March 2008

Strike? - Tracy Baxter @ 1:58 pm EST
Lay Faculty Association members in New York's Archdiocese may strike in April and it would be no coincidence that the work stoppage would coincide with the visit of Pope Benedict. Teachers in 10 catholic high schools including John S. Burke in Goshen and Our Lady of Lourdes in Poughkeepsie will vote Tuesday on a possible strike. Lay faculty members have been working without a contract since September. They say their strike would not interfere with the papal visit but they do hope to cause some embarassment to officials in the New York Archdiocese.

Chief Ticketed - Tracy Baxter @ 1:46 pm EST
The fire chief in Ellenville was injured after his fire department vehicle hit a car while responding to an emergency call Sunday evening. Chief Steven Krom was issued a traffic ticket by village police for failure to yield at an intersection following the collision at Route 209 and Center Street. Krom was taken to Ellenville Community Hospital for treatment of stomach pain. The two passengers in the other car were hospitalized with undisclosed injuries. Police say Krom's S-U-V went through a red light at the intersection with emergency lights flashing but no siren sounding. Ellenville Police Chief Phillip Mattracion called it an unfortunate incident.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Manslaughter Charges - Tracy Baxter @ 12:53 pm EST
A man involved in a fatal two-car crash in the Town of Blooming Grove last July has been arrested following an investigation into the deadly collision. Town Police have charged 34 year old Brian Powell of the Village of Florida with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment and drunk driving. Powell's car hit another vehicle, head-on, on Route 208 in Blooming Grove. The other driver, 22 year old Krystle Crescente of Chester, later died of her injuries. Police had waited to charge Powell, pending the results of accident reconstruction data and blood-alcohol tests.

Baby Death - Tracy Baxter @ 12:47 pm EST
A Town of Deerpark woman will be sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing the death of her newborn baby last Fall. 39 year old Christine Maher pleaded guilty in Orange County Court Friday to the charge of first degree manslaughter. The landlord at her trailer home on Echo Valley Road in Deerpark discovered the remains of her newborn baby girl in a garbage bag inside an old truck behind her trailer. The plea came during a pre-trial hearing. Maher will be sentenced May 2nd.

Montgomery Rape - Tracy Baxter @ 12:42 pm EST
In the Town of Montgomery, a local resident is facing an assortment of sexual assault charges. 35 year old Darryl Quirk was arrested Thursday evening at his home at 158 St. Andrews Road in Walden. Among the charges he faces...first degree rape, predatory sexual assault and criminal sexual act. Town of Montgomery Police Chief Arnold Amthor says the incident happened earlier this week and the victim was a female acquaintance. Police did more than just arrest Quirk when they arrived at the St. Andrews Road home. They also arrested another resident...29 year old Thomas Susta. Police say he had set up a small-scale marijuana growing operation.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Ulster Jail Report - Tracy Baxter @ 1:18 pm EST
A criminal charge has grown out of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the multi-million dollar cost overruns and construction problems at the Ulster County Law Enforcement facility in Kingston. Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright announced the results of a grand jury investigation at a news conference Thursday morning. It included word that former Ulster County Building and Grounds Commissioner Harvey Sleight has been indicted on a misdemeanor official misconduct charge. Sleight stands accused of directing contracts to certain companies during jail construction. Carnright says the grand jury probe did not uncover any payoffs or kick-backs.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Audit Request - Tracy Baxter @ 2:01 pm EST
The Deerpark Town Board has voted unanimously to request that the State Department of Audit and Control conduct a thorough review of the town's financial books beginning in 2004. Town Supervisor Gary Flieger, who took office in January, says he was left with a budget deficit of more than 800 thousand dollars due to grossly overstated tax revenue projections and FEMA's denial to reimburse the town for flood recovery money totalling about 300 thousand dollars. The resolution that passed Monday night also asks for recommendations regarding any discrepancies and if any civil or criminal penalties should be pursued. Former Supervisor Mark House has questioned whether there is actually any budget deficit.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Audit Report - Tracy Baxter @ 12:00 pm EST
Some dams in New York State have needed repairs for up to 36 years and have not been fixed. That's one of the findings contained in an audit conducted by the State Comptroller's Office. It concludes that there are big problems with the state's dam safety program including lax oversight, engineering reports not done and a lack of follow through when violations are uncovered. Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the state D-E-C needs to push for more staff and funding to help toughen safety rules. The D-E-C has identified 133 dams with high priority deficiencies. DiNapoli says by allowing dams to have serious problems that go unaddressed for years, we are putting property and people at risk.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Meningitis - Tracy Baxter @ 3:34 pm EST
Parents of children who attend Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary school in the Port Jervis District will be getting a letter that their son or daughter will bring home on Tuesday. It will provide information on a student who has tested positive for Meningococcal Meningitis, a relatively rare, severe bacterial infection. Orange County Health Commissioner Dr. Jean Hudson said the boy went home sick last Monday and on Thursday he tested positive for meningitis. He is currently being treated at Bon Secours Hospital in Port Jervis. Dr. Hudson says teachers, aides and classmates were given anti-biotics late Thursday as a precaution. District officials say there is no cause for alarm but they do want parents to be aware and to monitor their child's health.

Historic Building Burns - Tracy Baxter @ 3:28 pm EST
A fire has destroyed the historic 1776 Colonial Restaurant and Tavern in the Town of Shawangunk. The call came in shortly after 10pm Sunday. The blaze began in the rear of the building on New Prospect Road but Shawangunk Valley Fire Chief Chris Budney says the cause has not been determined. About 200 firemen from 10 companies were called to the scene. But while the restaurant was destroyed, firemen were able to save the adjoining historic building. The William Decker House sustained only some minor smoke damage. There were no injuries.

New Allegations - Tracy Baxter @ 3:25 pm EST
Eliot Spitzer may be in more trouble. Contrary to previous public statements, a report Monday says the former governor directed and pushed his aides to compile travel data damaging to Senate Republican Leader Joseph Bruno. The New York Times...citing unnamed sources...reports that Spitzer ordered his former communications director and another aide to release travel data from State Police that showed Bruno used state aircraft on days he attended republican fund-raisers. Spitzer had apologized to Bruno for his aides' conduct but had denied any direct involvement. Spitzer is already under investigation for his connection to a prostitution ring.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Liberty Burglary - Tracy Baxter @ 11:59 am EST
Police say the man knew there was trouble when he arrived home and found his apartment door open. Village of Liberty Police say it happened Wednesday afternoon when the man got to his Lincoln Place apartment and spotted a woman, who he knew, run into a room. Police say 22 year old Toni DiLauro of Livingston Manor had removed a safe from a bedroom and was in the process of stealing it when she was confronted. She ran off but was later arrested and charged with second degree burglary and possession of burglars tools.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Assault Charge - Tracy Baxter @ 1:48 pm EST
Village of Liberty police have made an arrest in connection with the case of Reginald Rios, the Monticello teen found dead in a house in Liberty last month. Rios' body was discovered wedged in the basement hatch door at number 46 Chestnut Street. The Sullivan County District Attorney's office determined that the death was accidental....that Rios had gotten himself trapped in the door and ultimately died by strangulation. But Rios had fought with a man in the house prior to his death and now police have charged 31 year old Angelo Johnson of Liberty with third degree assault. He'll be in Liberty Village Court April 25th.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Hardening Homes - Tracy Baxter @ 12:49 pm EST
Town of Newburgh Police say it's apparently making a difference...the information meetings they've been holding recently for community residents to help them "harden their homes" to make them less of an inviting target for burglars. Over the past 6 months the town had been hit with an unprecedented wave of burglaries but they say in February the burglary rate dropped 78 percent. The Newburgh Town Police Department is planning to hold more training sessions to help residents do the things that can prevent break-ins.

Monday, March 17, 2008

New President - Tracy Baxter @ 12:45 pm EST
An area college has a new president. The Board of Trustees at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh has appointed Reverend Kevin Mackin as its 5th president. Mackin is succeeding Sister Ann Sakac who is retiring after 31 years as president at Mount Saint Mary. Mackin was chosen from among 4 finalists. He had served as president of Siena College in Loudonville New York from 1996 to 2007.

Friday, March 14, 2008

No Charges - Tracy Baxter @ 12:35 pm EST
It was an unusual ending to an unusual story in Sullivan County. District Attorney Stephen Lungen announced Friday that no criminal charges will be filed in connection with the death of Reggie Rios, the 17 year old Monticello boy whose body was discovered wedged in a hatch door leading out of the basement at number 46 Chestnut Street in the Village of Liberty back on February 27th. Lungen says an investigation determined that Rios died of injuries suffered while getting stuck in the basement hatch door. He says he came to the Liberty house earlier in the day and had gotten into a fight with a resident over a drug deal. That resident is not facing charges. Lungen says the incident was not gang related. Officials say the question of why Rios tried to leave the house through the basement hatch door remains a mystery.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Spitzer Resigning - Tracy Baxter @ 10:10 am EST
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer will resign effective Monday, completing a stunning fall from power after he was nationally disgraced by links to a high-priced prostitution ring, according to a state official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been made. Spitzer's involvement in the ring was caught on a federal wiretap as part of an investigation opened in recent months. Officials say Spitzer spent up to 80 thousand dollars with the call-girl service Emperors Club VIP.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Attempted Robbery - Tracy Baxter @ 11:14 am EST
She bravely foiled an armed robbery but Newburgh City police say the would-be robbers then vandalized her car. It happened Tuesday evening when 4 young men approached the woman on Monument Street. They tried to grab a cell phone from her and she ran to the front of South Junior High School. Two of the men followed her, then pulled handguns and ordered her to give them everything she had. According to police, she said "I'm not giving you anything" and then started banging on a school window. The men ran off without taking anything but the woman would later discover that her car had been vandalized with a brick thrown through a window.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Bank Robbery Arrest - Tracy Baxter @ 10:42 am EST
A Poughkeepsie man is under arrest in connection with the bank robbery Tuesday afternoon in Matamoras Pennsylvania. State Police spotted the get-away car as it was crossing the Mid-Hudson Bridge and 43 year old Frank Surico was arrested following a short case. About 7 thousand dollars was taken in the heist at Citizen's Bank in Matamoras. Police say bank workers and others provided them with a good description of the car and license plate. Surico is expected to be charged with other recent bank robberies in the Towns of Wallkill and New Windsor.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Strategy Session - Tracy Baxter @ 2:38 pm EST
The organization that's been fighting the proposed New York Regional Interconnect power line project will be updating residents on their efforts this Saturday. The group, SayNo2NYRI, will hold an information meeting Saturday at 12 Noon at the Otisville Firehouse. Members of the group's Board of Directors will talk about alternate routes that were proposed in NYRI's supplemental application. One of them would have power lines run underneath the Village of Otisville instead of through it. Opponents say that would mean a large trench would have to be dug and that NYRI would still own the land above the underground line.

Card Game Shooting - Tracy Baxter @ 2:34 pm EST
A Newburgh man was seriously wounded early Monday morning during a robbery at a card game in the City of Newburgh. It happened in a garage behind number 45 City Terrace. Police say several men were playing cards when an armed man came into the garage and demanded their money and cell phones. Police say a 30 year old Newburgh man was shot in the shoulder when he apparently didn't turn over his cell phone quickly enough. The shot shattered a bone in his shoulder but his wound was not considered life threatoning. The search for the suspect continues.

Installment Plan? - Tracy Baxter @ 2:25 pm EST
With the cost of living on the rise, the 4 Republicans on the Sullivan County Legislature want the county to allow for installment payments and payment plans for property tax bills. G-O-P Minority Leader Leni Binder says that option is badly needed with county residents currently living with not only high taxes but higher energy, gas and food prices. The Republicans will propose the installment payment legislation during a meeting of the Real Property Committee March 13th.