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Co-workers of murder victim raising money for his accused killer's defense fund. An advertisement claiming to be purchased by the "Former Co-Workers of Tim Staples" at the Lockport Delphi/Harrison plant is running in the Union-Sun & Journal attempting to raise money for the woman accused of killing him. The woman, 41-year old Dianne Watts, has been charged with 2nd-degree murder in the killing of her live-in boyfriend, Tim Staples. She has reportedly confessed to the crime. What's to defend? The advertisement doesn't say but it does give a Medina Post Office address to send money to. (4/27/02)
Rochester "pet police" move in on Ridgeway animal shelter. The Humane Society of Rochester sent "enforcement officers" into the little Orleans County hamlet of Jeddo this week and took "custody" of a large number of assorted pets from the home of Barbara Labell at 10234 Ridge Road. The animal control officers said 12 dogs, 27 cats and 27 birds had been living in "unsanitary" conditions and were removed by vans to new "temporary" homes in Rochester. Orleans County has no animal control office so the Rochester group was authorized (by a local J.P.) to move in after a neighbor complained. Charges against Ms. Labell were reported pending. (3/29/02)
Fund raising appeal underway for boy charged with killing his dad.
13-year old Timothy Adams has reportedly admitted to authorities that he plotted to kill his 46-year old father which he did in a volley of gunfire on January 14th in the Orleans County Town of Shelby. While escaping from the murder scene he reportedly shot at a State Trooper. But (Mrs. Adam's) family members say young Tim is "a good kid" and want the public to donate to a fund to pay for a top defense lawyer to try to get him off the hook. Another goal of the fund-raising is reported to raise bail money ($500,000) for the child so that he can be released from custody while is lawyer works the system. The first move Adams' lawyer has made is to have the youth enter a plea of "innocent" to charges of second-degree murder, attempted murder of a police officer, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon, and unlawful imprisonment." There has been no immediate word if the boy's lawyer will now attempt to have a reported confession to police suppressed. (2/28/02)Father killed by son, State Police shot at.
A 13-year-old, 7th-grade boy is being held without bail after reportedly firing five rounds into his father on Monday, 1/14 at their town of Shelby farmhouse. According to public papers, Timothy Adams had tied up his 8-year old sister, gagged her with a sock, and then waited for their father to return home Monday afternoon. When 46-year old Angelo Adams arrived at the East Shelby Road dwelling, authorities are quoting as saying, he was met by his son Timothy at the door who fired five rounds from a handgun into his father. He then reportedly fled the scene in his father's pickup truck, fired a shotgun at a State Policeman who was in pursuit (for four miles), finally losing control and crashing the vehicle off the road. He reportedly told a Orleans County Sheriff's Investigator at the crash scene, according to an Associated Press report, "I shot my father. I tied my sister up, upstairs, and shot my father." Shortly thereafter authorities found the body of Angelo Adams on the family house's front lawn. The 8-year old girl was found unharmed upstairs. Timothy Adams has pleaded "innocent" to charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder of a police officer. Authorities were saying they would not prosecute Timothy as an adult, meaning he could get off with as little as a nine years in jail. Timothy's mother, reported living in Rochester, was brought to the Medina area to support her son. (1/18/02)Niagara County Rides Unlimited bus crashes in Orleans County killing two.
A 19-year old Lyndonville mother and her infant son were killed after the car they were riding in was hit broadside Tuesday, 12/4 by an Rides Unlimited of Niagara County bus. Police are quoted in public papers as saying the bus did not stop at the STOP sign at the intersection of Gaines Basin Road and Albion-Eagle Harbor Road in Albion Tuesday afternoon about 4PM. The driver and victim, Noralee Davis had graduated from Barker High School in 2000. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her son, 2-month old Nathan, died at a Rochester hospital early Wednesday morning. There were only two passengers on the bus and both were treated and released from Medina Hospital. According to public papers on Thursday, the 47-year old woman driver of the bus was charged with failure to stop for a STOP sign. She had also been treated and released at Medina Hospital for undisclosed minor injuries. She reportedly had told State Police "the sun was in my eyes" even though she was traveling north (away from the sun) at the time and the STOP sign should have been clearly visible. There was no immediate explanation of why the Niagara County bus, (taxpayer subsidized) was in Orleans County. (12/5/01)
Medina cop, shot in line of duty, will now sue Orleans County taxpayers. Medina
Police Lt. Michael Russell, back home from an extensive period recovering from gunshot
wounds at Erie County Medical Center, Friday, 11/30 reportedly filed a notice of claim
against the taxpayers of Orleans and Monroe Counties. Russell was shot
September 4th in a Medina pharmacy where he had been called when a customer attempted to
pass a suspected forged prescription. Peter Novellin reportedly opened fire on
Russell after being approached by the police officer. In an exchange between the
two, Russell took four rounds but managed to shoot Novellin dead. The
lawsuit will reportedly claim the County of Orleans (Department of Probation and
Department of Mental Health) at fault for allowing Novellin, a sometimes-mental patient
who was on probation, to be free at large. It also ties in Monroe County where Novellin
had been issued a pistol permit. There was no immediate word on how much money
lawyers for Russell would seek. (12/1/01)
Orleans County assigned "585" area code November 15th. The change is part of the move to deal with the need for more telephone numbers in Western New York State. Those portions of the present "716" area code east of Niagara County to Rochester are being switched to the new "585" area code. Niagara County and Erie County along with the western-most of the current "716" area will not be subjected to change. There will be a "grace period" from November 15 until August 17, 2002 during which calls between the two areas will still not need the area code dialed first. (10/14/01)
Druggie dead, cop "critical," after Medina shoot-out. A drug customer at a Medina pharmacy was killed Tuesday afternoon, 9/4, in a shoot-out with police. A pharmacist at Rosenkrans Pharmacy on Main Street called police when 38-year old Peter F. Novellin of 5081 Oak Orchard Road Albion attempted to have an alleged forged prescription for pain-killer drugs filled. When Media Police Lt. Michael Russell arrived on scene and confronted Novellin the Albion man opened fire with a gun he had been carrying. Russell returned fire, killing Novellin. Lt. Russell, shot several times, was reported in "critical" condition Wednesday morning at Erie County Medical Center. 31-year old Russell, a seven year veteran of the Medina Police department, first underwent surgery at Medina Hospital before his emergency transfer to Buffalo via Mercy Flight late Tuesday night. A customer in the drug store at the time of the confrontation was also reported injured. (9/5/01) Update 9/13: Lt. Russell was reported conscious and improving late Wednesday 9/12.
Sheriff's Department dispatcher charged with murder.
Orleans County Sheriff radio dispatcher, Diane Watts was arrested Thursday, 8/2, and charged with the murder of her longtime live-in boyfriend, 43-year old Timothy Staples on Saturday, 7/28. Ms. Watts had first told authorities she left Staples about 1PM on Saturday at their 11109 Blair Road, Shelby home and returned about 3PM to find him shot dead. Investigating Orleans County Sheriff's detectives said they were at first without a clue in the case and appealed to the public for help. But as their probe went on, detectives started to smell a rat. The 41-year old Ms. Watts was extensively questioned. Orleans County Sheriff Merle R. Fredericks said when told she failed a lie detector test, Ms. Watts broke down and confessed, telling authorities where she stashed the murder weapon. She faces up to 25 years in jail on charges of 2nd-degree murder. (8/3/01)Man murdered in Orleans County.
43-year old Timothy Staples of 11109 Blair Road, Shelby, was shot dead in his home Saturday afternoon, 7/28. He was reported discovered dead by his girlfriend about 3PM. Orleans County Sheriff investigators say they have no immediate suspect and are appealing to the public for help. Authorities say drugs may have been a motive in the slaying but they are not sure. (7/30/01)Sold At Auction! For a mere $30,000 the Medina Railroad Museum was sold by the bank holding the mortgage (in default). The buyer has been identified as local area men, Tim Payne and Tom Carter. There is reported consideration by the Museum Board of Trustees and the new owners to attempt negotiations of a "buy-back" of the property by the Museum. So far, it's just talk. (5/27/01)
Her name isn't Mrs. Robinson. A 20-year old Lyndonville woman is reported pregnant with the child of a 13-year old schoolboy and an Orleans County judge has given her a light jail sentence so her love child won't be born in the pokey. According to public papers, Rebecca Schmitt met the young boy at a Lyndonville Central School musical activity and the two may have had sex as many as fifty times. Ms. Schmitt was sentenced to begin her 45-day jail term on October 20th. She is expected to give birth (next month) in May. (4/22/01)
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