Facebook

Judge sentences 3 to state prison for crimes in Orleans County

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 December 2025 at 10:47 am

ALBION – Three people were sentenced to state prison on Wednesday by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

A former Albion man received the longest sentenced of five years in state prison when he was sentenced on Wednesday.

Joel Prouty, 39, pleaded guilty in County Court to attempted course of sexual conduct in third degree. He now lives in Bethany, Genesee County. He admitted in County Court on Oct. 1 to having anal sexual contact at least twice with a victim between June 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. The victim was the ages of 9 and 10 when this happened, the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office said. Prouty was charged on May 21 by the Albion Police Department with course of sex conduct against a child in the 1st degree and endangering the welfare of a child.

He also faces up to 20 years of post-release supervision.

In other cases in County Court:

• Stanley Ivy, 42, of Albion was sentenced to four years in state prison for attempted sexual abuse in the first degree.

He allegedly had sexual contact with a 9-year-old between March and August 2023. Ivy already was a convicted sex offender.

He will also be on post-release supervision for 15 years. The judge also issued an order of protection for the victim of the crime for eight years, the longest possible.

• Troy Clarke, 28, of Brooklyn was sentenced to two years in state prison for attempted promoting prison contraband by having a black ceramic razor inside the Orleans Correctional Facility.

Clarke should have been sentenced 18 months ago but he failed to appear in court. Since then, he has been charged with two more crimes, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and a robbery. The sentencing on Wednesday doesn’t include the new crimes.

Clarke apologized to the judge and said he was unable to appear previously at sentencing because he missed a bus in New York City and had important family obligations, including caring for two children.

• Allan Bieber, 22, was sentenced to 10 years of probation for third-degree rape for having sex with a 15-year-old girl at St. Joseph’s Park on South Clinton Street on April 25. Bieber is a first-time offender.

He could be a registered sex offender for 10 years. That will be determined at a Jan. 21 hearing before Judge Church.

• Colton Palmer, 31, of Clarendon pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree and faces up to six months in the county jail and five years of probation. He will be sentenced on Jan. 28.

Palmer admitted in court that on Sept. 30, 2018 he gave a Kimber Micro 380 pistol that wasn’t his to another person. He didn’t have a license to possess or sell the pistol. Palmer needed to be extradited from Montana to resolve the case.

• Callin LeMon, 36, was arraigned on promoting prison contraband in the first and second degrees, and for criminal possession of a weapon.

LeMon, who is incarcerated at the Orleans Correctional Facility, on April 29 allegedly had a black ceramic razor blade and a leafy substance.

He is currently serving an 8- to 10-year sentence for criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a weapon. He is from Ulster County.

Tigers prepping for wrestling season opener

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 December 2025 at 9:33 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading the Lyndonville wrestling squad this season will be this group of veterans. In front are Justin Holmes, Grayson Romano and Ben Doolan. In back are Michael Alexander, Shannon Withey and Brody Hazel. Missing is Chance Amsdill.

A good veteran nucleus anchors a youthful Lyndonville wrestling squad which is prepping for a season opening tournament at Byron-Bergen on Saturday.

Highlighting the Tigers early season will be the annual Fred Large Memorial Tournament on December 13. The Tigers will also host Pavilion/York and St. Mary’s in a non league double dual match on December 10.

The Tigers veteran group includes seniors Justin Holmes, Grayson Romano and Ben Doolan along with juniors Brody Hazel, Shannon Withey, Michael Alexander and sophomore Chance Amsdill. Withey, Hazel and Amsdill all had 20 plus win seasons last year.

Lyndonville’s key graduation loss was Ty Holmes.

“We’ve got a good core group back and it is a young group. Youth is on our side,” said Jim Zeliff who co-coaches the Tigers with Joe Suhr.

The Tigers Genesee Region League opener is December 17 at home against Alexander.

Another big response for Toy Drive at Canalside Tattoo

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 December 2025 at 8:13 am

20 bags filled with toys at Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas and Parade of Lights

Provided photos

MEDINA – The Canalside Tattoo Company held its ninth annual toy drive during Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas and the Parade of Lights on Nov. 29.

About 20 bags full of unwrapped toys were donated by community members at Canalside, at 627 West Ave.

Canalside owner Shawn Ramsey and his staff handed those toys over to the Medina Area Association of Churches (MAAC) and Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, which will distribute them to local families. The toys cover children of all ages and interests, Ramsey said.

Attica rallies in second half to down Barker

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 3 December 2025 at 9:22 pm

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

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 3 December 2025 at 9:17 pm

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

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 December 2025 at 8:15 pm

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.

Hinspergers donates in big way to MAAC toy drive in Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 December 2025 at 4:03 pm

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

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 December 2025 at 2:06 pm

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

Posted 3 December 2025 at 1:34 pm

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

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 3 December 2025 at 9:25 am

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’

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 3 December 2025 at 8:44 am

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’

Posted 3 December 2025 at 8:21 am

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.”