Monday News Brief

Several notable arrests were reported by Batavia Police over the past few weeks.

Two men were charged with felony weapons possession following an investigation on North Spruce Street. Oraid J. Blackshear Jr. and Alexander N. Parsons were each charged with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the third degree after police allegedly found them in possession of an illegal pistol inside an apartment. Both were arraigned in CAP Court and will appear in Batavia City Court.
A Batavia man faces serious charges following an alleged violent incident on East Main Street. Alexander Preedom, 22, was charged with Unlawful Imprisonment, Menacing, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon after police say he prevented a victim from leaving an apartment while holding a knife.
Another felony weapons arrest stems from an incident on Bank Street. Bryson Gentile, 20, was charged with multiple counts of weapons possession and Criminal Use of a Firearm after allegedly pointing a gun at another person in a parking lot.
Police also reported the arrest of Elizabeth Lindner of Batavia four times in nine days for incidents including trespassing, soliciting, and theft involving local businesses and a church.
In another unusual case, Alicia Lyons of Perry was charged with Aggravated Harassment after allegedly calling the Genesee County 911 Dispatch Center more than 150 times in approximately six hours without a legitimate reason.
All defendants are presumed innocent, and cases are pending in Batavia City Court.

Batavia Shoe Drive Supports Rescue of Lab Beagles

Batavia residents can help rescue beagles used in laboratory testing through a local shoe drive organized by Sonya Miller-Alwardt.
The drive benefits Beagle Lovers and Rescuers, a nonprofit that saves beagles from testing facilities. The goal is to collect 5,000 pairs of shoes by January 20.
Donations are collected through Funds2Orgs, which pays the organization by the pound, supporting rescue, rehoming, and advocacy efforts.
Drop-off locations include The YNGODESS, Country Max, Mrs. Green’s CANNAry, and Genesee Feeds.

Genesee County Boys Basketball Weekend Scores

A busy weekend on the hardwood across Genesee County.
Elba used a dominant fourth quarter to beat Attica 58–40 Friday night, led by 18 points each from Bing Zuber and Ryan Marsceill.
Le Roy won a rivalry showdown at home, knocking off Caledonia-Mumford 66–56 behind 25 points from Matthew Hockey.
York picked up its first win of the season, rallying past Pavilion 52–45 as Yerial Diaz-Pena scored 25.
Byron-Bergen earned a 56–43 win over Eugenio Maria De Hostos, while Alexander rolled past Holley 70–36.
In non-league play, Honeoye Falls-Lima edged Batavia 60–53, and Fillmore defeated Notre Dame 84–67.

Two Longtime Legislators Honored as Maha and Stein Step Away

After a combined 22 years of service, Genesee County Legislators Gary Maha and Rochelle “Shelley” Stein are stepping away from the County Legislature.
Both were honored last week with commendations recognizing years of behind-the-scenes work on boards and committees, along with very public roles at community events, business celebrations, and county functions.
Stein served 14 years representing Le Roy, including the last six as Chair of the Legislature. During her tenure, she took part in more than 2,000 legislative actions and helped guide the county through COVID-19, broadband expansion, major infrastructure projects, and ongoing work on the countywide water system.
Stein says her proudest achievement was building relationships and supporting the people who make county government work, while calling public water supply the county’s biggest ongoing challenge.
Maha, who also chose not to seek re-election, was similarly recognized for years of service and commitment to county programs and funding.
Both say they’re grateful for the opportunity to serve and are looking ahead to the next chapter.

Environmental Scholarship Available to New York Seniors

Three one-thousand-dollar scholarships are now available to New York high school seniors planning to pursue environmental-related degrees.
The Louis Scafetta “Grizz” Memorial Scholarship is open to students entering fields such as forestry, conservation, wildlife biology, or environmental science. The application deadline is January 3.
The scholarship honors the life of Louis “Grizz” Scafetta, an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and spending time in nature.
Applicants must describe themselves, list their planned college and degree, explain their career goals, and submit a photo of themselves enjoying the outdoors.

Genesee County Girls Basketball Weekend Results

In WBTA’s Game of the Week, Oakfield-Alabama held off Notre Dame 50–46. Allison Harkness led the Hornets with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Alexa Clark added 11 points. Oakfield-Alabama jumped out to a 20–5 first-quarter lead and withstood a late Irish rally.
Caledonia-Mumford picked up its first win of the season, defeating rival Le Roy 40–32 behind a 26-point night from Olivia Amorese.
York remained unbeaten, rolling past Pavilion 64–23 as Bree Parsons and Tessa Rodwell scored 19 apiece.
Pembroke stayed perfect with a 37–17 win over Lyndonville, and Honeoye Falls-Lima topped Batavia 51–39, Violet Lopez hit 7 three-pointers for the Blue Devils.