east pembroke

It's going to be a whole new ball game at the East Pembroke Mud Races this year.

After a nearly $10,000 renovation to the mud pit, organizers expect the races to be more fair, more competitive and safer.

The event, sponsored by the East Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department, has attracted a huge fan base over the years, but last year the old pit was showing some of its flaws, with racers in the left lane usually losing races because of sink holes in that lane.

"This is our biggest event and biggest fundraiser of the year and we want to make it as good as we can so we can keep going with it and keep building on it," said Dale Lewter, who has been helping supervise the changes.

The mud pit is all new for 2012, having been dug out, bedded with large stones, filled with smaller stones, paved with a layer of asphalt and then covered with sifted clay (removing all stones as a safety measure).

"We’re trying to make both lanes as even as can be and right now it looks like it will be that way," Lewter said.

A new water filling and drainage system will also allow officials to keep the mud more consistently mud and less like a pond filled with water.

The race is Saturday, with registration from 10 a.m. to noon. As always, there will be the Mud Queen scramble through the pit and the Outlaw Class race. Spectator admission is $11 or $15 for the pit, and racing registration is $15. Raffle prizes include a 2012 Polaris Sportsman 500 CC, a 2012 Polaris Outlaw 50cc and $3,500 cash.

Lewter asked that we be sure to include the East Pembroke Fire Department's thanks to its sponsors.

Top photo: Dale Lewter with youngest son Jarrett Lewter, and next to him son Mitchell Lewter, along with Julie Waldron and Destin Danser.

A one-car rollover accident with four occupants still inside is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 393.7. Unknown injuries. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:33 p.m.: The vehicle landed on its roof and it's actually on the shoulder of Harloff Road. One person remains trapped inside. There are multiple cars pulled over near the accident scene.

UPDATE 7:36 p.m.: Two adults and two infants were in the car, with one adult still inside. A second ambulance is called along with traffic control.

UPDATE 7:51 p.m.: The driver is being transported to Erie County Medical Center.

UPDATE 8:01 p.m.: The babies are being transported to Women's & Children's Hospital in Buffalo.

UPDATE 8:07 p.m.: East Pembroke is back in service.

Deputies are responding to East Pembroke where a U.S. Border Patrol helicopter has reportedly spotted people cultivating marijuana.

One person reportedly saw the helicopter and ducked into a house.

Two other people are reportedly pulling plants into a barn and there is some concern they are trying to destroy the evidence.

A white sedan with a sunroof was reported leaving the property and a deputy has located the car.

Other deputies are responding to the scene.

One suspect is carrying plants to the residence.

An older model red SUV has reportedly left the property.

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: The subject in the white car reported that he left because they were pulling the plants. Another subject is in custody. The red SUV has not been stopped yet.

UPDATE 10:41 p.m.: I inadvertently failed to publish to the home page when it was breaking. I just returned from the scene. Three people taken into custody. More info and pictures coming.

Route 33 is being shut down at Angling Road for an ATV vs. gas meter accident with a possible gas leak.

East Pembroke Fire Department on scene. Corfu fire police responding for road closure.

UPDATE 10:22 p.m.: All houses from the east of the incident location have been evacuated.

A car is reportedly in a ditch at Brown and Wilkinson roads, unknown injuries, and a power line was taken down as a result. Emergency responders are told to proceed with caution. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 8:29 p.m.: The caller states the vehicle has one occupant. The high-tension wires are across the roadway and it is "completely blocked." A train close to or crossing Wilkinson Road is stopped. The driver has head injuries and Mercy Flight and a landing zone set-up are requested. But Mercy Flight says there's no Batavia bird available; checking on Buffalo now.

UPDATE 8:36 p.m.: The driver has serious injuries. A brother is on scene. National Grid is notified.

UPDATE 8:43 p.m.: A Mercy Flight helicopter is expected to arrive from Canandaigua in about five minutes.

UPDATE 8:46 p.m.: The helicopter is expected any second now. It will land north of Brown Road, on the east side of that road. Fire police are on scene also.

UPDATE 8:49 p.m.: National Grid is on scene.

UPDATE 9:04 p.m.: The patient is described as a 52 41-year-old male who was thrown from the vehicle and has symptons consistent with a serious head injury.

UPDATE 9:28 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

A 4-wheeler accident with injuries is reported a 3808 Pearl St. Road in the Town of Batavia. Mercy EMS and East Pembroke Fire Department are responding.

UPDATE 7:17 p.m.: East Pembroke's fire equipment is being held in quarters. The ambulance is continuing.

UPDATE 7:29 p.m.: No word on injuries. The assignment is back in service.

A roll-off metal scrap bin is on fire at Eddy Arnold Scrap Processors, Inc., located at 2216 Angling Road in Corfu. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding. The bin is next to the office.

UPDATE 5:53 p.m.: The fire is out. They are checking for hot spots.

UPDATE 6:05 p.m.: East Pembroke is back in service.

A one-vehicle rollover accident, unknown injuries, is reported at mile marker 397 on the westbound Thruway. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:31 p.m.: Responders on scene report there's nothing found. The single call may have been about a disabled semi roadside. After midnight, a tractor-trailer accident was reported near the location. It landed on its roof and dumped its cargo of bananas. Since then, the semi has been uprighted, but remains roadside until its tow is available, which is expected within the next 24 hours. Responders to this call are returning to quarters.

A red Jeep with its brakes on fire is reported off Boyce Road, near Route 5. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 12:16 p.m.: The fire is out.

UPDATE 12:23 p.m.: East Pembroke is back in service. A tow truck is en route.

A garage fire, with heavy smoke showing, is reported at 33 Pearl St. City fire is responding. It's now a second alarm.

UPDATE 1:42 p.m.: A responder on scene says the fire is fully involved. There are no people inside. There is some fire exposure to an adjacent structure. Alexander's Fast Team is called to the scene and the Town of Batavia will send a fire crew to fill in at the city station. Two mercy rigs are called in case needed.

UPDATE 1:45 p.m.: Now they are saying people are believed to be still inside the structure on the second floor.

UPDATE 1:49 p.m.: Elba's "Cascade" is called to the scene.

UPDATE 1:50 p.m.: The fire has spread to the house. The location is between Franklin Street and Brooklyn Avenue.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: The fire inside has been knocked down.

UPDATE 1:54 p.m.: A truck at the site is also on fire.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: They've confirmed that there's no one inside the structure. National Grid is called to the scene.

UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: They checked for extension into the small attic. There is smoke and heat, but no flames.

UPDATE 2:16 p.m.: The Salvation Army is called to provide cold drinks at the scene.

UPDATE 2:22 p.m.: Power to the structure has been disconnected. The American Red Cross is called to provide housing for five adults.

UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: City command reports that the fire is under control.

UUPDATE 2:41 p.m.: Three cats and one puppy are unaccounted for. The three cats lived in the downstairs unit and the puppy lived in the upper apartment, where the fire extension occurred.

UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: The cats are actually kittens, and two of the three have been rescued.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: All three cats have been rescued -- only two were kittens. No word still on the pup.

UPDATE 3:16 p.m.: Residents of the building say more than five people lived there. They say five lived upstairs, three lived downstairs and two in the basement. The fire started in the garage. Two people are being interviewed at the police station.

UPDATE 3:27 p.m.: Town of Batavia and Elba are back in service, and so is East Pembroke, which filled in at the town's station.

UPDATE 4:03 p.m. (by Howard): As of about 20 minutes ago, the puppy had not been located. It's a 10-week-old chihuahua.

UPDATE 4:16 p.m. (by Howard): City building inspector requested to the scene.

UPDATE 4:25 p.m.: Ladder 15 and Engine 12 are back in service. Others from city station remain at the scene to continue their investigation. The code enforcement officer is there. Regretably, the puppy was found. He didn't make it.

A caller on the Thruway reports seeing large flames in the area north of Pratt Road near Powers Road.

East Pembroke is being dispatched to investigate.

UPDATE: All equipment being held in quarters. The chief has received a call reporting a controlled burn.

UPDATE 11:34 p.m.: East Pembroke back in service.

A car has crashed into a guard rail on the eastbound Thruway. There are injuries. The site is at mile marker 397. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE: Photo submitted by Tom Schneider.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at 2337 W. Main Road (Route 5). East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The location is between Indian Falls Road and West Avenue.

UPDATE 3:35 p.m.: A responder on scene says injuries appear to be minor. State police are responding. Fire police are requested to control traffic.

UPDATE 3:38 p.m.: A second ambulance is requested. The injuries are confirmed to be minor. There are two adults and two children involved.

UPDATE 4:01 p.m.: All units clear. Back in service. Mercy is transporting a 3-week-old girl to UMMC for evaluation. She does not have any apparent injuries. She was strapped in a rear-facing car seat at the time of the crash. The car she was riding in was stopped behind a school bus when it was struck from behind, speed unknown, but the car was not damaged. An elderly woman is also being taken to UMMC for evaluation, primarily due to her age.

A two-car accident with one injury is reported at Indian Falls and Cleveland roads. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 5:57 p.m.: The accident is not blocking traffic and the vehicles involved are off the roadway. Law enforcement is en route.

UPDATE 6:23 p.m.: A pair of tow trucks are on scene. One of the vehicles is a commercial vehicle.

UPDATE 6:27 p.m.: A 24-year-old male, with no complaints of pain, is being transported to UMMC. He is backboarded and collared as a precaution.

UPDATE 6:47 p.m.: A 49-year-old male is also being taken to UMMC and is said to have some bruising and seat belt rash.

A grass fire is reported on the north side of the Thruway by mile marker 394, in front of Area 51 Motocross Prack. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 4:58 p.m.: As firefighters discussed how best to get to the grass fire, the NY Thruway Authority notified the dispatch center that the blaze is off the Thruway and cannot be accessed by driving down Harloff Road where the motocross park is because there's a fence blocking access to the Thruway.

Saturday, May 5, at the East Pembroke Fire Hall pavilion, Austin's Army will be holding a benefit for Austin Heineman (son of Jason Heineman and Jamie (McGiveron) Wasielewski). Austin is an 18-year-old Pembroke High School senior who was recently diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of childhood cancer.

The benefit runs from 4 to 11 p.m. and the fire hall is located at 2623 W. Main Road, East Pembroke.

There will be Chinese and silent auctions and side raffles. Some of the raffle items are a 32" flat-screen TV, a Sabres Jersey signed by 15 of the players, an X-Box and Kinect package, four Adirondack chairs, a large primitive hutch and three signed Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys (#7 Michael Vick, #10 DeSean Jackson, #24 Ninamdi Asomugha).

Entertainment will be provided by local bands Unruly and Mr. Hand. There is no entry fee. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.  

All proceeds from the benefit are to help offset costs not covered by health insurance. Donations are welcome and may be sent to Austin’s Army, c/o First Niagara Bank, Batavia NY 14020.

A 17-year-old male lost consciousness and reportedly suffered a back injury following a dirt-bike accident at Area 51. He is now alert. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The motocross track is located at 3323 Harloff Road in the Town of Batavia.

UPDATE 2:32 p.m.: Medics on scene have requested Mercy Flight. Dispatch says Mercy Flight is checking the weather, supposedly there are storms approaching, to determine if a helicopter can fly in. The patient will be transported to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: Mercy Flight 5 out of Batavia is going to launch. Indications are there may be weather issues flying to Buffalo. That's still being determined, but "they can fly the other way if necessary." East Pembroke is to establish at landing zone at Area 51.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: Mercy Flight 5 has landed.

UPDATE 2:52 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne. The destination is still not certain, but the plan is to go to ECMC.

UPDATE 2:54 p.m.: Mercy Flight has the green light to go to ECMC in Buffalo.