Access to trusted news and information is urgently needed right now - and when you support WXXI’s public media mission today WXXI offers Rochester and the Finger Lakes solid trusted reporting built on a mission that uses the resources and independence of public media to serve the public good Become a monthly sustainer or increase your current sustaining gift now and your gift will be matched every month for a full year Support the facts and the truth right at the source by making a commitment to public media today your generous support for the essential coverage of WXXI is critical The Mendon town supervisor and Town Board are calling for the immediate resignation of Town Highway Superintendent Andrew Caschetta after an internal investigation sustained allegations that Caschetta sexually harassed and retaliated against employees and fostered a hostile work environment The investigation was initiated by the town in October after six employees Town Supervisor John Moffit and Town Clerk Michelle Booth filed complaints against Caschetta Rochester law firm Bolaños Lowe conducted the investigation documented multiple claims against Caschetta including accusations of sexual harassment The highway superintendent is an elected position charged with overseeing the highway department and maintaining roads when he was tapped to fill in for retired Superintendent Bud Smith Caschetta is not seeking re-election this year The investigation sustained allegations against Caschetta made regular sexual remarks toward two female staffers and commented to other employees about their bodies and perceived promiscuity The report also alleged that he would refuse to engage with employees who filed complaints against him While the report alleges that he did sexually harass female employees it also said he did not create a sexually discriminatory work environment “Superintendent Caschetta is an ‘equal opportunity harasser,’” the report stated Caschetta did not respond to a request for comment The report also accused Caschetta of retaliating against employees for doing their jobs correctly the report outlined a reputed incident in which an employee truthfully told workers at a dump site that a load of concrete contained metal mesh Caschetta then allegedly ordered that employee to remove the mesh himself with a jackhammer Caschetta then filmed himself telling the employee to stop jackhammering to give him deniability in any retaliation claim Caschetta allegedly referred to Supervisor Moffit as “Vladimir Putin” and the Mendon Town Hall as “The Kremlin.” On one occasion he allegedly threw a chair at a dispatcher in the breakroom of the Highway Department Caschetta claimed he had kicked the chair leg to wake up a sleeping employee “With respect to these complaints against him Superintendent Caschetta has openly stated in the workplace ‘By the time they do anything with these reports I’ll be retired,’” according to the report The town’s attorneys had engaged in a month-long negotiation with Caschetta according to a statement from Supervisor Moffitt that accompanied the report he cannot be removed by the supervisor or board Moffit said the town is now seeking other avenues to limit the authority of Caschetta in his position including restrictions on his ability to interact with employees and a reduction of job responsibilities dedicated employees due to his behavior,” Moffit said alleging three staffers have resigned because of Caschetta “We have other employees that are very unhappy.” Moffit said other employees have had to seek medical attention due to the stress of working for Caschetta a claim that is also alleged in the report Moffit also said the town may look at legal avenues to hold Caschetta responsible He did not comment on what exactly those actions would look like Republican Peter Doyle is the sole candidate for Mendon Highway Superintendent this year More New York State News (WHAM) — Tensions are high in Mendon as town officials call for the resignation of Highway Superintendent Andrew Caschetta following a report alleging sexual harassment and misconduct in the workplace accuses Caschetta of creating a climate of fear leading to increased staff turnover and disruption of essential services Mendon Town Supervisor John Moffitt and councilmembers are urging Caschetta to resign immediately at both the highway department and town hall have been affected in one way or another by his actions," Moffitt said The 22-page independent investigative report detailed complaints from current and former employees against Caschetta The investigation was conducted by Bolaños Lowe PLLC and then it morphed into August of last year of written complaints from employees," Moffitt explained Some of the complaints allege Caschetta of sexual harassment losing his temper and violently throwing chairs The report also noted that Caschetta referred to Moffitt as "Vladimir Putin." "Almost all of them had been subject to some type of harassment or retaliation for things that were inappropriate behavior," Moffitt said due to the fact that he's an elected official the town board and myself are powerless as far as removing him from office." Moffit said three former Town of Mendon employees left their positions due to Caschetta's "actions and reactions." The report claimed Caschetta openly stated "By the time they do anything with these reports Moffitt mentioned that attempts to negotiate with Caschetta were unsuccessful as he was not interested in reaching a resolution "Our attorney is looking into various forms of control measures that can be put in place regarding his authority especially when it comes to dealing with employees," Moffitt said 13WHAM reached out to Andrew Caschetta and the highway department for comment on this report and have not heard back Caschetta's term is up at the end of this year Mendon Town Supervisor John Moffitt and Town Board members Brent Rosiek and Jim Merzke are calling for the immediate resignation of Mendon Highway Superintendent Andrew Caschetta after an investigation uncovered evidence of sexual harassment An investigation authorized by the Mendon Town Board and conducted by Bolaños Lowe PLLC detailsspecific and repeated acts of sexual harassment These findings come after several employees filed multiple formal complaints under Caschetta’s supervision The report confirms that Caschetta's actions have created an environment of fear and significantly disrupted essential public services Moffitt found the evidence against Caschetta to be troubling and completely unacceptable in any workplace “Elected leaders have a duty to uphold the highest standards of integrity andprofessionalism," Moffitt said in a statement Caschetta’s continued presence in this role is an insult to the hardworking employees of the Town of Mendon and our residents In response to the investigative report's findings the Town sought to negotiate a separation agreement to facilitate his immediate resignation Caschetta was not interested in reaching a resolution and was more focused on suppressing the report's contents Moffitt and the council members are prepared to take legal and legislative actions if Caschetta refuses to resign Restricting his responsibilities to minimize harm to employees.Implementing workplace protections to shield staff from further misconduct.Exploring legal avenues to hold him accountable.Caschetta said he is not commenting at this time Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Ohio entered into eternal rest Monday April 7 Dave also was the owner operator of Sheets Bulldozing for over 50 years until retirement he even was fortunate to be able to work alongside his father who helped Dave with the day to day operations of the business Dave loved running his bulldozer and excavator He always had dogs during his entire married life Any stray dog that appeared at Dave's house quickly found a home there He also loved collecting and restoring tractors Dave and his son "Davy" made a lot of wonderful memories working together on tractor restoration projects His favorites were Minneapolis Moline tractors Dave was an avid reader of the M & M Corresponder But Dave's favorite activity was spending time with famiily David Lee "Davy" (Erica) Sheets of Mendon; two grandsons Tyler Sheets and Jayden Sheets of Mendon; one brother Veryl (Marilyn) Sheets of Mendon; and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law David was preceded in death by his wife's parents The family will receive friends from 9:00 am until 10:45 am Thursday Online condolences may be shared at www.ketchamripley.com Services have been entrusted to Ketcham Ripley Funeral Home Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Mendon Highway Superintendent Andy Caschetta has resigned after town leaders urged him to step down last week amid sexual harassment allegations In a statement posted on the town's website Mendon Town Supervisor John Moffitt says he received and accepted Caschetta's resignation on Thursday "I want to sincerely thank the employees and residents who came forward to share their stories," Moffitt said in part and your willingness to do so helped bring about this change." Moffitt said and a majority of the town board were demanding Caschetta resign based on the results of an investigation in which an independent law firm says it found evidence of repeated acts of sexual harassment threats of violence in the workplace and retaliatory behavior against employees by Caschetta Detailing complaints and issues dating back to 2023 the report alleges Caschetta's actions caused increased turnover and a significant disruption to public services Moffitt says town services will continue while the position is vacant and interim leadership will be announced soon He will forever be missed by his children: Lindsey (Jacob) Schwinn of Nova Ohio; Kayla (Ryan) Goddard of Saint Charles Missouri; and Corey (Brooke) Walls of Mendon He was a proud grandfather to his beloved granddaughter He is also survived by his siblings: Kelly (Jeff) Lloyd of Venedocia and Kathy (Tom) Coon of Celina; his mother-in-law Richard Laux of Mendon; and brothers-in-law Ben (Sara) Laux of Celina and Travis (Beverly) Laux of St Kerry was an admired uncle to many nieces and nephews A 1987 graduate of Mendon Union High School Kerry also attended Vantage Career Center in Van Wert He worked at Stamco in New Bremen for 17 years before pursuing his true passion—farming he found great joy in being a steward of the land and raising livestock Teresa Catholic Church in Rockford and the Celina Moose Lodge He also enjoyed working in his shop and trucking for the farm A strong supporter of the Mercer County Fair Kerry loved watching his children participate in their 4-H activities he was a devoted father who took great pride in raising his children and cherishing time with his growing family from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM and again on Saturday morning from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Cisco Funeral Home in Celina A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday at 10:30 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Celina Burial will follow at North Grove Cemetery in Celina Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkway High School FFA Program Marys are honored to care for Kerry and his family please visit www.ciscofuneralhome.com or the Cisco Funeral Home Facebook page Add to Calendar Add to Calendar Add to Calendar Add to Calendar — The Mendon Highway Superintendent has officially resigned This comes after sexual harassment and workplace violence accusations earlier this month Last week, we reported about the Mendon Town Boards efforts to remove Andrew Caschetta from office A report alleged Caschetta harassed female employees by calling them “promiscuous.” An outside firm conducted an official investigation which began in October 2023 and concluded last month The first written complain was filed in August 2023 Mendon Town Supervisor John Moffitt announced Caschetta’s resignation “The Town of Mendon has received and accepted the resignation of Highway Superintendent Andrew Caschetta and residents who came forward to share their stories and your willingness to do so helped bring about this change This is a chance to turn the page – to create a respectful more supportive environment for everyone who works here We’re already taking steps to support a smooth transition in the Highway Department and we’ll be sharing details about interim leadership shortly Town services will continue without interruption I care deeply about this town and the people who keep it running We have a responsibility – to one another and to our community – to rebuild a culture grounded in support Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Richard Reingold at rreingold@whec.com or 585-546-1701 MENDON — For the second time this year, voters have rejected a ballot question that would have raised taxes to fund a new senior and community center would have raised $11.1 million to build a new senior and community center That was trimmed from a $13.2 million proposal that failed at the ballot this past spring the proposal would still have needed to earn two-thirds approval at Special Town Meeting on Nov Earlier: Mendon voters will consider a sixth ballot question on Nov. 5 Town Clerk Ellen Agro said roughly 82% of registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday's presidential election She noted that the office is allowed to count ballots that come in by Friday that were postmarked by Nov the proposal for a new community and senior center was projected to cost about $11.95 million The town expected to receive $850,000 from the federal government leaving $11.1 million to be raised by local taxpayers In May, the measure received the required two-thirds majority at the May 3 Town Meeting But it failed by 52 votes in the annual town election shortly thereafter The ballot question was a Proposition 2 ½ override voters can approve an override that temporarily lifts the cap on how much property taxes can increase each year voters would have had to pay an additional $130 annually in property taxes over 30 years Advocates for new center say more space is neededAccording to a website promoting the proposed new center due to insufficient buildable land on the site and because existing services would need to relocate for a year or more until any renovations were complete 'The town had no money': Hopedale approves $1.35M override to balance town budget The current center is too small for the community town officials previously told the Daily News They said the center recently hosted a veterans luncheon that couldn't accommodate all of the veterans who wished to attend Officials also said the project's price tag is such because it involves a municipal building which must be constructed under state and federal regulations and would need to be ADA compliant The building is also designed to meet "green building" standards which reduce energy costs of the new space Mendon Highway Superintendent Andrew Caschetta has resigned following the release of an internal investigation findings alleging he had a pattern of workplace harassment and retaliation Caschetta was accused in the report of sexually harassing two women in the highway department retaliating against employees who reported his actions Mendon Town Supervisor John Moffitt had called for Caschetta’s resignation earlier this month Caschetta was appointed in 2019 and was not seeking re-election this year alleges that he did sexually harass female employees Caschetta did not immediately return a request for comment Moffitt said Caschetta’s resignation offers the town a chance to move forward “This is a chance to turn the page – to create a respectful more supportive environment for everyone who works here,” Moffitt said “We’re already taking steps to support a smooth transition in the Highway Department Town services will continue without interruption.” The town highway superintendent investigated for sexual harassment workplace violence and retaliation has resigned according to a statement from Mendon Town Supervisor John Moffitt The town received and accepted the resignation of Mendon Highway Superintendent Andrew Caschetta Moffitt thanked those who came forward with the allegations against Caschetta “This is chance to turn the page – to create a respectful more supportive environment for everyone who works here,” Moffitt’s statement said The Mendon Town Board authorized an investigation into formal complaints from several employees which found that Caschetta’s actions created an environment of fear found “credible and damning evidence of Sexual Harassment The same statement called for Caschetta’s immediate resignation which was endorsed by Moffitt and Mendon Town Board members Brent Rosiek “We have a responsibility to one another and to our community – to rebuild a culture grounded in support but sought to negotiate his immediate resignation. The highway superintendent was “less interested in reaching a constructive resolution and more focused on suppressing the contents of the report and securing his own financial gain,” the April 15 statement said A former town board member filed the first hostile work environment complaint against Caschetta in August 2023 six more complaints were filed through an anonymous employee complaint system The town board approved a formal investigation into the complaints in October 2024 entering an agreement with Bolanos Lowe PLLC The full investigative report is available on the Town of Mendon website climate and the Great Lakes for the Democrat and Chronicle he has covered myriad topics over the years national politics and economic development in New York and Utah Border Patrol agents took an 18-year-old into custody Friday during an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Deputies were patrolling Mendon Ponds Park around 1:30 p.m when they spotted a "suspicious" vehicle parked in the back corner of a parking lot with a jacket covering the driver's side window was reportedly found sleeping in the driver's seat with a woman in the passenger seat Hurley said Mayancela showed deputies a photo of an Ecuadorian ID containing an image of a child on his phone which he later admitted was his father's He then reportedly told deputies he does not have a driver's license and was operating the vehicle without the owner's permission After spending nearly 20 minutes trying to verify Mayancela's identity deputies detained him for driving the vehicle without a license and contacted Border Patrol for assistance Mayancela reportedly showed deputies a picture of a valid New York state learner's permit but his passenger did not have a driver's license resulting in him being charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle While deputies were completing their investigation Border Patrol agents arrived and identified Mayancela before taking him into custody Mendon town leaders are calling for Highway Superintendent Andy Caschetta to immediately resign amid sexual harassment allegations Mendon Town Supervisor John Moffitt says he and a majority of the town board are demanding Caschetta's job based on the results of an independent investigation they say the Bolaños Lowe law firm found evidence of repeated acts of sexual harassment threats of violence in the workplace and retaliatory behavior against employees Caschetta didn’t immediately return a request for comment and professionalism,” Moffitt said in a statement “The evidence uncovered in this investigation is deeply troubling and completely unacceptable in any workplace—especially in a taxpayer-funded public office You can read the full report on the town's website RochesterFirst The Town of Mendon announced Highway Superintendent Andrew Caschetta has resigned from his role https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/local-news/mendon-highway-superintendent-resigns-amid-sexual-misconduct-claims/ The Wegmans family is interviewed about their success and cult-like following Scottsville Fire and Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies responded to North Road in Scottsville after a vehicle struck a home Monday evening One Rochester man is seeking answers from the city after discovering all of the sentimental items at his grandmother's gravesite were cleaned up without notice Greece schools will soon be using body and bag scanners similar to those in airports for students entering school Monroe County leaders announced an investment worth more than $700,000 Monday is aimed to boost access to home health care for African American families while striving to promote equity and address long-standing disparities for many who call Rochester home Many homeowners across the Greater Rochester region have seen increases in the cost of their home insurance The Court of Appeals has overturned the conviction of a Rochester mother accused of being responsible for her 3-year-old son’s death in 2022 One person is injured after a car crashed into a tree on Saint Paul Street Monday evening We are now just five days out from the start of Rochester’s Lilac Festival and the lilacs are already showing signs of a spectacular season News 8’s Leanne Byer shows us what to expect both now and in the days ahead in the former Rachel’s Mediterranean by Moe’s and Jersey Mike’s Pittsford Mendon sophomore pitcher Quinn Sargent recorded her first varsity victory during a 28-8 win in five innings at Eastridge Friday night Sargent won the game while pitching in relief for eighth-grader Felicity Knapp. The first inning took an hour, and the contest was back-and-forth through three innings, but Mendon (1-2) stopped Eastridge (0-1) from scoring once Sargent entered the circled during the sub-40 degree contest Sargent also registered multiple hits at the plate. She began Friday night with a two-run double in the first inning. Sargent will enjoy more innings this spring after relieving multiple time All-Greater Rochester first team pitcher Lilly Goldberg in the past for coach Scott Parsons' Vikings Jalissa Crittendon took the loss for Eastridge coach Shelly Collins' Lancers — Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle He won numerous Associated Press and NYNPA awards for his work in print and broadcasting throughout his 15-year career as a reporter Follow him @MarquelSports and X and Instagram You can email him at mslaughter1@gannett.com MENDON — Mendon junior tailback JT Lux knew he was going to get the football the two-time defending state champions in Division 8-player football 22-20 with fewer than five seconds left in regulation Mendon marched the football all the way down to doorstep of Martin's end zone and knew it was going to be an all-or-nothing play secured the football and bowled his way into the end zone as the clock expired What followed from Mendon's sideline was certain joy and triumph as the coaching staff and players bolted onto the field following the touchdown indication from officials I love that," Lux said of scoring on the final play I knew I had to keep the motor going and get in." Mendon started the final drive deep in its own territory Runs by Lux and Owen Gorham helped the Hornets move the football methodically down the field the Hornets ended up right outside the goal line Head coach Bobby Kretschman said the plan was to score but the Hornets did not want to leave Martin any possible time left if his team did score FALCONS WIN AGAIN: Defensive touchdowns fuel Constantine to second consecutive district title "We knew that was going to be the last play regardless of what happened," he said and our seniors said we wanted to go for it Mendon had to come up with a fourth-down stop of Martin deep in its own territory The Hornet defense got the stop on fourth down keeping the Clippers from potentially being able to ice the game They just kept fighting and got the job done," Kretschman said You don't win games like this just because of the kids on the field you win them because of what everybody is doing in your program." A big part of Martin's success came during the second half when the Clippers were able to take advantage of an unfortunate injury to Nick Stiver of Mendon Stiver was on kickoff coverage and tweaked something and Stiver was unable to come back into the game but I give a lot of credit to Brayden Crites and Zak Iobe two kids who have worked hard all year long," Kretschman said And we talk all the time about how everybody has to stay mentally in the game We're winning games like this because of the preparation Monday through Friday." Stiver did say he would be playing next week for the Hornets He was also proud of his teammates for being able to find a way to win the football game and we put ourselves in this situation," Stiver said BRONSON, TR WIN DISTRICT TITLES: Bronson, Three Rivers volleyball teams claim district championships Martin took an 8-0 lead at the 10:55 mark in the second quarter Mendon eventually responded with a 3-yard TD run from Ryder Gorham before Lux added the conversion run to make it 8-8 Mendon took a 14-8 lead when Owen Gorham rumbled 40 yards for a score Lux carried would-be tacklers with him as he ran 84 yards for a touchdown The conversions were missed on both of these touchdowns Martin scored near the end of the third and added a touchdown The Clippers led in total yards at 392-359 who also completed a 10-yard pass to Grant Crotser Iobe finished with a team-high 12 tackles for Mendon while Stiver collected 10 stops Lux and Alex Zagon were both in on six stops Mendon has reached the final four for Division 1 of the 8-player football playoffs The Hornets will travel on Saturday to take on Deckerville Kickoff time for that had not been finalized yet but Kretschman said Mendon will be asking for a 2 p.m The Hornets will travel nearly 250 miles to Deckerville Lux said he's just happy to be able to continue playing with this team It's great that we get to keep moving on." Contact Sports Editor Brandon Watson at bwatson@gannett.com (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the Cumberland Police Department said a portion of Mendon Road will be closed overnight for steel beam replacement will be closed from the Interstate-295 South on/off ramp to the I-295 North on/off ramp The road work will run Sunday through Thursday 9 p.m there will be a lane reduction on Route 295 at Mendon Road The Cumberland Police Department is asking residents to seek alternative routes in the meantime – Efforts were underway by the Mendon Town Board to remove Highway Superintendent Andrew Caschetta from office following a report detailing claims of sexual harassment and workplace violence included allegations that Caschetta harassed female employees by calling them “promiscuous.” Caschetta has been with the department since 2010 he was appointed as superintendent after the previous leader retired He later ran for the position and was elected Town Supervisor John Moffitt said this type of behavior did not come up until last year have been… not what the town board myself feel as responsible for an elected official,” said Town Supervisor John Moffitt citing Caschetta’s conduct as the reason cannot remove Caschetta from his elected position Moffitt said the town and Caschetta’s attorneys have been in talks The town board members emphasized that one person’s misconduct should not overshadow the dedication of the highway department’s hardworking employees The report stated that without Caschetta’s resignation dedicated employees would remain in a toxic work environment AI assisted with the formatting of this story. Click here to see how WHEC News10NBC uses AI a son of Charles and Sue Ann (McClelland) Homan Craig was a 1983 graduate of Unity High School he served as the Mendon Township Commissioner for four years He was currently working for the Village of Mendon Craig was a volunteer fireman for the Mendon Fire Protection District He cherished the time spent with his grandchildren He is survived by his son; Grady Homan of Mendon IL; sisters Lisa (Ronnie) Meyers of Payson He was preceded in death by his grandparents A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m Inurnment will immediately follow at the Mendon Township Cemetery in Mendon.  Visitation will be held on Friday morning from 10:00 a.m until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m Memorials are suggested to the family to help with funeral expenses You are invited to leave condolences at www.triplettfuneralhomes.com  MENDON — The Mendon Hornets secured a Division 4 district championship on the wrestling mats on Wednesday with a 48-30 win over Galesburg-Augusta "I’m proud of the way the kids have stepped up through adversity and continued growing all season long," coach Lincoln Crotser said WILDCATS WIN: Second-ranked Wildcats secure district championship VOTE: Vote for the Midseason Boys Hoop Star of the Year! the Hornets advance to the team regional round Mendon is set to take on Union City in the semifinals after the Chargers knocked off Bronson in their district final Union City's win ended Bronson's 26-year streak of district championships Winning for Mendon by void were Zak Iobe (157) and Ben Iobe (165) Those were each awarded after the match started with a double void at 150 Mendon got wins by pin from Grant Crotser (175) Braxton Haigh followed with another pin at 126 and Xavior Zinsmaster earned a pin at 138 to secure the match victory PETERSHAM – The Petersham Lions Club recently held its 19th annual charity curling tournament and raffle fundraiser on March 22 The event benefits Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund to help in finding a cure for blindness There was a new team this year comprised of members from the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund which has membership from many Massachusetts Lions Clubs The final playoff was between the Hubbardston Lions and the Mendon Lions Gina Marzilli Shaughnessy and Barbara Thirsk The winning team will have their name added to the tournament plaque along with the names of the teammates The plaque goes home with the winning team to display for the year and returns for the next year’s tournament Petersham is proud to have its own Petersham Curling Club which has been offering an arena for the sport since 1960 The Petersham Curling Club is one of only four dedicated clubs in Massachusetts The club offers the day to the Lions for the event This partnering allows the Lions to have this event locally and supports the Curling Club as well The Petersham Lions tournament is always an amateur-level event Experienced Petersham Curling Club members were on hand to offer lessons and advice to those who had never curled before Petersham Lion John Magnino kept all the teams in playing order and coordinated who was playing against whom a job he has masterfully done since the tournament began The Petersham Lions will start planning the 20th tournament this fall after a short summer break. Those interested in becoming a Petersham Lion, please contact Denis Legare, the club membership chairperson at hilltopchief@gmail.com The Petersham Lions next big event is the Massachusetts General Hospital Bloodmobile that the Club is co-hosting with and at Monty Tech High School in Fitchburg on May 3. To sign up and reserve a donor spot, visit https://www.massgeneral.org/blood-donor/blood-drives/community-blood-drives you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users TO VIEW DON'S FUNERAL SERVICE LIVE PLEASE CLICK HERE Utah to parents Verland Findley and Vera Willie Shelton junior high in Wellsville and graduated from South Cache High School in 1942 The family later moved to Hawthorn California where Don worked as an aircraft mechanic and machinist for McDonnell Douglas In 1955 the family moved to Washington state to become “homesteaders” in the Columbia Basin They developed a farm from previously unfarmable land using irrigation available from the recently constructed Grand Coulee Dam During these years in Washington sons Rick and Todd joined the family Marilyn was killed in an automobile accident and in 1969 Don moved his family back to Mendon He became a dairy farmer partnering with his brothers-in-law Bill and Murray Rigby Don’s excellent mechanic skills were crucial in keeping all the equipment operating Don met Judy Sawyer at an LDS singles dance They both loved to dance and the rest is history but once it was done it was a gathering place for his family.  Don left the dairy business and finished his working years as a shop mechanic Don was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Of particular note was his service as a Scoutmaster in both Washington and Mendon He was a positive influence for many young men and many fondly remember their scouting experience with Don He served on the city council and loved “May Day” and the July 24th celebration He was the Grand Marshall of the 24th of July parade in 2022.  Although his siblings were separated by hundreds of miles they reunited for a yearly camping trip every June It came to be known as the “Shelton Reunion” Everyone looked forward to Don’s pork fingers So many memories were made on those outings Don especially loved camping on Boulder Mountain in Wayne County they especially liked going with the “Mendon Gang” a group of friends from Mendon that got together for Easter picnics summer camping trips to Bear Lake and winter snowmobiling trips.  Don and Judy spent several winters camping in Mexico they drove their trailer all the way to Mazatlán Don has driven all over the country from Alaska to Key West He loved being outdoors and seeing the beauty of nature Don also loved to take his family back-packing and spent many summers in Yellowstone fishing He loved to take his family boating and waterskiing.  He fixed numerous cars for family and friends He also helped numerous times with his children’s construction projects Everyone knew “Grandpa Don can build it or fix it”.  Rick (Karen) Shelton and Todd (Mary Sue) Shelton daughter Michelle (Alex) Bell and son Ryan (Desirae) Taylor and by 39 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren He was preceded in death by his parents Verland and Vera Shelton Brent Shelton and siblings and their spouses Ruth (Clark) Ellerman Ross (Kathyrn) Shelton and Bonnie (Jack) King Funeral Services for Don will be held on Saturday 2024 at 12 pm with a viewing held right before from 10:30-11:30 am  An additional viewing will be held from 6-8 pm on Friday evening at Allen-Hall Mortuary 34 E Don will be laid to rest in the Mendon Cemetery Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.  — Deputies shut down a road in Mendon on Wednesday as they responded to five separate crashes and for extreme winter weather Route 15A between Keyes and Plains roads was shut down as deputies work with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the town’s DOT to make the road safe for drivers Five separate car crashes happened on that same stretch Wednesday afternoon It’s unclear how many vehicles were involved in all the crashes News10NBC has issued a Yellow Alert for the incoming lake effect snow which is expected to last until later Wednesday evening — News Channel 3 Football Fever continues with week eight - covering all things high school football Below are the scores for Friday night football - scores will be updated as they come in Portage Central 50 - Battle Creek Lakeview 0 Muskegon Catholic Central 8 - Centreville 16 Battle Creek Pennfield 10 - Jackson Northwest 30 Ottawa Lake Whiteford 30 - White Pigeon 16 March 5, 2025 by 1 Comment 3 Aquinas girls’ basketball used a third-quarter rally to erase a double-digit deficit before going to overtime to clinch a spot in the Section V Class AA championship with a 57-53 victory over No Wednesday at Pittsford Sutherland High School AJ Orr scored seven of her game-high 20 points over the final 12 minutes of play to pace the Aquinas offense The junior’s 3-pointer with less than three minutes remaining in regulation cut a five-point Mendon lead to two Senior Molly O’Toole followed with a drive and layup to tie the score at 46 and send the game to extra time “We knew after halftime that we had to come out with more energy,” O’Toole said I didn’t want this to be my last game The Li’l Irish scored the first six points of overtime and did not relinquish the lead “That came right out of our practices,” O’Toole said “Definitely all the hard work we put in.” Mendon’s Gabby Esposito scored 10 of her team-high 15 points in the first half and the Vikings took a 26-17 lead going into the locker room Sarah Hanfland’s bucket in the lane staked Mendon to a 30-19 with less than six minutes remaining in the third quarter they came out hot and with a lot energy,” O’Toole said which have used the 3-pointer as a primary weapon throughout the season did not connect from distance until Loren Green found the range early in the fourth quarter “That’s been our go-to on offense so we had to do more off the drive,” O’Toole said Kate Crowley and Eva Dixon scored 12 apiece for Mendon Hanfland and Natalie Mai both had six points Aquinas advances to Saturday’s championship when the Li’l Irish will face either Hilton or Webster Schroeder Filed Under: Pine Pieces March 5, 2025 at 10:50 pm Again I’m proud of you girls my granddaughter is AJ number 12 love you kiddo very proud 🩷🩷 Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in the surviving spouse of Billy Dean Barton II submitted the application for settlement and requested court approval for a confidential resolution of claims with BNSF Railway Company According to the judgment and order approving the settlement those entitled to receive proceeds from the settlement include Erin Barton and the five children of Billy Barton The court received evidence regarding the amount of the settlement but the figures were withdrawn to maintain confidentiality Erin Barton waived her right to a jury trial and the right to appeal the court’s decision Billy Dean Barton II was identified as the driver of a dump truck involved in the collision Approximately 150 others sustained injuries in the incident The crash involved an Amtrak train known as the Southwest Chief which derailed after striking the truck at a railroad grade crossing The National Transportation Safety Board previously reported that the crossing lacked active warning or barrier systems BNSF had authorized train movements in the area using a traffic control system state titles were a tradition for Pittsford Mendon girls soccer the Vikings won three NYSPHSAA championships and had another appearance in the state tournament semifinals Returning to its former glory proved to be a long The Vikings are New York state's top Class A team after defeating Section III challenger New Hartford 4-1 on Sunday at SUNY Cortland Opinions differ regarding when such a moment became a realistic possibility Head coach Eric Pritchard acknowledged that while he believed his team had potential prior to the season the loss of leading scorer Jaelyn Rodi in February to a torn ACL was a blow said a state title didn't seem realistic until after Saturday's semifinal win over Section XI's Shoreham-Wading River and got stronger week after week," Pritchard said "Our main goal throughout the season is just to improve and if you do that you give yourself the best chance to finish the season as high as possible." Mendon's path to the championship included a variety of winning formulas but through almost 350 minutes of postseason soccer from the sectional opener through regionals That changed in the state semifinal when Shoreham-Wading River struck for the first goal 23 minutes into that match "We definitely aren't used to that and it came as a little bit of a shock," goalkeeper Kate Crowley said "We just had to put it aside and focus on what was next." The deficit inspired an "animated" halftime speech from Pritchard Lily Larimer tied the score only two minutes into the second half and Engin scored what held up as the game-winner with 14 minutes to go "That first goal in the first minute of that half changed the entire outcome of the game It changed how they played and gave us the confidence to play the way we wanted to play," Pritchard said New Hartford's defense played a ball right up the middle to Engin who dropped a shot over Spartans goalkeeper Evie Ruggiero for the game's opening goal Unlike Saturday when Mendon's first goal disheartened its opponent New Hartford carried much of the play for the remainder of the first half but were unable to solve Crowley and the Vikings' steady back line Ella Van Putte converted a rebound to put Mendon in front by two While the field was partly titled towards Mendon's end for the first 40 minutes and Rodi -- playing in only her fifth game of the year -- added the team's fourth and final score to effectively seal the title After the final horn amidst the jubilation Engin kneeled to the turf as finality sunk in "I was just so proud of our team and the seniors," Engin said "This is an amazing end to our season and everybody worked so hard." play back-to-back days during the regular season such a scheduling quirk comes with the territory at state tournaments Pritchard's initial postgame plan on Saturday included a recovery session in the hotel pool but the players convinced their coach otherwise and instead leaned on stretching a Sunday morning walk and "a lot of icing." 5 — Games played for Jaelyn Rodi this season was a surprise of sorts despite participating in practice for a portion of the season Rodi scored in the Section V semifinals (on only her second touch) had the lone goal in the state quarterfinal win then capped off the comeback with the final goal in the state final That group includes the leading scorer Charlotte Engin Monroe County Division 3's Player of the Year Kate Crowley and the backline triumvirate of Claire Baek 2007 — Pittsford Mendon's last state final appearance and waited 17 years for another opportunity "We have such a good defense and we play defense everywhere and then the offense and the chances just come naturally." "It was the perfect ending to a senior season but at least we leave as state champions." — Pittsford Mendon goalkeeper Kate Crowley she even scored off a corner kick this year She's an unbelievable asset to the team that we'll miss next year." — Pittsford Mendon coach Eric Pritchard on the contributions from Charlotte Engin Engin finished with seven goals in six postseason games this fall Pittsford Mendon vs. New Hartford: Game startThe Spartans receive the opening touch of the game Vikings senior Charlotte Engin continues her strong postseason scoring on a high shot over the leaping Spartans keeper So far New Hartford has been unable to solve Vikings keeper Kate Crowley Mendon tacked on an insurance goal with 1:25 left in the half Ella VanPutte converted a shot on a scramble in front New Hartford 0: 28 minutes left in the second half.Charlotte Engin Play started on a throw-in from Grace Sussman thanks to a perfectly placed shot from Jakyra Miller Moments after Ella Van Putte drilled the cross bar Charlotte Engin named the Vikings’ most outstanding player while Kate Crowley is the game’s top goalkeeper This story was updated to include new information — Families Advocating Music Education hosted the Cabaret 2025: Carnival of the Animals event to support music programs at Pittsford Mendon High School News10NBC’s Brett Davidsen emceed the event on Saturday All funds raised will be used to purchase instruments and provide music scholarships for graduating seniors A.I. assisted with the formatting of this story. Click here to see how WHEC News10NBC uses A.I MENDON — A plan to spend $13.2 million for a new senior and community center passed by the required two-thirds majority at Town Meeting on May 3 but failed by 52 votes later that month at the polls during the annual town election The significant amount of debt associated with the plan is the primary concern for voters, according to Town Administrator Jeremy Stull noting that the center is still projected to cost about $11.95 million The town will receive $850,000 from the federal government leaving $11.1 million to be raised from local taxpayers 'Meant for emergencies': Prop. 2 1/2 overrides disappearing, but taxpayers still pay the Proposition 2 ½ override would amount to an additional $130 annually in property taxes for the next 30 years New community center proposal is more than $2M cheaperThe Nov 5 proposal represents about a 15% trim from the center’s original $13.2 million cost that was rejected in May “We had hoped that the cost would be further reduced, but it turned out that the major drivers of the cost are not things that can be cut from the project,” said Select Board Chair Alejna Brugos “The amount of office space and meeting space were reduced," she said are all individually significant cost items The current center recently hosted a veterans luncheon but was too small to accommodate all veterans who wished to attend The entertainment at the venue included a choral group 'Presents significant challenges': Franklin rejects $6.8 million override in special election “I know one member of that chorus said she wanted to give up her space to perform because she wanted that space to be available for a veteran to honor them,” said Brugos Select Board member Michael Goddard said the new senior and community center isn't an idea that "just pops up on its own." “This is part of the broader capital plan for the town,” he said noting that while Mendon plans to invest in a variety of areas the new center is a priority because it will serve not only seniors but the whole community the proposal will not only need a simple majority at the ballot but also two-thirds support at a Special Town Meeting the Building Committee got back together and said right?’” said Building Committee Chair Phil Cieply CLIMAX ― Those expecting to see points when Climax-Scotts played Mendon on Friday night were not disappointed It was a rematch of a game played just a couple of weeks ago but this time it was in the opening round of the MHSAA Division 1 but Mendon was able to take advantage of a lengthy drive late in the contest to get the victory at 58-50 I give a lot of credit to them and it's tough to see their kids losing that way," Mendon coach Bobby Kretschman said we fell short two weeks ago but we came out on top tonight." Gorham capped the drive by falling into the end zone with fewer than four seconds left The teams combined for 108 points and more than 900 yards of total offense Only 16 of those yards were through the air as both teams kept the football on the ground MILESTONES FOR HERNANDEZ: Hernandez passes pair of major milestones for Burr Oak volleyball FOOTBALLER OF THE WEEK: Burr Oak's Austin Cole named Footballer of the Week CATS PLAYING WELL AT RIGHT TIME: Three Rivers volleyball heads into districts with victory over Dowagiac The biggest of those touchdowns came on the team's final offensive play He added the conversion attempt as well for the final score "What I'm most excited about is my seniors get another week of football," Kretschman said "That's something I don't think we take for granted." Mendon has qualified for the playoffs in all nine of Kretschman's seasons as head coach Mendon has played in the postseason in 36 of 38 seasons it had nothing to do with individuals," Gorham said "Our linemen blocked and we just ran behind them every play but they came out in the second half on fire," Kretschman said in the opening seven minutes of the third quarter to tie the game at 30-30 Gorham scored the only points for Mendon in the third he added the two-pointer for a 38-30 lead into the fourth Both teams scored 20 points in the final stanza Gorham's scores were from one and four yards Mendon converted on five of its eight conversion attempts Climax scored conversions on four of its seven touchdowns Lux scored on a 29-yard run in the opening quarter Lux would score on a 6-yard TD run in the second Gorham added another 1-yard run just before halftime The Hornets connected on three two-point conversions to lead 30-14 at halftime "I thought two-point conversions were huge We came up with a couple of big stops and for us to get that two-point conversion at the end helped us," Kretschman said I'm excited for these kids just to be able to play another week." The Hornets defensively did not have a ton of tackles as Climax hit for several big plays Gorham had five and both Brayden Crites and Alex Zagon were in on five stops Crites also intercepted a pass on one of the Panthers' conversions Mendon advances to the regional finals next week and will host Martin "I'm just glad we can play a home game and not have to travel next week," Gorham said the daughter of Ralph and Marian (Hildebrand) Miller Mary Lee was a 1981 graduate from Unity High School She continued her education at Gem City Business College After graduation she began her career as a secretary Big Bro’s Barbeque and Poage Auto Center She was also the bookkeeper for Ursa Amvets.  Mary Lee volunteered at the Knights of Columbus in Quincy She coached numerous teams and travel teams She loved to watch her great nieces and nephews play sports She showed dedication to so many throughout her lifetime friends of 40 years that were very special to her She is survived by her brother: George “Buster” Miller of Mendon Jennifer (Phil) Fryrear of Mendon; nephews Jeff (Megan) Callahan of Mendon; great nieces and nephews Numerous friends also survive and she was loved by them all Mary Lee was preceded in death by her parents Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m Kory Hollensteiner and John Mitchell to officiate Interment will immediately follow at the Franklin Cemetery near Mendon Visitation will be held on Thursday evening from 4:00 p.m Memorial contributions in Mary’s name may be made to the family to help with funeral expenses FLORAL TRIBUTES MAY BE VIEWED AT: https://my.gather.app/remember/mary-lee-miller DECKERVILLE — Losing in the final game of a season is never easy for any high school sports team Mendon football coach Bobby Kretschman shared positivity with his team following Saturday's 49-32 state semifinal loss by the Hornets at Deckerville "I told them the biggest thing they're going to take from this is what I took from it When they get out into the world we want them to be positive people." Division 1 state finals at the Superior Dome on the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette on Saturday The Eagles will take on Pickford in a battle of 12-0 teams in the state championship game LADY VIKES END SEASON: Bronson's volleyball season ends in regional finals to Kalamazoo Christian MOCK TRIAL HELD FOR CTE CLASSES: St. Joseph County Career & Technical Education students hold mock trial Deckerville quarterback Hunter Garza was a massive difference-maker Garza ended up running for 228 yards on 25 carries Garza also tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to help seal the Eagle victory "It's a game of inches and with a kid like that back there for them he can make all the difference," Kretschman said of Garza Mendon scored a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter with touchdown passes Ryder Gorham hit Brayden Crites for a 41-yard TD to open the scoring in the game Gorham hit JT Lux out of the backfield for a 59-yard screen pass for a score as well Gorham rushed the conversion in to lead 14-7 GREAT SEASON, MADDY: Sturgis golfer caps off high school career with Top 5 finish VOLLEYBALL COMES TO A CLOSE: Mendon, Three Rivers volleyball teams see seasons come to a close Mendon attempted an onside-kick and pulled it off to perfection when we got the onside kick we had a chance to go up two scores and it just didn't work out for us," Kretschman said The Hornets would get a couple more scores in the second on a 1-yard TD plunge from Lux and a 3-yard TD hook-up with Gorham and Crites again That score to Crites came with just seven seconds left in the opening half Mendon attempted an onside-kick but it was unsuccessful Deckerville was able to take control of the game The Eagles scored with a 9-yard Garza run plus the TD passes HELP OUT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: Here are four ways to help others have a happy Thanksgiving in St. Joseph County they're a well-coached team," Kretschman said Ryder Gorham also completed 13 passes for 251 yards Xavior Zinsmaster led the Hornet defense with 11 tackles Zack Iobe totaled seven tackles while Cam Bingaman and Lux both had five stops Kretschman said he was proud of the senior class and their efforts They gave me everything that had for four years and I'm so damn proud of them," he said of his seniors We just kinda ran out of gas and came up short." a helpless horse trapped in the mud is now safe on dry ground The owner said it took nearly two hours for her horse the Honeoye Falls Fire Department received a report of a horse in danger in Mendon Ponds Park Honeoye Falls Firefighter Anthony Militello said this type of rescue isn't common "Crews were able to make it back there and kind of assess the situation," said Militello "They realized very quickly that it was a situation that kind of was out of our normal operations and that we would need some further resources." Beau and his owner escaped with no injuries it was returned to its owner and did not suffer any major injuries," Militello said "There was a veterinarian there that was able to assess and provide some care." Authorities said four additional agencies were called for backup "We just want to remind people that their fire service police service are there for them in these unfortunate circumstances," Militello said For marked trails in your area, visit Rochester Trail Riders MENDON – A small town event that provides a big boost to local high school students makes its annual return tonight a musical and comedy stage show featuring local talent kicks off its three-night run Thursday at Mendon Elementary a member of the local civic group and longtime participant in the Showboat said the 2024 theme is “All Aboard the Kiwanis Cruise.” Eickhoff said most of the musical selections will include the word “love” or center on love “It’s our 67th Kiwanis Showboat here in Mendon so there is quite a bit of history behind it,” he said all the proceeds go to children’s projects scholarships to local seniors and other projects across Michigan.” Eickhoff said Showboat is the Mendon Kiwanis Club’s main fundraiser throughout the year “A lot of the other clubs raise their funds by standing at the street corner and selling peanuts “Showboat has been a great showcase of local talent in a variety show format that most people still seem to enjoy.” Eickhoff said this year’s program features about 30 cast members and the master of ceremonies will be lifelong local resident It will be Hart’s first time participating in the Showboat Eickhoff added that cast and audience members always anticipate the occasional forgotten line and the ad lib that follows reinforce the idea that cast members leave their egos at the door This year’s participants come from as far away as Allegan to the north and LaGrange to the south because this is the 52nd Showboat he has been a part of,” Eickhoff said We’re really glad to have him back with us.” Eickhoff also acknowledged the more than 200 patrons who have advertised in the Showboat program but things are certainly heating up at the Mendon Twin Drive-in as the theater marks 70 years in business "it's one of the most satisfying things for our fan base that they've adopted coming in the colder weather," said owner Michael Andelman "It's no crazier than going to a Patriots game at Gillette in December or January Andelman said the drive-in promises to stay open as late as possible every year or in his words "When we first bought the theater 10 years ago that was our mission to make it a memorable experience watching the movie," he said traditionally drive-ins were open from Memorial Day to Labor Day we stayed open and held a horror-movie event the drive-in is now one of the top drive-ins in the entire country and remains one of the only theaters of its kind in Massachusetts "You can watch a movie from your couch now," Andelman said you'll never have to look back and ask yourself The Leicester Drive-in Theater has been closed since the pandemic "We're an event cinema so when a movie like 'Wicked,' or 'Deadpool & Wolverine' come out those are the movies that people want to go see in a drive-in." the drive-in experience is unlike that of other theaters "You're watching something with a couple thousand other people the crowd will be honking and cheering," he said "We've done engagements before the movie started and then at intermission we'll update the crowd with a big 'She said Andelman has made some significant changes in the last decade transforming from a drive-in into an experience outside of your vehicle as well s'mores and laser shows have all made it onto the calendar in the last few years "We wanted to be beyond movies," he said with a laugh Already on the calendar for 2025 is a Taylor Swift dance foam and glow party is unbelievable," he said adding his three young daughters have transformed him into quite the Swifty himself 'I don't know about this,' and now I have a T-shirt that says "You should see these 10- and-11-year-olds They come not knowing one another and within 10 minutes they're all dancing together in the foam and swapping friendship bracelets." the rocking Christmas laser light show," he said adding there will be an hourlong light show with everyone's favorite Christmas music from Mariah to Wham Scrolling on one of the screens will be a "naughty" and "nice" list which attendees can email the theater ahead of time "What is better than Christmas movies and Christmas music," said Andelman with a laugh The Christmas events will showcase a hot-chocolate bar with a whopping 16 toppings to choose from Beer and wine have been available since 2014 and next year the drive-in will offer "Mendon-ritas," mai tais and espresso martinis "Be prepared to have one of the most unique it does take some research before you come in," Andelman said The drive-in has 30 frequently asked questions from which direction to park when arriving to what happens if your car's battery dies it seems one of the most frequently asked questions isn't on that list: Can I sing along to "Wicked" "Singing is not only allowed but encouraged T&G engagement editor Sarah Barnacle is getting to know Central Mass by exploring some of the best places to go and things to do in Worcester County Mendon leaders are calling for Highway Superintendent Andrew Caschetta to resign amid sexual misconduct allegations passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday he was the cherished son of the late Stanley and Janell (Suhr) Dicke Scott is also survived by his four beloved children: Haley Dicke of Celina Ellie Dicke; his devoted siblings: Lynn (Pat) Hancock of Kentucky and Mike (Anita) Dicke of Mendon; his father-in-law Jerry Hartman of Van Wert; and his sisters-in-law: Beverly (Kevin) Caldwell and Kelly (Steve) Mengerink He was preceded in death by his mother-in-law Scott graduated from Mendon Union High School in 1992 and went on to build a fulfilling career as a truck driver he was a proud member of the Norris Milk Hauling team in Wapakoneta He attended Mendon Community Church and had a deep and unwavering love for Jesus Christ He was passionate about reading and listening to God’s Word and found great inspiration in the Christian radio program Unshackled He found joy in life’s simple pleasures from snow skiing and four-wheeling to his love for cars and his cherished dogs Scott valued time spent with his family and friends often sharing a good-natured joke or playful banter and his legacy of love and humor will be forever cherished by all who knew him A celebration of Scott’s life will take place on Friday Friends and family are invited to gather for visitation from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM with a memorial service beginning at 5:00 PM A private graveside service will be held at Mendon Cemetery at the family’s convenience Memorial contributions may be made to the Dicke family to honor Scott’s memory and support his loved ones during this difficult time The Dicke family extends their deepest gratitude to everyone who has offered kindness and support throughout Scott’s journey Add to Calendar Add to Calendar