Tuesday News Brief

CONTRACTOR INJURED IN ATTICA SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT

A contractor was seriously injured Monday morning in a construction accident at Attica Middle and High School.
School officials say the incident occurred at the site of a new maintenance building when pre-fabricated roof trusses tipped over and fell onto a worker below. Construction crews immediately called 911, and first responders treated the injured contractor at the scene before the individual was flown by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital.
Initial reports indicated one person was trapped with chest injuries and difficulty breathing, but officials later confirmed the worker was conscious and alert when transported.
As a precaution, the middle and high school were placed in a brief hold-in-place while emergency crews worked at the scene. No students or staff were near the construction area, and normal school operations resumed after emergency personnel cleared the site.
School officials thanked first responders for their quick response and said no further information about the injured contractor is being released at this time.

 

GENESEE COUNTY AUTHORITIES REPORT SERIES OF ARRESTS

A Genesee County grand jury has indicted Marquel Kennedy, 28, of Buffalo, on manslaughter and other charges in connection with a June 2025 crash in Bethany that killed motorcyclist Ryan Farley. Investigators say Kennedy attempted to pass multiple vehicles on Route 63 before colliding head-on with Farley’s motorcycle.
Among other arrests, Coty Kimmel, 32, of Batavia, faces assault, robbery, drug, and weapons charges after deputies say he seriously injured a victim in the presence of a child and was later found with narcotics during a search of his residence.
Authorities also arrested Tyshon Hawkins, 33, of New Jersey, following an alleged shoplifting incident at Dick’s Sporting Goods that ended with a vehicle pursuit and crash.
Additional arrests reported by local law enforcement include felony DWI charges against Kristian Alexander of Batavia, assault charges against Craig Brown and Anyia Doward, and counterfeit currency charges against Joseph Penzella of Manhattan. Numerous other arrests involved drug possession, burglary, larceny, and probation-related offenses.

 

 

CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE ASSUMES OVERSIGHT OF BATAVIA DPW

The City of Batavia’s Department of Public Works is now being overseen by City Manager Rachael Tabelski and Assistant City Manager Shawn Heubusch following the departure of former DPW Director Tom Phelps.
In a statement released Monday, Tabelski confirmed that Phelps is no longer employed by the city. Phelps had been on administrative leave for several weeks, though city officials have not publicly disclosed the reason, citing personnel matters.
During the transition, all DPW questions, requests, and approvals will be handled through the City Manager’s Office. Tabelski says the city’s focus is on maintaining continuity of services and ensuring day-to-day operations continue without interruption while officials determine the department’s long-term leadership plans.

 

 

 

 

MUCKDOGS SCORE

The Batavia Muckdogs improved to 4-2 on the season last night with an impressive 11-1 victory over the Olean Oilers.
Batavia’s offense came alive early and never looked back, piling up 11 runs while the pitching staff held Olean to just one run. The win keeps the Muckdogs rolling as they continue the early portion of the PGCBL season.
The two teams won’t have to wait long for a rematch. Batavia and Olean are set to meet again tomorrow evening, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. as the Muckdogs look to make it back-to-back wins over the Oilers.

 

 

 

CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE MOVED TO ARC COMMUNITY CENTER

A debate featuring Democratic congressional candidates Diana Kastenbaum and Alissa Ellman is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in Batavia.
Organizers have announced the event has been moved from Genesee Community College to the ARC Community Center at 38 Woodrow Road.
Kastenbaum and Ellman are two of five Democrats seeking their party’s nomination in New York’s 24th Congressional District. The winner will face incumbent Congresswoman Claudia Tenney in the November general election.

 

 

POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE KILLS DOZENS IN THE PHILIPPINES

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines Monday, killing at least 35 people and injuring more than 200 others.
The quake triggered a tsunami of up to three feet along nearby coastlines and caused widespread damage, including collapsed buildings, a deadly landslide, and disruptions to air travel. Authorities say many of the deaths were caused by falling debris and structural collapses.
The earthquake was centered off the island of Mindanao and is the strongest to hit the Philippines this year. Search and rescue crews continue to look for missing people in the hard-hit city of General Santos.
Officials have lifted tsunami warnings but are cautioning residents to avoid damaged buildings as aftershocks continue. Several countries, including the United States, Japan, and France, have offered assistance as recovery efforts move forward.

ISRAEL, IRAN STEP BACK FROM BRINK AS CEASEFIRE HOLDS

Israel and Iran appeared to pull back from further military action Monday after exchanging strikes for the first time since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect two months ago.
The latest flare-up raised fears that the Middle East could slide back into a wider regional war. Both nations warned they remain prepared to retaliate if attacked, but signaled they are not seeking an immediate escalation.
President Donald Trump called for an end to the fighting, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would respond forcefully to any future attacks. Iran’s military also announced it was suspending offensive operations while warning against further aggression.
Diplomatic efforts continue as regional powers push both sides to maintain the ceasefire and pursue a broader peace agreement. The conflict has already disrupted global energy markets and contributed to higher prices around the world.