By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2022 at 2:50 pm
Photos courtesy of Sheriff’s Office
SHELBY – The driver of this truck was stranded for nearly 15 hours in the vehicle on Salt Works Road in Shelby before being transported to safety today.
Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies have been busy throughout the day trying to assist stranded drivers and passengers, Sheriff Chris Bourke said.
Deputy John Doyle took this photo on Mill Road in Ridgeway of a crew trying to remove a tree across the road.
A travel ban remains in effect. Bourke said several vehicles are currently off the road along Route 31A in Barre and Clarendon.
“It’s one stranded vehicle after the next,” Bourke said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2022 at 12:46 pm
‘There is far too much traffic on the roads, a never-ending stream of cars becoming disabled.’
UPDATE AT 5:54 P.M.: The Carlton warming center has been closed with two people staying there transported to the Albion elementary school.
The number of warming centers in Orleans County has grown since yesterday with 3,691 National Grid customers still without electricity as of 12:34 p.m.
The County’s Emergency Management Office estimates about 75 people have used the warming centers so far.
Two of the shelters at local schools offer a place to sleep if needed. Those schools include:
Oak Orchard Elementary School in the Village of Medina will be open through the night. Contact (585) 590-4199. The school is at 335 W. Oak Orchard St. Enter through the main entrance, or the side entrance off the parking lot through door #4. Medina residents also can contact the Medina Fire Department (585) 798-1661.
Albion Elementary School at 324 East Ave. Enter through the community entrance on the west end of the school. Barre residents can contact the Barre Fire Company at (585) 589-6107 and Barre will provide transport to the school if needed while the station is manned.
Here is a list of other warming centers that provide a place to warm up and charge devices. People should call ahead to ensure they are still open.
Barre Fire Company – (585) 589-6107. Located at 4709 Oak Orchard Rd.
Carlton Fire Company – (585) 682-4250. Located at 1853 Oak Orchard Rd.
Clarendon Fire Company – (585) 638-5118. Located at 16169 E. Lee Rd.
Murray Sta. 2 – (585) 638-8568. Located at 3353 Hulberton Rd., Holley.
Shelby Volunteer Fire Company – (585) 798-2015. Located at 4677 S. Gravel Rd., Medina.
Justin Niederhofer, the EMO director, said weather conditions have deteriorated since the morning with visibility very difficult.
“There is far too much traffic on the roads, a never-ending stream of cars becoming disabled,” he said.
He doesn’t expect the travel ban to be lifted until Sunday morning due to the current conditions are forecasted winds.
The Iroquois Job Corps has been evacuated with about 15 students moved to the new Comfort Inn & Suites in Medina.
Medina firefighters also are going door to door at Lakewood Village and other locations, to ensure that anyone who needs to get to a shelter has the ability to do so, Niederhofer said.
The Alabama Hotel in the Town of Alabama in Genesee County also is a warming center – and then some. The business has welcomed 100 people into the building for warmth and meals, with many staying overnight.
Joe Bradt of the Alabama Hotel posted on Facebook and thanked neighbors for bringing blankets, diapers and toys for the children, and also commended the Alexander family of Alabama Hotel Farms for making sure the Hotel has enough food for the crowd of people who are from several states.
Many of those stranded people have done the dishes, served the food, cleaned the tables and helped each other through a difficult situation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2022 at 10:32 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is reporting 39 trees were knocked down from the fierce winds on Friday. The icy roads and white-out conditions also resulted in 52 vehicles going off the road, Sheriff Chris Bourke said.
There were nine motor vehicle accidents, 11 wires down or arcing, and 24 people who needed to be rescued from the extreme cold.
Five of the patrol cars got stuck overnight and were pulled put by Lyon’s Collision.
The following warming shelters are open and available to those who may have lost power, are stranded, or experiencing extreme cold conditions.
While there is still a travel ban, you may travel to one of the locations only if you are able to safely do so. If you are unable to safely travel to one of these locations, please contact the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division at 716-438-3394 and arrangements will be made to get you to one of the warming shelters.
Cambria Fire Company, 4631 Cambria Wilson Road, Lockport
Frontier Fire Company, 2176 Liberty Drive, Niagara Falls
Hartland Fire Company, 8945 Ridge Road, Gasport
Lewiston #2 Fire Company, 1705 Saunders Settlement Road, Lewiston
Miller Hose Fire Company, 6161 McKee Street, Newfane
Olcott Fire Company, 1691 Lockport Street, Olcott
Pekin Fire Company, 3024 Upper Mountain Road, Sanborn
Ransomville Fire Company, 2521 Youngstown-Lockport Road, Ransomville
Rapids Fire Company- Main Hall, 7195 Plank Road, Lockport
St. Johnsburg Fire Company, 7165 Ward Road, Wheatfield
Sanborn Fire Company, 5811 Buffalo Street, Lewiston
Shawnee Fire Company, 3747 Lockport Road, Sanborn
South Wilson Fire Company, 4194 Chestnut Road, Wilson
Terry’s Corners Fire Company, 7801 Chestnut Ridge Road, Gasport
Upper Mountain Fire Company, 839 Moyer Road, Lewiston
Wendleville Fire Company Hall One, 7340 Campbell Blvd, Pendleton
Wendleville Fire Company Hall Two, 6440 Main Road, Pendleton
Wilson Fire Company, 250 Young Street, Wilson
Wolcottsville Fire Company, 6337 Wolcottsville Road, Royalton
Wrights Corners Fire Company- Main Hall, 4043 Lake Avenue, Lockport
Youngstown Fire Company, 625 Third Street, Youngstown
City of Lockport, Lockport City Hall, One Locks Plaza, Lockport
City of Niagara Falls, Community Missions, 1570 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2022 at 9:20 am
A travel ban remains in effect in Orleans County. No motorists should be on the roads except for plows, utility crews, fire department vehicles, EMS, law enforcement and hospital staff.
“It’s very treacherous conditions,” said Sheriff Chris Bourke. “Some roads are not passable.”
There is very low visibility, with blowing and drifting snow.
Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti also said the travel ban is still in effect in Niagara County.
“The southern end of Niagara County continues to experience significant weather
Conditions,” Filicetti said. “Motorists who have not heeded the travel ban have become stranded in their vehicles. Please stay off the roadways so first responders can work to assist those motorists.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2022 at 8:45 am
More than 5,000 National Grid customers are without electricity this morning after fierce winds took down trees and wires.
National Grid is reporting 5,136 of its customers in Orleans are without electricity. That is 26.1 percent of National Grid’s 19,624 total in the county, according to the National Grid power outage map at 8:25 a.m.
That is a much higher percentage than other nearby counties contending with a powerful winter storm.
Orleans has a higher percentage without power than in Niagara County – 5,894 out of 83,034 (7.1 percent); Genesee – 1,713 out of 27,176 (6.3 percent); Erie – 24,602 out of 285,223 (8.6 percent); and Monroe – 1,704 out of 21,428 (8.0 percent).
It is only in the single digits to start the day in Orleans. The high is forecast for 16 degrees.
A blizzard warning remains in effect until 7 a.m. on Sunday for Orleans, Niagara, Erie and Genesee counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2022 at 6:00 pm
Shelby, Ridgeway and Barre fire halls also open
MEDINA – The Oak Orchard Primary School at 335 W Oak Orchard St. is available as a warming site, village officials announced.
Parts of Medina community are without electricity. The school will be open all night as a warming center if needed, Mayor Mike Sidari said.
He encouraged people to bring food and water. There are 10 cots available at the school, about 70 blankets, charging capabilities and a microwave.
There are 4,926 National Grid customers without electricity in Orleans County as of 6:06 p.m.
Other warming centers include the Shelby Vol. Fire Company Rec Hall, Ridgeway Vol. Fire Company and Barre Fire Company.
“Road conditions are terrible in the county especially in the southern portion of the county,” said Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director. “Due to the hazardous conditions and for the safety of the plow operators some of the town have pulled their drivers off the road until conditions improve. Conditions will get worse as the night goes on, and finally start to improve tomorrow morning. If you can, try to stay home and utilize blankets to stay warm.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2022 at 5:31 pm
ALBION – The Albion Police Department announced today that Rex, the department’s retired K9, has passed away.
Rex teamed with officer Robert Wagner from 2015 until Rex retired on Dec. 29, 2019. Wagner was recently promoted to sergeant with the Albion PD.
“Rex had many accomplishments in his career and was certified in tracking, patrol and advanced narcotics detection,” the Albion PD posted on its Facebook page. “Rex was the goodest of boys and will be greatly missed by all of us.”
MIDDLEPORT – Employees from FMC’s Agricultural Sciences Plant in Middleport, working with Local 1180 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and plant management, put together a special holiday gift package for a Niagara County veteran and family this Christmas season.
They worked with Jennifer O. D’Andrea, the president and founder of Support, Empower, Respect Veterans (S.E.R.V.) Niagara, in providing the package featuring toys, clothing, electronics and household items. P
reparing the items for delivery are (from left) Mikayla Jackson, Receiving Coordinator; Joe Burkett, Site Support Services; Katie McFadden, FMC plant manager; Jennifer O. D’Andrea-Terreri; Josh Walker, Maintenance and Site Services Manager; and Leah Clark, Run Plant Engineer.
FMC employees and management also recently collected and donated several boxes and bags filled with non-perishable food the Middleport Food Pantry for local residents in need to access.
Dennis McAvoy (center), Food Pantry co-chairman, accepts some of the donated items from FMC employees and Local 1180 members (from left to right) Mikayla Jackson, Receiving Coordinator; Katie McFadden, FMC Plant Manager; Austin Jones, Site Support Services; Dennis McAvoy; George Richards, Electrician; and Josh Jackson, Electrician.
The Middleport Food Pantry on S. Vernon St., Middleport, next to St. Stephen’s Church, is open to area residents every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2022 at 3:18 pm
National Grid is reporting 4,433 of its customers in Orleans County are without electricity. That is 22.6 percent of National Grid’s 19,624 customers in the county.
The power company at 3:12 p.m. also is reporting 6,101 customers in Monroe are without power, 2,095 in Chautauqua, 19,178 in Erie, 1,719 in Genesee, and 995 in Niagara.
In Orleans there are outages throughout the county but the most widespread stretches from Kendall to Carlton, affecting 2,100 customers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2022 at 1:59 pm
A state of emergency and travel ban have been issued in Orleans County due to the blizzard conditions with punishing winds, icy roads and whiteout conditions.
Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, made the declaration for the state of emergency at noon.
No motorists should be on the roads except for plows, utility crews, fire department vehicles, EMS, law enforcement and hospital staff.
Johnson made the decision on the travel band and state of emergency after consulting with Sheriff Chris Bourke, Emergency Management Director Justin Niederhofer, County DPW Commissioner John Papponetti and County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch.
The traffic lights also are out on Maple Ridge Road between Route 63 and Salt Works Road, and a portion of Route 31 is currently closed between Mathes Road and East Barre Road while a multi-car accident is being cleared.
A blizzard warning started at 7 a.m. and remains in effect until 7 a.m. on Sunday for Orleans, Niagara, Erie and Genesee counties.
The National Weaher Service in Buffalo said winds could gust as high as 65 to 75 miles per hour today and tonight.
The blizzard conditions will last into Saturday night, with the wind chills as cold as 10 to 20 below 0.
Genesee, Niagara and Erie counties also have issued travel bans due to severe weather conditions.
This vehicle turns from Main Street to State Street in Albion this afternoon. At least one busy intersection in Medina doesn’t have working traffic lights due to a power outage.
Governor Hochul today signed a legislative package that will help New Yorkers prevent and treat substance use disorder.
“My administration is committed to working every day to fight substance use disorder and providing New Yorkers with further access to lifesaving resources, services and care,” Hochul said. “I am proud to sign this legislative package into law which will support countless New Yorkers struggling with addiction and save lives.”
Legislation S.5690/A.372 prohibits copay from being added to opioid treatment programs. Opioid treatment programs require treatment up to 6 times a week for up for 90 days, with frequent visits afterwards. Often times, a co-pay is required by many offices for these almost-daily visits, and this becomes a prohibitively expensive treatment as those costs add up. Prohibiting these costs will make the lifesaving service more accessible to New Yorkers who need it.
Legislation S.7378/A.8339 requires the Department of Health to publish reports on the department’s website detailing sales of opioids sold in the state. This increased transparency will be used by support programs operated by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). Programs operated by OASAS include opioid treatment, recovery, prevention, education, and the I-STOP program. This legislation will provide information to the public regarding the budget’s “Opioid Stewardship Fund” in combating the opioid overdose crisis, by requiring the data collected to be publicly available on the Department of Health’s website.
Legislation S.345/A.8419 will require the Office of Addiction Services and Supports to develop training materials for screening for alcoholism and chemical dependency. This will require the agency to utilize the evidence-based practice model known as Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) to identify behavioral patterns with at-risk substance users and in identifying those who are in need of more extensive, specialized treatment. The SBIRT model is used in many primary health care settings such as hospitals, outpatient clinics and private physician offices. This legislation will allow SBIRT to be used beyond the emergency room. By developing training materials, qualified health professionals can help to prepare health professionals to better respond to the challenges faced by substance users.
Legislation S.4640/A.273 requires doctors to consider non-opioid alternative treatments for patients experiencing pain before prescribing an opioid for pain relief. This will require both parties to discuss the alternatives before choosing an opioid prescription. Because opioids have become a common solution to pain treatment, one in four primary care patients experience some form of an opioid use disorder. By exploring all the options such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, or occupational therapy, the risks of opioid prescription, dependence and overdose can be avoided.
Legislation S.8633-A/A.9697-A will create a program that allows nightlife establishments to carry opioid antagonists and receive training. This will include bars, clubs, and restaurants and require specific guidelines for nightlife establishments to make narcan, naloxone, and other FDA-recognized opioid overdose treatments available for use free of charge and provide training for the use of these antagonists and how to address those situations.
