U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and a bipartisan group of senators announced agreement on gun safety legislation on Sunday that they said increases funding for school resource officers, enhances the review process for gun buyers under age 21, and includes a “reg flag” provision to help states keep guns from people determined to be a danger to themselves and others.

The legislation includes support from 10 Republican senators.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, D-NY, issued this statement: “Today’s announcement of a bipartisan gun-safety framework is a good first step to ending the persistent inaction to the gun violence epidemic that has plagued our country and terrorized our children for far too long. Once the text of this agreement is finalized, I will put this bill on the floor as soon as possible so that the Senate can act quickly to advance gun-safety legislation.

“As the author of the Brady-background checks bill, I am pleased that for the first time in nearly 30 years Congress is on the path to take meaningful action to address gun violence. I applaud Senators Chris Murphy, Kyrsten Sinema, John Cornyn, and Thom Tillis for their leadership in these discussions and the bipartisan group of Senators who worked in good faith to reach this agreement.

“This important legislation will limit the ability of potential mass shooters to quickly obtain assault rifles by establishing an enhanced background check process for gun purchasers under age 21, invest in the adoption and expansion of state red flag laws, close the boyfriend loophole, establish federal penalties for gun traffickers, and fund critical support services to help address our nation’s mental health crisis.

“After an unrelenting wave of gun-related suicides and homicides, including mass shootings, the Senate is poised to act on commonsense reforms to protect Americans where they live, where they shop, and where they learn. We must move swiftly to advance this legislation because if a single life can be saved it is worth the effort.”

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, issued this statement:

“The bipartisan gun safety announcement is an important step toward tackling the gun violence that plagues our communities, schools, hospitals and places of worship. Throughout my career, I have fought for legislation to strengthen background checks, combat gun trafficking up the Iron Pipeline, close the boyfriend loophole and fund mental health services— I’m grateful that this deal includes many of these important commonsense measures.

“I am proud of Senator Murphy, Senator Cornyn and the entire bipartisan group that worked together to craft this important package, and I look forward to working with them to get it through Congress and onto the President’s desk.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul issued this statement:

“News of the Senate bipartisan gun safety agreement represents an important step toward progress on combating the gun violence epidemic nationwide. I am proud that New York State is leading this effort — implementing new laws that will prevent those under 21 from acquiring semiautomatic rifles, keep guns away from dangerous people, provide new tools for law enforcement and protect our communities. This bipartisan agreement is a good start, and I urge our partners in Washington to follow our lead by advocating for even bolder and more substantive reforms. Lives depend on it.”

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 2, No. 21

MURRAY – June 10, 1933. A quiet Saturday night on Route 104 in rural Sandy Creek, in the Town of Murray.

Francis McAllister and his friend John W. Irvine Jr. sat inside McAllister’s gas station, chatting. Shortly after 11 p.m., a car traveling east pulled in and stopped. There were four occupants, two men in front, two girls in the back.

McAllister filled the tank with seven gallons of gas as requested and walked to the driver’s window for payment. Unbeknownst to him, the occupants had already bilked two gas station owners of payment for gas and cigarettes that evening on their joy ride in a car which they had stolen in Niagara Falls. The driver started to drive off as McAllister approached but he jumped on the running board and hung on. A shot rang out and McAllister fell to the road with a bullet in his lung.

John Irvine, seeing his stricken friend, gave pursuit, leaped onto the rear of the departing automobile and hung on precariously.

“McAllister was one of the best friends I had and I wanted to do something to catch the person who had shot him.”

He hoped to be able to signal a passing motorist for assistance. But the occupants of the car became aware of his presence. Three shots were fired through the rear window, the third hit him in the shoulder and he fell off.

Alfred J. Hackett, who was traveling toward Rochester came upon Irvine who told him about his injured friend. They went back to the gas station and brought McAllister to Arnold Gregory Hospital in Albion, where he died shortly after admission.

McAllister was survived by his wife, Helen and six children: John (9), Lorraine (8), Francis (7), Robert (5), Helen (3) and Mary (2). He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Holley.

Just fourteen years previously, on Sunday, June 1, 1919, six members of McAllister’s family had been killed in a horrendous automobile accident. They were returning to their Holley home from their farm on Ridge Road when they were struck by a high-speed B.L. & R. interurban car on the Fancher-Brockville railroad crossing. All of the occupants of the car were killed: McAllister’s parents, John (48) and Jennie (44), siblings: Vincent (15), Mary (13) and Sullivan (8) and his paternal aunt, Letitia Irwin (44).

An inquiry determined that the motorman of the trolley car was not at fault for the accident. Francis McAllister (21) and his brother John (18), who had both been in Buffalo that evening, were the only remaining members of the family.

Following the Sandy Creek shooting, police immediately mounted a determined search for the four occupants of the car. It was soon located in a garage in Niagara Falls. On June 28th Officer John Hagerman arrested the two girls Dolores Jean Klodiziek (18) and Sophie Czernowinski (17) in Niagara Falls. Based on information given by Klodiziek, the two men, Lorne Lally (18) and Angelo Presicci (21), were arrested on June 29th, also in Niagara Falls. The four were brought to Albion on June 30th, accompanied by Lieut. John Dietz and Officer John Hagerman and a police motorcycle escort.

They were arraigned before Willis Brightly, Justice of the Peace for the Town of Murray and were held at the Albion jail under the supervision of Sheriff Sydney Treble. Though court would not resume until early November, District Attorney William Munson chose not to summon a special grand jury or a special term of county court for the case, citing the expense to the county. Much to their dismay, the two girls were also held thorough the summer, as material witnesses. Judge Harcourt had set their bail at $10,000.

Lally, who had previously served time at the Elmira Reformatory for stealing an automobile in Niagara Falls, was charged with first degree murder for the fatal shooting of Francis McAllister. The trial was held before Supreme Court Justice Thomas H. Noonan in Albion on November 1, 1933. Since it was the first first-degree murder in Albion since the Stielow case in 1915, it attracted a large audience. Lally was represented by Milton J. Whedon and Russell Scharping of Medina. William Munson was District Attorney.

When questioned, Lally admitted to carrying the .32 caliber revolver with which McAllister was fatally wounded and Irvine injured but he denied that the shooting was premeditated.

“I shot without thinking much about it and I meant to hit him in the arm, though I couldn’t see him very good.”

When questioned about shooting Irvine, Lally said:

“I didn’t want to be caught in a stolen car and that was why I shot him.”

The jury found in favor of the lesser charge of second-degree murder, which spared him a possible death sentence.

When sentencing on November 4, 1933, Judge Noonan told Lally that he seemed to be a boy who had done little with the opportunities that had been given him. The judge imposed a sentence of not less than 20 years to life for the murder and 10 years additional for the use of the pistol. Lally was taken to Attica Prison.

The trial of Angelo Presicci on the charge of first-degree assault of John Irvine was held in Albion on November 14, 1933, before County Judge Bertram E. Harcourt. Testimony introduced by District Attorney William Munson charged that Presicci slowed the car so that Lally could get a better aim at Irvine. Presicci was represented by DeSilver and Edna Drew of Buffalo. He was found guilty and sentenced to 4 to 8 years at Attica Prison.

Orleans County supervisors had offered a reward of $500 for information leading to the arrests. This was divided between Officer George Hagerman of Niagara Falls who arrested the two girls on June 28th and Lieut. John J. Dietz, also of Niagara Falls who assisted. Dolores Jean Klodiziek was also included in the reward as she provided Hagerman with the information which led to the apprehension of Lally and Presicci.

Following Lally’s sentencing, his mother was heard to question the release of the two girls, saying “Are they going to be turned loose to ruin some other mother’s son?”

Information sourced from the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and the Buffalo Evening News, 1933, www.newspapers.com.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Abby Kipler plays the sousaphone for the Albion Purple Eage Marching Band on Saturday during the Strawberry Festival parade, which returned after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid.

There were nine bands in the parade, which started at the school at 10 a.m. and ended at 11:30 in the downtown.

Alektra Hess plays the saxophone for the Albion marching band. This year the theme for the band’s show is “For Peace, Justice, and Good,” which is a tribute to superheroes.

The Mark Time Marchers were back for the parade in Albion.

Rochester Scottish Pipes & Drums made their presence felt.

The Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Corps doesn’t shy away from a big drum line.

The Holley-Kendall Marching Band performed in the parade.

The Holley-Kndall band wears the colors from both schools. The band has grown in members this year.

The Hit Man from Rochester brought a big brass sound to the parade.

The White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps based in Dansville returned to Albion for the parade on Saturday.

The Pembroke Marching Dragons have been a parade mainstay for years.

These four rocked on this float to promote the upcoming Sumer Festival featuring Rock the Park on Aug. 6 at Bullard Park. Several bands will perform that day from Aug. 6. That event is dedicated in memory of Jonathan Doherty, who was an active community volunteer.

Pictured form left include Mike Whiting, Dylan DeSmit, Zack Burgess and Chad DeSmit.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Sheryl Watts is a Minion from the Despicable Me movie was a popular character in Albion’s Strawberry Festival parade on Saturday morning. The Minion was made of balloons from Air Raising Events. Watts is the owner and designer for that business.

She was one of 46 floats in the parade that started at 10 a.m. and ended at 11:30 a.m. The parade returned after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Dancing Derrick Bradley dressed in the Weed Man costume with a caravan of Weed Man trucks.

A big crowd lined Main Street for the parade. The procession started at the school district on Route 31 and then went north on Main Street to the Erie Canal.

Burger King’s mascot, the Burger King, waves to the crowd from a trailer during the parade.

Subway also had a costumed character in the parade.

Jeffrey Brown and Faith Bennett, both Albion High School seniors, wave to the spectators as the fair king and queen.

Colton Chappius tosses while sitting up high on some of his construction equipment.

Christine Nenni is dressed as a friendly bear in this display from Party Tyme Rentals.

The Barre Cubs acknowledge the crowd. The Cubs are back for another season in the Albion Midget League. The Cubs are one of five teams in the league this year. Barre also is an original team from when the league started in 1956.

The Girl Scouts joined the parade and encouraged local youth to be part of the organization.

U.S. veterans Ron Ayrault, left, and Mike Donahue march in the parade as the honor guard which also included Joe Gehl.

Erica Wanecski of Medina promotes the master gardener program at the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County.

Lori Laine tosses candy from a float for Frontier Heating & A/C Service. She is joined by her son Mike Laine, front left, and son-in-law Rex Harvey.

Kerry Panek gives some of her granddaughters a ride in style in a classic pickup truck.

This dachshund enjoys a breeze and all the action in the parade.

Judith Koehler and her husband Michael Bonafede were the honorary chairs of the parade. They have both volunteered for many years in the annual event.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The return of the Albion Strawberry Festival also meant the Amazing Turtle Race is back.

There were 1,000 rubber turtles unleashed (at a very slow speed) into the Erie Canal today just after 2 p.m.

The turtles are dumped from bins into the canal and the first five finishers earn cash prizes for people who hold the tickets to those turtles’ numbers. The turtles are numbered 1 to 1,000. The tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Proceeds go towards the Strawberry Festival.

Aubrey Kennedy wore the hot turtle costume during the parade and then at the turtle race. Mickey Edwards, the Albion school district superintendent, stands next to the Turtle. Edwards was picked to dump a bin of turtles into the canal.

Jarred Saj is recognized for being the top turtle ticket seller with 315 tickets sold.

Of the five winning tickets, Saj sold four of them.

Some of the honorary turtle bin dumpers included, from right, County Legislator Skip Draper, Albion Mayor Angel Javier Jr. and Albion Village Trustee Zack Burgess, Jarred Saj, Police Chief David Mogle, and Mickey Edwards, school district superintendent.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley again served as emcee for the race and called the action as the turtles trekked down the canal.

Jay Kovaelski collects the turtles from the chute in the canal.

The top five prizes went to:

• $500 – Donna Moore
• $300 – Jen Watts
• $100 – Maxine Gray
• $50 – Dan Conrad
• $50 – Dan Thurber

Anthones D. Mullen Jr.

LOCKPORT – The child reported missing in an Amber Alert earlier today has been located and is safe, while law enforcement looks for the girl’s father who abducted her, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office said.

The Sheriff’s Office issued the following news release:

Today at 7:55 a.m., the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a non-custodial abduction on Sweetwood Drive in the Town of Lockport.

Patrol received information that Anthones D. Mullen Jr., 37, unlawfully entered the apartment on Sweetwood Drive and removed a 10-month-old child, Royalty Mullen, who he had in common with the female living at that address.

Patrol was given information that Mullen left in a vehicle with the child. Patrols were able to locate the vehicle unoccupied in the Woodlands Manufactured Home Community in the Town of Lockport.

Patrol began canvassing the neighborhood looking for the suspect while an Amber Alert was issued for the missing child.  As patrol, along with several law enforcement partners, continued the search for the child and suspect, notification was received from Buffalo Police Department that they had the missing child in their custody.

The identification of the missing child was confirmed and Buffalo PD relayed that the child was received unharmed from a relative of the suspect.  The mother of the child was notified and was ultimately reunited with the child.

The investigation is continuing and the suspect is still being sought in connection with this incident. Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Anthones D. Mullen Jr. is asked to please contact Investigator Keith Hetrick at (716) 438-3335 or the NCSO Communications Center at (716) 438-3393.

A shot of Courthouse Square in downtown Albion with all seven historic churches that surround the square.

Let’s go on an adventure together….to the skies above Albion!

When I first met Ron in the early 1980s (other than vaguely knowing him in high school), he took me for a ride in his Cessna 150 to view the sunset over Lake Ontario at Point Breeze. It was our first date and my first time in a small plane. The view was spectacular and the ride was nice, but when it was over I got out and kissed the ground and swore I’d never get in it again. I broke that promise to myself a few times over the years. Ron is an excellent pilot and I always felt safe, but still felt a bit uneasy, and frankly queasy, about being in a small plane. 

I love taking photos of farmland from the air – farm fields are beautiful works of art.

Fast forward to recent years: Ron lives in North Carolina and flies up from time to time to visit friends and family in the area in his current plane – a Eurofox / Aerotrek light sport aircraft. I’m not sure if I’m getting braver in my older years or whether I was just craving an adventure during the Covid restrictions, but on one of his trips up in 2020 I asked him for a ride so I could get a few photos. And, now I make sure we find time to go up every time he’s here with his plane. I really enjoy being up in the air and looking over our beautiful county. And, of course, I take photos.

Getting good photos from an airplane isn’t as easy as it sounds. Things look very different from up there and at 500 or so feet up and roughly 100 mph, there isn’t really time to “frame” the shot, focus, and get the right perspective – hahaha. That first flight, I took my Nikon and big zoom lens with me to get photos. Turns out, it is really hard to see what I want to photograph through the lens and I kept either missing the target totally or it was super fuzzy. So after that, I decided to just use my iPhone and see how that worked. And – WOW – I started getting really good photos. I still had some missed targets or slight blurriness, but overall the photos turned out great.

Oak Orchard Lighthouse at Point Breeze on Lake Ontario.

I was so excited when I got home after that first flight in May 2020 and downloaded the photos I took. I had just randomly snapped photos of downtown and I discovered I actually captured the entire Historic Courthouse Square – including ALL SEVEN historic churches that surround the square in one clear shot! I’ve included the photo in this article. As you look at the photo, you’ll see the Orleans County Courthouse is just right of center. Then, looking clockwise starting with the tall steeple just left of center is the First Presbyterian Church, continuing to the right is the former Presbyterian Manse and then you’ll see the former United Methodist Church (now North Point Chapel), across from that is a white building – the Free Methodist Church, far right center across the parking lot behind the courthouse is the Pullman Universalist Church, bottom center is the Holy Family / St. Joe’s Catholic Church and the First Baptist Church to its left, and finally, Christ Episcopal Church is the square bell tower directly across from the courthouse. What an awesome capture….I’ll admit I did a little happy dance when I saw it!

The only thing visible in Mt Albion Cemetery from the air are trees and the Soldiers & Sailors Monument Tower.

I love seeing all our amazing farmland from the air. The patterns in the plowed soil and crops are beautiful works of art. I also love all the waterways we have in our county – the lakes, the rivers, the waterfalls….stunning! And, as Ron says, no flight around are area is complete without a fly-over the Oak Orchard River and Lake Ontario at Point Breeze. It is also really fun to try to locate specific points of interest and the homes of friends and family – not always easy because, like I said, things look really different up there.

In the last couple of years, I’ve been flying with Ron four times. We have been all around Albion, Point Breeze, along the shoreline to Kendall, over Medina, and more. Last year, we even flew to Letchworth State Park. I was sure that was going to be amazing from the air. But, sadly due to the tree cover, it is so much more impressive from the ground. But, I still got some really nice photos of the gorge and the dam and we’re really glad we flew over it. We talked about maybe flying over Niagara Falls next time if the weather and timing cooperates.

I love our town and the surrounding area. There is so much beauty and history here – you just need to pay attention and look around. But, man….it’s a whole new level of amazing from a small plane and a cell phone camera! 

I have lots of photos that I have shared on my blog in various posts from each flight. I hope you’ll check out all of the links below and see what I see when I’m in the skies above Albion.

May 2020

September 2020

May 2021 Including Letchworth

May 2022

Happy Adventuring!
Kim

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Jessica Sardina wears the Strawberry costume during today’s Albion Strawberry Festival 5K/8K race.

Sardina lives in California and is visiting family in Medina. She is a third-grade teacher who relished the role as The Strawberry, waving to spectators and encouraging the runners during the race.

About 200 people completed the race this morning, an event organized by Bert Gallman and Wolfpack Multisport.

Adam Grillo and his daughter Lena, 10, of Albion round the corner at Ingersoll Street and East State Street in the home stretch of the race.

Steve LaLonde, center, of Albion ran the race with his daughter Joyce and her fiancé Nate Birnbaun of Washington, D.C.

Jason Smith, the former Lyndonville school superintendent, finishes the 8-kilometer race. Smith is a regular at the local races. He now is superintendent of Batavia schools.

Alden Cayea of Medina, third from right in blue shorts won the 5K.

Photos from Niagara County Sheriff’s Office

Editor’s Note (3:42 p.m.) – The Amber Alert has been cancelled and the child is safe and is currently in police custody.

An Amber Alert has been issued for a 10-month-old girl from Lockport.

The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is trying to locate Royalty Mullen, who the Sheriff’s Office said was taken unlawfully by her father from Sweetwood Drive in the Town of Lockport.

Anthones Mullen, top left, is described as a described as a 37-year-old Black man standing 5’5″ tall and weighing about 165 pounds. he was last wearing a brown top with blue jeans.

Royalty was last seen in a long-sleeve blue onesie. She is about 2 feet tall and weighs 20 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

If the father and child are spotted or if anyone has information on their whereabouts, please call 911.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Bill Pileggi and The Triple Play Band performed in the food court this evening at the Albion Strawberry Festival.

There are four different spots for musicians during the festival, which continues on Saturday.

Pileggi and his group perform pop, rock, country and blues music spanning four decades with music from Johnny Cash to Jimmy Buffett to Creedence Clearwater Revival.

The Albion Music Boosters served up strawberry shortcakes and sundaes in a booth outside the First Presbyterian Church of Albion. Pictured form left include Roseanne Allen, Annalise Steier and Audrey Pask.

The Kendall Community Band performed by the courthouse.

The festival returned after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions and concerns. This is the 34^th time for the festival in Albion.

Train rides are offered down Main Street and around the festival grounds.

The action resumes on Saturday until 8 p.m. The parade will be at 10 a.m.

Simulation of crash at Albion school intended to help students make choices to stay safe

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Hannah Coolbaugh, an Albion High School senior, portrays an injured student during a crash simulation this morning at the Albion High School parking lot.

The Albion Police Department, Albion Fire Department, COVA Ambulance, County Coroner Scott Schmidt and the District Attorney’s Office worked together to send a message about the dangers of driving drunk or impaired by drugs.

Albion has its prom tonight at Hickory Ridge Country Club with many graduation parties planned this summer.

Albion firefighters removed the top of a car to extricate injured students in the crash. Gallo’s Performance Auto in Brockport donated the cars for the crash simulation.

Myles Miller portrayed the drunk driver. After some field sobriety tests and a breathalyzer, she was led into an Albion patrol car by officers Dillon Black and Nathaniel Staines.

Leah Kania is on a stretcher and led to a COVA Ambulance.

Tracy Ford is overcome after seeing his son Rowan in a body bag. Ford said after that he was “wobbly” trying to walk after seeing his son and hearing the other students screaming.

He said it has been an emotional few days since his son told him he would be portraying the student who dies in the simulation.

The school set up bleachers for members of the senior class to see the simulation in the parking lot this morning.

After the crash simulation, students were in the LGI were the saw a mock arraignment. District Attorney Joe Cardone, center, is joined by Assistant DA Susan Howard and Albion Town Justice Joe Fuller.

Myles Miller is led into the “courtroom” and is wearing jail-issued clothing. She was charged with DWI and aggravated vehicular homicide. Cardone said the vehicular homicide charge carries a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Fuller, the town judge, set bail at $50,000 in cash or $75,000 bond. Fuller also issued orders of protection for the surviving victims.

Cardone said the seniors have worked very hard in their lives to get to the point of being so close to graduation.

“You can often be defined in your life by a bad decision, something that happens over 5 minutes in your life,” he said.

He cautioned the students from using alcohol and marijuana, which is illegal at their age. It can affect their judgement, and could lead to reckless actions out of their character.

Albion Police Chief David Mogle addressed the group and urged them to call 911 if they need a safe ride home.

“We’re not there to get people in trouble,” Mogle said about the police. “We’re there to save a life.”

Mary Wright, a prevention educator for GCASA, holds a Red Watch banner. That encourages the students to watch out for each and help someone who has had too much to drink or if they are incapacitated from drugs or other substances.

Wright said students are entering a season of celebrations – prom, graduation, grad parties – and many people tend to drink too much at those events.

“We want you to have a good time at the prom but we want you to be safe and responsible,” she said.

Students should pay close attention if a friend looks pale, blue-ish or losing consciousness. If that happens, they should get that person help and call 911.

“You need to respect their life and step up for them,” she said.

Jeffrey Brown portrays one of the students today who was injured in the drunken driving crash.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Fred Nesbitt cooks hot dogs in a booth run by the Albion Rotary Club and Cobblestone Museum. They are in the food court on East Bank Street. The food court opened at 11 a.m. and continues until 9 p.m. today, and then again on Saturday as part of the 34^th Albion Strawberry Festival.

The festival is back this year after being derailed by Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021.

There are many arts and craft vendors at the courthouse lawn, and service organizations and businesses selling food and beverages in the food court.

There also will be several groups performing live music during the two days at the courthouse, and at the east and west end of the food court.

Today’s music schedule includes Warren Paul from 1 to 3 p.m., Mike McCauley from 3 to 5 p.m., MAC from 5 to 7 p.m., the Kendall Community Band from 5 to 7 p.m., Triple Play from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Ryan and Scott Acoustic Duo from 7 to 9 p.m.

Saturday includes more live music, a 5K/8K at 8 a.m., car cruise-in from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., parade at 10 a.m., basketball tournament beginning at 12:30 p.m., and turtle race at 2 p.m.

Some of the other activities include a “Pie in the Face,” I Got It, bounce houses, trackless train rides, magician, face painting and balloon clown.

Scott Daniels is shown with some of the T-shirts being sold from the Towpath Trading Post, which runs the Ormemes Post on Facebook and Instagram.

Daniels and his friends, Freeman Lattin and Kyle Thaine, have been creating satirical posts about Orleans County and Western New York for five years. He is wearing a shirt for the Lake Alice Bridge Diving Team. They are also selling stickers.

They are many other vendors at the courthouse lawn selling merchandise.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – About 1,000 rubber turtles will “race” on Saturday in the return of the Albion Strawberry Festival.

Volunteers have been selling tickets, and organizing the turtles, which are numbered from 1 to 1,000, for the big race.

Becky Karls, right, is the chairwoman of the event. She is joined on Thursday evening by volunteers Kathleen Bates and Mike Bonnewell.

They are sorting the turtles in the conference room of the Arnold Gregory Office Building.

The sale of the tickets – $5 each or 5 for $20 – is a fundraiser that goes back to helping pay for the festival.

Jarred Saj is the top turtle ticket seller, setting a new personal record with 315 tickets sold.

Mike Bonnewell, a member of the Albion Rotary Club, checks the turtles. Many of the tickets have already been sold. Those turtles with those ticket numbers are being setting aside in bins.

Other turtles that haven’t had their numbers sold yet will be set aside and still be available to be sold.

Tickets can be purchased from Karls today on the courthouse lawn and also at a spot in the downtown. Karls will be there up until 7 p.m. today. The tickets can still be purchased on Saturday until 12:30 p.m.

The race is at 2 p.m. with the turtles tossed into the Ere Canal from the Main Street lift bridge.

The top five turtles to finish a trek down the canal earn prize money with $500 for first place, $300 for second, $100 for third, and $50 for both fourth and fifth.