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Notre Dame/Alexander athletes have strong showing at sectional meet

By Press Release

Press release:

Notre Dame/Alexander competed at their sectional meet on Sunday at Nazareth. Jadyn Mullen placed first in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 9.20 and 1st in the 600 with a time of 1:39.71. Shannon Schmieder placed second in the 55-meter dash with a new personal best of

John Leslie Mullins

By Lisa Ace
John Mullins

We Have Lost a Cowboy.

The family of John Mullins (89) of Elba NY invites you to his Celebration of Life service at 11am Saturday, May 25, with calling hours 5-8 pm Friday, May 24, at Batavia First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia NY 14020. Burial will be in Western New York National
Cemetery in Corfu, N.Y., at a later date.
John Leslie Mullins was born September 4, 1934, in Antelope County, Nebraska to William and Vida Chase Mullins. He died March 28, 2024, at his son’s home in Fort Myers, Florida, with his family at his side. He graduated from Plainview High, where he was on the 1951 State championship football team. John was also involved with FFA and 4-H and won his first Stetson hat showing his champion hog. John was destined to be a cowboy for life. He owned horses and was wearing cowboy boots in high school and his senior research project was on Appaloosas. When he joined the National Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) as a lifetime member in 1952, he was member #360.

In 1955 he joined the US Army and was a welder with an armored infantry unit in Fort Polk in Louisiana, and Fort Sam Houston in Texas. During off duty hours he would get to know the local Appaloosa owners and show their horses. At the 1958 San Antonio Stock Show he won the Championship Appaloosa Stake race on Chief of Fourmile, who was later inducted into the ApHC Hall of Fame. In 1999 Breyer model horse #752, the limited edition of Chief of Fourmile has a picture of John Mullins riding him at that show. After his time in the army he returned to work at the Pitzer Quarter Horse Ranch in Ericson, Nebraska, and started his training career. He bought an Appaloosa mare named Navajo Turquoise of AA and bred her to the Pitzer’s AQHA
stallion, Little Fob, and the resulting foal in 1962 was Little Navajo Joe.

In 1962 John made the move to the Acomb’s Farm outside Stafford, New York, to work with their Appaloosas. In 1963 he married Cleo Murphy of Norfolk, Nebraska, and she started her career at the VA hospital in Batavia as a medical technologist. In 1964 they bought property in Elba, New York to begin John’s training and breeding business. At one time they had 44 horses on their farm. He was also an approved Appaloosa judge. It was a joy to John that his twins, Susan and Douglas, both rode and competed in 4-H and Appaloosa shows. John trained Little Navajo Joe and started showing him and won 35 Grand Championships at halter and over 50 High-Point End of Year awards. Little Navajo Joe and John competed in western pleasure, reining, and game classes. With John riding as jockey they also won a flat race out of the gate. John and Little Navajo Joe have been credited with “playing a starring role” in spreading the popularity of the Appaloosas east of the Mississippi River during the 1960s. Little Navajo Joe was inducted into the ApHC Stallion Hall of Fame in 2000.
John taught riding for many years and in some cases several generations in the same family. He was active in the Genesee 4-H horse program by being on the advisory board, judging shows and holding clinics at the farm. In later years he would find a place on the top seat in the bleacher to take pictures of the 4-H horse contestants at the Genesee Co. Fair and then give the pictures to 4-H to view at their end of year program. The last few years, he took pictures from his walker.
John Mullins loved life, his faith as a lifelong Methodist, enjoyed nature, photography, traveled to all of the states and other countries, also collected minerals and gems and liked people. His favorite song was “the Last Cowboy.” John is survived by his wife, Cleo, and his twins, Douglas Mullins and Susan Calandra, grandchildren, Lauren and John Calandra, his sister, Margaret Shoemaker, brother, Jim Mullins, cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family and a huge list of close friends that made life special every day. He was predeceased in death by brother, Lyle Mullins.

Memorials may be made to Genesee Co. 4-H Horse Program, 420 East Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or Batavia First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia NY 14020.

John Mullins

In 1955 he joined the US Army and was a welder with an armored infantry unit in Fort Polk in Louisiana, and Fort Sam Houston in Texas. During off duty hours he would get to know the local Appaloosa owners and show their horses. At the 1958 San Antonio Stock Show he won the Championship Appaloosa Stake race on Chief of Fourmile, who was later inducted into the ApHC Hall of Fame. In 1999 Breyer model horse #752, the limited edition of Chief of Fourmile has a picture of John Mullins riding him at that show. After his time in the army he returned to work at the Pitzer Quarter Horse Ranch in Ericson, Nebraska, and started his training career. He bought an Appaloosa mare named Navajo Turquoise of AA and bred her to the Pitzer’s AQHA stallion, Little Fob, and the resulting foal in 1962 was Little Navajo Joe.

In 1962 John made the move to the Acomb’s Farm outside Stafford, New York, to work with their Appaloosas. In 1963 he married Cleo Murphy of Norfolk, Nebraska, and she started her career at the VA hospital in Batavia as a medical technologist. In 1964 they bought property in Elba, New York to begin John’s training and breeding business. At one time they had 44 horses on their farm. He was also an approved Appaloosa judge. It was a joy to John that his twins, Susan and Douglas, both rode and competed in 4-H and Appaloosa shows. John trained Little Navajo Joe and started showing him and won 35 Grand Championships at halter and over 50 High-Point End of Year awards. Little Navajo Joe and John competed in western pleasure, reining, and game classes. With John riding as jockey they also won a flat race out of the gate. John and Little Navajo Joe have been credited with “playing a starring role” in spreading the popularity of the Appaloosas east of the Mississippi River during the 1960s. Little Navajo Joe was inducted into the ApHC Stallion Hall of Fame in 2000.

John taught riding for many years and in some cases several generations in the same family. He was active in the Genesee 4-H horse program by being on the advisory board, judging shows and holding clinics at the farm. In later years he would find a place on the top seat in the bleacher to take pictures of the 4-H horse contestants at the Genesee Co. Fair and then give the pictures to 4-H to view at their end of year program. The last few years, he took pictures from his walker.

John Mullins loved life, his faith as a lifelong Methodist, enjoyed nature, photography, traveled to all of the states and other countries, also collected minerals and gems and liked people. His favorite song was “the Last Cowboy.”

John is survived by his wife, Cleo, and his twins, Douglas Mullins and Susan Calandra, grandchildren, Lauren and John Calandra, his sister, Margaret Shoemaker, brother, Jim Mullins, cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family and a huge list of close friends that made life special every day. He was predeceased in death by brother, Lyle Mullins.

Memorials may be made to Genesee Co. 4-H Horse Program, 420 East Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or the Batavia First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia NY 14020.

Calling hours will be held at the Batavia First United Methodist Church on May 24th 5-8 PM and May 25th 10-11 AM. His Celebration of Life will also be held at the Batavia First United Methodist Church on May 25th at 11 AM. The burial will be at the Western New York National Cemetery in Corfu, New York at a later date.

Batavia out swings Canandaigua in opening innings to win 20-5

By Steve Ognibene
Excited Batavia bench, bringing in two runs early in first inning that carried the momentum to victory.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Excited Batavia bench, bringing in two runs early in first inning that carried the momentum to victory.  Photo by Steve Ognibene

The Batavia Blue Devils hammered Canandaigua on Friday, pounding out 20 runs in the first four innings, securing a 20-5 win.

Jakob Hutchins tossed evening innings, giving up seven hits, walking two and recording nine Ks.  

Offensively: 

  • Cole Grazioplene, 4-5,  4 runs, 2 stolen bases, 3 RBIs
  • Dane

Vincent L. DeMuth

By Lisa Ace


Longtime Juneau resident Vincent L. DeMuth passed away unexpectedly on the afternoon of January 23, 2023. He was born in Buffalo, New York on January 10th, 1939, and was the son of the late Arthur P. and Catherine (Marzolf) DeMuth. He attended school at Notre Dame in Batavia, New York and spent his childhood and early adult life in Darien Center, New York.

As a young man, he worked for the DeMuth-Marzolf Company in Darien Center, New York, which was a general store that also sold fuel, lumber and operated a feed and grain mill. Later, the company also became a distributer and service center for Petrolane Gas Co. and also started DeMuth Tire Sales. Vince managed the propane gas business, his brother Joe DeMuth managed the tire sales, and their mother was the company president who managed the overall company operations.

His father passed away when Vince was only 6 years old, so he grew up fishing and hunting with his cousins and many other longtime friends from his time in New York. As a young man, he dreamed of living in Alaska where the beauty and opportunities for fishing and hunting were legendary. In 1974, he made his dream a reality when he drove his family cross-country to Bellingham, Washington and took the Alaska State Ferry to Juneau, Alaska.

In Juneau, he initially worked for Petrolane Gas Co. but eventually switched to work for the State of Alaska as a maintenance mechanic at the Lemon Creek Correction Facility where he worked until his eventual retirement.

Although he enjoyed many hours in the field and had many great hunting memories, he truly loved being out on the water fishing from his boat and taking in the beauty and sounds of Alaska. He landed many big fish during his lifetime including the 1988 Golden North Salmon Derby Winner and again in 1989 when he helped a friend land the derby winner on his boat. He also loved to travel and ventured to many places throughout Europe, Asia and across the US with his sweetheart Phyllis.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Arthur and Catherine DeMuth and brothers Arthur W. DeMuth and Joseph L. DeMuth. He is survived by his wife Phyllis (Atkins) DeMuth, former spouse Karen (Hoy) Balduf, sister Joan Ansbrow (late James); children Chris (Becky) DeMuth, John (Andrea) DeMuth, Wendy Balduf, Renee (Ron) Mullen, Jennifer Warner, Todd (Alice) Nottingham, and Lori Nottingham (Dale Sams); grandchildren Travis (Olivia), Larissa (Jeff), Kieran, Citabria, Britney, DJ, Lindsey (Chris), Josh, Bailey, Morgan (Kyle), Rian (Jimmy) and Wesley (Scott); and many great-grandchildren.

Vince always had a smile on his face and was a great friend to many who benefitted from him being a prolific "pack rat" and a regular listener to the radio program "Problem Corner" were he acquired many great "deals" and treasures over the years. Most of all, he was a patient, loving man who was a wonderful husband, father, grandpa, mentor and role model whom we miss dearly. 

Celebration of life on Feb 19th 10:00 am at the Alabama Firehall on Rt. 63. Catholic Mass being held on February  25th and March 4th both at 7:00 PM at the Our Lady of Good Councel church  in Darien
Center

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