UDC hosts Norfolk Southern Railroad reps

NARROWSBURG — Issues of safety and communications dominated a recent meeting with Norfolk Southern railroad officials arranged by the Upper Delaware Council (UDC).

The session included railroad officials, emergency managers from New York and Pennsylvania counties, as well as representatives from area state and federal legislative leaders.

The UDC had been requesting an agency-level local meeting since Norfolk Southern Corporation completed its takeover of the former Conrail lines running through the Upper Delaware River Valley in 1999. “The intent here is to open the lines of communication,” said UDC Executive Director William E. Douglass.

“We want to be good neighbors and good community participants,” said Norfolk Southern Director of Environmental Programs Fred M. Caudill.

Despite initial predictions that the number of trains running through the river valley would double or even triple, local residents have observed that traffic has actually decreased to approximately two to four trains per day, mostly running at night time.

At the meeting, local officials learned how they could express their concerns if they are dissatisfied with crossings or track conditions. Railroad grade crossings are also regularly inspected for appropriate sight distances, gate and signal functions and road conditions, rail officials said.

Wayne gets $500,000 housing rehab grant

HONESDALE — Wayne County has won a $500,000 grant for housing rehabilitation from the Department of Community and Economic Development HOME Program.

Wayne County Redevelopment Authority Director Jackie Young says this will help upgrade substandard homes for more than three dozen families. The money is allocated for primary residences only, homeowners must meet income eligibility guidelines and the house cannot be sold for five years. Presently, there are 180 families on the HOME Program waiting list in Wayne County.

Nursing assistant arrested
on assault charges

HAWLEY — A Milford man, working as a nursing assistant, has been arrested on charges of aggravated indecent assault.

Kevin Price was working for a Hawley couple assisting a 69-year-old woman and her disabled husband in their home. The victim reported to state police that Price came to their bedroom on the night of April 7 and began touching her inappropriately. When the victim’s husband, lying in bed next to her, became ill, Price left.

Price was arrested and taken to the Pike County prison with bail set at $50,000. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for next week.

Summer home was a party place

WALKER LAKE — A New Jersey man’s summer residence in Shohola Township was vandalized and turned into a local hang out over the winter.

Donald Duthie of Middletown discovered the party spot at his Walker Lake home when he arrived last week. The back window to his house was broken and two carpets were dragged out to a shed with an extension cord run for lighting. Vandals also sprayed a fire extinguisher inside the house. State police at Blooming Grove are asking area residents for help in the investigation and requesting that anyone who saw strangers in the vicinity of the Birch Drive home through the winter contact them.