By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Brenda West, left, and Kimberly Zambito-Dutton are pictured by the new sign for the PAWS Animal Shelter. West is the daughter of Carol Beach, who died on Nov. 28 at age 75.
ALBION – This new sign for the PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion went up last week, replacing the original sign from when the shelter opened in 1981.
Kimberly Zambito-Dutton of Kent paid for the sign as a memorial for Carol Beach, a long-time supporter for PAWS. She was also a former board member who adopted dogs from the site on Gaines Basin Road in Albion.
Beach was also like a second mother for Zambito-Dutton.
“Everybody loved Carol,” Zambito-Dutton said today at PAWS. “She was a very giving and loving person. She would have loved this.”
West and Zambito-Dutton have been best friends since the fourth grade.
Zambito-Dutton remembers driving by PAWS about two years ago and noticing how worn the sign was. When she was reflecting on Beach’s life and her commitment to PAWS, Zambito-Dutton decided the new sign would be a nice tribute for Beach and also give PAWS a boost.
“It looks a lot better,” said Morgan Tinkous, PAWS manager.
The sign includes the letters I.M.O.C.B., which stands for “In Memory of Carol Beach.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2015 at 12:00 am
Governments say savings top $3 million annually
Photo by Tom Rivers – This photo from last Sept. 19 shows Greg Rosato, from the Orleans County Highway Department, filling the county’s paver with road material for Depot Street in the Village of Albion. The county has the only municipal-owned paver in the county and uses it for many town and village projects.
ALBION – Municipalities in Orleans County have spent the past several months documenting how they share services and functions with other municipalities, trying to put a dollar amount on those savings.
The tally is over $3 million in savings and that only includes efforts since 2012. The towns, villages and county have tried to share equipment and services long before that so the savings are actually higher, local officials said.
The state has tasked the municipalities to come up with a “Local Government Tax Efficiency Plan” to try to reduce local taxes. If municipalities can show a 1 percent savings, their property owners will be eligible for a rebate check.
In Orleans County, the four villages, 10 towns and county government take in about $27 million in taxes a year. The state told the municipalities in each county to identify at least 1 percent in savings for the total tax levies. For Orleans County, that 1 percent represents $273,001.
But the county’s efficiency plan is far greater than that: $3,207,502 in savings or $2,934,501 above the target.
“This is what we must do to survive,” said David Callard, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature. “We’re really doing some consequential things.”
The state set a target of 1 percent savings and the Orleans municipalities are at about 12 percent with their cost-cutting efforts and with shared services the past three years. Callard said he expects that percentage will be hard to beat among the other counties.
“I’m very interested in seeing how we stack up,” he said. “The county is standing very good.”
Callard, however, said the local government efficiencies have been years in the making and aren’t the result of a state decree.
“None of this is inspired by our friends in Albany,” said Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer. “These are things we were doing all along.”
Callard doesn’t like the implication from the state that the local governments may be bloated with excess staff and redundant services.
“It’s infuriating that the state is putting the local governments to task when the state should be doing the same thing,” Callard said.
He believes reining in some state programs would provide much bigger tax relief.
Local taxpayers should receive small checks from the state as part of the local tax savings. That also aggravates the local officials because the state will appear to be offering the savings when it comes from the officials at the local level.
The efficiency plan from Orleans County highlights many shared services at the local level that are saving money. Some examples at the county level include:
The partnership with Genesee County, where the two counties share a public health director and three other staff, as well as a joint contract for busing disabled preschool children, has saved Orleans about $328,275 annually, Nesbitt said.
That arrangement alone has more than exceeded the 1 percent savings target for the county.
Orleans also contracts with Genesee for youth bureau administration services, which saves Orleans $13,490 a year. Genesee also provides tax mapping services to Orleans, saving Orleans $12,500 a year.
Orleans has also reduced 22 staff positions from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014, which has a annual savings of $1,020,058. This reduction does not count the 100-plus workers at the former county nursing home. That site became privately owned in January.
Selling the county nursing home and moving those employees from the public to private payroll will save taxpayers $1.5 million a year, according to the county’s efficiency plan.
At the town and village level, savings noted in the report include:
The Village of Albion counts $36,000 in savings through shared paving services with local towns and the county, and $63,000 by running Holley’s sewer plant.
Carlton included $1,300 in savings through new energy efficient lighting at the town buildings.
Clarendon replaced a full-time employee with a part-time employee at annual savings of $14,054.
The Village of Holley says it saves $40,000 a year through a contract with Albion, having Albion personnel paid to run Holley’s sewer plant rather than Holley staff or an outside company.
Kendall counts $20,000 in savings through a consolidation of fire districts. Kendall also said it saved $31,200 by sharing an assessor with Carlton, $20,000 by working to establish a health insurance consortium, and $1,000 through more efficient utilities.
Murray counts $70,000 in savings by combining fire districts.
Shelby counts $4,762 in savings new water meters that need less manpower, $3,865 in savings for joint park maintenance with Ridgeway and the Village of Medina, $1,165 in savings for joint procurement with Ridgeway and the Village of Medina, $3,026 for jointing water billing with Medina, and $385 in savings for an automatic flushing system.
Ridgeway sees $2,222 in savings through a joint purchase and ownership of an equipment trailer, $500 in savings through joint purchasing with Shelby and Medina, and $200 in benefit through energy efficient lighting.
Yates put down $500 in savings through energy efficient lighting at the town hall and highway garage.
The report provides a snapshot of some of the money-saving efforts at the local government level, Nesbitt said. He said it proved a good exercise, adding up some of those savings.
“It’s important to let the public know we are working very hard to lower their costs,” he said.
File photo by Tom Rivers – The Brown Street bridge in Albion was closed on July 18, 2012 by the state Department of Transportation after an inspection showed serious deterioration of major elements of the steel truss floor system. There is no timetable for the bridge to be fixed.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With more than a third of the bridges in New York State in need of repair, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a new measure that will give states the authority to use more federal funds on local bridge improvement projects.
While 50 percent of New York’s 17,000 bridges are locally-owned, federal policy limits the amount of federal transportation funds that states can use to repair those bridges.
Gillibrand’s proposal will make local bridge projects eligible for federal funding through the National Highway Performance Program, allowing states greater flexibility to invest in bridge improvement and repair projects. More than a third of New York’s bridges are graded as either “functionally obsolete,” meaning they cannot handle current traffic demand, or “structurally deficient,” meaning they require significant maintenance to remain in service and will eventually require a total rehabilitation.
In Orleans County, there are 138 bridges and 26 are structurally deficient and 28 are functionally obsolete, according to the state Department of Transportation data.
Gillibrand will introduce the bridge measure as an amendment to the transportation reauthorization bill currently before the Environmental and Public Works Committee, of which she is a member.
“As hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers get ready to take to the roads for summer vacations, more than a third of our state’s bridges are in need of repair but bureaucratic federal policy actually prevents our local governments from investing in their repair,” she said. “My amendment will finally give states the flexibility to spend federal transportation dollars where they’re needed most, including thousands of locally-owned bridges across the state. This is among my priorities for the federal transportation spending bill we’ll pass this year, and I will continue to fight to ensure that New York receives the resources it needs to maintain and improve our critical infrastructure.”
In 2012, a program that provided direct funding to states and local governments to invest in bridge construction and repair was eliminated as a part of a larger transportation funding bill.
Gillibrand’s amendment would redirect existing dollars to restore bridge funding and ensure that local governments have the flexibility to determine which projects receive investment.
According to the state DOT, more than one-third of New York State’s 17,000 bridges are in need of repair, with 2,016 graded as structurally deficient and 4,735 graded as functionally obsolete.
These designations do not imply that the bridges are unsafe, but rather that they can no longer handle the traffic for which they were designed or are in need of extensive rehabilitation. In order to remain in service, structurally deficient bridges are often posted with weight limits.
In Western New York, there are a total of 2,743 bridges and of these, 229 are structurally deficient bridges and 465 are functionally obsolete bridges, according to Gillibrand’s office.
YATES – A Grand Island man was arrested on Monday following a lengthy investigation into the sale and distribution of high-grade marijuana in Orleans, Niagara and Erie counties, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reported this afternoon.
The Task Force worked with the Erie County Narcotics Unit and the Niagara County Drug Task Force and seized over 6 pounds of high-grade marijuana with a street value of $30,000. The marijuana was being sent through the U.S. Postal Service from the state of California, the Task Force reported.
Police seized also seized scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia.
Kuljit Singh, 24, of 95 Waterford Park in Grand Island was charged with one count of criminal sale of marijuana in the first degree, a C felony, and one count of criminal possession of marijuana in the second degree, a D felony.
Provided photo – Police seized this cash, marijuana and other drug paraphernalia.
Joseph Sacco, the Task Force supervisor, said packages of marijuana were being sent from California by priority mail to several different addresses in Erie, Niagara and Orleans counties, where the marijuana was then sold.
Singh would then vacuum seal amounts of U.S. currency and send it priority mail to several different addresses in California, the Task Force reported.
Sacco said the investigation continues and further arrests are expected.
Singh was arraigned in Yates Town Court by Town Justice Donald Grabowski. Singh was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $100,000 cash bail or $250,000.00 bond. He is scheduled to return to the Yates Town Court today at 7 p.m.
Singh was arraigned in Yates because one of the packages was delivered to a Yates address, Sacco said. Singh may face additional charges in the other jurisdictions, the Task Force reported.
ALBANY – Legislation (S3622), sponsored by State Sen. Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda), would better publicize information about where a moderate-risk sex offender is working.
The bill would allow law enforcement to disseminate information about a Level 2 convicted sex offender’s place of employment address to vulnerable organizational entities. The bill passed today in the New York State Senate.
“As lawmakers, we have a vital responsibility to protect our neighborhoods from documented predators,” Ortt said. “This bill will strengthen community safety by providing individuals with abundant information – virtually at their doorsteps – about registered sex offenders not only living, but working amongst them. The more measures we take in protecting our children from potential harm, the better off our community will be.”
Currently, employment addresses for Level 2 sex offenders are available online on the Sex Offender Registry site maintained by the state Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Current law only allows law enforcement to notify schools and other vulnerable populations of the offender’s home address, not their employment address. This bill would change that.
By equipping the public with sufficient information about workplace locations of registered offenders, communities would be able to better protect their children from sexual violence, Ortt said.
Under this bill, law enforcement would compile, maintain and update a list of vulnerable organizational entities within its jurisdiction. Such entities would include school superintendents or chief school administrators; superintendents of parks; public and private libraries; public and private bus transportation companies; day care centers; nursery schools; pre-schools; neighborhood watch groups; community centers; civic associations; nursing homes; victims’ advocacy groups; and places of worship.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Four people pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court today, with three of those facing drug crimes that could result in state prison.
Vickie Hughes, 49, of Brockport pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. She admitted she had morphine in Albion last October and sold it in the Rite Aid parking lot.
Hughes, as a second felony offender, faces 1 ½ to 4 years in state prison, plus 1 to 2 years of post-release supervision when she is sentenced on Sept. 14.
Javonie McKinney, 41, of Holley pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and could be sentenced to up to 2 ½ years in state prison on Aug. 24.
He was charged with third-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance in October after a six-month investigation by Holley Police and the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force.
A Lockport woman also pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. Katrina Drake, 24, admitted she had hydrocodone and sold it from a parking lot across from the Save-A-Lot in Albion in November.
As part of a plea deal today, she won’t be sentenced to more than a year in state prison with a year of post-release supervision. If County Court Judge James Punch gives her more than a year in prison, she can withdraw her plea and go to trial.
Drake will be sentenced on Aug. 24.
A woman from South Carolina pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny. Carly S. Wells, 25, allegedly racked up $28,000 in fraudulent purchases and/or cash withdrawals on someone else’s credit card.
She agreed to pay $2,500 in upfront restitution. She is contesting the figure of $28,000. A restitution hearing may be held to determine how much she will be required to pay.
As part of the plea today, she would not be sentenced to state prison. If Judge Punch gives her a prison sentence, she can withdraw the plea and go to trial.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2015 at 12:00 am
“I thought I was hurt. I thought I was definitely in trouble.” – Deputy James DeFilipps on March 21 shootout
HOLLEY – Deputy James DeFilipps feels grateful to be alive. He knows a gun shot an inch lower on March 21 could have ended his life.
DeFilipps was the first police officer on scene when James Ellis wrecked his vehicle in a high-speed chase at about 3 a.m. on March 21. Police were pursuing Ellis after a 911 call that he had threatened an ex-girlfriend in Shelby with a gun.
Photos by Tom Rivers – This front yard on Route 31A is pictured on March 21 with the marks from the vehicle driven and crashed by James Ellis.
Ellis, 44, of Wyoming County, crashed his vehicle into a telephone pole on Route 31A in Clarendon at about 3 a.m. DeFilipps discovered the wreck in a neighbor’s front yard while looking for Ellis. When DeFilipps left his patrol car to search for Ellis, the suspect opened fire from a wooded area near the vehicle, Sheriff Scott Hess said during a March 21 press conference.
DeFilipps was hit twice in the chest. A bullet proof vest stopped the bullets, although he was badly bruised in the stomach from one shot. The deputy returned fire and fatally shot Ellis.
A grand jury reviewed the evidence and found DeFilipps was justified in the shooting.
DeFilipps is a 12-year member of the Sheriff’s Department. He started his career as a Holley police officer. He continues to live in Holley, where he grew up. His mother Marsha is the long-time Holley and Murray historian.
DeFilipps, 38, has been a member of the Holley Fire Department for 20 years. He is currently a fire commissioner for the Holley Joint Fire District.
He sat down for an interview in his home last week. His wife Marie also joined the conversation at the end. Both expressed relief that DeFilipps wasn’t more seriously injured. They also said the mourn the loss of Ellis’s life, especially for his immediate family.
Question: I wonder how that initial dispatch came over to you. It was 2:46 a.m. and the call was for the incident in Shelby. I know you were on the other end of the county.
Answer: I was in Murray. I was the lead person that night. It goes by years, by seniority of the shift. Josh Narburgh actually has 18 years but he transferred over. I had the lead position because there were no other sergeants on.
Deputy James DeFilipps is pictured with deputies Brian Larkin, left, and Kevin Colonna, who also responded to the March 21 incident with James Ellis. The deputies and other first responders were recognized during an April 22 County Legislature meeting.
Q: How many other deputies were on that night?
A: There was a deputy working on the west side, who was Kevin Colonna. There was a center deputy, who was Josh Narburgh. He was training Brian Larkin. There was technically four of us on for the county that night.
There was also a double troop car (state troopers).
Based on the original dispatch, I was headed that was as an extra support car, make sure everything goes OK. Soon into it, I don’t know how soon, they had seen the car leave and head east on 31A.
Q: There are people out at 3 in the morning that saw him?
A: Our patrol cars saw him. He came straight down 31A. Two of our county cars turned and were going after him. He was a lot faster than we were. He was driving a Grand Marquis and we had Tahoes.
Originally I made it to Riches Corners Road (in Albion) and saw his car. It looked like maybe he was pulling over or turning around. I’m not sure what he was doing. He was pretty slow on the side of the road. I started slowing down and turned around. As soon as he seen me, he took off again, eastbound.
I pursued after him but he was gone in a minute. I didn’t even turn on my (emergency) lights on. He was gone. I didn’t have my emergency lights on until after he crashed.
Q: Having multiple cars pursuing him, were you hoping he would just surrender and not have it escalate?
A: That’s what I was hoping. He had a gun. I was just back up, covering everybody to be safe. It is so rare to have a shooting out here.
Q: Even though it’s rare, is that potential always in the back of your head?
A: We all hope, especially myself, to go a career without ever having to be in a gun battle. You try.
Q: So you’re at Riches Corners, and he takes off.
A: He takes off and I go after him. Around Powerline Road I had lost sight of him. The Holley car had come up and made it to 237 and 31A, to see if he crossed through there. (The Holley officer) had got there just before I got to the intersection. He hadn’t seen him. I continued on. He was going a pretty good speed and Monroe County was notified to keep an eye out for him.
I come around the corner and had run over the powerlines that were involved in the accident scene.
There were powerlines down from where the pole snapped. I’m not sure because I was into the scene and it happened so fast and then I went on the ambulance. I drove through, I had hit the lines, made a quick decision to continue past and turned around. I radioed the other guys that ‘Hey, there’s wires down and there’s a wreck.’
This new telephone pole was put up by National Grid on March 21 at this location at a bend on Route 31A. James Ellis hit the previous pole, taking down the power lines. This photo was taken during the afternoon on March 21.
Q: So you’re the first guy on the scene by yourself?
A: The troop car I knew wasn’t far behind me. I had seen their lights in the Clarendon area.
Q: Could you tell the car driven by Ellis was in the neighbor’s lawn?
A: I hit the power lines and I made the decision to drive through to be safe. I could see the car up on the guy’s lawn. The doors are closed and looked like the air bag and he were in the vehicle. I go through the scene, try to make a safe distance to turn around and then put my spotlight on the vehicle.
He had a gun, and we had time. There is no reason to rush in and get hurt.
We have rifles. At that point I’m a safe distance away from the scene so I grab the rifle just in case. We can sling them on us and we still have our hands free. I get out of the car and I put my rifle on. I radio to those guys to be careful of the wires because they’re on the other end of the scene and they’re showing up. I get around to the passenger side of my car. I charge my weapon. That’s when shots start going off. I have no idea where they’re coming from. They are close.
Q: At that point how many officers are there?
A: All of our cars were there. The trooper car was there on the other side. We formed a triangle on the car.
Q: Did you drive up on the lawn?
A: No, we were still in the road. When I stopped in the road, my first thought is, ‘I got to block traffic.’ That’s when my lights came on, to stop traffic. They’re far enough back so they can approach and be safe. So they were all on scene because they were hearing the shots whizzing by them, the first rounds. I knew they were close but I couldn’t see.
We were focusing on the car. I don’t see him (Ellis) behind me. It was too close for comfort. I wanted better coverage. By the side of the road it was a little bit darker. It was away from the lights of my vehicle, maybe a little better coverage.
As I got by the side of the road, into the wood line, he had seen me first and I felt two shots to me. At that time I could see where he was and I returned fire.
At that point he went down. I backed up some. I knelt down. Radioed that he was down. Radioed that I had been hit. Radioed that we needed an ambulance to come on the South Holley Road side. Someone asked if suspect is down, and I said yes, suspect is down.
Those guys then ran right in. They ran in, they knew I was hit. They ran in and secured him, made sure the gun was away from him. He was kind of hunched over into a tree. They made sure he was safe and then they checked me.
They knew I was hit. Some of those guys ran back to their cars to get medic bags. One of them ran back and got the state police car and drove through the scene and then backed up to my area, knowing that I was hit. They were ready to throw me in their truck and get me to a hospital. It was amazing.
Then of course it was a relief when they were taking my shift off and my vest, and found out.
Q: So you and the other officers thought you had been seriously injured?
A: I thought my gut was blown apart. The shot was low enough. It was close to the bottom of the vest. They said it was within an inch of the bottom.
I thought I was hurt. I thought I was definitely in trouble. It was a hell of a relief to know (the bullets hit the vest).
The County Legislature on April 22 honored police, firefighters and dispatchers involved the incident, including from left: Deputy Kevin Colonna, State Police Trooper Kevin Bentley, Deputy Brian Larkin, State Police Trooper Scott Gregson, Holley Police Officer Guy Burke, County Legislator Lynne Johnson, Deputy James DeFilipps, County Legislator Ken DeRoller, Albion Police Sergeant William Scribner, Orleans County Dispatcher Julie Vendetti, Dispatcher Michael Schultz, and Jon DeYoung, fire chief for the Clarendon Fire Company. Orleans County Sheriff Deputy Josh Narburgh also was recognized, but he was not present at the meeting.
Q: I wonder how Ellis got over to the woods with his vehicle crashed across the street?
A: When I came through there was still dust and the air bag was peering up. I really thought he was in the car. We all thought he was in the car. We had no idea he had crossed the road and went down. I ended up parked just about in front of him.
Q: I know there has been some controversy about the cross put in the woods where Ellis died.
A: My wife and I talked about that cross and we believe everyone deserves a cross. I believe there is good in everybody, I really do.
I know a lot of people were upset about the cross and wanted it moved. I’m fine with it. I really am. I feel bad for his family.
It’s affected a lot of people. It really has. It’s upset the jurors. They have to look at all the pictures and hear the tapes. It’s really emotional. The CD and radio transmissions pretty much gets everyone crying.
Q: Why is that?
A: You hear me saying that I’ve been hit. It’s emotional.
Q: It seems like there could have been a very different ending for you and the other officers.
A: My back was to the guy. He could have shot me very easily. It’s all speculation. Maybe he was fixated at the other cars and I had gone past and he wasn’t paying attention to me. Maybe he didn’t see me until the very end. It could have been a lot worse.
There were shots that were very close to the guys on the other side. They could hear the shots going by them.
Q: In the shootout could you see Ellis? Were there flashes from his gun?
A: Was there a muzzle flash? I can’t recall the visual on that. They say I may never be able to.
Q: It seems like a tough scenario with the dark woods.
A: All of our lights were focused on his car. We all truly thought he was in the car. Everything led you to believe he was in there. So we’re not even thinking across the street in the woods at all. It was definitely a surprise.
Q: If the police hadn’t got there at that time, you could see how Ellis may have gone to a neighbor’s house.
A: He definitely wanted to flee. He could have gone for one of their (neighbors’) cars. If he had got to somebody else it could have been very bad.
Christopher Wing talks to reporters on March 21 and points to his front yard on Route 31A, where a deputy was in a shootout with a man from Wyoming County.
Q: Does everyone in the incident get a stress debriefer?
A: This time they used the state police. The state police has a group of guys that go around if there has been a very high stress situation. They will be debrief you. They are like counselors, although they are not certified, but they will steer you in the right direction. It’s a very good team and I think they helped a lot of the guys.
Another thing I want to say is the guys are worked with were very brave. With all that gunfire and then to run right into that scene. Those guys, I can’t thank them enough.
Q: So you’re returning to work?
A: Yes. They did a mental health fit test to make sure I was fit for duty. I cleared that. I just have to be cleared medically.
Q: The medical clearance is the wound to the stomach. It certainly looks gruesome.
A: It’s new skin so it’s tender. The scab is uncomfortable. It’s thick. I don’t think people realize the damage it did under the vest. It looks like a burn. It’s amazing to me to see the damage. It looked instantly like a paintball had hit.
I should be back in a couple of weeks. I chose to stay with the midnight shift.
Q: So what happens after you are released from the hospital (about two hours after being admitted)?
A: Some of the things after were overwhelming. The adrenaline rush doesn’t come down for a few days after something like that.
The community has been overwhelming. That afternoon Dustin’s Pizza had come over and delivered some food. Sam’s Diner brought some stuff. The next day the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary brought by a whole huge spaghetti dinner.
Father Mark (Noonan) came right over.
I have received letters from all over, from California, from a lady in Arizona whose father and his partner were both FBI agents in the ’70s and who had both been killed. She wanted to send a card to say, “Get Well.” That’s pretty amazing, I thought.
For the American Legion to recognize me on Memorial Day is just overwhelming.
Another thing, the ambulance crew that night, I knew everybody with (Clarendon Fire Chief) Jon DeYoung and Kerry McCormick.
Q: I wonder if it hits home more with you being a guy who grew up in the community?
A: I’ve always tried to stay out of the limelight.
I would say the support has just been overwhelming and the community has been great.
Q: This must have been difficult for your family?
A: Yes, my poor wife (Marie). She gets woken up at 4 in the morning.
Q: Who would be at the door with that news?
A: Investigator Shannon Brett and the sheriff. They said to my wife to get everything ready and we’ll take you up there.
A: (Marie DeFilipps) They asked me what I wanted to do. What did I want to do with the baby? I was in shock. I said I wanted to bring the baby to mom’s in Henrietta which is near the hospital. Fire Chief Pete Hendrickson drove my car behind Shannon’s.
Q: So what did they say at first?
A: When Shannon came to talk to me she didn’t know too much. She knocked at my door and offered to drive my car to the hospital.
First I came down the stairs because I heard this noise. The cats jumped off the bed. I came sneaking down the stairs. I thought maybe the cat had knocked something down. But I checked out the front window. I checked in front of the door and saw Shannon there. I kept pacing back and forth even before I opened the door. It was like the movies. I knew who they were and I was expecting to open the door and have them say my husband is dead.
I opened the door just this much (holds fingers close together) and I said, ‘Shannon,’ and I covered my mouth. She said, ‘Let me say before anything that Jimmy is OK. I’ve seen him on the ambulance and he has been shot. I don’t know too much information. As soon as I find out more information I’ll let you know.’ She kept saying, ‘Whatever you want to do,’ and ‘We want to get you up to the hospital.’
Deputy James DeFilipps is pictured with his wife Marie and their infant son Jake at the Orleans County Public Safety Building on May 19 during a recognition program.
Q: That’s at 4 in the morning?
A: I don’t know what time it was. I thought it was Shannon that came over but it was actually Pete (Hendrickson, the fire chief) who came over to drive my car to the hospital.
I didn’t want to call my family until I got to the hospital and I saw him.
Q: So when you saw him was that a big relief?
A: Very much so. All of the people he works with were there. It was very emotional when I saw him. I was very glad to see him standing on his own two feet.
Q: So Jim, you were able to come home soon?
A: I was in the hospital for a couple hours and then we were on our way home. They got me right in and out and took X-Rays and CAT scans.
Q: Anything else you want to say?
A: (Jim DeFilipps) It’s been life-changing for both families, forever.
A: (Marie DeFilipps) You mourn for that family. Even though he could have taken my husband’s life, I still think about him and his family.
Local community college only NY school on the list
Press Release, GCC
BATAVIA – Genesee Community College is pleased to announce that it has been named one of the 2015 Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges by NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development) and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
This designation is an honor recognizing GCC for its commitment to workplace diversity, equitable staffing practices and supportive work environments.
“It’s an honor for GCC to earn this recognition from NISOD,” said Gina Weaver, GCC’s Associate Vice President of Human Resources. “We take great pride in being a great place to work and promoting professional development as well as diversity in the workplace. Just this past week diversity was the focus of our annual two day Mini-Summit for faculty and staff, which was formally entitled ‘R-E-S-P-E-C-T – Diversity at GCC’. We’ve heard from excellent speakers about how we can be even more inclusive and welcoming to all populations.”
Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges is part of a collaborative initiative between NISOD and Diverse. The Promising Places were chosen following a national study of NISOD members conducted by the Center for Higher Education Enterprise at The Ohio State University.
The study utilized a web-based survey to elicit information from NISOD member institutions about such things as family friendliness, salary and benefits, and professional development opportunities. A multipart, weighted algorithm was used to classify the responding institutions in the final phase of analysis.
In addition to GCC, the other 2015 Most Promising Places to work in Community Colleges include:
Albany Technical College (Albany, GA)
Big Sandy Community and Technical College (Prestonsburg, KY)
Central Piedmont Community College (Charlotte, NC)
Illinois Central College (East Peoria, IL)
Kilgore College (Kilgore, TX)
Lorain County Community College (Elyria, OH)
Luzerne County Community College (Nanticoke, PA)
Mountain View College (Dallas, TX)
New Mexico Junior College (Hobbs, NM)
Piedmont Technical College (Greenwood, SC)
Seward County Community College and Area Technical School (Liberal, KS)
South Florida State College (Avon Park, FL)
Southwest Virginia Community College (Richlands, VA)
Tallahassee Community College (Tallahassee, FL)
Zane State College (Zanesville, OH)
“These community and technical colleges are very deserving of this recognition because of their outstanding work to enhance equality, diversity and inclusion across their campuses,” said NISOD Executive Director Dr. Edward Leach.
State Senator Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) has introduced measures to help protect workers in active work zones and deter erratic and distracted driving in these zones.
Recently passed in the Senate, the bill (S2975) would strengthen criminal penalties for motorists driving recklessly in work zones.
The bill would create the new crimes of first and second-degree vehicular assault (class D and E felonies), and first and second-degree vehicular manslaughter in an active work zone (class B and C felonies). In addition, the bill would create a class B misdemeanor for the crime of intrusion into an active work zone causing serious injury.
“The risks work zone crew members face on a daily basis to help fix our roadways or maintain our structures are far too grave,” said Sen. Ortt. “We need to ensure that motorists drive at a safe speed, pay attention to their surroundings, and refrain from texting and other distractions while behind the wheel. Construction workers and law enforcement working in work zones are far too often putting their lives on the line to help keep us safe. Now we need to do our part to protect them.”
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, an average of nearly 600 work zone fatalities occur nationwide every year, and more than 32,000 people are injured each year as a result of work zone car crashes. In New York State alone, the state DOT said there were five work zone deaths in 2010; six in 2009; six in 2008; and 11 deaths in 2007.
Co-sponsor of the bill, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) said, “Work and construction zone injuries and fatalities are a serious problem in New York State. Additional protections are necessary to deter reckless drivers and those who dangerously exceed the speed limit in work zones where increased caution is imperative to protect police officers and construction employees. I am pleased to see the Senate pass this legislation, which I have championed for a number of years. I hope the Assembly will do the same before the end of this year’s legislative session.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – These Rhododendrons outside the Albion Free Methodist Church were drenched in rain on Sunday.
After the downpour yesterday with temperatures in the 40s, it will be a little warmer today with a high of 53, according to the National Weather Service. There is a 40 percent chance of rain, with less than a tenth of an inch possible.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – This photo shows the Oak Orchard Lighthouse at Point Breeze on Thursday evening, when temperatures were in the 80s.
It will be much cooler today with a high near 48 with showers and patchy fog, according to the National Weather Service.
The Weather Service is warning of potential hazardous weather late this afternoon and evening for Orleans and much of western and central New York. The region could see ¾ to 1 ½ inches of rain.
“A cold front will stall to the south of the region this morning,” the Weather Service said. “A wave of low pressure will form on this cold front and advance northeastward along the boundary. This wave of low pressure will bring another round of moderate to significant rainfall this late afternoon and evening to Western New York and the across the region tonight.”
The forecast shows more rain on Monday with a high of 45, followed by a high of 61 on Tuesday and 66 on Wednesday. By Thursday, the high will be up to 75 with 81 on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Friends of the Orleans County Animal Shelter put on a benefit today at The Pillars in Albion. It was a big draw with about 200 baskets up for raffle.
The Friends expected to raise at least $4,000, with the proceeds to help with spaying, neutering, vaccinations and some of the medical costs for animals.
“The community has been very supportive,” said Kathy Smith, the county’s animal control officer.
She thanked the many businesses and organizations that contributed to today’s benefit, as well as the volunteers that organized the event.
The Friends has a board of directors with five members and a dedicated corps of about 20 volunteers that serve at the animals shelter, located at the corner of routes 98 and 31A in Barre.
Nancy Miles, a retired Albion town clerk, is among the volunteers and board members.
Sgt. Todd Draper of the Medina Police Department and K-9 Kye did a drug detection demonstration.
Miles said the shelter could use funds so its smoke alarm system sends signals to dispatch if there is an alarm. The shelter could also use a new laundry machine for blankets and towels for the animals, and a walk-in tub to make it easier to give dogs a bath.
“I absolutely love animals,” Miles said. “They need somebody to speak up for them.”
Tony McMurtie, co-owner of The Pillars, made the facility available for the benefit. He adopted a dog from the animal shelter that proved a good pet.
Wendy Kenney, a board member for Friends, wasn’t surprised by the turnout, despite the rain.
“A lot of people have pets and a lot of people have adopted from us,” she said.
Lt. Chris Bourke, the K-9 handler with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, talks about Kim the K-9 before they did a demonstration showing the dog’s tracking abilities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Victoria Perez, singer with the Buffalo Tango Orkestra, performs on Saturday night at The Pillars in Albion as part of an event that included tango lessons and dinner.
The Orkestra was welcomed to Albion as part of a concert series by the Orleans Renaissance Group.
Prior to the concert, Travis Widrick and Tiniko Natsulichvili (pictured) led a group in tango lessons. Widrick teaches tango classes in Buffalo. For more information, click here.
Paul-Joseph Struckmann plays the violin for the Buffalo Tango Orkestra during Saturday’s concert.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Members of the Albion Fire Department have been at the routes 31 and 98 intersection today with their annual “Fill the Boot” fund-raising drive. The top photo shows Stan Farone, right, and Dale Banker, long-time members of the department.
This photo shows Marty Stirk, right, and Matt Francis on Route 31, east of Route 98.
Dale Banker, right, also did a shift earlier today with Jeremy Babcock.
