Press Release, Albion Police Department

ALBION – The Albion Police Department is pleased to report that 17-year-old Alexandria M. Ledger, who had previously been reported missing, has been located safely in Niagara Falls, New York.

The successful outcome of this investigation was made possible through a collaborative effort involving law enforcement, technology, and investigative resources. Officers were able to utilize information provided through Snapchat, which helped establish Alexandria’s last known location.

In addition, officers obtained an image from Walmart in Lockport of the vehicle Alexandria was observed entering. That information, combined with the Flock Safety camera system, enabled officers to identify and track the vehicle, ultimately leading to Alexandria’s safe location in Niagara Falls.

Officer Daniel Baase, who is currently serving in an investigator role on a trial basis, was the lead investigator assigned to the case. Throughout the investigation, Officer Baase conducted extensive investigative work, coordinating with numerous law enforcement partners, including the Niagara Intelligence & Crime Analysis Center (NICAC). By leveraging available technology, intelligence resources, and interagency cooperation, Officer Baase was able to develop critical investigative leads that ultimately resulted in Alexandria being located safely.

The Albion Police Department would like to thank the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Niagara Falls Police Department, the Niagara Intelligence & Crime Analysis Center, our law enforcement partners, the media, and the members of the public who shared information and assisted throughout the investigation. We also appreciate Snapchat and Walmart’s cooperation in providing information that proved valuable to the investigation.

At this time, no further information will be released out of respect for Alexandria’s privacy.

The Albion Police Department is grateful for the community’s support and asks that everyone continue to respect the privacy of Alexandria and her family as they move forward.

Press Release, Albion Police Chief David Mogle

Marquis Harrell

ALBION – During the early morning hours on Saturday, the Albion Police Department arrested a Newfane man following a domestic violence investigation that resulted in the discovery of an incendiary device at a village residence.

At approximately 3 a.m., Albion police officers were dispatched to make a phone call to a village resident after they reported receiving multiple threatening text messages and emails from her ex-boyfriend. The messages included threats to harm the victim and set her residence on fire by way of Molotov cocktail.

During the investigation, officers confirmed that a valid full stay away order of protection was in effect, prohibiting the suspect from having any contact with the victim.

At approximately 4 a.m., an Albion Police K-9 Officer responded to the victim’s residence to continue the investigation and check the area for suspicious activity. Upon arrival, the officer observed a suspicious vehicle parked outside the apartment complex and requested additional officers to investigate the vehicle while he continued toward the residence.

As the K-9 Officer approached the apartment complex, he observed a male exiting from the rear of the property who immediately fled on foot. After a brief pursuit through the area, the suspect was apprehended without incident at a neighboring apartment complex. The suspicious vehicle was later determined to be the suspect’s Uber transportation to the scene.

Officers subsequently discovered a suspected Molotov cocktail at the rear of the victim’s residence that had been ignited and thrown at the building. Although the device had burned itself out prior to officers’ arrival, officers observed fire damage to the residence.

The suspect was identified as Marquis J. Harrell, 22, of Newfane, New York. A search of the suspect resulted in the recovery of additional evidence related to the investigation.

Harrell was charged with:

• Arson in the First Degree (A1 Felony)
• Criminal Mischief in the First Degree (B Felony)
• Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (4 counts) (D Felony)
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child (2 counts) (A Misdemeanor)
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (D Felony)
• Criminal Contempt (2 counts) (E Felony)

Following processing by the Albion Police Department, Harrell was arraigned in CAP Court and remanded to the Orleans County Jail without bail due to the seriousness of the charges.

A new order of protection was issued protecting the victim and her two young children, who were inside the residence at the time of the incident.

The Albion Police Department would like to thank the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol and Dispatch Divisions for their assistance during the investigation, as well as Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard for her support throughout the case.

Criminal charges are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Breaks previous high of $139K from last year

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Eli Schutz, 10, of Lyndonville gets ready to bring his steer into the show ring during Friday’s 4-H Market Auction. Samantha Basinait waits with Eli before he took the big beef animal into the ring.

Eli had an animal in the auction for the first time. Dunham Farms paid $4.75 a pound for the steer, a 1,270-pound steer he named Bruce.

Mark Dunham bid on the steer and attended the auction for the first time. He wanted to support a hard-working 4-Her and paid just over $6,000.

“These kids do such a good job,” he said at the auction. “They deserved it.”

The auction was a record-breaker for the Orleans County 4-H Fair. The total winning bids totaled $213,031. That is a big jump from last year’s $139,852, which also set a new record. Before that the high was $64,128 in 2024. The total has now more than tripled in two years.

Haylee Wright, 15, of Lyndonville seeks bids for champion turkey that was already processed. Town & Country Equipment paid $500 for the turkey. Todd Jantzi, auctioneer with Bontrager Real Estate & Auction Service in Batavia, kept the auction moving and the bids going up throughout the evening.

There were 126 bidders at the auction, which was 29 more than last year.

There were also 98 lots up for sale, up from 86 the previous year.

About 300 people attended the auction, which was moved from Saturday to Friday night for the first time at the fair.

“You can see there is a lot of energy here,” Jantzi said after the auction. “It’s other businesses doing businesses with the farms and saying ‘Thank you.’”

Jantzi also serves as the market auctioneers at the fairs in Niagara, Cattaraugus and two in Erie County.

Matthew Bloom, 16, of Albion has a steer in the ring that was purchased by Keeler Construction for $7,612. Matthew said he reached out to the company, and Keeler attended the auction. Matthew said the proceeds from the auction will go into a college fund after he graduates from Albion.

The 4-Hers were credited for making connections in the community, and personally inviting people to big on the animals and fiber products.

“The kids did a great job reaching out to the bidders,” said Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County.

The biggest bids of the night included $15,172 from H.H. Dobbins for a steer owned by Charlotte Bannister in Carlton and $4,448 from Watson Construction Group for a pig owned by Natalie Miller of Lyndonville.

Carissa Klossner, 18, of Clarendon models a scarf and hat she made from alpaca fibers. It sold for $275 to Lynn Vendetti of Vendetti Farms.

David Welker, 8, of Medina had two lambs in the auction, the market champion and the reserve champion. Hartland Abattoir paid $819 for the champion while Dale Root Trucking paid $600 for the reserve champ. Todd Jantzi is shown scanning the crowd for bids.

Lee Winters, owner of Genesee Feeds in Batavia, paid $12.50 a pound or $3,475 for a pig raised by Henry Dresser of Medina. Winters said the Dresser family have been long time customers.

“They’re a good family,” Winters said. “They support us and I wanted to support them.”

He usually attends five county fairs in WNY to buy an animal at the market auction.

Helen Schofield, 15, of Holley raised this pen of three chickens that sold for $175 to Enjoyable Acres. Helen was assisted in the show ring by her sister Peregrine, age 10, and friend Micah Anderson, age 12.

 Schofield said she was pleasantly surprised to see larger-than0expected bids throughout the auction.

“I’m very happy,” she said about the prices. “It’s great to see the community support we have in Orleans County.”

Brody Collyer of Kendall had a steer in the auction that sold for $4,706 to Dan Dresser.

Anna Grillo, 17, of Albion leads her beef animal towards the show ring. The steer sold for $3,780 to Growmark.

Lane Miller, 9, of Lyndonville had the grand champion pig. His sister Claire, age 6, helps promote the award-winning swine animal. The pig sold for $4,417 to Pat Brennan.

Georgia Baxter, 16, of Churchville leads a dairy steer in the ring. Willow Rock Farm paid $4,635 for the animal.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Bethany Zeiner of Medina gives her son Mateo, 7, a hug on his return from Camp Long Pond. (Right) Wyatt Purnell, 10, and his brother Levi, 7, are greeted by their mother on their return from The Salvation Army’s Camp Long Pond near Penn Yan on Friday morning.

Ten local youth enjoyed a week of camping last week at Camp Long Point in Penn Yan. Andrew Szatkowski of Medina led an effort to secure scholarships and fundraising so the kids could go to camp.

Szatkowski began soliciting donations earlier in the year to pay the $2,000 needed for a bus to transport campers to and from the camp.

On Friday morning, they returned from camp, bursting with stories of camp activities.

As Ryan Howes of Lyndonville sat in his car waiting for their bus to arrive, he said four of his kids were on the bus. He said this was the first time for his son, Alex, but he wanted to do it. His children are 11, 11 (twins), 10 and 9.

He said they learned of the camp when the superintendent of Lyndonville schools put out a memo stating there was a camping opportunity.

“It was really cool that there were scholarships available,” Howes said.

One of his children had previously gone to a sheriff’s camp next door to Camp Long Pond, and came home and told everyone how much fun it was.

“She went again July 5,” Howes said. “We go to Jellystone every summer, so they are used to camping, but this was the first time on their own. Gavin, one of the twins, hesitated on the morning they left, and didn’t know if he wanted to go. Then he said, ‘OK, I’m going.’”

Bethany Zeiner of Medina greeted her son her son Matteo, 7, with open arms and a big hug as he stepped down from the bus. He attended the camp last year and liked Penn Yan, he told his mother.

This was the second year of camping for Wyatt Purnell, 10, of Medina and his brother Levi, 7, said their mother Alexandria. Wyatt’s favorite activities were Gaga ball and 9 Square. Levi also liked Gaga ball and sleeping in a cabin.

“That was really cool,” he said.

Szatkowski was grateful for the community support when he was raising money for the transportation.

“When I was in Hoag Library to sign kids up, people were coming up to me with checks. Community Action also helped, he said.

He stressed the importance of giving to The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign in Orleans County.

“Those donations all stay in Orleans County and help fund programs like this,” Szatkowski said.

Szatkowski added he hopes more children will take advantage of the camping opportunity next year.