H. Rose Schneider reports in the Altamont Enterprise that the Albany County Supreme Court ruled Nov. 28 that two contested absentee ballots should be counted in a Berne town board election. Before they were counted, the Republican Sean Lyons led by one vote; after they were counted, the Democrat, Joel Willsey, became the winner by a single ballot. So, with the two votes allowed, Democrats maintain a majority on the board in the southern Albany County town. Berne Republican Chairman Randy Bashwinger, who filed the lawsuit to block the votes from being counted, did not return calls on the judge's decision. Read the full story in the Altamont Enterprise.