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By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 September 2024 at 8:19 am
ROYALTON – Two construction workers were taken to the hospital after getting hit by a car on Thursday afternoon, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office said.
A driver of a 2013 Chrysler sedan, 59-year-old Darrin Moreland of Middleport, was westbound on State Road at 2:28 p.m. when the vehicle moved to the north road shoulder. The sedan then struck a water tanker truck where it was parked, unoccupied, on the road shoulder, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The sedan continued down the right side of the water tanker truck and then hit a construction worker, 24-year-old Zackary Brown of Newfane, who was seated on the grass next to the truck. The sedan then made contact with a pump trailer that was parked on the grass north of the truck.
A second construction worker, 23-year-old Sheldon Gardner of Little Genesee, who was standing on the trailer was knocked down onto the floorboard of the trailer. The sedan came to rest between the water tanker truck and the pump trailer, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
The driver of the sedan wasn’t injured. Brown, the construction worker who was seated in the grass, was flown by Mercy Flight to ECMC for treatment for neck and back pain.
Gardner, the other construction worker on the trailer, was taken by ambulance to ECMC for similar complaints of pain.
An investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is continuing.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 September 2024 at 9:09 pm
A lone second half goal proved to be just enough to earn Kendall a narrow 1-0 win over host Byron-Bergen in a Genesee Region League boys soccer game this evening.
Pablo Rosario-Reyes scored the game winner for the Eagles off an assist from Jonathan Reyes.
Jonny Conte made 7 saves to earn the shutout in goal.
Kendall, which next visits Albion at 5 p.m. Saturday, improves to 2-0 in the league and 3-1 overall.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 September 2024 at 8:57 pm
Jumping out to a commanding 6-0 halftime advantage, Medina went on to defeat host Akron 8-0 in a Niagara-Orleans League boys soccer game this afternoon.
Cole Callard scored 3 goals and Tyler Kroening 2 to lead the Medina offense as Vinny Gray, Aleks Seefeldt and Cam Kenward each netted 1.
Callard also had 2 assists as Gray, Kroening, Jimmy Dieter, Luke Duffina and Caden Kingsbury each had 1.
The Mustangs improve to 2-0 in the league and 4-0 overall while Akron is 0-2 in N-O action.
Albion 5, Roy-Hart 1
Leo Bolton and David Rosario each scored 2 goals and Adrian Figueroa-Fuentes 1 to lead Albion to a 5-1 N-O win over visiting Roy-Hart.
Michael Fuller scored for Roy-Hart.
Albion is now 2-0 and Roy-Hart 0-2 in the league.
Wilson 8, Newfane 0
Wilson blanked rival Newfane 8-0 as Keegan Hermann scored 4 goals and Aidan Neumann 2.
The Lakemen are now 2-0 and the Panthers 0-2.
N-O Girls Soccer
Akron blanked host Medina 7-0 and Wilson downed rival Newfane 3-1 in N-O girls soccer action today.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 September 2024 at 8:37 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Madi Davis tips the ball over the net during this evening’s home court loss to Elba.
Lyndonville dropped a 25-14, 26-24, 25-13 decision to visiting Elba this evening in a Genesee Region League volleyball match.
Addie Dillenbeck had 5 aces and 3 digs, Madi Davis 3 aces, 1 kill and 2 blocks and Alyssa Prine 2 kills and 2 digs to lead the way for Lyndonville.
Leah Kenyon added 1 kill and 1 dig, Hannah Fox 1 ace and 7 assists, Elena Barry 1 kill, Emily Dill 3 digs, Hannah Marker 1 block, Grace Fox 4 digs, Olivia Belgiorno 1 kill and 1 block and Emma Freas 2 digs for the Lady Tigers.
Grace Fox and Leah Kenyon go for a service return for Lyndonville.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 September 2024 at 8:19 pm
Roy-Hart scored a straight set 25-14, 25-15, 25-16 win over host Albion in a Niagara-Orleans League volleyball match this evening.
Raegan Kern had 6 kills and Lila Brigham and Grace Pearl 3 each for Roy-Hart. Lauren Snyder added 10 aces and Ryleigh Capen 4 aces and 12 assists for the 2-0 Lady Rams.
Madison LeBaron had 22 digs, Julia Knight 3 blocks, Taylor LeFrois 3 kills and 2 blocks and Hannah Kumalac 3 aces and 6 assists. for Albion which is 0-2.
Akron 25-25-25, Medina 23-12-17
Akron bested visiting Medina in three sets 25-23, 25-12, 25-17.
Addy Paul had 3 aces for Medina and Maya Anderson and Maddy Watts both had 1. Josephine Pollock added 2 kills as Anderson, Sam Heschke and Karlee Cau each had 1.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 September 2024 at 8:03 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Barrett Alexander sends the ball ahead as Isaac Herman defends for Attica during the host Tigers loss to the Blue Devils this afternoon.
A pair of late goals earned Attica a 2-0 win over host Lyndonville in a Genesee Region League boys soccer game this afternoon.
Carter Gorski scored what proved to be the game winner for the Blue Devils with 11 minutes remaining and Elijah Crandall added an insurance tally four minutes later.
Lyndonville, which is now 2-2, had shots rattle off the cross bar in both the first and second halves.
Lyndonville’s Amir Zimmerman has control of the ball ahead of Attica’s Victor Santos Rios.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 September 2024 at 8:00 pm
Photo by Donn Pollard/ Office of Governor: Kathy Hochul speaks today in New York City at a recognition ceremony to honor the bravery and dedication of New York State’s defense forces. She praised the New York National Guard. Later during a news conference she shared she will be having procedure on Friday to remove a form of skin cancer from her nose.
Gov. Kathy Hochul shared today that she has a form of skin cancer on her nose, and will have a procedure on Friday morning.
Hochul said her doctor discovered a Basal cell carcinoma during a routine checkup. She told reporters today it is just a “tiny, tiny speck on her nose.”
Hochul said she would return to work right away with a bandage on her nose following the procedure.
She urged New Yorkers to get regular health check-ups.
State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt posted a message on social media, wishing good health for the governor.
“On behalf of our New York State Senate Republicans Conference I am sending our combined prayers and well wishes to Governor Kathy Hochul for a fast and total recovery,” Ortt said. “I join her in encouraging New Yorkers to maintain regular check ups to catch any abnormalities.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 September 2024 at 4:12 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Some of the worship participants for the First Presbyterian Church of Albion’s 200th anniversary service on Sunday are pictured just before the start of the service at 11 a.m.
From left include Leigh Hamilton; Amanda Krenning-Muoio; elder Mindy Shaffer, moderator with the Presbytery of the Genesee Valley; Jim Vanbrederode, a bagpiper; The Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church; and the Rev. Mary Jane and Gary Saunders, pastors emeritus.
The church celebrated the bicentennial on Sunday and was happy to welcome back former long-time pastors, Gary and Mary Saunders. They have since retired after serving a church in Bowling Green, Ohio.
From left in front include Amanda Krenning-Muoio, Leigh Hamilton, Mary Jane Saunders, Gary Saunders, Kaylin Gannon and Sue Thaine. Elder Mindy Shaffer, moderator with the Presbytery of the Genesee Valley, is in back at podium and brought greetings and congratulations from the Presbytery.
The Rev. Susan Thaine and her husband Mike Thaine dance while the Batavia Swings Band performs on Saturday during a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.
The Rev. Thaine, an Albion native, has led the church the past six years.
Dan Klinczar and the Batavia Swing Band played for two hours, despite some drizzly weather and cool temperatures. They started with music by Gerswin, then “New York, New York,” and “Moonlight Serenade.”
The community was welcome to enjoy the music and a dance floor outside the church. East State Street was closed to traffic from Main to Park streets for the celebration.
The church wanted to have a catered dinner on the street, but the meal was moved inside due to the weather.
39 Problems catered a meal inside the church in the fellowship hall. The church choir often goes to the 39 Problems restaurant after rehearsals on Wednesday evening.
The dessert on Saturday included a cupcake with two candles. There were 100 cupcakes and the 200 candles represented the church’s first two centuries. The cupcakes were made by Andrea Muoio.
The Rev. Susan Thaine, center, presents Gary and Mary Jane Saunders with certificates and the honorary titles of pastors emeritus. The Saunders were leaders in the church for 24 years and raised their three sons in Albion. They moved to Albion in 1985.
“It’s a profound privilege to have a little recognition and be with you all tonight,” the Rev. Gary Saunders told the group.
Kevin Gardner, an elder in the church, shared about the first 200 years of the church. The congregation started with 16 people and they built a church that has served the community for two centuries and counting.
Initially the congregation met in homes in 1824. Those 16 people were part of the Congregational Church in Barre and withdrew to start the new church in Albion.
The Presbyterians built a church on Main Street in 1830, a building they quickly outgrew. Christ Episcopal Church has used that structure for more than 150 years.
The Presbyterians built a brick church on East State, and then an even bigger building made of Medina Sandstone that opened in 1874. That church, with a 175-foot-high spire, is the tallest building in Orleans County.
Jim Vanbrederode plays the bagpipes during a procession into the church on Sunday.
The Rev. Susan Thaine shared a sermon, “God is Not Done Yet.” She said the church is celebrating the first 200 years of the Presbyterian congregation in Albion, with eyes on the future.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) on Tuesday released a statement after the House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Hearing with former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding his Covid-19 nursing home policies.
This was Cuomo’s first public Congressional Hearing following his March 25 directive, which Tenney said resulted in the death of 15,000 New Yorkers. The hearing follows the release of the Subcommittee’s memo, which revealed how Cuomo’s office intentionally withheld scientifically significant data on nursing home Covid-19 deaths from official reports. His administration also heavily edited New York Department of Health documents to divert blame away from Cuomo and his team.
“Rather than take responsibility for the unscientific, reckless, and malignant policies that caused the untimely deaths of thousands of New Yorkers, disgraced former Governor Cuomo deflected responsibility for his nursing home directive that sent Covid-19-positive patients back into nursing homes. The hearing exposed the extent of the cover-up by Cuomo and his staff to conceal the true number of nursing home deaths and shift responsibility. On behalf of the victims and the families across New York who lost loved ones due to his cruel policies, I am committed to ensuring Cuomo’s deadly actions are not forgotten and that he is held accountable.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 September 2024 at 1:01 pm
The Albion and Medina school districts said today there is no credible threat to the schools of a shooting.
Albion said that rumor was investigated by the district’s school resource officer and other area law enforcement agencies, the district posted on social media and its website at about noon.
Albion and multiple area schools were informed of a potential threat, but it proved to be unfounded.
“Safety is always our main concern, and we will update you with any information if necessary,” district officials stated in a post to the community.
The Medina Police Department said it would have an increased presence at the Medina school campus today “out of an abundance of caution.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 September 2024 at 10:11 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Two members of the federal Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team pause and reflect in front of the Sept. 11 memorial on the courthouse lawn.
They attended a 9-11 memorial service on Wednesday evening, which was the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000 others when four airplanes were hijacked and crashed – with two into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the other into a field in rural Shanksville, Pa.
Firefighters stand under a giant American flag that was hoisted above Main Street by the ladder trucks from Medina and Murray.
Scott Schmidt, Orleans County chief coroner and a local funeral director, served as the keynote speaker at the observance which was attended by about 100 people.
Schmidt spent three weeks with the federal DMORT team and assisted in collecting and identifying remains, and interviewing family members searching for loved ones.
He left for New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was there for 20 days, including a week at Ground Zero. Two of his colleagues on DMORT attended the service in Albion on Monday.
Schmidt said Americans showed “strength and resilience” following the attack, and showed a great spirit of patriotism and unity following the attack.
He urged people to remember the victims in the attack and he praised the service of first responders and those in the military.
Brad Nudd served as the bugler for the playing of Taps near the end of the service.
Local law enforcement officers, including Sheriff Chris Bourke, stand next to the Honor Guard, which includes Jim Wells at left in white uniform of the Honor Guard.
Brandon Carmichael, a chaplain with the Sheriff’s Office and pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Albion, shares a prayer and later the benediction at the service. Carmichael said many families remain in mourning from that day.
About 20 firefighters from fire departments and companies in Orleans County stand during the service.
In New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, there were 343 firefighters killed responding to assist people in the World Trade Center.
There were 60 police officers killed in New York City that day.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 September 2024 at 10:00 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Quarterback Preston Woodworth led Medina to last weekend’s season opening win over Roy-Hart/Barker.
Defending champion Medina will open the home portion of the schedule by hosting Newfane in a key C North Division contest at 7 p.m. Friday at Vets Park.
Last fall the two teams both brought 5-0 records into a decisive late season division showdown at Newfane which saw the Mustangs emerge with a 48-26 victory to lock up a fourth straight C North title.
Both teams opened the season with wins last weekend. The Mustangs scored a rain soaked 56-7 win over Roy-Hart/Barker in the inaugural game on Barker’s new artificial turf field while Newfane downed rival Wilson 24-13.
Running back Christian Moss scored 4 touchdowns, 3 rushing one 1 receiving, quarterback Preston Woodworth passed for a pair of touchdowns and Cole Callard was a perfect 8 for 8 in extra point kicks to lead the Mustangs offense.
Quarterback Mac Capen ran for one touchdown and passed to Ayden Buttery for another to spark the Panthers offense.
This will mark the 60th meeting in the series which began in 1954. The Mustangs hold a 47-10-2 lead over the Panthers in the series including winning the last four in a row.
The other C North games this weekend will have Roy-Hart/Barker at Akron at 7 p.m. Friday and Tonawanda at Cleveland Hill at 2 p.m. Saturday. Alden will host Wilson and Maritime will face Franklinville/Ellicottville in interdivisional contests.
