Monday News Brief

INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED AFTER SHELL CASING FOUND AT LE ROY SCHOOL

An investigation involving local police and a specialized State Police K-9 unit was launched Friday night after a shell casing was discovered inside Le Roy Junior-Senior High School.
According to Superintendent Merritt Holly, a night cleaner found a single empty shell casing near student lockers around 7:24 Friday evening.
District officials immediately activated emergency procedures and contacted the Le Roy Police Department.
Police, school staff, and a specially trained State Police K-9 team searched lockers and the building overnight, but officials say nothing else connected to the incident was found.
Holly says the casing appeared old and damaged, with no signs of recent use or connection to an active threat.
School officials say classes will continue as scheduled Monday while the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact Le Roy Police or use the district’s Safe School Helpline.

 

LOCAL STUDENTS, NONPROFITS HONORED BY BUSINESS WOMEN’S CLUB

The Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Club held its annual awards banquet Thursday night at the Batavia Country Club, recognizing local students, nonprofits, and community leaders.
The organization awarded scholarships to 13 graduating seniors from schools across Genesee County, including students from Batavia, Notre Dame, Le Roy, Alexander, Byron-Bergen, Attica, and Oakfield-Alabama.
Community service awards were also presented to six local organizations, including Genesee Cancer Assistance, CASA for Children, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
The club’s Woman of the Year Award was presented to Diane Fiorentino for her longtime leadership and service to the organization.
Club leaders say the annual event celebrates academic achievement, volunteerism, and support for women and students across the community.

 

TAIWAN URGES CONTINUED U.S. SUPPORT AFTER TRUMP COMMENTS

Lai Ching-te is emphasizing the importance of U.S. military support after comments from Donald Trump raised new questions about future arms sales to Taiwan.
Taiwan’s president said American weapons sales remain the island’s “most important deterrent” against regional conflict and instability.
The statement comes after Trump suggested future military support for Taiwan could depend on negotiations with China following his recent trip to Beijing.
Taiwan relies heavily on U.S. military equipment and defense cooperation as China continues increasing pressure on the self-governing island, which Beijing claims as its own territory.
Trump has already approved an 11-billion-dollar weapons package for Taiwan, though another proposed package remains under review.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping recently warned of possible “clashes and conflicts” if tensions over Taiwan continue escalating.

 

 

FRIDAY BASEBALL ROUNDUP

A packed Friday night of local baseball featured extra innings, dominant pitching performances, and plenty of offense.
Notre Dame survived an 11-inning battle against Elba 4-3 as Chase Antinore threw a complete 11-inning game and helped the Irish win their eighth straight game.
Pembroke’s offense exploded in a 24-3 win over Franklin, led by four hits from Anthony Abbatiello and four RBIs from PJ Reeves.
Batavia picked up a tight 4-3 victory over Gates Chili behind a strong outing from Maggio Buchholz, who struck out 12.
Kendall defeated Alexander 10-3 as Vinnie D’Agostino drove in four runs and struck out nine on the mound.
Oakfield-Alabama also swept a doubleheader against Wheatland-Chili by scores of 11-1 and 15-3 to close out its regular season on a high note.

 

ARC GLOW OPENS NEW RESIDENTIAL HOME IN LE ROY

Arc GLOW officially celebrated the opening of its newest residential home in Le Roy this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by community leaders, staff, and residents.
The new B. Thomas Golisano IRA residence on East Main Road provides housing and 24-hour support services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Arc officials say the fully accessible home can accommodate up to five residents and includes staff offices, recreation space, and support services focused on daily living skills and independence.
The building was formerly a doctor’s office before being renovated into residential space over a multi-year approval and construction process.
Arc GLOW leaders credited a major financial commitment from Tom Golisano for helping make the project possible.
During the ceremony, Arc CEO Martin Miskell called the project a symbol of inclusion and community support, while local officials praised the organization’s continued impact across Genesee and surrounding counties.

 

FIRE HYDRANT FLUSHING BEGINS TODAY IN BATAVIA

The City of Batavia Fire Department begins annual fire hydrant flushing operations today in parts of the city.
Flushing will take place through Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in areas north of East Main Street and east of Bank Street.
Residents and businesses nearby could notice temporary water discoloration during the testing process.
Officials say if water appears discolored, residents should run cold water for several minutes until it clears and avoid washing clothing during that time.
The annual hydrant testing helps maintain fire protection standards and monitors the health of the city’s water system.

 

DRONE STRIKE HITS AREA NEAR UAE NUCLEAR PLANT

A drone strike sparked a fire Sunday near the United Arab Emirates’ only nuclear power plant, escalating tensions in the Middle East as the U.S. and Iran continue trading threats.
UAE officials called the incident an “unprovoked terrorist attack” after three drones entered the country’s airspace near the Barakah nuclear facility.
Authorities say there were no injuries and no radiation leak, though one reactor briefly switched to emergency power.
The strike comes as President Donald Trump warned Iran that “the clock is ticking” amid fears the fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel could collapse.
Iran has denied direct involvement, but UAE officials say the attack represents a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region.
The Barakah plant supplies roughly a quarter of the UAE’s electricity and is the only nuclear power facility in the Arab world.