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Weekend in review
Aug 25, 2014 6:45 am
Some of the stories that made the news Fri., Aug. 22 through Mon., Aug. 25:
Diane Valden reported in The Columbia Paper an audit of Columbia County's financial records by the Office of the New York State Comptroller found thousands of dollars were overpaid to county employees. The August report was based on a review of county payroll records from Jan. 1, 2012 to Oct. 3, 2013. That examination found the county overpaid more than $18,000 to employees for time not worked or for leave time taken and not charged to leave accruals. The Comptroller also found nearly $25,000 in leave taken and not charged to leave accruals that county officials corrected as a result of the audit. Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Grattan agreed with most of the audit findings, noting in a written response, the county, “should adopt comprehensive written policies and procedures outlining countywide requirements for employee time and attendance and leave accruals.” The audit was conducted at the request of Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka (CHAI-kah).
The Cairo-Durham school board is now accepting letters from anyone interested in filling the seat formerly held by Robert Criswell. Criswell resigned earlier this month. The letter must include the candidate's full name, full address and phone number. The successful candidate will be chosen at the board workshop Oct. 2, and will serve through the end of the current school year. Letters must be submitted to district clerk Bridget Agostinoni no later than Sept. 5. The postal address is District Clerk P.O. Box 780 Cairo, N.Y. 12413, or via e-mail to bragostinoni [at] Cairo Durham [dot] org.
Public News Service is reporting according to Feeding America's new Hunger in America 2014 report, one in seven Americans depends on food bank assistance, while one in five U.S. households served by Feeding America food banks has at least one member who has served in the military. Mike Clifford has the story: PLAY (1:48).
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="336"]
Mud volleyball at Mudfest 2014.
(Courtesy Mudfest Facebook page.)[/caption]
Jay Braman Jr. reported in the Daily Freeman the third annual Mudfest was held this weekend. The event began Friday on the village green with a disc jockey and barbecue and later, live music. Young’s Hardware gave away free ice cream sundaes and s’mores. Fireworks concluded the evening’s festivities. On Saturday, attendees enjoyed an artisan fair, a raffle and silent auction, and a Kids' Fun Zone. But the real Mudfest was located just outside of the business district where organizers created “Mudville,” an open field groomed to offer tons of mud. Mud volleyball, mud horseshoes, a mud tug-of-war and mud obstacle courses for both children and adults were held all day long.
The Daily Mail reports the state Department of Transportation will close a portion of Route 42 in the town of Lexington, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tues., Aug. 26, for a private bridge installation. Route 42 will be closed between Spruceton Road (County Route 6) and Beech Ridge Road to allow a 275-ton crane to set the bridge in place. A truck detour will send trucks from Route 23A to Route 214 to Route 28. Cars and emergency vehicles will be able to use Beech Ridge Road as a local detour around the closure. In case of rain, the closure and detour will be postponed until Wed., Aug. 27.
Diane Valden reported in The Columbia Paper an audit of Columbia County's financial records by the Office of the New York State Comptroller found thousands of dollars were overpaid to county employees. The August report was based on a review of county payroll records from Jan. 1, 2012 to Oct. 3, 2013. That examination found the county overpaid more than $18,000 to employees for time not worked or for leave time taken and not charged to leave accruals. The Comptroller also found nearly $25,000 in leave taken and not charged to leave accruals that county officials corrected as a result of the audit. Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Grattan agreed with most of the audit findings, noting in a written response, the county, “should adopt comprehensive written policies and procedures outlining countywide requirements for employee time and attendance and leave accruals.” The audit was conducted at the request of Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka (CHAI-kah).The Cairo-Durham school board is now accepting letters from anyone interested in filling the seat formerly held by Robert Criswell. Criswell resigned earlier this month. The letter must include the candidate's full name, full address and phone number. The successful candidate will be chosen at the board workshop Oct. 2, and will serve through the end of the current school year. Letters must be submitted to district clerk Bridget Agostinoni no later than Sept. 5. The postal address is District Clerk P.O. Box 780 Cairo, N.Y. 12413, or via e-mail to bragostinoni [at] Cairo Durham [dot] org.
Public News Service is reporting according to Feeding America's new Hunger in America 2014 report, one in seven Americans depends on food bank assistance, while one in five U.S. households served by Feeding America food banks has at least one member who has served in the military. Mike Clifford has the story: PLAY (1:48).
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="336"]
Mud volleyball at Mudfest 2014.(Courtesy Mudfest Facebook page.)[/caption]
Jay Braman Jr. reported in the Daily Freeman the third annual Mudfest was held this weekend. The event began Friday on the village green with a disc jockey and barbecue and later, live music. Young’s Hardware gave away free ice cream sundaes and s’mores. Fireworks concluded the evening’s festivities. On Saturday, attendees enjoyed an artisan fair, a raffle and silent auction, and a Kids' Fun Zone. But the real Mudfest was located just outside of the business district where organizers created “Mudville,” an open field groomed to offer tons of mud. Mud volleyball, mud horseshoes, a mud tug-of-war and mud obstacle courses for both children and adults were held all day long.
The Daily Mail reports the state Department of Transportation will close a portion of Route 42 in the town of Lexington, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tues., Aug. 26, for a private bridge installation. Route 42 will be closed between Spruceton Road (County Route 6) and Beech Ridge Road to allow a 275-ton crane to set the bridge in place. A truck detour will send trucks from Route 23A to Route 214 to Route 28. Cars and emergency vehicles will be able to use Beech Ridge Road as a local detour around the closure. In case of rain, the closure and detour will be postponed until Wed., Aug. 27.