6 candidates seek 3 spots on Town Board

Photos by Tom Rivers: Vassilios Bitsas speaks during Thursday’s candidate forum at the Shelby fire hall. About 100 people attended the forum that stretched more than 2 ½ hours.

SHELBY – The town has perhaps the most hotly contested election this year with six candidates seeking three positions on the Town Board.

Five of those candidates were at a candidate forum on Thursday at the Shelby Fire Hall with about 100 people attending the 2 ½-hour forum moderated by County Legislator John Fitzak.

The Town of Shelby Republican Committee organized the forum. The committee has endorsed incumbent Scott Wengewicz for another two-year as town supervisor, and also has endorsed Mike Moriarty and Vassilios Bitsas for town councilman.

Jim Heminway has forced a primary against Wengewicz for town supervisor. Larry Waters Sr. and incumbent Ed Zelazny also forced a primary for the councilmen.

There will be nine days of early voting from June 14 to June 22 at the county Board of Elections in Albion, and then voting on the June 24 primary at the Shelby Town Hall.

Zelazny, a farmer, did not attend the forum. He and councilwoman Linda Limina often vote against the majority on the board, especially with the budget and financial issues.

“Not participating in a ‘debate’ run by the same crew that rigged it two years ago,” Zelazny posted on Facebook. “No rules, no agenda, no fairness and a fixed deck of questions to serve their agenda. I’m not playing along. If you have questions about town business or anything else, you know how to find me.”

Zelazny said he isn’t a “yes man.” He said he has proven to be a fiscally conservative town official.

“Some people say I don’t say much,” he posted on Facebook. “That’s fine. I’d rather listen, show up, and vote right than talk in circles.”

County Legislator John Fitzak served as moderator of the forum, which took many questions from the crowd.

The crowd was urged to submit hand-written questions. They were collected by supporters of candidates from both sides. Fitzak urged the speakers to keep it civil.

Heminway and Waters have been at many board meetings the past two years or so, and have been a frequent critic of what they said is financial mismanagement by Wengewicz.

They both referred to a state comptroller report’s that was critical of the town supervisor’s oversight of town finances.

They both said Wengewicz and the town government make it too difficult to obtain public information, often requiring people to fill out Freedom of Information Act requests and then face long waits for the information.

Scott Wengewicz said the town has made progress on several fronts during his tenure as town supervisor.

Wengewicz started as town supervisor on Dec. 13, 2022, taking the position after Jeff Smith stepped down. Wengewicz was appointed by the board to fill the vacancy.

He is retired from a 30-year career as a Border Patrol agent. He has opened two businesses in Medina/Shelby: Mystic Dragon’s Lair and Patriot Guns.

He sees many successes from the town government, while working through the difficult challenges with the accounting software.

Shelby was able to keep a wind turbine project from advancing and opposed a sewer pipeline along Route 63 that would have dumped waste water into the Oak Orchard Creek.

The town has upgraded the town hall, the parking lot and replaced two dump trucks, while tending to other town business, Wengewicz said.

He said he has pushed to keep expenses down. He said budget he prepared and submitted as the tentative budget would have kept the town tax rate flat at $3.40 per $1,000 of assessed property in 2025, but the rate went up after the other board members weighed in.

Wengewicz noted the town was able to convince New Leaf Energy not to pursue two turbines that would peak at 633 feet. New Leaf sought two turbines on Route 63 on land owned by the Smith family.

The project was proposed by Borrego Solar System Inc. Borrego spun off the development side of its business to ECP, which named the new company, New Leaf Energy.

“There’s still a lot to do,” Wengewicz said about moving the town forward.

He said residents are welcome to stop by the town hall and he will answer their questions.

“I’ll show you whatever you want to see,” he said. “I have nothing to hide. You can see everything.”

Jim Heminway said his management experience would benefit the Town Board if he became town supervisor.

Heminway pushed back on some of Wengewicz’s comments. Heminway said the turbine project went away because of resident opposition, not because of the Town Board. Many residents signed a petition opposing the turbines.

Heminway said Shelby’s relatively low tax rate is due to reassessments that significantly increased the town’s tax base, and also led to higher tax bills for residents.

Wengewicz also worked with Royalton town officials to allow Shelby to tap into their water system, bringing a lower-cost option to part of Shelby. Wengewicz said the water from Royalton should be about half the cost as from Medina.

Heminway, however, said Wengewicz did that while alienating the Village of Medina, and Shelby so far doesn’t fully account for a blended rate with water mixed together from the two systems. Wengewicz said the blended rate will soon be known. The town is waiting on the first quarterly water bills to go through to provide data for determining a mixed rate.

Heminway is retired as chief operations officer for Monroe Electronics in Lyndonville. He worked there from 1998 to 2019. He also worked for American Sigma and Baxter Healthcare.

“I’ve had a lot of experience working in very diverse groups, getting different people together,” he said. “I spent a career managing people and products.”

Heminway is a current village resident who used to live on Dunlap Road, outside the village. He said the current board takes an “adversarial approach” with the village that could prove detrimental to the overall community.

He said the village faces increasing dire financial straits, with its taxes going up and facing rising costs to provide police, ambulance, fire protection and other services.

He noted that while Shelby has long felt Medina was overcharging on water, Shelby officials didn’t find resolution with the village.

“We have to reestablish that relationship with those folks,” he said. “We’re all in this together. The way things are going with taxes, we’re going to sink together.”

Shelby has the Medina Business Park which is an attractive option for businesses. But Heminway said they need to be businesses that “don’t damage our natural resources.”

The community also needs to work to solve a housing crisis where there are too few options locally. Businesses that come to Shelby will need places for employees to live.

He said Shelby should strive to be fair with the village and not be another force that works against the village.

The candidates were asked how to help the village so it doesn’t dissolve as a village government.

Vassilios Bitsas said communication and transparency should be a focus from the Town Board.

All five at the forum said they value the village services, especially the police and fire department. Waters was the lone candidate to say more of the local sales tax needs to be shared by the county government. The County legislature has kept the towns and villages collectively at about $1.3 million since 2001. The county keeps about 95 percent of the local sales tax.

Heminway said the leaders of the Shelby, Ridgeway and Medina governments, as well as the county legislators from the community, need to get together regularly to go over the local issues and see how they can better work together.

“There needs to be more communication with our neighbors,” Heminway said. “We’re not that big.”

Vassilios Bitsas, age 25, works in the day-to-day operations with the family’s restaurant – Country Club Family Restaurant in medina – and three Cusimano’s Pizzeria locations in Medina, Lockport and Brockport. The family employs 250 people, and Bitsas said clear communication and valuing employees are keys to the businesses’ success.

Bitsas said he wants to be more involved in the community, and bring a younger adult’s perspective to the board, while seeking the input from residents and other board members.

“I just want to serve you guys and do what is best,” he said.

Bitsas said more affordable housing, and more housing options should be a priority so more people can choose to stay in the community. He said many of his peers are of the age when they are looking to buy a hose, and too often they have to pick outside or the Medina/Shelby area because there are few options.

“My goal is economic growth, to bring more businesses in to ease tax burdens on others,” he said. “We need more housing. There is no where to raise your family right now.”

Mike Moriarty said infrastructure needs to be improved to bring in more companies.

Mike Moriarty, 41, is the general manager at Pride Pak, a fruit and vegetable processing business on Maple Ridge Road. He also is an electrician.

Moriarty said he isn’t a political person. “I’m Pro-Shelby,” he said. “I’d like to see Shelby thrive, and that’s it. End of story.”

Moriarty noted Pride Pak is a $37 million company with 70 employees locally. It opened in Medina in 2016.

“We’ve stayed strong and we’re expanding,” he said.

He said the Orleans Economic Development Agency was critical in bringing Pride Pak to the community. He said Shelby should work closer with the Orleans EDA to bring in companies that are a good fit for the community.

Moriarty said he watches many of the Town Board meetings online through YouTube and is astonished by the bickering.

“It’s the same thing over and over,” he said. “There is no moving forward running meetings like that.”

Shelby needs to work with the county and village to make sure the infrastructure is adequate to serve businesses and residents.

“We have fallen way behind on infrastructure,” he said. “We need to get our infrastructure straightened out so businesses will come here. We’d love to see more businesses by Pride Pak, and see Pride Pak expand.”

Larry Waters said the Town Board needs to do better managing town finances.

Larry Waters works as the corporate inventory manager for Champlain Valley Equipment, overseeing a $130 million budget. Waters has attended many meetings in the past couple years. He said the board’s “fiscal irresponsibility” is the biggest motivator for him running for councilman.

“I’m very well prepared to take on this task and to help right the ship,” he said. “I want to put myself in a position where I can help to turn this thing around.”

Waters said many in the community are reeling from rising tax bill, from dramatic increases in their assessments to overspending at the government level.

The current board often leaves him frustrated. The board doesn’t provide answers to his questions during meetings, and doesn’t get back to him after the sessions.

“They are not transparent at all,” he said. “You have to fight tooth and nail. You have to submit FOIL requests for things that should be handed to you.”

Shelby also needs to figure out a way to bring public water to areas without a waterline. Wengewicz noted the costs are too expensive to serve some areas with too few houses to cover the costs of a water district. While some residents without public water want a waterline, others are happy with the well water and don’t want the added expense of public water, Wengewicz said.

He acknowledged “it’s a balancing act” with bringing in more businesses and still maintaining the rural flavor of Shelby, and also not jeopardizing the wildlife refuge and other natural resources.

Provided photos

Dave Berry of the Medina VFW Auxiliary presents the “Good Job Award” to Eric Seppala, the Iroquois Job Corps center director.

SHELBY – President-Elect Dave Berry of the Medina Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary on Tuesday presented the “Good Job Award” to the Iroquois Job Corps for supporting the local VFW Auxiliary.

Accepting the award is Eric Seppala, the IJCC Center Director. IJCC students were also presented with individual awards of appreciation for their contributions to the Medina VFW Auxiliary.

From left to right are Brandi Jordan, Katherine Murphy, Adam Schmitt and Eyan Bailey. On the right is the IJCC Operations Director and member of the Medina VFW Auxiliary, John Thomas.

Berry visited the Iroquois Job Corps Center to present awards to the center and to the students who volunteered their time to support local veterans. Job Corps continues to support local community organizations, such as the VFW.

Students volunteer in the community at food pantries and distributions, and by cleaning community roads and fields, assisting with festivals, and supporting local service groups, including the Lions Club and Medina Rotary.

President-elect of the VFW Auxiliary, Dave Berry, shakes hands with some of Job Corps students.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Donna Vanderlaan, a member of the board of PAWS Animal Shelter, and Mike Fuller, president of East Shelby Fire Company, look at all the cats in cages waiting to be spayed.

EAST SHELBY – A spaying/neutering clinic originating in Cowlesville brought its services to East Shelby Fire Hall on Wednesday, where cats and dogs were spayed and neutered at reduced costs to the pet owners.

The clinic was the idea of Alycia Baran-Falbo of Cowlesville, founder of All-Star Animal Rescue.

A life-long animal lover, Baran-Falbo has been a vet assistant and has done animal rescue work for 20 years, during which time she became very aware of the problems with animals, namely, over-population and unwanted animals – problems she very much wanted to get to the root of.

Baran-Falbo collaborated with PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion and Friends of the Orleans County Animal Shelter to bring the mobile veterinary service to Orleans County.

Assisting were Donna Vanderlaan, vice president of PAWS, and All-Star Animal Rescue’s vice president Emilee Diebold of Tonawanda.

(Left) A vet’s assistant carries an unconscious dog from the mobile hospital van into East Shelby Fire Hall, where it will be monitored until awake. (Right) Alycia Baran-Falbo of Cowlesville, founder of All-Star Animal Rescue, comforts a dog which has just been neutered at a clinic Wednesday at East Shelby Fire Hall.

Vanderlaan knows Allen Turner, a member of East Shelby Fire Company, and asked him if they might allow use of the fire hall for such an event. He brought it to a meeting and they approved it, even offering to donate the use.

Vanderlaan said there were a lot of laws for dogs, but none for cats. The Orleans County animal control officer is currently working on some new directions to govern stray cats, Vanderlaan said.

“We have sections in Albion which are infested with stray cats,” she said. “They are everywhere.”

She said the ideal solution is “TNR,” trap, neuter and release.

Any cats who are able to be socialized, All-Star Animal Rescue will try to get them adopted. Those who are truly feral have to be returned where they were caught, Baran-Falbo said.

Mike Fuller stands next to the mobile animal hospital parked outside the East Shelby Fire Hall’s truck bay, where a spaying/neutering clinic was taking place Wednesday by All-Star Animal Rescue of Cowlesville, in collaboration with Paws Animal Shelter of Albion.

In order to control the cat population, All-Star Animal Rescue seeks donations from businesses and the public.

The big problem, according to Baran-Falbo and Vanderlaan, is that neutering and spaying are so expensive, and most people can’t afford it. The cost to have a dog spayed at a veterinarian’s office is between $500 and $1,500, while the cost to spay a cat is between $300 and $600.

Donations allowed All-Star Animal Rescue to spay 26 cats and neuter six dogs on Wednesday at a reduced cost, with mobile veterinary services provided by Dr. Jennifer Graf from Whiskers to Tail Affordable Veterinary Services in Cowlesville.

Vanderlaan said they collected cans and bottles, in addition to seeking donations, to be able to afford Wednesday’s Clinic.

“We have dates available and if enough donations come in, we would like to have another clinic here in the future,” Baran-Falbo said.

Services they perform always include spaying or neutering, rabies shot and distemper vaccine when needed.

Vanderlaan also shared information about Shannon Blount’s efforts in Medina to control the over-population of cats. Blount is head of the Medina Team of Cat by Cat Inc. that strives to help control the feral cat population with targeted TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, return) of community cats. For more information on Cat by Cat, click here.

Donations to support All-Star Animal Rescue and help fund a second clinic in Orleans County may be sent to them at 323 Kern Rd., Cowlesville, 14037; or by calling Baran-Falbo at (716) 208-8333 for instructions how pay online.

SHELBY – A wind energy developer has notified Shelby town officials it is withdrawing its applications for two turbines on South Gravel Road.

New Leaf Energy sent Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz a letter March 21, saying it won’t be pursuing the projects.

“We appreciate the efforts of the Town Board in reviewing and considering Community Wind for the area,” New Leaf senior project developer David Strong wrote to the town supervisor. He is based out of Troy, NY.

The proposals for the two turbines that peaked at 633 feet initially was proposed by Borrego Solar System Inc. Borrego spun off the development side of its business to ECP, which named the new company, New Leaf Energy.

New Leaf sought two turbines on Route 63, and said the turbines could produce enough power for 2,600 homes within the Shelby and Medina communities.

But Shelby town officials declined to create a wind overlay district needed for the project to move forward.

Borrego in February 2024 had two balloons up about 600 feet along Route 63 to show the height of two wind turbines proposed by the company. That height alarmed many members of the community. Many residents signed a petition opposing the project.

Town switched software, which resulted in difficulties that have been remedied

Press Release, Shelby Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz

SHELBY – Following up the Comptroller’s Audit Report from September 2024, the Town of Shelby retained Nichole Ruf with Drescher Malecki to reconcile the Town’s cash and fund balances for 2023 and retained Tina DeNigro from LGSS to bring all bookkeeping activity current and to reconcile the Town’s 2024 financials. This is a summary of their reports to the Town Board during the February 11, 2025 Board meeting.

Prior to 2023, the Town used KVS as its bookkeeping software. KVS was bought out and the Town needed to switch to a new software system. The Town Board in 2022 chose Williamson Law Books to replace KVS as its new bookkeeping software.

Ms. DeNigro advised that Williamson was a significant step back from KVS and had certain limitations. For example, at month end, once the month is closed, Williamson did not allow any more entries to be made to that month. In other words, any receivables (monies owed to the Town) that came in after month end or any errors that were discovered after month end could not accounted for in the month in which they occurred.

Instead, entries would have to be added manually to make any necessary adjustments. Other accounting software programs do not have that limitation.

It also appeared that the conversion from KVS to Williamson Law was performed with insufficient direction and oversight. When implementing a new software program, the beginning balances should always agree to the audited ending balances for the prior year, but that did not happen because the conversion was completed prior to the completion of the audit of the Town’s 2022 financials.

Additional issues were created as a result of the conversion to Williamson. For example, only the Town’s cash accounts were created in Williamson; no balances were carried forward for the accrual accounts, such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, and unearned revenue. Accordingly, fund balances (total operating surpluses and deficits) were not established in Williamson.

The Town’s account structure also changed significantly during the conversion. Specifically, the Town’s computer account, which is the Town’s clearing and disbursement account, was set up as one general ledger account (record of all financial transactions for a specific account) in KVS. In Williamson Law this was set up as 18 different accounts.

Finally, the code structure of the funds changed so that the 204 accounts in KVS became the 200 accounts in Williamson, the 200 accounts in KVS became 201 accounts in Williamson, and 201 accounts in KVS became 202 accounts in Williamson.

Ms. DeNigro noted that given these issues, the conversion to Williamson would have been difficult for any bookkeeper to understand. Ms. Ruf noted it was clear that during the course of 2023, the process was starting to work better and fewer corrections were needed, but given the structure of Williamson, it was difficult to go back and make adjustments to previous months.

For year end 2023, Ms. Ruf noted that it was her opinion that there was “never anything that was intentionally done wrong.” There is a difference of approximately $3,000 to the positive, which means there is not any money missing (the Town’s bank accounts show $3,000 more than the Town’s books).

The year-end numbers for 2023 will be audited and then provided to Ms. DeNigro for LGSS to complete the Town’s financial reports for 2024. However, looking at 2024 as a stand alone year, the checking account and the payroll account have a discrepancy of less than $100 each.

Both Ms. Ruf and Ms. DeNigro identified issues with the Town’s utility payment software and procedures that will need to be addressed moving forward.

Both Ms. Ruf and Ms. DeNigro noted that in their opinions it would not be worth the Town expending additional funds and resources to go back to any previous years. The Town is in a good place moving forward.

SHELBY – The Town of Shelby Republican Committee has endorsed candidates for the Town Board and County Legislature.

The committee is backing Scott Wengewicz for another term as town supervisor. The committee picked Mike Moriarty and Vassilios Bitsas for Town Board. One incumbent, Stephen Seitz Sr., isn’t seeking re-election.

The committee also endorsed incumbents for positions at the county level, including Kim DeFrank for treasurer; Skip Draper of Medina for at-large legislator from the western end of the county; Bill Eick for a district that includes most of Shelby, and all of Barre and Clarendon; and Lynne Johnson of Yates for legislator, representing a district that includes Yates, Ridgeway and a small portion of Shelby.

Photos by Tom Rivers

SHELBY – The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company installs its officers and executive board during a banquet on Saturday at the rec hall. Gary Watts leads the group in taking the oath of office.

The executive board includes Howard Watts, president; Gary Lamar, vice president; Kirk Myhill, treasurer; Michael Saladeen, assistant treasurer; Kali Sturtevant, secretary; Dale Watts, sergeant at arms; Karl Haist Jr., chaplain; Phil Keppler, assistant chaplain; and Andrea Benz, steward.

Trustees include Ron Smith for 3-year term, Bill Luckman for 2-year term, and Nick DiCureia for a one-year term.

The firematic officers include Dave Moden, fire chief; Zachary Petry, deputy chief; Crystal Luckman, assistant chief; Hunter Sturtevant, firematic captain; Rob Schaal, firematic lieutenant; Jenna Simmons, EMS captain; and Donnell Bennett, EMS lieutenant.

The Ladies Auxiliary executive board also was sworn in. The board includes Elaine Watts, president; Patricia Fuller, vice president; Robyn Watts, secretary; Lori Myhill, secretary; Marian Fry, chaplain; Sherry Wheatley, trustee for one-year term; and Mary Herbert, trustee for two-year term.

(Left) Kirk Myhill, left, received the president’s award from Howard Watts. (Right) Fire Chief Dave Moden, left, presented the Chief’s Award to firefighter Bill Luckman.

Moden said Luckman is in the top 10 of responders and helps in lots of ways around the firehall and with training.

“He is here for everything,” Moden said about Luckman. “He is a shining example of a volunteer firefighter.”

Watts said Myhill, the fire company treasurer, served on the committee for the rec hall remodeling. He works on many other projects, and has been successful securing grants for the fire company.

The fire company responded to 243 calls in 2024, and 53 percent were EMS related. Fire Chief Moden said there were 46 fire-related calls.

The top 10 responders by calls include:

• Howard Watts, 164
• Jason Watts, 90
• Bill Luckman, 89
• Zach Fike, 77
• Alex Benz, 76
• Andy Burtwell, 75
• Tom Falls, 75
• Gary Watts, 75
• Gary Lamar, 71
• John Rotoli, 71

Shelby Volunteer Fire Company officials presented a “Friend of the Fire Company” award Andy Marciniak for his work in remodeling the rec hall with new paint, dry wall, insulation and windows. From left include Andy Marciniak and the remodeling committee of Gary Lamar, Kirk Myhill and Howard Watts.

(Left) Elaine Watts, president of the Auxiliary, presents her Auxiliary award to Logan Quackenbush for all of his help at events and with cleanup, especially with doing the dishes. (Right) Justin Niederhofer, director of emergency management for Orleans County, served as emcee. He leads the group in the pledge of allegiance.

He is fourth Watts brother to reach 50-year milestone with Shelby

Photos by Tom Rivers: Dale Watts is shown with his family after he received this ceremonial clock in appreciation for his 50 years of service to the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company. He was recognized during a banquet on Saturday that also included the installation of officers for the fire company and Ladies Auxiliary.

SHELBY – The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company honored Dale Watts on Saturday for 50 years of volunteer service to the company. Watts is a past fire chief and long-time officer for the fire company.

For many years he was among the top responders. He had the shortest drive to the fire hall. He worked next door for 37 years as owner of Radiators Plus, doing oil changes, inspections, tire changes, exhaust and other repairs.

Dale is the fourth son of the late Sidney Watts to reach 50 years of service with the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company. Sidney was a charter member of the fire company in 1947. Gary, Howard and Sidney “Buster” Watts all reached 50 years. Another son, Mark, has 48 years in with the milestone anniversary not far away.

Dale Watts, center, is presented a proclamation for his 50 years of service to the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company. It was presented by his brother Howard Watts, left, who is president of the fire company and Dave Moden, right, who is fire chief.

Dale has been a past chief, assistant chief, deputy fire coordinator for the county, first chairman of the pull tabs, advisor of the Explorer Post in the 1980s, assistant chaplain for 15 years, winner of the Chief’s Award for five different years, and Christmas Party chairman for 10 years.

“It became part of my life,” Dale said during an interview at Saturday’s banquet at the Shelby fire hall. “I love the camaraderie and service to the community. I love my firefighting family.”

He appreciates the backing of the other firefighters over the years when he served in leadership positions. He said his customers also were understanding when he left the garage to respond to a call.

Watts received citations and proclamations from the Shelby Town Board, State Sen. Robert Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Stephanie Thomas speaks during Saturday’s Shelby Volunteer Fire Company banquet, praising her father Dale Watts for his many years of dedication to the fire company in numerous roles.

Watts’ daughter Stephanie Thomas spoke on behalf of his family, including his other daughter Melissa.

“Fifty years of service as a volunteer firefighter,” Thomas said. “Fifty years. That’s not just a number – it’s a half century and my dad has answered the call whenever it came. Whether it was in the middle of the night, the heat of the summer, or freezing cold of winter, he was there – putting others’ needs before his own.”

Watts recently moved to Lyndonville and continues to drive to Shelby for the fire company.

“I can say without a doubt that his commitment to serving others that has shaped the man he is – always there when needed, unwavering and dependable,” his daughter said.

Shelby Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz reads a proclamation commending Dale Watts for his 50 years as an active volunteer firefighter.

Photo courtesy of Mike Zaidel: Russ Peters made it back to Rochester on Wednesday after spending about a month at a hospital in Guatemala. Peters is shown leaving Centro Medico Hospital in Guatemala City.

SHELBY – Russ Peters made it back to Rochester on Wednesday, a month after being stricken with serious health issues while on a humanitarian mission trip to Guatemala.

Peters, the pastor of Alabama Full Gospel Church on Route 63 in Shelby, is at a Rochester hospital and being treated for abdominal abscesses. His wife Jodi said he may need surgery for those abscesses. They are treating him for sepsis and C. diff while awaiting additional testing results to confirm if he has those conditions.

Peters flew out of Guatemala City at about midnight Wednesday with friends from Guatemala and Mike Zaidel, Alabama Full Gospel church coordinator and head elder.

When he arrived in Rochester around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, he was taken by ambulance to a Rochester hospital where a team of infectious disease doctors and surgeons who specialize in pancreatic diseases were waiting, Mrs. Peters wrote on a GoFundMe page for her husband.

“Russell is completely off the oxygen!” she wrote. “His stomach is 2-3X the size and he’s very uncomfortable. There are multiple abdominal abscesses noted and much edema with it.”

She thanked doctors in Guatemala for saving his life, and Zaidel for traveling to Guatemala and ensuring his safe return close to home.

Zaidel said Peters traveled well and is in good spirits, but has a long road ahead of him in his recovery.

Mrs. Peters thanked people for their prayers and those who contributed to the GoFundMe. Nearly $65,000 has been raised towards a $90,000 goal.

Peters went to Guatemala on Nov. 11 to visit churches Alabama Full Gospel has partnered with for about 40 years, starting when Russ’s dad Terry was the pastor of the local church in Shelby.

One of the long-time church leaders in Guatemala recently passed away and Russ went to see that church and others in a mountainous region. It was his first trip there since the Covid pandemic. He used to go every 3-4 years, Zaidel said.

Peters became gravely ill when he couldn’t hold down food or his diabetic medicines and his blood sugar rose to 500. He has gall stones which caused vomiting and severe pain, leading to pancreatitis, his wife said.

Her husband was so stricken he couldn’t walk or move on his own. He was in San Cristobal, about four hours from proper medical care. Once moved to a hospital in Guatemala City, he received IV fluids, antibiotics, pain medicines and insulin.