Wednesday News Brief
Written by WBTA STAFF on December 18, 2024
Michael Elmore has been Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison.
Tuesday morning, Michael Elmore, the man responsible for Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello’s death was sentenced to 20 years in state prison.
Elmore pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the first degree on November 18th after admitting to his role in Sanfratello’s death. Elmore accepted a plea deal that allowed him to avoid a 25-year prison sentence. Under the terms of his plea deal, the maximum sentence he could receive was 20 years, and that is what County Court Judge Donald O’Geen gave him. Three of Sanfratello’s children gave victim impact statements to the court, telling the court the outstanding kind of man their father was, and how the loss has impacted their lives deeply.
As part of Elmore’s sentence, he will serve five years of probation upon his release, and serve 364 days in jail for Obstruction of Governmental Administration.
Pavilion Residents Approve Capital Project in a Landslide Vote
Voters in the Pavilion Central School District approved a $24.5 million capital project for the school by a vote of 100 to 18.
The project will cost local taxpayers no additional money as they are using $5.51 million in capital reserves and receiving the other 77.5% in state building aid. The project will include a refresh of the main gym floor, bleachers, and backstops. The kitchen will be updated, multiple roofs will be restored, the clock and public address systems will be upgraded, and the plumbing from 1936 in the middle-high school will be replaced. Pavilion Superintendent Mary Kate Hoffman said this is the first project of this size to happen in at least 25 years at Pavilion.
Voters also voted 103-14 to approve updating all lighting in the school to LED which will help pay for project costs and increase energy efficiency at the school.
Byron-Bergen Junior High Ranked as One of New York’s Best Middle Schools
U.S. News and World Report named Byron-Bergen Junior High School as a 2025 Best Middle School in New York State.
Byron-Bergen ranked 316th out of the 1389 schools in New York. Overall, Byron-Bergen performed 25% above the state average in ELA and 11% above the state average in math. 71% of students at Byron-Bergen tested at or above the proficient level for reading. This is the first time the middle school in Byron-Bergen has been named a top school. The high school has been named a top school every year since 2019.
Byron-Bergen Principal Paul Hazard said, “Our students and staff are incredible, and this recognition highlights how the rigor of our teachers is matched by our hard-working students. I can’t emphasize enough the overall excellence of the entire staff working together to encourage thinking, caring, and successful students. It took the help of the whole hive to achieve this recognition.”