intention of giving up an entire park for dogs. Trustee Tim Elliott said the village proposed the ordinance to have some rules and keep up with a community need.
“Medina has many rental places and dogs need a place to go,” Elliott said.
Alaina Wilson suggested the village create a dog park in February. She offered to lead a fundraising effort, and a committee of volunteers to help care for the site.
Cindy Davis runs a business, walking dogs. She does it some days for 15 hours.
“I can’t keep up,” she told the board during Monday’s public hearing.
The demand for her business shows people value their pets and want them to have exercise and social interactions, she said.
The dog park would help build a stronger community, helping people to make friends. The dogs would also become better behaved and friendlier with exercise and social outings at the park, Davis told the Village Board.
“We are animal lovers,” she said. “We want to do things with our dogs.”
Village resident Mike Maak suggested the board consider Butts Park for the dog park. That park has more parking. A spot at the park near the creek also has a buffer away from residences, Maak said.
Mayor Mike Sidari said the village isn’t focused on any site right now. It wants to hear form the community about regulations for the park.
Some requirements in the proposed ordiance from the village include requiring dogs to have a current dog license, vaccinations and must have tag on the dog collar.
Handlers also need to insure dogs demonstrate safe behavior and social interaction at all times toward people and other dogs. (Dogs displaying aggressive behavior need to be immediately leashed and removed from park.)
Handlers must also pick up dog’s fecal matter and dispose in trash receptacle. Handlers also can’t leave a dog unattended.
The proposed ordinance urges handlers to be considerate of neighbors and try to keep the park a “bark-free zone.”
The village has no responsibility or liability for injuries at dog park, according to the proposed ordinance.
The proposal also bans puppies under 4 months old, female dogs in heat, and unattended dogs.
Children under age 12 aren’t allowed in the area set aside for the dog park. Children 13 to 18 are allowed if accompanied by an adult.
Sidari said the board will continue to discuss the issue and consider spots for the dog park.
“It may not be at Gulf Street Park or even if we have it,” he said.
By Nola Goodrich-Kresse and Kristine Voos, Genesee-Orleans Public Health Education Team
RABIES ALERT! STOP! and THINK! Do NOT touch! It can kill!
Any mammal is able to get rabies, it is very important to get your pets vaccinated and not to touch or handle any stray or wild animals including bats, deer, and baby animals.
Rabies is a virus that attacks the nervous system of mammals, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. There are over 4,000 different species of mammals, all of which are vertebrates (they have a backbone or spine), are endothermic (“warm-blooded”), have hair on their bodies, and produce milk to feed their babies. Humans are mammals.
Transmission of the rabies virus usually begins when infected saliva of a host infected with the virus is passed to an uninfected mammal. The most common way rabies is transmitted is through the bite and virus-containing saliva of an infected host.
“The only way to know for sure if an animal or person has rabies is by testing the brain tissue,” stated Sarah Balduf, Director of Environmental Health for Genesee and Orleans counties. “Therefore, if a wild animal bites or it is determined there may have been an exposure; it will have to be put down (euthanized) to rule out rabies.”
It is illegal to possess any wild animal that naturally lives in the state. Not only do these animals have the potential to spread rabies, but they often carry parasites, ticks or may carry diseases that can be spread from animal to human.
It is important to leave wild animals alone! More times than not baby animals are not orphaned but are kept hidden while the parents can hunt for food or stay away to protect them from predators. Nature will take care of nature.
Wild animals have had to be put down because humans have interfered in their lives. Leave them alone! For more information about young wildlife visit the Department of Environmental Conservation web site at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6956.html
If you are bitten or get saliva on you from an animal, (wild, stray or domesticated but not known if it has been vaccinated against rabies) it is important to wash the area carefully with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately. Report all animal bites to your county health department, even if they seem minor. If treatment is initiated promptly following a rabies exposure, rabies can be prevented. If a rabies exposure is not treated and a person develops clinical signs of rabies, the disease almost always results in death.
By avoiding contact with stray or wild animals, saving the bat/animal that may have had contact with humans/domestic animals, and reporting an incident to your local Health Department, we may be able to avoid unnecessary medical treatment that averages over $3,000 per person.
Rabies is 100% preventable! Here are some ways to protect your families and animals.
Don’t feed, touch or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or cats, including the babies.
Be sure your pet dogs, cats and ferrets as well as horses and valuable livestock animals are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. Vaccination protects pets if they are exposed to rabid animals. Pets too young to be vaccinated (under 3 months old) should be kept indoors and allowed outside only under direct observation. Keep family pets indoors at night. Do not leave them outside unattended or let them roam free.
Do not attract wild animals to your home or yard. Keep your property free of stored bird seed or other foods that may attract wild animals. Feed pets indoors. Tightly cap or put away garbage cans. Board up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage. Cap your chimney with screens. Bats can get in spaces as small as the width of a pencil.
If nuisance wild animals are living in parts of your home, consult with a nuisance wildlife control expert about having them removed. You can find wildlife control experts, who work on a fee-for-service basis, in your telephone directory under pest control.
Teach children not to touch any animal they do not know and to tell an adult immediately if they are bitten by any animal.
If a wild animal is on your property, let it wander away. Do NOT feed it, do NOT touch it! Bring children and pets indoors and alert neighbors who are outside. You may contact a nuisance wildlife control expert who will remove the animal for a fee.
Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to your local health department. Do NOT let any animal escape that has possibly exposed someone to rabies. Depending on the species, it can be observed or tested for rabies in order to avoid the need for rabies treatment. This includes bats with skin contact or found in a room with a sleeping person, unattended child, or someone with mental impairment. Bats have small, sharp teeth and in certain circumstances people can be bitten and not know it.
Upcoming FREE rabies clinics are in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties:
Orleans County Clinics are held on Saturdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
August 26, Town of Shelby Highway Building, 4062 Salt Works Road, Medina
October 14, County Highway Building, 225 West Academy Street, Albion
Genesee County Clinics are held on Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m.
August 17, Genesee County Fairgrounds, 5031 East Main Street, Batavia
September 21, Pembroke Highway Department, 1145 Main Road (Route 5)
October 19, Le Roy Village Highway Garage, 58 North Main Street
Wyoming County has a clinic scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9:00am – 11:30am, Wyoming County Highway Department, 4328 Route 19, Rock Glen. (Registrations are not accepted the last 15 minutes.)
Press Release, Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force
ALBION – The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, along with the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office, is currently investigating a mail scam, where an Orleans County resident received a letter indicating they won $550,000 from Publishers Clearing House.
The letter was accompanied with a check for $7,897, which the letter claimed was part of the winnings.
Investigators made contact with Suntrust Bank and learned this scam was occurring throughout the country and the check written for $7,897 was counterfeit and it was currently under investigation by their security department and law enforcement authorities.
Publishers Clearing House was also contacted and was aware of the scam. Publishers stated that any prizes issued by that company are all made in person, not through the mail, the Task Force said in a news release.
The Task Force and District Attorney’s Office would like to make the residents of Orleans County and surrounding counties aware of this current mail scam which is typically designed to target the elderly.
If you or someone you know has received this type of letter, or are suspicious of mail you receive regarding this type of activity, please notify law enforcement.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2017 at 10:01 am
Murray man sentenced to 6 months in jail after assaulting woman
ALBION – A Rochester man was sentenced to 4 years in state prison on Monday, the maximum sentence as part of plea agreement.
Steven Jones
Steven C. Jones, 47, said he has fought drug addiction for 35 years. He was out of prison in 2008 and said he had avoided any police contact for nearly nine years until he was arrested in November, the first person to be charged in Orleans County for selling medical marijuana.
Jones was allegedly selling marijuana in both liquid and pill form, as well as prescription painkillers. He faced an 18-count indictment and has been in jail on $100,000 bail.
His attorney, Robert Fogg, asked Orleans County Court Judge James Punch to give Jones 3 ½ years in prison, the minimum mandatory sentence. Fogg said Jones has been “a model citizen” while in jail, causing no problems.
District Attorney Joe Cardone said Jones was involved in several sales of opiate drugs in the county.
“We feel state prison is appropriate,” Cardone told the judge.
Jones said he has fought the pull of drugs for many years. He became hooked on drugs when he crushed his ankle and started taking pain medications, he told the judge.
“Addiction is a hard thing,” Jones said.
He is determined to stay off drugs in the future. He participated drug addiction program through GCASA while in jail. He apologized for his “illegal activity.”
“I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired,” he told the judge. “I’m sorry to my family who had to come all the way out of town to see me like this.”
Judge Punch gave Jones the maximum as part of the plea agreement – 4 years in prison and 2 years of post-release supervision. The judge said he would give the Department of Corrections the option of sending Jones to a drug treatment program at Willard. That will be up to the Department of Corrections, Punch said.
Jones also needs to pay $1,150 in restitution which was the “buy money” for the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force.
If Jones had gone to trial and been convicted, he may have spent most of the rest of his life in prison, Punch said.
The judge said Jones wasn’t only using drugs. He was actively selling drugs in the community.
“You are here because you sold drugs,” Punch said during sentencing. “You of all people should know the misery of selling these drugs. You are spreading the poison and misery you’ve endured to other people.”
In another sentencing on Monday, a Murray man was sentenced to six months in the Orleans County Jail for attempted assault in the third degree after a domestic violence incident on Jan. 1.
Todd J. Knight II, 25, of Hulberton Road admitted in court to injuring a woman. He caused a concussion, “massive swelling” on the right side of her head, a fractured rib, contusions and other injuries, Cardone said.
The woman has recovered which resulted in a shorter sentence for Knight.
Knight’s attorney Larry Koss asked the judge to sentence Knight to weekends in jail so he could continue working.
Koss said Knight has no prior criminal history, and has completed mental health counseling and has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Knight apologized for his actions.
“I am ashamed of what I did,” Knight said during sentencing. “I will spend the rest of my life knowing I hurt someone I love.”
Judge Punch issued an order of protection for the victim and said Knight needs to go to jail for a “very serious assault.” If Knight had a prior criminal offense, he would have been sentenced to state prison, Punch said.
“I don’t like people who beat up women,” Punch said. “If you ever do it again you will get a long state prison sentence.”
Photo from United Shoreline: This photo on the United Shoreline Facebook page shows a Kendall backyard being battered by waves from Lake Ontario on Monday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2017 at 9:26 am
Another lakeshore flood warning has been issued for Orleans, Niagara and Monroe counties today until 5 p.m.
The combination of a high Lake Ontario and wave action may worsen flooding in low-lying areas along the shore, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.
The shoreline has been pounded by waves since Sunday, said Dawn Herbeck of Kendall, a leader with the United Shoreline organization.
“It’s really bad right now,” she said at about 9 this morning. “We had a quiet four weeks but it’s been hell on wheels the past few days.”
Photos by Tom Rivers: Karissa Klossner of Holley shows a miniature horse during that competition on Monday at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. She is showing the miniature horse to the judge, Starlyt Knight of Holley.
Posted 25 July 2017 at 8:36 am
Daily Feature: Orleans County Flower Show – Lartz Exhibit Building
Orleans County Quilt Show – Trolley Building
8 a.m. Senior Council Stand Opens
8 a.m. English Horse Show. Carlos Marcello Arena
10 a.m. $7 Admission per car starts
10 a.m. All buildings open
10 a.m. Horticulture I.D. Contest.
10 a.m. Little Britches Cattle Show (Open to the public). Show Arena
12 p.m. Leader’s Pie Stand Opens
Orleans County Legislator Lynne Johnson gives remarks during the opening ceremony on Monday evening for the fair. (Johnson is joined by other legislators, including from left: Ken DeRoller, Bill Eick and John DeFillipps.) This is the 71st annual fair in the county. It’s also the 100th anniversary of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in the county. To mark the 100th anniversary, there will be two nights of fireworks – Thursday and Friday – and special cupcakes served at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
12 to 4 p.m. Rabbit and Cavy Showmanship. Wachob Pavilion
12 p.m. Calf Feeding and Care Demonstrations. Cattle Barn
2 p.m. Rabbit and Cavy Knowledge Contest. Wachob Pavilion
3 to 10 p.m. Main Event Amusements $20 Unlimited Ride Wristbands – Midway
5 p.m. Beef Showmanship and Show. Show Arena
5 to 8 p.m. P.Raising Kids Children’s Activity Center with Face Painting, Crafts and Art Projects. Trolley Building
6 p.m. Registration Ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull. Fair Office
6 p.m. Rabbit and Cavy Costume Class and Cloverbud Show – Wachob Pavilion
6 p.m. Flower Show Gardening Presentation. Lartz Building
6 p.m. Rabbit and Cavy Show Costume, Pet and Cloverbud Classes – Wachob Pavilion
6:30 p.m. Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull Sponsored by Lance Mark and Empire Tractor. Pedal Tractor Course: Fair Office
Lisa Dufresne stars in the show, Horses, Horses, Horses!
6:30 p.m. Horses, Horses, Horses! World Champion Performing Horses – Lawn South of the Knights Building
7 p.m. Rabbit and Cavy Show, Breed Classes. Wachob Pavilion
7 p.m. Calf Feeding and Care Demonstrations. Cattle Barn
7 -8:30 p.m. Local Entertainment Variety Acts – Orleanshub.com Stage
8:30 p.m. Horses, Horses, Horses! World Champion Performing Horses – Lawn South of the Knights Building
Neil Johnson signs a copy of a booklet he put together about the history of the fair. He was featured in a booth about “Made in Orleans,” which highlights crops, products and other things produced in the county.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2017 at 8:05 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – The talent show was one of the big events on opening day of the fair on Monday.
This group from Dance Theater in Medina performed “Respect Your Lunch” and includes Kileigh Hastings, right. They finished fourth overall in the mini division of the talent show.
There were 25 different acts that performed about two hours in the talent show.
This group of dancers from Lisa’s Dance Boutique in Holley won first overall in the maxi division with “Bosa Nova Baby.” Lisa’s Dance Boutique also had the second place winner in the maxi division with “Burnin Up.”
Two dancers from Lisa’s also took the top two spots in the mini division with Allie Amoroso winning first with “Slay” and Savanna Isenberg taking second with “Queen Bee.”
The top five finishers are eligible to compete at the State Fair.
These dancers from Lisa’s perform “Salute” and include, from left: Kamryn Berner, Deanna Schubmehl and Brianna Drennan. They received an honorable mention in the maxi division.
Carly Fox performs a hip hop dance with a group from Gotta Dance by Miss Amy in Albion. They were awarded fourth place in the maxi division.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 24 July 2017 at 11:01 pm
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
KNOWLESVILLE – The Trolley Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds was busy today with judges reviewing entries from 4-Hers.
Judges, on the right side of the table, have the difficult task of sampling and awarding ribbons to baked goods entries from 4-Hers – on the left side of the table.
Grace Gregoire of Murray entered three petite “flower girls” she made from live floral elements has a horticulture project.
Orleans County 4-Hers entered horticulture, food preservation, baked goods, visual arts and group projects had their entries judged today.
Sadie Gregoire of Murray shows off her vegetable/fruit art entries – a hedgehog with grape and toothpick spines; and ladybugs, made from tomatoes and black olives perched on fresh basil leaves.
Emma Mathes of Barre presents judges in the Trolley Building with an assortment of baked goods entries.
Lydia Scharlau of Medina has a jar of pickles judged by Natalie Heller.
Bruce Landis of Photos by Bruce and Associates in Albion judges a visual arts entry by Meagan Hardner of Lyndonville.
HARTLAND – Two people from Connecticut were killed in a car accident on Ridge Road in Hartland on Sunday at 7:12 p.m., the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is reporting.
The accident happened at the intersection of Quaker Road. Upon arrival by deputies, two heavily damaged vehicles were on scene. One vehicle was in the west bound lane of Ridge Road the other vehicle involved was located off road in the south west corner of the intersection.
Preliminary investigation shows the south bound vehicle on Quaker Road stopped at the stop sign then proceeded to cross Ridge Road and was struck by a west bound vehicle on Ridge Road, the Sheriff’s Office is reporting.
The driver of the southbound vehicle – Margaret A. Hammerl, 82, of Stamford, Connecticut – was pronounced dead at the scene. The rear seat passenger in the vehicle has been identified as Andrew J. Hammerl, 84, of Stamford. He was also pronounced dead at the scene.
The front passenger of the south bound vehicle – Mary R. Haberman, 77, of Eggertsville, NY – was transported by Tri-Town Ambulance to the Erie County Medical Center for serious injuries. She remains in critical condition at ECMC, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The driver of the west bound vehicle – Tony E. Wagner, 29, of Gasport – signed off with medical personnel on scene.
The Investigation is continuing by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Accident Investigation Unit.
JAMESTOWN – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County to announce the Opioid Addiction Prevention Act, bipartisan legislation to crack down on one of the most dangerous root causes of the opioid addiction crisis – the over-prescription of opioids for patients with short-term, acute pain.
The bill, modeled after New York State law, would limit the supply of an initial opioid prescription for acute pain to seven days. Many individuals become addicted to opioids after taking prescriptions for acute pain, such as a broken bone or wisdom tooth extraction.
The Opioid Addiction Prevention Act would require medical professionals to certify, as part of their DEA registration, that they will not prescribe an opioid as an initial treatment for acute pain in an amount that exceeds a seven-day supply, and may not provide a refill as part of that initial prescription.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data this month that shows that the over-prescription of opioids continues to be a serious public health problem in the United States. While the overall amount of opioids prescribed in the U.S. decreased between 2010 and 2015, the amount prescribed in 2015 was still three times as high as the amount prescribed in 1999. In response to this latest report, CDC Acting Director Anne Schuchat said the amount of opioids prescribed in 2015 was enough “for every American to be medicated around the clock for three weeks.”
“The bipartisan Opioid Addiction Prevention Act would target one of the root causes of the opioid addiction crisis, which is the over-prescription of powerful and addictive opioid drugs for acute pain,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Too many lives have been destroyed, too many families have been torn apart, and too many communities all over New York are suffering because of this epidemic. This fight is urgent, and I will do everything I can in the Senate to pass this bill.”
“The (Mental Health Association) in Chautauqua County is happy to see bipartisan support for preventative care opioid addiction,” said Kia Briggs, Executive Director of the MHA in Chautauqua County. “We would like to thank Senator Gillibrand and Senator McCain for introducing this legislation.”
Under current federal law, a medical professional must register with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in order to be allowed to prescribe a controlled substance in the United States. This registration must be renewed every three years. This legislation would require medical professionals to certify, as part of their DEA registration, that they will not prescribe a schedule II, III, or IV opioid as an initial treatment for acute pain in an amount that exceeds a seven-day supply, and may not provide a refill as part of that initial prescription.
This limit does not apply to the treatment of chronic pain, pain being treated as part of cancer care, hospice or other end of life care, pain treated as part of palliative care, or addiction treatment.
The Facts on the Growing Opioid Epidemic:
In Western New York between 2004 and 2015, the number of prescription opioid-related deaths rose by over 1,600 percent, from 16 deaths in 2004 to 277 deaths in 2015, based on data from the New York State Department of Health.
In 2015, more than 15,000 people died in the United States from overdoses related to opioid pain relievers, over 3.5 times the number in 1999, according to CDC.
In 2015, 2.1 million more Americans started misusing prescription opioids, including 415,000 adolescents and 596,000 young adults, according to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Every day, roughly 3,000 more young people misused a prescription opioid for the first time.
Nearly 2 million Americans abuse or are addicted to prescription opioids, and nearly half a million more are addicted to heroin, according to SAMHSA.
The increase in opioid addiction is linked to an increase in opioid prescriptions. The amount of opioid prescriptions in 2015 is three times as high as the amount of opioid prescription in 1999, according to CDC.
In 2012, health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioid pain relievers – enough for every American adult to have a bottle of pills, according to CDC.
Teenagers who receive an opioid prescription by 12th grade are 33 percent more likely to abuse opioids after high school. The risk for opioid abuse is even higher among teenagers who report little to no previous use of illicit substances, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Over half of people aged 12 and older who misused prescription pain relievers in the last year obtained the opioids from a friend or family member. Over one-third obtained the opioids from a doctor, according to SAMHSA.
In a paper published by the American Dental Association in 2011, 64 percent of dentists surveyed preferred prescribing hydrocodone with acetaminophen for patients to use as needed after a wisdom tooth removal, a procedure common in young adulthood. The average prescription was for 20 pills.
4 in 5 individuals who use heroin report prior abuse of prescription opioids, according to SAMHSA.
