GLEN SPEY - With assurances of grant funding to offset engineering costs, Town of Lumberland officials approved last week preparation of a sketch plan to relocate the town's highway salt shed to town-owned property on Mohap Road.

Councilwoman Nadia Rajsz said the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) is expected to approve a $2,100 technical assistance grant application to fund engineer work, currently anticipated to cost no more than $1,000.

Councilman John LiGreci joined several residents complaining about the inappropriate existing shed location, adjoining the town cemetery. The town board had been wary of new costs, as unrelated landfill closure costs already strained the town budget.

ROSCOE - State police say jealousy apparently prompted a Saturday confrontation between two Syracuse women that led to a brawl by the side of the highway.

Troopers said Nicole Dupree, 24, while driving eastbound on the highway spotted a westbound Montrell Brown, 30. Dupree turned around, pursued and caught up with Brown at exit 94 where the two women pulled over and Dupree climbed into Brown's vehicle through a window and punched her repeatedly.

Dupree was charged with second-degree harassment, while Brown was cited for driving without a license. They were arraigned before Town of Rockland Justice Harold Madison, where both pled guilty and were remanded to the Sullivan County Jail until their fines could be paid. Police said the two women, who knew each other in Syracuse, were fighting over one man.

MONGAUP - Saying existing river usage problems at Mongaup would only be renewed if a planned state access area is relocated elsewhere, the Lumberland Town Board last week resolved that the access be deemed a permanent facility.

The decision could prompt a new issue for the Upper Delaware Council (UDC), which recently avoided a kind of constitutional crisis, after Shohola delegate Bruce Selnick complained that New York was violating the river management plan by placing the access in Mongaup. The UDC avoided further confrontation by labeling the access as "interim," although officials admitted the likelihood of its being relocated was small.

Construction of the primitive access, which includes a large parking area, has been delayed until 2001.

MONTICELLO - Sullivan County Planning and Community Development Commissioner Alan Sorensen has been named to receive "Friend of Extension 2000." This statewide award is presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension to a person whose work has strengthened the economic and social vitality of community.

The official announcement will be made next week with award ceremonies scheduled for October 5, 2000 at Cornell University in Ithaca.

Sorensen, who has been planning commissioner since March 1997, is one of the remaining final four candidates being considered for the Sullivan County Manager position.

LAKE HUNTINGTON - Following the weekend storms, the Sullivan County Department of Public Works has closed a damaged County Bridge 410, which spans the Mitchell Pond Brook in Lake Huntington. The bridge will be closed while it's repaired. The bridge is located on County Road 116, the Pump Station Road in the Town of Cochecton.

NARROWSBURG - Narrowsburg Fire Department and Tusten Ambulance volunteers reportedly were forced to perform a water rescue Saturday to aid a woman resident of flooded Buddenhagen Road after she was struck by lightning while talking on a cordless telephone.

Storm flooding on the road forced rescuers to reach the home of Joanne Snow by using an inflatable raft. Snow was transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital, where she was said to have been treated and later released.

LIBERTY - The Sullivan County Center for Workforce Development will open its second Annual Youth Art Exhibit.

The multi-media exhibit will include the work of 12 young artists from the Liberty area and is titled "Celebrating the Diversity of the Culture of Liberty."

Last year's program produced a mural which now hangs in the new county Community Services Building. This year's program, coordinated with Liberty High School, will allow the young artists to be eligible to receive academic credit in their home school.

The free exhibit is scheduled for August 18 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Liberty Museum and Art Center on Main Street