ALABAMA – There will be a public hearing at 10 a.m. Thursday for eminent domain proceedings to allow a sewer line along Route 63 from the STAMP site to Oak Orchard Creek in Orleans County. The eminent domain would be for a temporary construction easement.

The hearing will be at Alabama Volunteer Fire Department, 2230 Judge Rd.

The Genesee County Economic Development Center is leading the effort to put in a new sewer line to serve the 1,250-acre manufacturing park just south of Shelby in the Town of Alabama.

According to a legal notice the eminent domain proceedings would be for land owned by David Schloss and Allison Adkison, Donald and Dana Quackenbush, and Brennen and Valerie O’Connor. Two of the parcels are in Shelby and one is in Alabama.

The sewer line has the potential to bring up to 6 million gallons of sanitary sewer into the Oak Orchard each day.

Medina Mayor Mike Sidari has publicly stated his concerns that the influx of water into the Oak Orchard could jeopardize efforts to develop the Medina Business Park.

The Tonawanda Seneca Nation also has been very vocal in opposing the project because they say the project disturbs land and natural resources that are vital to the Seneca culture.

The first tenant at STAMP, Plug Power Inc., is under construction for a $290 million hydrogen production facility that is expected to be ready in the summer 2024.

Another company, Edwards Vacuum, announced plans in November for a $319 million factory that will produce equipment used in the semiconductor industry.

There is still plenty of space at STAMP for other businesses and GCEDC officials say they are talking with other companies about coming to STAMP.

Photos by Tom Rivers

EAST SHELBY – Cups of lemonade are served for a penny during Old Tyme Day at the East Shelby Community Bible Church.

The event typically draws about 2,000 people, and Sunday may have been the biggest crowd in the 34 years the church has put on the celebration. The church prepared 2,700 hot dogs and 315 pies (2,520 slices) – all available for a penny.

There were six different wagon rides, with the Collins Draft Horse OX & Pony Club bringing several teams of horses.

David Jaczynski has a tray of hot dogs ready for the crowd on Sunday afternoon. Jaczynski attends the church, coming in from North Pembroke.

Erik Olsen, the church pastor, said about 200 people put on the event. He said about 85 percent of the church’s members first came to East Shelby Community Bible Church through Old Tyme Day.

“We try to communicate that Christians are kind and generous and we don’t care about money,” Olsen said.

He said putting on the event has been a great way for the church members to get to know each other and work together.

Aaron Mayne of Medina does a blacksmith demonstration at West Jackson Corners, a village the church has created  for the historical displays. Besides the blacksmith shop there is a wood worker’s shop, a barn, a sewing shop and a mill with a water wheel fed by a sluiceway, as well as several other structures.

Jeremiah Hudson introduces a girl to a Nigerian dwarf goat. Hudson owns the Muggle Magic Nigerian Dwarf Goat Farm in the Town of Alabama.

These kids dance as part of the old-fashioned day celebration.

Rose Allen does laundry the old-fashioned way – in a wash basin. She said laundry was hard work back in the 1800s. It was typically done on Mondays with the dirtiest clothes done last. Water needed to be gathered and warmed up. When the task was done, the water was poured in flower beds. People used onions and lemons to help clean the clothes, she said.

Becca Nigro of Oakfield, left, and JoAnne Johnson of Medina make corn husk dolls that were given away for a penny. There were also homemade ice cream and butter making displays.

Becky Cruz prepares a bouquet of flowers. Church members bought in buckets full of flowers to create the bouquets, which were available for one cent and drew a long line of people.

The horse-drawn wagons were popular with rides offered throughout the afternoon.

MEDINA – Anyone who has been curious about what the Iroquois Job Corps Center does is invited to attend two upcoming community open houses scheduled July 27 and Aug. 4.

Each open house will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and community members can visit any time during those hours.

“We encourage our local neighbors and community members to come out to the Center and take a tour of campus, speak with our instructors, meet the Center leadership staff and learn about what a typical student does when participating in the program,” said Luke Kantor, Outreach and Admissions manager. “When people see all the great things we do here it can be a real eye opener and helps dispel some false information. We really do help change lives for the positive.”

Job Corps is a no-cost education and vocational training provider helping young people ages 16 to 24 improve the quality of their lives by empowering them to get great jobs and become independent, Kantor said.

The Iroquois Job Corps Center has current student openings for brick masonry, carpentry, paint, electrical, certified nursing assistant and certified medical assistant.

The Center is set up like a college campus, with dormitories, training areas/classrooms, recreation facilities, student dining areas and more. The campus works directly with employers, both national and local, to help students fill available positions for in-demand jobs.

While in the program, students can also earn a high school diploma or high school equivalent, along with their driver’s license. Job Corps offers tuition-free housing, meals, basic healthcare, a living allowance and funds to assist with career transition.

Job Corps also provides transitional support services, such as help finding employment, housing, child care and transportation. An important benefit of living close to a Job Corps Center, Iike Iroquois, is that local students can drive to and from campus Monday through Friday as non-residential students and still live at home.

Kantor said it was important their students are ready for their next step after the program and aim at one the three E’s – Employment in their field of study joining the workforce, Enrollment in higher education to advance their skills and certifications and Enlistment in the military.

“Our students work hard over the year or so they are here to better themselves,” Kantor said. “We are here to assist with guidance, support, the necessary instruction for their future careers and that extra bit of encouragement when they need it.

The community is requested to RSVP for one of the Community Open House days to Kantor at (585) 344-3401, (585) 205-3653 or by e-mail at Kantor.Luke@jobcorps.org.

Iroquois Job Corps is located at 11780 Tibbets Rd., Medina, off Route 63.

Hot embers spread to 2 other sites that are quickly put out

Photos by Tom Rivers

SHELBY – Firefighters carry a hose to the back of a barn that burned this afternoon at 5022 Salt Works Rd. in Shelby.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 4:36 p.m. Fire destroyed most of the old wooden barn, which hadn’t been used in many years.

The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company directs water from up high down on the smoldering site.

Shelby Fire Chief Dave Moden said a brush fire behind the barn spread to the structure, causing the fire. Some hot embers from the barn blew on neighbors property. One landed on a barn nearby and burnt a hole in the roof before it was extinguished by firefighters.

A small corn bin also caught on fire and was put out, Moden said.

Firefighters spray water on the back end of the barn.

Several fire companies assisted Shelby at the scene including Medina, Middleport and Wolcottsville, with East Shelby filling in at Shelby’s fire hall.

Provided photo

SHELBY – The Town of Shelby is contributing $10,000 towards two full-size basketball courts at Butts Park in Medina.

Pictured from left include Village Trustee Jess Marciano, Trustee Tim Elliott, Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz, Mayor Mike Sidari and Trustee Marguerite Sherman.

Shelby’s money comes from the town’s allotment of the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

The money will go towards four basketball posts, backboards and nets.

The village is putting in two full-size basketball courts at the park. It approved a construction bid on Monday evening to pay Super Seal Sealcoating of Penfield $122,319 for the courts.

The village will use $110,000 in money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The board also can use $13,200 from the Medina Sports Boosters towards the project.

The bid from Super Seal did not include four backboards, two for each court. That is another $9,846, putting the total cost for the courts at about $132,000.

Provided photos

SHELBY – The parking lot around the Shelby Town Hall is getting revamped. Keeler Construction was out with a milling machine on Thursday and a paver.

Twon crews from Shelby, Barre and Clarendon hauled asphalt from keeler’s asphalt plant in Barre. Altogether about 500 tons of blacktop was put down on Thursday, said Dale Root, the Shelby highway superintendent.

He reached out to keeler to work on the Shelby project while the company was in town repaving streets in the village of Medina.

Keeler and the crews from the three towns worked in front of the Shelby Town Hall, behind the building and on the north side. Root said the paving work will be finished on Monday.

Shelby crews will also assist Barre and Clarendon with paving work this year. Root said it’s an example of shared services, of pooling resources among the towns when one has a bigger job needing more trucks and personnel than is available in the one municipality.

The Town Hall is open while the work is happening. People can park at the lot next to the left of the front of the building.

Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz said the project is funded with a portion of Shelby’s share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Share to towns and villages has been frozen for more than 2 decades

Photo by Tom Rivers: Shelby town officials met on Tuesday evening at the Town Hall. Pictured from left include Town Clerk Darlene Rich, Town Councilman Jeff Schiffer, attorney Jeff Clark, Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz, and board members Stephen Seitz, John Pratt and Ed Zelazny.

SHELBY – The Town Board unanimously voted on Tuesday evening to seek more of the local sales tax from the county.

The tax revenue has risen significantly in recent years with online sales being taxed and the price of goods rising through inflation.

However, the county hasn’t increased the amount of sales tax shared with towns and villages since 2001. That year it was boosted slightly after being frozen in 1996.

The county took in $22.5 million in local sales tax in 2022, with the Town of Shelby receiving $105,811 or 0.47 percent of the total.

The Town of Clarendon has been leading the push from towns and villages for more of the local sales tax. It has rallied the towns and villages to seek 14 percent of the total. That’s what the 10 towns and four villages received in 1996.

The county has capped the amount to the towns and villages at $1,366,671 since 2001.

To get to 14 percent of $22.5 million, the county would have to increase the amount to towns and villages to $3,150,000 – a $1,783,329 increase. In 1996, the local sales tax revenue was $9,499,138. It has more than doubled since then.

Shelby Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz said the town could use more of the sales tax to try to stave off property tax increases while maintaining services for residents.

“Every town is struggling to not raise taxes,” Wengewicz said. “What service do you cut? It’s a juggling act that’s hard to do.”

Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson addressed the issue during the March 28 meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities. She said the county faces big  potential increases due to the state.

“Until the governor’s budget goes through we’re in limbo,” Johnson said.

The county could see a $1 million hit in Medicaid expenses if the state opts to keep all of the federal funding used to help pay for that program, which would be about a 7.5 percent tax hit to the county, she said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul also is proposing to increase the hourly rate for assigned council from $75 to $119 an hour.  This would cost the county approximately $200,000 per year.

In other action at the Shelby Town Board meeting:

• The board voted to increase the hourly pay for Miranda Bennett, a bookkeeper and secretary to the town supervisor, by $3 to $24.25 an hour. Wengewicz said the increase reflects a competitive environment and was needed to keep Bennett from taking another job. He said she has also taking on increased responsibilities.

Councilman John Pratt opposed the increase and encouraged the town to contract with a private firm for accounting. He said it would be cheaper and Shelby wouldn’t have to pay health insurance and other benefits.

• John Parada, a resident of Furness Parkway, asked the Town Board not to extend street lights near his home. There are two street lights there and the town is switching to LED lights for its street lights and has been inquiring if Furness Parkway residents want more street lights. Parada said two are enough for the street.

• Town resident Lawrence Waters asked the Town Board to publicize the outdoor burn ban which is in effect in the state  through May 14. Waters said some residents are burning brush and may not be aware that is prohibited right now.

Wengewicz said the town will post that ban on its website and may send a text to residents who signed up for the town’s mass notification system.

• Waters also asked the status of the proposal from Borrego Energy for two wind turbines at 633 feet tall on land owned by the Smith family on Route 63.

A public hearing on the environmental impacts of the project has been recessed since September. Wengewicz said he expects that hearing will be reconvened or started over.

He said the project hasn’t gone away.

He started as town supervisor on Dec. 13. The town also has a new attorney in Jeff Clark. With the new personnel getting their bearings with the proposal, the town will have to take up the review of the project soon, Wengewicz said.

He is aware that many residents are opposed to the project. Waters said he was “100 percent” against it.

The board can’t simply deny it. It has to have sound reasons and go through an environmental impact review.

“We need to follow the process fully and completely,” said Clark, the town attorney.

Town officials are preparing detailed questions for Borrego as part of the review process, he said.

“We want to be careful and not get in a lawsuit,” Clark said. “We are putting together arguments that are sustainable.”

Provided photos: Congresswoman Claudia Tenney chats with students at the Iroquois Job Corps during her recent visit.

MEDINA – The Iroquois Job Corps Center welcomed Congresswoman Claudia Tenney to their facility on April 3.

She was accompanied by her staff members, Michael Stadelmaier, district director; George McNerney, regional director; and Zev Siegfeld, legislative assistant.

Tenney spent several hours at the center, visiting with staff and students.

“She truly seemed to enjoy her time here,” said Jeanette Barr, administrative assistant at the Job Corps. “She toured some of our trade buildings and tried her hand at bricklaying. She said she would like to return again at some point.

Tenney talked with the center’s staff instructors about the pre-apprentice programs at Iroquois Job Corps, and the importance of the certifications students earn at Job Corps which assist them in gaining employment after the program in both union and non-union placement. These include carpentry, bricklaying and home builders.

Job Corps leaders discussed with Tenney the eligibility and suitability for their programs and how they can benefit low-income families in need of career training. Success stories of students were shared, along with how they went from high school drop-outs struggling in part-time jobs, homelessness and a lack of family support to getting their high school diploma, obtaining a driver’s license, earning Career Technical Trade certificates, apartment and vehicle searches, and obtainment for relocation, Barr said.

“Students get total life transformation with our program’s assistance, thus helping to break the poverty cycle and improve our communities,” Barr said.

The masonry class at Iroquois Job Corps Center got to meet Congresswoman Claudia Tenney during her visit there last week. Masonry instructor Robert Kelichner, left, watches as Tenney tries her hand at laying a brick.

Press Release, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

BASOM – Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge announces plans to conduct up to six prescribed burns on the Refuge during the 2023 season.

The goal this year is to burn up to 150 acres of grasslands and 30 acres of cattail marsh. The result will be enhanced grassland nesting cover and improved marsh habitat for a variety of migratory birds and other wildlife.

Grassland fields will be burned in the spring or summer (April – August) and marshes will be burned in the summer (June-August). Each burn should take approximately two to six hours to complete.

Prescribed burns are conducted safely and successfully on National Wildlife Refuges and other public lands across the country. With prescribed burns, fire becomes a management tool removing accumulated fuel loads thus reducing the risk of wildfire.

Additionally, fire improves Refuge habitats for wildlife by removing invading plants that compete for light and nutrients and exposing the soil to sunlight so that seeds may germinate and grow. At the same time, it releases nitrogen and other nutrients into the soil to nourish the new plants.

Specific dates cannot be announced in advance due to specific weather requirements, however, law enforcement and other emergency agencies will be notified on the day of the burn. Before a burn can take place, specific weather and site conditions, including wind direction and speed, humidity, air temperature, and fuel moisture must be present.

If any one of these conditions is outside of set parameters, the burn will not take place. Refuge staff have been specially trained to plan, ignite and monitor the fire to ensure public safety.

For further information contact Refuge Manager, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY 14013 or call 585-948-5445 ext.7030.

Provided photo: East Shelby Fire Chief Debbie Taylor and her husband Jeff, captain, pose with the fire department’s newest piece of equipment, a UTV for off-the-road rescues.

EAST SHELBY – The East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company has added a new piece of equipment to its fleet – a utility vehicle for off-road rescues or brush fires.

Fire Chief Debbie Taylor said her husband Jeff works with a friend who is a member of the Frontier Fire Department in Niagara County. The friend mentioned recently his fire department had purchased the vehicle in 2021 but decided they didn’t need it.

East Shelby Fire Company officials thought with their location close to the swamps, a vehicle such as this would be handy to have in case of a lost hunter or someone stranded in the swamps, so they agreed to purchase it.

The Taylors and their son Devin made arrangements to go get it and brought it to East Shelby a week ago. It only had 64 miles on it, Debbie said, and came with all the accessories, including a trailer.

Kirk Zinkievich named ‘Firefighter of the Year’

Provided photos: Kirk Zinkievich accepts the award for “Firefighter of the Year” at East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company’s annual banquet on Saturday. In addition to a plaque, he was presented with a statue of a firefighter holding a rescued child.

EAST SHELBY – East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company celebrated a milestone at its annual installation and awards banquet Saturday night.

The occasion was the 70th Platinum Jubilee of the fire company, founded by 13 charter members in 1953. The last surviving charter member was Laverne “Jiggs” Green, who died last year.

Dave Green emcees the 70th Platinum Jubilee celebration Saturday night.

Dave Green, a 63-year member of the fire company, was master of ceremonies. In honor of the 70th anniversary, guests received a commemorative drinking cup with straw and cover.

The evening began with welcoming remarks by fire company president Mike Fuller and ladies’ auxiliary president Bronwyn Green.

After introduction of guests, officers of the fire company were installed by Justin Niederhofer, Orleans 1. They are Mike Fuller, president; Joe Newton, vice president; Karen Bracey, secretary; Allen Turner, treasurer; and Norm Behrend, Gordon Reigle and Alan Lonnen, trustees; and Dave Green, steward. Line officers are Deb Taylor, chief; Devin Taylor, 1st assistant chief; Andy Beach, 2nd assistant chief; Dennis MacDonald, 3rd assistant chief; Jeff Taylor, captain; Laura Fields, fire police chief; Sue Behrend and Mike Fulller, EMS officers; and Todd Ralph, safety/training officer.

Officers of the Ladies Auxiliary, installed by Shelby Town Clerk Darlene Rich are Bronwyn Green, president; Deb Green, vice president; Sawyer Green, secretary; Sharlene Pratt, treasurer; Cassidy Oliver, Shirley Printup and Sue Green, trustees; and Rosie Allen, chaplain.

Members of the East Shelby Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary who received Certificates of Appreciation Saturday night are, from left, Rosie Allen, Judy Allen, Lisa Russo, Jessie Green, Sawyer Green and Paige Green.

Mike Fuller presented the President’s Award to Joe Newton. Newton is a long-time dedicated member of the fire company, who has been hospitalized for a year, first in Erie, Pa. and now in Ohio with a rare infection that required a ventilator and now dialysis. He is slowly improving and continues to keep track of the fire company on Facebook.

Gerry Zinkievich, right, is presented with the Auxiliary President’s Award from Bronwyn Green.

The Chief’s Award was presented by Debbie Taylor to Rusty Hoffmeister, a person she said she could always count on. He volunteers any time a work crew is needed and always sells a ton of tickets to fire company events. He responds to calls any time he is available. Not only is he an important asset to the fire company, but to his community, as well.

“During the blizzard of 2022, he spent long hours with little sleep helping neighboring departments clearing the roadways for emergency calls and personal needs,” Taylor said. “He even assisted with one of our calls for lift assistance with a dementia patient. I give credit where credit is due from this blizzard. I always thought it would be neat to just once be a snow plow driver, but after that storm and being in it, well, curiosity sure killed the cat. I give town guys credit for what they went through, but I can only give one of them this award.”

Taylor also presented the “Firefighter of the Year Award,” this year choosing a person who’s been in the department for many years, and also served as a past chief.

In announcing Kirk Zinkievich as her choice, she said, “He is a big asset. He shows up for calls when he can and is another big ticket seller. He always helps at events and doesn’t slow down, even with the medical issues he’s endured. He has a great personality and is very well liked. The one quality that stands out with him is that he always puts others before himself. You think he had a big heart, but since his rebuilt/remanufactured heart, it’s even bigger as he continues to put his family, friends and the fire company before him.”

The EMS Award was presented by Mike Fuller to Nick Boyle, a new member who took the initiative to complete the courses necessary to become an EMT.

(Left) East Shelby Fire chief Debbie Taylor, left, and president Mike Fuller look at the plaque he was presented Saturday night for 50 years of membership in the fire company. (Right) Mike Fuller is shown with his daughters, Amy Fuller (left) and Katie Crooks.

A highlight of the evening was honoring Mike Fuller for 50 years of membership in the fire company.

“It doesn’t seem like that long,” he said.

He first became interested in the fire company when, at the age of 14, he started working on the Zinkievich farm. They were dedicated firefighters and whenever there was a call, they dropped everything to respond, and Fuller would tag along. He couldn’t join back then until he was 18.

Fuller’s daughters Amy Fuller and Katie Crooks gave a presentation titled “Through the Years” about life in their home with a dedicated firefighter. It didn’t matter what they were doing, if there was a fire call, Mike was gone.

Both his daughters are firefighters and EMTs.

“I never pushed them,” he said. “They wanted to do it.”

Mike has held every line position in the fire department. He has been chief on two occasions – from 1981 to 1985 and again in 2005, when he served for 10 years. He has served as president for five years. He will be 69 in April and is still an active EMT.

Mike was presented with proclamations from representatives of Town of Shelby, Orleans County Legislature, State Sen. Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and the Firefighters Association of the State of New York.

(Left) Nick Boyle received an EMS award. (Center) Auxiliary president Bronwyn Green commends Judy Allen, 50 years, and Jessie Green, 60 years, for their long-term commitment to the organization. (Right) Patrick Holman, a magician from Medina, entertained the crowd.

Awards from the Ladies Auxiliary included certificates of appreciation presented to Rosie Allen, Judy Allen, Lisa Russo, Jessie Green, Sawyer Green and Paige Green. Judy Allen was recognized for 50 years of membership in the Auxiliary. Jessie Green is a 60-year member.

Auxiliary president Bronwyn Green presented a check to the firemen for $8,000 to help with their purchase of new pagers. Green said the Auxiliary is a big supporter of the fire company, always participating in any function they have.

A final ceremony paid tribute to a member Richard Pitcher, who passed away last August.

The fire company reported new members were Nick Boyle and Dylan Taylor. The Auxiliary also had two new members, Leona Weese and Pat Vadar.

The evening concluded with entertainment by magician Pat Holman of Medina.

The family of Richard Pitcher Sr. pose in front of the memorial wall at East Shelby fire Hall. The firefighter, who died Aug. 12, 2022, was a longtime member of the department and held many positions. From left is daughter Sara Pitcher-Szatkowski, his widow Linda Pitcher, and sons Rich Pitcher Jr. and Brian Pitcher. Fire chief Debbie Taylor paid tribute to Rich Sr. during the annual banquet Saturday night.

Event moved from fairgrounds to Medina school gym for ‘Spring Smash’ on April 15

Photos by Tom Rivers: Joe Gacy applies lots of pressure on Kevin Bennett during their wrestling match on May 4, 2019 during the “Fairground Fallout: Return of the Empire.” That was the last time Empire State Wrestling held an event in Orleans County. The wrestlers will be back on April 15, this time in a bigger venue at the Medina Junior-Senior High School gym.

MEDINA – The pro wrestlers who entertained crowds for events in 2018 and 2019 will be back in Orleans County on April 15.

Empire State Wrestling will bring the “Spring Smash” with eight or nine matches to the medina Junior-Senior High School gym. That is a change from the previous events at the Lartz Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

The gym has more seating room, higher ceilings for wrestlers to jump off the top ropes, a bigger parking area and more heat.

Ryan McPherson, the event chairman, expects at least 500 people for the wrestling. That would be up from the high of 350 at the fairgrounds. The event will continue as a fundraiser for the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.

“We’re very excited,” McPherson said today about the return of the wrestlers. “We were happy with the turnout before. Everybody who came had great things to say. We are hoping this will be an even bigger draw.”

There will be four wrestlers with local ties in the ring on April 15: Thomas Green “Big Budget” of Albion; Kevin Lockwood (aka Kevin Blackwood), an Albion native; Gavin “A Cut Above the Rest” Glass, a Medina native; and Jacob Miller (aka Maxx Cannon) of Medina, also known as “The Filthy One.”

Medina’s Gavin Glass was in action during the May 4, 2019 at the fairgrounds. He waits to get tagged in by his partner Rob Sweet. Glass, a 2015 Medina graduate, will be back on April 15.

McPherson said there will be discounts for students in grades 12 and younger at $10 each while general admission for adults in $20. Kids under 3 can get in for free with an adult. There also is a four-pack ticket option for adults at $60.

“We are instituting special pricing for grade school students and hope to make this our largest and most family-friendly event to date,” he said.

McPherson said the half of the ringside tickets have already sold. He appreciates the school hosting the event. There will be mats on the floor and the ring will be set up on that to protect the floor.

The doors will open at 5 p.m. with the first match at 6. The action should continue until 8:30 or 9 p.m.

Several of the fans at the fairgrounds wrestling events exclaimed about the athleticism of the wrestlers, and how physical the matches were. There were drop-kicks, body slams and other moves. McPherson said many of the fans felt like it was WWE.

“It is definitely not fake,” he said.

McPherson urged people to take in the spectacle of the event, with the many colorful characters and strongmen.

“There is a ton of excitement,” he said. “I think everyone will be blown away by how much fun it will be.”

For more information on tickets, click here.

Kevin (Lockwood) Blackwood, an Albion native, pins Scotty O’Shea during one of the matches on April 28, 2018 during the debut “Fairgrounds Fallout.”