Two die in Memorial Day traffic in NY

ALBANY, NY — Over the 96-hour period from Friday, May 23 through Monday, May 26, New York State troopers investigated 590 total crashes, which injured 155 people and claimed the lives of two motorists.

Superintendent James W. McMahon said this compares with a total of 701 total crashes in 2002, which killed two and injured 210. One fatal crash investigated by state police claimed the lives of two victims.

New York police did not report accident statistics related to seat belt and alcohol use.

Holiday traffic claims 12 in PA

HARRISBURG, PA — Twelve people were killed in crashes investigated by Pennsylvania State Police troopers over the four-day Memorial Day holiday driving period, commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller said.

In addition to the 12 fatalities, 272 persons were injured in the 706 crashes that troopers responded to during the official holiday driving period from Friday, May 23 through Monday, May 26. Miller said nine of those killed were not wearing seat belts. Some 85 of the 706 crashes were alcohol-related, including four of the 11 fatal crashes.

Last year, 20 people were killed and 327 others were injured in the 724 crashes during the four-day Memorial Day holiday driving period.

DEP presses sewer repairs

BEACH LAKE, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has threatened to take enforcement action if a delayed sewer treatment project is not completed by the Beach Lake Municipal Authority.

The Berlin Township supervisors say the project has encountered a $600,000 cost overrun and outright funding from the state’s PennVest program has already been exhausted for the project.

DEP has charged that the township is discharging inadequately treated sewage in violation of the state’s Clean Streams Law.

Veterans park under way

MATAMORAS, PA — Memorial Day observances in the borough marked the introduction of a new World War II memorial at a one-acre site in Airport Park, which has been set aside to develop a Pike County Veterans Park and Education Center.

The park will feature six monuments for the six major wars, six smaller stones denoting lesser known conflicts and a 350-foot wall that will feature murals depicting the nation’s armed conflicts.

The borough is seeking a $180,000 grant for the park through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

The park was initially spawned by residents’ request to create some permanent memorial of the visit of the “moving” Vietnam Wall Memorial to Matamoras in 1999.

Wayne impanels investigative grand jury

HONESDALE, PA — Wayne County President Judge has ordered the impaneling of a special grand jury that was requested by District Attorney Mark Zimmer.

The jury will have an initial three-fold agenda, which will include examinations of witnesses revealed in a two-year Wayne County Drug Task Force investigation, investigations of the suspicious 2002 death of Callicoon Saloon co-owner and Damascus resident Marilyn Phillips, the Innisfree fire-related death of Patricia Woll in 1997 and the 1995 disappearance of Kathryn VanDine.

The panel will also investigate complaints of corruption in the Waymart Borough Police Department.

The jury is expected to begin work this month.

Town of Callicoon water project funded

YOUNGSVILLE, NY — A $450,000 loan for a new well for an improved water source and upgrades to the distribution system of the Youngsville Water District was included in a new state program announced last week by Governor George Pataki.

The program all told includes $9 million in interest-free loans to six New York municipalities.

Financing is being provided through the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds. The ongoing Youngsville project was expected to be completed by the end of last month.

State funds Kittatinny Ridge mapping

HARRISBURG, PA — Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has included $100,000 for a Kittatinny Ridge GIS mapping project in a newly announced $1.1 million recreation and conservation grant program.

The project would produce information enabling a web service to make the ridge GIS information available on the Internet, and to provide GIS and land-use, toolbox-training workshops for ridge stakeholders.

The projects are funded using Growing Greener funds through DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program. For more information on DCNR’s grant program, call 717/772- 3704, or log on to the PA PowerPort at www.state.pa.us, PA Keyword: “DCNR grants.”

Gravity railroad field trip

HONESDALE, PA — History and nature will be combined on a field trip to scenic Wangum Falls with the Northeast PA Audubon Society.

The trip will include bird watching, observing the wild flowers and learning about the history of Pennsylvania Coal Co. Gravity Railroads.

The trip is scheduled for June 14. Meet at the Salvation Army Store parking lot on Willow Avenue on Route 6 in Honesdale at 8:00 a.m.

For more information call 570/253-0639.