indian falls

Two males were observed going into the gorge area of Indian Falls near the Log Cabin restaurant on Gilmore Road. They entered on the same side of the gorge as the restaurant. Sheriff's deputies are responding.

Two East Pembroke volunteer firefighters risked their lives Thursday night to rescue a 17-year-old boy from East Seneca who fell from a cliff face at Indian Falls.

The youth landed on a rock ledge 10 feet above the water's surface and was stuck and hurting.

With the Tonawanda River swollen with springtime runoff the water was deep and moving fast.

Don Newton, East Pembroke's chief, and Stephen Smelski, an assistant chief, and both members of the department's water rescue team, acted quickly to reach the teen.

"We were fighting the water the whole way to just even get to him," Smelski said. "The undertow in that area is tremendous. We had to fight just to get to the area where we could get to him and talk with him."

When Newton and Smelski got close to the boy they could see his legs were shaking from exposure to the cold water.

"We didn't know how much longer he could hold on," Smelski said.

Ideally, the rescue should have been a four-man operation, but Newton and Smelski decided there was no time to wait for additional rescuers to enter the water.

"Don made decision to swim to him," Smelski added. "He had one path to him. One chance to make it. He pushed off. I pushed off with him. He was able to swim to the rock ledge to get to the patient and I stayed back in case he lost it or if the patient were to come out of his arms, then I could catch him and bring him back."

Newton told the boy the he would need to make his own way from the 10-foot high ledge he was on down to a second ledge, and from there, slide down into Newton's arms and relax.

"I told him that with the swiftness of the water, if he struggled with me, we would both be dead," Newton said. "At that point, I've got to have all the control of him and my line tender has got to have control of me."

Both Newton and Smelski praised the work of the rope team, who helped keep the two rescuers safe and then safely pulled the teen to safety.

In all, more than 60 emergency responders, including other volunteers, assisted in the rescue of Matthew J. Kwiatkowski, of Pinewood Drive, East Senaca.

It was a major operation, said Bill Schutt, a coordinator with Emergency Management, because the high water and swift current of the Tonawanda this time of year.

Kwiatkowski suffered as yet undetermined injuries and was flown by Mercy Flight to ECMC.

He was at the Falls with friends Brandon T. Briley, 18, of Center Road, West Seneca, William D. Fowler, 18, of Pheasant Lane, Cheektowaga, and Adam Hawco, 17, of Center Road, West Seneca.

The four other youths were able to climb to safety after the accident.

Charges may be pending against one or more of the individuals.

Schutt said the youth's adventure tied up a lot of the county's resources for about two hours and put other people's lives at risk.

"It's extremely dangerous," Schutt said. "It looks like it's fun and it's fun when everything goes well. When something goes bad then obviously it's not fun, but it puts everybody at risk."

Responding to the scene were the Sheriff's Office, Emergency Management, Indian Falls, Pembroke, East Pembroke and Alabama fire departments. Alden's rescue team and Mercy EMS also assisted at the scene.

A man complains of back pain after falling on the north side of the Indian Falls behind the Log Cabin Restaurant on Gilmore Road. He is said to be "struggling a bit" in the water, according to the caller, and fell at the bottom of the falls. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding and Mercy Flight is on standby.

UPDATE 8:39 p.m.: A rope rescue extrication team is called in. A responder on scene says it looks like a male and a female are in need of rescue. They are "in the middle of the flow" and it is pretty heavy. The extrication process is expected to be lengthy. Extrication will be made from the southside, where the creek water is moving slower, and the operations headquarters will be in the Log Cabin restaurant parking lot. "It looks likes there's one patient down there holding onto the rocks."

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: "The male is in the middle of the falls at the base and anyone coming in, I'd like to have water suits on." Law enforcement is called in. Another victim has fallen approximately 40 yards into the creek in a futile attempt to rescue the distressed parties. Now he is in need of rescue.

UPDATE 8:52 p.m.: Alden's Water Rope Rescue Team is called and is responding. The second victim at top of the falls is out, and both victims at the bottom of the falls are now upright.

UPDATE 8:56 p.m.: Emergency responders are staging in the restaurant parking lot at 1227 Gilmore Road, Corfu.

UPDATE 9:01 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called in.

UPDATE 9:17 p.m.: Alabama Fire Department Rescue is to handle the Mercy Flight staging, which will be at the Indian Falls Methodist Church, located at 7908 Alleghany Road, Corfu. The helicopter is to land in a grass field there.

UPDATE 9:32 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 10:09 p.m.: Those in need of rescue from the swift water of the falls are being brought up to within reach of the emergency crews. Pembroke went back in service at about 9:57 p.m.

UPDATE 10:15 p.m.: "The patient is topside."

UPDATE 10:32 p.m.: Alabama reports that Mercy Flight is in the air, heading to Erie County Medical Center.

UPDATE 10:36 p.m.: Alabama is back in service.

UPDATE 10:46 p.m.: "...all equipment from down below is now topside." The remaining responders are picking up their gear and preparing to return to service.

UPDATE 11:05 p.m.: All responders are in service.

A passerby reported flames coming from a chimney at 856 Genesee St. in Corfu. Corfu, City of Batavia Fire Department's Fast Team along with Darien, Pembroke, East Pembroke, and Indian Falls are called to the scene. First responders confirm flames shooting from the chimney.

UPDATE 11:46 p.m.: Only Corfu and Darien are told to continue to the scene. Akron and Crittenden, the Fast Team and the others are cancelled. An infrared camera and a ladder to access the side of the house are requested.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on Knapp Road. A woman has back and facial injuries. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics and law enforcement.

UPDATE 4:13 p.m.: The 62-year-old victim was roadside, getting mail out of her mailbox, when her vehicle was reared-ended. The vehicle which struck her's sustained heavy front-end damage and left the scene. Erie County has been notified to be on the lookout for the vehicle (didn't hear what kind), since the victim's home is close to the county line. The driver of the vehicle which left the scene is said to be an older man wearing a hat. Indian Falls was told to stand down.

UPDATE 4:21 p.m.: The victim's daughter, 42, was also in the vehicle and they are now inside the residence, complaining of lower back pain but able to walk around. Both will be transported to a hospital, but responders weren't yet sure which hospital.

A two-car injury accident is reported at routes 5 and 77. Indian Falls Fire Department is called along with Mercy medics. Mercy Flight will not be available.

UPDATE 9:09 p.m.: Mercy Flight is not needed. National Grid is notified that an intersection light "has been knocked off the pole," although the pole is intact. The wires are low-hanging.

UPDATE 9:12 p.m.: Fire police are called for traffic control. Pembroke fire is assisting at the scene. An ambulance is requested to be expedited. Chest pain and the possibility of fractured ribs are reported.

UPDATE 9:28 p.m.: A second ambulance, from Darien, is requested to provide mutual aid.

UPDATE 9:49 p.m.: Darien is transporting a patient to UMMC.

UPDATE Sunday, 11:30 a.m.: State Police investigated the accident. Here's the information available at this time. Matthew Weatherbee, 28, allegedly ran a red light. The other driver was Joshua Phillips, 20. Both were transported to ECMC.

I left the house early this morning looking for snow-related photos.

I started at Centennial Park and grabbed this picture of the gate at the Rowell Mansion flocked in snow.

Tree on Lockport Road, east of Albion Road

Same spot on Lockport Road, other side of the street

Ledge Road and Alleghany Road, Alabama

Indian Falls

There are two motor-vehicle accidents on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 401. There are no injuries reported for the one in the eastbound lane, which involves a red Jaguar. The one in the westbound lane resulted in a minor injury. Mercy medics are responding along with Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments.

UPDATE 10:50 a.m.: A second ambulance is requested and assistance for traffic control. The Jag has major front-end damage and is on the bridge over Route 77, which is said to be extremely slick and cars are traveling on it too fast. A third car has slid on the bridge.

UPDATE 10:57 a.m.: The state DOT has salt and maintenance trucks headed to the bridge.

UPDATE 11:14 a.m.: Two patients are being taken to UMMC.

UPDATE 11:22 a.m.: The patients headed to UMMC have minor injuries. One is a 49-year-old female, the other is an 18-year-old male.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: Indian Falls is leaving the scene and so is the State Trooper.

UPDATE 11:27 a.m.: Pembroke command calls for an ambulance at the top of the ramp of the Pembroke exit off the Thruway for an accident in which a person has neck and back pain.

UPDATE 11:55 a.m.: The person with neck and back pain is a 42-year-old male who is being taken to UMMC.

UPDATE 11:56 a.m.: The Pembroke assignment is back in service.

A fire in the woods is reported off Pratt Road. East Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding. A firefighter on scene says "It looks like it's going pretty good."

UPDATE 11:22 a.m.: From as best as I can glean, this is a four-wheeler or some other piece of equipment which caught fire at the rear of a property in some grass, near a tree line. Firefighters will use fire extinguishers to put it out.

UPDATE 11:30 a.m.: The crews are back in service.

A motorcyclist is down, and possibly unconscious on the roadway, at westbound on-ramp 48A of the Thruway. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics. Mercy Flight, en route to base after the accident in Darien, is in air, on standby.

UPDATE 4:41 p.m.: Mercy Flight is cancelled.

UPDATE 5:08 p.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls are back in service. Didn't hear the status of the cyclist.

A two-car accident is blocking traffic at 8484 Alleghany Road, in front of the Flying J Travel Center. Pembroke and Indian Fall fire departments are responding along with Mercy EMS. Unknown injuries.

UPDATE 5:35 p.m.: The accident is partially blocking the entrance to the travel center. There are two injuries reported, unknown severity.

UPDATE 5:59 p.m.: One person is being transported to UMMC for evaluation. No word on the status of others.

UPDATE 6:09 p.m.: A 76-year-old female is being taken to UMMC complaining of right leg pain after the vehicle she was driving was allegedly T-boned on the passenger's side as she attempted to turn north on Route 77. She was wearing a seat belt. Also, an 11-year-old boy is being taken to UMMC, accompanied by his grandmother, for evaluation.

UPDATE 6:15 p.m.: The responders are back in service.

With the afternoon shaping up as a beautiful fall day and some time on my hands, I took a drive out toward Alabama with the intention to make some pictures. Here are six shots that I came across.

Above, cattle in pasture off Bliss Road, Oakfield.

Tree on Roberts Road.

White birch off Sour Springs Road.

Stand of Pine Trees, Sour Springs Road.

Hay field off Roberts Road.

Sunset off Route 77 near Indian Falls.

An 11-year-old reportedly suffered a neck injury in a two-car collision at Alleghany and Main roads in Pembroke (routes 77 and 5). Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics. The accident is not blocking traffic and was initially reported as being without injuries.

UPDATE 7:41 p.m.: A second ambulance, from Darien, is requested to the scene in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 8:06 p.m.: The 11-year-old girl's head slammed into the head rest and she has neck pain as a result. She's being taken to UMMC. She's in stable condition and there was no loss of consciousness. A second patient is also being taken to UMMC by the same Mercy rig. Traffic is reportedly at a standstill at the accident site.

UPDATE 8:10 p.m.: Pembroke is back in service.

UPDATE 8:20 p.m.: The other patients are a 12-year-old with a headache, which has persisted all day, and a 17-year-old complaining of shoulder pain.

A 60-year-old female with diabetic problems is in need of rescue at the top of the falls behind the Log Cabin Restaurant -- on the opposite side.

"She is at the top of the falls ... she's approximately 30 feet down," says a responder.

The county Rope Rescue Team is on standby in case needed. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments responded and gave her some insulin and medical aid.

The woman came to the attention of others because she "was not responding appropriately."

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: A fireman on scene says her blood insulin level at this point is 43. "We will have to take her up manually unless we can get her blood sugar up higher." Medics are on their way.

UPDATE 8:37 p.m.: For those who don't know, the Indian Falls Log Cabin Restaurant is located at 1227 Gilmore Road in Corfu.

UPDATE 8:41 p.m.: The rescuers are going to employ a rope and a basket to bring up the woman. Her blood sugar is now reported to be 51. "We'll probably be taking her out of here -- unless it gets better real quick," says a responder. Other responders headed to the scene are requested to continue in full emergency mode.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: Rescuers are directed to the north side of the creek to assist with efforts under way.

UPDATE 8:47 p.m.: More rope is demanded "for those coming up and down to hold onto something." Assurance is given that it is on the way.

UPDATE 9:04 p.m.: At this point, "Everybody's topside." In other words, the woman has been brought to the top of the falls, as well as her rescuers, and is ready to be transported to the hospital via ambulance.

UPDATE 9:11 p.m.: Mercy Flight, which was on standby, is back in service and responders from Pembroke and Indian Falls are breaking down their light towers and equipment and returning to service. The patient is being taken to UMMC.

A motorcycle accident is reported at 644 Knapp Road. The motorcyclist is in a driveway and is reportedly conscious, argumentative and "possibly combative." Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics. A responder says the gas tank is leaking. The rider reportedly got up and tried to leave, but fell back down. Mercy Flight is on ground standby.

UPDATE 11:52 a.m.: Mercy Flight will not be needed. The male rider will be transported by ambulance.

UPDATE Noon: Mercy medics are back in service. "The patient left by private vehicle prior to our arrival," the medic said.

Richard Lee Maston, 30, of Colorado Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, 2nd. Maston is accused of possessing two forged business checks at two separate locations within the City of Batavia, one on July 9 and one on July 18. Deputies are  investigating whether Maston allegedly cashed more than 12 other checks at locations in the City of Batavia and one location in the Town of Batavia, all between July 8 and July 17. Maston was arraigned and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Michael C. Buzzell, 34, of 6 Lewis Place, Batavia, is charged with menacing, 2nd, and criminal possession of a weapon, 4th. Buzzell allegedly threatened to kill a person while holding a knife. Police were called the scene at 9:15 p.m., Thursday. Buzzell was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Tyrone N. Thigpen, 35, of 5 Pearl St., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Thigpen is accused of violating a "stay away" order of protection.

Ronald J. Murray, 17, of 7 Wood St., Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Murray is accused of stealing a bicycle that was parked outside of a downtown restaurant. Police report later locating Murray with the bicycle a short time later.

Ian C. Blain, 23, of Ashland Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and unlawful dealing with a child. Blain is accused of taking a vehicle from the parking lot of the Log Cabin Restaurant in Pembroke and leaving it abandoned in a field off Indian Falls Road. He's also accused of providing alcohol to a person under age 21.

Stephen P. Pahuta, 50, of Oakfield, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing, strangulation, coercion, three counts of criminal mischief, and harassment, 2nd. Pahuta was arrested following a report of an incident at 11:40 a.m., Thursday, in Oakfield. State Police responded. No further details were released.

A two-car accident, with two youths complaining of neck pain, is reported at the intersection of routes 5 and 77. Indian Falls rescue is on scene and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 11:09 a.m.: Both patients are being taken to UMMC.

UPDATE 11:11 a.m.: The Indian Falls assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 11:15 a.m.: The medic says the patients are female friends ages 13 and 16 who were traveling in a Ford pickup truck when it was rear-ended by another pickup truck, occupied by their parents, at 5 miles an hour. The trucks were barely damaged. They live in Ontario.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 402.4. There are two patients. There is a lot of traffic backed up as a result. Indian Falls and Pembroke fire departments and two ambulances are requested out of Darien.

UPDATE 11:32 a.m.: The Darien ambulances are having difficulty getting to the scene because there is virtual gridlock throughout Darien due to concert-bound traffic at the theme park. Mercy rigs are busy elsewhere.

UPDATE 11:56 a.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls are back in service. Two patients were taken to ECMC.

This evening, Indian Falls United Methodist Church held its annual Strawberry Social, which has been one of Genesee County's great summer events for nearly 50 years (at least, I always enjoy it).

Besides a meal and a dessert of strawberry shortcake with whipped cream (though you can opt for pie, ice cream and chocolate sauce, or any combination thereof), the social is just that -- very social, with lots of action around the auction, which usually sees homemade pies selling for as much as $60 each.

Tonight, I also met Glenn Lawrence (next picture down), a former farmer who in 1971 had to change professions because of a bad back. He became an auctioneer. His first assignment, the Indian Falls Strawberry Social.

He said, "This is where I leared to call out prices."

Lawrence was the auctioneer for the event for the next 40 years. Though, he's no longer leading the Indian Falls event, he continues to work as an auctioneer for Harris Wilcox of Bergen and will in fact work an auction at a church tomorrow in Riga.

With prayer and praise, members of the Indian Falls United Methodist Church, celebrated the congregation's 150th anniversary Saturday with an outdoor service led by Rev. Karen Grinnell.

The service circled around the building with stops for a message from Grinnell, prayer, singing and Old and New Testament readings.

"We wanted to not only rededicate the building, but rededicate the congregation," Grinnell said.

The Indian Falls congregation is an active one and Grinnell said it's always had a strong sense of its mission.

"We like to be a strong, faithful presence in the community," Grinnell said.

The chuch was organized June 9, 1862, when Indian Falls was known as Tonawanda Falls, in the Robinson schoolhouse by 12 men as the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The current building was first erected in 1945 and added to over the years.

Faith is what has enabled to church to survive through 150 years of changing times and still be vibrant today.

"This is a very strong farming community and you see God at work in nature all the time," Grinnell said. "The descendents from the original 12 men had a strong faith and that faith has been passed down from generation to generation and this is what we have today."