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Union says inmate attacks, injures 4 correctional offices at Orleans

Posted 21 April 2023 at 6:13 pm

Press Release, NYS Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association

ALBION – An inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion, who was
intoxicated on a unknown drug, attacked and injured four staff members at the
medium security prison last Friday.

On April 14, an officer was conducting routine rounds in one of the facility
housing dorms. He heard an inmate yelling from one of the cubes in the dorm and
went to investigate.

When the officer arrived at the cube, the inmate was sitting on his bed,
frothing from the mouth with the appearance of being intoxicated. The officer
immediately called for a medical response.

Suddenly, the inmate jumped to his feet and approached the officer in an
aggressive manner and began throwing punches at the officer, which were
unsuccessful. The officer pushed the inmate back and administered one
application of OC spray.

The inmate was able to partially block the OC spray with his arms. A sergeant
entered the housing dorm and gave the inmate several orders to stop the attack,
which he ignored. The sergeant placed the inmate in a body hold from behind. The
inmate still remained combative.

Another officer responded to the call and administered another application of OC
spray, which was again ineffective. Still in a body hold, the inmate threw a
punch over his shoulder, striking the sergeant in the face. The inmate was
forced to the ground, where he remained resistant.

On the floor, staff were able to apply handcuffs. The inmate was brought to his
feet but remained combative. He was escorted to a transport van to be taken for
decontamination from the OC spray. Inside the van, the inmate kicked an escort
officer in the knee, causing the officer to fall forward onto the inmate and
landing on his hand.

Staff restrained the inmate a second time and he became compliant and the escort
was completed.

Three officers and a sergeant were injured in the attack. The officer in the van
who was kicked and fell, sustained hand and knee injuries. After treatment at
the facility, he was treated at Medina Memorial Hospital where X-rays determined
he sustained a fractured bone in his hand. The sergeant sustained hand, knee and
facial pain and swelling. He was treated at the facility and remained on duty.

Two officers sustained knee, elbow, forearm and knuckle injuries subduing the
inmate. They were treated at the facility and remained on duty.

The inmate, 24, is serving a 8- to 10-year sentence after being convicted in
Erie County for Burglary 1st and Bail Jumping 1st in 2016. After the attack, the
inmate was placed in a Special Housing Unit pending disciplinary charges.

“A few weeks ago, we reported on a vicious assault of an officer who was beaten
and slashed at Orleans and now, once again, we are here reporting on three
officers and a sergeant attacked and injured,” said Kenny Gold, NYSCOPBA Western
Region Vice President.

“One officer undoubtedly will be out of work for weeks with a fracture in his
hand. It not only impacts his ability to work, other officers will be mandated
to work his shifts, but also any family or community activities he is involved
in as we approach the summer months,” Gold said. “These senseless, unprovoked
attacks on staff continue to go unchecked and without any ramifications. The
HALT Act stripped any discipline that remained to deter inmates from attacking
staff or other inmates. Our state government cannot even get a budget passed on
time, how can we expect them to take the necessary steps to address the rise in
violence in our prisons and communities?”

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Sponsored Post

By Orleans Hub Posted 21 April 2023 at 3:00 pm



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Site work starts in Albion for new Taco Bell

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2023 at 1:48 pm



Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – An excavator is parked this afternoon in Albion at 118 West Ave. Site
work has started at the location which will be a new 2,600-square-foot Taco
Bell.

Hospitality Syracuse is the developer for the project on vacant land owned by
Landsman Development of Rochester.

The new Taco Bell will go next to McDonalds and across from Freeze-Dry Foods.
Hospitality Syracuse will remove the 36-foot high steel water tank from the back
corner of the lot, and make about 40 percent of the 1.33-acre lot green space
with grass. The company will remove the chain-link fences and replace them with
ones made of wood.



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Sponsored Post

By Orleans Hub Posted 21 April 2023 at 12:27 pm



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All villages, nearly all towns in Orleans ask county to share more sales tax

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2023 at 12:23 pm


RIDGEWAY DECLINES TO PASS RESOLUTION SEEKING MORE SALES TAX MONEY BUT URGES
COUNTY TO TAKE ‘SERIOUS LOOK’ AT ISSUE

The 10 towns and four villages in Orleans County are nearly unanimous is asking
the County Legislature to increase the local sales tax revenue shared with the
local municipalities.

The Clarendon Town Board in the past two months has urged the towns and villages
to seek more of the local sales tax, which hasn’t increased for the towns and
villages since 2001, despite more than doubling in that time.

All four villages – Albion, Holley, Lyndonville and Medina – have passed formal
resolutions asking for more money in the local sales tax, which last year
totaled $22.5 million collected in the county. The Orleans County Legislature
has kept the amount capped to the four villages and 10 towns at $1,366,671 since
2001.

“Our concern is the towns and villages have stayed absolutely flat while our
expenses, like everybody else’s, have gone sky high,” said Mark Bower, the
Holley mayor.

Eight of the Town Boards also have passed resolutions, asking the county for
more of the sales tax. That includes Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Kendall,
Murray, Shelby and Yates.

The Ridgeway Town Board declined to pass a resolution, but did offer a letter of
support to look at the issue. The Gaines Town Board has yet to vote on the
matter.

Brian Napoli, the Ridgeway town supervisor, said he agrees with county
legislators who have said the county faces a potential $1 million tax shift with
the state if the county is forced to pick up more of the Medicaid burden. That
issue is expected to be settled with the new state budget, which is now three
weeks late.

Lynne Johnson, the County Legislature chairwoman, said the county is in limbo
while waiting for the state budget to be approved to see how if the county will
get hit with more Medicaid costs, as well as an increase in assigned counsel
rates. Those two issues could have a $1.3 million impact on the county budget
resulting in about a 7 percent tax increase.

“We understand the fiscal constraints and unfunded mandates that the State
imposes on the County and we understand the many questions that currently remain
unanswered concerning funding and increased unfunded mandates due to the lack of
the State to pass a budget on time,” Napoli wrote in a letter April 18 to the
county legislators.

However, he urged the legislators to take a “serious look” at sharing more sales
tax with the towns and villages. More sales tax for Ridgeway would assist the
Town Board in offsetting possible tax increases at the town level, Napoli said.

“The Town also faces economic pressures to keep the town tax rate within the tax
cap while providing the needed services to the Town residents,” Napoli wrote in
his letter.

The resolution approved by the four villages and eight towns seeks 14 percent of
the total sales tax to be shared with towns and villages to seek 14 percent of
the total. That’s what they received in 1996.

To get to 14 percent of $22.5 million, the county would have to increase the
amount to towns and villages to $3,150,000 – a $1,783,329 increase. In 1996, the
local sales tax revenue was $9,499,138.

The amounts allocated for the villages and towns for 2023 includes:

• Villages ($378,777 total) – Albion, $165,309; Holley, $46,545; Lyndonville,
$14,876; and Medina, $152,047.

• Towns ($987,894 total) – Albion, $123,953; Barre, $64,536; Carlton, $95,418;
Clarendon, $116,261; Gaines, $88,267; Kendall, $86,813; Murray, $122,421;
Ridgeway, $130,057; Shelby, $103,489; and Yates, $66,679.

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Holley schools to make Woodlands soccer fields available for community teams

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2023 at 8:54 am

HOLLEY – The school district will allow community youth soccer teams to use the
Woodlands soccer complex.

Holley’s youth teams have played their home games at the JP’s fields off Route
31 near the Holley Business ark. But the Holley Soccer Club is growing with more
teams, said Harris Reed, the club president.

The club reached out to the school district about having use of the Woodlands
fields. Those fields are considered among the nicest in the area, and even
hosted the state soccer tournament in the late 1990s.

Brian Bartalo, the school district superintendent, said the two full-size fields
will be available for the community youth soccer program. There will also be
some tree-clearing at the site to remove some dead ash trees.

There are 150 kids in the Holley Soccer Club, Reed said. The club only has one
full-size field at JP’s and several other smaller fields there. The Woodlands
complex gives the program more options for scheduling games.

“Our Soccer Club is growing and we want to keep it growing,” Reed said. “With
the Woodlands now we can accommodate more teams and games.”

Holley will use Woodlands for games only, Reed said. He appreciates the district
making them available for the club soccer program.

“This will mean a lot to the kids,” Reed said. “That is a one-of-kind field.
It’s out in the woods.”

The Holley Soccer Club also is raising funds for the program, including a
first-time chicken barbecue on May 20 at the JP’s site. Those tickets are
available pre-sale only. Contact a soccer player or check the club’s website for
more information.

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Barre firefighters hosting open house Sunday as part of Recruit NY

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2023 at 8:02 am

BARRE – The Barre Volunteer Fire Company is hosting an open house Sunday from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. The community is welcome to get hands-on training, said Fire
Chief Ben Flansburg.

The event is part of Recruit NY outreach efforts this weekend by many fire
departments in New York State.

Barre will offer refreshments during the open house. People also can try on
turn-out gear, learn how to spray water and check out the fire trucks and see
how they are operated. Barre firefighters responded to 268 calls in 2022.

For more on Recruit NY, click here.

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‘No Empty Chair’ campaign will focus on teen driver safety

Posted 20 April 2023 at 8:41 pm

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – The “No Empty Chair” teen driving safety education and enforcement
campaign raises awareness of highway dangers in the hope there will be no empty
chairs during prom and graduation season.

This year, the No Empty Chair Campaign runs from April 24-28. The Orleans County
Sheriff’s Deputies are joining forces with law enforcement throughout the state
to step up enforcement near area high schools, giving extra attention for
speeding in school zones, cell phone use, underage drinking and impaired driving
along with promoting school bus safety.

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Holley mayor plans town hall meeting to discuss vandalism in village

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2023 at 3:06 pm

HOLLEY – Mayor Mark Bower will lead a town hall meeting on Tuesday evening to
discuss vandalism at village-owned sites in the community, including the
bathrooms/shower facility by the canal and the bathrooms at the Firemen’s Field
on North Main Street.

“We want to mobilize our residents to all be on the same page,” Bower said about
making people aware of the vandalism. “What can everyone do to minimize the the
amount of vandalism we experience?”

Police Chief Bob Barton is expected to provide information about the number of
incidents and extent of the damages.

“It has been unreal on North Main Street,” Bower said about the Firemen’s Field
park. “At the canal bathroom building the fixtures have been ripped out of the
wall, things get smashed, and there is graffiti. We’ve got to do something about
it.”

The mayor will lead a discussion about the issue from 7 to 8:15 p.m. in the
village office in the former Holley High School.

He would like to do two town hall meetings a year with a focus on a pressing
issue in the community. He also will give residents a chance to ask questions
about other concerns.

Bower said he also will be forming a mayor’s advisory council that he would like
to have in place next month to help identify and address issues in the village.

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Kendall’s proposed school budget won’t increase property taxes

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2023 at 1:49 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: Nick Picardo, Kendall Central School superintendent, holds
a new name plate for Board of Education member Rachel Fisken. Picardo presented
new name plates for board members that were made by students using a laser
engraver. Audra Keirn, the district clerk, is in back.

KENDALL – The Kendall Board of Education has adopted a $20,413,805 school budget
for 2023-24 that doesn’t raise the tax levy. The budget goes before voters on
May 16 with polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Kendall Town Hall.

Overall spending is up 2.9 percent in the budget compared to the $19,822,921 in
2022-23. The district is able to hold off on a tax increase mainly due to a big
increase in Foundation Aid from the state.

The state budget is yet to be finalized, but Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a 12.95
percent in Foundation Aid or by $1,086,108 – from $8,382,316 to $9,468,424. Nick
Picardo, the district superintendent, said that increase helps make the district
whole on lagging Foundation Aid in previous years.

He noted during Wednesday’s BOE meeting that state aid covers 74 percent of the
district overall budget. The total state aid for Kendall is proposed to increase
by $1,774,288 or 12.64 percent to $15,806,286, which would be 77.4 percent of
the proposed budget.

Property taxes through the tax levy would stay at $4,964,656.

Kendall voters also will be asked to approve up to $350,000 from a
Transportation Bus Reserve Fund to replace two full-size buses. Those buses are
currently on the market for $165,000 to $170,000 each. The $350,000 cap gives
the district some wiggle room if the price is higher than expected, Picardo
said.

There is one candidate on the ballot for a five-year term on the Board of
Election. Rachel Fisken, the current vice president, is unopposed for
re-election.

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Increased patrols will be out today for impaired driving

Staff Reports Posted 20 April 2023 at 11:30 am

ALBION – Orleans County will be part of a state-wide STOP-DWI High Visibility
Engagement Campaign today from 3 p.m. until 3 a.m. Friday, Sheriff Chris Bourke
said.

“The ‘4/20’ marijuana culture celebration is a deadly period for impaired
driving,” he said. “In a combined effort to bring awareness to the dangers of
impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives law enforcement officers
across New York State and STOP-DWI programs will be participating in special
engagement efforts.”

The sheriff urges people to have a plan to get home safe if they are impaired.

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Kendall school committee urges no cell phones in grades PreK-8

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2023 at 11:11 am


CODE OF CONDUCT COMMITTEE ALSO RECOMMENDS AGAINST HOODIES COVERING HEAD

KENDALL – The school district, in an annual review of its code of conduct
polices, is being asked to not allow cell phones for students in grades
prekindergarten to 8.

The phones would have to stay in lockers or in caddies that hold the phones for
a classroom. In the high school, grades 9 to 12, cell phones in the classroom
would remain at teacher discretion.

“The big discussion is about cell phones in the school and accessibility,” High
School Principal Carol D’Agostino said during a public hearing on Wednesday
evening about the code of conduct. “It is very distracting.”

Students are often inundated with dinging or vibrations from texts and other
messages through their phones, she said.

The Code of Conduct Committee, which surveyed teachers for their input, also is
urging the district to not allow hoodies to be worn in school in a way that
covers a head. Those sweatshirts can be worn as long as the hood is down,
according to the committee’s recommendation.

The code of conduct was revised for this school year to allow hats and hoodies
to be worn, but teachers, in a survey and in staff meetings, have urged the
district to not allow the hoodies, D’Agostino said.

Some students pull the hoodies over their heads and wear ear pods, listening to
music during class. Or some just put on the hoodie and disengage with the class,
D’Agostino said.

When students wear hats, their ears aren’t covered and students aren’t shutting
themselves off from interacting with others, she said.

The committee also put in language about “sexting” including where students can
not send sexually explicit messages, including where the face of a person is not
included but a naked image or sexual act is shown. D’Agostino said some students
send messages without an identifiable face in an image and will falsely claim it
is a student, often leading to humiliation.

The district’s Code of Conduct Committee does an annual review of policies and
makes recommendations of changes to the Board of Education. The board typically
has the hearing in April and will vote on the changes in June.

Kevin Watson, the elementary school principal, said he expects the district will
need a policy in the near future for artificial intelligence chatbots that can
write essays and answer math problems. He can foresee AI being used to complete
homework. The district, perhaps as soon as next year, could consider a policy
stating students need to do their own work without utilizing AI for assignments.

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Lots of wildlife spotted in the countryside, a sure sign of spring

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2023 at 8:11 am



Provided photos

A baby fox gives its mother a kiss after crossing Platten Road in Lyndonville on
Wednesday evening. Jennifer Orr took the photo. She said the momma fox had four
babies with her.



Garrett Knaak of Albion saw these bald eagles in a nest in Gaines recently. He
doesn’t want to say the exact location so many people don’t go to the site and
disturb the majestic birds.

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List of candidates for town and county offices in upcoming election

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 April 2023 at 5:22 pm

The candidates for town and county offices have submitted petitions to run for
the offices. The petitions have gone through an initial review by the Orleans
County Board of Elections.

There are seven Republican primaries on June 27 with contests in Barre, Kendall,
Murray and Shelby.

The general election will be Nov. 7.

Here are the candidates who have submitted petitions to run for local offices:

Orleans County

Sheriff – Chris Bourke, Republican and Conservative

County Legislator (at-large from west) – Skip Draper of Medina, Republican

County Legislator (at-large from central) – Don Allport of Gaines, Republican

County Legislator (at-large from east) – Ed Morgan of Murray, Republican

County Legislator (District 1) – Bill Eick of Shelby, Republican

County Legislator (District 2) – Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville, Republican

County Legislator (District 3) – Fred Miller of Albion, Democrat

County Legislator (District 4) – John Fitzak of Carlton, Republican

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Town of Albion

Town Supervisor – Richard Remley, Republican

Town Council members – Darlene Benton and Terry Wilbert, Democratic Party

Town Clerk – Sarah Basinait

Highway Superintendent – Michael Neidert, Conservative, Democrat and Republican

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Town of Barre

Town Supervisor (pick one) – Scott Burnside, Conservative and Republican, and
Sean Pogue, Republican

Town Council members (pick two) – Kerri Richardson, Conservative, and Margaret
Swan and Kirk Mathes, Republicans

Town Clerk – Maureen Beach, Democrat

Highway Superintendent (pick one) – Dale Brooks and Bert Mathes, Republicans

Town Justice – Earl Jenks Jr., Republican

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Town of Carlton

Town Supervisor – Gayle Ashbery, Republican

Town Council members – Dana Woolston and Brian McCue, Republicans

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Town of Clarendon

Town Supervisor – Richard Moy, Republican

Town Council members – Allen Robinson and Bruce Hovey, Republicans

Town Clerk – Susan Colby, Republican

Highway Superintendent – Tracy Chalker, Conservative and Republican

Town Justice – Thomas DiFante, Republican

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Town of Gaines

Town Supervisor – Tyler Allport, Republican

Town Council members (pick two) – Rick Ebbs, Democrat, and Ronald Mannella,
Democrat and Republican

Highway Superintendent – Mark Radzinski, Republican

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Town of Kendall

Town Supervisor – Tony Cammarata, Republican

Town Council members – Margaret Szozda, Democrat; and David Bentley and Barbara
Flow, Republicans

Highway Superintendent (pick one) – Warren Kruger, Republican, and Eric Maxon,
Republican

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Town of Murray

Town Supervisor – Joe Sidonio (Republican and Conservative) and Gerald
Rightmyer, Republican

Town Council members (pick three with two positions for four-year terms and the
third for two years) – Eric Collyer, Lloyd Christ Jr., Randall Bower and Elaine
Berg, all Republicans

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Town of Ridgeway

Town Supervisor – Brian Napoli, Republican

Town Council members – Mary Woodruff and Duane Payne, Republicans

Town Justice – Joseph Kujawa, Republican

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Town of Shelby

Town Supervisor – Scott Wengewicz, Conservative and Republican

Town Council members (pick two) – Jeff Schiffer, Linda Limina and Justin Gray,
all Republicans

Town Clerk (elect one) – Darlene Rich, Democrat, and Christine Pask, Republican

Highway Superintendent (elect one) – Dale Root (Republican and Conservative) and
William Wolter (Democrat and Republican)

Town Justice – Ed Grabowski, Conservative and Republican

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Town of Yates

Town Supervisor – James Simon

Town Council members (elect 2) – Paul Lauricella and Steve Colon, Conservatives;
and John Riggi and Susan Hrovat, Republicans

Town Clerk – Michelle Harling, Republican

Highway Superintendent – Roger Wolfe, Republican

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Albion 3rd-grader Gianna Hyde wins Tops essay contest

Posted 19 April 2023 at 4:18 pm

Press Release, Albion Central School

Gianna Hyde

ALBION – Third-grader Gianna Hyde loves to write. During a school break, her mom
noticed an ad for the Tops Friendly Market Black History Month essay contest.
Hyde got to work, ultimately winning the competition, resulting in a $50 gift
card for herself and $100 donation for the school district.

The third annual essay contest held by Tops asks students in grades 3-8 to write
about an African American that inspires them. Hyde researched Harriet Tubman but
then thought about Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin.

“I learned that he got hit in the heart and then his heart stopped,” explained
Hyde. “But then they brought him back to life.”

Hyde found Hamlin’s recovery inspiring, but also admired his work away from the
football field.

“He has a charity for kids, Chasing M’s Foundation, and if he wasn’t playing
football he would do stuff for his neighborhood and all these kids,” she said.

As Hyde wrote in her essay, “Damar wrote this inspiring question in front of the
doctors: ‘Who Won The Game?’ he wrote. That showed the world that he cares more
about other people than himself.”

Winning the contest was a great surprise for Hyde and she said it made her feel
really happy. The personal gift card was a bonus, but she mostly cared about
having the opportunity to write and to win money for her school.

It is evident that the nine-year-old Albion student and the professional
football player share something in common: both have the selfless intent to
bring joy to others.

Hyde added about her essay, “Maybe he could read it sometime. He’s alive, it
would probably make him feel happy.”

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