— Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick told CNY Central on Monday that Westhill lacrosse players had a failed hazing attempt the night before they successfully hazed a younger student on April 24 The I-Team previously reported that students practiced the act before doing it The District Attorney told CNY Central that everyone targeted knew it was a joke The DA now says it was a failed abduction attempt But no victims have come forward with a formal complaint The DA also confirmed that the weapon that "appeared" to be a gun is believed to be an airsoft gun He told the I-Team that authorities were making arrangements to seize the weapon Authorities said those charged targeted five younger students put in the trunk of a car and the culprits videotaped this frightening ordeal PREVIOUS COVERAGE | TIMELINE: Westhill criminal hazing incident investigation Susan Lipkins said it'll take a while for the trauma of this to go away for everyone involved "Students will have post-traumatic stress disorder," Dr "They will re-experience some of the visuals and some of the things they've heard Everybody should get therapy as far as I'm concerned." Costco have been given the green light to build a petrol station next to the Westhill store The retail giant’s plans have been approved by Aberdeenshire Council – meaning it will be their first fuelling station in the north-east alongside a host of electric vehicle charging points Fears had been raised over traffic concerns at the already-busy Kingshill Commercial Park But the American firm had experts on hand to dispel any fears of clogged up roads The new filling station will take shape near its megastore at the Arnhall Business Park in Westhill just a stone’s throw from the one at Tesco All Costco petrol stations are entirely self-service and don’t have the trademark convenience store attached The filling stations are available only to Costco members who need to pay £33.60 per year to take advantage of the bargain bulk deals in store Prior to Wednesday’s Garioch area committee meeting fears had been raised over the potential increase in traffic the petrol station could cause Westhill and Elrick Community Council argued: “The traffic around this area is always busy at peak times in the morning Costco bosses had the facts at hand to prove that their new petrol station would have little effect on congestion told the meeting that most of the people who used the store’s petrol stations in Glasgow and Edinburgh were already visiting the shop anyway Mr Davies said: “From membership card data at other Costco locations we know that almost half of fuel transactions are made by members who are already visiting the warehouse as part of the same journey many of the visitors who will purchase fuel in Westhill will already be on the roads at the Kingshill Commercial Park.” In the end, councillors approved the plans – and you can view the full proposals here Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments some of the players attempted an abduction on Wednesday but it failed when the targets of the hazing attempt recognized the older players and knew it was "sick joke." None of the potential victims of the failed attempt but the District Attorney's office is continuing to investigate this incident as well after several team members attended another local high school lacrosse game together a vehicle transported several of the younger players to what they expected was a post game meal at a local McDonald's The driver said he was lost before a group of Westhill students emerged from the trees disguised as kidnappers and armed with an airsoft gun and a knife The frightened group of young teens ran from the scene He was tied up with a pillow case placed over his head and thrown in the trunk of a car He was driven to another wooded area where he was left alone before his captors returned to reveal it was all a prank and drove him home but would have been had they not turned themselves in to authorities On Friday, Westhill lacrosse coach Aaron Cahill made a statement denying any advance knowledge of the hazing plot and stating that the events do not reflect the culture of the program the school district to cancel the remainder of Westhill's lacrosse season even though not every member of the team was involved "Some may argue that all student-athletes should not be punished for the actions of a few," said Westhill School Superintendent Steve Dunham in a letter to parents announcing his decision we must address the culture of the program and the most appropriate way to do that is with a reset." GARY ADORNATOGary Adornato began covering high school sports with the Baltimore Sun in 1982 while still a mass communications major at Towson University and in 2003 became one of the first journalists to cover high school sports online while operating MIAASports.com the official website of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association Adornato pioneered market-wide coverage of high school sports with DigitalSports.com introducing video highlights and player interviews while assembling an award-winning editorial staff he launched VarsitySportsNetwork.com which became the premier source of high school media coverage in the state of Maryland he sold VSN to The Baltimore Banner and joined SBLive Sports as the company's East Coast Managing Editor Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. The Westhill High School students have been given 48 hours to turn themselves in to police I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice At least 11 high school lacrosse players from Syracuse, New York, will face felony kidnapping charges if they don't turn themselves in after a hazing incident gone wrong Student athletes at Westhill High School — who are not being identified because they are minors — have been accused of kidnapping and terrorizing five younger players Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said on Tuesday that the incident went "way beyond hazing." The students have been accused of tricking the younger players by telling them they were taking them to McDonald's for food following a lacrosse game the driver allegedly claimed they were lost in a remote wooded part of the county at which time "accomplices jumped out of the woods pretending to be kidnappers," according to the district attorney The faux-kidnappers were dressed in black and at least one was allegedly carrying what appeared to be a handgun and another was wielding a knife, CNN reports. "Some of the [victims] were able to escape," the DA said, but noted that others were stuck with the fake kidnappers. One of the accomplices allegedly put a pillowcase over a student's head, tied him up, and threw him into the truck of a car before leaving him in another wooded area elsewhere in the county. The player was eventually taken back to his home, but the DA said, "There was a period of time where he thought he was going to be abandoned in the middle of nowhere." Fitzpatrick said a video he saw of the incident was beyond anything that could be, in his estimation, considered good-natured hazing. “I’ve seen the videotape of what happened to this young man,” he said. “It is not a rite of passage. It is not a trivial matter. I don’t know how long this young man will be affected by what happened to him.” He also noted that some of the suspects can be heard on the video and said they found the victims' terror "amusing." Joseph Coolican, the county's First Chief Assistant District Attorney, said there were "at least" 11 suspects, and that most of them are minors, though one is over the age of 18. On Tuesday, Fitzpatrick called on the suspects to turn themselves in within 48 hours or face felony charges and trial as adults. “If you don’t — if you’re tougher than me, you’re a gambler and you’re going to play the odds, you don’t think you’re going to get caught — trust me, the men and women of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department are going to identify you,” the district attorney said. “You’ll be arrested, you’ll be prosecuted as an adult, and you’ll be charged with the very, very serious felony of kidnapping, perhaps in the second degree.” Fitzpatrick did not confirm if the gun that was allegedly spotted in the video of the incident was real or fake, but said he did not plan to charge anyone with the possession of a weapon. The school has cancelled the rest of the varsity boys' lacrosse season, according to Westhill Central School District Superintendent Stephen Dunham. Most of the team was not involved in the incident and there is no evidence that they knew what their teammates were planning for the younger players. The school district has launched its own investigation, but could not provide specific details about its inquiry. “Hazing is an indefensible act,” the superintendent said. “ It can be humiliating and degrading, potentially causing physical and emotional harm.” govt and politics"},{"score":0.644244,"label":"/law Aberdeenshire catering firm Entier has recorded a record-breaking turnover of £82.5million The Westhill-headquartered company hit the record-breaking figure as its reported takeover by US giant Aramark is being looked at by the competition watchdog in the UK Entier was founded by chef Peter Bruce in 2008 and currently employs 700 people internationally The Press and Journal reports hit its highest ever turnover in the year ending September 30 2024 - £82.5million up from £76.8million the year before It's pre-tax profits were also up from £2million to £2.8million Mr Bruce founded the firm following an 11-year career with Compass and initially focussed on offshore catering Being a member of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce can bring significant value to your business A central New York community is grappling with the devastating consequences of hazing Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick said 11 members of the Westhill High School men’s lacrosse team were involved in what he called “hazing on steroids,” in which they allegedly led at least one team member into the woods and came out of the woods dressed in black with what appeared to be a gun and knife Anne Reagan works with children and adolescents as section chief of inpatient psychology services at SUNY Upstate She said hazing can happen in any type of group setting "There's a lot of psychological group theory at play with hazing and these types of things and wanting to fit in and group acceptance and identifying to be an important part of an organization." Reagan said it’s a good time for parents or other trusted adults to start a conversation about hazing with the kids and teens in their lives talk about how words and actions can hurt people’s feelings "We really encourage open-ended conversations because what that does is it really helps the adults better gauge where the kids are really most troubled by it and what is bothering the kids the most which can be very different than us as adults and parents." “What have you heard about what happened?” or “How would you have handled this differently if you had been there?” And she said let teens know you’ll always have their backs if they do the right thing “If other parents maybe knew their kids were victims to think that it's just going to stop there is unlikely so I think there's a larger community conversation and organizational types of conversations that need to happen." As for the incident with the Westhill students Fitzpatrick gave the students involved 48 hours to turn themselves in to be ticketed for unlawful imprisonment Westhill superintendent Steve Dunham said in a letter that although the majority of the lacrosse team was not involved in the incident the rest of the team’s season has been canceled to allow for a reset in the program’s culture next year Police have tracked down two runaway two horses near Westhill Officers were made aware of the animals and a cart being on the loose on the A944 Aberdeen to Westhill road at about 1.45pm on Thursday Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened Both horses were successfully traced and brought to a vet to be checked over Earlier, messages were shared on social media to warn drivers of the horses and cart being on the Westhill road A police spokesperson said: “At about 1.45pm on Thursday we received a report of two horses and a cart loose on the A944 in the Westhill area of Aberdeen “The 76-year-old male driver of the cart was taken to hospital as a precaution “Inquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances.” — CNY Central has obtained a criminal complaint involving a suspect in the Westhill boys lacrosse hazing incident The criminal complaint is heavily redacted including the suspects name and date of birth The document does reveal some of the explanation behind the misdemeanor charge of Unlawful imprisonment in the second degree that all 11 individuals in the hazing case are facing while acting in consort with several other co-defendants The defendant is due to appear in court on May 15 All 11 suspects involved in a hazing incident turned themselves in to authorities Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick announced Wednesday The District Attorney's Office gave the suspects who were members of the Westhill High School men's lacrosse team 48 hours to turn themselves and be given a ticket for unlawful imprisonment Fitzpatrick said they turned themselves in within 24 hours sparing themselves from facing a more serious charge Fitzpatrick held a news conference on Tuesday to quell rumors of the hazing The district attorney said older students at Westhill High School decided that they'd play a prank on younger members of the lacrosse team which Fitzpatrick referred to as "hazing on steroids," involved making the victims believe that they'd be taken to a lacrosse game and later get food at McDonald's the victims were set up in a ruse that involved the older students pretending to get lost on the road and being ambushed by perpetrators wearing all black Fitzpatrick noted that one victim had a pillow case put over his head his hands were tied and an apparent gun and knife were pointed at him before he was thrown into the back of a car Fitzpatrick said the victim was eventually returned home by the perpetrators but the aforementioned one sustained the worst of the harm as the other managed to escape The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office said the gun used in the crime was not handed over to them the names of the suspects who are 18-years-old and charged as adults were not released Westhill High School cancelled the remainder of the men's lacrosse season due to the incident North-east catering firm Entier is reported to have been acquired by US food services company Aramark for an undisclosed sum The Westhill-based firm was founded by chef Peter Bruce in 2008 and currently employs 700 people internationally with an annual revenue of nearly £80million According to multiple reports this morning it has now been bought by food services giant Aramark which had a turnover of £14billion in 2024 although neither firm has commented on the deal The business branched out into luxury catering with the acquisition of Perthshire Wild Thyme in 2016 That deal came with exclusive rights to catering events at Glamis Castle in Angus Carlowie Castle near Edinburgh and the Glenturret Distillery in Crieff the business secured a £6.5million investment from Business Growth Fund (BGF) to expand its overseas operations It reached a turnover of £76.8 million in 2023 according to its latest accounts filed at Companies House Click here to read more in The Press & Journal. Wholesale giants Costco could soon bring its bargain petrol prices to the north-east The American retailer is looking to build a new filling station near its mega store at the Arnhall Business Park in Westhill just a stone’s throw from the one at Tesco this could be Costco’s first petrol station in the north-east – with the nearest one currently in Edinburgh This comes after Costco announced multi-million plans to create petrol stations at most of its UK locations The retailer currently runs 20 stations across the country and is famous for offering cheaper fuel than other outlets – with motorists usually saving about 5p per litre who need to pay £33.60 per year to take advantage of the bargain-bulk deals in store and there is little information on what exactly the project would involve planning papers submitted to Aberdeenshire Council reveal there would be 12 electric vehicle charging points and don’t have the trademark convenience store attached – meaning the Westhill outlet will likely be the same Costco’s expansion marks another chapter in the ever-changing landscape of Westhill’s industrial estate after three nearby business plots hit the market last year The Press and Journal revealed that Kingshill Park Kingshill Commercial Park and Prospect Park were all to be put up for sale at a combined price of £34.5 million All three parks are owned by Aberdeen-based Knight Property Group who said they’re letting go of them to “reinvest and continue their industrial development programme” You can view the full plans here It’s always an emotional moment to leave the place you’ve called home for so many years but for Mark and Gillian Hendry they will do so with a million happy memories Located in the vibrant Aberdeenshire town of Westhill has been the perfect place for the couple to bring up their three children “We have loved staying here,” says Gillian “It is such a great family home to bring children up in and great cupboard and storage space plus there’s a large double garage and a sunny garden “We’ve also loved the fact that the property is within walking distance to all local amenities.” the couple have put their wonderful home on the market as they prepare to downsize “It’s just the two of us now as all three of our children have flown the nest,” says Gillian “So we’re hoping to downsize since there is just the two of us here now.” It’s easy to see why Gillian and Mark fell in love with the fabulous four-bedroom “What first attracted us to the property was the fact that the house was on the corner and it had a good size garden and big rooms,” says Gillian this immaculate Westhill property belies its age “There’s only been one previous owner before us,” says Gillian After admiring the property’s pristine exterior it’s time to step inside and embrace its inner beauty the spacious entrance hallway leads through to the attractive lounge the dual aspect lounge enjoys direct access out to the garden while a traditional fireplace creates a cosy atmosphere during the winter months Movie nights can also be enjoyed in the charming family room which is located at the front of the home Gillian and Mark currently use this room as a study and gym which is a great example of how flexible the accommodation can be the kitchen will undoubtedly be the icing on the cake From the striking central island and the array of integrated appliances to the sleek grey gloss interiors and fitted units everything about the kitchen has been designed for modern family life you can enjoy the fruits of your labour in the beautiful dining area where there are French doors leading out to the garden Next to the kitchen is a handy utility room which boasts plenty of space for all those household chores Gillian and Mark say they have loved entertaining “We have had many memorable parties here especially New Year parties and summer barbecues,” says Gillian “I think the good-sized modern kitchen/diner will appeal most to buyers as well as the apacious rooms and the large family room for all the family to socialise together.” Completing the ground floor is a cloakroom with a wc and wash-hand basin there are four fantastic bedrooms including the principal bedroom with double built-in mirrored wardrobes and a spa-like ensuite Growing families are well catered for as there are three further bedrooms Working from home is also taken care of as there is an office with a study nook this home has heaps of it as there is a superb selection of storage cupboards plus a loft the fully enclosed garden is the perfect place for children to play there’s plenty of seating options as there is a decked area plus a patio with a gazebo There is also a double garage with both power and light as well as a large driveway the property is within walking distance of local schools and shops Lovers of the great outdoors will also be in their element as the stunning Aberdeenshire countryside is right on the doorstep To arrange a viewing contact Ledingham Chalmers on 01224 632500 or check out the website aspc.co.uk Check the average house prices and rents in your area with our Housing Market Tracker. SYRACUSE — Continuing our coverage on the extreme hazing incident involving 11 boys from the Westhill lacrosse team they all but admit involvement in a criminal hazing incident that involved a gun and a knife At last check – authorities tell us they have not recovered the gun or knife used in this criminal hazing incident This week the District Attorney admits he doesn’t know if the gun is real or fake but he’d like authorities to have it so they can see what was used With weapons involved and privacy laws preventing the release of student punishments we simply want to know if these students are being allowed back on school ground or not Privacy laws prevent Westhill high school superintendent Steve Dunham and any school official from releasing specifics about student discipline But it’s on the minds of many as more information about this criminal hazing incident becomes public “Sometimes kids do crazy things and they don’t mean so much but there has to be a limit and they went overboard,” said local neighbor Joe Dillman “I think that some parents would be against it.” We asked superintendent Dunham to tell us if any of these 11 students are allowed back on school grounds – a question we believe can be answered without violating privacy laws His response didn’t provide an answer but reads in part quote – “Any behavior that endangers the physical safety or well being of our students will always be addressed promptly and in accordance with our code of conduct.” It’s a response that doesn’t settle the minds of neighbors we spoke to - “They’re not safe in the regard if that’s what’s going to happen,” said Dillman "Some parents would disagree with them walking the hallways The Westhill School District’s code of conduct is publicly available on the district’s website penalty may range from a warning to late detention to suspension For subsequent offenses - late detention to suspension The folks we spoke to wonder if that’s enough “Short of that they should probably be expelled A suspension is no good unless they are under some kind of guidance whether it’s where they are receiving counseling for what they did,” said Dillman We don’t know if these 11 students who turned themselves in are allowed back on school grounds this week At last check – the weapons involved in their crime are still not in the hands of the authorities — Reporting by CNN and CNY Central provides new insight into the moments leading up to a hazing case that shocked the Westhill community Members of the Westhill boys varsity lacrosse team were in the stands at a crosstown rivals' lacrosse game when text messages regarding a "prank" started it was a good night to play a prank on the younger players two sources familiar with the discussions told CNN CNY Central has been reporting that the staged kidnapping led to a victim being traumatized and 11 different members of the lacrosse team arrested and facing a misdemeanor charge ultimately involved the abduction of one of them who was tied up and stuffed in a trunk with a pillowcase over his head A source talking with CNN claimed the students used an airsoft gun a non-lethal weapon that fires lightweight plastic pellets Authorities have not revealed to the public or CNY Central any details on the "weapons," real or fake used during the hazing incident the Onondaga County Executive spoke about the incident "What is painful is that everybody knows each other the parents know each other the students know each other and now it's trying to be accountable so that kids know that this is not acceptable in any shape or form but how do we move forward as a community," Onondaga County Executive Ryan Mcmahon said The Westhill Central School District in Syracuse is addressing a serious hazing incident involving 11 members of the Westhill High School boys' lacrosse team Superintendent Steve Dunham announced that these students will face disciplinary actions according to the district's code of conduct after they were involved in a hazing incident that took place on April 24 Dunham expressed his heartbreak for the victims and their families acknowledging the pain caused by the incident He stated that the Westhill community is navigating a range of emotions and is committed to moving forward together Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Student athletes at Westhill High School accused of unlawfully imprisoning their younger teammates may see some leniency if the students fulfill the terms imposed upon them by the judge the incident — which has been described as “beyond hazing” — would not appear on their record The incident itself has sparked a national conversation about hazing and how situations like this can be prevented the principal of StopHazing and a professor of higher education at the University of Maine says it’s never too early to start having those conversations “So many students will be impacted by hazing and are likely to experience it,” said Allen “So it’s just better to be informed and to be ready and to have those conversations early in.” a pediatric psychologist at Upstate University Hospital says non-verbal signs like mood or behavioral changes academic decline and a lack of sleep or appetite can signal that a conversation is overdue a larger situation maybe isn’t headed in the direction that people would want to or make it feel comfortable for them?” Reagan asked Experts say parents should also recognize that they’re not always who a student may want to talk to about these situations Reagan said that’s very normal and in that case parents can instead help their student find another trusted adult to open up to somebody in the organization that parents know,” Dr “At least their kids are going to talk through potential outcomes with somebody.” it’s important to make sure that students have access to tools and resources that can help them process their trauma to prevent long-term impacts based on what fits that student’s individual needs “One large situation or chronological small situations or chronic trauma that can have a significant impact on a developing brain,” Dr “But again the variables that go into somebody’s baseline mental health as well as their family system But you may not always be talking to a victim of hazing Sometimes your child or student may be the perpetrator “Likely they were a victim of hazing themselves not in any way that’s an excuse or rationalizes poor behavior understand where it came from and the normalization of this type of behavior in a larger organization or culture is really the thing that we want to also focus on and target on so that we can change that for the future," Reagan said even if you’re on the receiving end.  only about 10% identify what happened to them as hazing," Allen said That’s why having these conversations can make all the difference Cuthbert Butchart is not so well known as many other golf course architects but it was he who gave life to some Willie Park Junior design ideas He also designed another very good local course This is an evergreen and in many ways unanswerable question The Golf Monthly rankings have West Hill as the middle-ranked of the three but there are plenty of knowledgeable golfers who will argue the case for any one of the three and there is an argument that West Hill is the fairest and most consistent from 1 to 18 of the three This prestigious foursomes event dates back to 1929 and became an open event two years later It is held close to Easter and the matchplay begins with a full field of 128 pairs The fourth is the first of a strong handful of par 3s West Hill runs through majestic pine and abundant heather - it is currently ranked 71st in our Top 100 UK&I Course Rankings in association with Peter Millar Header Cell - Column 0 Header Cell - Column 1 Address westhillgc.co.uk manager@westhill-golfclub.co.uk Surrey has more Top 100 courses than any other county and this intensity as well as the fame of some means that others are less well-known West Hill’s brilliant journey through the pines would position it at the very top totally fair and consistent test of heathland golf – One of the best-conditioned courses that continues to improve – Decide which of the three Ws you prefer UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2025/26 - 71 Along with Worplesdon and Woking it is also one of the three Ws a trio of first-class courses that near enough border one another great and continued efforts are continuing towards subtle and in-keeping improvements Much has been focussed on the conditioning and there has also been extensive tree removal to create more light and air movement I always love returning to see the latest changes Little has been changed to the original design and while on paper it is not particularly long there are five lovely and varied par 3s that mean it plays every inch of its total length and the Brookwood stream comes into play on a few holes and these are all the more visible and impressive from the renovated tees The course opens with a pair of very attractive par 4s before the demanding 3rd which runs parallel to the railway and requires two very solid strikes to get home in regulation and it would seem fair to say that to score well at West Hill though if the wind is in its usual direction the back nine has even more variety with two lovely short holes at the 13th and 15th There is also a strong finish with two tough par 4s sandwiching the sweeping par-5 17th One of the country’s leading amateur tournaments is held here each Spring, the very popular Father and Son Foursomes which attracts golfers from far and wide. This is one of the best heathland golf courses in the UK Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts Mike ChapmanGolf Monthly Top 100 PanellistWest Hill is a joy to play and gives the golfer a sporting chance to play to their handicap it will punish errant shots so you need to focus to score well Cathal DevlinGolf Monthly Top 100 PanellistSatisfying and grand and you’ll be forever happy to have visited Chris DobsonGolf Monthly Top 100 PanellistAn immaculately presented and extremely fair test of golf of which the friendly membership are rightly extremely proud John WinterGolf Monthly Top 100 PanellistMajestic trees a brook that winds its way through the course the course is consistently strong from start to finish It may only be 6,000 yards from the yellows but with five par 3s and heather eating into the course it plays every inch of its length and more Many golfers regard this gently-undulating and very pretty heathland classic as a quite ingenious example of a course that can test the best golfer while still remaining playable and enjoyable for all this ever-improving heathland beauty will delight and test golfers of every standard a game here is very much a journey back in time free-draining course should be on every golfer’s radar this friendly pub with rooms is a spacious and at times lively place to stay The restaurant serves freshly cooked char-grilled food Set in a contemporary glass-fronted building aromatic crystal steam room and relaxation room He specialises in course reviews and travel and has played over 1,250 courses in almost 50 countries he played all 21 courses in East Lothian in 13 days One of Rob's primary roles is helping to prepare the Top 100 Courses of the UK&I as well as the Next 100 where he is missing two in Scotland and two in Ireland He has been a member of Tandridge for over 30 years where his handicap hovers around 15 You can contact him at r.smith896@btinternet.com you will then be prompted to enter your display name Staff at a Westhill restaurant have revealed their shock after a woman was caught defecating near their back doorstep The disgusting act was caught on video near Westhill Shopping Centre in Aberdeenshire on Monday October 1 has been posted on the social media platform X The video shows a woman relieving herself near Duncano’s Restaurant at their rear-side bins The footage appears to be taken from CCTV cameras near the scene Duncano’s have since told The Press and Journal that the police have been informed of this incident – however no action has currently been taken owner of the establishment has labelled the act “vile and disgusting” She has left the matter with police and hopes that the matter can be resolved quickly Lynne said: “You never want something out there as disgusting as that “It’s never happened here before – this is the first time I’ve seen this and I hope its the last “We have reported this incident to the police and they are dealing with it Police have been contacted for comment regarding this story Duncano’s has previously expressed disappointment at the behaviour on display at Westhill Shopping Centre The Press and Journal the the story back in March of how Duncano’s staff were “intimidated” by gangs of youths Staff were forced to lock themselves inside after being subject to abuse from up to 30 miscreants dressed in black — The CNY Central news team confirmed on April 27 that members of the Westhill lacrosse team were under investigation by the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office The investigation was first reported on April 24 There was an initial response from Superintendent Steve Dunham "Some Westhill High School students were involved in making a bad decision involving a few other Westhill students off of school property and outside of the school day Thursday evening," he said CNY Central began following this relentlessly The Onondaga County District Attorney was made aware of the case and planned to review it and determine if criminal charges were appropriate With no other details coming from the Sheriff's Office or the DA the I-Team looked for outside perspective from a lawyer and hazing expert who started her research in 2003 on high school and college hazing There are times when it's starting in middle school like eighth graders who are often pulled up to the high school teams," she said questions were swirling in the community about what happened and how serious the incident was District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick's revealed details about the hazing that were previously rumored The DA said some Westhill students "decided that they were going to haze or play some sort of prank on some of the younger members of the lacrosse team There were at least five potential victims that the sheriff's office has identified." Fitzpatrick explained what he called "hazing on steroids." These students telling the younger student they would go to a lacrosse game and then to McDonald's for something to eat had a pillowcase placed over his head and was driven to a remote part of Onondaga County in the trunk of a car They were armed with at least what appeared to be a handgun and at least one knife," explained DA Fitzpatrick He then gave a firm 48-hour deadline for anyone involved to turn themselves in to the sheriff's office or face kidnapping charges The DA confirmed all 11 students believed to be behind the hazing incident turned themselves in They got appearance tickets for unlawful imprisonment The DA's office said they would not be releasing the names of the students the I-Team obtained letters sent to parents by the school Superintendent he confirmed the rest of the lacrosse season for the boy's varsity team is canceled CNY Central continued to press authorities about the weapons allegedly involved: What appeared to be a gun and a knife and everyone in the Westhill community—my heart is broken for you The pain and hurt this has caused is very real and no one should ever have to endure this." He added he and his staff had "absolutely no prior knowledge of this incident." CNN spoke with Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon "These students are very lucky something very bad did not happen from this act," he said The County Executive also added that he went to high school a few miles away at a rival school to Westhill and is still friends with people who graduated from there The I-Team filed a Freedom of Information request with the sheriff's office to get the appearance tickets given to the students Authorities told CNY Central that students may have practiced the hazing with a "dry run" on April 23 with plans to cap off their evening with a stop at a local fast food restaurant The events which took place on the trip from the game to the restaurant They also do not reflect the typical behavior of those allegedly involved in the hazing act, according to a former teammate who gave an exclusive interview to ABC News this week on Good Morning America who left the team a few weeks prior to the hazing incident said "I think this was a mistake that was made by good people that I had known for many years," during the interview which has brought international attention to this Syracuse high school community It has been described as everything from a criminal act of kidnapping to poor judgement by a group of high school kids looking to prank some of their teammates As described by Onodaga County District Attorney William J the event was "hazing on steroids." As many as 11 teens were involved in the plan to prank the younger lacrosse players the victims were in a vehicle that pulled over during the drive from the lacrosse game to a McDonald's restaurant a large group of teens emerged from a wooded area A number of the potential victims fled from the scene which reportedly had at least one knife and a handgun tied him up and threw him in the trunk of a car He was transported to another wooded area where he was released several of those involved returned to the area The entire incident was also captured on video The next morning, the victim's family reported the incident to Westhill officials, as video of events began to circulate among members of the student body. According to a report by CNN a school resource officer then reported the incident to the Onondaga County Sherrif's office leading to an investigation by the school district and the district attorney's office Talucci told Good Morning America that he left the team to focus on school and his personal life but said he has known many of the 11 students facing charges the large majority of which are members of the Westhill lacrosse team since middle school and describes them as "good people that made bad decisions." "I've known these boys for so long this is not something I would have expected from any of them and anybody at Westhill for that matter This whole story does not reflect every one of the athletes or students or anybody related to Westhill at all." Westhill lacrosse coach Aaron Cahill, who is in his first year with the team, claimed to have had no prior knowledge of the hazing plans during a lengthy statement on the matter on social media He echoed Tallucci by saying the incident does not reflect the culture of the program which he said is "built on inclusion Westhill School Superintendent Steve Dunham informed the school and its lacrosse families that he was cancelling the remainder of its season "Some may argue that all student-athletes should not be punished for the actions of a few and the most appropriate way to do that is with a reset," Dunham said in an email announcing his decision Talucci termed this decision "unfair" and expressed concerned for those members of the team who were not involved "My worry about this whole thing is that it's going to change the stigma that's already been happening with lacrosse that these boys are seen as degenerates and the whole community is just not good." "The boys who did this are good kids," said Rosemary Talucci They just made a huge mistake and I think a lot of schools can learn from that." © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Members of Westhill Golf Club have saved the club from a financial black hole £39,000 has been committed in debentures to the club in a period of a few weeks Ladies Captain Karen Templeton updated Westhill members on the situation in a recent statement It had been suggested at a previous summit that for every £100 in debentures committed members would receive £5 off of their yearly fees The debentures will be loaned to the club for a minimum of two years before members can withdraw them the long-term financial stability of the club is yet to be fully addressed with “a remaining small cash flow gap to close” Two major new corporate memberships have come about due to companies wanting to help out the club New sponsors of the course have also got on board with a potential further party interested in sponsoring This has resulted in over £10,000 in additional income for the club a figure that “will only rise from here.” It is hoped that these cash injections will allow the club to maintain the standards that members are accustomed to Membership is still a key factor in cash flow for the club with special deals through to the end of the 2025/26 season on offer Unexpected machinery costs put immense financial pressure on the club throughout last winter as well as a reduction in corporate membership meaning income was £30,000 less than expected The club was also preparing to break its £70,000 overdraft limit in the near future Other than debentures, the club had presented members with three other options for how to raise funds. These included the sale of the currently rented out Stewards Cottage There was also the idea of selling land to Rubislaw Estates Limited for housing on Westhill’s current sixth tee and at the side of the 10th tee A Westhill man is embarking on a David vs Goliath battle against his neighbouring Holiday Inn over a huge beer garden at the venue The American hotel chain is seeking a licence for a 64-seat outdoor area created last summer It is located at the bottom south-east corner of the building This places it close to homes at the junction between Westhill Drive and Westhill Road However, Atholl Donaldson, who lives close to the Westhill Holiday Inn is urging Aberdeenshire Council licensing bosses to deny it permission Mr Donaldson says the hotel is “surrounded by residential properties” and claims the current noise levels “can be excessive at times” He argues that this can “make it difficult for residents to get to sleep at night” with his children “trying to sleep through existing noise levels for many years” states: “Often there are drunk people shouting until well after midnight “The application would allow outdoor drinking very close to my garden “I do not want my children exposed to an increase in noise The neighbour praises hotel staff for doing what they can to “keep noise levels under control” but worries this is harder to police in a beer garden He concludes: “On behalf of all the residents of Westhill Road we beg of you to reject these amendments to the operating plan.” These plans come after the hotel’s Glentanar Brasserie and Bar area underwent some major improvements. The beer garden issue will be decided by members of Aberdeenshire Council’s licensing committee on Tuesday Our recent planning round-up detailed proposals for Specsavers to take over the former JK Fine Foods unit in Westhill.  The coach of the Westhill High School boys' lacrosse program says he acknowledges pain caused by the alleged hazing incident that led to 11 of its lacrosse players to be charged with unlawful imprisonment said he and the rest of the Westhill lacrosse coaching staff "have cooperated fully" with the investigation into the incident which prompted charges announced by Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick That has been my mission every single day," Cahill wrote in the post "The actions involved in this awful incident do not reflect those values They are not representative of our program The coach added that he and his staff "have been confirmed" to have no prior knowledge of the incident younger members of the team were promised a lacrosse game and a McDonald's meal with upperclassmen they were taken to a remote area of Onondaga County where people dressed in black were waiting with a knife and what appeared to be a gun Prosecutors say one student was tied up with a hood over his head and placed in the trunk of a car before later being released News | May 2 The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing Tuesday on President Trump’s nominations of Luke Lindberg to be Agriculture undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs and Devon Westhill to be Agriculture assistant secretary for civil rights Lindberg is the son-in-law of Senate Majority Leader John Thune but Thune did not introduce him at the hearing and Thune’s name was never mentioned introduced Lindberg and noted that Lindberg is Vermont native he recognized the need for an international trade organization and formed South Dakota Trade Lindberg has led trade missions around the world.He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a senior fellow at the America First Policy Institute which was founded by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Lindberg holds degrees from the University of Maryland and served as chief of staff at the U.S Import-Export Bank in the first Trump administration agricultural trade deficit of $49 billion on a board in his office and invite farm leaders to tell him how to reduce it agricultural exports and manage the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) “which is the worst in American history but principally by the lack of an America First trade agenda that prioritizes market access for our farmers and ranchers.” Lindberg testified that “75% of the seafood and 35% of the vegetables we consume in America are imported Our ethanol producers are no longer competitive in Brazil because of Brazilian import tariffs Our hog farmers cannot export pork to Brazil Mexico has enjoyed a 557% increase in specialty crop imports into the United States in just the last decade Canada has rigged the USMCA agreement terms against our dairy and wheat farmers The European Union is responsible for roughly half of our overall trade deficit and yet it routinely shuts out our products at the altar of non-scientific based claims There is too much to say about China in this set of opening remarks but a stark comment that stuck out to me came from representatives of American corn farmers who said that ‘U.S corn growers cannot rely on China as an export market.’ “Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman told Lindberg that the USDA market development programs are “vital” to exports.Sen told Lindberg that “your experiences are perfect,” but that Trump’s tariffs “are catastrophic for the farmers.”Other Democrats also expressed concern about the tariffs and staff cuts at USDA Lindberg said he could not comment on administration personnel policy but that the FAS “has done an excellent job.” Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Hoeven told Lindberg that the sugar program is important and that farmers need an increase in the reference prices that trigger farm subsidies as well as “affordable” crop insurance Hoeven also said the Commodity Credit Corporation is an important tool in aiding farmers asked Lindberg: “What can do you do to make sure farmers are not caught in the crossfire” from the tariffs Lindberg replied that Trump has already started to work on that issue and that he will take a “strategic and targeted approach.” “How are you going to deal with tariff policies Lindberg replied that he believes Trump has shown an ability to do trade deals and that the president’s policy will be a boon to farmers.Sen told Lindberg he believes Trump has “manufactured a trade war” that will send U.S need both imported fertilizer and international markets for their products Westhill said he was “born a poor black child and raised in the South alongside my two siblings by our single mother,” but that he has “learned that in America the mere connection with race or one’s starting point in life will not permanently carry an individual forward unless he has individual worth nor finally hold an individual back if he possesses intrinsic individual merit.”Under questioning from Sen Westhill agreed USDA has engaged in discrimination Westhill also told Warnock he will support programs for the 1890s educational institutions who served as deputy assistant secretary for civil rights in the first Trump administration noted that “should the Senate confirm me as assistant secretary for civil rights at USDA it will be only the first time since the Obama administration that a Senate-confirmed leader will have headed that office.” Sign up for daily and breaking news headlines Manage Subscriptions An apparent prank involving Westhill High School students has led to 11 of its lacrosse players to be charged with unlawful imprisonment Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said Wednesday The DA told reporters Tuesday that young members of the lacrosse team were lured out by some teammates by the promise of a night at a lacrosse game the DA said they were taken to a remote area where people dressed in black with a knife and what appeared to be a gun were waiting A student was tied up with a hood over their head before they were put in a car trunk "I cannot really adequately express to this community the level of stupidity and lack of judgment involved in this case This goes way beyond hazing," Fitzpatrick said Fitzpatrick had given the people involved until Friday morning to turn themselves in with a lawyer The DA said on Wednesday that 11 lacrosse players had turned themselves in and were charged with unlawful imprisonment The school district is cooperating with the investigation and said Tuesday's varsity lacrosse team's game was postponed At least 11 members of the Westhill High School boys lacrosse team face criminal charges after a hazing incident involving the kidnapping of a younger teammate according to Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick Authorities say the players lured five underclassmen to a remote area last Thursday under the pretense of getting food others dressed in black staged a fake armed ambush and was thrown into a car trunk before later being released The students have 48 hours to surrender or risk felony charges Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad) FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]. '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" — Westhill High School men's varsity lacrosse coach Aaron Cahill has broken the silence on an April 24 hazing incident involving members of his team According to Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick the incident involved 11 older players making five victims believe that they'd be taken to a lacrosse game and later get food at McDonald's those victims were set up in a ruse that involved older players pretending to get lost on the road and being ambushed by perpetrators wearing all black District Attorney Fitzpatrick noted that one victim had a pillow case put over his head They turned themselves in within 24 hours after Fitzpatrick made the ultimatum on the afternoon of April 29 in a public news conference In a statement posted on his LinkedIn account Coach Cahill expressed condolences to the victims and their families Westhill High School has canceled the remainder of its lacrosse season in response to the hazing incident Superintendent Steve Durham was hesitant to release additional information on the hazing on Thursday RELATED | POLL: Is the Onondaga County DA handling the Westhill hazing incident appropriately? An Aberdeenshire flexible office space provider has seen a rise in deals leading to renewed confidence across the business sector BlueSky Business Space in Westhill has reported a “significant increase in demand” for its fully serviced office spaces believes the centre’s standout feature is its one-month notice period allowing businesses to scale up or down as needed BlueSky has provided furnished office solutions for companies of all sizes The 22,000 sq ft building is currently at 93% capacity with 57 offices and inquiries on the increase The facility’s adaptability allows for office reconfiguration from open-plan spaces to partitioned set-ups that suit specific company requirements Angela said: “Companies with 40 employees may only require space for 10 to 15 at any given time due to hybrid working “This means they can rent smaller offices and desk-share avoiding the cost of a larger permanent office while still benefiting from a professional environment.” allowing businesses to focus entirely on their operations without the hassle of day-to-day facility management Angela attributes this growing interest to businesses reassessing their office needs post-Covid “We’ve seen a bigger uptake in serviced offices especially when businesses reach a break point in their lease “Many are opting for greater flexibility rather than committing to long-term rentals,” she explained The business centre, at Arnhall Business Park, has proven to be a long-term home for several companies which has occupied a 2,085 sq ft office suite for more than seven years Joining the BlueSky community this month is engineering and technical consultancy Vysus Group The company recently signed for a 1,100 sq ft office relocating 20 staff from another Westhill site said: “We were looking for a space in Westhill that could meet our unique requirements and also be convenient for our staff The team at BlueSky exceeded our expectations and we’re excited to grow our business here.” Angela believes Blue Sky works for so many businesses because of the flexibility especially with the amount of people now home working and the environment we offer which makes us different Squeezing in as many desks as we can is not what BlueSky’s about “We’re about having a nice working environment.” Christmas is always a time to remember loved ones but for Lorraine Ritchie the festive period just isn’t the same without her mum and dad who fell in love by the warmth of a roaring fire were together for more than half a century and their memory will be kept alive this year too as part of our Christmas Without You memorial series Morag McKenzie was born on September 15 1938 Although her family hailed from Inverness she was raised by Dinah Morrice from Seaton Road Morag – known as Morrie – grew up seeing Dinah as her mother Granite City loon Allan Brand was born the year before his future bride Tasked with picking up his friend – Billy Morrice from a house in Seaton Allan and Morrie locked eyes while she stoked the fire One of her ‘cousins’ was waiting to be picked up “The story goes that mum looked up from the fireplace and saw my father in the mirror and the pair were married on February 7 1958 Just two weeks later they said goodbye to one another at Aberdeen Railway Station when Allan was posted to Aldershot Allan went into business with Gordon Knowles “Dad was always telling us stories about doing plastering for football players and other movers and shakers in the city “One day he came home and told mum about these lovely houses being built in Westhill.” Allan was offered first refusal of “the best plot in the street” for a £100 deposit Morrie – who did several jobs over the years including prawn peeler and cleaner – worried about raising the deposit but Allan saw the opportunity to make a family dream become a reality They managed to get the money together and bought the land for their future family home Allan and Morrie raised their children there and remained in the property until the early 90s when they moved into a nearby bungalow when the children were younger they all enjoyed holidays to Butlins and Primrose Valley but latterly the couple preferred the company of each other Allan devoted himself to looking after his wife Sadly on December 7 2015, three weeks after being admitted to hospital, Morrie passed away aged 77. three weeks after he too was admitted to the same ward as his late wife “I went up to see dad every day,” Lorraine said He wouldn’t have wanted us to see that.” This Christmas Lorraine will be taking time to remember her mum and dad – who were also grandparents of seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren – and some of the traditions they instituted over the years “Dad would take his great big long size nine socks and fill them with fruit He’d go to the Orange Grove on Rosemount and we always got a Mac Red apple “We’d be lying awake as he would be sneaking about with presents “Jackie and I always had a wee peak.” One of Lorraine’s most cherished memories is how much the Brands valued family time at Christmas That’s something that’s always stuck with me.” This year Lorraine and her siblings plan to light a candle to remember Morrie and Allan “I find it so hard at this time of year without them “As soon as Climb Every Mountain comes on “But it’s nice to remember them It has been a rite of passage for many young Aberdonians during the last 45 years: a Dons match at Pittodrie that this renowned chipper has proved a magnet for many footballing and showbusiness greats from Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish to Elton John Yet it’s also a boon that operations director Stuart Devine has been at the helm for decades and is passionate about bringing affordable food to people in the north-east he has actually lived in Westhill in Aberdeenshire for more than 30 years – and he told us why the Granite City’s traffic woes may actually be helping the place he now calls home Here’s Stuart’s five favourite things about life in Westhill Stuart said: “After being brought up as a city loon I’ve lived in Westhill for 32 years and it has been a great place to raise a family with good schools and amenities throughout “Everything you need is on your doorstep which is convenient and the city is only a short 15-minute drive which I do every day to get to work.” Although he is currently nursing a sore knee Stuart has nothing but admiration for the opportunities offered by the area to go out and explore He said: “Westhill is spoilt for parks and walks with a lot of recent upgrade work being carried out in Denman Park and there are plenty of walks including the orbital trail which takes you around the whole of Westhill where nature is in an abundance “It’s probably as a result of the pandemic but most families in Westhill appear to have a dog and you will never be short of a place to go for an enjoyable dog walk.” He was equally enthusiastic about the quality of shops in the community heightened by the problems which he has witnessed mounting up in Aberdeen city centre Westhill over the last two decades has emerged as a really popular destination for shoppers with all the stuff about bus gates and LEZs [low emission zones] places such as Westhill and Inverurie have gained We are also very lucky to have some great small local businesses which have thrived through the years and include gift shops and hairdressers.” Stuart is understandably keen to promote his own food outlets but he knows quality nosh when he sees it and spoke highly of several eateries and pubs in Westhill because obviously I want everyone to jump in the car and go visit an Ashvale My favourites include a Sunday roast from Duncano’s and Yan for Chinese fare would be up there with the best of Chinese in the city I do enjoy a visit to the newly taken over and refurbished Broadstraik ,which is excellent for food offers a great pint and has plenty of screens to watch the football “That’s my perfect day off!” is a optimist by nature and is delighted with the rapport which he has built up with friends and neighbours in Westhill He said: “It’s full of community spirit kids are polite and it just has a great feel about it but in general I would recommend Westhill to anyone “It has certainly served me well and I look forward to many more years ahead.” An offshore worker has been banned after admitting drink-driving at excessive speeds during the festive period appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to admit one charge of careless driving and one of drink-driving after he was found twice the legal limit in the early hours of December 27 last year The court heard he had been drinking during Boxing Day and had been asked to go out again around midnight Kidd was seen by an unmarked police car driving his white Mercedes A Class at “high speeds” northbound on North Anderson Drive at 12.05am and they began following him Depute fiscal Alan Townsend said: “The vehicle was driving at excessive speeds – and accelerated away from the police car “It took a right turn onto Anderson Avenue.” Kidd was out of view of the officers in pursuit but they then spotted his car abandoned in the middle of Hilton Road ahead of them He continued: “They saw [Kidd] jumping out of the driver’s door and he was lost from view “He was traced in a neighbouring garden a short time later and he was giving off a strong smell of alcohol.” Kidd gave a positive alcohol breath test at the roadside and was then taken to Kittybrewster Custody Suites where a blood sample was taken at around 1.40am on December 27 The reading given was 46mcg of alcohol in 100ml of blood (the legal limit being 22 mcg) Sheriff Lesley Johnstone asked if there had been any indication about the speeds Kidd had reached during the chase Mr Townsend replied: “Due to his early guilty plea we did not get statements from the arresting officers.” said his client supports two children and works as an offshore technician and spoke of a “significant record of prior offending” Mr Woodward-Nutt said there had been a gap in the offending and Kidd currently had a clean driving licence He added: “What is relevant is he is suffering from an anxiety disorder and it was particularly bad at Christmas time due to him being away from his children he had been out with friends consuming alcohol and had returned home on foot he got a call from a friend inviting him round “He thought the alcohol consumed earlier in the day would have been out of his system “He cannot provide an explanation for the careless driving Sheriff Johnstone mentioned Kidd’s two previous convictions “of some age” and said it was a “great pity” the incident had taken place She said: “You are remorseful about speeding as you did when the police came on the scene.” Charges of failing to stop and having no valid MOT certificate were dropped Sheriff Johnstone disqualified Kidd from driving for 12 months and recommended him for the Drink Driving Rehabilitation Scheme All 11 Westhill High School lacrosse players accused of a staged kidnapping turned themselves in The students complied within 24 hours after District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick issued a 48-hour ultimatum Each student received a ticket for unlawful imprisonment with most cases moving to confidential Family Court The DA called the hazing “on steroids,” describing how a blindfolded teammate was abducted and threatened with a fake gun and knife during a staged team outing Four other students narrowly avoided becoming victims as the terrifying prank escalated The DA emphasized the seriousness of the incident saying it could leave lasting trauma on the primary victim FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected] © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices pictured here in 2024 speaking to players as a varsity assistant took over the Westhill boys lacrosse program heading into the 2025 season In a post on his LinkedIn account Cahill said he and his coaching staff have fully cooperated with the investigation and as Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said in a news conference on Tuesday they had no prior knowledge of the incident “I’m not sure there are perfect words for everything that has happened this week—but some things need to be said,“ Cahill wrote and everyone in the Westhill community — my heart is broken for you and no one should ever have to endure this." Cahill was just six games into his tenure as varsity head coach after spending last season as a varsity assistant and the 2023 season as the modified coach He is a financial advisor and not a teacher at the school He did not respond to a question by syracuse.com Thursday morning as to whether he had been asked to or if he had plans to step down from his position He wrote that building a program based on “inclusion and accountability” has been his mission every day show them what doors can possibly open with the sport of lacrosse.” Cahill played lacrosse for both Onondaga Community College and Le Moyne He also captained the Ireland national team Cahill also spoke of organizing summer camps and winter clinics for young players in the community Cahill hosted a guest speaker talk for players and families from Doug Jackson of the 15 for Life Foundation a non-profit organization that focuses on mental health The organization was founded in memory of a former Syracuse lacrosse player who died by suicide in 2021 Westhill’s Tuesday home game against Skaneateles was to be the “Mental Health & Suicide Awareness Game,” but following Thursday night’s events along with Westhill’s Saturday road game against Cahill’s alma mater I’ve poured everything I have into this team — working to lead with integrity and support our athletes not just as players but as young people navigating a complex world,“ Cahill wrote education and family have been cornerstones of my approach — and they always will be.” players attended a lacrosse game that night older players on the team told five younger players they were going to get food together at McDonald’s The drivers pretended to get lost and drove to a “remote location” in the southern part of the county Other teens were waiting in the woods when they arrived at the remote location jumped out of the woods with what looked like a handgun and a knife The players attempted to grab five students A pillow case was put over the head of one player and he was tied up and thrown in the trunk of a vehicle The younger player thought he would be abandoned in the middle of nowhere but was eventually returned home by the older players Fitzpatrick said there isn’t any indication that the younger player was injured A school resource officer reported the incident Onondaga County Undersheriff Jeffery Passino said Deputies were notified of the incident on Friday a spokesperson for the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office “The actions involved in this awful incident do not reflect those values,” Cahill wrote “They are not representative of our program Fitzpatrick first spoke publicly of the incident in a news conference on Tuesday where he gave the 11 perpetrators a 48-hour deadline to turn themselves in or else face a second-degree kidnapping charge athletic director Jen Smarrelli and the varsity coaching staff held a mandatory meeting for boys lacrosse players and parents Dunham sent an email to parents informing them that the season was canceled “Let me be clear: the majority of the varsity boys lacrosse team was NOT involved in the incident from last week nor were they aware of it ahead of time,” Dunham wrote in the email “Some may argue that all student-athletes shouldn’t be punished for the actions of a few and the most appropriate way to do that is with a reset.” “I recognize this decision will be met with a range of opinions and emotions as it impacts many students and families,” the superintendent wrote “While this was an incredibly difficult step to take All 11 players turned themselves in on Wednesday and were issued appearance tickets for unlawful imprisonment Fitzpatrick said that “in all likelihood,” their cases would be handled in Family Court The identities of defendants typically are not public in that court For those who could not go to Family Court due to their age they would “end this situation without a criminal conviction and a criminal record,” Fitzpatrick said Tuesday Fitzpatrick has not released the identities of any of the 11 players “We do not shy away from difficult situations when they arise nor do we avoid having to make difficult decisions,” Cahill said in a statement to syracuse.com on Wednesday we are working through all of this in conjunction with law enforcement.” I’m not sure there are perfect words for everything that has happened this week — but some things need to be said and no one should ever have to endure this Since I was named head coach of Westhill Lacrosse I’ve made it a priority to hold our student-athletes to the highest standard — on and off the field The actions involved in this awful incident do not reflect those values Let me be clear: our coaching staff and I have cooperated fully with the ongoing investigation We have been confirmed to have had absolutely no prior knowledge of this incident but as young people navigating a complex world and family have been cornerstones of my approach—and they always will be This week has been one of the hardest of my life but I am incredibly grateful for the support of my family and those who know who I am and what I stand for As we all begin the long process of healing and figuring out the path forward please continue to keep our program—and each other—in your thoughts Contact Connor Pignatello anytime: Email | X Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) A Westhill social care worker has been struck off after misappropriating nursing home funds and verbally abusing a resident Elaine Will worked as an activities coordinator at Pitcairn Nursing Home at the time of the incidents who had been employed with Sanctuary Care for more than 15 years was reported to have misappropriated funds from the nursing home and used inappropriate language with a resident in May 2022 A recent report by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has concluded her fitness to practise is “impaired” and her registration to the SSSC register will now be removed Ms Will used her employer’s debit card to purchase personal items She failed to reimburse the care home, and the SSSC said Ms Will “acted dishonestly” when she took the money Ms Will raised her voice to a resident and said “what are you bi****ng about” the SSSC panel said the verbal abuse caused the resident emotional upset The report stated Ms Will demonstrated minimal insight or regret and did not apologise for the incidents Factors of concern included that she initially attempted to conceal her actions by failing to produce receipts and taking the purchased items to her home before returning to her workplace The SSSC explained: “You were entrusted with the debit card due to your senior position and the length of time you had worked with your employer “The behaviour is a breach of the trust placed in you by your employer and the SSSC this type of behaviour has the potential to place the company in financial difficulty and therefore affect the funds available for people who use services.” The SSSC removed Elaine’s registration from their register Sanctuary Care has been approached for comment All 11 students from an upstate New York high school accused of orchestrating an armed kidnapping of a teammate in a prank that "goes way way beyond hazing" have turned themselves in said District Attorney William Fitzpatrick "I cannot really adequately express to this community the level of stupidity and lack of judgment involved in this case," Fitzpatrick said during a news conference on April 29 Fitzpatrick gave the students an ultimatum to voluntarily surrender themselves to authorities and be given an appearance ticket for unlawful imprisonment — a Class A misdemeanor The district attorney warned that those who do not turn themselves in would be arrested and face a more serious charge of felony kidnapping "You will not be spending time in the public safety building You will be released to the custody of your parents," Fitzpatrick said as he explained the 48-hour offer And if it can't be handled in family court because of your age you will end this situation without a criminal conviction and a criminal record." came forward voluntarily within 24 hours of Fitzpatrick’s deadline The students were each given a ticket for unlawful imprisonment and a majority of the cases will be handled in a confidential family court due to their ages Both the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office and the sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s requests for comment on April 30 Fitzpatrick said he was informing the public of the case because of "rumors (that) have gotten completely out of control." He added that his office and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office jointly decided to prosecute the case Fitzpatrick described the alleged incident involving members of Westhill High School's boys lacrosse team as "criminal activity" and "hazing on steroids." The sheriff's office was alerted to the incident by the high school's resource officer and launched an investigation the incident occurred during the evening hours of April 24 when the students decided to "haze or play some sort of prank" on younger members of the lacrosse team The sheriff’s office identified at least five potential victims Fitzpatrick said the group had come up with a "ruse" that involved inviting younger teammates to watch a lacrosse game and then eat at a McDonald's Some of the younger teammates were able to get away But one younger teammate was taken to a remote wooded area in the county after the person driving him pretended to be lost people came out of the woods all dressed in black They were armed with what appeared to be at least one handgun and at least one knife," Fitzpatrick added "The individual had a pillowcase placed over his head he was tied up and placed in the trunk of a car." Fitzpatrick said the incident was captured on video The district attorney also said the younger teammate thought he was "going to be abandoned in the middle of nowhere." The younger teammate was eventually returned home who added that he wasn't aware if the student suffered any physical injuries but "emotionally .. Some people were assigned different roles," the district attorney added His role is no different than the guy who held the knife than the guy who dragged this poor kid into the trunk of a car 'She was the ringleader': School director, 3 employees accused of running 'makeshift child fight club' in Arkansas Westhill Central School District Superintendent Steve Dunham announced that the remainder of Westhill High School's boys lacrosse season has been canceled In a statement, Dunham said the school district has been investigating “reports of a potential off-campus hazing incident" that involved several students of the varsity boys lacrosse team, WSYR-TV and television station PIX11 reported nor were they aware of it ahead of time," Dunham said "Some may argue that all student-athletes shouldn’t be punished for the actions of a few and the most appropriate way to do that is with a reset." "Hazing is an indefensible act," Dunham added we will address inappropriate behavior that negatively impacts members of our school community promptly and appropriately according to our Code of Conduct." Dunham did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment on April 30 Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_ Westhill dad Paul Cummins was in Aberdeen’s Hazlehead Park playing with his infant daughter when he lifted her up spun her around… and felt a sharp pain shoot through his back “She was six months old,” the 43-year-old says ruefully The experience was a wake-up call for the Irishman he worked out — he even did the occasional pull-up and the gaps between gym visits were getting longer after some extremely fun university years and time working in Wales and Ireland as a rally car designer “I had to do something to lose the weight.” he decided to cycle the length of Ireland for charity — a grueling 435-mile trek over four days “I didn’t even own a bike at the time,” he admits with a laugh after moving to Aberdeen for a job maintaining offshore cranes But then a couple of things happened that changed Paul’s outlook on life It was 2014 and the global oil price had cratered Oil and gas businesses in the north-east were laying off workers in an attempt to stay afloat Paul says his company sacked everybody on the first day back after Christmas “I’d worked my arse off for years and now I had nothing,” Paul remembers you work hard and things figure themselves out right at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic Paul had seen Sam Milne’s Instagram feed and initially thought the fitness coach and personal trainer wouldn’t even consider taking him on as a client he would only coach someone to be a better bodybuilder,” Paul laughs from Bridge of Don and a former international taekwondo competitor with a background in bodybuilding Sam remembers Paul asking for help in getting over his back injury pack on muscle and generally “just have that confidence in what he does” They chatted and Sam quickly realised Paul’s biggest weakness was the food he ate “He won’t be shy in saying that he definitely likes a snack,” Sam says “He struggled to come to the realisation that you’ve really got to stick to things “The biggest difference Sam implemented was a meal plan This is going to sound like a really weird thing to say having skipped lunch because he was too busy and eating a cupboard full of crisps and chocolate while cooking dinner It was food that Paul could batch-cook at the weekends; food that he liked But it was less about what he ate than having a routine Paul says it took him about a year to “really get” the new eating regime, which he supplemented with gym workouts and CrossFit whereas now I eat two rotisserie chickens a week is what you’re about to eat something you actually want to eat?” he says “Are you going to use one of your four tokens a week on this Paul’s new-found commitment was having an affect on his life outside of the gym After being made redundant, Paul started a property redevelopment company called Love Life Properties He now started implementing some of Sam’s meal plan mantras into his business and that came off the back of the meal plan,” Paul says “It was the consistency I’d been missing.” Says Sam: “Everything worth having takes work “But that’s what excites me about fitness as well It doesn’t matter if you’re a playboy philanthropist or if you were brought up in a household and on benefits — you have to put in the work.” It’s been 15 months since Paul had his first session with Sam and he is delighted with the results He’s lost a stone and a half and is as fit as he has been his whole life his consistency means he spends even more time with his daughter But now he sets aside time for the family and sticks to it “Her need for attention doesn’t go away but because she’s a priority for me And nowadays when he picks his daughter up who recently had her on his shoulders for the entirety of a music gig (WSTM) — All 11 suspects involved in a hazing incident have turned themselves in to authorities said stuffing victims into trunks is a common form of hazing She said it's commonly considered kidnapping "They usually drop the student off or students off at an unknown place," said Dr sometimes they are made to drink alcohol so they're drunk and blindfolded." Lipkins said many of the questions that have yet to be answered will shift to who knew about the incident beforehand including the lacrosse coach and his staff and school leaders "It may or may not have been reported in the past doesn't mean it hasn't happened in the past," said Lipkins "I wouldn't be surprised if the perpetrators use as a defense that a lot of parents say yeah this has been happening and this is how you create team bonding." parents in the community told CNY Central that they are shocked that something like this could happen to their community has two sons who play sports at Baldwinsville High School He said it was unfortunate that Westhill High School canceled its lacrosse season "Anytime you put together a group of teenage boys together they usually make dumb decisions," said Scullion "It feels like this is what this is and they took it way too far." The suspects were issued appearance tickets returnable to the Town of Onondaga Court CNY Central has reached out to the lacrosse team's coach New reporting from CNN and CNY Central reveals chilling details about the Westhill lacrosse hazing case that rocked the community members of the varsity team texted each other during a rival’s game agreeing it was the perfect night for a “prank” targeting younger players Authorities said the “prank” escalated into a staged abduction where a victim was tied up Eleven team members now face misdemeanor charges for the incident Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon emphasized the community’s need to hold students accountable while working toward healing after the shocking event FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected] Michael Behr Ener-G Services, an electrical engineering company specialising in servicing the renewables has added new premises at Kingshill Commercial Park in Westhill which extends to 2,500 sq ft on a five-year lease This new base is in addition to their current base at BlueSky Business Space in Westhill Managing director of Ener-G Services Graeme Harper said: “We are excited to accelerate the growth of our business and this new office location marks a significant milestone in that journey modern workspace that will enable our team to thrive and collaborate more effectively “This move aligns with our long-term vision for the company offering ample space to accommodate our expanding operations and future growth.” Several other companies operating in the energy industry have signed leases for space at Kingshill Commercial Park. These include Norwegian accommodation vessel group Prosafe, which moved out of its office in the Silver Fin Building Management surveyor at Knight Property Group Dan Mitchell added: “Demand for space at Kingshill Commercial Park has consistently remained strong reflecting the park’s appeal to a diverse range of tenants We are thrilled to have finalised this agreement with Ener-G and we look forward to seeing them thrive “Westhill offers an ideal setting for companies seeking a strategic base with its close proximity to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) providing excellent connectivity to the city centre A Westhill man has been jailed for rape after a jury was told his victim ran into a residential street half naked and screamed for help The woman had earlier dubbed her attacker Don Webley “a beast” and pleaded for help in messages before she fled from the flat where she was subjected to the ordeal had denied raping the woman at his then home at a flat in Granton Medway on September 18 2022 and claimed in a special defence that sexual activity between them was consensual But a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh convicted him on a majority verdict of committing the sex crime during which he grabbed the woman Webley was acquitted of attempting to murder the victim by placing an arm around her and compressing her neck A judge told Webley: “It is a statement of the obvious that you have been convicted of an appalling offence.” Judge Michael O’Grady KC added rape was a “dreadful crime” which was cruel and humiliating The judge said: “It is clear from the evidence of this young woman’s condition in the aftermath of the attack that this was a harrowing attack This was a brutal violation of a vulnerable young woman for whom you showed complete contempt.” He told jurors that Webley had a significant criminal record The judge deferred sentence on him for the preparation of a background report and Webley The court heard that on the Sunday morning when the rape occurred a man walking along Granton Medway towards a baker’s shop came across the woman screaming and shouting: “Phone the police.” The woman was crying and hysterical and only wearing a top and he made a 999 call to emergency services PC David Parsons was one of the officers who responded to the call and found the woman sitting in a dark recess in a stairwell on the street He said: “She was sitting on the ground with her back against the wall She had her  knees up to her chest and she was holding her knees sort of cradling herself in that position.” He noticed she was wearing a hoodie and was “sort of whimpering” He said: “She told me she had been raped and she had run away She told me she had run away from a flat in that street but didn’t know which one.” The officer said: “She told me it was Don Webley and Don Webley had raped her She told me she was choked and thought she was going to die.” She was struggling to breathe because she was crying so much,” he said The woman told a policewoman that she was at the flat with others but was left alone with Webley after they departed Messages were found on her phone asking for help and saying she was trying to get away During a search at Webley’s flat police found trainers pants and a handbag belonging to the woman Webley was placed on the sex offenders’ register following his conviction for the rape of the woman who did not give evidence during the trial Work has begun to install a permanent speed camera on a busy Aberdeen road The A944 Westhill road near Kingswells is set to be fitted with the 24/7 camera after a survey found more than two-thirds of drivers were over the 40mph speed limit The camera will be set up to detect eastbound traffic towards Aberdeen and will be in operation at all times after its installation in two weeks A mobile speed van has previously been in place since 2021 A recently conducted speed survey revealed that more than 67 per cent of drivers were over the speed limit with 928 vehicles at 15 per cent more than the limit Eric Dunion, Unit Manager, said: “Whilst we have enforced at this location for several years mobile enforcement can only cover a limited number of hours per week “The last speed survey conducted on the A944 near Kingswells was disappointing highlighting that 928 vehicles a week were travelling at least 15% mph over the speed limit with 67.7% of vehicles travelling above the speed limit “When the opportunity then arose to trial this fixed camera and after reviewing collisions and vehicle speeds on the A944 near Kingswells the decision was made to install it there.” 11 Westhill lacrosse players turned themselves into authorities one day into the Onondaga County District Attorney's 48-hour deadline "The way that the sheriff and the DA worked and said you know they have 48 hours to respond was really new and exciting to me," said hazing expert Dr "I have seen this kind of hazing before I have not seen this kind of legal response before." The sheriff's office and DA's office are keeping the names of the 11 students charged a secret even though a source confirmed four of them are 18-year-old adults The appearance tickets charge each with a class-a misdemeanor for unlawful imprisonment those charged targeted five younger students and the culprits videotaped this frightening ordeal Lipkins said those charged in 'criminal hazing' incidents rarely receive stiff penalties from the courts "Even when they can prove that its hazing very few of those perpetrators actually go to jail," she said The DA said there's no reason this charge will stay on these students' criminal records a judge can order conditions such as completing hours of community service Lipkins hopes those judges consider those conditions carefully "Maybe it's building a house with Habitat for Humanity Maybe it's doing something else that would teach students that they could work as a group in a pro-social way," she said adding "to remind them as to why they're doing it." SYRACUSE, N.Y. — In a new statement published to the district website, Westhill Superintendent Steve Dunham further addressed the hazing incident that has drawn local and national attention to his community some are using the events from last week to try to define us.. Our pain becomes fodder for talking points "While we cannot undo what has been done we can decide how we respond," Dunham says He notes that district staff are working with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to secure "additional training and resources for all coaches and student-athletes at every level." Westhill will also work with OCM Boces to "increase staff training and learning opportunities for students and families related to hazing and mental health." An internal review will be conducted as well The superintendent says "While this dark cloud hangs over us we must choose to move forward." Highlighting the range of upcoming extracurricular events the district has planned Dunham says "Each of these is a moment of light and I encourage everyone to embrace them." Read the entirety of Superintendent Dunham's statement below: Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker