Attica rallies in second half to down Barker
Rebounding from a 21-17 half-time deficit, Attica rallied to down visiting Barker 45-38 in a non league boys basketball game this evening.
Anthony Taliaferro had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead Barker. Peyton Wagner and Donovan Hefferon both added 6, Carter DerSarkissian 5 and Jackson Prynn 4 for the Bulldogs.
Now at 1-1, Barker next hosts Notre Dame in a non league game at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Lady Tigers down Lady Rams in opener
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Hannah Fox goes up for a rebound against the Roy-Hart duo of Brooke Corser (3) and Peyton May (23) during this evening’s season opening game which was won by the host Lady Tigers.
Opening the season on a high note, Lyndonville bested visiting Roy-Hart 46-37 in a non league girls basketball game this evening.
Isabella Groves scored a game high 20 points to lead the way for Lyndonville. Lilly Raduns and Hannah Fox both added 8, Alexa Robinson 6 and Braelynn Dillenbeck and Emily Dill 2 each for the Lady Tigers.
Adella Dukes paced Roy-Hart with 18 as Courtney Aquilina and Zoe Healey both added 6, Brooke Corser 4, Millie Owens 2 and Peyton May 1.
Roy-Hart grabbed a narrow 8-6 lead at the end of the first period on a late basket by Dukes but Lyndonville answered with a 12-8 second period scoring edge to rally into an 18-16 lead at the half. Groves scored 8, including a pair of threes, and Raduns 4 to spark the Lady Tigers rally.
Lyndonville maintained a slender one point, 30-29, lead at the end of the third quarter which saw three ties and one lead change.
The Lady Tigers upped the lead to six, 37-31, early in the final period after a three by Fox and a layup by Groves.
However, Roy-Hart battled back to within two at 39-37 after a pair of baskets by Dukes but the Lady Rams could not pull even.
Fox’s second big three of the period gave Lyndonville a little breathing room at 42-37.
The Lady Tigers then put a lock on the victory on a base line jumper by Robinson followed by a basket off a turnover by Fox for a 46-37 lead.
Both teams play again Friday evening as Lyndonville plays at Global Concepts in Buffalo and Roy-Hart visits Niagara-Wheatfield.
Roy-Hart’s Adella Dukes goes in for a layup ahead of Lyndonville defender Braelynn Dillenbeck.
Lyndonville’s Alexa Robinson drives by Roy-Hart’s Peyton May in route to the basket.
Central Hall will be vacated by county and put on market
County Historian to move to space next to Subway in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Central Hall building at 34 East Park St. will soon be vacated and put up for sale by Orleans County. The County Historian will move to a space next to the Subway.
ALBION – The County Legislature agreed today to a lease space in a plaza on South Main Street for the county historian, a move that will be made as soon as the space is ready.
The historian works out of the top floor of Central Hall at 34 East Park St. That building will become vacate once the historian and Department of History are moved to the plaza. County officials said the change is a cost-cutting move that could save $90,000 to $110,000 a year in maintenance and other expenses once the building is sold.
The change also will make the historian’s office more accessible to the public, county officials said. The space is on the first floor and people won’t need to climb stairs to access the building.
The county has owned Central Hall the past 45 years. It was used by the treasurer until September 2024 and used to be the offices for the Probation Department.
The County Historian and the Department of History’s artifacts will move to 2,000 square feet of space on the side of a plaza next to Subway. Most of this space is on the north side of the building. The historian and any visitors to the office can use a parking lot for the county treasurer.
Central Hall, a solid red-brick building, was a school from 1882 to 1934, and then was used as the post for the American Legion until the site was bought by the county in 1980.
The historian will move to 2,000 square feet of space on the north side of the plaza, facing the parking lot of the treasurer’s office. There will be a part of the historian’s office facing the main parking lot.
The county won’t have to pay to lease the building except for the cost of utilities and to renovate the site. The county also will plow the parking lot in the winter. The county is already plowing out the treasurer’s office and some of the spots in the lot that are used for the treasurer’s office.
The Buildings and Grounds staff for the county will be putting in an ADA-compliant bathroom and making other renovations to the site.
The lease agreement was approved by the Legislature in a 6-1 vote. Legislator Fred Miller cast the lone no vote. He thanked Lynne Johnson, the Legislature chairwoman, for her work on the lease but he didn’t agree with the relocation of the historian to the plaza.
“I don’t feel this is what the county should be doing,” Miller said during the Legislature meeting.
The Legislature approved the lease with Nomax Albion, LLC, which is owned by Noah Michaels. He reached out to the county about leasing the space in exchange for plowing the parking lot for the plaza.
The county doesn’t have a solid move-in date for the historian. It depends on when the space can be made ready by the Buildings and Grounds staff.
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Hinspergers donates in big way to MAAC toy drive in Medina
Photo courtesy of Hinspergers Poly
MEDINA – The employees at Hinspergers Poly Industries Inc. in Medina have donated in a big way to the red barrel toy drive by the Medina Area Association of Churches.
The employees at Hinspergers Poly in Medina hosted a red barrel for the first time and they filled it – and they filled three more bins to hold all of the donations.
The Hinsperger family then matched the employee effort. MAAC has 42 red barrels out in the community for people to donate gifts that will be given to families before Christmas.
Albion 8th graders working on community projects to highlight Revolutionary War
Photos courtesy of Tim Archer
ALBION – Albion eighth-graders Sutton Sanders, left, and Luci Borello are pictured with two of four new roadside markers that show local connections to the Revolutionary War.
The markers, valued at $2,050 each, were funded through the Pomeroy Foundation. The markers will be installed next spring at area cemeteries, including both the Annis Cemetery on Riches Corners Road and Tanner Cemetery in Albion on Route 31, across from Mount Albion.
This photo shows a headstone for Revolutionary War veteran Lott Swift, who is buried at the East Barre Cemetery. It will replace his broken headstone there. The Albion students applied for the new stone through the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C. In the picture are Patrice Birner (Orleans Chapter DAR), Luci Borello, Sutton Sanders, Barre Highway Superintendent Dale Brooks (who will install the headstone), Kirk Mathes (the cemetery was originally part of the Mathes farm and named the Roy Mathes cemetery), and Barre Town Supervisor-elect Steve Coville (the town helped with the application).
Patrice Birner and the DAR donated 14 new bronze flag markers for the Revolutionary War burial sites in the county that did not have one.
Luci Borello and Sutton Sanders place a new flag marker at the site of Revolutionary War veteran Anthony Tripp at Mt. Albion Cemetery.
The two students did research and work this past summer on gathering information on Revolutionary War veterans buried in the county as part of our country’s upcoming 250th anniversary, said Tim Archer, an Albion teacher helping to coordinate this effort.
The information will be shared with the local DAR and the county historian. More than 60 Revolutionary War soldiers can be confirmed, with another 45 unconfirmed.
Woman charged for throwing urine, using racist language at county jail
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
Amanda Clemons-Whited
ALBION –Amanda Clemons-Whited, 41, while in custody at the Orleans County Jail on Nov. 24, allegedly verbally accosted Corrections Officers using racially charged language, attempted to strike an officer, and threw urine from a cup onto an officer, thereby exposing the officer to bodily fluids which is considered a dangerous substance.
Following an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Division, Clemons-Whited was charged with Aggravated Harassment of an Employee by an Inmate (Class E Felony) and Aggravated Harassment 2nd – Hate Crime (Class A Misdemeanor).
Our dedicated Corrections Officers work diligently each day to protect and serve Orleans County. Incidents of this nature will not be tolerated within the Orleans County Jail, will be thoroughly investigated, and individuals found responsible will be charged accordingly.
Clemons-Whited is currently incarcerated in the Orleans County Jail and will be returning to the Town of Albion Court on Dec. 10 for further proceedings on these charges.
Albion, Medina and Roy-Hart/Barker swim teams prep for N-O season
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – ALBION PURPLE EAGLES -Leading Albion into the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League swim season will be this veteran quartet. In front are Keira Sidari and Anna Grillo. In back are Justin Kania and Logan Kast. Sidari won both the 200 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly at last year’s All-League meet while Kania won the 50 Freestyle. Albion will host H-A-C in the non league opener at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The Purple Eagles will begin N-O competition at home on December 11 against Roy-Hart/Barker. The Albion boys and girls teams both went 2-6 in N-O competition last year.
MEDINA SEAHORSES – Anchoring the lineup for the Medina swim squads this season will be this veteran foursome. In front are Maya Anderson and Madeline Mark. In back are Bryson Ford and Bradley Goyette. Ford won the 100 Freestyle at last year’s Niagara-Orleans All-League meet. Medina will visit Pembroke in the non league season opener on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The Seahorses will open the N-O season at home against Newfane on December 11. Newfane won the N-O boys’ title and share the girls championship with Roy-Hart/Barker last year. The Medina boys went 4-4 and the girls 0-8 in N-O action last year.
ROY-HART/BARKER CHANNEL CATS – Roy-Hart/Barker, which shared the Niagara-Orleans League girls championship with Newfane last year at 7-1 and finished second in the boys’ standings (5-3) will be lead by this veteran group. In front are Cora Lennon, Jillian Ossont and Madelina Pavlock. In back are Oscar Dergel, Noah Corraine, Hank Trombley and Jackson Brauen. The Channel Cats will host Byron-Bergen at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the non league opener and will visit Albion in the N-O opener on December 11.
Medina Memorial LPN receives ‘Caring Heart Award’
Provided photo: Lisa McQueen, a licensed practical nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital, has received the Caring Heart Award from NYSHFA/NYSCAL’s western region.
MEDINA – A stellar reputation for kindness, humility and unwavering commitment to the residents she cares for has earned Lisa McQueen the Caring Heart Award.
McQueen has been a valued member of the Orleans Community Health family for six years. She consistently goes above and beyond – offering support to colleagues, lending a hand wherever it’s needed and bringing comfort to those who rely on her.
“Lisa represents the best of what compassionate care truly looks like,” said Tom Bloomer, administrator of Orleans Community Health’s North Wing. “Her warmth, her dedication and her steady presence make a meaningful difference every single day.”
The honor was given by the New York State Health Facilities Association and New York State Center for Assisted Living.
This prestigious award celebrates long-term care professionals who exemplify compassion, service and dedication, said Scott Robinson, director of marketing at Medina Memorial Hospital and Orleans Community Health.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Lisa with this well-deserved honor,” Robinson said. “She is an incredible asset to our team and we couldn’t be prouder.”
The Caring Heart Award reflects qualities that McQueen embodies effortlessly – empathy, professionalism and a deep respect for the individuals and families she serves, Robinson added.
“Her heart for service continues to inspire us all,” he said.
Catholic Bishop seeks more compassion for immigrants, less ‘dehumanizing rhetoric’
Press Release, Diocese of Buffalo
Photo courtesy of Diocese of Buffalo: Bishop Michael W. Fisher said enforcement of immigration laws shouldn’t use “campaigns of fear that cripple whole communities.”
BUFFALO – In his latest Pastoral Letter, “Once Aliens, Too,” Bishop Michael W. Fisher invokes over 130 years of Catholic social teaching in a call for an end to the dehumanizing rhetoric toward immigrants and renewed respect for their inherent human dignity and basic legal protections.
Bishop Fisher’s Pastoral Letter follows the recent “Special Message” issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on the same topic, and the statement of the New York Catholic Bishops issued on November 13, 2025, “For You Too Were Once Aliens…”
Bishop Fisher references the teachings of several pontiffs, beginning with the seminal 1891 papal encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum, in addition to Pius XII, Saint John Paul II, and Pope Francis, in asserting the unequivocal requirement of the Gospels and Catholic social teaching to show preference for the poor and vulnerable, and immigrants, in particular.
Bishop Fisher notes how meaningful immigration reform has been “debated though delayed by both major political parties for decades.” He further reaffirms the U.S. government’s “duty to secure its borders and ensure that immigrants enter our country legally.”
In doing so, however, Bishop Fisher reiterates the New York Bishop’s assertion that “The requirement to act with charity toward friend and stranger alike … takes precedence over all other imperatives. This obligation to demonstrate empathy and care for those who seek refuge in our country is ‘concerned neither with legal status nor country of origin.’”
Bishop Fisher shared his Pastoral Letter with all priests of the Diocese on Friday, prior to the First Sunday of Advent, acknowledging the “horrible tragedy that occurred in our nation’s Capital this past Wednesday, which has claimed the life of US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, and critically injured US Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe—both members of the West Virginia National Guard.” The alleged gunman is an immigrant from Afghanistan. The Pastoral Letter is being distributed to the broader Catholic community and broader public today.
Bishop Fisher concludes his Pastoral Letter by referencing our nation’s immigrant beginnings: “Mindful that our ancestors were also once aliens in need of compassion, care, and opportunity, we must speak out for those who desire only the same, but whose voices seem not to matter, and whose basic rights—even as immigrants—are so callously cast aside. As a nation, we know in our hearts that we can and should do better. As Christians, we must.”
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W-C girls down Albion in non league opener
Unable to overcome a 12 point first quarter deficit, Albion dropped a 50-36 decision at Wheatland-Chili this evening in the non league season opening girls basketball game for both teams.
W-C jumped out to a 19-7 first quarter advantage and maintained leads of 12 points (33-21) at the half and 14 (42-28) after three quarters.
Aaliyah Jones led Albion with 10 as Leah Pawlak and Jocelyn Friedl both added 8, Alexis Neff 6 and Melia Prince and Madison Muckle 2 each.
Albion next hosts Akron in the Niagara-Orleans League opener on December 8.
CSAT 55, Barker 20
CSAT downed visiting Barker 55-30 in a non league contest.
Elise Monaco led Barker with 17 as Cheyanne Rouse added 5, Villete Jary 4 and Mallary Fiacco and Hailey Dodge 2 each.
Wilson 46, Grand Island 38
Wilson topped Grand Island in a non league game as Abbie Faery scored 10, Bella Thrush 7 and Kylee Elia, Grace Smith and Andrea Faery 6 each.
Boys Basketball
Wilson 51, Starpoint 35
Wilson posted a 51-35 win over Starpoint in a non league season opener this evening as Aidan Neumann scored 18, Shamus George 12 and Ryan Hough 11.
Multi-agency DWI enforcement sees drop in intoxicated drivers over Thanksgiving holiday
Law enforcement issues 38 tickets with saturation patrols on Nov. 26-27
Joint Press Release by Albion Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office & New York State Police
ALBION – The Albion Police Department hosted and supervised a multi-agency Orleans County Wide DWI Saturation Patrol and 2 checkpoint locations last week beginning on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and ending at 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving.
This detail combined the Law Enforcement efforts from three law enforcement agencies in Orleans County along with the Orleans County Probation Department and NYS Parole.
The agencies involved consisted of the Albion Police, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, with logistical support provided by the Orleans County Probation and NYS Parole. While the Medina Police Department and the Holley Police Department did not participate in the checkpoint each agency conducted saturation patrols in their jurisdiction.
The detail results are as follows:
- DWI Arrests: 3 – 2 in the Village of Albion (Albion PD), one misdemeanor and one felony; 1 in the Town of Albion (Sheriff’s Office)
- Vehicles through the Checkpoint: 100-plus
- Traffic Stops: 68
- Tickets Issued: 20 by Albion PD, 4 by Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, 4 by New York State Police, 4 by Medina Police, and 6 by the Holley Police
- NYS Penal Law Arrests: 1 Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance 2x counts (Albion PD)
- NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law Arrests: 3 – 1 Felony (AUO 1st) 2 Misdemeanors (AUO 3rd & Suspended Reg)-Albion PD
- Agency Breakdown: Albion PD, 26 stops; Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, 7 stops; State Police, 6 stops; Medina PD, 16 stops; and Holley Police, 14 stops.
The Albion Police Department and the other law enforcement agencies are committed to making the roadways safe for all those who travel upon them.
Compared to previous years, this year’s detail had a comparable number of vehicle stops and vehicles traveling through the checkpoint as previous years, but the percentage of intoxicated or impaired drivers has decreased again from previous years.
The data from this year’s detail indicates that less than 5% of the motorists stopped were intoxicated and around 2% of all encounters were with intoxicated people, whereas in previous years we have seen data as high as 20% of the motorists stopped were intoxicated.
This is positive news in our efforts to reduce accidents caused by intoxicated drivers. The reduction of DWI arrests is a positive and motivating factor when these types of details are conducted.
Many believe that law enforcement want to make more DWI arrests during these details, however we like to see the opposite. Law enforcement had interactions with numerous individuals and found that an overwhelming majority were responsible and not under the influence of alcohol. We also encountered several intoxicated passengers with sober designated drivers.
Intoxicated drivers do not follow jurisdictional lines, so we decided that we would not either. The Albion Police Department and its partners are planning similar details for the future. We will continue to use every resource and tool available to create a reduction in offenders and arrest those who continue to endanger others by driving while intoxicated.
The commitment and dedication by the officers, deputies and troopers who worked the detail undoubtedly saved lives in Orleans County by making arrests and sending a clear message to deter others from drinking and driving.
Albion PD: Missing Albion teen is safe with family
ALBION – An Albion teen reported missing on Monday is with relatives and is safe, the Albion Police Department said.
Hailey Elmer, 15, was last seen by her family at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Open House at Job Corps invites students, community to see programs available
Provided photo: This photo shows Iroquois Job Corps students at their graduation in August.
SHELBY – The Iroquoius Job Corps has a message for the community: The center remains open and welcomes more students.
There may be confusion about the status of the center after the federal Department of Labor suspended the programs in May, with most of the students at 99 centers sent home. However, a federal judge in June ruled Job Corps Centers nationwide must remain open.
The local Job Corps at 11780 Tibbits Rd. is stepping up outreach to welcome students. The free residential program is open to students ages 16 to 24 years old.
The open house is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is a chance to meet teachers and counselors.
“See the campus, meet some students, get energized about changing the direction of your future,” the Job Corps said in promoting the event.
The center can help students earn their high school diploma, and earn certificates in carpentry, brick masonry, electrical, CNA (certified nursing assistant) or CMA (certified medical assistant).
Those going are asked to RSVP at 585-344-6714.
