POND EDDY - Days after a similar unexplained fire burned over an old cemetery, a second fire put volunteers to work late on Halloween night.

About 30 firefighters were called out shortly after 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday to fight a brush fire burning on the steep hillside between Berm-Church Road and Route 97.

Lumberland fire chief Ken Flieger said no cause was apparent for either fire. No structures were involved and there were no reported injuries, he said.

Yulan, Highland Lake and Sparrowbush volunteers assisted Lumberland firefighters at the scene and the fire was brought under control in less than an hour.

The Sullivan County Sheriff's Department and the state police reported no unusual Halloween-related incidents as of early Wednesday morning.

JEFFERSONVILLE - Supporters and friends of the Cornell Cooperative Extension gathered in the Jeffersonville Firehouse last week to give awards to long-time volunteers of the center and to elect officers to its board and committees.

Friend of the Extension Awards went to emeritus master gardener Mary Fried of Livingston Manor and long-time volunteer Vernon Stratton of Grahamsville. An organizational Friend of the Extension Award went to Sullivan County BOCES.

"Without the support of these individuals and BOCES, our programs wouldn't be as successful as they are," said Judy Essex, executive director of the extension.

Eleven individuals were named to various committees of the extension and Phil Coombe, Jr. of Neversink was elected as a director-at-large.

WASHINGTON DC - Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (20th District-NY) announced Tuesday that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will soon be providing $791,100 to the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) for the planning and design of the Mongaup Visitor Center.

"The Federal Highway Administration has informed me that the funding for the Mongaup Visitor Center should be released within the next two weeks," Gilman said in a press release.

The proposed location of the National Park Service primary visitor facility is owned by the State of New York's Department of Environmental Conservation.

In December 1999, H.R. 20, Congressman Gilman's legislation authorizing the construction of the Mongaup Visitor Center, was signed into law. Rep. Gilman included an earmark for the planning and design phases of the project in the FY2001 DOT Appropriations bill.

DUNMORE - "Who's responsible for traffic signals in Pennsylvania?" "How many miles of state roads are there in Northeastern Pennsylvania?" "Who decides which new road projects are built?" "Who do I contact if my group wants to become involved in the Adopt-A-Highway program?"

The answers to these and many more questions can be easily found in a new, free "Just the Facts" brochure from Penn DOT District 4-0. The brochure was produced to help answer many frequently asked questions from the traveling public, said Engineer Chuck Mattei of District 4-0, which covers Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

The free brochure is available at Penn DOT's Welcome Centers and Rest Areas and regional offices. Individuals can pick one up at any of those locations or call Penn DOT Community Relations at 570/963-4044, or by e-mail request to dkrisan@dot.state.pa.us.

ROSCOE - State police are investigating a fatal October 29 accident that claimed the life of a Hankins man.

Police say 74-year-old George A. Stanicki was driving a 1991 Ford pickup truck on Omara Road in the Town of Fremont when the truck went off the road and overturned. Stanicki was pronounced dead at the scene by Sullivan County coroner Michael Speer.

The cause of the accident is under investigation by police.

HONESDALE - The Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) this week closed its unemployment services office at the Wayne County Job Center. Those seeking unemployment services must now apply in Taylor.

Services such as listings of job openings, Internet services, resume writing and Job Search Workshops will continue to be available at the Wayne County Job Center.

The announcement of the closure of the Honesdale office came as L&I announced that Wayne County unemployment rose just over .05 percent in September to 4.3 percent. For information about unemployment services Wayne resident should call 570/963-4707 or 888/313-7284.

ALBANY - State Senator John Bonacic last week announced a round of State Justice Court Assistance Program grants for 16 of his 40th district town and village courts including $15,053 in assistance for eight Sullivan County courts.

State grants of $1,798 each go to courts in Delaware, Fallsburg, Liberty, Mamakating, Neversink and Tusten, while Thompson will receive $1,410 and the Village of Woodridge was awarded $2,855.