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Tractor-trailer rollover reported in Elba

By Howard B. Owens

A tractor-trailer accident is reported in the area of 7990 Oak Orchard Road, Elba.

A first responder says the truck is well off the road in a field.

No word on injuries.

Elba fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Reminder: Support volunteer firefighters -- queue up for some 'cue Sunday in Elba and/or South Byron

By Billie Owens

Don't forget to support these two volunteer fire departments on Sunday, Oct. 25, when each will offer drive-thru chicken BBQ to raise money for their respective departments in a year when opportunities to do so have been few and far between.

ELBA

A drive-thru chicken barbecue to benefit the Elba Volunteer Fire Department will be held on Sunday, Oct. 25 at the fire rec hall on Route 98 in Elba.

It starts at 11:30 a.m. and goes until sold out. Cost is $12.

Coronavirus protocols will be observed. Please wear a face mask and remain in your vehicle.

"Because of the (COVID-19) shutdown, last month was the first chicken barbecue we held this year," said an organizer, Barbie Starowitz. "It's sold out so fast! Now that we can be outside again we wanted to do another one. We're hoping for a nice (weather) day."

The address of Elba Firemen's Recreation Hall is 7143 Oak Orchard Road (Route 98). 

SOUTH BYRON

There will be a chicken BBQ fundraiser for the South Byron Volunteer Fire Company beginning at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 until sold out.

It will be held on a drive-thru basis at the fire hall, located at 7389 Route 237 in South Byron.

Cost is $12 per person.

Please wear a face mask and remain in vehicle.

Turkey Dinner Sunday OCT 18 Byron Presbyterian Church

By James Renfrew

Annual Turkey Dinner, this Sunday, Oct. 18th

11 am to 2pm
Byron Presbyterian Church, Main St. Byron

Drive thru only. Please access church entrance from Terry St.!
Follow the turkey signs.

$10/dinner. Turkey dinner w/ all the trimmings!

Turkey Dinner Sunday OCT 18 Byron Presbyterian Church

By James Renfrew

Annual Turkey Dinner, this Sunday, Oct. 18th

11 am to 2pm
Byron Presbyterian Church, Main St. Byron

Drive thru only. Please access church entrance from Terry St.!
Follow the turkey signs.

$10/dinner. Turkey dinner w/ all the trimmings!

Mark Your Calendar: Drive-thru chicken BBQ fundraiser at Elba Firemen's Rec Hall Oct. 25

By Billie Owens

A drive-thru chicken barbecue to benefit the Elba Volunteer Fire Department will be held on Sunday, Oct. 25 at the fire rec hall on Route 98 in Elba.

It starts at 11:30 a.m. and goes until sold out. Cost is $12.

Coronavirus protocols will be observed. Please wear a face mask and remain in your vehicle.

"Because of the (COVID-19) shutdown, last month was the first chicken barbecue we held this year," said an organizer, Barbie Starowitz, of Star Growers Farm LLC. "It sold out so fast! Now that we can be outside again we wanted to do another one. We're hoping for a nice (weather) day."

The address of Elba Firemen's Recreation Hall is 7143 Oak Orchard Road (Route 98).

Buffalo State welcomes eight new Bengals from Genesee County to Class of 2024

By Billie Owens

Buffalo State is pleased to welcome the Class of 2024 to campus. The new Bengals started class on Aug. 31, 2020.

  • Clayton Allen, of Le Roy 
  • Lukas Cochran, of Batavia 
  • Morgan Harrington, of Elba 
  • Tyler Keller, of Corfu 
  • Benjamin Paserk, of Batavia
  • Samuel Pringle, of Bergen 
  • Kristina Simon, of Oakfield 
  • Brianna Smith, of Oakfield

Buffalo State is a State University of New York (SUNY) college located in Buffalo. The college offers 79 undergraduate majors as well as many minors and certificate programs. Every year, thousands of students benefit from Buffalo State's community engagement, hands-on learning opportunities, and affordable SUNY tuition. Buffalo State also offers more than 60 graduate programs.

One new COVID-19 case reported in Genesee County, person in their 50s residing in Elba

By Press Release

New Cases – As of 2 p.m. 

  • Genesee County received one new positive case of COVID-19.
    • The new positive case resides in Elba.
    • The positive individual is in their 50s.
    • The individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
    • One of the previous positive individuals has recovered and has been released from isolation. 
    • One of the positive individuals is hospitalized.
    • Currently, there are two active positive students at the Elba Central School District.
  • Orleans County received two new positive cases of COVID-19.
    • The new positive cases reside in Murray.
    • One of the individuals is in their 20s and one individual is in their 30s. 
    • One individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
    • Two of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been released from isolation.
    • Seventeen new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Three more students at Elba High School test positive for COVID-19

By Press Release

Press release:

“The Genesee County Health Department has received three additional positive COVID-19 tests from students at Elba High School,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health director for Genesee and Orleans counties. “The individuals have been placed under mandatory isolation where they will remain until they are fully recovered.”

The Genesee County Department of Health is conducting contact tracing that is in process. Students and/or staff will be notified and placed under quarantine if they were identified as a close contact. Contacts will be expected to follow the New York State Department of Health quarantine guidelines

“The district is continuing its collaboration with the Genesee County HealthDepartment in identifying close contacts and testing symptomatic students,” said Ned Dale, superintendent of Elba Central School District. “We ask parents to be aware of COVID-19 symptoms and contact your child’s healthcare provider immediately if symptoms appear.”

Symptoms of COVID-19 include but are not limited to: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.

For information on school statistics, please visit the New York State COVID-19 Report Card.

Another Elba student tests positive for COVID-19

By Press Release

Press release:

“The Genesee County Health Department has received an additional positive COVID-19 test from an Elba High School student,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health director for Genesee and Orleans counties. “The individual has been placed under mandatory isolation where they will remain until they are fully recovered.”

The Genesee County Department of Health is conducting contact tracing that is in process. Students and/or staff will be notified and placed under quarantine if they were identified as a close contact.

"As mentioned earlier in the week, individuals identified by the health department as being close contacts will be expected to follow the New York State Department of Health quarantine guidelines," Pettit said.

“Students and staff who are symptomatic will be tested for COVID-19 in collaboration with the Genesee County Health Department,” said Ned Dale, superintendent of Elba Central School District. “The school will be conducting 100-percent remote learning through Monday, Oct. 12. In-person learning through the hybrid model is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020.”

Symptoms of COVID-19 include but are not limited to: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.

For information on school statistics, please visit the New York State COVID- 19 Report Card.

Five new COVID cases reported, two under 20, in Elba, Oakfield, Alabama

By Press Release

Press release:

  • Genesee County received five new positive cases of COVID-19.
    • The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Elba, and Oakfield.
    • Two of the individuals are between the ages of 0-20, one is in their 20s, one is in their 30s, and one is in their 60s.
    • The individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
    • Fourteen new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
    • One of the positive individuals is hospitalized.
       
  • Orleans County received zero new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • Nine new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

O-A freshman and his dad bring home some trophies from regional trapshooting competition

By Billie Owens

Photos and information from Casey Luttrell:

Oakfield-Alabama High School freshman Chase Luttrell (top photo) won three trophies at the Amateur Trapshooting Association's Northeastern Grand Trapshooting Competition, held in Bridgeport Sept. 17 to 19.

The 14-year-old competed in the Sub Junior class (age 14 and under). He is coached by his father, Casey Luttrell, and Elba resident Kevin Rombaut, a teacher in the Elba Central School District.

Chase shoots a Beretta A400 multi-target 12-gauge shotgun as well as a Browning model 725.

He was named Sub Junior Singles* Champion with a high score of 89 on Friday of the competition. 

He was the Sub Junior Handicap** event runner-up with a 67.

"The scores are usually higher than this but it was kind of a rough weather day up there with some nasty wind, so all scores were lower than usual," Casey Luttrell says.

In the contest that Saturday, Singles Championship Day, Chase earned the title of Sub Junior Champion with a 178/200 and again "the weather was dicey with wind affecting the targets pretty good."

Chase shot an 85/100 in the morning and came back with a 93/100 in the afternoon for a combined score of 178/200 to win his Sub Junior class.

"His normal gun, the Beretta, was malfunctioning in the morning so that's when he switched to the Browning over/under that he had never shot before and started shooting the lights out," Casey Luttrell said. "I was very proud of him because that is a difficult thing to do.

"Picking up a gun you have never shot before and shooting it well enough to win is above and beyond my expectations for him as his father and coach."

Both father and son won in their class in Singles Championship Day.

"I thought that was pretty cool," Chase's dad said. "I won AAA class, which is the highest classification you can achieve as a shooter with a 197/200. I also won AAA class on Thursday (Sept. 17) with a 99/100. So we did great as a father and son duo and brought home some hardware to add to the trophy case."

Casey started teaching Chase about a year and a half ago, using the knowledge accumulated in his 29 years of experience as a competitive shooter in the ATA and in local leagues.

"He has improved greatly month after month," says the proud parent.

Chase also plays basketball and is a member of the Oakfield/Elba junior/senior trapshooting team.

*Singles event means shooting from the 16-yard line.

**Handicap event is shooting from a yard line that is farther back. The farther back you get, the more difficult it is.

Below, Chase and Casey Luttrell, each with a trophy they won in their respective classes at the ATA Northeastern Grand Trapshooting Competition, and their trapshooting rifles.

Health Alert: three students test positive for COVID-19 in Elba Central School District

By Press Release

Health Alert

From the Genesee County Health Department:

The Genesee County Health Department has received three positive cases of COVID-19 from students at Elba Central School District. There is one case at the Elementary School and two cases in the High School.

The individuals have been placed under mandatory isolation where they will remain until they are fully recovered.

One individual was last present in the building on Sept. 15th and two individuals were last present in the building on Sept. 17th. The Genesee County Department of Health is conducting contact tracing that is in process. Students and/or staff will be notified and placed under quarantine if they were identified as a close contact.

"Individuals identified by the health department as being close contacts will be expected to follow the New York State Department of Health quarantine guidelines," said Paul Pettit, Public Health director for Genesee and Orleans County.

Ned Dale, superintendent of Elba Central School District said “Due to the number of contacts out of abundance of caution the school will be going remote though Friday, October 2, 2020. In person learning is planned to resume on Monday, October 5, 2020.

"Please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep children home if they are sick," Pettit said. "If your child does develop symptoms, please contact your child’s healthcare provider immediately.”

Symptoms of COVID-19 include but are not limited to: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.

For information on school statistics, please visit the New York State COVID -- “Healthy People in a Healthy Community."

Trio of students complete internships and earn degrees from Canisius College

By Billie Owens

More than 200 Canisius College students recently concluded their summer internship programs, as part of their academic studies.

As defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, an internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting.

The students who participated in and recently completed internship programs are:

Thomas Kubiniec, of Batavia, from the Canisius College Class of 2020. Kubiniec earned a degree in Biology and completed an internship with PEPID.

Hannah Schaber, of Corfu, from the Canisius College Class of 2020. Schaber earned a degree in Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation and completed an internship with SPCA Serving Erie County.

Luca Zambito, of Elba, from the Canisius College Class of 2020. Zambito earned a degree in Finance/Economics and completed an internship with Landmark Wealth Management.

At Canisius College, the Griff Center for Student Success supports professional internship programs that focus on quality, engagement and professionalism. The Griff Center works as a liaison with local and national employers to provide students with professional learning experiences outside of the classroom, so that students may apply what they're learning in the classrom and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths.

The Griff Center also makes available Handshake, a free portal which students can use to connect to thousands of organizations looking to hire Canisius graduates for positions in Western New York and nationwide. Additionally, the Griff Center plays host to Griff Fair, an annual career and internship event held each spring for students.

One of 27 Jesuit universities in the nation, Canisius is the premier private university in Western New York.

Photos: Old Hippies and What About Jane perform in Elba

By Howard B. Owens

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The Old Hippies and What About Jane teamed up Saturday for an evening of memorable music as part of a summer concert series sponsored by the Elba Betterment Committee in the Elba Village Park.

Food venders included Dubby's Wood Fired Pizza (pictured below), Los Compadres, Lori's Delectable Edibles (desserts), and Bubble Tea.

The final concert of the season will be Wednesday featuring the Corfu Pembroke Community Band in an All-American-themed evening that will include the Betterment Committee hot dogs and hamburgs and serving Mom's apple pie. And, of course, there will be ice cream. Showtime is 7 p.m.

Photos by Kelly Dudley. 

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Video: The Batavian Sessions: What About Jane, 'Gentle On My Mind'

By Howard B. Owens
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We made this video in August when What About Jane performed in the Elba Village Park as part of the Elba Betterment Committee's summer concert series. The band will be back this Saturday with the Old Hippies for a double-bill End of Summer concert starting at 4 p.m.

There will be an FM radio broadcast (92.7) so concertgoers can sit in their cars, to help maintain social distancing, and listen to the show. It will also be livestreamed.

Food trucks will include Dubby's Wood Fired Pizza, Los Compadres, Lori's Delectable Edibles (desserts), and Bubble Tea.

Donations for the bands will be accepted. The event has been approved by the Health Department.

Old Hippies and What About Jane double bill in Elba on Sept. 12

By Howard B. Owens

The Old Hippies and What About Jane are teaming up for a special concert, sponsored by the Elba Betterment Committee, in Elba from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 12.

The concert will be livestreamed and it will also be broadcast on FM radio so people can come to the park and site in their vehicle. Erakare Productions will record the entire concert for future release.

There will be food trucks at the Village Park. 

Bill McDonald, of the Old Hippies, said the Health Department has approved the plans for the concert.

"There will be plenty of spacing for parking and sitting for this end-of-summer event for many to enjoy in a number of ways," McDonald said.

The video below of What About Jane playing "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." 

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Mercy Flight called to accident on Quaker Hill Road in Elba

By Billie Owens

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A two-vehicle collision is reported at 6124 Quaker Hill Road in Elba, just north of Ridge Road. A vehicle is in a ditch on both sides of the roadway and there's debris in the roadway. Elba Fire Department is on scene along with two Mercy rigs. Mercy Flight in Batavia is called to the scene. One person complains of back, neck and wrist pain; another has a severe laceration. Fire police are called to shut down Route 98 at Ridge Road, and Route 98 at Quaker Hill Road.

UPDATE 4:49 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 4:50 p.m.: Both patients have been extricated.

UPDATE 4:52 p.m.: A third patient is a sign-off. One patient is being transported by ground ambulance to ECMC.

UPDATE (information via Alecia Kaus/Video News Service): According to the Elba Fire Department, the driver and the passenger in the red pickup were transported to ECMC. One via Mercy Flight, and one via ground ambulance. The driver of the white vehicle was being checked out on scene.

State Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

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Rochester man sentenced to 20 years in prison for three bank robberies, including one in Elba in 2016

By Press Release

Press release:

ROCHESTER -- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. announced today that Terrance Rainey, 35, of Rochester, who was convicted of bank robbery by use of a dangerous weapon, was sentenced to serve 240 months -- or 20 years -- in prison by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer.

The defendant was also ordered to pay $30,208 in restitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who handled the case, stated that on May 25, 2016, Rainey and codefendant Latrell Parson robbed the First Niagara Bank on Winton Road in Henrietta.

The two men entered the bank, and Parson approached the teller, pointed an air pistol that appeared to be a semiautomatic handgun at her, handed her a bag and ordered her to fill it with money.

At the same time, Rainey held the other bank employees at gunpoint with an air pistol that appeared to be a semiautomatic handgun. The teller complied with Parson’s demand, and Parson and the defendant then exited the bank and drove away in a vehicle.

They then set fire to that car in the back parking lot of a bowling alley on Jefferson Road in Rochester.

On July 14, Rainey and Parson robbed the Chase Bank on State Route 31 in Macedon. The defendant and Parson entered the bank wearing hooded sweatshirts, masks, and gloves, each brandishing a semiautomatic pistol, and ordered bank employees to get on the floor.

Parson handed a bag to a teller and demanded that money be placed in the bag. The teller complied and Parson and the defendant then fled the bank in a SUV. Parson and Rainey then abandoned that vehicle behind a plaza adjacent to the bank.

On Oct. 18, 2016, Rainey and Parson robbed the M&T Bank located on Oak Orchard Road in Elba. The two men entered the bank wearing hooded sweatshirts with face coverings and gloves, and pointed handguns at the employees.

Parson threw a bag to one of the bank employees, ordering her to fill it with cash. The teller complied, and Parson and the defendant took the money and fled the bank, got into a car, and drove away. They then pulled into a vacant lot, switched vehicles, and left the area.

Latrell Parson was previously convicted and sentenced to serve 141 months in prison, or 11 years and nine months.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State police, under the direction of Acting Major Barry Chase; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff William A. Sheron Jr.; the Macedon Police Department, under the direction of Chief John P. Colella; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.

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