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The weekend in review
Apr 23, 2012 2:28 am
Stories that made the news in Columbia and Greene counties (Apr. 19 through Apr. 22)
Two major structure fires occurred in the area over the weekend. W.T. Eckert writes in The Daily Mail about the six-alarm blaze that destroyed the Overbaugh family home on Route 9W, south of the village of Catskill, Sat., Apr. 21. The home was empty at the time, but the fire is believed to have been started by a cigarette left in a flowerpot on the back porch. Shortly before noon Saturday, Audra Jornov writes in the Register Star, the Philmont Fire Department responded to a barn fire at 35 Summit St. That fire quickly spread and engulfed the barn and several other structures. Four people escaped injury and several firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion. The fire is believed to have started from a campfire that “got out of hand due to the heavy winds and the dry climate,” Jornov writes. Read these stories in The Daily Mail and the Register Star.
Michael Ryan writes in The Daily Mail Ashland officials are moving forward on two restoration projects, which could cost the town up to $500,000. Talks are ongoing with FEMA over reimbursement for needed repairs to the new water supply system and existing water treatment facility. If FEMA approves the project, the federal agency will contribute 75 percent of the total cost; the state will provide 12.5 percent. But it will be some time before residents are drinking from fresh municipal wells dug over a year ago and later damaged by Tropical Storm Irene, Ryan writes. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Doron Tyler Antrim writes in The Daily Mail the Village of Catskill Board of Trustees is looking to reduce the police department budget by five percent. The reduction is necessary to offset increased contributions to the New York State Police and Fire Retirement System and increased health care costs. The department requested a three percent increase for 14 employees. Contract negotiations between with the police union will begin May 8. The board will revisit the police budget 6 p.m., Wed., Apr. 25 at village hall. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Nathan Mayberg reports in the Register Star the Columbia County District Attorney has assumed responsibility for the prosecution of all traffic tickets countywide, as of January. Traffic tickets were formerly plea bargained through local police departments, the County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Park Police. DA Paul Czajka tells Mayberg he expects the change in policy to provide “more fairness” to the accused, but it will also bring more money to local municipalities by instituting new ticket schedules that will allow a higher percentage of the fines to return to local municipalities. Read the full story in the Register Star.
The Hudson City School District board of registration will conduct a registration day Mon, Apr. 23, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the John L. Edwards Primary School, 360 State St., Hudson, for qualified voters in the district who are not registered under permanent personal registration, but want to participate in the May 15 school board and budget vote. Applications for absentee ballots may also be picked up at the District Clerk's office at Hudson High School beginning Monday. The deadline for submitting nominating petitions for the school board election is Wed, Apr. 25, before 5 p.m. Nominating petitions must include a minimum of 100 qualified signatures and be submitted to Frieda Van Deusen, Clerk of the Board, at the district office, located at 215 Harry Howard Ave., Hudson. For more information go to hudsoncityschooldistrict.com.
Two major structure fires occurred in the area over the weekend. W.T. Eckert writes in The Daily Mail about the six-alarm blaze that destroyed the Overbaugh family home on Route 9W, south of the village of Catskill, Sat., Apr. 21. The home was empty at the time, but the fire is believed to have been started by a cigarette left in a flowerpot on the back porch. Shortly before noon Saturday, Audra Jornov writes in the Register Star, the Philmont Fire Department responded to a barn fire at 35 Summit St. That fire quickly spread and engulfed the barn and several other structures. Four people escaped injury and several firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion. The fire is believed to have started from a campfire that “got out of hand due to the heavy winds and the dry climate,” Jornov writes. Read these stories in The Daily Mail and the Register Star.
Michael Ryan writes in The Daily Mail Ashland officials are moving forward on two restoration projects, which could cost the town up to $500,000. Talks are ongoing with FEMA over reimbursement for needed repairs to the new water supply system and existing water treatment facility. If FEMA approves the project, the federal agency will contribute 75 percent of the total cost; the state will provide 12.5 percent. But it will be some time before residents are drinking from fresh municipal wells dug over a year ago and later damaged by Tropical Storm Irene, Ryan writes. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Doron Tyler Antrim writes in The Daily Mail the Village of Catskill Board of Trustees is looking to reduce the police department budget by five percent. The reduction is necessary to offset increased contributions to the New York State Police and Fire Retirement System and increased health care costs. The department requested a three percent increase for 14 employees. Contract negotiations between with the police union will begin May 8. The board will revisit the police budget 6 p.m., Wed., Apr. 25 at village hall. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Nathan Mayberg reports in the Register Star the Columbia County District Attorney has assumed responsibility for the prosecution of all traffic tickets countywide, as of January. Traffic tickets were formerly plea bargained through local police departments, the County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Park Police. DA Paul Czajka tells Mayberg he expects the change in policy to provide “more fairness” to the accused, but it will also bring more money to local municipalities by instituting new ticket schedules that will allow a higher percentage of the fines to return to local municipalities. Read the full story in the Register Star.
The Hudson City School District board of registration will conduct a registration day Mon, Apr. 23, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the John L. Edwards Primary School, 360 State St., Hudson, for qualified voters in the district who are not registered under permanent personal registration, but want to participate in the May 15 school board and budget vote. Applications for absentee ballots may also be picked up at the District Clerk's office at Hudson High School beginning Monday. The deadline for submitting nominating petitions for the school board election is Wed, Apr. 25, before 5 p.m. Nominating petitions must include a minimum of 100 qualified signatures and be submitted to Frieda Van Deusen, Clerk of the Board, at the district office, located at 215 Harry Howard Ave., Hudson. For more information go to hudsoncityschooldistrict.com.