John DeFilipps, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature, presents a “Special Recognition Award” on Wednesday to Susan Heard, who is retiring after 24 years as county treasurer.

ALBION – When Susan Heard took office as county treasurer in January 1994, the county needed to take out a $975,000 revenue anticipation note to help with cash flow.

The county was in that position other times early in her career. But as the years went by, Heard was determined to boost the county’s reserves. On Wednesday she gave her treasurer’s report to the County Legislature. The county has a cash balance of nearly $10 million.

“This is what I’ve been doing the past 24 years,” she told legislators.

That $9,877,873 on Wednesday compares to $1,957,272 in January 1994, with the amount 24 years ago including the $975,000 that was borrowed.

Heard retires on Dec. 31 after 24 years as treasurer. She was chosen by peers as a county treasurer of the year. She worked in the Treasurer’s Office for 16 years prior to that. She is taking that 40 years of experience to a new job as Gaines Town Clerk.

On Wednesday, county legislators praised her “commendable service and dedication to the County of Orleans.”

She was presented a “Special Recognition Award.” Heard has said she serves as the “watchdog” of the county’s finances, an annual budget of about $65 million with hundreds of line items.

“Through your extreme professionalism serving as our Orleans County Treasurer, our county has benefitted from your extensive knowledge and service,” the citation reads from the Legislature. “Your fiscal oversight to Orleans County and beyond is widespread and long lasting. The Orleans County Legislature does hereby wish you success and happiness in all of your future endeavors, along with thanking you for your service and dedication to the county you were raised in.”

Applications are due soon for businesses assistance for losses from the Lake Ontario flooding this year.

Businesses may be eligible for state and federal assistance.

“Lake Ontario’s devastating flooding has caused a great deal of hardship, both emotional and financial, for many residents and business owners along the shoreline,” said State Assemblyman Steve Hawley. “Fortunately, there are many resources available to aid in recovery, and I encourage all residents and business owners to keep a close eye on the upcoming deadlines and submit their applications accordingly. As always throughout this difficult time, my office is available to assist in this process so please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.”

Applications for New York’s Small Business Recovery Fund through Empire State Development are due on December 29, 2017 and more information can be found by clicking here. Eligible private non-profit organizations can also receive funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Applications are due by January 16, 2018 and more information can be found by clicking here.

Press Release, Roy-Hart Central School

MIDDLEPORT – The Royalton-Hartland Central School District has received 21 applications for the Superintendent of Schools position, which will soon be available due to the pending retirement of Dr. Roger Klatt.

The Board of Education will be conducting selected interviews of the applicants to narrow the field to a smaller pool of candidates. The finalists will then be reviewed by multiple stakeholder groups (teachers, parents, boosters, students, support staff, and administrators) and the community in early January.

Board President Sara Fry said she “was very pleased with the large number of applications, their diverse experiences and the backgrounds  of the candidates.”

Community sessions with opportunities for input into the search process are scheduled during the week of January 8, 2018. Candidates will be available in the evenings to discuss their qualifications and respond to questions from the community during that time.  A more detailed schedule will be provided closer to that date.

Dr. Clark Godshall, District Superintendent of the Orleans/Niagara BOCES, is facilitating the search process.

Wins yield contest with 322-bushels-per-acre

Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from August 2016 shows corn on Brown Road in Albion.

KENDALL – Matt Kludt from Kludt Brothers Farm is the state champion for the third straight year in an annual corn yield contest.

Kludt won the no-till/strip-till non-irrigated class with a yield of 322.4 bushels per acre. He used a seed from Channel 201-00DGVT2PRIB.

Ryan Swede of Pavilion was second at 307.6 bushels per acre with Kludt close behind in third place with another entry at 306.6 bushels per acre.

Last year Kludt won with a yield of 298.5 acres in the no-till/strip-till non-irrigated class. Kludt also won the title in 2015 with 319.7 bushels per acre.

The National Corn Growers Association has announced the winners of the 2017 National Corn Yield Contest. There were five national entries that surpassed the 400-plus bushel per acre mark, including David Hula of Charles City, VA, with the biggest yield –  542.3 bushels with a seed from Pioneer. Hula competes in the no-till/strip-till irrigated class.

The contest is in its 53rd year and remains NCGA’s most popular program for members.

“The contest provides farmers more than just an opportunity for friendly competition; it generates data that impacts future production practices across the industry,” said Roger Zylstra, chair of NCGA’s Stewardship Action Team. “The techniques first developed by contest winners grow into far-reaching advances, helping farmers across the country excel in a variety of situations.  Our contest emphasizes innovation both from growers and technology providers, thus enabling us to meet the growing demand for food, feed, fuel and fiber.”

Winners receive national recognition in publications such as the NCYC Corn Yield Guide, as well as cash trips or other awards from participating sponsoring seed, chemical and crop protection companies. The winners will be honored during Commodity Classic 2018 in Anaheim, Calif.

Click here to visit National Corn Growers Association website www.ncga.com for the complete list of National and State winners.

Sourced Market & Eatery is a showcase of local agriculture

MILLVILLE – A new business features the local agricultural bounty, from organic vegetables to locally raised beef. There’s even tangy jam and lemon curd.

The logo for the Sourced includes a moose that recognized the site’s previous history when it was Moose’s. The Hartway children, now adults, were kids when the business was Moose’s. They lived nearby on Mix Road and remember buying candy at Moose’s. This jar is lemon curd, which was prepared by Darlene Hartway.

Sourced Market & Eatery also serves up sandwiches, soups and baked goods that feature local ingredients.

“This is about knowing where your food comes from and who produced it,” said Darlene Hartway, who runs the business with two of her children. “We’re hoping to be a showcase. We have a lot of talented producers in our area.”

Sourced opened just before Thanksgiving. It is located at 12195 Maple Ridge Rd. The Hartways will have gardens at the site and grow vegetables within view of the store.

The family lived on Mix Road in Barre, running a crop and beef farm until moving about a decade ago to South Dakota. Darlene’s husband Charlie ran a farm milking 300 cows in South Dakota. Darlene ran a tea shop and served specialty dinners in Clear Lake, SD.

Another farmer offered to buy the farm and the Hartways welcomed the chance to move back home now that they are grandparents. Mr. Hartway also started a 40-cow organic dairy farm on Fruit Avenue.

Sourced on Friday welcomed customers to sample these jams.

The Hartways have seven adult children. Travis and Katie are part owners of Sourced. They both are Cornell University graduates with Katie earning a degree in applied economics and management. She worked for a large food service company out of college. She is the chef at Source and also manages the catering side of the business.

Travis earned a degree in bioengineering at Cornell. He enjoys experimenting with ingredients and makes many of the specialty bakery items while overseeing the gardens at Sourced.

Other Hartway siblings have indirect roles at the business. Brothers Nathaniel, Franklin and Justin Hartway grow vegetables at the Hartway Brothers Farm and some of their squash and vegetables are available at Sourced. Justin also works for Call Farms in Genesee County and Nathaniel works for McCormick Farms in Wyoming County.

Their sister Bailey is married to Robert Bannister, who runs Bannister Beef with his father Roger in Kent. Some of the Bannister Beef is for sale at Sourced.

The youngest Hartway sibling, Martha, recently graduated from college and is working as a caseworker for the Orleans County Department of Social Services.

The Hartways have returned near Medina, a community they see on the upswing. They like that their business is a just down the road from Medina in the country, across from a farm field.

Darlene Hartway and her family spent nine years in South Dakota running a 300-cow dairy farm before moving back to the Medina area. While in South Dakota, Hartway owned a tea shop and prepared specialty dinners in Clear Lake, SD. Her new business on Route 31A includes organic produce and many other locally grown foods and meat.

Darlene said the she better appreciates the diversity of WNY agriculture since being away. The region is home to dynamic fruit, vegetable and livestock farms – of all sizes.

“We really are in an abundant area here,” she said. “There is great, abundant food here.”

The farm has connections with organic farmers and other producers in the region. Hartway said the emphasis is on fresh and nutritious, without the food having to be transported hundreds and thousands of miles like many of the food items in grocery stores.

The site at 12195 Maple Ridge Rd. was known as Moose’s, which was an endearing spot to Travis Hartway and his sister Katie Misiti when they were children and going to the store for candy.

Sourced sells locally raised meat from McB’s Farm in Gasport, Baker Farms in Medina and Bannister Beef in Kent. Rabbit is on the left and pheasants are on the right.

Sourced includes a moose on its logo in honor of those roots.

The new store is much different. The menu is focused on local, sustainable agriculture. The gas pumps are gone. The Hartways used repurposed wood from a barn for countertops and sliding interior door.

Some favorites are emerging on the menu since Sourced opened a month ago. The muhle sandwich – egg, bacon, avocado and chipotle mayo – has been popular. The alces sandwich includes egg, sausage, cheddar and maple butter.

Some of the regular specials have included Chicken, Kale & Quinoa Soup; Noodle Bowl with Pork; and Nutella/banana Crepes.

For more on Sourced, click here.

$2.5 million competition seeks to transform canal system

Press Release, NYS Canal Corporation, NY Power Authority

WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corporation have announced the panel of landscape architecture, economic development and parks experts who will judge a $2.5 million global competition that seeks the best ideas to transform the state’s Canal System

“The deep well of experience that this panel offers ensures we will identify the highest-quality entries from among the many we expect to have submitted,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “The judges have been visionaries in their own lines of work and stewards of significant projects that have already been built. They are eminently qualified to determine which Canal competition entries have the most potential.”

The judges for the Reimagine the Canals Competition are:

• Carol Ash, Chair and Founding Trustee of the Carey Institute for Global Good and a former New York State parks commissioner

• Steve Dunlop, Chief Executive of Scottish Canals

• Richard M. Larrabee, former Director of the Port Commerce Department at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

• Mia Lehrer, Founder and President of Studio-MLA, a landscape architecture firm

• Holley Leicht, Executive Vice President of Real Estate Development and Planning at Empire State Development

• Hugh O’Neill, President of Appleseed, a firm that provides economic research and economic development planning to government, nonprofits and corporations

• Darlene Upton, Executive Director at Parks Canada in charge of waterways and parks and historic sites in Ontario

“We’ve worked with some of these panelists on other projects and know they are passionate about improving the New York State Canal System,” said Brian U. Stratton, Canal Corporation director. “Entrants should take comfort in knowing the merits of their ideas will be fully evaluated given the wide range of expertise among the judges.”

The Reimagine the Canals Competition was created to encourage visionary and implementable ideas that will transform how people use and experience the 524-mile state Canal System, which includes the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca canals. The competition is seeking entries that:

• Enhance the Canal System as a tourist destination and recreation asset

• Promote sustainable economic development along the canals

• Recognize the heritage and historic values of the Canal System

• Bolster the Canal System’s long-term financial sustainability

The deadline for entries is Jan. 12, 2018. Up to eight finalists will be selected and awarded up to $50,000 to further develop their proposal for the final round. NYPA and the Canal Corporation will work with teams to identify local partners to advance the finalist projects, such as a municipality—there are 226 towns, villages and cities the canals pass through—or a state or local nonprofit that does canal-related work. The judges will recommend two or more winners to receive $250,000 to $1.5 million, depending on the scope of the project.

For more information, visit www.canals.ny.gov/reimaginethecanals.

MURRAY – Town Board members Tuesday evening unanimously adopted a new property maintenance law following a public hearing during which many residents expressed opposition to the measure.

An initial public hearing on the law was held more than a year ago, in November 2016, at which time strong opposition was expressed by residents concerning the law. The Town Board decided not to take action on the measure at that time, but last month Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti asked the board to re-introduce the measure because of a change at the state level which now allows for a single, unlicensed car on an individual’s property.

The new Murray law reflects the New York State Property Management code and was adapted for the town by Vendetti from a similar municipal law in the Town of Greece. The Town of Murray law varies slightly from the state code in that it stipulates that garbage cans be brought in from the road, and violations, which in the state code are considered misdemeanors, are lowered to violations in the new town law.

Vendetti has said that the new law will help consolidate property maintenance into one general code format which can be easily accessed and followed.

The Village of Holley has had its own property maintenance law in effect for several years.

During the public hearing, Vendetti first took questions from residents, in order to clarify the law, and then residents were able to comment to board members.

Joe Sidonio questioned Vendetti about the necessity of the new law.  “This is what alarms me,” he said, “we have the New York State codes, why do we need a new law? It makes no sense to me.”

Sidonio requested that the board not pass the property maintenance law until its full impact on agriculture is known. He noted the Town of Murray is very different from the Town of Greece, and that most areas outside the village do not have a high-density population.  He said as the legislative body, the town board should have written the law.  “I’m opposed to it in its entirety as it is today,” Sidonio said.

Kerri Neale said that when a law is proposed, its future impact should be considered.

“A lot of people are not against the codes, but the potential mishandling of how it is enforced,” said Neale, a local resident.

Concerns that the local law would give the code enforcement officer too much power and broaden the scope of the code officer’s authority were expressed when the law was first proposed a year ago and again Tuesday evening.  Several residents accused the town of “picking and choosing who gets into trouble.”

“I don’t want to see individuals pinpointed,” Art Knabb said. “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

He said the law should be enforced fairly across the board.

Two town officials noted that they, too, have been cited in the past by Vendetti for violations, arguing that there is no selective enforcement in the town.

Town Attorney Jeff Martin said he had received a letter from Vendetti 7 or 8 years ago, when his law office building in thePublic Square in Holley was out of compliance due to winter damage to the brick and mortar exterior. No one, “is above the law,” Martin said.

Town Supervisor John Morriss said he, too, had be notified he has been in violation of property codes.

“I’ve gotten into trouble with Ron with a deck,” Morriss said. He explained that spindles on the deck had been placed one-quarter inch too far apart. Morriss said he had the contractor fix the spacing.

Several residents told the board they feel the property maintenance laws infringe on their personal freedoms and interfere with the use of their own property. They asked Town Board members to consider the fact that Murray is not densely populated like the Town of Greece or even the Village of Holley.

Council member Paul Hendel moved the resolution to adopt the property maintenance law following the public hearing after stating that the Town Board, residents and code enforcement should work together for fair, equitable and reasonable enforcement of the new law.

“With some small exceptions, we are not adopting anything new,” Hendel said.

Council member Bob Miller, who will become town supervisor on Jan. 1, supported the new property maintenance code.

“I would rather be strict in law and reasonable in enforcement,” he said prior to the vote.

When the vote was taken around 8 p.m., many residents attending had already left the meeting.

Morriss praised for service as town supervisor

With the exception of the year-end meeting for Dec. 28, Tuesday’s Town Board meeting was the final one for outgoing Supervisor John Morriss, who decided not to run for re-election this year.

“It’s time to go,” Morriss said.

He thanked Town Board members, attorney Jeff Martin, Town Clerk Cindy Oliver, support staff, Highway Superintendent Ed Morgan and Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti for their help during his years as supervisor.

“You’ve done an admirable job,” Vendetti told Morriss. “You are one of the best supervisors I have ever had.”

Joe Sidonio, who lost a very close race for supervisor to Bob Miller in November, thanked Morriss during the public comment at the end of the meeting for his years of service.

Morris said he began serving on the Town Board in 1999 and before that was a member of the Holley Village Board.

Morriss thanked Sidonio for engaging more town residents in town government.

“It used to be you could hear crickets during the meetings, but now the public is engaged,” Morriss told Sidonio.

Morris said he is looking forward to life with fewer responsibilities.

“I will be able to sleep through the night Jan. 1,” he said.

Photos from Medina Central School

MEDINA – The Medina Student Association held a canned food drive to benefit the MAAC (Medina Area Association of Churches) Christmas Program. At the high school, over 2,500 items were collected for families in need.

The donated food was picked up by Medina firefighters and delivered to the MAAC.

The New York Power Authority, which oversees the Erie Canal with the NYS Canal Corp., says the delay in tree-clearing along the canal in three Monroe County towns is due to winter weather.

Orleans Hub posted a story earlier today about the tree-clearing being delayed until February in Brighton, Perinton and Pittsford. The state will also have two public meetings about the project in January so the community can better understand the scope of work. Town leaders said the clearing could be scaled back, according to a report in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

“The embankment maintenance work has been temporarily suspended due to the onset of cold and snowy conditions and associated potential safety concerns,” Steven Gosset, spokesman for the Power Authroity, said this afternoon. “The work is scheduled to resume once the weather permits.”

A contractor, Mohawk Valley Materials in Utica, in October began removing trees along the towpath in Medina and started working east. The loss of trees sparked outrage by many canal residents in Orleans County, but the work continued.

In Monroe County, elected officials joined concerned residents in objecting to the extent of the work. More than 120 residents attended a meeting on Monday at the Pittsford Community Library about the controversial project.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) was the among the “yes” votes today for overhauling the tax code.

The legislation passed the House of Representatives, 227-203. There were 12 Republicans opposed to it with no Democrats voting yes.

The Senate is expected to pass the legislation later today with President Trump signing the bill before Christmas.

Collins said the tax reform will provide needed relief to families across Western New York and spark business investment, hiring, and wage growth. Based upon census data, the average family in the 27th Congressional District will pay $1,875 less in taxes allowing them to keep more than $150 each month, Collins said.

“While the liberal left has relied on fake news and deceptive studies in a failed attempt to derail tax reform, I’m proud to have joined House Republicans in fighting for working families in New York and across the country,” said Collins. “This tax reform bill means lower taxes, more jobs, and higher wages for the hard-working families in Western New York.”

Currently the United States has the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world driving jobs and profits overseas instead of keeping them in America, Collins said.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will lower the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, which will be the largest reduction of this rate in our nation’s history. Additionally, the legislation lowers the tax rate on small businesses and provides incentives for these businesses to grow and hire more workers.

For individuals and families, the legislation lowers tax rates so people can keep more of their paychecks. The plan doubles the standard deduction, which means many families will no longer itemize their taxes. For those that choose to itemize, they will be able to write off the cost of state and local taxes up to $10,000, mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and expensive medical bills.

Republicans in Congress have doubled the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000. The legislation preserves dependent care credits for children and adults that need additional support. By repealing the individual mandate tax penalty, families gain the flexibility to buy the health insurance plan that is right for them, Collins said.

“This is a historic moment for workers, families, and job creators in Western New York,” he said. “House Republicans have passed a once-in-a-generation tax reform bill that will ease the tax burden on Americans from all walks of life. This legislation will revitalize the American economy, allowing us to compete with other industrialized nations and win.”

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley says revisions to the Charitable Gaming Act will allow non-profits, churches and service groups to raise needed funds. The governor has signed the legislation into law.

The legislation doesn’t take effect until 180 days to give New York State Gaming Commission time to make “tweaks,” Hawley said.

“I am so proud of the work we have done and I am hopeful that moving forward we continue to advocate for our charitable and non-profit organizations and make more changes to the state’s gaming laws,” Hawley said in a statement today.

Some local organizations have raffled off cars and motorcycles, generating tens of thousands of dollars. But the state said many of those events were out of compliance.

The governor and Legislature earlier this year approved some updates to the state’s gaming laws, including expanding the definition of an “authorized organization” to include volunteer ambulance workers and organizations that have been in existence for one year, allowing television and internet advertising of raffles and allowing personal checks to be acceptable payments for games of chance.

But Hawley said the legislation earlier this year didn’t go far enough. The latest revision will allow groups to accept credit and debit cards as a form of payment for raffles, resulting in higher revenues raised for the organizations, Hawley said.

“This is a tremendous victory and crucial first step toward reforming our gaming laws for the tens of thousands of non-profits, fire departments, churches, Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs and charitable organizations throughout the state,” Hawley said.

“After a long uphill climb, and with much help from my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate, we have made important changes to New York’s gaming laws that open the conversation and serve as a catapult to tackle more changes this year.”

Photo by Kristina Gabalski: Dr. Daniel Schiavone accepts a Soaring to New Heights award from Brenda Swanger, president of the Holley Board of Education.

HOLLEY – A young student and a Holley Central graduate were honored with Soaring to New Heights Awards at the Holley School Board of Education meeting Monday evening.

Elementary Principal Karri Schiavone told board members she nominated fourth-grader Sheelsy Gonzalez, who eagerly stepped up to help last week with two new students at the school. The two new students are sisters, in grades 5 and 6, who have come to the Holley School District from Puerto Rico in the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Maria, Schiavone said.

The two girls do not speak or understand English and Sheelsy, who came to Holley from Mexico at the age of five, is helping the girls to adjust by translating for them and explaining how the school day works in Holley.

Schiavone said Sheelsy has shown the girls how to navigate the cafeteria and has, “attached herself to the girls,” helping them in any way she can.  Additionally, other students have taken the girls, “under their wing” and are making sure they feel welcomed, said Schiavone and Tim Artessa, assistant elementary school principal.

Sheelsy was not able to attend the board meeting to receive her award.

Board President Brenda Swanger presented the second Soaring to New Heights Award to Daniel Schiavone, a Holley Central High School graduate and dentist in the village, for his generosity to the Holley Days of Shopping and Food for Families programs.

Schiavone thanked Swanger for the award and noted that he is one of many people in the Holley community who give to those in need.

The 2017 Holley Days of Shopping took place Dec. 7 and 8 in the Elementary School primary gym. Parents and guardians were welcome to come and select a limited number of gifts, free of charge for their child. The program allows one parent or guardian to shop per child and all parents/guardians in the district are welcome to take part.

Photo by Kristina Gabalski: Pictured from left includes Elementary School Principal Karri Schiavone, Board of Education member and Holley Rotarian John Heise, Holley Elementary Assistant Principal Tim Artessa and Jeff Martin, school district attorney and Holley Rotary Club member.

HOLLEY – John Heise, Holley School Board of Education member and member of the Holley Rotary, Monday night presented Holley Elementary Principal Karri Schiavone with $900 in $100 Wal-Mart gift cards to be distributed to students whose families are in need this holiday season.

The $900 in gift cards are part of a $1,600 donation the Holley Rotary is giving to families in the community this holiday through the school. Heise said one $100 gift card has already been presented to a local family, who could not afford to by groceries because of a needed car repair. Heise says he will be presenting Schiavone with the remainder of the gift cards in the near future.

School social workers spoke to the Holley Rotary in early November regarding the needs of families in the district, Heise said.

“The social workers do a tremendous job,” he added.

Schiavone thanked Rotary members for the donation.

“We have very giving students and families in the Holley community,” she said.

She and Heise noted the need seems to be greater this holiday for families who are struggling to make ends meet.

“This is a very generous community,” said Sue Cory, Middle School/High School principal. “The Wal-Mart cards are going to be a godsend. The spirit of Christmas is really alive and well here.”

Rochester man apologizes for bringing drugs to Orleans County

ALBION – Three people were sentenced in Orleans County Court on Monday, including a Rochester man who will spend three years in state prison after admitting to bringing drugs in Orleans County.

Dale M. Jones, 47, of Rochester pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. As a second felony offender, the charge carries a maximum of 4 years in prison. As part of a plea deal, Jones faced up to 3 years in prison when he was sentenced on Monday.

Sara Sheldon, acting County Court judge, gave him the maximum as part of the plea agreement.

“I apologize for bringing drugs to this county, to the Town of Albion and the Town of Clarendon,” Jones said during sentencing. “I made a bad choice. I’m not a bad person.”

Jones has a long history of substance abuse, his attorney told the judge. Sheldon agreed the sentence for Jones will include the drug treatment program at Willard, which is run by the NYS Department of Correctional Services and Community Supervision.

His sentence includes paying $150 in restitution to the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force.

• Jason M. Hirtreiter, 29, of Medina was sentenced to a year in jail for obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree.

Hirtreiter admitted in court that on May 13 he pulled a witness away from two Medina police officers who were trying to interview the person.

Hirtreiter also refused to be finger-printed, refused to get out of a the patrol car and be arraigned and was aggressive with the police, Sheldon said during sentencing.

He has already been in jail for about 7 ½ months. He also needs to pay $250 in court surcharges, including a DNA fee.

• A 17-year-old girl from Rochester who pleaded guilty to promoting prison contraband in the second degree won’t have to spend any time in jail.

The girl, who was given youthful offender status, will serve three years on probation. She admitted to trying to pass heroin and Alprazolam (also known as Xanax) to two inmates at the Albion Correctional Facility, a women’s prison, on March 26.

The girl could have faced a maximum of a year in jail. District Attorney Joe Cardone said the girl was taken advantage of by the inmates, including her mother who is incarcerated. Cardone described the girl’s family situation as “horrible.”

Cardone agreed to the youthful offender status, which means the crime won’t go on the girl’s record and her name shouldn’t be made public.

The girl is on the honor roll and told the judge she hopes to become a math teacher.

“I wish the world for her,” Sheldon said during sentencing.

In another case, an 18-year-old from Albion pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary after stealing cigars from a gas station.

Prince Wilson of Platt Street was accepted into a judicial diversion program. If he completes that program, the felony charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor and he will avoid state prison and instead spend three years on probation.

Wilson will be on the diversion program for 18 to 24 months and needs to not break any laws and complete his GED. If he fails at the diversion program, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.

It’s going to be windy in Orleans County and throughout much of Western New York today.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. today for Orleans, Niagara, Monroe, Genesee, Erie, Wyoming and Chautauqua counties.

Southwest winds will be 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 mph.

The gusty winds may bring down a few small tree limbs and result in isolated power outages, the Weather Service said. Home owners  are urged to secure personal property.