Saturday News Brief
Written by Pete Zehler on April 17, 2026
Photo Courtesy of Kara Richenberg/The Batavian
PEMBROKE UNVEILS NEW GYM AS PART OF $35.9 MILLION PROJECT
Pembroke Junior-Senior High School officially opened its new gym Thursday, marking a major milestone in a $35.9 million capital project.
School leaders say the state-of-the-art facility is built for students—designed for games, practices, and bringing the school community together for years to come.
Principal Nathan Work called it a place where students will build memories, push themselves, and support one another, while Superintendent Matthew Calderón emphasized the project reflects the district’s commitment to student success.
The upgraded gym features expanded seating, new locker rooms, improved sound and scoreboard systems, and modernized facilities.
The celebration included a ribbon cutting and a Unified Basketball game, highlighting inclusion and school pride as the new space officially opened.
TOWN OF ALABAMA CELEBRATES 200 YEARS WITH HISTORIC REENACTMENT
The Town of Alabama is celebrating its bicentennial today with a look back at its beginnings.
A reenactment of the town’s first board meeting from 1826 will headline the event, along with the opening of a time capsule and the unveiling of the original bell from the South Alabama Schoolhouse.
The town was first established as Gerrysville before being renamed Alabama in 1828, with early communities forming around crossroads, churches, and the railroad.
Saturday’s celebration is open to the public and begins at 1 pm at the Alabama Fire Hall.
STOCKS HIT RECORD AS OIL PRICES DROP ON STRAIT REOPENING
U.S. stocks surged to record highs Friday as oil prices dropped sharply following news that Iran has reopened the Strait of Hormuz.
The S&P 500 jumped more than 1% to a new all-time high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained more than 800 points and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.5%.
Oil prices fell nearly 10%, easing concerns about inflation and the global economy as a ceasefire in the region appears to be holding.
The reopening of the key shipping route is raising hopes for lower fuel costs and potentially lower interest rates moving forward.
Markets have now rallied more than 12% since late March, driven by optimism that the conflict will not derail global growth.
LE ROY ROLLS PAST AVON BEHIND GREENE’S BIG DAY
Le Roy cruised to an 11-2 win over Avon in baseball.
Simon Greene led the way at the plate, going 3-for-4 and earning TF Brown’s Player of the Game honors as Le Roy’s offense stayed hot. Jude Christ earned the win on the hill, pitching 3 shutout innings.
The Oatkan Knights put together a strong all-around performance to secure the win.
