John Pratt in losing effort had one of highest write-in tallies in recent memory

SHELBY – John Pratt, a current Shelby Town Board member, attempted a rare election phenomenon in Orleans County: winning as a write-in candidate in a contested race.

Pratt lost in his bid for a four-term as a town councilman, but his 422 write-in votes are the most for a write-in candidate in recent memory.

Pratt was outpolled by Linda Limina, 787 votes; and Jeff Schiffer, 532 votes.

Warren Kruger also mounted a write-in campaign in Kendall for highway superintendent and received 84 votes to Eric Maxon’s 432. Kruger has been the highway superintend for more than 30 years. He lost a Republican Primary to Maxon, and made a late bid as a write-in candidate.

Pratt didn’t get the Republican endorsement for re-election. He decided about five weeks before the election to run a write-in campaign. He knew the chances weren’t good.

“I knew it was going to be an uphill battle,” he said today. “Everybody said I did phenomenal. I went out and hit it hard.”

Pratt got a list of 1,500 active voters in Shelby and knocked on their doors. He went campaigning every day for three weeks leading up tot election, often joined by his wife Sharlene. Pratt took out ads, sent a mailer to residents explaining his position on the issues and advised them how to fill out a write-in vote. He also sent in letters to the editor.

In the end, it wasn’t enough to win.

Pratt said he will stay active at Town Board meetings, but will be out in the audience.

In recent local elections, two candidates were elected by write-in in Medina for the Village Board in March 2014. Marguerite Sherman and Michael Sidari were elected trustees. Sherman had 229 votes and Sidari 207 to win over candidates with names printed on the ballot: incumbents David Barhite, 175; and Patricia Crowley, 171.

Sidair would later go on to be elected mayor. Sherman also remains on the board today.

The biggest write-in victory may have been in November 2015 when Jim Simon pulled off an upset for Yates town supervisor, defeating incumbent John Belson.

Simon, with backing from the Save Ontario Shores citizens group, forced a GOP primary on Sept. 10, 2015, but lost to Belson, 153-146. The race was so close it went to the absentee ballots, with Belson winning.

In a rematch in November, Belson was ahead by 14 votes, 352 to 338 for Simon after the polls closed. But there were 86 absentees.

When those absentees were counted, Simon was victor with the final tally, 393 to 379.

Simon has won re-election every two years since then, and Belson has gone on to be Lyndonville mayor.

SHELBY – A contentious election season ended in Shelby with incumbents holding their seats, except John Pratt, a current councilman who fell short in a write-in campaign.

• Linda Limina, 779, and Jeff Schiffer, 529, were both elected as Republicans. There were 427 write-in votes.

• In other contested positions, Dale Root won re-election as highway superintendent over Bill Wolters, 556 to 488. Root had the Republican and Conservative lines while Wolter ran under the Democratic Party line. Wolter works as a motor equipment operator in the highway department.

• Darlene Rich also held off a challenger and was re-elected town clerk. Rich, a Democrat, also ran under the independent “People’s Choice” Party. She received 616 votes to 446 for Christine Pask, a Republican. Rich has been the town clerk for 16 years.

• Other candidates were unopposed including: Scott Wengewicz for town supervisor, 706 votes; and Ed Grabowski for town justice, 771 votes.

Town Board considers ethics policy for officials, employees

SHELBY – The Town Board is being encouraged to insert a clause in a code of ethics policy that would forbid members of the local Republican Committee from also serving on the Town Board or other elected positions in the town.

Jim Heminway spoke during a Tuesday public hearing at the Town Hall and said the local GOP committee has a lot of influence in the town government. If there is a vacancy on the board, the committee makes a recommendation to fill the spot that is typically followed by the Republican-dominated board, Heminway said.

The positions, when up for election, are often without opposition.

“In Shelby if you get an appointment you’ll win an election because there is so little competition,” he said during the hearing about the proposed code of ethics.

The committee also yields power when it doesn’t endorse someone, or withholds an endorsement of an incumbent, Heminway said.

Charlene Pratt, whose husband John is on the Town Board and sister Darlene Rich is the town clerk, said she favors no political committee activity for sitting elected officials.

“If you’re on one you shouldn’t be on the other,” Pratt said.

Joe Root spoke during the hearing and said it difficult to find residents willing to serve in the town government, as well as filling the spots on a political committee.

He urged the board not to ban political involvement for people in elected positions or as appointed town employees.

“There are not enough people to fill the positions now,” Root said at the hearing.

The current proposed code of ethics doesn’t include the stipulation that town employees and elected officials can’t serve on political committees.

Shelby has nearly 5,000 residents. Pratt said there are enough people in town to fill elected and appointed positions in the town government, and also have other people on political committees.

Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz said the Town Board will continue to consider the issue. The ethics policy could be voted on during a November Town Board meeting.

The town has an employee handbook that outlines ethical standards, and there is also a model code of ethics for municipalities to consider from the state comptroller’s office. That model policy (click here) doesn’t include a provision for employees or elected officials to not be on a political committee.

Shelby’s proposed policy includes provisions that people can’t use their position with the town for personal gain or to benefit their families or an organization they are affiliated with.

Municipal resources – money, vehicles, equipment, materials supplies and other property – must only be used for lawful municipal purposes and not for personal or private purposes.

There is also a nepotism provision where municipal officials and employees can not participate in any decision to appoint, hire, promote, discipline or discharge a relative for any position within the municipality, and no supervisor shall oversee a relative.

The policy also prohibits municipal officers or employees from seeking political contributions, whether gifts, money or service from a subordinate employee.

Town employees and elected officials also shall not disclose confidential information unless required by law or in the curse of exercising his or her official powers and duties.

The ethics code also prohibits town employees and officers from soliciting gifts. No gifts shall be accepted with a value exceeding $75 in one year, or if a gift is intended to influence an employee or elected official in exercising their duties.

A gift can include anything of value – money, a service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, or some other item or promise, according to the policy.

SHELBY – The Town Board voted to have an outside legal firm investigate allegations of harassment in the town hall.

The board on Tuesday evening responded to allegations of women being harassed in the town hall. John Pratt, a town councilman, wrote a letter to the editor posted in the Orleans Hub on Oct. 7, making the allegations.

“I have also been deeply disturbed by instances of women being verbally harassed, degraded, and disrespected by officials, both in the office and in public settings,” Pratt said. “To make matters worse, the outside consultants, funded by our own tax dollars, have at times remained silent during such offenses, or even worse has assisted in their cover-up.”

Pratt also claimed the town government suffers from a lack of professionalism, and many decisions are made behind closed doors.

The town will seek out a law firm to do the investigation and interview town employees about the work atmosphere. The cost to town will be negotiated when the Town Board talks with law firms about the investigation.

Town attorney Kathy Bennett advised the board not to discuss the matter in detail publicly due to potential litigation.

Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz said he takes the allegations seriously and any harassment of women won’t be tolerated.

Provided photos

SHELBY – The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company hosted a basket raffle on Sept. 17 which attracted more than 600 people and raised about $12,800 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

A local contingent for “Team Fuller 155” also participated in the Out of the Darkness Buffalo walk for Suicide Prevention at Canalside in Buffalo on Sept. 23.

With the basket raffle and the walk the local group raised $17,543 for Suicide Prevention, said Ike Watts, one of the leaders of the local effort.

Ike Watts, left, and her husband Jason Watts are pictured on Sept. 23 during Out of the Darkness Buffalo, a walk to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Ike Watts lost two people close to her to suicide. Both were first responders and public employees. She said first responders are often the last ones to seek out help, despite being exposed to many traumatic situations, that often leave them in physical and emotional pain.

The Watts and Fuller families have participated in the walk in Buffalo since 2016. This year a basket raffle was added in Shelby to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

A big group attended Out of the Darkness at Canalside in Buffalo.

Ike Watts doesn’t want there to be a stigma with suicide. She wants people to feel comfortable reaching out for help if they are struggling.

Medina FFA students served breakfast at the basket raffle event on Sept. 17. At left is Jack Cecchini and Maddie Farley is at right.

Watts praised a local committee for joining her in organizing the event on Sept. 17: Rebecca Lacy, Tammy Fearby, Christine Crane, Todd Eick and Stacey Knights. Watts said she expects the raffle will be back again next year after this year’s successful debut.

Photos by Tom Rivers

EAST SHELBY – Aaron Knights welcomes walkers and joggers to a 5K for the Knights-Kaderli Fund that started near the East Shelby Fire Hall on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Knights is the son of the late Richard Knights, who died from cancer at age 38 in 1984. He is part of the inspiration for the Knights-Kaderli Fund, which directs about $40,000 to $50,000 a year to help people in Orleans County who are battling cancer.

The fund also is named in honor of Sue Kaderli, who died from cancer at age 52 in 1989.

The 35^th annual walk/run is one of several fundraisers for the Knights-Kaderli Fund. The walk headed from the fire hall down East Shelby Road.

The Knights and Kaderli families estimate that more than $1 million has been used from the fund since it was established, helping cover some of the utilities, co-pays and other bills for people fighting cancer.

The fund typically assists about 40 to 50 people a year with some of their expenses.

“We’ve been through what these people are going through,” said Mary (Kaderli) Zelazny, one of Sue’s daughter. “The last thing you should to worry about is how you should pay a bill. If we can ease that burden that is a great help to people.”

There were about 140 baskets up for raffle, which drew a crowd of people hoping they would be able to take home some of the items.

Mary Zelazny said she is grateful for the many residents and businesses that donated baskets for the event.

“We’re grateful to live in this county,” Zelazny said. “People are very caring.”

There were also other higher-end items up for raffle.

Butchie Stockwell, right in yellow, is on the move in the 5K walk with her friend Nicki Dresser and Nicki’s daughter Cece, 7.

Stockwell said the Knights-Kaderli Fund provided some financial assistance when her parents, Bill and Connie Lyster, both had cancer. Stockwell said the funds eased some of the worries during a difficutl time for her late parents.

Stockwell said she is pleased the Knights and Kaderli families remain committed to the cause of helping many local families each year.

For more information on the Fund, click here or contact Mary Zelazny at (585) 746-8455, Melissa Knights Bertrand at (716) 983-7932 or Stacey Knights Pellicano at (716) 998-0977.

Event includes big basket raffle at East Shelby Fire Hall

Photo by Ginny Kropf: From left behind table, Laura Marek, Stacey Knights Pellicano and May Zelazny talk to a volunteer, Christine Griffin, during the 2022 Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run. The fundraiser is scheduled this year on Oct. 7.

MEDINA – The Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run will celebrate its 35th year on Oct. 7 when the annual event takes place at East Shelby Volunteer Fire Hall.

The fund was formed when the families of Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli, who both died from cancer, decided to combine their individual fundraisers into one.

Since then, the Knights-Kaderli Fund has assisted local families battling cancer with transportation costs, prescription drugs, nutritional supplements, medical supplies and household bills, to the tune of $40,000 to $50,000 a year, according to Mary Zelazny, Kaderli’s daughter. That adds up to almost $1.5 million.

This year the walk/run will resemble the more casual family atmosphere of the earlier years, said Knights’ daughter, Stacey Knights Pellicano.

“This is our favorite time of year,” Zelazny said. “We look forward to being with all of our supporters. If you have ever participated in our event, you understand the energy of that day. It gives us hope and unites participants. We know the community will show up to support their neighbors who are living with cancer. Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli were known for their spirit of community and we are honored to remember them in this way.”

Registration is at 10 a.m. and the walk will begin at 11 a.m. at East Shelby Volunteer Fire Hall. The event will continue as an untimed walk/run so registrants can participate in a leisurely walk with family and friends or set their watches for a 5K run.

As always, participants and the community are invited to support the basket raffle. Lunch will be served immediately after the race and guests may eat outside under the pavilion. Participants are also reminded to take photographs and post on Facebook and Instagram for some fun prizes. Tag #KnightsKaderli5K.

In addition to raising funds through annual events, Knights-Kaderli Fund receives donations from individuals, organizations and memorials. The fund a tax-exempt 501©3 organization, run by a board of directors. This means there are no administrative costs, thereby allowing almost 100 percent of money raised to assist Orleans County cancer patients and their families.

For more information or financial assistance, contact Mary Zelazny at (585) 746-8455, Melissa Knights Bertrand at (716) 983-7932 or Stacey Knights Pellicano at (716) 998-0977.

Online registration for the event may be made by clicking here.

Direct donations may be made through PayPal and a credit card (click here for more information) or through Venmo @knightskaderli.

Hearing set for Oct. 23 at Orleans County Courthouse

Photo by Tom Rivers: Traffic was limited to one-way on Route 63 on Aug. 30 while contractors installed a new sewer pipe in the Town of Alabama.

SHELBY – A State Supreme Court has issued a preliminary injunction and temporarily won’t be allowing a sewer line to be constructed in Orleans County, running from the STAMP manufacturing site about 10 miles north to Oak Orchard Creek.

Contractors started installing the 20-inch sewer main last month and are headed north along 63. They haven’t reached Orleans County yet.

Judge Sanford Church on Monday issued the preliminary injunction and set a court date for Oct. 23 at the County Courthouse in Albion.

Orleans County has filed a lawsuit against Genesee County Industrial Development Agency of Batavia, Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation of Batavia, Stamp Sewer Works, Inc. of Batavia, G. Devincentis & Son Construction Co., Inc. of Binghamton, Clark Patterson Lee of Rochester, and Highlander Construction of Memphis, NY.

Orleans contends the GCEDC didn’t properly form STAMP Sewer Works for the project and doesn’t have a right to seek construction easements in Orleans, which is outside Genesee County. Genesee never asked for Orleans permission to undertake the project, Orleans says in the suit.

Orleans economic development officials also are concerned the discharge of treated water from STAMP, at up to 6 million gallons a day at full capacity, could limit economic development efforts in Medina by overtaxing the creek.

GCEDC notes engineering reports say there would be another 10 million gallons of daily capacity for the creek from the Medina sewer plant if STAMP were at full capacity. The first two tenants at STAMP, Plug Power and Edwards Vacuum, would have a daily discharge of 50,000 gallons of treated wastewater GCEDC said.

GCEDC says it secured all required permits and approvals for construction and use of the force main for the sewer, including a right of way permit from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to cross Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and a discharge permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge has temporarily paused drilling as part of the construction after sinkholes were observed in the right of way of the refuge.

There also are fluids associated with subsurface drilling that appeared on the refuge surface outside the perimeter of the right of way, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement on Tuesday.

Craig Leslie, GCEDC attorney, said in a Sept. 11 court filing, asked the judge not to approve a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order.

“Orleans County’s allegations are wholly inconsistent with the facts and the law, and smack of a frivolous and politicized attack on the STAMP project,” wrote Leslie, an attorney with Phillips Lytle LLP.

Orleans County, represented by attorney Jennifer Persico of Lippes Mathias LLP, contends the Genesee agencies others named and in lawsuit “have been engaged in a conspiracy not only to violate General Municipal and Transportation Corporations Law, but also to defraud the residents of Orleans County and citizens of New York State in general by misusing millions of taxpayer dollars to fund an unauthorized project all while acting outside of their respective authority,” according to the Orleans court filing on Sept. 11, seeking the preliminary injunction.

Fluids associated with subsurface drilling also seen in refuge

BASOM – Contractors have paused drilling with the construction of a nearly 10-mile-long sewer line along Route 63 after sinkholes have been observed in the right of way of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.

There also are fluids associated with subsurface drilling that appeared on the refuge surface outside the perimeter of the right of way, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement this afternoon about the wastewater treatment pipeline for the Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP).

“Contractors working for Genesee County Economic Development Center have paused drilling activities,” according to the statement. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on the ongoing investigation.”

The sewer construction is the focus of a lawsuit from Orleans County, which alleges the Genesee County Economic Development Center didn’t properly form a subsidiary, STAMP Sewer Works, for the project, and doesn’t have a right to seek construction easements in Orleans, which is outside Genesee County, among several issues cited by Orleans with the project.

Orleans economic development officials also are concerned the discharge of treated water from STAMP, at up to 6 million gallons a day at full capacity, could limit economic development efforts in Medina by overtaxing the creek.

GCEDC notes engineering reports say there would be another 10 million of daily capacity for the creek from the Medina sewer plant if STAMP were at full capacity. The first two tenants at STAMP, Plug Power and Edwards Vacuum, would have a daily discharge of 50,000 gallons of treated wastewater GCEDC said.

Provided photos

SHELBY – Dell Stork’s “Drumfire” jacket from 1958 when he was a member of the Shelby Drum Corps is now framed and on display in the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.

Mr. Stork passed away at age 90 on Jan. 17. He carried the American flag for the Drum Corps in 1958. Stork was a Medina firefighter from 1959 to 1969 and then Medina’s fire chief for 20 years until 1989. He then volunteered for the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company for 30 years.

Stork’s son Ron donated the jacket on behalf of his father. Ron, second from right, is shaking hands with Tim Petry, president of the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company. Ron’s wife Cherie is at far right and Scott Petry, the deputy fire chief, also were there for the jacket unveiling on Monday evening at the fire hall.

“The Shelby Fire Company would like to thank the Stork family for this donation to the Shelby Fire Company,” Tim Petry said. “It will remain a great memorabilia in our archives.”

This photo shows the Shelby Drum Corps in 1958 when they were pictured in front of the Albion grammar school on East Academy Street.

The drum corps performed in many local parades. Dell Stork is at far left with the American flag.

His jacket from 1958 is believed to be the only jacket remaining from that group. Mr. Stork asked his son Ron to give the jacket to the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.

“The community was very important to him, as well as the fire department and the surrounding areas,” Ron Stork said. “I got my love of history and the community from my dad.”

SHELBY – A pickup truck burst into flames this afternoon near the intersection of Salt Works Road and Route 31.

Scott Wengewicz, the Shelby Town Supervisor, sent in these photos. He was able to help the driver unload some of the materials in the truck before it was engulfed with flames.

Shelby firefighters responded to put the fire out at about 1 p.m. No other information is available.