Third road-master argued at meeting

DAMASCUS, PA — Township officials again denied the appointment of a third road master as Damascus re-organized for the new year on January 3.

When former supervisor and road master Larry Newport resigned, the position of road master was never filled.

Bob Dexter, a township resident, argued for the appointment at the meeting.

“This is the 21st century. We turn roads back to dirt and the roads that are paved are difficult to drive over,” Dexter said. A third road-master could make the roads better maintained, he said.

Chairman of the Board, Bill Gager, disagreed and said the township has saved $90,000 by not appointing a third master. “We knew we had to cut back on expenses with lay-offs coming on,” Gager said.

Supervisor Fred Haase objected strongly to the decision when he came on as Newport’s replacement on the board.

The township road crew went from nine to six this past year, he said. None of the three workers left because of a lack of funding. They all took better jobs, Gager said.

“If we were gaining, it wouldn’t be a problem but the condition of some of our roads is really bad,” Dexter said.

Supervisors Gager and Stan Kuta are the two current roadmasters.

Thirteen killed in Christmas and New Years weekend accidents

HARRISBURG, PA — State police say 13 people were killed in traffic crashes investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police during the two, three-day weekends for the recent Christmas and New Year’s holidays driving periods.

Nine died over the Christmas weekend and four died during the New Year’s weekend.

Last year, when the holidays only covered two days each, state police investigated accidents in which nine people died.

In addition to the fatalities, 391 people were injured in accidents, and 147 of those accidents were alcohol related.

Nine of the 13 persons killed were not wearing seat belts.

State police reports do not include statistics on incidents to which other law enforcement agencies in the state responded.

Fluhr reappointed chairman of Water Gap citizens advisory commission meeting

BUSHKILL, PA — The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday, January 13 at 7:00 p.m., at the Bushkill Meeting Center, Route 209 in Bushkill.

The agenda will include Citizen Advisory Commission reports, issues, discussion, and a report on various park issues. The meeting will be open to the public and there will be an opportunity for public comment to the commission.

A snow date has been set for Thursday, January 20.

Troopers seize 5,700 milligrams of methadone

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — State troopers from Liberty and the Mid-Hudson Drug Enforcement Task Force started the new year on Saturday by seizing a haul of stolen drugs taken in a December 10 burglary at the Jeff Pharmacy.

Police arrested Anthony Firorille, 25, Christopher M. Antoniou, 28, and Richard A. Bojo Jr. 26, all of Jeffersonville, for the felony of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st degree.

These arrests were resulted from an on-going criminal investigation into the Main Street pharmacy burglary.

Fiorille was also charged with Burglary in the 3rd degree, a felony, and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, a violation.

The three defendants were found to be in possession of in excess of 5,760 milligrams of methadone, as well as over 4,000 recovered narcotic pills, all of which were determined to be the proceeds of the earlier burglary.

All three defendants were arraigned in the Town of Callicoon Court before Town Judge Edward McKenna and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail without bail.

Stewart air guard aids in tsunami relief

NEWBURGH, NY — The 105th Airlift Wing of the New York State Air National Guard (ANG) has deployed a C-5 Galaxy aircraft to support relief efforts in the wake of the devastating tsunami that has ravaged coastal communities in Southeast Asia.

The huge cargo plane will transport helicopters to Thailand where they will be used to transport supplies to remote areas in the region. The deployment is expected to last two weeks.

Contributions for victims of the tsunami can be sent through the American Red Cross International Response Fund at 1-800-HELP-NOW or online at redcross.org.

Shohola Township Board

SHOHOLA, PA — George J. Fluhr was reappointed to the position of chairman of the township Board of Supervisors at Shohola’s reorganization meeting on January 4.

Fluhr has held the position for over a decade.

The vice chairman is again Steve Dellert and road master is Henry Prigge, who held the position last year.

Nelia Wall will continue to serve as township secretary and treasurer. The company of Abrahamsen, Moran & Conaboy was reappointed township solicitor, with William Gabriel as zoning officer.

All other appointments were unchanged from last year.

Regular monthly meetings will be held on the second Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. Planning board meetings will be held on the third Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. Meeting are held at the Shohola Township Building at 159 Twin Lakes Road in Shohola.