Caruso jury selection scheduled

MONTICELLO — Jury selection in the trial of Ronald Caruso of Callicoon for the August 28, 2001 murder of Hortonville resident Gary Kays has been scheduled to begin on March 14.

Caruso is charged with having shot Kays, his step-uncle, with a stolen .308 hunting rifle as Kays entered his home.

Separately, Caruso has been indicted for the August 30 murder of a Canadian man in Essex County during his subsequent flight from the Kays shooting.

Ongoing pre-trial evidentiary hearings are expected to be concluded, and resulting motions resolved in the near future.

Bethel seeks grant ideas

KAUNEONGA LAKE — The Town of Bethel has scheduled two public hearings to present tentative plans for a Community Development Block Grant proposal and to gather alternative ideas.

To be successful, the grant application must direct at least 71 percent of the money to benefit people of low to moderate income. It should deal with serious housing needs or development of public facilities that affect health or public safety or economic conditions that affect people of low to moderate incomes.

Depending on the type of grant, funding amounts range from $400,000 to $750,000.

The hearings, on March 14 and March 26, are scheduled for 7:45 p.m. in the Bethel Justice Court in Kauneonga Lake.

Survey found adult home needed ‘significant corrections’

ALBANY — Recently released results of an April 2001 round of unannounced NYS Department of Health (DOH) inspections of nursing homes found the Sullivan County Adult Care Center (SCACC) in Liberty among 44 cited for deficiencies.

Rating on a one-to-six scale of compliance the SCACC came in at a three rating, which translates to  having “significant corrections needed.”

The DOH defines the rating as the facility having “deficiencies that have caused actual harm or compromised the resident’s ability to maintain or improve health status.”

In the last DOH survey rating of nursing homes, SCACC earned an “in compliance” rating.

Zoning hearing scheduled

NARROWSBURG — The Town of Tusten has scheduled a public hearing on its proposal to add “retail service establishments and/or restaurants” to the list of eligible special uses in the town’s R-1, residential zone.

The board passed this amendment once in January, then repealed it in February to conform with public hearing requirements.

Opponents say this is a major change in the law and could invite fast food chains into Tusten.

The hearing is scheduled prior to the town board’s next meeting in the town hall at 7:00 p.m. on March 11.

County turns 250-percent profit at auction

MONTICELLO — A special February 28 tax auction was termed “a resounding success” by Sullivan County officials.

More than 100 people attended and eight of nine properties offered were sold. Combined, the properties brought in some $760,000 against some $200,000 owed in unpaid taxes. Competition for the parcels, part of the old Parker-Concord corporate structure, had been predicted.

One 64-acre tract behind the Ames Shopping Plaza had a minimum bid price of $1.5 million and did not sell. The county legislature will now decide how it will be disposed, said Director of Real Property Administration Robert Theadore. For more information about the auction call 845/794-3000 extension 3242.

Apparent suicide found under viaduct

CALLICOON — New York State Police at Liberty on March 6 were withholding the identity of an apparent suicide victim found underneath the high, Rt. 97 viaduct bridge in Callicoon.

Details remain sketchy Wednesday morning, Sergeant Ed Kalfas said, adding that agency policy is to withhold identification prior to notification of the family. The body, said to be that of a white male, no age given, was found at about 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon by highway workers, police said.

The victim had apparently jumped or fallen from the roadway above. No further details were available at press time.

The state police Bureau of Criminal Investigations probe is continuing.