Police investigate deaths of mother and daughter

GREENE TOWNSHIP, PA — Police initially have not revealed any details about the May 4 deaths of a 17-year-old mother and her seven-month old daughter.

Kristin Fisher and her daughter Kaylee Elizabeth reportedly were found dressed to go out when Fisher’s mother discovered the bodies at their isolated home near Interstate Route 84.

A state police investigation is continuing.

Gunther gets computer lab funding

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther last week announced that she has secured $1 million to establish an Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) computer lab.

The lab, supported through the State University of New York and the University Center for Academic Workforce Development will have 24 state-of-the-art workstations, including 30-plus interactive programs in academic and workforce development.

Only 25 percent of low-income households have computer and internet access, so placing the computer labs in the community creates technological parity for those who don’t have access to computers now, according program officials.

The state Assembly provided $7 million for the program statewide.

One dead, one critical after accident

BERLIN TOWNSHIP, PA — A Sunday morning accident on SR 1019 killed an 18-year-old Beach Lake woman and severely injured an Equinunk man.

State Police in Honesdale reported that Angela Orosz died as a result of the accident and that Jared Kenyon was reported to be in critical condition.

The accident occurred at approximately 5:50 a.m. on SR 1019, also known as Butternut Flatts Road, just north of Slish Road. The northbound 2000 Ford Focus was unable to negotiate a right hand turn and left the roadway, striking several trees on impact. The vehicle rebounded across the roadway and came to rest in the northbound lane.

Student petition opposes Quick memorial

MILFORD, PA — A petition opposing the re-dedication of a memorial to Tom Quick has been sent to the Milford Borough Council by 31 student members of the Native American Student Association at Villanova University.

Robert Hoose, a Pike County homeowner, signed a May 3 cover letter which stated that Milford’s action would impact people outside the borough “for generations to come.”

The petition itself states that the proposed plaque “in memory of a serial killer “… exemplifies…racism and the total disrespect of not only the Lenape, but all people of this land.”

The monument was removed after it was vandalized several years ago.

State orders mountain laurel audit

LEHMAN TOWNSHIP, PA — State Auditor General Robert Casey Jr. ordered last week a special audit into the spending of a $15 million state redevelopment assistance grant during construction of the financially troubled Mountain Laurel Center for the Performing Arts Township.

The audit will investigate the grant agreement in the last days of the Ridge administration between the state and the Pike County Industrial and Commercial Development Authority, the grant recipient. The grant prompted the formal announcement of the arts center project.

Casey said the audit will determine if the county authority was entitled to the money it received and if it complied with contract terms and program requirements, but he said the audit’s scope could be broadened if auditors uncover new information.

The center has canceled all performances for the 2004 season.

Abduction awareness training program

CALLICOON, NY — The Delaware Youth Center, in conjunction with the Sullivan West Elementary schools, Cops Care, and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, is holding an Abduction Awareness Training for 825 elementary school students on May 17th at Delaware Valley, on May 18th at Jeffersonville and on May 19th Narrowsburg. All three programs begin at 9:00 a.m.

The program includes an assembly where an Albany organization called Cops Care will provide simple, basic awareness and resistance rules for kids to use. It will provide each child with a “passport” identification, which is a set of fingerprints, digital photo and DNA sample. No records are maintained; the “passport” goes home with each child.

For more information call 845/887-5839.

Zoning board to rule on variance request

HORTONVILLE, NY —The Town of Delaware Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) decided at public hearing to rule next month on a request for a variance by Rick Lander, owner of Lander’s Convenience Store in Callicoon.

Lander, who received a temporary certificate of occupancy to open his new restaurant at the site, wants a Shell gasoline sign placed next to the bridge over the Delaware River.

The request was rejected by the town planning board.

Of the 10 members of the public who spoke at the public hearing, some, who were from Pennsylvania, want the sign to be located somewhere else than next to the bridge over the river.

Others want the sign to be located somewhere else than next to the town park, the other alternative.

“The ZBA will probably make a decision about the sign at our next meeting on May 26,” said Ed Sykes, chairman. The board meets at the town hall at 7:30 p.m.