Photo by Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul: Gov. Kathy Hochul tours Greenwood Lake in Orange County on Tuesday,  an area affected by wildfires.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has imposed a burn ban until Nov. 30 after wildfires have spread in parts of the state.

The Jennings Creek/Sterling Forest State Park fire has moved across 5,000 acres across New York and New Jersey, becoming the largest wildfire the state has faced since 2008. A New York State Parks employee was killed in this fire.

There are currently dry conditions throughout the state. Some controlled burns in Orleans County have recently turned into brush fires, needing firefighters to contain them from spreading, said Justin Niederhofer, the emergency management director for the county.

“Fire resources are stretched thin across the state responding to wild fires, and we have already had several brush fires here in the county that started out as control burns,” he said.

Hochul, in remarks on Tuesday, stressed the importance of public cooperation during these heightened fire risks. With the burn ban in effect, all brush burning, open fires, and uncontained recreational fires are prohibited until further notice.

ALBION – The state Department of Transportation plans to pave a section of Ingersoll Street in the Village of Albion next week.

Ingersoll has suffered far more wear and tear than usual in the past two years while the Main Street lift bridge has been closed and some of that traffic has been redirected down Ingersoll Street.

The DOT has notified village officials Ingersoll will be repaved, one lane at a time, between Caroline and Bank streets on Nov. 18-19.

“The street will be open to one-lane traffic at that time,” said Joyce Riley, Albion’s deputy mayor. “The paving will be delayed if it rains.”

ALBION – Noah Magee, who is on trial for second-degree murder, decided to waive his right to a trial by a jury of his peers today.

Noah Magee

Joyce McNutt, the commissioner of jurors, had processed 132 jurors when Magee’s attorney, Paul Vacca Jr., announced Magee is waiving his right to a jury trial. The prospective jurors then streamed out of the courthouse about 10:30 a.m.

The trial will continue at 10 a.m. on Thursday with Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church acting as both “the finder of fact and trier the law.”

In a jury trial, the jury is the finder of fact, responsible for deciding what happened in the case. The judge applies the relevant rules of law to the jury’s findings to reach a decision.

The prospective jurors filled out 15-question forms on their marital status, education level, occupation, employer, spouse’s occupation, number and ages of children, children’s occupations, hobbies and special interests, and what clubs or associations they are involved in. The questionnaire is designed to assist the defense counsel and court in selecting fair and impartial jurors.

Magee, 19, faces a second-degree murder charge for driving a pickup truck and allegedly intentionally striking Roger Kingdollar, who was riding a dirt bike.

Kingdollar, 24, was killed in the collision on Feb. 8 in Barre. Police say Magee of Brockport drove a pickup truck the wrong way on McNamar Road when he hit Kingdollar on a dirt bike.

Magee also faces charges of leaving the scene of fatal motor vehicle accident, reckless driving and failure to keep right.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said he expects the trial will take about a week.

ALBION – Jury selection has started this morning in the trial against Noah Magee, who is accused of driving a pickup truck and intentionally striking Roger Kingdollar, who was riding a dirt bike.

Kingdollar was killed in the collision on Feb. 8 in Barre. Police say Magee, 19 at the time, of Brockport drove a pickup truck the wrong way on McNamar Road when he hit Kingdollar on a dirt bike.

Magee is on trial for second-degree murder, an “A” felony with a maximum sentence of 25 years to life.

He was initially charged with reckless endangerment 1st degree (D felony), leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident (D felony) and other vehicle and traffic infractions.

After more investigation in the incident, the charges were upgraded to second-degree murder.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said Magee showed reckless conduct and a depraved indifference to life.

Magee is represented by attorney Paul Vacca Jr., who said the collision was “an automobile accident and not a murder.”

ALBION – The Albion Police Department is willing to expand its patrols outside the village of Albion into the town to help with vehicle and traffic enforcement, and lower-level crimes.

Police Chief David Mogle said the department has the blessing from the Village Board to work outside the village in a six-month trial at no cost to the town.

Mogle said the department is currently hamstrung to respond to some calls because the town, outside the village, is outside the APD jurisdiction. The APD does assist in about 130 to 140 calls a year in the town, often larcenies at Walmart. Mogle said the APD will be the first officer on scene, and then hand those cases over to either the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office or State Police.

Mogle said the APD has at least three officers on duty working day and night shifts and they could respond to calls in the town.

The Town Board would need to sign a memorandum of understanding with the village, allowing the Albion PD to do vehicle and traffic enforcement and handle some of the lower-level crimes, such as harassment. Mogle said there have been fatal accidents and other serious car crashes in the town. The Albion PD could respond sooner to these incidents with the MOU with the town, Mogle said.

“We’d like to prevent crime before it gets to the village,” he said.

Mogle was joined by Lt. Brandon Annable, Sgt. Robert Wagner and Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley in a presentation to the Albion Town Board on Tuesday.

The Albion PD has 12 officers, plus a clerk. The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and State Police often have resources away from Albion and can’t quickly get to calls in the town, Mogle said.

“We’re not trying to undercut or diminish the work they do,” Annable told the Town Board. “They do a great job. We’re just trying to help out.”

Town Supervisor Richard Remley and the Town Board said they will consider the expanded coverage from the Albion PD. Mogle and Riley said they would like to see Albion PD working more outside the village in January and see how it goes for six months.

“We’ll definitely consider it and get back to you,” Remley said.

Mogle and Annable presented similar agreements to the Albion Town Board that the Middleport Police Department has with the towns of Hartland and Royalton, and the Le Roy Police Department has with the Town of Le Roy.

The Albion PD would like to focus on traffic enforcement but could handle other calls “as needed,” Mogle said.

The Albion officers also go to EMS calls in the village and could do that for some of the calls outside the village. Mogle said the patrol cars have automated external defibrillators (AED). An AED is used when a person’s heart suddenly stops working. Mogle said officers have made a difference for three people by using AEDs.

“If we can save a life, we’re going to do it,” Mogle said.

(CORRECTION: This article was updated to state the contract includes an advanced life support fly car that would be staged in Orleans County 24-7, and not 12 hours, 7 days a week as first reported.)

ALBION – The Albion Town Board voted on a new contract for ambulance services for 2025, and picked Mercy Flight EMS over Monroe Ambulance.

Mercy Flight’s bid was less than half of the price from Monroe. Mercy’s bid was $250,000 compared to $570,000 from Monroe. That is for staging two basic life support ambulances in central and eastern Orleans 24 hours a day, seven days a week, plus an advanced life support fly car that would be available 24-7.

The three-year contract increases the ambulance presence by one more BLS ambulance.

“The cost differential is so great and the responses so identical it didn’t make sense not to take on Mercy,” said Richard Remley, the Albion town supervisor.

Monroe was paid $300,000 by the seven towns this year. In the first year of the contract in 2023 with Monroe, the towns paid $181,200. But that was from six towns. Kendall didn’t contribute the first year when Monroe was seeking $200,000 from the seven towns.

Mercy will use the former COVA base on South Main Street in Albion and is expected to have another ambulance based at the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray fire hall on Hulberton Road in Murray. (FHM is now part of the Murray Joint Fire District with the Holley Fire Department.)

Monroe staged an ambulance at the Albion Town Hall. The seven towns didn’t pay for an ambulance service until 2023. Monroe had the certificate of need for the eastern end of the county, but didn’t get paid in the town  budgets until 2023. Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance had the CON for central Orleans, but that ambulance provider closed in late 2022.

The contract divvies up the expense for the seven towns based on call volume for 2024, according to the contract approved by the Albion Town Board this evening.

The contract calls for the towns to pay the following in 2025:

• Albion, $93,000 ($155,820 in 2024)
• Barre, $11,000 ($13,740 in 2024)
• Carlton, $18,500 ($22,350 in 2024)
• Clarendon, $28,000 ($25,350 in 2024)
• Gaines, $38,500 ($12,030 in 2024)
• Kendall, $12,750 ($17,850 in 2024)
• Murray, $48,250 ($52,860 in 2024)

The contract is contingent on all seven towns approving the agreement. Jim Bell, the Albion town attorney, said he has spoken with representatives from the other six towns and they all expect to approve the new contract.

The agreement is a three-year deal with Mercy Flight getting $275,000 in 2026, and $300,000 in 2027.

Mercy Flight will operate on a fee-for-service basis and will bill insurance companies or patients for service. The money from the seven towns eases some of the financial pressure on operating an ambulance service in Orleans County, where many of the calls have low reimbursement rates from Medicaid and Medicare, town officials have said.

Mercy Flight EMS took over COVA’s ambulance station and vehicles after the organization ceased operations in late 2022. Mercy sought to be considered for the contract for the seven towns in 2023 and 2024. The seven towns put the contract out to bid this summer, requesting RFPs (request for proposals). Monroe and Mercy were the only ambulance providers to respond, Remley said.

LYNDONVILLE – The racing season has ended and a Lyndonville six-grader finds her name at the top of the list among go-cart racers state-wide in the Jr. Purple Clone division.

Laina Stewart, 11, won the series championship with 286 points. She also is the Ransomville track champ. She edged the Weedsport champion Levi Herriven by 4-points to earn the state-wide title for points. Laina also is a regular at Weedsport.

Laina Stewart, 11, holds a trophy and plaque after winning her heat at Weedsport on Oct. 26.

She is one of the few girls racing in the division.

“I’m out here to prove that girls can do anything,” Laina said.

She competed in the Purple Clone division this year, moving up a division from last year. Next year she will move up another division and will compete with 12- to 15-year-olds.

Laina competed in about 25 races this season at Ransomville and Weedsport. The state-wide series championship takes the point totals for a driver’s 12 best finishes at any participating facility in the Burris Racing Weekly Championship Series.

Participating tracks include Allegany Memorial Speedway, Brockville Ontario Speedway Karting, Can-Am Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Merrittville Speedway, Moose Mountain Racing Club, Ransomville Speedway, Turkey Trot Raceway and Weedsport Kartway.

Points were awarded based on the number of karts starting a feature race, with up to 16 karts being counted. Race winners were awarded 2 points per kart, with a maximum of 32 points going to a winner.

As the champion of the Jr. Purple Clone division, Laina receives a set of Burris Racing tires and a Burris Racing State Champion jacket. She scored more points than about 50 other drivers in the division.

“I just want to thank my supporters and all the people who have faith in me,” Laina said.

She is in her fifth season of go-kart racing. She just completed the Junior 2 Division.

In the races, she zooms around a ½-mile dirt oval, topping 40 miles per hour. Her go-kart is labelled, “The Lyndonville Rocket.”

She tops out at about 45 mph on the straight-a-ways and lets off the gas, a little, when she rounds the corners. She also plays soccer and softball, and this year was on Lyndonville’s youth football team for the first time, as a defender.

Press Release, Heritage Wind

BARRE – The Heritage Wind Community Grant Program is now accepting applications for its Fall 2024 grant cycle.

Counting the last grant cycle’s recipients, the grant program has awarded nearly $160,000 to community causes and non-profit organizations working to build healthy communities, increase environmental sustainability, foster economic development, and promote education, since its inception in 2020.

The previous Spring Grant Cycle included the following community organizations: Medina Railroad Museum, Town of Barre, Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, and Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.

Local organizations working in the Town of Barre, and the broader Orleans County community are encouraged to apply. Grants are typically awarded in $250 to $4,000 increments, with priority given to proposals that demonstrate meaningful impacts to the greatest number of area residents.

We will be accepting applications until Dec. 13. Please apply at www.heritagewindpower.com/grant.

The four focus areas for the community grant program are:

• Building Healthy Communities – Programs that support public health or enhance the quality of life in the community.
• Economic Development – Programs that support the economic well-being of the community.
• Environmental Sustainability – Programs that support environmental revitalization, sustainability, or empower residents to be stewards of the environment.
• Promoting Education – Programs that support educational institutions, especially the advancement of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This may include curriculum development, vocational training, or literacy support.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Anna Mathes at anna.mathes@apexcleanenergy.com or (585) 563-5137.

Provided photo

HOLLEY – Scouts from Clarendon’s Troop 59 held a “Scouting for Food” drive on Saturday. The Scouts and their leaders canvassed Holley and picked up about 450 items of non-perishable food that was then delivered to the eastern Orleans Community Center in the Public Square at Holley.

Pictured from left include Ken Shaw, James Shaw, Tyler Moore, Scoutmaster Randy Moore, Logan Lane, Ryker Knight and Brandon Knight. Not pictured: Kerry Lane.

Photos and information courtesy of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

MEDINA – Veterans at Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina were recognized on Monday during Veterans Day.

The veterans at the site on Bates Road went outside with the Honor Guard from the American Legion and VFW, which fired a three-gun salute during Veterans’ Day ceremonies.

Students from Mrs. Lehman’s 3rd grade class at Clifford Wise Middle School made cards for 20 heroic veterans at Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Pictured from left include students Travis Schaal, Margaret Dunham, Liam Davies, Charlotte Sheehan and Gabriella Watts.

Pictured  from left: Parker Jackson, Bryce Allen and Rayne Davis.

Pictured from left: Mason Beatty, Kole Reding and Seraphina Neroni.

Press Release, United Way of Orleans County

RIDGEWAY – The United Way of Orleans County is concluding its yearlong celebration of 60 years of service to the community with a Diamond Gala on Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Ridgeway Fire Hall.

Tickets include a catered dinner, entertainment by local performer Gary Simboli, a silent auction, a game of chance, and a basket raffle. Tickets are $75 each or $600 for a table of eight, and can be purchased online at OrleansUnitedWay.org or by calling 585-703-0564. Tickets are available until Friday. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

“This event is both a fundraiser and a celebration for the whole community,” said Nyla Gaylord, United Way executive director. “We are very proud of the fact that since 2020 our United Way has secured more than $2 million in grants to bring new programs and services to our community. The impact of these partnerships has been significant, however, we still need local donations to support our existing programs and operations.”

The donations remain 100 percent in Orleans County to support struggling families, youth initiatives, and elder care. The United Way relies heavily on personal donations and corporate supporters to assist local not-for-profits with their missions. As a connector of people and resources, the United Way aims to make the community stronger for all.