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Purported bonfire from Feb. 25 on South Lake Road in Pembroke rekindles

By Billie Owens

Pembroke and Indian Falls firefighters were called tonight to a rekindle of a fire that was reported as a controlled burn in the wee hours of Feb. 25. It's at  8854 S. Lake Road, Pembroke. The crews had to back later that morning for a rekindle, and now they're at it again. 

For the original post, click here.

Reader submitted photos.

Pembroke boys fall to Geneseo 42-40

By Destin Danser

For the first time in school history, the Pembroke Dragons varsity boys entered the first round of sections as the #1 seed.

The #8 ranked Geneseo Blue Devils entered the game with an upset in mind, and made a strong showing on defense by holding the high-scoring pembroke offense to just 40 points. Pembroke's top scorer, Zach Vonkramer, was held to just 10 points on the game, while Geneseo's Kyle Rollins put up 17 points for the Blue Devils. 

Photos by Destin Danser Photography. Click Here to view complete gallery or purchase prints. 

Firefighters in Pembroke called out twice to what was reported as a controlled burn

By Howard B. Owens

Firefighters from Pembroke, Indian Falls and Corfu have been dispatched for a second time this morning to 8854 S. Lake Road, Pembroke, for a fire.

The first call was at 1:54 a.m. for the report of a controlled burn.

A person on social media posted about the fire. He said, "What I learned tonight 12 gallons of gas on a big bonfire will get the whole fire department to come and put it out." He later added, "thank you to Pembroke Fire Department, you guys rock."

Reader-submitted photos and info.

UPDATE: Pembroke firefighters returned later in the day for overhaul of the scene (reader submitted photos):

Pembroke girls eliminated by Geneseo in first round of sectionals

By Destin Danser

The Pembroke Lady Dragons varsity basketball team traveled to Geneseo Wednesday night to compete for a chance to advance in the 2017 Sectional Championships.

It was clear from the start that Pembroke didn't have an answer for the strong offense and accurate shooting of Geneseo. The statistics make this abundantly clear; Pembroke's top scorer was MacKenzie Jurek with just eight points while Geneseo's Kaity Keihl scored 17 points.

In the end the Lady Dragons fell 62-26 and were eliminted, ending their season.

Photos by Destin Danser Photography. Click here to view complete gallery and purchase prints. 

Pembroke and Akron volunteer firefighters trained together Monday night

By Billie Owens

Submitted photos and press release:

Pembroke Fire District and Akron Fire Company joined forces Feb. 20th to train on each other's equipment.

Chief Jamie Waff, of Pembroke, and Chief Todd Pfeiffer, of Akron, stressed the importance of teamwork between neighboring departments, especially during calls where mutual aid is required, such as with structure fires and MCIs.

Both departments look forward to continued training in the future. Volunteer fire departments statewide are in urgent need of members. Please consider volunteering today!

Firefighters called to rekindling of house fire on Alleghany Road

By Billie Owens

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are called to the scene of the house fire which broke out late Thursday afternoon at 8006 Alleghany Road, Indian Falls. Dispatch says a passerby reported seeing flames coming from the second story of what remains of the structure.

UPDATE 1:25 a.m.: Pembroke command requests a tanker from both East Pembroke and Corfu to the scene and reports about 25 percent of the remaining structure is ablaze.

UPDATE 1:36 a.m.: The call has gone to a second alarm. Tankers from Darien and Alabama are requested to the scene.

UPDATE: Rekindle photos submitted by a reader.

Volunteers battle house fire on Route 77 in Indian Falls

By Howard B. Owens

The cause of a fire that destroyed a house in Alabama where an elderly man was living has yet to be determined.

The fire at 8006 Alleghany Road, Indian Falls, was called in shortly after 5 p.m. with smoke and flames showing from the back of the residence.

Pembroke Chief Jamie Waff said dispatchers received several calls reporting flames showing, so the fire immediately went to a second alarm with Town of Batavia, Darien, Corfu and Alabama joining Pembroke, Indian Falls and the Town of Batavia's Fast Team joining the initial response. East Pembroke, Akron, Newstead and Oakfield were also toned out later.

"With manpower issues during the day, right at five, along with the fire, we went right to a second alarm for manpower," Waff said.

The wind from the southwest quickly pushed the fire from the rear of the house to the front.

The resident reportedly kept a lot of items in the house and the first firefighters in found the back of the second floor piled with garbage bags filled with stuff, so the firefighters were initially pulled out until the situation could be better assessed for their safety.

The resident, who was outside when firefighters arrived, was placed in a patrol vehicle after deputies arrived on scene so he could stay warm. The deputy requested a medic to check him for possible smoke inhalation. 

There was a dog and some cats inside the residence, but Waff didn't know the status of the animals at the time we talked.

House fire reported on Alleghany Road, Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

A house fire, with flames showing in the rear, is reported at 8006 Alleghany Road, Pembroke.

Pembroke and Indian Falls dispatched along with the City of Batavia Fast Team.

UPDATE 5:17 p.m.: Working structure fire. Additional response from Town of Batavia, Darien, Corfu and Alabama.

UPDATE 7:15 p.m.: I just returned from the scene of the fire. At the time I left, smoke and a small bit of flame were still showing, but firefighters seemed to have things under control, though it was looking like the fire could continue in that condition for some time. An older man lived in the house and was placed in a deputy's car for warmth until an ambulance arrived to check him for possible smoke inhalation. The fire spread from the back of the house to the front and got into the attic. A dog escaped the fire, we're told, but the status of cats living in the house is unknown. More later tonight with photos, probably in a separate post from this one.

UPDATE: Reader submitted photos.

Grand Jury: Woman indicted for Pembroke burglary, man accused of having more than a pound of pot in Pembroke

By Billie Owens

Amelia R. Witkowski is indicted on the crime of second-degree burglary, a Class C violent felony. It is alleged that on Jan. 29, 2016, that Witkowski knowingly entered or remained unlawfully in a dwelling on Main Road in the Town of Pembroke with the intent to commit a crime. In count two, she is accused of the crime of making a punishable false written statement, a Class A misdemeanor. In count two, it is alleged that Witkowski knowingly made a false statement on Jan. 30, 2016, in the Town of Pembroke, which she did not believe to be true, in a legally authorized written instrument, which noted that false statements made therein are punishable.

Scott T. McCoy is indicted on the crime of criminal possession of marijuana in the second degree, a Class D felony. It is alleged that on July 27 in the Town of Pembroke that McCoy knowingly and unlawfully possessed one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing marijuana and these were of an aggregate weight of more than 16 ounces (1 pound).

Pembroke Fire District hosts first awards and installation dinner in about 20 years

By Howard B. Owens

David Olsen was named Firefighter of the Year for the Pembroke Fire District at the district's awards and installation dinner last night at Quality Inn & Suites in Batavia.

It's the first such dinner for the Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments in about 20 years.

Kevin Ross was named EMS Provider of the Year, but he was unable to attend.

The officers for 2017 are:

  • Firematic: Chief, Jamie Waff; Assistant Chief, Edwin Mileham Jr.; Assistant Chief, Greg Warren; Assistant Chief, James Garrett; Assistant Chief, Ed Swiatowy; EMS Captain-Pembroke, Kevin Ross; EMS Captain-Indian Falls, Lu Anne Mileham; Line Captain-Pembroke, Peter Sformo; Fire Police Captain-Indian Falls, Lu Anne Mileham; Training Officer, Colby Sanner;
  • Administrative officers for Pembroke: President, Greg Warren; Vice President, Randi Garrett; Secretary, Rachel Reiss; Treasurer, Brenda Swiatowy;
  • Administrative officers for Indian Falls: President, George Klotzbach; Vice President, Lu Anne Mileham; Secretary, Andrew Dibble; Treasurer, Lu Anne Mileham;
  • Directors: Brenda Swiatowy, Ed Swiatowy, Greg Warren, Autumn Waff, Randi Garrett, James Garrett, Tyler Smith, Amanda Smith;
  • Commissioners: Ron Tyx, Chairman, Heidi Librock; Secretary/Treasurer, Norm Waff; Jim Reinhardt, Colby Sanner, and Adam Schafer.

Chief Jamie Waff received an Award of Appreciation for his years of service to the district.

Pembroke defeats Oakfield 59-57

By Destin Danser

The visiting Pembroke Dragons defeated the Oakfield Hornets Monday in a game that was hard fought to the bitter end. The first half ended tied at 26 and both teams traded baskets through the second half, leading to a 57-57 tie with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game. Pembroke went on to score two points with just over 20 seconds left on the clock, followed by a huge stop on defense to secure the Dragons' victory. 

Leading scorers for Pembroke were #15 Kyle Ludwig (pictured above) with 14 points, and #10 Ried Miano (pictured below) with 13 points. 

Photos by Destin Danser Photography. Click here to view more and purchase photos.

Search for missing woman with local ties

By Howard B. Owens

A local mother is desperate to find her missing daughter and even though the daughter is missing in Miami, she's turned to local law enforcement, the local media and local residents to ask for help.

Alexis Say, 22, has been missing in Miami since Monday when she was last seen at an area emergency room.

Say lived in Indian Falls when she was 10, but mother, Jennifer, and daughter have lived in other parts of the country in the intervening years for work before moving to Miami.

When Alexis went missing, her mother, who has moved back to Indian Falls, tried to file a missing persons report in Miami and ran into some difficulty, so she turned to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

Deputy Chad Cummings took the report, according to Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble. Cummings then placed several phone calls to the Miami PD before finally successfully getting an investigation opened there.

Alexis Say is reportedly in poor health.  

Perhaps you know people in the Miami area or have other information that may assist in the investigation. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (585) 343-5000.

Here is a Facebook Page with more information.

Law and Order: Driver reportedly found sleeping in car on Route 20, Darien

By Howard B. Owens

Nicholas Benjamin Wall, 26, of Dodgeson Road, Alexander, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and being stopped/standing or parked on a highway. At 12:09 a.m., Deputy Ryan Young and Deputy Jeremy McClellan were dispatched to 1954 Broadway, Darien, for a report of a driver slumped over the steering wheel. Deputies report finding the defendant sleeping in the vehicle with the vehicle in reverse. 

Tony Robert Hoag, 49, of Shacktown Mountain Road, New Berlin, is charged with unlawful possession of untaxed cigarettes, criminal tax fraud and obstructed plate. Hoag was allegedly found in possession of 14,400 untaxed cigarettes during a traffic stop for alleged violations at 11:25 a.m. Friday by Deputy Travis DeMuth.

Photos: Vehicle off the road in Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

About 40 minutes ago a vehicle was reported off the road along Phelps Road in Pembroke.

There were two adults and three children in the vehicle, no injuries  

A pole was taken down and the pole damaged a nearby building.

Pembroke, Indian Falls, Mercy EMS, and Sheriff's deputies responded.

UPDATE Monday: The driver is identified as Ashley C. Crance, 29, of Searls Road, Byron. The driver reported being fatigued and didn't remember what happened. It appears the driver failed to negotiate a curve in Phelps Road, causing the vehicle to continue westbound off the roadway where it struck a utility pole and continued down an embankment where it overturned. A section of pole struck a nearby building, damaging the building. The accident was investigated by Deputy Richard Schildwaster.

Reader submitted photos.

Photos: Corfu-Pembroke Winterfest

By Howard B. Owens

K-9 Destro was right at the front door to greet me when I arrived today at the annual Winterfest in Corfu today, held for the first time at the Pembroke Middle School.

Elba girls defeat Pembroke 51-36

By Destin Danser

Despite the 15-point differential in the final score, this game was a nail-biter through the first three quarters. Pembroke lead by 2 at half time; however, Elba's defense came up big, holding the Dragons to just 11 points in the second half.

Leading scorers for Elba were Emily Reynolds with 21 points and 15 rebounds, and Madison Howard with nine points.

Elba has now won 14 games in a row.

Photos by Destin Danser. Click Here to view more and purchase prints.

Photos: Garage fire on Pratt Road, Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

At about 11 a.m., Larry Abaire was working in his rented garage at 2369 Pratt Road, Pembroke, removing parts from a junked car when something sparked a fire in the detached gas tank.  He tried using three fire extinguishers to put out the fire, but it wasn't enough to stop the fire from spreading quickly.

He lost $200,000 in tools, which were uninsured.

The fire spread to another attached garage and neighbors who had their ATVs and snowmobiles stored there were able to get those vehicles out before the fire reached that structure. 

"Nobody got hurt, that's what matters," Abaire said.

East Pembroke Fire Chief Don Newton said the fire was "blowing out the front" of the building when crews arrived on scene and there wasn't much left to save.

Previously: Barn fire reported on Pratt Road

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