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Couple allegedly falsely accused person for hurting young child when injuries caused by father
Press Release, Medina Police Chief Corey Black
Christian Cooper, left, and Emily Niersberger face felony and misdemeanor charges.
MEDINA – On September 5, the Medina Police Department took a complaint from Emily E. Niersberger, age 24, and Christian A. Cooper, age 28.
Both stated that while walking with their 14-month-old child who was seated in a stroller an individual came up to them, assaulted Christian and then assaulted the child, resulting in injury to the child.
As officers began their investigation officers noticed slight differences in the account of Cooper and Niersberger’s description of the event. Further Investigation revealed that the stated suspect in this case was not in New York State at the time of the alleged occurrence.
The child who was treated at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Buffalo for minor injuries and was placed in a safe environment by Orleans County CPS during this investigation. As officers investigated this incident and compiled evidence it became clear that this explanation of the child’s injuries was clearly false.
Continued investigation revealed that Christian Cooper allegedly struck the child himself resulting in the child’s injuries and that Emily Niersberger conspired with Cooper in an attempt to conceal some of the details as to how the child was injured.
Christian Cooper was arrested on October 18 and transported to the Orleans County Jail for CAP Court arraignment.
He has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, class A misdemeanor; assault in the second-degree class D felony; forgery in the second-degree, class D felony; criminal contempt in the first-degree, class E felony; making a false written statement, class A misdemeanor.
Emily Niersberger was arrested October 16 and transported to the Orleans County Jail for CAP Court arraignment. She was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, class A misdemeanor; forgery in the second-degree, class D felony; and making a false written statement, class A misdemeanor
Big early second half scoring burst keys Albion to first round sectional soccer win
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Damon Taylor tries to send the ball to the goal off a corner kick opportunity during the Purple Eagles sectional win over visiting Pine Valley/Gowanda this afternoon. Backing up the play is Adam Burgio (23).
A lightning quick three goal scoring burst in the first three minutes of the second half keyed No. 16 Albion to a 5-1 victory over visiting No. 17 Pine Valley/Gowanda this afternoon in the opening round of the Section VI Class B playoffs.
Breaking away from a 1-1 half-time deadlock, Albion took control with that decisive scoring burst as Garret Jones scored all three goals two coming off assists by Brendan Smith and one by Alakai Colmenero.
Jaili McPhatter netted the Purple Eagles final goal.
Jones also scored Albion’s lone first half goal off an assist from Smith.
Albion, which is 3-13-1 overall, will now visit top seeded Lafayette (11-1, 12-4) tomorrow at 5 p.m. in the pre-quarterfinals.
Andres Morillas scored in the first half for Pine Valley/Gowanda which gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Pine Valley/Gowanda finishes the season at 0-15.
Albion’s Brendan Smith puts a shot toward the goal.
Holley’s Class of ’86 celebrates 40th reunion, donates $1,986 to scholarship
Photos and information courtesy of Holley Central School
HOLLEY – The Holley Central School Class of 1986 recently marked a major milestone by celebrating their 40th class reunion during the district’s homecoming weekend on October 2-3.
The weekend kicked off with classmates gathering to watch the annual homecoming parade. Afterward, the group headed to the Woodlands soccer stadium for the alumni soccer game. Two members of the Class of ’86, Walter Bennage and Peter Lehning, suited up to play and were honored with team captain status for the game.
Following the game, 29 classmates and spouses gathered at the Holley firemen’s field to reminisce and catch up. The reunion drew attendees from across the country, with several classmates traveling from as far as California, Texas and Illinois to celebrate.
On Saturday, the festivities continued with breakfast at Sam’s Diner. This was followed by a guided tour of both the elementary and Jr./Sr. high school buildings, led by Holley School District Superintendent Karri Schiavone.
The tour held special significance for the attendees. The Class of 1986 was among the very first groups of students to occupy the current high school when it opened in the late 1970s. At the time, the building featured a trendy “open classroom” concept. The alumni found it fascinating to see how the physical spaces had evolved and noted the remarkable modern upgrades completed over the last 40 years.
A major highlight of the landmark weekend was a philanthropic effort by the self-proclaimed “Generation X” class. Both weekend attendees and classmates who could not make the trip combined forces to collect donations. In honor of their graduation year, they raised $1,986, which will be awarded as a scholarship to a deserving Holley graduating senior.
ABATE donates to Community Action’s Holiday Toy Drive
Press Release, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Provided photo: Don Sloper, president of ABATE in Orleans County, presents a check to Renee Hungerford, Executive Director/CEO of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.
ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee thanks the members of ABATE of New York, Orleans Chapter, for donating $700, toys and books to support local children and families through the agency’s annual Holiday Toy Drive.
At ABATE’s October 18 meeting, members presented Community Action with $700 after voting to increase the $630 they had originally collected. Members also collected donations of an assortment of toys and books to help brighten the holidays for local children and families.
The donations will support Community Action’s annual Holiday Toy Drive, which helps provide gifts to children during the holiday season.
“On behalf of Community Action and the families we serve, I extend our heartfelt thanks to every member of ABATE and donors for this generous support,” said Renee Hungerford, Executive Director/CEO of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. “By voting to increase their contribution, ABATE members demonstrated the caring spirit they bring to our community. We are deeply grateful to Don Sloper, the entire organization, and every donor whose generosity will help make the holidays brighter for local children and families facing difficult circumstances this season.”
Support from local businesses, organizations, and community members makes Community Action’s Holiday Toy Drive possible and helps ensure that children throughout the community can experience the joy and excitement of the holiday season.
Community Action of Orleans & Genesee sincerely thanks ABATE for its continued commitment to helping neighbors in need and for making this year’s Holiday Toy Drive brighter for local children and families.
About Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve greater economic security and improve their quality of life through programs and services that address poverty, housing stability, early childhood education, nutrition, transportation, energy assistance, and other community needs.
Holley mayor wants plan for fixing damaged culvert that has shut down Veterans Drive entrance
File photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from May shows the entrance of Veterans Drive being barricaded to prevent traffic from going through.
HOLLEY – Mayor Mark Bower said it will be costly to replace the culvert on Veterans Drive but he wants to start the process of getting a new small bridge eventually in place.
The culvert was badly damaged by a powerful storm on April 1 with flooding. The road and culvert are both crumbling.
The entrance has been blocked off to traffic. Bower doesn’t want to see the entrance stay closed long-term, saying that it hurts the VFW Post, a tannery business and the companies in the Holley Business Park.
Wendel, an engineering firm, has offered to do a preliminary engineering assessment for free for replacing the culvert. Bower said a new culvert and road repairs could be around $850,000. Wendel will be able to provide more specific numbers.
Holley could then pursue grant funding for the project.
Northshore Fury captures tournament title
Contributed Photo – The Fury’s lineup includes in front from left – Dean Fischer, Zia Dix, Marshall Thomas, Chris Andrews, and Gunner Knight. Back from Left – Brayden Aydelotte, Lane Woodworth, Jude Lacy, Trey Rhim, and Mason McGuire.
The Northshore Fury 16U AAU basketball team earned a championship going undefeated over the weekend at the John Wilbur Memorial Classic, held in Rochester.
Facing competition from Rochester and Toronto, Canada, the Fury finished 3–0 with victories of 67–49, 58–46 and 56–31. Balanced scoring and strong defense carried the team throughout the tournament, with the Fury holding every opponent under 50 points.
Trey Rhim of Notre Dame led the scoring with 16 points per game. Jude Lacy of Medina averaged 15 points, while Lane Woodworth of Lyndonville added 14 points per game.
Additional scoring came from Marshall Thomas of Notre Dame, Brayden Adyelotte of Lyndonville, Zia Dix and Dean Fischer of Medina, and Chris Andrews and Gunner Knight of Holley. Mason McGuire contributed rebounds and stellar defensive play, helping anchor a championship effort that featured contributions from all ten players.
The Fury are coached by Pete Rhim of Medina, Kevin McGuire of Holley, and Joshua Dix of Albion.
The Fury return to action this coming weekend October 24th–25th at the Jammin’ for a Cause Slamfest.
Sectional soccer playoffs get underway today
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Garret Jones and his Albion teammates will open Section VI soccer playoff action at home this afternoon against Pine Valley-Gowanda at 3:30 p.m.
Sectional soccer playoff competition gets underway this afternoon as No. 16 seed Albion hosts No. 17 Pine Valley-Gowanda in a Section VI Class B game at 3:30 p.m.
Albion went 0-9-1 in Niagara-Orleans League action and 2-13-1 overall during the regular season while Pine Valley-Gowanda was 0-14.
The victor will have little time to celebrate as the next round is Tuesday and the opponent will be top seeded Lafayette which went 11-1 in the Buffalo league and 12-4 overall.
Garret Jones had 5 goals and 2 assists and Brendan Smith 4 goals to lead the Purple Eagles offense.
Medina will begin Class B competition on Tuesday as the No. 7 seeded Mustangs (6-4, 10-4-1) will host No. 10 Tonawanda (4-6-2, 4-9-3) at 4 p.m. at Vets Park.
The winner will visit No. 2 Allegany-Limestone (9-0-1, 11-2-2) on Thursday.
Offensively the Mustangs have been led by Aidan Papaj (30 goals, 12 assists), Aleks Seefeldt (14 goals, 14 assists), Izzy Anderson (9 goals, 15 assists) and Cam Fike (7 goals, 4 assists).
Roy-Hart will begin Class C competition on Tuesday as the No. 10 seeded Rams (1-8-1, 4-11-1) visit No. 7 Holland (5-6-1, 7-8-1)at 3:30 p.m.
The Rams have been sparked offensively by Michael Fuller (19 goals, 7 assists), Jack Trombley (6 goals, 2 assists) and Joshua Jennings (1 goal, 10 assists).
Also on Tuesday, the No. 3 seeded Holley girls (10-5-1) will host No 14 Letchworth (0-15) at 6 p.m. in a Section V Class C1 game.
In Section VI girls competition on Wednesday No. 10 Roy-Hart/Medina (4-6, 7-9) will visit No. 7 Iroquois (5-5, 8-7 at 3:30 p.m. in Class A; N0. 9 Albion (5-5, 7-7) will visit No. 8 Southwestern (6-6, 7-9) at 7 p.m. in Class B and No. 8 Barker/Lyndonville (3-7, 9-7) will host No. 9 Franklinville (2-8. 4-11) at 3:30 p.m. in Class C.
In Section V boys action on Wednesday No. 8 Lyndonville/Barker (8-8) will host No. 9 Pembroke (6-8-2) at 5:30 p.m. at Barker in Class C1 and No. 9 Kendall (7-7-2) will visit No. 8 Perry (8-6-2) at 6 p.m. in Class C2.
The time and location of the Lyndonville/Barker game has been changed from the original schedule.
The Lyndonville/Barker vs. Pembroke winner will visit top seeded East Rochester (14-1) on Saturday and the Kendall vs. Perry winner will visit No. 1 Geneseo (14-1-1) also on Saturday.
Burial permits from 1880 to 1910 in East Carlton show prevalence of communicable diseases
This is a selection of burial permits from 1880 to 1910 for East Carlton/Kent Cemetery.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 28
EAST CARLTON – From “Acute melancholia” to “Whooping cough”, the burial permits for the East Carlton/Kent Cemetery contained in the leather pouch referenced in V6 No.27 provide an insight into causes of death in East Carlton from the 1880s to 1910.
The following is a list of the conditions cited on 120 permits. Each entry represents one case, unless otherwise noted:
- Acute melancholia
- Alcoholia (sic)
- Anasarca
- Apoplexy (6 cases)
- Asphyxia (1 yr. old)
- Blood poisoning
- Brain abscess
- Bright’s disease (4 cases)
- Cancer, breast
- Cancer, cervical
- Cancer, stomach
- Cancer, uterine
- Cardiac dropsy
- Cerebral hyperemia
- Cholera, infantile (3 cases)
- Chronic fibroid phthisis
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Consumption (7 cases)
- Convulsions
- Cystitis
- Degeneration of spinal cord
- Diphtheria (3 cases, aged 2,3 and 8)
- Dropsy
- Drowning, while bathing in Marsh Creek
- Dysentery
- Dysentery, bloody
- Dysentery, systemic
- Fibrosis
- Fracture of back and neck – (9-year-old boy, struck by a railroad train)
- Gangrene, senile
- General debility
- Heart disease (5 cases)
- Heart failure (5 cases)
- Hemorrhage (infant. 2 days old)
- Hemorrhage & peritonitis
- Hemorrhage in childbirth – (mother aged 16)
- Inflammation of bowels
- Influenza (2 cases)
- Intestinal obstruction (2 cases)
- Liver abscess
- Locomotor ataxia
- Lupus
- Murder (Emma Hunt, V6, No.27)
- Natural causes (2 cases)
- Nephritis (2 cases)
- Non-closure of foramen ovale – (infant)
- Old age, (6 cases)
- Overdose
- Paralysis (7 cases)
- Peritonitis (2 cases)
- Phthisis
- Phthisis pneumonialis (sic) (2 cases)
- Pneumonia (3 cases)
- Pneumonia, broncho
- Pneumonia, double
- Pneumonia exhaustion
- Pulmonary consumption (3 cases)
- Pulmonary edema
- Pulmonary tuberculosis (2 cases)
- Rheumatic e….itis (sic)
- Rheumatism (2 cases)
- Senile disability
- Tic doloreaux
- Tuberculosis (3 cases)
- Typhoid fever (4 cases)
- Valvular (mitral) disease of the heart (2 cases)
- Whooping cough and pneumonia – (infant, 1.5 months)
Some of the terms used may be unfamiliar. Apoplexy is now referred to as a stroke. Phthisis is a wasting disease. Tuberculosis is listed under a variety of terms: consumption, tuberculosis, pulmonary consumption, and pulmonary tuberculosis.
According to the Center for Disease Control/ Census Bureau Mortality Statistics, the leading causes of death for 1880 – 1910 were infectious and communicable diseases: tuberculosis, pneumonia, influenza, and intestinal infections. The Carlton statistics reflect this:
CDC Leading causes of death from 1880-1910 (Carlton Statistics)
- Pneumonia & influenza (12 cases)
- Tuberculosis (14 cases)
- Enteritis & dysentery (7 cases)
- Diphtheria (3 cases)
- Typhoid fever (4 cases)
- Heart disease (10 cases)
Deaths caused by communicable diseases have since declined. Heart disease and cancer are now the two leading causes of death.
Most of the burial permits also list the undertakers. At that time, furniture stores also operated as undertakers since they had the ability to supply coffins on demand.
Albion firms were: B.C. Mathes, 79 Main St.; Onderdonk & Reed, 66-68 Main St.; Reynolds & Flintham, 113 Main St.; Nelson A. Stevens operated in Kendall; and Keys & Millard and Harry E. Turner were located in Holley, on the Public Square.
Runners earn spots on Niagara-Orleans All-League teams for girls cross country
Photos by Tom Rivers: Eden Hillman of Newfane, left, won the Niagara-Orleans League race on Saturday, the first girl to finish, crossing the fine line in a time of 20:14. She is now a three-time league champ. Hayden Barlow of Wilson, right, took fourth and earned a spot on First Team, All-League.
CARLTON – The top runners in the Niagara-Orleans cross country race were recognized on Saturday with the top seven runners earning first team, then 8 through 14 on the second team, and 15 through 21 receiving honorable mention.
There were 44 runners in the race that covered 3.1 miles at Lakeside Beach State Park.
First Team All-League: Pictured from left include Eden Hillman of Newfane, 1st in 20:14; Abigail Bower of Akron, 2nd in 21:17; Jenna Achtyl of Newfane, 3rd in 21:30; Hayden Barlow of Wilson, 4th in 21:48; Aleece O’Malley of Akron, 5thin 21:54; Kylee Rebmann of Akron, 6th in 21:55; and Mirabelle Strong of Barker, 7th in 22:00.
Jenna Achtyl of Newfane, who finished third overall, is ahead of Aine Davis of Barker, who finished 10th. This is in the early part of the race. Achtyl passed several runners to move up in the race.
Second Team All-League: Pictured from left include Hannah Monaco of Barker, 8th in 22:17; Aine Davis of Barker, 10th in 22:34; Kendall Dzierzanowski of Wilson, 9th in 22:22; Makayla Pask of Akron, 11th in 22:38; Marissa Bryant of Royalton-Hartland, 12th in 22:58; Mackenzie Hill of Newfane, 13th in 23:09; Adele Mathes of Albion, 14th in 23:43.
Grace Nesbitt of Albion runs along the Lake Ontario shoreline during the race. She earned an honorable mention for All-League.
Honorable Mention All-League: Pictured from left: Aubrey Bruning of Albion, 15th in 23:43; Madelyn Freatman of Wilson, 16th in 24:04; Sienna Gibson of Newfane, 17th in 24:09; Samantha Silsby of Royalton-Hartland, 18th in 24:23; Grace Nesbitt of Albion, 19th in 24:35; Mallory Snell of Newfane, 20th in 24:43; Skeilair Montgomery of Medina, 21st in 24:47.
Top 21 finishers in Niagara-Orleans cross country race earn spots on All-League
Photos by Tom Rivers: Quinn O’Malley of Akron leads all of the runners in the Niagara-Orleans Cross Country league championships on Saturday at Lakeside Beach State Park. O’Malley, a sophomore, took first place in a time of 17:39.97. There were 60 runners from seven schools in the race.
CARLTON – The top runners in the Niagara-Orleans cross country race were recognized on Saturday with the first seven runners earning first team, then 8 through 14 on the second team, and 15 through 21 receiving honorable mention.
First Team All-League: Pictured from left include Quinn O’Malley of Akron, 1st in 17:39; Peyton Wagner of Barker, 2nd in 17:53; Cole Hughes of Medina, 3rd in 18:03; Grayson Prynn of Barker, 4th in 18:16; Logan Wagner of Barker, 5th in 18:34; John Murphy of Newfane, 6th in 18:45; and Jonathan Dix of Medina, 7th in 18:49.
Jonathan Dix of Medina puts everything into a sprint down the last stretch of Saturday’s race. He secured the final spot on First Team All-League, just ahead of Stryker Sanders of Albion.
Second Team All-League: Pictured from left include Stryker Sanders of Albion, 8th in 18:53; Hunter Sweeney of Barker, 9th in 19:00; Matt Bloom of Albion, 10th in 19:01; Chace Atwater of Barker, 11th in 19:07; Peyton Waterbury of Akron, 12th in 19:31; (Missing from photo) Niall Boyle of Medina, 13th in 19:45; and Anthony Taliaferro of Barker, 14th in 19:49.
Matt Bloom of Albion leads a group of runners in the race. His teammate, Rowe Bouchey, is just behind him. Bloom, a junior, finished 10th overall and Bouchey, a freshman, came in 15th.
Honorable Mention All-League: Pictured from left include Rowe Bouchey of Albion, 15th in 19:55; Ethan Gancasz of Barker, 16th in 19:56; Xavier Haitsch of Newfane, 17th in 20:08; Carter Braddell of Newfane, 18th in 20:15; River Hallett of Akron, 19th in 20:16; Matthew Jordan of Barker, 20th in 20:36; Roman Maksimchuk of Medina, 21st in 20:40.
