Morning News Briefing

The Oakfield-Alabama Board of Education has selected Youth Officer Timothy Wescott as its new School Resource Officer.  Wescott is a 22-year veteran of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. He was hired as a Correction Officer in 1998, and was then appointed to Deputy Sheriff in 2000. He has held his current position as Youth Officer since 2013. During his tenure, he has earned an Officer-of-the-Year Award, a Meritorious Award, and a Commendation. Sheriff Sheron says “The Oakfield-Alabama School District is fortunate to have Deputy Wescott as their new SRO.”

The latest Genesee County Health Department COVID report shows twenty-nine county residents hospitalized with complications from the coronavirus. At the end of last week, 52 new positive cases were confirmed. Thirty new cases were reported in Orleans County while the latest report from Wyoming County shows thirty-one new positive COVID cases.

Criminal charges have been filed against a Batavia woman following a domestic dispute in the Town of Pembroke. Batavia-based Troopers arrested 36-year-old Cynthia Stancliff. She was charged with making graffiti and criminal mischief. She was initially detained, according to Troopers.

Police agencies in Genesee County have made no secret of the fact that from now thru New Year’s Day, they will aggressively be looking for impaired drivers…and the arrests, keep on coming. State troopers arrested 34-year-old John Ryan of Corfu after he was pulled over in the Town of Batavia. Genesee County deputies haven’t slowed either…they report the arrest of 48-year-old Craig Alexander of Alabama after a car crash in Oakfield and 49-year-old Dennis Kiener of North Tonawanda. He was involved in a vehicle crash in the Town of Alabama. They were all charged with driving while intoxicated despite numerous public warnings. They’ll all have facetime with a judge next month.

The staff at The Manor House in Batavia is asking the public to send their 68 senior residents holiday cards, who especially need them because of COVID-19 restrictions and not being able to see their families for the holidays. They are also looking for cards for three very special ladies who turn 100, 101 and 102 in January! There are boxes for cards and pictures at the front doors of The Manor House at 427 E. Main St. in the city.

Federal representatives in New York began receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine this weekend. Congressional Leadership was informed by the Office of the Attending Physician that Members of the House of Representatives and Senate are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Southern Tier Rep. Tom Reed (R, NY-23) received his first dose Saturday, calling it a “modern miracle.”