Wednesday News Brief

BATAVIA SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT JASON SMITH TO RETIRE NEXT SUMMER

Batavia City School District Superintendent Jason Smith plans to retire next summer, ending more than four years leading the district.
School Board President John Reigle says Smith first informed board leadership of his retirement plans in April. The district formally announced the decision this week and will now begin searching for his successor.
Smith, a Batavia native who attended city schools himself, plans to remain superintendent through July 31st, 2027. He says staying beyond the point when he becomes eligible for retirement will give the district additional time to make an orderly leadership transition.
The school board plans to work with Genesee Valley BOCES Superintendent Julie Donlon-Yates during the search process, with additional information expected in the coming months.
Reigle thanked Smith for his work during Monday’s board meeting.
Smith has previously said he hoped to finish his career in the district where he grew up.
His current tenure began roughly four-and-a-half years ago, and district officials say the search for Batavia’s next superintendent will begin soon.

GENESEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE PREPARES K-9 TRANSITION

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is preparing for a changing of the guard in its K-9 unit.
K-9 Rayzor will retire at the end of the year after more than six years working alongside Deputy James Stack. Rayzor was named in memory of Genesee County Correction Officer Raymond Thompson, who died in the line of duty in 2002.
Taking his place will be Tas — pronounced “Taz” — a 16-month-old Dutch Shepherd named in honor of Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello, who died in 2024 following an altercation at Batavia Downs.
Tas has already begun training toward his required certifications and will also be partnered with Stack. The Sheriff’s Office expects him to begin patrol duties by the end of the year.
Sheriff Joseph Graff says community donations made the purchase possible, including a substantial contribution from the Paws for Justice fundraising effort organized by Barb Starowitz.
A formal retirement ceremony for Rayzor and an official introduction of Tas are planned for later dates.

TOWN OF BATAVIA FIRE DEPARTMENT POSTPONES LOSAP VOTE

The Town of Batavia Fire Department has postponed its public vote on a proposed Length of Service Award Program.
The vote had been scheduled for October 19th at Station One on Lewiston Road, but has now been delayed until further notice.
The proposed LOSAP program would provide service-based retirement benefits to eligible volunteer firefighters.
Fire department officials say a new date and time will be announced once arrangements are finalized, and residents are encouraged to watch for future updates.

THREE NOTRE DAME STUDENTS EARN NATIONAL ACADEMIC RECOGNITION

Three students at Notre Dame High School have earned honors through the College Board’s National Recognition Program.
Emma Fitch and Evan Fitzpatrick received both the Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award and the School Recognition Award. Alexander Wyder also earned the School Recognition Award.
The honors are based on academic performance, including GPA, AP exam results and testing achievement.
Notre Dame Principal Julia Rogers says the recognition reflects the students’ hard work and could help them stand out to colleges and scholarship programs.

FRANCE HIT BY WORST CIVIL UNREST IN YEARS

France is dealing with its most serious civil unrest in years after weekend protests turned violent across several major cities.
More than 2,400 people were arrested as rioters clashed with police, set vehicles on fire, damaged public buildings and looted thousands of businesses. A historic city hall in Limoges was nearly destroyed by fire.
The unrest grew out of demonstrations over rising living costs and concerns about underfunded schools, although hundreds of thousands of people marched peacefully.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence and blamed radical far-left groups and opportunistic criminals. Authorities have begun using localized curfews in some areas, including parts of Paris.
Student groups and activists are calling for additional demonstrations later this week, raising concerns that more unrest could follow.

NORTH CAROLINA SCAM LOSSES TOP ONE BILLION DOLLARS OVER FIVE YEARS

North Carolina consumers reported losing more than one-billion dollars to scams between 2021 and 2025, according to an Associated Press analysis of Federal Trade Commission data.
Reported losses climbed sharply over that period, rising from about 95-million dollars in 2021 to more than 342-million last year.
The number of complaints did not increase nearly as much, suggesting the average financial hit from reported scams has grown.
Officials caution the data only includes incidents people actually reported, meaning the true total is likely higher.
Experts say scammers often tailor their approach to a victim’s fears, expectations or personal circumstances, while using urgency to push people into quick decisions.
Consumers are advised to slow down, verify who they are dealing with and avoid sending money or personal information under pressure.

GENESEE COUNTY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP

In Genesee County high school girls volleyball action Tuesday night, Perry defeated Notre Dame 3-1.
Pavilion swept Warsaw 3-nothing, while Alexander also earned a straight-set victory, defeating Wheatland-Chili 3-nothing.